Search

Temperatures below the comfort zone (sub-optimal) decrease the metabolic activity of the organism, which can cause losses in fish growth and development. Improving the availability of nutrients can favor the productive indexes. The objective of this work was to evaluate the enzyme blend supplementation (200 ppm of phytase, 400 ppm of protease and 200 ppm of alpha-amylase) in diets with nutritional reduction on performance and physical and chemical composition of tilapia kept at sub-temperature (23.15 ± 0.2 ° C). The trial was conducted at the UFPB / CCHSA for a period of 60 days. A total of 260 male Nile tilapia fingerlings, sexually induced, were distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replicates. The control diet DCEE (control diet with enzyme blend), DV1EE (reduction of 1.32% of PB and ED + enzyme blend) and DV2EE (reduction of 2.64% of PB and ED + enzyme blend). The parameters of performance and physicochemical composition of the carcass were evaluated. The enzymatic supplementation was efficient in providing nutrients supplying a deficit of up to 2.64% of energy and protein in the diet of tilapia submitted to sub-optimal temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ornamental fish market requires an animal with adequate size in a short period of production, to meet the nutritional requirements strategies should be implemented, such as the use of exogenous enzymes in diets. The research was conducted in order to evaluate the influence of enzyme supplementation on performance ornamental guppy fish. Two diets were tested, one supplemented with exogenous enzymes protease, phytase and alpha amylase. Were evaluated: body weight, weight gain, feed conversion, length complete and standard, gain in total and standard length, height, width, specific growth rate; Specific development rate and Fulton condition factor. Enzyme supplementation influenced positively the growth and development of guppys ornamental fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to determine growth curves and body nutrients deposition by using Gompertz equation, and to estimate protein requirement in light and semi heavy hen pullets. In total, 1,500 hen pullets were distributed at random into 30 repetitions of 25 birds each. Experimental period was divided into three steps (1st to 4th, 5th to 11th and 12th to 16th weeks of age). Rations were formulated based on corn and soybean meal and offered ad libitum. Birds were weighed weekly. Two birds per repetition were used to determine chemical body composition and data were used to obtain Gompertz model parameters. Allometric ratios were used to describe changes in the body composition in protein, lipid, mineral matter and water in the eviscerated and featherless body. Weight-age data of Dekalb White and Bovans Goldline pullets were well described by Gompertz function. Allometric coefficients of fat, water and mineral matter in function of the protein body weight were, respectively: 0.114, 0.811 and 0.930 for Dekalb line and 1.160, 0.429 and 0.189 for Bovans line. There are differences between lines for growth rates and body nutrients and feathers deposition, with Dekalb line being the most precocious. Total protein requirements (maintenance and growth) for pullets from 1st to 4th, 5th to 11th and 12th to 16th weeks of age were 4.41; 9.814 and 12.612 g·d-1 for Dekalb White and 4.82; 8.859 and 7.673 g·d-1 for Bovans Goldline, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The lymphatic system plays a relevant role in any type of peripheral edema. Lymphoscintigraphy is currently considered the primary test in the diagnosis of lymphatic disease of the lower limbs. Although there is an association between lymphatic edema and chronic venous ulcers, the physiopathology of such changes remains uncertain. Objective: To assess qualitative lymphoscintigraphic findings in patients with chronic venous ulcers of the lower limbs. Methods: Forty patients with unilateral chronic venous ulcer or scarwere submitted to bilateral lymphoscintigraphy of the lower limbs. The sample was comprised of 25 women and 15 men, with a mean age of 53.7 years (28 to 79) and mean ulcer duration of 71.5 months (3 to 240 months). Lymphoscintigraphic parameters were qualitatively compared among three groups of lower limbs previously classified according to the clinical, etiologic, anatomic and pathologic classification (CEAP): I, limbs without clinical signs of venous disease or with telangiectasias and/or reticular veins (classes 0 and 1); II, limbs with varicose veins, edema and/or skin and subcutaneous alterations (classes 2, 3 and 4); III, lower limbs with ulcer and/or ulcer scars (classes 5 and 6). Results: There was a significant