Optimizing ex situ genetic resource collections for European livestock conservation

Ex situ collections offer the potential to reduce extinction risks, affording option to society in maintaining future breeding opportunities for productivity and heritage traits. However, how much should we be seeking to collect and conserve in gene banks, and where? We developed a mathematical model to optimize logistical decisions of breed conservation choices and to evaluate alternative scenarios for efficiently re‐allocating genetic materials currently stored in different European gene banks, allowing for cross‐country collections, cost and cryogenic capacity differentials. We show how alternative allocations for the breeds that are currently stored in 11 European gene banks could reduce overall conservation costs by around 20% by selecting cryogenic banks that have relatively lower combination of fixed and collection costs, and are geographically closer to collection regions. Our results show that centralizing collections in one gene bank would double the costs, relative to collective European collections approaches. We also calculate marginal costs of collections and show that increasing diversity within the gene banks implies in higher costs per conserved breed.     

Evaluation of transformation growth factor beta1, interleukin-10, and interferon-gamma in male symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs naturally infected by Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi

The aims of this study were to evaluate the immunomodulatory role of TGF-β₁, IL-10, and INF-γ in spleen and liver extracts and supernatant cultures of white spleen cells from male symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs, naturally infected by Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi. Thirty dogs from Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil, an endemic leishmaniosis area, were selected by positive ELISA serological reaction for Leishmania sp. and divided into two groups: asymptomatic (n = 15) and symptomatic (n = 15) consisting of animals with at least three characteristic signs (fever, dermatitis, lymphoadenopathy, onychogryphosis, weight loss, cachexia, locomotion problems, conjunctivitis, epistaxis, hepatosplenomegaly, edema, and apathy). After euthanasia, spleen and liver fragments were collected for ex vivo quantification of TGF-β₁, IL-10, and INF-γ. Naturally active in vitro produced TGF-β₁ was also evaluated in spleen cell culture supernatant. Spleen and liver extract of asymptomatic dogs had higher mean TGF-β₁ levels than symptomatic dogs. High concentrations of IL-10 were found in spleen, and mainly in liver extract of both groups. Higher INF-γ concentrations were found in spleen extracts of symptomatic dogs, and in liver extracts of asymptomatic dogs. Extract of this cytokine was lower in spleen extract. Although INF-γ is being produced in canine infection, mean levels of TGF-β₁ and IL-10 from spleen and liver extracts were quantitatively much higher; suggesting that immune response in both asymptomatic and symptomatic dogs was predominantly type Th2.     

High urinary corticoid/creatinine ratios in cats with hyperthyroidism

Measurement of the urinary corticoid : creatinine (C : C) ratio provides an assessment of cortisol secretion over a period of time. Therefore, this test is a very sensitive measure of adrenocortical function. The stress of the diagnostic procedure and nonadrenal disease may increase the urinary C : C ratio. In addition, diseases such as hyperthyroidism may influence the metabolic clearance of cortisol. To evaluate the effect of thyroid hormone excess, urinary C : C ratios were measured in 32 cats with hyperthyroidism and 45 healthy household cats. In 7 cats, urinary C : C ratios were measured both before and after treatment for hyperthyroidism. With data from the healthy cats, the reference range for the urinary C : C ratio was determined to be 8.0 to 42.0 X 10(-6). The urinary C : C ratios in the cats with hyperthyroidism (median, 37.5 x 10(-6); range, 5.9-169.5 x 10(-6)) were significantly (P = .001) higher than those in the healthy cats (median, 16 x 10(-6); range, 4.8-52.5 x 10(-6)). In 15 cats with hyperthyroidism, the urinary C : C ratios exceeded the upper limit of the reference range. Treatment for hyperthyroidism led to a marked decrease in urinary C : C ratios. The results of this study demonstrate that the urinary C : C ratio may be abnormally high in cats with hyperthyroidism, probably because of increased metabolic clearance of cortisol and activation of the pituitary-adrenocortical axis by disease. Although the clinical features of hyperthyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism in cats are different, hyperthyroidism should be ruled out when cats are suspected of hyperadrenocorticism on the basis of abnormally high urinary C : C ratios.     

Pharmacokinetics of phenylbutazone in beef steers

Phenylbutazone was administered intravenously to a group of 11 beef steers at a dosage of 6 mg/kg of body weight. Whole plasma and protein-free plasma were analyzed for phenylbutazone residues. Pharmacokinetic parameters of total and free phenylbutazone in plasma were calculated using a noncompartmental method. In regards to whole plasma data, the mean volume of distribution at steady state (Vss), was 140 mL/kg body weight, with a mean (+/-SEM) terminal elimination half-life (t1/2) of 34 +/- 9 h. The mean clearance was 3.2 mL/h/kg body weight. The Vss, as determined from the protein-free plasma fraction, was 54093 mL/kg body weight. This larger Vss of free phenylbutazone compared with total plasma phenylbutazone was attributed to a high degree of plasma protein binding, as well as the greater penetration of free phenylbutazone into tissues. The mean t1/2 of free phenylbutazone was 35 +/- 12 h. This similarity to the t1/2 estimated from total plasma phenylbutazone data is attributed to an equilibrium between free and plasma phenylbutazone during the terminal elimination phase. The pharmacokinetic parameters of free and total plasma phenylbutazone in beef steers are statistically similar to those previously reported for lactating dairy cows.     

Virulence-associated trimeric autotransporters of Haemophilus parasuis are antigenic proteins expressed in vivo

Glässer’s disease is a re-emerging swine disease characterized by a severe septicaemia. Vaccination has been widely used to control the disease, although there is a lack of extended cross-protection. Trimeric autotransporters, a family of surface exposed proteins implicated in host-pathogen interactions, are good vaccine candidates. Members of this family have been described in Haemophilus parasuis and designated as virulence-associated trimeric autotransporters (VtaA). In this work, we produced 15 recombinant VtaA passenger domains and looked for the presence of antibodies directed against them in immune sera by immunoblotting. After infection with a subclinical dose of H. parasuis Nagasaki, an IgG mediated antibody response against 6 (VtaA1, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10) of the 13 VtaA of the Nagasaki strain was detected, indicating that they are expressed in vivo. IgA production against VtaA was detected in only one animal. VtaA were more likely to be late antigens when compared to early (Omp P5 and Omp P6) and late (YaeT) defined antigens. Antibody cross-reaction with two orthologs of Nagasaki’s VtaA5 and 6, VtaA15 and 16 of strain HP1319, was also detected. No antibodies against VtaA were detected in the sera of animals immunized with a bacterin of the Nagasaki strain, suggesting poor expression in the in vitro conditions used. Taken together, these results indicate that VtaA are good candidate immunogens that could be used to improve H. parasuis vaccines. However, their capacity to confer protective immunity needs to be further studied.