The Effects of Cryopreservation on the Morphometric Dimensions of Iberian Red Deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) Epididymal Sperm Heads

Computer-automated sperm-head morphometry was used in this study to determine the effects of cryopreservation on red deer sperm-head morphometry. Epididymal sperm samples were collected from 40 mature stags and were divided. One portion was diluted at room temperature in a Tris-citrate egg yolk medium, containing 6% glycerol. A microscope slide was prepared from single extended sperm samples prior to freezing. The remainder of each sample was frozen in nitrogen vapours. After thawing, sperm smears were prepared as described above. All slides were air dried and stained with Hemacolor. The sperm-head dimensions for length, width, area, perimeter and shape factor (length/width), for a minimum of 135 spermatozoa were determined for each slide by means of the Sperm-Class Analyser (SCA). Firstly, our results show that cryopreservation substantially reduced (p < 0.001) sperm motility and plasma membrane and acrosome integrities. In addition, sperm heads were significantly smaller in cryopreserved spermatozoa than in the companion extended samples for area (32.05 microm2 vs 32.56 microm2; p < 0.05), length (8.46 microm vs 8.53 microm; p < 0.0001) and shape factor (1.833 vs 1.849; p < 0.0001) for all stags. These differences were found within 29 of 40 stags (75%) for at least three of the morphometric parameters. The individual variability (CV) of sperm head measurements from extended samples was negatively correlated (p < 0.005) with the per cent of change in sperm head measurements after cryopreservation for area (r = -0.465), width (r = -0.483) and perimeter (r = -0.375). Thus, the lower the sperm head variability in the extended samples, the greater the sperm change as a consequence of the cryopreservation. These results suggest that the variability (heterogeneity) in sperm head dimensions of individual stags may be a good indicator of sperm freezability.     

Effects of Egg Yolk and Cooling Rate on the Survival of Refrigerated Red Deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) Epididymal Spermatozoa

Egg yolk is a common component to sperm refrigeration for most of the deer species, the role of which is to protect sperm membranes against cold shock. In addition, there have been many studies of conservation of ejaculated semen from stags, but few have been reported for epididymal spermatozoa. This work was designed to investigate the combined effects of cooling rates (slow: 0.23 degrees C/min vs rapid: 4.2 degrees C/min) from room temperature to 5 degrees C, and egg-yolk concentration (0, 5 or 20%) in the extender on the survival of Iberian red deer epididymal spermatozoa refrigerated at 5 degrees C. Heterospermic sperm samples were diluted to a final sperm concentration approximately 400x10(6) sperm/ml with a Tris-citrate-fructose (TCF)-egg-yolk diluent. Sperm quality was in vitro judged by microscopic assessments of individual sperm motility [sperm motility index (SMI)], and of plasma membrane (hypo-osmotic swelling test) and acrosome (NAR) integrities. Our results first showed that the presence of egg yolk in the extender significantly improves (p=0.01) the viability and sperm motility after sperm dilution. In addition, acrosome and plasma membrane integrities post-refrigeration did not differ significantly between cooling procedures; however, the SMI differed significantly between cooling procedures (slow: 46.6% vs rapid: 50.0%; p=0.01). Our results also showed that sperm quality was significantly (p<0.01) affected by the combined effects of egg-yolk concentration and cooling procedure, being rapid cooling with 20% of egg yolk the most suitable combination for epididymal sperm refrigeration. In conclusion, egg-yolk improved red deer epididymal spermatozoa characteristics after dilution. Rapid cooling protocol using TCF with 20% egg-yolk significantly improved sperm motility of red deer epididymal spermatozoa after cooling.     

Paratuberculosis in Red Deer (Cervus elaphus hippelaphus) in the Western Alps

During the hunting seasons 1995–96 to 1997–98, 19 red deer from the Upper Susa Valley (Cottian Alps) were examined for paratuberculosis (Johne's disease). Specific DNA amplification on mesenteric lymph nodes detected Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis in 17 animals. Ten of these red deer were tested for serum antibodies by the AGID and ELISA tests, nine being negative. Three isolates from infected deer were genetically characterized by an arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction, and showed similar genetic polymorphism to that of bovine strains isolated in different Italian areas. The study showed that paratuberculosis is present in red deer of the Upper Susa Valley and that serological tests are not an efficient means for monitoring this infection.     

