Enteritis in sheep, goats and pigs due to Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection

The features of naturally occurring Yersinia pseudotuberculosis serotype III infections in 16 sheep, one goat and 3 pigs, and Y. pseudotuberculosis serotype I infections in 3 goats, are described. Affected animals usually had diarrhoea and were in poor condition or emaciated. A number were moribund or dead when submitted for necropsy. Thickening of the caecal and colonic mucosa was the only gross lesion attributable to Y. pseudotuberculosis infection, with liver or other visceral abscesses not being seen. Characteristic microabscesses were demonstrated in the intestinal mucosa of 10 sheep, one goat and one pig infected with Y. pseudotuberculosis serotype III and one goat infected with Y. pseudotuberculosis serotype I. Sheep, goats and pigs dosed orally with Y. pseudotuberculosis serotype III, the serotype isolated most commonly from these species, developed intestinal infection. In sheep and pigs, infection was accompanied by diarrhoea. Haematological changes and specific antibodies were elicited in all 3 species in response to infection. Microabscesses were seen in the intestinal mucosa of all experimentally exposed animals. The occurrence of field cases and the results of experimental exposure confirm that Y. pseudotuberculosis serotype III is an enteropathogen of sheep, goats and pigs. The association of Y. pseudotuberculosis serotype I with lesions in a goat, indicates that this bacterium may also be a pathogen of this species. It is concluded that Y. pseudotuberculosis serotype III is an enteric pathogen of a wide range of ungulate species including cattle, buffalo, deer, antelopes, sheep, goats and pigs. Serotypes I and II, while having a more restricted host range, are probably also pathogens of ungulates and, in particular, deer, antelopes and goats.     

Healing of surgically created defects in the equine superficial digital flexor tendon: collagen-type transformation and tissue morphologic reorganization

Full-thickness defects were surgically created in the superficial digital flexor tendons of the front limbs of 20 horses. Tissues formed within the defect were evaluated histologically, and the collagen composition of the tissue was determined by immunofluorescence. Transformation occurred from loose fibrillar areas of types I and III collagen and pericellular types IV and V collagen to dense bundles of type I collagen fibers. Loose fibrillar areas of types I and III collagen were present after 24 weeks. Histologically, in horses killed after 2 weeks, the tissue within the defect was a randomly oriented mass of fibrovascular tissue. In horses killed after 24 weeks the tissue within the defect resembled normal tendon tissue.     

Postnatal development of the pineal gland in the goat (Capra hircus)--light and electron microscopy studies

This study was conducted to investigate structural transformations of the goat pineal gland during postnatal development. The pineals of newborn, 4-week-, 4-month-, 1-year- and 3-year-old male goats were prepared for qualitative and quantitative investigations at both light and transmission electron microscopy levels. In the first 4 months after birth, the pinealocytes developed very intensively, which was connected with enlargement of their volume as well as distinct qualitative and quantitative transformations of their cytoplasmic organelles. Parallel to these changes, the pineal parenchyma underwent deep reorganization and the mosaic pattern, characteristic for newborns, disappeared. At the same time the meshwork of blood vessels supporting the goat pineal gland developed conspicuously. From fourth months to one year of postnatal life continuation of the growth of some pinealocyte organelles and very intensive development of all components of the pineal connective tissue were observed. In the three-year-old goats some decrease in the relative volume of most cytoplasmic structures of pinealocytes as well as increase in collagen fibers in stroma were noticed. The investigations established intensive growth of the goat pineal to the age of 4 months, which included mainly some increase in the pinealocyte and their structures. The pineal gland of 4-month- and 1-year-old goats showed morphological features which are considered as symptoms of high secretory activity. The structure of the pineal gland in 3-year-old animals and the changes observed both in their pinealocytes and connective tissue in comparison with 1-year-old individuals point to some decrease in the goat pineal activity in this age.     

