笼养丹顶鹤繁殖行为和粪样中性激素水平变化的关系

2007年3月～2008年2月,在哈尔滨北方森林动物园,选2对健康的成年丹顶鹤,采用目标取样和扫描取样相结合的方法进行了行为观测,同时收取粪便提取激素,利用放射免疫分析法（RIA）测定了笼养丹顶鹤粪样中睾酮、孕酮、雌二醇的浓度。试验结果表明：笼养丹顶鹤繁殖行为呈显著的季节变化,其对鸣、炫耀行为的高发期在3、4月（P〈0．05）,营巢行为在3月极显著高于其他月份（P〈0．01）,丹顶鹤的交尾行为集中出现在3、4月（P〈0．05）;繁殖期雄性丹顶鹤粪便中睾酮平均水平为（259．59±149．70）ng／dl,非繁殖期为（84．81±27．35）ng／dl,二者差异显著,繁殖期雄鹤求偶炫耀、交尾、卧巢等的发生频次与粪便中睾酮呈极显著相关（P〈0．01）,其对鸣、警戒以及营巢都与睾酮变化水平呈显著相关（P〈0．05）。繁殖期雌性丹顶鹤粪便中的孕酮平均浓度为（9．65±7。15）rig／m1,非繁殖期为（2．76±0．97）ng／ml,差异显著,繁殖期雌鹤粪便中的孕酮激素水平与其卧巢行为呈显著性相关（R=0．8848,P〈0．05）;繁殖期雌性丹顶鹤粪便中雌二醇平均浓度为（30．50±61．77）pg／ml,非繁殖期为（8．17±3．72）pg／ml,二者差异显著,繁殖期雌鸟雌二醇变化水平与其繁殖行为的相关性不显著（P〉0．05）;雌性丹顶鹤粪样中雌二醇激素的变化水平与其产卵时间有着较为密切的关系。     

笼养灰鹤繁殖期行为时间分配的研究

2006年5月1日～7月18日,对哈尔滨北方森林动物园1对笼养灰鹤繁殖期行为进行观察,研究表明：笼养条件下,灰鹤静立（雄31．08％,雌35．81％）、理羽（雄19．81％,雌12．45％）、采食（雄13．23％,雌15．09％）行为比例较高,而繁殖行为占总行为时间比例雄鹤为2．49％、雌鹤为10．30％。灰鹤各行为日节律不明显;静立、理羽、休息和繁殖行为的发生受天气状况影响显著,尤其是静立和理羽差异极显著。灰鹤雌雄行为差异性在中期较显著,就整个繁殖期看,受天气状况的影响行为差异不显著。     

笼养绿孔雀繁殖期行为观察

采用扫描取样法对秦皇岛野生动物园40只笼养绿孔雀繁殖期的行为进行了为期58d,325h的观察,结果显示繁殖期各行为所占的比例分别为休息31.31%、取食22.03%、理羽16.37%、游走15.93%、警戒9.79%和繁殖4.59%。方差分析和μ检验表明：天气状况对笼养绿孔雀的休息、取食、理羽和游走行为的时间分配的影响明显,但对繁殖和警戒行为影响不大。     

人工饲养白枕鹤繁殖期行为观察

本研究对笼养白枕鹤行为进行观察记录和分析，结果表明笼养白枕鹤繁殖期行为日活动节律依次为休息（32.15％）、取食（30.02％）、理羽（12.92％）、警戒（12.14％）、游走（8.86％）、繁殖（3.90％），另外，繁殖期的不同时期、不同性别其行为时间分配都存在一定差异。人为干扰，邻近笼舍内东方白鹤的干扰，以及外界噪音的干扰对笼养白枕鹤繁殖期行为影响十分显著。同时气候条件以及温度变化对笼养白枕鹤总体行为亦存在一定影响。     

吉林莫莫格白鹤春季行为研究

白鹤属大型涉禽,仅分布于亚洲地区,其东亚种群数量为3 750只左右;由于环境变迁,种群数量越来越少,已被列为国家Ⅰ级重点保护动物。为阐明在沼泽湿地生态系统环境中白鹤春季的活动规律以及各种行为的时间分配,于2010年4月15日～5月13日,在吉林莫莫格国家级自然保护区对白鹤春季迁徙期行为进行了初步研究。白鹤的各种行为的时间分配依次为:觅食占64.34%、静栖占4.42%、警戒占13.92%、游走占4.57%、理羽占11.51%、其他(包括打斗、飞行、呜叫等情况)占2.56%。成体与亚成体白鹤、雄鹤与雌鹤在行为和时间分配上有明显差异,在觅食时间上雌鹤高出雄鹤10%左右,雄鹤的警戒时间高于雌鹤。     

