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While long-term organic fertilizer (OF) applications tend to decrease copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) availability in agricultural soils, earthworm bioturbation has been reported to have the opposite effect. Thus, the consequences of OF amendments in earthworm-inhabited soils on Cu and Zn bioavailability to earthworms are still under debate. Here, we assessed the effect of a decade of agronomically realistic OF applications on Cu and Zn availability in earthworm-inhabited soils and the consequences on Cu and Zn bioavailability to earthworms. An epi-endogeic species (Dichogaster saliens) was exposed in microcosms to three field-collected soils that had received either no, mineral, or organic fertilization for a decade. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) properties (i.e., concentration, aromaticity, and binding properties toward Cu), pH, and Cu and Zn availability (i.e., total concentration and free ionic activity) were determined in the solution of the soil containing earthworms. Cu and Zn bioavailability was assessed by measuring the net accumulation (ng) and concentration of Cu and Zn in earthworms (mg kg−1). Despite soil Cu and Zn contamination induced by a decade of OF applications, organic fertilization induced an increase in soil pH and DOM properties that drove the reduction of Cu and Zn availability in earthworm-inhabited soils, while bioturbation had little effect on soil pH, DOM properties, and Cu and Zn availability. Consistently, Cu and Zn bioavailability to earthworms did not increase with OF applications. From an ecotoxicological perspective, our results suggest that agronomically realistic applications of OF for a decade should not pose a risk to earthworms in terms of Cu and Zn net accumulation, but further studies have to be undertaken to understand consequent long-term toxicity after exposure.

International audience; Gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) comprise a diverse family of small nematoceran flies. While most species are phytophagous, the family also includes predatory species, and endoparasitoids. Endoparasitic species have been reared from aphids and psyllids. We discovered parasitoid-infected weaver ant, Oecophylla longinoda (Latreille) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in nests on mango trees in coastal Kenya. Examination of 5 colonies revealed the presence of parasitoids in all of them, with parasitism rates ranging from 2 to 21%. Morphological examination of larval parasitoids indicated that they were gall midges, and molecular data were consistent with the identification. Attempts to rear adults were unsuccessful. This study presents to the best of our knowledge the first report of Cecidomyiidae parasitising Hymenoptera, as well as the first report of a parasitoid of weaver ants. This species should be investigated further because its damage may limit the ability of weaver ants to control pests of cultivated fruits and other insects.

International audience; A meta-analysis of 126 published studies shows that exposure to artificial light at night induces strong responses for physiological measures, daily activity patterns and life history traits. Natural light cycles are being eroded over large areas of the globe by the direct emissions and sky brightening that result from sources of artificial night-time light. This is predicted to affect wild organisms, particularly because of the central role that light regimes play in determining the timing of biological activity. Although many empirical studies have reported such effects, these have focused on particular species or local communities and have thus been unable to provide a general evaluation of the overall frequency and strength of these impacts. Using a new database of published studies, we show that exposure to artificial light at night induces strong responses for physiological measures, daily activity patterns and life history traits. We found particularly strong responses with regards to hormone levels, the onset of daily activity in diurnal species and life history traits, such as the number of offspring, predation, cognition and seafinding (in turtles). So far, few studies have focused on the impact of artificial light at night on ecosystem functions. The breadth and often strength of biological impacts we reveal highlight the need for outdoor artificial night-time lighting to be limited to the places and forms-such as timing, intensity and spectrum-where it is genuinely required by the people using it to minimize ecological impacts.

International audience; 1. The decline in insect abundance and diversity observed in many ecosystems is of major concern because of the long-term consequences for ecosystem function and stability.2. Species in ecological communities are connected through interactions forming complex networks. Therefore, initial extinctions can cause further species losses through co-extinctions and extinction cascades, where single extinctions can lead to waves of secondary extinctions. Such knock-on effects can multiply the initial impact of disturbances, thereby largely adding to the erosion of biodiversity. However, our knowledge of their importance for the current insect decline is hampered because secondary extinctions are challenging to both detect and predict.3. In this review, we bring together theory and knowledge about secondary extinctions in the light of the main drivers of insect decline. We evaluate potential and evidence for cascading extinction for the different drivers and identify major pathways. By providing selected examples we discuss how habitat loss, pollution, species invasions, climate change and overexploitation can cause cascading extinctions. We argue that habitat loss and pollution in particular have the largest potential for such extinctions by changing community structure, the physical environment, and community robustness.4. Overall, cascading extinction are part of an ecosystems' response to anthropogenic drivers but are so far not explicitly measured in their contribution when evaluating biodiversity loss. This knowledge is necessary to predict biodiversity loss and find strategies to buffer against the devastating long-term impact of habitat loss, pollution, species invasions, and climate change.

