High frequency of porcine norovirus infection in finisher units of Brazilian pig-production systems.

Norovirus (NoV) is a member of the Caliciviridae family and is considered an emerging human enteric pathogen. NoVs are detected in farm animals such as cattle, sheep and pigs. Porcine NoV (PoNoV) is widespread worldwide, but frequency of infection is often low.

Mass spectrometric detection of cholesterol oxidation in bovine sperm.

We report on the presence and formation of cholesterol oxidation products (oxysterols) in bovine sperm. Although cholesterol is the most abundant molecule in the membrane of mammalian cells and is easily oxidized, this is the first report on cholesterol oxidation in sperm membranes as investigated by state-of-the-art liquid chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods. First, oxysterols are already present in fresh semen samples, showing that lipid peroxidation is part of normal sperm physiology.

Post-challenge hematological evaluation with virulent strain of Eimeria tenella in broilers immunized with attenuated strain or sporozoite proteins from homologous strain.

Hematological parameters were evaluated in broilers immunized and challenged with Eimeria tenella. Broiler chickens of Hubbard strain, females, coccidian-free, were kept in wire cages and inoculated on the third day. The experiment was designed to include five sorts of treatment with three replicates each.

[Action of β-glucan in pigs experimentally infected with Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites].

The present study tested the action of Beta-glucan in swine experimentally infected with tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii. The experiment design used 8 mixed breed pigs (21 days) divided into three groups: G1 (Beta-glucan treated and infected, n = 3), G2 (untreated and infected, n = 3), and G3 (untreated uninfected, n = 2). The G1 animals were treated with 1g of Beta-glucan by intramuscularly route at days 0, 14, and 28 before experimental infection, while the other groups (G2 and G3) received only saline.

Exposure of bovine sperm to pro-oxidants impairs the developmental competence of the embryo after the first cleavage.

The present study describes the effects of exposure of bovine sperm to mild and more intense ROS generating conditions. The membrane integrity of the incubated sperm was assessed and the incubated sperm were used for IVF after which the percentages of cleavage and blastocyst formation were determined for a period up to 9 days. The incubated sperm samples showed increased levels of molecular oxidation in the plasma membrane, the mitochondria, the cytosol and to a lesser extent in the sperm's DNA.

New assays for detection and localization of endogenous lipid peroxidation products in living boar sperm after BTS dilution or after freeze-thawing.

Reactive oxygen species have been implicated in sperm aberrations causing multiple pathologies including sub- and infertility. Freeze/thawing of sperm samples is routinely performed in the cattle breeding industries for semen storage prior to artificial insemination but unusual in porcine breeding industries as semen dilution and storage at 17 degrees C is sufficient for artificial insemination within 2-3 days. However, longer semen storage requires cryopreservation of boar semen.