Radiographic features of the limbs of juvenile and subadult loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta)

This study aimed to provide the normal radiographic anatomic appearance of the limbs of the loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta. Dorsopalmar and dorsoplantar radiographs were taken of the forelimbs and hindlimbs of 15 juvenile and 15 subadult loggerhead sea turtles, 17 alive and 13 dead. For comparison, computed tomographic, gross anatomic, osteologic, and histologic studies were performed on the limbs of 5 of the sea turtles. Bones from the distal part of the fore and hind flippers were seen in detail with a mammographic film-screen combination. The pectoral and pelvic girdles, superimposed by the carapace, were better seen on standard radiographs with the use of rare-earth intensifying screens. Mammographic radiographs of the manus of 5 small juvenile turtles showed active growth zones. Visualization of bone contours in the distal part of the limbs was clearer than in mammals owing to the very few superimpositions. The presence of a substantial amount of cartilage in the epiphyses produced better visibility of limb ends. We conclude that use of a mammography film-screen combination is the best way to evaluate the bony and joint structures of the limbs of sea turtles. Radiography provides reliable images for clinical purposes. Considering the low cost and logistics of this technique, it is a practical ancillary test for marine animal rehabilitation centers to use.     

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.     

Freezing of stallion semen with addition of glycine betaine

The effect of addition of glycine betaine to a lactose-EDTA freezing medium on the post-thaw motility of stallion semen was determined. The first three semen-rich fractions of nine stallions were collected with an open-end Krakow artificial vagina on consecutive weekdays. Semen was frozen using the Hannover method with freezing media containing glycine betaine in various concentrations from 0 to 5%. After thawing, sperm motility was analysed both by a light microscope and by a Hamilton-Thorn Motility Analyser. Total and progressive post-thaw motilities of semen containing 0.25-3% glycine betaine did not differ significantly from the total and progressive post-thaw motilities of semen frozen without glycine betaine. The total and progressive post-thaw motilities of semen containing 4 or 5% glycine betaine were significantly lower (P < 0.001) than those of semen without glycine betaine. In conclusion, glycine betaine did not show any beneficial effect on the post-thaw motility of stallion semen when semen was frozen using the Hannover method.     

In vitro generation of mature neutrophils from canine Lin- bone marrow cells

The major goal of this work was to describe the in vitro generation of mature functional neutrophils derived from a canine enriched haematopoietic progenitor cell population. We have utilised lineage depletion by immunomagnetic selection to isolate a canine haematopoietic progenitor cell population. The physical, immunological, metabolical and morphological methodologies employed in this study have permitted us to isolate and define a cell population enriched in Rh-123low and CD34+ cells. Irradiated pre-established long-term bone marrow cultures (LTBMC) were utilised to determine the self-renewal ability of lineage negative (Lin-) cells, as well as their capacity to differentiate into mature functional neutrophils. The authors demonstrate for the first time that canine neutrophils derived from Lin- cells are able to produce oxyradicals, express a specific neutrophil surface antigen, and contain gelatinase granules. These characteristics enable them to migrate through basement membranes to act as a first line defence mechanism. The fact that these cells are able to differentiate into functional mature cells, and give rise to long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-IC) after 35 days of culture, allows the authors to assure that the isolated canine enriched haematopoietic cell population exhibit functional characteristics, associated with primitive haematopoietic cells.     

Application to soil of disinfectants through irrigation reduces Verticillium dahliae in the soil and verticillium wilt of olive

The application of disinfectants through drip irrigation could be a feasible practice against verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae) of olive. OX-VIRIN (activated peroxide) and OX-AGUA AL25 (quaternary ammonium compounds) are two disinfectants that have shown efficacy against V. dahliae in irrigation water and potential for reducing the disease in young olive plants. In this work, various post-planting application strategies incorporating OX-VIRIN (once a month, or twice a month on alternate or successive weeks) or OX-AGUA AL25 (once a month, or twice a month on alternate weeks) were assessed for their effect on V. dahliae in soil, disease in olive trees, and olive yield, in a 2-year pot-experiment under natural environmental conditions. The disinfectants were injected via metering pumps into a drip irrigation system that irrigated olive trees planted in V. dahliae-inoculated soil. All the application strategies significantly reduced the total inoculum density in soil compared to controls with no disinfectants and noninoculated soil. The microsclerotia density was also significantly reduced in disinfested soils by 73.6–86.8%, depending on the strategy. The symptoms and infection incidence were always lower in treatments subjected to disinfestation. The treatment with OX-AGUA AL25 applied twice a month on alternate weeks most reduced the symptoms (by 53.0%) and colonization index (by 70.8%) with respect to untreated water control. This soil disinfestation also significantly strengthened the symptom remission. Tree growth and production were negatively affected by soil inoculation (reduced by 45.6% and 88.7%, respectively), but not so by disinfectants, which even relieved the reduction in inoculated soils, especially when OX-AGUA AL25 was applied.     