Background Glossina austeni and Glossina brevipalpis (Diptera: Glossinidae) are the sole cyclical vectors of African trypanosomes in South Africa, Eswatini and southern Mozambique. These populations represent the southernmost distribution of tsetse flies on the African continent. Accurate knowledge of infested areas is a prerequisite to develop and implement efficient and cost-effective control strategies, and distribution models may reduce large-scale, extensive entomological surveys that are time consuming and expensive. The objective was to develop a MaxEnt species distribution model and habitat suitability maps for the southern tsetse belt of South Africa, Eswatini and southern Mozambique. Methodology/Principal findings The present study used existing entomological survey data of G. austeni and G. brevipalpis to develop a MaxEnt species distribution model and habitat suitability maps. Distribution models and a checkerboard analysis indicated an overlapping presence of the two species and the most suitable habitat for both species were protected areas and the coastal strip in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa and Maputo Province, Mozambique. The predicted presence extents, to a small degree, into communal farming areas adjacent to the protected areas and coastline, especially in the Matutuíne District of Mozambique. The quality of the MaxEnt model was assessed using an independent data set and indicated good performance with high predictive power (AUC > 0.80 for both species). Conclusions/Significance The models indicated that cattle density, land surface temperature and protected areas, in relation with vegetation are the main factors contributing to the distribution of the two tsetse species in the area. Changes in the climate, agricultural practices and land-use have had a significant and rapid impact on tsetse abundance in the area. The model predicted low habitat suitability in the Gaza and Inhambane Provinces of Mozambique, i.e., the area north of the Matutuíne District. This might indicate that the southern tsetse population is isolated from the main tsetse belt in the north of Mozambique. The updated distribution models will be useful for planning tsetse and trypanosomosis interventions in the area., Author summary The two tsetse species transmitting nagana in South Africa, Eswatini and southern Mozambique represent the southernmost distribution of this genus on the African continent. Distribution models were developed to support tsetse control. These models indicated that the main factors contributing to tsetse distribution in the area are the presence of host animals, variation in climate and vegetation mostly observed in protected areas, agricultural practises and land-use also had a significant and rapid impact on tsetse abundance in the area. Application of the model to areas north of the southern distribution predict a low presence of suitable habitats in the Gaza and Inhambane Provinces of Mozambique, thereby indicating that this southern population is geographically isolated from the main tsetse belt starting in the north of Mozambique.

International audience; A simple and intuitive formula for the estimation of urine osmolality (Uosm) using the measured concentrations of major active urine osmolytes over a wide range of urine dilutions was proposed in healthy cats. Sixty-three urine samples were retrieved using ultrasound-guided cystocentesis from sixteen healthy cats under 5 years of age receiving intravenous infusion over a period of 24 h. Samples were collected at baseline (T0), T2, T6, T12, and T24. Urine osmolality was measured using a freezing-point osmometer, and the concentrations of osmolytes (urea, sodium, glucose, and potassium) were evaluated. A simple linear regression model for a clinical use was selected, and the agreement between the calculated and actual urine osmolalities was assessed. Urinary concentrations of urea, sodium and glucose were the three variables included in the model with the lowest AICC. Urine osmolality can be predicted accurately and precisely using urine urea, sodium and glucose with the following equation: Uosm = 1.25 × urea (mmol/l) or 20.87 × urea (g/l) + 1.1 × sodium (mmol/l) + 67 × glucose (mmol/l) or 3.72 × glucose (mg/dl). The concordance correlation coefficient for repeated measures between the actual and the calculated urine osmolality was extremely close to 1, which supported a high agreement: 0.996 (CI 95%: [0.993; 0.998]). In a population of healthy cats, urine osmolality can be predicted accurately and precisely using urinary urea, sodium and glucose concentrations. Similar formulae could potentially be established to help the clinician in pathological situations

Slaughter stress responses were evaluated in the dromedary camel by analyzing hematocrit (Hct), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), hemolysis (H%), catalase activity (CATa) and plasma levels of cortisol (COR), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), glucose and malondialdehyde (MDA). Blood was collected during three different steps: at the arrival of the animals at the slaughterhouse just after unloading (step 1), at the end of a rest period of 16 to 20 hours (step 2) and finally during bleeding (step 3) after exposure to traditional slaughter stress. NLR, H%, MDA, glucose, COR, T3 and T4 measured at step 2 were significantly (P

