The influence of variation in embryo stage and maternal hormone profiles on embryo survival in farm animals

The physiological mechanisms that lead to the requirement for synchronous embryo transfer have been defined in some species, particularly the sheep. In mated animals, variation in hormone profile and embryo stage have been shown to be sufficient to cause some embryo loss, perhaps by generating an asynchronous relationship. During procedures of embryo transfer, there may be additional divergence between hormone profile and embryo stage. It may be beneficial to supply hormones to recipients and to transfer embryos at a particular stage of development at a precise interval after initiation of this treatment.     

An energy approach describes spine equilibrium in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology - The adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a 3D deformity of the spine whose origin is unknown and clinical evolution unpredictable. In this work, a...     

Gestation and breastfeeding in schistosomotic mothers differently modulate the immune response of adult offspring to postnatal Schistosoma mansoni infection

Schistosoma mansoni antigens in the early life alter homologous and heterologous immunity during postnatal infections. We evaluate the immunity to parasite antigens and ovalbumin (OA) in adult mice born/suckled by schistosomotic mothers. Newborns were divided into: born (BIM), suckled (SIM) or born/suckled (BSIM) in schistosomotic mothers, and animals from noninfected mothers (control). When adults, the mice were infected and compared the hepatic granuloma size and cellularity. Some animals were OA + adjuvant immunised. We evaluated hypersensitivity reactions (HR), antibodies levels (IgG1/IgG2a) anti-soluble egg antigen and anti-soluble worm antigen preparation, and anti-OA, cytokine production, and CD4⁺FoxP3⁺T-cells by splenocytes. Compared to control group, BIM mice showed a greater quantity of granulomas and collagen deposition, whereas SIM and BSIM presented smaller granulomas. BSIM group exhibited the lowest levels of anti-parasite antibodies. For anti-OA immunity, immediate HR was suppressed in all groups, with greater intensity in SIM mice accompanied of the remarkable level of basal CD4⁺FoxP3⁺T-cells. BIM and SIM groups produced less interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-g. In BSIM, there was higher production of IL-10 and IFN-g, but lower levels of IL-4 and CD4⁺FoxP3⁺T-cells. Thus, pregnancy in schistosomotic mothers intensified hepatic fibrosis, whereas breastfeeding diminished granulomas in descendants. Separately, pregnancy and breastfeeding could suppress heterologous immunity; however, when combined, the responses could be partially restored in infected descendants.     

Characterization of Proteinases in Herpetomonas anglusteri and Herpetomonas roitmani

We have analyzed the proteinase profile of two Herpetomonas species, H. anglusteri and H. roitmani (a symbiont-bearing trypanosomatid), by in situ detection of enzyme activities on SDS-PAGE gels containing copolymerized gelatin as substrate. Two major cell-associated proteolytic activities, a 60 kDa zinc-metalloproteinase and a 45 kDa cysteine proteinase could be detected based on the inhibition of their activities by 1,10-phenathroline and E-64, respectively. The trypanosomatids released into the growth medium distinct proteinases. H. anglusteri expressed three digestion haloes in the gels of approximately 60, 50, and 40 kDa, whereas H. roitmani secreted only a 60 kDa enzyme. However, these activities were inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline, suggesting that all of them are zinc-metalloproteinase. Received: 16 February 1999 / Accepted: 2 March 1999     

Assessing the potential of environmental DNA metabarcoding for monitoring Neotropical mammals: a case study in the Amazon and Atlantic Forest,Brazil

The application of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding as a biomonitoring tool has greatly increased, but studies have focused on temperate aquatic macro-organisms. We apply eDNA metabarcoding to detecting the mammalian community in two high-biodiversity regions of Brazil: the Amazon and Atlantic Forests. We identified Critically Endangered and Endangered mammalian species and found overlap with species identified via camera trapping. We highlight the potential for using eDNA monitoring for mammals in biodiverse regions and identify challenges: we need a better understanding of the ecology of eDNA within variable environments and more appropriate reference sequences for species identification in these anthropogenically impacted biomes.     

The Risks of Yellow Fever to Asian Primates

International Journal of Primatology - Infectious diseases are a growing threat to the conservation of nonhuman primates. In the case of diseases shared with humans, the risk is higher where...