Knowledge,attitudes and practices towards <Emphasis Type="Italic">cystic echinococcosis</Emphasis> in livestock among selected pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in Uganda

A cross-sectional study was done from March 2013 to May 2014 to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards cystic echinococcosis (CE) or hydatidosis among selected pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in Uganda. A structured questionnaire was administered to 381 respondents. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to find the relationship between knowledge about CE and factors such as age, sex, and level of education across all regions. The odds ratio and confidence interval were used to determine the difference in responses across regions. It was shown that age above 36 years was significantly (p < 0.001) associated with awareness about CE in livestock. Likewise, uneducated (p < 0.0001) and agro-pastoralists (p = 0.01) were significantly less knowledgeable than the educated and pastoralists across all regions. The overall knowledge towards CE in livestock was low 17.8% (95% CI = 14.0–21.6). Dog ownership was high and they never dewormed their freely roaming dogs. Dogs shared water with livestock. In conclusion, knowledge about CE in livestock was low across all regions. Therefore, public health education and formulation of policies towards its control by the relevant stakeholders should be done. Also, the true prevalence of CE in livestock needs to be done so that the magnitude and its public health significance are elucidated.     

Radio Frequency Signals in Jupiter's Atmosphere

During the Galileo probe's descent through Jupiter's atmosphere, under the ionosphere, the lightning and radio emission detector measured radio frequency signals at levels significantly above the probe's electromagnetic noise. The signal strengths at 3 and 15 kilohertz were relatively large at the beginning of the descent, decreased with depth to a pressure level of about 5 bars, and then increased slowly until the end of the mission. The 15-kilohertz signals show arrival direction anisotropies. Measurements of radio frequency wave forms show that the probe passed through an atmospheric region that did not support lightning within at least 100 kilometers and more likely a few thousand kilometers of the descent trajectory. The apparent opacity of the jovian atmosphere increases sharply at pressures greater than about 4 bars.     

Ketoprofen reduces the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) in dogs anaesthetized with isoflurane and fentanyl

Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs may potentiate the opioid induced reduction in volatile anaesthetic requirements ( Gomez de Segura et al. 1998 ). This study determined the reduction in the MAC of isoflurane (ISO) produced by ketoprofen (KETO) in dogs anaesthetized with fentanyl (FENT) and ISO. Six healthy female crossbred dogs, weighing 13.5 ± 1.3 (mean ± SD) kg and aged 3.0 ± 0.9 years were studied. Approval of the study was obtained from the institutional ethics committee. Anaesthesia was induced in all dogs via a facemask with 5% ISO in 5 L minute^?1 oxygen. The dogs' trachea were intubated and lungs were ventilated to maintain normocapnia (Pe ′CO₂ 4.7–6 kPa, 35–45 mm Hg). A heating pad was used to maintain body temperature. The animals were anaesthetized four times at one week intervals with the following anaesthetic and analgesic protocols randomly administered. Study 1, MAC (ISO); Isoflurane MAC. Study 2, MAC (ISO + FENT); dogs anaesthetized with ISO received a loading dose of 30 µg kg^?1 FENT IV over 20 minutes followed by a maintenance infusion of 0.2 µg kg^?1 minute^?1 FENT. Study 3, MAC (ISO + FENT + KETO1); as study 2 plus 1 mg kg^?1 KETO. Study 4, MAC (ISO + FENT + KETO2); as study 2 plus 2 mg kg^?1 KETO. The MAC was determined in duplicate by applying a standard electrical stimulus (50 V, 50 H₂ over 60 seconds via two needles placed SC over the tarsus). The stimulus was applied 15 minutes after every step change in anesthetic concentration. The Wilcoxon test was applied to data to determine significant differences among MAC measurements. Fentanyl significantly decreased MAC (ISO) from 1.27% ± 0.02% to 0.73% ± 0.08%, a reduction of 42% (p < 0.05). Ketoprofen 1 mg kg^?1 further decreased the MAC value (although not statistically significantly) with a reduction of 47% from MAC (ISO) (0.67% ± 0.13%) and 8% from MAC (ISO + FENT). When KETO 2 mg kg^?1 was given, the reduction in MAC was 50% compared to MAC (ISO) (0.63% ± 0.08%; p < 0.05) and 14% compared to MAC (ISO + FENT) p < 0.05. Administration of KETO further reduces MAC (ISO) compared to levels observed with FENT alone. The observed reduction may have clinical advantages.     

