Agronomic Evaluation of Legume Cover Crops for Sustainable Agriculture

The agronomic characteristics of different legume cover crops and their effects on soil chemical properties were investigated in a short-term field study. We compared weed biomass, nitrogen equivalence, growth rate, leaf chlorophyll content, cover crop biomass, soil total organic carbon, and soil total nitrogen under eight different legume cover crops in a short-term field experiment. We found the highest growth rate, cover crop dry biomass, N plant content, and N contribution with C. ochroleuca plants, whereas for leaf chlorophyll content, soil organic carbon, and total nitrogen the highest values were found with M. pruriens. We did not find any significant difference among C. ochroleuca and M. pruriens for cover crop dry biomass. Our findings suggest that the incorporation of cover crops into the soil can change positively the soil chemical properties, such as soil organic carbon and total nitrogen. Our results also highlight the importance of considering the short-term effect of cover crops on the tropical soil fertility maintenance, in this case, Regosol.     

Effects of live feed containing Panagrellus redivivus and water depth on growth of Betta splendens larvae

Panagrellus redivivus is a nematode with a high protein content and low‐cost production. It is successfully used in the larviculture of shrimp, however, it has not yet been evaluated as feed for Betta splendens larvae. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate P. redivivus as feed for betta larvae maintained at different depths of water. The experiment was based on a completely randomized 3 × 2 factorial design, represented by two feed types and one alternating feeding regime plus two water depths (2.5 and 5.0 cm). The Artemia feed promoted the highest weight gain, followed by the alternating feeding regime. The single use of the nematode as live feed produced the poorest weight gain. The water depth and the feeding method influenced the specific growth rate (SGR). At a depth of 2.5 cm, the alternating feeding promoted similar SGR compared to fish fed with Artemia only. Furthermore, at the greater water depth an improvement in SGR was observed in fish fed Artemia only, but the similarity to alternating feeding regime remains. Thus, the inclusion of nematode is an appropriate and lower cost feed strategy for the betta larviculture independent of water depths.     

Microbial biomass as an antioxidant for tilapia feed

Microbial biomass (MB) produced by different industries is thought to be a beneficial supplement in fish feed due to high contents of antioxidants and pigments. However, little is known about their impact on fish health. In this experiment, 960 tilapia (26.84 ± 1.03 g) were fed one of eight experimental diets—a control diet with no MB (C), a control diet with vitamin E (VE) and six diets with three types of MB at two concentrations (0.25% and 0.5%): Rubrivivax gelatinosus (RG25 and RG50), Spirulina platensis (SP25 and SP50) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC25 and SC50). Adding MB to diets decreased plasma total oxidant status, malonaldehyde and leucocyte respiratory burst; increased the total antioxidant status; and did not affect the blood biochemical parameters. In flesh, the use of the MB lowered the thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances and increased redness (except for SC) and carotenoid deposition (except SC25). So, it was concluded that the use of the MB provided an antioxidant effect in tilapia blood plasma, decreased lipid oxidation and increased pigmentation and carotenoid deposition in the fish flesh, without imparting a negative impact on the animals’ health.     

Micropropagation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus grandis</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. urophylla</Emphasis> AEC 224 clone

Genetic transformation systems require protocols that allow regenerating transgenic plants from transformed tissues. This study aimed to establish a protocol for indirect organogenesis in leaf explants of a Eucalyptus grandis  ×  E. urophylla AEC 224 clone. During callogenesis stage, several concentrations of NAA and then NAA or 2,4-D combined with TDZ were tested in JADS culture medium for 30 days, followed by subculture of the explants in the regeneration medium, containing 5.0 µM BA and 0.5 µM NAA for another 30 days. In these media, the explant oxidation rate was high (95 %). Thus, in order to reduce oxidation, different culture media were compared: WPM, MS, JADS and modified QL, followed by explant transfer onto regeneration medium. The highest percentage of regeneration and the lowest oxidation rate were achieved on WPM medium. Then, NAA and 2,4-D were tested in combination with TDZ and also TDZ and BA combined with NAA in WPM medium. The most efficient culture media in terms of shoot regeneration were WPM supplemented with 0.25 µM TDZ and 0.1 µM NAA during 30 days for callus induction and then with 5.0 µM BA and 0.5 µM NAA for another 30 days. This protocol yielded a regeneration rate of 43 %, with a low oxidation of tissues. A rooting experiment was conducted using half strength MS medium and comparing three concentrations of IBA (2.46, 4.90 and 7.35 µM). The highest rooting percentage (35 %) was obtained on medium containing 2.46 µM IBA. Once the shoots were rooted, acclimatization in a greenhouse was not challenging and plant survival reached 100 %.     

Validation of the Italian version of the UNESP–Botucatu unidimensional composite pain scale for the assessment of postoperative pain in cattle

Objective

The aim of this study was to validate the Italian version of the UNESP–Botucatu Unidimensional Composite Pain Scale (UCPS-IV) for assessing postoperative pain in cattle.

Evaluation of immunomodulatory effect of recombinant human granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor on polymorphonuclear cell from dogs with cancer in vitro

The objective of this in vitro study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of recombinant human granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (rhGM‐CSF) on polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) function in dogs with cancer. PMNs were harvested from dogs with naturally developing cancer as a pre‐clinical model to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of rhGM‐CSF on PMN phagocytic and cytotoxic functions, cytokine production and receptor expression. Some aspects of cancer‐related PMN dysfunction in dogs with cancer were restored following incubation with rhGM‐CSF including PMN phagocytosis, respiratory burst and LPS‐induced TNF‐α production. In addition, rhGM‐CSF increased surface HLA‐DR expression on the PMNs of dogs with cancer. These data suggests that dysfunction of innate immune response in dogs with cancer may be improved by rhGM‐CSF. The results of this study provided a pathophysiologic rationale for the initiation of clinical trials to continue evaluating rhGM‐CSF as an immunomodulatory therapy in dogs with cancer.     

