Cardiac arrhythmias and electrolyte disturbances in colic horses

Background

Despite increased focus on cardiac arrhythmias in horses, the nature and prevalence is still poorly described. Case reports suggest that arrhythmias occurring secondary to systemic disease are seen more commonly in the clinic than arrhythmias caused by cardiac disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of arrhythmias in colic horses referred for hospital treatment. Associations between electrolyte disturbances and arrhythmias were also investigated.The study population consisted of eight control horses and 22 referred colic horses. A Holter electrocardiography (ECG) was recorded during the first 24 hours of admission. The ECG’s were analysed by a software program followed by manual visual inspection. Arrhythmias registered included second degree atrioventricular (AV) blocks, supraventricular premature complexes (SVPCs), and ventricular premature complexes (VPCs). Blood was collected at admission and again between 12 and 24 hours after ECG was applied, and analysed for concentrations of potassium, sodium, ionised calcium, chloride, glucose, and L-lactate.

Results

Heart rate was 37.4 ± 3.7 bpm in the control group, and 51.6 ± 11.8 bpm, in the colic group, which was significantly different (P < 0.0001). AV blocks and SVPCs were found in both groups, however only colic horses showed VPCs. No significant difference between the two groups was found for AV blocks, SVPCs, and VPCs (P = 0.08 - 0.76). The mean levels of potassium, sodium, ionized calcium, and chloride were significantly lower in the colic group compared to the control group at admission. Mean levels of glucose and L-lactate were significantly elevated in the colic group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

This study describes prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias and electrolytes concentrations in colic horses compared to healthy controls. Although we only observed VPCs in the colic horses, no significant differences between colic horses and controls were found. Despite the colic horses having electrolyte changes at admission no correlation was found between the electrolyte disturbances and cardiac arrhythmias. Although no clear conclusions can be drawn from the present study, the results indicate that relatively mild colic per se is not pro-arrhythmogenic, whereas severe colic probably are more likely to result in ventricular arrhythmia.     

中药"增免散"对鸡腔上囊细胞凋亡和外周血T细胞亚群的影响

将300只1日龄雏鸡随机分成正常对照组、中药“增免散”组、环磷酰胺组、环磷酰胺组 左旋咪唑组、环磷酰胺 “增免散”组,6日龄用鸡新城疫(ND)La Sota疫苗免疫点眼滴鼻,14、21、28、35日龄测定鸡血液ND抗体效价、外周血液CD4 、CD8 T淋巴细胞浓度、腔上囊器官指数、腔上囊细胞凋亡率,探索中药“增免散”的免疫增强机理。结果表明:中药“增免散”不但能提高外周血液中CD4 /CD8 T淋巴细胞百分比,促进鸡腔上囊的生长发育,降低腔上囊细胞凋亡率,而且对环磷酰胺的免疫抑制有部分拮抗作用。     

犬瘟热病毒Guizhou株血凝素基因的克隆及序列分析

参照已发表的文献合成1对引物，以犬瘟热病毒Guizhou分离株感染Vero细胞收获病毒提取的RNA为模板，RT-PCR扩增获得血凝素蛋白基因（H）901～1661位大小为761bp的片段，并将PCR扩增产物进行克隆和测序。将Guizhou株与GenBank数据库中的31株CDV及国内NanjingOP株的H基因序列进行同源性和系统发生树分析，发现Guizhou株的H基因部分序列与疫苗毒株Convac和Onderstpoort的同源性最低，只有90％；与日本野毒株Tanu96、KDK-1、Hmanatsu、Yanaka、UENO的同源性较高，为96％～98％；且与国内从大熊猫和小熊猫分离的野毒株GP和LP的同源性也较高，为98％和96％。系统发生树分析显示，Guizhou株与国内野毒株GP和LP，及日本的5个野毒株应属同一类，其中和GP株基因型最近，推测这些毒株间有更近的共同祖先。因此怀疑该病毒较适应于野生动物，且在我国某些地区的野生动物中可能存在自然疫源性传播。     

泰和乌鸡肉营养成分特征分析

泰和乌鸡因其药食同源而闻名天下,为探讨泰和乌鸡营养成分在性别之间和与其他鸡种间的差别与优势,测试分析了乌鸡的公鸡-阉鸡-母鸡之间、林下散养-笼养之间和散养乌鸡-散养小黄鸡之间鸡肉中营养成分的区别,结果表明:林下散养乌鸡具有高氨基酸、适中蛋白质和低脂肪特征,乌鸡肉中富含硒和锌、铁、锰等微量元素,不饱和脂肪酸含量高于饱和脂肪酸;呈味氨基酸含量公鸡高于母鸡,乌鸡高于小黄鸡。     

Effects of Yucca schidigera extract on growth performance and antioxidative function of small intestine in broilers

