Conservation status assessment and a new method for establishing conservation priorities for freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionida) in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River drainage

1. The freshwater mussel (Unionida) fauna of the Yangtze River is among the most diverse on Earth. In recent decades, human activities have caused habitat degradation in the river, and previous studies estimated that up to 80% of the mussel species in the Yangtze River are Threatened or Near Threatened with extinction. However, a comprehensive and systematic evaluation of the conservation status of this fauna has yet to be completed.
2. This study evaluated the conservation status of the 69 recognized freshwater mussel species in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, using the criteria published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). A new method for prioritizing species for conservation was then developed and applied termed Quantitative Assessment of Species for Conservation Prioritization (QASCP), which prioritizes species according to quantifiable data on their distribution and population status, life history, and recovery importance and potential.
3. IUCN assessments showed that 35 (51%) species in the study region are Threatened or Near Threatened (11 Endangered, 20 Vulnerable, 4 Near Threatened). In addition, 16 species (23%) could not be assessed owing to data deficiency. Key threats to the freshwater mussel biodiversity of the Yangtze River include pollution, habitat loss and fragmentation, loss of access to host fish, and overharvesting of mussels and their host fish. The genera Aculamprotula, Gibbosula, Lamprotula, Pseudodon, Ptychorhynchus, and Solenaia were identified as particularly threatened.
4. Data availability allowed QASCP assessment of 44 species. Only Solenaia carinata, regionally Endangered under IUCN criteria, achieved the highest QASCP rank, i.e. First Priority. The five species assessed as Second Priority were considered either regionally Endangered (one), Vulnerable (three), or Data Deficient (one) under IUCN criteria. The 23 Third Priority species were assessed as regionally Endangered (two), Vulnerable (15), Near Threatened (two), or Least Concern (four).

     

Molecular typing of Mycobacterium bovis isolates from south-east Brazil by spoligotyping and RFLP

The identification of 163 strains of Mycobacterium bovis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and microbiological tests was carried out on 252 tuberculous-like lesions (TLLs) collected from slaughtered cattle in south-east Brazil. This study compared the usefulness of three genotyping techniques, IS6110-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), polymorphic guanine-cytosine-rich sequence (PGRS)-RFLP and direct repeat (DR)-spoligotyping, as applied to M. bovis isolates. Based on IS6110-RFLP genotyping we selected a group of 23 isolates containing more than one IS6110 copy, along with 16 samples containing one IS6110 copy from different geographical areas, evenly distributed among dairy (eight) and beef cattle (eight). These selected isolates were analysed by PGRS-RFLP and DR-spoligotyping genotyping. Dairy cattle (17%) display a higher frequency of multiple IS6110 copies than beef cattle (10%). A comparison between the genotype data obtained fails to show a correlation between the main clusters found by the three techniques. However, the clustering of each genotyping procedure revealed that the majority of strains are closely related. The RFLP-PGRS patterns showed a sizable group (20.5%) containing a 5.5 kb fragment and the predominant spoligotype is similar to that from the BCG vaccine strain. Unexpectedly, four strains (2.4%) showed drug resistance to 0.2 microg/ml isoniazid and 20 microg/ml ethionamide, but none of them was resistant to rifampicin or other antibiotics tested.     

Long-term erosion of tree reproductive trait diversity in edge-dominated Atlantic forest fragments

