A Validated Genome Wide Association Study to Breed Cattle Adapted to an Environment Altered by Climate Change

Continued production of food in areas predicted to be most affected by climate change, such as dairy farming regions of Australia, will be a major challenge in coming decades. Along with rising temperatures and water shortages, scarcity of inputs such as high energy feeds is predicted. With the motivation of selecting cattle adapted to these changing environments, we conducted a genome wide association study to detect DNA markers (single nucleotide polymorphisms) associated with the sensitivity of milk production to environmental conditions. To do this we combined historical milk production and weather records with dense marker genotypes on dairy sires with many daughters milking across a wide range of production environments in Australia. Markers associated with sensitivity of milk production to feeding level and sensitivity of milk production to temperature humidity index on chromosome nine and twenty nine respectively were validated in two independent populations, one a different breed of cattle. As the extent of linkage disequilibrium across cattle breeds is limited, the underlying causative mutations have been mapped to a small genomic interval containing two promising candidate genes. The validated marker panels we have reported here will aid selection for high milk production under anticipated climate change scenarios, for example selection of sires whose daughters will be most productive at low levels of feeding

Seroprevalence of Salmonella and Mycoplasma in commercial broilers, backyard chickens, and spent hens in the region of Triângulo Mineiro, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Avian salmonellosis and mycoplasmosis are infectious diseases that, in addition of causing lack of flock uniformity, represent a hazard to human health. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of mycoplasmosis and salmonellosis in commercial broilers, backyard chickens, and spent hens slaughtered at a processing plant with local health inspection in Uberlândia, MG, Brazil. A total of 210 samples were randomly collected at the time of bleeding. Samples were submitted to rapid plate serum agglutination test (RSA) for the classification of Salmonella pullorum, Salmonella gallinarum, Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae. In order to increase result specificity, mycoplasmosis-positive samples were submitted to hemagglutination inhibition test (HI). No samples presented detectable antibodies against Salmonella pullorum or Salmonella gallinarum in the RSA test. Only Mycoplasma synoviae was detected in 14% of the backyard chickens and 0.74% in commercial broilers, whereas no antibodies were detected in spent hens. The seroprevalence rates found in the present study emphasize the need of keeping chicken flocks free from disease using effective biosafety systems

Aggregation mediated by faeces and footprints in Triatoma pseudomaculata (Heteroptera: Reduviidae), a Chagas disease vector

The behavioural response of Triatoma pseudomaculata to chemical substances present in their faeces or cuticle (footprints) was analyzed. Groups of larvae were simultaneously exposed to a clean filter paper and to another paper impregnated with a chemical stimulus in a circular arena. In these choice experiments, the insects aggregated significantly around papers impregnated with dry faeces. In addition, the bugs also showed a significant aggregation response to papers impregnated with compounds derived from their cuticle that were deposited by contact on the substrate. These results indicate that chemical compounds that affect the behaviour of T. pseudomaculata are present in the faeces and in the cuticle of this species. Results are discussed in relation to chemical communication in the Triatominae, as well as to the potential use of these substances in traps or sensors for the detection of this species

O uso de enxerto homólogo na revisão de artroplastias do quadril com cimentação do componente acetabular Use of homologous graft in hip arthroplasty reviews with acetabular component cementation

A artroplastia total do quadril representa um grande avanço no tratamento das enfermidades ortopédicas que acometem o quadril. A soltura asséptica desta prótese pode causar lesões e perdas ósseas, representando um grande desafio para a reconstrução cirúrgica destas artroplastias. Uma das alternativas para a reconstrução é o uso do enxerto ósseo de banco de ossos, podendo este ser usado em bloco ou na forma picada. Este estudo, baseado em uma revisão da literatura sobre enxertos ósseos, teve como objetivo uma análise quanto à reconstrução com enxertos em bloco e picado e sua integração. O enxerto picado mostrou melhores resultados quanto à integração quando se consegue estabilidade da reconstrução. Quando não conseguimos uma boa estabilidade, o enxerto em bloco associado aos anéis de reforço sobressai como a melhor opção.<br>Hip total arthroplasty represents a breakthrough in the treatment of orthopaedic illnesses affecting the hip. The aseptic loosening of this prosthesis may cause injuries and bone losses, representing a great challenge for the surgical reconstruction of those arthroplasties. One alternative to reconstruction is the use of bone graft sourced by bone bases, which may be used as a block or in pieces. This study, based on a literature review addressing bone grafts, had as an objective to analyze reconstruction with grafts in blocks and in pieces and its union. The graft in pieces showed better results concerning union when reconstruction stability is achieved. When a good stability cannot be achieved, the graft in block combined with reinforcement rings is highlighted as the best option