Collagen fiber arrangement in canine hepatic venules

Cell-maceration/scanning electron microscopy, serial sections and scanning electron microscopy of vascular resin casts were employed to demonstrate the arrangement of collagen fibers in the terminal hepatic venules, involving the central, intercalated and collecting veins in dog liver. In cell-maceration specimens, each collagen fiber was observed to run in various directions, forming a sheath with a compact meshwork of collagen fibers. The collagenous meshwork in the hepatic venules was looser than those of the terminal portal venules and hepatic arterioles. Some collagen fibers formed bundles with an elongated spiral arrangement encircling the wall of the terminal hepatic venules. In resin casts, these venules were observed as a twisted configuration caused by spiral collagen bundles. A helical modification of such connective tissue bundles might provide a mechanically stable vascular structure and permit reversible changes in linear and circumferential vascular dimensions at the terminal tributaries of veins. Round or oval pores with diameters of approximately 9 microns were also observed in the sheath of collagen fibers. These pores, together with the relatively loose collagenous meshwork in the hepatic venules, might play a role in lymphocyte migration from these venules into the surrounding tissue and provide high permeability to the venule walls. No such helical configuration and pores were observed in either the portal venules or the hepatic arterioles.     

The Poll Glands of the Dromedary (Camelus dromedarius): Ultrastructural Characteristics

The poll glands of the camel are tubuloalveolar glands. They consist of lobules separated by interlobular connective tissue. Adrenergic axons and blood vessels including fenestrated capillaries are present in the intralobular connective tissue in close proximity to the secretory cells. The prominent features of the secretory cell cytoplasm are many mitochondria, smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and many vesicles in various secretory stages.
It is concluded that the secretory cells have apocrine as well as merocrine modes of secretion. The glands may have the ability to uptake hormones and concentrate them. Additional work is needed before considering these glands as steroid-secreting glands.     

Scanning electron microscopic observation of the architecture of collagen fibres in chicken M. iliotibialis lateralis

1. The collagen architecture of M. iliotibialis lateralis in chicken was observed under the scanning electron microscope after muscle maceration in NaOH. 2. Immunohistochemical methods showed Type I and III collagens to be distributed over both perimysium and endomysium. 3. Thick perimysium around secondary myofibre fasciculi was composed of many large longitudinal collagen bundles and a few small circumferential bundles. In contrast, thin perimysium around primary myofibre fasciculi showed mainly circumferential bundles. 4. Endomysium had a honeycomb-like structure and consisted of a fine collagen mesh, its main fibre striation being circumferential. 5. It is suggested that functional demand differs between thick perimysium and thin endomysium.     

麋鹿肝脏组织学观察

应用常规石蜡切片,HE染色,对麋鹿的肝脏进行了组织学观察.结果表明,肝脏被膜的结缔组织深入肝内,形成非常不发达的小叶间结缔组织,将肝脏分成多个不明显的小叶.中央静脉位于小叶中央,肝细胞排列成单板状,以中央静脉为中心向周围呈放射状排列.肝细胞板之间的间隙为形状不规则的肝血窦,窦壁由一层内皮细胞构成,窦内可见枯否氏细胞分布,汇管区位于多个小叶的角缘结缔组织中,小叶间动脉,小叶间静脉,小叶间胆管结构较为明显.     

Proportion of types I and III collagen in longissimus collagen from bulls and steers

The proportion of types I and III intramuscular collagen in longissimus muscles of Simmental bulls (n = 8) and steers (n = 8) 17 mo of age was studied. Longissimus samples taken 7 d after slaughter were evaluated for total collagen, types I and III collagen, heat-soluble collagen, sensory panel traits and Warner-Bratzler shear force. Intramuscular collagen (IMC) was isolated and digested with cyanogen bromide, and peptides were resolved by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Percentage of type III IMC was calculated from the total of types I and III collagen as determined from the peak area of densitometric scans of the cyanogen bromide peptides alpha 1(I)CB8 and alpha 1(III)CB8. Longissimus muscles from steers had lower (P less than .05) Warner-Bratzler shear values, less (P less than .05) sensory panel-detectable connective tissue and more (P less than .05) tender panel ratings for muscle fiber tenderness and overall tenderness. Muscles from steers had more (P less than .05) heat-soluble collagen than those from bulls, but no differences (P greater than .05) were found for total collagen and percentage of type III collagen. Some intramuscular-collagen characteristics may have contributed to the less tender muscle of bulls. However, the proportion of types I and III collagen did not account entirely for the tenderness difference between steer and bull muscles. Because there were differences in collagen solubility in muscles from steers and bulls, other collagen characteristics such as crosslinking or fiber size may have been more important than collagen type.     