difference (p < 0.001) in the comparison of lymphoscintigraphic findings of the lower limbs with (group III - classes 5 and 6) and without ulcers/scars (groups I and II - classes 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4). There was also a significant difference (p < 0.001) in the comparison of groups according to the clinical CEAP classification: lymphoscintigraphic abnormalitieswere present in 72.5% in group III (classes 5 and 6), in 30.8% in group II (classes 2, 3 and 4), and in 7.1% in group I (classes 0 and 1). There was a statistically significant difference between group III and the other groups with regard to radiotracer retention, inguinal adenomegaly and dermal reflux. There was no significance as to the parameters popliteal lymph node and collateral circulation. Conclusion: The more severe the venous chronic stasis, the more lymphoscintigraphic abnormalities were observed, corroborating the association between venous and lymphatic disease and between chronic venous stasis and secondary lymphedema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective/Background: Bacillus is a cosmopolitan bacterial genus with a great genome diversity. Thus, by exploring its genome background, it is possible to understand more about the physiological and biochemical traits involved in its biological control against phytopathogens. The objective of this work was to correlate the phylogenomic relationships of the type species of the genus Bacillus with the presence of gene clusters associated with biological control of plant pathogens, through genome mining. Materials and Methods: Based on the literature, 336 species belonging to the genus Bacillus have been reported; however, after re-classification, a total of 123 type species have been recognized, and curated genomes were found in the EzBioCloud platform (http://www.ezbiocloud.net/). The overall genome relatedness indices (OGRIs) were used for this work, which indicate how similar two sequences of a genome are. Then, the Realphy platform was used to create the phylogenomic tree 1.13 (Action-based phylogeny constructor reference). Finally, the prediction of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGC) associated with the biological control of phytopathogens was carried out using antiSMASH v6.0 (https://antismash. secondarymetabolites.org/). Results: The present strategy allowed us to correlate and predict the biological control capacity of the Bacillus species under study based on their taxonomic affiliation since at a shorter evolutionary distance from Bacillus subtilis a high potential capacity to produce biological control compounds was observed. However, the possibility that they acquire the ability to produce new biocontrol compounds during their evolutionary separation is not ruled out. Conclusion: This work validates the correlation between the taxonomic affiliation of the studied Bacillus species and their biological control capacity, which is useful in the bioprospecting stage to design promising biopesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effect of dietary supplementation with glutamine and glutamic acid (Gln+Glu) on performance, intestinal morphometry, and carcass characteristics of broiler quails. Eight hundred birds were used, distributed in an entirely randomized design with 20 birds per experimental unit, and given five treatments (0.0; 0.2; 0.4; 0.6; and 0.8% Gln+Glu supplementation) with eight replicates. At 1-21 days of age, lower (P < 0.05) feed intake at 0.6 and 0.8% Gln+Glu supplementation and lower weight gain at 0.8% Gln+Glu supplementation compared to the control treatment were observed. By regression analysis, excluding the control treatment, there was an increasing linear effect (P < 0.05) for feed intake at 22 to 42 days of age. For intestinal morphometry, Gln+Glu supplementation only favored the villus development of the ileum (P < 0.05), giving it greater height at 0.2, 0.6, and 0.8% supplementation. Carcass characteristics, cuts, and edible viscera of the birds at 42 days were not affected (P > 0.05) by Gln+Glu supplementation levels. Thus, the glutamine and glutamic acid supplementation affected the performance and intestinal morphology of 21-d-old quails, decreasing feed intake and weight gain associated with the improvement of ileum morphology; conversely, performance and carcass characteristics at 42 days were not affected by amino acid supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the nutritional requirement of digestible Trp for white egg layers in the period from 60 to 76 wk of age. A total of 180 Dekalb White layers with an average weight of 1,345 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design with 5 increasing