Background Moisturizers are foundational therapies for human atopic dermatitis. In veterinary medicine, the use of moisturizers has been recommended by an expert committee to alleviate skin dryness that would occur, for example, in canine atopic dermatitis (cAD). However, little is known regarding the effects of moisturizers on the skin barrier. Hypothesis/Objectives To investigate the effects of a moisturizer on skin barrier recovery in a canine model of chronic mechanical barrier disruption. Animals Six healthy beagle dogs maintained in a laboratory setting. Methods and materials A model of chronic skin barrier disruption was simulated by tape stripping on both sides of the thorax. The moisturizer then was applied twice daily for one week to one side of the thorax, while the other hemithorax was left untreated. The effects were evaluated by measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) at various times during skin barrier recovery, and by histological assessment of the disrupted skin one week after moisturizer application. Results Overall, TEWL was reduced, epidermal thickness was lower, stratum corneum thickness was greater and the intensity of the dermal inflammatory infiltrate was reduced for treated sites. Conclusions and clinical importance These results suggest a potential benefit of the moisturizer for improving skin barrier function, which is frequently altered in chronic inflammatory dermatoses such as cAD., Background – Moisturizers are foundational therapies for human atopic dermatitis. In veterinary medicine, the use of moisturizers has been recommended by an expert committee to alleviate skin dryness that would occur, for example, in canine atopic dermatitis (cAD). However, little is known regarding the effects of moisturizers on the skin barrier. Hypothesis/Objectives – To investigate the effects of a moisturizer on skin barrier recovery in a canine model of chronic mechanical barrier disruption. Conclusions and clinical importance – These results suggest a potential benefit of the moisturizer for improving skin barrier function, which is frequently altered in chronic inflammatory dermatoses such as cAD.

Little is known about the levels of stress experienced by African buffalos affected by injury, disease, or socio-ecological and anthropogenic factors. To be able to start filling this gap, we examined the suitability of two 11-oxoaetiocholanolone enzyme-immunoassays (EIAs) detecting 11,17 dioxoandrostanes (11,17-DOA) as well as faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs) with a 5-3-ol-11-one structure (3 ,11oxo-CM), respectively, for monitoring stress-related physiological responses in African buffalo. An adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) challenge in one male and one female housed at Mokopane Biodiversity Conservation Centre, South Africa, showed a threefold increase in circulating cortisol levels in a sample taken 40 min post-injection. Corresponding 11,17-DOA levels increased tenfold (female) and 15-fold (male) above baseline, and 3,11oxo-CM concentrations increased ninefold (female) and 12-fold (male) above pre-injection levels, indicating that both EIAs are suitable for measuring FGMs in African buffalo.In addition, 11,17-DOA levels monitored during the adaptation process of individual housing revealed an up to 14-fold elevation in FGMs. Storage of faeces at ambient temperature for up to 16 h post-defecation resulted in an significant increase in 11,17-DOA levels 2 h after defecation. Finally, higher individual baseline 11,17-DOA concentrations were found in samples defecated overnight, indicating a possible diurnal effect in excretion of FGMs in African buffalo.Key words: faecal glucocorticoid metabolites, ACTH challenge test, animal separation, hormone degradation rate, circadian variation

Awara (Astrocaryum vulgare M.) is a palm fruit mainly used in nutrition. We analysed the pulp oil for fatty acid, tocopherol, carotenoid, and phytosterol and we evaluated whether this oil may attenuate inflammation in vivo. In an endotoxic shock model, awara pulp oil treatment decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased anti-inflammatory cytokines. In a pulmonary inflammation model, awara pulp oil treatment reduced eosinophil and lymphocyte numbers recovered into the broncho-alveolar lavages. These results suggest that awara pulp oil administration can efficiently counteract an acute and chronic inflammatory response in vivo that is probably mediated by fatty acids and minor compounds.

