Effects of oral supplementation of probiotic strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Enterococcus faecium on diarrhoea events of foals in their first weeks of life

Foal first diarrhoea is one of the most prominent problems in the early life of horses. Probiotics might have the potency to prevent or at least diminish neonatal diarrhoea. We hypothesised that the treatment of foals with probiotic strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Enterococcus faecium starting early after birth and then daily over 2 weeks would prevent or mitigate foal heat diarrhoea. The influence of this probiotic treatment on diarrhoea incidence and growth and health performance of young foals was investigated. Thirty‐four foals were randomly allocated to two groups. From day 1 to 14 of life, the foals received either placebo (PG, n = 16) or the probiotic treatment (TG, n = 18). Clinical examination was performed, and the faeces consistency score (FCS, 1–5; with diarrhoea defined by ≤3) was recorded once per day in weeks 1 and 2 and once weekly in weeks 3–8 of life (WL). The body height was measured at birth and after two and eight WL. Diarrhoea occurred in the 1st WL in 19% and 61% of PG and TG foals respectively. In the 1st WL, diarrhoea lasted 0.3 ± 0.8 and 1.6 ± 1.4 days in PG and TG foals respectively. In the 2nd WL, diarrhoea occurred in 94% and 84% of PG and TG foals, respectively, and lasted for 3.0 ± 1.5 and 3.7 ± 1.6 days respectively. At least two periods of diarrhoea developed in 33% and 65% of PG and TG foals respectively. The TG foals grew slightly slower than the PG foals. The results indicated that the probiotic treatment of neonatal foals as performed in this study was not suitable to reduce diarrhoea within the first two WL, because contrary to the hypothesis, the TG foals suffered more frequently and for longer periods from diarrhoea than the PG foals.     

Evaluating the nutritive profile of three insect meals and their effects to replace soya bean in broiler diet

This study was conducted to evaluate the comparative effect of maggot meal, silkworm meal and mealworm as dietary protein source on the production performance and some aspects of meat quality in broilers. In this regard, maggot meal was reared on chicken offal and poultry waste. Silkworm meal was obtained from silk industry, while mealworm was developed through beetles rearing. A total of 120‐day‐old broiler chicks were randomly divided into four groups where soya bean meal (M0) was replaced with maggot meal (M1), silkworm meal (M2) and mealworm (M3) respectively. Each group was further divided into three replicates. The study was carried out for a period of 5 weeks. Diets containing mealworm significantly reduced overall feed consumption and resulted into higher weight gain (p < .05). Lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded for birds fed with mealworm diet (p < .05). Tenderness and juiciness of meat were higher (p < .05) in M3 compared to the control and other treatments. Mortality did not vary between the control and the treated groups. Therefore, it is concluded that insect meal is rich in essential nutrients and could be successfully used in broiler ration without compromising acceptability. In the light of this study, mealworm is the best choice in broiler ration, in comparison with maggot and silkworm.     

Effects of a DHA‐rich unextracted microalgae as a dietary supplement on performance,carcass traits and meat fatty acid profile in growing‐finishing pigs

Two 125‐day experiments of the same design were conducted to evaluate the effects of a heterotrophically grown microalgae (AURA) containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on pig performance, carcass traits and the fatty acid composition of lean and adipose tissue. In each experiment, 144 Hypor pigs were blocked by sex, allocated to three treatment groups, and fed 0, 0.25% or 0.50% AURA in isonutritive, isocaloric diets. Pigs were weighed on days 0, 28, 56, 84 and 112. Feed and water intakes were measured every 28 days. Pigs were slaughtered on day 125. Data from the two studies were analysed as a single data set. Performance and carcass traits did not differ between treatments. Both microalgae treatment levels enriched (p < .05) Longissimus lumborum (LL) and backfat in DHA and improved (p < .05) their ratios of n‐6 to n‐3 fatty acids.     

