Abstract The zoanthid Palythoa caribaeorum secretes a large quantity of mucus that acts as a substrate for microbial communities. Culturable bacteria associated with P. caribaeorum mucus in northeastern Brazil were evaluated through 16S rRNA gene sequences. Proteobacteria was the dominant group, followed by Actinobacteria and Firmicutes. Vibrio was the most common genus, although other groups with the ability to produce biosurfactants and compounds with antimicrobial activity were also present. The studies of culturable marine bacteria may contribute to the understanding of the associated microbial community, opening new opportunities to explore biotechnological potential of microbiota.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi obter estimativas de prevalência de muco vaginal turvo durante o estro em vacas Holandesas criadas sob intenso calor, para avaliar o efeito das condições climáticas sobre sua ocorrência durante o estro e determinar seu efeito sobre a taxa de concepção. Em um primeiro estudo, foi estabelecida a associação entre a ocorrência de muco vaginal turvo durante o estro e a taxa de concepção de vacas inseminadas (18.620 serviços), criadas sob intenso calor (temperatura média anual de 22°C), em fazendas altamente tecnificadas, na região árida do norte do México. Em um segundo estudo, os dados desses grandes estábulos leiteiros foram utilizados para avaliar o efeito das condições climáticas, ao longo do ano, na ocorrência de muco vaginal turvo durante a inseminação artificial (76.899 cios). A taxa global de cios com muco vaginal turvo foi de 21,4% (16.470/76.899; intervalo de confiança de 95% = 21,1-21,7%). A taxa de concepção das vacas com muco vaginal límpido foi maior que a de vacas com muco anormal (30,6 vs. 22%). A prevalência de estros com muco vaginal turvo foi fortemente dependente de elevada temperatura ambiente, e significativamente maior em maio e junho. Taxas de concepção aceitáveis de vacas Holandesas com elevada produção de leite somente são obtidas em vacas que apresentem muco translúcido durante a inseminação artificial.

The objective of this work was to obtain prevalence estimates of cloudy vaginal mucus in artificially inseminated Holstein cows raised under intense heat, in order to assess the effect of meteorological conditions on its occurrence during estrus and to determine its effect on conception rate. In a first study, an association was established between the occurrence of cloudy vaginal mucus during estrus and the conception rate of inseminated cows (18,620 services), raised under intense heat (mean annual temperature of 22°C), at highly technified farms, in the arid region of northern Mexico. In a second study, data from these large dairy operations were used to assess the effect of meteorological conditions throughout the year on the occurrence of cloudy vaginal mucus during artificial insemination (76,899 estruses). The overall rate of estruses with cloudy vaginal mucus was 21.4% (16,470/76,899; 95% confidence interval = 21.1-21.7%). The conception rate of cows with clean vaginal mucus was higher than that of cows with abnormal mucus (30.6 vs. 22%). Prevalence of estruses with cloudy vaginal mucus was strongly dependent on high ambient temperature and markedly higher in May and June. Acceptable conception rates in high milk-yielding Holstein cows can only be obtained with cows showing clear and translucid mucus at artificial insemination.

The identification of mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms is one of the most efficient methods for species differentiation. Genotyping of molecular markers using PCR/RFLP is a reliable, sensitive and inexpensive method for the detection of species specific mutations. The major causes of decline in Sirenia populations are accidental and intentional catches, collisions with boats and habitat loss. The goal of the present study was to identify, in silico, nucleotide mutations in the cytochrome b gene that can be used for the future development of forensic tools capable of using small tissue fragments to discriminate manatee meat from domesticated species meat commonly used as food sources (bovine, ovine, caprine and swine). DNA sequence alignments revealed two polymorphic sites distinguishing the manatee species from domestic species. The present study reinforced the power of cytochrome polymorphisms as powerful markers for species identification, which may be particularly useful for identifying vulnerable/endangered species. The data provided herein also suggest such mtDNA markers as important conservation tools for combating predatory manatee hunting for illegal meat trade in the Americas