Asinara male donkey (Equus africanus asinus var. Albina) and stallion (Equus ferus caballus) reproductive characteristics: Correlations between testicular blood supply and sperm production

The Asinara donkey is a rare small albino variety of feral donkey listed as "critical" by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and by the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS) in 2022. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the reproductive characteristics of healthy male Asinara donkeys through andrological evaluation and testicular echo-color-Doppler examination to assess correlations between testicular blood supply and sperm production and to compare it with horse reproductive characteristics. Eight healthy donkeys and stallions were subjected to semen collection and evaluation, ultrasound and Doppler evaluation of the testicles and serum testosterone determination. The testosterone concentrations in donkeys were 1.42 ± 0.69 ng/ml while in horses were 1.90 ± 0.63 ng/ml within the normal values reported in these species. Horses had greater mean and total testicular volume, semen gel-free volume, and total sperm number than donkeys (P < 0.001). Blood flow analysis of the testicular artery in both locations was a relatively simple procedure. The waveforms recorded in a convoluted location (-con) of the testicular artery were characteristic of the high-resistance vessel, while in the marginal location (-marg) were of low-resistance. It was also recorded a gradual decrease in peak systolic velocity (PSV), resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), mean velocity (MV) and testicular arterial blood flow (TABF) values along the peripheral course of the testicular artery. Therefore, donkeys had greater PSV-con (P ≤ 0.01), PSV-marg (P < 0.01), MV-con (P < 0.001), MV-marg (P < 0.01), testicular arterial blood flow rate (TABFr-con) (P < 0.001) and TABFr-marg (P < 0.01) than horses. Conversely, pulsatility index (PI-con) was higher in horses (P < 0.05). The comparative analysis between the Doppler parameters and the reproductive/seminal characteristics showed a positive correlation of TTBF-con with Testosterone (ρ = 0.976, p < 0.01 and ρ = 0.905, p < 0.01 in donkeys and horses, respectively), with Total Testicular Volume (ρ = 0.952, p < 0.01 and ρ = 1.000, p < 0.01 in donkeys and horses, respectively), and with Total spermatozoa concentration (ρ = 0.905, p < 0.01 and ρ = 0.813, p < 0.05 in donkeys and horses, respectively). Additionally, only in the donkey there was a positive correlation with Semen gel free volume (ρ = 0.881, p < 0.01) and Spermatozoa concentration × ml (ρ = 0.786, p < 0.05). The testosterone concentration was positively correlated in both species with Total testicular volume (ρ = 0.976, p < 0.01 and ρ = 0.905, p < 0.01 in donkeys and horses, respectively) and Total sperm concentration (ρ = 0.881, p < 0.01 and ρ = 0.976, p < 0.01 in donkeys and horses, respectively). It was also correlated positively with Semen gel free volume (ρ = 0.857, p < 0.01) and spermatozoa concentration (ρ = 0.762, p < 0.05) in donkeys. Finally, the PI-con (ρ = − 0.786, p < 0.05) was negatively correlated with Semen gel free volume in the donkeys. The results of this study show that Total Testicular Blood Flow is the parameter, together with testosterone, most positively correlated with testicular volume and total sperm concentration in both species. Furthermore, differences in both reproductive and testicular hemodynamic characteristics between the Asinara donkey and stallion are highlighted, suggesting that caution should be taken in transferring knowledge from one species to another. New data on reproductive aspects, seminal characteristics, testicular blood flow perfusion in healthy Asinara donkeys were reported and these may represent reference value for further research or clinical applications

Prevalence of Anisakis Larvae in Different Fish Species in Southern Albania: Five-Year Monitoring (2016-2020)

Anisakidae are nematodes that commonly parasitize in the coelomic cavity and viscera of several fish species. They can be found in flesh, which is why they have an important economic and public health impact. The aim of the current work was to assess the presence and prevalence of Anisakis larvae in fish species caught in the coastal area of the Karaburun Peninsula in Vlora Bay (Albania). A total of 856 of wild teleosts and 219 specimens of farmed fish were collected over a 5-year period (from 2016 to 2020). The results showed that out of a total of 1075 analyzed samples, 361 (33.58%) were parasitized with L3 larvae. In particular, only Solea vulgaris returned negative results, while Sparus aurata, Dicentrarchus labrax, and Sardinella aurita showed the lowest prevalence (4.55%, 9.17%, and 10.53%, respectively) and mean abundance (0.84, 1.19, and 0.92, respectively). Conversely, Scomber japonicus and Scomber scombrus showed the highest prevalence (74.07% and 68.00%, respectively) and mean abundance (188.24 and 249.82, respectively). The data suggest that the coastal area of the Karaburun Peninsula (southern Albania) may be a high-risk area for zoonotic diseases, and the consumption of raw or undercooked fish caught in the Vlora district could result in the acquisition of human anisakiasis. For these reasons, it is necessary to improve the surveillance plan