七星河自然保护区丹顶鹤孵化期行为研究

黑龙江七星河国家级自然保护区位于三江平原腹地,是丹项鹤的重要繁殖地,2011年4～5月对保护区繁殖前期的丹顶鹤孵化行为进行了观察,结果表明:丹顶鹤孵化期的各种行为具有较强的规律性,各行为频率依次为:繁殖31.34%、觅食28.26%、警戒20.12%、静栖8.99%、游走4.51%、其他6.78%。在不同繁殖阶段,丹顶鹤各行为的生境分配存在一定差异。在产卵前期,繁殖行为主要发生在芦苇火烧地,觅食行为主要发生在农田;在孵化初期,繁殖行主要发生在苇丛里,觅食行为主要发生在芦苇火烧地。     

笼养灰鹤越冬期行为活动的时间分配和活动节律

2003年11月～2004年2月,采用瞬时扫描取样法对哈尔滨动物园1对成年灰鹤的越冬行为进行观察,探讨冬季不同温度和不同天气条件下对灰鹤越冬行为的影响,并得出结论如下：笼养灰鹤越冬期行为时间分配比例依次为静栖26.92%、进食25.96%、瞭望18.74%、啄雪草13.32%、理羽6.66%、游走4.91%、呜叫2.48%、警戒1.07%和打斗0.34%;大雾时静栖、瞭望和进食行为与正常天气相似,最为突出的是游走行为明显增多,而啄雪草行为减少了近10%,从总体上看活动量比正常天气时增多。而在下雪时各行为所用时间都比较平均,和正常天气比差别都很大,只有瞭望所用时间相近。     

圈养丹顶鹤幼鸟的行为发育

为了研究圈养丹顶鹤幼乌的行为发育规律,为今后的丹顶鹤保护以及再引入工程提供有价值的资料,2011年6～9月,采用目标动物取样法和瞬时扫描取样法,在扎龙自然保护区对6只笼养丹顶鹤幼乌进行了研究.研究了圈养丹顶鹤幼乌生长发育过程中的行为谱及其变化和日间行为规律的变化.结果表明,随着周龄的增加,幼鸟的休息行为时间分配随着周龄的变化明显减少,游走、取食、理羽和警戒行为的时间分配随着周龄的变化有所增加,而玩耍行为的时间分配先逐渐增大然后减少并稳定.最后,圈养丹项鹤幼乌的各行为时间分配分别为:游走14.83％、休息16.8％、取食29.08％、理羽15.33％、警戒13.75％、玩耍9.41％.     

笼养白鹤越冬行为的初步研究

采用瞬时扫描法研究了白鹤越冬行为的活动节律和时间分配.结果表明:越冬期笼养白鹤行为时间分配依次为静栖33.65%,觅食20.61%,理羽12.67%,避风11.37%,瞭望9.36%,啄雪草5.30%,游走2.96%,趴卧1.86%,鸣叫1.49%,展翅0.74%.笼养白鹤在越冬期活动有一定的节律性.两性间越冬期其行为和时间分配有一定的差异.不同的温度、天气条件,对笼养白鹤越冬行为有影响.     

黑天鹅孵化期行为时间分配

2011年1～2月,采用瞬时扫描法对徐州金桥珍禽养殖场的黑天鹅进行了研究.研究发现,黑天鹅在孵化期具有一定的行为时间分配.行为时间分配为:孵化29.96％、理羽15.06％、采食11.87％、游泳10.22％、站立8.09％、游走7.15％、筑巢7.07％、警戒6.09％、休息3.00％、对鸣1.53％.对不同性别黑天鹅的时间分配进行独立样本T检验,结果显示:除筑巢行为差异显著(P＜0.05),孵化、采食、休息、游泳行为上差异极显著(P＜0.01)外,其他行为差异不显著.     

Phase I evaluation of CCNU (lomustine) in tumor-bearing cats

1-(2-Chloroethyl)3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU) is an alkylating agent in the nitrosourea subclass. A prospective evaluation of CCNU was done to determine the maximally tolerated dosage of CCNU in tumor-bearing cats. Response data were obtained when available. Twenty-five cats were treated with CCNU at a dosage of 50-60 mg/m3 body surface area. Complete hematologic data were available for 13 cats. Neutropenia was the acute dose-limiting toxicity. The median neutrophil count at the nadir was 1,000 cells/microL (mean, 2,433 cells/microL; range, 0-9,694 cells/microL). The time of neutrophil nadir was variable, occurring 7-28 days after treatment, and counts sometimes did not return to normal for up to 14 days after the nadir. Based on these findings, a 6-week dosing interval and weekly hematologic monitoring after the 1st treatment with CCNU are recommended. The nadir of the platelet count may occur 14-21 days after treatment. The median platelet count at the nadir was 43,500 cells/microL. No gastrointestinal, renal, or hepatic toxicities were observed after a single CCNU treatment, and additional studies to evaluate the potential for cumulative toxicity should be performed. Five cats with lymphoma and 1 cat with mast cell tumor had measurable responses to CCNU. Phase II studies to evaluate antitumor activity should be completed with a dosing regimen of 50-60 mg/m3 every 6 weeks.     

