Effects of ecotrofin™ on milk yield,milk quality and serum biochemistry in lactating goats

A nutritional supplement (Ecotrofin™, by Vetoquinol Italia S.r.l) recommended in ruminants feeding to strengthen the physiological condition and improve digestive performance was tested in 20 pluriparae grazing goats divided in two groups (control and treated) to assess its possible effects on milk yield and quality and to assess eventual adverse effects. Animals from both groups also received 400 g/day of corn meal, and the treated group was supplemented with 20 g/head/day of the nutritional supplement. At the doses suggested by the manufacturer, despite a transient increase after 30 days of supplementation, Ecotrofin™ did not show significant effects on milk yield and, although some changes were found in the fatty acids profile, no significant improvement of MUFA and PUFA, as well as of omega-6:omega-3 ratio and CLA content were seen. Therefore, in our experimental conditions the supplementation of diet with Ecotrofin™ did not appear useful to improve goat's performance. A significant effect on kidney health markers (27 vs. 22.5 for urea and 0.83 vs. 0.76 for creatinine, p < 0.05) suggested a beneficial effect on renal function but, since levels fell in the normal ranges in both groups, such hypothesis would need further studies to be addressed.     

Habitat selection by the Mediterranean horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus euryale (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae) in a rural area of southern Italy and implications for conservation

We studied habitat selection by Rhinolophus euryale in a rural area of southern Italy in 1998-2000 by radio-tracking. Two comparisons were carried out, one between habitat occurrence within individual home ranges and within the study area, the other between time spent in each foraging habitat and habitat occurrence within the home range. The first analysis showed that olive groves and conifer plantations were, respectively, the most and the least important habitats. The second analysis highlighted the importance of woodland for R. euryale, while urban sites, open areas and conifer plantations were avoided. We recommend that clearing of continuous, large areas of woodland for tree harvesting should be avoided. Conifers should not be used for reforestation. Urbanisation should be limited in the areas of greatest importance for the species, and linear landscape elements such as tree lines and hedgerows should be maintained.     

Chemical composition,plant genetic differences,and antifungal activity of the essential oil of Helichrysum italicum G. Don ssp. microphyllum (Willd) Nym

The chemical composition of the essential oil of the Sardinian dwarf curry plant [Helichrysum italicum G. Don ssp. microphyllum (Willd) Nym] was studied. Genetic analysis suggested the presence of two chemotypes; morphological and chemical differences confirmed the presence of two chemotypes (A and B). The maximum yields were 0.18 and 0.04% (v/w) for flowering tops and stems, respectively. The concentrations of nerol and its esters (acetate and propionate), limonene, and linalool reach their highest values during the flowering stage both in flowers and in stems. Besides the essential oil, type B showed an interesting antifungal activity.     

Genetic analysis of resistance to Phoma tracheiphila in three Citrus and Poncirus progenies

Mal secco is a serious tracheomycosis, caused by the fungus Phoma tracheiphila (Petri) Kanc, et Ghik., which attacks some species of the genus Citrus. The considerable amount of time and space required to evaluate host plant response has discouraged research on the mechanism of inheritance involved in the susceptibility to this disease. The aim of the present work was to study segregation of the resistance trait in three progenies obtained by crossing Citrus latipes (Swing.) Tan., as a female parent, with the male parents Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf., C.aurantium L. and C. volkameriana Pasq. Resistance determination was based on natural infections observed over 10 years. Results allowed us to hypothesize three alternative genes (A, B and C) which determine dominant resistance as opposed to susceptibility: the presence of a single allele can thus confer resistance. In addition, we suggest the existence of a fourth gene which, in conditions of dominance, is able to determine susceptibility by nullifying the action of the dominant B allele. Response to the pathogen was also associated with the production of chitinase a PR (pathogenesis-related) protein reported to be present in great quantities in mal secco-resistant Citrus genotypes. Segregation analysis of one F₂ progeny confirmed the hypothesis that the resistance trait is controlled by at least two dominant genes. Further evidence is needed to ascertain whether this hypothesis is applicable to other Citrus species, in which the possibility of other genetic mechanisms being implicated cannot be ruled out, thus making the genetic basis of mal secco resisance more complex.     

Dietary Beta-Glucans and Nucleotides Enhance Resistance of Red-Tail Black Shark (Epalzeorhynchos bicolor, fam. Cyprinidae) to Streptococcus iniae Infection

Two experiments were conducted to examine the effect of commercially available beta‐glucan (Macrogard) and nucleotide (Aquagen) on the resistance to Streptococcus iniae infections in vaccinated or nonvaccinated juvenile red‐tail black sharks (Epalzeorhynchos bicolor, RTB) (1.4 ± 0.4 g weight total (WT), 5.6 ± 0.5 cm total length (TL)). The immunostimulants were added to a control diet formulated without any yeast source following the recommended doses of 1 g/kg feed for the beta‐glucan and 2 g/kg feed for the nucleotide. Beginning 4 d after introduction into tanks, fish were fed the experimental diets for 24 d, at 3% body weight per day, divided into two feedings. At the end of this period, fish were challenged by an intracoelomic injection of S. iniae. In the first experiment, both vaccinated and nonvaccinated fish were fed one of the two immunostimulants. In the second experiment, only vaccinated fish were fed the immunostimulants. Fish were vaccinated a week after being introduced into the system and challenged by intracoelomic injection with 1.5 × 10⁵ S. iniae colony‐forming units /fish after three additional weeks; mortality was recorded for 2 wk after the bacterial challenge. In the first experiment, the mortality of both vaccinated and nonvaccinated fish fed beta‐glucan (23 ± 7% and 82 ± 1%, respectively) or nucleotide (28 ± 6% and 86 ± 5%, respectively) was significantly lower than the mortality of the control groups (35 ± 4% and 93 ± 5%, respectively), but there was no significant difference in mortality between fish fed beta‐glucan or nucleotide. In the second experiment, the mortality of vaccinated fish fed beta‐glucan (25 ± 7%) or nucleotide (43 ± 9%) was significantly lower than that of vaccinated fish fed the control diet (69 ± 7%). In both experiments, there was no significant difference in growth rate among fish fed immunostimulants or the control diet. The results of this investigation demonstrated the efficacy of beta‐glucans and nucleotides in increasing resistance to S. iniae in RTB sharks.     