中国马鹿的研究现状及展望

马鹿在世界上主要分布于欧洲南部和中部、北美洲、非洲北部、亚洲的俄罗斯东部、蒙古、朝鲜和喜马拉雅山地区,在中国马鹿有8个亚种,主要分布在东北、华北、西北及西南等地。本文根据文献资料系统地总结了中国马鹿的研究现状,展望了马鹿需要研究的问题,为中国马鹿的保护及科研活动开展提供依据。     

Calf growth in captive Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus): effects of birth date and hind milk production and composition

This study examines effects of birth date, hind milk production and its composition, and weight of hind and calf at birth (HBW and CBW, respectively) on calf growth responses born to Iberian hinds (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) and lactating over 34 wk. Males showed daily gains greater than those of females (P = 0.04). Calf birth weight was strongly related to calf gain over a standard (15-wk) lactation (P < 0.01), but HBW did not influence growth or CBW (P > 0.10). After correcting for nutrient supply, birth date did not affect growth, but birth date x total protein yield (TPY), birth date x total fat yield (TFY), and birth date x total lactose yield (TLY) interactions influenced growth (P < 0.001), and early-born calves showed greater growth than those born late for wk 2 to 34 (P < 0.05). Calf birth weight showed the highest correlation with protein-to-fat ratio in milk (P < 0.001), a high correlation with milk protein content (P < 0.05), and a low negative correlation with fat (P < 0.10). Calf gains also showed the highest correlation with protein-to-fat ratio in milk (P < 0.05). Similarly, total milk yield (TMY), TPY, and TFY during lactation affected growth as single factors (P < 0.001). Calves showed not only an overall difference in daily gain between calves born early or late (P = 0.02), but also a greater speed of growth independently of CBW (percentage of weight gained per week, P < 0.001). Early-born calves were heavier at 12 and 18 mo (P < 0.05). Results suggest that selecting hinds of high milk production and nutrient supply and advancing calving date may increase growth of calves and their performance at adulthood.     

Haemorrhagic Enteropathies in Red Deer (Cervus Elaphus)

Sir, — I would like to draw your readers’ attention to the occurrence of post-stress haemorrhagic enteropathies in red deer (Cervus elaphus). Haemorrhagic enteropathy has been observed in approximately 75 percent of red deer necropsied at the Invermay Animal Health Laboratory and has also been seen in wapiti (Cervus canadensis). Deer dying with post-stress haemorrhagic enteropathy commonly have splash haemorrhages on the serosal surfaces of the abomasum and intestine and to a lesser extent on the rumen and omasum. The intestinal mucosa is heavily congested and haemorrhagic with blood present in the lumen. In many cases mucosal haemorrhage may be so severe the intestinal contents appear similar to blood. The degree of severity of the condition varies from slight to very severe and the length of intestine involved also varies from a few centimetres to the entire gastro-intestinal tract from the rumen to the rectum.     

Leptospiral antibodies in Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus), fallow deer (Dama dama) and European wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Asturias,Northern Spain

Serum samples collected from Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus; n = 472), fallow deer (Dama dama; n = 293) and European wild boar (Sus scrofa; n = 174) in Asturias, Northern Spain, from 1999 to 2005 were examined for antibodies against a reference panel of 14 Leptospira spp. serovars. Positive antibody titres at a microscopic agglutination test cut-off of 1:80 were detected against serovars Pomona (1.6%, 5.8%, 5.2%), Bratislava (1.1%, 0.7%, 4.7%), Grippotyphosa (0.7%, 2.4%, 1.7%), Muenchen (2.6%, 0%, 0%), Pyrogenes (0.4%, 2.4%, 1.2%), Panama (1.2%, 1.7%, 0%), Copenhageni (0%, 0.7%, 0.6%), Autumnalis (0.4%, 0%, 0.6%) and Icterohaemorrhagiae (0%, 0%, 0.6%) in Iberian red deer, fallow deer and European wild boar, respectively.     

Ixodid ticks parasitizing Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) and European wild boar (Sus scrofa) from Spain: geographical and temporal distribution

Commercial hunting of Spanish wild ungulates has made them an important economic resource. Wild ungulates may have an important role in the maintenance of ixodid tick populations, and also as reservoirs of pathogens. We studied the ixodid ticks that parasitize Iberian red deer and European wild boar from Spain. Ixodid ticks (n=6,336) were collected from 431 Iberian red deer and 142 wild boar in different regions of Spain. We found 10 different ixodid tick species parasitizing Iberian red deer, mainly Hyalomma marginatum marginatum (63.7%), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus (7.9%) and R. bursa (7.5%). R. (Boophilus) annulatus was only collected in the province of Cádiz (southern Spain). We found 8 ixodid tick species on the wild boar, mainly Hy. m. marginatum (68.7%), R. bursa (14.6%) and Dermacentor marginatus (9.3%). We found one adult Hy. marginatum rufipes and one adult Hy. anatolicum excavatum parasitizing wild boar from south-central Spain. Mean prevalence of ixodid ticks was 41.3+/-0.08% (n=475) and 31+/-0.09% (n=284) and intensity of parasitization was 13.9+/-0.2 (n=283) and 13.6+/-0.3 (n=130) ticks/animal for Iberian red deer and wild boar, respectively. Only 5 of the 13 ixodid tick species found were shared by Iberian red deer and wild boar. This finding could indicate a host preference when Iberian red deer and wild boar share common habitats. In both Iberian red deer and wild boar from south-central Spain the monthly relative frequencies of Hy. m. marginatum and R. bursa presented an inverse pattern. The highest Hy. m. marginatum relative frequencies coincided with the lowest R. bursa relative frequencies along the year. R. bursa and I. ricinus were present in areas from northern to southern Spain while Hyalomma sp. and D. marginatus were exclusively collected in the two southern thirds of Spain. Haemaphysalis sp. and D. reticulatus were collected in northern Spain. Hy. m. marginatum and R. bursa were present during the whole year in red deer and wild boar from south-central Spain, showing more than one life cycle per year. These results are important for understanding the role of wild ungulates in the maintenance of tick infestations and to improve tick control programmes.     

