Dpto. Producción y Sanidad Animal, Salud Pública Veterinaria y Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos

Wooden breast (WB), spaghetti meat (SM) and white striping (WS) are significant research focuses due to their impact on meat quality. This study examines the relationship between different myopathies in chickens from a commercial slaughterhouse and compares physicochemical traits between breasts with single and multiple myopathies and control (CO-no apparent myopathy). A total of 240 breasts were evaluated for myopathy presence, severity and location, and physicochemical parameters (i.e. carcass weight and color; breast color, pH, electrical conductivity, drip, thaw and cooking loss, Warner-Brazler texture, moisture, protein, fat and collagen content). A 54.8 % of the affected breasts presented multiple myopathies, and within them, a correlation between WB and WS was found (Kendall’s tau = 0.24; P < 0.01). Additionally, myopathies were more prevalent in the breast cranial region (P < 0.05). Most physicochemical parameters varied significantly across myopathy classes. Breasts presenting WB, alone or in combination, were the most altered, showing: heavier carcasses with higher breast yield and redder and yellower skin; breasts with higher L*, b* and Hue, higher moisture, fat and collagen and lower protein content, and with higher cooking loss and lower resistance to shear (P < 0.05). SM, WS and their combination often had intermediate values between CO and WB breasts, with a few exceptions in carcass color and breast fat content. The principal component discriminant analysis revealed a proximity of CO to WS, SM, and their combinations, and a clear separation to WB and WB-SM. Breast yield, pH, cooking and thaw loss, and protein and fat content were the most discriminative parameters between categories. The partial least squares discriminant analysis could not differentiate between single, multiple myopathies and CO (accuracy = 42.6 %), but showed 80.63 % balanced accuracy for WB-SM, 74.26 % for SM and 74.61 % for CO. These findings confirm most previously reported data on meat quality, and provide a thorough analysis that can help industries to improve breast myopathies postmortem classification and identification.

This study assessed the effect of boning processing method (hot vs. cold) on pork belly morphological and mechanical traits and the evolution of these traits during refrigerated storage postmortem (PM). A total of 14 crossbred pigs were slaughtered and their carcasses and bellies processed under two conditions: hot boning (n = 14, right sides of carcasses cut immediately after slaughter) and cold boning (n = 14, left sides of carcasses cut 24 h PM). Morphological and mechanical evaluations were made at 1-, 5-, 24- and 48-h PM on the hot-boned bellies, and at 24 and 48 h on the cold-boned ones. Compared to the cold-boned bellies, the hot-boned ones were shorter, wider and thicker (P < 0.01), with greater firmness (flop distance and angle) (P < 0.001) and cohesiveness (skin-fat separation) (P < 0.05 in the dorsal and central sections). At 48 h PM, hot-boned bellies had a thicker skin (P < 0.001) and softer subcutaneous fat in the dorsal-cranial and central sections (finger scores and compression textural test) (P < 0.05). Morphological and mechanical traits for hot-boned bellies confirmed an intense shortening and hardening (increased firmness and cohesiveness), and a slight yield loss from 1 to 24 h PM. From 24 to 48 h PM, there was a certain flattening in hot-boned bellies that was associated with a slight softening (reduced firmness). Although a larger sample may be needed to corroborate these findings, they demonstrate the impact of carcass processing method and refrigerated storage time on belly quality. This may be useful for the pork industry for obtaining the desired type of belly.

With increasing evidence showing the connections between the microbiome, neurophysiology, and behavior, our research endeavors to investigate whether the consumption of a combination of two postbiotics with antioxidant effects can affect behavior regulation in model species. Here, we worked with a combination (1:1 ratio) of heat-treated Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum ES1 (CECT7347) and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus BPL15 (CECT8361) as a dietary supplement. To examine the potential benefit of using this formulation to alleviate anxiety-like behavior, we employed two model species, Caenorhabditis elegans and adult Danio rerio. In C. elegans, the postbiotic supplementation reduced the anxiety-related behavior analyzed by means of the octanol avoidance test. In zebrafish, the novel tank test indicated a different swimming pattern 2 and 4 months after the animals were fed with the postbiotic combination. While fish did not exhibit any variance in their locomotion parameters such as pace and speed, they showed a statistically significant preference to spend more time in the upper zone of the water tank, a behavior that is correlated with a lower anxiety-like behavior in these species. Our aim with this study is to present evidence that can be used to develop whole-cell postbiotic-based novel and innovative dietary supplements for anxiety-related conditions.