Prevalence of gastric lesions in racing Alaskan sled dogs

Human and equine athletes are reported to have a high prevalence of gastric disease, and anecdotal evidence suggests a similar phenomenon applies to racing sled dogs. To investigate the prevalence of gastric disease in racing sled dogs, we conducted 2 gastroscopy studies on dogs competing in the annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race. A pilot study of dogs that were either dropped from the 2000 Iditarod Sled Dog Race because of illness or that finished the race indicated that, approximately 5 days after competing, 10 of 28 dogs (35%) had endoscopic evidence of gastric ulceration, erosion, or hemorrhage. The next year, an endoscopic study of 73 dogs participating in the 2001 Iditarod race was performed in order to evaluate a larger population of dogs. Data from 70 of these dogs could be used; 34 (48.5%) had ulceration, erosion, gastric hemorrhage, or some combination of these findings. When this group of 70 dogs was compared retrospectively to a control group of 87 dogs presented to the Texas A&M University (TAMU) Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, the Iditarod sled dogs had a significantly higher prevalence (P = .049) of gastric lesions. These findings suggest that, similar to athletes of other species, elite canine athletes have an increased prevalence of gastric disease compared to the canine population at large.     

Furosemide continuous rate infusion in the horse: evaluation of enhanced efficacy and reduced side effects

Continuous rate infusion (CRI) of furosemide in humans is considered superior to intermittent administration (IA). This study examined whether furosemide CRI, compared with IA, would increase diuretic efficacy with decreased fluid and electrolyte fluctuations and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in the horse. Five mares were used in a crossover-design study. During a 24-hour period, each horse received a total of 3 mg/kg furosemide by either CRI (0.12 mg/kg/h preceded by a loading dose of 0.12 mg/kg IV) or IA (1 mg/kg IV q8h). There was not a statistically significant difference in urine volume over 24 hours between methods; however, urine volume was significantly greater after CRI compared with IA during the first 8 hours ([median 25th percentile, 75th percentile]: 9.6 L [8.9, 14.4] for CRI versus 5.9 L [5.3, 6.0] for IA). CRI produced a more uniform urine flow, decreased fluctuations in plasma volume, and suppressed renal concentrating ability throughout the infusion period. Potassium, Ca, and Cl excretion was greater during CRI than IA (1,133 mmol [1.110, 1,229] versus 764 mmol [709, 904], 102.7 mmol [96.0, 117.2] versus 73.3 mmol [65.0, 73.5], and 1,776 mmol [1,657, 2.378] versus 1,596 mmol [1,457, 1,767], respectively). Elimination half-lives of furosemide were 1.35 and 0.47 hours for CRI and IA, respectively. The area under the excretion rate curve was 1,285.7 and 184.2 mL x mg/mL for CRI and IA, respectively. Furosemide CRI (0.12 mg/kg/h) for 8 hours, preceded by a loading dose (0.12 mg/kg), is recommended when profound diuresis is needed acutely in horses.     

The Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Dairy Cattle in Central Kenya

The epidemiology of H. placei and of other gastrointestinal nematodes in yearling dairy cattle was examined on two farms in Kiambu District, central Kenya during each of 13 one-month periods from April 1993 to April 1994. On each farm, 32 newly weaned dairy calves were given a single dose of albendazole and then placed on experimental pastures. Twelve of the animals were designated for bi-monthly slaughter (n = 2) and analysis of worm population characteristics and 20 were designated for blood and faecal collection and for weighing. Two parasite-free tracer calves were grazed alongside the weaner calves each month throughout the study period and were also slaughtered for analysis of worm populations. Faecal egg counts, haematological and serum pepsinogen determinations, herbage larval counts, and animal live weight changes were recorded monthly. The study revealed that Haemonchus placei, Trichostrongylus axei, Cooperia spp. and Oesophagostomum radiatum were responsible for parasitic gastroenteritis and that H. placei was the predominant nematode present in the young cattle on both farms. Faecal egg counts from resident cattle and necropsy worm counts revealed that pasture larval levels were directly related to the amount of rainfall. The total worm burdens in the animals were highest during the rainy season (March–June and October–December) and lowest during the dry seasons (July–September and January–February). The very low recovery of immature larvae of H. placei from the tracer calves indicated that arrested development is not a feature of the life cycle of this parasite in central Kenya. The maintenance of the parasite population depended on continuous cycling of infection between the host and the pasture. The agroclimatic conditions of the study area were such that, in general, favourable weather conditions for the development and survival of the free-living stages of gastrointestinal nematodes existed all year round.     