The inter-tropical zone counts a majority of smallholders for whom livestock rearing is the family's food self-sufficiency. These smallholders are vulnerable to variations in productions, inputs and products prices caused by a changing environment, endangering their food security. One line of research is to utilize animal and plant resources diversity as a lever for livestock adaptation in hot regions to maintain and increase the production systems and farmers' economic benefits in a changing environment. Heat stress on animal, drought on forage production and increase in raw materials prices are part of the main constraints to ruminant systems in hot regions. Studies, through thi analysis, were conducted on the genetic potential expression of different cattle breeds in mayotte and on forecasts of livestock production zones in 2050 in australia. Adaptation strategies against heat stress are to migrate animal to regions less prone to heat, create options to cool the animals (water sprays, showers or isolation) and maintain local breeds' presence and shift to other cattle breeds more resistant to heat stress. Regarding adaptation strategies to drought, studies carried out in australia and madagascar suggest a better pasture management through harvest and forages conservation, multi-species pastures, grazing rotation and selling animals before dry periods. Markets fluctuations and uncertain environments lead to the promotion of recycling and limitation of wastes along the production chain while reducing the impact on the environment by substituting mineral fertilizers with livestock production effluents. The evaluation of cost-benefit relations of the different adaptation methods is still a key question for the future as well as the development and the spread of the management tools allowing assessments and monitoring over time of crops and animals performances, particular in contexts with poor references. (résumé d'auteur)

Introduction The circadian clock plays an important role in several aspects of female reproductive biology. Evidence linking circadian clock-related genes to pregnancy outcomes has been inconsistent. We sought to examine whether variations in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of circadian clock genes are associated with PA risk. Methods Maternal blood samples were collected from 470 PA case and 473 controls. Genotyping was performed using the Illumina Cardio-MetaboChip platform. We examined 119 SNPs in 13 candidate genes known to control circadian rhythms (e.g., CRY2, ARNTL, and RORA). Univariate and penalized logistic regression models were fit to estimate odds ratios (ORs); and the combined effect of multiple SNPs on PA risk was estimated using a weighted genetic risk score (wGRS). Results A common SNP in the RORA gene (rs2899663) was associated with a 21% reduced odds of PA (P

International audience; The welfare conditions of domestic animals during transport to the slaughterhouse are largely known able to influence the level of their stress, physiology and meat quality. Furthermore, the reaction of animals to stressors depends on the duration and intensity of these stressors. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of transport distance on some blood physiological indicators of stress and biomarkers of oxidant stress in camels. Transport distances were categorized as short (72-80km), medium (160-170km) and long (350-360km) distance. Haematocrit, haemolysis, cortisol, glucose, lactate, malondialdehyde and catalase increased gradually and significantly (P

Mycoplasma putrefaciens is listed as one of the etiologic agents of the contagious agalactia syndrome by the world organisation for animal health. This species has been characterized only recently, 1974, and the number of outbreaks caused by this microorganism so far is very scarce. It induces mastitis in infected goats although other symptoms such as arthritis in adults and septicaemia in kids are also frequently described. Up to now, the identification of M. putrefaciens relied on classical isolation and identification techniques which present a number of limitations. Specific primers for PCR have been designed based on sequence comparisons of the Arc B gene among the 'Mycoplasma mycoides cluster' and related species such as Mycoplasma cottewii and Mycoplasma yeatsii. Sequence alignments confirmed the taxonomic position of M. putrefaciens, which is related to the W. mycoides cluster' but also very close to M. yeatsii. The polymorphism observed amongst the different Arc B sequences allowed the determination of a primer pair yielding a specific amplification of a 316 bp-long DNA fragment by PCR. This PCR was validated in two different laboratories with a variety of mycoplasma strains isolated from goats. This new PCR technique will be very useful for a quicker determination of M. putrefaciens strains as well as a better understanding of the prevalence of M. putrefaciens infections. (Resume d'auteur)

While available evidence supports the role of genetics in the pathogenesis of placental abruption (PA), PA-related placental genome variations and maternal-placental genetic interactions have not been investigated. Maternal blood and placental samples collected from participants in the Peruvian Abruptio Placentae Epidemiology study were genotyped using Illumina’s Cardio-Metabochip platform. We examined 118,782 genome-wide SNPs and 333 SNPs in 32 candidate genes from mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative phosphorylation pathways in placental DNA from 280 PA cases and 244 controls. We assessed maternal-placental interactions in the candidate gene SNPS and two imprinted regions (IGF2/H19 and C19MC). Univariate and penalized logistic regression models were fit to estimate odds ratios. We examined the combined effect of multiple SNPs on PA risk using weighted genetic risk scores (WGRS) with repeated ten-fold cross-validations. A multinomial model was used to investigate maternal-placental genetic interactions. In placental genome-wide and candidate gene analyses, no SNP was significant after false discovery rate correction. The top genome-wide association study (GWAS) hits were rs544201, rs1484464 (CTNNA2), rs4149570 (TNFRSF1A) and rs13055470 (ZNRF3) (p-values: 1.11e-05 to 3.54e-05). The top 200 SNPs of the GWAS overrepresented genes involved in cell cycle, growth and proliferation. The top candidate gene hits were rs16949118 (COX10) and rs7609948 (THRB) (p-values: 6.00e-03 and 8.19e-03). Participants in the highest quartile of WGRS based on cross-validations using SNPs selected from the GWAS and candidate gene analyses had a 8.40-fold (95% CI: 5.8–12.56) and a 4.46-fold (95% CI: 2.94–6.72) higher odds of PA compared to participants in the lowest quartile. We found maternal-placental genetic interactions on PA risk for two SNPs in PPARG (chr3∶12313450 and chr3∶12412978) and maternal imprinting effects for multiple SNPs in the C19MC and IGF2/H19 regions. Variations in the placental genome and interactions between maternal-placental genetic variations may contribute to PA risk. Larger studies may help advance our understanding of PA pathogenesis. National Institutes of Health, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD059827). National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (K01HL10374).

