Protective activity against oocyst shedding in cats vaccinated with crude rhoptry proteins of the Toxoplasma gondii by the intranasal route

This study evaluated a vaccine made from crude rhoptry proteins of Toxoplasma gondii with Quil-A, which was administered to cats by the intranasal route. Eleven short-hair domestic cats were divided into four groups: G1 (n=3) received three doses (200 microg/dose) of the rhoptry vaccine with Quil-A (20 microg); G2 (n=3) received PBS with Quil-A (20 microg); G3 (n=3) and G4 (n=2) received only PBS. Treatments were administered at days 0, 21, and 42 by the intranasal route. Challenge was done to G1, G2, and G3 animals with 600 cysts of the VEG strain on day 51 (challenge day); G4 animals were unchallenged. The anti-T. gondii IgG and IgA antibody levels from sera were measured by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). At challenge, two animals from G1 revealed antibody levels for both IgG and IgA; oocysts were not detected in feces of these two cats. There were no differences in hematological values between groups throughout the experiment (p>0.10). Preventable fractions were 67% in G1 and 0% in G2 and G3. Comparatively, G1 animals shed 89.3% and 90.8% less oocysts than G3 and G4, respectively. Two out of three cats were protected against T. gondii oocyst shedding when the rhoptry vaccine was administered by the intranasal route. This is the first study using crude rhoptry proteins as vaccine by the intranasal route in cats to evaluate protection against oocysts shedding.     

Improvement of degraded physical attributes of a saline-sodic soil as influenced by phytoremediation and soil conditioners

This study aimed to evaluate the use of phytoremediation and soil conditioners in the recovery of physical attributes of a saline-sodic Fluvic Neossol in Brazil Northeast. The applied treatments were: Atriplex nummularia L., as phytoremediation plant, due to its ability to extract salts from the soil; organic conditioners, such as bovine and sheep manure; gypsum and polymer, as chemical conditioners. Samples with preserved structure were collected at the time of the experiment installation and 18 months after in the layers 0–10 cm and 10–30 cm. The analyzed attributes were: water dispersed clay, dispersion index, bulk density, penetration resistance, soil porosity, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. The use of sheep manure, gypsum and polymer promoted an increase in saturated hydraulic conductivity in the 0–10 cm layer from 4.51 to 16.37 cm day^?1, 11.26 to 23.95 cm day^?1 and 7.24 to 22.77 cm day^?1, respectively. Gypsum increased the macroporosity in the superficial layer by 42.6%. Atriplex and polymer were more efficient at reducing soil penetration resistance. The polymer was more efficient at improving the physical properties. However, it is necessary to consider phytoremediation with Atriplex as a more sustainable alternative that can still be used as complementary fodder in animal feed.     

Meniscal Mineralization in Domestic Cats

Objective: To (1) determine prevalence of radiographically detectable meniscal mineralization in domestic cats and (2) to evaluate the association between meniscal mineralization and degenerative joint disease (DJD). Study Design: Prospective study. Animals: Client‐owned cats (n=100) and 30 feline cadavers. Methods: Randomly selected client‐owned cats were used to determine the prevalence of meniscal mineralization. Stifles from feline cadavers were used to evaluate the relationship between meniscal mineralization (using high‐resolution X‐ray), radiographic DJD, and cartilage damage. Menisci were evaluated histologically. Results: Forty‐six percent of the client‐owned cats had meniscal mineralization detected in 1 or both stifles. Pain scores were not significantly different between stifles with meniscal mineralization and those with no radiographic pathology (P=.38). Thirty‐four of 57 cadaver stifles had meniscal mineralization, which was always located in the cranial horn of the medial meniscus. Percentage mineralization of the menisci was significantly correlated with the cartilage damage score of the medial femoral (r²=0.6; P<.0001) and tibial (r²=0.5; P<.0001) condyles as well as with the total joint cartilage damage (r²=0.36; P<.0001) score and DJD score (r²=0.8; P<.0001). Conclusion: Meniscal mineralization is a common condition in domestic cats and seems to indicate medial compartment DJD. Clinical Relevance: Clinical significance of meniscal mineralization is uncertain. Further work is needed to determine if the meniscal mineralization is a cause, or a consequence of joint degeneration.     