Survey radiography and computerized tomography imaging of the thorax in female dogs with mammary tumors

Background

Accurate early diagnosis of lung metastases is important for establishing therapeutic measures. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare survey thoracic radiographs and computerized tomography (CT) scans to specifically identify lung metastases in female dogs with mammary tumors.

Methods

Twenty-one female dogs, weighing 3 to 34 kg and aged from 5 years to 14 years and 10 months, with mammary tumors were studied. In all dogs before the imaging examinations, fine-needle aspiration cytology of the mammary tumors was performed to confirm the diagnosis. Three-view thoracic radiographs were accomplished: right lateral, left lateral and ventrodorsal views. Sequential transverse images of the thorax were acquired on a spiral Scanner, before and after intravenous bolus injection of nonionic iodine contrast. Soft-tissue and lung windows were applied. All the mammary tumors were surgically removed and examined histologically.

Results

The correlation between the cytological and histological results regarding presence of malignancy was observed in only 17 cases. In radiographic examinations, no dog displayed signs of lung metastases or thorax chest lesions. CT detected lung metastasis in two cases, while small areas of lung atelectasis located peripherally were found in 28.57% of the dogs.

Conclusion

In this study population, spiral CT showed higher sensitivity than chest radiographies to detect lung metastasis; this indicates that CT should be performed on all female dogs with malignant mammary tumors.     

Predatory activity of the nematophagous fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Duddingtonia flagrans</Emphasis> on horse cyathostomin infective larvae

This work was performed to determine the predatory capacity in vitro of the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans (isolate AC001) on cyathostomin infective larvae of horse (L₃). The experimental assay was carried out on plates with 2% water-agar (2% WA). In the treated group, each plate contained 1.000 L₃ and 1.000 conidia of the fungus. The control group without fungus only contained 1.000 L₃ in the plates. Ten random fields (4 mm diameter) were examined per plate of treated and control groups, every 24 h for seven days under an optical microscope (10× and 40× objective lens) for non-predated L₃ counts. After 7 days, the non-predated L₃ were recovered from the Petri dishes using the Baermann method. The interaction there was a significant reduction (p < 0.01) of 93.64% in the cyathostomin L₃ recovered. The results showed that the D. flagrans is a potential candidate to the biological control of horse cyathostomin L₃.     

Predatory activity of Pochonia chlamydosporia fungus on Toxocara (syn. Neoascaris) vitulorum eggs

Toxocara (Neoascaris) vitulorum is a gastrointestinal nematode parasite of young ruminants, responsible for high mortality rates in parasitized cattle and buffalo calves. The objective of this work was to compare the predatory capacity under laboratory conditions of four fungal isolates of the nematophagous fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia (VC1, VC4, VC5 and VC12) on T. vitulorum eggs in 2% water-agar (2% WA). T. vitulorum eggs were plated on 2% WA Petri dishes which contained cultured fungal isolates and control plates without fungi. After 10 and 15 days one hundred eggs were removed and classified according to the following parameters: type 1, biochemical and physiological effect without morphological damage to the eggshell, type 2, lytic effect with morphological alteration of the eggshell and embryo and type 3, lytic effect with morphological alteration of eggshell and embryo in addition to hyphal penetration and internal egg colonization. The fungal isolates were effective in the destruction of T. vitulorum eggs presenting the type 3 effect at 10 and 15 days after contact with the fungus. No nematophagous fungi were observed in the control group during the experiment. There was no variation in the predatory capacity of the fungal isolates (P?>?0.01) at the intervals of 10 and 15 days. These results indicate that P. chlamydosporia (VC1, VC4, VC5 and VC12) negatively influenced the development of T. vitulorum eggs and can be considered a potential candidate for the biological control of nematodes.     

Ovulation,Pregnancy Rate and Early Embryonic Development in Vernal Transitional Mares Treated with Equine‐ or Porcine‐FSH

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of purified equine‐ and porcine‐FSH treatment regimes in mares in early vernal transition. Mares (n = 22) kept under ambient light were examined ultrasonographically per‐rectum, starting January 30th. They were assigned to one of two treatment groups using a sequential alternating treatment design when a follicle ≥ 25 mm was detected. In the eFSH group, mares were treated twice daily with equine‐FSH, and in the pFSH group mares were treated twice daily with porcine‐FSH; treatments were continued until follicle(s) ≥ 35 mm, and 24 h later hCG was administered. Oestrous mares were inseminated with fresh semen and examined for pregnancy on days 11–20 post‐ovulation. In the eFSH group, 11/11 (100%) mares developed follicle(s) ≥ 35 mm, 8/11 (73%) ovulated and 6/8 (75%) conceived. In the pFSH group, 5/11 (45%) developed follicle(s) ≥ 35 mm, 4/11 (36%) ovulated and 3/4 (75%) conceived. Treatment with eFSH resulted in a greater ovarian stimulation; higher number of pre‐ovulatory‐sized follicles, higher number of ovulations and higher number of embryos (p < 0.05). Following ovulation, serum progesterone concentrations were correlated with the number of CLs and supported early embryonic development; maternal recognition of pregnancy occurred in all pregnant mares. We concluded that eFSH can be used to effectively induce follicular growth and ovulation in vernal transitional mares; however, if bred, diagnosis and management of twins’ pregnancies would be required prior to day 16 because of the increased risk of multiple embryos per pregnancy. Conversely, the current pFSH treatment regime cannot be recommended.