Amino acid profiles of rumen undegradable protein: a comparison between forages including cereal straws and alfalfa and their respective total mixed rations

Optimizing the amino acid (AA) profile of rumen undegradable protein (RUP) can positively affect the amount of milk protein. This study was conducted to improve knowledge regarding the AA profile of rumen undegradable protein from corn stover, rice straw and alfalfa hay as well as the total mixed ratio diets (TMR) based on one of them as forage source [forage‐to‐concentrate ratio of 45:55 (30% of corn stover (CS), 30% of rice straw (RS), 23% of alfalfa hay (AH) and dry matter basis)]. The other ingredients in the three TMR diets were similar. The RUP of all the forages and diets was estimated by incubation for 16 hr in the rumen of three ruminally cannulated lactating cows. All residues were corrected for microbial colonization, which was necessary in determining the AA composition of RUP from feed samples using in situ method. Compared with their original AA composition, the AA pattern of forages and forage‐based diets changed drastically after rumen exposure. In addition, the extent of ruminal degradation of analysed AA was not constant among the forages. The greatest individual AA degradability of alfalfa hay and corn stover was Pro, but was His of rice straw. A remarkable difference was observed between microbial attachment corrected and uncorrected AA profiles of RUP, except for alfalfa hay and His in the three forages and TMR diets. The ruminal AA degradability of cereal straws was altered compared with alfalfa hay but not for the TMR diets. In summary, the AA composition of forages and TMR‐based diets changed significantly after ruminal exposure, indicating that the original AA profiles of the feed cannot represent its AA composition of RUP. The AA profile of RUP and ruminal AA degradability for corn stover and rice straw contributed to missing information in the field.     

Using the indicator amino acid oxidation technique to study threonine requirements in horses receiving a predominantly forage diet

Threonine has been reported to be the second limiting amino acid in typical equine diets, but its actual requirement has not been determined in horses. To evaluate amino acid metabolism and requirements, the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method has been successfully used in other species. The objective of this research was to estimate threonine requirements in mature horses fed timothy hay and concentrate in 4:1 ratio using the IAAO method. Six Thoroughbred mares (579.9 ± 46.7 kg) received each of 6 levels of threonine intake, 41, 51, 61, 70, 80 and 89 mg/kg BW/day, in a randomly determined order. Each study period was 7‐day long, and on day 6, blood samples were collected before and 90 min after feeding to measure amino acid concentrations using HPLC. On day 7, horses underwent IAAO procedures, which included a 2‐hr primed, constant intravenous infusion of [¹³C]sodium bicarbonate to measure total CO₂ production and a 4‐hr primed, constant oral administration of [1‐¹³C]phenylalanine to estimate phenylalanine oxidation to CO₂. Blood and breath samples were collected to measure blood [¹³C]phenylalanine, using GC‐MS analysis and breath ¹³CO₂ enrichment, using an infrared isotope analyser. Increasing threonine intake levels did not affect plasma phenylalanine oxidation by the ANOVA test (p > 0.05) but resulted in a linear decrease in phenylalanine oxidation (p = 0.04) without a breakpoint by the orthogonal linear contrast. This study is the first attempt to evaluate threonine requirements in horses by the IAAO method; however, threonine requirements are still unknown in mature horses at this time.     

Effect of GYY4137 on cytosolic lipid decomposition in mouse primary hepatocytes

AIM: To evaluate the effect of GYY4137, a novel hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) donor, on cytosolic lipid decomposition in mouse primary steatosis hepatocytes. METHODS: Oleic acid (OA) was used to induce hepatic steatosis model in vitro. The C57BL/6 mouse primary hepatocytes isolated and cultured by 2-step in situ perfusion were divided into 4 groups:the cells in control group were incubated with normal medium for 54 h; the cells in model group were incubated with OA at 1.2 mmol/L for 48 h followed by serum-free phenol red-free RPMI-1640 for 6 h; the cells in H₂S group or DL-propar-gylglycine (PAG; an inhibitor of cystathione γ-lysase, inhibiting H₂S synthesis) group were incubated with OA at 1.2 mmol/L for 48 h followed by serum-free phenol red-free RPMI-1640 which contained 1 mmol/L GYY4137 or 200 μmol/L PAG for 6 h. The glycerin release and the protein expression of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) in the cells were mea-sured. RESULTS: Compared with model group, the glycerin release and the protein expression of phosphorylated HSL (p-HSL) in H₂S group decreased significantly, while those increased significantly in PAG group. CONCLUSION: In steatosis hepatocytes, exogenous H₂S possibly decreases cytosolic lipid decomposition by decreasing the protein level of p-HSL.     