Bupivacaine 0.25% and methylene blue spread with epidural anesthesia in dog

ObjectiveTo evaluate the extent sensory and motor blocks produced by the epidural injection of different volumes of 0.25% bupivacaine (Bu) with methylene blue (MB), in dogs.Study designProspective experimental trial.AnimalsTwenty healthy adult mongrel dogs, weighing 9.9 ± 1.9 kg.MethodsDogs were randomly allocated into one of four groups that received 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 or 0.8 mL kg^?1 of an epidural solution containing 0.25% Bu and MB. Sensory block was evaluated against time by pinching the tail, hind limb interdigital web, toenail bases and the skin over the vertebral dermatomes. Motor block was assessed by ataxia, hind limb weight-bearing ability and by loss of muscle tone of the tail and pelvic limbs. Data were collected at 2, 5, 10, 15 and 30 minutes after the end of epidural injection. After the final time point, dogs were euthanatized and laminectomies were conducted to expose the extent of the dural dye staining.ResultsThe volumes 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 mL kg^?1 of 0.25% Bu and MB blocked a mean of 5, 14.2, 20.2 and 21 dermatomes, respectively. The extent of the senory block increased up to a volume of 0.6 mL kg^?1. Motor block was longer-lasting and more intense than sensory block. Complete dyeing of the spinal cord with MB was achieved in some dogs at 0.4 mL kg^?1 and all dogs at 0.6 mL kg^?1.ConclusionsThe volume of anesthetic injected into the epidural space plays an important role in the quality of the epidural anesthesia. At 0.25%, bupivacaine provided an efficient sensory block at 0.6 mL kg^?1.Clinical relevanceRelatively high volumes (0.6 mL kg^?1) of 0.25%, BU and MB were needed to produce an effective sensory and motor block caudal to the umbilicus, but all spinal cord segments were reached by MB at this dose.     

The essential oil of Eucalyptus tereticornis, and its constituents α- and β-pinene,potentiate acetylcholine-induced contractions in isolated rat trachea

The effects of the essential oil of Eucalyptus tereticornis (EOET), especially the effects of its constituents α- and β-pinene, were studied on rat trachea in vitro. In tracheal rings, EOET, α- or β-pinene potentiated the contractions induced by acetylcholine (ACh). Contractions induced by K⁺ (60 mM) were also potentiated by α- and β-pinene, but were reduced by EOET. Our findings show that EOET has myorelaxant effects on rat airways, but potentiates ACh-induced contractions. Monoterpenes α- and β-pinene are involved in its potentiating actions, but are not responsible for its myorelaxant effects. A putative inhibition of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme is involved.     

Evaluation of Physicochemical,Microbiological and Sensory Stability of Frozen Stored Vacuum-Packed Lamb Meat

Nowadays, lamb meat represents only 7% of all meat produced in the world. In recent years the demand for standardized lamb meat cuts has been considered of great importance and the marketing occurs predominantly in the form of frozen cuts. Herewith, the main of this work was to evaluate the stability and safety of lamb meat during frozen storage. Meats were vacuum packed in high barrier multilayer plastic iflms and stored during 12 mon at （-18±1）℃. The meat stability was assessed by physical and chemical （lipid oxidation, objective color, pH value, cooking losses and instrumental texture）, microbiological （total count of psychrotrophic, coliform count at 45℃, coagulase-positive staphylococci and the presence of Salmonella） and sensory analysis （acceptance test and visual evaluation）. The vacuum packed lamb meat remained stable as to most physical and chemical indexes. Microbiological indexes showed good stability throughout the storage period according to Brazilian legislation standards to pathogenic microorganisms. Although a signiifcant reduction in tenderness （shear force increase from 3 to 8 kg）, it showed a good sensorial acceptance for all attributes tested, including texture, with scores of around 7 （like moderately） during the 12 mon of storage. Therefore, it can be concluded that, under the conditions applied in this study, lamb meat presents a shelf life of at least 12 mon when stored at-18℃.     

