Effect of Different Levels of Extruded Coffee (Coffea arabica) Pulp Flour on the Productive Performance and Intestinal Morphometry of Cobb 500 Broiler Chickens.

Coffee pulp is a by-product of the coffee industry. Due to conventional management techniques, it represents a severe environmental problem due to its negative impact on the soil (anaerobic fermentation and pH changes), water sources (the infiltration of pollutants into streams, acidification of water sources, and modification of microorganisms), and biodiversity (soil microbiology, fish, crustaceans, and other vertebrates). Therefore, it is essential to develop protocols for the treatment of this waste so that it can be used again in other productive activities under the circular economy approach. This means that all the waste from a production process can be reused, can generate value for the benefit of the producer, and, in turn, mitigate the environmental impact. The objective of this study was to evaluate the replacement of 5 levels of wheat bran (WB) with extruded coffee pulp flour (ECPF) as an alternative to a conventional fiber source in broiler finisher diets. A total of 300 Cobb 500 chickens in the finishing phase were assessed in the study, grouped in 5 treatments: T1, a conventional diet or control treatment (100% WB and 0% ECPF), T2 (75% WB and 25% ECPF), T3 (50% WB and 50% ECPF), T4 (25% WB and 75% ECPF), and T5 (0% WB and 100% ECPF). Feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and intestinal morphometry (villus length: VL, villus width: VW, crypt depth: CD, villus height/crypt depth ratio: V/C, and villus surface area: VSA) were evaluated at the level of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Feed intake decreased correspondingly as the ECPF in the diet was increased, with statistical differences (p < 0.01) between their averages; the most significant weight gain (834.61 g) was evidenced with the T2 treatment, this being statistically different (p < 0.01) from T4 and T5; similarly, the best FCR (1.58) was evidenced with the T2 treatment, followed by the control treatment T1 (with 1.64); however, they were not statistically different (p > 0.05). All treatment results were similar to the VL control samples in the three intestinal portions, except for the T5 in the jejunum, which showed statistical differences from the control. In VW, the treatment results were similar to the control samples of the jejunum and ileum; however, in the duodenum, the T5 results showed the highest value (172.18 µm), being statistically different (p < 0.05) from the other treatments being evaluated. For CD, it was only in the duodenum that the T2 and T3 treatments were similar to the control. Likewise, for V/C in the duodenum, only the T2 results were similar to the control. There was no significant difference in the VSA among the different treatment groups. T2 showed better production parameters without altering the intestinal villi. In conclusion, ECPF is a potential input for use to replace up to 25% of WB in the feed of broilers in the finishing phase.

Effect of probiotics administration at different levels on the productive parameters of guinea pigs for fattening (Cavia porcellus).

Background: For more than 50 years, antibiotics have been used to maintain animal welfare and improve efficiency. Recently, antibiotics were found in the muscle, liver, and kidney of guinea pig carcasses put up for sale and human consumption, which is a public health issue. Probiotics are supplements of live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate doses, could replace growth-promoting antibiotics. Aim: This study analyzed the effect of the administration of an oral probiotic mixture on the guinea pigs productive performance (Cavia porcellus). Methods: Fifty male guinea pigs, weaned at 14 days of age, were distributed in a completely randomized design of five treatments with ten repetitions for each group. The treatments were CONTROL group without probiotic; PROB 1 given 1 ml of probiotic; PROB 2 with 2 ml of probiotic; PROB 3 with 3 ml of probiotic; and antibiotic growth promoter (AGP) was given 300 ppm zinc bacitracin. The microorganisms used in the probiotic were Enterococcus hirae, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus frumenti, Lactobacillus johnsoni, Streptococcus thoraltensis, and Bacillus pumilus. Productive parameters were evaluated from weaning to 70 days of age. Results: No statistically significant difference was found between the treatments on forage dry matter intake (DMI), concentrateconcentrate DMI, or total concentrate DMI (p > 0.05). Similarly, no statistical difference was found between the treatments in terms of final weight or weight gain (p > 0.05). Regarding the feed conversion ratio (FCR), there was a significant difference between treatments (p = 0.045); the CONTROL group had the highest FCR, followed by the AGP group, with the best FCR observed in the PROB 3 group (p < 0.05). In addition, significant statistical differences were found between CONTROL and PROB 2 (p < 0.05). Likewise, a significant linear effect of increasing doses of the probiotic was found (p = 0.01), which indicated that the feed conversion was better with a higher dose. Conclusion: The treatments evaluated in this study significantly impacted the FCR in guinea pigs for fattening. Increasing doses of probiotics had a linear effect on FCR.

