Recovery efficiency of nitrogen from liquid and solid fractions of pig slurry obtained using different separation technologies

The characteristics of solid (SF) and liquid (LF) fractions resulting from solid–liquid separation of pig slurry depend on the separation technique used. It can be assumed that the separation technique will also affect the nitrogen (N) availability to plants. A pot experiment was performed with ryegrass to compare the N‐recovery efficiency of SFs and LFs obtained with four frequently used separation techniques (centrifugation [Cent], sediment settling during 20 h [Sed], enhanced settling during 20 h by addition of cationic polyacrylamide [Sed+PAM], sieving [Siev], sieving followed by treatment of the resulting liquid fraction by PAM addition [Siev+PAM]) with the untreated slurry (US) and an unfertilized control. Increases (2–17%) of ryegrass dry matter yield (DMY) were obtained in LF treatments relative to US. However, this increase was statistically significant only for the Siev+PAM‐L treatment. A significant decrease of ryegrass DMY was observed in SF treatments relative to US. All treatments with SFs led to similar values of DMY while only small differences were observed between treatments receiving LFs. A significant correlation (R² = 0.968) was observed between the total DMY and the NH$ _4^+ $ ‐ N : N_tot ratio of the fraction applied suggesting that this is a major parameter to be considered when comparing separation techniques. Overall, the separation techniques showed only a weak effect on the dry matter yields and on the N ‐ recovery efficiency from LF and SF although they strongly affected the nutrient concentration and speciation in each fraction.     

Morphometry of the heart of greater rhea (Rhea americana americana,Linnaeus, 1758)

Heart diseases in birds are frequent and generate significant production disorders. Morphometry is a valuable tool to provide fundamental information about heart conditions. Few studies have addressed morphological aspects of the heart of ratite birds, such as the Greater rhea. The present study aimed to analyse rhea heart morphometry, comparing young and adult subjects, in order to provide relevant information for the diagnosis of heart disease in this species. Hearts of young (n = 10) and adult (n = 10) female rheas were used in this research. Heart length and width and sternum length were measured using a caliper. Heart length and width and sternum length in adults were approximately three times greater than in young individuals. The left ventricular wall (LVW) was thicker than the right ventricular wall (RVW) at all ages, and the RVW was thicker in adults when compared to young subjects. The basal and middle RVW regions thicken with advancing age, and the thickness of the interventricular septum (ISW) occupies an intermediate position between the LVW and RVW. In general, an increase in rhea heart thickness and size relative to age is observed. The morphometric variations between young and adult rhea hearts observed in the present study may serve as a comparative subsidy for the diagnosis of cardiac abnormalities observed in this species.     

Epidemiology, clinical signs, histopathology and molecular characterization of canine leproid granuloma: a retrospective study of cases from Brazil

Thirty-eight cases of canine leproid granuloma were diagnosed between 2000 and 2008. Diagnosis was based upon clinical and histopathological findings and the presence of acid-fast bacilli in skin sections. The clinical lesions were localized predominantly on the pinnae and included papules, plaques and nodules, with or without ulceration. Boxer dogs were the breed most affected. Histopathological findings included nodular to diffuse pyogranulomatous, lymphoplasmocytic inflammatory infiltrates, with or without necrosis, localized in the dermis or subcutaneous tissue. The bacillary loading and morphology were variable among the lesions analysed. There was no significant correlation between bacterial load and histopathological pattern, dominant type of inflammatory infiltration or the amount of necrosis or giant cells. No correlation was observed between giant cells and histopathological pattern. In the majority of cases where a PCR-based assay was done, a novel mycobacterium species as the main aetiological agent was identified, as reported in previous studies.     

Right‐sided laryngeal hemiplegia and Horner's syndrome in a horse

This study describes right laryngeal hemiplegia (LH) and right‐sided Horner's syndrome (HS) in a horse. The average temperature of the face was 3.5°C higher on the right compared with the left side, as determined by thermographic imaging. The syndrome occurred following an episode of right mid‐cervical cellulitis due to inadvertent perijugular deposition of gentamicin.     

Evaluation of a broad variety of coumarins,chromones, their furohomologues and thione analogues as phototoxins activated by UVA and visible light

The potential of a new kind of light-induced pesticide action was evaluated for a broad variety (32) of natural photosensitizers and their thione derivatives. The latter were synthesized to shift the absorption spectra towards the visible region and to increase the triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of growth inhibition of Fusarium culmorum (F. G. Smith) Sacc. produced by these photosensitizers under UVA and visible light was performed on silica gel plates and in liquid medium. The results show that the phototoxicity per excited molecule of the thione derivatives using UVA light was similar to that of their parent natural compounds. On the other hand, only the thione derivatives were photoactive under visible light irradiation. These compounds show encouraging levels of phototoxicity against F. culmorum, both in liquid culture and on silica plates, and may have potential for use as photoactive pesticides.     

Effects of buprenorphine,butorphanol or tramadol premedication on anaesthetic induction with alfaxalone in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

Objective

To investigate the clinical and physiological effects of intravenous (IV) alfaxalone alone or in combination with buprenorphine, butorphanol or tramadol premedication in marmosets.

IRMS as a tool to obtain the carbon turnover (δ13C) in organs of weaned piglets fed glutamic acid and nucleotides

Early weaning of piglets causes stress characterized by a decrease in feed intake followed by a decline in growth rates; thus, a fast recovery represents an essential step for proper growth of these animals. Considering that IRMS is a potential tool for non‐destructive sampling and the fact that it provides time‐integrated estimate of assimilated and not just ingested nutrients turned possible its application to evaluate the effects of dietary nucleotides and glutamate on carbon turnover (δ¹³C) in organs of weanling piglets. At day 0, three piglets were slaughtered (prior to diet switch), the remaining eighty‐four piglets weaned at 21‐day‐old were randomly assigned in a complete block design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (two Nu levels: 0 and 0.1% and two Glu levels: 0 and 1%), being three piglets per treatment slaughtered on trial days 3, 6, 9, 14, 21, 35 and 49. The samples were analysed by IRMS and adjusted to first‐order equation by a non‐linear regression analysis using NLIN of SAS, in order to establish exponential graphics. After that, the turnover data were submitted to analysis of variance using GLM of SAS. The turnover value (t_95%) verified for spleen was faster (p < 0.05) when glutamate was supplemented in diets. For pancreas and liver, the turnover rates were faster (p < 0.05) for the mixture of additives. However, for renal tissue, the turnover rate (t_95%) was greater (p < 0.05) for the free additive diet. The results obtained suggest that the mixture of additives was more efficient to develop the digestive tract at post‐weaning phase, taking into account the functional importance of pancreas and liver for nutrients’ digestion and processing.