Ovum pick-up technique in recently weaned ewe lambs subjected to ovarian stimulation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Suplementos múltiplos para novilhas de corte a pasto no período seco: características nutricionais

The objective was to evaluate levels of multiple supplements supplied to beef heifers in low supply of pasture on intake and nutrients digestibility, pH and concentration of ruminal ammonia nitrogen, nitrogen balance, synthesis and microbial efficiency. Five Nellore heifers with initial body weight of 344.00 +/- 21.10 kg and average initial age of 22 months were used. The following supplements were evaluated as fed to the animals: control (mineral supplement) and supplementation levels of 2, 4, 6 and 8 kg/animal/day, composing the following percentages of body weight (BW): 0.55, 1.11, 1.66 and 2.22%, respectively. The experimental design was a Latin square with five replications and five supplements. Intakes of total dry matter, crude protein (CP) and total digestible nutrients, and total apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, total carbohydrates and no fiber carbohydrates increased linearly (P <0.0001) and dry matter intake of forage decreased (P <0.0001) with supplementation levels. Supplementation strategies promoted reduction on ruminal pH (P = 0.0343) and increased concentration of ruminal ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) (P = 0.0004) before the supply of supplements, and after, this NH3-N presented quadratic behavior (P = 0.0023). Nitrogen intake, excretion of urea in urine and nitrogen excretion in feces increased linearly (P <0.0001) according to supplementation levels. The supply of high levels of multiple supplements reduces forage intake and presents itself as an alternative to cattle maintained in a systems with low supply of pasture in the dry season.

Site and extent of amino acid digestion in dairy cattle fed with corn and its byproducts

The study was conducted to evaluated the site and extent of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), methionine (Met), lysine (Lys), and threonine (Thr) digestion of corn and byproducts obtained from corn germ mixed with different amounts of extruded or non-extruded ether extract (EE) in dairy cattle. Treatments consisted in eight types of feed and two processing in a 4 x 2 factorial design. There were four feeds: corn grain cracked (Corn), corn germ meal with 1% EE (CG1), corn germ meal with 7% EE (CG7), and corn germ meal with 10% EE (CG10). The feeds were processed in one of two ways: extruded (Ex) and not extruded. In situ techniques were used to determine DM, CP, Met, Lys, and Thr partial and total tract digestion. A basic diet was compounded of corn germ meal, soybean meal and coastcross hay in a 70: 30 roughage to concentrate ratio. There was no interaction (P>0.05) between feeds and processing method. Extrusion improved (P<0.05) total tract digestibility of corn DM but not CP. Intestinal digestibility was similar (P>0.05) for corn and corn germ meal mixed with 7 and 10% EE, regardless of EE processing method. The CP total tract digestibility of corn germ meal with 1% non-extruded EE was 16.62% higher (P<0.05) than that of the extruded form. The best total CP digestibility was obtained for corn germ meal with 7% EE, independently of the processing method. The effects of EE processing method on partial and total digestibility differed between amino acid. Corn and corn byproduct extrusion may improve dry matter digestibility, but do not necessarily influence crude protein digestion. Ruminal and intestinal digestibility of Met, Lys, and Thr depends on both feed type and processing method. Therefore, amino acid availability should be considered individually.

Different true-protein sources do not modify the metabolism of crossbred Bos taurus x Bos indicus growing heifers

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Glycerol combined with oils did not limit biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acid but reduced methane production in vitro

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effects of the extract and glycoalkaloids of Solanum lycocarpum St. Hill on Giardia lamblia trophozoites

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Degradabilidade ruminal da matéria seca de folhas e colmo de genótipos de Cynodon spp. em quatro idades de rebrota

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Investigation of a new acetogen isolated from an enrichment of the tammar wallaby forestomach

Background: Forestomach fermentation in Australian marsupials such as wallabies and kangaroos, though analogous to rumen fermentation, results in lower methane emissions. Insights into hydrogenotrophy in these systems could help in devising strategies to reduce ruminal methanogenesis. Reductive acetogenesis may be a significant hydrogen sink in these systems and previous molecular analyses have revealed a novel diversity of putative acetogens in the tammar wallaby forestomach.Results: Methanogen-inhibited enrichment cultures prepared from tammar wallaby forestomach contents consumed hydrogen and produced primarily acetate. Functional gene (formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase and acetyl-CoA synthase) analyses revealed a restricted diversity of Clostridiales species as the putative acetogens in the cultures. A new acetogen (growth on H-2/CO2 with acetate as primary end product) designated isolate TWA4, was obtained from the cultures. Isolate TWA4 classified within the Lachnospiraceae and demonstrated > 97% rrs identity to previously isolated kangaroo acetogens. Isolate TWA4 was a potent hydrogenotroph and demonstrated excellent mixotrophic growth (concomitant consumption of hydrogen during heterotrophic growth) with glycerol. Mixotrophic growth of isolate TWA4 on glycerol resulted in increased cell densities and acetate production compared to autotrophic growth. Co-cultures with an autotrophic methanogen Methanobrevibacter smithii revealed that isolate TWA4 performed reductive acetogenesis under high hydrogen concentration (> 5 mM), but not at low concentrations. Under heterotrophic growth conditions, isolate TWA4 did not significantly stimulate methanogenesis in a co-culture with M. smithii contrary to the expectation for organisms growing fermentatively.Conclusions: The unique properties of tammar wallaby acetogens might be contributing factors to reduced methanogen numbers and methane emissions from tammar wallaby forestomach fermentation, compared to ruminal fermentation. The macropod forestomach may be a useful source of acetogens for future strategies to reduce methane emissions from ruminants, particularly if these strategies also include some level of methane suppression and/or acetogen stimulation, for example by harnessing mixotrophic growth capabilities

