DMRT3 Allele Frequencies in Batida- and Picada-Gaited Donkeys and Mules in Brazil.

In Brazil, the production of mules with a comfortable gait primarily involves the breeding of marching saddle mules. This is achieved by crossing gaited Pêga donkeys with horses from the Mangalarga Marchador and Campolina breeds. The DMRT3:g.22999655C>A SNP is implicated in regulating gait phenotypes observed in various horse breeds, including the batida (CC) and picada (CA) gaits found in these horse breeds. We aimed to determine if genotypes influenced gait type in 159 mules and 203 donkeys genotyped for the DMRT3 SNP by PCR-RFLP analysis. About 47% of mules had the CC-genotype, while 53% had the CA-genotype. Donkeys predominantly had the CC-genotype (97%), and none had AA. Both CC- and CA-genotypes were evenly distributed among mules with the batida or picada gaits. In donkeys, the CC-genotype frequencies were consistent regardless of gait type. However, the CA-genotype was more common in picada-gaited donkeys than in batida-gaited donkeys. The prevalence of CA mules and the rare presence of the non-reference allele in donkeys align with previous findings in Mangalarga Marchador and Campolina horses. This suggests that the non-reference allele likely originated from the mares involved in donkey crosses. Our results also imply that factors beyond this variant, such as other genes and polymorphisms, influence gait traits in equids.

Allele Frequency of APAF1 Mutation in Holstein Cattle in Brazil.

APAF1 is an autosomal recessive inherited mutation, associated with Holstein haplotype 1 (HH1) and characterized by a substitution of cytosine for a thymine (c.1741C>T) in chromosome 5. The mutation causes fetal and embryonic loss, between 60 and 200 days of gestation, and reduced conception rate. The ARMS-PCR is considered a simple and low-cost method to determine single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with no need for genetic sequencing of the animal genome. This study aimed to verify the allelic frequency of APAF1 mutation in Brazilian Holstein cattle. A total of 248 Holstein DNA samples (210 cows and 38 bulls) were analyzed, and synthetic genes were manufactured to validate the primers developed by the authors. All animals assessed in this study were classified as wild-type for APAF1 mutation. The primers and protocol developed for the ARMS-PCR technique work with 100% specificity and efficiency since the amplicon formations are as expected according to the genotypes. In conclusion, the mutation responsible for APAF1 was not detected in the Brazilian Holstein cattle population assessed in this prevalence study, although it is not possible to affirm that APAF1 does not occur in Brazilian Holstein animals. The tetra-primer ARMS-PCR protocol for APAF1 mutation that has been validated here may be a relatively simple and economical method to determine the animals' genotype.

Determinants of the Use of Health and Fitness Mobile Apps by Patients With Asthma: Secondary Analysis of Observational Studies.

BACKGROUND: Health and fitness apps have potential benefits to improve self-management and disease control among patients with asthma. However, inconsistent use rates have been reported across studies, regions, and health systems. A better understanding of the characteristics of users and nonusers is critical to design solutions that are effectively integrated in patients' daily lives, and to ensure that these equitably reach out to different groups of patients, thus improving rather than entrenching health inequities. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the use of general health and fitness apps by patients with asthma and to identify determinants of usage. METHODS: A secondary analysis of the INSPIRERS observational studies was conducted using data from face-to-face visits. Patients with a diagnosis of asthma were included between November 2017 and August 2020. Individual-level data were collected, including age, gender, marital status, educational level, health status, presence of anxiety and depression, postcode, socioeconomic level, digital literacy, use of health services, and use of health and fitness apps. Multivariate logistic regression was used to model the probability of being a health and fitness app user. Statistical analysis was performed in R. RESULTS: A total of 526 patients attended a face-to-face visit in the 49 recruiting centers and 514 had complete data. Most participants were ≤40 years old (66.4%), had at least 10 years of education (57.4%), and were in the 3 higher quintiles of the socioeconomic deprivation index (70.1%). The majority reported an overall good health status (visual analogue scale [VAS] score>70 in 93.1%) and the prevalence of anxiety and depression was 34.3% and 11.9%, respectively. The proportion of participants who reported using health and fitness mobile apps was 41.1% (n=211). Multivariate models revealed that single individuals and those with more than 10 years of education are more likely to use health and fitness mobile apps (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.22, 95%CI 1.05-4.75 and aOR 1.95, 95%CI 1.12-3.45, respectively). Higher digital literacy scores were also associated with higher odds of being a user of health and fitness apps, with participants in the second, third, and fourth quartiles reporting aORs of 6.74 (95%CI 2.90-17.40), 10.30 (95%CI 4.28-27.56), and 11.52 (95%CI 4.78-30.87), respectively. Participants with depression symptoms had lower odds of using health and fitness apps (aOR 0.32, 95%CI 0.12-0.83). CONCLUSIONS: A better understanding of the barriers and enhancers of app use among patients with lower education, lower digital literacy, or depressive symptoms is key to design tailored interventions to ensure a sustained and equitable use of these technologies. Future studies should also assess users' general health-seeking behavior and their interest and concerns specifically about digital tools. These factors may impact both initial engagement and sustained use.

