Sexual dimorphism is a well-documented phenomenon observed at all levels of the animal kingdom, with the inclusion of both sexes in clinical trials and basic research becoming mandatory. Regarding parasitosis, in several animal species, the signs and virulence of the disease may change depending on the sex of the affected animal. In the cestodiasis caused by Taenia solium and Taenia crassiceps, females are more susceptible to experimental infection than males. Cysticercosis by Taenia pisiformis in rabbits has acquired relevance due to its economic impact, namely affecting welfare and production. In America, specifically in Mexico, there are no formal reports on the infection with T. pisiformis metacestodes in populations of wild rabbits, despite being the country with more endemic species (about 15 species), among them, the volcanoes rabbits or the endangered teporingo (Romerolagus diazi). In this study, 31 wild rabbits were obtained by hunters of some regions of Morelos state during several hunting seasons, and sex, physiological stage, and number of metacestodes were recorded. A high frequency of infection by T. pisiformis metacestodes (67.7%) was found. Also, a higher susceptibility to this infection was observed in does (80% infected) compared to bucks (40%), finding 84.2% of metacestodes (235 metacestodes) in does and 15.8% of metacestodes (44 metacestodes) in bucks. The percentage of infection was higher in lactating compared with pregnant and non-pregnant does, with metacestodes lodging mainly in the uterus. Increasing our knowledge regarding parasitic infections can help us better understand transmission circles as well as the parasite-host interaction of these increasingly at risk rabbit species.

No abstract

No abstract

A decrease in fertility can have a negative economic impact, both locally and over a broader geographical scope, and this is especially the case with regard to the cattle industry. Therefore, much interest exists in evaluating proteins that might be able to increase the fertility of sperm. Heparin binding proteins (HBPs), specifically the fertility associated antigen (FAA) and the Type-2 tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-2), act to favor the capacitation and acrosome reaction and perhaps even modulate the immune system’s response toward the sperm. The objective of this research was to determine the effect on fertility of adding recombinant FAA (rFAA) and recombinant TIMP-2 (rTIMP-2) to bovine semen before cryopreservation for use in an artificial insemination (AI) program in a tropical environment. For this experiment, 100 crossbred (Bos taurus x Bos indicus) heifers were selected based on their estrus cycle, body condition score (BCS), of 4 to 6 on a scale of 1 to 9, and adequate anatomical conformation evaluated by pelvic and genital (normal) measurements. Heifers were synchronized using estradiol benzoate (EB), Celosil® (PGF2α) (Shering-Plough) and a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) device was inserted that contained progesterone. Inseminations were performed in two groups at random, 50 animals per group. The control group was inseminated with conventional semen. The treatment group was inseminated with semen containing rFAA (25 µg/mL) and rTIMP-2 (25 µg/mL). In the control group a 16% pregnancy rate was obtained versus a 40% pregnancy rate for the HBP treatment group, resulting in a significant difference (P = 0.0037). Given the results herein, one may conclude that the HBPs can increase fertility and could be an option for cattle in tropical conditions; however, one needs to consider the environment, nutrition, and the genetic interaction affecting the final result in whatever reproductive program that is implemented.

BackgroundThe mite Psoroptes cuniculi is a common worldwide ectoparasite and the most frequently found in rabbit farms. It causes significant economic losses on commercial rabbit breeding associated with poor leather quality, reduced conception rates, weight loss, poor growth and death. Several strategies have been proposed for the treatment of mange caused by this mite, ranging from the use of acaricides, entomopathogenic fungi, essential oils and vaccines. However, therapy and control of both human scabies and animal mange are still based mainly on the use of drugs and chemicals such as ivermectin, which involves disadvantages including genotoxic and cytotoxic effects, resistance and environmental damage. Bacillus thuringiensis is a bacterium, innocuous for human being, domestic animals and plants that produces highly biodegradable proteins, and has been used worldwide for biological control. The aim of this work was to find an alternative treatment based on biological control for scabies caused by Psoroptes cuniculi, using protein extracts from strains of Bacillus thuringiensis.MethodsP. cuniculi mites were obtained from naturally infected New Zealand rabbits, and different doses of protein from B. thuringiensis were added to the mites. We measured mortality and obtained the median lethal concentration and median lethal times. For histological analysis, the mites were fixed in 10 % formalin, processed according to the paraffin embedded tissue technique. Sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin to observe the general histological structure.ResultsWe report here for the first time evidence about the in vitro acaricidal effect caused by the strain GP532 of B. thuringiensis on the mite Psoroptes cuniculi, with an LC50 of 1.3 mg/ml and a LT50 of 68 h. Histological alterations caused by B. thuringiensis on this mite, included the presence of dilated intercellular spaces in the basal membrane, membrane detachment of the peritrophic matrix and morphological alterations in columnar cells of the intestine.ConclusionsSince this mite is an obligate ectoparasite that affects rabbits, goats, horses, cows and sheep, B. thuringiensis protein extracts are proposed as a potential treatment for biological control of mange in farm animals.

A B S T R A C TPhytoestrogens are plant-derived compounds having similar effects to estrogens. Several phytostrogen groups have been identified being the most characteristics the isoflavones like genistein, coumestans like coumestrol, and lignans represented by the enterolactone. Depending on the doses, they can act as agonists or antagonists of steroidal hormones. This apparently bimodal function is due to their capacity to interact with the alpha form of the estrogen receptor (ERα) in several organs of the female reproductive tract and to the beta form ERβ present in prostate, testis, ovaries, limph nodes and brain regions. It has been observed that an increase in genistein or coumestrol induces an increase in haemorrhagic follicles, miscarriages, LH-FSH surge suppression and even estrogenic syndrome, whereas in males, induces alterations in testis development and a decrease in sperm count. In this review, a panoramic view of the actual research of phytostrogen impact on the reproductive function and perspectives mainly for domestic animals is presented. R E S U M E NLos fitoestrógenos son substancias de origen vegetal con propiedades similares a los estrógenos. Se han identificado diferentes grupos de fitoestrógenos entre los que destacan las isoflavonas como la genisteina, los coumestanos como el coumestrol, y los lignanos representados por la enterolactona. Estos compuestos actúan como agonistas o como antagonistas de las hormonas esteroidales dependiendo de la dosis que se utilice. Esta acción aparentemente contradictoria se debe a su capacidad para unirse como ligandos a los receptores estrogénicos alfa (ERα) del útero, glán-dula mamaria, sistema cardiovascular y hueso, y con mayor afinidad a los receptores estrogénicos beta (ERβ) presentes en próstata, ovarios, testículos, tracto urinario, tejido linfoide y algunas regiones del cerebro como el hipotálamo. Se ha observado que a medida que se incrementa la dosis de genisteína y coumestrol, se inducen folículos hemorrágicos, abortos, síndrome estrogénico, y supresión de picos de hormona luteinizante (LH) en las hembras, mientras que en los machos se altera el desarrollo testicular y disminuye el recuento de espermatozoides. En esta revisión se presenta un panorama del estado actual de las investigaciones respecto a las implicaciones de los fitoestrógenos sobre la reproducción y sus perspectivas de estudio, poniendo énfasis en su importancia en los animales domésticos.

No abstract

No abstract