Sulfachlorpyrazine residues depletion in turkey edible tissues

?ebkowska‐Wieruszewska, B.I., Kowalski, C.J. Sulfachlorpyrazine residues depletion in turkey edible tissues. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. doi: 10.1111/j.1365‐2885.2009.01147.x. Sulfachlorpyrazine (SCP) is currently used to treat coccidian infections in turkeys; however, there is no information available about the withdrawal period necessary for the turkey to be safe for human consumption. A high performance liquid chromatography method with ultraviolet‐visible light detection was adapted and validated for the determination of SCP in turkey tissues. The procedure is based on isolation of the (SCP sodium) compound from edible turkey tissues (muscles, liver, kidneys, and fat with skin) with satisfactory recovery (72.80 ± 1.40) and specificity. The residue depletion of SCP in turkeys was conducted after a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight/day had been administrated orally for 3 days. After treatment has been discontinued residue concentrations were detected in tissues on the 7th day. The highest SCP concentrations were measured in muscles. Based on the results presented in this study, it could be assumed that a withdrawal period of 21 days, before medicated turkeys could be slaughtered, would be sufficient to ensure consumer safety.     

Use of serial pig body weights for genetic evaluation of daily gain

This study examined the utility of serial weights from FIRE (Feed Intake Recording Equipment, Osborne Industries, Inc., Osborne, KS, USA) stations for an analysis of daily gain. Data included 884 132 body weight records from 3888 purebred Duroc pigs. Pigs entered the feeder station at age 77–149 days and left at age 95–184 days. A substantial number of records were abnormal, showing body weight close to 0 or up to twice the average weight. Plots of body weights for some animals indicated two parallel growth curves. Initial editing used a robust regression, which was a two‐step procedure. In the first step, a quadratic growth curve was estimated assuming small or 0 weights for points far away from the curve; the process is iterative. In the second step, weights more than 1.5 SD from the estimated growth curve were treated as outliers. The retained body weight records (607 597) were averaged to create average daily weight (170 443) and then used to calculate daily gains (152 636). Additional editing steps included retaining only animals with ≥50 body weight records and SD of the daily gain ≤2 kg, followed by removing records outside 3 SD from the mean for given age, across all the animals – the resulting data set included 69 068 records of daily gain from 1921 animals. Daily gain based on daily, weekly and bi‐weekly intervals was analysed using repeatability models. Heritability estimates were 0.04, 6 and 9%, respectively. The last two estimates correspond to heritability of 28% for a 12 week interval. For daily gain averaged weekly, the estimate of heritability obtained with a random regression model varied from 0.07 to 0.10. After extensive editing, body weight records from automatic feeding stations are useful for genetic analyses of daily gain from weekly or bi‐weekly but not daily intervals.     

Apple peel antioxidant status in relation to genotype,storage type and time

It is expected that crop cultivars with a higher antioxidant ability have better stress resistance, nutritional quality and storage characteristics. In this study the antioxidant metabolism in apple peel, as a primary target of unfavorable environmental factors during common cold (CCS) or controlled atmosphere (CA) storage in cultivars varying in their storage potential was monitored over two seasons. In general, the examined cultivars kept their antioxidant status, but it was difficult to definitively link its value with the extent of apple storage length ability. ‘Jonagold’, which expressed the highest storability, had the poorest antioxidant characteristics, but with a quite good stability level specified, especially in relation to enzyme activity. Since storage characteristics might be probably more attached to antioxidant status after harvest, followed by supporting high redox state enzymes and antioxidant precursors finally keeping relative stability of bioactives through storage, than by their global pool. Differences between storage types in preserving antioxidant status were more distinct after longer time of storage. The first storage period (45 days) resulted in an increase of the antioxidant pool. The increase of ascorbate, thiols and phenolic compounds was more pronounced in the CA conditions. After the second storage period (90 days) the antioxidant status was kept more efficiently in CA as compared to CCS. Glutathione maintained its reduced form and redox state at a higher level than ascorbate.     

Phagocytic and oxidative burst activity of phagocytic cells in peripheral blood and uterine washings in cows with clinical endometritis before and after intrauterine use of cephapirin and methisoprinol

The aim of the study was to evaluate phagocytic and killing activity of phagocytic cells in blood and uterine flush of cows with endometritis before and after intrauterine (i.u.) administration of cephapirin and methisoprinol. The research was carried out on 28 cows with clinical endometritis. Animals were divided into four groups, each composed of seven cows, depending on the i.u. treatment used: Group A—cephapirin; Group B—methisoprinol; Group C—cephapirin and methisoprinol at the same time; and a control group—without medication. Using flow cytometry technique, the phagocytic activity of granulocytes and monocytes was identified, as well as the oxidative burst activity of neutrophils in the peripheral blood and uterine washings. Summarizing the results of the research, i.u. infusion of cephapirin caused a reduction in the phagocytic and killing activity of phagocytes. The i.u. use of methisoprinol increased phagocytic and killing activity of phagocytes in the uterus. Administering both listed substances simultaneously showed a decrease in phagocytosis, presumably due to the dominating inhibitor effect of the antibiotic. However, also an increase of mean fluorescence intensity was observed, presumably caused by the methisoprinol. Intrauterine use of immunostimulatory substances, can improve the effectiveness of the treatment of endometritis in cows.     

