饲料脂肪源和乳化剂对牛蛙生长性能、肠道消化酶活力及肝脏生化指标的影响

本试验旨在研究以猪油或鱼油为脂肪源的饲料中添加乳化剂对牛蛙生长性能、肠道消化酶活力及肝脏生化指标的影响。试验采用2×2因子完全随机区组试验设计,2种脂肪源(猪油和鱼油)和2个乳化剂添加水平(0和300 mg/kg),配成4种等氮等能的试验饲料。将初始平均体重为(19.01±0.01)g的180只牛蛙随机分为4组,每组3个重复,每个重复15只蛙,进行为期8周的饲养试验。结果表明:未添加乳化剂的鱼油组增重率(WGR)和摄食量(FI)显著高于未添加乳化剂的猪油组(P0.05)。添加乳化剂的猪油组WGR和FI显著高于添加乳化剂的鱼油组(P0.05)。添加乳化剂的猪油组WGR、FI和特定生长率(SGR)显著高于未添加乳化剂的猪油组(P0.05),2组之间饲料系数(FCR)、氮沉积率(NRE)、能量沉积率(ERE)均差异不显著(P0.05)。添加乳化剂的鱼油组的各生长性能指标与未添加乳化剂的鱼油组均无显著差异(P0.05)。各组牛蛙胴体水分、粗蛋白质、粗脂肪和粗灰分含量差异不显著(P0.05),而添加乳化剂的猪油组全体粗脂肪含量显著高于未添加乳化剂的猪油组(P0.05)。各组牛蛙肠道蛋白酶和淀粉酶活力差异不显著(P0.05),饲料中添加乳化剂显著提高以猪油为主要脂肪源牛蛙的肠道脂肪酶活力(P0.05),而对以鱼油为主要脂肪源牛蛙的影响不显著(P0.05)。各组牛蛙肝脏过氧化氢酶(CAT)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力无显著差异(P0.05)。在以猪油为主要脂肪源时,添加乳化剂显著提高肝脏丙二醛(MDA)含量(P0.05);在以鱼油为主要脂肪源时,添加乳化剂对肝脏MDA含量无显著影响(P0.05)。根据结果得出,在以猪油为主要脂肪源的饲料中添加乳化剂可提高牛蛙的生长性能。     

不同磷水平和钙磷比饲粮添加植酸酶对妊娠母猪养分表观消化率的影响

本试验旨在研究不同磷水平和钙磷比饲粮添加植酸酶对妊娠母猪养分消化率的影响。试验选择遗传背景一致、2~3胎次(预产期前28 d)、体重为(221.91±7.41)kg、预产期相近的健康"长×大"二元杂交母猪36头,按照胎次、预产期均衡原则随机分为9个组,每个组4个重复。对照组饲喂基础饲粮(钙、磷水平分别为7.26、5.81 g/kg);组2为基础饲粮添加植酸酶;组3~5保持钙水平(7.26 g/kg)不变添加植酸酶,减少无机磷添加至对照组的75%、50%、25%[钙磷比为(1.35~1.63)∶1.00];组6~9保持钙磷比不变(1.25∶1.00)添加植酸酶,减少无机磷添加至对照组的75%、50%、25%、0。结果表明:1)正常磷水平下,添加植酸酶显著提高了干物质、粗灰分、有机物和磷的表观消化率(P0.05),极显著降低了粪中磷的排泄量(P0.01),有降低铜、锌排泄量的趋势(P0.10)。与对照相比,低磷水平添加植酸酶极显著提高了干物质、粗灰分、有机物、磷、钙、铁、铜、锌的表观消化率(P0.01),显著降低了粪中磷、钙、铁、铜、锌的排泄量(P0.05)。2)饲粮在保持钙水平不变或钙磷比不变的条件下添加植酸酶,随磷添加量的降低,干物质、粗灰分、有机物、磷、铁、铜、锌的表观消化率均呈线性或二次升高(P0.05),粪中磷、铁、铜、锌的排泄量呈线性或二次降低(P0.01),保持钙磷比不变,钙、粗蛋白质的表观消化率显著提高(P0.05)。3)以表观可消化磷为标准,饲粮保持钙水平不变和钙磷比不变添加植酸酶可分别替代0.91、1.27 g/kg的无机磷,减少24.70%、34.48%的粪磷排泄量。4)钙磷比不变(1.25∶1.00)组饲粮的养分表观消化率极显著高于钙水平不变[高钙磷比(1.35~1.63)∶1.00]组饲粮(P0.01),且粪矿物质的排泄量极显著减少(P0.01)。综上所述:1)在本研究条件下,在低无机磷、低钙磷比(1.25∶1.00)饲粮中,添加植酸酶提高养分消化率的效果更显著。2)以表观可消化磷为标准,母猪饲粮的钙磷比为1.25∶1.00时,添加植酸酶可减少1.27 g/kg的磷添加。     

