The Electrophoretic Profile Myofibrillar Proteins Extracted From Camel Muscles, Kept in Various Modes

Changes in electrophoretic profiles of myofibrillar protein (MFP) in the Longissimus thoracis (LD) of young camels (2 to 4 years), preserved by refrigeration has been treated or not by lactic acid solution 4% or citric acid 1%, were followed during the post-mortem time at the following times: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24 and 48 hours. The cold preservation for 48 hours has not shown any particular distinctions in the protein profiles of this muscle. Changes related to the type of treatment were recorded during the storage time. Proteolysis of the myofibrillar fraction was earlier in this muscle in the case of treatment with one of two solutions of organic acids used, particularly in the case of using lactic acid. Indeed, these changes have affected at the first hour after slaughter the proteolysis of the myofibrillar proteins. Fragments of low molecular weight (42, 36, 33, 26, 23, 18, 16, 14 and 13 kDa) have been identified. The electrophoretic analysis showed that during refrigeration, LD treated with a solution of lactic acid is more sensitive to disruption phenomena and muscle protein proteolysis that lots of this muscle that even in the case of preservation by refrigeration only or by refrigeratio

Four types of scrapie in goats differentiated from each other and bovine spongiform encephalopathy by biochemical methods

Scrapie in goats has been known since 1942, the archetype of prion diseases in which only prion protein (PrP) in misfolded state (PrPSc) acts as infectious agent with fatal consequence. Emergence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) with its zoonotic behaviour and detection in goats enhanced fears that its source was located in small ruminants. However, in goats knowledge on prion strain typing is limited. A European-wide study is presented concerning the biochemical phenotypes of the protease resistant fraction of PrPSc (PrPres) in over thirty brain isolates from transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) affected goats collected in seven countries. Three different scrapie forms were found: classical scrapie (CS), Nor98/atypical scrapie and one case of CH1641 scrapie. In addition, CS was found in two variants—CS-1 and CS-2 (mainly Italy)—which differed in proteolytic resistance of the PrPres N-terminus. Suitable PrPres markers for discriminating CH1641 from BSE (C-type) appeared to be glycoprofile pattern, presence of two triplets instead of one, and structural (in)stability of its core amino acid region. None of the samples exhibited BSE like features. BSE and these four scrapie types, of which CS-2 is new, can be recognized in goats with combinations of a set of nine biochemical parameters

Morphozoometric approach of female camels (<em>Camelus dromedarius</em>, L.) of the Algerian Sahraoui and Targui populations

The objective of this study was to compare morphological traits and determine the gracility index of two Algerian camel populations, the Sahraoui and the Targui, based on zoomet­ric measurements. These measurements concerned a sam­ple of adult female camels – 30 Sahrawi and 30 Targui – in Northern Sahara (Ouargla region). Four measurements were taken, then the gracility index and live weights were calcu­lated. Linear regression equations have been proposed to estimate the live weight of the animals and the height at the withers from correlated measurements. The mean live weights of the Sahraoui and Targui were 399 ± 74 kg and 428 ± 82 kg, respectively, for a height at the withers of 1.75 ± 0.08 m and 1.81 ± 0.08 m. The mean substernal cavities measured 0.96 ± 0.05 m and 0.97 ± 0.08 m, the mean thoracic depths 0.80 ± 0.08 and 0.84 ± 0.07, and the mean substernal gracil­ity indices were 1.20 ± 0.13 m and 1.18 ± 0.16 m. This study shows that the Targui female camel is a little more gracile than the Sahraoui. These populations are also associated with a range of feeding practices, which are themselves linked to the quality of rangelands whose influence on the morphological development of animals has been widely observed

Camel meat quality in the slaughterhouse of Ouargla in Algeria. II. Bacterial surface contamination of carcasses

To assess the microbiological quality of camel meat in the slaughterhouse of Ouargla District in Algeria, the bacterial surface contamination of 60 camel carcasses was investigated. Within an hour after slaughter, swabs were used to collect samples on three sites (thigh, flank and shoulder), just after skinning and before postmortem inspection. Germ rates varied depending on the carcasses and sampling sites. The predominant flora was the total aerobic mesophilic flora, whose contamination level was 2.8  log CFU/cm2 (i.e. 25% of the flora count), followed by enterobacteria with 2.4 log CFU/cm2 (21%), total coliforms with 2.2 log CFU/cm2 (20%), fecal coliforms with 2.0  log CFU/cm2 (18%), and staphylococci with 1.8 log CFU/cm2 (16%). Salmonella and Escherichia coli were detected on all the sampled sites of the carcasses. The camel meat of Ouargla slaughterhouse showed a high level of contamination by pathogenic bacteria (salmonellae and staphylococci). A high fecal contamination (E. coli) was also present. Good hygiene practices need to be implemented at slaughter to reduce contaminations

