Effects of saponins, quercetin, eugenol, and cinnamaldehyde on fatty acid biohydrogenation of forage polyunsaturated fatty acids in dual-flow continuous culture fermenters

Four different plant secondary metabolites were screened for their effect on rumen biohydrogenation of forage long-chain fatty acids, using dual-flow continuous culture fermenters. Treatments were as follows: control (no additive), positive control (12 mg/L of monensin), and plant extracts (500 and 1,000 mg/L of triterpene saponin; 250 and 500 mg/L of quercetin; 250 mg/L of eugenol; 500 mg/L of cinnamaldehyde). Monensin increased propionate, decreased acetate and butyrate proportions, and inhibited the complete biohydrogenation of fatty acids resulting in the accumulation of intermediates of the biohydrogenation process (C18:2 trans-11, cis-15 rather than C18:1 trans-11). Cinnamaldehyde decreased total VFA concentration and proportions of odd and branched-chain fatty acids in total fat effluent. Apparent biohydrogenation of C18:2n-6 and C18:3n-3 was also less, and a shift from the major known biohydrogenation pathway to a secondary pathway of C18:2n-6 was observed, as evidenced by an accumulation of C18:1 trans-10 and trans-10, cis-12 CLA. Quercetin (500 mg/L) increased total VFA concentration, but no shifts in the pathways or extent of biohydrogenation were observed. Eugenol resulted in the accumulation of C18:1 trans-15 and C18:1 cis-15, end products of an alternative biohydrogenation pathway of C18:3n-3. Triterpene saponins did not affect the fermentation pattern, the biohydrogenation pathways, or the extent of biohydrogenation. At the doses tested in this study, we could only show a direct relation between changes in the rumen fatty acid metabolism and the presence of cinnamaldehyde but not for eugenol, quercetin, or triterpene saponins.     

Selective liquid CO2 extraction of purine alkaloids in different Ilex paraguariensis progenies grown under environmental influences

In this investigation, liquid carbon dioxide at 20 degrees C and 150 bar was used for the selective extraction of caffeine and theobromine from dry leaves of mate. A comparison between the chromatograms from CO2 extraction and traditional solvent extraction supports the selectivity of carbon dioxide for these purine alkaloids. The advantages of selective liquid CO2 extraction in terms of speed and resolution of UV/HPLC is also evidenced. A randomized block design of experiments was proposed to investigate the influence of 16 progenies of Ilex paraguariensis grown in 3 diverse sites on the contents of caffeine and theobromine in liquors of mate leaves obtained by extraction with compressed CO2. A significant effect of both these factors on the parameters investigated was observed by involving the F distribution in the statistical analysis. A cluster analysis based on the experimental uncertainties in the contents of these two methylxanthines has identified from four to six different groups of mate progenies.     

Melatonin membrane receptors MT1 and MT2 are expressed in ram spermatozoa from non-seasonal breeds

Tropical Animal Health and Production - In mammals, many melatonin biological functions are mediated through its interaction with the membrane receptors MT1 and MT2. We have previously reported...     

Egg drop syndrome '76 in Bolivia

Summary Four outbreaks of Egg Drop Syndrome '76 (EDS '76) were diagnosed between April 1993 and July 1993 in the Santa Cruz Department of Bolivia, around the department capital Santa Cruz. Three outbreaks involved commercial laying birds and the fourth a broiler breeder unit. Clinical signs were typical of EDS '76 with decreases in egg production of up to 55% being recorded as well as the production of thin shelled and shell-less eggs. A total of 183 serum samples from the 4 farms were tested for the presence of antibodies to the EDS '76 virus using a haemagglutination inhibition test, with titres of 16 or above being considered as a positive result. Of 63 samples from groups of birds showing signs of EDS '76, 58 (92·1%) had positive titres, and 88 out of 90 samples (97·8%) from unaffected groups of birds had negative titres. Out of 30 samples from birds not yet in lay from the affected farms 28 (93·3%) had titres below 16.EDS '76 had not been reported in Bolivia prior to these outbreaks and vaccination was not practised. The most probable source of virus was from day old chicks imported from South American countries which had recorded outbreaks of EDS '76 before April 1993. The source of the virus, its spread and the control measures implemented in the Santa Cruz area are discussed.

