Expression and function of Toll-like receptor 2 in canine blood phagocytes

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a family of highly conserved pattern recognition receptors (PRR) of mammals that participate in the activation of innate immune responses against microbial infections. Among these receptors, TLR2 is essential for the recognition of conserved structural components of bacteria, protozoa and fungi. Until now, expression of TLR2 in dogs has not been investigated. In this work we describe a partial sequence of the gene coding for canine TLR2 and show that TLR2 mRNA is constitutively expressed in canine blood PMNs. We also show that stimulation of purified PMNs with lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a ligand of TLR2, leads to the release of proinflammatory chemokine IL-8. Furthermore, TLR2 protein is easily detectable by flow cytometry on the canine peripheral blood granulocyte and monocyte cell surface, and slightly on lymphocytes. These findings suggest that, also in dogs as in humans the initial antibacterial response of PMNs could be elicited through engagement of TLR2.     

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.     

Effects of the nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin and tillage practices on yield-scaled nitrous oxide emission from a maize field in Iran

Nitrification inhibitors can effectively decrease nitrification rates and nitrous oxide(N₂O)emission while increasing crop yield under certain conditions.However,there is no information available on the effects of nitrification inhibitors and tillage practices on N₂O emissions from maize cropping in Iran.To study how tillage practices and nitrapyrin(a nitrification inhibitor)affect N₂O emission,a split factorial experiment using a completely randomized block design with three replications was carried out in Northeast Iran,which has a cold semiarid climate.Two main plots were created with conventional tillage and minimum tillage levels,and two nitrogen(N)fertilizer(urea)management systems(with and without nitrapyrin application)were created as subplots.Tillage level did not have any significant effect on soil ammonium(NH₄⁺)and nitrate(NO₃^-)concentrations,cumulative amount and yield-scaled N₂O emission,and aboveground biomass of maize,whereas nitrapyrin application showed significant effect.Nitrapyrin application significantly reduced the cumulative amount of N₂O emission by 41%and 32%in conventional tillage and minimum tillage practices,respectively.A reduction in soil NO₃^-concentration by nitrapyrin was also observed.The average yield-scaled N₂O emission was 13.6 g N₂O-N kg^-1N uptake in both tillage systems without nitrapyrin application and was significantly reduced to 7.9 and 8.2 g N₂O-N kg^-1N uptake upon the application of nitrapyrin in minimum tillage and conventional tillage practices,respectively.Additionally,nitrapyrin application increased maize biomass yield by 4%and 13%in the minimum tillage and conventional tillage systems,respectively.Our results indicate that nitrapyrin has a potential role in reducing N₂O emission from agricultural systems where urea fertilizers are broadcasted,which is common in Iran due to the practice of traditional farming.     

Selection of families and parents of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) through mixed models by joint analysis of two harvests

At present, the sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) breeding programs from around the world have practiced early family selection, because in the early stages of breeding the evaluated characteristics have shown low heritability. This study aimed to select through restricted maximum likelihood/best linear unbiased prediction also known “mixed models” the best families among the 78 that comprise the RB05 sugarcane series, stage T1, of Programa de Melhoramento Genético da Cana-de-açúcar of the Rede Interuniversitária para o Desenvolvimento do Setor Sucroalcoleiro, Brazil. The experiments, conducted during 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 in Paranavaí, PR were implemented using an incomplete-block design with five replicates of each family. Each plot was composed of two planting rows of 5 m, spaced from each other by 1.40 m and spacing between plants was of 0.50 m, containing ten seedlings for planting row, resulting in a total of 20 individuals per replicate of each family. The characteristics evaluated were Brix (°Brix), ton of stalk per hectare (TCH) and ton of °Brix per hectare (TBH). The joint analysis obtained from these three traits in both harvests favored the selection of 35–41 families. The analysis also favored the selection of the best parents. The top five families for Brix were: F41M60, F02M77, F41M82, F61M38 and F62M35; to TCH were F66M30, F35M06, F78M45, F70M30 and F57M46 and for TBH the five elites families were F66M30, F35M06, F78M45, F70M30 and F01M39. The five best sugarcane parents for Brix were RB835486, SP91-1049, SP80-3280, RB72454 and RB925211; to TCH were IAC87-3396, RB941531, RB855511, RB915141 and RB957689, and for TBH the elite were IAC87-3396, RB855511, RB957689, RB941531 and RB855563. As each harvest season had different order of the best families, the joint analysis proved to be a primordial tool for plant breeders.     

Sexual behavior and seminal quality of Piau boars

The objective of this study was to assess parameters of sexual behavior, seminal characteristics, testicular measurements, and their correlations in Piau boars. A total of 169 observations of the sexual behavior and prelude duration (courting) of 10 Piau boars aged from 0.8 to 6.4 years were made; semen was also collected from these animals. The testicular length (TL), testicular width (TW), testicular shape (TS; 1-5), and testicular volume (TV) of these animals were measured. The seminal physical and morphological characteristics of 60 ejaculates from 6 boars were assessed for volume of ejaculate (VOL), volume of the gelatinous portion (VOLGEL), aspect (ASP), sperm motility (MOT), spermatic vigor (VIG), spermatic concentration per milliliter (CONCML), total concentration (CONCT), and morphological characteristics (major defects [MAJDEF]; minor defects [MINDEF]; and total defects [TDEF]). The animals were subdivided into 3 age groups: G1 (0.8-2.0 years old), G2 (2.1-3.6 years old), and G3 (3.7 and 6.4 years olds). The physiological signs observed included duration of prelude (12.1 ± 4.1 minutes), time to collect semen (5.2 ± 1.8 minutes), nasonasal or genital contact behavior (71.6%), saliva emission (85.2%), urination during prelude (10.1%), penile exposure before collection (26.6%), flank stimulus (81.7%), chewing behavior (95.3%), and biting of the female or dummy (74.6%). The mean values of TL, TW, and TV were 11.8 ± 2.2 cm, 6.2 ± 1.3 cm and 754.1 ± 283.5 cm³, respectively. The older animals had the highest mean values of testicular measurements (P < 0.05) but the lowest mean values of CONCML and CONCT (P < 0.05). All the animals presented similar patterns of ejaculates (P > 0.05); the mean values of VOL, VOLGEL, MOT, VIG, and CONCT were 149.1 ± 51.1 mL, 29.7 ± 10.0 g, 76.2% ± 9.5%, 3.3 ± 0.5, and 29.4 ± 19.5 × 10⁹ total sperm in the ejaculate, respectively. The prevalence rates of defects were 5.9% ± 2.6% for MAJDEF, 10.2% ± 4.0% for MINDEF, and 16.2% ± 5.5% for TDEF; all animals were classified as being sound for breeding. The assessed characteristics were similar to those observed in swine of commercial lineages and within the standards established by the Brazilian College of Animal Reproduction for the species.