Microbial network and fermentation modulation of Napier grass and sugarcane top silage in southern Africa.

Feed shortage in the tropics is a major constraint to the production of livestock products such as milk and meat. In order to effectively utilize of local feed resources, the selected lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strain was used to prepare Napier grass and sugarcane top silage. The results showed that the two silages inoculated with LAB formed a co-occurrence microbial network dominated by during the fermentation process, regulated the microbial community structure and metabolic pathways, and improved the silage fermentation quality.

Targeting circulating tumor cells to prevent metastases.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cancer cells that detach from the primary tumor, enter the bloodstream or body fluids, and spread to other body parts, leading to metastasis. Their presence and characteristics have been linked to cancer progression and poor prognosis in different types of cancer. Analyzing CTCs can offer valuable information about tumors' genetic and molecular diversity, which is crucial for personalized therapy.

Microbial Co-occurrence Network and Fermentation Information of Natural Woody-Plant Silage Prepared With Grass and Crop By-Product in Southern Africa.

To facilitate the use of woody plant (WP) as a natural biomass resource to address the shortage of feed for ruminants in the tropics, we use PacBio SMRT sequencing to explore the microbial co-occurrence network and silage fermentation of gliricidia and leucaena prepared with Napier grass (NG) and corn stover (CS) in Southern Africa. Based on dry matter, the crude protein contents of WP are as high as 25%. Compared with NG, the addition of CS speed up the dynamic succession of microorganisms in the silage fermentation process from Gram-negative bacteria to Gram-positive bacteria, and promoted to become the dominant community and enhanced the metabolic pathways of lactic acid and citric acid, thus improved the fermentation flavour and quality of WP silage.

Ensiling characteristics of total mixed ration prepared with local feed resources in Mozambique and their effects on nutrition value and milk production in Jersey dairy cattle.

To effectively utilize total mixed ration (TMR) prepared with locally available feed resources, we studied the nutritional value and milk production in Jersey dairy cattle fed a local general diet (LGD) and fermented TMR in Mozambique. Ten head of Jersey dairy cattle with 337 ± 19.8 kg body weight, aged 3-4 years in mid location were used in this study.

Community of natural lactic acid bacteria and silage fermentation of corn stover and sugarcane tops in Africa.

Objective: To effectively utilize crop by-product resources to address the shortage of animal feed during the dry season in Africa, the community of natural lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of corn stover and sugarcane tops and fermentation characteristics of silage were studied in Mozambique.

Methods: Corn stover and sugarcane tops were obtained from agricultural field in Mozambique. Silage was prepared with LAB inoculant and cellulase enzyme and their fermentation quality and microbial population were analyzed.

Influence of microbial additive on microbial populations, ensiling characteristics, and spoilage loss of delayed sealing silage of Napier grass.

Objective: To measure whether a microbial additive could effectively improve the fermentation quality of delayed-sealing (DS) silage, we studied the effects of inoculants of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and cellulase enzyme on microbial populations, ensiling characteristics, and spoilage loss of DS silage of Napier grass in Africa.

Methods: Quick-sealing (QS) and DS silages were prepared with and without LAB (Lactobacillus plantarum) inoculant, cellulase enzymes, and their combination. The QS material was directly chopped and packed into a bunker silo.

In vitro gas and methane production in rumen fluid from dairy cows fed grass silages differing in plant maturity, compared to in vivo data.

The relationship between in vitro rumen CH production of grass silages, using the gas production technique, and in vivo data obtained with the same cows and rations in respiration chambers was investigated. Silages were made from grass harvested in 2013 on May 6th, May 25th, July 1st and July 8th. The grass silages were used to formulate four different rations which were fed to 24 cows in early and late lactation, resulting in a slightly different dry matter intake (DMI; 16.

In vitro gas and methane production of silages from whole-plant corn harvested at 4 different stages of maturity and a comparison with in vivo methane production.

The current study investigated the relationship between in vitro and in vivo CH production by cows fed corn silage (CS)-based rations. In vivo CH production was measured in climate respiration chambers using 8 rumen-cannulated Holstein-Friesian cows. In vitro CH production was measured using rumen fluid from the 8 cows that were fully adapted to their respective experimental rations.

An investigation into natural resistance to African swine fever in domestic pigs from an endemic area in southern Africa.

A population of domestic pigs in northern Mozambique with increased resistance to the pathogenic effects of African swine fever (ASF) virus was identified by the high prevalence of circulating antibodies to ASF virus. An attempt was made to establish whether the resistance in this population was heritable. Some of these pigs were acquired and transported to a quarantine facility and allowed to breed naturally.

Co-circulation of two genetically distinct viruses in an outbreak of African swine fever in Mozambique: no evidence for individual co-infection.

In 1998, domestic pigs originating from villages within a 40 km radius of Ulongwe in the northern Tete Province of Mozambique were held in a quarantine facility for a 3-month period prior to their importation into South Africa. Eight of a total of 25 pigs died within the first 3 weeks of quarantine of what appeared clinically and on post mortem examination to be African swine fever (ASF). Organs were collected and preserved in formol-glycerosaline and the presence of ASF virus in these specimens was confirmed by three independent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.