Incidence, clinical patterns, and risk factors of postpartum uterine diseases in dairy cows from high-altitude tropical herds.

The cow's uterus sustains bacterial contamination and active inflammation after calving as part of the normal physiological process of uterine involution. Although the definition, incidence, and risk factors for postpartum uterine diseases (PUD) have been documented in annual calving systems with high-producing cows on total mixed ration, the literature contains little information for other production systems. The objective of this study was to quantify the incidence risk and factors associated with metritis, clinical endometritis, and cytological endometritis in high-altitude tropical dairy herds in a pasture-based system. A total of 248 cows from 5 commercial dairy herds in northern Antioquia, Colombia, were enrolled in this prospective observational longitudinal cohort study. Data collection and PUD diagnosis were performed at d 0, 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 38, 45, and 52 (±1) after parturition. Between 60 and 70 d, cows were systematically enrolled in a synchronization protocol, and herds were visited monthly for pregnancy diagnosis until 180 ±15 d. The multivariable logistic regression model of variables associated with PUD occurrence included (a) parity, season of calving, transition diet, and body condition score at calving; (b) blood calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium concentrations, and milk urea nitrogen, ß-hydroxybutyrate and fat-to-protein ratio; and (c) dystocia, retained placenta, and delayed uterine involution. The incidences of puerperal metritis, clinical metritis (MET), clinical endometritis (CE), and cytological endometritis (CYTO) were 2.8, 25, 29, and 26%, respectively. Retained placenta and dystocia were associated with MET, and MET was associated with CE. Low blood calcium concentration at calving was associated with CYTO. Overall, 51.2% of the cows suffered at least 1 category of PUD during the first 60 d postpartum (DPP). However, cows also suffered from different consecutive clinical events of PUD (MET, CE, and CYTO) during the follow-up period (0 to 180 ±15 DPP). These events could be grouped into 4 types (which were referred to as "clinical patterns") based on interactions between MET, CE, and CYTO.

Epigenetic anomalies associated with prenatal survival and neonatal morbidity in cloned calves

Many of the developmental anomalies observed in cloned animals are related to fetal and placental overgrowth, a phenomenon known as the “large offspring syndrome” (LOS) in ruminants. It has been hypothesized that the epigenetic control of imprinted genes, i.e. genes that are expressed in a parental-specific manner, is at the root of LOS. Our recent research has focused on understanding the epigenetic alterations to imprinted genes that are associated with assisted reproductive technologies (ART), such as early embryo in vitro culture (IVC) and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in cattle. We have searched and identified single nucleotide polymorphisms in Bos indicus DNA useful for analysis of parental-specific alleles and their respective transcripts in tissues from hybrid embryos derived by crossing Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle. Due to the frequency of placental anomalies in SCNT and in some IVC gestations, our initial studies focused on genes known to be necessary for trophoblast proliferation (Mammalian Achaete Scute-like Homologue 2; ASCL2) and differentiation (Heart and neural crest cell derivative 1; HAND1). ASCL2 was bi-allelically expressed prior to implantation but paternally silenced after implantation. At day 17, SCNT embryos showed more abundant ASCL2 and less abundant HAND1 transcripts. After implantation, SCNT fetal cotyledons displayed higher ASCL2 and HAND1 than AI and IVC tissues. To further investigate epigenetic anomalies, we analyzed the differentially methylated regions of other imprinted genes in cattle, i.e. SNRPN, H19 and the IGF2R. Compared with the patterns observed in vivo (AI), we observed a generalized hypomethylation of the imprinted allele and the bi-allelic expression of embryos produced by SCNT...

Epigenetic anomalies associated with prenatal survival and neonatal morbidity in cloned calves

Many of the developmental anomalies observed in cloned animals are related to fetal and placental overgrowth, a phenomenon known as the “large offspring syndrome” (LOS) in ruminants. It has been hypothesized that the epigenetic control of imprinted genes, i.e. genes that are expressed in a parental-specific manner, is at the root of LOS. Our recent research has focused on understanding the epigenetic alterations to imprinted genes that are associated with assisted reproductive technologies (ART), such as early embryo in vitro culture (IVC) and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in cattle. We have searched and identified single nucleotide polymorphisms in Bos indicus DNA useful for analysis of parental-specific alleles and their respective transcripts in tissues from hybrid embryos derived by crossing Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle. Due to the frequency of placental anomalies in SCNT and in some IVC gestations, our initial studies focused on genes known to be necessary for trophoblast proliferation (Mammalian Achaete Scute-like Homologue 2; ASCL2) and differentiation (Heart and neural crest cell derivative 1; HAND1). ASCL2 was bi-allelically expressed prior to implantation but paternally silenced after implantation. At day 17, SCNT embryos showed more abundant ASCL2 and less abundant HAND1 transcripts. After implantation, SCNT fetal cotyledons displayed higher ASCL2 and HAND1 than AI and IVC tissues. To further investigate epigenetic anomalies, we analyzed the differentially methylated regions of other imprinted genes in cattle, i.e. SNRPN, H19 and the IGF2R. Compared with the patterns observed in vivo (AI), we observed a generalized hypomethylation of the imprinted allele and the bi-allelic expression of embryos produced by SCNT...(AU)

Amino acid sequences of proteins from Leptospira serovar pomona.

This report describes a partial amino acid sequences from three putative outer envelope proteins from Leptospira serovar pomona. In order to obtain internal fragments for protein sequencing, enzymatic and chemical digestion was performed. The enzyme clostripain was used to digest the proteins 32 and 45 kDa. In situ digestion of 40 kDa molecular weight protein was accomplished using cyanogen bromide. The 32 kDa protein generated two fragments, one of 21 kDa and another of 10 kDa that yielded five residues. A fragment of 24 kDa that yielded nineteen residues of amino acids was obtained from 45 kDa protein. A fragment with a molecular weight of 20 kDa, yielding a twenty amino acids sequence from the 40 kDa protein.