Behavior and performance of sows fed different levels of fiber and reared in individual cages or collective pens.

Sixteen pregnant sows were used. The experimental design was completely randomized with a 2x2 factorial scheme consisting of two housing systems (individual cages and collective pens) and two diets (low [2.67%] and high [13.14%] level of crude fiber). Physiological, behavioral, environmental, and hormonal parameters were studied. In addition, the following productive and reproductive parameters were evaluated: weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion of the sow and piglets, number of piglets born dead and alive, number and weight at weaning, and backfat thickness of sows. Pregnant sows reared in collective pens and fed a high-fiber diet exhibited better physiological responses, indicating greater comfort and better animal welfare. The environmental variables were close to the comfort zone of the animals. In addition to providing a more comfortable environment, housing pigs in collective pens reduced stereotypy, permitting the sows to express a more natural behavior. The high-fiber diet did not interfere with female productive performance. Tifton hay can therefore be indicated as an alternative for the formulation of sow diets to improve animal welfare.

Presence of the yeast Candida tropicalis in figs infected by the fruit fly Zaprionus indianus (dip: Drosophilidae)

In the last years, the fruit fly Zapronius indianus became the most important plague of Brazilian fig production. A fermentation process is associated with infection of the fruit by this fly. A single yeast species, Candida tropicalis, was identified in all the infected figs. The presence of one species and the low genetic variability (RAPD) of the isolates indicates an uncommonly strict interaction between C. tropicalis and Z. indianus.

Monoclonal antibodies to identify tomato mosaic tobamovirus (TOMV)

Monoclonal antibodies were obtained against Tomato mosaic tobamovirus (ToMV) isolated in Brazil. One antibody (8G7G2) isotyped as IgG2b (k light chain) showed strong specificity and very low cross reaction with the Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). It can be used in identification of tomato mosaic virus (ToMV).