Changes in the fatty acid profile of the subcutaneous fat of swine throughout fattening as affected by dietary conjugated linoleic acid and monounsaturated fatty acids

The fatty acid profile of the subcutaneous fat of pigs and its evolution throughout fattening as affected by dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and their interaction (CLAxMUFA) were studied. Three levels (0, 1, and 2%) of an enriched CLA oil (28% cis-9, trans-11 and 28% trans-10, cis-12 CLA) were combined with two levels of MUFA (low, 19% average; and high, 39% average) for pig feeding (288 gilts). Subcutaneous shot-biopsies were taken from 48 animals at the beginning of the trial (S1, 70 kg), 14 days later (S2, 80 kg), and at slaughter (S3, 107 kg). Inclusion of CLA in the diet caused an increase during fattening in cis-9, trans-11 CLA, trans-10, cis-12 CLA, and saturated fatty acids (SFA) contents of pig backfat and a decrease in MUFA and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). MUFA supplementation also led to a MUFA enrichment of backfat. The interaction CLAxMUFA affected the SFA content. The rates of accumulation of CLA isomers, SFA, and MUFA throughout the trial did not follow a linear behavior, such rates being higher from S1 to S2 than from S2 to S3. These rates were also influenced by dietary CLA and MUFA levels. The increase in the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids of backfat caused by dietary CLA might be balanced by supplementation of pig diets with MUFA.     

Giant cell osteosarcoma in the calvarium of a cat

Feline primary osteosarcomas involving the skull are extremely rare. When they occur, orbit, mandible, and maxilla are the most common sites. Microscopically, scattered multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) are not an uncommon occurrence in osteosarcoma (OSC), but they are generally in low number. Only in a rare variant, the giant cell-rich OSC, are MGCs the prevalent cell type. Although osteoclast and osteoblast origin have been postulated in human and veterinary literature, the origin of MGCs in osteosarcomas is poorly understood. This report describes a giant cell-rich OSC in the calvarium of a 13-year-old spayed female shorthair cat. The animal exhibited a range of neurologic signs, including left circling, compulsive gait, lack of proprioception, and bilateral absence of menace reaction, with indication of left forebrain involvement. Gross lesions were characterized by a multilobate, spherical mass located in the left calvarium, compressing the left forebrain. Histologically, the tumor was characterized by scattered nests of MGCs separated by small bundles of pleomorphic, fusate to polygonal cells. Between spindle cells, osteoid was very sparse and arranged in thin strands. Immunohistochemical stains for vimentin were positive, with no detectable cellular staining for cytokeratin, S-100 protein, or Class II major histocompatibility complex. Ultrastructurally, MGCs contained profiles of rough endoplasmic reticulum; no lysosomes were observed. The origin of MGCs in osteosarcoma remains obscure, and our results confirm their ambiguous identity.     

Effects of feeding with different live preys on the lipid composition,growth and survival of Octopus vulgaris paralarvae

To move forward in the farming of Octopus vulgaris paralarvae, it is necessary to search for a live prey easy to obtain and maintain in the laboratory that meets the nutritional requirements of the octopus paralarvae and adapts to its predatory behaviour. Grapsus adscensionis zoeae (Crustacea, Decapoda) seems to fulfil most of these targets, and it was herein used to deepen knowledge of paralarvae lipid requirements and composition, growth and survival. To this purpose, the effects of feeding with Grapsus zoeae as sole prey were compared with Artemia at two different stages (nauplii and juveniles), which also differed in their lipid profiles. After 15 days of feeding, the best growth and survival of paralarvae was obtained in the Grapsus group, and no differences were observed between both Artemia groups. Triacylglycerides storage in paralarvae seemed to be co‐related with a lower growth and survival, but not with its prey levels. Contrarily, sterol ester levels were higher in paralarvae fed Grapsus, reflecting its content in the prey. The best paralarval viability was related to higher levels of 22:6n‐3 (DHA) and 20:4n‐6 (ARA), also reflecting its higher content in the prey. On the other hand, neither the 20:5n‐3 (EPA) levels in the prey nor in paralarvae were related to growth or survival. The implications of these results are discussed considering the lipid requirements of O. vulgaris paralarvae.     

Influence of diet and water supply on mineral content and pH within the large intestine of horses with enterolithiasis

To determine the effects of two diets and water supplies on intestinal pH and mineral concentrations in the colon of horses, and to identify whether differences in these parameters exist in horses with and without enterolithiasis, surgical fistulation of the right dorsal colon was performed in six adult horses, three with and three without enterolithiasis. Each horse underwent four feeding trials: grass hay and untreated water, alfalfa hay and untreated water, grass hay with filtered/softened water, and alfalfa hay with filtered/softened water. Samples of colonic contents were analyzed for pH, dry matter, and mineral concentrations.Horses with enterolithiasis had higher calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and sulfur concentrations and higher pH in colonic contents than controls. Horses fed alfalfa had lower colonic sodium and potassium, higher calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and sulfur concentrations, and a more alkaline pH than those fed grass. Grass hay consumption leads to reduced concentrations of select minerals and a more acidic colonic environment compared with alfalfa, probably beneficial in the prevention of enterolithiasis. Under controlled dietary and management conditions, horses with enterolithiasis have differences in colonic mineral and pH parameters that may be consistent with physiological differences between horses with and without the disease.     

A Note on Determining Parameter Redundancy in Age-Dependent Tag Return Models for Estimating Fishing Mortality,Natural Mortality and Selectivity

Jiang et al. (JABES 12:177–194, 2007) present models for tag return data on fish. They examine whether the models are parameter redundant, but need to resort to numerical methods as symbolic methods were sometimes found to be intractable. Also, their results are only applicable for a specified number of years of tagging data and age-classes. Here we show how symbolic methods can in fact be used and also how conclusions apply to any number of years of tagging data and age-classes.     

Cerebellar cortical degeneration in three English bulldogs: clinical and neuropathological findings

This case report describes the clinical and neuropathological findings in three young English bulldogs affected by cerebellar cortical degeneration. The dogs, born from the same parents, were presented with clinical signs indicating progressive cerebellar dysfunction: a wide-based stance, severe cerebellar ataxia characterised by marked hypermetria, spasticity, and intention tremors of the head and trunk with loss of balance. On histopathological examination, lesions were confined to the cerebellum and consisted of diffuse degenerative cortical lesions, and there was a loss of Purkinje and granule cells. The history, clinical signs and neuropathological findings confirmed the diagnosis of cerebellar cortical degeneration. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of cerebellar cortical degeneration in the English bulldog.