31 research outputs found
Effect of pimobendan on left atrial function: an echocardiographic pilot study in 11 healthy cats
No full textObjectives: – To evaluate the effect of a single dose of pimobendan on left atrial (LA) function in healthy cats. Animals: – Eleven client owned healthy cats. Material and methods: – Standardized and repeated echocardiographic examinations were performed on healthy and conscious cats before and after a single dose of orally administered pimobendan (1.25 mg/cat). Left atrial systolic functional parameters were assessed. Results: – Some of the tested parameters of LA function showed significant improvement after pimobendan administration, whereas no significant effect on left ventricular function was observed. In particular, LA minimal diameters obtained from M-mode images in short (p=0.018) and long (p=0.009) axis reduced after pimobendan administration, whereas LA fractional shortening from short (p=0.027) and long (p=0.042) axis and LA appendage emptying velocity (p<0.001) significantly increased. A mild increase in heart rate (p=0.001), and a transient increase on the peak systolic wave pulmonary vein velocity (p=0.008) were also recorded as a possible effect. Conclusions: – A single dose of pimobendan appears to impact LA function in healthy cats. However, because of the small number of cats included, and the absence of a placebo group, these results cannot be definitively separated from the effect of time. Additional studies are needed to understand if similar effects are observed in cats with cardiomyopathy and LA dilatation
Effects of multi-strains yeast supplementation on health and performances in male Holstein calves
No full textIntroduction. Use of antibiotics in livestock production has become a sensitive issue due to the reported cases of antibiotic resistance to pathogens in humans [1]. A correct and specific diet in beef cattle breeding cycle plays a key role to grant a better health and welfare of the animals [2]. The use of yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, in particular) in the diet of livestock animals, it is now a well-established practice [3, 4] and the positive effects obtained are known [5].
Animals, materials and methods. The objective of this study was to evaluate the health and the performances of young male dairy calves (17±3d) after S. cerevisiae and C. jadinii fractions product supplementation. At a commercial farm, 158 veal calves were enrolled and divided in two groups balanced for live weight: a control group (CTR) 57 animals (no supplementation) and a treated one (TRT) 101 animals (multi-strains yeast supplementation). Both groups were fed with a mixture of milk replacer (chemical composition %: CP 19, EE 17, ash 8) from 400 to 2600g/h/d in 4-16L/h/d, and grain mix with chopped straw (chemical composition %: CP 13.5, EE 3.2, CF 8.2, ash 4.1, DM 88) from 100 to 3500g/h/d. For TRT multi-strains yeast was added in the milk replacer: 5g/h/d during the first 30d, then 3g/h/d until d90. The diet was the same for both groups from d90 to 190 (slaughter). For all animals, mortality, morbidity (veterinary treatments) and individual carcass weights were collected. Blood parameters (Hg, RDW, MCV; d30, 73, 115, 150) and electrophoresis for blood protein characterization (d47, 118) were analysed in 23 randomly selected animals (12 CTR and 11 TRT). On sampled animals, body weights were measured (d0, 47, 82). All data were subjected to AOV procedure then T-test when significant differences were detected.
Results and discussion. Health of calves was improved, but no difference was observed in mortality. Morbidity was reduced from 56% in CTR to 38% in TRT (P<.05), with a reduction of number of chronic animals (≥2 treatments per animal) by 50% (P<.05, table 1). Numerically, the reduction of veterinary treatments was mainly due to reduction of enteric treatments in TRT (-26%). Sampled animals’ ADG was impacted. ADG in TRT was 263g/d and 321g/d higher than in CRT (P<.01) from d0 to 47 and 47 to 82 respectively. Total carcass weight was numerically higher in TRT (+3.4%) than in CTR. Content of total proteins was higher in TRT (P<.01), with higher percentage of γ-globulins (P<.01) and higher percentage of α1-globulins (P<.01). These analyses are in favour of a better activated immune system of veal calves in TRT. No differences were observed on RDW and MCV. No differences in Hg average concentration, but more homogeneity in TRT.
Table 1. Therapies carried out during the trial.
CTR TRT P
% healthy calves (0 treatment) 43.9b 63.4a <.05
% animals treated once 26.3a 21.8a
% animals treated twice or more (chronic) 29.8a 14.9b
Conclusion. This study demonstrates that the addition of multi-strains yeast supplement in the milk replacer during the first 90d of the lifecycle improved the health of veal calves. These results are in line with reduction in use of antimicrobial treatments in farms.
References: [1] Langford et al. (2003) J. Dairy Sci. 86:3963-3966; [2] Heinrichs et al. (2011) J. Dairy Sci. 94:336-341; [3] Alugongo et al. (2017) J. Dairy Sci. 100:1189-1199; [4] Xiao et al. (2019) Animals. 9:4; [5] Robinson et al. (2009) Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 149:185-98
Health status blood parameters in northern Italian Holstein growing calves.
No full textThe wellbeing of growing Holstein female calves is a crucial point in
dairy farms. Set up a normal blood parameters list could be important to
check young herd health. The objective of this study was to investigate in
growing female Holstein calves (fHc, 7–77d of life) major blood indicators
of health status and their variation during this period. Nine health fHc
(7 ± 2 d of life) kept at the same conditions (individual box, winter-spring
period, north Italy, Grana Padano cheese production area), were enrolled
and sampled at d 7, 42, 63 (weaning time) and 77. Performance parameters
and blood indicators were analyzed. Dry TMR (15CP, 2EE, 28NDF,
27starch, %) and pasteurized milk (3.6fat, 3.2prot, 5lact, %; 6L/h/d) were
used for feeding. A mixed model was performed to evaluate all the parameters
at the time point sampled with each fHc as the experimental unit.
