Coxiella burnetii in Infertile Dairy Cattle With Chronic Endometritis.

Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular pathogen and the cause of Q fever in many animal species and humans. Several studies have reported the association between C. burnetii and abortion, premature delivery, stillbirth, and weak offspring. However, no solid evidence indicates that C. burnetii causes endometritis, subfertility, and retained fetal membranes. For this study, histopathological and PCR evaluation were performed on 40 uterine biopsies from dairy cattle with poor fertility. Uterine swabs were concurrently tested with microbiology assays. The endometrial biopsies of 30 cows did not have any significant lesions, and no pathogens were identified by aerobic bacterial culture and PCR. Ten cows were PCR-positive for C. burnetii and negative for other pathogens by aerobic bacterial culture and PCR. These 10 cases revealed a mild to severe chronic endometritis admixed with perivascular and periglandular fibrosis. Immunohistochemical evaluation of C. burnetii PCR-positive biopsies identified, for the first time, the presence of intralesional and intracytoplasmic C. burnetii in macrophages in the endometrium of cattle.

Effects of milk feeding, frequency and concentration on weaning and buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calf growth, health and behaviour.

Growth, weight at birth and daily weight gain (DWG) on 12 water buffalo calves, starting from 6 days of age until completion of weaning, was investigated in this study. Different feeding regimens were given to two groups of animals with regard to daily milk replacer: (1) group 1 (G1) received a double concentration in single administration; whereas (2) group 2 (G2) received the same amount of milk replacer split twice daily. Blood samples were collected from each calf on days 6, 30, 60 and 90 to evaluate acute phase proteins (haptoglobin), bactericide activity, lysozime, total protein content and biochemical parameters. No differences were observed between the two groups in terms of dry matter intake, feed efficiency and live body weight at the end of the study. Interestingly, a significantly (P < 0.05) reduced DWG was observed earlier in G1 (day 45) than in G2 (day 60). Gastrointestinal disorders were not recorded throughout the experimental period, and no significant differences were recorded between the two groups for all considered parameters. This study confirms the possibility of utilising one daily administration of milk replacer in water buffalo calf during weaning. This new approach facilitates calves management, without interfering with calves growing performances.

Accounting for Genetic Differences Among Unknown Parents in Bubalus bubalis: A Case Study From the Italian Mediterranean Buffalo.

The use of genetic evaluations in the Water Buffalo by means of a Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) animal model has been increased over the last two-decades across several countries. However, natural mating is still a common reproductive strategy that can increase the proportion of missing pedigree information. The inclusion of genetic groups in variance component (VC) and breeding value (EBV) estimation is a possible solution. The aim of this study was to evaluate two different genetic grouping strategies and their effects on VC and EBV for composite (n = 5) and linear (n = 10) type traits in the Italian Mediterranean Buffalo (IMB) population. Type traits data from 7,714 buffalo cows plus a pedigree file including 18,831 individuals were provided by the Italian National Association of Buffalo Breeders. VCs and EBVs were estimated for each trait fitting a single-trait animal model and using the official DNA-verified pedigree. Successively, EBVs were re-estimated using modified pedigrees with two different proportion of missing genealogies (30 or 60% of buffalo with records), and two different grouping strategies, year of birth (Y30/Y60) or genetic clustering (GC30, GC60). The different set of VCs, estimated EBVs and their standard errors were compared with the results obtained using the original pedigree. Results were also compared in terms of efficiency of selection. Differences among VCs varied according to the trait and the scenario considered. The largest effect was observed for two traits, udder teat and body depth in the GC60 genetic cluster, whose heritability decreased by -0.07 and increased by +0.04, respectively. Considering buffalo cows with record, the average correlation across traits between official EBVs and EBVs from different scenarios was 0.91, 0.88, 0.84, and 0.79 for Y30, CG30, Y60, and CG60, respectively. In bulls the correlations between EBVs ranged from 0.90 for fore udder attachment and udder depth to 0.96 for stature and body length in the GC30 scenario and from 0.75 for udder depth to 0.90 for stature in the GC60 scenario. When a variable proportion of missing pedigree is present using the appropriate strategy to define genetic groups and including them in VC and EBV is a worth-while and low-demanding solution.

