Use of dimethylformamide to cryopreserve alpaca semen previously incubated with collagenase

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of collagenase and two final dimethylformamide (DMF) concentrations (4% and 7%) on alpaca frozen-thawed sperm quality. A total of 25 ejaculates from 5 alpaca were obtained using electroejaculation. Each individual ejaculate was evaluated and then diluted 4:1 in a solution of 1 mg/ml collagenase in HEPES-TALP medium and incubated for 4 min at 37°C. Subsequently, samples were diluted in TRIS-fructose-citric acid-egg yolk and cooled to 5°C. Then, each sample was divided in two aliquots and DMF at final concentration of 4% or 7% was added, equilibrated for 1 hr at 5°C and frozen over liquid nitrogen vapours. A Kruskal–Wallis test was used to evaluate the sperm morphometry, and Completely Random Block designs were used to analyse sperm motility, viability, membrane function and acrosome status. After collagenase incubation, none of the samples showed thread formation, and sperm parameters were preserved. Non-progressive motile sperm were higher (p < .05) in equilibrated samples (4% DMF: 31.8 ± 8.3% and 7% DMF: 36.3 ± 11.8%) compared to raw (10.1 ± 4.3%) and frozen-thawed semen (4% DMF: 9.7 ± 1.8% and 7% DMF: 7.5 ± 3.2%). Sperm membrane function, membrane integrity and intact acrosomes were higher (p < .05) in raw semen (40.1 ± 12.2%, 94.6 ± 3.2% and 91.3 ± 8.1%) compared to frozen-thawed samples (4% DMF: 19.8 ± 4.7%, 53.2 ± 2.7%, 65.7 ± 8.7% and 7% DMF: 20.4 ± 4.5%, 54.1 ± 1.4%, 64.6 ± 9.1%). Length of the sperm head was lower in frozen-thawed samples, being statistically different with 4% DMF compared to pre-freezing samples. The ratio between acrosome and head areas was greater (p < .05) in frozen-thawed samples. Incubation of raw alpaca semen with collagenase decreased the thread formation without affecting sperm quality. Frozen of collagenase treated alpaca semen with 4% or 7% DMF did not preserve the sperm parameters in thawed samples.     

Diagnosis and treatment of mastitis in mares

Infection and inflammation of the udder (mastitis) is a common condition affecting all domestic mammals, but it appears to be less prevalent in mares than in dairy cows and dairy goats. The seemingly reduced incidence of mastitis in mares can be partially explained by the smaller size and relatively concealed location of the mare’s udder, coupled with a smaller storage capacity than cows and goats. Mastitis can affect lactating, peripartum, dry mares, mares at dry-off or prepubertal foals. Common clinical signs include swollen mammary tissue, abnormal mammary gland secretion, fever and anorexia; less common signs are hindlimb lameness and a swollen mammary vein. On rare occasions, mastitis pathogens can severely affect the nursing foal and mares may develop fibrotic tissue and consequent agalactia in the side(s) or quarter(s) affected. Based on the clinical presentation, mastitis can be classified as acute or chronic, and clinical or subclinical. Diagnosis is based on the clinical signs aided with aerobic culture and cytological evaluation of the gland secretion. In addition, these ancillary tests can also be used to assess prognosis and duration of treatment. Mares suffering from mastitis may present neutrophilia and hyperfibrinogenaemia. Treatment for mastitis includes antimicrobial therapy (systemic and/or locally), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, frequent milking and cold hosing with/without hot-packing applied on the gland. While the frequent monitoring of mares after weaning and reducing food intake should be part of common practices at weaning, cleaning of the udder, control of insect populations and frequent milking of mares with a foal unable to nurse can also aid in preventing mastitis.     

