Spathaspora marinasilvae sp. nov., a xylose-fermenting yeast isolated from galleries of passalid beetles and rotting wood in the Amazonian rainforest biome.

Four yeast isolates were obtained from rotting wood and galleries of passalid beetles collected in different sites of the Brazilian Amazonian Rainforest in Brazil. This yeast produces unconjugated allantoid asci each with a single elongated ascospore with curved ends. Sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer-5.8 S region and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene showed that the isolates represent a novel species of the genus Spathaspora. The novel species is phylogenetically related to a subclade containing Spathaspora arborariae and Spathaspora suhii. Phylogenomic analysis based on 1884 single-copy orthologs for a set of Spathaspora species whose whole genome sequences are available confirmed that the novel species represented by strain UFMG-CM-Y285 is phylogenetically close to Sp. arborariae. The name Spathaspora marinasilvae sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate the novel species. The holotype of Sp. marinasilvae is CBS 13467 T (MycoBank 852799). The novel species was able to accumulate xylitol and produce ethanol from d-xylose, a trait of biotechnological interest common to several species of the genus Spathaspora.

Effects of evaporative cooling systems on the performance of lactating sows in a tropical climate.

This study evaluated litter performance, behavioral and physiological parameters, and milk characteristics of sows submitted to different thermal environments. Fifty sows were distributed in a completely randomized design with two treatments: an evaporative cooling system (ECS) and a conventional system (CS). Sow and its litter were characterized as an experimental unit. The animals were weighed at equalization and weaning. Feed intake, milk production, and bromatological characteristics of milk were measured; the sows respiratory rate, rectal, and surface temperature were monitored. Litter uniformity was determined at equalization and weaning. Behaviors of the sows and litters were monitored for 24 h on the 7th and 15th day of lactation. Temperature and relative humidity inside the maternity was 25.00 to 28.00 °C and 26.00 to 32.55 °C and 30.00 to 70.00% and 70.00 to 88.00%, respectively, considering ECS and CS. Nutritional quality of the milk remained stable during lactation in both systems evaluated. ECS improved the average weight of the piglets, weaning weight, and daily milk production by 0.038, 0.699, and 2.31 kg/day, respectively. Sows housed in the ECS had a reduction in physiological parameters and, increase in inactive alert behavior (1.79 percentage points) and breastfeeding behavior. Piglets showed a decrease of 2.43% in the range of feedings at night and 0.15% during the day. ECS provided better comfort to the sows at the expense of the CS and, consequently, better litter performance.

Can SARS-CoV-2 screening in oral biopsies aid epidemiological surveillance?

BACKGROUND: Three years after the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Brazil, the outcomes of Federal government omissions in managing the crisis and anti-science stance heading into the pandemic have become even more evident. With over 36 million confirmed cases and nearly 700 000 deaths up to January 2023, the country is one of the hardest-hit places in the world. The lack of mass-testing programs was a critical broken pillar responsible for the quick and uncontrolled SARS-CoV-2 spread throughout the Brazilian population. Faced with this situation, we aimed to perform the routine SARS-CoV-2 screening through RT-qPCR of oral biopsies samples to aid in the asymptomatic epidemiological surveillance during the principal outbreak periods. METHODS: We analyzed 649 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded oral tissue samples from five important oral and maxillofacial pathology laboratories from the north, northeast, and southeast geographic regions of Brazil. We also sequenced the whole viral genome of positive cases to investigate SARS-CoV-2 variants. RESULTS: The virus was detected in 9/649 analyzed samples, of which three harbored the Variant of Concern Alpha (B.1.1.7). CONCLUSION: Although our approach did not value aiding asymptomatic epidemiological surveillance, we could successfully identify a using FFPE tissue samples. Therefore, we suggest using FFPE tissue samples from patients who have confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection for phylogenetic reconstruction and contraindicate the routine laboratory screening of these samples as a tool for asymptomatic epidemiological surveillance.

Seminal characterization of white-lipped peccary (Tayassu peccary).

