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The aims of this study were to assess the efficacy of alphacypermethrin (ACYP) on pediculosis due to Haematopinus tuberculatus and to evaluate the influence of the treatment on productive and reproductive performance in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) reared in an intensive system. The trial was performed on 56 pluriparous buffaloes at 86.8 ± 8.1 d in milk. The animals underwent individual louse count and were divided into 2 homogenous groups according to louse count, age, number of lactations, days in milk, live BW, BCS, pregnancy status, and milk yield. Group A (n = 28) was treated by a pour-on formulation of ACYP, and Group S (n = 28) was treated by pour-on saline solution. Individual louse counts were performed weekly on 10 buffaloes in each group. Feed intake was recorded daily and the total mixed ration, individual ingredients, and orts were analyzed to calculate DM ingestion. Individual milk yield was recorded daily and milk samples were analyzed at the beginning of the trial, after 4 wk, and at the end of the trial to assess milk composition. Individual BCS was also evaluated simultaneously. Finally, the animals underwent synchronization of ovulation starting 4 wk after treatment and the pregnancy rate and the calving-conception interval were evaluated. Data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney test and ANOVA for repeated measures. The infestation was constant in Group S, whereas no lice were present in Group A throughout the study. Daily DMI was similar in the 2 groups (16.7 ± 0.4 vs. 16.3 ± 0.3 kg/d in Group A vs. Group S, respectively), although buffaloes in Group A showed higher (P < 0.05) BCS score at the end of the trial (7.39 ± 0.1 vs. 7.14 ± 0.1 in Group A vs. Group S, respectively). The average milk yield/buffalo was higher (P < 0.05) in Group A compared to Group S (10.58 ± 0.1 vs. 10.39 ± 0.1 kg in Group A vs. Group S, respectively) and this was mainly due to the higher milk production recorded in buffaloes at less than 75 d in milk (11.81 ± 0.1 vs. 11.45 ± 0.1 kg in Group A vs. Group S, respectively). Despite of a similar fertility rate (90.5 vs. 80.9% in Group A vs. Group S, respectively), a lower (P < 0.05) calving-conception interval was recorded in Group A compared to Group S (118 ± 16 vs. 177 ± 16 d in Group A vs. Group S, respectively). In addition to the pour-on treatment against pediculosis, productive and reproductive performance were also improved. This represents a significant improvement in dairy buffalo herd management.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of tulathromycin in the control of respiratory diseases (BRD) in buffalo calves. The trial was performed in one buffalo farm located in the South of Italy where more than 2,000 animals are bred. An outbreak of BRD was considered when the animals showed three of the following criteria: rectal temperature >39.8°C, depression score >2 on a scale of 0 (alert) to 4 (soporous), respiratory rate >60 ⁄ min), dyspnoea (abnormal lung sounds) and cough or nasal discharge. A nasal swab was performed for microbiological investigations. After the results of the latter animals were treated with a standard therapeutic regimen on D 0, which consists of 2.5 mg/kg/live weight of tulathromycin (Draxxin®, Zoetis SRL, Italy) in a single administration. Daily clinical examinations were performed on treated calves for fourteen consecutive days to evaluate: A) depression score and general health status with a score from 0 (normal) to 4 (general conditions severely impaired); B) respiratory distress with a score from 0 (no alterations) to 3 (respiratory rate >80⁄min, abdominal breath and nasal discharge) and C) rectal temperature with a score from 0 (normal; 38.8-39°C) to 3 (> 40.3°C). Data were analyzed by analysis of variance. A total of 81 calves (53 females and 28 males) were included in the study. Bacteriological cultures revealed the presence of Pasteurella M. and Moraxella spp. in 53.1 and 38.3% of the samples, respectively. The average A, B and C scores were 2.24±0.1, 1.85±0.1 and 1.78±0.1 on day 0. Treatment was effective in solving the BRD in four days (Scores A, B and C = 0) in 79/81 calves (97.5%), and, consequently, 2/81 (2.5%) mortality rate was recorded. In conclusion, treatment with tulathromycin is highly effective in the control of the BRD in buffalo calves.

The trial was performed on 18 multiparous Mediterranean buffaloes, pre-synchronized by a double injection of 0.524 mg of PGF2α. Animals were divided into two groups (A and B), that underwent two superovulation (SO) treatments, starting 8 days after estrus (day 0): Group A (n=9) received a 4-days double daily decreasing dosage of 400 mg NIH-FSH-P1 (Folltropin®, Bio98, Italy). Group B (n=9) received the same treatment as Group A for the first 2 days, and a single injection of 1000 IU of eCG (Ciclogonina®, Fortdodge, Italy). On day 10 all buffaloes received a double injection of 0.524 mg of PGF2α to induce luteolysis. Ultrasound follicular development was assessed daily on each buffalo from the start of the SO treatments until 48 hours after estrus detection to record the total number of the follicles, grouped into 3 categories according to their diameter: small (between 0.20 and 0.50 cm), medium (between 0.51 and 1.00 cm) and large (more than 1.01 cm). The statistical analysis was carried out by using the chi-square test and the analysis of variance. Buffaloes in Group B showed a higher (P