Experimental infection of domestic swine with Baylisascaris procyonis from raccoons

Six 8-week-old ascarid-naive pigs which were experimentally infected with 72,000 embryonated Baylisascaris procyonis eggs of raccoon origin developed lesions limited to the intestines and liver. Intestinal lesions consisted of multifocal areas of inflammation by macrophages, eosinophils, and lymphocytes in the mucosa and submucosa, in association with Baylisascaris larvae; similar lesions were seen in the mesenteric lymph nodes. Typical white, granulation type, multifocal interstitial hepatitis ("milk-spots"), 1 to 5 mm in diameter, were seen in the livers by 7 days, with resolution by 47 days. Microscopically, these consisted of multifocal areas of marked periportal and interlobular edema, and influx of eosinophils, and large intralobular aggregates of eosinophils. At 47 days, hundreds to thousands of small white granulomas were seen on the serosa of the intestines; microscopically, they were discrete collections of macrophages, lymphocytes, and eosinophils in the submucosa and muscle layers surrounding nonviable remnants of Baylisascaris larvae. Larvae or lesions were not seen in other tissues, including the brain. These experiments indicated that B procyonis will undergo limited migration in swine and can produce typical white spots in the liver. The larvae were killed by cellular reactions in the intestinal wall and liver, and, unlike the situation in most other animals infected with this parasite, no somatic migration or CNS disease occurred after infection.     

山羊c-Myc基因的克隆及序列分析

为了克隆出山羊c-Myc基因的CDS区序列,本研究利用RT-PCR技术,参照GenBank报道的绵羊、牛、猪、马等的c-Myc基因CDS区序列设计出特异性引物,从山羊胚胎皮肤组织中扩增出山羊c-Myc CDS区序列并进行序列分析。结果表明,山羊c-Myc基因CDS区全长1320 bp （包括终止密码子）,与绵羊c-Myc基因核苷酸序列（GenBank登录号：Z68501.1）比对仅有10处存在差异,其核苷酸序列同源性为99.17%,推导的氨基酸序列同源性为99.09%;与其他物种进行同源性分析结果显示,山羊c-Myc基因CDS区与猪、狼、人、大鼠、小鼠的核苷酸序列同源性分别为91.2%、92.0%、90.2%、86.9%、86.0%,推导的氨基酸序列同源性分别为93.6%、96.1%、92.3%、91.1%、89.6%;生物信息学软件分析结果表明,山羊c-Myc蛋白产物定位于细胞核并含有HLH结构域。本研究为进一步了解c-Myc基因的功能及探讨其在山羊体细胞重编程过程中的作用奠定了基础。     

Microanatomic characteristics of the insertion of the distal sesamoidean impar ligament and deep digital flexor tendon on the distal phalanx in healthy feet obtained from horses

OBJECTIVE: To describe microanatomic characteristics of the insertion of the aistal sesamoidean impar ligament (DSIL) and deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) on the distal phalanx in horses. SAMPLE POPULATION: Healthy feet obtained from 62 horses of various breeds. PROCEDURE: Feet from 23 horses were used to histologically examine the insertion of the DSIL and DDFT (n = 7), its vasculature (10), and neural elements (6). In 39 other horses, the insertion zone was examined for proteoglycan. RESULTS: The insertion of the DSIL and dorsal half of the DDFT contained bundles of collagen fibers with intervening loose connective tissue septa with arteriovenous complexes (AVC) and nerve fibers. Microscopic examination revealed adaptive changes in the insertion with regard to proteoglycan content. In young adult horses, little or no staining for proteoglycans was evident, whereas in middle-aged horses, moderate proteoglycan staining was seen. Six older horses had slight proteoglycan staining at the insertion. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The study revealed that this region contained a rich neurovascular complex between the collagen bundles. A gradual increase in production of proteoglycan, evident at the insertion of the DSIL and DDFT on the distal phalanx, indicates that adaptive responses to stress rather than age alone may be the primary determining factor. These observations indicate that this insertion site may be susceptible to stress during stance and impact loading, because this region appears to be strategically situated to regulate important neurovascular functions of the foot.     

