Pharmacokinetics of cefonicid in lactating goats after intravenous,intramuscular and subcutaneous administration,and after a long-acting formulation for subcutaneous administration

The single-dose disposition kinetics of cefonicid were determined in clinically normal lactating goats (n = 6) after intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SC) administration of a conventional formulation, and after subcutaneous administration of a long-acting formulation (SC-LA). Cefonicid concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The concentration–time data were analysed by noncompartmental pharmacokinetic methods. Steady-state volume of distribution (V_ss) and clearance (Cl) of cefonicid after IV administration were 0.14 ± 0.03 L/kg and 0.51 ± 0.07 L/h·kg, respectively. Following IM, SC and SC-LA administration, cefonicid achieved maximum plasma concentrations of 14.46 ± 0.82, 11.98 ± 1.92 and 17.17 ± 2.45 mg/L at 0.26 ± 0.13, 0.42 ± 0.13 and 0.83 ± 0.20 hr, respectively. The absolute bioavailabilities after IM, SC and SC-LA routes were 75.34 ± 11.28%, 71.03 ± 19.14% and 102.84 ± 15.155%, respectively. After cefonicid analysis from milk samples, no concentrations were found above LOQ at any sampling time. From these data, cefonicid administered at 20 mg/kg each 12 hr after SC-LA could be effective to treat bacterial infections in lactating animals not affected by mastitis problems.     

Genetic analysis of live weight of local kids to promote genetic evaluations in the arid areas of Tunisia

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Goat meat production, a widely extended activity in the more arid areas of Tunisia, relies on local breeds. These breeds are well adapted to produce under...     

New protocol to separate llama sperm without enzymatic treatment using Androcoll-E™

The objective of this study was to design a protocol to separate spermatozoa from seminal plasma of raw llama semen without prior enzymatic treatment using a single-layer centrifugation with Androcoll-E^™ (AE). Two experiments were performed: (a) samples were divided into three aliquots (1 ml) that were deposited on the top of 4, 5 or 6 ml of AE and were centrifuged at 800g for 20 min and (b) samples were divided into two aliquots (1 ml) that were deposited on the top of 4 ml of AE and were centrifuged at 600g or 1,000g for 20 min. Columns of 5 and 6 ml of AE showed a total sperm motility (TM) significantly lower, while in the 4 ml column, this parameter was not different from the TM of samples before the AE treatment. The percentage of spermatozoa with intact and functional membranes, normal morphology and intact acrosomes, as well as the percentages of sperm with highly condensed chromatin, was conserved (p ˃ .05) in the three column heights and in the two centrifugation speeds evaluated. In conclusion, the different column heights of AE (4, 5 and 6 ml) and the different centrifugation speeds used (600, 800 and 1,000g) allow separating spermatozoa of raw llama semen without enzymatic treatment, preserving the evaluated sperm characteristics. However, of all the studied treatments, centrifugation in the 4 ml column of AE at 800g would be the method of choice to process raw llama semen samples destined for reproductive biotechnologies.     

Genetic diversity and structure in husk tomato (Physalis philadelphica Lam.) based on SNPs: a case of diffuse domestication

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Husk tomato is an annual vegetable crop grown for its fruits in Mexico, where it grows as weedy and wild. Eight races are recognized from wild (Wild and...     

Propolis extract combined with oregano essential oil applied to lima bean seeds against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

European Journal of Plant Pathology - In this study, propolis extract (EPE) and oregano essential oil (OEO), both natural products with different bioactive compounds, were evaluated in vitro and in...     

Palmoplantar nonpustular psoriasiform dermatitis in a rhesus macaque

A case of psoriasiform dermatitis in an adult male rhesus macaque is reported. Appearing spontaneously, the condition presented the clinical and histopathological features of human palmoplantar nonpustular psoriasis. The animal developed multiple scaly plaques on his palms and soles, as well as nail hyperkeratosis and widening of the nail root. Microscopically, the skin lesions showed epidermal hyperkeratosis with multifocal parakeratosis, neutrophil microabscesses in the stratum corneum, a loss of granule cell layer under the microabscesses, acanthosis, and elongation of the rete ridges; the superficial dermis showed a dense inflammatory infiltrate containing lymphocytes, macrophages and neutrophils, as well as dilated and tortuous blood vessels. The lesions improved for 15 days after intramuscular corticosteroid depot therapy and worsened slightly afterwards. Later, a spontaneous, progressive remission coincided with the beginning of spring and lasted until the end of summer; the skin lesions practically disappeared during this period, and the nails looked nearly normal. During the next autumn and winter only nail hyperkeratosis was present. Serum analyses showed hyperproteinaemia and hyperglobulinaemia during the outbreak phase and normal values during remission. The clinical and histopathological features of this case, as well as its evolution, are compared with the three other reported cases of psoriasiform skin lesions in nonhuman primates. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of a definite palmoplantar nonpustular psoriasiform dermatitis in a rhesus macaque.     

