Use of larvae meal as protein source in broiler diet: Effect on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and carcass and meat traits

The aim of this research was to study the effect of insect meal from larvae ( larvae meal [TML]) as complete replacement of soybean meal (SBM) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and carcass and meat traits of broilers. A total of eighty 30-d-old male Shaver brown broilers were homogenously divided into 2 groups (each consisting of 8 replicates of 5 birds). Up to 62 d of age, the groups were fed 2 isoproteic and isoenergetic diets differing for the ingredient used as the main protein source: the control group was fed a corn-SBM-based diet, whereas in the TML group, the SBM was completely replaced by TML. Broiler growth performance was measured during the trial. At 62 d of age, 2 broilers per replicate (16 per group) were slaughtered and apparent ileal digestibility coefficients and carcass and meat traits were determined. The use of TML as the main protein source in the broiler diet had no significant effect on most growth performance and carcass traits and chemical and physical properties of meat, the latter being important for marketing purposes. The feed conversion ratio in the entire experimental period (from 30 to 62 d) was improved in the TML group compared with the SBM group ( < 0.05). The apparent ileal digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, and CP in broilers fed the SBM diet were greater ( < 0.01) than the other group. The full digestive system in broilers fed SBM had a lower ( < 0.05) absolute and relative weight than that of broilers fed TML. Also, the weight and the percentage of the spleen in the SBM group were lower ( < 0.05) than those in the TML group. The length of the entire intestine in the group fed TML was greater ( < 0.05) than the other group and the same happened when intestinal length was expressed as percentage of broiler BW ( < 0.05). Among the different intestinal tracts, the ileum and ceca of broilers fed TML had a greater ( < 0.05) length than that of broilers fed SBM. Also, ceca weight (as an absolute value or percentage on live weight) in broilers fed TML was greater ( < 0.05) than that of broilers fed SBM. Breast pH and cooking losses in broilers fed TML were greater ( < 0.05) than those of broilers fed SBM. Chemical characteristic of meat obtained from right breast of slaughtered broilers were unaffected by dietary treatments. larvae meal can be a suitable alternative protein source for growing broilers and also when used as principal protein contributor to the diet.

Yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor, L.) as a possible alternative to soybean meal in broiler diets

The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with Tenebrio molitor larvae (TML) meal in broiler diets. A total of 80 30-d-old male Shaver brown broilers were divided into two groups fed on two isoproteic and isoenergetic diets differing for protein source (SBM vs. TML). Up to 62 d of age, body weight and feed intake were recorded weekly and body weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and European efficiency factor (EEF) were calculated. At 62 d, blood samples were collected from 16 birds/group for evaluation of blood profiles. Feed intake was not different between groups considering the entire period of the trial. The FCR was more favourable in the TML than SBM group from 46 d of age and in the entire period of the trial (4.13 vs. 3.62). The PER was higher in the SBM than in the TML group (1.92 vs. 1.37) while the EEF was higher in broilers fed on the TML diet (132.6 vs. 156.2). Albumin-to-globulin ratio was higher in broilers fed on SBM than in the other group (0.44 vs. 0.30). aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were higher in TML than SBM (195.1 vs. 178.6 U/l and 82.07 vs. 46.71 U/l, respectively). Uric acid was higher in broilers fed on SBM than TML (5.40 vs. 4.16 mg/dl). TML did not affect feed intake and growth rate of broilers from 30 to 62 d of age when compared to an isoproteic and isoenergetic SBM diet, but FCR of the TML group was more favourable than that of the SBM group. The lowest albumin-to-globulin ratio in broilers fed on TML suggests a higher immune response, probably due to the prebiotic effects of chitin.

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for the detection and differentiation of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar

Detection of Entamoeba histolytica and its differentiation from Entamoeba dispar is an important goal of the clinical parasitology laboratory. The aim of this study was the identification and differentiation of E. histolytica and E. dispar by MALDI-TOF MS, in order to evaluate the application of this technique in routine diagnostic practice. MALDI-TOF MS was applied to 3 amebic reference strains and to 14 strains isolated from feces that had been differentiated by molecular methods in our laboratory. Protein extracts from cultures of these strains (axenic cultures for the 3 reference strains and monoxenic cultures for the 14 field isolates) were analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS and the spectra obtained were analyzed by statistical software. Five peaks discriminating between E. histolytica and E. dispar reference strains were found by protein profile analysis: 2 peaks (8,246 and 8,303 Da) specific for E. histolytica and 3 (4,714; 5,541; 8,207 Da) for E. dispar. All clinical isolates except one showed the discriminating peaks expected for the appropriate species. For 2 fecal samples from which 2 strains (1 E. histolytica and 1 E. dispar) out of the 14 included in this study were isolated, the same discriminating peaks found in the corresponding isolated amebic strains were detected after only 12h (E. histolytica) and 24h (E. dispar) of incubation of the fecal samples in Robinson’s medium without serum. Our study shows that MALDI-TOF MS can be used to discriminate between E. histolytica and E. dispar using in vitro xenic cultures and it also could have potential for the detection of these species in clinical samples.

Lymph node evaluation in gallbladder cancer: which role in the prognostic and therapeutic aspects. Update of the literature

OBJECTIVE

The widespread use of laparoscopy has changed the outcome of gallbladder cancer as a consequence of increasing referral and incidental discovering of earlier stages cancer. Nevertheless, GBC is still associated with a poor prognosis and lymphnodal involvement is a main prognostic factor, important both for staging and for evaluating surgery quality. No consensus exists about the extension of lymphadenectomy to be performed nor about contraindications to extensive resection. A review of literature was so designed to identify the actual role, extension and limits of lymphadenectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A search on Pubmed and Scopus has been performed using the following keywords: gallbladder cancer, gallbladder neoplasm, surgery, laparoscopy, lymphadenectomy to evaluate the prognostic and the therapeutic role of the lymphadenectomy in gallbladder cancer. The retrieved articles were analyzed aimed to evaluate the impact of lymphectomy and of its extension on overall and disease free survival.

RESULTS

 Although no consensus still exists over the extension of ideal lymphadenectomy, some points are already clearly established: a part from T1a neoplasms, that do not require further surgery, and T1b for which a regional lymphectomy (N1) is safe and mandatory, more advanced stages require a more aggressive surgery but the fate of paraortic nodal station is still under evaluation. In fact some Authors still believe that the involvement of these nodes determine a so poor prognosis to make uselessly risky their surgical aggression. Other Authors conversely, show that there is not any difference in survival, among node positive patients, between paraortic node positive and no paraortic node positive patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The prognosis of gallbladder cancer remains poor because in most patients the diagnosis is made at an advanced stage. Complete surgical resection provides the only curative treatment option in this disease. In order to improve long-term outcome, several surgeons have advocated aggressive surgical resection, including major hepatectomy, pancreatoduodenectomy and extended lymphadenectomy. Even a para-aortic nodal disease shouldn't discourage from pursuing this objective.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: ultrasonic energy versus monopolar electrosurgical energy

OBJECTIVE

Nowadays, laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is undoubtedly considered the "gold standard" in the surgical treatment of symptomatic gallstones, gallbladder adenomas and acute cholecystitis. Among the alternative energy sources proposed (monopolar, bipolar electric scalpel, radiofrequency sealers) with the aim to dissect and/or seal, the ultrasonic energy has been frequently adopted, however without a widespread acceptance among surgeons for routine or emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This study investigates the possible beneficial aspects of ultrasonic dissection and its efficacy in the closure of the cystic artery and duct.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients were retrospectively divided into 2 groups according to the instruments used for division of the cystic artery and duct as well as for dissection of the liver bed: 121 patients in whom dissection and coagulation were performed using monopolar coagulation and 43 patients who were all treated with the ultrasonically activated scalpel harmonic ACE (Ethicon Endo-Surgery) as the sole instrument used in the whole procedure.

RESULTS

The mean operative time, was significantly shorter in the harmonic group than in the traditional group (35.36 + 10.15 min vs. 55.6+12.10 vs. respectively; p < 0.0001). The rate of gallbladder perforation was significantly higher in the traditional group than in the harmonic group 20.66% (25 patients) vs. 6.98% (3 patients), respectively; p < 0.05). Intraoperative volume blood loss was significantly more in the traditional group than in the HS group (29.32+14.21 vs. 12.41+8.22; p < 0.0001). The mean amount of postoperative drainage was not significantly different among the two group (18.41+6.54 vs. 15.96+8.69 ml, p > 0.05). No considerable visceral injury has been recorded in either group. The postoperative parameters observed included postoperative hospital stay and morbidity for each group. The hospital stay was not significantly shorter in harmonic group (48.15+4.29 vs. 49.06+2.94 h, p > 0.05). The overall morbidity rate was 14.02 % (not significant).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of the harmonic scalpel shows some statistically significant advantages limited to a few intraoperative parameters. We conclude that a wider use of harmonic scalpel not offers such advantages to make it the reference technique.

