Bright artificial light at night is associated with increased body mass,poor reproductive success and compromised disease tolerance in Australian budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus)

Artificial light at night (ALAN) can cause circadian disruption and result in adverse behavioral and ecological effects in free‐living birds, but studies on captive pet birds as companion animals have been infrequent. We studied the effects of exposure to bright ALAN on body mass, melatonin sulfate levels, reproduction and disease severity in Australian budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) kept in captivity. During the experiment, birds were kept under outdoor temperature, humidity and natural photoperiod from September to December. A total of 48 birds were equally split into 4 groups (6 mating pairs each) and concurrently exposed to ALAN of 200 lux with different duration (0, 30, 60 and 90 min). Monthly observations were recorded for all dependent parameters. ALAN exposure increased mass gain and suppressed melatonin levels in a dose‐dependent manner, especially during December. In addition, ALAN exposure in all duration groups decreased egg production and reduced hatchability from 61% ± 14% in the ALAN‐unexposed control group to 0% in the ALAN‐exposed birds. Disease severity was also found to increase in line with the duration of ALAN exposure. In captive M. undulatus, ALAN exposure was demonstrated to affect photoperiodic regulation with subsequent excess mass gain and reproduction impairment, and increased susceptibility to infections plausibly through duration dose‐dependent suppression of melatonin. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate a possible association between acute bright ALAN of increasing duration and both natural development of infections as well as reproductive cessation in captive birds. Our findings could be used to improve breeding conditions of captive birds.     

Quantitative assessment of pupillary light reflex in normal and anesthetized dogs: a preliminary study

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively assess the pupillary light reflex (PLR) in normal and anesthetized dogs using a pupillometer. Eleven dogs (20 eyes) of various breeds were included. PLRs were measured with a handheld pupillometer in dim light before and during anesthesia. Anesthesia was conducted with atropine, xylazine and ketamine. Parameters of pupillometry included neurological pupil index (NPi), pupil size, percent of change (%CH), latency (LAT), constriction velocity (CV), maximum constriction velocity (MCV) and dilation velocity (DV). NPi,%CH, CV and MCV were significantly decreased during anesthesia compared with the pre-anesthesia data. The results suggest that atropine-xylazine-ketamine combination anesthesia depresses the PLR. Additionally, this study demonstrates the feasibility of the use of a pupillometer in dogs.     

Effects of hereditary retinal degeneration due to a CEP290 mutation on the feline pupillary light reflex

Objective To understand how progressive rod cone degeneration due to a mutation in CEP290 affects the pupillary light reflex (PLR) in domestic cats. Animals studied Domestic cats identified as either normal wildtype (WT; n = 6), or homozygous for the rdAc mutation in CEP290 and having early stage retinal degeneration (stage 2, S2; n = 4), or advanced retinal degeneration (S4; n = 6). Methods The effect of light on pupil size was measured over a series of 10‐s pulses of white and chromatic light in cats lightly sedated with medetomidine. Results In WT cats, the PLR was characterized by a pronounced initial constriction that rapidly re‐dilated during the stimulus (pupil escape), to a stable or sustained constriction. There was then a marked constriction at stimulus offset. Each component of the PLR was retained in affected cats, but with progressively reduced irradiance sensitivity from early to advanced retinal disease. Conclusions The PLR of cats had multiple phases, with a remarkably high‐amplitude ‘paradoxical’ off‐constriction even in the absence of retinal disease. In rdAc cats, reduced irradiance sensitivity was consistent with progressive loss of rod and cone function. Based on previously characterized retinal pathology, this suggests the visual streak of the retina has a proportionally large contribution to PLR input. These findings support the hypothesis that the efficacy of planned therapeutic trials can be determined by careful evaluation of the PLR in cats.     