Antioxidant vitamins may affect an organism’s capacity for defense against damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), and biological markers of the dietary exposure to these compounds is of importance.The present study was designed to evaluatethe protective effect of vitamin E and vitamin C against the hemolysis induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in camel’s red blood cellsin vitro,and forassessing the vulnerability of camel erythrocytes to oxidative stress (OS). Vitamin E and vitamin C were able to protect thered blood cellsagainst theH2O2-induced hemolysis and thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) formation. The antioxidative property of these vitamins in reducing oxidative injury showed in this work, may suggest that these molecules may be very helpful to fight the ROS during OS induced by transportation, heat, deshydratation, aging, and parasite, infectious and metabolic diseases in dromedary camels.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of road transportation under heat conditions on some haematological [Ht (haematocrit), blood cells count and EOF (erythrocytes osmotic fragility)] and physiological [Tr (rectal temperature), HR (heart) and RR (respiratory rates), and circulating levels of Cor (cortisol), Glu (glucose) and minerals] parameters in Moroccan dromedary camels. The animals were subjected to road transportation stressor for 2 h by truck during the hot-dry season. Blood samples were collected before loading and transport, and at the end of transport. Transportation induced a significant increase (P < 0.05) of erythrocytes count, Ht, EOF, Tr, HR and RR by comparison to values observed before transportation. The same stress conditions induced a significant increase (P < 0.05) of plasma Cor (ng/mL) and blood Glu (mM) (220 ± 30 vs. 137 ± 20, 9.7 ± 1.2 vs. 6.4 ± 1.1 respectively) and a significant decrease (P < 0.05) of plasma magnesium (mM) (0.5 ± 0.1 vs. 0.9 ± 0.1) comparatively to pre-transportation values. These results indicate that road transportation associated to heat may be considered as a potent stressor which is able to induce several cellular alterations in camels. Further studies of an eventual protective role of vitamin C against haemolysis induced by transportation stress in camel are needed.

International audience; Dynamics of cattle populations in arid and semi-arid tropical Africa are highly influenced by droughts, which can create dramatic drops in herd sizes as well as disturbances in sex-and-age structures. The Sahel region is particularly affected by such climate shocks. Successive major droughts are assumed to have effectively decreased the cattle stock and strongly influenced the evolution of pastoral and agro-pastoral systems in the past 40 years and probably before. Demographic resilience, i.e. the ability to recover from significant losses, is a key parameter for the sustainability of livestock populations in systems regularly perturbed by demographic shocks, and thus for prospective studies of the livestock sector, in particular for cattle that are more vulnerable to feed shortage than small ruminants and have a slower biological turnover. Here, a simple mathematical herd growth model is used to simulate the post-drought dynamics of a hypothetical Sahelian cattle population taken as example. A set of scenarios describing the drought severity, herd performances and management practices was considered in a global sensitivity analysis. The resilience was measured by the probability to recover, the recovery time of the population and its annual growth rate during the recovery period. An important finding of the study was the extreme variability of the recovery time. This variability challenges the common postulate according to which 10-15 years are needed for a cattle population to recover after a 'severe' drought. This also emphasizes the difficulty of obtaining reliable recovery predictions from inaccurate estimates of demographic parameters. Simulations showed that the proportion of population size decline due to the shock, the calving rate and farmers' offtake strategy after the drought are overall the most influential factors for recovery dynamics. Simulations also showed that the recovery time can be highly influenced by the transient regime of the herd growth model when the post-drought sex-and-age structure is non-equilibrated. In particular, the sensitivity analysis confirmed that large losses of breeding females during shocks considerably delay herd regeneration.

