Serum metabolomics assessment of etiological processes predisposing ketosis in water buffalo during early lactation

Metabolic disorders as ketosis are manifestations of the animal's inability to manage the increase in energy requirement during early lactation. Generally, buffaloes show a different response to higher metabolic demands than other ruminants with a lower incidence of metabolic problems, although ketosis is one of the major diseases that may decrease the productivity in buffaloes. The aim of this study was to characterize the metabolic profile of Mediterranean buffaloes (MB) associated with 2 different levels of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). Sixty-two MB within 50 days in milk (DIM) were enrolled and divided into 2 groups according to serum BHB concentration: healthy group (37 MB; BHB <0.70 mmol/L; body condition score: 5.00; parity: 3.78; and DIM: 30.70) and group at risk of hyperketonemia (25 MB; BHB ≥0.70 mmol/L; body condition score: 4.50; parity: 3.76; and DIM: 33.20). The statistical analysis was conducted by one-way ANOVA and unpaired 2-sample Wilcoxon tests. Fifty-seven metabolites were identified and among them, 12 were significant or tended to be significant. These metabolites were related to different metabolic changes such as mobilization of body resources, ruminal fermentations, urea cycle, thyroid hormone synthesis, inflammation, and oxidative stress status. These findings are suggestive of metabolic changes related to subclinical ketosis status that should be further investigated to better characterize this disease in the MB.

Food contamination by PCBs and waste disposal crisis: Evidence from goat milk in Campania (Italy)

AIM

The study aims at investigating whether, and if so, to what extent the strong presence of urban and industrial waste in a territory may cause PCB contamination in goat milk produced therein.

METHODS

We compared PCB concentrations in goat milk from three different locations in the Campania region (Italy). One of the three locations, together with its surrounding area, has long suffered from illegal waste disposal and burning mainly by the so-called Ecomafia. The other locations, not involved in these illegal activities, allowed us to create a control group of goats with characteristics very similar to those of main interest.

RESULTS

In milk from the waste contaminated area we identified high PCB concentrations (six indicator PCBs amounted to 170 ng g^-1 on lipid weight, on average), whereas there was an almost total absence of such pollutants in milk from the control group. Concentrations of the six indicator PCBs were above the current European maximum residue limit fixed by the EU. At the same time, we found a lower average value of lipid content and a negative relationship between lipid content and PCB concentrations.

CONCLUSION

Evidence indicates the potential health risk for consumers living in areas involved in illegal dumping of waste.

Short communication: Role of Streptococcus pluranimalium in Mediterranean buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) with different udder health statuses

The aims of the current study were to describe presence and clinical role over time of Streptococcus pluranimalium isolated in milk samples of Mediterranean buffalo (MB). Two hundred composite milk samples originating from 40 primiparous MB were collected at 10, 30, 60, 90, and 150d in milk (DIM) and from 20 pluriparous MB at 77 to 120 DIM. Milk samples were used for analysis of somatic cell counts, bacteriological cultures, and identification (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry). Nine of 200 (4.5%) samples of primiparous MB and 3 of 20 (15%) samples of pluriparous MB were positive for Strep. pluranimalium. The prevalence of the bacterium in primipari was 0% (0/40) at 10, 30, and 150 DIM, whereas it was 5 (2/40) and 17.5% (7/40) at 60 and 90 DIM, respectively. Eight primipari were positive only once, whereas 1 was positive at 2 different samplings. Mono-infection was not detected in any of the age categories or udder health status. Infections were transient in primipari. Clinical mastitis was observed in primipari once at 90 DIM, subclinical mastitis detected twice in the same animals at 60 and 90 DIM, and intramammary infections were diagnosed 1 and 5 times at 60 and 90 DIM in primipari, respectively, whereas 3 infections were diagnosed in pluripari. The clinical reflections demonstrate for the first time the presence of Strep. pluranimalium in MB and its association with different udder health status. Nevertheless, it cannot be excluded that the bacterium may simply follow a pattern of commensal or opportunistic behavior, taking advantage of a preexisting bacterial udder infection.

Impact of surgical ventricular restoration on ventricular shape, wall stress, and function in heart failure patients

Surgical ventricular restoration (SVR) was designed to treat patients with aneurysms or large akinetic walls and dilated ventricles. Yet, crucial aspects essential to the efficacy of this procedure like optimal shape and size of the left ventricle (LV) are still debatable. The objective of this study is to quantify the efficacy of SVR based on LV regional shape in terms of curvedness, wall stress, and ventricular systolic function. A total of 40 patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and after SVR. Both short-axis and long-axis MRI were used to reconstruct end-diastolic and end-systolic three-dimensional LV geometry. The regional shape in terms of surface curvedness, wall thickness, and wall stress indexes were determined for the entire LV. The infarct, border, and remote zones were defined in terms of end-diastolic wall thickness. The LV global systolic function in terms of global ejection fraction, the ratio between stroke work (SW) and end-diastolic volume (SW/EDV), the maximal rate of change of pressure-normalized stress (dσ*/dt(max)), and the regional function in terms of surface area change were examined. The LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes were significantly reduced, and global systolic function was improved in ejection fraction, SW/EDV, and dσ*/dt(max). In addition, the end-diastolic and end-systolic stresses in all zones were reduced. Although there was a slight increase in regional curvedness and surface area change in each zone, the change was not significant. Also, while SVR reduced LV wall stress with increased global LV systolic function, regional LV shape and function did not significantly improve.