猪饲料有效能值预测模型的构建

为探索饲料常规成分及碳水化合物组分与饲料有效能值之间的关系方程,本研究以NRC第11版《猪营养需要量》中发布的122套饲料营养成分表为基础,将饲料中11种基础成分[6项常规成分:干物质、粗蛋白质(CP)、粗纤维(CF)、粗脂肪(EE)、酸性醚提取物、粗灰分(ash);5项碳水化合物组分:淀粉(ST)、中性洗涤纤维(NDF)、酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)、半纤维素、酸性洗涤木质素]作为自变量,将饲料中的消化能(DE)、代谢能(ME)及净能(NE)作为因变量,采用SAS软件中的REG过程,分别建立不同性质饲料、自变量的不同组合与DE、ME及NE之间的回归关系方程,并以相关系数(R2)及变异系数(CV)作为评价回归模型的优劣。研究表明,有效能值与CP、ST及纤维类指标显著或极显著相关(P0.05或P0.01)。将所有饲料作为研究对象时,饲料的DE、ME及NE与上述11种基础成分之间建立的普适性回归模型预测效果较差。当将14种玉米及其加工产品形成子集时,建立饲料基础营养成分与DE、ME及NE的关系方程分别为7、6和7套(P0.05),且3组回归模型R2分别为0.632 8~0.772 3、0.646 9~0.684 9和0.670 5~0.822 1,CV分别为6.61%~8.40%、6.58%~7.34%和6.21%~8.27%;当将13种大豆及其加工产品形成子集时,共建立饲料基础成分与DE、ME关系方程分别有3和4套,回归模型R2分别为0.907 1~0.926 9、0.890 7~0.922 3,CV分别为5.40%~6.09%、5.79%~6.78%,NE与基础营养成分指标之间无法建立具有营养学意义的有效回归方程。对于同类饲料中具有相同自变量组合的DE及ME预测模型而言,两者之间的差异主要是自变量CP的系数上,且CP部分对ME的正效应低于DE,这保证模型预测的ME低于DE。同时选用本研究构建的适宜模型,补充了NRC第11版成分表中第97(去皮大豆粕,低寡糖,浸提)、101(全脂大豆,高蛋白质)及102号(全脂大豆,低寡糖)饲料的DE值分别为15.99、17.35、17.27 MJ/kg,ME值分别为14.53、16.15和16.14 MJ/kg。综上,以NRC(2012)饲料营养成分表为基础,建立的普适性有效能值回归模型预测效果较差。按照玉米类和大豆类进行分类,可建立DE、ME和NE与饲料化学成分之间的多元回归方程,其中最优的预测因子为CP、EE、ST、ash、NDF、ADF。具有相同自变量的同类饲料DE和ME预测模型之间的差异是CP系数,CP影响DE转化为ME的效率。     

Prevalence of thermophilic Campylobacter species in Swedish dogs and characterization of C. jejuni isolates

Background

The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of Campylobacter species in Swedish dogs, to identify the species of the Campylobacter isolates and to genotype the C. jejuni isolates. Young and healthy dogs were targeted and the sampling was performed at 11 veterinary clinics throughout Sweden from October 2011 to October 2012. Faecal swab samples were collected and sent to the laboratory at the National Veterinary Institute (SVA) for isolation of Campylobacter, speciation and genotyping.

