Composition and Seasonal Variation of Brachyura and Anomura (Crustacea, Decapoda) Associated with Brown Mussel Farms at Praia da Cocanha, Brazil

The composition and seasonal variation of brachyuran and anomuran species associated with mussel farms were evaluated at Praia da Cocanha, Sao Paulo between May 2007 and February 2008. Nine mussel ropes were sampled at random in each quarter, and 1,208 organisms were identified, comprising five families and 28 species. The most numerous species was the porcellanid Pachycheles laevidactylus (18.5%), followed by the xanthids Acantholobulus schmitti (16.6%), Hexapanopeus paulensis (11.3%), Panopeus americanus (10.2%), and Menippe nodifrons (8.4%). The exotic crab Charybdis hellerii was recorded throughout the study period. The ecological descriptors, except Pielou evenness index, varied significantly over the time. The highest abundance and diversity of the species were recorded during November and February. This pattern was reversed for Berger-Parker dominance, with the lowest values recorded in February. The development of epifauna was correlated with the different stages of the mussel farms, since the mean size of mussels and consequently the abundance of epibiotic organisms and the structural complexity on the mussel ropes increased from May (seeding) until February (harvest). Despite this, the temporal population variations in recruitment patterns of the different epibionts should not be overlooked. The results indicated that the mussel farms provided favorable conditions for the development of these crustacean groups, which could be used in environmental monitoring programs and / or be exploited for the aquarium trade.

Highly debilitating natural Trypanosoma vivax infections in Brazilian calves: epidemiology, pathology, and probable transplacental transmission

Clinical, epidemiological, and pathological aspects of trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma vivax in calves were reported for the first time in northeast Brazil. Clinical and epidemiological data, packed cell volumes (PCV), and parasitemia were assessed in 150 calves in May 2009 (rainy season-survey 1) and in 153 calves in November 2009 (dry season-survey 2) in three farms (A, B, and C). Prevalence of T. vivax in calves examined in the survey 1 was 63.3%, 65.0%, and 80.0% in farms A, B, and C, respectively. Morbidity varied from 63.3% to 80%, mortality from 15% to 30% and lethality from 23% to 37.5%. In survey 1, for all farms, high parasitemia (from 30.3 to 26.2x10(6) parasites/mL), fever (from 39.8 to 40.3 degrees C), low PCV (from 15.7% to 18.1%), and body score (from 2.5 to 3.5) were detected. Calves showed depression, weight loss, pale mucous membranes, enlarged lymph nodes, edema of the dewlap, cough, coryza, and diarrhea. The animals from farms A and B were treated with diminazene aceturate. Six months after, in survey 2, non-treated calves from farm C showed values for prevalence (81.82), morbidity (81.82), mortality (12.73), and lethality (15.55) similar to those in survey 1 (P>0.05). Also in survey 2, four calves aging merely 1-3 days old presented high parasitemia levels (from 32x10(6) to 74x10(6) parasites/mL), suggesting transplacental transmission. In conclusion, trypanosomiasis by T. vivax constitutes high prevalent disease for calves raised in Brazilian semiarid and may have transplacental transmission.

Effects of in vitro selenium supplementation on blood and milk neutrophils from dairy cows

The study was designed to assess the effects of in vitro selenium addition on intracellular hydrogen peroxide production by neutrophils from the milk and blood of dairy cows. Blood from 10 dairy cows and 20 milk samples from five dairy cows were incubated with 0 mg (control) or 10μM of sodium selenite. Then, milk and blood neutrophils were submitted for evaluation of intracellular hydrogen peroxide production by flow cytometry using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate as a probe. The selenium status of the animals was evaluated by determination of the blood glutathione peroxidase activity. The results of the present work showed that in vitro selenium supplementation leads to an enhancement in intracellular hydrogen peroxide production, which indicates an improvement in the bactericidal effects of blood and milk neutrophils even in cows with a selenium-adequate status. Thus, the present study showed that in vitro Se supplementation leads to an enhancement in intracellular hydrogen peroxide production, indicating an improvement in the bactericidal effects of blood and milk neutrophils in cows with Se-adequate status.