光照强度对北京鸭生产性能、胴体性能及肉品质的影响

本文旨在探究光照强度对北京鸭生产性能、胴体性能及肉品质的影响。选择600只1日龄健康的北京鸭,随机分配到5个组中,每组4个重复,每重复30只鸭(公母各占1/2)。试验光照强度各组分别设置为1、5、10、15和40 lx,白炽灯24 h全人工光照。试验期6周。结果表明:1)1~6周,各组间平均耗料量和平均体增重无显著差异(P0.05),5 lx组的料重比显著低于10、15、40 lx组(P0.05)。育雏期(1~2周)和生长期(3~5周)时各组生产性能无显著差异(P0.05),而肥育期(6周)时1 lx组的平均耗料量和平均体增重显著高于5、10、15 lx组(P0.05)。2)光照强度对屠体率、全净膛率、腿肌率、腹脂率及眼球指标(重量、横径和前后径)均无显著影响(P0.05),但5 lx组的胸肌率显著高于40 lx组(P0.05)。3)光照强度对最终p H(p Hu)、滴水损失率、黄度(b*)值的影响不显著(P0.05),40 lx组的最初p H(p Hi)显著高于5、10、15 lx组(P0.05),但亮度(L*)值显著低于5、10、15 lx组(P0.05)。15、40 lx组的红度(a*)值显著低于1 lx组(P0.05)。综上,5 lx光照强度不仅节能有效,还能提高北京鸭的饲料转化率和胸肌率。此外,低光照强度还有助于提高肉色的L*和a*值。     

Effects of stocking density,light and perches on broiler growth

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of stocking density, light intensity and light color on broiler growth. The experiment consisted of four 35‐day phases during each of which 320 chickens were surveyed. The research was performed at stocking densities of four and six birds/m². Illuminances of 15 and 30 lx were obtained through commercial lamps with 4000 K and 6000 K color temperatures. Lighting was used 17 h a day, between 06.00 and 23.00 hours (17 L:7 D). The results showed a decrease in body, carcass, breast and thighs weight (P < 0.05) with the increase in stocking density. Body weight decreased by 10.5% and carcass weight decreased by 9.4% at six birds/m² stocking density. Contrastingly, no differences were found for the tested light colors. Increasing illuminance from 15 to 30 lx caused a 1.9% decrease in body weight. The analysis of the effect of perches revealed that using perches significantly increased body (2.5%) and breast weight (11.8%). The interactions between light intensity or color and stocking density and between light intensity and light color were analyzed.     

Prolonged latency of pupillary light reflex in confined sows: Possible stress-related symptom?

This study aimed to compare pupillary light reflex (PLR) of stall-housed sows with group-housed sows because PLR is a sensitive indicator reflecting psychological state in humans and animals. Six hundred thirty-seven pregnant sows confined in gestation stalls were examined and PLR times (PLRTs) were measured. The results of the chi-square test showed that no significant difference was found in the pupils with PLRT ≥10 seconds between the left and the right pupils (χ2 = 0.03, P > 0.05), and the right-sided pupils with PLRT ≥10 seconds was significantly correlated to left-sided ones (χ2 = 181.85, P < 0.01). Among the 637 individuals, only 38 individuals were found whose PLRT showed >10 seconds on both pupils, accounting for 5.5% of the total. With the treatment of 0.125% of pilocarpine, neither 64 pupils with PLRT ≥10 seconds on the left nor 66 pupils with PRT ≥10 seconds on the right showed sensitivity to pilocarpine. The results also showed that the confined sows had longer PLRT than that of the grouped sows on both the left (13.97 ± 2.96 vs. 8.15 ± 0.97, P < 0.001) and the right (14.01 ± 2.87 vs. 8.19 ± 0.82, P < 0.001) pupils. However, the difference in ratio of the initial pupil size to maximally constricted size was not significant between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the prolonged latency of PLR or increased PLRT found in the confined sows appeared to be a stressful response to chronic stress. PLRT has the potential to be an indicator used to measure stressed animals.     

Light exposure during night suppresses nocturnal increase in growth hormone secretion in Holstein steers

To understand the regulatory mechanism of the secretory rhythm of GH and the involvement of melatonin (MEL) in GH regulation in cattle, daytime and nighttime profiles of GH secretion and the effect of a photic stimulation on nocturnal GH and MEL secretion were investigated in Holstein steers. Steers were kept under a constant lighting condition of 12 h of light (LIGHT; 500 lx, 0600 to 1800 h):12 h of dark (DARK; 10 lx, 1800 to 0600 h). In Exp. 1, blood was taken for 4 h at 15-min intervals during LIGHT (1100 to 1500 h) and DARK (2300 to 0300 h), respectively. The sampling was also performed from 0500 to 0900 h, with the usual light transition (light onset at 0600 h; morning sampling). In Exp. 2, steers were exposed to light (500 lx) for 1 h from 0000 to 0100 h. Plasma GH and MEL concentrations were determined by RIA and enzyme immunoassay, respectively. Both GH (P < 0.05) and MEL (P < 0.01) concentrations in plasma for 4 h during DARK were greater than those during LIGHT. On the other hand, although MEL concentrations were decreased after the light onset at 0600 during the morning, GH release was not altered. Increased GH secretion during DARK was suppressed (P < 0.01) by the 1 h of light exposure, as were MEL concentrations (P < 0.05). Pineal MEL, which was affected by the photic condition, may play an important role in the secretory rhythm of GH secretion in cattle.     