Echocardiographic evaluation in Dorper ovine fetuses: Applications and limitations.

In this study we aim to show the application of ultrasound evaluation of the fetal heart in the ovine species, as well as its limitations in the field. Ten Dorper sheep, without any sedation, were evaluated starting from the second month of pregnancy through transabdominal ultrasound with an ultrasound device equipped with a convex transducer. Images of the fetal heart were obtained through maternal abdominal ultrasound by identifying the position of the fetus and conducting the following measurements: length and diameter of the heart, dimensions of the right and left ventricles and dimensions of the right and left atria. The measurements could only be conducted with acceptable precision starting from the third month of pregnancy. There was a significant difference only for left ventricle diameter, which was larger in the fifth month of pregnancy. The echocardiographic evaluation of the fetus enables monitoring the heart development identifying early fetal viability, assessing inadequate events that could put the pregnancy at risk, especially for production animals. For the experimental design of research employing production animals, it is important to consider, among other factors, the limitations of the evaluation on the field, such as restraining the animals, the stress caused by handling and environmental conditions, temperature, luminosity, facilities available and the qualifications of the team.

Heart rate variability in Dorper sheep in the fetal and neonatal periods until 120 days of age: Use of the technique in the field.

The evaluation of the autonomic cardiac functions may be performed through the analysis of the heart rate variability. Heart rate variability is defined as the fluctuations in the heart rhythm or rate, and represents a useful tool in the evaluation of the autonomic nervous system through the sympathetic and parasympathetic components, as well as its balance and its reflexes on the cardiorespiratory control system. Fetal electrocardiography provides important information regarding the well-being of the fetus since, in human fetuses, there are changes in the behavior of the fetal heart rate during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy due to an increase in parasympathetic activity. Therefore, considering the importance of evaluating fetal viability, this study aims at evaluating the behavior of fetal heart rate and heart rate variability in Dorper sheep, as well as the activity of the autonomic nervous system during fetal life and in newborn lambs. The species is often used in experimental studies and autonomic nervous system activity is a prognostic index, therefore, the diagnosis of modifications in the sympathovagal balance may represent an early index for fetal viability and well-being in lambs. The analyses were performed in 10 Dorper sheep during pregnancy and in 10 lambs after birth until 120 days of age. There was a decrease in the fetal heart rate and heart rate variability indexes during the fifth month of pregnancy, but without statistical significance for the period evaluated. The heart rate of the lambs decreased gradually until they were 21 days old. The indexes SDNN (standard deviation of RR intervals) and RMSSD (square root of the mean of successive differences between adjacent RR intervals) diverged according to age, being high at day 60. Fetal viability is relevant in sheep fetuses to avoid losses during pregnancy and risks to the health of the mother. In the species, there seems to be a predominance of parasympathetic activity starting from the 21st day of age. Heart rate variability may be employed as a tool in the evaluation of the fetus and development of lambs, since changes in its behavior may represent an adverse effect to fetal and neonatal health.

Clinical and Therapeutic Aspects of Brazilian Native Bothrops Envenomation in Nine Horses.

In this retrospective study, clinical records of nine horses with a diagnosis of Bothrops envenomation were investigated. The accidents were classified as severe (5/9), moderate (2/9), or mild (2/9) according to the adapted bothropic snakebite severity score (BSSS). All snakebites were on the head region. The main clinical signs were local edema, blood coagulation disorders, and respiratory distress. The whole-blood clotting time (WBCT) was prolonged in all horses, and five horses presented with uncoagulable blood. All horses received specific snake antivenom according to the BSSS (six vials for severe, four vials for moderate, and two vials for mild accidents), and emergency tracheotomy was required in six horses because of respiratory distress. One horse died after eight days of hospitalization, whereas the others were discharged after nine days of hospitalization. The BSSS plus the WBCT were useful in determining the prognosis and the amount and frequency of antivenom therapy. Snakebite accidents are emergency cases; therefore, rapid and efficient therapeutic intervention will reflect positively on the prognosis.

