First molecular epidemiological study of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in cattle and buffalo from different regions of Brazil

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Paratuberculosis is an incurable disease in ruminants with great worldwide economic impact, caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). The...     

Cutaneous pyogranuloma in a cat caused by virulent Rhodococcus equi containing an 87 kb type I plasmid

A 2-year-old intact male domestic shorthaired cat presented with a chronic, nodular, ulcerated, cutaneous lesion on the right thoracic limb. Histological and cytological examination revealed a pyogranulomatous inflammation with basophilic organisms in the macrophages. A virulent form of Rhodococcus equi containing an 87 kb type I (VapA) virulence plasmid was identified from cultures of biopsy samples. This report describes the clinicopathological features, plasmid profile and virulence of this case of R equi infection.     

Chemical,Physicochemical, and Nutritional Evaluation of Plantago (Plantago ovata Forsk)

Plantago ovata F. are small tan‐colored seeds with ≈30% weight husk. Plantago's husk high content of soluble fiber makes it a good lubricant of the intestinal track with demonstrated effects in lowering plasma cholesterol levels in humans and experimental animals. Plantago seeds grown in Northern Mexico were analyzed for proximate composition, combustion heat, soluble and insoluble dietary fiber, fatty acids, amino acids, and protein fractionation. In vitro digestibility and digestibility of dry matter, apparent and true digestibility, and net protein ratio (in vivo) were also analyzed. Plantago seeds had 17.4% protein, 6.7% fat, 24.6% total dietary fiber, 19.6% insoluble fiber, 5.0% soluble fiber, and a combustion heat of 4.75 kcal/g. Osborne fractionation (based on solubility) yielded albumin 35.8%, globulin 23.9%, and prolamin 11.7%. The oil from plantago seeds had a high percentage of linoleic acid (40.6%) and oleic acid (39.1%) and a minor proportion of linolenic acid (6.9%). In vitro protein digestibility of the plantago seed was 77.5%, suggesting a highly digestible protein. Lysine content was 6.82 g/100 g of protein, higher than wheat and oats (2.46 and 4.20 g/100 g of protein, respectively). Rat bioassays showed values of 89.6% digestibility of dry matter, 86.0% apparent digestibility, 88.1% true digestibility, and 4.40 net protein ratio corrected (NPRc). The importance of these findings is that plantago whole grain shows favorable nutritional quality when compared with cereals and legumes.     

Inter‐specific hybridization between Black Sea trout (Salmo labrax Pallas, 1814) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum, 1792)

Thermal shock‐induced triploid and unshocked control hybrids between rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Black Sea trout (Salmo labrax) and their parental species were produced under hatchery condition by using heat shocks. Triploidization reduced eyed egg rate and alevin yield in all groups. Low survival rate was observed in both shock‐induced triploid hybrid and non‐shock‐induced control hybrids. Although hybrids demonstrated low body weight during the first feeding stage, they reached higher body weight by day 200 when compared with Black Sea trout and rainbow trout. A higher specific growth rate was calculated as 3.60 in the triploid hybrid groups, 1.41 in the triploid Black Sea trout groups and 2.27 in the triploid rainbow trout groups between days 110 and 200. A lower condition factor was determined in the hybrid than in the diploid parental species. A negative value of mid‐parent heterosis (MPH) performance was deected for condition factor, and a favourable MPH was detected for specific growth rate and weight in hybrids.     

Silicon Leaf Fertilization Promotes Biofortification and Increases Dry Matter,Ascorbate Content,and Decreases Post-Harvest Leaf Water Loss of Chard and Kale

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of silicon (Si) leaf fertilization in different concentrations and sources on the production and quality of chard and kale. We carried out two experiments with chard and kale under a completely randomized design with four replicates in a 2 × 4 factorial scheme and two sources of silicon: potassium silicate and stabilized sodium potassium silicate with four concentrations of Si: 0.00; 0.84; 1.68 and 2.52 g L^?1. We performed three leaf sprays every 10 days. The chard and kale were harvested at 48 and 54 days after transplanting the seedlings, respectively. Silicon leaf fertilization is important for leafy vegetables like chard and kale because it increases the content and the accumulation of Si and the growth and production of the vegetables. It also improved growth, productivity, and quality. The Silicon leaf fertilization of 2.52 g L^?1 in the form of potassium silicate was the most notable.     

Effects of dietary protein sources on growth,survival and digestive capacity of Octopus maya juveniles (Mollusca: Cephalopoda)

We propose two hypotheses to explain the inexistence of adequate prepared diet for Octopus maya at this date: Hypothesis 1 is related to changes in protein structure during protein cooking, which affects the digestibility. Hypothesis 2 is related to changes on nutritional characteristics during ingredient process, which affects the nutritional composition of diet. To test hypothesis 1, experiments one and two were directed to determine if protein cooking reduces digestibility and growth of animals when compared to fresh or lyophilized protein sources. For hypothesis 2, three experiments were conducted, testing seven different dietary protein sources offered in isolation or combined in artificial diets fed to O. maya. Results demonstrated that the diets that promoted growth were the ones based on fresh crab paste, and both lyophilized crab and squid tentacles paste. In consequence hypothesis 1 was accepted. The cooking process also changed nutritional characteristics of protein sources, affecting the growth of O. maya. Results obtained when squid and crab were mixed suggest that nutritional requirements of octopuses were covered with that diet in similar forms compared to when using fresh or lyophilized crab, also confirming hypothesis 2. Based on growth rates obtained, we can conclude that nutritional requirements of O. maya must be between 80% and 86% Protein (P), 5.1–5.6% Lipids and a protein: energy ratio between (P/E) 38.9 and 42.2 g MJ^?1.     

Characterization of Isoforms of the Lectin Isolated from the Red Algae Bryothamnion seaforthii and Its Pro-Healing Effect

Lectins are a structurally heterogeneous group of proteins that have specific binding sites for carbohydrates and glycoconjugates. Because of their biotechnological potential, lectins are widely used in biomedical research. The present study aimed to evaluate the healing potential of the lectin isolated from the marine red alga Bryothamnion seaforthii (BSL). The lectin was purified using ion exchange chromatography with DEAE cellulose and characterized using tandem mass spectrometry. For healing tests, skin wounds were induced in the dorsal thoracic region of mice. These animals were randomly divided into three groups and subjected to topical treatment for 12 days with BSL, bovine serum albumin and 150 mM NaCl. To evaluate the potential of each treatment, the animals were anesthetized and sacrificed on days 2, 7 and 12, respectively. The parameters evaluated included the wound area, the proportion of wound closure and the histological diagnosis. The wound closure was more effective with BSL (Postoperative Day 7 and 12) than controls. The luminal epithelium was completely restructured; the presence of collagen in the dermis and the strongly active presence of young skin annexes demonstrate the potential of treatment with BSL compared with controls. Our findings suggest that BSL has pro-healing properties and can be a potential medical process in the treatment of acute wounds.