Amount Of Feces Research Articles

Biodigestion System Made of Polyethylene and Polystyrene Insulator for Dog Farm (on the Example of the Republic of Chile).

Anaerobic digestion is a system that can have a high environmental impact through the use of different wastes to obtain biogas and its consequent use for the generation of renewable energy. The objective of this study was to implement a polyethylene biodigester, using polystyrene for thermal insulation in a dog kennel, using canine feces collected in the same place during a period of 5 months to obtain biogas and energy. The results indicated that biogas production started on day 30 and stopped during the winter period with low temperatures; therefore, from day 54 onwards, equine manure was added to continue producing biogas. Although biogas was obtained, the biodigester did not function optimally, due to the fact that the materials used in its construction did not provide efficient insulation from the low external temperatures; the low C/N ratio of the canine feces, which led to a reduction in the processing of the methanogenic bacteria; and the low amount of feces collected for use. In general, the use of a biodigester can provide a tool for the biological processing and management of organic waste, yielding a cumulative source of renewable energy and ensuring environmental safety.

A PCR-based method for the diagnosis of Enterobius vermicularis in stool samples, specifically designed for clinical application.

Enterobius vermicularis (E. vermicularis) is a nematode that infects up to 200 million people worldwide, despite effective medications being available. Conventional diagnostic tests are hindered by low sensitivity and poor patient compliance. Furthermore, no biomolecular techniques are available for clinical application. The aim of this study was to develop a procedure specifically designed for clinical application to detect E. vermicularis by means of PCR. Two subject groups were taken into account: a group of 27 infected patients and a control group of 27 healthy subjects. A nested-PCR was performed on fecal samples to detect E. vermicularis. Due to the intrinsic difficulties of the fecal matrix, several countermeasures were adopted to ensure the efficient performance of the method: (a) a large amount of feces for the extraction process (20 g instead of 200 mg); (b) a combination of chemical and physical treatments to grind the fecal matrix; (c) an additional purification process for the negative samples after the first nested-PCR; and (d) the selection of a very specific target region for the PCR. Due to the lack of overlap with other organisms, a sequence of the 5S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) spacer region including the tract SL1 was chosen to design appropriate external and internal primers. The first nested-PCR detected E.vermicularis in 19/27 samples from infected patients. After further purification, 5/8 of the negative samples resulted positive at the second PCR. Conversely, all the samples from healthy controls resulted negative to both PCRs. Sensitivity and specificity of the method were, respectively, 88.9% and 100%. The results prove the high diagnostic accuracy of the proposed method, addressing and overcoming the challenges posed by both conventional tests and PCR-based approaches. Therefore, the method can be proposed for clinical application.

The effect of aroma massage on constipation in elderly individuals

BackgroundConstipation is a health problem commonly seen in the elderly individuals. Abdominal massage is thought to stimulate the rectal loading by increasing intra-abdominal pressure. PurposeTo determine effects of aromatherapy massage on constipation in the elderly individuals. MethodsForty eight elderly individuals with constipation were randomized to aromatherapy massage, and control groups. Massage was applied with oil blend to the experimental group during 3 weeks, once a day and lasting 15 min. ResultsDuring aroma massage and after aroma massage in intervention group, mean scores related to ‘defecation number’, ‘amount of feces’ and ‘consistency of feces’ were increased and these increases were statistically significant. The mean scores related to ‘straining during defecation’ and ‘feeling of incomplete discharge of feces’ were decreased. ConclusionIt was determined that aroma massage practice has increased ‘frequency of defecation’, ‘amount of feces’ and ‘consistency of feces’ but decreased the ‘straining during defecation’ and ‘feeling of incomplete discharge of feces’.

A new method using quail (Coturnix coturnix) as a suitable host for laboratory rearing of Dermanyssus gallinae

The poultry red mite (PRM) is a detrimental blood-feeding ectoparasite infesting poultry and sylvatic birds. A traditional rearing system of PRMs was usually established by using chickens as the host. However, the system with chickens had some defects, such as high feed consumption, large amount of feces, high cost, and intensive labor. In present study, we used quails as the host to rear mites, and compared the reproductive efficiency of this new system with that of the chicken system. The results showed that the number of mites increased 96-fold and the number of eggs increased 50-fold after four weeks in the quail system, which were significantly higher than those in the system with chickens. The survival rates of mites in both systems were higher than 95%, and the value in the quail system at the fourth week was significantly better than that of the chicken system. The statistical results of feed consumption, live weight, and daily excrement of chickens and quails showed that the quail system was more stable with less feed consumption and less waste excretion than the chicken system. Comparing the number of eggs laid by each female mite, hatching rates and molting rates in both systems, we can conclude that the breeding system, in which quails replaced chickens as hosts, had no effect on the fecundity of D. gallinae. In conclusion, the new system established using quails as the host, is a highly efficient alternative for largely rearing of mites under laboratory conditions.