Cette expérimentation avait pour but d'étudier l'effet de la supplémentation en électrolytes de l'eau de boisson ou de l'aliment sur les poulets de chair en finition soumis à une chaleur chronique puis aigue. Entre 28 et 35 jours d'âge (phase 1), 192 poulets de chair ont été soumis à une température ambiante élevée (cycle 26-32°C), puis au jour 36 (phase 2) à un coup de chaleur à 36°C. Trois traitements ont été appliqués à 64 animaux chacun (8 parquets x 8 animaux): T1=Aliment témoin équilibré; T2=Aliment équilibré + électrolytes dans l'aliment; T3=aliment équilibré + électrolytes dans l'eau de boisson. Les électrolytes étaient NaHCO3 (0,82%) + NH4CI (0,07%) + NaC1 (0,3%), aboutissant à un bilan électrolytique de 240mEq. Les variables étudiées étaient la consommation d'aliments (CA) et d'eau (CE), le gain de poids (GP) et l'indice de consommation (IC), la température corporelle rectale (TC), le rythme respiratoire (niveau d'hyperventilation, NH) et la mortalité pendant le coup de chaleur. Pendant la phase 1, l'addition d'électrolytes n'a pas modifié significativement les paramètres productifs (CA, GP, IC), mais la consommation d'eau a été supérieure (ANOVA, p=0.016) dans les traitements T2 (300mlj) et T3 (290m1/j) par rapport à TI (220m1). La TC a été significativement diminuée chez les animaux supplémentés dans l'eau de boisson (T3, 41,89°C) comparativement au témoin (TI, 42,18°C), mais le NH n'a pas été affecté. Pendant le coup de chaleur (phase 2), la TC n'a pas été significativement différente entre les traitements, mais le NH a été inférieur chez les animaux supplémentés dans l'eau de boisson (160,0 vs 178,8 inspirations/min) avec des différences entre les sexes. La mortalité a été inférieure de 22% dans le traitement T3.

Les animaux ruminants domestiques sont fréquemment exposés à des agents stressants avant et lors de leur abattage, à savoir les conditions du transport vers les abattoirs et d'attente jusqu'à l'abattage, et les procédures de ce dernier traditionnelles encore utilisées. Ces diverses situations stressantes modifient certains paramètres physiologiques à la suite de l'activation de l'axe corticotrope et du système cotécholaminergique, ce qui pourrait influencer l'évolution biochimique postmortem du tissu musculaire et altérer par la suite la qualité de la viande de ces animaux. Dons cette étude, nous avons comparé l'effet du stress de préabattage induit par le transport routier et d'abattage chez le dromadaire et la chèvre marocains, en analysant leurs toux circulants du cortisol. Les échantillons sanguins ont été prélevés avant le transport et après celui-ci lors de l'abattage des animaux aux abattoirs municipaux de Tit-Mellil (Province de Mediouna) et de 10 Province de Benslimane les concentrations du cortisol ont été mesurées à l'aide des trousses RIA (BioSource Europe, Nivellis, Belgique). D'après nos résultats, par rapport à l'état basal, les toux plasmatiques du cortisol augmentent sous l'effet du stress A à 5 fais chez la chèvre et 2 à 3 fois chez le dromadaire. Ce dernier est significativement moins sensible aux conditions de transport et d'abattage par comparaison à la chèvre. Ces résultats pourraient suggérer que dons ces conditions, la qualité de la viande cameline pourrait être moins altérée comparativement à celle de la viande caprine. (Texte intégral)