Habitat loss and fragmentation promote relatively predicable shifts in the functional signature of tropical forest tree assemblages, but the full extent of cascading effects to biodiversity persistence remains poorly understood. Here we test the hypotheses that habitat fragmentation (a) alters the relative contribution of tree species exhibiting different reproductive traits; (b) reduces the diversity of pollination systems; and (c) facilitates the functional convergence of reproductive traits between edge-affected and early-secondary forest habitats (5-32 years old). This study was carried out in a severely fragmented 670-km² forest landscape of the Atlantic forest of northeastern Brazil. We assigned 35 categories of reproductive traits to 3552 trees (DBH ? 10 cm) belonging to 179 species, which described their pollination system, floral biology, and sexual system. Trait abundance was calculated for 55 plots of 0.1 ha across four habitats: forest edges, small forest fragments (3.4-83.6 ha), second-growth patches, and core tracts of forest interior within the largest available primary forest fragment (3500 ha) in the region. Edge-affected and secondary habitats showed a species-poor assemblage of trees exhibiting particular pollination systems, a reduced diversity of pollination systems, a higher abundance of reproductive traits associated with pollination by generalist diurnal vectors, and an elevated abundance of hermaphroditic trees. As expected, the reproductive signature of tree assemblages in forest edges and small fragments (edge-affected habitats), which was very similar to that of early second-growth patches, was greatly affected by both habitat type and plot distance to the nearest forest edge. In hyper-fragmented Atlantic forest landscapes, we predict that narrow forest corridors and small fragments will become increasingly dominated by edge-affected habitats that can no longer retain the full complement of tree life-history diversity and its attendant mutualists.     

Sedative and antinociceptive effects of different combinations of detomidine and methadone in standing horses

Objective

To evaluate intravenous (IV) detomidine with methadone in horses to identify a combination which provides sedation and antinociception without adverse effects.

External contamination of broilers by Campylobacter spp. increases from the farm to the slaughterhouse

ABSTRACT

1. In this study, classical and molecular microbiological methods for detection and quantification of Campylobacter spp. were used to estimate their prevalence in faecal samples and skin swabs collected from 31 broiler flocks (20 farms) in Portugal, and measure the impact of transport-related factors on the expected rising excretion rates from the farm to the slaughterhouse.

2. Data on husbandry practices and transport conditions were gathered, including time in transit, distance travelled or ante-mortem plant-holding time.

3. A generalised linear mixed model was used to evaluate the significance of a potential post-transport rise in Campylobacter spp. counts and to assess risk determinants.

4. At least one flock tested positive for Campylobacter spp. in 80% of the sampled farms. At the slaughterhouse, Campylobacter spp. were detected in all faecal samples, C. jejuni being the most commonly isolated.

5. A post-transport rise of Campylobacter spp. counts from skin swabs was observed using classical microbiological methods (from a mean of 1.43 to 2.40 log₁₀ CFU/cm²) and molecular techniques (from a mean of 2.64 to 3.31 log₁₀ genome copies/cm²).

6. None of the husbandry practices or transport-related factors were found to be associated with Campylobacter spp. counts.

7. This study highlights the need for more research to better understand the multi-factorial nature of Campylobacter spp., a public health threat that was found to be highly prevalent in a sample of Portuguese poultry farms.     

Influence of Puerperal Uterine Infection on Uterine Involution and Postpartum Ovarian Activity in Dairy Cows

This article presents the results of a clinical trial designed to study the effect of puerperal uterine infection on uterine involution and on ovarian activity in dairy cows, monitored twice weekly from parturition until the sixth week postpartum (wpp). Infection significantly retarded uterine involution assessed by the uterine body diameter and a score of intrauterine fluid volume (IUFV). By the sixth wpp, cows with normal puerperium (controls) and cows that showed mild puerperal endometritis had similar uterine body diameter and IUFV, indicating spontaneous recovery within the postpartum voluntary waiting period. However, in cows with severe puerperal endometritis, although uterine body diameter had regressed to pregravid size, IUFV remained significantly higher than in control and mild endometritis cows, indicating that chronic endometritis was established. The IUFV score was positively and significantly correlated with uterine swab bacterial growth density and allowed diagnosis of endometritis after the third wpp. Cows with mild or severe endometritis had a significantly higher prevalence and persistence of pathogenic bacteria ( Escherichia coli , Actinomyces pyogenes , Gram-negative anaerobes – GNA) than controls. Actinomyces pyogenes was associated to GNA in 74% of isolations. Ovarian activity measured by ultrasound scanning of the ovaries and plasma progesterone (P4) concentrations was more abnormal (prolonged anoestrus, prolonged luteal phases and ovarian cysts) in cows with severe endometritis than in controls.     