Effect of Progesterone and Ionomycin on Domestic Cat Sperm Motility Patterns and Acrosome Reaction

This study was aimed at assessing the changes in sperm motion patterns and the percentage of acrosome reaction (AR) in domestic cat semen after treatment with either ionomycin or progesterone (P₄). Ten ejaculates were collected from five tomcats using an artificial vagina, and were diluted, centrifuged and resuspended in a capacitation medium. Samples were evaluated and divided into seven equal aliquots and, after 2 h at 25°C, were incubated for 30 min at 38°C in 5% CO₂ and then analyzed. Computer-assisted sperm analysis and a combination of three fluorescent probes were used to assess sperm plasma, acrosomal membrane integrity and mitochondrial transmembrane potential. Thirty minutes after the start of incubation, P₄ was added (10 μg/ml) to the P1 group. Groups P2 and P3 were supplemented with P₄ (10 and 20 μg/ml, respectively) only after 2 h of incubation, and groups I1 and I2 were supplemented with ionomycin (4 and 8 μ m , respectively) 2 h after incubation. Group E was supplemented with ethanol (0.6%) at 2 h after incubation and group C received no supplementation. Ionomycin and P₄ treatments led to a hyperactivation-like sperm motion and an increase (p < 0.05) in the percentage of AR. Although a higher (p < 0.05) percentage of AR was obtained in group I2 when compared with all P₄ groups, a decrease (p < 0.05) in total and progressive motility was observed in I2 group. As I1 group was similar to I2 to induce AR without diminishing sperm motility, we can conclude that ionomycin at 4 μ m seems to be more suitable to trigger AR in domestic cat sperm.     

Risk factors associated with prevalence of tuberculosis-like lesions and associated mycobacteria in cattle slaughtered at public and export abattoirs in Ethiopia

This study was aimed at investigating risk factors associated with prevalence of tuberculosis (TB)-like lesions and associated mycobacteria in Ethiopian cattle slaughtered. The study was carried out during 2006–2007 in five selected municipal and export abattoirs. Methods of investigation involved detailed necropsy examination of carcasses and isolation of mycobacteria from pathologic tissue specimens. Factors of animal and environment origin were recorded and examined as explanatory variables in relation to the presence or absence of TB-like lesions and the presence of viable mycobacteria. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors associated with prevalence of TB-like lesions and mycobacteria. Out of 3,322 carcasses inspected, 10.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) [9.2–11.3]) and 3.2% (95% CI [2.6–3.8]) were positive, respectively, based on necropsy and bacteriologic examinations. The highest and lowest lesion prevalence was recorded in Adama (24.7%) and Yabello (4.2%), respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified age, breed, abattoir location, geographic origin and management system as being risk factors for prevalence of TB-like lesions and occurrence of viable mycobacteria in Ethiopian cattle. The study demonstrated mycobacterial infection as important infectious disease of Ethiopian cattle. The reported confirmed cases of the disease in different management and geographic settings in Ethiopia disproved the earlier held opinion of its occurrence as a low sporadic profile. In view of a dietary proclivity of Ethiopian communities (milk and meat are predominantly consumed raw) and lifestyle (close contact of people with animals), the risk of bovine tuberculosis as a public health threat is eminent.     