Unveiling the dynamics of antibiotic resistome, bacterial communities, and metals from the feces of patients in a typical hospital wastewater treatment system

Bacterial pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are extensively disseminated into the environment via hospital wastewater (HWW), as it contains large quantities of feces from resident patients. However, studies on the antibiotic resistome and pathogenic bacteria from the gut of resident patients within the hospital wastewater treatment plant (hWWTP) are limited. Here, we examined and compared the occurrence and abundance of ARGs, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), metals, and bacterial communities from the feces of patients in a typical hWWTP system and determined the pathogenic hosts responsible for transferring ARGs. There were 176 ARGs and 43 MGEs detected in the feces of hospitalized patients, 129 genes were persistent, and 88 genes were enriched after HWW treatment, particularly for the blaVEB, blaNDM, and class 1 integron (intI1), with an average of 659-fold, 202-fold, and seven-fold enrichment, respectively. MGEs, especially Is613, in the feces of hospitalized patients were exceptionally abundant and even surpassed the abundance of total ARGs, which explained the persistence of ARGs in hWWTPs due to possible gene mobilization events. Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were the most abundant phyla in these feces, accounting for 81 % of the total gut microbiota, while Epsilonbacteraeota and Proteobacteria dominated the hWWTPs. Additionally, 54 possible bacterial pathogens were found in the hospital environment, including four “ESKAPE” pathogens and 14 cancer-related pathogens. Many of them were strongly associated with different types of ARGs. Notably, Bacteroides was the major potential ARG-harboring pathogenic genus, as determined by the network analysis, and was highly abundant after the treatment. The altered microbial community was the major contributing factor shaping antibiotic resistome. This study might provide a comprehensive insight into the distribution profiles of ARGs and pathogens from the gut of inpatients throughout the HWW treatment system, which could be used as a reference for optimizing HWW treatment and monitoring public risk.

Prevention of Loperamide-Induced Constipation in Mice and Alteration of 5-Hydroxytryotamine Signaling by Ligilactobacillus salivarius Li01.

Although Ligilactobacillus salivarius Li01 (Li01) has shown much promise in preventing multiple gastrointestinal diseases, the potential of the probiotic in alleviating constipation and the related mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, the effects of Li01 were evaluated in a loperamide-induced constipation mouse model. The results demonstrated that Li01 intervention can relieve constipation symptoms by improving water content, quantity, and morphology of feces and act as an intestinal barrier structure protector. Furthermore, Li01 can modulate gut motility (gastrointestinal transit rate), the fluid transit-associated expression of aquaporins, and the serum parameters vasoactive intestinal peptide, substance P, and somatostatin. Constipation significantly increased the levels of 5-hydroxytryotamine (5-HT) in serum (p < 0.01) and decreased the levels in the intestine (p < 0.001). Due to its function of elevating the expression of tryptophan hydroxylase 1, this was reversed after Li01 treatment. Li01 also promoted the expression of 5-HT receptor 3 and 4, indicating that the 5-HT signaling pathway may play a critical role in the mechanism by which Li01 alleviate constipation symptoms. Additionally, Li01 significantly altered the gut microbiota composition by enhancing the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes and increasing the abundance of Rikenellaceae_RC9 genera. Based on the above results, Li01 may have the potential to effectively alleviate constipation by regulating the 5-HT pathway and alteration of the gut microbiota.

