Combined treatment with oestradiol benzoate,d‐cloprostenol and oxytocin permits cervical dilation and nonsurgical embryo recovery in ewes

This study examined the feasibility of transcervical embryo recovery after the hormonal treatment to induce cervical dilation, following the 7‐day oestrous synchronization protocol in multiparous Santa Inês ewes. A total of 23 cyclic ewes received two doses of 37.5 μg of d‐cloprostenol by latero‐vulvar route 7 days apart. After the second injection of d‐cloprostenol, the ewes were checked for oestrus (every 12 hr) and then mated by fertile rams throughout the oestrous period. All ewes received 37.5 μg of d‐cloprostenol (latero‐vulvar) and 1 mg of oestradiol benzoate by either intramuscular (EBim group; n = 12) or intravaginal (EBivg group; n = 11) route 16 hr before embryo flushing. Twenty minutes before the flushing, 50 IU of oxytocin were administered intravenously. The oestrous response (i.e., the percentage of ewes that showed signs of oestrous behaviour after the second d‐cloprostenol injection) was 91.3% (21/23). The proportion of successfully penetrated ewes (81.8% compared with 80.0%), the mean duration of embryo flushing (24.7 ± 2.0 min compared 26.2 ± 1.9 min), the flushing fluid recovery rate (94.8 ± 1.3% compared with 91.0 ± 2.9%) and the average number of structures recovered per ewe (0.5 ± 0.4 compared with 0.8 ± 0.4) did not vary (p > 0.05) between the EBim and EBivg groups. Viable embryos were recovered from 41.2% (7/17) of successfully penetrated ewes. It can be concluded that nonsurgical (i.e., transcervical) embryo collection can be performed in oestrous‐synchronized Santa Inês ewes pretreated with d‐cloprostenol, oxytocin and oestradiol benzoate, with the latter hormone administered by either the intramuscular or intravaginal route.     

Outbreak of type C botulism in captive wild birds

In late summer 2010, an outbreak of type C botulism affected the birds kept in a dam at a southern Brazilian zoo. A total of 14(10 black-necked swans, Cygnus melancoryphus; 3 Muscovy ducks, Cairina moschata; and 1 fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor) out of 100 birds died after showing flaccid paralysis of the skeletal muscles characterized by general locomotion deficit, flight and swimming disorders, dropped neck, and severe dyspnea. Carcasses of dead birds (some infested by larvae of sarcophagus fly) scattered in the bird enclosure, and oxygen-free, organically rich mud and/or shallow standing waters present at the edges of the weir were identified as possible toxin sources. Postmortem examinations revealed no significant pathological changes. Epidemiologic and clinical findings indicated the diagnosis of type C botulism toxin, which was confirmed by mouse bioassay and seroneutralization.     

Effect of clove (Eugenia caryophyllus) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) essential oils in Nile tilapia diets on performance,antioxidant power and lipid oxidation in fillets

This study evaluated the addition (0.35 and 0.70 g/kg feed) of clove (EOcl) or cinnamon (EOci) essential oils to Nile tilapia feed for 45 days to assess animal performance, antioxidant capacity and lipid oxidation in fillets. The design was completely randomised with five treatments and three replicates. Antioxidant capacity was determined by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC_FL), 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazylhydrate (DPPH), ferric reducing ability power (FRAP) and 2,2’‐azino‐bis (3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays, and lipid oxidation was determined by the thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBARs) assay. Animal performance was not altered by adding the essential oils. The fillets treated with 0.35 g/kg of EOcl presented higher antioxidant capacity in the L‐ORAC_FL assay and a 40.3% reduction in lipid oxidation, whereas the EOci provided a pro‐oxidant effect relative to the control treatment. Based on these results, adding 0.35 g/kg of EOcl to the diet for 45 days before slaughter increased the antioxidant capacity and reduced the lipid oxidation of the fillets, contributing to product quality without altering animal performance.     

Prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in Chicken Hybrids with Different Growth Rates,Reared According to Conventional and “Free-Range” Production Methods

Veterinary Research Communications - Miraglia D., Ranucci D., Branciari R., Cioffi A., Mammoli R., Cenci Goga B.T. and Avellini P., 2007. Prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli...     

Induction of flavonoid production by UV-B radiation in Passiflora quadrangularis callus cultures

Callus cultures from several species of Passiflora were initiated in vitro, and their capacity to produce four glycosyl flavonoids (orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, isovitexin) was analysed. The aim of the present work was to examine the possible role of UV-B irradiation and elicitation with methyl jasmonate (MJ) on the production of these compounds in callus cultures. All the species tested (P. incarnata, P. quadrangularis, P. edulis) formed friable callus from leaf explants after 4 weeks on medium supplemented with kinetin and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Among them, P. quadrangularis turned out to have a faster growth rate and a more friable texture, and was therefore chosen for experiments with elicitors. In callus cultures only small amounts of isoorientin were found, while the concentration of the other flavonoids was below the detection limit. UV-B irradiation of calluses was able to increase the production of all four glycosyl flavonoids. After a 7-day exposure of cultures to UV-B light, the production of isoorientin reached concentrations similar to those found in fresh leaves from glasshouse-grown plants. Elicitation with methyl jasmonate also enhanced orientin, vitexin and isovitexin concentrations, even though the stimulation was about 6-fold weaker for orientin and vitexin and about 40-fold for isovitexin, than that exerted by UV-B treatment. Callus cultures treated with the UV-B dose which most enhanced flavonoid production showed a higher antioxidant activity compared to untreated calluses, with an increase ranging from 28% to 76%. Results show that the secondary metabolite biosynthetic capacity of Passiflora tissue cultures can be enhanced by appropriate forms of elicitation.