First records of marine tardigrades (Arthrotardigrada) from Fuerteventura (Canary Islands,Spain)

Marine tardigrades are very poorly known and up to now only c. 200 taxa have been reported around the world (mostly from European coasts). In a marine algae sample, collected on the coast of Fuerteventura island (Atlantic Ocean, Canary Islands), six specimens of three marine Arthrotardigrada species were found: Archechiniscus minutus Grimaldi de Zio & D’Addabbo Gallo, 1987, Styraconyx craticulus (Pollock, 1983) and Styraconyx sargassi Thulin, 1942. This is the third record of marine tardigrades from the Canary Islands. In this paper we also list all heterotardigrades known from marine environments around Africa.     

Histopathological studies of the heart in three lines of broiler chickens

1. The aim of this study was to analyse the morphological lesion pattern of the heart of broiler chickens (Cobb 500, Hubbard F15 and Ross 308) during fattening with no clinical signs of disease and to determine the most susceptible period for the occurrence of morphological lesions.

2. The most frequently diagnosed lesions in each genetic line were degeneration of the fibres with vacuolation, congestion of cardiac muscle, oedema and vacuolisation of the Purkinje cells.

3. The highest numbers of morphological lesions were observed on d 38, 31 and 10 of life. The lesions were most numerous in the septum, followed by the left and right ventricles.

4. Ischaemic cardiomyocytes were also most numerous on d 38 of life and in the left ventricle.

5. Overload of cardiac muscle, prolonged hypoxia and increasing body weight on d 38 are the likely reasons for the largest number of lesions and ischaemic fibres, which may lead to heart failure.

     

Role of 24‐Epibrassinolide in Wheat Production: Physiological Effects and Uptake

Brassinosteroids are plant steroid hormones important for plant growth and development. They include more then 70 compounds. Their physiological effect and possibilities of practical use are still being investigated. In this study, we evaluated the effects of exogenously applied 24‐epibrassinolide, one of the brassinosteroids, on the grain yield and grain chemical composition (carbohydrates, proteins, fats and minerals) of wheat. Moreover, we analysed the presence of brassinosteroids in newly formed wheat grains after exogenous plant treatment with 24‐epibrassinolide. Experiments were performed in a vegetation hall (plants cultivated in pots) and in the field. The tested regulator was applied via 48 h seed soaking (1 mg·dm^?3) or spraying plants at the heading stage (0.25 mg·dm^?3). 24‐epibrassinolide increased grain yield in plants growing in the field (by about 20 %), but not in plants cultivated in vegetation hall. Grain chemical composition was altered by 24‐epibrassinolide in wheat growing in the vegetation hall; the content of soluble sugars was higher while that of total fats and calcium was lowered, whereas the starch and soluble protein content was not affected. The effect of the hormone was in these cases dependent on the method of its application. As for plants cultivated in the field, the hormone impact on the amount of carbohydrates, proteins, fats and minerals contained in the grains was rather negligible. In wheat grains, the presence of brassinolide, castasterone and 24‐epicastasterone was found. 24‐Epibrassinolide applied exogenously to plants was not accumulated in newly formed grains. Additionally, significance of ethanol as a hormone solvent is discussed.     

Genetic diversity of European pear cultivars (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pyrus communis</Emphasis> L.) and wild pear (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pyrus pyraster</Emphasis> (L.) Burgsd.) inferred from microsatellite markers analysis

The aim of this study was to identify the group of highly polymorphic microsatellite markers for the identification of six pear cultivars (P. communis) and two individuals of wild pear (P. pyraster). From among 40 tested SSR markers, 19 were selected to profile genetic diversity in pear genotypes due to high polymorphisms. These markers showed high heterozygosity levels (0.5–1) and, on average, 6.4 alleles per marker were found. The set of microsatellite markers employed in this study demonstrated usefulness of microsatellite markers for the identification of pear genotypes. The examined wild forms were represented in this study by only two individuals of P. pyraster. It can be assumed that these forms were distinctly different from the cultivated pear cultivars.     

Phosphinothricin analogues as inhibitors of plant glutamine synthetases

A series of phosphinothricin derivatives with a modified methyl group, designed on the basis of the crystal structure of the complex formed by the inhibitor and the target enzyme from Salmonella typhimurium, were evaluated as potential inhibitors of plant glutamine synthetase. These compounds were previously shown to be equipotent or slightly weaker inhibitors to the lead compound against the bacterial enzyme. Because of the presence in higher plants of at least two enzyme forms with different subcellular localization and possible separate metabolic functions, plastidial and cytosolic glutamine synthetases were purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from spinach chloroplasts and cultured tobacco cells, respectively. Kinetic analysis confirmed the ability of the phosphinothricin analogues to inhibit both isoenzymes in the micromolar range, with a mechanism of a competitive type with respect to glutamate. Interestingly, some of them exerted a differential effect against either the two plant isoforms, or against the plant versus the bacterial enzyme.     

Great differences in antioxidant properties exist between 56 apple cultivars and vegetation seasons

The contents of ascorbate, thiols, and phenolic compounds and antioxidative enzyme activity were measured in the apple peel of 56 genotypes after harvest in two vegetation seasons, 2003 and 2004. The main reason of great interest in these bioactive compounds is their well-established physiological role in all living systems. The biggest differences between tested genotypes were noted for ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase (GR) activity, followed by total ascorbate, phenolics, and glutathione concentration; the least difference was observed in the case of catalase. A large cultivar variation was noted in the anthocyanins and flavonols contents. Distinguishing the cultivars with the lowest, highest, relatively stable or those in which antioxidant content greatly differed depending on growing seasons was attempted. The GR activity is proposed as an environmental stress marker of apple fruit.