Determination of fatty acids profile in original brown cows dairy products and relationship with alpine pasture farming system

This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between fatty acids and the pattern that most contributes to discriminate between two farming systems, in which the main difference was the practice, or not, of alpine summer-grazing. Milk and cheese were sampled every month in two farms of Original Brown cows identical under geographical location and management during no grazing season point of view in the 2018 season. Fatty acids concentrations were determined by gas chromatography. The principal component analysis extracted three components (PCs). Mammary gland de novo synthetized fatty acids (C14:0, C14:1 n9, and C16:0) and saturated and monosaturated C18 fatty acids (C18:0, C18:1 n9c) were inversely associated in the PC1; PC2 included polyunsaturated C18 fatty acids (C18:2 n6c, C18:3 n3) and C15:0 while conjugated linoleic acid (CLA n9c, n11t) and fatty acids containing 20 or more carbon atoms (C21:0, C20:5 n3) were associated in the PC3. The processes of rumen fermentation and de novo synthesis in mammary gland that are, in turn, influenced by diet, could explain the relationships between fatty acids within each PC. The discriminant analyses showed that the PC2 included the fatty acids profile that best discriminated between the two farming systems, followed by PC3 and, lastly, PC1. This model, if validated, could be an important tool to the dairy industry

Dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: Effects on reproductive and productive performance and meat quality in rabbit breeding

Rabbit breeding has many critical aspects related to reproduction, production, and animal welfare, which reduce its profitability as well as consumer attractiveness. Dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) seems to be a good nutritional strategy to improve several aspects of rabbit breeding, enhance animal welfare and produce a new functional food considered healthy for human consumption. For this reason, the main available scientific research regarding the physiological effects of n-3 PUFA rich products supplemented to the rabbit diet will be reviewed. In particular, consequences on the reproductive performances of both doe and buck, the productive parameters, and the meat quality will be analysed

Ante-mortem and Post-mortem Inspection and Relationship between Findings in a North Albanian Pig Slaughterhouse

Simple Summary In European Union abattoirs, the safety of meat is dependent on the favorable opinion from an official veterinarian, in accordance with the current legislation. From this perspective, the feedback generated from the ante-mortem visit and the post-mortem inspection can be investigated to control the health and welfare conditions of the animals in the pre-slaughter phases. From this perspective, we evaluated the ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection outcomes of slaughtered pigs in northern Albania and correlated the results in order to gain insight into the conditions and injuries of pigs slaughtered outside the European context and to extend knowledge on the possible relationship between ante-mortem and post-mortem relief. Dyspnea and tail, skin, and ear lesions were the most frequently observed conditions before slaughter, while pleuritis, pneumonia, liver alterations, white spots on the liver, and pericarditis were the most frequent lesions after slaughter. A significant increase in the total number of post-mortem findings was also observed as the number of ante-mortem findings increased. Overall, the prevalence of the findings observed in this study falls within the broad range of the data in the literature, but additional information should be collected during meat inspection so as to better understand the relationship between ante- and post-mortem outcomes. In June 2014, Albania was granted EU candidate status, thus starting a process of compliance with the membership criteria. In this context, a modern meat inspection approach in line with the European legislation was applied to a pig slaughterhouse in northern Albania in order to investigate the ante-mortem (AM) and post-mortem (PM) conditions and the relationship between these findings. For this purpose, 3930 pigs divided into 35 batches were evaluated over a 3-month period. The most frequent AM conditions recorded were tail lesions and dyspnea (9.1%), followed by skin (8.9%) and ear lesions (8.5%), while in the PM inspections, pleuritis was the most frequently observed condition (10.2%), followed by pneumonia (8.5%), liver alterations (5.7%), milk spot liver (3.8%), and pericarditis (3.3%). With the exception of liver alterations, the other PM lesions mentioned were positively associated with lesions on the ears (OR = 1.036; p < 0.001) and skin (OR = 1.026; p = 0.011) and dyspnea (OR = 1.021; p = 0.005), confirming the link between these variables and the health and welfare conditions of pigs on farms. Overall, the evidence that emerged from this Albanian slaughterhouse can be considered in line with other European contexts, especially in light of the considerable variability in the data present in the literature

