Tuberculosis vaccination sequence effect on protection in wild boar

The Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a reservoir for tuberculosis (TB) in which vaccination is a valuable tool for control. We evaluated the protection and immune response achieved by homologous and heterologous regimes administering BCG and heat-inactivated Mycobacterium bovis (IV). Twenty-one wild boar piglets were randomly allocated in five groups: Control, homologous BCG, homologous IV, heterologous IV-BCG, heterologous BCG-IV. Significant 67% and 66% total lesion score reductions were detected in homologous IV (IVx2) and heterologous IV-BCG groups when compared with Control group (F_4,16 = 6.393, p = 0.003; Bonferroni _{Control vs IVx2} p = 0.026, Tukey _{Control vs IV-BCG} p = 0.021). No significant differences were found for homologous BCG (although a 48% reduction in total lesion score was recorded) and BCG-IV (3% reduction). Heterologous regimes did not improve protection over homologous regimes in the wild boar model and showed variable results from no protection to similar protection as homologous regimes. Therefore, homologous regimes remain the best option to vaccinate wild boar against TB. Moreover, vaccine sequence dramatically influenced the outcome underlining the relevance of studying the effects of prior sensitization in the outcome of vaccination.     

复合动植物蛋白部分替代鱼粉对大菱鲆幼鱼生长、体成分及生理生化指标的影响

本研究设计5组等氮等能(粗蛋白为53%,能量为25KJ/g)的实验饲料,以60%的鱼粉饲料组作为对照(D1),豆粕∶花生粕∶鱼溶浆粉∶鸡肉粉(2∶1∶3∶2)的复合蛋白替代40%(D2)、50%(D3)、60%(D4)和70%(D5)的鱼粉,养殖大菱鲆幼鱼(Scophthalmus maximus L.)初始体重(53.0±0.2) g,养殖周期84 d,每天定时(08:00,16:30)投喂2次,投喂量为体重的1.5%～2%。实验结果显示,各处理组之间幼鱼存活率、饲料系数和摄食率均无显著性差异(P0.05);与对照组相比,D4和D5组增重率显著降低(P0.05);肥满度在D2组达到最高值,显著高于D3、D4和D5组(P0.05);脏体比(VSI)、肝体比(HSI)和肠体比(ISI)均在D2组达到最低值,均显著低于D5组(P0.05);复合动植物蛋白替代鱼粉对大菱鲆幼鱼全鱼水分和粗蛋白含量均无显著影响(P0.05);各替代组全鱼粗脂肪含量显著高于对照组(P0.05);全鱼灰分含量在D5组显著低于对照组(P0.05);各组间背肌水分、粗蛋白、粗脂肪和灰分含量均无显著性差异(P0.05);复合动植物蛋白替代鱼粉对鱼体肌肉非必需氨基酸和必需氨基酸总量无显著影响(P0.05);各替代组均显著提高了血清谷草转氨酶和谷丙转氨酶活性(P0.05);总蛋白浓度在D2组显著高于D4和D5组(P0.05);血糖浓度在D2和D3组显著低于其他3组(P0.05);D3、D4和D5组甘油三酯浓度和高密度脂蛋白浓度均显著低于对照组和D2组(P0.05);各替代组胆固醇和低密度脂蛋白浓度均显著低于对照组(P0.05);各组之间碱性磷酸酶浓度无显著差异(P0.05)。研究结果表明,复合动植物蛋白可有效替代50%鱼粉而不影响大菱鲆幼鱼生长性能和部分生理生化指标。     

巨菌草在动物饲养和生态改善领域的应用研究进展

巨菌草具有适应性广、抗逆性强、根系发达、营养含量丰富、产量高等特点,近年来在动物饲养和生态改善领域得到了广泛应用。本文综述了近年来巨菌草在动物饲养和生态改善领域的最新研究应用进展,对其存在的问题进行讨论,并对其发展前景提出了建议,以期为巨菌草的开发利用提供参考。     

Variant surface glycoproteins from Venezuelan trypanosome isolates are recognized by sera from animals infected with either Trypanosoma evansi or Trypanosoma vivax

