Bilateral microphthalmia and aphakia associated with multiple eye abnormalities in a free-living European red deer calf (Cervus elaphus)

A free-living European red deer calf (Cervus elaphus) was euthanized due to bilateral microphthalmia. Lens was missing, replaced by proliferating squamous epithelial cells; hyperplastic squamous cells, sebaceous and mucinous glands were observed within the cornea with the characteristics of inclusion cyst. Findings were consistent with congenital microphthalmia/aphakia, with multiple eye abnormalities.     

Ovarian activity in F1 prepubertal ewe lambs under tropical conditions

Seventy crossbred ewe lambs, born from Pelibuey (PB) dams mated with five sire breeds: White Dorper × PB (WD × PB), Black Head Dorper × PB (BHD × PB), Ile de France × PB (Ile × PB) Katahdin × PB (KT × PB) and Pelibuey (PB × PB), were used to determine age and weight to puberty, follicular populations during prepubertal development, ovulation rate at first ovulation and function of the first corpus luteum (FCL). Ewe lambs were maintained under grazing conditions and were supplemented with 300 g head^− 1 day^− 1 of a concentrate with 14% CP and 3.0 Mcal ME kg^− 1 of DM. From 145 days of age, monthly observations were performed by endoscopy to monitor follicular populations and luteal structures. Ovarian follicles were classified according to size into small (≥ 1 and < 3 mm), medium (≥ 3 and ≤ 4 mm) and large (> 4 mm). Additionally, weekly observations by ultrasonography were performed in four ewes per genotype to assess follicular populations. Luteal function from first ovulation was determined by circulating concentrations of progesterone. Ovulation rate was not affected by genotype (P > 0.05). All breed groups had the same pattern of follicular populations, where most of follicles were small, followed by medium and a small proportion of large follicles. Maximum diameter of follicles was similar for all genotypes during prepubertal development (P > 0.05), with an average range of 3.9 ± 0.20 to 4.4 ± 0.20 mm. The BHD × PB reached puberty at the youngest age of 240.9 ± 13.0 days, compared to all other genotypes (P < 0.05), 259.1 ± 11.7 for WD × PB, 279.3 ± 9.6 for KT × PB and 289.0 ± 15.3 days for PB × PB and 308.6 ± 11.9 days for Ile × PB ewe lambs. Ile × PB had greater weight to first ovulation (31.5 ± 1.19 kg) as compared to other breed groups (P < 0.01). The largest percentage of FCL was for KT × PB ewes (100%) (P < 0.05), followed by BHD × PB (88.9%), PB × PB (83.3), WD × PB (78.6%) and Ile × PB (77.8%). There were no differences in ovulation rate attributable to type of lambing from which ewe lambs came from (P > 0.05). BHD × PB ewe lambs reached puberty at an earlier age than other in this study. KT × PB ewe lambs had the highest percentage of FCL in their first ovulation. Breed of sire Ile de France increased weight to puberty and decreased FCL at first ovulation. In conclusion, the BHD × PB ewe showed puberty at an earlier age than other genotypes, while the KT × PB had the highest percentage of functional corpus luteum in their first ovulation. Ewe lambs coming from single lambings reach puberty at a heavier weight than those coming from multiple lambings. The ovulation rate in the first ovulation of ewe lambs is not affected by genotype and type of lambing.     

Variants of the recently discovered avian gyrovirus 2 are detected in Southern Brazil and The Netherlands