Dietary Yucca schidigera extract (YSE) could enhance immune function in broilers, which was attributed primarily to its saponin components. However, YSE also contains phenolic compounds which possess antioxidant ability. This study tested the effects of YSE on growth performance of broilers, its antioxidative enzyme activities and corresponding gene expressions in the small intestine. A total of 128 15‐day‐old broilers were randomly assigned to 4 treatments: corn‐soya bean meal as the basal control diet or the basal diet containing either 100, 200 or 300 mg/kg of YSE. Each treatment consisted of four replicate pens with eight broilers per pen. The experiment lasted 28 days which was divided into a grower period (day: 15–28) and a finisher period (day: 29–42). On day 28 and day 42 body weight (BW), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion rate (FCR) were recorded. Duodenum, jejunum and ileum were collected to analyse superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC) and gene expressions of SOD, CAT, GPx. The results showed that during the grower period a diet including 100 mg/kg YSE improved CAT capacity in the ileum, tended to increase activities of GPx in the duodenum, and further showed enhancing tendencies in SOD and GPx abilities in ileum. Gene expressions of CAT, SOD and GPx in the ileum tended to upregulate at 100 mg/kg YSE level. In the finisher period and over the whole period, all YSE groups had a reduced FI compared to the control group without compromising BW; 100 and 200 mg/kg YSE significantly improved FCR. In conclusion, the improved growth performance of broilers during the finisher period may be due to enhanced antioxidative ability in the grower period with YSE supplementation. This study provided evidence of using YSE as an additive to enhance growth in broilers.     

犬冠状病毒诊断技术研究进展

犬冠状病毒（canine coronavirus,CCoV）是导致犬胃肠道疾病的常见病原,与其他肠道病原共同感染时犬死亡率显著升高,严重影响养犬业的健康发展。快速、灵敏和特异的诊断技术对该病的防控起到至关重要的作用。除临床诊断外,常见的CCoV实验室诊断技术主要有病毒分离培养、电镜观察及血清学诊断技术,然而这些技术往往耗时长且工作量较大,分子诊断技术主要包括普通RT-PCR、实时荧光定量RT-PCR、纳米PCR等检测方法,这些诊断技术在准确性、敏感性及特异性上有极大提高,诊断效率也显著提高。近年来,随着分子免疫诊断技术与新型材料研发技术的迅速发展,新的检测方法应运而生,纳米金、核酸探针、芯片技术及纳米生物传感器等技术更加敏感、便捷、高效且都具有制备试剂盒的可能性,从而在诊断上具有简洁性和普适性。文章将针对CCoV的诊断技术进行全面综述,以期为CCoV诊断试剂的研发提供参考。     

Supplemental norgestomet,progesterone, or melengestrol acetate increases pregnancy rates in suckled beef cows after timed inseminations

In Exp. 1, 187 lactating beef cows were treated with injections of GnRH 7 d before and 48 h after prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha; Cosynch) or with Cosynch plus a 7-d treatment with an intravaginal progesterone (P4)-releasing insert (CIDR-B; Cosynch + CIDR). In Exp. 2, 183 lactating beef cows were treated with the Cosynch protocol or with Cosynch plus a 7-d treatment with norgestomet (Cosynch + NORG). In Exp. 1 and 2, blood samples for later P4 analyses were collected on d -17, -7 (first GnRH injection), 0 (PGF2alpha injection), and at timed artificial insemination (TAI; 48 h after PGF2alpha). In Exp. 3, 609 lactating beef cows were treated with the Cosynch + CIDR protocol or were fed 0.5 mg of melengestrol acetate (MGA) per day for 14 d before initiating the Cosynch protocol 12 d after the 14th d of MGA feeding (MGA + Cosynch). Blood samples were collected as in Exp. 1 and 2, plus additional samples on d -33 and -19 before PGF2alpha. In Exp. 4, 360 lactating beef cows were treated with a Cosynch + CIDR protocol, with TAI occurring at either 48 or 60 h after PGF2alpha, while receiving either GnRH or saline to form four treatments. Blood samples were collected as in Exp. 1 and 2. In Exp. 1, addition of P4 reduced the ability of the first GnRH injection to induce ovulation in anestrous cows with low P4 before PGF2alpha but improved (P = 0.06) pregnancy rates (61 vs 66%). In Exp. 2, the addition of NORG mimicked P4 by likewise increasing (P < 0.01) pregnancy rates (31 vs 51%) beyond those after Cosynch. In Exp. 3, the Cosynch + CIDR protocol increased (P < 0.001) pregnancy rates from 46 to 55% compared to the MGA + Cosynch protocol. In Exp. 4, administration of GnRH at TAI improved (P < 0.05) pregnancy outcomes (50 vs 42%), whereas timing of TAI had limited effects. We conclude that a progestin treatment concurrent with the Cosynch protocol improved pregnancy outcomes in all experiments, but pretreatment of cows with MGA was not as effective as the CIDR insert or NORG implants in this Cosynch-TAI model. Most of the improvement in pregnancy rates was associated with the increase in pregnancy rates of anestrous cows, regardless of whether ovulation was successfully induced in response to GnRH 7 d before PGF2alpha. Injection of GnRH at TAI following the Cosynch + CIDR protocol increased pregnancy rates in cycling cows with high P4 before the PGF2alpha injection and in anestrous cows with low P4 before PGF2alpha injection.     

