Skeletal muscle fiber size in untrained and endurance-trained horses.

The mean area and minimal diameter of 3 histochemically determined myofiber types (1, 2A, and 2B; myosin ATPase in acid buffer) were calculated in middle gluteal muscle biopsy specimens from 62 stallions, 47 Andalusians and 15 Arabians, ranging in age from 6 to 12 years. Fourteen Andalusians and 7 Arabians were untrained, and the remainder were actively endurance-trained. The 6-month training schedules involved walking, slow trotting, and cantering. Fourteen Andalusians were moderately endurance-trained, whereas the other 19 Andalusians and 8 Arabians were strongly endurance-trained. Significant differences were not recorded between untrained and endurance-trained Arabians with respect to the area (type 1, 3,194 +/- 869 microns 2 and 3,150 +/- 370 microns 2; type 2A, 3,819 +/- 890 microns 2 and 3,380 +/- 356 microns 2; and type 2B, 4,872 +/- 962 microns 2 and 4,417 +/- 646 microns 2) or minimal diameter (type 1, 52.2 +/- 7.4 microns and 52.8 +/- 3.1 microns; type 2A, 58.1 +/- 6.7 microns and 55.0 +/- 2.8 microns; and type 2B, 65.3 +/- 6.4 microns and 63.4 +/- 4.3 microns) of the 3 fiber types, nor between untrained and endurance-trained Andalusians with respect to the area (untrained, 3,990 +/- 690 microns 2; moderately endurance-trained, 3,882 +/- 347 microns 2; and strongly endurance-trained, 3,758 +/- 510 microns 2) and minimal diameter (untrained, 58.1 +/- 4.7 microns; moderately endurance-trained, 59.7 +/- 2.7 microns; and strongly endurance-trained, 58.7 +/- 4.5 microns) of 2A fibers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Physical characteristics and chemical composition of Greater Rhea (Rhea americana) eggs from wild and captive populations.

1. Eggs from wild and captive populations of Greater Rhea (Rhea americana) were studied to determine their physical and chemical characteristics. 2. Significant differences were found among populations in almost all chemical parameters studied, whereas within physical parameters only shell weight (as a proportion of the entire egg) and density showed differences. 3. Eggs from wild populations had the highest protein and linolenic acid and the lowest total lipid contents, while cholesterol levels of these eggs and of those from the largest captive area were the lowest.     

Incidence of Salmonellae in Captive and Wild Free‐Living Raptorial Birds in Central Spain

A total of 595 faecal samples from raptorial birds, either captive or free‐living, residing in GREFA Wildlife Hospital were bacteriologically examined using various selective media and an Automated Diagnostic Assay System for Salmonella detection. Serotype and phage type of the strains identified as Salmonella was determined. In the captive group, of the 285 samples examined, 21 (7.36%) were positive for Salmonella. Serotyping revealed that most of the individuals were infected by Salmonella serotype Havana. This result suggested that there could be a source of contamination in the Hospital although it could not be established. In the wild free‐living group, over 310 samples examined (4.19%) were positive for Salmonella. The Salmonella isolates showed a major variety of serotypes: Enteritidis, Adelaide, Brandenburg, Newport, Typhimurium, Hadar, Saintpaul and Virchow. Most of them are similar to those commonly described in isolates from human and domestic animals. These results indicate that wild birds could be involved in the dissemination of Salmonella in humans or domestic animals or vice versa.     

Determination of sulfamethazine and trimethoprim in liquid feed premixes by HPLC and diode array detection, with an analysis of the uncertainty of the analytical results.

Sulfamethazine (SMZ) and trimethoprim (TMP) are antibacterials used in veterinary practice. This paper describes a method for their determination in veterinary liquid feed premixes that is based on liquid chromatography with diode array detection. Gradient elution with methanol and ammonium acetate achieved excellent separation of the two analytes within 15 min without any interference from the matrix. Absorbance of the column effluent was monitored at 264 nm for SMZ and at 230 nm for TMP. Detailed analyses of the uncertainties of determinations afford estimated expanded uncertainties of, respectively, 0.2 and 0.1 w/v % for typical SMZ and TMP concentrations of 10.7 and 2.1 w/v %, respectively. At the lower end of the calibrated range of the method, the dominant source of uncertainty is the preparation of standards and the construction of the calibration line.     

Biochemical polymorphisms in Spanish Avileña-Negra Iberica cattle

SUMMARY: Thirteen biochemical blood polymorphisms were analysed in a population of 149 Spanish Avile?a-Negra Ibérica cattle. The study revealed variation at the following nine loci: HBB, CA, NP, CP, AMY1, ALB, GC, TF and PTF2. The following systems were monomorphic: CAT, DIA1, MDH1 and ME1. Using polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, a slow, migrating pair of bands was found in the GC protein system. This pattern is probably controlled by the GC(C) allele, described in only a few cases in cattle. Furthermore, starch-gel electrophoresis allowed the detection of a variant with intermediate mobility between the ALB(A) and the ALB(B) alleles at the albumin locus. A variant with a similar electrophoretic pattern has occasionally been reported in cattle. However, utilizing IEF under denaturing conditions, such a variant could not be differentiated from the ALB(A) allele and thus its significance is not clear. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Biochemischer Polymorphismus in spanischen Avile?a-Negra Iberica Rindern Insgesamt 13 biochemische Systeme wurden in einer Population von 149 spanischen Avilena-Negra-Iberika-Rindern hinsichtlich Polymorphismus analysiert. Es zeigten sich Varianten bei folgenden Loci: HBB, CA, NP, CP, AMY1, ANB, GC, TF und BTF2, w?hrend CAT, DEA, MDH1 und ME1 monomorph sind. Bei st?rke Gel-Elektrophorese wurde im Albumin-Locus eine Variante mit intermedi?rer Mobilit?t zwischen ALB(A) und ?LB(B) Allel entdeckt. Eine solche Variante wurde bisher nur sehr selten bei Rindern beobachtet. Darüber hinaus wurde bei Polyacrylamid-Gel-Elektrophorese ein langsam wanderndes Paar von B?ndern im GC-Proteinsystem gefunden. Dieses Muster ist wahrscheinlich von dem selten vorkommenden GC(C) -Allel verursacht. RESUMEN: Se analizaron trece polimorfismos bioquímicos sanguíneos en una población de 149 animales de la raza Avile?a-Negra Ibérica de ganado vacuno. El estudio reveló la existencia de variación en los nueve loci siguientes: HBB, CA, NP, CP, AMY1, ALB, GC, TF y PTF2. Fueron monomórficos los sistemas siguientes: CAT, DIA1, MDH1 y ME1. Utilizando eletroforesis en gel de poliacrilamida se encontró un par de bandas de migración lenta en el sistema de la proteína GC. Este patrón probablemente está controlado por el infrecuente alelo GC(C) , descrito en unos pocos casos en el ganado vacuno. Además, la electroforesis en gel de almidón permitió detectar en el locus de la albúmina una banda con movilidad intermedia entre los alelos ALB(A) y ALB(B) . Una variante con un patrón electroforético similar ha sido descrita en muy pocas ocasiones en el ganado vacuno. Sin embargo, la utilización de IEF en condiciones desnaturalizantes no permitió diferenciar esta variante del alelo ALB(A) y, por lo tanto, el significado de la misma no está claro.