Prevalence of Bovine tuberculosis in Ethiopian slaughter cattle based on post-mortem examination

A study aimed at describing the magnitude and distribution of gross lesions compatible with bovine tuberculosis (BTB) in Ethiiopian slaughter cattle in five abattoirs (four municipal and one export) located in various cattle husbandry systems in Ethiopia was carried out from July 2006 to January 2007 using detailed meat inspection procedure. Five representative abattoirs (four municipal and one export) located in distinct livestock management systems were selected. A total of 3322 cattle; 2876 (86.6%) male, 446 (13.4%) female; 3094 (93.1%) indigenous zebu, 140 (4.2%) crossbred and 88 (2.7%) pure exotic cattle were included in the study. A nine-year meat inspection record was also analyzed to elucidate the trend of BTB in the local cattle population.Of the carcasses inspected, 337 (10.2%, 95%CI= [9.2–11.2]) had lesions suggestive of tuberculosis, 69 (20.5%) generalized and 268 (79.5%) localized.TB prevalence showed a marked variation between categories of age, breed, class of animals, abattoir, geographic origin and husbandry system. It was higher in old and young animals than middle age group; in exotic than local breed; in calves than other classes of animals. The highest and lowest prevalence of TB was recorded in Adama (24.7%, 95%CI= [21.1–28.7]) and Yabello abattoirs (4.2%, 95%CI= [2.6–6.6]), respectively. Cattle whose origin was from Addis Ababa and its surrounding areas had higher prevalence of TB infection (23.9%, 95%CI= [17.6–31.5]).Cattle maintained in dairy farms had high degree of exposure (23.9%, 95%CI= [16.7–32.9]) to the infection than those maintained in other types of management system. Analysis of meat inspection records also revealed an increasing incidence of TB over the years. Our study demonstrated a high prevalence of tuberculosis in Ethiopian slaughter cattle and this could infer to similar scenario in a reference cattle population in the country. In view of Ethiopia’s increasing involvement in livestock export trade, the reported high prevalence of tuberculosis could be a major obstacle, particularly at this moment when sanitary requirements from importing countries are so much strict. Furthermore, the growing concern over increasing incidence of tuberculosis/HIV/AIDS co-infection, the high incidence of extra- pulmonary tuberculosis and a high risk of acquiring zoonotic tuberculosis among the majority of the population emphasize the need for paying the necessary attention towards the control of bovine tuberculosis.     

Cell cycle synchronization and analysis of apoptosis‐related gene in skin fibroblasts from domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) and kodkod (Leopardus guigna)

The kodkod population is in constant decrease and the somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) might help to preserve the genetic pool of this species. The cell cycle synchronization of donor cells plays a crucial role in SCNT. The objective of this research was to evaluate two different methods for quiescence induction, serum starvation (SS) and contact inhibition (CI), both for 1, 3 and 5 days, on skin fibroblast from domestic cat and kodkod. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that in domestic cat, SS and CI, both at 3 and 5 days, increased the percentage of fibroblasts in G0/G1 compared to growing cells (GC) (p < .05). In kodkod, only SS for 3 and 5 days and CI for 1 and 3 days increased the percentage of fibroblasts in G0/G1 compared to GC (p < .05). Viability analysis by differential staining revealed that SS for 5 days decreased the proportion of live fibroblasts in domestic cat and kodkod (p < .05). Regarding gene expression analysis, in domestic cat fibroblasts, no differences were found in the BAX/BCL2 ratio in SS and CI (both at 1, 3 and 5 days) compared to GC. In kodkod fibroblasts, BAX/BCL2 ratio was increased in CI at 3 and 5 days compared to SS at 3 and 5 days (p < .05). In conclusion, in kodkod fibroblasts SS for 5 days and CI after 3 days might have a negative impact on cellular viability. According to these results, we suggest SS for 3 days for cell cycle synchronization in kodkod fibroblasts.     