Characterization of Pectobacterium species from Iran using biochemical and molecular methods

Characteristics of forty strains from macerated potato tubers and water-soaked lesions of some ornamental plants were studied in north parts of Iran. The causal organisms isolated from infected tissues were identified as Pectobacterium spp. based on their physiological and biochemical assays and confirmed by species and subspecies specific PCR and RFLP analysis of 16S–23S intergenic transcribed spacer region. Artificial inoculation of isolates to their related hosts generated the same symptoms on potato and ornamental plants, from which the same bacteria were isolated and identified. We detected two groups of atypical isolates in this study. The first group from potato classified as Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum by phenotypic tests but was unable to elicit HR on tobacco leaves, to grow at 37°C and to amplify the pel gene relevant to this subspecies. The second one from ornamental plants which was again characterized as Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum in biochemical assays, produced a unique ITS-RFLP profile different from all of known Pectobacterium species and subspecies. Our findings based on phylogenetic analysis using concatenated partial sequences of housekeeping genes mdh and gapA, indicated the occurrence of P. wasabiae as a novel species in potato storage in Iran. Furthermore we detected a distinct clade of Pectobacterium spp. from some ornamental plants including Schlumbergera bridgesii, Syngonium podophyllum and Iris spp.     

Misleading results from conventional gap analysis – Messages from the warming north

Gap analysis is a widely used method for assessing the representation of species in protected area (PA) networks. However, representation does not imply persistence. Here, we investigated whether gap analysis may result in misleading conservation guidelines by comparing the representation to two indicators of persistence. We ran a gap analysis with Finnish breeding birds and identified conservation priorities based on current distribution patterns. We tested the sensitivity of these results by using two target setting schemes and several thresholds defining the amount of protected area, and found the levels of representation identified by gap analysis to be robust. We then compared the gap analysis results with recent population trends and projected changes in potential suitable climate under different climate change scenarios for the year 2050. We show that although high latitude species are well represented in PAs, they are currently declining and are projected to lose climatic suitability in the near future. In contrast, low latitude species with poor representation in PAs have increasing population trends and are generally expected to expand their ranges into protected areas in the near future. This study demonstrates with empirical data a mismatch between representation in PAs and population trends, resulting in misleading understanding of current PA effectiveness. The mismatch is linked to the latitude of species distributions and corresponds to expected future changes, indicating that the patterns are potentially driven by climate change. We therefore urge practitioners and researchers to include better indicators of persistence in gap-analysis frameworks even for short term assessments.     

Composition and anti-insect activity of essential oils from Tagetes L. species (Asteraceae, Helenieae) on Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann and Triatoma infestans Klug

Essential oils from four species of the genus Tagetes L. (Asteraceae, Helenieae) collected in Tucuma?n province, Argentina, were evaluated for their chemical composition, toxicity, and olfactory activity on Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann adults and for repellent properties on Triatoma infestans (Klug) (Chagas disease vector). Yields of essential oils range from 0.2 to 0.8% (v/w). The same main constituents among Tagetes minuta L., Tagestes rupestris Cabrera, and Tagetes terniflora Kunth, (cis-trans)-ocimenes, (cis-trans)-tagetones, and (cis-trans)-ocimenones showed important differences in their relative compositions. Tagetes filifolia Lag. was characterized by the recognized phenylpropanoids methylchavicol and trans-anethole as the main components. LD(50) was ≤20 μg/insect in topical bioassays. T. rupestris was the most toxic to C. capitata females, whereas the other oils presented similar toxicities against males and females. Tagetes rupestris oil attracted both sexes of C. capitata at 5 μg, whereas T. minuta showed opposite activities between males (attractant) and females (repellent). Oils from T. minuta and T. filifolia were the most repellent to T. infestans. The results suggest that compositions of essential oils influence their insecticidal and olfactory properties. The essential oils from Tagetes species show an important potential as infochemical agents on insects' behaviors. This study highlights the chemical variability of essential oils as a source of variation of anti-insect properties.