Comparison of collagen content, distribution and architecture among the pectoralis, iliotibialis lateralis and puboischiofemoralis muscles with different myofiber composition in Silky cocks

The total amount of collagen, the relative distributions of types I and III collagens in perimysium and endomysium, and the collagen fiber architecture were compared among the pectoralis (PT), iliotibialis lateralis (ITL) and puboischiofemoralis (PIF) muscles in Silky cocks. All of the myofibers in the PT muscle were type IIB, the myofibers in the ITL muscle were divided into type IIA, 41.7% and IIB, 58.3%, and the PIF muscle was composed of type I, 24.6%; IIA, 64.6%; and transitional, 10.8%. The total amount of collagen differed significantly among the PT (2.92 mg/g), PIF (4.20 mg/g) and ITL (8.06 mg/g) material, where only the PIF was a whole muscle with epimysium. On the image analysis of the immunohistochemical preparations, the percentage area of perimysial collagen to the total area in each type differed significantly among the PIF, PT and ITL muscles, where it was 26.8, 50.0 and 74.4% for the type I collagen and 27.4, 32.9 and 61.7% for the type III collagen, respectively. In the scanning electron micrography of the perimysium in macerated preparations, thick bundles of collagen fibers were observed in the ITL muscle, thinner but broad platelets in the PT muscle, and a coarse tissue of thinner collagen fibers in the PIF muscle. However, the endomysial fabric of collagen fibrils was similar among the muscles. Small, transverse collagen fibers, which branched off from the thicker perimysia, occupied narrow interendomysial spaces and separated the primary myofiber fasciculi. The results indicate that the ITL muscle, localized in the distorted and overextended part of the leg and subject to strong external forces, had highly developed perimysial collagen fiber bundles, but the ITL endomysial collagen architecture was similar to that of the PT and PIF muscles.     

梅花鹿肝脏的形态及组织结构观察

梅花鹿是我国一级保护动物,具有极高的观赏和经济价值。用大体解剖与常规石蜡切片、HE染色等方法,对梅花鹿肝脏的形态及组织结构进行了观察。结果表明,梅花鹿的肝脏具有反刍动物的共同点,分叶不明显,但亦可分为右、中、左三叶,但无胆囊。其组织结构也和其他反刍动物相似,肝小叶间结缔组织不发达,分界不明显。被膜较薄,肝细胞体积较大,内皮连续、有基膜,内皮之间有枯否氏细胞,窦状隙中可见血细胞。门管区的小叶间静脉、小叶间动脉和小叶间胆管结构均清晰。     

Immunohistochemical distribution of antigens in liver of infected and immunized pigs with Ascaris suum

In the present work, we carry out an immunopathological study of the swine ascariosis, under different conditions (control, infection and immunization). Twenty-one Iberian pigs were used and divided in seven groups. Groups 1 and 2 were the uninfected and challenged controls, respectively. Groups 3 and 4 were weakly infected with increasing doses of Ascaris suum eggs and treated with pyrantel (Group 4). Groups 5-7 were immunized with 14, 42 and 97 kDa proteins from the parasite, respectively. Groups 2-7 were challenged with 10,000 infective eggs 7 days before the sacrifice. The focal parasitic granulomata with eosinophils and lymphocytes were the main histopathological lesions in the liver of reinfected pigs, while more marked cellular infiltrate and abundant connective tissue were seen in the livers of immunized animals. There were important deposits of antigens in the livers of immunized and infected pigs. Antigens were mainly located in the connective tissue, with positive staining detection of the somatic larvae antigen, the body wall from the adult worms and the 14-, 42- and 97-kDa proteins. However, cholangiols, biliary ducts and macrophages presented an immunohistochemical positive stain against excretory-secretory and somatic antigens from the larvae and the body fluid antigen from the adult parasite. The detection of A. suum antigens in the liver of infected pigs improves the diagnosis of swine ascariosis. It may be possible to apply these procedures for diagnosis of human ascariosis in liver biopsies since A. suum from swine have been previously used as a substitute for the study of the human parasite Ascaris lumbricoides.     

