Frequencies of feline blood types in northern Portugal

The frequencies of feline blood types in northern Portugal were studied by surveying 185 pedigreed and nonpedigreed cats. Blood typing was performed by the traditional tube method. As a single group, the majority of cats were type A (90.3%), 3.8% were type B, and 5.9% were type AB. Among pedigreed cats, 19 were Siamese and 7 were Persian; all but 1 were type A. Among nonpedigreed cats, 89.3% were type A, 4.4% were type B, and 6.3% were type AB.     

1H NMR studies on Italian balsamic and traditional balsamic vinegars

In the present work Principal Component Analysis applied to (1)H NMR spectra of balsamic and traditional balsamic vinegars is used to establish a simple and rapid aging determination protocol. Chemical composition of vinegar is dominated by carbohydrates even though several small components can be clearly observed in the proton NMR spectrum. Quantitative determination of some selected metabolites such as ethanol, acetic acid, malic acid, glucose, and HMF, considered as potential aging indicators, has been performed. (1)H NMR spectroscopy provides noninvasive characterization of such compounds, and our data demonstrate the validity of this approach, giving very promising results for assessing the quality of the final product.     

Microbial protein production determined by urinary allantoin and renal urea sparing in normal and low protein fed Corriedale sheep

The aim of the present study was to compare the amount of microbial N entering the duodenum and the efficiency of N utilisation for microbial protein synthesis in normal (NP, 17.4 g N/d) and low protein (LP, 7.5 g N/d) fed Corriedale sheep. Renal functional tests for urea handling studies, and determination of urinary allantoin as an indirect method to estimate the microbial protein production were used. Although the N intake was 57% lower in LP sheep, the microbial N production was not very different between both diets (NP: 3.99 +/- 0.01 vs. LP: 3.79 +/- 0.02 g/d, P < 0.05). The efficiency of the microbial protein synthesis in the rumen, expressed as grams of microbial N per kg of digestible organic matter apparently digested in the rumen, was not statistically different for both diets. The urinary elimination of urea was reduced by 84% in LP sheep, essentially due to an important decrease in both renal plasma flow (-63%) and glomerular filtration rate (-71%). These haemodynamic changes would also reduce the filtered load and the urinary elimination of allantoin, thereby leading to an underestimation of the amount of microbial protein entering in the duodenum. Since the renal urea spared by the kidneys remains in the blood, it limits the drop ofthe available urea for ruminal recycling consecutive to a low nitrogen diet.     

Molecular and antigenic characterization of a Mycoplasma bovis strain causing an outbreak of infectious keratoconjunctivitis.

An unusually high incidence of infectious keratoconjunctivitis followed by pneumonia and arthritis was observed in beef calves of a managed herd. No Moraxella spp. or bacteria other than Mycoplasma spp. were obtained from conjunctival and nasal swabs. A strategy was designed for characterization of bovine mycoplasmas at species and strain level on the basis of a combination of molecular tools and the immunoblotting method. The strategy made it possible to rapidly assign the bacterium responsible for this outbreak to one of the phylogenetic clusters of bovine mycoplasmas delineated in this study and then to identify it as Mycoplasma bovis. The strain, designated Sar 1, showed a 100% 16S rDNA sequence identity with two European strains (120/81 and MC3386) isolated in Germany and Ireland, respectively, and hosts a vsp gene analog to the vspA, vsp422-4, and vsp422-8 genes of the M. bovis reference strain PG45T and of the field strain 422. The use of a cross-reactive rabbit serum developed against the Mycoplasma agalactiae immunodominant antigen P48 confirmed the molecular findings. The immunological response of calves against M. bovis was also investigated. This is the first report on the occurrence of M. bovis on the Island of Sardinia (Italy).     

Comparison of carcass and meat characteristics of Brahman grade cattle (Bos indicus) and crossbred water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

This study was conducted to determine and compare the live traits, carcass yield and the physical, chemical, processing and sensory properties of meat from 20 Brahman grade cattle (crossbred cattle) and crossbred water buffalo (Philippine carabao × Murrah, Bulgarian or Indian) with an average age and weight of 29 months and 434 kg, respectively. The animals were fed a similar diet for 180 days before slaughter. A survey was performed to establish consumer meat preference between the two species. Live weights before slaughter of the two species were found to be different (P < 0.05) with the crossbred water buffalo showing higher bodyweight. However, the crossbred water buffalo had a lower (P < 0.05) dressing yield based on hot carcass weight and chilled carcass weight. The lower dressing yield of crossbred water buffalo can be attributed to its higher (P < 0.05) weights of edible and non‐edible slaughter by‐products. The chilled carcass yield of the forequarters and hindquarters from crossbred cattle and crossbred water buffalo were comparable when expressed as percent of live weight and chilled carcass weight. The estimated lean yield was higher in crossbred cattle than crossbred water buffalo. Crude protein, ash, fat, cholesterol, myofibrillar, sarcoplasmic and insoluble protein contents of the beef and carabao meat were all similar. Water holding capacity, pH, muscle fiber diameter, tenderness, firmness and marbling score in carabeef were all comparable to the beef. Redness was found to be higher (P < 0.05) in carabeef than the beef as measured with a color meter. The consumer meat preference survey showed that 55.9% selected the beef while 44.1% preferred carabeef. The color and amount of fat on the outside of the beef sample were primary in buyer selection.     

