Seminal Plasma Composition from Ejaculates Collected by Artificial Vagina and Electroejaculation in Guirra Ram

This study was conducted to evaluate changes in ram seminal plasma composition from ejaculates obtained using artificial vagina (AV) and electroejaculation (EE). To address this question, we assessed the effect of semen collection method on volume, sperm concentration, sodium concentration, potassium concentration, sodium/potassium ratio, total protein content and protein profile using sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and 2-D polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The main findings from this study were: (i) similar volume was obtained, while sperm concentration was significantly lower for EE method; (ii) potassium and sodium/potassium concentration ratio were not influenced by recovery method, while sodium concentration increased significantly when semen was recovered using EE; (iii) approximately 80% of the total relative seminal plasma protein is represented by four protein fractions of molecular weights around 15, 21, 24 and 50 kDa and there were not differences and (iv) focussing the two-dimensional SDS-PAGE gel on the 10–25 kDa rank, the image analysis software detected around 22 spots with isoelectric points ranging from 5.1 to 6.1. Two protein spots (15 kDa and 5.5 and 22 kDa and 5.2 for molecular weight and isoelectric point respectively) increased significantly when semen was recovered using EE. One spot protein with molecular weight around 25 kDa and isoelectric point of 5.2 were only found in the seminal plasma from the semen recovery by AV. As it was demonstrated, ejaculates obtained with EE modify the sodium concentration, alter two proteins concentration and induced the loss of one protein in seminal plasma.     

Neosporosis and hammondiosis in dogs

The dog is a definitive host of the protozoan parasite Neospora caninum, and in many parts of the world, infection is relatively common as determined by serology. Reported seroprevalences usually range from 0 to 20 per cent, however, reports of clinically affected dogs are infrequent. Affected dogs are generally less than six months old and predominantly have signs of an ascending hindleg paralysis, with the associated lesions of polyradiculoneuritis and granulomatous polymyositis. Although any organ may be affected, infections are more common in the central nervous system, muscles, lungs and skin. Ante-mortem diagnosis is difficult but serology and cytology can aid diagnosis. The diagnosis can be confirmed by histology, immunohistochemistry, the use of molecular techniques on biopsy material, or on post-mortem examination. Neospora caninum oocysts are rarely found in faeces and must be differentiated from oocysts of related coccidians such as Hammondia heydorni and Toxoplasma gondii. Hammondia heydorni can cause diarrrhoea in immunosuppressed dogs. Neosporosis should be suspected in young pups with an ascending paralysis of the hindlegs. Treatment with clindamycin and potentiated sulphonamides may be useful in cases where muscular atrophy and fibrosis are absent. Feeding of raw meat is a potential risk factor for infection of dogs and should be discouraged.     

The dynamics of zooxanthellae populations: A long-term study in the field

Coral bleaching characterized by the expulsion of symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) is an increasing problem worldwide. Global warming has been implicated as one cause, but the phenomenon cannot be fully comprehended without an understanding of the variability of zooxanthellae populations in field conditions. Results from a 6-year field study are presented, providing evidence of density regulation but also of large variability in the zooxanthellae population with regular episodes of very low densities. These bleaching events are likely to be part of a constant variability in zooxanthellae density caused by environmental fluctuations superimposed on a strong seasonal cycle in abundance.     

Impact on beef cattle productivity of infection with anthelmintic-resistant nematodes

ABSTRACT

Aims: The main goal of the current study was to evaluate, on a commercial beef cattle farm, the impact of infection with gastrointestinal nematodes resistant to both ivermectin (IVM) and moxidectin (MXD) on the productivity of calves.

Methods: Male Aberdeen Angus calves, aged 9–11 months, with faecal nematode egg counts (FEC) ≥200 epg and body weight ≥190?kg, were allocated to two herds. Herd A (n?=?90) grazed a maize-winter forage crop rotation and Herd B (n?=?90) grazed a 2-year-old Agropyrum pasture. On Day 0 in each herd, calves were randomly allocated into five groups (n?=?18), which were treated with 0.2?mg/kg IVM; 0.2?mg/kg MXD; 3.75?mg/kg ricobendazole (RBZ), both IVM and RBZ, or remained untreated. Faecal samples collected on Days ?1 and 19 were used to determine the percentage reduction in FEC, and genera of the nematodes were determined by the identification of the third-stage larvae recovered from faecal cultures. Total weight gain was determined from body weights recorded on Days ?1 and 91.

Results: Overall mean reduction in FEC was 42% for IVM, 67% for MXD, 97% for RBZ and 99% for IVM?+?RBZ. The reduction in FEC for Cooperia spp. was ≤78% for IVM and MXD, and for Haemonchus spp. was 0 and 36% for IVM and MXD, respectively, confirming the presence of parasites resistant to both anthelmintics. Only IVM?+?RBZ treatment resulted in 100% efficacy against Haemonchus spp. The overall estimated mean total weight gain for calves treated with IVM was 15.7 (95% CI?=?11.9–19.7) kg and for calves treated with IVM?+?RBZ was 28.8 (95% CI?=?25–32.5) kg (p?<?0.001). Mean total weight gain for calves treated with MXD was 23.5 (95% CI?=?19.7–27.2) kg.

Conclusions and clinical relevance: In calves naturally infected with resistant nematodes, under the production system assessed here, weight gains were lower in calves treated with anthelmintics that were moderately or highly ineffective compared to those treated with highly effective anthelmintics. These results demonstrate to farmers and veterinarians the importance of a sustainable and effective nematode control under field conditions.     

Endogenous Progesterone Concentrations Affect Progesterone Release from Intravaginal Devices Used for Oestrous Synchronization in Cattle

Intravaginal progesterone‐releasing devices are largely used both as contraceptives in humans and as a component of oestrous synchronization protocols in cattle. To reduce costs in large‐scale timed artificial insemination, the reuse of these releasing devices is common. Passive hormone diffusion, however, depends on the concentration gradient, which could affect the amount of residual progesterone present in these devices after a first use. To evaluate the effect of the presence of a corpus luteum in the release of progesterone from intravaginal devices, three synchronization protocols were designed to simulate the effects of inserting the device in the early dioestrus, late dioestrus or anoestrus. Holstein‐Zebu cross‐bred heifers were randomly allocated into one of these three treatments, and a series of blood samples was taken to evaluate the plasma progesterone concentrations. After 8 days, the intravaginal devices were removed and underwent a previously validated alcoholic extraction technique to measure the residual progesterone. Non‐used devices were used as controls. As expected, the simultaneous presence of the intravaginal device and a corpus luteum resulted in increased plasma progesterone concentrations. Conversely, the amount of residual progesterone in the devices after use was inversely proportional to the plasma progesterone concentration. These results demonstrate that the release rate of progesterone from intravaginal devices is affected by the endogenous concentration of this hormone; consequently, the strategy for reuse should account for the category and expected luteal cyclic activity of the animals undergoing synchronization protocols.