Site and extent of starch and neutral detergent fiber digestion as affected by source of calcium and level of corn

Five steers (385 kg) fitted with permanent abomasal cannulae were used to compare Ca source (limestone or dicalcium phosphate) and corn level on site and extent of digestion. Diets contained 50, 70 or 90% corn, with corn silage and supplement to provide .70% Ca from either limestone or dicalcium phosphate. Limestone did not affect ruminal digestion, but postruminal starch and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestion were higher (P less than .05) for limestone compared with dicalcium phosphate, which suggests that starch utilization may be increased postruminally by a compound with buffering capacity. As a percentage of total starch intake, total tract and ruminal starch digestion increased (linear, P less than .01) while postruminal starch digestion decreased (linear, P less than .01) with corn level. Neutral detergent fiber digested in the rumen decreased (linear, P less than .01) and postruminal NDF digestion increased (linear, P less than .01) when level of corn in the diet increased. Effects of corn level were not different when organic matter and starch intake were included as covariates.     

Interrelationships of exogenous porcine growth hormone administration and feed intake level affecting various tissue levels of iron, copper, zinc and bone calcium of growing pigs

Trace mineral status was evaluated in a 2 x 3 factorial treatment array with a total of 34 barrows growing from 25 to 55 kg live weight. Treatments included three levels of feed intake (100, 80 and 60% of ad libitum intake) and exogenous pituitary growth hormone (pGH) therapy (0 and 100 micrograms/kg BW daily). Blood was collected prior to slaughter for the determination of hematocrit and serum trace metal concentrations; tissues (liver, heart, kidney, bone and muscle) were obtained when pigs were slaughtered at 55 kg. Hematocrits and serum Fe were lower in pGH-treated pigs than in controls at all levels of feed intake. Serum Cu was increased by feed restriction but was not altered by pGH therapy. The concentration of serum Zn was not affected by either treatment. Concentrations of hepatic Fe and Cu were lower in pGH-treated pigs than in controls but were higher in feed-restricted pigs than in ad libitum-fed pigs. However, the total amounts of hepatic Fe and Cu were similar in pGH-treated pigs to concentrations in controls. The concentration of hepatic Zn was not influenced by either pGH treatment or feed intake. Femur weights were marginally greater in pGH-treated pigs, probably due to elevated water content. Iron concentration in bone was higher in pGH-treated pigs than in control pigs, whereas Ca, Cu and Zn were not influenced by pGH treatment or feed restriction. Feed intake and pGH treatment did not influence the concentrations of Fe, Cu or Zn in muscle. These findings indicate that pGH therapy affects the metabolism of Fe but has little impact on the overall composition of body ash.     

Radiographic examination of the facial, nasal and paranasal sinus regions of the horse: I. Indications and procedures in 235 cases

The radiographic procedures used for examination of the facial area and paranasal sinuses of 235 horses are reported. Clinical indications for these examinations and the diagnoses made are reviewed. Unilateral nasal discharge was the commonest reason for radiography, accounting for about one third of cases, most of which had radiological signs of paranasal sinus disease recognisable on erect lateral films. Oblique projections were required to obtain further information about the maxillary dental arcades and ventro-dorsal views demonstrated sinus expansion and extension of disease into the nasal cavity. In 24 horses with bilateral nasal discharge, the origin was usually shown to be in the lower respiratory tract and radiographic abnormalities were found in only 20 per cent of cases. Facial swelling was a feature of 25 per cent of cases; the commonest causes were premolar periapical disease, best shown on oblique views with the patient recumbent, and suture periostitis, easily demonstrated on erect lateral films. Other causes of facial swelling, which required multiple radiographic projections for evaluation, were sinus cysts and tumours and peripheral soft tissue masses. Epistaxis for which no cause could be found in the lower respiratory tract was the indication for radiography in a further 10 per cent of cases. In almost half of these a radiopaque shadow representing an ethmoid haematoma could be seen on an erect lateral film. A sinus cyst and a tumour were also recorded but most other causes of epistaxis failed to produce radiographic signs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Response of low and high protein select lines of pigs to the feeding of the beta-adrenergic agonist ractopamine (phenethanolamine)

The effect of ractopamine, a phenethanolamine beta-adrenergic agonist, on growth, nutrient utilization and carcass composition was studied in two lines of pigs that were fed high (24%) or low (12%) protein diets. Of the two lines of pigs that had been selected for seven generations for rapid lean growth when fed either the higher (HS line) or low (LS line) protein diet, the HS line tended to exhibit a leaner carcass when fed either diet. Ractopamine, at 20 ppm in the diet, was fed from 60 kg live body weight until slaughter at 90 kg. When compared with their respective line-diet control group, the greatest response to ractopamine treatment was observed in the LS-12 group; at 90 kg, that group had 31% less carcass lipid (P less than .05) and 17% more carcass protein (P less than .05). Considering the change that took place only between 60 and 90 kg live body weight, this translated into 57% less lipid and 59% more protein deposited in the carcasses with ractopamine treatment. This group also was 73% more efficient (P less than .05) in converting dietary protein to carcass protein but 39% less efficient (P less than .05) in energy utilization. Response to ractopamine treatment was least by the LS-24 group, followed by the HS-12 and HS-24 groups. A line x diet x treatment interaction (P less than .05) was noted for whole-carcass lipid, backfat, longissimus muscle area and efficiency of protein utilization.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Modeling growth factor activity during proinflammatory stress: methodological considerations in assessing cytokine modulation of IGF binding proteins released by cultured bovine kidney epithelial cells

