Potential role of N-carbamoyl glutamate in biosynthesis of arginine and its significance in production of ruminant animals

Arginine (ARG) exerts many beneficial effects on animal body and enhanced angiogenesis, lactogenesis, which finally leads to the improvement in nitrogen (N) metabolism, reproduction, lactation, immunity and growth. Unfortunately, unprotected ARG will be degraded in the rumen and its price is high, thus feeding rumen-protected ARG seems to be uneconomical. Alternatively, N-carbamoyl glutamate (NCG) is structural analogue of N-acetyl glutamate, cofactor of cabamoyl phosphate synthetase1, is lower in rumen degradation compared to ARG. Additionally, rumen epithelial and duodenal cells have potentially utilized the NCG for ureagenesis. Supplementation of NCG to high yielding dairy cows increased plasma concentration of ARG and nitric oxide, decreased the plasma ammonia N and improved lactation performance and N utilization. Supplementation of NCG enhanced pregnancy rates in rats, improved litter size and fetal survival rate, thereby improved the reproductive performance of sows. Oral NCG supplementation increases plasma ARG and somatotropin levels, and increased growth rate and muscle protein synthesis in nursing piglets. The NCG is potential a relatively cheaper source of feed additive to offer vital compensation over oral administration of ARG, resulting in improved ruminant animal health and production. In this article, we reviewed the mechanism of ARG biosynthesis by NCG and their significance in growth, reproduction, milk production and N utilization in ruminant animals.     

智能饲喂器对哺乳母猪采食量体况和生产性能的影响

为探究不同饲喂方式对哺乳母猪采食量、体况和生产性能的影响,满足哺乳母猪获得最大采食量并达到精准饲喂控制等需求,该文以哺乳母猪为试验对象,比较不同饲喂方式对哺乳母猪采食量、体况和生产性能的影响。试验共选用40只1胎母猪,随机分为3组:试验1组采用智能饲喂器饲喂(6次/d)、试验2组采用人工饲喂(6次/d)、对照组采用人工饲喂(3次/d)。结果表明,在试验环境条件下,哺乳8～21 d、人工饲喂3次/d的采食量(6.46 kg)显著高于智能饲喂6次/d(5.22 kg)(P0.05),2种饲喂方式在母猪的体质量变化、背膘变化、总产仔数、断奶后发情天数、仔猪日增体质量和用水量方面均无显著性差异(P0.05);哺乳母猪在采食过多时可能引起厌食进而降低后期的采食量,应按照饲喂参数逐步增加饲喂量饲喂;在现有设备投资和工资水平下,智能饲喂器正常使用4.5 a可取代1名优秀饲养员。研究结果可为今后智能化饲喂替代有经验人工饲喂、根据饲养条件选择饲喂方式提供参考。     

残塬沟壑区果园复合种植对土壤动物群落特征的影响

为了解苹果复合种植即果-蔬[MB]、果-草[MH]、果-荒[MW]、果-粮[MZ]模式下土壤动物群落结构特征,采用手拣法和改良干、湿生漏斗法,对黄土残塬沟壑区苹果园4种复合种植模式下的土壤动物群落组成及特征进行调查研究。4种模式下共分离得到土壤动物57.33百只/m~2,隶属4门11纲23目42个类群。4种复合种植模式下土壤动物个体密度和类群数的垂直分布特征表现出明显的表聚特征,水平分布特征表现为果-草[MH]果-蔬[MB]果-荒[MW]≥果-粮[MZ]。果-草[MH]复合种植模式下土壤动物的多样性指数、均匀度指数及丰富度指数最高,优势度指数最低,表明4种复合种植模式对果园土壤动物类群多样性的影响呈现不同的特征。研究结果可为黄土残塬沟壑区苹果果园生物多样性保护提供土壤动物生态学依据。     

水产饲料中氨基酸类诱食剂的研究进展

氨基酸可以促进水产动物摄食和生长,提高饲料转化率,净化水体环境和作为蛋白质合成的前体等.本文综述了氨基酸的诱食机理及其在水产动物上的应用,以便进一步深入研究和应用.     

Contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography characteristics of intrathoracic mass lesions in 36 dogs and 24 cats

Contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) is increasingly available for veterinary patients, however limited studies describe the use of this method for characterizing intrathoracic mass lesions. The aim of this prospective, observational study was to describe CEUS enhancement patterns for intrathoracic mass lesions in a sample of cats and dogs. Sixty patients (36 dogs, 24 cats) were included. Standardized CEUS examinations were performed for 41 pulmonary masses (68%) and 19 mediastinal masses (32%). Final diagnosis was based on cytology and/or histopathology. Absolute time to enhancement (TTE) values were recorded for the intrathoracic mass lesions and spleen. The spleen was used as a reference parenchymal organ to calculate relative TTE (rTTE) values. Absolute TTE of the spleen and intrathoracic mass lesions differed for dogs and cats (P = 0.001). The rTTE values significantly differed between lesions of neoplastic versus non‐neoplastic origin (P = 0.004). The majority of neoplastic pulmonary masses were supplied by bronchial arteries (63%), while most nonneoplastic pulmonary masses were supplied by pulmonary arteries (78%). The sensitivity and specificity for detecting pulmonary neoplastic masses with rTTE were 63% and 78%, respectively. Enhancement patterns for mediastinal thymomas and lymphomas significantly differed (P = 0.002). Thymomas enhanced heterogeneously in a centripetal pattern (86%), whereas lymphomas typically enhanced uniformly in a centrifugal pattern (75%). Findings indicated that CEUS is a feasible method for characterizing intrathoracic mass lesions in dogs and cats, however, the diagnostic sensitivity for detecting neoplastic pulmonary masses was low.     

