Genetic material from buffalo and cattle: crucial importance in the formalization of bilateral trade between India and Brazil

The trade in live animals between India and Brazil dates from the late nineteenth century when European travellers traded animals of Indian origin for display in zoos. Considering the origin of coffee and sugar cane, as well as the expertise related to mineral evaluation, we need to consider that India was involved in important economic cycles of Brazil, even indirectly. This virtuous flow of trade has been maintained and intensified throughout modern history, especially after these two nations gained political independence from their colonisers, thereby becoming independent in mercantile affairs. This paper addresses the main points related to the use of animals of Indian origin in Brazil. We revisit some of the historical aspects of the process of colonisation of Brazil, as well as the importation of animals from India. The restrictions imposed on this process due to the occurrence of diseases in cattle and buffalo in India will be examined. At the end of the text, emphasis will be given to the risks of introducing exotic diseases into Brazil.

Genetic material from buffalo and cattle: crucial importance in the formalization of bilateral trade between India and Brazil

The trade in live animals between India and Brazil dates from the late nineteenth century when European travellers traded animals of Indian origin for display in zoos. Considering the origin of coffee and sugar cane, as well as the expertise related to mineral evaluation, we need to consider that India was involved in important economic cycles of Brazil, even indirectly. This virtuous flow of trade has been maintained and intensified throughout modern history, especially after these two nations gained political independence from their colonisers, thereby becoming independent in mercantile affairs. This paper addresses the main points related to the use of animals of Indian origin in Brazil. We revisit some of the historical aspects of the process of colonisation of Brazil, as well as the importation of animals from India. The restrictions imposed on this process due to the occurrence of diseases in cattle and buffalo in India will be examined. At the end of the text, emphasis will be given to the risks of introducing exotic diseases into Brazil.(AU)

PERFIS DE EXPRESSÕES DE GENES DA IMUNIDADE INATA QUANTO AO TECIDO LINFOIDE E CARACTERIZAÇÃO DA REGIÃO 3-UTR DO GENE DO INTERFERON-GAMA ASSOCIADO AO SEU PADRÃO DE EXPRESSÃO GÊNICA NA MEMBRANA CONJUNTIVAL DE BUBALINOS DA AMAZÔNIA

A bubalinocultura vem apresentando elevado desempenho nos últimos anos, especialmente na Amazônia Brasileira, embora esta apresente condições ambientais adversas que influenciam no surgimento de doenças, incluindo infecções oculares. Assim, a determinação de genes relacionados à imunidade inata ocular é necessária em populações bubalinas. Buscamos determinar os perfis de expressão de genes relacionados ao sistema imune inato na membrana conjuntival de búfalos da Amazônia e caracterizar a região 3-UTR do gene Interferon gama determinando o seu perfil de expressão nessa população. Para isso, amostras de tecido conjuntival ocular e sangue foram coletadas de búfalos abatidos no Estado do Amapá. Os animais foram classificados em três grupos (G1, G2 e G3) de acordo com o grau quantitativo de tecido linfoide associado à conjuntiva por técnicas histológicas das amostras conjuntivais as quais foram submetidas a quantificação da expressão de citocinas inflamatórias, receptores tolllike 4 e -defensina-110 relativa ao gene endógeno. Amostras de sangue foram submetidas a PCR convencional usando iniciadores da região 3 UTR do gene Interferon gama. Os produtos foram purificados, sequenciados e as sequências editadas com outras correspondentes de búfalos e de espécies mamíferas. As mesmas foram alinhadas e comparadas a partir da análise de similaridade genética e análise filogenética. Na conjuntiva dos animais do G1 houve expressão apenas para IFNG e TLR4. Enquanto o G2 houve alta expressão para os genes IL6, IL10, IFNG, TLR4 e os animais do G3 apresentaram elevada expressão para todos os genes estudados. O grau de similaridade genética formou os grupos dos ruminantes, primatas, carnívoros, quirópteros, cetáceos e indivíduos isolados como suiformes e rinocerontes. Ruminantes e cetáceos apresentam alta relação filogenética enquanto houveram diferentes distâncias evolutivas de búfalos com as demais espécies de mamíferos. Nossos estudos serviram para definir os processos imunológicos inatos que ocorrem na membrana conjuntival de uma população de búfalos e determinar o perfil evolutivo em relação a outras espécies mamíferas.

Buffalo production has shown high performance in recent years, especially in the Brazilian Amazon, although it presents adverse environmental conditions that influence the emergence of diseases, including eye infections. Thus, the determination of genes related to ocular innate immunity is necessary in buffalo populations. We sought to determine the expression profiles of genes related to the innate immune system in the conjunctival membrane of Amazon buffaloes and to characterize the 3-UTR region of the Interferon gamma gene, determining its expression profile in this population. For this purpose, samples of ocular conjunctival tissue and blood were collected from buffaloes slaughtered in the State of Amapá. The animals were classified into three groups (G1, G2 and G3) according to the quantitative degree of lymphoid tissue associated with the conjunctiva by histological techniques of the conjunctival samples which were also subjected to quantification of the expression of inflammatory cytokines, tolllike receptors 4 and -defensin-110 relative to the endogenous gene. Blood samples were subjected to conventional PCR using primers from the 3' UTR region of the Interferon gamma gene. The products were purified, sequenced and the sequences edited with corresponding ones from buffalo and mammalian species. They were aligned and compared based on genetic similarity and phylogenetic analysis. In the conjunctiva of animals from G1 there was expression only for IFNG and TLR4. While G2 there was high expression for genes IL6, IL10, IFNG, TLR4 and animals from G3 showed high expression for all genes studied. The degree of genetic similarity formed the groups of ruminants, primates, carnivores, bats, cetaceans and isolated individuals such as suiformes and rhinos. Ruminants and cetaceans have a high phylogenetic relationship while there were different evolutionary distances between buffaloes and other mammal species. Our studies served to define the innate immunological processes that occur in the conjunctival membrane of a buffalo population and to determine the evolutionary profile in relation to other mammalian species.