De entre las enfermedades desatendidas causadas por helmintos, la fasciolosis está experimentando una preocupante reemergencia mundial. En el contexto del Caribe insular, esta zoonosis parasitaria ha sido escasamente estudiada en la mayoría de los países. Este es el caso de la República Dominicana, en donde gran parte de los trabajos relacionados con esta parasitosis están obsoletos. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron actualizar la distribución de los hospedadores intermediarios de la familia Lymnaeidae en el país, profundizar en su bioecología y evaluar el papel de cada especie en la transmisión de Fasciola hepatica. Se realizaron capturas malacológicas exhaustivas en 88 cuerpos de agua dulce entre 2016 y 2020, anotando a su vez las características ecológicas de cada localización. En el laboratorio, se procedió a la identificación morfológica y molecular de los gasterópodos, así como a su infección experimental con aislados locales del trematodo. Se encontraron tres especies de limnéidos: Galba cubensis, Galba schirazensis y Pseudosuccinea columella. Mientras que G. schirazensis se encontró relacionada con entornos poco perturbados por encima de los 1.000 msnm, G. cubensis y P. columella se encontraron en hábitats antrópicos a menor altitud, la última asociada a ciertos cultivos. En cuanto a la evaluación parasitológica, solo G. cubensis y P. columella fueron susceptibles de desarrollar infección, siendo esta última la que mostró valores más altos de prevalencia e intensidad. En países con economías menos desarrolladas, donde la ganadería es una fuente crucial de sustento, el control de la fasciolosis es vital. Por tanto, es imprescindible seguir promoviendo este tipo de estudios en el Caribe.

Among the different ecosystems colonized by aquatic macroinvertebrates, phytotelmic habitats, those that form in water retained within various plant structures, represent ample opportunity for study. In the case of plants from the Bromeliaceae family, morphological characteristics such as rosettes of leaves allow for the formation of reservoirs that store water and detritus, which also harbor a diverse fauna of aquatic macroinvertebrates. Some of these invertebrates are of medical relevance because they serve as vectors of pathogens. In this study, we set out to document the biodiversity of phytotelmic systems at the level of aquatic macroinvertebrates, particularly mosquitoes, that colonize different bromeliad species in the municipality of Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic. In addition to sampling macroinvertebrates, various morphometric characteristics of the plants, as well as physical-chemical parameters of the water contained in the bromeliads, were recorded. Insects were identified to the family level, while other invertebrates were identified to order, except for flatworms, which were identified to class. Specimens from the Culicidae family were identified to species. A total of 10,500 individuals were collected, corresponding to three phyla, seven classes, and 12 orders. Phylum Arthropoda accounted for 88.7% of all the captured organisms, followed by Annelida (10.8%); the remaining (0.5%) belong to phylum Platyhelminthes. At the rank of Class, Ostracoda accounted for 53.8% of all captured organisms, followed by Insecta (26.9%). In terms of orders, Podocopida (which includes all Ostracoda) represented 53.8% of the captured individuals, followed by Diptera (26.4%). Within Diptera, five different families were identified; Chironomidae was the most abundant with 43.9%, followed by Culicidae with 38.4%. Six species of culicids were identified, of which 74.9% were Wyeomyia mitchellii, with the remainder consisting of Aedes aegypti, A. albonotatus, A. albopictus, Culex biscaynensis, and W. vanduzeei. Family Pseudostigmatidae (Odonata) is documented for the first time in Hispaniola, and family Scirtidae (Coleoptera) for the second time.

"Culex interrogator" is a culicid species that has recently been reported in the insular Caribbean, first in Cuba, specifically in the province of Santiago de Cuba, and shortly afterward in the Dominican Republic. This study’s objective is to report for the first time the presence of Cx. interrogator in the Cuban province of Camagüey and investigate its larval breeding sites in the urban environment. In 2022, visual inspections were conducted in all dwellings and facilities in the municipality of Camagüey, including intra- and peridomiciliary areas in the urban and suburban regions. In each positive mosquito reservoir, as many larvae and pupae as possible were collected. A total of 30 samples positive for Cx. interrogator (n = 155 larvae) were collected from 13 types of reservoirs. Ditches were the most frequent reservoir with the species present (n = 8; 26.66%), followed by ground-level tanks and sewage pits (n = 4; 13.33% each). All positive reservoirs were located in outdoor areas of dwellings. The discovery of this mosquito species in Camagüey, with many unknown aspects of its role as a vector, highlights the need for close monitoring and in-depth study.