单色光对肉鸡免疫功能的影响

选用260只刚出壳AA肉鸡公雏,随机分为红（660 nm）、绿（560 nm）、蓝（480 nm）和白（400-700 nm）4个光色处理组,分别用4种发光二级管作为光源进行处理。每个处理设5个重复,每个重复13只鸡,人工光照光强度均为15 lx,光照时间为23 h,试验期为7周。49日龄测定肉鸡脾脏的质量,21和49日龄测定外周血T淋巴细胞转化率和血清皮质醇水平,14、28、42和49日龄测定新城疫（NDV）抗体滴度。结果表明：与红光组比较,蓝光组49日龄肉鸡脾脏的质量提高42.2%（P〈0.05）,而白光、绿光和蓝光各组间差异不显著（P〉0.05）。与白光组相比,蓝光组21和49日龄皮质醇水平分别降低25.2%和26.2%（P〈0.05）。与红光组比较,28日龄时绿光组的新城疫抗体水平显著高32.9%（P〈0.05）,而白光、红光和蓝光各组间差异不显著（P〉0.05）;49日龄时蓝光组NDV的抗体水平显著高62.8%（P〈0.05）,但蓝光、绿光和白光组间差异不显著（P〉0.05）。与红光组比较,21日龄时白光和绿光组肉鸡外周血T淋巴细胞的转化率均显著提高（分别为107.1%和80.8%,P〈0.05）,49日龄时白光和蓝光组分别显著提高41.5%和26.9%（P〈0.05）。上述结果表明,在15 lx光强度下,肉鸡生长前期选用绿光照明,后期改为蓝光照明,可以提高肉鸡免疫功能,而且在一定程度上蓝光还有缓解免疫应激的作用。     

扁穗雀麦种子萌发条件的研究

通过发芽试验探讨温度、发芽床及光照等因素对扁穗雀麦Bromus cartharticus种子萌发的影响。试验设7种恒温(10、15、20、25、30、35和40 ℃)和2种变温（15/25 ℃,20/30 ℃）共9个处理;光照设黑暗（0）和光照(2 000 lx)2个处理;发芽床设纸上（TP）、纸间(BP)、砂上(TS)和砂间(BS)4个处理。综合发芽率、发芽指数和活力指数,最后确定扁穗雀麦的最适发芽温度为25～30 ℃,发芽床选纸上发芽为好,对光照不敏感。     

Lack of consensus on consensual response

The pupillary light reflex (PLR) is a routinely utilized clinical test to quickly assess integrity of subcortical light perception pathways in patients. While interpretation is simple for ophthalmologists, interestingly discrepancy occurs in annotation of the test results, especially for the consensual response. An email survey sent to diplomates of either the American or European Colleges of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO and ECVO, respectively), requesting use of a ‘direct/consensual’ annotation convention, showed 58% of respondents preferred one convention while 39% preferred a different convention. The majority preferred convention was different between ACVO and ECVO respondents. Standardization of PLR annotation convention across specialists is recommended for clarity in medical record keeping and communication among colleagues.     

Out-of-season breeding of milk goats--the effect of light treatment,melatonin and breed

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectivity of melatonin in addition to light treatment (exposure to 2 hours of light during the night = a long-day photoperiod) to modify the breeding season of Saanen and cross-bred milk goats and to compare the difference between the breeds. Twenty-two Saanen and 22 cross-bred does were randomly divided into 3 treatment groups. Group 1 (controls) received no treatment, Group 2 received light treatment for 37 days and Group 3 received light treatment plus melatonin implants after the light treatment. After a further 35 days the 3 groups were brought together and a billy goat that had also been exposed to the extra light at night, had received a melatonin implant and had been isolated from the does during the treatment period, was introduced to the does for natural mating. Ultrasound scanning was used to diagnose pregnancy and all the pregnant goats kidded. Significantly more Saanen does compared to cross-bred does (P = 0.018) became pregnant and kidded after natural mating, when the group that received melatonin as well as light treatment was compared to the group that received light treatment only. Compared to light treatment only, the addition of melatonin to light treatment improved (P = 0.0028) conception after natural mating, in both the Saanen and the cross-bred does.     

