Preferential infection sites of Cysticercus bovis in cattle experimentally infected with Taenia saginata eggs

The preferential sites of infection of Cysticercus bovis were evaluated in the skeletal muscle and entrails of 25 cattle that were experimentally infected with Taenia saginata (2 × 10⁴ eggs). Two other animals were not inoculated (control). Ninety days after inoculation, all the cattle were euthanized. The carcasses were deboned and dissected into 26 anatomical sections (masseter muscles, brain, tongue, esophagus, heart, diaphragm, lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, top sirloin butt, bottom sirloin butt, outside round, top (inside) round, transversus abdominus, top sirloin cap, strip loin, full tenderloin, eye of round, knuckle, shoulder clod, foreshank, shank, chuck, back ribs, and tail muscles). The dissected tissues were sliced into 5 mm sections. From the 25 cattle, 9258 C. bovis (cysticerci) were recovered; 75.02% (6946) of these were recovered from skeletal muscles and 24.98% (2312) from the entrails. A high parasitism level was found in the shoulder clod (12.55%), heart (11.02%), liver (9.48%), masseter muscles (8.51%), chuck (8.25%), strip loin and full tenderloin (7.26%), knuckle (6.63%), and back ribs (5.53%), totaling 69.23% (5738) of all of the detected cysticerci. On the other hand, there was a low C. bovis parasitism level in the brain, spleen, tail muscles, kidneys, esophagus, and diaphragm, representing just 3.9% of the total number of cysticerci. Given these results, we conclude that specific skeletal musculature regions, such as the shoulder blade, chuck, strip loin and full tenderloin, knuckle, back ribs and top round, which are not officially examined in many countries, are effective sites to efficiently screen C. bovis infection. To date, these regions have not been considered as preferential sites of C. bovis infection. Based on our work, however, these regions deserve greater attention from health inspectors because they contained a greater number of Cysticercus than the other regions of carcasses that are parasitized by T. saginata larvae.     

In vitro fermentation of Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. Ex Chiov increased methane production with ruminal fluid adapted to crude glycerol

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The aim of this trial was to determine the effect of ruminal fluid adapted to crude glycerol supplementation on in vitro methane and fermentation parameters...     

Clinical safety of intratesticular transplantation of allogeneic bone marrow multipotent stromal cells in stallions

Although stem cell therapy is a promising alternative for treatment of degenerative diseases, there are just few reports on the use of stem cells therapy in horse's reproductive system. This study aims to evaluate the effect of intratesticular injection of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) in healthy stallions, and its outcome on seminal parameters and fertility. In Experiment 1, 24 stallions were divided into treatment group (TG) and control group (CG). In the TG, an intratesticular application of MSC was performed, and in the CG, only PBS was used. Measurements of testicular volume, surface temperature and Doppler ultrasonography were performed 24 and 48 hr after treatments. Fifteen days after application, the testicles were removed and submitted to histological analysis. In Experiment 2, 3 fertile stallions received similarly treatment with MSCs. Physical examination and sperm analysis were performed weekly during 60 days after treatment, and at the end, semen from one of them was used for artificial inseminations of 6 healthy mares. In Experiment 1, clinical examinations showed no signals of acute inflammation on both groups according to the analysed variables (p > .05). Also, no signal of chronic inflammation was observed on histological evaluation. In Experiment 2, stallions presented no physical alterations or changes in sperm parameters, and a satisfactory fertility rate (83%; 5/6) was observed after AI. The results support the hypothesis that intratesticular application of bone marrow MSCs is a safe procedure, and this could be a promising alternative to treat testicular degenerative conditions.     

Widespread distribution of resistance to triazole fungicides in Brazilian populations of the wheat blast pathogen

Fungicides have not been effective in controlling the wheat blast disease in Brazil. An earlier analysis of 179 isolates of Pyricularia oryzae Triticum lineage (PoTl) sampled from wheat fields across six populations in central-southern Brazil during 2012 discovered a high level of resistance to strobilurin fungicides. Here we analysed azole resistance in the same strains based on EC₅₀ measurements for tebuconazole and epoxiconazole. All six Brazilian populations of PoTl exhibited high resistance to both azoles, with in vitro EC₅₀ values that were at least 35 to 50 times higher than the recommended field doses. We sequenced the CYP51A and CYP51B genes to determine if they were likely to play a role in the observed azole resistance. Although we found five distinct haplotypes in PoTl carrying four nonsynonymous substitutions in CYP51A, none of these substitutions were correlated with elevated EC₅₀. CYP51B was sequenced for nine PoTl isolates, three each representing low, medium, and high tebuconazole EC₅₀. Both PoTl CYP51A and CYP51B could complement yeast CYP51 function. All PoTl CYP51A-expressing yeast transformants were less sensitive to triazoles than the PoTl CYP51B ones. Transformants expressing PoTl CYP51A haplotype H1 carrying the R158K substitution were not more resistant than those expressing PoTl CYP51A haplotype H5, which is synonymous to haplotype H6, found in triazole-sensitive P. oryzae Oryza isolates from rice blast. Therefore, the reduced triazole sensitivity of wheat blast isolates compared to rice blast isolates appears to be associated with a non-target-site related resistance mechanism acquired after higher exposure to triazoles.     