White-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) is a neotropical mammal that plays a fundamental role in maintaining the integrity of tropical forest systems. However, due to hunting and deforestation the species is currently classified as vulnerable. As there are reports of difficulties in captive reproduction, it was proposed to use assisted reproduction techniques for later reintroduction into their natural habitat. Therefore, the objective was to describe the physical, chemical, morphological and functional characteristics of its semen. Sixteen adult male, white-lipped peccary, aged between three and seven years old, distributed in three groups, were used in this study. After physical and chemical retainment, semen was collected by electroejaculation from 16 individuals. It was evaluated by computer analysis (CASA). The mean values recorded were as follows: volume 0.5 ± 0.6 ml, pH 7.2 ± 0.3, sperm concentration 967.2 ± 947.3 × 106 spermatozoon/ml and total motility of 75.4 ± 16.2. The average sperm reactive to the hypo-osmotic test was 85.3% ± 21.0%, and 62.4% ± 43.9% of the cells presented intact membranes in the structural integrity test. Additionally, the semen showed milky consistency (80%), yellowish colour (40%) and sui generis odour (100%). The sperm parameters of the white-lipped peccary are within the desirable standards, allowing them to be considered as potentially fertile for the development of assisted reproduction techniques that may contribute to the conservation of the species.

Origins, Admixture Dynamics, and Homogenization of the African Gene Pool in the Americas.

The Transatlantic Slave Trade transported more than 9 million Africans to the Americas between the early 16th and the mid-19th centuries. We performed a genome-wide analysis using 6,267 individuals from 25 populations to infer how different African groups contributed to North-, South-American, and Caribbean populations, in the context of geographic and geopolitical factors, and compared genetic data with demographic history records of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. We observed that West-Central Africa and Western Africa-associated ancestry clusters are more prevalent in northern latitudes of the Americas, whereas the South/East Africa-associated ancestry cluster is more prevalent in southern latitudes of the Americas. This pattern results from geographic and geopolitical factors leading to population differentiation. However, there is a substantial decrease in the between-population differentiation of the African gene pool within the Americas, when compared with the regions of origin from Africa, underscoring the importance of historical factors favoring admixture between individuals with different African origins in the New World. This between-population homogenization in the Americas is consistent with the excess of West-Central Africa ancestry (the most prevalent in the Americas) in the United States and Southeast-Brazil, with respect to historical-demography expectations. We also inferred that in most of the Americas, intercontinental admixture intensification occurred between 1750 and 1850, which correlates strongly with the peak of arrivals from Africa. This study contributes with a population genetics perspective to the ongoing social, cultural, and political debate regarding ancestry, admixture, and the mestizaje process in the Americas.

Whole-genome sequencing of the endemic Antarctic fungus Antarctomyces pellizariae reveals an ice-binding protein, a scarce set of secondary metabolites gene clusters and provides insights on Thelebolales phylogeny.

The snow-covered surfaces of Antarctica comprise an extreme environment that favors the development of life forms with adaptations to adverse low-temperature habitats. The ability to survive and such temperatures might involve the production of antifreeze proteins and ice-binding proteins that attenuate the effects of intense cold temperatures. He, we sequenced and reconstructed the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of the endemic Antarctic fungus Antarctomyces pellizariae UFMGCB 12416. We then have identified a putative ice-binding protein-coding gene, mapped the presence of secondary metabolite gene clusters, and reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of a A. pellizariae with others Leotiomycetes from the alignment of hundreds of orthologous single-copy proteins. Our results will deepen the understanding of microbial ice-binding proteins and the genomic aspects of psychrophilic fungi. DATASET: The GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ accession number for the gene sequence of ice-binding protein from A. pellizariae determined in this study is MN867686. The Whole Genome Shotgun project of strain A. pellizariae UFMGCB 12416 has been deposited at DDBJ/ENA/GenBank under accession WCAA00000000. The version described in this paper is version WCAA01000000. The mitochondrial genome has been deposited under accession MT197497.

Human-SARS-CoV-2 interactome and human genetic diversity: TMPRSS2-rs2070788, associated with severe influenza, and its population genetics caveats in Native Americans.

For human/SARS-CoV-2 interactome genes ACE2, TMPRSS2 and BSG, there is a convincing evidence of association in Asians with influenza-induced SARS for TMPRSS2-rs2070788, tag-SNP of the eQTL rs383510. This case illustrates the importance of population genetics and of sequencing data in the design of genetic association studies in different human populations: the high linkage disequilibrium (LD) between rs2070788 and rs383510 is Asian-specific. Leveraging on a combination of genotyping and sequencing data for Native Americans (neglected in genetic studies), we show that while their frequencies of the Asian tag-SNP rs2070788 is, surprisingly, the highest worldwide, it is not in LD with the eQTL rs383510, that therefore, should be directly genotyped in genetic association studies of SARS in populations with Native American ancestry.