大米草中耐盐乳酸菌的分离鉴定及对大米草青贮品质的影响

本试验旨在研究大米草（Spartina anglica Hubb.）中耐盐乳酸菌的分离鉴定及对大米草青贮品质的影响，以期为大米草青贮利用提供技术支持和理论依据。试验采用传统培养法筛选出耐盐浓度为10%的乳酸菌菌株，通过生理生化及16S rDNA序列分析法综合鉴定筛选的菌株，并将其添加到大米草原料中进行青贮效果观察。结果表明：分离获得的42株乳酸菌菌株，耐盐溶度最高为10%的4株乳酸菌均为同型发酵的植物乳杆菌（Lactobacillus plantarum），命名为C1、C2、C3和C4。4株乳酸菌均能提高大米草的青贮发酵品质，其中C4显著提高青贮料的可溶性碳水化合物和粗脂肪含量（P<0.05），显著降低青贮料的氨态氮含量（P<0.05）；另外，C4处理组的干物质含量和乳酸含量显著高于其他3个菌株处理组（P<0.05），中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维、半纤维素和丁酸含量显著（P<0.05）低于其他3个菌株处理组，青贮效果最佳。     

EIAV Rev蛋白拮抗eqTRIM5α介导的AP-1信号通路的机制研究

为探究马传染性贫血病毒(EIAV)附属蛋白Rev负调控Tripartite motif-containing protein 5α(TRIM5α)介导的AP-1信号通路的机制,本研究将pEIAV-Rev-HA和pcDNA3.1质粒分别与含TRIM5α基因的质粒及pGL3-AP-1-Luc(AP-1报告质粒)共转染HEK 293T细胞,采用荧光素酶试验检测Rev对TRIM5α激活的AP-1信号通路的影响;将pEIAV-Rev-HA和pcDNA3.1质粒分别与含TAK1、TAB2、P38和c-Jun基因的质粒及pGL3-AP-1-Luc共转染HEK 293T细胞,采用荧光素酶试验检测Rev对TRIM5α下游转导分子(TAK1、TAB2、P38、c-Jun)激活的AP-1信号通路的影响;将pEIAV-Rev-HA和pcDNA3.1质粒分别与含TAK1、TAB2、P38基因的质粒共转染HEK293T细胞,利用western blot试验分别检测TAK1、TAB2、P38的表达水平;将pEIAV-Rev-HA和pcDNA3.1质粒分别与含P38基因的质粒共转染HEK 293T细胞后加入蛋白酶体抑制剂MG132,利用western blot检测P38蛋白的表达情况。结果显示,共转染EIAV-Rev-HA实验组中TRIM5α对AP-1的激活倍数为0.4,而共转染pcDNA3.1对照组中相应的激活倍数为26.0;共转染pEIAV-Rev-HA实验组中,TAK1、TAB2、P38和c-Jun对AP-1信号通路的激活倍数分别为7.7、0.1、0.6、9.8,而共转染pcDNA3.1对照组中对AP-1信号通路的激活倍数分别为60.0、1.5、6.3、12.0;转染pEIAV-Rev-HA+pP38-Flag组与转染pcDNA3.1+pP38-Flag组相比,前者P38蛋白的表达量显著降低;加入蛋白酶体抑制剂组则恢复了P38蛋白的表达。上述结果表明,EIAV Rev显著下调eqTRIM5α及其下游转导分子TAK1、TAB2、P38激活的AP-1信号通路,但不显著下调c-Jun激活的AP-1信号通路;EIAV Rev通过蛋白酶体途径降解P38蛋白的表达而抑制eqTRIM5α激活的AP-1信号通路。本研究结果为理解EIAV与宿主蛋白相互作用提供参考依据。     

套袋对鸭梨果实香气及糖酸组分的影响

采用静态顶空和气相色谱-质谱联用技术、高效液相色谱技术,研究了生长期套袋对鸭梨果实挥发性成分、糖酸组分等风味物质的组成和含量的影响。结果表明:套袋导致鸭梨香气物质种类减少和相对百分含量降低。套袋鸭梨采收时测定的香气成分有3类18种,其中酯类15种、烯类2种、醇类1种;不套袋鸭梨采收时测定的香气成分有3类26种,其中酯类23种、烯类2种、醇类1种。鸭梨的主要香气成分是乙酸己酯、己酸乙酯、丁酸乙酯。套袋和不套袋鸭梨均检测到3种糖、4种有机酸组分,其中糖组分主要为果糖,其次为蔗糖、葡萄糖,有机酸组分主要为苹果酸,其次为乙酸、柠檬酸、草酸,但不同处理间含量存在差异。