Étude ostéo-biométrique de la « race » cameline algérienne Sahraoui (Camelus dromedarius L., 1758)

International audienceThis study was realized on a sample of 60 dromedaries of Sahraoui breedfrom the south of Algeria. The animals, 30 males and 30 females, are adultsover 6 years destined for slaughter. Before slaughter in Ouargla abattoir,measurements during their life-time were performed (3 parameters).Carcass weight was recovered at the slaughter house. The canon bonesor metapodials were taken (one left metacarpus and metatarsus of eachanimal), were weighed and measured after cooking and drying (16 variablesper animal), gracility index of bones were calculated (6 indexes per animal).The variability and correlations between variables were analyzed and allowwhile realizing a referential of archeozoology, to consider the ability tograsp certain parameters of live animal from bone measurements. Linearregression equations were proposed in order to estimate the animal’s liveweight, and its height at the withers from the best correlated measurements.A multivariate function (logistic regression) from seven linear parametersof each metapodial was calculated, it permits to envisage sexing from anisolated bone. Sexual dimorphism appears clearly at the level of metapodial:the males have canon bones which are not only larger and stockier but alsolonger which is a remarkable difference in comparison to those encounteredin other ruminants like cattle or sheep for which the great length of bone isnot a dimorphic parameter.Cette étude a été réalisée sur un échantillon de 60 dromadaires du sudalgérien, de race Sahraoui. Les animaux, 30 mâles et 30 femelles, sontdes adultes de plus de 6 ans destinés à la boucherie. Préalablement à leurabattage, à l’abattoir de Ouargla, des prises de mensurations de leur vivantont été réalisées (3 paramètres). Le poids de carcasse a ensuite été noté àl’abattoir. Les os canons, ou métapodes, ont été prélevés (un métacarpe etun métatarse gauches pour chaque animal) puis pesés et mesurés aprèscuisson et séchage (16 variables par animal). Des indices de gracilité desos ont été calculés (6 indices par animal). La variabilité et les corrélationsentre variables ont été analysées et permettent, notamment dans le cadre dela réalisation de référentiels pour l’archéozoologie, d’envisager de pouvoirappréhender certains paramètres de l’animal sur pied, à partir des mesuresdes os. Des équations de régression linéaire ont été proposées afin d’estimerle poids vif de l’animal et sa hauteur au garrot, à partir des mensurations lesmieux corrélées. Une fonction multivariée (régression logistique) à partirdes sept paramètres linéaires de chacun des métapodes a été calculée ; ellepermet d’envisager de sexer un os isolé. Le dimorphisme sexuel apparaît,en effet, au niveau du métapode de façon nette : les mâles ont des os canonnon seulement plus gros et plus trapus, mais aussi plus longs, ce qui est unedifférence notable par rapport à ce que l’on rencontre chez d’autres ruminantscomme les bovins ou les moutons pour lesquels la grande longueur de l’osn’est pas un paramètre dimorphique

Postmortem Muscle Protein Changes as a Tool for Monitoring Sahraoui Dromedary Meat Quality Characteristics

The effects of slaughter age (2 vs. 9 years) and postmortem time (6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h) on the meat quality and protein changes of the longissimus lumborum muscles of the Algerian Sahraoui dromedary were investigated. Muscles of young dromedaries evidenced a slower acidification process and a significantly higher myofibrillar fragmentation index throughout the postmortem time. The SDS-PAGE of sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins revealed that meat from young dromedaries was characterized by the lowest percentage of myoglobin (p &lt; 0.001) and the highest percentage of desmin (p &lt; 0.01). During postmortem time, a decrease was found for phosphoglucomutase (p &lt; 0.01), α-actinin (p &lt; 0.05) and desmin (p &lt; 0.01) in meat from young dromedaries. Western blot revealed an intense degradation of troponin T in younger dromedaries, with an earlier appearance of the 28 kDa polypeptide highlighting differences in the proteolytic potential between dromedaries of different ages. Principal component analysis showed that meat from young dromedaries, starting from 24 h postmortem, was located in a zone of the plot characterized by higher levels of the myofibrillar fragmentation index, 30 kDa polypeptide and enolase, overall confirming greater proteolysis in younger animals. Data suggest that the investigation of the muscle proteome is necessary to set targeted interventions to improve the aging process of dromedary meat cuts