Diversity of Ectoparasites in Sheep Flocks in Sa~o Paulo,Brazil

The occurrence of ectoparasites in sheep flocks is frequently reported but seldom quantified. Sheep production used to be a predominantly family activity in the state of Sa~o Paulo (Brazil), but it began to become a commercial activity in the past decade. Thus, information about the ectoparasites existing in sheep flocks has become necessary. The present data were obtained by means of questionnaires sent to all sheep breeders belonging to the `Associaça~o Paulista de Criadores de Ovinos' (ASPACO; Sa~o Paulo State Association of Sheep Breeders). Response reliability was tested by means of random visits paid to 10.6% of the respondents. Most of the properties (89.5%) reported the presence of one or more ectoparasites. Screw-worm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) was the most frequent ectoparasite (72.5%), followed by bot fly larvae (Dermatobia hominis, 45.0%), ticks (Amblyomma cajennense) and Boophilus microplus, 31.3%) and finally lice (Damalinia ovis, 13.8%). Combined infestations also occurred, the most common one being screw-worm with bot fly larvae (36.0%) followed by bot fly larvae with ticks (13.9%), screw-worm with ticks (9.3%), bot fly larvae with lice (6.9%), and ticks with lice (5.0%). The most common triple combination was screw-worm, bot fly larvae and ticks (12.8%). Breeds raised for meat or wool were attacked by bot fly larvae and ticks more often than other breeds. Lice were only absent from animals of indigenous breeds. The relationships among these ectoparasites are discussed in terms of sheep breeds, flock size, seasonality and the ectoparasitic combinations on the host.     

Evaluation of biohydrogenation rate of canola vs. soya bean seeds as unsaturated fatty acids sources for ruminants in situ

An experiment was conducted to study disappearance of C14 to C18 fatty acids, lag times and biohydrogenation (BH) rates of C18 fatty acids of ground soya bean and canola seeds in situ. Three ruminally fistulated Dallagh sheep were used to determine ruminal BH of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs). Differences in the disappearance of fatty acids through the bags and lag times were observed between the oilseeds. We saw that the longer the incubation time of the oilseeds in the rumen, the lower the content of C18:2 and C18:3. Significantly higher lag times for both C18:2 and C18:3 were observed in ground canola compared to ground soya bean. BH rates of C18:2 and C18:3 fatty acids in soya bean were three times higher than those of canola. These results suggest that the fatty acid profile of fat source can affect the BH of UFAs by rumen micro‐organisms. So that UFAs of canola had higher ability to escape from ruminal BH. It seems that fatty acid profile of ruminant products is more affected by canola seed compared to soya bean seed.     

Serum biochemical values and mineral element contents of tissues in yaks

Serum biochemical values and the wet weight to dry weight ratios of tissues were determined in yaks in Shandan county of Gansu province. The liver, kidney, heart and muscle contents of seven elements in yaks were also analysed. Most serum biochemical values were similar to those of cattle, camels and sheep, but the calcium concentration was considerably above the normal range for other ruminants. The liver contained the highest concentrations of copper, manganese and cobalt and the kidney of selenium, iron and calcium.Abbreviations Alb albumin - ALT alanine aminotransferase - AST aspartate aminotransferase - BUN blood urea nitrogen - Chol cholesterol - Glob globulin - -GT -glutamyl transpeptidase - IP inorganic phosphorus - TP total protein     

Avian brood parasitism — a growing research area in behavioral ecology (part Ⅱ)

正We are pleased to publish the second special issue on avian brood parasitism and to be responsible guest editors for the two special issues of Chinese Birds (Vol. 3, No. 4, 2012 and Vol. 4, No. 1, 2013), entitled "Avian Brood Parasitism - A Growing Research Area in Behavioral Ecology". The first issue was published in December 2012. The goal of the two special issues is to publish accumulated knowledge and some of the recent developments in     

Internal Parasites and Haematological Values in Cattle Slaughtered in Buea Subdivision of Cameroon

Tropical Animal Health and Production -