Results

Campylobacter spp. were isolated from 67 of the 180 sampled dogs which yields an overall prevalence of 37%. The most prevalent species of Campylobacter among the participating dogs was C. upsaliensis with 52 of the 67 identified isolates. A lower prevalence was observed for C. jejuni with seven identified isolates and one isolate was identified as C. helveticus. Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) was carried out on the seven C. jejuni isolates and all sequence types that were found are also commonly found in humans. The dogs were divided into three age groups; 1) under 12 months, 2) 12 to 23 months and 3) 24 months and older. The highest prevalence was found in the two younger age groups. Dogs shedding C. jejuni were between 3–12 months of age while dogs shedding C. upsaliensis were found in all ages.

Conclusions

The present investigation finds that Campylobacter spp. known to cause campylobacteriosis in humans are present in Swedish dogs. The results suggest an age predisposition where dogs under 2 years of age are more likely to shed Campylobacter spp. than older dogs. The most commonly isolated species was C. upsaliensis followed by C. jejuni, which was only detected in dogs up to 12 months of age. All C. jejuni isolates identified in the present study were of the same MLST types that have previously been described both in humans and in animals. The awareness of the Campylobacter risk of healthy young dogs may be an important way to reduce the transmission from dogs to infants, young children and immunocompromised adults.     

A KCNJ10 mutation previously identified in the Russell group of terriers also occurs in Smooth-Haired Fox Terriers with hereditary ataxia and in related breeds

Background

Hereditary ataxias with similar phenotypes were reported in the Smooth-Haired Fox Terrier, the Jack Russell Terrier and the Parson Russell Terrier. However, segregation analyses showed differing inheritance modes in these breeds. Recently, molecular genetic studies on the Russell group of terriers found independent mutations in KCNJ10 and CAPN1, each associated with a specific clinical subtype of inherited ataxia. The aim of this study was to clarify whether or not Smooth-Haired Fox Terriers with hereditary ataxia and dogs of other related breeds harbor either of the same mutations. A sub goal was to update the results of KCNJ10 genotyping in Russell group terriers.

Findings

Three Smooth-Haired Fox Terriers with hereditary ataxia and two Toy Fox Terriers with a similar phenotype were all homozygous for the KCNJ10 mutation. The same mutation was also found in a heterozygous state in clinically unaffected Tenterfield Terriers (n = 5) and, in agreement with previous studies, in Jack Russell Terriers, Parson Russell Terriers, and Russell Terriers.

Conclusions

A KCNJ10 mutation, previously associated with an autosomal recessive spinocerebellar ataxia in Jack Russell Terriers, Parson Russell Terriers, and Russell Terriers segregates in at least three more breeds descended from British hunting terriers. Ataxic members of two of these breeds, the Smooth-Haired Fox Terrier and the Toy Fox Terrier, were homozygous for the mutation, strengthening the likelihood that this genetic defect is indeed the causative mutation for the disease known as “hereditary ataxia” in Fox Terriers and “spinocerebellar ataxia with myokymia, seizures or both” in the Russell group of terriers.     

Seasonal patterns of gastrointestinal nematode infection in goats on two Lithuanian farms

Background

This study investigated seasonal changes in naturally acquired gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections on two Lithuanian goat farms with different parasite control practices.

Findings

On both farms, nematode faecal egg counts (FEC) and larval cultures were obtained from 15 adult and 10 young goats at bi-weekly intervals from April 2012 to April 2013. Goats on farm A were dewormed with ivermectin (0.3 mg/kg body weight) in October/November 2012, whereas the animals on farm B were left untreated. Thirteen young goats were slaughtered in August/November 2012 and April 2013 and worm burdens in the gastrointestinal tract were enumerated. In goats from both farms, Teladorsagia, Trichostrongylus, Oesophagostomum, Chabertia and Haemonchus were the dominant GIN genera. Herbage contamination with infective third-stage larvae (L₃) peaked in July/August and resulted in high FEC in September/October. Parasitological examination at slaughter showed that Teladorsagia spp. and Haemonchus contortus survived the winter, both in the abomasal mucosa as adults and as early fourth-stage larvae (EL₄). Deworming on farm A significantly reduced FEC, especially of H. contortus, at the start of the grazing period compared with the untreated farm B (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Goats were heavily infected with several GIN throughout the year. Strategic anthelmintic treatment during housing significantly reduced nematode egg output, in particular by H. contortus, at the start of the grazing season.     

