In vitro affinity tests were conducted to test the effectiveness of 19 activated carbons (ACs), hydrates sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) and sepiolite (S) in binding ochratoxin A (OA) and deoxynivalenol (DON) from solution. Relationships between adsorption ability and physicochemical parameters of ACs (surface area, iodine number, methylene blue index) were tested. When 5 ml of a 4-micrograms/ml aqueous solution of OA was treated with 2 mg of AC, the ACs adsorbed 0.80 to 99.86% of the OA. HSCAS and S were not effective in binding OA. In two saturation tests carried out with increased amounts of OA (5 ml of 10-and 50-micrograms/ml aqueous solutions of OA, respectively) three ACs also showed high adsorption ability (adsorbing 92.23 to 96.57% of the OA). When 5 ml of a 4-micrograms/ml aqueous solution of DON was treated with 10 mg of AC, ACs adsored 1.83 to 98.93% of the DON. HSCAS and S were not effective in binding DON. An overall relation of adsorption ability to the physicochemical parameters of ACs was observed. The methylene blue index was more reliable than iodine number and surface area in predicting ability of ACs to adsorb OA and DON. Based on the data observed on the xxxxx eh present study as well as on aflatoxin B1 and fumonisin B1 from previous studies, it is concluded that ACs have high in vitro affinity for chemically different mycotoxins, and can be considered as potential multi-mycotoxin-sequestering agents. However, the ability to bind the main mycotoxins singly or in combination should be confirmed by in vivo investigations. Moreover, information on the amounts of AC to be added to feeds, and on the possible long-term effect on absorption of essential nutrients are needed.

In vitro affinity tests were conducted to assess the effectiveness of 19 activated carbons (ACs), hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS), and sepiolite (S) in binding fumonisin B1 (FB1) from solution. Relationships between adsorption ability and physicochemical parameters of ACs (specific surface area, iodine value, and methylene blue index) were tested. When 5 ml of a 4-μg/ml aqueous solution of FB1 was treated with 10 mg of AC, ACs adsorbed 0.46 to 100% of the FB1. HSCAS and S were not effective in binding FB1. In two saturation tests carried out with decreased amounts of sorbent (5 and 2 mg, respectively), three ACs also showed high adsorption ability (adsorbing 96.48 to 99.20% of the FB1) A general relationship between adsorption ability and the physicochemical parameters of the ACs was observed, supporting the inference of a close relationship between molecule trapping and surface physicochemical adsorption processes. The methylene blue index was more reliable than iodine number and surface area for predicting ability of ACs to adsorb FB1. In tests of simultaneous adsorption ability carried out using 5 ml of a solution containing 10 μg/ml FB1 plus 50 μg/ml aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)and 2 or 5 mg of sorbent, ACs showed a higher affinity for AFB1 than for FB1. However, two ACs bound ca. 100% of the two mycotoxins. When 5 ml of an aqueous extract solution obtained from naturally contaminated corn containing 1.84 μg/ml FB1 and 0.042 μg/ml AFB1 was treated with 10 mg of sorbent, one AC adsorbed ca. 95% and 99% of FB1 and AFB1, respectively. It is concluded that certain ACs have high in vitro affinity for FB1 and AFB1 singly or in combination, and may hold promise as multi-mycotoxin sequestering agents. However, further in vivo investigations are neededto confirm the abilities of ACs to sequester the most important mycotoxins singly or in combinations, establish the amounts to be added to feeds, and determine any long-term effects they may have on gastrointestinal absorption of essential nutrients.

Nero Siciliano is an autochthonous pig breed that is reared mainly in semi-extensive systems in northeastern Sicily. Despite its economic importance and well-appreciated meat products, this breed is currently endangered. Consequently, an analysis of intra-breed variability is a fundamental step in preserving this genetic resource and its breeding system. In this work, we used 25 microsatellite markers to examine the genetic composition of 147 unrelated Nero Siciliano pigs. The total number of alleles detected (249, 9.96 per locus) and the expected heterozygosity (0.708) indicated that this breed had a high level of genetic variability. Bayesian cluster analysis showed that the most likely number of groups into which the sample could be partitioned was nine. Based on the proportion of each individuals genome derived from ancestry, pigs with at least 70% of their genome belonging to one cluster were assigned to that cluster. The cluster size ranged from 7 to 17 (n = 108). Genetic variability in this sub-population was slightly lower than in the whole sample, genetic differentiation among clusters was moderate (FST 0.125) and the FIS value was 0.011. NeighborNet and correspondence analysis revealed two clusters as the most divergent. Molecular coancestry analysis confirmed the good within-breed variability and highlighted the clusters that retained the highest genetic diversity.

Sixteen Podolian young bulls were used to study the effects of two different feeding systems on fatty acids composition and oxidative stability of meat: C group, eight young bulls were kept indoors and fed with commercial concentrate for all experimental period (260 days); PC group, eight young bulls were allowed to graze a pasture for 200 days and shifted indoor, fed with concentrate, 60 days before being slaughtered. Meat from young bulls that were allowed, before stall finishing with concentrate, to graze a natural pasture showed lower levels of some n-6 PUFA and higher levels of some n-3 PUFA than meat from animals that were offered only concentrate for the whole experimental period. Lipid oxidation was not affected by the dietary treatment. After a period of 60-day-indoor finishing with concentrate, meat retained part of the health benefits, with regard to fatty acid composition, occurring from grazing.

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