Methane emission of Santa Inês sheep fed cottonseed by-products containing different levels of gossypol

The aim of this study was to evaluate the methane (CH₄) emission of Santa Inês sheep fed cottonseed by-products, verifying if the gossypol content of these feedstuffs affects CH₄ emission. Twelve late-lactating Santa Inês sheep (44.8?±?7.5 kg body weight (BW)) were allocated in metabolic cages for an experimental period of 19 days, 14 days for adaptation and 5 days for measuring CH₄ emission and dry matter intake (DMI). The animals were divided into four treatments, established in accordance with the cottonseed by-product used in concentrate formulation: Control (CON - no cottonseed by-product), Whole cottonseed (WCS), Cottonseed cake (CSC), and Cottonseed meal (CSM). The free gossypol level of the concentrates were 0, 1,276, 350, and 190 ppm for CON, WCS, CSC, and CSM, respectively. Also, the animals received Cynodon dactylon cv. Coast Cross hay, water, and mineral salt ad libitum. The ether extract content of the diets was balanced between treatments by including soybean oil in concentrates. The technique used to measure the CH₄ emission was the sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) tracer technique, and the gas samples collected were quantified by analysis in gas chromatography system. The CH₄ emission was evaluated considering the daily emission (g CH₄/day); DMI (g CH₄/kg DMI); and BW (g CH₄/kg BW). No statistical difference was found (P?>?0.05) between treatments for DMI and CH₄ parameters. In the regression analysis, no significant relation (P?>?0.05) between gossypol content and CH₄ emission was observed. These results suggest that gossypol does not affect rumen methanogenesis.     

Genetic parameter estimation for pre- and post-weaning traits in Brahman cattle in Brazil

Beef cattle producers in Brazil use body weight traits as breeding program selection criteria due to their great economic importance. The objectives of this study were to evaluate different animal models, estimate genetic parameters, and define the most fitting model for Brahman cattle body weight standardized at 120 (BW120), 210 (BW210), 365 (BW365), 450 (BW450), and 550 (BW550) days of age. To estimate genetic parameters, single-, two-, and multi-trait analyses were performed using the animal model. The likelihood ratio test was verified between all models. For BW120 and BW210, additive direct genetic, maternal genetic, maternal permanent environment, and residual effects were considered, while for BW365 and BW450, additive direct genetic, maternal genetic, and residual effects were considered. Finally, for BW550, additive direct genetic and residual effects were considered. Estimates of direct heritability for BW120 were similar in all analyses; however, for the other traits, multi-trait analysis resulted in higher estimates. The maternal heritability and proportion of maternal permanent environmental variance to total variance were minimal in multi-trait analyses. Genetic, environmental, and phenotypic correlations were of high magnitude between all traits. Multi-trait analyses would aid in the parameter estimation for body weight at older ages because they are usually affected by a lower number of animals with phenotypic information due to culling and mortality.     

Ultrasonographic Characterization of Follicle Deviation in Follicular Waves with Single Dominant and Codominant Follicles in Dromedary Camels (Camelus dromedarius)

Follicular wave emergence was synchronized by treating camels with GnRH when a dominant follicle (DF) was present in the ovaries. Animals were scanned twice a day from day 0 (day of GnRH treatment) to day 10, to characterize emergence and deviation of follicles during the development of the follicular wave. Follicle deviation in individual animals was determined by graphical method. Single DFs were found in 16, double DFs in 9 and triple DFs in two camels. The incidence of codominant (double and triple DFs) follicles was 41%. The interval from GnRH treatment to wave emergence, wave emergence to deviation, diameter and growth rate of F1 follicle before or after deviation did not differ between the animals with single and double DFs. The size difference between future DF(s) and the largest subordinate follicle (SF) was apparent from the day of wave emergence in single and double DFs. Overall, interval from GnRH treatment to wave emergence and wave emergence to the beginning of follicle deviation was 70.6 ± 1.4 and 58.6 ± 2.7 h, respectively. Mean size of the DF and largest SF at the beginning of deviation was 7.4 ± 0.2 and 6.3 ± 0.1 mm, respectively. In conclusion, the characteristics of follicle deviation are similar between the animals that developed single or double DFs.     

