Parasitological survey to address major risk factors threatening alpacas in Andean extensive farms (Arequipa,Peru)

Extensive alpaca farming in the Colca Valley (Arequipa, Peru) is the most important resource for farmers who live in this remote area of the country. Grazing is the major available source of food, whereas forage production and supply are limited. Food availability is low during the dry season predisposing animals to parasitic diseases and reproduction failure. In this study, we looked into gaining an overview about flock health management and nutritional and parasitological status of different age groups in medium-large alpaca farms at the beginning of the dry season. A total of 20 herds were included in the survey and 288 fecal samples were collected and analyzed to determine prevalence and oocysts/eggs output level of the most common gastro-intestinal parasites that affect alpacas. Body condition scoring (BCS), was used to determine the nutritional status of sampled animals, belonging to different physiological classes (i.e. crias, tuis, lactating females, non-lactating females, males). Coccidiosis was the parasitic disease with the highest prevalence and output level. It was the most relevant parasitic disease in all classes and especially in young pre-breeding animals. Higher burdens were found in subjects with lower BCS. More specifically, the farms with higher cria mortality rates showed also a tendency to have higher prevalence values of Eimeria macusaniensis. An improved management of nutritional aspects and parasite control, in particular regarding the weaning phase, is expected to enhance the farming reproductive and productive performances of the alpacas in this region.     

Effect of climatic conditions on the overcoming of dormancy in apricot flower buds in two Mediterranean areas: Murcia (Spain) and Tuscany (Italy)

For temperate-zone fruit species such as apricot, when winter cold requirements are not adequately satisfied, negative repercussions on productivity occur. The aim of this research was to study the effect of, mainly temperature on the overcoming of dormancy in different apricot cultivars growing in two areas (Italy, Tuscany: lat. 43°02′N, long. 10°36′E; Spain, Murcia: lat. 38°16′N, long. 1°16′W) representative of the Mediterranean climate. Trials were conducted for two consecutive years on the same genotypes: ‘Currot’, ‘San Castrese’, ‘Goldrich’, ‘Stark Early Orange’ and ‘Orange Red’. These genotypes cover the range of chilling requirements (CR) in the apricot species in these Mediterranean areas. The CR (measured by chill units, CU and portions) for breaking of dormancy, heat requirements, flowering date and flowering and fruit-set percentages were measured. Temperatures were recorded and transformed into the corresponding CU and portions by the Utah Model and the Dynamic model, respectively. The winter climatic conditions determined a dissimilar chill unit accumulation in Tuscany (Italy) and Murcia (Spain) as well as an important effect of the year in both areas. While all cultivars with the exception of Stark Early Orange overcame dormancy, significant differences regarding the CR of cultivars for two different years and growing in two environments were observed, depending also on the cultivar. The results showed that both the Utah Model and Dynamic Model were not completely accurate with regard to establishing the CR for dormancy release under a Mediterranean climate. Temperature should be analysed together with other climatic factors in order to improve the CR assessment.     

Preliminary study on metabolic profile of pregnant and non‐pregnant ewes with high or low degree of behavioral lateralization

To evaluate the metabolic profile of pregnant and non‐pregnant ewes with high or low degree of behavioral lateralization, we used 57 clinically healthy Sardinian ewes. They were divided into three groups: Group A (nonpregnant ewes), Group B (pregnant ewes with one fetus) and Group C (pregnant ewes with twin fetuses). Using behavioral tests, in all groups lateralization was established and ewes were distinguished into ewes with high and low level of lateralization. Every 30 days for 4 months (at 35, 76, 103 and 145 days of gestation), blood samples were collected and total cholesterol, triglycerides, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucose, insulin, creatinine, urea, uric acid, total protein, total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ‐glutamine transferase (γ‐GT), β‐hydroxybutyrate (β‐OHB), chloride (Cl), potassium (K), sodium (Na) and calcium (Ca) were assessed. The repeated measures multifactor analysis of variance (MANOVA) showed statistical differences of time, pregnancy and degree of lateralization on some studied parameters. These results confirm that pregnancy represents a very important metabolic moment and show the effect of the degree of behavioral lateralization on the assessment of metabolic parameters in non‐pregnant and pregnant ewes. Further studies are necessary to value the influence of these factors on other parameters such as hematological parameters and hormones.     

Assessment of the effects of feed restriction and amino acid supplementation on glucose tolerance in llamas

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of prolonged feed deprivation on glucose tolerance, insulin secretion, and lipid homeostasis in llamas. ANIMALS: 9 adult female llamas. PROCEDURE: On each of 2 consecutive days, food was withheld from the llamas for 8 hours. Blood samples were collected before and 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 120, and 240 minutes after IV injection of dextrose (0.5 g/kg) for determination of plasma insulin and serum glucose, triglyceride, and nonesterified fatty acid concentrations. Between experimental periods, the llamas received supplemental amino acids IV (185 mg/kg in solution). The llamas were then fed a limited diet (grass hay, 0.25% of body weight daily) for 23 days, after which the experimental procedures were repeated. RESULTS: Feed restriction decreased glucose tolerance and had slight effects on insulin secretion in llamas. Basal lipid fractions were higher after feed restriction, but dextrose administration resulted in similar reductions in serum lipid concentrations with and without feed restriction. Insulin secretion was decreased on the second day of each study period, which lessened reduction of serum lipid concentrations but did not affect glucose tolerance. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Despite having a comparatively competent pancreatic response, feed-restricted llamas assimilated dextrose via an IV bolus more slowly than did llamas on full rations. However, repeated administration of dextrose reduced insulin secretion and could promote hyperglycemia and fat mobilization. These findings suggested that veterinarians should use alternative methods of supplying energy to camelids with long-term reduced feed intake or consider administering agents to improve the assimilation of glucose.     

Direct fluorometric determination of fluorescent substances in powders: the case of riboflavin in cereal flours

Front-face emission spectra of powders can be recorded with a commercial spectrofluorometer. By combining the emissions of a scatterer powder and of a wheat flour sample, the scattering contribution to the front-face emission spectra of flour is removed, and the fluorescence of the flour is isolated. The fluorescence depends on the concentration of the fluorophores. By choosing convenient measurement parameters and by measuring the emission spectra of flour samples suitably enriched with riboflavin, the fluorescence of riboflavin could be isolated from that of other substances present in flours and the concentration of vitamin B(2) in native substrates could be determined. This method is particularly apt for the measurement of vitamin B(2) in low riboflavin-containing powders such as wheat flours, which are usually analyzed through complex chemical and microbiological methods. The method is essentially phenomenological, in view of the interpretation difficulties connected to the origin of the fluorescence resulting from the absorption of multiply scattered photons.     

Effects of gamma-irradiation on the free radical and antioxidant contents in nine aromatic herbs and spices

Nine spice and aromatic herb samples (i.e., basil, bird pepper, black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, oregano, parsley, rosemary, and sage) were gamma-irradiated at a dose of 10 kGy according to commercial practices. The effects of the disinfection treatment on the content of organic radicals and some nutrients (namely, vitamin C and carotenoids) in the samples were investigated by chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. Irradiation resulted in a general increase of quinone radical content in all of the investigated samples, as revealed by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The fate of these radicals after storage for 3 months was also investigated. The cellulose radical was clearly observed in a few samples. Significant losses of total ascorbate were found for black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, oregano, and sage, whereas a significant decrease of carotenoids content was observed for cinnamon, oregano, parsley, rosemary, bird pepper, and sage.