---

Sindrome De Caida De La Puesta '76 En Bolivia

Resumen Entre abril de 1993 y julio de 1993 se diagnosticaron 4 brotes de síndrome de caida de la puesta '76 (EDS '76) en el departamento de Santa Cruz de Bolivia, y más concretamente en los alrededores de la capital del departamento, Santa Cruz. Tres brotes afectaron a naves comerciales de ponedoras y el cuarto afectó a una granja de reproductoras tipo carne. Los síntomas fueron los característicos de EDS '76, con disminuciones en la puesta de hasta el 55% y producción de huevos sin cáscara o con la cáscara muy delgada. Un total de 183 muestras de suero procedentes de las 4 granjas fueron sometidas a una prueba de inhibición de la hemoaglutinación con objeto de detectar anticuerpos frente al virus de la EDS '76. Un título igual o superior a 16 se consideró positivo. De las 663 muestras procedentes de animales con signos clínicos, 58 (92·1%) fueron positivas, mientras que 88 de las 90 muestras (97·8%) de animales clínicamente sanos fueron negativas. De las 30 muestras procedentes de aves que noe estaban en puesta todavía pero procedían de granjas afectadas por la enfermedad, 28 (93·3%) fueron negativas.El EDS '76 no había sido diagnosticado en Bolivia anteriormente y no se realizaban vacunaciones para prevenirlo. Probablemente, el virus fue introducido al importar pollitos de un día de países sudamericanos que sufrieron brotes de EDS '76 antes del mes de abril de 1993. Se discuten la fuente del virus, su diseminación y las medidas de control implementadas en Santa Cruz.

---

Egg Drop Syndrome '76 En Bolivie (EDS '76-Infection De l'Oviducte Par Des Adenovirus Causant Une Fragilite Des Coquilles d'Oeuf)

Résumé Quatre épidémies liées à l'EDS '76 furent diagnostiquées entre Avril 1993 et Juillet 1993 dans le départment de Santa Cruz en Bolivie, autour de la capitale de Santa Cruz. Trois épidémies impliquèrent des productions de poules pondeuses et la quatrième une unité de poulets à rotir. Les signes cliniques furent typiques de l'EDS '76 avec la diminution de la production d'oeufs jusqu'à 55% ainsi que la production d'oeufs à coquilles plus fine ou en moins grande quantité. 183 serums provenant des 4 fermes furent testés pour la présence d'anticorps contre le virus de l'EDS '76 utilisant un test d'inhibition de l'hémo-agglutination, les titres au dessus ou égaux à 16 furent considérés comme positif. Sur les 63 échantillons provenant du groupe des oiseaux avec les signes de d'EDS '76, 58 (92,1%) eurent des titres positifs et sur les 90 oiseaux du groupe non-infectés, 88 (97,8%) eurent des titres négatifs. Sur les 30 oiseaux pas encore pondeurs provenant des fermes contaminées, 28 (93,3%) eurent des titres inférieurs à 16. L'infection par l'EDS '76 n'avait pas été signalé en Bolivie avant ces épidémies et la vaccination ne fut pas pratiquée. La source la plus probable de contamination proviendrait de poussins agés d'un jour et provenant de pays d'Amèrique du Sud où des épidemies de EDS '76 furent signalées avant Avril 1993. La source du virus, sa dissémination et les mesures de contrôle implantées dans la région de Santa Cruz sont discutées.

     

Fungal flora of normal eyes of healthy horses from the State of Rio de Janeiro,Brazil

The conjunctival fungal flora of 32 adult horses with normal eyes (n = 64) from the State of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil was identified in the fall of 2000 using horses of different breeds, both genders and aged 5-19 years old. The culture samples were taken from the conjunctival sac of both eyes with a sterile cotton swab wetted with saline solution, seeded in Sabouraud's dextrose agar with chloramphenicol, and incubated for 5 days at an average temperature of 25 degrees C. The number of fungal colonies per eye varied between 0 and 250 colony forming units (CFUs). There were often differences in colony types between eyes of the same animal. Filamentous fungi of genera were isolated and identified in the following proportion of the total genera of fungal colonies isolated: Aspergillus (32.2%), Penicillium (25.8%), Scopulariopsis (15.9%), Trichoderma (11.2%), Cladosporium (5.6%), Mucor (2.1%), Syncephalastrum (2.1%), Eurotium (1.7%), Geotrichum (0.9%), Rhizopus (0.9%), Gliomastix (0.4%), Fusarium (0.4%), Staphylotrichum (0.4%) and Verticillium (0.4%). Yeast genera represented 9% of the total isolates. Over half the horses had at least one normal eye with either Aspergillus, Penicillium, Trichoderma or Scopulariopsis isolated, which is a departure from other studies of the normal horse eye.     