The present research was conducted to model potential mechanisms through which IGFBPs might be affected by a key proinflammatory response initiating cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF-)-. Madin–Darby bovine kidney epithelial (MDBK) cells, known to release IGFBPs in response to several stimuli, were grown under several conditions and challenged with forskolin (F) or recombinant TNF- for 24 h. Forskolin increased IGFBP-3 gene expression and media content of BP-3 protein. TNF- increased basal and augmented F-mediated IGFBP-3 gene expression. However, TNF- effects on the measurable media content of IGFBPs were influenced by culture conditions; in the absence of added protease inhibitors (PIs) or sufficient media albumin concentration (high BSA, 1 mg/ml), the effect of TNF- was to decrease (P < 0.02) measurable IGFBPs. In the presence of PI and high BSA, media IGFBP-3 levels were shown to be increased by TNF- consistent with the gene expression data. Changes in media IGFBP-3 protease activity were examined further to explain the observed effects of TNF- on production and destruction of IGFBPs in media. When recombinant human IGFBP-3 (500 ng/ml) was added to PI-free, low BSA 100 μg/ml) media from TNF-treated MDBK cells, less than 10% of the BP-3 was recognizable by Western blot in 30 min; conversely, inclusion of High BSA and PI in media resulted in attenuation of the protease effect on the IGFBPs. The data suggest that the MDBK model of cellular response to proinflammatory stimulus is affected by culture conditions and that TNF- affects media content of IGFBPs through effects on IGFBP gene expression coupled with degradation of IGFBPs via enhanced proteolytic enzyme release.     

Risk factors for hide contamination of Scottish cattle at slaughter with Escherichia coli O157

In the slaughter processing of cattle, contaminated hides have been identified as one of the major sources of Escherichia coli O157 carcase contamination. Logistic regression analysis was applied to data collected in a large scale study in Scotland involving 222 cattle forming 34 groups sent for slaughter from 30 farms to 10 slaughterhouses. Aspects of individual animal characteristics, farm management practices and slaughterhouse features were examined to identify potential risk factors for hide contamination at harvest. Two models were developed, the first in which slaughterhouse was modelled as a fixed effect, and a second model where slaughterhouse and farm groups were modelled as random effects. In the first model, there was a significantly increased risk of a carcase testing positive for E. coli O157 on the hide if either the hide of the carcase immediately before or after it on the line was contaminated (OR 3.6; 95% CI: 1.4–9.9). If both adjacent carcases had contaminated hides, the odds ratio for the study carcase having a contaminated hide rose to 11.5 (95% CI: 4.4–32.5). If animals were held in lairage, receiving hay as feed appeared to have a protective effect on hide contamination. Transportation to the slaughterhouse by haulier, as opposed to transport by the farmer, was associated with a 5.4 increase in the odds of E. coli O157 contamination. The use of a crush in the lairage, often employed when reading ear tags, was also found to significantly increase the odds of hide contamination with E. coli O157. In the second model, the inclusion of slaughterhouse and farm group as random effects resulted in two of the previously identified factors being associated with hide contamination. If at least one of the adjacent carcases on the line had a contaminated hide, the associated odds ratio was 6.6 (95% CI: 2.8–15.9), which rose to 22.7 (95% CI: 9.3–55.5) if both adjacent hides were contaminated. Receiving hay in lairage was found to be important to the model, although not significant in itself (OR 0.005; 95% CI: 1.2e⁻⁶–20.7). These results suggest that modifiable risk factors for hide contamination exist. However, in order best to reduce the prevalence of hide contamination at slaughter, individual slaughterhouse risk assessment and intervention strategies are appropriate.     

Resection of the incisive bone and rostral maxillae for removal of an ossifying fibroma in an 18‐year‐old Warmblood gelding

A 510 kg, 18‐year‐old Warmblood gelding used for high level dressage was presented with a 6 week history of a growing mass at the rostral aspect of the incisive bone. Radiographic examination of the maxillae showed an osteolytic lesion between the left maxillary central and intermediate teeth spreading caudally into the hard palate. Biopsy of the mass was consistent with an aggressive oral fibrosarcoma. Diagnostic work‐up ruled out metastatic lesions. An amputation of the incisive bone and part of the rostral maxillae was performed with the intent of removing the mass in healthy margins. However, the neoplastic tissue extended to the rostral aspect of the ventral nasal conchae and a resection in healthy margins was not performed to avoid surgical complications due to communication with the nasal conchae. After surgery, the horse's appetite and food uptake were not impaired and cosmetic appearance was excellent. Active drains were used in order to prevent any submucosal collection of fluids. Histopathological examination of the surgical margins of the removed maxillae confirmed the presence of tumoural tissue. Even though excision of the tumour was not complete, no macroscopic local recurrence was reported post operatively at 36 months' follow‐up. Based on histological re‐evaluation of the removed tissue and the absence of recurrence a definitive diagnosis of ossifying fibroma was made.     

Innate immunity in Caenorhabditis elegans is regulated by neurons expressing NPR-1/GPCR

A large body of evidence indicates that metazoan innate immunity is regulated by the nervous system, but the mechanisms involved in the process and the biological importance of such control remain unclear. We show that a neural circuit involving npr-1, which encodes a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) related to mammalian neuropeptide Y receptors, functions to suppress innate immune responses. The immune inhibitory function requires a guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate-gated ion channel encoded by tax-2 and tax-4 as well as the soluble guanylate cyclase GCY-35. Furthermore, we show that npr-1- and gcy-35-expressing sensory neurons actively suppress immune responses of nonneuronal tissues. A full-genome microarray analysis on animals with altered neural function due to mutation in npr-1 shows an enrichment in genes that are markers of innate immune responses, including those regulated by a conserved PMK-1/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. These results present evidence that neurons directly control innate immunity in C. elegans, suggesting that GPCRs may participate in neural circuits that receive inputs from either pathogens or infected sites and integrate them to coordinate appropriate immune responses.