Serum responsiveness to recombinant bovine somatotropin in buffalo: a three-month lactation study using an acid-stripping ELISA for screening.

The misuse of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) to increase milk yield involves buffalo not just cows. Screening methods to identify rbST-treated cattle have already been proposed. However, there have been no studies on prolonged periods with a high number of animals.

A LC-MS-MS method to detect recombinant bovine somatotropin misuse in buffalos.

Recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) is a peptide hormone used to increase milk yield in cows and buffalos. In Europe, its use has been banned. However, rbST is sometimes illegally included in zootechnical practices for profit purposes, undermining the fair trade and the law prescriptions.

A Conventional Multiplex PCR Assay for the Detection of Toxic Gemfish Species (Ruvettus pretiosus and Lepidocybium flavobrunneum): A Simple Method To Combat Health Frauds.

The meat of Ruvettus pretiosus and Lepidocybium flavobrunneum (gemfishes) contains high amounts of indigestible wax esters that provoke gastrointestinal disorders. Although some countries have banned the sale of these species, mislabeling cases have been reported in sushi catering. This work developed a simple conventional multiplex PCR, which discriminates the two toxic gemfishes from other potentially replaced species, such as tunas, cod, and sablefish.

Pentaplex PCR as screening assay for jellyfish species identification in food products.

Salted jellyfish, a traditional food in Asian Countries, is nowadays spreading on the Western markets. In this work, we developed a Pentaplex PCR for the identification of five edible species (Nemopilema nomurai, Rhopilema esculentum, Rhizostoma pulmo, Pelagia noctiluca, and Cotylorhiza tuberculata), which cannot be identified by a mere visual inspection in jellyfish products sold as food. A common degenerated forward primer and five specie-specific reverse primers were designed to amplify COI gene regions of different lengths.

Evolution of the Anisakis risk management in the European and Italian context.

Due to the social and legislative implications, the presence of Anisakis spp. larvae in fishery products has become a concern for both the consumers and the official Control Authorities. The issuance of a large number of provisions, aimed at better managing fish products intended to be consumed raw or almost raw and the associated risks, resulted in a very complicate legal framework.

Two alternative multiplex PCRs for the identification of the seven species of anglerfish (Lophius spp.) using an end-point or a melting curve analysis real-time protocol.

Anglerfish (Lophius spp.) is consumed worldwide and is an important economic resource though its seven species are often fraudulently interchanged due to their different commercial value, especially when sold in the form of fillets or pieces. Molecular analysis is the only possible mean to verify traceability and counteract fraud.

A histologic study on growth promoter target organs of slaughtered beef in Molise Region (Italy).

A gross pathology and histological investigation was carried out on bovine target organs of anabolic substances in the Molise Region (Italy). One hundred forty-four bovines (12-24 months old, 123 males and 21 females) were included in the survey. An antemortem assessment of their behavior and clinical examination were performed.

Somatotropic gene response to recombinant growth hormone treatment in buffalo leucocytes.

The use of recombinant bovine growth hormone (rbGH) to increase milk yield in cows is banned in some countries. In others, where it is authorised, it has triggered harsh debates on labelling of dairy products. If many studies have been performed on bovines, there is a lack of information on buffaloes, which are sometimes treated with rbGH and re-present an important economical resource for dairy products in some countries.

Hormone variations in serum and milk of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) as potential indicators of treatment with recombinant bovine somatotropin.

Recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) is used to increase milk yield in cows, but it has been forbidden in some countries and in the EU. However, rbST misuse represents a concern in both bovine and buffalo dairy production. A number of studies on rbST treatment have been performed on bovines, but there are few data on buffaloes.

Selecting reference genes in the white blood cells of buffalos treated with recombinant growth hormone.

In this study, we assessed the expression stability of eight genes (GADPH, ACTB, 18S, YWHAZ, SDHA, HMBS, SF3A1, and EEF1A) in the white blood cells of lactating buffalos and their possible use as reference genes for studies on growth hormone (GH)-treated animals. All of the genes showed acceptable stability according to the threshold values suggested by some of the software that was used to analyze them, although the differences between the most stable (SF3A1 and ACTB) and the least stable (18S) were considerable. GH treatment did not influence their expression levels.

Natural and recombinant bovine somatotropin: immunodetection with a sandwich ELISA.

Bovine Somatotropin (bST) is a peptide hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland and its recombinant form (rbST) is used for artificially boosting milk yield in cows. Identification of rbST is difficult in that there is little difference from the pituitary bST (pbST). In this work, we further studied the possibility of immunologically discriminating between rbST and pbST.