The Influence of Maca (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lepidium meyenii</Emphasis>) on Antioxidant Status,Lipid and Glucose Metabolism in Rat

This work focused on the effect of maca on lipid, anti-oxidative, and glucose parameters in hereditary hypertriglyceridemic (HHTg) rat. Maca (1%) was administred to rats as a part of a high-sucrose diet (HSD) for 2 weeks. Rosiglitazone (0.02%) was used as a positive control. Maca significantly decreased the levels of VLDL (very low density lipoproteins), LDL (low density lipoproteins), and total cholesterol, and also the level of TAG (triacylglycerols) in the plasma, VLDL, and liver. Maca, as well as rosiglitazone, significantly improved glucose tolerance, as the decrease of AUC (area under the curve) of glucose showed, and lowered levels of glucose in blood. The activity of SOD (superoxide dismutase) in the liver, the GPX (glutathione peroxidase) in the blood, and the level of GSH (glutathione) in liver increased in all cases significantly. Results demonstrate that maca seems to be promising for a positive influence on chronic human diseases (characterized by atherogenous lipoprotein profile, aggravated antioxidative status, and impaired glucose tolerance), and their prevention.     

Dietary medicinal herbs improve growth performance,fatty acid utilization,and stress recovery of Japanese flounder

Some effects of dietary medicinal herbs mixture (HM), Massa medicata fermentata, Crataegi fructus, Artemisia capillaries, and Cnidium officinale, in the proportions 2∶2∶1∶1 were identified in juvenile Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. In an 8-week feeding trial, fish were fed with 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0% HM in a moist diet composed of horse mackerel and an artificial diet in equal parts. Fish fed the diets with 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0% HM showed higher weight gain and feed efficiency than fish in 0.1 and 0% HM feed groups. No significant differences were found in survival, feed intake, final carcass proximate composition, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, plasma total cholesterol level, and alanine aminotransferase activity among the dietary treatments. Fish fed with 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0% HM showed higher total carcass unsaturated fatty acid content and docosahexaenoic acid (22∶6n−3) level, and plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol level, but lower carcass saturated fatty acid content and plasma aspartate aminotrasferase activities than the control group. Moreover, a 10-min air exposure test with five times repeat, and an anesthesia test for 2 min with 200 p.p.m. 2-phenoxyethanol, also revealed lower mortality and lower recovery time in 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0% HM groups than the control group at the end of the trial. These results indicate that the medicinal herb mixture is useful to improve growth, fatty acid utilization, and stress recovery in the Japanese flounder.     

Effect of grazing pasture with a low selenium content on the concentrations of triiodothyronine and thyroxine in serum,and GSH-Px activity in erythrocytes in cows in Chile

AIM: To determine the effect of grazing pasture that had a low selenium (Se) concentration on serum concentrations of tri iodothyronine (T₃) and thyroxine (T₄), and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in dairy cows.

METHODS: Forty pregnant Friesian cows were grazed on pasture that contained 0.03–0.04 ppm Se on a dry matter (DM) basis. Two months before parturition, 20 cows were randomly selected and treated with 1 mg Se/kg bodyweight subcutaneously, as barium selenate (Group Se-S). The other group (Se-D) was not supplemented. Blood samples were taken before supplementation (-60 days) and 30, 60, 90, 180 and 270 days after parturition, for determination of concentrations of T₃ and T₄ in serum, and GSH-Px activity in erythrocytes.

RESULTS: Erythrocyte GSH-Px activity in the Se-D group was >60 U/g haemoglobin (Hb) throughout the experiment. Supplementation increased (p>0.05) activities to >130 U/g Hb throughout lactation. Mean serum concentrations of T₄ in Se-D and Se-S cows increased from 23.7 (SEM 0.7) and 23.4 (SEM 0.8) nmol/L, respectively, in the prepartum period to 69.6 (SEM 0.1) and 67.6 (SEM 0.2) nmol/L, respectively, at 180 days of lactation (p>0.01), and no effect of Se supplementation was evident. Serum concentrations of T₃ in Se-D cows decreased (p>0.05) from 1.6 (SEM 0.1) nmol/L prepartum to 1.0 (SEM 0.2) nmol/L at the beginning of lactation, and remained lower (p>0.05) than those in the Se-S cows which did not decrease after calving and ranged from 1.9 (SEM 0.1) to 2.4 (SEM 0.2) nmol/L throughout lactation.

CONCLUSIONS: Serum T₃ concentrations decreased during early lactation in unsupplemented cows grazing pastures low in Se (0.03–0.04 ppm) and both serum T₃ and erythrocyte GSH-Px activities were consistently lower throughout lactation compared with Se-supplemented cows. Se supplementation had no effect on serum T₄ concentrations.     

Are foetal ultrasonographic and maternal blood progesterone measurements near parturition reliable predictors of the time of birth in the domestic cat?

