Nutritional responses of rats to diets based on chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) seed meal or its protein fractions

The aim of this study was to isolate the protein fractions from chickpea, var. IAC-Marrocos, as well as to evaluate its in vivo nutritional protein quality. Among the proteins, albumins showed better nutritional value in the in vivo assays and amino acid contents, despite their higher trypsin inhibitor contents. Trypsin inhibitors were found to be heat labile in all samples, but the digestibility results for unheated and heated flour and albumins suggest that their contents are not very decisive. The PER values for casein (not supplemented) were very similar to those of heated flour and unheated or heated albumin and total globulins. The albumin and glutelin fractions showed the best results for PDCAAS, however, lower than those of casein. Despite the high digestibility of the globulin the very low essential amino acid content lowered its PDCAAS, and it had the lowest values.     

Sustainable sediment management in coastal infrastructures through an innovative technology: preliminary results of the MARINAPLAN PLUS LIFE project

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The paper aims to show the preliminary monitoring and field test results of the innovative technology tested in the framework of the MARINAPLAN PLUS LIFE project...     

Comparative study of epidural xylazine or clonidine in horses

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cardiorespiratory and behavioural effects of epidural xylazine (XYL) or clonidine (CLO) in horses. STUDY DESIGN: Blinded, randomized experimental study. ANIMALS: Twelve healthy Arabian yearling horses weighing 117-204 kg were randomly allocated into two groups: XYL (n = 6) and CLO (n = 6). METHODS: An epidural catheter was inserted and a facial arterial catheter was placed and the next day the horses were restrained in stocks. Baseline values for heart (HR) and respiratory (RR) rates, arterial pressure and behavioural responses were evaluated before (T0) and 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after epidural injection (T10-T120). The horses received 0.2 mg kg(-1) of XYL or 5 microg kg(-1) CLO; adjusted to (3.4 + (body weight in kg x 0.013) mL with saline. Data were analysed by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, one-way anova with repeated measures, and one-way anova followed by a Student-Newman-Keuls test or Fisher's exact test, as necessary. Significance was set at p < or = 0.05. RESULTS: Sedation and ataxia were seen at T10, persisting until T120 in four and three horses, respectively, in XYL and all horses in CLO respectively. Two XYL and one CLO horses became recumbent at T45 and T25 respectively. Penile prolapse occurred in four of five males at T30 and T45, in the XYL and CLO groups, respectively, resolving by T120. Tail relaxation was present from T10 to T120 in all horses in XYL and in four horses in CLO. Head drop was observed from T20 to T60 and from T10 to T120 in XYL and CLO respectively. Respiratory rate decreased significantly only at T45 in the CLO group. Heart rate and arterial blood pressure remained stable. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Epidural CLO and XYL produce similar cardiorespiratory and behavioural changes but neither would be safe to use clinically at the doses used in this study.     

Mixed infection by Libyostrongylus douglassii and L. dentatus (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae) in Struthio camelus (Ratites: Struthioniformes) from Brazil with further morphological characterization of adults

The genus Libyostrongylus includes three species, L. douglassii, L. dentatus and L. magnus that occur as parasites in the proventriculus of Struthio camelus. We confirmed a mixed infection by L. douglassii and L. dentatus in farmed ostriches from the southeast of Brazil for the first time, and provided new information on some morphological characters that differentiate these species. Adult nematodes collected from the proventriculus of ostriches were observed by light and scanning electron microscopy. Morphologic characterization and morphometric analysis of the nematodes enabled the distinction of both species and corroborated results of prior studies. Specimens of L. dentatus have a buccal capsule with a prominent esophageal tooth. Furthermore, males and females of L. dentatus were larger (4954 and 9347 microm) than those of L. douglassii (3411 and 4229 microm), but measurements for most characters in both species were smaller then those previously reported. Besides, the cephalic structure based on scanning electron microscopy differs, and L. dentatus has thick lips with round papillae, whereas L. douglassii has fine lips with lengthened papillae. The confirmation of both species in South America strongly suggests that the mixed infection may be common in farmed ostriches.     