Effect of visible light on transformability of lymphocytes in peripheral blood

Reported in this paper are the possible effects of different light regimes on the transformability of lymphocytes in calf blood. The following results were verified against the background of various indices, such as transformation rate, stimulation index, and lymphocyte number, following culturing with the lymphocyte transformation test and morphological evaluation: --The light regimes tested were natural light day, extremely long day with artificial light (24 hours of lighting, 75-100 lx), and divided artificial light day (seven hours light, five hours darkness, seven hours light, five hours darkness, 82-128 lx). The natural and extremely long artificial light days stimulated transformability of lymphocytes in calf blood. --The divided artificial light day tended to depress transformation of calf lymphocytes. Such light-dependent stimulation of lymphocyte transformability is interpreted as an improvement in defence of the animal organism in terms of an unspecific stimulation.     

Minimum light intensity threshold to prevent negative effects on broiler production and welfare

1. Research focused on lower light intensity levels is required to set minimum standards appropriate for production and welfare of intensively housed broilers. The objective of this research was to study light intensity (0.1 to 10 lx) effects on Ross × Ross 308 and 708 genotypes.

2. Three experiments (35 d each) using 18 720 broilers were conducted with the initial experiment using two replicates of 0.1, 1, 5 and 10 lx. The second and third experiments examined 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 lx with treatments replicated twice in each experiment in a randomised complete block design with experiment acting as a block. In each experiment, mixed sex broilers from each genotype were housed in 6 equally sized pens per room.

3. In Experiment 1, the introduction of 0.1 lx at d 7 caused high levels of mortality and poor growth rate from d 7 to 14 and was discontinued.

4. In Experiments 2 and 3, increasing light intensity increased body weight gain (0–35 d) and feed intake (0–35 d) in a quadratic and linear fashion, respectively. Similarly, mortality corrected gain to feed ratio (FCR, 0–35 d) demonstrated a quadratic response with a maximum at 5 lx. Carcass, breast meat and skin, abdominal fat and drum skin, as a percentage of live weight, increased while drum bone and wing yield decreased in a linear fashion with increasing light intensity. Total carcass composition was unaffected by light intensity.

5. Genotype effects were numerous. No interactions were found between genotype and light intensity.

6. Ocular dimensions and the incidence of foot pad lesions decreased in a quadratic and linear fashion, respectively, with increasing light intensity. In contrast, welfare-associated gait score and mortality levels were not affected by light intensity.

7. It was concluded that performance, breast meat yield and bird welfare improved with increasing light intensity. The data support 5 lx as a minimum light intensity in broiler production.     

单色光对肉鸡脑内促性腺激素释放激素分布和表达的影响

24只刚出壳的雄性AA肉鸡分别在白(400～760 nm)、红(660 nm)、绿(560 nm)和蓝色(480 nm) LED灯下饲养7周,光照强度15 lx,光照制度23h∶1 h(L:D).49日龄时取脑,利用免疫组化的方法显示GnRH神经元和神经纤维的分布及比较各光色下GnRH神经元的表达强度.结果显示,GnRH神经元和神经纤维在下丘脑、丘脑和中脑均有分布,且蓝光组下丘脑的视前室周核、视前内侧核、室周核、室旁大细胞核以及丘脑的圆核和卵圆核GnRH神经元表达强度显著高于红、绿光组.结果表明,光色可影响家禽下丘脑和丘脑GnRH的表达与分泌.     

Evaluation of patients with decreased vision or blindness

A good ocular examination and careful evaluation of the pupillary light reflexes will localize most lesion(s) producing a complaint of blindness. Lesions of the clear media severe enough to produce blindness will prohibit fundus examination. Retinal, optic nerve, and complete chiasmal lesions will produce dilated, slowly reactive pupils. Retinal blindness is usually associated with dramatic ophthalmoscopic lesions of diffuse altered reflectivity and vascular attenuation, the major exceptions being the sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome and some patients with glaucoma. Optic nerve lesions may involve the optic disc where they may be recognized by either pallor or hyperemia and cupping or elevation. Confirmation of optic nerve blindness in practice usually is by ruling out retinal blindness, but a more definitive methodology is to have a normal electroretinogram, slow or absent direct pupillary light reflexes (PLR), and abnormal visual evoked potentials. Central blindness is diagnosed by normal eyes, normal PLR, and often central nervous system (CNS) signs indicative of a diffuse or multifocal CNS disease.     

