Physiological and Behavioral Changes of Water Buffalo in Hot and Cold Systems: Review

This review's objective is to provide information on the mechanisms that buffaloes express during the thermoregulation process. Generally, the water buffalo is associated with warm and tropical climates. In these systems, the combination of high temperature, relative humidity, and radiation cause different physiological and behavioral changes, particularly during the summer months. Wallowing behavior in water or mud promotes heat dissipation through physical mechanisms, such as conduction, convection, and radiation. Furthermore, the provision of natural or artificial shades contributes to thermoregulation and maintains homeostasis. In production systems in cold climates, the wallowing behavior is inhibited by the water temperature, so it is important to keep the animals protected in stables to avoid the cold winds and rapid drops in temperature, causing increased illness pneumonia and sometimes death. Finally, in cold conditions, the animals require an appropriate diet since the use of energy is distributed mainly for the production of heat. Thus, heat stress and cold stress generates relevant problems in health, welfare, and productivity in water buffaloes. A comprehensive assessment of the severity of the resulting problems associated with thermal stress and specialty in cold stress in water buffaloes is necessary so far, and there's very little information about it in this species

Gestión del conocimiento. Perspectiva multidisciplinaria. Volumen 10

El libro “Gestión del Conocimiento. Perspectiva Multidisciplinaria”, Volumen 10, de la Colección Unión Global, es resultado de investigaciones. Los capítulos del libro, son resultados de investigaciones desarrolladas por sus autores. El libro es una publicación internacional, seriada, continua, arbitrada de acceso abierto a todas las áreas del conocimiento, que cuenta con el esfuerzo de investigadores de varios países del mundo, orientada a contribuir con procesos de gestión del conocimiento científico, tecnológico y humanístico que consoliden la transformación del conocimiento en diferentes escenarios, tanto organizacionales como universitarios, para el desarrollo de habilidades cognitivas del quehacer diario. La gestión del conocimiento es un camino para consolidar una plataforma en las empresas públicas o privadas, entidades educativas, organizaciones no gubernamentales, ya sea generando políticas para todas las jerarquías o un modelo de gestión para la administración, donde es fundamental articular el conocimiento, los trabajadores, directivos, el espacio de trabajo, hacia la creación de ambientes propicios para el desarrollo integral de las instituciones

Olfaction in animal behaviour and welfare

Olfaction is the primary sensory communication mode for most mammals; social, sexual, maternal and feeding behaviours are four basic and fundamental aspects directly related to olfaction. Herein we consider these four main aspects of olfaction in a variety of mammals from the families Ungulata and Carnivora. Firstly, we provide a brief explanation on the anatomy and how olfaction is modulated. In particular, we discuss the literature in the context of recent trends in main olfactory epithelium and vomeronasal organ functions, briefly explaining the main differences between the anatomical olfactory structures of various domestic animals. Subsequently, examples of animal welfare implications of diet selection, predation, aversion, breeding and mother-young bonding behaviours are described. An ethological view of olfaction in addition to the brain structure and olfaction morphology aspects has been covered, as it offers a promising approach in the welfare of mammalian species under our care. We conclude that the knowledge of the roles played by olfaction in chemical communication may help improving housing conditions, fulfilment of feeding requirements, handling and breeding of companion, farm and zoo mammals, and promote the development of appropriate social, sexual, parental and feeding behaviours thus enhancing animal welfare

Energy Supplementation during the Last Third of Gestation Improves Mother–Young Bonding in Goats

We tested whether maternal energy supplementation during the last third of gestation improves birth weight, neonatal wellbeing, and mother–young bonding. Thirty-six pregnant French Alpine goats were randomly allocated among three nutritional treatments for the last third of pregnancy: (i) Control, fed alfalfa (T-0; n = 12); (ii) alfalfa + 150 g/head daily energy concentrate (T-150; n = 12); (iii) alfalfa + 300 g/head daily energy concentrate (T-300; n = 12). At birth, we collected progeny data on birth weight, birth type, sex, rectal temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, time to standing, time to udder connection, and time to first feeding. For the dams, we collected data on the duration of labor, time to clean the progeny, and time to allow first suckling. At birth, body weight, rectal temperature, heart rate, and the respiratory rate did not differ among treatments (p > 0.05). In the dams, labor duration was not affected by the treatments (p > 0.05). The T-150 dams were faster to clean the newborn and allow first suckling (p p < 0.05). We conclude that energy supplementation of the dam during the last third of gestation does not affect the birth weight of the progeny, but enhances the mother–young bonding