Physicochemical,Microbiological, and Sensory Properties of Pâté Elaborated from Whitemouth Croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) Muscle

The aim of this research was to formulate a unique product, croaker pâté, and to determine its physicochemical, microbiological, and sensorial characterization. Three formulations of pâté were elaborated. The pâtés fit in the stipulated regulations for the microbiological test. Regarding the texture, the pâtés presented a significant difference (p < 0.05) among each other. In the sensorial tests, the favorite pâté of the panel was formulation 3; in the acceptance test, it had higher levels of acceptance for color, flavor, and global acceptance in comparison with commercial pâté.     

Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy application for sea salt quality evaluation

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in diffuse reflectance mode was explored with the objective of discriminating sea salts according to their quality type (traditional salt vs "flower of salt") and geographical origin (Atlantic vs Mediterranean). Sea salts were also analyzed in terms of Ca(2+), Mg(2+), K(+), alkalinity, and sulfate concentrations to support spectroscopic results. High concentrations of Mg(2+) and K(+) characterized Atlantic samples, while a high Ca(2+) content was observed in traditional sea salts. A partial least-squares discriminant analysis model considering the 8500-7500 cm(-1) region permitted the discrimination of salts by quality types. The regions 4650-4350 and 5900-5500 cm(-1) allowed salts classification according to their geographical origin. It was possible to classify correctly 85.3 and 94.8% of the analyzed samples according to the salt type and to the geographical origin, respectively. These results demonstrated that NIR spectroscopy is a suitable and very efficient tool for sea salt quality evaluation.     

LEAF NUTRIENT CONTENT AND TOMATO FRUIT YIELD AS AFFECTED BY SINGLE SUPER PHOSPHATE RATES APPLIED BY DRIP IRRIGATION

A drip fertigation system should use low-cost phosphorus fertilizer available in small markets to smallholders such as especially Brazilian tomato growers. A study was conducted in an unheated greenhouse to establish an optimum rate of single superphosphate (SS) to formulate an aqueous solution that can be applied to tomato plants through a low-pressure drip irrigation system. Five rates of SS [18% phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅)] 0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 g·plant^?1, were evaluated in a randomized block design with four replications. Each rate was subdivided into 15 equal parts. Each part was dissolved in water (210 mL for each plant) and the mixture left to settle for 24 hours. The supernatant was applied by drip irrigation every week for 15 weeks. The tomato plants were grown in 9 dm³ plastic bags containing fertilized substrate in an unheated greenhouse. The leaf contents of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) were not affected by the treatments. The highest phosphorus (P), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) leaf contents were obtained from plants fertilized with SS at 79; 0; 0 g·plant^?1, respectively. The marketable tomato fruit yield, measured up to 123 days after transplanting, increased with the increasing SS up to 54 g·plant^?1, resulting in a yield of 6.16 kg·plant^?1, corresponding to 10.3 kg·m^?2. A settled aqueous solution of SS (54 g·210 mL^?1 of water) can be applied weekly to tomato plant through a low-pressure drip irrigation system during the plant cycle.     

Ethylidene-bridged Flavan-3-ols in red wine and correlation with wine age

Condensed tannins are responsible for astringency and bitterness and participate in the color stability of red wines. During wine making and aging, they undergo chemical changes including, for example, acetaldehyde-induced polymerization. Following this study, the ethylidene-bridged flavan-3-ols were monitored in different vintage wines made from grapes collected in the same vineyard in three wineries in Bordeaux, Pauillac, and Saint Julien. Flavan-3-ol ethylidene bridges were quantified by wine 2,2'-ethylidenediphloroglucinol (EDP) phloroglucinolysis. This method was based upon the analysis of EDP, a product formed after acid-catalyzed cleavage of wine flavan-3-ols in the presence of excess phloroglucinol. The flavan-3-ol ethylidene bridges were then compared to flavan-3-ol contents (phloroglucinolysis), phenolic contents, and color measurements. Low amounts of flavan-3-ol ethylidene bridges (0.8-2.5 mg L(-1)) were quantified in wines. Flavan-3-ol ethylidene bridges represent less than 4% of flavan-3-ol bonds, but the proportion of these linkages relative to native interflavan bonds increased with wine age. This proportion correlated with pigmented polymers.