Canine POMC deletion (P187fs) allele frequency in Labrador Retrievers in Brazil / Frequência de alelos mutados (P187fs) no POMC de cães Labrador Retriever no Brasil

The Labrador Retriever is among the main breeds with the greatest predisposition to obesity. Several factors, especially the interrelationships between food management, exercise and social factors; influence the likelihood of a dog becoming obese. Furthermore, genetic factors are also responsible for obesity in dogs, and in Labrador Retriever, a frameshift mutation (P187fs) in pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene is strongly associated with obesity. There is no knowledge of studies that have previously evaluated the prevalence of the canine POMC deletion (P187fs) in Brazilian Labrador Retriever. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate this mutation in Labrador Retriever dogs in Brazil. Of the 108 Labrador Retrievers that were assessed in this study, 59 were from a previous study, composed by animals assisted in a veterinary hospital with unknown lineage, and 49 were from a prospective study, composed of 19 pet and 30 assistance/rescue Labrador Retriever dogs. The obesity risk and appetite questionnaire were applied, with some modifications, to tutors of the animals used in the prospective study. Fragments of the DNA, containing the mutation, were amplified by PCR and submitted to direct gene sequencing. The allele frequency of the mutation was 21.3% and was out of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P<0.05). Using only the data of animals with known lineage, the presence of the mutated allele was higher in the Assistance/rescue Group than Pet Group (P<0.01), furthermore, the allele frequencies observed in Assistance Group (31.7%) was out of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P<0.05), while that in the Pet Group (18.4%) was in equilibrium (P>0.05). Although the mutation has increased the food-motivation in the assistance/rescue dogs, other variables, especially frequent exercising, favored that these animals maintained the ideal body weight (body condition score = 5). In summary, the Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium observed in the allele distribution of the deletion POMC_P187fs in this study, independently of the Labrador Retriever group assessed, suggesting the possibility of positive selection of the mutated allele, which may lead to the maintenance of this deleterious allele in the studied population.(AU)

O Labrador Retriever é uma das principais raças caninas com maior predisposição à obesidade. Vários fatores, especialmente as interrelações entre a alimentação, exercício e fatores sociais, influenciam a probabilidade de um cão se tornar obeso. Além disso, fatores genéticos são também responsáveis pela obesidade em cães, e no Labrador Retriever a mutação "frameshift" P187fs no gene pró-opiomelanocortina (POMC) está fortemente associada à obesidade. Não existem estudos prévios de prevalência da deleção P187fs no gene POMC em cães Labrador Retriever no Brasil. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi investigar esta mutação em cães da raça Labrador Retriever no Brasil. Dos 108 Labradores Retrievers avaliados neste estudo, 59 eram de um estudo retrospectivo (composto por animais atendido no hospital veterinário e sem linhagem conhecida) e 49 eram de um estudo prospectivo (composto por 19 cães pet e 30 cães de assistência/resgate). Um questionário de risco de obesidade modificado foi aplicado nos tutores dos animais usados no estudo prospectivo. Fragmentos de DNA, contendo a mutação, foram amplificados por PCR e submetidos ao sequenciamento gênico direto. A frequência alélica da mutação foi de 21,3% e estava fora do equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg (P<0,05). Usando somente os dados dos animais de linhagem conhecida, a presença do alelo mutado foi maior no Grupo de cães de Assistência/resgate que no Grupo de Pets (P<0,01), além disso, as frequências alélicas nos Grupos de Assistência/resgate (31,7%) e no de pets (18,4%) estavam fora e em equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg (P<0,05), respectivamente. Embora a mutação tenha aumentado a motivação pelo alimento em cães Labrador Retriever do Grupo de Assistência/resgate, outras variáveis, especialmente o frequente exercício, favoreceu a manutenção o peso corporal ideal (peso corporal = 5). Em resumo, o desequilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg observado na distribuição do alelo POMC_P187fs observado neste estudo, independentemente do grupo de Labrador Retriever avaliado, sugere a possibilidade de uma seleção positiva para o alelo mutado, o qual poderá levar a manutenção desse alelo deletério nesta população.(AU)

Carbon storage in Amazonia during the last glacial maximum: secondary data and uncertainties.

The Amazonian forest is, due to its great size, carbon storage capacity and present-day variability in carbon uptake and release, an important component of the global carbon cycle. Paleo-environmental reconstruction is difficult for Amazonia due to the scarcity of primary palynological data and the mis-interpretation of some secondary data. Studies of lacustrine sediment records have shown that Amazonia has known periods in which the climate was drier than it is today. However, not all geomorphological features such as dunes, and slope erosion, which are thought to indicate rainforest regression, date from the time of the Late Glacial Maximum (LGM) and these features do not necessarily correspond to episodes of forest regression. There is also uncertainty concerning LGM carbon storage due to rainforest soils and biomass estimates. Soil carbon content may decrease moderately during the LGM, whereas rainforest biomass may change considerably in response to changes in the global environment. Biomass per unit area in Amazonia has probably been reduced by the cumulative effects of low CO2 concentration, a drier climate and lower temperatures. As few paleo-vegetation data are available, there is considerable uncertainty concerning the amount of carbon stored in Amazonia during the LGM, which may have corresponded to 44-94% of the carbon currently stored in biomass and soils.