Yeast communities associated with cacti in Brazil and the description of Kluyveromyces starmeri sp. nov. based on phylogenomic analyses.

Yeast communities associated with cacti were studied in three ecosystems of Southeast, Central and North Brazil. A total of 473 yeast strains belonging to 72 species were isolated from 190 samples collected. Cactophilic yeast species were prevalent in necrotic tissues, flowers, fruits and insects of cacti collected in Southeast and North Brazil. Pichia cactophila, Candida sonorensis and species of the Sporopachydermia complex were the most prevalent cactophilic species in Southeast and Central regions. Kodamaea nitidulidarum, Candida restingae and Wickerhamiella cacticola were frequently associated with cactus flowers and fruits. The diversity of yeasts associated with the substrates studied was high. Twenty-one novel species were found. One is described here as Kluyveromyces starmeri sp. nov. based on 21 isolates obtained from necrotic tissues, flowers, fruits and associated insects of the columnar cacti Cereus saddianus, Micranthocereus dolichospermaticus and Pilosocereus arrabidae in two different ecosystems in Brazil. Phylogenetic analyses of sequences encoding the gene of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene, the internal transcribed spacer, the 5.8S rRNA gene and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA showed that the species is related to Kluyveromyces dobzhanskii, Kluyveromyces lactis and Kluyveromyces marxianus. Phylogenomic analyses based on 1264 conserved genes shared among the new species and 19 other members of the Saccharomycetaceae confirmed this phylogenetic relationship. The holotype is K. starmeri sp. nov. CBS 16103T (=UFMG-CM-Y3682T ). The Mycobank number is MB 836817.

Season effects on the suckling behavior of piglets.

The suckling behavior of piglets was evaluated in summer and winter, using 21 sows of the same genetic line. Data were collected in July (winter) and in January (summer). The experimental design was a randomized complete block (age of piglets) in a 2x2 factorial scheme, with season of the year (winter and summer) and shift (day, from 06 h to 1h:59min and night from 18h to 05h:59min) as factors. The behavioral variables analyzed were number, interval, and frequency of suckling. The behaviors were monitored on day 7 and 15 of lactation, for 24 hours. In winter, the farrowing room had a mean temperature of 20.32 ±2.17°C and a relative humidity (RH) of 58.63 ±2.99%. In the summer, the mean temperature was 26.65 ±4.02°C, with an RH of 62.22 ±12.06%. During winter, the piglets presented longer sucklings during the night, dedicating 1.84 minutes more to suckling compared to the daytime. Nighttime sucklings were 3.13 minutes longer in winter than in summer. However, in summer, piglets suckled more often during the night, with greater interval between feeds during the day. Based on our results, the season influences the suckling behavior of piglets, with shorter feedings and greater frequencies in summer.

L-arginine supplementation during the final third of gestation improves litter uniformity and physical characteristics of neonatal piglet thermoregulation.

The study assessed the effects of dietary L-arginine supplementation from days 85 to 115 of gestation on sow performance, litter quality, piglet physiology and survival variables in the first 24 hr of life. Twenty multiparous sows, with a history of hyperprolificacy (more than 14 piglets per litter), were used. A completely randomized experimental design was used, consisting of two treatments: feed supplemented or not with 1% L-arginine from days 85 to 115 of gestation. The experimental unit consisted of the sow and its respective litter, using 10 replicates per treatment. The sows were distributed into the treatments based on body condition and parity. Supplementation with L-arginine reduced the within-litter standard deviation and the within-litter coefficient of variation of piglet weight at 24 hr by 54 g and 4.14 percentage points respectively (p = .029; p = .035). Supplementation with 1.0% L-arginine decreased the percentages of piglets weighing less than 800 g by 5.60 and 5.08 points at birth and at 24 hr of life respectively. Piglets from sows supplemented with L-arginine had higher (p = .088) average rectal temperatures at birth and lower (p = .030) rectal temperature at 24 hr of life in comparison with control piglets. No significant differences in placental weight or estimated colostrum production and intake were observed in the first 24 hr of life. At 24 hr of life, piglets weighing less than 1,000 g and from supplemented sows had lower (p = .048) surface/mass ratios and higher body mass index (p = .070). Piglets from supplemented sows and who weighed 1601 to 1,800 g had lower body mass index and ponderal index (p = .002; p = .003). Supplementation with L-arginine during the final third of gestation reduces the incidence of unviable piglets (<800 g) and improved litter uniformity and piglets' body conformation within the first 24 hr of life.

