Simultaneous detection of the feline lungworms Troglostrongylus brevior and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus by a newly developed duplex-PCR     

Giada Annoscia  Maria Stefania Latrofa  Bronwyn Evelyn Campbell  Alessio Giannelli  Rafael Antonio Nascimento Ramos  Filipe Dantas-Torres  Emanuele Brianti  Domenico Otranto 《Veterinary parasitology》2014,199(3-4):172-178

In addition to Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (Strongylida: Angiostrongylidae), referred to as the feline lungworm, Troglostrongylus brevior (Strongylida: Crenosomatidae) has recently been identified as an agent of bronco-pulmonary infestations in cats. These two parasites have a similar biology, share ecological niches, potentially co-infesting cats, but are difficult to be differentiated due to the morphological similarities of their first-stage larvae (L1). This paper describes a molecular tool, based on single-step duplex polymerase chain reaction (duplex-PCR) on the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 region (ITS-2) for the simultaneous detection and differentiation of T. brevior and A. abstrusus. L1 of both species were collected from faecal samples, morphologically identified, and single larval specimens isolated. An aliquot of faeces was used as a test sample for a case of mixed natural infestation. The duplex-PCR was performed using species-specific forward primer sets for the ITS-2 region (i.e., A. abstrusus: 220 bp; T. brevior: 370 bp). The detection limit of the molecular assay was also assessed by serial dilutions of DNA from single larvae of both species (from ～4.0 to 4.0 × 10^?5 μg/μl). The duplex-PCR carried out on individual DNA samples was able to detect as low as 5.2 × 10^?3 μg/μl of DNA for A. abstrusus, 4.9 × 10^?3 μg/μl for T. brevior, and as low as 4.0 × 10^?3 μg/μl for samples containing both species. Species-specific bands of the expected sizes and two bands were simultaneously amplified from the faecal sample containing both species. The phylogenetic analyses of the ITS-2 sequences here examined and those available for other metastrongyloids were concordant in clustering them with those of other Troglostrongylus brevior and A. abstrusus sequences available in GenBank database. This molecular approach proved to be effective and highly sensitive for the simultaneous detection of the two lungworms species and it might be used for molecular epidemiological studies and for monitoring therapeutic protocols.  相似文献   

Autologous Platelet Concentrate as a Treatment for Horses with Refractory Fetlock Osteoarthritis     

Fanny PichereauMargot Décory  MSc  Gabriel Cuevas Ramos 《Journal of Equine Veterinary Science》2014

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common musculoskeletal pathologies in horses and is a disease capable of halting their athletic career. Clinically, OA can be a difficult problem to deal with, particularly when there is no longer a positive response to corticosteroids or rest. In order to avoid further articular tissue degeneration, which could lead to the loss of the joint function, novel therapies are focusing not only on controlling inflammation and pain but also on tissue healing and repair. Autologous platelet concentrate (PC) growth factors are known to have anabolic and angiogenic properties and a positive effect on synovial epithelium, cartilage, and pain. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical outcome of horses with OA treated with PC. Selected cases were treated only with PC, and they all belong to the same sport activity. We show here the method for PC preparation, follow-up evaluation, and outcome of 20 cases with refractory OA treated exclusively with autologous PC. After a 1-year follow-up, 80% of patients were able to resume work. According to our results and observations, PC can be used as a safe and low-cost intra-articular therapy for refractory OA in the horse.  相似文献   

Biomechanics of the fresh and conserved bovine pericardium     

Laura Gusman Soares  Fabrício Singaretti de Oliveira  Andréa Barros Piazzon de Souza Queiroz  Ana Carolina Souza Ramos de Medeiros  Antônio Fernando Bariani Junior  Alisson Diego Senna Fechis  Thiago André Salvitti de Sá Rocha 《Anatomia, histologia, embryologia》2021,50(3):588-593