Soil microbial biomass and organic matter fractions during transition from conventional to organic farming systems

The aim of this study was to investigate the response of soil microbial biomass and organic matter fractions during the transition from conventional to organic farming in a tropical soil. Soil samples were collected from three different plots planted with Malpighia glaba: conventional plot with 10 years (CON); transitional plot with 2 years under organic farming system (TRA); organic plot with 5 years under organic farming system (ORG). A plot under native vegetation (NV) was used as a reference. Soil microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN), soil organic carbon (SOC) and total N (TN), soil organic matter fractioning and microbial indices were evaluated in soil samples collected at 0–5, 5–10, 10–20 and 20–40 cm depth. SOC and fulvic acids fraction contents were higher in the ORG system at 0–5 cm and 5–10 cm depths. Soil MBC was highest in the ORG, in all depths, than in others plots. Soil MBN was similar between ORG, TRA and NV in the surface layer. The lowest values for soil MBC and MBN were observed in CON plot. Soil microbial biomass increased gradually from conventional to organic farming, leading to consistent and distinct differences from the conventional control by the end of the second year.     

Feeding Levels of the Southern Brown Shrimp Penaeus subtilis in Response to Food Dispersal

The development of efficient feed management strategies in shrimp farming involves the investigation of aspects related to time of feed distribution, feeding rates, feeding frequency, and feed dispersal methods. This work examined the feeding levels of Penaeus subtilis in response to food dispersal method under semi-intensive culture conditions. The study consisted of two treatments: 1) a uniform feed dispersal over the culture area, and 2) concentration of feed in 0.2-m² circular feeding trays. For each, three 105-m² rectangular enclosures were installed in a single shrimp grow-out pond and stocked with P. subtilis at a density of 14.29 postlarvae/m². Shrimp were fed daily at 0600, 0930 and 1430 h and sampled 30 min after feed distribution at 12-d intervals. After collection, shrimp weight was determined, their stomachs dissected and weighed. A total of 2,160 stomachs of P. subtilis were collected during a 89-d rearing cycle. Relative occurrence of artificial versus natural food in stomach contents was determined by stable carbon isotope mass spectrometry. Density of polychaetes in the substrate was monitored at each sampling period. After harvest, sediment samples were collected for physical and chemical analyses. In general, differences in shrimp growth between feeding methods were not significant. Final shrimp survival rates were between 69.0 ± 6.9% and 71.9 ± 3.7%. Stomach content weight of P. subtilis was significantly higher when feed was broadcast than for feed concentration. Average stomach content weight remained constant throughout the rearing cycle, although progressive increases in feed Occurrence were detected in P. subtilis diet. No periodicity in food intake along sampling periods could be related to increases in shrimp carapace length. Food intake was significantly lower at 0600 h than at 1430 h and at 0930 h, respectively. In both treatments, over half of the food contained in the stomach contents of shrimp was derived from artificial food. Sediment chemical analysis indicated statistically lower levels of sodium in the pond bottom of concentrated treatment. However, no short-term detrimental effects were detected on sediment chemical quality. Results indicated that feed broadcasting resulted in a greater access and a higher consumption of food among the cultured shrimp population, a lower number of empty stomachs, and a greater occurrence of artificial food in P. subtilis stomach contents.     

Effects of isoflurane on echocardiographic parameters in healthy dogs

Objective To study the echocardiographic effects of isoflurane at an end‐tidal concentration approximating 1.0 times the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) in healthy unpremedicated dogs. Study design Prospective experimental trial. Animals Sixteen mature mongrel dogs of either sex weighing 11.06 ± 2.72 kg. Methods After performing a baseline echocardiogram in the awake animal, anesthesia was induced with increasing inspired concentrations of isoflurane via a face mask until tracheal intubation was possible. Following intubation, the end‐tidal concentration was decreased to 1.4% for the rest of the anesthetic period. Serial echocardiograms were recorded at 25, 40, and 55 minutes after the end‐tidal concentration was reached. Results No changes were observed in heart rate. However, significant decreases were seen in left ventricular end‐diastolic diameter (Mean maximal change: 13.8%), interventricular septal thickness during systole (15.2%), interventricular septal thickening fraction (72.2%), left ventricular free wall thickening fraction (63.5%), ejection fraction (39.9%), and fractional shortening (46.7%). In addition, peak flow velocities across mitral, pulmonic, and aortic valves were significantly lower than baseline values. Decreases were also observed in end‐diastolic left ventricular volume index (approximately 32.1% from the awake value), stroke index (58.2%), and cardiac index (55.3%) when compared with awake measurements. Conclusions and clinical relevance Our results indicate that 1 × MAC isoflurane caused significant myocardial depression in healthy dogs. These changes in myocardial function need to be considered carefully when isoflurane is to be used in dogs with poor cardiovascular reserve.