Variability of piglet birth weights: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of litter size and supplementation of functional amino acids on the piglet birth weight variability through of a systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus and SciELO are the main used databases and were searched in January 2019 by using the following keywords and their combinations: within-litter birth, weight variability, piglets, litter size, sow, amino acids, gestation, uniformity, CV and/or SD. Of the 64 pre-selected articles, only articles presenting the coefficients of variation and/or standard deviations according to the litter size and different levels of amino acid supplementation in the sow diets during gestation were selected. The average birth weights of total and live piglets were 43% lower in litters from sows with high prolificacy than those from sows with low prolificacy. The weight variability was affected by high prolificacy sows, with increases of 4.04% and 4.54% in the coefficients of variation of total and born alive piglets respectively (p = .074; p = .009). The standard deviation increased by 180 g in born alive piglets to high prolificacy sows. The coefficients of variation of total and live piglets born from high prolificacy sows showed an increase of 4.04% and 4.54% respectively (p = .07; p < .05). There was a tendency for reduced weight variability with amino acids supplementation when considering the standard deviation of total born (p = .072). However, reproductive performance was not significantly influenced (p > .05). In conclusion, the average litter weight and the number of piglets born influence weight variability. Amino acids supplementation may reduce the birth weight variability between piglets. However, this effect depends on the amino acid used, the levels of supplementation and on other factors not completely addressed in this study. Thus, more research is necessary to fully elucidate this topic.

Spray-dried porcine plasma improves feed intake of weaned piglets subjected to heat stress.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) on performance, measurement of thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), body temperature and relative organ weights of weaned piglets exposed to a heat stress or a thermoneutral environment. One hundred and forty-four piglets with initial BW of 5.82 ± 0.33 kg (28 d old) were used. The experimental design was a 4 x 2 factorial arrangement, four plasma levels (0.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5%) and two environments (34º [heat stress (HS)] and 24°C [thermoneutral (TN)]). SDPP was fed from weaning (28 d of age) to the end of the trial (piglets were weighed at the beginning, 7, 21 and 35 days of trial). Rectal, neck, shoulder and leg temperatures were measured every seven days. At 21 days of trial, one piglet per pen was slaughtered to determine the weight of the carcass and organs. Blood samples were collected at 18 and 35 days of trial to determine levels T3 and T4. The rectal, neck, shoulder and leg temperatures were increased (p < 0.05) 0.4, 1.5, 1.0 and 1.3ºC, respectively, and relative weight of the lungs (p < 0.05) and total T3 (p < 0.05) were decreased 0.001 kg/kg and 0.19 ng/dl, respectively, for pigs in the HS environment. The estimated inclusion of 5.1% of SDPP had the greatest (p < 0.05) weight gain during the first week, and throughout the nursery phase, the 5% of inclusion had a tendency of improvement (p = 0.075), regardless of ambient temperature. For the entire period, pigs reared in the HS environment had the greatest (p < 0.05) estimated feed intake by the quadratic regression with the inclusion of 4.3% of SDPP.

Scheffersomyces stambukii f.a., sp. nov., a d-xylose-fermenting species isolated from rotting wood.

Two isolates representing a new species of Scheffersomyces were isolated from rotting wood samples collected in an Amazonian forest ecosystem in Brazil. Analysis of the sequences of the D1/D2 domains showed that this new species is phylogenetically related to Scheffersomyces NYMU 15730, a species without a formal description, and the two are in an early emerging position with respect to the xylose-fermenting subclade containing Scheffersomyces titanus and Scheffersomyces stipitis. Phylogenomic analyses using 474 orthologous genes placed the new species in an intermediary position between Scheffersomyces species and the larger genus Spathaspora and the Candida albicans/Lodderomyces clade. The novel species, Scheffersomyces stambukii f.a., sp. nov., is proposed to accommodate these isolates. The type strain of Scheffersomyces stambukii sp. nov. is UFMG-CM-Y427T (=CBS 14217T). The MycoBank number is MB 824093. In addition, we studied the xylose metabolism of this new species.

Origin and dynamics of admixture in Brazilians and its effect on the pattern of deleterious mutations.