Heterogeneous aspects of lipid oxidation in dried microencapsulated oils

This work was aimed at studying lipid oxidation in dried microencapsulated oils (DMOs) during long-term storage. Samples were prepared by freeze-drying of emulsions containing sodium caseinate and lactose as encapsulating components. Evaluation of lipid oxidation was approached by quantitative analysis of nonvolatile lipid oxidation products and tocopherol. Lipid oxidation products were analyzed by separation of polar compounds by adsorption chromatography followed by HPSEC with refraction index detection for quantitation of oxidized triglyceride monomers, dimers, and oligomers. The analytical method applied enabled the detection of different oxidative patterns between the free and encapsulated oil fractions. The free oil fraction of DMOs showed a typical oxidative pattern for oils in continuous phase, which consisted of a clear induction period, in which hydroperoxides (oxidized triglyceride monomers) accumulated, before oxidation accelerated. The end of the induction period was marked by the total loss of tocopherol and the initiation of polymerization. On the contrary, the encapsulated oil showed a pattern characteristic of a mixture of oils with different oxidation status. Thus, high contents of advanced oxidation compounds (polymerization compounds) were detected when the antioxidant (tocopherol) was still present in high amounts. It is concluded that the encapsulated oil was comprised of oil globules with very different oxidation status. The results obtained in this study gave evidence of heterogeneous aspects of lipid oxidation in a dispersed-lipid food system.     

Identification of marker alleles linked to fire blight resistance QTLs in apple genotypes

Molecular marker analysis can be an effective tool when searching for new fire blight resistance donors. It can speed up the breeding process as well, even though many of the available markers linked to fire blight resistance QTLs have not yet been tested by screening a large number of cultivars. The aim of this study was to search for alternate sources of the three major QTLs of fire blight resistance; FBF7, FB_MR5 and FB_E, as well as to test the efficiency of some markers linked to minor QTLs. Altogether, nine primer pairs were used on 77 genotypes including new Hungarian cultivars and old apple cultivars from the Carpathian basin. Several marker alleles of FB resistance QTLs have been detected in the screened genotypes, most importantly the alleles coupling with FB_MR5 in the old cultivars ‘Kéresi muskotály’, ‘Szabadkai szercsika’ and ‘Batul’. We propose these cultivars as the first available resistance donors of FB_MR5 instead of the crabapple Malus × robusta 5. The results also bring new information regarding the resistance alleles of new Hungarian cultivars and selections.     

Role of wild ruminants in the epidemiology of bluetongue virus serotypes 1, 4 and 8 in Spain

ABSTRACT: Although the importance of wild ruminants as potential reservoirs of bluetongue virus (BTV) has been suggested, the role played by these species in the epidemiology of BT in Europe is still unclear. We carried out a serologic and virologic survey to assess the role of wild ruminants in the transmission and maintenance of BTV in Andalusia (southern Spain) between 2006 and 2010.A total of 473 out of 1339 (35.3%) wild ruminants analyzed showed antibodies against BTV by both ELISA and serum neutralization test (SNT). The presence of neutralizing antibodies to BTV-1 and BTV-4 were detected in the four species analyzed (red deer, roe deer, fallow deer and mouflon), while seropositivity against BTV-8 was found in red deer, fallow deer and mouflon but not in roe deer. Statistically significant differences were found among species, ages and sampling regions. BTV RNA was detected in twenty-one out of 1013 wild ruminants (2.1%) tested. BTV-1 and BTV-4 RNA were confirmed in red deer and mouflon by specific rRT-PCR.BTV-1 and BTV-4 seropositive and RNA positive wild ruminants, including juveniles and sub-adults, were detected years after the last outbreak was reported in livestock. In addition, between the 2008/2009 and the 2010/2011 hunting seasons, the seroprevalence against BTV-1, BTV-4 and BTV-8 increased in the majority of provinces, and these serotypes were detected in many areas where BTV outbreaks were not reported in domestic ruminants. The results indicate that wild ruminants seem to be implicated in the dissemination and persistence of BTV in Spain.     

Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) post-larval survival related to age, temperature, pH and ammonium concentration

Transport of post‐larvae shrimp used in aquaculture is an important element of successful cultivation because of the potential for stress during stocking procedures. To find optimum transport conditions, several bioassays were performed in the laboratory to evaluate survival of whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei 5–30‐day‐old postlarvae under conditions similar to those encountered during transport from the hatchery to nursery and shrimp ponds. Postlarvae were exposed for 4 h to different temperatures and pH levels ammonia concentrations. Survival was significantly reduced after a 4 h exposure to pH 9 and was inversely related to temperature with or without 7 mg L^?1 of ammonia. The 15‐ and 20‐day‐old postlarvae had higher survival rates than other ages. The lowest survival occurred in alkali conditions (pH 9), with 7 mg L^?1ammonia at 30 and 32°C. To assure optimal survival of postlarvae during transfer from the hatchery to the nursery and shrimp ponds, we recommend temperatures below 28°C, pH no higher than 8, no ammonia and post‐larval age at least 15 days.