Asinine milk mitigates stress-mediated immune, cortisol and behavioral responses of piglets to weaning: A study to foster future interventions in humans.

Introduction: The present study assessed whether asinine milk supplementation improved the immune and behavioral responses of piglets during an early life weaning stress event as a model for its future use in humans.

Methods: For this, 48 piglets from 4 different litters were used. At 20 days of age, piglets were weighed and allocated with their litter and dam into group pens until 28 days of age.

Streptococcus canis prevalence on the normal and abnormal ocular surface of dogs referred for ophthalmic disease in Canada.

Streptococcus canis is a beta-haemolytic, Gram-positive cocci commonly identified on the canine ocular surface under both healthy and diseased conditions. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of S. canis on the normal and abnormal ocular surface of a canine ophthalmology referral population in Canada, and to investigate potential clinical aspects that may be associated with its presence.

Whole-Exome Sequencing Indicated New Candidate Genes Associated with Unilateral Cryptorchidism in Pigs.

Introduction: Cryptorchidism is a hereditary anomaly characterized by the incomplete descent of one or both testicles to the scrotum. One of the challenges of this anomaly is that the retained testicle maintains its endocrine function. As a consequence, cryptorchid animals produce hormone-tainted meat in comparison to castrated animals and are likely to be more aggressive.

Vaginal Microbiota Diversity in Response to Lipopolysaccharide in Gilts Housed Under Three Housing Systems.

The United Kingdom and European Union have banned crates for pregnant sows. However, animals are kept in a restrictive environment for up to four weeks after mating, leading to stress and different responses of the animals' immune system. Here, we used vaginal flushing of gilts to investigate whether housing systems or an experimental inflammatory challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can modify the gilt vaginal microbiome.

From Mendel laws to whole genetic association study to decipher the swine mulefoot phenotype.

The swine mulefoot (SM) is a rare condition characterized by a non-cloven hoof due to the partial or total fusion of the phalanges. No comprehensive study has been conducted to identify associated markers with this phenotype until now. We aimed to characterize the association between SNP and the mulefoot phenotype using a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS).

Sperm Methylome Profiling Can Discern Fertility Levels in the Porcine Biomedical Model.

A combined Genotyping By Sequencing (GBS) and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) protocol was used to identify-in parallel-genetic variation (Genomic-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and epigenetic differences of Differentially Methylated Regions (DMR) in the genome of spermatozoa from the porcine animal model. Breeding boars with good semen quality ( = 11) and specific and well-documented differences in fertility (farrowing rate, FR) and prolificacy (litter size, LS) ( = 7) in artificial insemination programs, using combined FR and LS, were categorized as High Fertile (HF, = 4) or Low Fertile (LF, = 3), and boars with Unknown Fertility (UF, = 4) were tested for eventual epigenetical similarity with those fertility-proven. We identified 165,944 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) that explained 14-15% of variance among selection lines.

Pesticide and trace element bioaccumulation in wild owls in Brazil.

Owls are outstanding environmental quality bioindicators due to their position at the top of the food chain and susceptibility to pollutant accumulation. Exposure to chemical contaminants is often a risk for these animals. Moreover, studies addressing the bioaccumulation of trace elements and pesticide residues in tropical nocturnal raptor species are scarce.

Study of vaginal microbiota of Holstein cows submitted to an estrus synchronization protocol with the use of intravaginal progesterone device.

The characterization of vaginal microbiota will help to understand some of the reproductive problems and mechanisms to improve cattle reproduction. The objective of this study was to characterize the vaginal microbiota of cyclical Holstein cows with different parturition orders using 16S rDNA sequencing. Animals were submitted to an estrus synchronization protocol with the use of intravaginal progesterone (P4) implants and were treated or not with ceftiofur hydrochloride.

Genetic Characterization of Indubrasil Cattle Breed Population.

The Indubrasil breed was developed in the Brazilian region called Triângulo Mineiro as a result of a cross between zebu cattle. Initially, it was used as a terminal cross and currently it represents approximately 4.45% of all the Brazilian zebu cattle.