Progesterone supplementation during multiple ovulation treatment in buffalo species (Bubalus bubalis).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of exogenous progesterone supplementation on superovulatory response in buffaloes that has undergone a multiple ovulation program. Fourteen Mediterranean buffaloes were divided into two groups and received a 4-day decreasing dosage of an equal mixture of 500 IU of FSH and LH starting on day 8 of the cycle. In group A (n = 7) a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device was removed on day 8, whereas in group B (n = 7) it was left till day 10, when PGF2alpha was administered. Eighty hours later, buffaloes were artificially inseminated and after 6 days they undergone uterine flushing. A higher (P < 0.05) number of corpora lutea (8.3 vs. 5.7) and embryo/flushing/buffalo (2.3 vs. 1.3) were recorded in group B vs. group A if responsive buffaloes are considered (n = 12) and the number of corpora lutea was highly correlated with the number of embryos (r = 0.65; P < 0.05). In conclusion, progesterone supplementation during the first 2 days of the superovulation treatment seems to enhance the recovery rate in buffalo species. A high ovulation rate, associated with a high number of corpora lutea, can represent a parameter for estimating embryo recovery.

"Which Factors Affect Pregnancy Until Calving and Pregnancy Loss in Buffalo Recipients of in vitro Produced Embryos?"

In vitro embryo production and embryo transfer (ET) in buffaloes has been developed for decades. However, most studies are focused on the donor or laboratory improvements, and there is a lack of reports regarding the recipients. Therefore, our aim was to investigate factors associated to pregnancy (P/ET), pregnancy loss (PL), and calving rates in buffalo recipients. The studied factors were season, recipient parity, the synchronization protocol, the CL diameter, asynchrony between the embryo and the recipient, the day of the recipient estrous cycle, the embryo (fresh vs. vitrified), the day of embryo development, and the embryo stage. These retrospective data, from a program of in vitro produced embryos, were analyzed by logistic regression, and the odds ratio was also estimated. Two factors were related to P/ET and the calving rate: (1) progesterone associated to estradiol plus eCG protocol for fixed time ET tended to affect positively P/ET on day 30 (41.9 vs. 36.1%, respectively; P = 0.07; AOR = 1.28) and P/ET on day 60 (37.8 vs. 36.1%, respectively; P = 0.09; AOR = 1.08) compared to the Ovsynch protocol; and (2) the CL diameter (≥14.5 mm) at transfer increased P/ET on day 30 (47.4 vs. 32.5%; P < 0.01; AOR = 1.87) and on day 60 (45.3 vs. 27.7%; P < 0.01; AOR = 2.16), and also the calving rate (37.9 vs. 21.7%; P < 0.01; AOR = 2.20). PL was greater when ET was done in the nonbreeding season compared to the breeding season (PL 30-60: 12.8 vs. 0.0%, P = 0.01; AOR > 999.99; PL 60-calving: 26.8 vs. 3.6%, P = 0.03; AOR = 9.90; and PL 30-calving: 36.2 vs. 3.6%, P = 0.01; AOR = 15.30). In conclusion, the data of our study indicated that the synchronization protocol, the CL diameter, and ET during the breeding season impacted the reproductive efficiency of buffalo recipients.

Influence of the duration of in vitro maturation and gamete co-incubation on the efficiency of in vitro embryo development in Italian Mediterranean buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the duration of oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) and gamete co-incubation on the in vitro embryo (IVEP) production efficiency in River buffalo. In Experiment 1, abattoir-derived cumulus oocyte complexes were fixed at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 h after the start of in vitro maturation to study the kinetics of nuclear maturation. In Experiment 2, cumulus oocyte complexes were fertilized in vitro following in vitro maturation for 18, 21, 24, 27 or 30 h. After 20 h of gamete co-incubation, presumptive zygotes were denuded and cultured in vitro in synthetic oviduct fluid (SOF) medium. In Experiment 3, following in vitro maturation and fertilization, presumptive zygotes were removed from fertilization drops at 8, 12, 16 and 20 h post-insemination (pi) and placed in culture as described above. Representative samples of oocytes were fixed at 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 h to evaluate the sperm penetration rate and the incidence of polyspermy at different co-incubation times. The main conclusions of the study are that: (1) the majority of buffalo oocytes accomplish nuclear maturation between 21 and 24 h after the start of in vitro maturation; (2) both cleavage and blastocyst rates linearly decrease with increasing duration of in vitro maturation (from 18 to 30 h); (3) sperm-oocyte incubation for at least 16 h is required for maximum blastocyst yields.

