Background/Objectives: Doxycycline, a tetracycline-class antibiotic, is commonly used across various species to treat infections caused by susceptible bacteria. However, pharmacokinetic data on its use in alpacas remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetics of doxycycline following intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous (SC) administration in alpacas. Methods: A randomized crossover study (n = 6) was employed, with dosages of 5 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg after intravenous and subcutaneous administration, respectively. Blood samples were collected at predetermined times up to 96 h after both routes of administration. Plasma doxycycline concentrations were determined using validated high-performance liquid chromatography with a UV detector and then analyzed based on non-compartmental pharmacokinetic methods. Results: All alpacas maintained optimal health and general condition throughout the trial period. After intravenous administration, the V_z value (0.90 L/kg) indicated a good distribution of this antibiotic in the alpacas. The maximum concentration value (C_max) after SC administration of doxycycline was 1.40 µg/mL, reached at 1.92 h. Low bioavailability (F = 36.83%) of doxycycline was observed after SC administration. Conclusions: PK/PD ratios calculated from the pharmacokinetic data obtained, at a dose of 20 mg/kg and SC route of administration, suggest that doxycycline administered every 24 h could be effective against bacterial infections with MICs of 0.125 and 0.5 µg/mL. However, multi-dose and pharmacodynamic studies are needed to further evaluate the efficacy of using doxycycline in alpacas.

The hematophagous bats are usually the main reservoir of sylvatic rabies, being one of the most important viral zoonoses affecting humans and livestock in Latin America. Despite the most countries have already studied spatio-temporal distribution of bovine rabies, however, in Ecuador, little has been reported about the state of rabies in the country. Aiming to this objective, a descriptive observational study was realized from 2007 to 2020 based on the formal reports by WAHI-OIE and surveillance of bovine rabies retrieved from its official website. During the study period in Ecuador, some 895 cases of rabies were confirmed in cattle. In addition, in the total of bovine rabies cases seen in Andean and Coast regions (185 effected bovines), Loja and Esmeraldas had 95 (6.16% cases per 10,000 animals) and 51 (1.7% cases per 10,000 animals), respectively. Furthermore, the Amazon region indicated higher rabies cases in cattle than to the observed in other regions (710 rabies cases) while it was highly fluctuating with respect to the years (9.74 to 42.82% cases per 10,000 animals). However, Zamora (292 rabies cases), Orellana (115 rabies cases) and Sucumbíos (113 rabies cases) yielded the highest incidence rates than other provinces (9 to 42% cases per 10,000 animals). Based on this evidence, it has been fundamental to assess the current national program for preventing and control of the sylvatic rabies, being also necessary to include concept of the ecology of the vampire bat. Regardless of these results, vaccination is vital for control programs to prevent rabies in livestock and need to be widely increased for limiting their geographic and temporal spread.

The breeding and exploitation of chickens at the backyard or commercial family level is an activity of great economic relevance for families in Ecuador. In addition to providing protein of high biological value for food security, it revalues local food resources that could provide productive benefits. With this objective, a study has been conducted in order to explore the effect of C. longa flour on the final weight as well as morphometric characteristics of the organs of female chickens. Therefore, a total of 200 birds were randomly distributed into four homogeneous groups, being Control, basal diet only, followed by T1, basal diet + 1 g/d, T2, basal diet + 2 g/d and T3, basal diet + 3 g/d of C. longa. The data analyzed under a general linear model yielded that including C. longa between 1 or 2 g/d did not differ in the final weight compared to the control (2763 ± 28 g, on average; P < 0.32). In the morphometry of the upper organs, T1 indicated a shorter length of the esophagus (3.7 ± 0.5 mm; P < 0.002) and gizzard (4.9 ± 0.3 mm), but with a larger heart than the other treatments (P < 0.02). In addition, differences were evident in the liver, gallbladder and cecum (P = 0.01 to 0.001) that were more marked when C. longa was administered between 1 or 2 g/d. In conclusion, supplementation of female chickens with C. longa proved to be a potential option to have greater final weights with important findings in the morphometric characteristics that could improve different aspects of their development, productivity and well-being. Therefore, more studies at the level of immunology and histology are recommended to support the benefits of C. longa.

La investigación tuvo como objetivo caracterizar la química del afrecho de quinua y valoración nutricional de digestibilidad in vitro en cuye, para ello, se evaluó la composición química del subproducto, de la pared celular y la digestibilidad in vitro mediante la técnica del licor cecal, utilizando cuyes (Cavia porcellus) como modelo analítico. Los resultados en promedios reflejaron, que la materia seca fue 91,31 %, proteína 20,93%, extracto etéreo 8,53 %, fibra bruta 8,75 %, extracto no nitrogenado 55,02%; los contenidos de cenizas, calcio y fósforo 6,87%, 0,50% y 0,68 %, energía 380,05 kcal/100 g. La fibra detergente neutra y la fibra detergente ácida fueron de 40,12% y 23,08 %. Se concluye que el afrecho de quinua posee buenos niveles de proteína, fibra bruta, cenizas, calcio, fósforo y energía; en la digestibilidad aparente y real los mejores niveles fueron con el 20% y 60 % de afrecho de quinua.

Sheep production in Ecuador is mostly for self-consumption in rural areas and especially in indigenous communities, although some marketing practices may eventually be implemented with products derived from sheep farming, such as milk and wool, which, in addition come into play in the processes of sustaining cultural traditions. Starting from this conviction, this article aims to describe the sociocultural and economic characteristics of sheep production in the indigenous communities of the province of Tungurahua, among which the communities stand out, within the study area: Quisapincha, Tomabela, Chibuleos and the Salasacas. The methodology that guides the research is qualitative, with a documentary and field design, since it is, on the one hand, exposing some sociocultural features of the study population, as well as specifying economic variables of sheep production in the region. . The theoretical review shows the importance of sheep farming as a source of income for a good number of people from the indigenous communities in the country, also representing a factor of preservation of the native cultures settled in regions such as the Tungurahua Province. Among the conclusions derived from empirical observation, it can be added that in the indigenous sectors of the province, there is evidence of a lack of knowledge of the basic health systems that must be implemented on their farms, which affects production and the economic strength of production.