Comparación de tres sitios de muestreo sanguíneo para la evaluación fisiometabólica en el lechón

Blood drawing of newborn piglets is necessary for physio-metabolic profiles assessment, and to determine gas change levels in it, what is used in various phenomena diagnosis, such as, intrapartum asphyxia a non-infectious condition that causes a high rate of neonatal mortality in pigs. This study aimed to test three of the most common blood sampling sites used in piglets: umbilical cord (UC), retroorbital sinus (ROS), and cava vein (VC), besides determining the differences among them, concerning to physio-metabolic variables and the acid-base balance. Thirty-two healthy non asphyxiated piglets were randomly selected, coming from nine eutocic farrowing to carry out the three sampling sites. All of the physio-metabolic concentrations determined showed basal values within normal fetal ranges corresponding to the sampling site. However, UC values were more suitable for gas exchange diagnosis in asphyxia due to their similarity with physiological parameters of a normal newborn (pCO2= 36.10 ± 2.03, pO2= 32.68 ± 3.03), whereas for the metabolic profile (glucose and lactate) ROS values were more accurate for measuring a common lactate and glycaemia profile than the other sites. Therefore, when a physio-metabolic profile is required, the methodological approach of the blood sampling site should be adequate to obtain the data needed for research following planned objectives and subsequent interpretationLa extracción sanguínea en los lechones neonatos es necesaria para la evaluación fisiometabólica y para determinar alteraciones gaseosas útiles en el diagnóstico de varios fenómenos como la asfixia intraparto; siendo la causa principal no infecciosa que origina una alta tasa de mortalidad neonatal en cerdos. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar tres de los sitios más comunes de muestreo sanguíneo usados en lechones: cordón umbilical (UC), seno retro orbital (ROS) y vena cava (VC); así como determinar las diferencias entre ellos con respecto a las variables fisiometabólicas y el equilibrio ácido-base. Treinta y dos lechones sanos provenientes de nueve partos eutócicos fueron aleatoriamente seleccionados para los tres sitios de muestreo. Todas las concentraciones fisiometabólicas mostraron valores basales de los parámetros fisiológicos fetales correspondientes al sitio de muestreo. Sin embargo, los valores de UC resultaron más confiables para el diagnóstico del intercambio gaseoso durante la asfixia, debido a su similitud con los parámetros fisiológicos de un neonato sano (pCO2= 36.10 ± 2.03, pO2= 32.68 ± 3.03); mientras que para el perfil metabólico (glucosa y lactato) los valores de ROS fueron más precisos en determinar la glicemia y el lactato, comparados con los demás sitios. Por consiguiente, cuando el perfil fisiometabólico neonatal es requerido, el abordaje metodológico en el sitio de muestreo tiene que ser específico, de acuerdo a los objetivos planteados y a su subsecuente interpretació

AR-V7 as a Biomarker for Resistance to Treatment with Abiraterone/Enzalutamide in Three Latin American Countries: A Hypothetical Cost-Saving Analysis.