Validation of a multiplex PCR assay to detect Babesia spp. and Anaplasma marginale in cattle in Uruguay in the absence of a gold standard test

Detection of bovine Babesia spp. and Anaplasma marginale is based on the reading of Giemsa-stained blood or organ smears, which can have low sensitivity. Our aim was to improve the detection of bovine Babesia spp. and A. marginale by validating a multiplex PCR (mPCR). We used 466 samples of blood and/or organs of animals with signs and presumptive autopsy findings of babesiosis or anaplasmosis. The primers in our mPCR amplified the rap-1a gene region of Babesia bovis and B. bigemina, and the msp-5 region of A. marginale. We used a Bayesian model with a non-informative priori distribution for the prevalence estimate and informative priori distribution for estimation of sensitivity and specificity. The sensitivity and specificity for smear detection of Babesia spp. were 68.6% and 99.1%, and for A. marginale 85.6% and 98.8%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for mPCR detection for Babesia spp. were 94.2% and 97.1%, and for A. marginale 95.2% and 92.7%, respectively. Our mPCR had good accuracy in detecting Babesia spp. and A. marginale, and would be a reliable test for veterinarians to choose the correct treatment for each agent.     

Free-range system and supplementation of 25-hydroxicholecalciferol increases the performance and serum vitamin levels in mixed-parity sows

Improvements in sow productivity have raised questions regarding dietary vitamin D recommendations. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of the housing system with access to sunlight exposure and supplementation of 25-hydroxicholecalciferol on performance and serum levels of 25(OH)D₃ in sows during gestation and lactation. Sows were distributed in an experimental design with two housing systems: gestation crates or gestation free-range system with external area for sunlight exposure; and two diets: 0 or 50 μg of 25-hydroxicholecalciferol kg⁻¹. The use of 25-hydroxicholecalciferol tended (P = 0.052) to improve total born and influenced (P = 0.046) on number of born alive. Litter weight at birth was also increased (P = 0.01) by 25-hydroxicholecalciferol supplementation; 25-hydroxicholecalciferol supplementation and housing system (free-range with sunlight exposure) tended to increase weaning weight (P = 0.07) and litter daily gain (P = 0.051) during lactation. Exposure to sunlight and 25-hydroxicholecalciferol supplementation increased 25(OH)D₃ serum levels when compared with control treatment during gestation (136.95 vs. 113.92 ng mL⁻¹; P = 0.035) and lactation (120.29 vs. 88.93 ng mL⁻¹; P = 0.026). In conclusion, the association of 25-hydroxicholecalciferol supplementation with exposure to sunlight during gestation improved significantly 25(OH)D₃ serum levels and consequently performance traits in gestation and lactation.     

低血糖生成指数液态奶的开发及测试

为获得营养均衡的调制牛奶,满足人体的多种营养需求,添加多种维生素和矿物质,设计出一款适用于糖尿病人、亚健康人群、体重管理、皮肤管理等人群饮用的低血糖生成指数（Glycemic Index,GI）的牛奶。稳定性试验结果表明,静置12 天后,牛奶无显著脂肪上浮,体系稳定性良好;人体GI值试验结果表明,调制牛奶的餐后血糖值上升和下降均较葡萄糖餐后血糖值平稳,有较好稳定餐后血糖的效果,表明开发的调制牛奶为低GI食品（GI值=22.86）。人体饱腹感试验结果显示,和普通纯牛奶对比,调制牛奶具有显著提高饱腹感的效果。     

Plasma histamine concentrations in horses administered sodium penicillin,guaifenesin–xylazine–ketamine and isoflurane with morphine or butorphanol

