Effects of paternal diet and antioxidant addition to the semen extender on bovine semen characteristics and on the phenotype of the resulting embryo.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of long-term dietary supplementation of young Nellore bulls with rumen-protected polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and of the inclusion of catalase in the semen extender on semen quality, in vitro sperm fertilizing ability, and intracytoplasmic lipid content in the resulting embryos. Twelve Nellore bulls were supplemented with rumen-protected PUFAs or with a basal diet from 14 to 24 months of age. The semen was collected at the end of supplementation. For cryopreservation, the ejaculate was divided into two equal volumes and catalase was added to the extender in one of the fractions. Thus, the experimental design consisted of a 2 × 2 factorial scheme with two diets (control and PUFA) and two extenders (Cat+ and Cat-). Total motility and the percentage of rapid cells in fresh semen were negatively affected by dietary supplementation with PUFAs (P < 0.05), but these effects did not persist after freezing. The frozen/thawed semen of animals fed PUFAs exhibited an increase in the percentages of damaged plasma and acrosomal membranes, as well as an increase in the proportion of lipids ions at m/z 578 and m/z 757 detected by MALDI-MS. Nevertheless, there was no effect of the treatments on in vitro embryo development. However, embryos derived from bulls supplemented with PUFAs exhibited higher lipid accumulation compared to control (P < 0.05). In conclusion, PUFA supplementation promoted worsening of semen quality without affecting the in vitro sperm fertilizing ability; however, the paternal diet affected the intracytoplasmic lipid content in the resulting embryos.

Ultrasonographic characteristics of the testes, epididymis and accessory sex glands and arterial spectral indices in peri- and post-pubertal Nelore and Caracu bulls.

Ultrasonography can provide information about the integrity of organs; however, rarely is applied to the reproductive organ evaluation of bulls. The objective of the present study was to characterize and compare values for variables and ultrasonographic characteristics of the testes, epididymis and accessory sex glands, as well as spectral Doppler indices of the testicular and internal iliac arteries, between peri- and post-pubertal Nelore and Caracu bulls. Nelore (n = 203) and Caracu (n = 79) bulls were assigned by age class: peri-pubertal (12-15 months) and post-pubertal (> 22 months). Data were analyzed using SAS's PROC MIXED procedure (P < 0.05). The biometric variables of the testes and cauda epididymis differed between peri- and post-pubertal Nelore and Caracu bulls. There was a difference between breeds for the vesicular glands, ampulla of vas deferens, disseminate portion of the prostate, and craniocaudal dimension of the bulbourethral glands. Echogenicity of the testicular parenchyma differed between breeds and age classes. The pulsatility and resistive indices of the testicular arteries differed between Nelore and Caracu bulls. The biometric and ultrasonographic characteristics of the testes, epididymis and accessory sex glands, as well as of the arterial indices in bulls are affected by genetic group and age class, and when assessed there is useful information regarding the progression of sexual maturation.

Molecular Detection of Vector-Borne Pathogens in Rural Dogs and Associated Ctenocephalides felis Fleas (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) in Easter Island (Chile).

The presence of vector-borne pathogens of veterinary and public health interest have received little attention in Chile. In Easter Island, in particular, a Chilean territory in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, no information is available. To fill this gap, 153 rural dogs were inspected for ectoparasites during a sterilization campaign carried out in 2016. Fleas were observed in 46% of the dogs, and Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché, 1835) was the only species present. Morphological identification of fleas was genetically confirmed using conventional polymerase chain reaction targeting the cox2 gene. No tick was observed in any dog. The presence of DNA of Rickettsia sp. (gltA and ompA fragment genes), Anaplasmataceae (16S rRNA), and Bartonella sp. (16S-23S ribosomal RNA intergenic spacer) was investigated in blood samples of 70 of the dogs and in 126 fleas analyzed in 68 pools that included 1-5 fleas. Rickettsial DNA was detected in 97% (n = 66) of the flea pools. Of these, 57 showed between 99 and 100% identity for both genes with published sequences of Candidatus Rickettsia asemboensis (CRa), six with Rickettsia felis, and one with Candidatus Rickettsia senegalensis. For two pools, gltA amplicons were identical to CRa but ompB amplicions showed 99-100% identity with R. felis. Anaplasmataceae DNA was detected in 16% (n = 11) pools. Sequenced amplicons showed highest identity with the endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis. Bartonella DNA, showing 99% identity to Bartonella clarridgeiae, was detected in one pool (1.4%). No positive reaction was observed for any dog. This is the first detection of members of the 'R. felis-like' group other than R. felis in Chile.

