Characterization of Leptospira infection in suckling and weaning rat pups

Rats are known to be the most important reservoirs of Leptospira spp. However, the leptospiral dose and age at which rats become resistant to Leptospira infection are not yet well elucidated. Aimed to characterize leptospirosis in rat pups, we found that suckling pups (4-, 7-, and 14-day old) are susceptible to leptospires and resistance starts from the weaning age (23-day old). Susceptibility of rat pups was also affected by the infecting dose of the organisms. Jaundice, decrease in body weight, and neurological symptoms prior to moribundity was evident in infected suckling pups. However, 23-day-old infected pups did not manifest any pathological changes and were able to survive the infection similar to adult rats. Based on these results, we propose the suckling rat pup as a novel animal model of human leptospirosis to investigate pathogenesis, development of host resistance, and the mechanisms involved in rats becoming maintenance hosts for leptospires.     

基于动物福利视角的规模化奶牛养殖场经济效应分析

本研究遵循动物福利"5F"原则,结合150家规模化奶牛养殖场实地调研数据,构建奶牛场动物福利评价体系,测度动物福利水平,并进一步建立嵌入动物福利水平测度值的规模化奶牛养殖场收入函数,验证关联效应。结果表明:生理福利和环境福利是影响我国规模化奶牛养殖场动物福利的最重要的2个维度,受访的规模化奶牛养殖场生理福利和环境福利的平均水平较高,卫生福利亟待提升,生理福利、环境福利、卫生福利和行为福利对规模化奶牛养殖场经济效益有积极作用。     

不同动物对醉马草种子扩散的影响

动物通过皮毛携带、搬运等方式对种子在空间上的扩散产生不同影响,是植物种子实现远距离扩散的重要途径。以草原毒害草醉马草（Achnatherum inebrians）为研究材料,采用野外模拟及控制性试验,测定了马、牛、羊皮毛附着和保留种子的能力,以及鼠类、蚂蚁对种子的搬运能力,分析动物对醉马草种子的扩散规律。结果表明,马、牛、羊模型种子的附着率：羊 > 牛 > 马（P<0.05）,种子掉落率：羊 < 牛 < 马（P<0.05）;随着行走天数的延长,种子在马、牛、羊皮毛上的附着率呈下降趋势。马的背部以及牛、羊的背、侧部最易附着种子;种子的侧部最易附着在皮毛上,以种子顶部附着的种子最不易掉落。24 h内鼠类、蚂蚁对种子的扩散范围分别为0~15 cm和0~40 cm。综上所述,家畜对醉马草种子起到远距离扩散作用,且羊比马、牛更容易增加种子的扩散强度。蚂蚁、鼠类对醉马草种子起到短距离扩散作用。     

四川阿坝州草原畜牧业现状、存在问题及发展对策

介绍了阿坝州草原资源和畜牧业发展现状,论述了草原生态保护与畜牧业的关系,剖析了草原生态与畜牧业发展中存在的问题,并针对存在的问题提出了实现草原生态保护和畜牧业平衡发展的对策。     

Protein and energy concentrations of meat meal and meat and bone meal fed to pigs based on in vitro assays