ObjectiveVarious drugs administered to horses undergoing surgical procedures can release histamine. Histamine concentrations were evaluated in horses prepared for surgery and administered butorphanol or morphine intraoperative infusions.Study designProspective studies with one randomized.AnimalsA total of 44 client-owned horses.MethodsIn one study, anesthesia was induced with xylazine followed by ketamine–diazepam. Anesthesia was maintained with guaifenesin–xylazine–ketamine (GXK) during surgical preparation. For surgery, isoflurane was administered with intravenous (IV) morphine (group M: 0.15 mg kg^–1 and 0.1 mg kg^–1 hour^–1; 15 horses) or butorphanol (group B: 0.05 mg kg^–1 and 0.01 mg kg^–1 hour^–1; 15 horses). Histamine and morphine concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunoassay before opioid injection (time 0), and after 1, 2, 5, 30, 60 and 90 minutes. In a subsequent study, plasma histamine concentrations were measured in 14 horses before drug administration (baseline), 15 minutes after IV sodium penicillin and 15 minutes after starting GXK IV infusion. Statistical comparison was performed using anova for repeated measures. Pearson correlation compared morphine and histamine concentrations. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. Significance was assumed when p ≤ 0.05.ResultsWith histamine, differences occurred between baseline (3.2 ± 2.4 ng mL^–1) and GXK (5.2 ± 7.1 ng mL^–1) and between baseline and time 0 in group B (11.9 ± 13.4 ng mL^–1) and group M (11.1 ± 12.4 ng mL^–1). No differences occurred between baseline and after penicillin or between groups M and B. Morphine concentrations were higher at 1 minute following injection (8.1 ± 5.1 ng mL^–1) than at 30 minutes (4.9 ± 3.1 ng mL^–1) and 60 minutes (4.0 ± 2.5 ng mL^–1). Histamine correlated with morphine at 2, 30 and 60 minutes.Conclusions and clinical relevanceGXK increased histamine concentration, but concentrations were similar with morphine and butorphanol.     

杂交构树叶多酚提取工艺优化及其抗氧化活性研究

为建立和优化杂交构树叶多酚的提取工艺,本试验采用超声波辅助提取的方法,以构树叶多酚得率为考察指标,通过单因素试验研究液料比、乙醇浓度、超声时间、超声温度4个因素对构树叶多酚得率的影响;在单因素试验的基础上,借助响应面法设计4因素3水平的试验方案,对构树叶多酚提取的工艺参数进行优化,建立回归模型并进行响应面分析,最终确定最佳的提取工艺参数,并进行3次平行验证;以维生素C为对照,通过测定构树叶多酚对DPPH和ABTS自由基的清除率,评价构树叶多酚的体外抗氧化活性。结果显示：4个因素对构树叶多酚得率的影响顺序依次为：乙醇浓度（B） > 液料比（A） > 超声温度（D） > 超声时间（C）,响应面分析结果显示：两两因素之间存在交互作用,但交互作用不显著（P>0.05）;在液料比为70：1、乙醇浓度为60%、超声时间为50 min、超声温度50 ℃的条件下,构树叶多酚的得率最大,为13.62 mg/g,与响应面法的预测值接近;体外抗氧化试验结果表明,构树叶多酚可以清除DPPH和ABTS自由基,并且在高浓度情况下可以达到与维生素C相当的水平。综上,试验建立的构树叶多酚提取工艺准确、可行,同时证明构树叶多酚具有良好的抗氧化活性;该结果可为构树叶多酚的生物活性研究以及构树叶的药用价值开发提供参考。     

Socio-spatial organization reveals paternity and low kinship in the Honduran white bat (Ectophylla alba) in Costa Rica

Ectophylla alba is a tent-making bat that roosts in mixed-sex clusters comprising adults and offspring. Our goal was to determine the genetic identity of individuals belonging to different roosting groups. We tested the hypothesis of kin selection as a major force structuring group composition. We used 9 microsatellites designed for E. alba to determine the genetic identity and probability of parentage of individuals. We analyzed parentage and kinship using the software ML-Relate, GenAIEx, and Cervus. The obtained relationship probabilities (0.5) revealed a clear maternal relationship between female adults and offspring with allele compatibility, and at least 5 relationships between male adults and pups. We found a low degree of relatedness within roosting groups. Between roosting groups at different sites, the mean probability of a half-sibling relationship ranged from 0.214 to 0.244 and, for full-sibling relationship, from 0.383 to 0.553. Genetically, adult individuals were poorly related within clusters, and kinship as an evolutionary force could not explain group membership.