Meat quality and intramuscular fatty acid composition of Sanfratellano and Haflinger foals.

The goal of the trial was to evaluate meat quality, with an emphasis on intramuscular fatty acid composition, of Sanfratellano foals, compared to that from Haflinger foals,both slaughtered at 18 months of age. Thirty foals, half of Sanfratellano breed and half of Haflinger breed, naturally weaned at 7-8 months, were divided into two homogeneous groups at 15 months of age and fed a finishing diet based on polyphite hay and concentrate. The finishing period lasted three months. Sanfratellano foals showed higher slaughter weight (P<0.05) as well carcass weight (P<0.05) compared to Haflinger foals. Meat physical and proximate analyses did not discriminate the two groups. Normal pH values (5.6-5.7) measured at 4-6 day post mortem were recorded in meat from both groups. Shear force values accounted (range 55-58N) for a favourable tenderness in both groups. The intramuscular fat level was low in both groups (<2.5%) supporting the healthy image of this meat. The proportion of linolenic acid was higher (P<0.01) in Haflinger meat than in Sanfratellano one, thus causing a higher (P<0.05) total n-3 fatty acid content. Overall meat from both groups showed a favourable repartition among saturated (36-37% total FAME's), monounsaturated (33% total FAME's) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (30-31% total FAME's).

Bilateral malignant seminoma with metastases in the mule: a report of two cases.

We report two cases of bilateral malignant seminoma in the bursula testium of two mules, which had been slaughtered normally. Histologically, the testicular tumours consisted predominantly of large round to polyhedral cells with frequent mitotic figures. Metastases were found in the sublumbar lymph nodes. A final histopathological diagnosis of malignant seminoma with metastasis was made. To our knowledge, this paper appears to be the first report of two cases of bilateral malignant seminoma with metastases, in the mule.

Primary pleomorphic liposarcoma of the liver in a dog.

A rare case of primary pleomorphic liposarcoma of the liver in an 8-year-old female German shepherd dog is described. The liver tumour, measuring 10x12x5 cm, was located in the right hepatic lobe. The diagnosis of pleomorphic liposarcoma was based on the morphological and immunohistochemical features of the tumour cells. To our knowledge, this is the second case of primary liposarcoma of the liver in the dog found in the veterinary literature.

Bilateral testicular Leydig cells tumour in a donkey.

A rare case of a bilateral Leydig cells tumour located in the testis of a 15-year-old donkey slaughtered normally is presented. Histologically, the testicular tumour showed neoplastic Leydig cells arranged in solid growth as a pseudoadenomatous packet type. To our knowledge, this is the first bilateral Leydig cells tumour, a neoplasm never reported in the donkey.

Influence of ewe feeding systems on fatty acid composition of suckling lambs.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of ewe dietary treatments on the intramuscular fatty acid composition of suckling lambs. Twenty-four pregnant Italian Merino ewes were divided into two equal groups. One group (pasture-fed group) was allowed to graze a natural pasture and the other group (stall-fed group) was penned indoors and fed with hay and concentrate. After lambing, all ewes stayed with their respective lambs for the whole experimental period. Lambs were slaughtered at 100 days of age with an average live weight of 20kg. Fatty acid profiles of milk and lamb meat (longissimus lumborum muscle) were analysed. Intramuscular fat from pasture-fed lambs showed higher (P<0.001) proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The percentage of lauric (C12:0; P<0.05), palmitic (C16.0; P<0.001) and oleic (C18.1; P<0.001) fatty acids were higher in the intramuscular fat from stall-fed lambs, whereas pasture-fed lambs showed greater proportions of linolenic (C18:3; P<0.001), eicosapentaenoic (C20:5; P<0.001) and docosapentaenoic (C22:5; P<0.05) fatty acids. Moreover, the intramuscular fat from pasture-fed lambs displayed a higher (P<0.001) PUFA/SFA ratio, and a lower (p<0.001) n-6/n-3 ratio. The conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) tended to be higher (P=0.07) in the intramuscular fat from pasture-fed lambs. This study confirmed that pasture enhanced the unsaturated fatty acid profile of intramuscular fat in lambs including n-3 fatty acids.

Glomangioma in the prepuce of a dog.

A case of preputial glomangioma in an 8-year-old Springer Spaniel dog is reported. The dog presented a solitary nodular mass, approximately 3.5 x 5.2 cm in diameter, located on the lateral wall of the prepuce at the base of the penis. Histologically, the excised tumour mass consisted of proliferating round epithelioid cells arranged in a cordon-like structure around small blood vessels. The neoplastic cells were positive for alpha smooth muscle actin and negative for cytokeratin, desmin, S-100 protein and neurone-specific enolase. Based on these pathologic features, the tumour was diagnosed as glomangioma, a neoplasm extremely rare in dogs. To our knowledge, this is the first report of preputial glomangioma in the dog.

Lamb meat quality as affected by a natural or artificial milk feeding regime.