Cryopreservation of in vitro matured buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) oocytes by minimum volumes vitrification methods.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the solid surface vitrification (SSV) and the cryoloop vitrification (CLV) methods to cryopreserve in vitro matured buffalo oocytes. Another objective of the work was to investigate whether the presence of cumulus cells affects the efficiency of oocyte vitrification in this species. In the SSV method, oocytes were vitrified in a solution of 35% ethylene glycol, 5% polyvinyl-pyrrolidone and 0.4% trehalose and they were warmed in a 0.3M trehalose solution. In the CLV method, oocytes were vitrified in 16.5% ethylene glycol and 16.5% dimethyl sulfoxide and warmed in decreasing concentrations of sucrose. The oocytes that survived vitrification were fertilized and cultured in vitro up to the blastocyst stage. Although high survival rates were recorded in all groups, when the oocytes were vitrified by the CLV method in the absence of cumulus cells, the survival rate was significantly (P<0.05) lower. However, the CLV gave a significantly higher cleavage rate compared to the SSV with the denuded oocytes (45% versus 26%, respectively; P<0.05), whereas no differences were found between methods with the cumulus-enclosed oocytes (14% versus 15%, respectively). Blastocysts were produced for the first time from in vitro matured oocytes that were vitrified-warmed in buffalo. Nevertheless, vitrification significantly decreased blastocyst yield, regardless of both the method employed and the presence or absence of cumulus cells.

Correction: Metabolic syndrome, endocrine disruptors and prostate cancer associations: biochemical and pathophysiological evidences.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.16725.].

Metabolic syndrome, endocrine disruptors and prostate cancer associations: biochemical and pathophysiological evidences.

This review summarizes the main pathophysiological basis of the relationship between metabolic syndrome, endocrine disruptor exposure and prostate cancer that is the most common cancer among men in industrialized countries. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic and hormonal factors having a central role in the initiation and recurrence of many western chronic diseases including hormonal-related cancers and it is considered as the world's leading health problem in the coming years. Many biological factors correlate metabolic syndrome to prostate cancer and this review is aimed to focus, principally, on growth factors, cytokines, adipokines, central obesity, endocrine abnormalities and exposure to specific endocrine disruptors, a cluster of chemicals, to which we are daily exposed, with a hormone-like structure influencing oncogenes, tumor suppressors and proteins with a key role in metabolism, cell survival and chemo-resistance of prostate cancer cells. Finally, this review will analyze, from a molecular point of view, how specific foods could reduce the relative risk of incidence and recurrence of prostate cancer or inhibit the biological effects of endocrine disruptors on prostate cancer cells. On the basis of these considerations, prostate cancer remains a great health problem in terms of incidence and prevalence and interventional studies based on the treatment of metabolic syndrome in cancer patients, minimizing exposure to endocrine disruptors, could be a key point in the overall management of this disease.