Prediction of digestible energy and gross energy digestibility of feeds and diets in ostriches

1. The aim of this study was to assess regression equations able to predict the digestible energy (DE) and gross energy digestibility (GEd) of feed ingredients and diets for ostriches. 2. Results of chemical-nutritional characteristics from 17 ingredients (two varieties of maize, two barleys, oat, triticale, wheat bran, soybean meal, sunflower meal, beet pulp, maize silage, alfalfa hay, 4 alfalfa meals and lupin) and 12 experimental diets were used in a stepwise procedure. 3. Acid detergent lignin (ADL) was the first independent variable included in the model to predict the DE of all the samples (R(2) = 0.65 and Residual Standard Deviation (RSD) 1.02). When the concentration of ash, acid detergent fibre (ADF) and crude fibre were included in the model, the R(2) value of the regression equation increased (from 0.65 to 0.85) and RSD decreased (from 1.02 to 0.48). 4. The ADL concentration was also the first independent variable chosen by the stepwise regression analysis for the estimation of GEd from chemical-nutritional characteristics of feeds, explaining 57% of the total GEd variation. The concentrations of crude protein and ADF included at the second and third steps in the model increased the R(2) (up to 0.70 and 0.73, respectively) and decreased the RSD values (from 0.29 to 0.21 and 0.20, respectively). When other variables as crude fibre, ash and gross energy were included in the model, the coefficient of determination and the RSD strongly improved (0.85 and 0.12, respectively).

Leptospira species and serovars identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry after database implementation

Background

Leptospirosis, a spirochaetal zoonotic disease of worldwide distribution, endemic in Europe, has been recognized as an important emerging infectious disease, though yet it is mostly a neglected disease which imparts its greatest burden on impoverished populations from developing countries. Leptospirosis is caused by the infection with any of the more than 230 serovars of pathogenic Leptospira sp. In this study we aimed to implement the MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) database currently available in our laboratory with Leptospira reference pathogenic (L. interrogans, L. borgpetersenii, L. kirschneri, L. noguchii), intermediate (L. fainei) and saprophytic (L. biflexa) strains of our collection in order to evaluate its possible application to the diagnosis of leptospirosis and to the typing of strains. This was done with the goal of understanding whether this methodology could be used as a tool for the identification of Leptospira strains, not only at species level for diagnostic purposes, but also at serovar level for epidemiological purposes, overcoming the limits of serological and molecular conventional methods. Twenty Leptospira reference strains were analysed by MALDI-TOF MS. Statistical analysis of the protein spectra was performed by ClinProTools software.

Results

The spectra obtained by the analysis of the reference strains tested were grouped into 6 main classes corresponding to the species analysed, highlighting species-specific protein profiles. Moreover, the statistical analysis of the spectra identified discriminatory peaks to recognize Leptospira strains also at serovar level extending previously published data.

Conclusions

In conclusion, we confirmed that MALDI-TOF MS could be a powerful tool for research and diagnostic in the field of leptospirosis with broad applications ranging from the detection and identification of pathogenic leptospires for diagnostic purposes to the typing of pathogenic and non-pathogenic leptospires for epidemiological purposes in order to enrich our knowledge about the epidemiology of the infection in different areas and generate control strategies.

Identification of Borrelia species after creation of an in-house MALDI-TOF MS database

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is a multisystemic disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (sl) complex transmitted to humans by Ixodes ticks. B. burgdorferi sl complex, currently comprising at least 19 genospecies, includes the main pathogenic species responsible for human disease in Europe: B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (ss), B. afzelii, and B. garinii. In this study, for the first time, MALDI-TOF MS was applied to Borrelia spp., supplementing the existing database, limited to the species B. burgdorferi ss, B.spielmanii and B. garinii, with the species B. afzelii, in order to enable the identification of all the species potentially implicated in LB in Europe. Moreover, we supplemented the database also with B. hermsii, which is the primary cause of tick-borne relapsing fever in western North America, B. japonica, circulating in Asia, and another reference strain of B. burgdorferi ss (B31 strain). The dendrogram obtained by analyzing the protein profiles of the different Borrelia species reflected Borrelia taxonomy, showing that all the species included in the Borrelia sl complex clustered in a unique branch, while Borrelia hermsii clustered separately. In conclusion, in this study MALDI-TOF MS proved a useful tool suitable for identification of Borrelia spp. both for diagnostic purpose and epidemiological surveillance.

