Bovine viral diarrhea virus subgenotype 1b in water buffalos (Bubalus bubalis) from Brazil

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Serological studies have characterized the presence of the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection in water buffalo herds worldwide. However, the...     

Validation of a human immunoturbidimetric assay to measure canine albumin in urine and cerebrospinal fluid.

The aim of this study was to validate an automated immunoturbidimetric assay used to quantify human albumin in urine and to accurately measure canine albumin concentrations in both urine and cerebrospinal fluid. The partial homology existing between human and canine albumin limited the accuracy of the human assays in measuring canine albumin without method modifications. Thus, the assay was modified by calibrating the analyzer with calibrators made in the laboratory containing known concentrations of canine albumin. To prepare the set of calibrators, the albumin concentration of pooled sera of healthy dogs was assessed in 5 replicates using the BromocresolGreen assay. Pooled samples were aliquoted and serially diluted to obtain the expected concentrations of albumin (0.5, 1, 5, 13, and 30 mg/dl) for establishing the canine calibration curve. Thereafter, the performance was assessed by analyzing canine urine and CSF The modified assay accurately quantified canine albumin in both specimens, as indicated by the following. Intra- and interassay variability was 0.92% and 2.74%, respectively; recovery was 99.66% and 99.07% in urine and 105.02% in CSF No interference was detected when hemolysate and glucose were added to urine. The test was linear within the verified range (0-225 mg/dl). These results demonstrate that the modified human albumin immunoturbidimetric assay can be a useful tool in the veterinary diagnostic laboratory. It is accurate and tends itself to automatization on chemistry analyzers.     

Dissolved nutrient release from solid wastes of southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii, Castelnau) aquaculture

Finfish pens are point sources of dissolved nutrients released from fish metabolism or degradation of solid wastes. Nutrients leaching from uneaten feed and faeces are not usually quantified in mass budgets for these systems, leading to an overestimation of fish retention or deposition to the seabed. In this study, we investigated nutrient leaching from pellets and baitfish feed as well as faeces of southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) into seawater. Faeces were nitrogen depleted (51–54 mg N g⁻¹ dw) and phosphorus enriched (62–72 mg P g⁻¹ dw) compared with feeds (83–111 mg N g⁻¹ dw and 17–21 mg P g⁻¹ dw). Less phosphorus was available for leaching from pellets and faeces of pellet‐fed tuna (5–6%) than from baitfish and faeces of baitfish‐fed tuna (17–21%). The proportion of soluble nitrogen in pellets (15%) was also lower than in baitfish and faeces (35–43%). Leaching loads for a feed conversion ratio of 5 were estimated as 22 and 26 kg N tonne⁻¹ growth when baitfish or pellets were used as feed respectively. Phosphorus loads were estimated as 15 and 4 kg P tonne⁻¹ growth respectively. More than 90% of nitrogen loads, and approximately 50% of phosphorus, are likely to be released into seawater before solid wastes reach the seafloor.     

First record of infection by Trypanosoma sp. of Colossoma macropomum (Serrasalmidae), a neotropical fish cultivated in the Brazilian Amazon

Fish farming has grown rapidly in Brazil over the last two decades, due in part to the availability of water and species with potential for cultivation, such as Colossoma macropomum. This farmed fish, however, can be affected by parasitic infections with high mortality rates (>35%). The main objective of the present study was to describe the first occurrence of the Trypanosoma species in Colossoma macropomum, which occurred in fish cultured in the Brazilian Amazon region, as well as to morphologically characterize the trypomastigotes and the impact of these hemoparasites on the body condition of the hosts. The trypanosomes found in the blood of Colossoma macropomum were morphologically characterized by the size of the trypomastigote form, indicating the presence of only one morphotype. Of the 39 hosts examined from one fish farming, 41.0% were infected by Trypanosoma sp., with low levels of infection (mean blood density of 3.7/μL). The condition factor of the asymptomatic hosts was not affected by hemoparasitism. There was no correlation between the abundance of Trypanosoma sp. and the condition factor and size of the hosts. Finally, our understanding of host-parasite interactions and the detection of emerging diseases are fundamental for aquaculture.     

