Incidence of and risk factors for cat bites: a first step in prevention and treatment of feline aggression

Feline aggression towards people has a smaller incidence than canine aggression, but also represents an important public health problem. The aim of this work was to analyse feline aggression reported towards people, to estimate its incidence and to assess the risk factors involved. The information was obtained from the Public Health Centres in the Valencian Region (Spain). A total of 936 acts of feline aggression were analysed. Cats inflicted 8% of all animal bites reported. The annual average was 6.36 feline aggression incidents per 100,000 people. Most aggressive incidents occurred during the summer months. Children (0-14 years old) and women were more likely to be bitten. Wounds were mainly punctures, single, and mild, and were located mostly on the hands. In children, the head and neck areas were affected much more than in adults. The cats involved in incidents were mostly Siamese, female and owned; these cats mainly attacked their owners. Most occurrences were a defensive response by the cat.     

Effect of the gain rate during growing phase on the performance and characteristics of carcass and meat of super precocious steers

The aim was to evaluate the effect of different rates of weight gain during the backgrounding on animal performance and carcass and meat characteristics of steers finished in feedlots. Thirty-six Angus steers, 12 ± 2 months of age, were backgrounded during 91 days on Aruana grass pasture (Panicum maximum cv. Aruana) managed under different stocking rates to achieve three different weight gains: HIGH ADG (average daily gain)—no feed restriction (ADG = 0.846 kg); MEDIUM ADG—moderate feed restriction (ADG = 0.456 kg); and LOW ADG—high feed restriction (ADG = 0.154 kg). To ensure the difference in ADG, we offered 0.7% live weight of concentrate feed in the HIGH treatment and a better forage supply in the MEDIUM treatment. After the backgrounding, the animals were finished in feedlot. There was no effect of the previous performance on the animals' performance in the feedlot. The LOW presented higher weight (218.9 vs. 207.9 kg) and hot (54.0% vs. 51.3%) and cold (53.5% vs. 50.5%) carcass yield than the MEDIUM, besides presenting meat with less cooking losses (15.0% vs. 18.2%), marbling (7 vs. 4.0 points), palatability (7.1 vs. 6.3 points), juiciness (7.2 vs. 6.4 points), tenderness (7.1 vs. 6.3 points), and lower shear force (5.78 vs. 8.75 kg) than HIGH. LOW ADG steers stay longer in the finishing phase but presented in general better quality carcass and meat than those with MEDIUM or HIGH during the backgrounding.     

Diagnosis of canine brucellosis by ELISA using an antigen obtained from wild Brucella canis

An indirect ELISA test was developed for the diagnosis of Brucella canis infection in dogs. A bacterial whole cell extract was used as a solid phase antigen, using B. canis isolated from an infected animal. Sera from culture-positive and healthy negative animals were used as internal reference controls. The cut-off point was determined by a mathematical formula for a statistically valid value, which defined the upper prediction limit, based on the upper tail of the t-distribution of 21 negative control sera readings, for the confidence level of 99.5%. The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA test were 95% and 91%, respectively. The ELISA test showed a significant concordance index (K=0.84) with the agar gel immunodiffusion test. The reliability of the ELISA for the detection of infected animals was established by a double blind study testing 280 sera provided by serum banks from different diagnostic and research institutions and analyzed by ROC Curve.     

Cryptosporidium and Giardia in wild otters (Lutra lutra)

A total of 437 faecal samples from wild otter (Lutra lutra) were collected from 161 sites in Galicia (northwest Spain) and were analysed by a direct immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts and Giardia sp. cysts were detected in 17 (3.9%) and 30 (6.8%) samples, respectively. The results demonstrate that otters may contribute to the contamination of watercourses, although further studies are required to establish which species or genotypes of Cryptosporidium and Giardia infect these animals and also the significance in terms of public health.     

Assessment of the efficacy of commercial porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccines based on measurement of serologic response, frequency of gamma-IFN-producing cells and virological parameters of protection upon challenge

The efficacy of two different types of commercial vaccines against PRRSV (Euro-type) was evaluated based on clinical parameters upon challenge as well as post-challenge virological profiles (viremia and viral load in tissues upon necropsy, measured in both cases by quantitative real time PCR). In an attempt to establish correlates of protective immunity, two commonly proposed parameters predictive of immunity were measured: (1) serologic responses (ELISA and neutralizing antibodies), (2) frequency of gamma interferon-producing cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cell fraction. The vaccines compared consisted of two commercially available products that are regularly marketed in Spain: one modified live virus and one killed vaccine. The efficacy assay was carried out by vaccinating twice 3 weeks apart groups of 5 and-a-half month-old female swine and then challenging them with a European type 1 PRRSV strain (Lelystad). The results obtained indicate that the modified live virus vaccine was the only type of vaccine capable of establishing protective immunity, as measured by viral load in blood and tissues. The killed vaccine, in spite of this product evoking a spontaneous interferon-gamma response and post-challenge titers of virus-neutralizing antibody, evoked no measurable protective immunity. In the case of the modified live vaccine, the protection exhibited did not appear to be based on humoral but rather on cell-mediated immunity.     

Heat stress effects on reproductive traits in cultivated and wild sunflower (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus annuus</Emphasis> L.): evidence for local adaptation within the wild germplasm

Heat stress (HS) is a major threat to current and future crop production. Crop improvement for HS tolerance is a major tool for dealing with HS and crop wild relatives (CWR) offer the greatest variability for such improvement. Here, we evaluated the HS tolerance on four reproductive traits in cultivated and wild sunflower and tested for local adaptation to HS within the wild germplasm. Three cultivars and 23 wild populations (from native and invasive ranges) were grown in field experiments for 2 years. Flowering heads were covered with white (control) and black (HS) paper bags during seven consecutive days. Additionally, biogeographic tools were used to test for local adaptation. HS increased air temperature on black bags compared to the white ones by 9.4 °C on average and strongly decreased seed number and yield with smaller effects on head diameter and seed weight. We found large variability for HS tolerance, mainly in seed number and yield. The invasive group outperformed the cultivated and native groups in both years. Biogeographic analysis reveals a clinal variation in HS tolerance, populations from wetter (but not from warmer) environments were more tolerant to HS. In addition, the positive correlation observed between reproductive traits under control conditions and HS tolerance helps to explain the better performance of the invasive populations. We proposed the use of invasive populations for future sunflower improvements in HS tolerance and the adoption of biogeographic tools in another CWR species to identify HS tolerant populations.     

Development of molecular markers linked to the Leptosphaeria maculans resistance gene Rlm6 and inheritance of SCAR and CAPS markers in Brassica napus × Brassica juncea interspecific hybrids

Leptosphaeria maculans causes blackleg disease on Brassica napus, an economically important oilseed crop. Brassica juncea has high resistance to blackleg and is a source for the development of resistant B. napus varieties. To transfer the Rlm6 resistance gene from B. juncea into B. napus, an interspecific cross between B. napus “Topas DH16516” and B. juncea “Forge” was produced, followed by the development of F₂ and F₃ generations. Sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) and cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers linked to the L. maculans resistance gene Rlm6 were developed. Segregation of SCAR and CAPS markers linked to Rlm6 were confirmed by genotyping of F₂ and F₃ progeny. Segregation of CAPS markers and phenotypes for blackleg disease severity in F₂ plants had a Mendelian ratio of 3:1 in resistant vs. susceptible plants, respectively, supporting the assumption that genetic control of resistance was by a single dominant gene. The molecular markers developed in this study, which show linkage with the L. maculans resistance gene Rlm6, would facilitate marker‐assisted backcross breeding in a variety development programme.