Enrichment of in vitro maturation medium for buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) oocytes with thiol compounds: effects of cystine on glutathione synthesis and embryo development.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether enriching the oocyte in vitro maturation medium with cystine, in the presence of cysteamine, would improve the in vitro embryo production efficiency in buffalo by further increasing the GSH reservoir created by the oocyte during maturation. Cumulus-oocytes complexes were matured in vitro in TCM 199 + 10% FCS, 0.5 microg/ml FSH, 5 microg/ml LH and 1 microg/ml 17beta-estradiol in the absence or presence of cysteamine (50 microM), with or without 0.3mM cystine. In Experiment 1, glutathione content was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorimetric analysis in representative samples of oocytes matured in the four different experimental conditions. In Experiment 2, oocytes were fixed and stained to assess nuclear maturation and normal pronuclear development following IVM and IVF respectively. In Experiment 3, mature oocytes were in vitro fertilized and cultured to assess development to blastocysts. In all supplemented groups the intracytoplasmic GSH concentration was significantly higher than the control, with the highest GSH levels in oocytes matured in the presence of both thiol compounds (3.6, 4.7, 5.4 and 6.9 picomol/oocyte in the control, cysteamine, cystine and cystine+cysteamine groups, respectively; P < 0.05). Cystine supplementation of IVM medium, both in the presence or absence of cysteamine, significantly increased the proportion of oocytes showing two normal synchronous pronuclei following fertilization. In all supplemented groups, cleavage rate was significantly improved compared to the control (55, 66.1, 73.5 and 78.4% in the control, cysteamine, cystine and cystine+cysteamine groups, respectively; P < 0.05). Similarly, blastocyst yield was also increased in the three enriched groups compared to the control (17.1, 23.8, 29.3, 30.9% in the control, cysteamine, cystine and cystine+cysteamine groups, respectively; P < 0.05). Overall, the addition of cystine to a cysteamine-enriched medium resulted in a significant increase of cleavage rate and transferable embryo yield compared to the medium supplemented with only cysteamine.

Sperm DNA integrity in frozen-thawed semen from Italian Mediterranean Buffalo bulls and its relationship to in vivo fertility.

The relationship among sperm attributes of DNA integrity, sperm motility, morphology, viability, acrosome integrity and in vivo fertility of frozen-thawed Italian Mediterranean Buffalo (IMB) sperm has not been reported. Straws of frozen-thawed semen samples from three bulls were examined. Sperm DNA assays (i.e., neutral Comet assay, Sperm Bos Halomax-SBH and Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay-SCSA) were not correlated to each other (P>0.05). Many neutral Comet assay measures were correlated to total sperm motility-TMOT (% head-H-DNA, r=0.74; Olive moment, r=-0.76; P<0.05) and coiled tails (r-values ranged from% H-DNA, r=-0.80 to tail length, r=-0.71; P<0.05). The COMP-αt was negatively correlated to viable acrosome intact (VAI) sperm, and distal droplets (r=-0.60 and -0.61; P<0.05), whereas Mean-αt and Mode-αt were positively correlated to bent midpieces (r=0.63 and 0.61; P<0.05). The SBH assay was positively correlated to non-viable acrosome damaged (NVAD) sperm (r=0.60; P<0.05) and negatively correlated to viable acrosome damaged (VAD) sperm (r=-0.63; P<0.05). The overall pregnancy rate (PR-at 30 and 45d post artificial insemination-AI) and the calving rate were 57%, 55% and 45%, respectively. Among sperm features analyzed the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Curve was significant (P<0.05) for TMOT, NVAD, Standard Deviation-αt (SD-αt) and neutral comet measures (Olive tail moment and tail moment, % H- DNA and tail area) in estimating pregnancy.

Embryonic mortality in buffaloes synchronized and mated by AI during the seasonal decline in reproductive function.

The aim was to determine the factors that contribute to embryonic mortality in buffaloes mated by AI during a period of increasing day length which corresponds to a natural decline in reproductive activity. Italian Mediterranean buffalo cows (n=243) showing regular estrous cycles were synchronized using the Ovsynch-TAI program and mated by AI at 16 and 40 h after the second injection of GnRH. Blood samples were collected on Days 10 and 20 after the first AI and assayed for progesterone (P4). Pregnancy diagnosis was undertaken on Days 26 and 40 after the first AI using rectal ultrasonography. Buffaloes with a conceptus on Day 26 but not on Day 40 were judged to have undergone embryonic mortality and for these animals uterine fluid was recovered by flushing and analysed for common infectious agents. Estrus synchronization was achieved in 86% of buffaloes and the pregnancy rate on Day 40 was 34%. Embryonic mortality between Days 26 and 40 occurred in 45% of buffaloes and was associated with the presence of significant infectious agents in only 10 buffaloes (8%). Concentrations of P4 on Day 10 after AI were higher (P<0.05) in buffaloes that established a pregnancy than in buffaloes that showed embryonic mortality that was not associated with infectious agents. Similarly, on Day 20 after AI P4 concentrations were higher (P<0.01) in pregnant buffaloes compared with non-pregnant buffaloes and buffaloes that had embryonic mortality. It is concluded that a reduced capacity for P4 secretion can explain around 50% of embryonic mortalities in buffaloes synchronised and mated by AI during a period of low reproductive activity and that other as yet unidentified factors also have a significant effect on embryonic survival.