Sperm cryopreservation of tiete tetra Brycon insignis (Characiformes): effects of cryoprotectants,extenders, thawing temperatures and activating agents on motility features

The aim of this study was to test the effects of cryoprotectants [dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and methylglycol], extenders (0.9% NaCl, 5% glucose, Beltsville Thawing Solution^? and Merck III^?), thawing temperatures (30 and 60 °C) and activating agents (0.29% NaCl and 1% NaHCO₃) on the cryopreservation process of tiete tetra Brycon insignis sperm. Sperm was loaded in 0.5 mL straws, frozen in nitrogen vapour at ?170 °C and stored in liquid nitrogen. Post‐thaw sperm quality was evaluated in terms of subjective motility rate, quality motility score (0=no movement; 5=rapidly swimming spermatozoa), duration of motility and vitality (eosin–nigrosin staining). Post‐thaw sperm motility rate was greater in methylglycol (76–88%), compared with DMSO (23–59%). In general, the highest quality motility scores were observed when sperm was thawed at 30 °C and triggered in 1% NaHCO₃ (3.5–4.3). Duration of motility was longer when triggered in 1% NaHCO₃ (95–120 s) compared with 0.29% NaCl (69–107 s). Sperm vitality was not affected by any of the parameters tested and varied from 51% to 69% intact sperm. Brycon insignis sperm frozen in methylglycol combined with any of the extenders tested and using the methods described above yields motility above 57% and that should last long enough to fertilize oocytes.     

Variable number of tandem aminoacid repeats in adhesion-related CDS products in Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae strains

The Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae genome contains at least 22 regions with a variable number of tandem nucleotide repeats (VNTRs) within coding DNA sequences (CDSs). In this work, the VNTR-containing CDSs were analysed in order to evaluate their degree of variation, possible correlations with antigenic properties, and their potential to be used as a basis for a strain typing PCR assay. We have analysed the VNTRs in five M. hyopneumoniae strains (J, 7448, 7422, PMS, and 232), based on published genomic sequences and on amplified and sequenced DNA segments. These VNTRs are distributed among 12 genes, most of which encode putative surface proteins, including known adhesins. The number of repeat units in any of the VNTRs is highly variable among the analysed strains, but they are, without exception, translationally in frame, and, therefore, code for a variable number of aminoacid repeats (VNTARs). These VNTARs determine putative structural, physicochemical and antigenic variations in the corresponding proteins, with potential implications for aspects associated to M. hyopneumoniae pathogenicity, such as cell adhesion and interactions with the host immune system. Considering that the characterized VNTARs are relatively stable, at least in vitro, and their sizes are strain-specific, we have developed a VNTR-based PCR assay for M. hyopneumoniae strain identification, useful for enzootic pneumonia (EP) diagnosis, strain typing, and distinction of circulating field isolates from vaccine strains in animals vaccinated against EP.     

ACE inhibition in goats under fixed‐time artificial insemination protocol increases the pregnancy rate and twin births

To assess the effect of the angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition on the efficiency of the fixed‐time artificial insemination (TAI), 69 goats were divided randomly into two groups: enalapril (n = 35) and control (n = 34). In the experiment, all animals underwent the protocol of fixed‐time artificial insemination for 12 days. Enalapril group received enalapril maleate dissolved in saline (Enalapril, Lab Teuto Ltda) subcutaneously at the following doses: 0.2 mg/kg/day in D0‐D2; 0.3 mg/kg/day in D3‐D6 and 0.4 mg/kg/day in D7‐D11. The control group received the corresponding volume of 0.9% saline solution. We performed a single insemination 36 hr after sponge removal using frozen semen from two adult male goats with recognized fertility. The ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis was 30 days after the artificial insemination (AI). There was significant increase in pregnancy rates and twinning as well as a decrease in foetal loss in animals receiving enalapril (p < .01). The use of ACE inhibitors during the TAI protocol was shown to be a promising alternative to increase the efficiency of such reproductive biotechnology.     

Feeding behavior of feedlot lambs fed diets containing levels of cassava wastewater

In this study, we evaluated the effects of including cassava wastewater in the diet on the feeding behavior of feedlot lambs in 35 male uncastrated Santa Inês × Dorper crossbred lambs at an approximate age of 3 months, with an average live weight of 20.0?±?3.4 kg. Diets were formulated with hay of cassava shoots (roughage) and a concentrate based on corn and soybean, with a roughage:concentrate ratio of 50:50, plus inclusion of cassava wastewater at the levels of 0, 12, 24, 36, or 48 g/kg of the total diet. Feeding behavior was evaluated between the 46th and 52nd days of the experiment. Increasing cassava wastewater levels in the diet reduced (P?<?0.05) the intakes (kg/day) of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber as well as the efficiency of rumination (g/cud and g/h) of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber. The other behavioral parameters were not affected by wastewater inclusion in the diet. Therefore, the inclusion of up to 48 g/kg of cassava wastewater on fresh matter of diets is not recommended for feedlot lambs.