光照、温度、土壤水分和播种深度对披针叶黄华种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响

披针叶黄华(Thermopsis lanceolate)是我国北方草地广泛分布的一种有毒多年生草本植物,且具有一定的药用价值。本研究分析了光照、温度、水分和播种深度等环境因子对披针叶黄华种子萌发的影响。结果表明,持续光照、持续黑暗和16 h/8 h光暗交替时披针叶黄华种子萌发最适宜的温度为25 ℃;16 h/8 h光暗交替下,25 ℃/15 ℃日夜变温是披针叶黄华种子萌发最适宜温度;其种子萌发对光照不敏感;种子萌发最适宜的土壤含水量为7%～12%,最适宜播深为0.5～2.0 cm。     

Retinal and optic nerve degeneration in cattle after accidental acrylamide intoxication

A herd of cattle was accidentally exposed to monomeric acrylamide and N-methylolacrylamide. Seven cattle underwent repeated examinations during 6–8 months after exposure. Abnormal pupillary light reflexes (PLR) were observed in one cow. Ophthalmoscopic examination showed progressive retinal degeneration and degenerative changes in the optic nerve heads in this cow. Light and electron microscopic examination revealed pathological changes in the retinae and optic nerves consistent with chronic stages of acrylamide toxicity. Ophthalmic examination and light microscopy did not reveal abnormalities in the retinae or optic nerves in either the rest of the cattle from the herd or in offspring of exposed cattle.     

Eliciting conditioned taste aversion in lizards: Live toxic prey are more effective than scent and taste cues alone

Conditioned taste aversion (CTA) is an adaptive learning mechanism whereby a consumer associates the taste of a certain food with symptoms caused by a toxic substance, and thereafter avoids eating that type of food. Recently, wildlife researchers have employed CTA to discourage native fauna from ingesting toxic cane toads (Rhinella marina), a species that is invading tropical Australia. In this paper, we compare the results of 2 sets of CTA trials on large varanid lizards (“goannas,” Varanus panoptes). One set of trials (described in this paper) exposed recently‐captured lizards to sausages made from cane toad flesh, laced with a nausea‐inducing chemical (lithium chloride) to reinforce the aversion response. The other trials (in a recently‐published paper, reviewed herein) exposed free‐ranging lizards to live juvenile cane toads. The effectiveness of the training was judged by how long a lizard survived in the wild before it was killed (fatally poisoned) by a cane toad. Both stimuli elicited rapid aversion to live toads, but the CTA response did not enhance survival rates of the sausage‐trained goannas after they were released into the wild. In contrast, the goannas exposed to live juvenile toads exhibited higher long‐term survival rates than did untrained conspecifics. Our results suggest that although it is relatively easy to elicit short‐term aversion to toad cues in goannas, a biologically realistic stimulus (live toads, encountered by free‐ranging predators) is most effective at buffering these reptiles from the impact of invasive toxic prey.     

单色光对产蛋鸡蛋品质的影响

试验采用红(660nm)、绿(560nm)、蓝(480nm)3种发光二极管(处理组)和白炽灯(400～700nm)(对照组),对180羽海兰褐蛋鸡进行人工光照,研究了单色光对蛋重、蛋形指数、蛋长径、短径和蛋壳质量的影响。试验期为19～52周,光强度均为15lx,光照时间为16h。结果表明:在整个试验期,白光组蛋重最高(61.1g),红光组最低(59.2g),二者之间差异显著(P<0.05);38～52周龄,蓝光组蛋长径显著小于其他组,而其短径显著(P<0.05)小于白光组,另外,红光组蛋短径极显著(P<0.01)小于其他组;19～37周龄,绿光组蛋形指数(1.303)显著大于其他组,而38～52周龄,红光组蛋形指数(1.343)极显著(P<0.01)大于其他组;21～45周龄,绿光组蛋壳强度(3.54kg/cm2)极显著(P<0.01)高于白光和蓝光组而绿光组蛋壳厚度(0.368mm)显著(P<0.05)大于其他组;蓝光组蛋壳颜色值(31.6)显著(P<0.05)小于白光组(33.1)。结果提示:蓝光使蛋长、径变短而红光使蛋短径变短,从而使蓝光和红光组蛋重随产蛋周龄而增长的趋势小于白光和绿光组。单色光可影响蛋壳质量,其中绿光组的蛋壳质量最好。