Seroprevalence and risk factors for Neospora caninum in sheep in the state Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with infection due to Neospora caninum in serum samples from 488 sheep originating from 63 farms in 63 municipalities distributed across eight of the twelve mesoregions of the state Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. For detection of N. caninum the sheep serum samples were subjected to the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT ≥ 50). To identify the risk factors associated with infection due to N. caninum a questionnaire was filled out for each herd by interviewing, the individual responsible for the herd, demanding information on the general characteristics of the property. Sixty-four sheep sera (13.1%; 95% CI=10.3-16.4) presented IgG-specific anti-N. caninum antibodies with the following titers: 50 (49; 76.6%), 100 (7; 10.9%), 200 (4; 6.2%), 400 (3; 4.7%) and 800 (1; 1.6%). The prevalence of infected sheep per mesoregion ranged from 0 to 28.1%. Out of the 63 farms sampled, 31 (49.2%; 95% CI=36.4-62.1) presented at least one seropositive sheep. No significant association was found between the presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies and the risk factors evaluated on the farms, except for the mesoregion variable (p=0.004; OR=0.429; CI95%=0.182-1.008). These results indicate that there is a need for additional research to define the epidemiological importance of this parasite as a cause of reproductive problems in sheep herds in Minas Gerais.     

Mini‐cutting technique application in Corymbia and Eucalyptus: effects of mini‐tunnel use across seasons of the year

New Forests - The forestry sector has been able to sustainably satisfy the increasing global demand for forest products, thereby positively impacting the economy, while mitigating climate change....     

β～肾上腺能兴奋剂对不同日粮蛋白质、蛋氨酸水平下肉鸭生长及胴体品质的影响

用121只天府肉鸭,在蛋白质水平为15％、17％(添加0、0.21％蛋氨酸)和15％日粮中分别添加0、0.5、1ppm苯甲醇胺进行饲喂,测定21至42日龄鸭生产性能和胴体品质,探讨了不同饲粮条件下添加苯甲醇胺的效果。结果表明,添加1ppm苯甲醇胺鸭只的增重、42日龄屠宰率、胸腿肌率及鸭体蛋白、水分含量在17％,15％CP和0.21％met组显著高于0ppm对照(P<0.05—0.01),而腹脂率肌胃重及体脂含量显著降低(P<0.05—0.01)而20％cp及0％met组添加苯甲醇胺对增重、体成分无显著影响。     

Follicular Dynamics in Heifers during Pre-pubertal and Pubertal Period Kept under Two Levels of Dietary Energy Intake

The objective of this study was to characterize follicular dynamics in pre-pubertal, pubertal and post-pubertal periods, as well as the effect of high-energy intake on follicular development and age at puberty in heifers. Thirty-one Nelore (Bos indicus) heifers, 6 months old, were randomly assigned to receive two different diets: one of low (GI) and other of high dietary energy intake (GII). Animals were evaluated in relation to body weight gain by being weighed every 21 days. Heifers were evaluated every other day by real-time linear ultrasonography to characterize ovarian structures development from weaning to post-pubertal period. Blood samples were collected to determine plasmatic concentrations of progesterone by RIA method. The ovulation was determined when progesterone concentrations were >1 ng/mL in three consecutive samples, and by ultrasound images of corpus luteum; and oestrous behaviour in some animals. Age at puberty differed among heifers of GII (17.00 +/- 0.46 months) compared with heifers of GI (19.87 +/- 0.47 months; p < or = 0.05). Maximum size of the dominant follicles at pre-pubertal period was greater in GII heifers than in GI (10.52 +/- 0.33 and 9.76 +/- 0.15 mm, respectively; p < or = 0.05). As heifers approached first ovulation time, size of dominant follicle increased (11.75 +/- 0.37 mm for GI and 12.52 +/- 0.91 mm for GII; p < or = 0.05). Body weight at puberty was not different in both groups (302.33 +/- 27.31 kg for GI and 326.19 +/- 27.78 kg for GII heifers; p > 0.05). We conclude that animals receiving high dietary energy intake attained the puberty earlier and the development of follicles were different than in low dietary energy intake.     

Prevalence of antibodies to equine viruses in the Netherlands

Summary The prevalence of antibodies to various viruses was investigated in a series of serum samples collected from horses in the Netherlands between 1963 and 1966 and from 1972 onwards. Neutralizing antibodies to equine rhinopneumonitis virus, equine arteritis virus and to equine rhinovirus types 1 and 2 were detected in respectively 76%, 14%, 66% and 59% of the equine serum samples tested. The observed incidence of serum samples positive to equine adenovirus in the complement fixation test was 39%. Precipitating antibodies to equine infectious anaemia virus were detected only in serum samples from two horses imported from abroad. Haemagglutination inhibiting antibodies to Myxovirus influenzae A / equi-1, M. Influenzae A / equi-2, and Reovirus types 1, 2, and 3 were present in respectively 82%, 50%, 10%, 33% and 3.6% of the serum samples tested. The most frequently observed incidence of antibodies to the various equine respiratory viruses occurred in the groups of horses having repeatedly contact with other horses.     