Molecular modelling of HLA-B*35:132

Here we describe the molecular modelling of the new variant HLA-B*35:132. This allele shows one mismatch with B*35:01:01:01 in exon 3 at position 575 where a T is substituted by a C, which implies an amino acidic change from Leucine to Proline. This seems not to alter the molecular structure and not to compromise the HLA complex and T-cell receptor interaction.

Accurate identification of the six human Plasmodium spp. causing imported malaria, including Plasmodium ovale wallikeri and Plasmodium knowlesi

Background

Accurate identification of Plasmodium infections in non-endemic countries is of critical importance with regard to the administration of a targeted therapy having a positive impact on patient health and management and allowing the prevention of the risk of re-introduction of endemic malaria in such countries. Malaria is no longer endemic in Italy where it is the most commonly imported disease, with one of the highest rates of imported malaria among European non-endemic countries including France, the UK and Germany, and with a prevalence of 24.3% at the University Hospital of Parma. Molecular methods showed high sensitivity and specificity and changed the epidemiology of imported malaria in several non-endemic countries, highlighted a higher prevalence of Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium malariae underestimated by microscopy and, not least, brought to light both the existence of two species of P. ovale (Plasmodium ovale curtisi and Plasmodium ovale wallikeri) and the infection in humans by Plasmodium knowlesi, otherwise not detectable by microscopy.

Methods

In this retrospective study an evaluation of two real-time PCR assays able to identify P. ovale wallikeri, distinguishing it from P. ovale curtisi, and to detect P. knowlesi, respectively, was performed applying them on a subset of 398 blood samples belonging to patients with the clinical suspicion of malaria.

Results

These assays revealed an excellent analytical sensitivity and no cross-reactivity versus other Plasmodium spp. infecting humans, suggesting their usefulness for an accurate and complete diagnosis of imported malaria. Among the 128 patients with malaria, eight P. ovale curtisi and four P. ovale wallikeri infections were detected, while no cases of P. knowlesi infection were observed.

Discussion and conclusions

Real-time PCR assays specific for P. ovale wallikeri and P. knowlesi were included in the panel currently used in the University Hospital of Parma for the diagnosis of imported malaria, accomplishing the goal of adhering to the recommendations of the World Health Organization to countries that are malaria-free to include the improvement of the early diagnosis of all cases of imported malaria.

Dissemination metastasis after laparoscopic colorectal surgery versus conventional open surgery for colorectal cancer: a metanalysis

PURPOSE

The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate and compare the risk of dissemination metastasis (wound, port-side metastases and peritoneal seeding) after laparoscopic colorectal surgery and conventional open surgery for colorectal cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Authors searched relevant randomized controlled trials between January 1998 and July 2012.

RESULTS

Wound, port-site metastases and peritoneal seeding were rare and no significant differences occurred between the two groups. The port-site and extraction site recurrence were likely to be the results of suboptimal surgical techniques and occurred in the early phase of the learning curve. The authors also found no significant differences in overall, local and distant recurrences. No significant differences between laparoscopic and open surgery were found in cancer-related mortality during the follow up period of the study (7 RCTs, 3525 patients, 12.8% vs. 14.00%; OR (fixed) 0.83, 95% CI 0.68-1.02), with no significant heterogeneity (p = 0.35).

CONCLUSIONS

The literature supports the implementation of laparoscopic surgery into daily practice. Laparoscopic surgery can be used for safe and radical resection of cancer in the right, left, sigmoid colon and rectum. However further studies should address whether laparoscopic surgery is superior to open surgery in this setting.

A new real-time PCR for the detection of Plasmodium ovale wallikeri

It has been proposed that ovale malaria in humans is caused by two closely related but distinct species of malaria parasites: P. ovale curtisi and P. ovale wallikeri. We have extended and optimized a Real-time PCR assay targeting the parasite’s small subunit ribosomal RNA (ssrRNA) gene to detect both these species. When the assay was applied to 31 archival blood samples from patients diagnosed with P. ovale, it was found that the infection in 20 was due to P. ovale curtisi and in the remaining 11 to P. ovale wallikeri. Thus, this assay provides a useful tool that can be applied to epidemiological investigations of the two newly recognized distinct P. ovale species, that might reveal if these species also differ in their clinical manifestation, drugs susceptibility and relapse periodicity. The results presented confirm that P. ovale wallikeri is not confined to Southeast Asia, since the majority of the patients analyzed in this study had acquired their P. ovale infection in African countries, mostly situated in West Africa.