While South Americans are underrepresented in human genomic diversity studies, Brazil has been a classical model for population genetics studies on admixture. We present the results of the EPIGEN Brazil Initiative, the most comprehensive up-to-date genomic analysis of any Latin-American population. A population-based genome-wide analysis of 6,487 individuals was performed in the context of worldwide genomic diversity to elucidate how ancestry, kinship, and inbreeding interact in three populations with different histories from the Northeast (African ancestry: 50%), Southeast, and South (both with European ancestry >70%) of Brazil. We showed that ancestry-positive assortative mating permeated Brazilian history. We traced European ancestry in the Southeast/South to a wider European/Middle Eastern region with respect to the Northeast, where ancestry seems restricted to Iberia. By developing an approximate Bayesian computation framework, we infer more recent European immigration to the Southeast/South than to the Northeast. Also, the observed low Native-American ancestry (6-8%) was mostly introduced in different regions of Brazil soon after the European Conquest. We broadened our understanding of the African diaspora, the major destination of which was Brazil, by revealing that Brazilians display two within-Africa ancestry components: one associated with non-Bantu/western Africans (more evident in the Northeast and African Americans) and one associated with Bantu/eastern Africans (more present in the Southeast/South). Furthermore, the whole-genome analysis of 30 individuals (42-fold deep coverage) shows that continental admixture rather than local post-Columbian history is the main and complex determinant of the individual amount of deleterious genotypes.

Effects of maternal artificial vocalization on hyperprolific lactating sows and piglets behavior.

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the behavioral patterns and performance of lactating sows and their litters under the effect of artificial vocalization. Twenty-eight sows and their litters were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2x2 factorial scheme (artificial vocalization x lactation week). The behavior of the animals was monitored during 24 hours on the 7th and 15th days of lactation, analyzing the number, interval, and frequency of nursings. The body condition and performance of the sows were also evaluated. Artificial vocalization promoted higher frequencies of eating for sow and nursing for piglets (P <0.05), increased inactive sow behavior (P <0.05), and reduced sow alert in activity (P <0.05). The number and duration of suckling sessions at the 15thday of lactation were reduced (P <0.05). The use of artificial vocalization did not affect the body condition or milk production of the lactating sows, or the performance of the litter during lactation (P> 0.05). The use of maternal artificial vocalization during lactation of sows promoted greater lactation efficiency and longer rest time, favoring the sows' welfare.

Spathaspora boniae sp. nov., a D-xylose-fermenting species in the Candida albicans/Lodderomyces clade.

Two yeast isolates producing asci-containing elongate ascospores with curved ends typical of the genus Spathaspora were isolated from rotting wood samples collected in an Atlantic rainforest ecosystem in Brazil. Phylogenetic analysis of the LSU rRNA gene D1/D2 domain sequences demonstrated that the strains represent a new species and placed it next to Candida blackwellae, in a clade that also contains Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis. Other sequences of the ribosomal gene cluster supported same placementin the same clade, and a phylogenomic analysis placed this new species in an early emerging position relative to the larger C. albicans/Lodderomyces clade. One interpretation is that the genus Spathaspora is, in fact, paraphyletic. In conformity with this view, we propose the novel species Spathaspora boniae sp. nov. to accommodate the isolates. The type strain of Spathaspora boniae sp. nov. is UFMG-CM-Y306T (=CBS 13262T). The MycoBank number is MB 821297. A detailed analysis of xylose metabolism was conducted for the new species.

Next-generation sequencing of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in odontogenic myxomas.

BACKGROUND: Mutations previously considered drivers of malignant neoplasms also occur in benign tumors. From the biological perspective, the study of malignant and benign neoplasms is equally relevant. The study of rare tumors contributes to the understanding of the more common ones, as both could share the same hallmark genetic drivers. The identification of driver mutations in benign tumors is facilitated by the fact that they harbor quiet genomes. Pathogenic mutations have being described in benign epithelial odontogenic tumors, such as ameloblastomas and adenomatoid odontogenic tumors. However, the molecular pathogenesis of odontogenic myxoma (OM), a benign aggressive ectomesenchymal tumor, is still poorly characterized, precluding the development of personalized therapy. Aiming to find druggable genetic mutations, we investigated in OM mutations in 50 genes commonly mutated in cancer. METHODS: We used targeted next-generation sequencing to interrogate over 2,800 COSMIC mutations in OM. RESULTS: Missense single nucleotide variants were detected in KDR, TP53, PIK3CA, KIT, JAK3; however, these did not include pathogenic mutations. CONCLUSION: These aggressive tumors do not harbor pathogenic mutations in genes commonly mutated in human cancers or if they do, these mutations probably occur in a low proportion of cases.