Contribution of bioflocs to the culture of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Litopenaeus vannamei</Emphasis> post-larvae determined using stable isotopes

The aim of this study was to use preselected quality indicators for Litopenaeus vannamei post-larvae and the stable isotopes technique with δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N to determine the influence of bioflocs in shrimp feeding during the nursery phase, between PL1 and PL30. A control treatment (CT) with water renewal was compared to a biofloc treatment (BT) that received organic carbon fertilizations. Different types of commercial feed (Stresspak and Flake-INVE?, PL40-GUABI?), microalgae (Chaetoceros muelleri) and Artemia sp. nauplii were used as food sources. The physical and chemical parameters of water and ammonia were monitored daily, and nitrite, nitrate and alkalinity were measured weekly. Suspended solids and the microorganisms of bioflocs were characterized. At the end of the experiment, fifteen shrimps of each replicate were collected to evaluate nine larvae quality indicators. Isotopic values of ¹³C and ¹⁵N of food sources and shrimp tissues were collected on days 10, 20 and 30, and a Bayesian model of isotopic mixture measured the contributions of these sources to the shrimp biomass. Salinity, alkalinity and nitrite differed significantly between the treatments but were appropriate for post-larvae production. The larvae quality conditions in the CT treatment were ranked as “good,” whereas the BT conditions were considered “excellent” according to the analysis of larval quality parameters. The stable isotopes analysis showed that the PL40 GUABI? feed was the most important food source throughout the experimental period in the CT. In the BT (10th and 20th days), the bioflocs and commercial feeds (Flake-INVE?, PL40-GUABI?) did not present significant variations in their contribution ratios; however, on the 30th day, the contribution of the PL40-GUABI? feed was higher when compared to bioflocs. In general, the commercial feed played a more important role as a food source for Litopenaeus vannamei larvae during the nursery phase, although the consumption of bioflocs led to a better larvae quality.     

Variable resistance of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) lines carrying 2NS/2AS translocation to wheat blast

Wheat blast disease, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae (anamorph Pyricularia oryzae), produces severe damage to wheat production in South America. It was observed that many resistant cultivars contain the 2NS/2AS translocation from Triticum ventricosum. In this study, we evaluate the presence of the 2NS/2AS translocation in 57 advanced breeding lines and one variety ‘Caninde 1’ from Paraguayan wheat germplasm, using VENTRIUP‐LN2 primers. The germplasm ‘Caninde 1 and 22’ of the breeding lines, found positive for the presence of 2NS/2AS translocation, were inoculated with a single aggressive Magnaporthe pathotype P14‐039, to assess their response to wheat blast infection under controlled conditions. Based on the disease infection score, ten of the breeding lines, ‘Caninde 1’ and ‘Milan’ (positive control), were classified as resistant. Three of the remaining breeding lines were classified as moderately resistant, five as moderately susceptible and other four as susceptible. Our results show that the expression of 2NS/2AS‐based blast resistance is more dependent on genetic background of the inserted germplasm than previously envisioned.     

Sperm motility parameters to evaluate the seminal quality of Boa constrictor occidentalis, a threatened snake species

Semen quality analysis constitutes a powerful tool to evaluate the fertility potential of males in threatened species. The Argentine boa constrictor or lampalagua (Boa constrictor occidentalis) is a threatened snake species and has been included in Appendix I of CITES. The objective of this work is to characterize the sperm of B. c. occidentalis on the bases of dynamic parameters to improve this species conservation. Dynamic parameters were measured in sperm samples using videomicroscopy and image analysis software. The sperm population showed a high degree of heterogeneity in velocity parameter values and 95% of the cells showed a linear pattern of movement. Studies in other species indicate that the number of motile spermatozoa and their movement speed is directly correlated with fertilization success. This work will help to establish basic parameter values for the evaluation of the reproductive potential of populations of B. c. occidentalis and to resolve questions referred to its reproductive strategies.