Characterization of the nutritive value of tropical legume grains as alternative ingredients for small‐scale pork producers using in vitro enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation*

In the tropic, the small‐scale pork production is negatively influenced by the low availability of high protein ingredients. The study aimed to compare the protein and starch hydrolysis as well as fibre fermentation of five tropical legume grains (Canavalia brasiliensis, CB; Lablab purpureus, LP; Vigna unguiculata, white WVU; pink PVU and red RVU) and a control (extruded full‐fat soybean (SB)), using an in vitro model that simulated digestion in the gastrointestinal tract of pigs. A sequential in vitro hydrolysis was carried out with pepsin (120 min) and pancreatin (240 min) to determine the degree of hydrolysis (DH) of protein and starch. The indigestible residue was fermented in vitro with pig faecal inoculum to compare the modelled kinetics of gas production over 72 h and the production of short‐chain fatty acids (SCFA). After 360 min of pepsin–pancreatin hydrolysis, SB and WVU had the highest protein hydrolysis (76% and 66%) and PVU and WVU the highest starch hydrolysis (70% and 64%) (p < 0.01). The in vitro fermentation of the indigestible residue of WVU resulted in the highest (482 ml/g DM; p < 0.001) and CB the lowest (335 ml/g DM) gas production. These data were consistent with the SCFA production. Butyrate, propionate and total SCFA were higher (or tended) for RVU and WVU when compared with CB and SB (p = 0.015–0.085). In conclusion, the high DH of protein and starch as well as the high gas and SCFA production obtained with raw WVU makes it an interesting alternative to SB as a feedstuff for swine nutrition in the tropic. Other legume grains (LP and CB) cannot be used by pigs in their raw form.     

Quantitative Analysis of the Biologically Active Compounds Present in Leaves of Mexican Sweet Potato Accessions: Phenols,Flavonoids, Anthocyanins, 3,4,5-Tri-Caffeoylquinic Acid and 4-Feruloyl-5-Caffeoylquinic Acid

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Sweet potato is one of the oldest crops cultivated in Mexico, and Mesoamerica is considered as a region with the greatest diversity of this species. Therefore, the...     

Crude protein in low‐fish meal diets for juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei can be reduced through a well‐balanced supplementation of essential amino acids

The use of supplemental essential amino acids (EAAs) has been shown to provide an opportunity to minimize excess levels of crude protein (CP) in animal feeds. The present study investigated the effect of reducing the amount of CP in low‐fish meal diets (5%) for juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei. Four sets of diets were prepared containing (% on a fed basis, mean ± SD) 31.24 ± 0.71, 33.70 ± 0.41, 36.90 ± 0.44, and 39.63 ± 0.14% CP, with each protein level containing a total dietary methionine (Met) (Met + Cys) level of 0.56 ± 0.02 (1.07 ± 0.23), 0.71 ± 0.01 (1.22 ± 0.20), 0.88 ± 0.02 (1.38 ± 0.22), or 1.04 ± 0.02% (1.55 ± 0.18%). Shrimp of 1.00 ± 0.08 g were stocked in 84 outdoor tanks of 1 m³ at a rate of 100 shrimp/m² and raised for 75 days. Final survival ranged from 83 to 97% and was unaffected by Met content. Both survival and yield were significantly depressed when shrimp were fed the 31% CP diet. Shrimp grew at a weekly rate of between 0.79 and 0.97 g, achieving a final body weight (BW) in excess of 10.8 g. There was a significant interaction between CP and Met over BW. Shrimp fed 0.56% Met achieved the lowest BW at harvest. Increasing CP beyond 34% did not enhance BW. With a dietary Met content of 0.71%, the highest BW was achieved with 34% CP compared to other levels. There was a significant improvement in Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) when CP was raised from 31 to 34%. Similarly, dietary Met levels above 0.71% resulted in a significantly better FCR compared to 0.56%. Our study has shown that, if dietary Met (Met + Cys) meets a minimum of 0.71% (1.22%), levels of CP could be reduced from 40 to 34% without adverse effects on shrimp performance.     

Genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from chickens from Brazil

Until recently, Toxoplasma gondii was considered clonal with very little genetic variability. Recent studies indicate that T. gondii isolates from Brazil are genetically and biologically different from T. gondii isolates from USA and Europe. In the present study, we retyped 151 free range chicken isolates from Brazil including 117 newly isolated samples from 11 geographically areas (Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Maranh?o, Paraná, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, S?o Paulo, Sergipe, and Rondonia) and 34 previously reported isolates from the very north (Pará) and the very south (Rio Grande do Sul). Ten PCR-RFLP markers including SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico were used to genotype all isolates. Overall analysis of 151 T. gondii isolates revealed 58 genotypes. Half (29/58) of these genotypes had single isolate and the other half of the genotypes were characterized with two or more isolates. Only 1 of 151 isolates was clonal Type I strain and 5 were clonal Type III strains. Two isolates had mixed infections. Clonal Type II strain was absent. One strain was Type II at all loci, except BTUB. The results confirm high genetic diversity of T. gondii isolates from Brazil.     

Excretion of BSE and scrapie prions in stools from murine models

Faeces from infected animals have been suggested as a potential source of contamination and transmission of prion diseases in the environment. This work describes the development of a procedure for the detection of PrP(res) in stools which is based on a detergent-based extraction and immunoprecipitation (IP). The procedure was evaluated by analyzing TSE-spiked sheep and mice faeces, and proved to be specific for PrP(res) with sensitivities of 5-10mug of infected brain tissue. In order to analyze the shedding of prions, we studied stools from orally inoculated mice over 4-days post-inoculation and also stools from terminally sick scrapie-infected mice. PrP(res) was only detected in stools shortly after the oral ingestion of TSE agents. The procedure described could be a useful tool for studying the excretion of prions and for evaluating potential environmental contamination by prions.     

Immunohistochemical Detection of Receptors for Oestrogen and Progesterone in Endometrial Glands and Stroma during the Oestrous Cycle in Nelore (Bos taurus indicus) Cows

The aim of the present study was to monitor endometrial distribution and concentrations of oestrogen receptors α (ERα) and progesterone receptors (PR) by immunohistochemistry in Nelore cows (Bos taurus indicus) during the oestrous cycle. Blood samples were collected for progesterone measurement and endometrial samples were taken from the uterine horn contra lateral to the corpus luteum in 16 cows at days 0 (ovulation), 5, 9, 13 and 19 of the oestrous cycle. Immunostaining evaluation for ERα and PR in the glandular epithelium and uterine stroma was performed by two methods: positive nuclei counting and staining intensity of the nuclei. Specific positive staining reactions for both receptors were limited to cell nuclei and they were not identified in the cytoplasm. The proportion of ERα positive nuclei had a temporal variation throughout the oestrous cycle in both cell types evaluated and was higher in uterine stroma than the glandular epithelium (p < 0.05). The greatest proportion of ERα stained nuclei was observed at oestrus and during the initial and mid luteal phase (days 5, 9 and 13) (p < 0.05) in the glandular epithelium and at days 0, 5 and 9 in the uterine stroma (p < 0.01). The proportion of PR positive nuclei remained constant throughout the entire oestrous cycle for both cell types evaluated (p > 0.05). A higher proportion of PR positive nuclei was measured in the uterine stroma compared with the glandular epithelium (p < 0.05). Intensity of staining for ERα and PR varied throughout the oestrous cycle (p < 0.01). There was a higher staining intensity at days 0 and 5 in the stroma for ERα (p < 0.01) and PR (p < 0.01) and in the glandular epithelium at days 0, 5, 9 and 13 for ERα (p < 0.01) and at days 0, 5 and 9 for PR (p < 0.01) when compared with the other evaluated days. These data demonstrate that ERα and PR expression varied throughout the oestrous cycle in Nelore cows, in general with highest concentrations at oestrus and the lowest during the luteal phase. This is similar to patterns observed in Bos taurus taurus.     