Effect of dietary protein source and ingredient grinding size on fish performance, faecal waste production and characteristics of yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) fed restrictively and to apparent satiation

Recently, yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) is being cultured in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Yellowtail kingfish have a poor faecal integrity, which makes the removal of faeces by traditional RAS technology difficult. Reducing the faecal waste load in RAS can be achieved by reducing the amount of faeces produced (e.g., increasing digestibility) and/or increasing the removal of faeces. This study assessed the effect of partial fish meal replacement by plant ingredients and the effect of ingredient grinding size on the amount of faecal waste produced and faecal characteristics, like faecal removal efficiency and particle size distribution (PSD), in yellowtail kingfish. This was investigated during two 35-d experiments, where fish were fed restrictively (experiment R) or to apparent satiation (experiment S). For each experiment, individual batches of four experimental diets were produced according to a 2 × 2 factorial design (protein source × ingredient grinding size). The formulas used were identical for both experiments. FM100 diets contained only fish meal as protein source, whilst at FM30-P70 diets approximately 70% of the fish meal were replaced by plant protein ingredients. The effect of ingredient grinding size was tested by including 40% of either a fine or coarse grinding mixture. Tanks were stocked with 20 fish and 27 fish for experiment R and experiment S, respectively. For each tank, fish performance, faecal waste production, faecal removal efficiency and faecal PSD were measured. During both experiments, ingredient grinding size did not affect the faecal removal efficiency or PSD, whilst fish fed the fine FM30-P70 diets restrictively showed a lower faecal waste production. The inclusion of plant ingredients resulted in a lower absolute growth and higher FCR. Furthermore, fish fed the FM30-P70 diets showed a higher faecal waste production, a smaller PSD and a lower faecal removal efficiency. This ultimately resulted in a higher amount of non-removed faeces by 58.3% and 37.1% compared to FM100 diets for the experiment R and experiment S, respectively. In conclusion, the replacement of fish meal with plant ingredients in yellowtail kingfish diets is challenging due to the adverse effects on fish performance, faecal waste production and faecal characteristics. However, feeding yellowtail kingfish to apparent satiation partly reduced these adverse effects of plant ingredient inclusion in terms of faecal waste production and faecal characteristics. Reducing the ingredient grinding size of yellowtail kingfish diets tended to lower the faecal waste production, whilst not negatively affecting the fish performance or faecal characteristics.

Identification of Potential Diuretic and Laxative Drug Candidates from Avicennia officinalis L. Bark through In Vivo Mice Model Studies and In Vitro Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Molecular Docking Analysis.

Background Avicennia officinalis is a medicinal plant that has traditionally been used as a diuretic, anti-infective, and antiasthmatic. Our investigation was designed to explore the diuretic and laxative potentials of different fractions of this plant's bark extract as well as the identification of possible drug candidates for the activity. Methods Collected bark was extracted in ethanol and fractionated in different polar and nonpolar solvents, i.e., water, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane. Phytoconstituents were identified following the published protocols and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In the diuretic test, Na+ and K+ ions were measured using a flame photometer whereas the Cl− ion content was measured by titrimetric method against AgNO3. In the laxative test, feces amount and consistency were also measured. Molecular docking analysis was conducted using the “Vina Wizard” program in PyRx-Python Prescription 0.8. Results Phytochemical analysis indicated that alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, and terpenoids were detected in the most bioactive crude extracts, whereas alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, and gums were found in bioactive n-hexane fraction and steroids, glycosides, and terpenoids were found positive in chloroform fraction. Almost all the fractions demonstrated a dose-dependent increment of stool production with a soft consistency; however, the chloroform fraction was found to be the most active (p < 0.001). The crude extract and n-hexane fractions significantly increased (p < 0.01) the urinary output at the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg. The concentrations of Na+, K+, and Cl− in collected urine were found to be more compared with the control group. The GC-MS analysis identified seven compounds in bioactive n-hexane fraction (phenolic and ester-type mainly) whereas seven other compounds (acidic and ester-type mainly) were identified in chloroform fraction. In molecular docking, two drug candidates of this extract (2,4-bis(2-phenylpropan-2-yl)phenol and 2-[4-[2-(dimethylamino)-2-oxo-1,1-diphenylethyl]phenyl]-2-phenylacetic acid) showed excellent binding affinity with the receptor compared with furosemide. Conclusion A. officinalis bark might be a potential source of bioactive compounds for treating hypertension, edema, and constipation.

Seasonal Variations in Voluntary Intake and ApparentDigestibility of Forages by Goats in the Chinese Altai Mountains.