Yeasts and hygienic-sanitary microbial indicators in water buffalo mozzarella produced and commercialized in Minas Gerais, Brazil

The aim of this work was to study the yeast populations and the main hygienic-sanitary microbial indicators in water buffalo mozzarella produced and commercialized in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Forty-two water buffalo mozzarella samples were purchased from retail outlets in Belo Horizonte. In addition, five samples of consecutive starter cultures, curd before acidification, acidified curd and mozzarella were collected at an industry in the city of Oliveira. Only three of the five water samples analyzed were suitable for consumption according to Brazilian sanitary standards. Four milk samples were highly contaminated with fecal coliforms, and did not meet the minimal hygienic-sanitary standards according to Brazilian regulations. Only one sample of buffalo muzzarela purchased from retail outlets exceeded the limit for coagulase-positive Staphylococcus. Eleven samples showed counts of thermotolerant coliforms higher than5x 10³ CFU.g-1, but still lower than the maximum permitted by the Brazilian laws. Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes were not isolated. Debaryomyces hansenii, Candida lusitaniae and C. parapsilosis were the prevalent yeast species isolated from cheese. Among samples from the production stages, the acidified curd presented the highest numbers of yeasts, with C. catenulata being the most frequent species isolated. Some opportunistic yeast species such as C. guilliermondii, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. lusitaniae, C. catenulata, C. rugosa and C. krusei occurred in the mozzarella cheese samples analyzed. The mozzarella cheese presented a low microbial load as compared to other cheese already studied, and the yeast biota included species typical of cheese and also opportunistic pathogens.(AU)

Análise de polimorfismo de marcadores microssatélites do cromossomo 6 em raças bubalinas comerciais do Brasil

Os búfalos possuem importância econômica como animais de produção no cenário agropecuário brasileiro e mundial. O conhecimento de polimorfismos em marcadores microssatélites mapeados em búfalos é imprescindível para auxiliar em questões evolutivas da espécie, variabilidade genética intra e inter-populacional, além de serem potencialmente úteis para os programas de melhoramento animal. Foram utilizadas três raças comerciais bubalinas, Mediterrâneo, Jafarabadi e Murrah de rebanhos brasileiros para análise de polimorfismos visando avaliar a diversidade genética existente dentro e entre as raças. Foram analisados 30 animais de cada raça pela amplificação do DNA genômico extraído do bulbo de pelos utilizando quatro locos microssatélites localizados em um cromossomo de interesse econômico. Os produtos de PCR foram separados por eletroforese vertical em gel de poliacrilamida desnaturante. O loco IDVGA-53 não obteve sucesso na amplificação e foi descartado das análises de polimorfismo. Os locos MB099 e BL41 foram monomórficos. Os parâmetros de diversidade foram gerados para o loco CSSM054, o único polimórfico, com média de 3,33 alelos por loco. A heterozigosidade observada com média de 0,503 foi maior que a esperada, indicando excesso de heterozigotos. As raças Mediterrâneo e Jafarabadi apresentaram desvio de equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg. O parâmetro Theta indicou evidências de que as três raças diferem entre si, e quando analisadas duas a duas foi possível verificar alta estruturação populacional entre elas. A maior distância genética foi verificada entre as raças Mediterrâneo e Murrah. O conteúdo de informação polimórfica revelou que o loco CSSM054 foi altamente informativo para a raça Mediterrâneo, portanto, considerando todos os resultados, essa raça apresentou maior variabilidade genética

The buffalo water are economically important livestock in Brazilian global and agricultural scenario. The knowledge of polymorphisms in microsatellites markers mapped in buffaloes is essential to assist in evolutionary studies of species, genetic variability within and between populations, as well as being potentially useful for animal breeding programs. Three commercial breeds of buffalos (Mediterranean, Jaffarabadi and Murrah) of Brazilian herds were used for polymorphisms analysis to evaluate the genetic diversity within and among them. In each breed 30 animals were analysed by amplification of genomic DND extracted from the hair bulbs using four microsatellite loci located on a chromosome of economic interest. PCR products were separated by vertical electrophoresis in denaturing polyacrylamide gel. The IDVGA-53 locus was not successful in amplifying and was discarded from the analysis of polymorphism. The loci MB099 and CSSM054 were monomorphic. The parameters of diversity were generated for the locus CSSM054, the only polymorphic, with an average of 3.33 alleles per locus. With a mean value of 0.503, the observed heterozygosity was higher than the expected, indicating excess of heterozygotes. Mediterranean and Jaffarabadi breeds had deviation of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The parameter Theta indicated evidence that the three breeds differ and when they were analyzed in pairs, it was observed high population differentiation among them. The largest genetic distance was found between the Mediterranean and Murrah breeds. The polymorphic information content revealed that the locus CSSM054 was highly informative to the Mediterranean breed, therefore considering all the results that race had a high genetic variability