A genome of a virus preliminarily named avian gyrovirus 2 (AGV2), a close relative to chicken anemia virus, was recently discovered in a chicken in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil. To study the occurrence of AGV2 in Rio Grande do Sul and the neighboring state Santa Catarina, a number of adult chickens (n=108 and n=48, respectively) were tested for the presence of AGV2 DNA. An AGV2-specific PCR was developed, optimized and used to analyze DNA extracted from clinical samples. AGV2 DNA was detected in 98/108 (90.7%) of samples collected in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and 29/48 (60.4%) of the samples collected in the state of Santa Catarina. In order to check whether AGV2 DNA would be detected in samples from a geographically distant region, DNA from brain samples of 21 diseased chickens from the Netherlands were tested independently, by the same method. In such specimens, 9/21 (42.9%) brain tissue samples were found to contain AVG2 DNA. Sequence analysis of some of the PCR products demonstrated that the amplified AGV2 sequences could vary up to 15.8% and could preliminarily be divided in three groups. This indicated the occurrence of variants of AGV2, which may reflect differences in geographical origin and/or in biological properties. The data presented here provides evidence that AGV2 seems fairly distributed in chickens in Southern Brazil and that AGV2 also circulates in the Netherlands. Besides, circulating viruses display genetic variants whose significance should be further examined, particularly to determine whether AGV2 would play any role in chicken diseases.     

Effect of human disturbance on the structure and regeneration of forests in the Nevado de Toluca National Park, Mexico

Sample plots were established in the principal forest types in the the Nevado de Toluca National Park, Mexico including those dominated by Pinus hartwegii, Abies religiosa, Quercus laurina and Alnus jorullensis. The vertical structure was defined by three strata in the coniferous forests and two strata in the broadleaved forests. Timber harvesting in Abies religiosa and Quercus laurina forests and fires generated by humans in Pinus hartwegii forests impeded the recruitment of saplings. Mature trees were also heavily impacted by logging in Pinus hartwegii forests. On the contrary, Alnus jorullensis forests were increasing due to the disturbance of Pinus and Quercus forests, as well abandoned crop lands within the park. A combination of logging, uncontrolled fire, and grazing appears to be compromising the recruitment of important tree species in this national park. These factors, together with human settlements, have also increased the proportion of early successional species. Changes in forest structure from human disturbance indicate a need to control these activities if conservation goals are not to be compromised.     

Pyrosequencing of the rabies virus glycoprotein gene to demonstrate absence of vaccine-associated rabies cases following oral vaccination

Replication competent vaccines have been used successfully for the control of terrestrial rabies, mainly in wildlife; however, these vaccine strains occasionally may induce rabies. In this study, a pyrosequencing protocol for the rapid identification of vaccine-associated rabies viruses was applied to the 2008–2011 Italian epidemic. There was no evidence of vaccine-associated rabies cases following oral vaccination of foxes with the SAG2 and SADB19 vaccine strains.     

A rare Cryptosporidium parvum genotype associated with infection of lambs and zoonotic transmission in Italy

An outbreak of cryptosporidiosis occurred in a mixed sheep/cattle farm of Central Italy in October 2011. A total of 450 ovines (250 sheep and 200 lambs) and 140 bovines (130 cows and 10 calves) were housed in two separated units, at the time of the outbreak. About half of the lambs had diarrhea due to Cryptosporidium sp. with a mortality rate of 80%; calves were not infected. Genomic DNA was extracted from an archived slide and from fecal specimens, and the parasite was identified as Cryptosporidium parvum by PCR and sequence analysis at the CpA135 gene. Genotyping at the GP60 gene showed the presence of a very rare genotype, IIaA20G2R1. Shortly after the outbreak was identified, the son of the farm's owner, aged 18 months, experienced an acute gastroenteritis and was hospitalized due to recurrent episodes of diarrhea, fever, vomiting and lack of appetite. The feces tested negative for bacteria and viruses, whereas cryptosporidiosis was diagnosed by microscopy and an immunochromatographic test. Molecular typing identified the C. parvum genotype IIaA20G2R1 in the feces of the child. This is the first case of transmission of cryptosporidiosis in Italy involving lambs as source of oocysts infectious to humans.     