Characterization of mesenchymal stem cells in bovine endometrium during follicular phase of oestrous cycle

Stem cells have been postulated as responsible for cell regeneration in highly and continuously regenerative tissues such as the endometrium. Few studies in cattle have identified and specified the presence of stem cells in the endometrium during the oestrous cycle. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the bovine endometrium during the follicular phase (FP) of the oestrous cycle. Uterine tissue was collected in the time‐frame comprising day 18 of the cycle and ovulation (day 0). We isolated, cultured and expanded four primary cell lines from endometrium and identified byRT‐qPCR the expression of OCT4, SOX2 but not NANOG (undifferentiated/embryonic markers), CD44 (MSCs marker) and c‐KIT (stem cell marker) genes; and the encoded Oct4, Sox2 and Cd44 proteins by Western blot or immunostaining of paraffin‐embedded tissue in endometrium. We demonstrated that cells isolated from bovine endometrium displayed essentially the same gene expression pattern; however, at the protein level, Oct4 and Cd44 were not detected. Besides, they showed typical functional characteristics of MSCs such as fibroblast‐like morphology, plastic adherence, high proliferative capacity, clone formation in vitro and the ability to differentiate into chondrogenic, osteogenic and adipogenic lineages. We obtained for the first time an extensive characterization of undifferentiated cells populations contained in the bovine endometrium during the FP of the oestrous cycle.     

Lactoferrin increases sperm membrane functionality of frozen equine semen

During cryopreservation, sperm was submitted to an increase in reactive oxygen species generation. This work aimed to improve the quality of frozen equine sperm after the addition of antioxidants lactoferrin (Lf) and catalase (Cat) to a freezing extender. Semen from six stallions was frozen with the extenders: F1) control, INRA 82 freezing extender, F2) F1 + 500 μg/ml Lf and F3) F1 + 200 IU/ml Cat. After thawing, sperm motility parameters, membrane functionality and integrity, and acrosome integrity and spontaneous acrosome‐reacted sperm were evaluated with a computer‐assisted sperm analysis, a hypoosmotic swelling test and epifluorescent microscopy, respectively. Nitrite, hydroperoxide and iron concentrations of frozen semen were measured with spectrophotometry. The percentage of functional membrane sperm treated with Lf was higher (50.7% ± 11.6%) compared to that of the control (37.6% ± 15.6%), while the iron (61.4 ± 11.6 vs 73.3 ± 13.8 mg/dl) and nitrite concentrations (16.3 ± 7.1 vs 25.9 ± 4.2 μM/μg protein) were lower, respectively (p < .05). Thus, it can be suggested that Lf protect stallion spermatozoon during freezing as it has increased the percentage of sperm with functional membrane and decreased the lipid oxidant agents.     

Bone Morphogenetic Protein‐6 (BMP‐6) Stimulates the Antrum Formation by the Regulation of its Signalling Pathway in Caprine Pre‐antral Follicles Cultured In Vitro

BMP‐6 has been found to be important to ovarian cells and oocyte, as well as to uterus. Thus, this study investigated the effect of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP‐6) and recombinant follicle‐stimulating hormone (rFSH) alone or in combination on the in vitro culture (IVC) of isolated caprine secondary follicles (Experiment 1) and the mRNA levels for BMP receptors/Smad signalling pathway (BMPR1A, BMPR2, SMAD1, SMAD4, SMAD5, SMAD6, SMAD7 and SMAD8) in vivo and in vitro using BMP‐6 (Experiment 2). Secondary follicles were cultured in αMEM⁺ alone (control medium) or supplemented with BMP‐6 at 1 or 10 ng/ml and rFSH alone or the combination of both BMP‐6 concentrations and rFSH. The results from Experiment 1 showed that the antrum formation rate was higher in the BMP‐6 at 1 ng/ml (p < 0.05) than in MEM. In Experiment 2, the mRNA expression for BMPR2, SMAD1, SMAD5 and SMAD6 was detected in non‐cultured control and after in vitro culture (MEM and 1 ng/ml BMP‐6); while the expression of SMAD7 and SMAD8 mRNA was only detected after IVC, SMAD4 was only detected in the BMP‐6 at 1 ng/ml treatment. In conclusion, the low BMP‐6 concentration positively influenced antrum formation and ensured normal mRNA expression for BMP receptor and Smads after IVC of caprine secondary follicles.