Characterization and typification of small ruminant farms providing fuelbreak grazing services for wildfire prevention in Andalusia (Spain).

Several wildfire prevention programs in Spain are using grazing livestock to maintain fuelbreaks with low levels of biomass. Even though shepherds are remunerated for these services, many of their farms are hardly viable in the current socio-economic context. By analyzing 54 small ruminant farms participating in the Grazed Fuelbreak Network in Andalusia (southern Spain), this research aimed to identify the main types and characteristics of such farms and, considering the challenges they are facing, propose strategies to improve both their economic viability and their effectiveness in fuelbreak grazing. Based on data collected through a survey on key farm management aspects, a multivariate analysis was performed and four main types of farm were identified: two clusters of dairy goat farms and two composed mostly of meat-purpose sheep farms. Farms in all clusters could benefit from improvements in the feeding and reproductive management of livestock, either to enhance their productivity or to make better use of the pasture resources available. Dairy goat farms remain more dependent on external animal feed to ensure a better lactation, therefore they should either diminish their workforce costs per animal or sell transformed products directly to consumers to improve their economic viability. Best fuelbreak grazing results were related to larger flocks combining sheep and goats, lower ratios of fuelbreak surface area per animal, and longer (year-long) grazing periods on fuelbreaks. Therefore, such farm features and adjusted fuelbreak assignments should be favored in wildfire prevention programs using grazing services.

Evaluating mountain goat dairy systems for conversion to the organic model, using a multicriteria method.

Organic farming conserves natural resources, promotes biodiversity, guarantees animal welfare and obtains healthy products from raw materials through natural processes. In order to evaluate possibilities of increasing organic animal production, this study proposes a farm-scale multicriteria method for assessing the conversion of dairy goat systems to the organic model. In addition, a case study in the Northern Sierra of Seville, southern Spain, is analysed. A consensus of expert opinions and a field survey are used to validate a list of potential indicators and issues for assessing the conversion, which consider not only the European Community regulations for organic livestock farming, but also agroecological principles. As a result, the method includes 56 variables integrated in nine indicators: Nutritional management, Sustainable pasture management, Soil fertility and contamination, Weed and pest control, Disease prevention, Breeds and reproduction, Animal welfare, Food safety and Marketing and management. The nine indicators are finally integrated in a global index named OLPI (Organic Livestock Proximity Index). Application of the method to a case study with 24 goat farms reveals an OLPI value of 46.5% for dairy goat farms located in mountain areas of southern Spain. The aspects that differ most from the agroecological model include soil management, animal nutrition and product marketing. Results of the case study indicate that the proposed method is easy to implement and is useful for quantifying the approximation of conventional farms to an organic model.

[In vitro viability and glutathione levels in mesencephalic neurons after seven days hibernation]. / Viabilidad in vitro y niveles de glutati n en neuronas mesencef licas hibernadas durante siete d as.

In embryonic mesencephalic transplant in patients with Parkinson s disease dopaminergic survival is low (5 10%), and for this reason the use of multiple donors has been considered. The difficulty of obtaining more tissue determines the need for a procedure that enables human nigral tissue to be stored for a time without affecting its physiological state in any significant way. This study was designed to determine whether hibernation of tissue fragments has any influence on viability, how the viability of the mesencephalic cells behaves after 7 days hibernation and the glutathione levels in the hibernated tissue (HT). The viability of the HT in pieces (82.37 2.12) was found to be higher than the value for the whole mesencephalon (70.29 3.43). Viability of the HT, seven days at 4 C, at different post dissociation times, did not differ significantly. Despite the significant differences found between hibernated and fresh tissue at t= 0, this procedure does not seem to affect the mesencephalic tissue in any significant way, as it conserved a 94% viability after hibernation. No evidence was found of increased glutathione content as an antioxidizing response to the damage that might be caused by hibernation. These results suggest that since hibernation does not have any significant effect on the state of the cells it could be considered a useful procedure for conserving tissue to be used in clinical transplants. Moreover, further research is needed on survival and functionality of hibernated cells after being transplanted into animal models in order to evaluate their potential for use in cell therapy.

Viabilidad in vitro y niveles de glutatión en neuronas mesencefálicas hibernadas durante siete días / In vitro viability and glutathione levels in mesencephalic neurons after seven days' hibernation

En el trasplante de mesencéfalo embrionario en pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson, la sobrevivencia dopaminérgica es baja (510 por ciento); de ahí que se considere el empleo de múltiples donantes. La dificultad en obtener más tejido determina la necesidad de un procedimiento para almacenar tejido nigral humano por un tiempo, sin afectar significativamente el estado fisiológico del mismo. Este estudio se diseñó para determinar si la hibernación del tejido en fragmentos influye sobre la viabilidad, cómo se comporta la viabilidad de las células mesencefálicas después de siete días de hibernación y los niveles de glutatión en el tejido hibernado (TH). La viabilidad del TH en piezas (82,37 ñ 2,12), resultó superior al valor del mesencéfalo completo (70,29 ñ 3,43). La viabilidad del TH durante siete días a 4 °C, a diferentes tiempos posdisociación, no difirió significativamente. Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre TH y tejido fresco a t= 0, a pesar de lo cual este procedimiento no parece afectar el tejido mesencefálico de forma significativa, ya que se conservó una viabilidad del 94 por ciento después de hibernadas. No se evidenció un aumento del contenido de glutatión como respuesta antioxidante ante los daños que pudiera provocar la hibernación. Estos resultados sugieren que la hibernación, al no afectar significativamente el estado de las células, podría considerarse un procedimiento útil para su aplicación en la conservación del tejido para trasplante clínico. Además, se requiere del estudio de la sobrevivencia y funcionalidad de las células hibernadas después de trasplantadas en modelos animales, para evaluar su potencialidad en la terapia celular (AU)

A randomized blinded clinical trial of two antivenoms, prepared by caprylic acid or ammonium sulphate fractionation of IgG, in Bothrops and Porthidium snake bites in Colombia: correlation between safety and biochemical characteristics of antivenoms.

A randomized blinded clinical trial was performed in 53 patients bitten by Bothrops sp. and Porthidium sp. in Antioquia and Chocó, Colombia, in order to compare the efficacy and safety of two antivenoms made of whole IgG obtained by either ammonium sulphate (monovalent anti-B. atrox) or caprylic acid (polyvalent) fractionation. Additionally, antivenoms were compared by electrophoretic and chromatographic analyses and anticomplementary activity in vitro. With a protocol of 2, 4 and 6 antivenom vials for the treatment of mild, moderate and severe envenomings, respectively, both antivenoms were equally efficient to neutralize the most relevant signs of envenoming and to clear serum venom levels in patients from the first hour and later on. Three patients with severe envenoming and initially treated with less than six vials on admission had persistent or recurrent venom antigenemia within 12-48 h. Monovalent antivenom fractionated by ammonium sulphate precipitation had higher amounts of protein aggregates and nonimmunoglobulin proteins than polyvalent antivenom fractionated by caprylic acid precipitation. Both antivenoms presented anticomplementary activity in vitro, being higher in the monovalent product. In agreement, monovalent antivenom induced a significantly higher incidence of early antivenom reactions (52%) than polyvalent antivenom (25%).