In vitro estrogenic activity of Asplenium trichomanes L. extracts and isolated compounds

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Asplenium trichomanes was used as an expectorant, anti-cough remedy, laxative, emmenagogue, abortifacient and for irregular menses. Aim of the study: To investigate the in vitro estrogenic activity of Asplenium trichomanes extracts and isolated compounds and their ability to activate ER and ER. Materials and methods: Leaves infusion (IF), decoction (DC) and methanol extract (ME) were prepared. MCF7/EREluc cell line which expresses endogenous ER, and SK-NBE cells transiently transfected with the estrogen receptors (ER and ER)were used for the estrogenic activity assays. Phytochemical investigations were performed (CC, HPLC, etc.) and structure of isolated compounds were achieved on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR techniques and HR-MS spectrometry. Results: IF andMEwere active in our MCF7 model; selectivity for the ER receptorwas observed in the SKNBE test. Two new phenol derivatives, 4-vinyl-phenol-1-O-[-l-rhamno(1\u21926)--d-glucopyranosyde] (1) and kaempferol-3-O--[2acetyl]-arabinofuranosyl-7-O--l-rhamnopyranoside (2) were isolated with six known compounds (3\u20138). Compounds 2\u20134, 7 and 8 showed selectivity for the activation of the ER receptor although with a moderate activity compared with 17--estradiol. Conclusion: Further investigations about the estrogenic effects of this plant are needed but our data can, at least in part, explain some of its traditional use as emmeagogue

In vitro estrogenic activity of Asplenium trichomanes L. extracts and isolated compounds

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Asplenium trichomanes was used as an expectorant, anti-cough remedy, laxative, emmenagogue, abortifacient and for irregular menses. Aim of the study: To investigate the in vitro estrogenic activity of Asplenium trichomanes extracts and isolated compounds and their ability to activate ER and ER . Materials and methods: Leaves infusion (IF), decoction (DC) and methanol extract (ME) were prepared. MCF7/EREluc cell line which expresses endogenous ER , and SK-NBE cells transiently transfected with the estrogen receptors (ER and ER )were used for the estrogenic activity assays. Phytochemical investigations were performed (CC, HPLC, etc.) and structure of isolated compounds were achieved on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR techniques and HR-MS spectrometry. Results: IF andMEwere active in our MCF7 model; selectivity for the ER receptorwas observed in the SKNBE test. Two new phenol derivatives, 4-vinyl-phenol-1-O-[ -l-rhamno(1\u21926)- -d-glucopyranosyde] (1) and kaempferol-3-O- -[2 acetyl]-arabinofuranosyl-7-O- -l-rhamnopyranoside (2) were isolated with six known compounds (3\u20138). Compounds 2\u20134, 7 and 8 showed selectivity for the activation of the ER receptor although with a moderate activity compared with 17- -estradiol. Conclusion: Further investigations about the estrogenic effects of this plant are needed but our data can, at least in part, explain some of its traditional use as emmeagogue

Antioxidant activity of wild plants collected in Valsesia, an alpine region of Northern Italy

A selection of wild plants collected in Valsesia (Northwest Italy) was screened for their in vitro antioxidant activity. Aerial parts of selected plants were dried at room temperature and powdered. Then, four sequential extractions were performed with increasing polarity solvents, i.e. n-hexane, chloroform, chloroform-methanol (9:1, v/v) and methanol. By employing different assays, it was shown that all the methanol extracts of the samples collected were endowed with antioxidant activity, though, as expected, their potency varied according to the different tests. In particular, plants of the Thymus and Achillea genus displayed the highest activity. Given that a diet rich in wild plants is associated with a reduced incidence of degenerative diseases, such as atherosclerosis and cancer, this study suggests that some Valsesia plants could be pharmaceutically exploited. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd