First case of lordosis in a wild- caught European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis)

Even though osteological abnormalities are very rare in wild reptiles (Telemaco et al. 2013, Löwenborg & Hagman 2017), they are more frequent in captivity as a consequence of a deficient care, especially related to nutrition and UV deficiencies (Mendyk 2008). In chelonians, in some cases, it is also related to soft shell and pyramidism (Museti et al. 2014). Kyphosis and lordosis are problems related to the vertebral column, namely kyphosis when the column is extruded and lordosis when the column is intruded. There are several cases of both anomalies described in lacertids (Garin-Barrio et al. 2011), skinks (Arrivillaga & Brown 2019) and sea turtles (Drenen 1990). Nevertheless, in freshwater turtles only kyphosis is relatively common (Saumure 2001, Trembath 2009, Moldowan et al. 2015), with few documented lordosis cases (Mitchell 2014; Selman 2019). In wild Emys orbicularis several deformities have been described such as microophtalmia (Escoriza 2012), axanthism (Cavalcante & Bruni 2018), pholydosis abnormalities as accessory scutes (Cordero et al. 2008) or accessory and absent scutes (Lada & Voldireva 2018). Here, we report the first case of lordosis in a European freshwater turtle (Emys orbicularis), being the first reported case of a lordotic wild turtle in Europe. The turtle was captured on the 22th July 2011 in “Río Areta”, which is a Special Area of Conservation (ES2200013), in Navarre (Spain), in a little cattle pond (42º42’N; -1º16’E), where the majority of turtles were juveniles (Table 1), including the lordotic turtle, showing a differential habitat selection among juveniles and adults ..

Effect of different housing systems (single and group penning) on the health and welfare of commercial female rabbits

[EN] In recent decades, concern about rabbit welfare and sustainability has increased. The housing system is a very important factor for animal welfare. However, information about how different available housing types for female rabbits affect their health status is scarce, but this is an important factor for their welfare. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate the health status of female rabbits in five common housing systems: three different single-housing systems with distinct available surfaces and heights; a single-housing system with a platform; a collective system. Female rabbits in the collective and platform cages had greater cortisol concentrations in hair than those in the single-housing system with no platform. Haptoglobin concentrations and kit mortality rates during lactation were greater for the collective-cage female rabbits. The collective group had more culled females and more lesions than in the other groups. The main reasons for culling in all the groups were reproduction problems and presence of abscesses, and the collective group of females was the most affected. In conclusion, it appears that keeping females together in collective systems negatively affects their health status and welfare, while single-housing systems imply lower kit mortality rates during lactation and cortisol concentrations, and fewer lesions in female rabbits.This study was supported by the INIA-INTERCUN Project (CUN2014-00001-00-00) and by Universidad CEU-Cardenal Herrera (INDI16/07, INDI17/07, INDI18/08). Grants for Sara Perez Fuentes, Asuncion Munoz Silvestre and Elena Moreno Grua from Universidad CEU-Cardenal Herrera, and also for Sara Perez Fuentes from Generalitat Valenciana and FSE (ACIF/2016/085), and for Elena Moreno Grua from Ministerio de Educacion, Cultura y Deporte (FPU17/02708) are also gratefully acknowledged.Pérez-Fuentes, S.; Muñoz-Silvestre, A.; Moreno Grua, E.; Martinez-Paredes, E.; Viana, D.; Selva, L.; Villagrá, A.... (2020). Effect of different housing systems (single and group penning) on the health and welfare of commercial female rabbits. Animal. 14(6):1270-1277. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731119003379S12701277146Archetti I, Tittarelli C, Cerioli M, Brivio R, Grilli G and Lavazza A 2008. Serum chemistry and hematology values in commercial rabbits: preliminary data from industrial farms in northern Italy. In Proceedings of the 9th World Rabbit Congress, 10–13 June 2008, Verone, Italy, pp. 1147–1152.Argente, M.-J., García, M. de la L., Birlanga, V., & Muelas, R. (2014). Relationship between cortisol and acute phase protein concentrations in female rabbits. The Veterinary Journal, 202(1), 172-175. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.07.020Cervera C, Martínez-Paredes E, Machado L and Villagrá A 2017. Producción de conejas en sistemas de alojamiento individual o colectivo en semigrupo. In Proceedings of the XLII Symposium de Cunicultura de ASESCU, 11–12 May 2017, Murcia, Spain, pp. 107–110.Dal Bosco, A., Mugnai, C., Martino, M., Szendrő, Z., Mattioli, S., Cambiotti, V., … Castellini, C. (2019). Housing Rabbit Does in a Combi System with Removable Walls: Effect on Behaviour and Reproductive Performance. Animals, 9(8), 528. doi:10.3390/ani9080528Dalle Zotte, A., Princz, Z., Matics, Z., Gerencsér, Z., Metzger, S., & Szendrő, Z. (2009). Rabbit preference for cages and pens with or without mirrors. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 116(2-4), 273-278. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2008.08.011Machado L, Cervera C, Martínez-Paredes E, Paragliola F and Cano C 2016. Comportamiento y manejo de conejas en sistemas de cría colectiva. In Proceedings of the XLI Symposium de Cunicultura de ASESCU, 12–13 May 2016, Hondarribia, Spain, pp. 134–137.Maertens L and Buijs S 2016. Impact of housing system (cage vs. part-time housing) and floor type on rabbit doe welfare. In Proceedings of the 11th World Rabbit Congress, 15–18 June 2016, Qingdao, China, pp. 707–710.Marai, I. F. ., Habeeb, A. A. ., & Gad, A. . (2002). Rabbits’ productive, reproductive and physiological performance traits as affected by heat stress: a review. Livestock Production Science, 78(2), 71-90. doi:10.1016/s0301-6226(02)00091-xMarcato PS and Rosmini R 1986. Mammary glands. In Pathology of the rabbit and hare (eds. PS Marcato and R Rosmini ), pp. 179–186. Società Editrice Esculapio, Bologna, Italy.Masthoff, T., & Hoy, S. (2019). Investigations on the Influence of Floor Design on Dirtiness and Foot Pad Lesions in Growing Rabbits. Animals, 9(6), 354. doi:10.3390/ani9060354Mugnai, C., Dal Bosco, A., & Castellini, C. (2009). Effect of different rearing systems and pre-kindling handling on behaviour and performance of rabbit does. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 118(1-2), 91-100. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2009.02.007Petersen, H. H., Nielsen, J. P., & Heegaard, P. M. H. (2004). Application of acute phase protein measurements in veterinary clinical chemistry. Veterinary Research, 35(2), 163-187. doi:10.1051/vetres:2004002Rödel, H. G., Starkloff, A., Bautista, A., Friedrich, A.-C., & Von Holst, D. (2008). Infanticide and Maternal Offspring Defence in European Rabbits under Natural Breeding Conditions. Ethology, 114(1), 22-31. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.2007.01447.xRödel, H. G., Starkloff, A., Seltmann, M. W., Prager, G., & von Holst, D. (2009). Causes and predictors of nest mortality in a European rabbit population. Mammalian Biology, 74(3), 198-209. doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2008.04.003Rommers, J. M., Boiti, C., De Jong, I., & Brecchia, G. (2006). Performance and behaviour of rabbit does in a group-housing system with natural mating or artificial insemination. Reproduction Nutrition Development, 46(6), 677-687. doi:10.1051/rnd:2006038Rommers, J., & De Greef, K. H. (2018). Are combi parks just as useful as regular parks for fatteners for part-time group housing of rabbit does? World Rabbit Science, 26(4), 299. doi:10.4995/wrs.2018.9587Rosell J and De La Fuente L 2008. Health and body condition of rabbit does on commercial farms. In Proceedings of the 9th World Rabbit Congress, 10–13 June 2008, Verone, Italy, pp. 1065–1069.Rosell, J., & de la Fuente, L. (2013). Assessing Ulcerative Pododermatitis of Breeding Rabbits. Animals, 3(2), 318-326. doi:10.3390/ani3020318Sánchez, J. P., de la Fuente, L. F., & Rosell, J. M. (2012). Health and body condition of lactating females on rabbit farms1. Journal of Animal Science, 90(7), 2353-2361. doi:10.2527/jas.2011-4065Segura, P., Martinez, J., Peris, B., Selva, L., Viana, D., Penades, J. R., & Corpa, J. M. (2007). Staphylococcal infections in rabbit does on two industrial farms. Veterinary Record, 160(25), 869-872. doi:10.1136/vr.160.25.869Siemsen DW, Malachowa N, Schepetkin IA, Whitney AR, Kirpotina LN, Lei B, DeLeo FR and Quinn MT 2014. Neutrophil isolation from nonhuman species. In Neutrophil methods and protocols (eds. MT Quinn and FR De Leo ), pp. 19–37. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, USASzendrő, Z., & McNitt, J. I. (2012). Housing of rabbit does: Group and individual systems: A review. Livestock Science, 150(1-3), 1-10. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2012.09.017Szendrő, Z., Mikó, A., Odermatt, M., Gerencsér, Z., Radnai, I., Dezséry, B., … Matics, Z. (2013). Comparison of performance and welfare of single-caged and group-housed rabbit does. Animal, 7(3), 463-468. doi:10.1017/s1751731112001760Szendrő, Z., Trocino, A., Hoy, S., Xiccato, G., Villagrá, A., & Maertens, L. (2019). A review of recent research outcomes on the housing of farmed domestic rabbits: reproducing does. World Rabbit Science, 27(1), 1. doi:10.4995/wrs.2019.10599Tallo-Parra, O., Manteca, X., Sabes-Alsina, M., Carbajal, A., & Lopez-Bejar, M. (2015). Hair cortisol detection in dairy cattle by using EIA: protocol validation and correlation with faecal cortisol metabolites. Animal, 9(6), 1059-1064. doi:10.1017/s1751731115000294Viana, D., Selva, L., Segura, P., Penadés, J. R., & Corpa, J. M. (2007). Genotypic characterization of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from rabbit lesions. Veterinary Microbiology, 121(3-4), 288-298. doi:10.1016/j.vetmic.2006.12.003Zomeño, C., Birolo, M., Gratta, F., Zuffellato, A., Xiccato, G., & Trocino, A. (2018). Effects of group housing system, pen floor type, and lactation management on performance and behaviour in rabbit does. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 203, 55-63. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2018.03.00