Sperm DNA assays and their relationship to sperm motility and morphology in bulls (Bos Taurus).

The relationship among sperm DNA assays in bulls with different sperm motility and morphology measures has not been reported. The objectives of the present study were to (1) describe Comet assay measures and examine their repeatability (inter- and intra-assay); (2) compare sperm DNA quality assays (i.e., Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay-SCSA; alkaline and neutral Comet assays and Sperm Bos Halomax assay-SBH) in two groups of bulls selected on either greater and lesser sperm motility and morphology (greater compared with lesser); (3) determine the relationship among DNA assays and sperm motility and morphology values. Inter-assay repeatability was greater for the neutral Comet assay as compared to the alkaline Comet assay. Intra-assay repeatability was greater than inter-assay repeatability for both Comet assays. Comet assay dimension measures and percentage tail DNA were the most repeatable for both Comet assays. Among sperm DNA quality assays, only SCSA measures and neutral Comet assay Ghosts (% Ghosts), head diameter and area, and comet area were different between greater and lesser sperm quality groups (P<0.05). The SCSA measures were inversely correlated with neutral Comet head measures (diameter, area, and intensity) and positively with percentage Ghosts (P<0.05). The % Ghosts and COMP-αt were correlated with some measures of sperm morphology and sperm motility. The neutral Comet assay was more appropriate for sperm evaluation than the alkaline Comet assay for distinguishing among groups with different sperm quality.

Early development and function of the corpus luteum and relationship to pregnancy in the buffalo.

A detailed study on the structure and function of the CL in the Day-5 to Day-10 window of development, and relationship to the likelihood of pregnancy, was undertaken in Italian Mediterranean buffaloes. In experiment 1, buffaloes underwent synchronization of estrus and fixed-time artificial insemination (n = 23). Features of the CL were measured from Days 5 to 10 after fixed-time artificial insemination, and pregnancy was confirmed on Day 70. Buffaloes that established a pregnancy (n = 14) had a larger CL area (1.31 ± 0.1 vs. 1.09 ± 0.1 cm(2); P < 0.01) and greater progesterone (P4) concentrations (1.90 ± 0.1 vs. 1.48 ± 0.1 ng/mL; P < 0.01) during Days 5 to 10 compared with nonpregnant buffaloes. In the same period, blood flow measured as time average medium velocity tended to be greater (P = 0.059) in buffaloes that were subsequently pregnant versus nonpregnant buffaloes (10.8 ± 0.8 vs. 8.4 ± 0.9). There was a relationship (R(2) = 0.136; P < 0.05) between CL area, P4, and time average medium velocity from Days 5 to 10. Logistic regression analysis showed that P4 concentration on Day 10 had a significant influence on pregnancy (odds ratio, 19.337; P < 0.01). In experiment 2, highly vascularized CLs (HVCLs, n = 3) and lowly vascularized CLs (LVCLs, n = 3) on Day 5 were examined by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and then subjected to histologic investigation. Blood flow was greater in HVCLs than in LVCLs. Highly vascularized CLs showed intense staining for factor VIII and had many small, irregular-shaped blood vessels, whereas LVCLs had low factor VIII staining and relatively few large, regular-shaped vessels. Luteal cell expression of vascular EGF was greater for HVCLs compared with LVCLs. The study has shown that greater development and function of the CL from as early as Day 5 is related to an increased likelihood of pregnancy in the buffalo. Corpus lutea that show early development at Day 5 have greater expression of vascular EGF and factor VIII, increased vascularization, and higher blood flow.

Comparison of pregnancy rates with two estrus synchronization protocols in Italian Mediterranean Buffalo cows.

