Objective A meibometer is a device to measure the delivery rate of lipids on the eyelid margin. The aim of this study is to determine the measuring precision of the new Meibometer® MB550 (Courage-Khazaka electronic GmbH, 50829, Cologne, Germany), linked to a computer, by means of repeated measurements in dogs by different examiners. Procedure Two investigators measured the lipid rate on the eyelid margin in 10 healthy dogs for 10 days. One examiner measured the right eye (OD) and the other measured the left eye (OS) for 5 days. After 5 days, the eyes to be measured were switched between the examiners. The new device was able to record all measurement values as charts and curves in comparison to the previous Meibometer, which displayed only one value. Results Mean meibomium lipid level ± SD in the OD and OS of 10 dogs in 10 days was 211 ± 48 MU and 205 ± 41 MU (meibometer units), respectively. There was no significant difference between OD and OS, but a broad distribution of the values could be found. Gender did not influence the measurements. A significant difference was determined between the measurements in the first 5 days to those in the following 5 days. There was, therefore, also a significant difference in the measurements of the 2 examiners. Conclusion Meibometry is a minimally invasive lipid measuring method on the eyelid margin. Repeated measurement results obtained by two examiners, with the new device Meibometer MB550 linked to a computer, showed a wide range of values. The measuring precision of the new Meibometer MB550 is therefore questionable. 相似文献
1. In commercial layer breeding, extensive gene pools are tested and selected for market requirements which must be anticipated at least 5 years ahead. Field results confirm a continuous positive genetic trend in egg output and better feed efficiency which can be converted into land savings.
2. Animal welfare and cage-free housing dominate future needs of the market. Nesting behaviour and minimal tendency to develop feather-pecking or cannibalism without beak treatment are key trait complexes. Stronger shells for longer production cycles without moulting have to be combined with better bones.
3. No single big gene effect can be expected to control the multifactorial problem of feather-pecking. Adjusting the shape of the beak, with a heritability of .10–.25, can contribute to reducing the risk of severe cannibalism.
4. For better skeletal integrity, the assessment of bone quality in pedigree birds housed in enriched cages is done by keel bone palpation or ultrasound measurement of the humerus. Both traits show similar heritabilities in the range of .15–.30 and can be included in a balanced selection approach for performance, quality and welfare traits.
5. The combination of performance testing and genome-wide DNA marker analysis is a promising tool to generate more progress for a balanced performance and behaviour profile. 相似文献
The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of increasing dietary vitamin C supplements on growth performance, antioxidant status and humoral immunity of layer ducklings. The results showed that the body weight and daily body weight gain of ducklings increased (p < 0.05) with increasing dietary vitamin C supplementations and reached a maximum at 400 mg vitamin C/kg feed. The dietary vitamin C supplementations reduced the malondialdehyde concentration (p < 0.05) and increased the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (p < 0.05) in serum and liver of ducklings at day 5 and 28. Additionally, feeding 400 mg/kg or 800 mg vitamin C/kg feed increased IgM and IgA concentrations in sera (p < 0.05) and serum IgG concentrations increased (p < 0.05) following supplementation in concentrations of 150-800 mg vitamin C/kg feed. In conclusion, the results suggested that dietary vitamin C supplements of 400 mg/kg feed provide optimal effects on growth performance, antioxidant status and parameters of humoral immunity. 相似文献
We report here the interesting case of a 5-year-old male cynomolgus monkey with goblet cell hyperplasia and thickening of the muscular layer throughout the small intestine without exhibiting any clinical symptoms. Necropsy examination showed diffuse thickening of the intestinal wall from the jejunum to the ileum, with an appearance likened to a rubber tube. Histopathologically, marked thickening was observed in both the mucosal and muscular layers in the jejunum and ileum, and slight thickening was observed in the duodenum. Goblet cell hyperplasia with extension of the circular folds and villi was prominently observed. The mucosal surface was covered with a thick mucus layer containing desquamated mucosal epithelial cells, and both the inner and outer muscular layers were markedly thickened due to smooth muscle hypertrophy. Neither macroscopic nor histopathological examination identified any causative factors, such as infection, enteritis and intestinal stenosis, or obstruction that may have caused development of this lesion. Given these observations, this case may simply be considered of spontaneous goblet cell hyperplasia and muscular layer thickening in the small intestine of a cynomolgus monkey. 相似文献