[Effect of intravenous infusion of KCl on the electrocardiogram and serum potassium in dogs with normal renal function]. / Efecto de la infusión endovenosa de KCl en el electrocardiograma y potasio sérico en perros con función renal normal.

Variations in serum potassium (K+) and electrocardiographic changes at different infusion speeds of intravenous K+ were studied in dogs. Solutions of 20, 40, 60 and 80 mEq of K+ were infused in one hour to dogs with normal renal function and normal serum K+. Nine dogs were studied: three without prior hydration and six with previous hydration. Infusing 20 mEq/hour of K+ produced an increase in heart rate without changes in the electrocardiogram. With 40 mEq/hour there were changes in the "t" and "p" waves, and with 60 and 80 mEq/hour, alterations consistent with cardiac ischemia and ventricular tachycardia. Dogs without hydration had more obvious and fatal electrocardiographic changes. Doses of 20 mEq/hour of K + caused no morbidity or mortality in the animals studied. Higher doses showed various complications which depended on the hydration status of the animal, its urinary flow and potassium level.

Bovine lactoferrin decreases cholera-toxin-induced intestinal fluid accumulation in mice by ganglioside interaction.

Secretory diarrhea caused by cholera toxin (CT) is initiated by binding of CT's B subunit (CTB) to GM1-ganglioside on the surface of intestinal cells. Lactoferrin, a breast milk glycoprotein, has shown protective effect against several enteropathogens. The aims of this study were to determine the effect of bovine-lactoferrin (bLF) on CT-induced intestinal fluid accumulation in mice, and the interaction between bLF and CT/CTB with the GM1-ganglioside receptor. Fluid accumulation induced by CT was evaluated in the mouse ileal loop model using 56 BALB/c mice, with and without bLF added before, after or at the same time of CT administration. The effect of bLF in the interaction of CT and CTB with GM1-ganglioside was evaluated by a GM1-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. bLF decreased CT-induced fluid accumulation in the ileal loop of mice. The greatest effect was when bLF was added before CT (median, 0.066 vs. 0.166 g/cm, with and without bLF respectively, p<0.01). We conclude that bLF decreases binding of CT and CTB to GM1-ganglioside, suggesting that bLF suppresses CT-induced fluid accumulation by blocking the binding of CTB to GM1-ganglioside. bLF may be effective as adjunctive therapy for treatment of cholera diarrhea.

Efecto de la infusión endovenosa de KCl en el electrocardiograma y potasio sérico en perros con función renal normal / Effect of intravenous infusion of KCl on the electrocardiogram and serum potassium in dogs with normal renal function

Se estudiaron las variaciones del potasio sérico (K+) y las alteraciones electrocardiográficas al infundir diferentes velocidades de K+ endovenoso en perros. Se infundió soluciones de 20, 40, 60 y 80 mEq de K+ en una hora a perros con función renal y K+ sérico normal. Se estudiaron 9 perros: tres sin hidratación previa y seis con hidratación previa. Al infundir 20 mEq/hora de K+ los animales presentaron incremento de la frecuencia cardiaca sin alteraciones del electrocardiograma. Con 40 mEq/hora hubo alteraciones en las ondas ôtõ y ôpõ, y con 60 y 80 mEq/hora, alteraciones compatibles con isquemia cardiaca y taquicardia ventricular. Los perros sin hidratación tuvieron alteraciones electrocardiográficas más notorias y fatales. Dosis de 20 mEq/hora de K+, no causaron morbilidad ni mortalidad en los animales estudiados. Dosis mayores mostraron complicaciones variables que dependieron del estado de hidratación del animal, su flujo urinario y su nivel de potasio.

Variations in serum potassium (K+) and electrocardiographic changes at different infusion speeds of intravenous K+ were studied in dogs. Solutions of 20, 40, 60 and 80 mEq of K+ were infused in one hour to dogs with normal renal function and normal serum K+. Nine dogs were studied: three without prior hydration and six with previous hydration. Infusing 20 mEq / hour of K+ produced an increase in heart rate without changes in the electrocardiogram. With 40 mEq / hour there were changes in the ôtõ and ôpõ waves, and with 60 and 80 mEq / hour, alterations consistent with cardiac ischemia and ventricular tachycardia. Dogs without hydration had more obvious and fatal electrocardiographic changes. Doses of 20 mEq / hour of K + caused no morbidity or mortality in the animals studied. Higher doses showed various complications which depended on the hydration status of the animal, its urinary flow and potassium level.