Feeding stimulatory effects of Cyperus rotundus tuber on Cirrhinus mrigala

Traditionally tubers of cyperus (Cyperus rotundus) and its extracts have been used for alluring fish during harvesting in India. An experiment was conducted to evaluate its feeding stimulatory activity and effect on the growth of a commercially important freshwater fish, Cirrhinus mrigala. Three isonitrogenous and isocaloric formulated diets viz. plant ingredient based control and control supplemented with cyperus tuber (CS) at 1% and 5% levels were fed to the fingerlings of mrigal, C. mrigala (2.68+0.20 g) for a period of 45 days. The growth performance and the activity of metabolic enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), in liver, gill and muscle tissues of mrigal were studied during every 15 days interval. Highest relative growth (72.28%) was obtained in the mrigal fed with the diet containing 5% cyperus (5% CS), while the relative growths were 66.18% and 43.40% for the fish fed with the 1% CS diet and control respectively. The activities of AST and ALT were significantly higher (p<0.01) in both 1% and 5% CS diets as compared to the control in all the tissues studied. Higher aminotransferase activities were observed in the tissues of 5% CS group than in those of 1% CS group throughout the experimental period. The observed higher enzymatic activity was concomitant with the higher growth rate in fish. The results suggested that cyperus tuber supplementation increased feed palatability and growth.

Construction and analysis of an experimental Streptococcus iniae DNA vaccine

Streptococcus iniae is a severe aquaculture pathogen that can also infect humans and animal. A putative secretory antigen, Slat 0, was identified from a pathogenic S. iniae strain by in vivo-induced antigen technology. Using turbot as an animal model, the immunoprotective effect of Sia10 was examined as a DNA vaccine in the form of plasmid pSia10, which expresses sia10 under the cytomegalovirus immediate-early promoter. In fish vaccinated with pSia10, transcription of sia10 was detected in muscle, liver, spleen, and kidney at 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, and 49 days post-vaccination. In addition, production of Sia10 protein was also detected in the muscle tissues of pSia10-vaccinated fish. Fish vaccinated with pSia10 exhibited a relative percent survival (RPS) of 73.9% and 92.3%, respectively, when challenged with high and low doses (producing a cumulative mortality of 92% and 52%, respectively, in the control groups) of S. iniae. Immunological and transcriptional analyses showed that vaccination with pSia10(i) induced much stronger chemiluminescence response and significantly higher levels of nitric oxide production and acid phosphatase activity in head kidney macrophages; (ii) caused the production of specific serum antibodies, which afforded apparent immunoprotection when transferred passively into naive fish; and (iii) upregulated the expression of the genes encoding proteins that are possibly involved in both innate and adaptive immune responses. Taken together, these results indicated that pSia10 is an effective vaccine candidate and may be used in the control of S. iniae infection in aquaculture. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Isolation and Characterization of Agglutinin in the Hemolymph of Penaeus indicus H. Milne Edwards

The present study is an attempt to find out the ralation between RNA/DNA ratio, protein,percentage growth rate and specific growth rate of prawn,Penaeus indicus with respect to Nervous system, Eyestalk and Muscle tissues during ontogenesis. We have isolated and purified a natural agglutinin in the hemolymph of P.indicus with antigenecity, agglutinating, hemolytic and antibacterial properties. The influence of growth and environmental parameters on the level of agglutinin in the hemolymph was studied. Agglutinin concentration during normal growth process was compared. The agglutinin concentration in the hemolymph was quantified through developing ELISA, which is useful in health monitoring studies of individual species. Complete amino acid composition of both the subunits of P.indicus agglutinin were analysed. P.indicus agglutinin showed similarity to those proteins having antigenecity,hemolytic and agglutinating properties.Hence, agglutinin was considered as a natural defence protein in the hemolymph of P.indicus responsible for immune surveillance. The humoral defence mechanism of agglutinin was a co-operative effort with hemocytes and complement system. The composition of isolated agglutinin of P.indicus amino acids will be helpful in the synthesis of new antibacterial analogues which can be used against disease causing organisms.