Quando a preguiça é sinônimo de doença - um caso de doença de McArdle / When laziness unveils the disease - a case of McArdle disease / Cuando la pereza es sinónimo de enfermedad - un caso de enfermedad de McArdle

A doença de McArdle é uma doença rara, autossômica recessiva, manifestando-se com intolerância ao exercício, mialgias e crises de mioglobinúria por rabdomiólise. Pode complicar-se com insuficiência renal e isquemia muscular associada a anestésicos inalados e relaxantes musculares. Relata-se um caso clínico de um homem de 38 anos que apresentava queixas repetidas de cansaço, palpitações e "sensação de que o músculo bloqueava e encolhia" (sic) durante o exercício, obrigando-o a parar para recuperar. Este quadro estava presente desde a adolescência e cessava com redução do exercício. Foi avaliado, apresentando uma CPK de 554mcg/L, sem outras alterações, pelo que foi referenciado pela médica de família para consulta em Neurologia. Nesta foi solicitada uma biópsia muscular, que revelou doença de McArdle. O médico de família deve ser capaz gerir os casos que se apresentam inespecificamente, valorizando queixas específicas e persistentes no tempo, estando alerta para as situações que possam sugerir uma doença incomum.

McArdle's disease is a rare, autosomal recessive disease, manifesting through exercise intolerance, myalgia and myoglobinuria crises by rhabdomyolysis. Renal failure and muscular ischemia associated with inhaled anesthetics and muscle relaxants may occur. This is a case of a 38-year-old man who presented repeated complaints of fatigue, palpitations and "feeling that the muscle blocked up and shrunk" (sic) during exercise, forcing him to stop. These complaints occurred since adolescence and ceased with exercise reduction. The patient was evaluated and had a CPK of 554mcg/L, without other alterations in the exams, thus being referred to a Neurology appointment by his family doctor. He then was submitted to a muscular biopsy which later revealed McArdle's disease. The family doctor should be able to manage cases that arise nonspecifically, valuing specific and persistent complaints over time and remain alert for situations that suggest an uncommon disease

La enfermedad de McArdle es una enfermedad rara, autosómica recessiva, manifestándose como intolerancia al ejercicio, mialgias y crisis de mioglobinuria por rabdomiolisis. Puede complicarse con insuficiencia renal e isquemia muscular asociada con anestésicos inhalatorios y relajantes musculares. Presentamos un caso de un hombre de 38 años que había repetidas quejas de fatiga, palpitaciones y "sensación de músculo bloqueado y encogido" (sic) durante el ejercicio físico, lo que le obligó a parar para recuperarse. Este marco estaba presente desde la adolescencia y desaparecía con el cese de ejercicio. El paciente fue evaluado y mediante la presentación de una CPK de 554mcg/L, sin otras alteraciones, se hace referencia a la consulta de Neurologia. En esta se ha hecho una biopsia de músculo que reveló la enfermedad de McArdle. El médico de familia debe ser capaz de manejar los casos que se presentan de manera inespecífica, dando importância a las quejas específicas y persistentes en el tiempo y estar alerta para situaciones que podrían sugerir una enfermedad poco frecuente.

Exploratory analysis of differences in sperm morphology in Nelore and Gir (Bos indicus) bulls.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of breed and season on semen quality parameters of zebu bulls. Data (1,632 registers) of semen production from Gir (n = 4) and Nelore (n = 15) bulls were collected between October 2005 and November 2009. The ejaculates were collected twice a week during various seasons (summer, fall, winter, and spring) and evaluated for the following semen parameters: ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility, forward progressive motility (FPM), and sperm morphology. Factor analysis was used to determine the relationship among variables. The effect of breed (Gir and Nelore) and season and their cross effect on each parameter and extracted factor were tested using ANOVA. A negative correlation (P < 0.05) was observed between FPM and proximal droplet, as well as with abnormal loose head, abnormal small head, pouch formation, abnormal mid-piece, and strongly folded tail. Gir bull sperm showed more major defects, detached acrosome, and minor FPM (P < 0.01), whereas Nelore bulls showed a higher number of sperm with normally loose head.