Identification of two novel HLA-A alleles: A*24:199 and A*02:324

Here, we describe two new HLA-A alleles: A*24:199 and A*02:324. The two new variants are attributed to a single nucleotide mutation namely A→C for A*24:199 and G→A for A*02:324. Both point mutations are responsible for a change in translated amino acids.

Diet and pancreatic cancer: many questions with few certainties

BACKGROUND, OBJECTIVES: Pancreatic cancer ranks fourth for cancer mortality for men and women in the United States. This is a particularly devastating cancer since the case-fatality proportion approaches 90% within 12 months following diagnosis. Therefore, understanding the etiology and identifying the risk factors are essential for the primary prevention of this deadly disease. Of the few potentially modifiable risk factors that have been identified, cigarette smoking, history of diabetes mellitus, and obesity seem to be among the most consistent, but the effect of dietary factors is still unclear. The aim of our study is to review of the literature examining the potential role of carbohydrates, fatty acids, meat, fruit and vegetables, alcohol.

DISCUSSION

Although large prospective cohort studies with questionnaire based analyses will continue to have much to offer in defining predisposing factors for difficult diseases, such as pancreatic cancer, unfortunately dietary questionnaires do not reflect the bioavailability of the nutrients from various foods, the level of absorption from the digestive tract, or individual differences in metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater use of participant-derived biological samples, banked plasma, germline DNA, and tumour tissue samples may help to the understanding of pancreatic cancer pathogenesis.

Adrenal pseudocyst as a cause of postpartum abdominal pain

Among adrenal masses only 0.06% to 0.18% are cysts and among them, pseudocysts are the second (39%) most common lesions. Due to the increased use of imaging studies their incidence seems to have increased. Most of these lesions are incidentally found during radiologic investigation or at the time of autopsy, and only rarely they are detected in pregnant women. The latter scenario warrants emergency surgery, due to the risk of rupture. We present a case of a 39-years old woman presenting with unrelenting left flank pain due to a large adrenal pseudocyst soon after her first delivery. Four months after, she presented to our surgical division for persistent pain and anemia so underwent an extensive work up that showed a large pseudocystic mass (8 x 8 cm ) of the left adrenal gland. Once the neoplastic and parasitic etiology of the lesion were excluded, she underwent uneventful laparoscopic adrenalectomy. She was discharged home three days postoperatively. This case is the 13th case in the English literature and at the same time is the first case of adrenal pseudocyst occurred four months after delivery.

Advanced magnetic resonance imaging of neuromyelitis optica: a multiparametric approach

BACKGROUND

Several authors have used advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to investigate whether patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) have occult damage in normal-appearing brain tissue, similarly to multiple sclerosis (MS). To date, the literature contains no data derived from the combined use of several advanced MRI techniques in the same NMO subjects.

OBJECTIVE

We set out to determine whether occult damage could be detected in the normal-appearing brain tissue of a small group of patients with NMO using a multiparametric MRI approach.

METHODS

Eight female patients affected by NMO (age range 44-58 years) and seven sex- and age-matched healthy controls were included. The techniques used on a 1.5 T MRI imaging scanner were magnetization transfer imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, tract-based spatial statistics, spectroscopy and voxel-based morphometry in order to analyse normal-appearing white matter and normal-appearing grey matter.

RESULTS

Structural and metabolic parameters showed no abnormalities in normal-appearing white matter of patients with NMO. Conversely, tract-based spatial statistics demonstrated a selective alteration of the optic pathways and the lateral geniculate nuclei. Diffusion tensor imaging values in the normal-appearing grey matter were found to be significantly different in the patients with NMO versus the healthy controls. Moreover, voxel-based morphometry analysis demonstrated a significant density and volume reduction of the sensorimotor cortex and the visual cortex.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data disclosed occult structural damage in the brain of patients with NMO, predominantly involving regions connected with motor and visual systems. This damage seems to be the direct consequence of transsynaptic degeneration triggered by lesions of the optic nerve and spine.