Simple SummaryGrazing animals have a major impact on rangelands through the consumption and trampling of vegetation along with excreta deposition. In turn, forage availability and quality, shaped by environmental and grazing impacts, affect animal performance and health. This study investigated the interaction between amount and nutritional quality of vegetation on offer and animal feed intake on alpine pastures in the Chinese Altai Mountains. To this end, daily grazing routes, vegetation on offer along the pathways, and forage consumption of goats were monitored during spring and the early and late summer season of two consecutive years. Grazing routes were longer in spring than in summer, leading to larger pasture areas utilised in spring. Despite marked differences in vegetation on offer between the two study years, quantitative feed intake did not exhibit seasonal or annual differences, indicating that the goats’ nutrient intake was not restricted on the mountain ranges.Forage availability and quality directly impact animal performance, ultimately affecting productivity and health. This study aimed to understand the interaction between qualitative and quantitative vegetation availability and feed intake of goats on alpine pastures in the Chinese Altai Mountains. The daily grazing routes of three goats from a local herding family were monitored with GPS devices set at a logging rate of 64 s during spring and the early and late summer season in 2013 and 2014. The quantity and quality of vegetation along their grazing routes was determined, and the amount of feces excreted was measured in a total of five goats per season for the indirect determination of the animals’ feed intake. The grazing routes were longer in spring than in summer, leading to larger grazing areas visited in spring. Vegetation on offer ranged from 980 to 2400 kg dry mass per hectare and was similar in the spring and summer seasons but higher in 2013 than in 2014. Feed consumption of forage and nutrients did not significantly differ between seasons and years, respectively, suggesting that the goats’ nutrient intake was not restricted by interannual variability of forage on offer. Regular monitoring of animal numbers and of vegetation quantity and quality on the mountain rangelands can help responsible government agencies to estimate forage offtake of small ruminants in order to timely adjust grazing pressure in the study region.

Epigeic arthropod community changes in response to livestock-caused alpine grassland degradation on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

As one of the most important ecosystems, grassland ecosystems maintain an abundance of flora and fauna, and provide humans with rich resources. The structure and function of most grassland ecosystems around the world have been significantly affected by human activity. The overgrazing of livestock and their feces has caused grassland degradation and flora and fauna losses. However, we know little about the relationship between grassland degradation, livestock feces and the arthropod community. In this study, we conducted surveys of the epigeic arthropod community in alpine grassland of the Zoige wetlands in eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China. We used ANOVA, multiple linear regression and model-averaging to explore how grassland degradation and livestock feces affected epigeic arthropods community. We found that together grassland degradation and season differently affected taxonomic richness, abundance and different feeding groups of the epigeic arthropod community. Because of the influence of temperature on the epigeic arthropod, the taxonomic richness and abundance of epigeic arthropod community fluctuated dramatically among seasons. Epigeic arthropod community diversity had a significant positive correlation with plant height of all species and Compositae percentage cover in most levels of degradation. The amount of sheep feces had a significant negative correlation with taxonomic richness and abundance of the epigeic arthropod community, because overgrazing sheep reduces the availability of resources and the suitability of micro-habitats for epigeic arthropods. Our study found that moderate levels of disturbance can increase the richness and abundance of epigeic arthropod community over a short period of time. • Epigeic arthropod community diversity in moderately degraded grassland are lower than that in original grassland. • The reduction of plant height is negatively correlated with the diversity of epigeic arthropod community in alpine grassland. • Overgrazing directly and indirectly reduces epigeic arthropods and their applicable micro-habitat. • Grassland degradation affected arthropod community diversity by altering habitats heterogeneity and resources availability.

Sudden Fatal Abdominal Pain in an Old Man With Chronic Constipation

Question: A 66-year-old man presented with a 4-hour history of sudden severe abdominal pain. The medical history was notable for a chronic constipation. Vital signs were temperature 38.6°C; pulse, 98 beats per minute; respirations, 23 breaths per minute; blood pressure, 107/86 mm Hg; and an oxygen saturation of 80% on room air. Physical examination showed abdominal distension, tenderness, and signs of peritonitis. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed a pneumoperitoneum in the upper abdomen, a large amount of feces around and loading in the sigmoid colon, and several large fecalomas in the distal sigmoid colon (Figure A, B, arrow).