Residue study of ivermectin in plasma,milk, and mozzarella cheese following subcutaneous administration to buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

The distribution of ivermectin in buffalo plasma and milk after administration of a single subcutaneous dose (0.2 mg kg(-)(1) b.w.) was studied. Ivermectin reached the maximal concentration in plasma (28.5 +/- 1.7 ng mL(-)(1)) and milk (23.6 +/- 2.6 ng mL(-)(1)) after 2.4 +/- 0.32 and 2.8 +/- 0.44 days, respectively. The drug showed a parallel disposition in milk and plasma, with a ratio of 1.12 +/- 0.16. Ivermectin concentrations were detected in mozzarella cheese obtained from milk collected on days 1, 3, 4, and 20 following administration. The highest values (81.4 +/- 3.26 ng g(-)(1)) were found in the cheese produced on day 3 and were 4-fold higher than those present in the milk.     

Comparison of four methods of estimating glomerular filtration rate in cats

Four methods of evaluating renal function were performed in 6 cats anesthetized with halothane in oxygen. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was measured simultaneously in each cat by exogenous creatinine clearance (ECC), bolus inulin clearance, and 99mTc(Sn)-diethylene-triaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) clearance determined by 2 different methods. In the first DTPA clearance method (DTPA-1), we measured radioactivity in serial blood specimens to construct plasma disappearance curves for calculation of GFR. In the second DTPA clearance method (DTPA-2), we used serial external head counts of radioactivity and a single blood specimen to construct plasma disappearance curves for calculation of GFR. Bolus inulin clearance was calculated from plasma disappearance curves using a 1-compartment open pharmacokinetic model (IN-1) and a 2-compartment open pharmacokinetic model (IN-2). Glomerular filtration rates were measured over 3 hours, for creatinine and DTPA methods, and over 4 hours for the inulin methods. The GFR obtained with the reference method (ECC) was 2.56 +/- 0.61 ml/min/kg of body weight (mean +/- SD). Values for GFR determined by ECC and DTPA-1 were significantly correlated (r = 0.852; P less than or equal to 0.05). Correlation between ECC and DTPA 2 was not as good (r = 0.783; P less than or equal to 0.10), but the 2 DTPA methods significantly correlated with one another (r = 0.897; P less than or equal to 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Comparative study of various Chlamydia strains--preliminary study (author's transl)]

The chlamydia order comprises two species (Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia psittaci) which are the only ones which can be rigorously differentiated with experimental criteria. However, the clinical study of chlamydia demonstrates the existence of various syndromes due to pathogenic agents. Some observations also seem to indicate the possibility of antigenic differences between isolated strains, during abortions, among small ruminants.We have entered upon a comparative study of various Chlamydia psittaci strains in order to look for objective criteria of differentiation of the strains extracted from small ruminants from those which were isolated from other animal species. Chlamydia taken from samples of ovine and caprine origin by direct isolation on embryonated egg or on cellular cultures were also compared by the following methods: seroneutralization on embryonated eggs and on cell cultures, characteristics of the plaques on cell cultures, crossed-immunofluorescence, toxic effects, lethal action on the foetus of the pregnant mouse, crossed-immunoelectrophoresis by agar gel (simple or double quantitative diffusion), electrophoresis by polyacrylamide gel.The use of those numerous techniques has enabled us to observe significant differences between those strains. However, it is not yet possible to propose a classification defining several groups. The specificity of these differences, especially between ovine and caprine strains, should become clear through the studies now in progress: in particular through the method using the interference of specific antigens compared on the one hand by serioimmunologic methods and, on the other hand, by tests setting an immunity to cellular mediation into action.     

Treatment of spontaneous pyometra in 22 bitches with a combination of cabergoline and cloprostenol

Twenty-two bitches with ultrasonographically diagnosed spontaneous pyometra were treated with a combination of 5 microg/kg cabergoline per day and 5 mug/kg cloprostenol every third day, and potentiated sulphonamide twice a day. Bitches with either open-cervix or closed-cervix pyometra showed a rapid clinical improvement, associated with a reduction in plasma progesterone concentration, increased vulval discharge and a reduction in the diameter of the uterus. The haematological profiles of 21 of the bitches returned to normal within six days of treatment, and their biochemical profiles returned to normal within nine days; 19 of the bitches were managed successfully by a 10-day period of treatment. Two bitches required a further three days of treatment, and in one bitch with a partial uterine torsion the treatment was not successful. Adverse effects of the treatment were limited to the 60 minutes immediately after the administration of prostaglandin, and included retching, vomiting, mild abdominal straining, diarrhoea and panting. The incidence of adverse effects was reduced after each successive dose of prostaglandin. Eleven of the 21 successfully treated bitches were mated at the next oestrus, and seven became pregnant; their litters were smaller than the published breed averages. In four of the bitches the pyometra recurred after the next oestrus.