Fermentation kinetics of sainfoin hay with and without PEG

The in vitro gas production technique was applied to evaluate the biological activity of tannins in sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) hay cut at four progressive phenological stages. The buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) rumen fluid was used as inoculum, polyethylene glycol (PEG) was added as specific binding agent and an alfalfa hay (AH) was used as control. All samples were analysed for chemical composition and condensed tannin (CTs). According to the phenological stage of sainfoin, crude protein gradually decreased [from 219 to 122 g/kg dry matter (DM)] and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) increased (from 391 to 514 g/kg DM). Condensed tannins showed the highest value at the first phenological stage [31.5 mg catechin equivalents (CE)/g DM], and their level significantly decreased at the subsequent growth stages. Gas production and fermentation rate were significantly affected by substrate type and PEG addition. The first stage of sainfoin showed the lowest value of gas and volatile fatty acids production and the slowest fermentation kinetics compared with the other samples, when incubated without PEG, because of the CTs effect. The incubation with PEG improved the fermentation process of the first stage of sainfoin, but no effect was registered on AH, where CTs were not detected. Among the sainfoin samples, the slowest kinetics with PEG was observed in the hay harvested at the fourth stage, probably due to its chemical composition. The use of PEG allowed to verify the effect of tannins on the in vitro fermentation characteristics of sainfoin hay.

West Nile virus: the Italian national transplant network reaction to an alert in the north-eastern region, Italy 2011

We report four cases of West Nile virus (WNV) transmission following a single multiorgan donation in north-eastern Italy. The transmissions were promptly detected by local transplant centres. The donor had been tested for WNV by nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) prior to transplantation and was negative. There were no detected errors in the nationally implemented WNV safety protocols.

West Nile virus: the Italian national transplant network reaction to an alert in the north-eastern region, Italy 2011

We report four cases of West Nile virus (WNV) transmission following a single multiorgan donation in north-eastern Italy. The transmissions were promptly detected by local transplant centres. The donor had been tested for WNV by nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) prior to transplantation and was negative. There were no detected errors in the nationally implemented WNV safety protocols.

Presence of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato DNA in samples of subjects in an area of the Northern Italy in the period 2002-2008

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is a multisystemic disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex transmitted to humans by Ixodes ticks and whose epidemiology is poorly investigated in Europe. In this study an epidemiologic survey on the prevalence of the causative agent of such infectious disease was performed in the area of Parma (Northern Italy) during 2002-2008. Serum samples belonging to 2336 patients and cerebrospinal fluid samples (belonging to 42 of the same patients) were analyzed for serologic diagnosis of LB. Direct laboratory assays [polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cultivation] were performed on samples belonging to patients with the clinical suspicion of LB. The seroprevalence was 0.55% considering the subjects with both anti-B. burgdorferi IgG and IgM. The samples tested by culture and PCR were all negative except for a tick removed from the skin of a healthy man. The results suggest that infection by B. burgdorferi in this area quite rarely occurs.

Influence of replacing corn silage with barley silage in the diets of buffalo cows on milk yield and quality

A 150-day trial was carried out on 40 Italian Mediterranean buffalo cows that, immediately after calving, were equally divided into two homogeneous groups (M and O) based on the number of calving events and previous milk yield. The animals were fed (16 kg dry matter (DM)/head) two isoenergy/isoprotein diets (NEl: 6.39 MJ/kg DM; 15.4 CP% DM), composed of corn (diet M) or barley silage (diet O) concentrate, alfalfa hay, and a vitamin-mineral supplement. The fermentation characteristics of both silage diets were evaluated by an in vitro gas production technique, and their nutritional values were calculated as follows: NEl (MJ/kg DM) = 0.54 + 0.0959 GP + 0.0038 CP + 0.0001733 CP(2), where GP is the gas production after 24 h of incubation (ml/200 mg DM) and CP is the protein content of silage (g/kg DM). The nutritional values of the silages were slightly different (4.16 vs. 4.14 MJ/kg DM for M and O, respectively) likely due to the high content of hemicellulose in the O diet (22.0 vs. 16.9%). Average milk yield did not differ between the groups; instead, milk fat (8.39 vs. 9.06%; P < 0.01) and protein (4.41 vs. 4.60%; P < 0.01) levels were significantly higher in the O group. The results elicit great interest in southern Italy where corn cultivation is adversely affected by the high cost of irrigation.