Application of ultrasound-guided endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy in children with appendix-related chronic abdominal pain

To study the clinical efficacy of ultrasound-guided endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy in children with appendix-related chronic abdominal pain. A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 30 children with the chief complaint of chronic abdominal pain who were admitted from August 2019 to May 2021. All the children were found to have inflammation of the appendix or intracavitary stool and fecalith by ultrasound and underwent ultrasound-guided endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy. The medical data for analysis included clinical manifestations, endoscopic findings, white blood cell count, neutrophil percentage, length of hospital stay, and cure rate. Among the 30 children with chronic abdominal pain, there were 13 boys (43%) and 17 girls (57%), with a mean age of (9±3) years (range 3-15 years) at diagnosis. The median duration of the disease was 12 months, and the median length of hospital stay was 3 days. The children had a median white blood cell count of 6.7×109/L and a neutrophil percentage of 50%±13%. Fecalith and a large amount of feces were flushed out of the appendix cavity for 21 children (70%) during surgery. The follow-up rate was 97% (29/30), and the median follow-up time was 11 months (range 5-26 months). Of the 29 children, abdominal pain completely disappeared in 27 children (93%). Ultrasound-guided endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy is effective in children with chronic abdominal pain caused by feces or fecalith in the appendix cavity.

Forage availability, supplementary feed and ungulate density: Associations with ungulate damage in pine production forests

Populations of large herbivores, including members of the deer family Cervidae, are expanding across and within many regions of the northern hemisphere. Because their browsing on trees can result in economic losses to forestry and strongly affect ecosystems, it is becoming increasingly important to understand how best to mitigate resultant damage. Previous research has highlighted the importance of regulating deer density and the availability of alternative forage to reduce browsing damage levels in conifer production stands. However, often only one or two proxies of forage availability have been used instead of applying a broad foodscape approach and more knowledge is needed to understand which types of alternative forage best mitigate damage. We conducted field inventories of damage that occurred during the previous fall/winter in 112 production stands in southern Sweden, while also measuring forage availability and cervid faecal pellets in the surrounding landscape (16 ha). Local landowners provided data on supplementary feeding. We found that variation in cervid (Alces alces, Capreolus capreolus, Cervus elaphus and Dama dama) browsing damage to top shoots or stems of young Scots pine trees (Pinus sylvestris, hereon pine), was better explained by the availability of alternative natural forage (using several indices and species of trees and shrubs) than by supplementary feeding. The proportion of damaged pine trees was higher in stands with a lower density of pine stems; in landscapes with a lower density of key broadleaf tree species (genera Sorbus, Salix, Populus and Quercus); and in landscapes with more open land (agricultural fields and paddocks). Damage was also higher in stands where relatively large amounts of moose faeces was found, while not related to the amount of faeces from other cervid species. The amount of supplementary feed (silage or other types such as root vegetables) did not explain variation in pine damage, but the result was possibly affected by relatively few study areas supplying sufficient data on supplementary feeding. The results from our inventory illustrate the efficacy of using naturally growing forage to mitigate browsing damage to young pine trees in managed landscapes. Creation of such forage is also recommended over supplementary feeding because of co-benefits to forest biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Revealing the invisible dead: integrated bio-geoarchaeological profiling exposes human and animal remains in a seemingly ‘empty’ Viking-Age burial

Recent investigations of an apparently ‘empty,’ partly disturbed Viking chamber grave in Denmark (Fregerslev II, dated around the mid-10th century CE) provided an opportunity to develop a novel multi-scale and multi-method analysis of burial and post-burial processes. To overcome the limitations of poor preservation of artefacts and bones, and the lack of a clear macrostratigraphic sequence, we integrated multi-proxy analyses of organic and inorganic materials to study the spatial architecture, burial, and post-depositional processes, including soil chemistry (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry - ICPMS, portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer - pXRF), soil micromorphology, archaeobotany (wood, seeds, fruits, phytoliths), palynology (pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs), and faecal lipid biomarkers. The results enabled the detailed characterisation, spatial analysis, and sequencing of burial deposits, and the identification of post-depositional factors responsible for the poor preservation of the burial. Soil, phytolith and pollen data indicated that the base of the grave was covered with a matting of plant material, and there was no wooden floor. Faecal biomarkers detected substantial amounts of faecal matter, most probably originating from horse faeces, suggesting that a horse died in situ, and trace amounts of pig faeces, which are more likely to have been trampled into the grave. Enriched phosphorus concentrations could be linked to the bodies in the northern and southern sector of the grave. Furthermore, enrichment in lead was found where metal objects were recovered. The findings from Fregerslev II show that integrating high-resolution approaches to the analysis of poorly preserved burial contexts can fundamentally transform archaeological interpretations.

Dose-dependent alkaloid sequestration and N-methylation of decahydroquinoline in poison frogs.