In cats, accuracy of parturition day prediction by ultrasonographic measurement of foetal structures is decreasing towards the end of gestation. Foetal measurements during the last days of pregnancy are scarce. We determined foetal biparietal, abdominal and eye diameter (BPD, AD and ED, respectively) by ultrasonography as well as maternal blood progesterone (P4) within five days of delivery to predict parturition date and calculate accuracy of prediction. Foetal BPD at birth was compared with newborn kitten head diameter (HD). Kitten HD, crown‐rump length (CRL) and body weight were compared by breed and gender. Ultrasonography measurements were carried out on the day of parturition in 14 queens, and on days 62–63 after the first mating and repeated 24–72 hr later in ten other cats. Accuracy of parturition day prediction using BPD and AD was determined based on the equations of Beccaglia et al. (2008) Veterinary Research Communications, 32(Suppl 1), S99 and Garcia Mitacek et al. (2015) Theriogenology, 84, 1131. Progesterone was measured at the time of presentation and repeated 24–72 hr later if parturition did not occur. Data were analysed with linear regression, t test, Mann–Whitney U test, one‐way anova and Kruskal–Wallis test. There was a moderate relationship between BPD, days before birth (DBB) and litter size. AD and DBB had a low agreement, and ED was not associated with DBB. BPD at birth was significantly related to HD. The accuracy of parturition day prediction using BPD and AD was 27–53% and 17–35%, respectively. Kitten HD was associated with body weight, and both were inversely related to litter size. Newborn biometric measurements differed by breed but not by gender. Progesterone decreased towards parturition and reached 3.18 ± 1.68 ng/ml on the day of delivery. In conclusion, close to birth, the combination of foetal ultrasonography and maternal blood P4 rather than each as a sole predictor of parturition is recommended.     

美国农业安全网内容与特点及其对韩国和中国农业政策的启示

美国之所以能发展成为世界超级农业大国与其成熟的农业政策体系有着密不可分的关系。在1933年颁布第一版农业法案后的近90年的历史演变中,美国已经发展了严密可靠的农业安全网,而农业安全网在稳定农产品价格和农业经营及保障农户收入中起到至关重要的作用。本文基于2018年颁布的美国农业法案,分析美国农业安全网之农产品计划、农作物保险计划和灾害援助计划三大主要内容及其特征,探讨不同形态小农国家如何从中借鉴并完善农业政策问题。研究表明,美国农业安全网牢固且具有弹性,具体体现为:对农户的保障范围和力度大;将安全网财政负担设置在可控范围内;农户的权利与义务同行;最大化兼顾国内农业生产环境和WTO国际规则;管辖机构间分工明确、协作紧密等特点。在农产品全球自由贸易加深、气候异常、疫情等因素威胁农产品价格和农户收入稳定的大环境下,中韩两国的农业政策仍有诸多不足,亟须完善。据此,给韩国农业的政策启示是:需制定更加多样灵活的农业补贴政策;扩大农产品支援品种;需形成政策间的协调联动机制;引入强制性财政支出方式。给中国农业政策带来的启示是:推进并完善农业信息化建设;制定长效且不乏弹性的农业政策法规与完善的财政补贴体系;加大财政支持,发展健全的农业保险制度;充分利用现有的WTO规则支持重要农产品生产,并积极筹备下一轮农业谈判为发展中国家的农业发展、粮食安全等议题争取更多权益。     

Electroacupuncture at the Zusanli and Baihui acupoints ameliorates type-2 diabetes-induced reductions in proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts in the hippocampal dentate gyrus with increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels

In the current study, we investigated whether electroacupuncture (EA) can inhibit pathological reductions in neurogenesis. Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats at 7 weeks of age were anesthetized with zoletil, and sham-acupuncture or EA at the Zusanli (ST36) and Baihui (GV20) acupoints was administered once a day for 5 weeks. In the ZDF group that received sham-EA (ZDF-Sham group), the blood glucose level was significantly increased together with age as compared to the control littermates [Zucker lean control (ZLC) rat]. In contrast, proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts were significantly decreased in the ZDF-Sham group compared to the ZLC group. Although EA treatment decreased blood glucose levels, this was not statistically significant when compared to blood glucose levels changes in the ZDF-Sham group. However, proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts were significantly increased with EA in ZDF rats as compared to those in the ZDF-Sham group. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were significantly decreased in hippocampal homogenates of ZDF-Sham group compared to those in the ZLC group. The EA treatment significantly increased the BDNF levels compared to those in the ZDF-Sham group, and BDNF levels in this group were similar to those in the ZLC group. These results suggest that EA at ST36 and GV20 can ameliorate the reductions in proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts in the dentate gyrus induced by type-2 diabetes without significantly reducing blood glucose levels with increasing BDNF levels.     

