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

Spontaneous poisoning by Hovenia dulcis in dairy cattle in Southwest Parana, Brazil

Livestock poisoning by plants is a frequent occurrence which determines severe losses, such as the fall in the milk and meat production, the cost of expensive treatments, the state of immunosuppression, or even the animal's death. Cattle ingest toxic plants only when there is food shortage, when they cannot select what they eat, or when they ingest food for preference, which is the case of Hovenia dulcis fruits, very rich in sucrose. This plant is widely distributed in the southern and southeastern Brazilian regions. In literature, there are some cases of severe human liver injury associated with a long-term of H. dulcis leaf and fruit tea intake, and only one report regarding spontaneous poisoning of goats caused by this plant ingestion. However, its toxic effects associated with spontaneous ingestion by cattle have never been reported. This paper reports the first case of spontaneous poisoning in cattle by H. dulcis, which occurred in a dairy farm in southwest Paraná, Brazil. Three cattle individuals showed anorexia, ruminal atony, severe diarrhea and neurological tournament, head pressing, blindness, ataxia, and circling. The necropsy of the animals was done, and the remaining alterations were restricted to the digestive system and brain. The clinical signs presented by the animals are characteristic of polioencephalomalacia (PEM), caused by changes in the thiamine metabolism. Furthermore, clinical signs, gross, and microscopic lesions as well as the large amount of the plant throughout the digestive segment led to a diagnosis.

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.

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

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FMVZ

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.

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.

Períodos de adaptação de bovinos Nelore confinados a dietas de alto teor de concentrado

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

Óleo funcional na dieta de vacas leiteiras

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Fluxo de gases de efeito estufa na implantação de sistema silvipastoril em pastejo com ovinos

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

Protocolos experimentais de confinamento para bovinos Nelore alimentados com dietas contendo glicerina bruta

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Milho, amido ou caroço de algodão associados à glicerina bruta em dietas para ovinos

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FCAV

Avaliação da persistência de microrganismos patogênicos em solo cultivado com eucalipto e fertilizado com lodo de esgoto sanitário

Pós-graduação em Ciência Florestal - FCA

Prospecção de genes na microbiota do rúmen bovino com propriedades degradadoras da biomassa vegetal

Pós-graduação em Microbiologia Agropecuária - FCAV

Avaliação de modelos empíricos para determinação da taxa de passagem de caprinos em crescimento

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FCAV