Fertility following CIDR based synchronization regimens in anoestrous Nili-Ravi buffaloes

The objective of this study was to compare oestrus expression and fertility rate in used and new controlled internal drug releasing (CIDR) device treated anoestrous buffaloes. Furthermore, to determine the timing of ovulation, and fertility rate in estradiol benzoate (EB) and GnRH-administered CIDR-treated anoestrous Nili-Ravi buffaloes. In experiment 1, buffaloes received either a used CIDR (UCIDR, n = 35) or a new CIDR (NCIDR, n = 36) for 7 day and PGF2α on day 6. Oestrous expression was similar (p > 0.05) between UCIDR (88.5%) and NCIDR (96.6%) buffaloes. The pregnancy rate did not differ (p > 0.05) because of treatment (37.1% in UCIDR vs 36.6% in NCIDR). In experiment 2, buffaloes (n = 55) received CIDR device for 7 days and PGF2α, on day 6 and randomly assigned into three treatment groups: (i) CIDR-EB (n = 17) received EB on day 8, (ii) CIDR-GnRH (n = 18) received GnRH on day 9 and (iii) control (n = 20) received no further treatment. Mean interval from CIDR removal to ovulation in CIDR-EB, CIDR-GnRH and CIDR group were 61.3 ± 0.8, 64.9 ± 1.8 and 65.1 ± 16.7 h, respectively. However, the buffaloes in the CIDR-EB and CIDR-GnRH group had lesser variability in the timing of ovulation compared to control. The pregnancy rate of both CIDR-EB group (58%) and CIDR-GnRH group (61%) were tended to be higher (p < 0.1) than control (30%). In conclusion, compared to NCIDR devices, previously UCIDR devices are equally effective to induce oestrus in anoestrous buffaloes resulting optimal pregnancy rate. Administration of EB and GnRH after CIDR removal results in tighter synchrony (less variability) and improved fertility in anoestrous buffaloes. CIDR based synchronization regimens have great potential in fertility improvement in anoestrous buffaloes.     

Study of programmed cell death in bovine herpesvirus 1 infected MDBK cells and the possible role of nitric oxide in this process

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) is the aetiological agent of many disease types and may predispose infected animals, possibly through immunosuppression, to secondary bacterial infections. Immunosuppression may directly be associated with the induction of programmed cell death (PCD) in some virus-infected cells. Nitric oxide (NO) has an important mediating role against fungal, bacterial, protozoal, viral pathogens and tumours. BHV-1 induced apoptosis between 0.5-3 h postinfection (PI) in MDBK cells; however, between 3 and 6 h PI the PCD response was found to be decreased. It was interesting to see that BHV-I inhibited staurosporin-induced PCD after 1 h. These results showed similarities with those obtained from herpes simplex type I infections in human epithelial cells. PCD response decreased 1 h following caspase-3 inhibitor applications, whereas NO response increased 3 h following infection in the presence of caspase-8 and -9 inhibitory peptides. In conclusion, BHV-1 inhibited the staurosporin-induced apoptotic response and also the NO response. We propose that this inhibition is caspase-3 dependent.     

Influence of S. babylonica extract on feed intake, growth performance and diet in vitro gas production profile in young lambs

An experiment was completed to determine the effect of Salix babylonica (SB) extract supplementation to the diet of growing lambs. Eighteen Katahdin × Pelibuey male lambs (14?±?2 kg live body weight) were divided randomly in individual cages into three groups and fed three diets varying in SB: a control group was fed on total mixed ration (TMR) without SB (SB0), an SB25 group was fed on TMR plus SB extract at 25 mL/lamb/day, and an SB50 group was fed on TMR plus SB extract at 50 mL/lamb/day on dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency, and in vitro gas production (GP) in lambs fed on TMR. In vitro GP of the TMR fed to lambs was recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h of incubation with 0, 0.6, 1.2, and 1.8 mL extract per gram of DM. Addition of SB extract at low and high doses improved the DMI of lambs by 59.9 and 33.2 %, respectively. Relative to the control, low and high extract doses achieved greater lamb ADG during the experimental period. The asymptotic GP increased (P?<?0.05) with increasing dose of SB extract without affecting the rate of GP or the initial delay before GP begins. Linear increases for in vitro GP with advancing time with different SB extract doses were observed. It is suggested that the use of S. babylonica extract with the rate of 25 mL/lamb/day is beneficial to young lamb’s performance growth and thus can be safely used as a feed additive in diets without any negative effects on animal health.