Lutein from ozone-treated corn retains antimutagenic properties

The present study was conducted to determine the influence of an ozonation process on lutein and protein in clean and contaminated corns. This study aimed to determine the levels of lutein and protein in corn before and after ozonation and to verify the antimutagenic potential of the extracted lutein against aflatoxin using the Ames test. The lutein content was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Nitrogen analysis and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were used to analyze protein. Clean ozone-treated corn had a total lutein content of 28.36 microg/g, which was higher than that of 22.75 microg/g in the untreated clean corn. However, the lutein content was 11.69 microg/g in the ozone-treated contaminated corn, which was lower than that of 16.42 microg/g in the untreated contaminated corn. In both corn samples, the protein content of ozone-treated corn was lower than that of untreated corn, indicating that protein could be destroyed by the ozonation process, which may influence the nutritious value of the corn. Lutein extracts alone showed no mutagenic potential against Salmonella typhimurium tester strains TA100. Lutein extracts from corn inhibited the mutagenicity of AFB1 in a dose-response manner more efficiently than lutein standard. Lutein extracts from different corn samples had similar antimutagenic potentials against AFB1, so the ozone treatment did not affect the antimutagenic potentials of lutein extracts.     

Comparing the role of site disturbance and landscape properties on understory species richness in fragmented periurban Mediterranean forests

We hypothesized that the spatial configuration and dynamics of periurban forest patches in Barcelona (NE of Spain) played a minor role in determining plant species richness and assemblage compared to site conditions, and particularly to both direct (measured at plot level) and potential (inferred from landscape metrics) human-associated site disturbance. The presence of all understory vascular plants was recorded on 252 plots of 100 m² randomly selected within forest patches ranging in size from 0.25 ha to 218 ha. Species were divided into 6 groups, according to their ecology and conservation status. Site condition was assessed at plot level and included physical attributes, human-induced disturbance and Quercus spp. tree cover. Landscape structure and dynamics were assessed from patch metrics and patch history. We also calculated a set of landscape metrics related to potential human accessibility to forests. Results of multiple linear regressions indicated that the variance explained for non-forest species groups was higher than for forest species richness. Most of the main correlates corresponded to site disturbance variables related to direct human alteration, or to landscape variables associated to indirect human effects on forests: Quercus tree cover (a proxy for successional status) was the most important correlate of non-forest species richness, which decreased when Quercus tree cover increased. Human-induced disturbance was an important correlate of synanthropic and total species richness, which were higher in recently managed and in highly frequented forests. Potential human accessibility also affected the richness of most species groups. In contrast, patch size, patch shape and connectivity played a minor role, as did patch history. We conclude that human influence on species richness in periurban forests takes place on a small scale, whereas large-scale effects attributable to landscape structure and fragmentation are comparatively less important. Implications of these results for the conservation of plant species in periurban forests are discussed.     

Pasting Property Differences of Commercial and Isolated Rice Starch with Added Lipids and β‐Cyclodextrin

Lipids are known to generally affect starch properties but the effects of lipid structure and β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) on different starches has not been investigated. This study compared the effects of lipids and β‐CD on pasting properties of isolated rice starch with commercial rice starch. Flour was defatted by Soxhlet extraction and deproteinated by alkaline protease digestion. Fatty acids, monopalmitin (MP), tripalmitin, lysophosphatidylcholine (LC), lysophophatidylethanolamine (LE), each added at 0.2 and 0.6% (starch db), and β‐CD added at 2 and 6% (starch db) were tested. Pasting temperature (PT) increased with added phospholipid, particularly in the commercial starch, while all lipids except tripalmitin increased final viscosity (FV) and total setback (TSB). Breakdown (BKD) was mainly affected and increased by up to 39 RVU for fatty acids while decreasing by up to 80 RVU for other lipids in both starches. TSB doubled by the addition of 0.6% MP but decreased to onethird by 0.6% LE or LC. Addition of β‐CD decreased minimum viscosity (MV) and FV while increasing BKD in isolate but decreased TSB in commercial starch.     