What Is the Profile of Overweight Individuals Who Are Unsuccessful Responders to a Low-Energy Diet? A PREVIEW Sub-study

This study was performed to evaluate the profile of overweight individuals with pre-diabetes enrolled in PREVIEW who were unable to achieve a body weight loss of >= 8% of the baseline value in response to a 2-month low-energy diet (LED). Their baseline profile reflected potential stress-related vulnerability that predicted a reduced response of body weight to a LED programme. The mean daily energy deficit maintained by unsuccessful weight responders of both sexes was less than the estimated level in successful female (656 vs. 1,299 kcal, p < 0.01) and male (815 vs. 1,659 kcal, p < 0.01) responders. Despite this smaller energy deficit, unsuccessful responders displayed less favorable changes in susceptibility to hunger and appetite sensations. They also did not benefit from the intervention regarding the ability to improve sleep quality. In summary, these results show that some individuals display a behavioral vulnerability which may reduce the ability to lose weight in response to a diet-based weight loss program. They also suggest that this vulnerability may be accentuated by a prolonged diet restriction.Peer reviewe

Desarrollo del esquema nacional de mejora genética de la cabra murciano-granadina en la Comunidad Valenciana

La colaboración estrecha entre la Asociación de Ganaderos de Caprino de Raza Murciano-Granadina de la Comunidad Valenciana (AMURVAL) y el Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Animal del Istituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (CITA-IVIA) ha permitido el desarrollo en la Comunidad Valenciana del esquema nacional de mejora genética de la cabra Murciano-Granadina gestionado por el Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA) e impulsado por la Asociación Española de Criadores de la Cabra Murciano Granadina (ACRIMUR). Dado que no se conocen las genealogías con mínima certeza, se han realizado evaluaciones intrarrebaño en los años 2003 y 2004 a partir de los datos del Control Lechero Oficial, enviando a los ganaderos información para la toma de decisiones sobre reposición y, lo que es más importante, sobre hembras candidatas a madres de machos para el Centro de Inseminación. La ordenación de la primera campaña de testaje de 6 machos ha permitido la conexión entre los rebaños de la Comunidad Valenciana, la incrustación de sus explotaciones en el esquema nacional, así como disponer de un número de al menos 80 cabras inseminadas por macho en testaje

A new way of valorizing biomaterials: the use of sunflower protein for 1 a-tocopherol microencapsulation

Biopolymer based microparticles were efficiently prepared from sunflower protein (SP) wall material and a-tocopherol (T) active core using a spray-drying technique. Protein enzymatic hydrolysis and/or N-acylation were carried out to make some structural modifications to the vegetable protein. Native and hydrolyzed SP were characterized by Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (AsFlFFF). Results of AsFlFFF confirmed that size of proteinic macromolecules was influenced by degree of hydrolysis. The effect of protein modifications and the influence of wall/core ratio on both emulsions and microparticle properties were evaluated. Concerning emulsion properties, enzymatic hydrolysis involved a decrease in viscosity, whereas acylation did not significantly affect emulsion droplet size and viscosity. Microparticles obtained with hydrolyzed SP wall material showed lower retention efficiency (RE) than native SP microparticles (62-80% and 93% respectively). Conversely, acylation of both hydrolyzed SP and native SP allowed a higher RE to be reached (up to 100%). Increasing T concentration increased emulsion viscosity, emulsion droplet size, microparticle size, and enhanced RE. These results demonstrated the feasibility of high loaded (up to 79.2% T) microparticles

