In vitro modulatory effect of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (EPA and DHA) on phagocytosis and ROS production of goat neutrophils

An in vitro study was carried out to examine the influence of two fish-oil-derived long chain ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), on goat polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). Twelve Saanen healthy goats were used as blood donors. Neutrophils were isolated from blood and incubated with increasing concentration of EPA and DHA (25, 50, 100, 200 μM). Control samples were incubated in the absence of ω-3 PUFAs. Phagocytosis was evaluated by fluorescein-labeled Escherichia coli incorporation, while extracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production was determined by cytochrome c reduction assay, which was selected among the others due to its specificity for extracellular superoxide anion release. Phagocytic activity was significantly increased by EPA (P < 0.05) and DHA (P < 0.01). Treating PMN with EPA does not affect extracellular ROS production which is, on the contrary, down-regulated by DHA. This effect was increased in experimental conditions which mimic pro-inflammatory challenges (stimulation with PMA).This study demonstrates that EPA and DHA may have beneficial effect on neutrophil function by increasing their phagocytosis activity and, in the meanwhile, decreasing the tissue damages due to extracellular release of ROS.     

Biology of Thaumastocoris peregrinus in different eucalyptus species and hybrids

The bronze bug Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae), originating in Australia, has been rapidly spreading in eucalyptus plantations in the Southern Hemisphere, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile. In Brazil, it was detected in 2008 in the states of Sao Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul. Due to incomplete knowledge about the biology of this pest, the present study evaluated the bioecology of T. peregrinus in different eucalyptus species and hybrids. The genetic materials utilized were: Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. urophylla, E. grandis, ??1277?? (Hybrid E. grandis x camaldulensis??HGC), ??VM-1?? (Hybrid E. urophylla x camaldulensis??HUC) and ??H-13?? (Hybrid E. urophylla x grandis??HUG). The experiment was conducted in a climate-controlled chamber at a temperature of 26?±?1°C, r.h. = 70%?±?10% and 12?h photophase. The biology of different genotypes indicated that the species E. urophylla and E. grandis are the most suitable for the development and reproduction of T. peregrinus, although all treatments enabled the bronze bug to develop and produce descendants. T. peregrinus developed and reproduced in the principal vegetal materials planted in the southern, central-west and northeastern regions of Brazil, constituting a potentially damaging insect pest to eucalyptus plantations.     

Widespread expression of SAA and Hp RNA in bovine tissues after evaluation of suitable reference genes

The serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin (Hp) are the most prominent acute phase proteins (APPs) in cow. Liver mainly produces APPs, but extra hepatic expression has also been demonstrated in some tissues. The major aim of the present study was to assess the constitutive SAA and Hp mRNA expression by quantitative PCR (qPCR) in a wide panel of 33 bovine tissues, including gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, urogenital system, mammary gland, hematopoietic system, central nervous system, eye, thyroid and heart. Normalization of gene expression in different samples requires reference genes, which are stably expressed. Therefore, seven reference genes were investigated (ACTB, GAPDH, HMBS, SDHA, YWHAZ, SF3A1, EEF1A2) and three genes, namely SF3A1, HMBS and ACTB, were selected after assessing their stability with geNorm? and NormFinder^© softwares.The qPCR analysis confirmed liver as the principal source of SAA and Hp, but also identified both APPs’ mRNA in almost all tissues.The highest expression rate of SAA was found in thyroid, followed by pancreas and submandibulary gland. Hp mRNA expression was detected at high concentration in pancreas and submandibulary gland.The present data indicated a widespread expression of SAA and Hp also in non pathological conditions, thus envisaging a possible role as immunomodulatory and protective molecules. To understand where SAA and Hp come from is the prerequisite to their utilization as Acute Phase Reaction biomarkers.     

Preslaughter Anesthesia with Lippia alba Essential Oil Delays the Spoilage of Chilled Rhamdia quelen

This study evaluated whether anesthesia with essential oil (EO) of Lippia alba (300 mg L^?1 for 4 min) prior to electronarcosis (128 V m^?1 × 300 Hz for 5 s) or hypothermia (ice/water slurry) could delay fish spoilage during chilled storage of whole fish. Silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) were subjected to two different pre-stunning treatments (water or anesthesia with EO of L. alba) followed by two different stunning procedures (hypothermia or electrical stunning), yielding four groups (n = 32/group): water (control) + hypothermia, water (control) + electrical stunning, EO of L. alba + hypothermia, and EO of L. alba + electrical stunning. After stunning, fish were slaughtered by percussion and stored in ice. Preslaughter anesthesia with the EO of L. alba extended fish shelf life by delaying the loss of freshness (nucleotide degradation), growth of Enterobacteriaceae, and fish deterioration (sensory evaluation). Such preservative effect was most remarkable for fish that were subsequently submitted to electrical stunning, as they had the lowest demerit scores and greatest shelf life in the sensory evaluation. Our results showed that preslaughter anesthesia with EO of L. alba followed by electrical stunning can delay the loss of freshness and extend fish shelf life during chilled storage.     

Mandibulectomy for treatment of fractures associated with severe periodontal disease

Six cases of mandibular fractures associated with severe periodontal disease that had been treated by mandibulectomy, due to intense bone loss, were evaluated retrospectively. The dogs were mainly older, small breed dogs that had suffered a traumatic event. Four dogs had a bilateral mandibulectomy and 2 a unilateral mandibulectomy.     

Nitrogenous and phosphorus excretions in juvenile silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) exposed to different water hardness, humic acid, and pH levels

This study examined ammonia, urea, creatinine, protein, nitrite, nitrate, and phosphorus (P) excretion at different water hardness, humic acid, or pH levels in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) juveniles. The fish were exposed to different levels of water hardness (4, 24, 50, or 100 mg L^?1 CaCO₃), humic acid (0, 2.5, or 5.0 mg L^?1), or pH (5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, or 9.0) for 10 days. The overall measured nitrogen excretions were 88.1 % (244–423 μmol kg^?1 h^?1) for ammonia, 10.9 % (30–52 μmol kg^?1 h^?1) for creatinine, 0.02 % (0.05–0.08 μmol kg^?1 h^?1) for protein, 0.001 % (0.002–0.004 μmol kg^?1 h^?1) for urea, 0.5 % (0.64–3.6 μmol kg^?1 h^?1) for nitrite, and 0.5 % (0.0–6.9 μmol kg^?1 h^?1) for nitrate, and these proportions were not affected by water hardness or humic acid levels. The overall P excretion in R. quelen was 0.14–2.97 μmol kg^?1 h^?1. Ammonia excretion in R. quelen usually was significantly higher in the first 12 h after feeding, and no clear effect of water hardness, humic acid levels, and pH on this daily pattern of ammonia excretion could be observed. Water hardness only affected the ammonia and P excretion of R. quelen juveniles in the initial and fifth days after transfer, respectively. The exposure of this species to humic acid increased ammonia excretion after 10 days of exposure but did not affect P excretion. An increase in pH decreased ammonia and increased creatinine excretion but did not change P excretion in R. quelen. Therefore, when there is any change on humic acid levels or pH in the culture of this species, nitrogenous compounds must be monitored because their excretion rates are variable. On the other hand, P excretion rates determined in the present study are applicable to a wide range of fish culture conditions.