Amoxicillin—current use in swine medicine

Amoxicillin has become a major antimicrobial substance in pig medicine for the treatment and control of severe, systemic infections such as Streptococcus suis. The minimum inhibitory concentration 90% (MIC 90) is 0.06 μg amoxicillin/ml, and the proposed epidemiological cut‐off value (ECOFF) is 0.5 μg/ml, giving only 0.7% of isolates above the ECOFF or of reduced susceptibility. Clinical breakpoints have not been set for amoxicillin against porcine pathogens yet, hence the use of ECOFFs. It has also been successfully used for bacterial respiratory infections caused by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Pasteurella multocida. The ECOFF for amoxicillin against A. pleuropneumoniae is also 0.5 μg/ml demonstrating only a reduced susceptibility in 11.3% of isolates. Similarly, P. multocida had an ECOFF of 1.0 μg/ml and a reduced susceptibility in only 2.6% of isolates. This reduced susceptibility disappears when combined with the beta‐lactamase inhibitor, clavulanic acid, demonstrating that it is primarily associated with beta‐lactamase production. In contrast, amoxicillin is active against Escherichia coli and Salmonella species but using ECOFFs of 8.0 and 4.0 μg/ml, respectively, reduced susceptibility can be seen in 70.9% and 67.7% of isolates. These high levels of reduced susceptibility are primarily due to beta‐lactamase production also, and most of this resistance can be overcome by the combination of amoxicillin with clavulanic acid. Currently, amoxicillin alone is considered an extremely valuable antimicrobial in both human and animal medicine and remains in the critically important category of antibiotics alongside the fluoroquinolones and macrolides by the World Health Organization as well as the third‐ and fourth‐generation cephalosporins, but these cephalosporins show marked resistance to basic beta‐lactamase production and are only destroyed by the extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamases. Amoxicillin alone and in combination with clavulanic acid are currently classed together in Category 2 in the European Union. By reviewing the pharmacodynamic data and comparing this with pharmacokinetic data from healthy and infected animals and clinical trial data, it can be seen that the product has a good efficacy against S. suis and A. pleuropneumoniae, in spite of usage over many years. However, it may be much less efficacious on its own against E. coli, due to reduced susceptibility and resistance associated with beta‐lactamase production, which is largely overcome by the use of clavulanic acid. It is felt that this differentiation may be useful in future classification of amoxicillin alone, in comparison with its combined use with clavulanic acid and thereby preserve the use of the more critically important antibiotics in veterinary medicine and reducing the risk of their resistance being transmitted to human.     

Branched‐chain amino acid ratios in low‐protein diets regulate the free amino acid profile and the expression of hepatic fatty acid metabolism‐related genes in growing pigs

Liver metabolism is affected by nutrients. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of low‐protein diets (17% crude protein, CP) supplemented with branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs), including leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile) and valine (Val), on hepatic amino acid profile and lipid metabolism in growing pigs. The ratio of Leu : Ile : Val in all groups was 1 : 0.51 : 0.63 (20% crude protein, CP), 1 : 1 : 1 (17% CP), 1 : 0.75 : 0.75 (17% CP), 1 : 0.51 : 0.63 (17% CP) and 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 (17% CP) respectively. Results revealed that compared to the positive control group (1 : 0.51 : 0.63, 20% CP), the low‐protein diets significantly augmented the concentrations of most essential amino acids and non‐essential amino acids (p < .05), with the greatest values observed in the 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 group. Moreover, relative to the control, the low‐protein diets with the Leu : Ile : Val ratio ranging from 1 : 0.75 : 0.75 to 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 markedly downregulated the mRNA abundance of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid‐binding protein 4 (FABP‐4) (p < .05), and upregulated the mRNA expression of hormone‐sensitive lipase (HSL), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐g coactivator‐1α (PGC‐1α), uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) and liver carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (L‐CPT‐1) (p < .05). Therefore, our data suggest that protein‐restricted diets supplemented with optimal BCAA ratio, that is, 1 : 0.75 : 0.75–1 : 0.25 : 0.25, induce a shift from fatty acid synthesis to fatty acid oxidation in the liver of growing pigs. These effects may be associated with increased mitochondrial biogenesis.     

