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The aim of this study was to determine the productive and metabolic response in Chilota lambs grazing Calafatal or naturalized pasture. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Station Butalcura (INIA, Chiloé) during October, November, and December 2011. Eight Chilota and six Suffolk Down 2-month-old lambs, uncastrated males, no twin, were located to graze a typical secondary succession of the Chiloé Archipelago, as a Calafatal (a secondary succession which derivates from human intervention on native forest in Chiloé Archipelago). Simultaneously, eight male 2-month-old Chilota lambs were located to graze a naturalized pasture, another secondary succession derived from human intervention on native forest in Chiloé Archipelago. Animals had free access to water sources. Measurements were performed one time a month, for three consecutive months for productive indicators: live weight, average daily gain and body condition score, and blood indicators of protein and energetic metabolism. Productive and metabolic response was similar between both types of pastures ( P > 0.05). However, Chilota and Suffolk Down lambs grazing Calafatal showed higher plasma concentrations of βOH-butyrate, but lower non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) than Chilota lambs grazing naturalized pasture ( P < 0.05). Chilota lambs grazing naturalized pasture showed the highest plasma concentrations of NEFA and urea ( P < 0.05). It was concluded that, under the conditions of the study, Chilota lambs grazing naturalized pasture, which had higher contents of crude protein and metabolizable energy, showed better metabolic balance, but not performance, than Chilota and Suffolk Down lambs grazing Calafatal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In order to study the cecal and blood fermentative indicators through the substitution of the corn ration by foliage of Morus alba (mulberry), 32 male broiler chickens of 21 d of age (HE21) were used. The birds were distributed according to complete random design into four treatments 21 and eight repetitions, being a control (corn-soybean) and three levels of inclusion of mulberry foliage: 5, 10, and 15 %. The weight of the empty and full ceca and their length were measured. Besides, the concentration of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and ammonia was determined, as well as the values of pH. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and total cholesterol concentration were determined in blood. There was increase (P < 0.05) in the relative weights of the ceca (empty and full) using diets with mulberry foliage meal, compared with the control group (12.86, 13.93, and 13.96 vs 7.68 g/kg, respectively). The lengths of the right and left ceca differed (P < 0.05) between the control and the 10 % of substitution of mulberry foliage meal (17.88 vs 22.00 and 19.00 vs 23.25 cm, respectively, being superior in the latter. A similar performance (P < 0.05) had the concentration of total SCFA (49.60 vs 81.00 mmol/L). In the concentration of NH3 and the pH values, the control was superior (P < 0.05) compared with the rest of the treatments (2.43 vs 1.16, 1.32 vs 1.05 mmol/L and 6.74 vs 5.54, 5.58 and 5.70, respectively). The blood indicators did not show differences for hemoglobin and hematocrit. However, the cholesterol diminished with the inclusion of the mulberry foliage meal in the ration. It was concluded that with the inclusion of mulberry foliage meal up to 15 % in the ration of broiler chickens, the fermentative capacity of the ceca is increased, and it is proved the decrease in the cholesterol absorption provoked by this fibrous source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The vast majority of non-human primates used for experimental activities are purpose-bred. However, in case of particular procedures or specific projects, it may still be necessary to use animals captured in the wild. Methods Sixty cynomolgus monkeys were randomly selected on the basis of breeding origin, and assigned to two groups, each of fifteen males and fifteen females. Analyses included the most frequently investigated parameters for hematology, coagulation, and biochemistry. Results Differences were observed in some parameters, particularly in eosinophils, basophils and monocytes, and in fibrinogen, total protein, globulins, alanine amino-transferase, creatinine, aspartate amino-transferase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, iron, potassium, and phosphorus. Conclusions Some values in the cynomolgus monkey may show significant differences according to the breeding background of the animals. Only data obtained from animals of similar origin have to be compared, to avoid misinterpretation during the evaluation of the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four dried cows were selected according Latin square (4 x 4) design to study the effects of the supply of four levels of fresh sugarcane juice (0, 10, 20 and 30 L) on the intake and digestibility of nutrients, as well as on the blood levels of total proteins, albumins, globulin, hematocrit, several indicators of the differential count and the concentration of net base acid (NBA) in urine. The animals received, as basic diet, fresh forage of grasses; king grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and star grass (Cynodon nlemfuensis), mineral salts, 1 kg of soybean and urea at a rate of 0.75 % of sugarcane juice. In the first assay, the juice was provided in feeders separated from the forage and distributed in 5 or 6 daily meals and, in the second, the sugarcane juice was spread on the forage. There were no differences between the intakes and digestibilities of nutrients attributable to the levels of inclusion of sugarcane juice. The contents of total proteins, in blood, did not differ between treatments and ranged from 5.88 to 6.23 mg/100 mL within the low physiological limit, given by the albumin that ranged from 2.08 to 2.40 mg/100 mL. Slight cases of lymphocytosis and eosinophilia in all the animals regardless the treatment. All the cases were initiated with low levels of hematocrit (≈ 26 g/100) recovered in time, except one animal that showed anaemic symptoms