The use of biological membranes in surgeries is a reality for years, and one of the most used is the bovine pericardium, so the purpose of this research is to describe the bovine pericardium's biomechanics by comparing two directions of a test, one parallel to the longitudinal heart axis and one perpendicular. 20 adult bovine pericardium were tested for the maximum rupture force and rupture elongation, collecting four samples of each pericardium direction. In phase 2, eight pericardia were conserved for 4 months in a 98% glycerine solution, and the solution in which they were submerged was microbiologically analysed monthly. The Mann–Whitney test was used; there was a very significant difference between the perpendicular and parallel groups (p = .0001). The T test showed no significant difference for the rupture elongation (p = .0938). In pericardium preserved in glycerine, the outliers were removed regarding the maximum rupture force, and a Boxcox transformation was performed (λ = 0.25). Outliers were removed for the rupture elongation, and Bartlett's test (p = .7836), and Cramer–Von Mises (p = .5033) were performed and then, the analysis of variance (p < .0001), followed by the Tukey test at 5%. In the microbiological analysis, there was no presence of microorganisms during conservation. The research has shown that the pericardium collection direction influences its resistance and it can be stored in glycerine for 4 months without losing biomechanical characteristics.  相似文献   

Relationship between beta-adrenergic agonists,calpain system activity and beef texture: A systematic review     

Fábio L. Cruz  Elisa B. de Carvalho  Eduardo M. Ramos  Luciano J. Pereira  Márcio G. Zangeronimo 《Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition》2021,105(3):442-451

The objective was to conduct a systematic review to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with beta-adrenergic agonists on calpains and calpastatin activity in bovine muscle and changes in meat tenderness. A survey was conducted in June 2019 on Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed and Capes Periodicals, using four keyword combinations: agonist and calpain and cattle; agonist and calpain and bovine; agonist and calpain and heifers; agonist and calpain and steers. Thirteen studies were selected, 54% concluded that supplementation with beta-adrenergic agonists increases calpastatin activity, 23% observed increase in their gene expression and 23% reported no effect on activity or expression of this enzyme. Nine studies evaluated the influence of beta-adrenergic agonists supplementation on meat texture and all found an increase in shear force values. There is strong evidence that beta-adrenergic agonists may increase calpastatin activity in the muscle, causing damage to meat tenderness.  相似文献   

Efficiency of two commercial ELISA kits compared with the BAM culture method for detecting Listeria in naturally contaminated foods.     

C W Noah  N C Ramos  M V Gipson 《Journal of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists》1991,74(5):819-821

The efficiency of 2 commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits (Listeria-Tek and Tecra) for detecting Listeria in naturally contaminated foods was evaluated and compared with that of the culture method described in the Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM). Both ELISAs use modified University of Vermont (UVM-1) medium as a primary enrichment; the BAM method uses Listeria enrichment broth. Secondary enrichments for Listeria-Tek and Tecra, respectively, were Fraser broth and UVM-2, which contains additional acriflavin-HCl. When ELISA test results differed, secondary enrichments were tested against the other ELISA; Fraser broth was used to determine recovery rates because of its superiority over UVM-2. Of the 178 food samples examined, the presence of Listeria was detected and culturally confirmed in 38, 37, and 40 samples by the BAM, Listeria-Tek, and Tecra methods, respectively. Differences in results of the ELISAs compared with those of the BAM method were not statistically significant; however, differences between results of the 2 ELISA methods were significant. It was concluded that as rapid screening methods, the Listeria-Tek and the Tecra kits qualify as alternative methods to the BAM cultural method.  相似文献   

The cost of soil erosion in vineyard fields in the Penedès–Anoia Region (NE Spain)     

