Laminin receptor 1 is differentially expressed in thoracic and limb wounds in the horse

Healing of wounds located on the distal limbs of horses is often complicated by retarded epithelialization and the development of exuberant granulation tissue (proud flesh). Treatments that definitively resolve this pathological process are still unavailable. Molecular studies of the repair mechanism might contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies. The study presented herein aimed to clone the full length cDNA and to study the spatio-temporal expression profile of mRNA and protein for LAMR1, previously attributed a role in wound epithelialization, during the repair of body and limb wounds in the horse. Cloning was achieved by screening a cDNA library previously derived from 7-day wound biopsies. Expression was studied in unwounded skin and in samples from 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 6-week-old wounds of the body and limb. Temporal gene expression was determined by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) while protein expression was mapped immunohistochemically. Full-length cDNA for equine LAMR1 was shown to be highly similar to that of other species. The mRNA expression of LAMR1 was significantly up-regulated only in thoracic wounds, 4 and 6 weeks following wounding (upon epithelialization). Cutaneous wounding induced protein expression at both locations. Our data suggest that up-regulation of LAMR1 protein might favour epithelialization during wound healing. However, its interaction with ligands other than laminin complicates data interpretation. Future studies should quantitatively verify the temporal expression of this protein in order to provide the basis for targeted therapies that might enhance epithelialization.     

Effect of Crude Palm Oil Incorporation on Growth,Survival, Feed Efficiency,and Body Composition of Heterobranchus longifilis Fingerlings

An 8-week feeding trial was carried out to determine the effect of increasing dietary palm oil levels on African catfish juvenile growth and nutrient utilization. Six isonitrogenous diets were formulated to contain 0.5% to 15% crude palm oil with dietary lipid levels ranging from 5% to 20%. Growth performance and protein utilization efficiency of African catfish responded in a positive manner to palm oil addition up to 9% (diet 14% lipid). No further improvement in growth was observed with higher levels of palm oil in the diets, and lower survival was observed with inclusion of 15% palm oil (diet 20% lipid). Whole-body lipid content increased when fish were fed with increasing levels of dietary lipid. Under our experimental conditions, the best growth rate and nutrient utilization were observed with the inclusion of 9% crude palm oil in the diets for African catfish.     

The present and future of withdrawal period calculations for milk in the European Union: dealing with data below the limit of quantification

The assessment of withdrawal periods for milk is affected by the occurrence of data below the lower analytical quantification limit (BLQ data) and the resulting uncertainty. The current regulatory approach for dealing with BLQ residues is simple and easy: BLQ data (and missing data) are arbitrarily reassigned a value of one‐half the LOQ before any calculation on the data with one of the three currently applicable methods. Here, we reconsider the determination of the withdrawal period of milk with data below the limit of quantification. Theoretical background on analytical limits and pharmacometric considerations will be established. Then, we analyze the uncertainty problems caused by the current approach and propose a calculation solution (maximum‐likelihood estimation handling left‐censored data) included in nonlinear mixed‐effects modeling. Finally, we illustrate this issue using a case example.     

Organic residue mass at planting is an excellent predictor of tree growth in Eucalyptus plantations established on a sandy tropical soil

Tropical plantation forests are meeting an increasing proportion of global wood demand and comprehensive studies assessing the impact of silvicultural practices on tree and soil functioning are required to achieve sustainable yields. The objectives of our study were: (1) to quantify the effects of contrasting organic residue (OR) retention methods on tree growth and soil nutrient pools over a full Eucalyptus rotation and (2) to assess the potential of soil analyses to predict yields of fast-growing plantations established on tropical sandy soils. An experiment was set up in the Congo at the harvesting of the first rotation after afforestation of a native herbaceous savanna. Six treatments were set up in 0.26 ha plots and replicated in 4 blocks, with OR mass at planting ranging from 0 to 46.5 Mg ha⁻¹. Tree growth over the whole rotation was highly dependent on OR management at planting. Over-bark trunk volume 7 years after planting ranged from 96 m³ ha⁻¹ in the treatment with forest floor and harvest residue removal at planting to 164 m³ ha⁻¹ in the treatment with the largest amount of OR. A comparison of nutrient stocks within the ecosystem at planting and at the end of the rotation suggested that nutrient contents in OR were largely involved in the different response observed between treatments. OR management treatments did not significantly modify most of the nutrient concentrations in the upper layers of the mineral soil. Conventional soil analyses performed before planting and at ages 1 and 3 years were unable to detect differences between treatments despite large differences in tree growth. In contrast, linear regressions between stand aboveground biomass at harvesting and OR mass at planting (independent variable) showed that OR mass was an excellent predictor of stand yield (R² = 0.99). A large share of soil fertility comes from organic material above the mineral soil in highly weathered sandy soils and OR mass at planting might be used in conjunction with soil analyses to assess the potential of these soils to support forest plantations.     