through the period. The production of net base acids (NBA) in urine showed values between 1 and 100 meq/L throughout the experimental period, which denoted the existence of metabolic acidosis compensated, with trend to the decompensation non-attributable to the type of diet used. In general, it is considered that in the conditions of these studies, the inclusion of fresh sugarcane juice in the system does no seem to provoke changes in the intakes and digestibility of nutrients and indicators of the metabolic profile of the dairy cow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty dairy female buffaloes with 490 and 550 kg of LW were used to know the values in blood, as well as the variation of some blood indicators of the protein metabolism in three different periods of lactation. Each period had 10 animals of between 4 and 8 weeks of lactation for the first period, between 9 and 13 for the second and between 24 and 35 for the third. The animals grazing Pennisetum purpureum cv. Cuba CT-115 were taken between 5 and 10 mL of blood in the morning. A completely randomized design was used. The mean values found for hemoglobin (11.5 g/100 mL) and hematocrit (38 %) were found in the range reported for the species, different from the values of total proteins (5.33 g/100 mL) that was inferior. Significant differences were found for total proteins (P < 0.01) and albumins (P < 0.001) between the third period of lactation and the two firsts, with increase in the value of both indicators to the last period. This could be associated with the increase of the fetus size in this pregnancy stage. No significant differences were observed for hemoglobin and globulin. The results show a certain relationship between the blood indicators of the protein metabolism and the lactation period in river female buffaloes under low-input conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was designed to evaluate the association between thermoregulatory responses, hormonal, hematological and serum biochemical values features aiming to propose an adaptability index (AI) for dairy cows under tropical conditions. Thirty adult dairy cows were used, including 15 Sindi and 15 Girolando breeds with mean weight of 338.52 ± 42.79 kg and 487.54 ± 60.67 kg, respectively. These data included rectal temperature (RT) and respiratory rate (RR). For the serum of blood sample, the levels of glucose (GLU), cholesterol (CHO), triglycerides (TRI), total protein (TP), creatinine (CRE), albumin (ALB), urea (URE), aspartate aminotrasferase (AST) and alanine aminotrasferase (ALT) and hormonal concentrations (triiodothyronine – T 3 and thyroxine – T 4). For the total blood samples were analyzed for hematology variables: red blood cell count (RBC); hemoglobin concentration (HC); packet cell volume (PCV); mean corpuscular volume (MCV); white blood cell (WBC). The AI was development using multivariate analysis to "weigh" the influence of each variable in the animal responses. The variables more important for adaptive aspects of Sindi and Girolando cows were respectively: GLU; MCV; AST; PCV; RBC; HE; TP; ALB; ALT; RR; T 4 ; RT; T 3 ; URE; CHO; TRI; CRE; WBC and ALB; GLU; TP; AST; RR; ALT; CRE; CHO; RT; RBC; T 4 ; HE; PCV; MCV; URE; TRI; WBC; T 3. The difference between breeds was just over 8% for AI. We developed a preliminary AI, able to measure the level of adaptability of dairy cows under tropical region. The methodological framework has potential to inform decision-makers on the adaptability animal conditions and high inference of the blood values from adaptability of cows. • The physiological responses were evaluated to determining an adaptability index used for dairy cows. • The methodological framework has potential to inform decision-makers on the adaptability of the animals. • The blood parameters presented high inference in adaptability aspects of dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To understand the changes in body weight, spleen weight and complete blood cells in BALB/c mice infected with Babesia microti ., Methods: For the infection group, six weeks old BALB/c mice were injected intraperitoneally with a dose of 100 μL of B. microti infected blood (20% RBC infection rate, each mouse). For the determination of the progression of B. microti infection up to 28 days of the infection, the microscopic visualization of thin blood smears of tail blood stained with Giemsa staining was performed in the infection group. The experiment was carried out at different intervals on days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 after the infection, respectively. The mice were sacrificed, and spleens were collected and weighed, and the body weight of the mice was also determined. The blood cells of the mice were analyzed by using Mindray BC-5300 Vet animal automatic hematology analyzer., Results: On the first day after the infection, B. microti was visualized in RBC of the infection group. The significantly highest infection rate (55%) appeared on the seventh day of the infection, and then steadily decreased; the mice attained the latent infection phase on the 28th day post-infection, when the parasite could not be visualized in the peripheral blood. The mice in the infected group acquired a significantly lowest body weight on the 7th day of the infection, and then gradually returned to normal. The weight of the spleen was the significantly highest on the 14th day of the infection, and then consistently decreased. On the 28th day of infection, the spleen weight was still higher than that of the control group. There were no significant changes in the number of white blood cells (WBC), lymphocytes, and eosinophils in the infected mice; and altered levels were all within the normal mouse reference range. The number of red blood cells, hemoglobin, and platelet count in the infected mice were decreased to the lowest level when the B. microti infection rate achieved to the highest, and then gradually returned to the normal levels., Conclusions: B. microti infection can cause body weight loss, splenic weight gain, and reduction in the number of erythrocytes and platelets in whole blood of the mice. Besides, the whole blood cell analyzer has a diagnostic significance in the identification of babesiosis.