Sequestration of chemical defenses from dietary sources is dependent on the availability of compounds in the environment and the mechanism of sequestration. Previous experiments have shown that sequestration efficiency varies among alkaloids in poison frogs, but little is known about the underlying mechanism. The aim of this study was to quantify the extent to which alkaloid sequestration and modification are dependent on alkaloid availability and/or sequestration mechanism. To do this, we administered different doses of histrionicotoxin (HTX) 235A and decahydroquinoline (DHQ) to captive-bred Adelphobates galactonotus and measured alkaloid quantity in muscle, kidney, liver, and feces. HTX 235A and DHQ were detected in all organs, whereas only DHQ was present in trace amounts in feces. For both liver and skin, the quantity of alkaloid accumulated increased at higher doses for both alkaloids. Accumulation efficiency in the skin increased at higher doses for HTX 235A but remained constant for DHQ. In contrast, the efficiency of HTX 235A accumulation in the liver was inversely related to dose and a similar, albeit statistically nonsignificant, pattern was observed for DHQ. We identified and quantified the N-methylation of DHQ in A. galactonotus, which represents a previously unknown example of alkaloid modification in poison frogs. Our study suggests that variation in alkaloid composition among individuals and species can result from differences in sequestration efficiency related to the type and amount of alkaloids available in the environment.

Optimization of proteomics sample preparation for identification of host and bacterial proteins in mouse feces.

Bottom-up proteomics is a powerful method for the functional characterization of mouse gut microbiota. To date, most of the bottom-up proteomics studies of the mouse gut rely on limited amounts of fecal samples. With mass-limited samples, the performance of such analyses is highly dependent on the protein extraction protocols and contaminant removal strategies. Here, protein extraction protocols (using different lysis buffers) and contaminant removal strategies (using different types of filters and beads) were systematically evaluated to maximize quantitative reproducibility and the number of identified proteins. Overall, our results recommend a protein extraction method using a combination of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and urea in Tris-HCl to yield the greatest number of protein identifications. These conditions led to an increase in the number of proteins identified from gram-positive bacteria, such as Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, which is a challenging task. Our analysis further confirmed these conditions led to the extraction of non-abundant bacterial phyla such as Proteobacteria. In addition, we found that, when coupled to our optimized extraction method, suspension trap (S-Trap) outperforms other contaminant removal methods by providing the most reproducible method while producing the greatest number of protein identifications. Overall, our optimized sample preparation workflow is straightforward and fast, and requires minimal sample handling. Furthermore, our approach does not require high amounts of fecal samples, a vital consideration in proteomics studies where mice produce smaller amounts of feces due to a particular physiological condition. Our final method provides efficient digestion of mouse fecal material, is reproducible, and leads to high proteomic coverage for both host and microbiome proteins.

Potentials of using dietary plant secondary metabolites to mitigate nitrous oxide emissions from excreta of cattle: Impacts, mechanisms and perspectives.

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas as well as the key component depleting the ozone sphere of the earth. Cattle have high feed and water intakes and excrete large amounts of urine and feces. N2O can be produced from cattle excreta during storage and use as fertilizer. Mitigating the N2O emissions from cattle excreta during production is important for protecting the environment and the sustainable development of the cattle industry. Feeding cattle with low-protein diets increases N utilization rates, decreases N excretion and consequently reduces N2O emissions. However, this approach cannot be applied in the long term because of its negative impact on animal performance. Recent studies showed that dietary inclusion of some plant secondary metabolites such as tannins, anthocyanins, glucosinolates and aucubin could manipulate the N excretion and the urinary components and consequently regulate N2O emissions from cattle excreta. This review summarized the recent developments in the effects of dietary tannins, anthocyanins and glucosinolates on the metabolism of cattle and the N2O emissions from cattle excreta and concluded that dietary inclusion of tannins or anthocyanins could considerably reduce N2O emissions from cattle excreta.