麦洼牦牛SRY基因克隆及序列分析

SRY是Y染色体上具体决定生物雄性性别的基因片段,是多数哺乳动物性别决定基因之一。本试验采用克隆测序SRY基因并结合生物信息学对其序列进行分析,利用软件Codon W分析麦洼牦牛、普通牛、绵羊、山羊、猪、小鼠、鸡和人该基因编码区的密码子偏好性。克隆测序得到SRY基因序列含1个690 bp的开放阅读框,共编码229个氨基酸;其编码区核苷酸序列与普通牛、绵羊、山羊、猪、小鼠、鸡、人相应序列间的一致性分别为99.9%、93.9%、91.2%、76.5%、43.3%、21.4%、69.1%。经聚类分析,麦洼牦牛首先与普通牛聚在一起,绵羊与山羊聚为一类,这两类相聚后再依次与猪、人、小鼠相聚,最后与鸡聚为一类,其结果与以往的生物学分类结果一致。该基因编码的蛋白质分子式为C₁₁₅₅H₁₈₂₇N₃₅₁O₃₄₈S₁₁,相对分子质量为2655.0,理论等电点PI为9.55,亲水性平均数为-0.855。其密码子偏好性分析显示,T3_s为0.2905、C3_s为0.3240、A3_s为0.3728、G3_s为0.2963,第3位碱基中出现G和C占第3位碱基总量的48%,同义密码子数为61。上述数据表明麦洼牦牛SRY基因编码序列与普通牛、绵羊、山羊、猪、人具有较高的一致性,在物种进化过程中较为保守。该基因对含A的密码子有较高的偏爱性,尽量避开以G结尾的密码子,且其所编码的蛋白质为亲水性蛋白。     

Comparative observation on the growth changes of the histochemical properties and collagen architecture of the Musculus puboischiofemoralis pars medialis from Silky, layer-type and meat-type cockerels

Growth‐related changes in the histochemical properties and collagen architecture of the Musculus puboischiofemoralis pars medialis were compared among Silky, layer‐type, and meat‐type cockerels. Histochemical and immunohistochemical methods were employed and collagen architecture was studied using scanning electron microscopy. Total intramuscular collagen was also determined. The myofibers were categorized as type I, type IIA and a transitional form, type I‐tr. The proportion of type I‐tr myofibers diminished and these myofibers were transformed entirely into type I myofibers in meat‐type but incompletely in the others. The largest diameter of type I myofiber was found in layer‐type at 30 weeks of age. At 30 weeks of age, layer‐type birds had attained well‐developed perimysial collagen bundles while meat‐type birds had less developed bundles. The endomysial collagen network had a large mesh size at 1 week and then accumulated many collagen fibrils to form a felt‐like fabric of fibrils by 30 weeks of age. Silky birds developed the thickest endomysial collagen plates of all the breeds. From these results it appears that growth‐related changes in the histological structure of M. puboischiofemoralis pars medialis are not necessarily causally affected by the different growth rates of chicken breeds.     

Study on the Expression Profiles of A-FABP Gene in 5 Goat Breeds

In order to understand the regularities of A-FABP gene expression in Guizhou native goats,and to establish the theoretical basis of molecular marker assisted selection for meat quality traits,β-actin gene was used as control,expression levels of A-FABP gene in livers,kidneys,hearts,lungs,longissimus muscle,semimembranosus muscle and subcutaneous fat of Qiandongnan small Xiang goat,Guizhou White goat,Guizhou Black goat,Qianbei Ma goat and Nanjiang Yellow goat were detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.The results showed that A-FABP gene was expressed in all 7 tissues of 5 goat breeds,and the expression levels of A-FABP gene mRNA were all high in subcutaneous fat of 5 goat breeds;In subcutaneous fat,which was the main tissue of A-FABP gene expression in Guizhou native goats,and in longissimus muscle and semimembranosus muscle,which were directly associated with meat production property,A-FABP gene mRNA levels were all high in Qiandongnan small Xiang goat.The results suggested that the tissue distribution patterns of A-FABP gene mRNA in Guizhou native goat breeds were similar to each other.The excellent meat quality of Qiandongnan small Xiang goat might be related with the high expression levels of A-FABP gene mRNA in it's subcutaneous fat,longissimus muscle and semimembranosus muscle.     