The effect of dietary supplementation with 9-cis:12-trans and 10-trans:12-cis conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) for nine months on serum cholesterol, lymphocyte proliferation and polymorphonuclear cells function in Beagle dogs

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA), 9-cis:11-trans and 10-trans:12-cis, have been shown to be able to modify some immune cells parameters and plasma lipids in a variety of experiment models. Since lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear cells (PMNC) have a large spectrum functions in the immune response, the knowledge in this field has to be expanded. Beagle dogs were fed a control diet or a CLA supplemented diet for nine months. Blood was collected for biochemical analysis and lymphocyte and PMNC isolation. PMNC were assayed for lysosome content, phagocytic activity and superoxide anion production. A lymphocyte proliferation capacity assay was done. The CLA fed dogs had a 34% reduction in total cholesterol (P < 0.05), 28% in LDL (P < 0.05) and 28% non-HDL-cholesterol (P < 0.05). Neither of the PMNC parameters evaluated demonstrated significant alteration. Lymphocytes from CLA group increased by 45% their mitotic capacity (P < 0.05). Our study demonstrates that CLA can successfully modify the lipid profile of dogs (monogastrics) when fed at reasonable levels, but did not significantly alter inflammatory function as would generally predicted. Further, we had some indication that CLA modulated T cell responsiveness.     

Retrospective – systematic study and quantitative analysis of cellular proliferation and apoptosis in normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic perianal glands in dogs

Neoplasms in the perianal region are frequently diagnosed in dogs. The aetiology is unknown, and most of them are benign. In this study, 240 neoplasms of the perianal glands of dogs were retrieved from the Department of Pathology archives of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechny of University of São Paulo (FMVZ/USP), from 1984 to 2004. All 240 cases were re‐examined by two pathologists. Nine cases (4%) were diagnosed as hyperplasia, 49 (20%) as group I adenoma, 81 (34%) were classified as moderately differentiated adenomas of the group II, 46 (19%) were poorly differentiated adenomas of group II, 48 (20%) were carcinoma of the group III according to the classification proposed by Berrocal, and 7 (13%) were other kind of tumours. Males over 8 years of age were predominantly affected. Cell proliferation was quantified by counting proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive nuclei, and apoptosis was quantified by counting fluorescent eosin‐stained apoptotic corpuscles (AC) in normal tissue, hyperplasia and in different histologic types of neoplasia of these glands. A parallel pattern of increase in both parameters (cell proliferation and apoptosis) was obtained. The net growth index (NGI), represents how much a cell population is proliferating or dying and was achieved by dividing the mean PCNA count in 1000 cells by the mean AC stain count in 1000 cells. NGI was different between hyperplasia and neoplasia; group I adenomas have a much higher potential of growth, and NGI decreases from benign towards malignant lesions. These results show up the importance of studying cell proliferation and apoptosis to understand the carcinogenesis of dog perianal gland.     

Comparative analysis of in vitro proliferative,migratory and pro-angiogenic potentials of bovine fetal mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow and adipose tissue

Veterinary Research Communications - Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are found in virtually all tissues, where they self-renew and differentiate into multiple cell types. Cumulative data indicate...     

Dietary inclusion of dehydrated bocaiuva pulp increases the antioxidant potential of quail eggs

The aim of this study was to evaluate dietary supplementation of different levels of dehydrated bocaiuva pulp (DBP) on the productive performance of laying quails, and on lipid oxidation, and quality in their eggs. A total of 120 quails were distributed in a completely randomized design with six treatments (0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4% and 0.5% of DBP), five replicates and four birds per experimental unit. To evaluate lipid oxidation, the eggs were collected on five consecutive days at the end of the trial and distributed in a completely randomized experimental design in a 6 × 5 factorial scheme (eggs from quails fed different levels of DBP × evaluated fresh and after 7, 14, 21 and 28 days). The antioxidant potential of diets was improved (p < 0.05) when the DBP was added estimated as 2,2'‐azinobis‐3‐ethylbenzothiazolin‐6‐sulfonic acid (ABTS) free radical scavenging capacity. No effect (p > 0.05) was observed on feed intake, hen‐day egg production and feed conversion (kg/kg and kg/dz). There were no changes (p > 0.05) in the egg weight, Haugh unit, yolk index or eggshell percentage. Although no difference was observed (p > 0.05), when comparing each level with the control, a negative linear effect (p < 0.05) on specific gravity was observed. In addition, only the treatment with 0.5% pulp exhibited lower (p < 0.05) eggshell thickness compared with the control (0%). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) analysis showed that as the dietary pulp level was increased, malondialdehyde content decreased linearly (p < 0.05) in the egg yolks, regardless of the storage period. Inclusion of DBP in the diets had no effect (p > 0.05) on the concentration of conjugated dienes in the eggs. The diets containing DBP showed a potential antioxidant effect, reducing the degree of lipid oxidation in egg yolk. However, no beneficial effects were observed on performance and egg quality.