L'awara (Astrocaryum vulgare M.) est le fruit d'un palmier utilisé principalement au niveau alimentaire pour sa pulpe riche en huile. L'objectif de ce travail a été de caractériser chimiquement l'huile de pulpe d'awara et d'évaluer ses propriétés anti-inflammatoires dans différents modèles expérimentaux. L'huile de pulpe, dont les acides gras principaux sont l'acide oléique et palmitique, a montré une forte teneur en caroténoïdes. Les microconstituants identifés sont principalement représentés par le [bêta]-carotène (caroténoïdes), le [bêta]-sitostérol, l'arundoin (phytostérols) et l'[alpha]-tocophérol. L'huile de pulpe a montré des effets anti-inflammatoires dans un modèle in vivo de choc endotoxique par inhibition de la production de cytokines pro-inflammatoires (tumor necrosis factor a (TNF[alpha]), interleukin (IL)-6) et augmentation de la production d'une cytokine anti-inflammatoire (IL-10). Ces effets anti-inflammatoires ont été confirmés dans un modèle in vivo d'inflammation bronchique. L'huile de pulpe a diminué l'afflux de cellules inflammatoires au niveau pulmonaire, principalement d'éosinophiles et de lymphocytes. La fraction insaponifiable a, par la suite, montré des effets inhibiteurs sur la production de différents médiateurs inflammatoires (oxyde nitrique, prostaglandine E2, TNF[alpha], IL-6, IL-10) ainsi que sur l'expression d'enzymes induites lors de l'inflammation (iNOS et COX-2) dans un modèle in vitro de macrophages activés. La fraction insaponifiable a également montré un effet inhibiteur sur la production de cytokines (TNF[alpha], d'IL-6 et d'IL-10) dans le modèle in vivo de choc endotoxique. Ces résultats confirment l'implication des microconstituants de l'huile de pulpe d'awara dans ses effets antioxydants et anti-inflammatoires et suggèrent un rôle préventif et/ou thérapeutique de l'huile de pulpe d'awara et de sa fraction insaponifiable dans les pathologies associées l'inflammation.

En 2005, le parc national de Zakouma, dans le sud-est du Tchad, abritait une population de 3 900 éléphants, correspondant à une densité exceptionnelle proche de 1,3 individu par kilomètre carré au sein des aires protégées d'Afrique francophone. Les résultats des dénombrements aériens réalisés en 2006 ont révélé une diminution de 22 % des effectifs de l'éléphant. Le déclin de la population s'est ensuite accentué brutalement, de 940 individus en 2008 à seulement 620 en 2009. Les activités de braconnage, d'une rare intensité en 2008, ont conduit à éradiquer près de 70 % de la population d'éléphants du parc sur une période de cinq ans. Les informations relatives au braconnage dans le parc de Zakouma rejoignent les récentes conclusions publiées par les programmes Mike et Etis, qui suivent l'évolution du braconnage et analysent les tendances du commerce illicite de l'ivoire dans les États membres de la Cites. La recrudescence du braconnage correspond à la reprise du commerce international de l'ivoire en 2006, avec une forte augmentation des prix consécutive à une demande accrue de la part de certains pays asiatiques. L'ivoire collecté en Afrique centrale est intégré au trafic à partir de réseaux installés au Soudan, de mieux en mieux structurés, et les éléphants de Zakouma, ne portant pourtant que de petites défenses, ne sont pas épargnés. La recherche scientifique, à partir de la définition des empreintes génétiques des éléphants, qui permet de déterminer la provenance géographique de l'ivoire, et le suivi du braconnage par les programmes Mike et Etis constituent des éléments majeurs pour mieux connaître et suivre l'évolution des populations d'éléphants. Cependant, la mauvaise " gouvernance " des États, en particulier en termes de politique de conservation et de stratégie de lutte anti-braconnage, demeure le facteur essentiel de la recrudescence du braconnage de l'éléphant. (Résumé d'auteur)

It is widely accepted that nutrition and the conditions under which the animals are produced, transported and slaughtered may influence the oxidative stability of the meat and several other physiological functions. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of preslaughter stress on meat quality and physiological responses in dromedary camels and their correlation with phosphocalcic metabolism. Animals used in this experimentation were clinically healthy. The animals were subjected to a long road transportation stressor (TS) for 2 hr by a truck, or remained unstressed before slaughter (i.e. non-transported, NS). Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein. Ten hours after transportation of the TS camels, they and the NS camels were slaughtered. Muscle glycogen and pH were measured on samples from longissimus muscle collected at 15 min and 24 h postmortem. The TS camels had higher plasma cortisol, thyroxine and glucose (P < 0.05) concentrations than NS camels. In contrast, plasma concentrations of sodium, potassium, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, parathormone and 25-Hydroxyvitamin D in TS and NS camels were similar (P>0.05). These results indicate that long-term preslaughter transport can cause noticeable changes in stress responses and muscle metabolism, without any variation of phosphocalcic metabolism hormons in camels.

