Manipulated Mouse Embryos as Bioassay System for Water Quality Control

Mouse pronuclear stage embryos with intact slit zona pellucida (manipulated) were cultured in vitro until the hatched blastocyst stage in simplex optimized medium with higher K⁺ concentration (KSOM) prepared with three different water types: tap, deionized reverse osmosis (D‐O) water and Milli‐Q system (M‐Q) water. The culture media were supplemented with or without protein and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA, disodium salt). The rates of hatched blastocysts were significantly affected (p < 0.01) by micromanipulation, protein supplement and water source. The water source has no influence (p > 0.05) on development in EDTA‐supplemented protein‐free culture media, whereas in EDTA‐ and protein‐free culture media, the water quality significantly (p < 0.001) affected the rates of development, with higher rates in media prepared with M‐Q water. The micromanipulated embryos showed higher sensitivity to the water quality (p < 0.01). It worth mentioning that the rates of hatched blastocysts in protein‐free culture media were very low (0–7.5%). Furthermore, the three different water types were analysed by measuring the electrical conductivity, inorganic ions, total organic carbon and endotoxins to evaluate the purity. M‐Q water showed the lowest levels of inorganic ion, total organic carbon and endotoxin concentrations. We concluded that manipulated mouse embryos are good system to evaluate the quality of water used in biological system.     

ACE inhibition in goats under fixed‐time artificial insemination protocol increases the pregnancy rate and twin births

To assess the effect of the angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition on the efficiency of the fixed‐time artificial insemination (TAI), 69 goats were divided randomly into two groups: enalapril (n = 35) and control (n = 34). In the experiment, all animals underwent the protocol of fixed‐time artificial insemination for 12 days. Enalapril group received enalapril maleate dissolved in saline (Enalapril, Lab Teuto Ltda) subcutaneously at the following doses: 0.2 mg/kg/day in D0‐D2; 0.3 mg/kg/day in D3‐D6 and 0.4 mg/kg/day in D7‐D11. The control group received the corresponding volume of 0.9% saline solution. We performed a single insemination 36 hr after sponge removal using frozen semen from two adult male goats with recognized fertility. The ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis was 30 days after the artificial insemination (AI). There was significant increase in pregnancy rates and twinning as well as a decrease in foetal loss in animals receiving enalapril (p < .01). The use of ACE inhibitors during the TAI protocol was shown to be a promising alternative to increase the efficiency of such reproductive biotechnology.     

Gonadotropin‐induced Puberty Does Not Impair Reproductive Performance of Gilts over Three Parities

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproductive performance of three parities of gilts treated or not treated with gonadotropin to induce puberty. Sixty gilts received 600 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) followed by 2.5 mg of porcine luteinizing hormone (LH) 72 h later. Fifty‐nine other gilts were exposed only to a mature boar for 15 min twice daily. Artificial insemination (AI) was performed at 0, 12 and 24 h after the detection of oestrus, and gestation was confirmed by ultrasound after 35 days. Sows were inseminated at the first post‐weaning oestrus. The total numbers of piglets born, piglets born alive, stillborn, mummified foetuses, as well as pregnancy and farrowing rates were evaluated for each of the three parities. Culling rates, farrowing intervals and weaning‐to‐oestrous intervals (WEI) were also analysed. Mean age at puberty and oestrous manifestation were not significantly different between treatments (p = 0.0639; 179.20 ± 17.52 compared with 173.96 ± 16.94, 91.66% compared with 94.92%) across the experimental period. However, females that underwent puberty induction showed modest increases both in the number of total pigs born and in the number of piglets born alive. In conclusion, puberty induction through exogenous gonadotropin administration in field conditions did not induce a more concentrated first oestrous manifestation, but trended to a modest increase in the number of pigs born alive in the first parity and a reduced culling rate during the first gestation.     

Evaluation of the effect of germination on phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities in sorghum varieties

The screening of 50 sorghum varieties showed that, on average, germination did not affect the content in total phenolic compounds but decreased the content of proanthocyanidins, 3-deoxyanthocyanidins, and flavan-4-ols. Independent of germination, there are intervarietal differences in antioxidant activities among sorghum varieties. Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities were more positively correlated in ungerminated varieties than in germinated ones. Sorghum grains with pigmented testa layer, chestnut color glumes, and red plants had higher contents, larger diversity of phenolic compounds, and higher antioxidant activities than other sorghums. Some red sorghum varieties had higher antioxidant activities (30-80 mumol of Trolox equiv/g) than several sources of natural antioxidants from plant foods. Among varieties used for "to", "dolo", couscous, and porridge preparation, the "dolo"(local beer) varieties had the highest average content and diversity in phenolic compounds as well as the highest antioxidant activities. The biochemical markers determined are useful indicators for the selection of sorghum varieties for food and agronomic properties.     