Carcass composition of Venda indigenous scavenging chickens under village management

Four Venda indigenous scavenging (VIS) chickens (one young male and one young female of 10-16 weeks of age, a mature cockerel and a mature hen) were randomly purchased from each of six adjacent rural villages during three different seasons (autumn, winter and spring) to determine the meat yield and carcass chemical composition. A total of 72 chickens were slaughtered and feathers, head, neck, viscera, feet and lungs were removed. The live body weight, dressed carcass weight and also the mass of the breast without wings, thighs and drumsticks were recorded with bones and skin. The muscle tissues of the breast and both legs without tendons and fat were sampled for chemical analysis and were analysed for dry matter, ether extract, crude protein and ash. The carcass weight, dressing %, mass of the breast, mass of the thighs, mass of the drumsticks, breast yield, thighs yield and drumsticks yield of both grower and adult VIS chickens were not influenced by season. The crude protein of the grower chickens breast muscles and fat content of the adult chicken leg muscles differed with season. The meat from VIS chickens provided a constant nutrient (crude protein) supply throughout the year to the rural communities.

Influencia de la suplementación de antioxidantes y de la administración de enrofloxacina en la calidad y seguridad de la carne de ave

Los fenómenos oxidativos y en particular la oxidación lipídica son uno de los principales responsables de la pérdida de calidad en la carne y en los productos cárnicos. Como consecuencia de estos procesos se generan compuestos que pueden afectar el flavor, color y textura de la carne disminuyendo la aceptabilidad por parte del consumidor y reduciendo su valor nutritivo. Por otro lado, el estrés oxidativo está relacionado con la etiología de diversas enfermedades comunes en nuestra sociedad. Las carnes de pollo y de pavo son particularmente sensibles a los procesos oxidativos debido a su elevada proporción de ácidos grasos poliinsaturados en comparación con otros tipos de carne. La suplementación de antioxidantes en la dieta de determinados animales es una de las estrategias más eficaces para proteger la carne de la oxidación. Otro aspecto que afecta a la calidad y seguridad de la carne es la presencia de residuos en los tejidos animales destinados al consumo humano, una parte de los cuáles puede proceder de la administración de antibióticos. En este trabajo se estudió la eficacia de tres compuestos antioxidantes, alfa-tocoferol, beta-caroteno y licopeno, adicionados en distintas concentraciones y combinaciones a la dieta de pollos y pavos. Para ello se determinó la estabilidad oxidativa de los tejidos musculares de pechuga y muslo mediante el análisis de los valores de TBARS, de las actividades de los enzimas antioxidantes GSHPx, CAT y SOD y desde un punto de vista sensorial. Asimismo, se analizaron las concentraciones de vitamina E presentes en ambos músculos. Por otro lado, se investigó la presencia de residuos del antibiótico enrofloxacina y de su metabolito en los tejidos muscular y hepático de ambas especies después de la administración del fármaco con o sin periodo de retirada. Finalmente, y dada la aparente relación existente entre el metabolismo de determinados antibióticos y los fenómenos oxidativos, se valoró la posible interacción entre el fármaco y la vitamina E suplementada a la dieta. La vitamina E, a dosis de 100 ppm y 200 ppm en pollos y pavos respectivamente, se comportó como un antioxidante eficaz disminuyendo la rancidez de la carne tanto en pechuga como en muslo. La dosis de vitamina E necesaria para conseguir un incremento significativo de la estabilidad oxidativa de la carne varió en función de la especie y de las características bioquímicas del tejido analizado. El beta-caroteno, suplementado en la dieta de pollos y pavos conjuntamente con la vitamina E, no sólo no manifestó propiedades antioxidantes sino que enmascaró la efectividad de la vitamina E. El licopeno, de cuya utilización en nutrición animal no existían estudios publicados anteriormente, no mostró eficacia antioxidante en la carne de pollo a una dosis de 10 ppm. Respecto al análisis de residuos de antibiótico se observó que tras el periodo de retirada del fármaco los niveles residuales de enrofloxacina y su metabolito disminuyeron notablemente. Debe tenerse en cuenta que se apreciaron diferencias en función de la especie y del tejido considerados, estando los residuos en algunos casos por encima de los límites máximos permitidos. Por otro lado, se observó una relación entre la enrofloxacina y la vitamina E suplementada en la dieta que, parecía depender tanto de la dosis de antioxidante como del metabolismo del fármaco. Esta interacción afectó tanto a los niveles de vitamina E como a la presencia de residuos de enrofloxacina en el tejido muscular, resaltando la importancia de no subestimar posibles interacciones entre distintos compuestos presentes en la dieta animal.