Characterization of the cDNA and genomic DNA sequence encoding for the platelet integrin alpha IIB and beta III in a horse with Glanzmann thrombasthenia

Glanzmann thrombasthenia (GT) is characterized by a defect of platelet aggregation. This autosomal recessive genetic disorder is caused by an abnormality of the platelet glycoprotein receptors alpha IIb or beta III. Recently, we identified a horse with clinical and pathological features of GT. The aim of this study was to describe this case of GT at the molecular level. A point mutation from G to C in exon 2 of ITGA2B causing a substitution of the expected amino acid arginine 72 (Arg(72)) by a proline (Pro(72)) was encountered. This amino acid change may result in abnormal structural conformations that yield an inactive alpha IIb subunit. The genomic DNA analysis showed that this horse was homozygous for the missense mutation.     

Identification and localization of the structural proteins of anguillid herpesvirus 1

ABSTRACT: Many of the known fish herpesviruses have important aquaculture species as their natural host, and may cause serious disease and mortality. Anguillid herpesvirus 1 (AngHV-1) causes a hemorrhagic disease in European eel, Anguilla anguilla. Despite their importance, fundamental molecular knowledge on fish herpesviruses is still limited. In this study we describe the identification and localization of the structural proteins of AngHV-1. Purified virions were fractionated into a capsid-tegument and an envelope fraction, and premature capsids were isolated from infected cells. Proteins were extracted by different methods and identified by mass spectrometry. A total of 40 structural proteins were identified, of which 7 could be assigned to the capsid, 11 to the envelope, and 22 to the tegument. The identification and localization of these proteins allowed functional predictions. Our findings include the identification of the putative capsid triplex protein 1, the predominant tegument protein, and the major antigenic envelope proteins. Eighteen of the 40 AngHV-1 structural proteins had sequence homologues in related Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3). Conservation of fish herpesvirus structural genes seemed to be high for the capsid proteins, limited for the tegument proteins, and low for the envelope proteins. The identification and localization of the structural proteins of AngHV-1 in this study adds to the fundamental knowledge of members of the Alloherpesviridae family, especially of the Cyprinivirus genus.     

Influence of cultivar, harvest time, storage conditions, and peeling on the antioxidant capacity and phenolic and ascorbic acid contents of apples and pears

Apple and pear fruits are important sources of secondary plant metabolites and one of the major sources of dietary phenolics consumed all year round. The aim of this work was to identify the main variables influencing phenolic content and antioxidant capacity in apples. Higher phenolic and antioxidant contents were observed in some varieties (such as the Delbar Estival apple and Durondeau pear). Storage conditions were important. Our results also showed that fruits should be consumed rapidly after purchase and with their peel. After one week of domestic storage, the ascorbic acid content was found to decrease by 75%. Peeling led to a more than 25% decrease in total phenolics and ascorbic acid. The harvest time (at normal ripeness) had only a limited impact, but significant year-to-year variations were observed. In conclusion, well-chosen and well-stored apples and pears may contribute to an antioxidant-rich diet if consumed rapidly and with their peel.     

Seroprevalence of brucellosis and its contribution to abortion in cattle,camel, and goat kept under pastoral management in Borana,Ethiopia

The involvement of Brucella infection in causing abortion was investigated in a breeding female subpopulation of 283 cattle, 756 camels, and 757 goats. Serum samples were serially tested using the Rose Bengal test and complement fixation test. The study showed that anti-Brucella antibodies were prevalent in 10.6% (95% confidence interval (CI), 7.4, 14.9), 2.2% (95%CI, 1.4, 3.7), and 1.9% (95%CI, 1.1, 3.2) of cattle, camel, and goats, respectively. Abortion was more commonly reported in camels (23.4%) than cattle (13.8%) and goats (12.4%). The results of this study suggested that Brucella infections contribute significantly to abortion in cattle (odds ratio (OR), = 4.7; 95%CI, 2.0, 10.8) and goats (OR = 6.9; 95%CI, 2.2, 21.7) but not in camels. The number of young animals produced by breeding females seems to be apparently reduced in seropositive groups. Keeping more than two animal species at household level was found to be the risk factor for cattle (OR = 3.1; 95%CI, 1.2, 7.9) and camel (OR = 5.3; 95%CI, 1.2–23.5) seropositivity to Brucella infection when compared to those animals from households that keep only two animal species. This may suggest a possibility of cross species transmission of Brucella infection under such mixed herding. Wet season (OR = 4.8; 95%CI, 1.3, 18.1) was found to be associated with seropositivity in goats, linked to a coincidence of increased deliveries in flocks with possible excretion of Brucella organisms. The study results suggest that Brucella infection is the likely cause of abortion in cattle and goats while other causes largely outweigh brucellosis as a cause of abortion in camels in Borana, hence, contributing to reproductive loss.