Time course of the incidence/multiplicity and histopathological features of murine colonic dysplasia,adenoma and adenocarcinoma induced by benzo[a]pyrene and dextran sulfate sodium

Benzo[a]pyrene (BP) is mutagenic but noncarcinogenic in the murine colon. Recently, we reported rapid induction of colonic tumors by treatment of CD2F₁ mice with BP (125 mg/kg for 5 days) followed by a colitis inducer, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) (4% in drinking water for 1 or 2 weeks). However, there are no reports on detailed time course and histopathological features of colonic proliferative lesions in this model. Here, we show the detailed time course of colonic dysplasia, adenoma and adenocarcinoma induced by treatment with BP, DSS, and a combination of the two (BP/DSS). In the colon of mice exposed to BP/DSS, 14.6 dysplastic foci per mouse were present one week after DSS treatment (week 4). The number of dysplastic foci decreased with time to 3.1 at week 9 and thereafter remained almost constant. At week 4, 1.5 adenocarcinomas were also observed, with a marked increase in numbers with time, reaching 29.3 at week 14. In contrast, the number of dysplastic foci induced by DSS alone showed a time course similar to that following BP/DSS treatment; however, only a few tumors appeared. Neither dysplastic foci nor neoplastic lesions were induced by BP only. In mice exposed to BP/DSS, β-catenin was demonstrated immunohistochemically in the nucleus and/or cytoplasm of the tumor cells, and this translocation from the cell membrane was evident in subsets of dysplastic foci. In dysplastic foci induced by DSS alone, β-catenin was absent in the nucleus/cytoplasm. These finding suggest that aberrant β-catenin accumulation in dysplastic foci is associated with tumor progression in this BP/DSS model.     

Induction of cell proliferation in the rat liver by the short-term administration of ethyl tertiary-butyl ether

In the present study, in continuation of our previous experiment in order to investigate the mode of action (MOA) of ethyl tertiary-butyl ether (ETBE) hepatotumorigenicity in rats, we aimed to examine alterations in cell proliferation, that are induced by short-term administration of ETBE. F344 rats were administered ETBE at doses of 0, and 1,000 mg/kg body weight twice a day by gavage for 3, 10, 17 and 28 days. It was found that the previously observed significant increase of P450 total content and hydroxyl radical levels after 7 days of ETBE administration, and 8-OHdG formation at day 14, accompanied by accumulation of CYP2B1/2B2, CYP3A1/3A2, CYP2C6, CYP2E1 and CYP1A1 and downregulation of DNA oxoguanine glycosylase 1, was preceded by induction of cell proliferation at day 3. Furthermore, we observed an increase in regenerative cell proliferation as a result of ETBE treatment at day 28, followed by induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by day 14. These results indicated that short-term administration of ETBE led to a significant early increase in cell proliferation activity associated with induction of oxidative stress, and to a regenerative cell proliferation as an adaptive response, which could contribute to the hepatotumorigenicity of ETBE in rats.     

Pathological findings and probable causes of the death of Stejneger’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon stejnegeri) stranded in Japan from 1999 and 2011

One hundred and twenty stranding events of Stejneger’s beaked whales were reported in Japan between 1999 and 2011. The purpose of this study is to introduce pathological data and to discuss probable causes of death for 44 Stejneger’s beaked whales among them. The significant pathological findings were the pulmonary edema, parasitic granulomatous nephritis, emaciation, amyloidosis, suppurative bronchopneumonia and so on. The probable causes of death were categorized as noninfectious in 43 of the cases, which included drowning, starvation and secondary amyloidosis. One individual was diagnosed with septicemia, which was the only example of an infectious disease. Because we could not always perform advanced analyses, such as microbiology tests, biotoxin examinations or contaminant analyses, the finality of our findings may be impaired. However, the present study has broad implications on the causes of death of Stejneger’s beaked whales of the seas around Japan, which are valuable for the future studies and for the detection of emerging diseases.