Natural Occurrence of Ochratoxin A in Blood and Milk Samples from Jennies and Their Foals after Delivery.

An assessment of the natural ochratoxin A (OTA) exposure of seven Martina Franca jennies was carried out by analyzing blood and milk samples collected close to and after delivery. A total of 41 and 34 blood samples were collected from jennies and foals, respectively, and analyzed by ELISA. A total of 33 milk samples were collected from jennies and analyzed by the HPLC/FLD method based on IAC clean-up. Furthermore, 53 feed samples were collected from January to September and analyzed by a reference method (AOAC Official Method No. 2000.03) for OTA content. Feed samples showed OTA levels up to 2.7 ng/g with an incidence of 32%, while the OTA incidence rate in jennies' blood samples was 73%, with a median value of 97 ng/L and concentrations ranging from

Antihypertensive effect of fermented skim camel (Camelus dromedarius) milk on spontaneously hypertensive rats.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is one of the most common diseases in worldwide, thus prevention of hypertension is important in reducing the risks of cardiovascular disease. Milk contains bioactive peptides released during milk fermentation which lead to exhibit angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the antihypertensive effect of fermented skim camel milk on rats and compared with unfermented skim camel milk as control. METHODS: The antihypertensive effect of fermented skim camel milk on thirty six male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) was carried out for (short-term) and (long-term) using different doses (80, 240 and 1200 mg/kg body weight). Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity was also measured using ACE Kit. RESULTS: The blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) in short term administration (24 hours) of 1200 mg/kg body weight fermented skim camel milk decreased significantly (p < 0.05) from 22 to 36 mmHg and 28 to 32 mmHg, respectively, at four and eight hour of post administration. On the other hand, the blood pressure of fermented skim camel milk for long-term (20 days) decreased and affected the heart rate (beats/min). The lowest record of systolic (41 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (19 mmHg) were at dose of 1200 mg/kg body weight of fermented skim camel milk at 15 days of administration. Likewise, ACE activity in plasma of SHR administered fermented skim camel milk decreased significantly (p < 0.05) compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: The hypotensive effect of fermented skim camel milk by L. helveticus and S. thermophillus in SHR rats depends on the high dose of fermented skim camel milk in short and long-term. The ACE activity inhibitory was clear with fermented skim camel milk.

DETECCIÓN DE Brucella abortus POR PCR EN MUESTRAS DE SANGRE Y LECHE DE VACUNOS / DETECTION OF Brucella abortus IN BLOOD AND MILK OF DAIRY CATTLE BY PCR METHOD

Objetivo. Evaluar el uso de la Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa (PCR) para la detección de Brucella abortus en muestras de sangre y leche de vacunos. Materiales y métodos. Este estudio de tipo descriptivo fue realizado durante los años 2004 y 2005. Se analizaron 136 animales de tres fincas localizadas en el municipio de Durania, Norte de Santander, Colombia. Se evaluó la presencia de anticuerpos en la leche mediante la prueba del anillo (PAL). Se amplificó el fragmento de 223pb del gen BCSP31. Se emplearon los cebadores B4 y B5 de la región interna de la secuencia del gen BCSP31 (GenBank, número M20404). Resultados. En aquellos animales positivos se obtuvo una muestra de sangre y leche para el análisis por PCR, la sangre no fue analizada por serología. Se evaluaron diferentes métodos de extracción de ADN. Se encontró que un 13.2% (18/136) de las muestras de leche fueron positivas a la PAL. Se analizaron 33 muestras de leche negativas por PAL de las cuales el 30.3% (10/33) resultaron positivas por PCR. Al analizar las muestras de sangre de los animales positivos por PAL el 94.1% (16/17) fueron positivas por PCR, mientras que el 47% (8/17) de las muestras de leche positivas por PAL, fueron positivas por PCR. Conclusiones. Se demostró la amplificación de un fragmento de ADN de Brucella abortus en muestras de sangre y leche de vacunos. Los resultados preliminares demostraron que es posible usar PCR como prueba diagnóstica de brucelosis en Colombia.

Objective. To evaluate the use of Polymerase Chain Reaction in the detection of Brucella abortus in cattle blood and milk samples. Materials and methods. Between 2004 and 2005 a descriptive study was carried out. One hundred and thirty six females from three different herds located in Durania, Norte de Santander, Colombia were used. The antibodies to Brucella were detected using ring test (RT). Primers B4 and B5 of internal region of gen BCSP31 (GenBank, number access M20404) were used. From those RT positive animals, blood and milk samples were obtained and along with 33 negative milk samples were evaluated by PCR. Blood samples were not analyzed for antibody detection. Different DNA extraction protocols were evaluated and a Brucella abortus gene was amplified using specific primers. Results. The 13.2% of milk samples were positive to RT (18/136), 30.3% (10/33) of negative samples for RT and 94.1% (16/17) of positive samples were both positive by PCR. It was demonstrated that PCR is an useful tool to detect Brucella abortus DNA, either in milk and blood samples. Conclusions. It was determined by PCR a DNA fragment of Brucella abortus in blood and milk of cattle. The preliminary results showed that it is possible to perform PCR as diagnostic test of brucellosis in Colombia.