Soil Fertilization with Palm Oil Mill Effluent Has a Short-Term Effect on the Bacterial Diversity of an Amazonian Agricultural Land Area.

Palm oil derived from the fruits of Elaeis guineensis Jacq. has global economic importance and is largely produced in tropical regions. The palm oil production process leads to a highly polluting waste called palm oil mill effluent (POME). A strategy commonly used by producers to overcome environmental issues and to improve soil fertility is the reuse of POME as a fertilizer due to the chemical and biological characteristics of the effluent. In this research, three groups were analyzed: soil without POME application (control group) and soil samples after 4 and 9 days of POME application. An environmental DNA metabarcoding approach was used. eDNA was extracted, and the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced in the Illumina MiSeq platform. The abundance of Proteobacteria (48.1%) and Firmicutes (9.0%) was higher in fertilized soil, while Bacteroidetes (20.3%) and Verrucomicrobia (7.8%) were more abundant in control soil. Additionally, the effluent seemed to modify soil characteristics favoring taxa responsible for the mineralization of organic compounds and nitrogen fixation such as species of Gammaproteobacteria class. Our study highlights the influence of POME on soil biological components and contributes to the sustainable production of palm oil in the Amazon.

Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and co-infections in stray cats in Brazil.

The zoonotic virus SARS-CoV-2, which causes severe acute respiratory syndrome in humans (COVID-19), has been identified in cats. Notably, most positive cases were in cats that had close contact with infected humans, suggesting a role for humans in animal transmission routes. Previous studies have suggested that animals with immune depletion are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. To date, there is limited evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in stray and free-range cats affected by other pathogens. In this study, we investigated infections caused by SARS-CoV-2, Leishmania spp., Toxoplasma gondii, Mycoplasma spp., Bartonella spp., Feline leukemia virus (FeLV), and Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in stray cats from an urban park in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. From February to September 2021, 78 mixed-breed cats were tested for SARS-CoV-2 and hemopathogens using molecular analysis at Américo Renné Giannetti Municipal Park, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect IgG in T. gondii. None of the animals in this study showed any clinical signs of infections. The SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA was detected in 7.7 % of cats, and a whole virus genome sequence analysis revealed the SARS-CoV-2 Delta lineage (B.1.617.2). Phylogenetic analysis showed that SARS-CoV-2 isolated from cats was grouped into the sublineage AY.99.2, which matches the epidemiological scenario of COVID-19 in the urban area of our study. Leishmania infantum was detected and sequenced in 9 % of cats. The seroprevalence of T. gondii was 23.1 %. Hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. was detected in 7.7 % of the cats, with Mycoplasma haemofelis and Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum being the most common. Bartonella henselae and Bartonella clarridgeiae were detected in 38.5 % of the cats, FeLV was detected in 17,9 %, and none of the cats studied tested positive for FIV. This study reports, for the first time, the SARS-CoV-2 infection with whole-genome sequencing in stray cats in southeastern Brazil and co-infection with other pathogens, including Bartonella spp. and Feline leukemia virus. Our study observed no correlation between SARS-CoV-2 and the other detected pathogens. Our results emphasize the importance of monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in stray cats to characterize their epidemiological role in SARS-CoV-2 infection and reinforce the importance of zoonotic disease surveillance.

Phytogenic Bioactive Compounds in the Diet of Lactating Sows, Litter Performance, and Milk Characteristics.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of phytogenic supplementation in the feed of lactating sows on the performance parameters of sows and suckling piglets. Ninety-three lactating sows of commercial lines (sows TN70) were distributed in a completely randomized design. The treatments adopted were a control diet without phytogenics (control) and a control diet with phytogenic supplementation in the feed. Performance parameters and the behaviors of sows and piglets were evaluated, in addition to milk composition and the biochemical parameters of the animals. The use of phytogenics did not affect the feed intake or tissue mobilization of the sows. However, it improved the production and quality of milk and reduced the possibility of light piglets at weaning by 22.16 percentage points. Regarding biochemical parameters, phytogenics improved animal recovery in the lactation period, as proven by an increase in the serum concentration of total protein and urea. Sows that received phytogenics exhibited increased behaviors of inactivity (3.16%), breastfeeding (1.15%), and water consumption (0.95%). In conclusion, using phytogenics in the feed of lactating sows improves the performance of the litters without affecting the body condition of the sows, with increased milk production and enhanced protein and lactose concentration.