Effects of α-tocopherol and Ascorbic Acid on Equine Semen Quality after Cryopreservation

This study investigated the effects of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol supplementation on semen quality parameters of equine thawed-frozen semen. Semen was divided in seven different treatments in a final concentration of 100 × 10⁶ sperm/mL by using Gent extender containing no supplements (control) and the following supplements with three different concentrations: α-tocopherol (0.5, 1, and 2 mM) and ascorbic acid (0.45, 0.9, and 1.8 g/L). After thawing, all samples were maintained at 37°C, while analyses were performed at 0, 60, and 120 minutes. Evaluation of viability and acrosome status (using Pisum sativum agglutinin conjugated to fluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide), mitochondrial membrane potential (5,5′,6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′tetraethylbenzimidazolyl carbocyanine iodine [JC-1]), membrane lipid peroxidation (LPO; C₁₁-BODIPY^581/591), and stability of the plasmatic membrane (merocyanine 540 and Yo-Pro-1) of each sample was determined by flow cytometry. Relative to the control group, supplementation with α-tocopherol improved (P ≤ .05) postthaw membrane LPO, yet the higher concentrations of ascorbic acid (0.9 and 1.8 g/L, respectively) showed a negative effect on membrane LPO. Neither antioxidant significantly increased (P > .05) the acrosome integrity and mitochondrial membrane potential of frozen-thawed spermatozoa, although supplementation with α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid (0.9 and 1.8 g/L, respectively) had a positive effect on membrane integrity and stability (P ≤ .05). For all semen parameters, the lower concentration of ascorbic acid (0.45 g/L) did not show significant differences (P > .05) compared with the control. In conclusion, α-tocopherol seems to be an efficient antioxidant for reducing the oxidative stress provoked by cryopreservation, decreasing lipid peroxidation on equine spermatozoa.     

Meat quality and nutritional composition of pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) reared in an extensive system

Abstract 1. Carcass cuts, chemical composition, colour, textural parameters, fatty acid and amino acid profiles, macro- and micromineral content and sensory properties of breast and drumstick meat from 10 month old common pheasant produced in an extensive rearing system were analysed.

2. Breast muscle was characterised by a high concentration of protein (254 g/kg), low content of intramuscular fat (1.3 g/kg), considerable amount of Fe-haeme (4.9 mg/kg) low shear force (1.96 kg/cm²) and hardness (4.07 kg/cm²).

3. The main drumstick characteristics were 222 g of protein/kg, 4.0 g of intramuscular fat/g and a significant higher cholesterol concentration compared to that of breast (7.7 vs. 2.9 g/kg).

4. Saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid mean values for both muscle types were approximately 34.5%, 43.3% and 24.2% of total fatty acid methyl esters, respectively, and n-3 content in breast was significantly higher (3.21% vs. 1.65%). Significant differences were found between the three tissues (breast, drumstick and subcutaneous fat).

5. Large differences in the amino acid profile between breast and drumstick were detected, especially in the non-essential fraction. The main essential amino acids were lysine and leucine, whereas aspartic and glutamic acids were the most important non-essential amino acids.

6. There were significant differences between muscle types in the mineral content with regard to iron, magnesium, sodium and zinc. Pheasant meat is a good nutritional source of iron as 100 g of drumstick may provide 23.6% of the recommended daily amount.     

Grass silage for biorefinery—A meta‐analysis of silage factors affecting liquid–solid separation

This meta‐analysis based on 19 studies from Finland comprising 43 grass silages was undertaken to evaluate the effect of silage quality on liquid yield, liquid composition and retained compounds in liquid using four different liquid–solid separation methods. Silages were classified according to species (grass, clover or a mixture of them), additive treatment (no, biological or formic acid‐based additive) and harvest (primary growth or regrowth). A mixed model regression analysis with random study effect was used to evaluate the impact of silage characteristics on biorefinery efficiency. There was a large variation in silage quality in the data set. Silage dry‐matter concentration was the characteristic most highly correlated with liquid yield for all separation methods, and when used as an independent variable in the model, it resulted in the best predictions. The liquid–solid separation methods presented a great variation in the liquid yield, ranging from 0.26 to 0.56 when silage dry‐matter concentration was standardized to 250 g/kg. There was no effect of additive treatment and harvest in the estimation of the biorefinery potential, but species was a significant variable in predicting liquid yield for the laboratory‐scale presses with higher liquid yield for mixed grass and legume. The high correlation between silage quality and liquid yield and liquid composition provides potential to predict the biorefinery potential based on equations developed for each separation method. This information can be used to modify the silage production systems so that they best meet the requirements of a green biorefinery process.