Composition and seasonal variation of brachyura and anomura (Crustacea, Decapoda) associated with brown mussel farms at Praia da Cocanha, Brazil

The composition and seasonal variation of brachyuran and anomuran species associated with mussel farms were evaluated at Praia da Cocanha, São Paulo between May 2007 and February 2008. Nine mussel ropes were sampled at random in each quarter, and 1,208 organisms were identified, comprising five families and 28 species. The most numerous species was the porcellanid Pachycheles laevidactylus (18.5%), followed by the xanthids Acantholobulus schmitti (16.6%), Hexapanopeus paulensis (11.3%), Panopeus americanus (10.2%), and Menippe nodifrons (8.4%). The exotic crab Charybdis hellerii was recorded throughout the study period. The ecological descriptors, except Pielou evenness index, varied significantly over the time. The highest abundance and diversity of the species were recorded during November and February. This pattern was reversed for Berger-Parker dominance, with the lowest values recorded in February. The development of epifauna was correlated with the different stages of the mussel farms, since the mean size of mussels and consequently the abundance of epibiotic organisms and the structural complexity on the mussel ropes increased from May (seeding) until February (harvest). Despite this, the temporal population variations in recruitment patterns of the different epibionts should not be overlooked. The results indicated that the mussel farms provided favorable conditions for the development of these crustacean groups, which could be used in environmental monitoring programs and / or be exploited for the aquarium trade.

Nutrients balances and milk fatty acid profile of mid lactation dairy cows supplemented with monensin

The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutrients balance and milk fatty acids profile of dairy cows supplemented with monensin. Twelve Brazilian Holstein dairy cows were distributed into four balanced 3x3 Latin squares, and fed with the following diets: control (C), basal diet without addition of monensin, monensin 24 (M24), addition of 24mg/kg DM of monensin, and monensin 48 (M48), addition of 48mg/kg DM. The experimental diets influenced the efficiency of net energy of lactation utilization. A quadratic effect was observed for the energy balance. It was observed effect of diets on nitrogen balance. It was observed effect of monensin in the milk yield, composition and in the milk fatty acids profile. Monensin in diets of dairy cows in mid lactation, using corn silage, improved the nutrients balance and milk fatty acid profile with 24mg/kg DM.

First report of Trypanosoma vivax outbreak in dairy cattle in São Paulo state, Brazil

This is the first description of a Trypanosoma vivax outbreak in the state of São Paulo (municipality of Lins). Fever, jaundice, decreased milk production, weight loss, profuse diarrhea, abortion, anemia, leukocytosis and hyperfibrinogenemia were observed in the affected animals. Thirty-one cows and calves died out of a total of 1080 in the herd. Three cows showed neurological symptoms like dysmetria, ataxia, muscle weakness, ptyalism, lymph node enlargement and submandibular edema. Flagellated hemoparasites were observed in blood smears. The species was diagnosed as T. vivax by means of PCR. This T.vivax strain showed resistance to diaminazene aceturate and the infection spread quickly at the herd. From the ELISA test, 599 serum samples (98.36%) were positive for anti-T.vivax IgG antibodies. This outbreak occurred during a very dry period, which indicates that other factors were involved in the outbreak, such as absence of tabanids and large populations of Haematobia irritans and Stomoxys calcitrans. The increases in these populations may have been due to the use of biosolid waste from sugar and ethanol plants in the sugarcane plantations surrounding the dairy farm.

Lipid and glucose profiles of dairy buffaloes during lactation and dry period

The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of lactation and dry period in the constituents of lipid and glucose metabolism of buffaloes. One hundred forty-seven samples of serum and plasma were collected between November 2009 and July 2010, from properties raising Murrah, Mediterranean and crossbred buffaloes, located in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Biochemical analysis was obtained by determining the contents of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, beta-hydroxybutyrate (β-HBO), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and plasma glucose. Values for arithmetic mean and standard error mean were calculated using the SAS procedure, version 9.2. Tests for normality of residuals and homogeneity of variances were performed using the SAS Guide Data Analysis. Data were analyzed by ANOVA using the SAS procedure Glimmix. The group information (Lactation), Farm and Age were used in the statistical models. Means of groups were compared using Least Square Means (LSMeans) of SAS, where significant difference was observed at P ≤ 0.05. It was possible to conclude that buffaloes during peak lactation need to metabolize body reserves to supplement the lower amounts of bloodstream lipids, when they remain in negative energy balance. In the dry period, there were significant changes in the lipid profile, characterized by decrease of nutritional requirements, with consequent improvement in the general conditions of the animals.

Occurrence and characterization of rotavirus A in broilers, layers, and broiler breeders from brazilian poultry farms

Rotaviruses are a major cause of diarrhea in humans and animals, including several mammalian and avian species. Using different PCR protocols, we report the occurrence of rotavirus A in 21 (53.84%; 21/39) from 39 fecal pool samples of broilers, layers, and broiler breeders from Brazilian avian farms. We typed the G5, G8, G11, G19, and P[31] genotypes

Effetto della temperatura di conservazione del latte, dalla raccolta all'affioramento, sulla microflora del latte, del sieroinnesto e del formaggio Trentingrana