Effect on Rendement Napole genotype on metabolic markers in Ossabaw pigs fed different levels of fat

We investigated effects of Rendement Napole (RN ) genotype on metabolic markers in Ossabaw pigs fed diets with different levels of dietary fat. Thirty‐two pigs, belonging to either the wild‐type (WT , rn⁺/rn⁺) or carrier (CAR , RN ^?/rn⁺) genotypes (n  = 16/genotype), were divided into two dietary groups, (high fat [HF ] or low fat [LF ]) diets, for 12 weeks (n  = 8 pigs/genotype/diet) after which pigs were killed for gene expression analysis by RT ‐PCR . Feeding HF diet caused increased daily gain (ADG , p  <  .05) and final body weight (BW ) (p  <  .05) in comparison with the LF diet (p  <  .05). Feed efficiency (gain:feed) was higher (p  <  .05) in pigs on the HF and was higher (p  <  .05) in CAR pigs compared to WT . There was genotype × diet interaction (p  =  .05) on final BW such that CAR animals on LF diet had the same final BW as animals of both genotypes on HF diet. Carrier pigs on LF diet had higher (p  <  .05) average daily gain and gain:feed than WT pigs. There was a trend (p  <  .08) for a higher feed consumption in pigs on the LF diet. Backfat thickness was higher (p  <  .01) in pigs on the HF diet. Serum triglyceride was higher (0.62 vs. 0.33 mg/dl, p  <  .01) in pigs on HF diet. Serum insulin was higher (p  <  .05) in CAR versus WT pigs (0.40 vs. 0.015 μg/ml). Pigs on the HF diet had a higher (p  <  .05) serum insulin compared to those on the LF diet (0.032 vs. 0.023 μg/ml). Carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1‐alpha was higher (p  <  .05) in the longissimus dorsi and semitendinosus muscles of pigs on HF diet. Acyl‐CoA oxidase I was elevated (p  <  .05) in the liver of pigs on HF diet. Fatty acid synthase was lower in the longissimus dorsi muscle, liver and mesenteric fat (p  <  .05) of carrier pigs. The RN gene regulates specific metabolic markers in the Ossabaw pigs.     

Effect of feed intake level and dietary protein content on the body temperature of pigs housed under thermo neutral conditions

Feed intake and diet composition appear to affect the body temperature of pigs. Two trials were conducted to analyse the effect of feed intake level and dietary protein content on the intestinal temperature (IT) of pigs housed under thermo neutral conditions. Ten pigs (64.1 ± 1.3 kg initial body weight) fitted with an ileal cannula were used. A thermometer set to register the IT at 5‐min intervals was implanted into the ileum through the cannula. In both trials, the ambient temperature ranged from 19.1 to 21.6°C and the pigs were fed at 07:00 and 19:00 hr (same amount each time). In trial 1, the pigs were fed daily 1.2 or 1.8 kg of a wheat–soybean meal diet. The IT followed a similar pattern along a 24‐hr period regardless the feed intake level. The IT rapidly increased up to 0.61 and 0.74°C after the morning meal and up to 0.53 and 0.47°C after the evening meal in pigs fed 1.2 and 1.8 kg/d respectively. The postprandial IT was higher in pigs fed 1.8 kg after each meal (p < .05). In trial 2, pigs were fed daily 1.8 kg of a low (11%) or a high (22%) crude protein diet. The IT followed a similar pattern along the 24‐hr period regardless the dietary protein level. The postprandial IT did not differ between pigs fed the low protein or the high protein (p > .10). The IT rapidly increased up to 0.66 and 0.62°C after the morning meal in pigs fed the high‐ and low‐protein diet (p < .05), but there was no change after the evening meal (p > .10). In conclusion, the feed intake level affected the IT of pigs housed under TN conditions, but the dietary protein content had no effect.     

