500 years of breeding in the Carthusian Strain of Pura Raza Español horse: An evolutional analysis using genealogical and genomic data

The Carthusian horse is a Pura Raza Español (PRE) strain (CS), bred as a closed population since its creation more than 500 years ago. The aim of this study was to analyse for the first time its population structure and situation of variability combining both genealogical (GEL) and genomic (GEN) data. The GEL data comprised 348,429 pedigree records (56,105 CS horses), while the GEN analysis included the high-density genotypes (670,804 SNPs) of 287 horses. Pedigree completeness demonstrated its accuracy, showing a good correlation of GEL (F) and GEN (F_ROH) inbreeding coefficient in the case of PRE subpopulations partially related and non-related to Carthusian strain (0.68) but a lower value in the 100% Carthusian horses (0.42), due to the high weight of founders not detected by GEL analysis. GEN (PCA, AMOVA, and Admixture) and GEL analysis showed a good differentiation of subpopulations, but also a high level of introgression of the CS in the breed during past decades. A recent change in this trend was noteworthy, with a considerable reduction in CS variability and a genetic bottleneck (effective population sizes of 31.57 and 30.20 in GEL and GEN analysis, respectively, in last generation). The PRE has maintained its variability, and a considerable difference in estimated N_e by GEL (60.77) and GEN (188.0) data was observed. Using two sources of complementary information, it was found the existence of an ancient PRE strain with a unique genetic landmark, practically free from the influence of other equine populations.     

Nutritional status of Amerindian children from the Beni River (lowland Bolivia) as related to environmental, maternal and dietary factors

OBJECTIVES: To report the nutritional status of children aged up to 15 years and their mothers living in a remote Amazonian area of Bolivia, and to study its main social, familial and maternal determinants.SETTING: Fifteen Beni River communities located at the foot of the Andes.DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey of riverside populations. All childbearing mothers and their children in the 15 communities were examined.METHODS: Information on household production, dietary habits and demography was collected. Individual clinical, anthropometric and parasitological examinations were carried out.SUBJECTS: A total of 631 persons were examined: 171 mothers and 460 children and adolescents aged 0 to 15 years.Results: There were no cases of severe wasting, but 41% of 0-5-year-olds and 36% of 5-10-year-olds were stunted. Among 346 stool specimens examined, 75% were positive for at least one helminth. Diversity of food and quality of diet were satisfactory in 54% of households, but 27% had low diversity scores. Mothers were lighter and shorter than those observed at the national level: 20% had height below 145 cm. Prevalence of anaemia (42%) was also higher. In pre-school children, multivariate analysis indicated a relationship between growth retardation and household factors such as dietary quality, ethnic group and clinical state, but not maternal anthropometry. In contrast, in school-age children and adolescents, growth retardation was related to maternal characteristics.CONCLUSIONS: Growth retardation appeared mainly during the weaning period and did not seem to improve thereafter. To ameliorate this situation, an effort should be made to prevent common parasitic and infectious diseases in young children. Follow-up of pregnant mothers during pregnancy and delivery also needs to be reinforced.     

The effects of açaí oil addition in tilapia diets on performance,hepatic energy metabolism enzymes and antioxidant responses

The aim of the present study was to determine whether açai oil (Euterpe oleraceae) addition in the diets of juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in biofloc system would stimulate hepatic energy metabolism and antioxidant responses. Treatments are as follows: T0 (6%‐soybean oil), T1 (1%‐AÇAI; 5%‐SOY), T3 (3% AÇAI; 3%‐SOY) and T6 (6%‐AÇAI). In the liver, reactive oxygen species levels were significantly lower in T1, T3 and T6 than in T0, lipid peroxidation levels were significantly lower in T3 and T6, and nitric oxide levels were significantly lower in the T6 than in T0. Glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly higher in the T3 and T6 than in T0, while superoxide dismutase activity and total antioxidant capacity levels were significantly higher in the T6 than in T0. Adenylate kinase activity was significantly lower in the T6 than in T0. These results suggest that the açai oil addition in Nile tilapia diets stimulated antioxidant responses.     