L'adaptation des poulets de chair aux fortes augmentations de la température ambiante est améliorée par des stimulations thermiques préalables dans la première semaine de vie. Le but de la présente expérience est de tester l'effet de stimulations thermiques plus tardives (J35 à J37) sur l'augmentation de la TC lors d'un stress thermique ultérieur (J38A l'âge de 35 et 38 jours, la température d'élevage qui est à la base de 22°C est portée à 27°C pendant 2H30, puis 32°C pendant 2H30 et ramenée à 22°C. Les jours 36 et 37, elle n'est élevée qu'à 27°C de manière à entretenir la stimulation. Le comportement d'hyperventilation et la température corporelle sont mesurés à J35 et J38. La température corporelle est mesurée de manière manuelle et par télémétrie grâce à des transmetteurs intra-abdominaux. A 27°C, la température corporelle augmente et est stabilisée à la fin des 2H30 d'exposition, alors qu'à 32°C, elle continue d'augmenter à la fin des 2h30 d'exposition et atteint 43,0°C. Il existe adaptation de la thermorégulation, puisque la température corporelle à 27 et 32°C est significativement plus faible lors du dernier stress thermique (J38) que lors du premier (J35). La fréquence du comportement d'hyperventilation est maximale à 32°C, mais semble insuffisante pour réduire l'emballement de la température corporelle. Aucune différence d'hyperventilation n'est observée entre les jours 35 et 38, ce qui suggère que la moindre augmentation de la température observée à J38 par rapport à J35 ne serait pas due à l'adaptation comportementale mais plutôt à une adaptation physiologique.

Three groups of 4 female camels, 2 years-old receiving a basal diet of Rhodes grass and concentrate were supplemented for 90 days with 8, 12 and 16 mg non-organic selenium to each group, respectively. Blood, faeces and urine were collected for selenium, glutathione peroxidase and vitamin E determination. Two camels per group were sacrificed at day 45 and 90. Organs and hair samples were used for histopathological findings and selenium content estimation. The selenium concentration increased significantly in 3 groups with an average value of 321.23 ± 140.5 ng/ml, 443.18 ± 231.06 ng/ml and 298.04 ± 212.13 ng/ml, respectively. Glutathione peroxidase activity varied between 26.85 and 174.16 IU/g Hb. Significant correlations between serum selenium, GSH-Px activity, urine and faecal Se were reported. No significant variation occurred for vitamin E (mean: 0.68 ± 0.36 ng/ml). High selenium level was observed in liver followed by kidney, spleen, lung, heart, pancreas, brain and ovary. Selenium concentration rose significantly in hair. Several symptoms related to selenosis have been reported and histopathological findings showed remarkable lesions in all the organs.

Cette mission était destinée prioritairement à l'appui de la thèse de Mademoiselle SEBOUSSI, inscrite à l'université de Montpellier Il et dont j'assume la direction de la thèse dans le cadre de I'UMR ERRC en collaboration avec le Dr AI-HADRAMI de l'université d'Al Ain. Au cours de cette mission, les protocoles expérimentations ont été discutés et les données de la première expérimentation ont été traitées et une seconde publication est en cours. Les modalités d'une visite scientifique en France ont été revues pour nos partenaires dans le domaine de la production horticole et un programme de travail doit être proposé par le CIRAD. Enfin, il est envisagé la mise en oeuvre d'un congrès international qui serait en 2006 à Al-Ain le premier congrès d'une Société des Recherches camélines dont les statuts sont en cours de discussion. Une seconde mission est prévue en fin d'année grâce à l'appui du SCAC.

Parasitic nematodes of the digestive tract remain one of the main constraints to goat production both in temperate and tropical countries. The usual mode of control of these gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) based on the repeated use of anthelmintics is now strongly questioned because of the increasing development of resistance to these molecules. Among the alternative methods to anthelmintics currently available, the manipulation of host nutrition in order to improve the host resistance and/or resilience to parasitic infections seems to represent one of the most promising options to reduce the dependence on conventional chemotherapy and to favour the sustainable control of gastro intestinal nematode infections. This paper will review the available information on the interactions between nutrition and nematode parasitism in dairy or meat goats both in temperate and tropical conditions. It will refer to quantitative aspects of the diet (influence of the protein and/or energy parts) as well as to qualitative components (effects of plant secondary metabolites on worm biology) and will discuss the specificities of goats in regard of theses interactions. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Experiments were conducted to investigate ileal digestion of legume proteins in piglets weaned onto diets whose protein was provided by casein (control) or an equal protein mixture of casein and raw pea, faba bean, blue lupin, black or white chickpeas, or soya bean meal. heal digesta were analysed by Western blotting with antibodies raised against the main 11S and 7S legume proteins. Only a few immunoreactive legume protein bands were detected by immunoblotting They belonged mainly to the 7S family in the case of pea, faba bean and chickpea. Nearly intact lupin proteins of the 11S family were identified.