Metabolism and ruminal parameters of Holstein × Gir heifers fed sugarcane and increasing levels of crude protein

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

TF-Test Modified: new diagnostic dool for human enteroparasitosis

Intestinal parasitosis is highly prevalent worldwide, being among the main causes of illness and death in humans. Currently, laboratory diagnosis of the intestinal parasites is accomplished through manual technical procedures, mostly developed decades ago, which justifies the development of more sensitive and practical techniques. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to develop, evaluate, and validate a new parasitological technique referred to as TF-Test Modified, in comparison to three conventional parasitological techniques: TF-Test Conventional; Rugai, Mattos & Brisola; and Helm Test/Kato-Katz. For this realization, we collected stool samples from 457 volunteers located in endemic areas of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, and statistically compared the techniques. Intestinal protozoa and helminths were detected qualitatively in 42.23% (193/457) of the volunteers by TF-Test Modified technique, against 36.76% (168/457) by TF-Test Conventional, 5.03% (23/457) by Helm Test/Kato-Katz, and 4.16% (19/457) by Rugai, Mattos & Brisola. Furthermore, the new technique presented almost perfect kappa agreement in all evaluated parameters with 95% (P < 0.05) of estimation. The current study showed that the TF-Test Modified technique can be comprehensively used in the diagnosis of intestinal protozoa and helminths, and its greater diagnostic sensitivity should help improving the quality of laboratory diagnosis, population surveys, and control of intestinal parasites.

The effects of Diet and corticosteroid-induced immune suppression during infection by Haemonchus contortus in lambs

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Utilização de pastagem de alfafa e raspa de mandioca na produção de leite de cabras

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FMVZ

Desenvolvimento do rúmen de bovinos no período pré-natal

The development of the domestic mammals’ stomach is a complex process, especially in ruminants. The objective of this research was to perform the analysis of structures of this organ during prenatal period. Samples of Nelore fetuses rumen (Bos Taurus indicus) were divided into five groups: 1 - fetuses with 9 to 15 weeks (8 to 21cm) of gestation, 2 - fetuses with 16 to 22 weeks (23 to 37cm), 3 - fetuses at 23 to 29 weeks (40 to 58cm) 4 - fetuses with 30 to 36 weeks (61 to 77cm) and 5 - fetuses with 37 to 43 weeks (79 to 88cm). Sections were stained with Hematoxylin and eosin and Mallory's trichrome and examined at light microscope. In group 1, in fetuses with 11 cm, could be seen all the layers, mucosa with high epithelium and light cells, lamina propria fused with submucosa, the muscular layer was with two thin sublayers similar in thickness and serosa was thin too. With 13.5 cm, was observed the first irregularities in the mucosa with epithelium projections and lamina propria that will lead rumen papillae. With 16.5 cm there was differentiation of the lamina propria to the submucosa. In group 2, in fetuses with 28 cm were observed complete papillae. From this stage, the remaining groups, there was an increase in thickness of the epithelium, lamina propria, submucosal and muscular layer whit the inner sublayer more thicker than the external and serosa. It was concluded that the main variations occur in fetuses of groups 1 and 2, and after this phase, there is increased in thickness of all layers until the end of the pregnancy period.

Cytopathology in the diagnosis of oral trichomoniasis in a rock pigeon (columba livia)

A Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) submitted for necropsy had an oral white-yellow mass with a friable surface and putrid odor. Impression smears were performed and tissue samples were collected for histopathology. Cytopathological analysis revealed numerous pyriform protozoa, compatible with Trichomonas gallinae. Protozoans were not evident within the lesions by histopathology after staining the samples with Hematoxylin and Eosin or Gomori methenamine silver (GMS) stain. We conclude that impression smears from avian oral trichomoniasis suspects, even during post-mortem evaluation, can be a useful technique for the diagnosis of this disease.

TF-Test modified: new diagnostic tool for human enteroparasitosis

Intestinal parasitosis is highly prevalent worldwide, being among the main causes of illness and death in humans. Currently, laboratory diagnosis of the intestinal parasites is accomplished through manual technical procedures, mostly developed decades ago, which justifies the development of more sensitive and practical techniques. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to develop, evaluate, and validate a new parasitological technique referred to as TF-Test Modified, in comparison to three conventional parasitological techniques: TF-Test Conventional; Rugai, Mattos & Brisola; and Helm Test/Kato-Katz. For this realization, we collected stool samples from 457 volunteers located in endemic areas of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, and statistically compared the techniques. Intestinal protozoa and helminths were detected qualitatively in 42.23% (193/457) of the volunteers by TF-Test Modified technique, against 36.76% (168/457) by TF-Test Conventional, 5.03% (23/457) by Helm Test/Kato-Katz, and 4.16% (19/457) by Rugai, Mattos & Brisola. Furthermore, the new technique presented “almost perfect kappa” agreement in all evaluated parameters with 95% (P < 0.05) of estimation. The current study showed that the TF-Test Modified technique can be comprehensively used in the diagnosis of intestinal protozoa and helminths, and its greater diagnostic sensitivity should help improving the quality of laboratory diagnosis, population surveys, and control of intestinal parasites.