New insights on infectious bronchitis virus pathogenesis: characterization of Italy 02 serotype in chicks and adult hens

Infectious bronchitis (IB) is a worldwide disease affecting chickens of all ages and causing important economic losses in poultry industry. Despite being one of the predominant IB virus (IBV) serotype in several European countries, slightly is known about pathogenesis and pathogenicity of Italy 02 serotype. In this study chicks and old hens were infected by oculo-nasal route with Italy 02 serotype. Clinical signs, gross and microscopic findings were evaluated, viral nucleic acid detection was assessed by in situ hybridization (ISH) in several tissues and viral RNA was detected by RT-PCR in trachea, kidney and nasal and cloacal swabs. Italy 02 serotype was demonstrated to cause severe respiratory and renal damage in one-day old chicks but not in adult hens in which only respiratory disease and drop in egg production was observed. The use of ISH technique demonstrated the presence of viral RNA in nasal turbinates prior to trachea, but more consistent and longer replication periods in enterocytes of lower gastrointestinal tract. The detection of viral nucleic acid in gut by RT-PCR was consistent and more persistent viral shedding was detected in faeces than in nasal exudates. We describe a complete update of IBV distribution in tissues by the use of molecular techniques and we also provide and in-depth pathological characterization of the new Italy 02 IBV serotype. Furthermore, new data about IBV pathogenesis essential in field control is afforded.     

Epidemiological surveillance of bluetongue virus serotypes 1, 4 and 8 in Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica hispanica) in southern Spain

A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the prevalence and circulation of bluetongue virus (BTV) in Spanish ibexes (Capra pyrenaica hispanica). A total of 770 sera samples, 380 blood samples and 34 spleen samples were collected between 2006 and 2009 in Andalusia (southern Spain), a region and time period with a wide circulation of BTV in livestock. Thirty-one out of 770 (4.0%; CI(95%): 2.6-5.4) sera samples analyzed by ELISA showed antibodies against BTV. Twenty-four out of 31 seropositive samples were tested against BTV serotypes 1, 4 and 8 by serum neutralization test (SNT). Neutralizing antibodies against BTV-1 and BTV-4 were detected in seven and ten animals, respectively, four of them showed neutralizing antibodies to both serotypes. The animals seropositive to BTV-4 were sampled between 2006 and 2008, while BTV-1 circulation was confirmed in ibexes sampled between 2007 and 2009. None of the ibexes presented neutralizing antibodies against BTV-8. Statistically significant differences were found among regions and years, which is in coincidence with what occurred in domestic ruminants. There were no statistically significant differences between sexes, age classes and habitats (captivity vs. free-living). BTV RNA was not found in any of the 380 blood samples analyzed. However, BTV-1 RNA was detected from spleen in one Spanish ibex from Málaga province in August 2008. This finding evidences the presence of BTV-1 in Spanish ibex in a municipality where BT outbreaks were not detected in domestic ruminants during that period. Results of the present study show that Spanish ibexes were exposed and responded serologically to both BTV-1 and BTV-4. The low seroprevalence obtained suggests that Spanish ibex is not a relevant species in the dissemination of BT. However, the detection of BTV-1 RNA and the presence of seropositive ibexes in areas where BT outbreaks were not detected in livestock, could not exclude a significant role in the epidemiology of BTV in certain areas.     

External hydrocephalus in two cats

External hydrocephalus describes an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) between the cerebral hemispheres and the overlying arachnoid membrane, rather than within the lateral ventricles. Two young cats with encephalopathic signs were diagnosed with external hydrocephalus, one via magnetic resonance imaging and one via computed tomography. Both cats had abnormally large, broad heads, with no evidence of open fontanelles. A surgical shunt was placed in each cat to divert the accumulated CSF within the cranial cavity to the peritoneal space. Both cats improved dramatically soon after surgical shunting was performed, and they continue to do well clinically, approximately 42 months and 8 months postoperatively, respectively.