Fourteen Barbaresca lambs were divided into two groups of seven at 24h from birth and reared exclusively on natural milk (NR) or on artificial milk (AR). Lambs were slaughtered at 40 days of age. The NR group tended (P<0.10) to grow faster, thus resulting in a higher (P<0.10) carcass weight as compared to the AR group. AR meat was darker (P<0.05), leaner (P<0.001) and with a higher moisture (P<0.10) and ash (P<0.05) content than its counterpart. The proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids was higher (P<0.01), while that of saturated lower (P<0.01) in meat from the AR group, resulting in a higher (P<0.01) polyunsaturated/saturated ratio. Linoleic acid content (P<0.001) and its n-6 series derivatives, except 9-12 trans C18:2 n-6 (P<0.001), increased more in the AR group meat than in the NR group. On the other hand, α-linolenic (P<0.001) and other n-3 series fatty acids were higher in meat from the NR group than in the AR group, leading to a lower (P<0.001) n-6/n-3 ratio. Furthermore, 9 cis 11 trans CLA was higher (P<0.001) in NR meat compared to AR meat. Finally, a milk-feeding regime exclusively based on artificial milk adversely affected the dietetic value of lamb meat compared to a natural rearing system, reducing the level of desirable fatty acids such as n-3 series and CLA.

Benign fibrous histiocytoma of prepuce in the mule.

Here we present a case of preputial benign fibrous histiocytoma in a 7-year-old mule. This case was treated surgically. Pathologic analysis and diagnosis of these lesions were based on a combination of light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Histologically, the tumour was composed primarily of a storiform pattern of fibroblastic and poligonal cells. In immunohistochemistry, except for consistent immunoreactivity for vimentin, nearly all tumour cells were positive for CD68, S-100 protein, pan-cytokeratin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and desmin. Benign fibrous histiocytoma of the prepuce in mule is rarely reported in veterinary literature.

Citrus pulp as an ingredient in ostrich diet: effects on meat quality.

The purpose of this trial was to study the effects of citrus pulp inclusion in ostrich diets on meat quality, evaluated on iliofibularis and gastrocnemius muscles. M. iliofibularis had a lower ultimate pH (P<0.05) and was lighter in colour (P<0.05) than M. gastrocnemius. The latter had higher moisture (P<0.05) and lower crude protein contents (P<0.05) as compared to M. iliofibularis. M. gastrocnemius had a lower proportion of C14:0 (P<0.05), C16:0 (P<0.05) and C16:1 (P<0.05) and a higher percentage of C18:0 (P<0.05), C20:2ω6 (P<0.05), C20:4ω6 (P<0.05) and C20:5ω3 (P<0.05) than M. iliofibularis. Citrus pulp diet increased (P<0.05) meat ultimate pH and reduced cooking losses (P<0.05) as compared to the control diet. Meat from animals given citrus pulp had lower crude fat (P<0.05) and ash percentages (P<0.05) in comparison to that from the control group. The proportions of intramuscular saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were lower (P<0.05) in the citrus pulp group as compared to the control one. Meat from the citrus pulp treatment group had a higher (P<0.05) percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids than meat from the control treatment. In particular, meat from ostriches given citrus pulp diet exhibited higher C18:2ω6 (P<0.05) and C20:4ω6 (P<0.05) contents that accounted for a higher ω6/ω3 ratio (P<0.05) as compared to the control group. Overall, the use of a citrus pulp-included diet in ostrich feeding did not adversely affect meat quality and, therefore, citrus pulp seems to be a possible ingredient to reduce feeding costs.

Reinke's crystals in an interstitial cell tumour of a rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

One case of interstitial cell tumour in the testicle of a New Zealand White rabbit was reported. The rabbit was 9-years old and had monolateral testicular lesion. There was enlargement of left testis and the lesion were seen on the cut surface. Light microscopy revealed intracytoplasmic crystals of Reinke that resembled to the features observed for this tumour in human. Immunohistochemically, this tumour was positive for vimentin.

Survey of the occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in dairy products marketed in Italy: second year of observation.

During 1996, 161 samples of milk, 92 samples of dry milk for infant formula and 120 samples of yoghurt, were randomly collected in supermarkets and drug stores in four big Italian cities, and checked for aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) by immunoaffinity column extraction and HPLC. AFM1 was detected in 125 (78%) of milk samples (ranging from < 1 ng/l to 23.5 ng/l; mean level: 6.28 ng/l), in 49 (53%) of dry milk samples (ranging from <1 ng/l to 79.6 ng/kg; mean level: 32.2 ng/kg) and in 73 (61%) of yoghurt samples (ranging from <1 ng/kg to 32.1 ng/kg; mean level: 9.06 ng/kg). Altogether, only four samples of dry milk were over the legal limits established by the EC in 1999. It is concluded that during 1996, despite the widespread occurrence of AFM1, mean contamination levels in dairy products sold in Italy were not a serious human health hazard.

Survey of the occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in dairy products marketed in Italy.

During 1995, 159 samples of milk, 97 samples of dry milk for infant formula, and 114 samples of yogurt were randomly collected in supermarkets and drug stores in four large Italian cities and checked for aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) by immunoaffinity column extraction and HPLC. AFM1 was detected in 136 (86%) of the milk samples (in amounts ranging from < 1 ng/liter to 108.5 ng/liter; mean level: 10.19 ng/liter), in 81 (84%) of the dry milk samples (in amounts ranging from < 1 ng/liter to 101.3 ng/kg; mean level: 21.77 ng/kg), and in 91 (80%) of the yogurt samples (in amounts ranging from < 1 ng/liter to 496.5 ng/liter; mean level: 18.08 ng/liter). Altogether, only two samples of milk, two samples of yogurt, and one sample of dry milk had levels of AFM1 exceeding the Swiss legal limits, which are the most restrictive in the world. AFM1 contamination levels in milk and yogurt samples collected in the period of November to April were ca. four times as high as those in samples collected in the period of May to October. It is concluded that during 1995, despite the widespread occurrence of AFM1, the mean contamination levels in dairy products sold in Italy were not a serious human health hazard.