Assessment of antioxidative and selenium status by seleno‐dependent glutathione peroxidase activity in different blood fractions using a pig model: issues for clinical nutrition and research

Blood seleno‐dependent glutathione peroxidase (SeGPX ) activity is widely used as a metabolic indicator of systemic antioxidative status despite inconsistent responses in the literature. This study aimed to compare SeGPX activity profiles in different blood fractions, expressed with different reference units, and assess their impact on interpretation of results. Two studies on selenium (Se) metabolism in gilts, including long‐term and peri‐oestrus SeGPX activity profiles, were submitted to analysis of variance with double repeated measures, after data set standardization. Differences between studies were experimental period (three post‐pubertal oestrus or five post‐pubertal oestrus +30 days of gestation) and sample type (whole blood or blood plasma). No difference was observed between whole‐blood long‐term profiles (three oestrus) for SeGPX activity/mg haemoglobin (SeGPX hb) vs. SeGPX activity/ml whole blood (SeGPX wb; p = 0.29). No long‐term difference was observed in whole blood between profiles according to dietary Se provision (basal and dietary Se‐supplemented groups; p ≥ 0.12). Blood plasma long‐term profiles (five oestrus + 30 days gestation) for SeGPX /mg blood plasma protein (SeGPX pro) were different from SeGPX /ml blood plasma (SeGPX pla) according or not to Se provision (p ≤ 0.007 and p < 0.001 respectively). However, regardless of Se provision (p ≥ 0.80), when excluding gestation from the model, blood plasma profiles were similar. During the peri‐oestrus period (day ?4 to +3), regardless of Se provision, SeGPX activity profiles differed according to reference units in both studies (p < 0.001). However, considering Se provision, similar profiles were observed in whole blood and blood plasma (p ≥ 0.27) for basal Se groups, whereas in Se‐supplemented groups they differed for both sample types (p ≤ 0.02). In conclusion, reference units influence interpretation of SeGPX activity according to physiological state. During oxidative stress periods, this effect depends upon dietary Se provision.     

Clinical and pathological insights into Johne′s disease in buffaloes

Alternative diagnostic tools and interesting epidemiological assumptions were associated with an outbreak of Johne??s disease. In a buffalo herd infected with paratuberculosis, seven clinically affected animals and 21 animals with anti-Mycobacterium avium ELISA reactions were identified. Total herd included 203 buffaloes. Most lesions were comparable to those described in buffaloes and cattle affected by Johne??s disease. Water buffalo behaviors such as communal nursing and allosuckling may be additional risk factors for this disease. Detection of positive Ziehl?CNeelsen staining and anti-M. avium immunolabeling in rectal biopsies from one buffalo with paratuberculosis are highlighted as auxiliary diagnostic tools for Johne??s disease in live animals.     

Hydrogeochemistry of the Subaé River Impacted by Lead Smelting Activities,Bahia State,Brazil: Geochemical Characterization and Fluxes of Metals

The Subaé river watershed is considered one of the most critical Pb-impacted environments in Brazil and around the world, due to pollutant dispersion during 33 years of lead ore purification in Santo Amaro da Purification. Severe damages have been reported in biota and population, which depends on the Subaé river watershed quality for agriculture, fishing, and shellfish harvesting. This study aims to understand the geochemical characteristics and dynamics of the river close to the former Pb smelter. The river was sampled at eight sites upstream and eight sites downstream the smelter, near the estuary in the Todos os Santos Bay, six times during a year. Immediate analyses were performed by multiprobe. Major ions were measured by chromatography, dissolved metals by ICP-OES in the filtrated samples (0.45 μm), and particulate metals >?0.45 μm by EDX spectrometry. The ions Na⁺ and HCO₃^? are dominated in the river. Most of the samples (47.6%) were classified as sodic, due to oceanic saline intrusion during tide. Despite the high pollution caused by the smelter from 1960 to 1993, still observed in the surrounding soils, dissolved and particulate metals in the river remained low in all sites during the entire year. Only Cu presented some concentration above the threshold of the Brazilian regulations. The discharge of metals by the river into the Todos os Santos Bay appears to be low for Pb and Zn (2.2 and 14.3 kg km^?1 year^?1, respectively), but higher for Cu comparatively to other worldwide bays.     

Dairy cows change locomotion score and sensitivity to pain with trimming and infectious or non-infectious lesions

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Lameness can negatively affect production, but there is still controversy about the perception of pain in dairy cows. This study aimed to verify the effects...