Comparative observations on the growth changes of the histochemical property and collagen architecture of the Musculus pectoralis from Silky, layer-type and meat-type cockerels

Growth‐related changes in the histochemical properties and collagen architecture of the Musculus pectoralis were compared among Silky, layer‐type and meat‐type cockerels. Histochemical and immunohistochemical methods were used and collagen architecture was studied using scanning electron microscopy. The total amount of collagen present was also measured. The diameter of type IIB myofibers was similar or rather larger in the layer‐type birds compared with the meat‐type. The collagen content was generally low for 5–10 weeks across the breeds and then increased in the other breeds except for Silky. In the perimysium, the collagen bundles gradually increased in size and the density of the fibrils also increased during growth. At 30 weeks of age, the layer‐type birds showed compact collagen bundles while the meat‐type had loose bundles. The endomysial collagen network appeared relatively denser in the meat‐type chicks compared to the others at week 1. At 30 weeks of age, compact and felt‐like structure of endomysium was shown by Silky and layer‐type chickens, while the meat‐type showed a relatively loose arrangement of tissue in the endomysial collagen. From these results, it appears that the meat‐type chicken can produce a large M. pectoralis with many, relatively thinner myofibers and a relatively undeveloped form of intramuscular collagen structure.     

5种山羊脂肪细胞型脂肪酸结合蛋白基因的表达谱研究

为弄清贵州地方山羊脂肪细胞型脂肪酸结合蛋白(adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein,A-FABP)基因mRNA的表达规律,奠定肉质性状分子标记辅助选择的理论基础,试验以β-actin基因为内参,应用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测黔东南小香羊、贵州白山羊、贵州黑山羊、黔北麻羊和南江黄羊共5个山羊品种心脏、肝脏、肺脏、肾脏、背最长肌、半膜肌及皮下脂肪7个组织器官中A-FABP基因的表达.结果表明,5个山羊品种7个组织中都有A-FABP基因表达,且5个品种中皮下脂肪A-FABP基因的表达水平都较高;在贵州地方山羊A-FABP基因表达的最主要组织--皮下脂肪,以及在与产肉性能直接相关的组织--背最长肌和半膜肌中,黔东南小香羊A-FABP基因mRNA水平都较高.结果提示,贵州地方山羊A-FABP基因mRNA的组织分布模式相似,黔东南小香羊的优良肉质特性或许与其皮下脂肪、背最长肌和半膜肌中A-FABP基因的高表达有关.     

Localisation of CD25+ cells and MHCII+ cells in lymph nodes draining Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis vaccination granuloma and the presence of a systemic immune response

Vaccination of goat kids against paratuberculosis protects against lesions and clinical disease. The systemic cellular response was studied in goat kids 3-9 weeks after vaccination. Peripheral blood cells showed increased interferon-gamma production and expression of interleukin-2 receptor (CD25) after stimulation with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis antigens. The lymph node draining the vaccination granuloma was studied three weeks after vaccination in a parallel group of goat kids. In deep cortex, MHCII+ cells were observed surrounded by CD4+ T-cells, while follicular hypertrophy and hyperplasia were prominent in the subcapsular region and along connective tissue trabecula. Comparison of the local and systemic immune responses revealed an inverse relationship between CD25+ T-cells in the lymph node deep cortex and cells in peripheral blood that up-regulate CD25 upon in vitro stimulation, suggesting that activated and regulatory T-cells in the local lymph node influence the level of circulating antigen-specific T-cells following vaccination against paratuberculosis in goats.