Prostate cancer is the most incident and one of the deadliest male cancers in Latin America. Treatment for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) includes androgen receptor signaling inhibitors such as abiraterone and enzalutamide, for which androgen receptor splice variant 7 (AR-V7) has emerged as a biomarker for primary resistance. Our study sought to analyze the potential economic impact of the use of AR-V7 detection as a treatment indicator in patients with mCRPC in three Latin American countries. A hypothetical cost prediction model for the use of noninvasive circulating tumor cell-based AR-V7 testing as a treatment indicator for patients eligible for treatment with abiraterone/enzalutamide was conducted using available information on treatment and testing costs from Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia. At an estimated prevalence of AR-V7 positivity of 20%, the use of upfront AR-V7 genetic testing resulted in annual net savings of $9,801,669.97,$6,390,055.75, and $3,096,780.91 in Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia, respectively. A direct relationship between AR-V7 positivity prevalence and net savings was found. The use of a noninvasive AR-V7 detection assay as a treatment indicator tool in patients eligible for treatment with abiraterone or enzalutamide in Latin America could be a cost-effective approach for the management of these patients. Additional efforts are needed to accurately determine the incidence of castration-resistant prostate cancer cases and the prevalence of AR-V7 positivity in Latin America in order to predict the potential economic benefit of its clinical use. In Latin America, prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men, and the burden of this disease is expected to double in this region by 2030. Noninvasive detection of androgen receptor splice variant 7 (AR-V7) is being currently validated as a predictive biomarker for benefit with androgen receptor signaling inhibitor therapy in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). This hypothetical cost-saving analysis shows that AR-V7 testing in peripheral blood of patients with CRPC eligible for treatment with abiraterone or enzalutamide might represent a cost-effective strategy to select patients who will benefit from AR-axis-directed treatment in three Latin American countries

AR-V7 as a biomarker for resistance to treatment with abiraterone/enzalutamide in three Latin American countries: a hypothetical cost-saving analysis

Background Prostate cancer is the most incident and one of the deadliest male cancers in Latin America. Treatment for patients with metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) includes androgen receptor signaling inhibitors such as abiraterone and enzalutamide, for which androgen receptor splice variant 7 (AR‐V7) has emerged as a biomarker for primary resistance. Our study sought to analyze the potential economic impact of the use of AR‐V7 detection as a treatment indicator in patients with mCRPC in three Latin American countries. Materials and Methods A hypothetical cost prediction model for the use of noninvasive circulating tumor cell–based AR‐V7 testing as a treatment indicator for patients eligible for treatment with abiraterone/enzalutamide was conducted using available information on treatment and testing costs from Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia. Results At an estimated prevalence of AR‐V7 positivity of 20%, the use of upfront AR‐V7 genetic testing resulted in annual net savings of $9,801,669.97,$6,390,055.75, and $3,096,780.91 in Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia, respectively. A direct relationship between AR‐V7 positivity prevalence and net savings was found. Conclusion The use of a noninvasive AR‐V7 detection assay as a treatment indicator tool in patients eligible for treatment with abiraterone or enzalutamide in Latin America could be a cost‐effective approach for the management of these patients. Additional efforts are needed to accurately determine the incidence of castration‐resistant prostate cancer cases and the prevalence of AR‐V7 positivity in Latin America in order to predict the potential economic benefit of its clinical use. Implications for Practice In Latin America, prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men, and the burden of this disease is expected to double in this region by 2030. Noninvasive detection of androgen receptor splice variant 7 (AR‐V7) is being currently validated as a predictive biomarker for benefit with androgen receptor signaling inhibitor therapy in patients with metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). This hypothetical cost‐saving analysis shows that AR‐V7 testing in peripheral blood of patients with CRPC eligible for treatment with abiraterone or enzalutamide might represent a cost‐effective strategy to select patients who will benefit from AR‐axis–directed treatment in three Latin American countries

Physiological response to hypoxia in piglets of different birth weight

In the present study, we aimed to extend the characterization of the proposed naturalistic experimental model of piglets born with hypoxia by assessing the relationship between birth weight, intra partum asphyxia and gross indicators of neurophysiological alterations in newborn piglets. Three groups of 50 piglets each were classified according to their birth weight into normal (1000-1350 g), low (below 1000 g), and high (over 1350 g). In comparison to piglets within normal weight, those born with high birth weights showed acid-base imbalance as reflected by lower pH levels (7.03±0.01), hypercapnia (88.50±13.20 mmHg), and lactic acidosis (lactate levels: 89.40±26.30). These piglets had lower viability scores (5.40±0.60) and longer periods of time to contact the udder (52.30±8.30) than piglets with normal birth weight. In conclusion, data show that piglets with birth weight over 1350 g are at a higher risk of gross neurophysiological deficits, probably secondary to neonatal hypoxia