The aim in this study was to compare two estrus synchronization protocols in buffaloes. Animals were divided into two groups: Group A (n=111) received 100 microg GnRH on Day 0, 375 microg PGF(2alpha) on Day 7 and 100 microg GnRH on Day 9 (Ovsynch); Group B (n=117) received an intravaginal drug release device (PRID) containing 1.55 g progesterone and a capsule with 10mg estradiol benzoate for 10 days and were treated with a luteolytic dose of PGF(2alpha) and 1000 IU PMSG at the time of PRID withdrawal. Animals were inseminated twice 18 and 42 h after the second injection of GnRH (Group A) and 60 and 84 h after PGF(2alpha) and PMSG injections (Group B). Progesterone (P(4)) concentrations in milk samples collected 12 and 2 days before treatments were used to determine cyclic and non-cyclic buffaloes, and milk P(4) concentrations 10 days after Artificial insemination (AI) were used as an index of a functional corpus luteum. Cows were palpated per rectum at 40 and 90 days after AI to determine pregnancies. All previously non-cyclic animals in Group B had elevated P(4) (>120 pg/ml milk whey) on Day 10 after AI. Accordingly, a greater (P<0.01) relative percentage of animals with elevated P(4) 10 days after AI were observed in Group B (93.2%) than in Group A (81.1%). However, there was no difference in overall pregnancy rates between the two estrus synchronization protocols (Group A, 36.0%; Group B 28.2%). When only animals with elevated P(4) on Day 10 after AI were considered, pregnancy rate was higher (P<0.05) for animals in Group A (44.4%) than Group B (30.3%). The findings indicated that treatment with PRID can induce ovulation in non-cyclic buffalo cows. However, synchronization of estrus with Ovsynch resulted in a higher pregnancy rate compared with synchronization with PRID, particularly in cyclic buffalo.

Bovine and buffalo in vitro embryo production using oocytes derived from abattoir ovaries or collected by transvaginal follicle aspiration.

This study was undertaken in order to evaluate the effect of oocyte source (live animals and abattoir ovaries) on subsequent embryo development in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Cow ovaries were also collected as oocyte donors for in vitro embryo production (IVEP). Three hundred thirty-eight oocytes were recovered by ovum pick up (OPU, Group A) from 8 pluriparous buffalo cows, while 1127 and 1457 oocytes were aspirated, respectively, from buffalo (Group B) and bovine (Group C) slaughterhouse ovaries. Cumulus enclosed oocytes (COCs) suitable for IVEP were in vitro matured (IVM), fertilized (IVF) and cultured (IVC) to the tight morula (Tm) and blastocyst (Bl) stage. Within buffalo species Group A had a higher Bl yield (29.7 % versus 19.9%; P<0.05) and a lower proportion of embryos arrested at Tm stage (11.1% versus 22.3%; P<0.05) than Group B. Within slaughterhouse groups cattle oocytes had a higher cleavage rate (83.9% versus 64.8%; P<0.05) and yielded 49.2% more blastocysts than buffalo. However, when data are related to the total number of cleaved oocytes, only 13.7% more blastocysts were produced in cattle than in buffalo.In conclusion, in buffalo species the source of oocytes significantly affected post-fertilization embryo development, as demonstrated by the higher Bl yields derived from OPU-derived oocytes.A higher overall IVEP efficiency, mainly related to the higher cleavage rate, was recorded in cattle compared with buffalo when ovaries from an abattoir were used as oocyte donors.

Seasonal fluctuations in the response of Italian Mediterranean buffaloes to synchronization of ovulation and timed artificial insemination.

A comprehensive study of the efficiency of synchronization of ovulation and timed artificial insemination (TAI) was undertaken in a large group of Italian Mediterranean buffaloes at a commercial dairy. A total of 2791 synchronization protocols were carried out on 857 animals over 3 years. Of these protocols, 823 (29.5%) did not proceed beyond Day 7 (due to the absence of a vascularized CL) and 620 (22.2%) were discontinued on Day 10 (due to the absence of follicles >1.0 cm and tonic uteri); hence, 1443 (51.7%) protocols did not progress to TAI. Data were analyzed for four periods: P1, transition to spring (from breeding season to low breeding season); P2, low breeding season; P3, transition to fall (low breeding season to breeding season); and P4, breeding season. No differences were found among the four periods in terms of the proportion of protocols that did not result in TAI. Of the 857 buffaloes, 660 (77%) conceived and delivered a calf. The average number of TAI per pregnancy was 2.1 and ranged from 1.9 to 2.3 across years. Logistic regression analysis showed that buffaloes that calved during P3 had a higher odds ratio for pregnancy (1.380; P < 0.05) than buffaloes that calved in other periods. Pregnancy was also influenced by the calving to service period (odds ratio = 0.977; P < 0.01) and the pregnancy per AI (P/AI) at successive TAI (odds ratio = 1.480; P < 0.01). The pregnancy per AI at the first TAI (424/857, 49.5%) was greater (P < 0.01) than in subsequent TAI. The occurrence of late embryonic mortality (between Days 27 and 45 after TAI) was similar among the four periods. These findings indicated that there are distinct seasonal differences in the response of Italian Mediterranean buffaloes to synchronization and TAI.