β‐hydroxy‐β‐methyl butyrate promotes leucine metabolism and improves muscle fibre composition in growing pigs

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of excess leucine (Leu) vs. its metabolites α‐ketoisocaproate (KIC) and β‐hydroxy‐β‐methyl butyrate (HMB) on Leu metabolism, muscle fibre composition and muscle growth in growing pigs. Thirty‐two pigs with a similar initial weight (9.55 ± 0.19 kg) were fed 1 of 4 diets for 45 days: basal diet, basal diet + 1.25% L‐Leu, basal diet + 1.25% KIC‐Ca, basal diet + 0.62% HMB‐Ca. Results indicated that relative to the basal diet and HMB groups, Leu and KIC groups exhibited increased Leu concentrations and decreased concentrations of isoleucine, valine and EAAs in selected muscle (p < 0.05) and had lower mRNA levels of MyHC I and higher expression of MyHC IIx/IIb (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the basal and HMB‐supplemented groups. Moreover, the mRNA expression levels of AMPKα and UCP3 were higher but the myostatin mRNA levels were lower in the soleus muscle of the HMB group than those from other groups (p < 0.05). These findings demonstrated that doubling dietary Leu content exerted growth‐depressing effects in growing pigs; dietary KIC supplementation induced muscular branched‐chain amino acid imbalance and promoted muscle toward a more glycolytic phenotype; while dietary HMB supplementation promoted the generation of more oxidative muscle types and increased muscle growth specially in oxidative skeletal muscle, and these effects of HMB might be associated with the AMPKα‐Sirt1‐PGC‐1α axis and mitochondrial biogenesis.     

Lipopolysaccharide and cytokines modulate leukotriene (LT)B4 and LTC4 production by porcine endometrial endothelial cells

Uterine inflammatory response is mediated by inflammatory mediators including eicosanoids and cytokines produced by immune and endometrial cells. Interactions between lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cytokines, and leukotrienes (LTs) in endothelium, important for the host defence during the inflammation, are unknown. We studied the effect of LPS, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐4 and IL‐10 on 5‐lipooxygenase (5‐LO), LTA₄ hydrolase (LTAH) and LTC₄ synthase (LTCS) mRNA and protein expression, LTB₄ and LTC₄ release from porcine endometrial endothelial cells, and cell viability. For 24 hr, cells were exposed to LPS (10 or 100 ng/ml of medium) and cytokines (each 1 or 10 ng/ml). 5‐LO mRNA/protein expression augmented after incubation with larger doses of LPS, TNF‐α, IL‐4 and IL‐10 and smaller dose of IL‐1β. Larger dose of TNF‐α, smaller doses of LPS and IL‐1β and both doses of IL‐10 increased LTAH mRNA/protein expression. LTAH protein content was up‐regulated by larger dose of LPS, but it was reduced in response to both doses of IL‐4. LTCS mRNA expression was elevated by larger doses of LPS, IL‐4 and IL‐10 or both doses of TNF‐α and IL‐1β. LTCS protein level increased after treatment with both doses of IL‐1β, IL‐4 and IL‐10, smaller dose of LPS and larger dose of TNF‐α. Both doses of LPS and larger doses of TNF‐α and IL‐10 increased LTB₄ release. LPS, IL‐1β and IL‐10 at smaller doses, or TNF‐α and IL‐4 at larger doses stimulated LTC₄ release. Smaller doses of TNF‐α and IL‐1β or both doses of IL‐4 enhanced the cell viability. This work provides new insight on the participation of LPS, TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐4 and IL‐10 in LTB₄ and LTC₄ production/release from porcine endometrial endothelial cells, and the effect of above factors on these cells viability. The used cellular model gives the possibility to further establish the interactions between inflammatory mediators.     