Results showed as ADG was 600g and ave. daily TMR intake was 700g
af overall the study. Table 1 shows the most relevant parameters as LSM
95% range of variability during the period sampled (7–77 d of life). In our
study, we provided a list of parameters, a range of normality to help veterinarians
and farmers to interpret common analysis and suggested values
of health status for fHc fed daily dry TMR and 6 kg/d of pasteurized milk
Assessment of the impact on human health of the presence of norovirus in bivalve molluscs: What data do we miss?
No full textIn the latest One Health ECDC EFSA technical report, Norovirus in fish and fishery products have been listed as the agent/food pair causing the highest number of strong-evidence outbreaks in the EU in 2019. This review aims to identify data gaps that must be filled in order to increase knowledge on Norovirus in bivalve molluscs, perform a risk assessment and rank the key mitigation strategies for this biological hazard, which is relevant to public health. Virologic determinations are not included in any of the food safety and process hygiene microbiologic criteria reflected in the current European regulations. In addition, the Escherichia coli-based indices of acceptable faecal contamination for primary production, as well as the food safety criteria, do not appear sufficient to indicate the extent of Norovirus contamination. The qualitative risk assessment data collected in this review suggests that bivalve molluscs present a high risk to human health for Norovirus only when consumed raw or when insufficiently cooked. On the contrary, the risk can be considered negligible when they are cooked at a high temperature, while information is still scarce for non-thermal treatments
Growth Performance and Feed Intake Assessment of Italian Holstein Calves Fed a Hay-Based Total Mixed Ration: Preliminary Steps towards a Prediction Model
No full textThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a complete hay-based total mixed ration (TMR) for calves, focusing on their feed intake, animal growth. performance, and fecal output, and to develop a preliminary estimation equation for solid feed intake and body weight in Holstein heifer calves. Twenty female Italian Holstein calves (37.14 ± 2.72 kg) born between February and July were studied from the day of birth until 77 days of age. From the fourth day of life, they were fed 3 L/day of pasteurized milk twice daily and supplemented with the same hay-based TMR. The data on feed intake, fecal characteristics, and growth performances were collected and showed that these calves had adequate parameters. Moreover, the data collected was used to create equations to predict body weight and solid feed intake using a mixed model. The goodness of fit of the developed equations was evaluated by coefficients of determinations (R2). The equation obtained shows high R2 (0.98 for solid feed intake and 0.99 for calf weight), indicating the satisfactory precision and accuracy needed to predict female calves’ body weight and solid feed intake
Room-temperature self-regeneration of heteropolyacids dispersed in silica gel, after use as oxidation catalysts
No full textEffectiveness of alkaline electrolyzed water in reducing bacterial load on surfaces intended to come into contact with food
No full textAlkaline electrolyzed water (REW) is known for its cleaning action. The aim of this work was to assess REW effectiveness in reducing microbial load on surfaces intended for contact with food. Stainless- steel surfaces were experimentally contaminated, bacterial inactivation was tested before and after treatment with REW. Treatment with REW was operated spraying it on the contaminated plates until drying. Tests were conducted for Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The treatment revealed different degrees of sanitizing activity of REW on different bacterial species, with higher efficacy on E. coli and Salmonella spp. than S. aureus, Listeria spp.. Statistical analysis revealed a significant microbial load reduction (p<0.01) after treatment with REW, suggesting that it has a good disinfectant activity which, along with its easy and safe use, makes it a good alternative to many other more widely used disinfectants
Beyond the 2D Field-Effect Charge Transport Paradigm in Molecular Thin-Film Transistors
No full textOrganic field-effect transistors (OFETs) are considered almost purely interfacial devices with charge current mainly confined in the first two semiconducting layers in contact with the dielectric with no active role of the film thickness exceeding six to eight monolayers (MLs). By a combined electronic, morphological, structural, and theoretical investigation, it is demonstrated that the charge mobility and source–drain current in 2,20-(2,20-bithiophene-5,50-diyl)bis(5-butyl-5H-thieno[2,3-c]pyrrole-4,6)-dione (NT4N) organic transistors directly correlate with the out-of-plane domain size and crystallite orientation in the vertical direction, well beyond the dielectric interfacial layers. Polycrystalline films with thickness as high as 75 nm (≈30 MLs) and 3D molecular architecture provide the best electrical and optoelectronic OFET characteristics, highlighting that the molecular orientational order in the bulk of the film is the key-enabling factor for optimum device performance. X-ray scattering analysis and multiscale simulations reveal the functional correlation between the thickness-dependent molecular packing, electron mobility, and vertical charge distribution. These results call for a broader view of the fundamental mechanisms that govern field-effect charge transport in OFETs beyond the interfacial 2D paradigm and demonstrate the unexpected role of the out-of-plane domain size and crystallite orientation in polycrystalline films to achieve optimum electronic and optoelectronic properties in organic transistors
ChemInform Abstract: TPD‐TPR‐MS Mechanistic Study of the Ammoxidation of 2‐Methylpyrazine Over Sb‐V‐Mn‐O Catalyst
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