Energy balance,leptin, NEFA and IGF-I plasma concentrations and resumption of post partum ovarian activity in swedish red and white breed cows

In the purpose to provide further information in respect of the relationship between metabolism and post partum (PP) ovarian activity resumption in dairy cows, the aim of the present study was to characterize the energy balance (EB) and leptin, NEFA and IGF-I plasma levels in Swedish Red and White (SRW) cows with and without ovarian activity re-initiation within 7 weeks PP. The study was conducted on 12 primiparous SRW cows fed the same diet as total mixed ration for ad libitum intake. The EB was calculated weekly from parturition until seven weeks PP. Blood samples were collected weekly from one week before until 7 weeks after calving for leptin, NEFA and IGF-I analysis. For progesterone (P4) analysis, blood samples were collected two times per week from parturition until the end of the study. P4 profile was used in addition to the clinical examination to detect cows with and without ovarian activity resumption. The clinical and ultrasonographic examination, coupled with P4 profile analysis showed the resumption of ovarian activity within 7 weeks after calving in 8 (group A) and no ovarian resumption in 4 cows (group B). No significant differences were detected in the whole period of observation in the amount of milk production between the two groups, while the mean milk protein content was significantly lower in group B at the third week PP. The calculated EB was negative in both groups in the first three weeks after calving, but more marked in group B. NEFA and Leptin plasma levels did not show significant differences between the two groups. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed that, when low milk producing primiparous cows are concerned, no significant differences in BW loss, milk yield, EB and leptin and NEFA plasma levels between the cows with and without resumption of ovarian activity within 7 weeks post partum were seen. However, significantly higher IGF-I levels in the first two weeks after calving were found in cows with post partum ovarian activity resumption, highlighting the important role of IGF-I as sensitive signal between metabolism and reproduction.     

Molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis: usefulness in international trade

Tuberculosis (TB) represents a barrier for free trade of livestock between Mexico and the United States of America (US). In spite of efforts from Mexico to export TB-free animals, some of those found with TB lesions in slaughterhouses in the US are traced back to that country. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine, through molecular epidemiology, the most probable source of infection for cattle found with TB lesions in the US. Ninety M. bovis isolates, 50 from Mexico obtained from cattle in 8 different states, and 40 from the US from cattle, deer, elk and feral pigs from 7 different states were included in the study. All samples were analyzed in both laboratories, Mexico and the US, following the same protocol for molecular analysis by spoligotyping. Twenty-seven clusters, ranging from 1 to 18 genetically similar strains were found. Some clustering by country was observed, strains from cattle and deer in Michigan in the US fell into the same cluster, suggesting transmission between species. These results, combined with epidemiological information suggest that despite of the possibility that some animals with lesions in the US come from Mexico as false negatives, the US has its own source of infection, must probably in dairy cattle and wildlife. Genetic diversity of isolates from Mexico was larger than that in the US, which could be a consequence of the endemic status of the disease and the indiscriminate movement of animals between regions.     

Characterisation of Mycoplasma capricolum P60 surface lipoprotein and its evaluation in a recombinant ELISA

This paper reports the identification and characterisation of a 60kDa surface protein antigen (P60) of Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capricolum (Mcc), and describes its diagnostic application. Genomic localization and presence in P60 of conserved functional domains suggested a structural and functional relationship with the immunodominant antigen P48 of Mycoplasma agalactiae, a basic membrane protein. A rP60-ELISA was developed, and it resulted in a high specificity for Mcc infections after evaluation with 125 goat sera. The comparison with an existent ELISA based on whole Mcc cell lysates showed that the two assays have comparable sensitivities, but the rP60-ELISA has the significant advantage of a greater specificity. Results indicate that P60 is a potential marker of Mcc infection, especially useful in areas where the presence of M. capricolum subspecies capripenumoniae is also reported.     

Pulse wave Doppler ultrasound of testicular arteries and their relationship with semen characteristics in healthy bulls

Background: Semen evaluation is used to estimate the testicular function. In bulls, the spermatozoa present in the ejaculate are the result of a process that begun more than 2 mo earlier, bequeathing a delayed depiction of the actual function of the testis. Since testis vascularization might be critical for the gonad function, selected pulse wave Doppler ultrasound parameters were assessed in this study, for instance the peak systolic velocity, the end diastolic velocity and the resistive index of the testicular artery along the spermatic cord, the marginal portion of the testicular artery and the intratesticular branches of the testicular artery both in healthy adult and young bulls.Correlations between these parameters and characteristics of semen that was collected numerous times, before and after the Doppler ultrasound examination.Results: The peak systolic velocity and the end diastolic velocity measured in the testicular artery along the spermatic cord(supratesticular artery – SA) were variable among the bulls and within individual bulls, likely due to the convoluted course of the vessel. The resistive index was found highly repeatable in the same bull. A reduction in the resistive index was found between the supratesticular artery and the marginal portion of the testicular artery(P 0.01), and between the marginal portion of the testicular artery and the intratesticular branches of the testicular artery(P 0.05). No differences were recorded for the pulse wave Doppler ultrasound parameters in young bulls compared with adults. A significant correlation was found between the resistive index of the marginal portion of the testicular artery and total sperm in the ejaculate(r = 0.516, P 0.05), the immature sperm(r = 0.462, P 0.05), the teratoid sperm(r = 0.375, P 0.05), and the "Dag defect" sperm(r = 0.389, P 0.05). Similarly, the resistive index of the intratesticular branches of the testicular artery were found correlated with the total sperm number in the ejaculate(r = 0.568, P 0.05), the immature sperm(r = 0.523, P 0.05), the teratoid sperm(r = 0.418, P 0.05), and the "Dag defect" sperm(r = 0.341, P 0.05).Conclusions: The data presented in this study suggest that the resistive index, measured at the marginal portion of the testicular artery, could be an easy-to-perform parameter to evaluate the spermatogenesis quality in young bulls and normal adults.