Comparison of content in phenolic compounds,polyphenol oxidase,and peroxidase in grains of fifty sorghum varieties from burkina faso

Analysis of fifty sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] varieties used in Burkina Faso showed that they have different contents of phenolic compounds, peroxidase (POX), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Most of the varieties (82%) had a tannin content less than 0.25% (w/w). POX specific activity was higher than the monophenolase and o-diphenolase specific activities of PPO. For POX, there was a diversity of isoforms among varieties. No clear correlation could be made between the quantitative composition of the grain in phenolics, PPO, and POX, and resistance of plant to pathogens. In general, varieties good for a thick porridge preparation ("t?") had low phenolic compounds content and a medium POX activity. From the red varieties, those used for local beer ("dolo") had a high content in phenolic compounds and PPO, and a low POX activity. The variety considered good for couscous had a low POX content. The characteristics might be useful as selection markers for breeding for specific applications.     

Livestock production in central mali: Ownership,management and productivity of poultry in the traditional sector

Summary A survey of small-scale poultry production in an urban and two agro-pastoral systems covered 381 households. Less detailed information was also obtained from a small sample in a transhumant pastoral system. More households owned poultry in the rice (89·5%) than in the millet (81·1%) or urban (57·1%) systems. Domestic fowl were commonest in all systems followed by pigeons, Guinea fowl and then ducks, although the last were absent from the millet zone. Most families kept only one species but there was more diversification in the rice system. Flock sizes were largest in the rice system for fowls, Guinea fowl and pigeons while duck flocks averaged more birds in the urban area. Females predominated in all species except pigeons where sex ratios were about equal. Management practices in relation to housing, feeding, health care and consumption and marketing are described. Productivity figures relating to egg production, egg size, hatchability, growth and mortality are provided.

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Resumen Se efectuó una inspección a corta escala, de la producción de aves en un sistema urbano y dos rurales, cubriendo 381 explotaciones. Se obtuvo tambien información no muy detallada, de una muestra peque?a en un sistema pastoral transhumante. La mayoría de empresarios se encontraron en los niveles productores de arroz (89,5%), que en los de millo (81,1%) o urbanos (57,1%). La crianza de gallinas y pollos domésticos predominó sobre la de palomos, gallinetas y patos. Estos últimos no se encontraron entre los cultivadores de millo. La mayoría de familias criaba una sola especie, pero hubo más diversificación entre los cultivadores de arroz. El tama?o de las parvadas fue mayor entre los cultivadores de arroz, en lo relacionado con gallinas, gallinetas y palomos, mientras que las parvadas de patos fueron más numerosas en áreas urbanas. Las hembras predominaron en todas las especies, con la excepción de los palomos, en donde los sexos fueron iguales. Se describen las prácticas de manejo y comercialización. Tambien se dan datos de productividad en cuanto a producción de huevos, tama?o de los mismos, eclosión y mortalidad.

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Résumé Une étude de la production avicole à petite échelle dans un système urbain et dans deux systèmes agro-pastoraux a couvert 381 foyers. On a obtenu moins d’informations détaillées dans un petit échantillon d’un système pastoral transhumant. Il y a plus de foyers possèdant des volailles dans les systèmes à base de riz (89,5%) que dans ceux à base de mil (81,1%) ou urbains (57,1%). Les poules domestiques sont les plus communes dans tous les systèmes, suivies par les pigeons, les pintades et enfin les canards, bien que ces derniers soient absents dans la zone du mil. La plupart des femelles n’ont qu’une seule espèce mais il y a un peu plus de disersification dans la zone du riz. La taille des bandes est plus importante dans la zone du riz concernant les poulets, les pintades et les pigeons, tandis que les troupes de canards ont en moyenne plus d’oiseaux en zone urbaine. Dans toutes les espèces il y a prédominance des femelles, sauf pour les pigeons ou le sex-ratio est égal. Les conditions d’élevage concernant l’habitation, la nourriture, les soins de santé, la consommation et la commercialisation sont décrites. Les chiffres de productivité concernant la production d’oeufs, la taille des oeufs, la fertilité, la croissance et la mortalité sont fournis.

     

Liver fluke infections of cattle in Mali. An abattoir survey on prevalence and geographic distribution

Six hundred and ninety two cattle, slaughtered in various abattoirs in Mali between August 1983 and November 1984 were examined for evidence of Fasciola gigantica and Dicrocoelium hospes infections. A great variation in geographic prevalence was observed. Sufficient knowledge was acquired to demonstrate both the importance of fascioliasis in some areas and also the high prevalence of D. hospes in other areas. We suggest that the difference in prevalence from one geographic area to another is influenced by local climatic conditions, presence or absence of rivers and lakes, and differences in livestock management practices by various ethnic groups.