J.A. Martínez-Casasnovas  M.C. Ramos   《CATENA》2006,68(2-3):194

On-site and off-site environmental impacts of runoff and erosion are usually stressed in order to bring to the public's attention the importance and implications of soil erosion. However, few studies are aimed at calculating the economic implications of erosion, this being the message that farmers and/or policy makers understand best. In this current work we estimated the cost of erosion in vineyards in the Penedès–Anoia region (NE Spain), in which high intensity rain storms (> 80–100 mm h^− 1) are frequent. Modern plantations in the region consist of trained vines, usually planted perpendicular to the maximum slope direction. Broadbase terraces are interspersed between vine rows to intercept surface runoff and convey it out of the field. Part of the sediment generated above these terraces is deposited in them and other parts are either deposited beyond the boundaries of the fields or are exported to the main drainage network. High intensity rainfall produces heavy soil losses (up to 207 Mg ha^− 1 computed in an extreme event in June 2000, which had a maximum intensity in 30-min periods of up to 170 mm h^− 1). To estimate the cost of erosion in vineyard fields of this region, two important aspects were considered. These were a) the cost incurred by the maintenance of the broadbase terraces, drainage channels and filling of ephemeral gullies and b) the cost incurred by the loss of fertilisers (mainly N and P) caused by erosion. According to farmers' records, the former was estimated at 7.5 tractor-hour ha^− 1 year^− 1 (as average), which comprises 5.4% of the income from grape sales. Regarding N and P losses, nutrients exported by runoff were 14.9 kg ha^− 1 N and 11.5 kg ha^− 1 of P, which, if compared to the annual intakes, represent 6% and 26.1% of the N and P respectively. In economic terms, the replacement value of the N and P lost represents 2.4% for N or 1.2% for P of the annual income from the sale of the grapes.  相似文献   

Novel dry forests in southwestern Puerto Rico     

Sandra Molina ColónAriel E. Lugo  Olga M. Ramos González 《Forest Ecology and Management》2011,262(2):170-177

We report results of new research on (1) community composition of novel subtropical dry forests developing on abandoned pastures and agricultural fields in both private and protected public lands and (2) seed germination and growth rates of plantings of native tree species on degraded soils. We found that novel dry forests were dominated by introduced species, which accounted for 59 percent of the Importance Value (IV) of stands. These forests had high species dominance, with the most dominant species averaging 51 percent of the IV but reaching values as high as 92 percent. The floristic similarity between novel and mature native forests was low (5.6 percent) compared with the similarity among novel forest stands (26 percent). Collectively, the emerging novel forests had relatively high species richness (39 species/1.2 ha). After 45-60 years of growth and development, novel forests lagged mature native forests in basal area, tree density, and species richness, and lagged stands of similar age and past land use inside a protected area. Novel forest stands inside the protected Guánica Forest had higher species richness than those located outside in private lands. Most regeneration was from seed (67 percent of the new stems were single stems). The results from the germination and planting experiment show that seeds of 17 of 21 native tree species germinated in the laboratory and grew successfully in abandoned pastures when planted and watered for a period of 13 months. Our research shows that after the initial invasion and dominance of introduced species on degraded sites, the stands diversify with native species thus evolving towards new forest types with novel species combinations.  相似文献   

Trying to make sense of disorder     

Luzzi R  Vasconcellos AR  Ramos JG 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》2002,298(5596):1171-1172

  相似文献   

Human Impact of the Managua Earthquake: Transitional societies are peculiarly vulnerable to natural disasters     

Kates RW  Amaral DJ  Haas JE  Olson RA  Ramos R  Olson R 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》1973,182(4116):981-990

  相似文献   

Functionality of Succinylated Brazil Nut (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bertholletia excelsa HBK</Emphasis>) Kernel Globulin   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Pinto Ramos CM  Bora PS 《Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)》2005,60(1):1-6

One of the possible ways to improve the utilisation of defatted Brazil nut kernel flour, a by-product of oil extraction industries, is to improve its functional properties by chemical modification as it possesses very modest functional characteristics. Succinylated Brazil nut kernel globulin at 55.8%, 62.4% and 72.0% level showed a positive effect on functionality. The solubility of acylated globulin was improved above pH 4.0 butwas reduced in the pH range of 3.0-4.0. Water absorption (1.96-4.00, 4.12, and 4.21 ml/g protein), oil absorption capacity (1.44-2.72, 2.80 and 2.94 ml/g protein) and apparent viscosity of the succinylated globulin increased with increase in the level of succinylation. The extent of modi-fication also influenced emulsifying capacity, which showed a decrease at pH 3.0, but was increased at pH 5.0, 7.0 and 9.0. Highest emulsion activity (approximately 63.0%) was observed at pH 3.0, followed by pH 9.0 and pH 7.0 and, least (about 11.8%) at pH 5.0. Emulsion stability also followed similar behaviour as that of emulsion activity. The improved functional properties of succinylated Brazil nut kernel globulin could be explored in a variety of food formulations such as high protein drinks, soups, bakery and meat products as well as in salad dressings and mayonnaise as an emulsifier.  相似文献