Electrolytes Changes in Mammary Secretions Before Foaling in Jennies

No knowledge regarding the peripartum changes in mammary secretions in the jenny are presently available in literature. In the mare, instead, several studies report the role of these changes as indicators of foetal readiness for birth and impending parturition. This experiment was designed to determine calcium, sodium, potassium concentrations, and the value of sodium/potassium ratio in mammary fluids during prepartum in the jenny. Samples were daily collected by hand milking, after mammary gland size increased noticeably, from 17 Martina Franca jennies. Prepartum mammary secretions were analysed every other day between day 10 and day 2 antepartum, and then once a day from the day before to the day of parturition. Calcium concentration showed a significant increase between day 10 and day 6 antepartum and then between day 6 and days 4 and 2. Afterwards, another statistical significant increase was observed at parturition. Sodium concentration significantly decreased from day 10 to day 2 prepartum. Potassium concentration significantly increased between day 10 and day 8 before parturition, then showed a further increase at day 4, followed by none significant changes until foaling. All jennies showed a reversal in sodium/potassium ratio between 2 days antepartum and the day before. In conclusion, the evaluation of mammary fluid calcium concentrations and the reversal of sodium/potassium ratio could be used as good indicators of foetal maturity in the jenny. As far as the prediction of parturition is concerned, the reversal of sodium/potassium ratio is the best parameter, since it was detected 48–24 h before parturition in all considered animals.     

Spray‐dried porcine plasma improves feed intake of weaned piglets subjected to heat stress

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of spray‐dried porcine plasma (SDPP) on performance, measurement of thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), body temperature and relative organ weights of weaned piglets exposed to a heat stress or a thermoneutral environment. One hundred and forty‐four piglets with initial BW of 5.82 ± 0.33 kg (28 d old) were used. The experimental design was a 4 x 2 factorial arrangement, four plasma levels (0.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5%) and two environments (34º [heat stress (HS)] and 24°C [thermoneutral (TN)]). SDPP was fed from weaning (28 d of age) to the end of the trial (piglets were weighed at the beginning, 7, 21 and 35 days of trial). Rectal, neck, shoulder and leg temperatures were measured every seven days. At 21 days of trial, one piglet per pen was slaughtered to determine the weight of the carcass and organs. Blood samples were collected at 18 and 35 days of trial to determine levels T3 and T4. The rectal, neck, shoulder and leg temperatures were increased (p < 0.05) 0.4, 1.5, 1.0 and 1.3ºC, respectively, and relative weight of the lungs (p < 0.05) and total T3 (p < 0.05) were decreased 0.001 kg/kg and 0.19 ng/dl, respectively, for pigs in the HS environment. The estimated inclusion of 5.1% of SDPP had the greatest (p < 0.05) weight gain during the first week, and throughout the nursery phase, the 5% of inclusion had a tendency of improvement (p = 0.075), regardless of ambient temperature. For the entire period, pigs reared in the HS environment had the greatest (p < 0.05) estimated feed intake by the quadratic regression with the inclusion of 4.3% of SDPP.     

Intrafollicular paraoxonase 1 activity and the steroidogenic potential of the first post‐partum dominant follicle in dairy cows

Cows experiencing high levels of inflammation and specific metabolic conditions tend to have slower follicular growth and lower serum and follicular concentrations of oestradiol (E2). Paraoxonase1 (PON1) activity decreases during inflammatory processes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association between serum and intrafollicular (FF) PON1 activity and the serum and intrafollicular levels of E2 and progesterone (P4), as well as the mRNA expression of genes related to steroidogenesis, metabolism and inflammation in the first post‐partum dominant follicle of Holstein cows. No correlation was found between PON1 activity, the expression of the analysed genes and levels of follicular E2 and P4, except for a negative correlation between serum E2 and follicular PO1 activity. Also, no correlation was found between serum and follicular PON1 during the first post‐partum follicular wave.