INTRODUZIONE – I polifenoli sono una famiglia di sostanze largamente rappresentate nel mondo vegetale, caratterizzate dalla presenza di molteplici gruppi fenolici associati in strutture più o meno complesse di alto peso molecolare. Sono considerati degli antiossidanti naturali, agendo da "scavengers" dei radicali liberi, soprattutto perossilici, rompendone la catena di formazione e legandosi ad essi per neutralizzarli. Inoltre agiscono da "quenchers" nei confronti dei ROS e dei RNS e da chelanti di metalli (Rice-Evans et al., 1997). Presentano numerose funzioni biologiche, tra cui proprietà anti-infiammatorie, anti-aterogene, anti-virali e anti-carcinogeniche (Obied et al., 2005). Negli ultimi anni, le industrie alimentari si stanno indirizzando verso l’impiego di antiossidanti naturali nelle formulazioni alimentari, allo scopo di ritardare l’ossidazione lipidica e migliorare la qualità e il valore nutrizionale dei prodotti finiti (Fasseas et al., 2007). Per la carne è possibile migliorarne la qualità e la shelf-life attraverso l’impiego degli antiossidanti nella fase di pre-macellazione, incorporandoli nella dieta degli animali. Scopo del presente studio è stato di valutare l’effetto dei polifenoli nella fase di post-svezzamento in termini di incremento ponderale giornaliero (IPG), peso alla macellazione, caratteristiche istologiche del tratto gastroenterico e caratteristiche della carne. MATERIALI E METODI – La prova è stata condotta su 9 capretti maschi di razza Saanen, ed ha avuto una durata di 90 gg. I capretti sono stati suddivisi in 3 gruppi omogenei per peso ed età al momento dello svezzamento (40 gg): Gruppo A (n=3), alimentato con una razione standard; Gruppo B (n=3), alimentato con la razione standard e integrazione di polifenoli in polvere; Gruppo C (n=3), alimentato con la razione standard e integrazione di polifenoli in capsule. I polifenoli sono stati ottenuti da un trattamento effettuato su acque di vegetazione provenienti da frantoio, con sistema di estrazione continuo a tre fasi. Gli animali sono stati pesati ogni 10 giorni e sono stati calcolati i diversi IPG (Tab. 1). Al momento della macellazione si è valutata la resa al macello e sono stati prelevati campioni di longissimus dorsi per l’analisi delle caratteristiche chimiche e reologiche della carne. I dati sono stati analizzati mediante il SAS. Tab 1 – Incrementi ponderali e peso alla macellazione medio nei 3 gruppi di capretti. Peso Nas. (kg) Peso Svez. (kg) Peso Macel. (kg) IPG nas-svez (gr) IPG svez-macel (gr) IPG totale (gr) A 2,23 6,73 10,83 70 40 90 B 2,27 6,67 15,57 70 90 140 C 2,27 6,83 14,60 70 80 130 RISULTATI E CONSIDERAZIONI – Non sono emerse differenze in termini di peso alla macellazione e IPG tra i tre gruppi, sebbene valori più elevati siano stati osservati nei gruppi trattati con polifenoli (Tab 1). La resa alla macellazione è stata mediamente del 48,6% senza differenze tra i gruppi. Anche le caratteristiche chimiche della carne sono risultate simili (Tab 2), sebbene i soggetti dei gruppi B e C abbiano mostrato una maggior (P

In this study, we report ghrelin and leptin immunoreactive (ir) cells distribution in the gastrointestinal tract and blood ghrelin and leptin levels in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii) fed diets with different fatty acid compositions. Juvenile rainbow trout and Murray cod were fed five iso-energetic experimental diets containing fish oil (FO) or one of the following vegetable oils (VO): olive oil (OO), sunflower oil (SO), linseed oil (LO), and palm oil (PO); as the added dietary lipid source. The presence and distribution of both ghrelin and leptin ir cells in the gastrointestinal tract were affected by the inclusion of VO. Ghrelin ir cells were found in the gastric glands of rainbow trout and in the mioenteric plexuses of the stomach of Murray cod fed FO. Ghrelin ir cells were localized in the mucosa of the intestine of rainbow trout and Murray cod fed VO. Leptin ir cells were more abundant in the epithelial lining of the mucosa folds and in the glands of the stomach of rainbow trout fed VO. Leptin immunoreactivity was detected in the gastric mioenteric plexus of Murray cod fed FO. No differences were found both in ghrelin and leptin levels in blood plasma or in the growth rates of rainbow trout and Murray cod fed the different experimental diets. These observations suggest that dietary fatty acids play a role in the peripheral feeding regulation.