Mejoras operativas en la valoración genética del ganado caprino lechero de raza murciano-granadina

Se compararon diferentes modelos para la evaluación de cabras lecheras para su uso en un programa de mejora genética establecido entre la Asociación de Ganaderos de Caprino de Raza Murciano-Granadina de la Comunidad Valenciana y el Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Animal del Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias. Se compararon en primer lugar dos modelos mixtos con diferente estructura de covarianzas. También se realizaron comparaciones entre modelos que incluyeron otros efectos sistemáticos: edad de la hembra en el momento del parto y días desde el parto hasta el primer control de la lactación. Se consideraron los caracteres estandarizados producción de leche y porcentajes de grasa y proteína. Las comparaciones se realizaron considerando criterios estadísticos de información. Los resultados indican que el modelo de repetibilidad es el más adecuado al tener en cuenta las covarianzas entre medidas de una cabra. La inclusión del efecto edad de la hembra al parto sólo fue ventajosa para el carácter producción de leche. La consideración del efecto tiempo desde el parto al primer control lechero fue positiva para los caracteres de producción de leche y de porcentaje de proteína. Ninguno de los efectos incluidos mejoró el modelo actualmente utilizado para porcentaje de grasa

Socio-economic factors, mood, primary care utilization, and quality of life as predictors of intervention cessation and chronic stress in a type 2 diabetes prevention intervention (PREVIEW Study)

BACKGROUND: Sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet combined with overweight are risk factors for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Lifestyle interventions with weight-loss are effective in T2D-prevention, but unsuccessful completion and chronic stress may hinder efficacy. Determinants of chronic stress and premature cessation at the start of the 3-year PREVIEW study were examined. METHODS: Baseline Quality of Life (QoL), social support, primary care utilization, and mood were examined as predictors of intervention cessation and chronic stress for participants aged 25 to 70 with prediabetes (n = 2,220). Moderating effects of sex and socio-economic status (SES) and independence of predictor variables of BMI were tested. RESULTS: Participants with children, women, and higher SES quitted intervention earlier than those without children, lower SES, and men. Lower QoL, lack of family support, and primary care utilization were associated with cessation. Lower QoL and higher mood disturbances were associated with chronic stress. Predictor variables were independent (p ≤ .001) from BMI, but moderated by sex and SES. CONCLUSIONS: Policy-based strategy in public health should consider how preventive interventions may better accommodate different individual states and life situations, which could influence intervention completion. Intervention designs should enable in-built flexibility in delivery enabling response to individual needs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01777893.publishersversionpublishe

The preview study: Metabolic outcomes in overweight, prediabetic individuals after an 8-week low calorie diet

Abstracts / Journal of Nutrition & Intermediary Metabolism 8 (2017)Peer reviewe

Animal-based food choice and associations with long-term weight maintenance and metabolic health after a large and rapid weight loss : The PREVIEW study

Peer reviewe

Higher Protein Intake Is Not Associated with Decreased Kidney Function in Pre-Diabetic Older Adults Following a One-Year Intervention—A Preview Sub-Study

Concerns about detrimental renal effects of a high-protein intake have been raised due to an induced glomerular hyperfiltration, since this may accelerate the progression of kidney disease. The aim of this sub-study was to assess the effect of a higher intake of protein on kidney function in pre-diabetic men and women, aged 55 years and older. Analyses were based on baseline and one-year data in a sub-group of 310 participants included in the PREVIEW project (PREVention of diabetes through lifestyle Intervention and population studies in Europe and around the World). Protein intake was estimated from four-day dietary records and 24-hour urinary urea excretion. We used linear regression to assess the association between protein intake after one year of intervention and kidney function markers: creatinine clearance, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR), urinary urea/creatinine ratio (UCR), serum creatinine, and serum urea before and after adjustments for potential confounders. A higher protein intake was associated with a significant increase in UCR (p = 0.03) and serum urea (p = 0.05) after one year. There were no associations between increased protein intake and creatinine clearance, eGFR, ACR, or serum creatinine. We found no indication of impaired kidney function after one year with a higher protein intake in pre-diabetic older adults.Peer reviewe