Human versus animal: contrasting decomposition dynamics of mammalian analogues in experimental taphonomy

Taphonomic studies regularly employ animal analogues for human decomposition due to ethical restrictions relating to the use of human tissue. However, the validity of using animal analogues in soil decomposition studies is still questioned. This study compared the decomposition of skeletal muscle tissues (SMTs) from human (Homo sapiens), pork (Sus scrofa), beef (Bos taurus), and lamb (Ovis aries) interred in soil microcosms. Fixed interval samples were collected from the SMT for microbial activity and mass tissue loss determination; samples were also taken from the underlying soil for pH, electrical conductivity, and nutrient (potassium, phosphate, ammonium, and nitrate) analysis. The overall patterns of nutrient fluxes and chemical changes in nonhuman SMT and the underlying soil followed that of human SMT. Ovine tissue was the most similar to human tissue in many of the measured parameters. Although no single analogue was a precise predictor of human decomposition in soil, all models offered close approximations in decomposition dynamics.

Lack of antidiabetic effect of a Eugenia jambolana leaf decoction on rat streptozotocin diabetes

Streptozotocin-diabetic rats were treated for 17 days with a decoction of Eugenia jambolana (Myrtaceae) leaves (15%, w/v) as a substitute for water. Body weight, food and fluid intake, urine volume, glycemia, urinary glucose and urea were evaluated every 5 days. The animals were sacrificed by decapitation and blood samples collected for the determination of glycemia, serum cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and angiotensin-converting enzyme. The weight of adipose and muscle tissues was also determined. There were no statistically significant differences between treated and untreated rats for any of the biochemical or physiological parameters. We conclude that, at least in this experimental model, Eugenia jambolana leaf decoction has no antidiabetic activity.

Mast cell and eosinophils in the wall of the gut and eosinophils in the blood stream during Toxocara vitulorum infection of the water buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis)

Toxocara vitulorum is a pathogenic nematode from the small intestine of very young buffalo calves. To understand the development of the inflammatory responses in the wall of the gut, samples of tissues were removed from the duodenum, jejunum and ileum of buffalo calves naturally infected with T. vitulorum during the beginning of the infection, at the peak of egg output, as well as during the periods of rejection of the worms and post-rejection. Two additional control groups of uninfected calves (by anti-helminthic therapy of their mothers and after the birth) were also necropsied on days 30 and 50 after birth. Blood samples were fortnightly collected from birth to 174 days post-birth. Blood smears were prepared and stained with Giemsa for eosinophils. The parasitological status of buffalo calves was evaluated through weekly fecal egg counts (EPG) from 1 to 106 days after birth, which revealed that T. vitulorum egg shedding started on day 11, reached the peak of the infection on day 49 and finally expelled the parasites between days 50 and 85 after birth. In the infected buffalo calves, the mast cell population increased significantly, by two-fold in the mucosa (villus-crypt unit (VCU)) of the duodenum and four-fold in the proximal jejunum; but these increases were statistically significant only at the peak of the infection. Although mast cell numbers increased in the mucosa of the ileum as well as in both the submucosal and muscle tissues of the duodenum, proximal jejunum and ileum, the data was not significantly different from the controls. Eosinophil numbers increased in the mucosa of the duodenum (two-five times higher than the control) and proximal jejunum (three-five-fold) during the period of the infection (beginning, peak and rejection). The relative numbers of eosinophils increased in the blood stream from the second to the seventh week. In conclusion, T. vitulorum infection elicited mastocytosis and tissue eosinophilia in the duodenum and proximal jejunum, as well as eosinophilia in the blood stream, during the beginning, at the peak and during the rejection of the worm. After the rejection of the worms, the numbers of these cells returned to normal levels suggesting that these cells may have a role in the process of rejection of T. vitulorum by the host. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Genotypic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in sheep from Brazilian slaughterhouses: New atypical genotypes and the clonal type II strain identified