Yield map generation of perennial crops for fresh consumption

Yield mapping technologies can help to increase the quantity and quality of agricultural production. Current systems only focus on the quantification of the harvest, but the quality has equal or greater importance in some perennial crops and impacts directly on the financial profitability. Therefore, a system was developed to quantify and relate the quality obtained in the classification line with the plants of the orchard and for decision-making. The system is comprised of hardware, which obtains the location of the harvester bag during harvesting and unloading at the unloading site, and software that processes the collected data. The cloud of real-time data contributed from the different collectors (bins) allows the construction of yield maps, considering the multi-stage harvesting system. Further, the system enables the creation of a detailed map of the plants and fruits harvested. As the harvest focuses on quality, it takes place in stages, depending on the ripening of the fruits. In addition to the yield maps, the system allows identification of the efficiency of each worker undertaking the harvest by the number of performed discharges and by the time spent. The system was developed in partnership with the Federal Technological University of Paraná and Embrapa Uva & Vinho and was tested in apple orchards in southern Brazil. Although the system was evaluated with only data from apple cultivation, monitoring the quality and quantifying other orchard fruits can positively impact the fruit sector.

     

Hemostatic changes in dogs with naturally occurring sepsis

Sepsis is a frequent source of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. The goal of this case control study was to measure hemostatic changes in dogs with naturally occurring sepsis. Blood was collected within 24 hours of admission from 20 dogs that fulfilled the criteria for sepsis. Sepsis was defined as histologic or microbiological confirmation of infection and 2 or more of the following criteria: hypo- or hyperthermia, tachycardia, tachypnea, or leukopenia, leukocytosis, or > 3% bands. Culture and sensitivities were performed on appropriate samples from all septic dogs. Twenty-eight control dogs were enrolled on the basis of normal results of physical examination, CBC, serum biochemistry, and coagulation profile. Plasma samples were analyzed for prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), fibrin(ogen) degradation products (FDP), D-dimer (DD) concentrations, antithrombin (AT) activity, and protein C (PC) activity. Data were compared between groups by chi-square or independent t-tests. PC (P < .001) and AT (P < .001) activities were significantly lower in dogs with sepsis compared to controls. Dogs with sepsis had significantly higher PT (P = .007), PTT (P = .005), D-dimer (P = .005), and FDP (P = .001) compared to controls. Platelet counts were not significantly different between groups. Ten of the 20 septic dogs (50%) died, but no association was identified between any of the measured variables and outcome. These findings are consistent with previous studies in animals with experimentally induced disease and in clinical studies of humans. On the basis of these results, further investigation of the role of AT and PC in canine sepsis is warranted.     

Dairy science and health in the tropics: challenges and opportunities for the next decades

In the next two decades, the world population will increase significantly; the majority in the developing countries located in the tropics of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. To feed such a population, it is necessary to increase the availability of food, particularly high-value animal protein foods produced locally, namely meat and dairy products. Dairy production in tropical regions has a lot of growth potential, but also poses a series of problems, particularly as dairy production systems were developed in temperate countries and in most cases are difficult to implement in the tropics. Drawbacks include hot weather and heat stress, the lack of availability of adequate feeds, poor infrastructure, and cold chain and the competition with cheap imports from temperate countries. This position paper reviews the major drawbacks in dairy production for the five major dairy species: cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goat, and camel, as well as the future trends in research and development. It also concerns the major trends in reproduction and production systems and health issues as well as environmental concerns, particularly those related to greenhouse gas emissions. Tropical Animal Health and Production now launches a topical collection on Tropical Dairy Science. We aim to publish interesting and significant papers in tropical dairy science. On behalf of the editorial board of the Tropical Animal Health and Production, we would like to invite all authors working in this field to submit their works on this topic to this topical collection in our journal.

     

CMT和(S)-CMT对菊花水培扦插生根的影响

为初步探明2种新合成的酰脲类化合物CMT和(S)-CMT对植物生长发育的影响,以不同浓度的CMT和(S)-CMT水溶液对菊花插条基部进行处理,测定了处理后水培扦插不同时期菊花的生根和根苗生长状况。结果表明,CMT和(S)-CMT均能明显提高扦插菊花的生根率、生根数和根长,并使根和苗生长健壮。二者均以5mg/L处理效果较好,其中(S)-CMT 5 mg/L为最佳。     

北京市五环内道路绿地土壤细菌群落结构特征

土壤细菌的群落结构特征能够准确反映当前土壤生态系统稳定性,为城市道路绿地的管理提供重要参考依据。以北京市五环内道路绿地为研究对象,选取34个样点进行土壤细菌高通量测序,探究北京市五环内道路绿地土壤细菌的群落组成、多样性和丰富度,并采用冗余分析(RDA)法分析土壤环境因子对细菌群落结构的影响。结果表明,北京市五环内道路绿地土壤细菌群落多样性和丰富度存在显著差异,且由市中心向外呈递减趋势;门分类水平下优势菌门包括变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)4类菌门,占土壤细菌总比的78%左右;属分类水平下主要由RB41、鞘氨醇单胞菌属(Sphingomonas)、H16等优势属组成;属分类水平下细菌的群落结构组成较门分类水平呈现出更为明显的分异;RDA分析结果共解释了50.26%的变异,土壤含水量、全N、有机质和有效P与土壤细菌群落结构组成存在显著相关性。总体来看,北京市五环内道路绿地土壤养分状况处于中等偏下水平,可通过改善道路绿地的管理措施提升土壤质量,进而优化土壤细菌群落结构,提高土壤生态系统的稳定性。