Husbandry Factors and the Resumption of Luteal Activity in Open and Zero‐Grazed Dairy Cows in Urban and Peri‐Urban Kampala,Uganda

The study investigated the influence of selected husbandry factors on interval to resumption of post‐partum cyclicity among dairy cows in urban and peri‐urban Kampala. A prospective study of 85 day post‐partum period of 59 dairy cows in open (n = 38) and zero grazing (n = 21) systems was conducted on 24 farms. Cows of parity 1–6 were recruited starting 15–30 days post‐partum. Progesterone (P4) content in milk taken at 10–12 day intervals was analysed using ELISA. The cow P4 profiles were classified into ‘normal’ (< 56 days), ‘delayed’ (> 56 days), ‘ceased’ or ‘prolonged’ (if started < 56 days but with abnormal P4 displays) resumption of luteal activity and tested for association with husbandry and cow factors. Of the 59 cows, luteal activity in 81.4% resumed normally and in 18.6%, delayed. Only 23.7% maintained regular luteal activity, while the others had ceased (10.2%), prolonged (37.3%) or unclear luteal activity (20.3%). There were no differences between open and zero‐grazed cows. Milk production was higher (p < 0.05) in zero than open grazing, in urban than peri‐urban and in cows fed on brew waste (p < 0.001) compared with mill products and banana peels. Results suggest that luteal activity resumes normally in a majority of cows, although only a minority experienced continued normal cyclicity once ovulation had occurred, in the two farming systems irrespective of feed supplements or water, and that supplementing with brew waste is beneficial for milk production.     

Habitat split and the global decline of amphibians

The worldwide decline in amphibians has been attributed to several causes, especially habitat loss and disease. We identified a further factor, namely "habitat split"-defined as human-induced disconnection between habitats used by different life history stages of a species-which forces forest-associated amphibians with aquatic larvae to make risky breeding migrations between suitable aquatic and terrestrial habitats. In the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, we found that habitat split negatively affects the richness of species with aquatic larvae but not the richness of species with terrestrial development (the latter can complete their life cycle inside forest remnants). This mechanism helps to explain why species with aquatic larvae have the highest incidence of population decline. These findings reinforce the need for the conservation and restoration of riparian vegetation.     

Comparison of Analytical Methods for Quantifying the Levels of Lead,Cadmium, Chromium,and Nickel in Mineral Fertilizers and Industrial By-products

The control of contaminants in fertilizers and industrial by-products is fundamental to safe food production, and it requires low-cost, reliable test methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the USEPA 3051a and alternative analytical methods [concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCl), 10 percent HCl, 10 percent sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), and 50 mmol L^?1 diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)] for quantifying the levels of lead, cadmium, chromium, and nickel in zinc and/or copper sources. The sample digestions with concentrated HCl, H₂SO₄, and nitric acid (HNO₃) (USEPA 3051a) were heated. Extraction without heating and stirring was employed in 10 percent HCl and 50 mmol L^?1 DTPA methods. The Graybill’s modified F-test, t-test for mean error, and the linear correlation coefficient analysis were used to compare test method performance. Equivalent results to USEPA 3051a were found with the following methods: DTPA for the extraction of lead in zinc sources and concentrated HCl and H₂SO₄ for the extraction of cadmium and chromium in copper sources. However, the absolute values of cadmium, chromium, and nickel recovered by the use of H₂SO₄ were greater regardless of the source. The greater extraction of contaminants in the evaluated methods suggests that there is need to review the official method if the aim is to quantify the total levels of these elements in raw materials and mineral fertilizers.     

Vaccination of dairy cows with recombinant Streptococcus uberis adhesion molecule induces antibodies that reduce adherence to and internalization of S. uberis into bovine mammary epithelial cells

Streptococcus uberis is an important environmental mastitis pathogen that causes subclinical and clinical mastitis in lactating and nonlactating cows and heifers throughout the world. Previous work from our laboratory suggests that S. uberis adhesion molecule (SUAM) is involved in S. uberis pathogenesis and may be an excellent target for vaccine development. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibody response of cattle vaccinated with recombinant SUAM (rSUAM). Uninfected primiparous dairy cows (n=30) in late lactation were divided randomly into three groups of 10 cows each: control, 200 μg rSUAM, and 400 μg rSUAM. Cows in groups vaccinated with 200 μg and 400 μg rSUAM received an emulsion containing adjuvant, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and affinity purified rSUAM. Cows in the control group received an emulsion containing adjuvant and PBS. Cows were vaccinated subcutaneously in the neck region at drying off (D-0), 28 d after drying off (D+28) and within 7 d after calving. Serum was collected at D-0, D+28, at calving (C-0), calving vaccination (CV), and during early lactation (CV+14). Serum antibody responses were measured by an ELISA against rSUAM. Following the first vaccination a significant increase in anti-rSUAM antibodies was detected at D+28 in cows from groups vaccinated with 200 μg and 400 μg rSUAM when compared to the control group. This increase in anti-rSUAM antibodies continued following the second immunization at D+28; reaching the highest levels in the post-parturient sampling period (C0), after which antibodies appeared to plateau. S. uberis UT888 pretreated with several dilutions of heat-inactivated serum from cows vaccinated with rSUAM, affinity purified antibodies against rSUAM, and to a 17 amino acid long peptide from the N terminus of SUAM (pep-SUAM) were co-cultured with bovine mammary epithelial cells and adherence to and internalization of S. uberis into epithelial cells was measured. Compared to untreated controls, opsonization of two strains of S. uberis with sera from cows vaccinated with rSUAM, with affinity purified rSUAM antibodies, or with affinity purified pep-SUAM antibodies significantly reduced adherence to and internalization of this pathogen into bovine mammary epithelial cells. In conclusion, subcutaneous vaccination of dairy cows with rSUAM during physiological transitions of the mammary gland either from or to a state of active milk synthesis induced antibodies in serum and milk and these antibodies reduced adherence to and internalization of S. uberis into mammary epithelial cells under in vitro conditions. SUAM appears to be an excellent candidate for vaccine development.     