Mosquito-borne diseases remain a major public health concern in the Region of the Americas. Concerning dengue, Mexico ranked as the third American country with the highest number of cases in 2023, following Brazil and Peru. In this sense, the development and production of safer, eco-friendly, cost-effective, more efficient, and target-specific insecticides have become essential in disease control strategies. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of an indoor micro-encapsulated propoxur paint against Aedes aegypti, estimate residents’ exposure via cholinesterase levels, and gauge resident perceptions in the rural village Poblado Miguel Alemán (PMA), Sonora, Mexico. Houses in PMA were organized into four blocks for a field trial, with different treatments on interior walls: 1) full insecticide paint coverage (IP); 2) insecticide paint applied up to 1 meter (IP 1 m); 3) full indoor residual spraying (IRS); and 4) no treatment (control). Mosquito surveys were conducted before and after interventions. Blood samples from residents were analysed for cholinesterase levels, while perceptions were gathered through a questionnaire. Aedes resting density correlated closely with the paint formulation and coverage. Full-surface insecticide paint showed the greatest reduction. Both paint interventions notably impacted Aedes breeding, with substantial reductions in House Index (20.1% IP, 31.2% IP 1 m) and Container Index (51.8% IP, 61.7% IP 1 m) compared to the control over one year. Post-intervention blood cholinesterase activity remained within acceptable limits. Over 80% of residents expressed satisfaction with the interventions. The use of propoxur paint proves to be a safe, effective, and well-accepted method for decreasing Ae. aegypti populations in urban areas.

Mosquito-borne diseases continue to be of significant public health concern in various parts of the world, facilitated by the adaptations that certain species, such as Aedes aegypti, have managed to develop. With the aim of updating the bioecological knowledge of Ae. aegypti populations in a Health Area of Camagüey Province, Cuba, a comprehensive entomological survey was conducted both indoors and outdoors in 2018, covering the entire urban population, encompassing 36,584 households. Aedes aegypti colonized 52 types of breeding sites, of which 15 were found to be permanent and useful (29.0%), contributing 82.0% of the positivity. Ground-level tanks were particularly prominent (43.0%). Positivity in natural breeding sites remained low (0.11%). Larvae were collected in habitats with high levels of eutrophication (17.30%), grouped in 28 positive breeding sites, accounting for 3.32% of the total number of positive sites. No differences were observed in the total number of positive breeding sites and capture locations between climatic seasons, indicating a consistent pattern of positivity throughout the study year, during which six types of breeding sites exceeded a 70% monthly repetitiveness. These results underscore the importance of vigilance and control measures to be undertaken by residents in their respective households.

The aim of this study was to identify Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle from lambs with high IMF content (≥3%) using wool FA. The FA composition was characterized in two sections of wool from Suffolk Down lambs, and its relationship with IMF content assessed. One hundred and forty lambs of similar body weight, body condition score, and age were selected. IMF content from LL muscle, and the wool fat and FA composition of the wool were determined. The proportions of FAs in the wool of lambs with low IMF were 51.96 ± 7.3% of saturated, 31.96 ± 7.7% polyunsaturated, and 16.08 ± 2.3% monounsaturated. Similar proportions of FAs were observed in wool samples of lambs with high IMF. Significant differences were found only in the SFA proportion between groups (p < 0.05). The predominant FAs in the wool samples were C16:0, C17:0, C18:0, C18:1n9c and C18:2n6c, representing over 60% of total FA methyl esters. Correlations were found between the wool FAs C16:1, C17:0, C18:0, C18:1n9c, C24:0, and C22:6n3 in wool samples divided into two sections. Discriminant analysis identified SFAs, particularly FAs C22:0 and C24:0, as potential candidate for predicting lambs with high IMF content with an accuracy of over 92%. These results provide to our knowledge evidence that IMF content could potentially be determined using wool FAs as a non-invasive method.