Salivarian trypanosomes sequentially express only one variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) on their cell surface from a large repertoire of VSG genes. Seven cryopreserved animal trypanosome isolates known as TeAp-ElFrio01, TEVA1 (or TeAp-N/D1), TeGu-N/D1, TeAp-Mantecal01, TeGu-TerecayTrino, TeGu-Terecay03 and TeGu-Terecay323, which had been isolated from different hosts identified in several geographical areas of Venezuela were expanded using adult albino rats. Soluble forms of predominant VSGs expressed during the early infection stages were purified and corresponded to concanavalin A-binding proteins with molecular masses of 48–67 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electropohoresis, and pI values between 6.1 and 7.5. The biochemical characterization of all purified soluble VSGs revealed that they were dimers in their native form and represented different gene products. Sequencing of some of these proteins yielded peptides homologous to VSGs from Trypanosoma (Trypanozoon) brucei and Trypanosoma (Trypanozoon) evansi and established that they most likely are mosaics generated by homologous recombination. Western blot analysis showed that all purified VSGs were cross-reacting antigens that were recognized by sera from animals infected with either T. evansi or Trypanosoma (Dutonella) vivax. The VSG glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol cross-reacting determinant epitope was only partially responsible for the cross-reactivity of the purified proteins, and antibodies appeared to recognize cross-reacting conformational epitopes from the various soluble VSGs. ELISA experiments were performed using infected bovine sera collected from cattle in a Venezuelan trypanosome-endemic area. In particular, soluble VSGs from two trypanosome isolates, TeGu-N/D1 and TeGu-TeracayTrino, were recognized by 93.38% and 73.55% of naturally T. vivax-infected bovine sera, respectively. However, approximately 70% of the sera samples did not recognize all seven purified proteins. Hence, the use of a combination of various VSGs for the diagnosis of animal trypanosomosis is recommended.     

桑椹菌核病研究进展

桑椹菌核病是由3种子囊菌真菌引起的相似症状病害的统称,为果桑生产中的毁灭性真菌病害,严重制约果桑产业的发展。这3种病原菌同为死体营养型病原菌,其侵染手段多样,侵染机制复杂。由于3种病原菌在人工培养上存在不同程度的困难(桑实杯盘菌和肉阜状杯盘菌难培养,核地杖菌在人工培养基上不能完成生活史),在一定程度上限制了病原菌的研究。本文综述了桑椹菌核病的侵染循环、病原菌、病害流行、病原菌与寄主互作等方面的研究进展,并对未来的研究进行了展望,以期对桑椹菌核病的深入研究提供参考。     

An overview of animal science research 1945–2011 through science mapping analysis

The conceptual structure of the field of Animal Science (AS) research is examined by means of a longitudinal science mapping analysis. The whole of the AS research field is analysed, revealing its conceptual evolution. To this end, an automatic approach to detecting and visualizing hidden themes or topics and their evolution across a consecutive span of years was applied to AS publications of the JCR category ‘Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science’ during the period 1945–2011. This automatic approach was based on a coword analysis and combines performance analysis and science mapping. To observe the conceptual evolution of AS, six consecutive periods were defined: 1945–1969, 1970–1979, 1980–1989, 1990–1999, 2000–2005 and 2006–2011. Research in AS was identified as having focused on ten main thematic areas: ANIMAL‐FEEDING, SMALL‐RUMINANTS, ANIMAL‐REPRODUCTION, DAIRY‐PRODUCTION, MEAT‐QUALITY, SWINE‐PRODUCTION, GENETICS‐AND‐ANIMAL‐BREEDING, POULTRY, ANIMAL‐WELFARE and GROWTH‐FACTORS‐AND‐FATTY‐ACIDS. The results show how genomic studies gain in weight and integrate with other thematic areas. The whole of AS research has become oriented towards an overall framework in which animal welfare, sustainable management and human health play a major role. All this would affect the future structure and management of livestock farming.     

Genetic management of Dutch golden retriever dogs with a simulation tool

Excessive inbreeding rates and small effective population sizes are an important problem in many populations of dogs. Proper genetic management of these populations can decrease the problem, and several measures are available. However, the effectiveness of these measures is not clear beforehand. Therefore, a simulation model was developed to test measures that aim to decrease the rate of inbreeding. The simulation program was used to evaluate inbreeding restriction measures in the Dutch golden retriever dog population. This population consisted of approximately 600 dams and 150 sires that produce 300 litters each year. The five most popular sires sire approximately 25% of the litters in a year. Simulations show that the small number of popular sires and their high contribution to the next generation are the main determinants of the inbreeding rates. Restricting breeding to animals with a low average relatedness to all other animals in the population was the most effective measure and decreased the rate of inbreeding per generation from 0.41 to 0.12%. Minimizing co‐ancestry of parents was not effective in the long run, but decreased variation in inbreeding rates. Restricting the number of litters per sire generally decreased the generation interval because sires were replaced more quickly, once they met their restriction. In some instances, this lead to an increase in inbreeding rates because the next generations were more related. The simulation tool proved to be a powerful and educational tool for deciding which breeding restrictions to apply, and can be effective in different breeds and species as well.