This PhD research is part of a project addressed to improve the quality of Grana Trentino production. The objectives were to evaluated if milk storage and collection procedures may affect cheese-making technology and quality. Actually the milk is collected and delivered to the cheese factory just after milking in 50 L cans without refrigeration or in tanks cooled at 18 °C. This procedure is expensive (two deliveries each day) and the milk quality is difficult to preserve as temperatures are not controlled. The milk refrigeration at the farm could allow a single delivery to the dairy. Therefore it could be a good strategy to preserve raw milk quality and reduce cheese spoilage. This operation may, however, have the drawbacks of favouring the growth of psychrotrophic bacteria and changing the aptitude of milk to coagulation. With the aim of studying the effect on milk and cheese of traditional and new refrigerated technologies of milk storage, two different collection and creaming technologies were compared. The trials were replicated in three cheese factories manufacturing Grana Trentino. Every cheese-making day, about 1000 milk liters were collected from always the same two farms in the different collection procedures (single or double). Milk was processed to produce 2 wheels of Grana trentino every day. During the refrigerated trials, milk was collected and stored at the farm in a mixed tank at 12 or 8 °C and then was carried to the dairy in truck once a day. 112 cheese making day were followed: 56 for traditional technology and 56 for the refrigerated one. Each one of these two thechnologies lead to different ways of creaming: long time in the traditional one and shorter in the new one. For every cheese making day we recorded time, temperatures and pH during the milk processing to cheese. Whole milk before ceraming, cream and skim milk after creaming, vat milk and whey were sampled during every cheese-making day for analysis. After 18 months ripening we opened 46 cheese wheels for further chemical and microbiological analyses. The trials were performed with the aim of: 1 estimate the effect of storage temperatures on microbial communities, physico-chemical or/and rheological differences of milk and skim milk after creaming. 2 detect by culture dependent (plate counts) and indipendent (DGGE) methodolgies the microbial species present in whole, skimmed milk, cream and cheese sampled under the rind and in the core; 3 estimate the physico-chemical characteristics, the proteolytic activity, the content of free aminoacids and volatile compounds in 18 months ripened Grana Trentino cheeses from different storing and creaming of milk technologies. The results presented are remarkable since this is the first in-deep study presenting microbiological and chemical analysis of Grana Trentino that even if belonging to Grana Padano Consortium, it is clearly different in the milk and in the manufacturing technology.

Veterinary drugs in drinking water used for pharmaceutical treatments in breeding farms

Water is susceptible to be used for numerous purposes, including edible, both for humans and animals. In the food animal production, drinking water is frequently used as a way to carry out the most common pharmacological treatments. In these cases, there are many variables which could degrade drugs dissolved in this mean, even when properly arranged pharmaceutical formulations are used. In fact, although a product obtains a Marketing Authorization through appropriate laboratory studies both drug stability and solubility, on the other hand the solubility of the same drug in natural water used as a drinking water is not documented. In the present study has been evaluated the dissolution kinetics (at 0 hours and 24 hours) of products, having oxytetracycline and tylosin as active ingredient, used in drinking water samples in order to see how the different physical and chemical factors that characterize the drinking water may affect therapeutic efficacy. In fact, multiple factors, also of little relevance if individually considered, are able to adversely affect the pharmacological treatment carried out in drinking water.

Valorization of pomaces from the mechanical extraction of virgin olive oils in dairy animal feeding

This research work is aimed at the valorization of two types of pomace deriving from the extra virgin olive oil mechanical extraction process, such as olive pomace and a new by-product named “paté”, in the livestock sector as important sources of antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids. In the first research the suitability of dried stoned olive pomace as a dietary supplement for dairy buffaloes was evaluated. The effectiveness of this utilization in modifying fatty acid composition and improving the oxidative stability of buffalo milk and mozzarella cheese have been proven by means of the analysis of qualitative and quantitative parameters. In the second research the use of paté as a new by-product in dietary feed supplementation for dairy ewes, already fed with a source of unsaturated fatty acids such as extruded linseed, was studied in order to assess the effect of this combination on the dairy products obtained. The characterization of paté as a new by-product was also carried out, studying the optimal conditions of its stabilization and preservation at the same time. The main results, common to both researches, have been the detection and the characterization of hydrophilic phenols in the milk. The analytical detection of hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol in the ewes’ milk fed with the paté and hydroxytyrosol in buffalo fed with pomace showed for the first time the presence in the milk of hydroxytyrosol, which is one of the most important bioactive compounds of the oil industry products; the transfer of these antioxidants and the proven improvement of the quality of milk fat could positively interact in the prevention of some human cardiovascular diseases and some tumours, increasing in this manner the quality of dairy products, also improving their shelf-life. These results also provide important information on the bioavailability of these phenolic compounds.