Rapid methodology for antigenic profiling of FMDV field strains and for the control of identity, purity and viral integrity in commercial virus vaccines using monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) developed against different foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) vaccine strains were extensively used to study any possible antigenic variations during vaccine production in Argentine facilities. Additionally, a typing ELISA using strain specific MAbs was developed to detect potential cross contaminations among FMDV strains in master and working seeds with high specificity and sensitivity and to confirm strains identity in formulated vaccines. This assay was carried out for the South American strains currently in use in production facilities in Argentina (A24/Cruzeiro, A/Argentina/01, O1/Campos and C3/Indaial) and for the strain O/Taiwan, produced only for export to Asia. These non-cross reactive MAbs were also used to analyze the integrity of viral particles belonging to each one of the individual strains, following isolation of 140S virions by means of sucrose density gradients from the aqueous phase of commercial polyvalent vaccines. Antigenic profiles were defined for FMDV reference strains using panels of MAbs, and a coefficient of correlation of reactivity with these panels was calculated to establish consistent identity upon serial passages of master and production seeds. A comparison of vaccine and field strain antigenic profiles performed using coefficients of correlation allowed the rapid identification of two main groups of serotype A viruses collected during the last FMD epidemic in Argentina, whose reactivity matched closely to A/Argentina/2000 and A/Argentina/2001 strains.     

Canine visceral leishmaniasis in urban and rural areas of Northeast Brazil

The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical and laboratory profiles of canine leishmaniasis in two distinct areas. Dogs from urban and rural areas were examined. The population studied in the metropolitan area included 54 dogs. Of these, 20 (37%) animals did not present with any signs suggestive of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Among these, only eight were confirmed negative by ELISA (rK39 and CE) and 12 dogs, clinically negative for leishmaniasis, were seropositive by ELISA (rK39 and CE). Thinness, conjunctivitis and onychogryphosis were the most frequent clinical signs in the urban areas, followed by crusty lesions, alopecia, ulcerated lesions, hyperkeratosis and exfoliation. In the metropolitan area human VL cases occurred mainly in 1991, 1992, 1999 and 2000. In the rural areas the ELISA rK39 test detected a seroprevalence of 11.3% and ELISA CE (Leishmania crude extract) of 20.6%. Thirty-nine dogs were examined 6 months after the first visit. Serological exams using rK39 antigen showed seroconversion of only one dog, whereas Leishmania CE showed seroconversion of 13 (33.4%) dogs. In this rural environment 83.3% of the positive dogs were asymptomatic. Lutzomyia intermedia and Lu. longipalpis were the most predominant sandfly vector species. Amastigotes were identified in spleen and liver fragments of symptomatic necropsied animals. PCR amplification of DNA isolated from promastigote culture indicated that the species was Leishmania chagasi. This finding suggests that delayed diagnosis and euthanasia of potentially infectious animals may occur with an increased transmission risk to sandflies and subsequently to humans.     

Amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) vicilin subunit structure

The 7S-globulin fraction is a minor component of the amaranth storage proteins. The present work provides new information about this protein. The amaranth 7S-globulin or vicilin presented a sedimentation coefficient of 8.6 ± 0.6 S and was composed of main subunits of 66, 52, 38, and 16 kDa. On the basis of mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of tryptic fragments, the 52, 38, and 16 kDa subunits presented sequence homology with sesame vicilin, whereas the 66 kDa subunit showed sequence similarity with a putative vicilin. Several characteristics of the 66 kDa subunit were similar to members of the convicilin family. Results support the hypothesis that the 7S-globulin molecules are composed of subunits coming from at least two gene families with primary products of 66 and 52 kDa, respectively. According to the present information, amaranth vicilin may be classified into the vicilin group that includes pea, broad bean, and sesame vicilins, among others.     

Pharmacokinetics of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim in donkeys, mules, and horses

OBJECTIVE: To compare serum disposition of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim after IV administration to donkeys, mules, and horses. ANIMALS: 5 donkeys, 5 mules, and 3 horses. PROCEDURE: Blood samples were collected before (time 0) and 5, 15, 30, and 45 minutes and 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 8, 10, and 24 hours after IV administration of sulfamethoxazole (12.5 mg/kg) and trimethoprim (2.5 mg/kg). Serum was analyzed in triplicate with high-performance liquid chromatography for determination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim concentrations. Serum concentration-time curve for each animal was analyzed separately to estimate noncompartmental pharmacokinetic variables. RESULTS: Clearance of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole in donkeys was significantly faster than in mules or horses. In donkeys, mean residence time (MRT) of sulfamethoxazole (2.5 hours) was less than half the MRT in mules (6.2 hours); MRT of trimethoprim in donkeys (0.8 hours) was half that in horses (1.5 hours). Volume of distribution at steady state (Vdss) for sulfamethoxazole did not differ, but Vdss of trimethoprim was significantly greater in horses than mules or donkeys. Area under the curve for sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim was higher in mules than in horses or donkeys. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Dosing intervals for IV administration of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in horses may not be appropriate for use in donkeys or mules. Donkeys eliminate the drugs rapidly, compared with horses. Ratios of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole optimum for antibacterial activity are maintained for only a short duration in horses, donkeys, and mules.