Risk factors to incidental leptospirosis and its role on the reproduction of ewes and goats of Espírito Santo state,Brazil

Ovine and caprine stockbreeding have been gaining attention in developing countries as an attractive investment. On these animals, infectious diseases of the reproductive tract, such as leptospirosis, can compromise the production leading to economic losses. The present study aimed to determine the risk factors associated with incidental leptospirosis and its influence on the reproductive parameters of ewes and goats of Espírito Santo state, Brazil. A total of 737 animals distributed on 24 herds/flocks were studied, and an overall prevalence of 10.9 % seroreactive animals was observed. Serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae was the most frequent in goats (97.0 %) as well as in ewes (78.3 %). Regarding risk factors related to leptospirosis, the presence of waterholes and the semi-intensive breeding system were the most important associated to seroreactivity. Besides, there was an observed association between seroreactivity and reproductive failures (P?<?0.05). Moreover, seroreactive ewes (relative risk (RR)?=?1.3) and goats (RR?=?1.9) presented more chances to have abortions than seronegative animals. Furthermore, seroreactive ewes presented 11.6 more chances of having premature births when compared to the seronegative ones. It can be concluded that Leptospira infection, mainly those caused incidental strains (such as Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup), is a significant factor to reduce the productivity of small ruminants’ herds/flocks in the studied region, and environmental measures must be considered on control programs.

     

Body weight of newborn and suckling piglets affects their intestinal gene expression

Modern hyperprolific sows must deal with large litters (16–20 piglets) which reduce piglet birthweight with a concomitant increase in the proportion of small and intrauterine growth retarded piglets. However, larger litters do not only have a greater variation of piglet weights, but also a greater variation in colostrum and milk consumption within the litter. To further understand the impact that body weight has on piglets, the present study aimed to evaluate the degree of physiological weakness of the smallest piglets at birth and during the suckling period (20 d) compared to their middle-weight littermates through their jejunal gene expression. At birth, light piglets showed a downregulation of genes related to immune response (FAXDC2, HSPB1, PPARGC1α), antioxidant enzymes (SOD2m), digestive enzymes (ANPEP, IDO1, SI), and nutrient transporter (SLC39A4) (P < 0.05) but also a tendency for a higher mRNA expression of GBP1 (inflammatory regulator) and HSD11β1 (stress hormone) genes compared to their heavier littermates (P < 0.10). Excluding HSD11β1 gene, all these intestinal gene expression differences initially observed at birth between light and middle-weight piglets were stabilized at the end of the suckling period, when others appeared. Genes involved in barrier function (CLDN1), pro-inflammatory response (CXCL2, IL6, IDO1), and stress hormone signaling (HSD11β1) over-expressed compared to their middle-weight littermates (P < 0.05). In conclusion, at birth and at the end of suckling period, light body weight piglets seem to have a compromised gene expression and therefore impaired nutrient absorption, immune and stress responses compared to their heavier littermates.     

Phytochemical Profile,Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of the Carob Tree (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ceratonia siliqua</Emphasis> L.) Germ Flour Extracts

This work aimed to evaluate the phytochemical content and to determine the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of methanol extracts of the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) germ flour. The extracts were rich in phenolic compounds, had considerable antioxidant activity, and reduced the viability of cervical (HeLa) cancer cells. The chemical content and the biological activities of the extracts were significantly affected by gender and cultivar. Female cultivar Galhosa had the highest levels of phenolic compounds, and the highest antioxidant activity. Extracts from the hermaphrodite trees and from the female cultivars Galhosa and Costela/Canela exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity. The most abundant compound was theophylline. The phenolic content was correlated to both antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. Our findings provide new knowledge about the health implications of consuming food supplemented with carob germ flour.     

Effects of Application of Organic and Inorganic Wastes for Restoration of Sulphur-Mine Soil

In situ remediation with waste material is an inexpensive method to reduce contaminant availability in polluted soil. The experiments were done to investigate the effects of possible in situ application of two different amendments: inorganic material (marble sludge) and organic material (horticultural waste compost) on chemical and biological properties of abandoned metalliferous mine wastes. The results show that the application of inorganic material raises the pH above neutrality and the combination of inorganic and organic material would produce the highest ratio of biological activity. The reductions of available Zn, Pb and As in lime, organic and lime/organic amendments were favoured by incubation time. However, available Cd content increased after 275?days of incubation, except the treatment with inorganic amendment. This work denoted that the application of lime with organic amendments has a better effect than the lime alone because the addition of both amendments improves both soil chemical and biological properties.     

Fertility of Holstein cows and heifers submitted to timed artificial insemination and receiving one or two doses (12 h apart) of semen

The objective of this retrospective study was to assess the effect of receiving a single (n = 50,285) or double (n = 4392) artificial insemination (AI), 12 h apart, within a timed artificial insemination protocol on pregnancy per AI (P/AI) in nulliparous heifers (inseminated with either sex-sorted or conventional semen) and pluriparous Holstein cows in a commercial dairy herd. Also, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between temperature-humidity index (THI) and time of the first AI and fertility. Fertility of cows receiving two AI with normothermia (THI <68) was higher (p < .05) than cows receiving a single AI (42.9% vs. 36.4%). P/AI of cows receiving two AI with severe heat stress (THI >85) was higher (p < .05) than cows receiving a single AI (21.0% vs. 12.6%). Regardless of heat stress conditions, applying the first AI in the morning increased (p < .05) P/AI in cows with double AI than in cows whose first AI occurred in the afternoon (38.4 vs. 33.3%). With moderate heat stress, and sexed-sorted semen, P/AI to timed AI was higher (65.0 vs. 51.9%; p < .05) in heifers receiving double AI than those serviced once. It was concluded that double AI, 12 h apart, enhanced fertility at timed AI than herd mates with a single AI, particularly with heat stress at breeding.     