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

Recrudescence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in chronically infected rats (Rattus norvegicus)

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

Periodontal Disease Decreases Insulin Sensitivity and Insulin Signaling

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

Electromyographic activity of shoulder muscles during exercises performed with oscillatory and non-oscillatory poles

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: A dor e a disfunção no complexo articular do ombro é comumente encontrada na prática fisioterapêutica. Essas anormalidades musculoesqueléticas estão relacionadas à instabilidade e inadequado funcionamento cinemático, que dependem da integridade dos tecidos musculares. Assim, no sentido de prevenir e reabilitar esses sintomas, o uso da haste oscilatória vem sendo implantado para melhorar os resultados de técnicas cinesioterapêuticas. OBJETIVOS: Analisar a atividade eletromiográfica (EMG) dos músculos que estabilizam a articulação do ombro durante a realização de exercícios com haste oscilatória e haste não-oscilatória. MÉTODOS: Participaram do estudo 12 voluntárias com idade de 20,4±1,9 anos. Os dados EMG foram coletados nos músculos trapézio superior (TrS), trapézio inferior (TrI) e deltoide médio (DM) durante três diferentes exercícios realizados com haste oscilatória e haste não-oscilatória. O sinal EMG foi analisado no domínio do tempo pelo cálculo do Root Mean Square (RMS). Os valores de RMS foram normalizados pelo valor de pico obtido em todas as tentativas por cada músculo. A análise estatística foi feita com os testes ANOVA para medidas repetidas e post-hoc de Bonferroni. RESULTADOS: A atividade EMG dos músculos TrS, TrI e DM foi significativamente maior nos exercícios com haste oscilatória do que com haste não-oscilatória (todos p<0,001). Não foram significativas as diferenças na ativação desses músculos entre os exercícios. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados do presente estudo indicaram que a haste oscilatória requisitou maior atividade EMG dos músculos do ombro e, assim, pode ser um instrumento útil no treinamento desses músculos.

Mucocele of the glands of Blandin-Nuhn-clinical, pathological, and therapeutical aspects

Purpose: This study aims to review anatomical, clinical, and pathological concepts as well as to discuss the most adequate therapeutic approach to the mucoceles of the glands of Blandin-Nuhn. Discussion: The glands of Blandin-Nuhn are localized in the ventral part of the tongue, next to the apex in the lingual median plane. Development of a mucocele in this site is rarely seen; besides, as the glands of Blandin-Nuhn are not encapsulated and are directly overlapped to the muscle tissues, their manipulation tends to be different from the other oral mucoceles. Conclusion: As Blandin-Nuhn mucoceles are uncommon and their clinical appearance could be similar to other lesions, it is important that health professionals know their clinical and histopathological features to avoid having them misdiagnosed. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.

Expressão de genes relacionados à função mitocondrial em bovinos Nelore extremos para consumo alimentar residual

Pós-graduação em Genética e Melhoramento Animal - FCAV

Isolamentos e caracterização de DETs(Differentially Expressed Transcripts) em espécies de peixes: Leporinus macrocephalus(Characiformes) e Danio rerio (Cypriniformes)

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