Diet supplementation with donkey milk upregulates liver mitochondrial uncoupling, reduces energy efficiency and improves antioxidant and antiinflammatory defences in rats.

Dietary PUFA, mainly those of the n-3 family, are known to play essential roles in the maintenance of energy balance and in the reduction of body fat deposition through the upregulation of mitochondrial uncoupling that is the main source of reactive oxygen species. We hypothesized that rat supplementation with raw donkey's milk (DM), characterized by low-fat content and higher n3:n6 ratio, may affect energy balance, lipid metabolism, and prooxidant status as compared to animals treated with cow's milk. In the present study, the effects of drinking raw DM (for 4 weeks) on energy balance, lipid metabolism, antiinflammatory, and antioxidant/detoxifying defences was compared to that produced by rat intake of an iso-energetic amount of raw cow's milk. The hypolipidemic effect produced by DM paralleled with the enhanced mitochondrial activity/proton leakage and with the increased activity or expression of mitochondrial markers namely, carnitine palmitoyl transferase and uncoupling protein 2. The association of decreased energy efficiency with reduced proinflammatory signs (TNF-α and LPS levels) with the significant increase antioxidant (total thiols) and detoxifying enzyme activities (glutathione-S-transferase NADH quinone oxidoreductase) in DM-treated animals, indicated that beneficial effects were attributable, at least in part, to the activation of nuclear factor 2 erythroid-related factor 2 pathway.

Efficacy of eprinomectin pour-on against Dictyocaulus arnfieldi infection in donkeys (Equus asinus).

A trial to assess the efficacy of eprinomectin (EPM) against the lungworm Dictyocaulus arnfieldi was carried out on 15, naturally-infected donkeys. Ten animals were treated with a 'pour-on' EPM preparation (at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg bodyweight), and five animals acted as controls. Faecal larval counts were carried out two days before treatment, on day of treatment and 7, 14, 21 and 28 days post-treatment with the anthelmintic. EPM was 100% effective in eliminating faecal larvae from day 7, until the end of study at day 28. No adverse drug-reactions or side-effects were observed in any of the treated donkeys.

The effect of season on oocyte quality and developmental competence in Italian Mediterranean buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis).

At Italian latitudes, buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is a seasonally polyestrous species, showing an improved reproductive efficiency when daylight decreases (autumn). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the season on buffalo oocyte recovery rate, on oocyte quality, assessed on morphological basis, and developmental competence after in vitro fertilization. For this purpose, buffalo ovaries were collected from a local abattoir and the oocytes obtained by aspirating the follicles were evaluated, classified and, if considered of good quality, devolved to the different procedures of IVEP. In general, no differences were found in terms of oocyte recovery per ovary among seasons, but interestingly, the percentage of small oocytes was higher (P<0.05) during spring and summer (0.9±0.1 and 0.9±0.2) compared to autumn and winter (0.3±0.1 and 0.2±0.1). Both cleavage and embryo rate increased during the period from October to December (71.7±3.1 and 26.5±2.1, respectively) compared to the period from April to June (58.0±2.4 and 18.8±1.6, respectively), thus reflecting the in vivo reproductive behavior. Nevertheless, it is worth emphasizing that transferrable embryos were produced in vitro, even during the unfavorable season, but with decreased efficiency. In conclusion, these results suggest to avoid the oocyte collection during spring when planning OPU trials in order to save resources and improve the benefits/costs ratio.