微量元素相对生物学利用率的研究方法

有机微量元素具有多种优点,本文阐述了有关外源微量元素生物学利用率,回顾了微量元素不同添加方法的研究成果并进行比较。1影响动物对微量元素吸收的因素微量元素的吸收水平直接影响动物机体对微量元素的利用。如果饲喂量超过机体的代谢量,微量元素的吸收下降;如果饲喂量不足,机体则会提高对微量元素的吸收,这就说明机体自我平衡作用可以调节营养素的吸收。日粮总体消化率及各营养素间的相互作用均会影响矿物质吸收,这种相互作用包括协同作用(如铁和维生素C)和拮抗作用(如钙和锌,铜和钼、硫)。动物种类、品种、年龄、性别等也会影响微量元…     

Hyperadrenocorticism associated with excessive sex hormone production by an adrenocortical tumor in two dogs.

An 11-year-old spayed female Labrador Retriever and a 9-year-old castrated male miniature Poodle were evaluated because of clinical signs of hyperadrenocorticism. Cortisol testing did not support a diagnosis of hypercortisolemia in either dog; however, imaging studies revealed unilateral adrenal tumors in both dogs. Serum concentrations of 17-hydroxyprogesterone, progesterone, and estradiol were high in both dogs, and androstenedione concentrations were also high in 1 dog. It is suspected that sex hormone secretion by the adrenal tumors in these dogs resulted in clinical signs of hyperadrenocorticism. Clinical signs and hormonal abnormalities resolved in the male dog after surgical resection of the tumor. There was no improvement in clinical signs after treatment with mitotane in the female dog, which died 2 months after diagnosis. Histologic evaluation confirmed the presence of adrenocortical carcinoma in both dogs.     

Hypercalcaemia associated with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in a Giant Schnauzer.

A 7-year-old male Giant Schnauzer was referred with a history of severe vomiting, lethargy, weight loss, polydipsia and polyuria. Detailed investigations revealed leucocytosis with a marked lymphocytosis, mild non-regenerative anaemia, thrombocytopenia, hypercalcaemia and azotaemia. Circulating lymphocytes were small and well-differentiated, and the same lymphoid population was present in bone marrow. Chronic lymphocyctic leukaemia with associated paraneoplastic hypercalcaemia was diagnosed. Immunohistochemical staining of a bone marrow biopsy revealed a neoplastic B-cell line expressing CD79. The dog responded to therapy with prednisolone and chlorambucil for a period of 8 months.     

The effect of dietary chloride and bicarbonate on blood pH, haematological variables, pulmonary hypertension and ascites in broiler chickens.

1. The effect of supplementing grower diets with bicarbonate or chloride on haematological variables, pulmonary hypertension syndrome and ascites in broilers exposed to cold temperature was investigated. 2. High concentrations of dietary chloride had no effect on the pH of the venous blood but a low chloride/high bicarbonate diet significantly increased blood pH. There was no consistent effect of dietary chloride or bicarbonate concentrations on growth performance, although in 1 experiment birds given a low chloride/high bicarbonate diet consumed less food and gained less weight than controls. 3. Birds fed on high-chloride diets tended to have a higher incidence of ascites and pulmonary hypertension than controls. Birds fed on low-chloride and high-bicarbonate diets had significantly lower pulmonary hypertension and lower heart weights, which may have indicated a decrease in pulmonary and systemic blood pressure. 4. We conclude that increasing dietary bicarbonate and reducing dietary chloride has potential as a low cost and effective method to reduce the pulmonary hypertension which leads to ascites in broiler chickens.     

No effect of turkey herpesvirus infections on the outcome of avian pneumovirus infections in turkeys.

To determine whether turkey herpesvirus (HVT) impairs the aspecific and specific defense against an avian pneumovirus (APV) infection, specific-pathogen-free turkeys were inoculated at 7 days of age with HVT and 1, 5, or 7 wk later with APV. Clinical signs, APV replication, and development of antibodies against APV were evaluated. No differences were found between the birds that received both HVT and APV and those that received only APV.     

Trends in mortality ratios among cattle in US feedlots.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate trends in feedlot cattle mortality ratios over time, by primary body system affected, and by type of animal. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. ANIMALS: Approximately 21.8 million cattle entering 121 feedlots in the United States during 1994 through 1999. PROCEDURES: Yearly and monthly mortality ratios were calculated. Numbers of deaths were modeled by use of Poisson regression methods for repeated measures. Relative risks of death over time and by animal type were estimated. RESULTS: Averaged over time, the mortality ratio was 12.6 deaths/1,000 cattle entering the feedlots. The mortality ratio increased from 10.3 deaths/1,000 cattle in 1994 to 14.2 deaths/1,000 cattle in 1999, but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.09). Cattle entering the feedlots during 1999 had a significantly increased risk (relative risk, 1.46) of dying of respiratory tract disorders, compared with cattle that entered during 1994, and respiratory tract disorders accounted for 57.1% of all deaths. Dairy cattle had a significantly increased risk of death of any cause, compared with beef steers. Beef heifers had a significantly increased risk of dying of respiratory tract disorders, compared with beef steers. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that although overall yearly mortality ratio did not significantly increase during the study, the risk of death attributable to respiratory tract disorders was increased during most years, compared with risk of death during 1994. The increased rates of fatal respiratory tract disorders may also reflect increased rates of non-fatal respiratory tract disorders, which would be expected to have adverse production effects in surviving animals.     

(+)-Totarol from Chamaecyparis nootkatensis and activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The isolation of (+)-totarol as active compound against Mycobacterium tuberculosis is reported from Chamaecyparis nootkatensis outerbark.     

Research on abalone (Haliotis midae L.) cultivation in South Africa

Although abalone fisheries in South Africa have existed since 1949, cultivation started by successful spawning of captured specimens in 1981 to produce spat and juveniles. Twelve abalone farms, with an estimated investment of US$12 million, have since been established on the coast of South Africa, with a projected production of 500–800 tons. While Haliotis midae could reach a maximum size of about 200 mm shell length at an age of over 30 years in the wild, farm production is concentrating on an average size of 100 mm after 5 years. Growth rates of 0.08–4.5% body weight day ^?1 for abalone of 10–17 mm shell length have been found under stimulated farming conditions on formulated diets, while the corresponding feed conversion ratio (FCR) was 0.9–2.4. Growth rate, FCR and protein efficiency ratio decline at water temperatures above 20 °C. Anaesthetics, for example magnesium sulphate, are used to prevent injury during removal from tanks. Prostrate diatoms, such as Cocconeis sublittoralis (Hendey), Amphora proteoides (Hustedt) and Achnanthes brevipes (Agardh) are preferred after the larval stage (5–7 days, depending on temperature) are finished. South Africa abalone growers prefer formulated feeds in pellet form, which is convenience and cost favourable to farm operations and management. Although fish meal has been found to be the most suitable protein source for inclusion in formulated diets, plant proteins such as soy bean meal, cottonseed meal and sunflower meal presented good growth and apparent protein digestibility. The parasite sabellid polychaete, Terebrasabella heterouncinata, recently named by Australian and American researchers, is indigenous to a variety of South African intertidal molluscs and impedes growth by causing irritation beneath the mantle in abalone. Prevention to some degree is possible by high standards of hygiene and husbandry of abalone in the tanks, but new techniques to control large infestations now include ultrasound. In spite of a reputation for toughness, abalone meat frozen immediately after shucking is tender relative to red meat. The success of abalone farming in South Africa has been as a result of a high degree of cooperation between the private sector and government‐backed research institutions, and it is anticipated that this collaboration will continue.