Phoma leaf spot of wasabi (Wasabia japonica) caused by Leptosphaeria biglobosa

A leaf spot disease on wasabi plants grown in commercial greenhouses in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia was characterized. Mycelial growth and pycnidial formation were observed within lesions when leaves were incubated under conditions of high humidity. Isolation from diseased tissues consistently yielded colonies of a Phoma species. Sequence analysis of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2) region of eight isolates showed 100% nucleotide sequence identity with Phoma wasabiae and Leptosphaeria biglobosa subspecies ‘occiaustralensis’ and 99.2% identity with L. biglobosa ‘canadensis’. Pathogenicity studies on wasabi leaves showed that wounding greatly facilitated infection and enhanced lesion development for most isolates but was not required for all isolates. Chlorotic areas appeared around the inoculation sites within 4 days, followed by necrosis. Isolates displayed a range of virulence, from weakly to highly virulent, on wasabi leaves. Similar results were observed on leaves of canola cultivar Westar, i.e. wounding significantly increased lesion size and isolates displayed a range of virulence. An isolate of Leptosphaeria maculans ‘brassicae’ from canola was highly virulent on wasabi and canola leaves, causing lesions similar to those of L. biglobosa ‘occiaustralensis’ while an isolate of L. biglobosa ‘canadensis’ from canola was weakly virulent on both hosts and required wounds to infect. These results demonstrate that isolates of L. biglobosa ‘occiaustralensis’ from wasabi are as virulent as L. biglobosa ‘canadensis’ on wasabi and canola leaves but in some cases were comparable in virulence to L. maculans ‘brassicae’.     

In silico and gene expression analysis of the acute inflammatory response of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) after subcutaneous administration of carrageenin

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry - Inflammation is one of the main causes of loss of homeostasis at both the systemic and molecular levels. The aim of this study was to investigate in silico the...     

Apple and pear peel and pulp and their influence on plasma lipids and antioxidant potentials in rats fed cholesterol-containing diets

The aim of this study was to assess the bioactive compounds of apple and pear peel and pulp in vitro and their influence on plasma lipids and antioxidant potentials in vivo. The antioxidant potentials measured by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), beta-carotene bleaching (beta-carotene), and nitric oxide inhibition radical scavenging (NO) tests in apple peel and pulp were significantly higher than in pear peel and pulp, respectively. The ethanol extract of apple peels showed the strongest inhibition of lipid peroxidation as a function of its concentration and was comparable to the antioxidant activity of butylated hydroxyanisole. The pear pulp extract had the weakest antioxidant ability, whereas other extracts such as apple pulp and pear peel were nearly equal. The antioxidant activities comprised contributions from polyphenols, phenolic acids, and flavonoids and correlated well with polyphenols and flavonoids. The correlation coefficients between polyphenols and antioxidant activities by DPPH, beta-carotene, and NO were as follows: 0.9207, 0.9350, and 0.9453. Contrarily, the correlation coefficient between the content of dietary fiber and the antioxidant activities test was low. The content of all studied indices in apple and pear peel was significantly higher than in peeled fruits (p < 0.05). Diets supplemented with fruit peels exercised a significantly higher positive influence on plasma lipid levels and on plasma antioxidant capacity of rats than diets with fruit pulps.     

Masculinization of the Native Bay Snook,Petenia splendida,Using Oral Administration of the Synthetic Steroid 17α‐methyltestosterone

The possibility of inducing sex reversal in bay snook, Petenia splendida, was evaluated to generate a protocol aimed at producing single‐sex populations (100% males) and improving farming conditions for this species. This popular staple food is a cichlid fish native to Central America, with aquaculture potential. We evaluated oral administration of the synthetic steroid 17α‐methyltestosterone (MT) to determine optimal dosage (30, 45, and 60 mg/kg of food) and days of feeding (30, 45, and 60) to attain efficient masculinization. The statistical analysis indicates a highly significant effect of both factors as well as for the interaction (P < 0.01). We registered significant differences in growth at the end of the experiment; fish fed with 60 mg of MT for 60 d reached the largest size, while fish fed with no MT were smaller. No significant differences were observed for survival (P > 0.05), ranging from 55.7 to 75.3% in the treatments. We recommend the use of 60 mg/kg of MT for 30 d for achieving successful sex reversal. This study provides valuable information supporting the inclusion of new species in aquaculture, reducing time and costs associated with sex reversal previously proposed for the species.     

Is the Period of 18 Years Sufficient for an Evaluation of Changes in Soil Organic Carbon under a Variety of Different Soil Management Practices?

The influence of differing soil management practices on changes seen in soil organic carbon (SOC) content of loamy Haplic Luvisol was evaluated. The field experiment included two types of soil tillage: 1. conventional tillage (CT) and 2. reduced tillage (RT) and two treatments of fertilization: 1. crop residues with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilizers (PR+NPK) and 2. NPK fertilizers (NPK). The results of SOC fluctuated from 9.8 to 14.5 g kg^?1 and the tillage systems employed and fertilization status did not have a statistically significant influence on SOC. The SOC content was higher in RT (12.4 ± 0.86 g kg^?1) than in CT (12.2 ± 0.90 g kg^?1). On average, there was a smaller higher value of SOC in PR+NPK (12.4 ± 1.02 g kg^?1) than in NPK (12.3 ± 0.88 g kg^?1). During a period of 18 years, reduced tillage and application of NPK fertilizers together with crop residues build up a SOC at an average speed of 7 and 16 mg kg^?1 year^?1, respectively, however conventional tillage and NPK fertilizer applications caused a SOC decline at an average speed of 104 and 40 mg kg^?1 year^?1, respectively.