沃柑在桂林市种植表现及品质特性

为了解优良晚熟杂柑沃柑在桂林市的种植表现，引进沃柑品种并进行试种和调查分析。结果表明，沃柑在桂林市2月下旬果实成熟，平均单果质量186.65g，果实可溶性固形物和可溶性糖含量分别为14.16%和 8.91%；定植4年后平均单株产量达34.01kg，平均单位面积产量和产值分别为44893.2 kg/ha和35.91万元/ha。沃柑在桂林市综合表现较好，在柑橘品种改造中可选择作为优良品种进行推广。     

猪SENP1基因克隆、生物信息学分析与表达研究

试验旨在对猪SUMO特异性蛋白酶1(sentrin-specific protease 1,SENP1)基因CDS区进行克隆和生物信息学分析,并探讨SENP1基因在乙脑病毒(Japanese encephalitis virus,JEV)感染PK15细胞后的表达情况。根据GenBank中公布的猪SENP1基因预测序列(登录号:XM_013997974.2)设计特异性引物,通过RT-PCR和T/A克隆技术对猪SENP1基因CDS区序列进行克隆测序,并进行生物信息学分析,利用实时荧光定量PCR分析猪SENP1基因在JEV感染PK15细胞不同时间点(0、12、24、36、48 h)的表达情况。结果显示,猪SENP1基因CDS序列全长2 034 bp,共编码677个氨基酸。序列比对和系统进化树分析结果表明,猪SENP1蛋白序列和山羊、犬、人、牛的相似性分别为94.8%、94.2%、93.9%和93.8%,说明在这些物种中SENP1的保守性较强;猪与犬的SENP1分子亲缘关系较近。生物信息学分析结果显示,猪SENP1蛋白相对分子质量为76 825.76,等电点为8.53,体外半衰期为30 h,不稳定系数为53.59,总平均亲水指数为－0.622。SENP1蛋白不含信号肽序列,无跨膜结构域。二级结构分析结果显示,SENP1蛋白中α-螺旋、无规则卷曲、延伸链和β-转角分别占31.31%、46.68%、16.25%和5.76%。三级结构分析结果显示,猪SENP1蛋白中存在8个α-螺旋区和7个β-转角区。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,猪SENP1基因在JEV感染的PK15细胞中呈现上调表达趋势,其中在感染后48 h SENP1基因表达量显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。本试验结果为后续深入研究SENP1基因功能提供了参考。     

加强生长育肥猪的饲养管理减少疾病的发生

在整个养猪生产中,育肥是养猪的最后一个生产环节,是检测猪种选择是否正确,营养饲料是否适合,饲养技术是否过硬,疫病防控是否完善的关键,不仅关系到市场供应,而且对猪场经济效益有着重要影响,也是发展养猪生产的最终目的。     

基于机器视觉的育肥猪分群系统设计与试验

为控制育肥猪出栏时的体质量差异,该研究开发了一套基于机器视觉技术的育肥猪分群系统,该系统通过机器视觉技术和卷积神经网络模型代替传统地磅对猪只体质量进行估测,可有效避免粪污对设备精度的影响及腐蚀;以前一天全部猪只体质量数据从小到大排列的第30%个数据作为当日的分群基准质量,将大于等于基准质量的视为长势较快的猪只,小于基准质量的视为长势较慢的猪只,每次采食按照猪只长势快慢分为2群进行饲喂;该系统依托于LabVIEW软件开发平台和物联网系统构建,平均每头猪只通过系统时间为6.2 s。为验证该系统的实际应用效果开展了为期30 d的现场试验,将饲喂于装有分群系统猪栏中的120头长白育肥猪作为试验组,由分群系统按猪只长势快慢分群饲喂;将饲喂于传统猪栏中的120头长白育肥猪作为对照组,按照传统人工调栏的方式进行饲喂。试验开始时试验组和对照组猪只平均体质量分别为32.21、31.76 kg,标准差分为别2.61和2.49 kg;结束时试验组和对照组猪只平均体质量分别为57.68、57.41 kg,标准差分为别5.26和5.51 kg,总料肉比分别为2.31和2.34,期间试验组猪只体质量的标准差小于对照组,但是2组猪只平均体质量、标准差、总料肉比均不存在显著差异,表明采用该系统对猪只进行分群饲喂控制猪只体质量差异效果等同于人工调栏,同时可以节省人力成本,缓解农业劳动力短缺的压力。该研究也可为母猪饲喂站、种猪测定站等智能化养猪设备的研发提供参考。