Global prevalence and epidemiology of Strongyloides stercoralis in dogs: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundStrongyloides stercoralis, a soil-transmitted helminth, occurs in humans, non-human primates, dogs, cats and wild canids. The zoonotic potential between these hosts is not well understood with data available on prevalence primarily focused on humans. To increase knowledge on prevalence, this review and meta-analysis was performed to estimate the global status of S. stercoralis infections in dogs.MethodsFollowing the PRISMA guidelines, online literature published prior to November 2020 was obtained from multiple databases (Science Direct, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar). Prevalence was calculated on a global and country level, by country income and climate, and in stray/animal shelter dogs versus owned dogs. Statistical analyses were conducted using R-software (version 3.6.1).ResultsFrom 9428 articles, 61 met the inclusion criteria. The estimated pooled global prevalence of S. stercoralis in dogs was 6% (95% CI 3–9%). Infection was found to be the most prevalent in low-income countries with pooled prevalence of 22% (95% CI 10–36%). The highest pooled prevalence of S. stercoralis in dogs was related to regions with average temperature of 10–20 °C (6%; 95% CI 3–11%), an annual rainfall of 1001–1500 mm (9%; 95% CI 4–15%) and humidity of 40–75% (8%; 95% CI 4–13%). Prevalence was higher in stray and shelter dogs (11%; 95% CI 1–26%) than in owned dogs (3%; 95% CI 1–7%).ConclusionsAs with S. stercoralis in humans, higher prevalence in dogs is found in subtropical and tropical regions and lower-income countries, locations which also can have high dog populations. While this study presents the first estimated global prevalence of S. stercoralis in dogs, it is potentially an underestimation with 15 of 61 studies relying on diagnostic methods of lower sensitivity and a paucity of data from most locations. Standardized protocols (e.g. quantity of feces and number of samples for a Baermann) in future studies could improve reliability of results. More prevalence studies and raising veterinary awareness of S. stercoralis are needed for a One Health approach to protect humans and dogs from the impact of the infection.Graphical

Possible use of seaweed (Gracilaria tenuistipitata Var. Liui) to the reduction of enteric methane emissions from dairy cattle

Objective: Gracilaria tenuistipitata var. Liui is a red seaweed, artificially cultivated in Nuniachara sea beach at Cox’s Bazar, primarily utilized as a human diet and nutritional supplement in Bangladesh. It has specific industrial applications as well. The study sought to assess the potential for enteric methane (CH4) reduction of this seaweed from the cattle industries. Materials and Methods: To explore the diversified application of this seaweed in livestock feed industries to reduce enteric CH4 production from ruminants, a feeding trial was done at the Pranisheba research and development cattle farm, Savar, Dhaka. An ambient CH4 amount was measured with and without the application of seaweed in concentrate feed by a sensor-based Internet of Things device of the remote cowshed monitoring system. Other clinical parameters, like feeding amount, body temperature, and consistency of feces, were physically monitored. Results: After proximate analysis, the composition of total crude protein, crude fiber, and moisture of G. tenuistipitata var. Liui was 24.09%, 0.18%, and 21.31%, respectively. The quantity of total energy was 2,615 kcal/kg. Adding 1% seaweed to the cattle-concentrated diet on a dry matter basis lowered the average ambient CH4 concentration from 48.30 ± 4.45 to 41.02 ± 3.41 ppm; the differences were statistically significant (p &lt; 0.05). Average body temperature, amount of daily feed intake, and consistency of feces remain unchanged. Conclusion: The results show that there is a chance that G. tenuistipitata var. Liui could be used to stop cattle from making enteric CH4.

Development of Peristaltic Transfer System to Transport Feces in Space: Proposal of Driving Method Using Pressure Difference in Peristaltic Pump

We propose a transport system combining peristaltic motion and a negative pressure as a new method of transporting and collecting feces for space toilets. In recent years, for the development of space exploration, the need for a regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) to perform manned space exploration for long periods without resource supply has emerged. Currently, human feces is disposed of, but if it can be reused like urine, the performance of the ECLSS can be significantly improved. Existing space toilets do not reuse of feces, and the transfer of feces presents a technical problem. There is no technology that can reliably transport highly viscous solid–liquid mixtures on an intermittent basis. If such technologies are developed, they will be useful for transporting not only feces in space but also chemicals on the ground. Therefore, the authors propose a peristaltic system based on the intestinal tracts of living organisms for the transport of feces in space. Each unit of the system can be actively closed and opened by air pressure. The units are operated in turn to transport feces. The proposed driving method utilizes the pressure difference between the units of a peristaltic pump to increase the transfer rate. A prototype system consisting of three units was developed, and a simulated feces transfer experiment was conducted to validate the proposed method. In the experiment, we compared the conventional peristaltic driving method and the proposed peristaltic driving method, and the results indicated that the proposed method can carry more than twice the amount of simulated feces. Thus, the proposed method is suitable for the transfer of feces in space and can be used to transfer highly viscous solid–liquid mixed fluids under intermittent supply and with little water consumption.