Trichinella spiralis infection in pigs in eastern Bolivia

Summary Trichinellosis in pigs in Bolivia was first documented in 1993 following a small abattoir survey in a rural community in the Bolivian Altiplano. The present study investigated the presence of antibodies toTrichinella spiralis in pigs in the 2 largest departments in terms of pig production in Bolivia. Three geographically separate abattoir surveys were conducted to cover the major production areas in the Departments of Santa Cruz and Chuquisaca. Sera were tested using an enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. Of the 1,327 sera analysed from the 3 areas, 13·4% overall tested positive. Results from the 3 individual surveys varied from 10·2% seropositivity to 17·1 per cent. However, within each of the 3 sample areas, highly significant variation in seropositivity was encountered, with those areas with the most extensive production systems having the highest percentage of positive sera. Such variation is probably due to differences in nutrition with foraging and household waste being important components of pig diets in extensive production systems. The results of this study were similar to those obtained from the previous survey in the Altiplano and indicate that trichinellosis is present throughout Bolivia and is a potentially important public health problem.

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Infeccion PorTrichinella Spiralis En Cerdos En El Este De Bolivia

Resumen La triquinosis porcina fue detectada por primera vez en Bolivia en 1993 después de un estudio realizado en un matadero situado en una pequeña comunidad del altiplano. En est artículo se investigó la presencia de anticuerpos frente aTrichinella spiralis en cerdos en los 2 departamentos con una mayor cabaña porcina de Bolivia. Se estudiaron 3 matederos separados entre sí con objeto de cubrir las principales áreas productoras de cerdos en los departamentos de Santa Cruz y Chuquisaca. Se realizaron tests ELISA para detectar anticuerpos en el suero. De las 1327 muestras analizadas en total, el 13·4% fueron positivas. Los resultados obtenidos en cada matadero variaron entre el 10·2 y el 17·1% de seropositivos. No obstante, dentro de cada matadero se encontró una gran variabilidad, y aquellas áreas con sistemas de producción más extensivos fueron las que tuvieron porcentajes más altos de animales positivos. Esto se debe probablemente a diferencias en la alimentación, puesto que el pastoreo y el aprovechamiento de residuos domésticos son más importantes en los sistemas extensivos. Estos resultados son similares a los obtenidos anteriormente en otros estudios realizados en el altiplano e indican que la triquinosis está extendida en Bolivia y supone un peligro potencial para la salud humana.

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Infection ParTrichinella Spiralis Chez Des Porcs Dans L'est De La Bolivie

Résumé Des cas de trichinelloses chez des porcs en Bolivie ont été rapportés pour la première fois en 1993 après le suivi d'un petit abattoir d'une Communauté rurale de l'Altiplano bolivien. La présente étude s'intéressa à la présence d'anticorps contreTrichinella spiralis chez des porcs pour les 2 plus grands départements boliviens en terme de production porcine. L'étude de 3 abattoirs géographiquement distincts fut conduite pour couvrir les principales aires de production dans les Départements de Santa Cruz et de Chuqisaca. Les serums furent testés par ELISA. Parmi les 1327 serums analyses pour les 3 zones, 13,4% furent positifs. Les résultats de séropositivité pour les 3 zones varient entre 10,2% et 17,1%. Cependant, pour les 3 zones étudiées des variations trés significatives de séropositivité furent observées avec des pourcentages de séropositivité les plus élévés pour les zones ayant des systèmes de production extensive. De telles variations sont probablement dùes aux différences de nutrition par fourrage et déchets ménagés, principales composantes du régime alimentaire des porcs dans les systèmes de production extensive. Les résultats de cette étude furent similaires à ceux obtenus lors d'une étude précédente dans l'Altiplano, indiquant que la trichinellose est présente dans toute la Bolivie et apparait potentiellement comme un problème important de santè publique.

     

Cochliomyia hominivorax myiasis in a colony of stray cats (Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758) in Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Cochliomyia hominivorax infestation in domestic cats of an urban colony in the city of Rio de Janeiro is described. The overall prevalence over the period 2001-2005 was 12.5%. Only adult cats were found infested and among these, most cases were observed in males (28%) (p < or = 0.05). The most frequently infested areas of the cats' bodies were the face and nape of the neck. Most lesions were found on the front part of the body of adult males (80%), suggesting that myiasis occur in consequence of competitive fighting wounds.