The objective of this study was to develop equations for estimating ileal digestible crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) contents of meat meal (MM) and meat and bone meal (MBM) as feed ingredients for pigs based on in vitro assays. Test ingredients were 4 sources of MM and 3 sources of MBM. Ash and CP contents of the ingredients ranged from 3.8% to 33.1% and 46.8% to 82.9% (as-is basis), respectively. In vitro ileal disappearance (IVID) of CP was determined and ileal digestible CP content was calculated by multiplying CP content by IVID of CP. In vitro total tract disappearance (IVTTD) of dry matter (DM) was determined and ME was calculated using gross energy, CP contents, and IVTTD of DM. The IVID of CP and IVTTD of DM ranged from 77.2% to 88.7% and from 82.7% to 92.4%, respectively. Calculated ileal digestible CP and ME contents ranged from 37.8% to 73.5% DM and 2,405 to 3,905 kcal/kg DM, respectively. Ash contents were negatively correlated (P < 0.001) with CP (r = −0.99), in vitro ileal digestible CP (r = −0.97), gross energy (r = −1.00), in vitro digestible energy (r = −0.97), and adjusted ME (r = −0.97). The most fitting equations for ileal digestible CP and adjusted ME were: ileal digestible CP (% DM) = 11.91 − 0.90 × Ash (% DM) + 0.74 × IVID of CP (%) (R² = 0.99) and adjusted ME (kcal/kg DM) = 130.85 − 50.90 × ash (% DM) + 47.06 × IVTTD of DM (%) (R² = 0.99). To validate the accuracy of the prediction equations for ME, mean bias and linear bias were determined using a regression analysis. Calculated ME values of MM and MBM were in a good agreement with data obtained from animal experiments based on a statistically insignificant bias in the models. In conclusion, ME concentrations of MM and MBM as swine feed ingredients can be calculated using ash concentration and in vitro disappearance of dry matter.     

Characterization of tuberculous granulomas in different stages of progression and associated tertiary lymphoid tissue in goats experimentally infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis

Oral infection of goats with Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis (MAH) resulted in a large variety of granulomas in organized gut-associated lymphatic tissues and intestinal lymph nodes. To characterize the cellular composition of granulomas, CD4⁺, CD8⁺, γδ, B lymphocytes and plasma, CD25⁺, CD68⁺, MHC-II⁺, Ki67⁺ and endothelial cells were labeled in consecutive frozen sections by immunohistochemistry and acid fast bacilli (AFB) by Kinyoun stain. Granulomas with extensive necrosis, little mineralization and variable numbers of AFB surrounded by many CD4⁺ T cells, but only few epitheloid macrophages were observed in severely sick goats at 2–3 mpi. They were interpreted as exuberant immune reaction. Organized granulomas with very few AFB were seen in clinically healthy goats at 13 mpi. The necrotic cores were surrounded by a zone of granulomatous infiltrate with many epitheloid macrophages and few lymphocytes. This zone was initially wide and highly vascularized and became progressively smaller. It was enclosed by an increasing layer of connective tissue. All organized granulomas were surrounded by compartimentalized tertiary lymphoid tissue. The granulomas in experimental infection of goats with MAH reflect the heterogeneity of lesions seen in mycobacterial infections of humans and ruminants and are therefore valuable for comparative research.     

Tsetse control in cattle from pyrethroid footbaths

In Burkina Faso, we assessed the efficacy of treating cattle with a footbath containing aqueous formulations of pyrethroids to control two tsetse-fly species, Glossina tachinoides Westwood, 1850 (Diptera, Glossinidae) and Glossina palpalis gambiensis Vanderplank 1949. Legs were the most targeted parts of the body for tsetse-fly blood meals: 81% (95% CI: 73, 89) for G. tachinoides and 88% (81, 95) for G. palpalis.

The in-stable efficacy of footbath treatments was compared with manual full spraying with a 0.005% alphacypermethrin (Dominex, FMC, Philadelphia, USA) formulation (250 mL versus 2 L). The proportions of knocked-down flies were the same with footbath and full spray but the latter was more protective against fly bites. In field use, the efficacy of both methods should be similar given the recommended treatment frequency: 3 days for footbath versus 7 days for full spray.

Among 96 cattle drinking at the same water point in Dafinso (Burkina Faso), 68 (71%) were treated with a footbath containing a 0.005% deltamethrin formulation (Vectocid, CEVA SA, Libourne, France). We observed the effect of this live-bait technique on the one hand on released cohorts of reared, irradiated flies, and on the other hand on wild tsetse flies. In both cases, the footbath treatment was associated with a reduction of the apparent fly density probably related to an increased mortality.