levels of digestible Trp (0.167, 0.175, 0.183, 0.191, and 0.199%), 6 replicates, and 6 birds per experimental unit. The diets of the treatments contained 0.759% of digestible Lys, which was obtained using the prediction equation of the Brazilian Tables for Poultry and Swine, and each treatment consisted of a digestible Trp-to-Lys ratio of 22, 23, 24, 25, or 26%. The digestible Trp levels in the diet had a quadratic effect on egg production, egg mass, and conversion per mass and per dozen eggs, and a linear effect on egg weight. In conclusion, a diet with 0.192% digestible Trp, in a 25.33% ratio with digestible Lys or 212 mg/bird per day, can be recommended for white egg layers of 60 to 76 wk of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of including L-glutamine along with glutamic acid as a supplement in weaned piglets' diets with and without whey powder. Methods: Two assays were carried out. A total of 40 piglets ([Landrace×Large White]× Pietrain) weaned at 24 days of age with an initial body weight of 6.6±0.6 kg were used in the first assay, and the following parameters were evaluated: growth performance, the incidence of diarrhea, morphometry, intestinal integrity, and hepatic glycogen index. The animals were then blocked into four groups according to different diets: diet all-grain feeding (G); diet all-grain feeding with whey powder (GW); and with vs without 1% supplementation of the commercial product containing L-glutamine and glutamic acid (A or NA). Whey powder was added according to the stage of life, corresponding to 17%, 10%, and 5%, respectively, in order to meet the need for lactose. The animals were evaluated at 24 to 42 days and at 24 to 55 days of age. The nutrient digestibility for the second assay was carried out by using 24 animals with an average weight of 11.49±1.6 kg, and the same diets were tested. Results: The supplementation of L-glutamine + glutamic acid or the addition of whey powder in diets for weaned piglets provided (p<0.05) greater feed intake, greater weight gain and improved feed conversion in the initial period (24 to 42 days age). However, in the whole period (24 to 55 days age) only amino acid supplementation affected (p<0.05) growth performance. There was a positive interaction (p<0.05) between the type of diet and L-glutamine + glutamic acid supplementation on villus height, crypt depth and the villus:crypt ratio in the duodenum. In addition, L-glutamine + glutamic acid supplementation reduced (p<0.05) the crypt depth and improved the villus:crypt ratio in the jejunum. The inclusion of whey powder affected (p<0.05) positively the digestibility coefficients analyzed except mineral matter digestibility coeficients. The supplementation of 1% the commercial product composed of L-glutamine and glutamic acid improved (p<0.05) only the digestibility coefficient of crude protein. Conclusion: These results indicate that supplementation of 1% commercial product containing L-glutamine + glutamic acid in diets for piglets from 24 to 55 days of age, dispenses with the use of whey powder when evaluating growth performance. Amino acid supplementation alone or associated with whey powder affects (p<0.05) positively the indicators of the intestinal integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress significantly compromises the production efficiency of laying hens. It has been reported in literature that selenium (Se) in poultry diets has a positive effect on mitigating these effects. This study has been carried out to evaluate the effects of Se supplementation in feeds, from either an inorganic or a hydroxy-selenomethionine (OH-SeMet) source, on the performance and physiological traits of 50- to 70-wk-old Dekalb Brown laying hens under heat stress, and on their egg quality after different storage durations. The treatments consisted in supplementing 0.3 ppm of Se as sodium selenite (SS ; 45%–0.7g/ton) or OH-SeMet (2%–15g/ton) in twelve 16-bird replicates. Supplementation with OH-SeMet resulted in a better performance of the laying hens than with SS: −5% feed conversion ratio and +3.6% of egg mass. A reduction in egg quality was observed with prolonged egg storage, which was mitigated with the use of OH-SeMet in laying hen diets. The use of OH-SeMet increased the antioxidant capacity of the birds, which showed higher glutathione peroxidase levels in the blood, kidneys, liver, and intestinal mucosa, in addition to a higher Se content in the eggs and a greater bone resistance. Thus, supplementing feeds with 0.3 ppm of OH-SeMet to 50- to 70-wk-old semi-heavy laying hens enhances their antioxidant capacity and leads to a higher egg quality and productivity than SS supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]