Minor beak trimming in chickens leads to loss of mechanoreception and magnetoreception

Routine removal of the tip of the beak of chickens within the poultry industry leads to changes in pecking behavior, which have previously been interpreted as being indicative of pain. By analyzing the force of pecks, with and without the topical application of an analgesic to the beak, we investigated if changes in pecking behavior were due to a loss of sensitivity in the beak or were pain related. Pecking behavior was compared between intact-beak and beak-trimmed chicks with or without topical application of lignocaine during a pain-free period (within 24 h of beak trimming) or after this period (d 2 to 9 of age). After pecking behavior tests, chicks were trained to use a magnetic stimulus to locate hidden food in 1 corner of a square arena. In unrewarded magnetic tests, the location of the chick relative to the magnetic stimulus was determined by automatic image recognition. Beak-trimmed chicks pecked harder than intact-beak chicks within 24 h of beak trimming (P = 0.04), possibly as a means of compensating for the loss of sensory feedback in beak-trimmed chicks. At 2 to 9 d of age, beak-trimmed chicks took longer to peck the pecking stimulus (P < 0.001) and showed fewer pecks in total (P < 0.001), suggesting a reduced pecking motivation. The force of pecks, however, did not differ among treatments at 2 to 9 d of age, suggesting that beak-trimmed chicks were not experiencing pain from the beak. In the magnetic tests, hungry intact-beak chicks stayed nearer to the magnetic stimulus (P = 0.005) and spent proportionally more time within 125 mm of the magnetic stimulus (P = 0.02) that had previously been associated with food than beak-trimmed chicks, which indicated that intact-beak birds were better able to detect the magnetic stimulus than beak-trimmed birds. We concluded that minor beak trimming at a young age did not result in pain in young domestic chicks, but instead led to impaired function of the magnetoreceptors and mechanoreceptors of the beak.     

Validation of an ELISA method for the serological diagnosis of canine brucellosis due to Brucella canis

In the present study, the validation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serodiagnosis of canine brucellosis is described. Two different antigenic extracts, obtained by heat or ultrasonic homogenization of microbial antigens from a wild isolate of Brucella canis bacteria, were compared by ELISA and Western blot (WB). A total of 145 canine sera were used to define sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the ELISA as follows: (1) sera from 34 animals with natural B. canis infection, confirmed by blood culture and PCR, as well as 51 sera samples from healthy dogs with negative results by the agar–gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test for canine brucellosis, were used as the control panel for B. canis infection; and (2) to scrutinize the possibility of cross reactions with other common dog infections in the same geographical area in Brazil, 60 sera samples from dogs harboring known infections by Leptospira sp., Ehrlichia canis, canine distemper virus (CDV), Neospora caninum, Babesia canis and Leishmania chagasi (10 in each group) were included in the study. The ELISA using heat soluble bacterial extract (HE-antigen) as antigen showed the best values of sensitivity (91.18%), specificity (100%) and accuracy (96.47%). In the WB analyses, the HE-antigen showed no cross-reactivity with sera from dogs with different infections, while the B. canis sonicate had various protein bands identified by those sera. The performance of the ELISA standardized with the heat soluble B. canis antigen indicates that this assay can be used as a reliable and practical method to confirm infection by this microorganism, as well as a tool for seroepidemiological studies.     

Production,chemical composition,and economic viability of Minas Frescal cheese from buffaloes supplemented with açai seed

Tropical Animal Health and Production - We aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, production yield, and economic viability of Minas Frescal cheese produced with milk from buffaloes...     

Inhibitory action of Cerrado plants against mammalian and insect α-amylases

A total of 185 hexanic, dichloromethanic, ethanolic and hydroethanolic extracts from 24 species of Cerrado plants, were tested against Zabrotes subfasciatus, Acanthoscelides obtectus, and human saliva α-amylases. Twelve crude extracts presented inhibition rates greater than 80% against digestive α-amylases of the insect pest Z. subfasciatus, at a concentration of 1 mg mL⁻¹. These extracts were also tested against A. obtectus and human saliva α-amylases to verify their affinity and specificity of action. The hydroethanolic Kielmeyera coriacea stem bark extract presented a strong inhibitory potential, with IC₅₀ values of 110 μg mL⁻¹ for Z. subfasciatus and 272.12 μg mL⁻¹ for A. obtectus, in addition to a 97.09% reduction in enzyme activity of human saliva α-amylases at 125 μg mL⁻¹. The hexanic Aspidosperma macrocarpon root wood extract totally inhibited the activity of Z. subfasciatus α-amylases, reduced the enzyme activity of A. obtectus by 14.69% at 1 mg mL⁻¹, but did not alter the activity of human saliva α-amylases, thus characterizing greater inhibition affinity and specificity. The results suggest that the application of plant extracts against insect α-amylases represent a promising biotechnological tool for development of new insect pest control strategies, with noticeable affinity and specificity of action against different target enzymes.