Improved visualization of the lumbar spine nerve roots in dogs using water excitation (ProSet) as opposed to short tau inversion recovery: A retrospective study of two fat suppression MRI sequences

Magnetic resonance imaging fat suppression techniques are commonly used for diagnosis of canine spinal disease, however, studies comparing different techniques are currently lacking. This retrospective, methods comparison study aimed to evaluate water excitation and STIR MRI pulse sequences for visualization of canine lumbar spinal nerve roots. For inclusion, all dogs had to have dorsal planar MRI studies of the lumbar spine using both sequences. Visual grading analysis was used for scoring the following five criteria: degree of fat suppression; nerve root visualization; subjective tissue contrast; presence of noise; and overall better image quality. Scores were independently recorded by three board‐certified veterinary radiologists on two separate occasions, 3‐6 weeks apart. A total of 90 dogs were sampled. A two‐tailed t‐test showed that there were significant differences in all scored parameters (P < 0.00001), with the exception of noise (P = 0.47343), and that the water excitation sequence scored higher in all cases excluding noise. A Gwets AC kappa for intraobserver and interobserver reliability showed “almost perfect” agreement for the nerve roots in both tests (intra: k = 0.88; inter: k = 0.90). Intraobserver agreement was “substantial” for the degree of fat suppression (k = 0.68), subjective tissue contrast (k = 0.75), and overall better image quality (k = 0.76) and it was “fair” for the noise (k = 0.46). Interobserver agreement was “moderate” for the degree of fat suppression (k = 0.53), subjective tissue contrast (k = 0.63), and overall better image quality (k = 0.66) and “slight” for noise (k = 0.25). These findings supported using the water excitation pulse sequence for fat‐suppressed MRI of canine lumbar spinal nerve roots.     

Towards informed metrics for examining the role of human‐induced animal responses in tag studies on wild animals

Two prime issues can detrimentally affect animals that have been equipped with tags: (i) the effect of the capture and restraint process; and (ii) the effect of the tag itself. This work examines some of the issues surrounding quantification of tag effects on wild animals for both restrained and free‐living animals. A new method to quantify stress effects based on monitoring ventilation rates in relation to activity is suggested for restrained animals which may help improve the practice of handling animals. It is also suggested that various metrics, many derived from accelerometers, can be examined in tagged wild animals to examine the change in behaviors over time with a view to having a better understanding of welfare issues, assuring the quality of recorded data and informing best practice.     

Genetic background of CTX‐M‐15‐producing Enterobacter hormaechei ST114 and Citrobacter freundii ST265 co‐infecting a free‐living green turtle (Chelonia mydas)

CTX‐M‐type extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase (ESBL)‐producing Enterobacteriaceae have become identified in marine ecosystem constituting a serious ecological issue. In this respect, although contamination of coastal waters and seafood, and even colonization of seabirds and fishes have been increasingly reported, molecular data are lacking to elucidate the clinical impact of ESBL producers in infected marine animals. In this study, using a genomic approach, we have analysed the genetic background of CTX‐M‐15‐producing Enterobacter hormaechei (belonging to the international human clone ST114) and Citrobacter freundii (ST265) co‐infecting a free‐living green turtle (Chelonia mydas) suffering from septic arthritis, which progressed to generalized coelomitis and death. Wide resistome of these pathogens contributed to treatment failure and death of the animal.     

Use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for characterization of focal splenic lesions.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound was used to study focal and multifocal lesions of the spleen in 26 dogs and two cats affected by 11 benign and 18 malignant splenic diseases. A second-generation microbubble contrast medium (Sonovue) was injected into the cephalic vein and enhancement patterns were subjectively described and time intensity curves calculated. Final diagnosis was obtained by histopathologic examination after splenectomy (n=19) or by needle aspiration and sonographic follow-up after 4 and 8 weeks (n=9). Contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameters, improving the characterization between benign and malignant lesions, were established. The most useful criterion was the hypoechogenicity of the lesion in the wash-out phase combined with the presence of tortuous feeding vessels, which was observed in association with malignancy. All malignant lesions were hypoechoic to the surrounding spleen 30s after starting the contrast medium injection. Lymphosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma had characteristic perfusion patterns. Lymphosarcoma had rapid time to peak and early wash-out phase with a honeycomb pattern during the wash-out. Hemangiosarcomas were large nonperfused masses in all phases surrounded by hypervascular splenic parenchyma. Benign lesions except one hematoma and a benign histiocytoma had the same perfusion pattern as the surrounding spleen. Ultrasonographic and contrast-enhanced ultrasound findings of an accessory spleen are reported. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound can improve the characterization of focal or multifocal lesions of the spleen.