Assessment of in vitro sperm characteristics and their importance in the prediction of conception rate in a bovine timed-AI program.

The aims of this study were to assess in vivo fertility and in vitro sperm characteristics of different sires and to identify sperm variables important for the prediction of conception rate. Multiparous Nelore cows (n = 191) from a commercial farm underwent the same timed artificial insemination (timed-AI) protocol. Three batches of frozen semen from three Angus bulls were used (n = 9). A routine semen thawing protocol was performed in the laboratory to mimic field conditions. The following in vitro sperm analyses were performed: Computer Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA), Thermal Resistance Test (TRT), Hyposmotic Swelling Test (HOST), assessment of plasma and acrosomal membrane integrity, assessment of sperm plasma membrane stability and of lipid peroxidation by flow cytometry and assessment of sperm morphometry and chromatin structure by Toluidine Blue staining. For statistical analyses, Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression was used to explore the importance of various sperm variables in the prediction of conception rate. The following in vitro sperm variables were determined to be important predictors of conception rate: total motility (TM), progressive motility (PM), TM after 2 h of thermal incubation (TM_2 h), PM after 2 h of thermal incubation (PM_2 h), Beat Cross Frequency after 2 h of thermal incubation (BCF_2 h), percentage of rapidly moving cells after 2 h of thermal incubation (RAP_2 h), intact plasma membrane evaluated by HOST, intact plasma and acrosomal membranes evaluated by flow cytometry, intact plasma membrane suffering lipid peroxidation, major defects, total defects, morphometric width/length ratio, Fourier_0 and Fourier_2 and Chromatin Heterogeneity. We concluded that PLS regression is a suitable statistical method to identify in vitro sperm characteristics that have an important relationship with in vivo bull fertility.

Sexagem de embriöes bovinos fecundados in vitro pela técnica de PCR multiplex / Sexing of in vitro fertilized bovine embryos by multiplex PCR

Neste trabalho, a técnica de PCR ("polymerase chain reaction") foi utilizada para a sexagem de 92 embriöes bovinos fertilizados in vitro. Os embriöes originaram-se de fertilizaçäo in vitro de oócitos aspirados de ovários de fêmeas bovinas, provenientes de abatedouros comerciais. Os oócitos foram maturados, fertilizados e cultivados até o estádio de blastocisto. Os embriöes foram lavados em soluçäo de PBS, transferidos para tubos de polipropileno contendo água ultrapura, e imediatamente congelados a -196§C. Os embriöes foram descongelados sobre isopor contendo gelo picado e tratados com proteinase K. Para a reaçäo de PCR, utilizaram-se alíquotas de 34 µl de cada tudo, onde foram acrescidos dois pares de primers, seqüência BC1.2 e seqüência satélite 1.715, desoxinucleotídeos, MgCl2, tampao PCR 10X, TaqDNA polimerase e água, em um volume final de 50 µl. As amostras foram amplificadas e a eletroforese realizada em gel de poliacrilamida a 8 por cento. Os géis foram corados com soluçäo de brometo de etídio e analisados em transiluminador de luz ultravioleta. Um índice de 93,47 por cento de amplificaçäo foi atingido, com 41 embriöes (47,67 por cento) machos e 45 (52,32 por cento) embriöes fêmeas. O uso de gel de poliacrilamida a 8 por cento foi eficaz na separaçäo de fragmentos de DNA muito próximos

A leukocyte cryopreservation technique for cytogenetic studies

O presente estudo teve como objetivo desenvolver uma técnica eficiente de estocagem de leucócitos de cervídeos e ovinos para posterior cultivo e obtençäo de preparaçöes citogenéticas. Vários meios de cultura, crioprotetores e protocolos de congelaçäo e descongelaçäao foram utilizados. Foram obtidos os melhores resultados utilizando-se meio de cultura McCoy ou VYM, acrescidos de DMSO, soro equino e PVP como crioprotetores. O melhor protocolo de congelaçäo foi submeter as células a 30 minutos em 4ºC e 15 minutos em vapor de nitrogênio líquido, e para descongelaçäo, o lançamento do material ainda congelado no meio de cultivo para propagaçäo.