Comparison of Immunosuppression in Dry and Lactating Awassi Ewes due to Water Deprivation Stress

In seminomadic farming practice, dry and lactating ewes are exposed to different degrees of water deprivation, leading to stress followed by various disease outbreaks. This study compares quantitatively the immunosuppression to Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) fimbriae (14 and 21 kDa) and other major polypeptides (28.9, 37.7, 42.9, 68.0, 92.6 and 96.8 kDa) in water-deprived dry and lactating ewes. Sixteen dry and lactating multiparous Awassi ewes were divided into four treatment groups (A, A', B and B'). Ewes in groups A and B were lactating, whereas ewes in groups A' and B' were dry. All ewes were administered a killed SE vaccine, subcutaneously in the neck, at the initiation of the experiment. The water availability for ewes in groups B (lactating) and B' (dry) was ad libitum, while that for ewes in groups A (lactating) and A' (dry) was once every 4 days. A serum sample was collected from the jugular vein of each ewe at zero time (initiation of the experiment, when SE bacterin was delivered) and at 2, 9, 12, 15 and 18 days post SE vaccination. The percentage reduction in the level of humoral antibody response to polypeptides of > or = 21 kDa was more apparent in water-deprived lactating ewes of group A between 9 and 18 days post initiation of thirst. In this period, immunosuppression to polypeptides > or = 21 kDa was present in 14 out of 16 observations in group A (water-deprived lactating), with significant immunosuppression in 9 observations in relation to the respective control (p<0.05), while it was present in only 4 out of 16 observations in group A' (water-deprived dry), with significant immunosuppression in 2 observations (p <0.05). In conclusion, immunosuppression to polypeptides of > or =21 kDa is more significant in lactating water-deprived ewes in the period 9-18 days post initiation of thirst, a result that will influence our future sheep welfare awareness programmes targeting an elimination of the practice of water deprivation in seminomadic sheep farming.     

Field Investigation of Perinatal Mortality in Friesian Cattle Associated with Myocardial Degeneration and Necrosis

Perinatal mortality and stillbirths were investigated in an extensively managed herd of Friesian cows and heifers calving over a 2‐year period: 504 cows were calved and 215 heifers. Cows were bred to Friesian and Jersey bulls using natural service. The perinatal fetal mortality rate was 7.5% for cows and 30% for heifers. An experienced stockman managed these calvings and veterinary assistance was required only on nine occasions. All stillborn fetuses were examined post‐mortem by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Carmarthen and no infectious agent was identified on any occasion. Thyroid hyperplasia was found in two fetuses. In blood samples taken from 10 late pregnant heifers, mean glutathione peroxidase values were 7.9 ± 1.7 IU/ml Packed Cell Volume (PCV). Tissues from eight fetuses were submitted to the University of Liverpool for histopathological examination; all presented lesions consistent with myocardial degeneration and necrosis of the left ventricle. Following treatment of 205 late pregnant heifers with sodium selenite and vitamin E, the overall perinatal mortality rate in these cattle fell to below 11%.     

Investigation of bovine haemoplasmas and their association with anaemia in New Zealand cattle

CASE HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: A dairy cow, from a herd in the Waikato region of New Zealand, was reported with regenerative anaemia on 12 September 2014. Testing of blood from the animal using PCR assays for Theileria orientalis produced a negative result for both Chitose and Ikeda types.

LABORATORY FINDINGS: Using PCR and DNA sequencing, blood from the cow was positive for Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos. Further testing of another 12 animals from the case herd, 27 days after the affected cow was first reported, showed 11 animals were positive for Candidatus M. haemobos or Mycoplasma wenyonii in the PCR. None of these cattle were clinically anaemic or positive for T. orientalis Ikeda type using PCR.

A convenience sample of 47 blood samples from cattle throughout New Zealand, submitted to the Investigation and Diagnostic Centre (Ministry for Primary Industries) for surveillance testing for T. orientalis Ikeda, was selected for further testing for bovine haemoplasmas. Of these samples, 6/47 (13%) and 13/47(28%) were positive for M. wenyonii and Candidatus M. haemobos, respectively. There was no difference in the proportion of samples positive for the bovine haemaplasmas between cattle with anaemia that were negative for T. orientalis (6/20, 33%), or without anaemia or T. orientalis (10/18, 56%), or from cattle herds experiencing anaemia and infection with T. orientalis Ikeda type (3/9, 33%).

DIAGNOSIS: Bovine haemoplasmosis.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The presence of bovine haemoplasmas in blood does not establish causality for anaemia in cattle. Diagnosis of anaemia associated with haemoplasmosis would require exclusion of other causes of regenerative anaemia and an association of the agent with anaemia in affected cattle herds. The data collected in this study did not provide evidence that bovine haemoplasmas were associated with a large number of outbreaks of anaemia in cattle in New Zealand.