Milk and dairy products: evaluation of bioactive components by analytical techniques

Milk and dairy products are important source of bioactive compounds useful to satisfy the nutritional and physiological needs of any newborns of mammalian species and useful to guarantee adequate growth and development of infants as well as provide a complete nourishment of adults. Physico-chemical, nutritional and organoleptic properties of the main constituents and the “minor” components have a crucial role in the quality of milk and milk products. Although in the past decades dietary milk fat was often regarded as harmful for the human health, recent researches suggest that milk contains specific fatty acids with nutritional and physiological health benefits. For these reasons, a major attention is given to the quantity and quality of total fat intake. In the recent years, as a result of the new concept of multifunctional agriculture and the changing behaviours about diet, consumer demands in favor of high-quality, security and safety dairy products are increased. Moreover, milk proteins and milk-derived bioactive peptides are recognized to have a high nutritive value, several health-promoting functional activities and excellent technological properties. Accordingly, growing interest in the development of functional dairy products and preparation of infant formulae for babies who cannot be breast-fed, has been give in order to meet the specific consumer’s requests. This manuscript presents the main results obtained during my PhD research aimed to evaluate the main bioactive lipids and proteins in milk and dairy products using innovative analytical techniques. The experimental section of this manuscript is divided in two sections where are reported the main results obtained during my research activities on dairy products and human milks in order to characterize their bioactive compounds for functional food applications.

By-products of the dairy farming as raw material for the biotechnology production of polyhydroxyalkanoates

I Poliidrossialcanoati (PHA) sono poliesteri completamente biodegradabili, prodotti da microrganismi come fonte di energia e di carbonio per la sintesi di nuovo materiale cellulare, utilizzando come substrato materie prime rinnovabili. Questi poliesteri sono considerati potenziali candidati per la sostituzione delle materie plastiche convenzionali. Tuttavia, i più alti costi di produzione dei PHA in confronto a quelli delle materie plastiche derivanti dal petrolio, rappresentano il principale ostacolo per la parziale sostituzione di questi ultimi con i biopolimeri. Gli alti costi sono principalmente dovuti all'utilizzo di colture microbiche pure (in cui sia presente un solo ceppo batterico) e substrati puri e costosi. Nell'ultimo decennio è stato sviluppato un processo di produzione a tre stadi alternativo e potenzialmente a minor costo, basato sull'utilizzo di colture microbiche miste (Mixed Microbials Culture, MMC) e una varietà di substrati organici a costo contenuto o nullo, quali alcuni rifiuti dell’industria agro-alimentare. Il presente studio si è concentrato sulla prima fase del processo di produzione dei PHA da colture miste, la fermentazione acidogenica, utilizzando siero di latte come fonte di carbonio per produrre acidi organici. In particolare questo lavoro ha avuto come obiettivo quello di studiare come diverse condizioni operative utilizzate nella fase di fermentazione acidogenica possono influenzare la concentrazione e il profilo degli acidi organici prodotti. Sono stati valutati anche gli effetti dei diversi profili degli acidi organici sulla fase di selezione della coltura microbica, in termini di capacità di stoccaggio di PHA e composizione polimerica.

Using national FADN database to describe Italian farms and arable fields. A comparison of sustainability level between organic versus conventional regimes.

The study defines a new farm classification and identifies the arable land management. These aspects and several indicators are taken into account to estimate the sustainability level of farms, for organic and conventional regimes. The data source is Italian Farm Account Data Network (RICA) for years 2007-2011, which samples structural and economical information. An environmental data has been added to the previous one to better describe the farm context. The new farm classification describes holding by general informations and farm structure. The general information are: adopted regime and farm location in terms of administrative region, slope and phyto-climatic zone. The farm structures describe the presence of main productive processes and land covers, which are recorded by FADN database. The farms, grouped by homogeneous farm structure or farm typology, are evaluated in terms of sustainability. The farm model MAD has been used to estimate a list of indicators. They describe especially environmental and economical areas of sustainability. Finally arable lands are taken into account to identify arable land managements and crop rotations. Each arable land has been classified by crop pattern. Then crop rotation management has been analysed by spatial and temporal approaches. The analysis reports a high variability inside regimes. The farm structure influences indicators level more than regimes, and it is not always possible to compare the two regimes. However some differences between organic and conventional agriculture have been found. Organic farm structures report different frequency and geographical location than conventional ones. Also different connections among arable lands and farm structures have been identified.

Identification of CNV and QTL for productive and functional traits in dairy cattle using dense SNP chips

The thesis identify CNV structural variants as possible markers for genomic selection and identify QTL regions for Fatty Acid Content in the Italian Brown Swiss population. Additionally it maps the QTL for mastitis resistance in the Valdostana Red Pied cattle.