乌兰坝马鹿鹿茸生长性状表型参数的统计分析

观测和生物统计学分析结果表明 ,乌兰坝马鹿的鹿茸生长性状的大部分指标显著高于其他东北马鹿 ,但远不如天山马鹿清原品系 ;其畸型茸率较低 ;茸主干围度的增长率显著高于主干长度的增长 ;首次探讨的鲜茸日增重、主干长和主干围及杈口深与锯龄之间 ,呈强正相关 (P <0 0 1 ) ,并建立了其相应的线型回归方程     

基于粪便分子生物学技术的中国马鹿分子生态学研究进展

中国马鹿分为东北亚种、天山亚种、塔里木亚种、甘肃亚种、川西亚种、阿拉善亚种、西藏亚种和阿尔泰亚种。根据文献资料系统性总结了以粪便为研究材料对中国马鹿各个亚种的分子生态学的研究现状,展望了中国马鹿分子生态学需要研究的问题;具体介绍了马鹿分子生态学中研究很少的亲权鉴定、近亲交配和家域利用方面的研究现状并提出了进一步的研究趋势。为中国马鹿的种群恢复、保护管理以及科学研究提供依据。     

STR在野生东北马鹿个体识别中的应用

为了建立有效的东北马鹿个体识别体系,从12对加拿大马鹿的微卫星引物和6对黑尾鹿的微卫星引物中,筛选出8个具有多态性的微卫星位点。各位点的观察杂合度为0．3314～0．8174,平均杂合度为0．6243;各位点的匹配率为0．0656～0．5130,累计匹配率为1．446×10^-6;各位点的识别率为0．4870～0．9344,累计个体识别能力为0．9999。这8个微卫星位点可以准确地进行东北马鹿的个体识别分析。     

东北马鹿茸重性状遗传力和重复力的估测

采用同父异母半同胞组内相关法,对乌兰坝林场７只东北马鹿种公鹿７１只后裔,１９９２～１９９７年９锯时四杈茸鲜重遗传力估测结果为０４０,属高遗传力;采用组内相关系数法,对该场７～１１锯１３只东北马鹿种公鹿锯四杈茸鲜重的重复力估测结果为０６９（Ｐ＜００１）,属高重复力,为东北马鹿的纯种选育提供了主要性状的遗传参数。     

天山马鹿数量性状相关的统计分析

探讨了凉泉天山马鹿上锯公鹿的体重、茸重、茸的鲜干比例性状与鹿年龄、茸重性状与体重 ,体重、体尺和茸尺性状与茸重的关系。结果表明 :在一定年龄段 ,这些数量性状除了体尺中角基距性状与茸重呈强负相关 (-r,P <0 0 1 )外 ,多呈极显著正相关 (P <0 0 1 ) ,少数呈显著正相关 (P <0 0 5 ) ,并建立了线性回归方程 ,为预测并比较天山马鹿各锯时的体重、茸重、体尺、茸尺和茸的鲜干比例水平及制审定其检测标准提供了科学依据。     

Tuberculosis in imported red deer (Cervus elaphus)

An outbreak of tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium bovis in farmed red deer imported from an eastern European country is described. Twenty-six of the 106 deer examined at autopsy were found to be infected and 19 had visible lesions of tuberculosis. Single comparative intradermal tuberculin tests on 51 deer showed that the test had a specificity of 61.3 per cent and a sensitivity of 80 per cent relative to subsequent biological and cultural tests on tissues taken at autopsy. Three hundred and seventy eight culled fallow and sika deer which had been running in a park in contact with some of the infected animals were found to be free of tuberculosis.     

Experimental tuberculosis in red deer (Cervus elaphus)

This study was designed to investigate experimental Mycobacterium bovis infection of red deer (Cervus elaphus). Three intravenously inoculated deer (dose 10 microg-1000 microg) developed miliary tuberculosis of the lungs and all died within 28 days of being infected. No clinical illnesses were observed in four subcutaneously (dose 1 microg-1000 microg) and three intratracheally (dose 10 microg-100 microg) inoculated deer. At the conclusion of the experiment six weeks post inoculation, these seven animals reacted to 2 mg/ml of bovine purified protein derivative. The principal lesions in the intravenously inoculated deer were in the lungs which had multiple foci of necrosis containing very large numbers of acid fast bacilli. A gradation of changes was seen in the subcutaneously inoculated deer. The animal receiving the 1 microg dose only had lesions at the injection site and the draining prescapular lymph node. Deer receiving higher doses also had histopathological changes in the lungs and liver. Microscopic changes in the intratracheally infected animals were restricted to the thoracic cavity. The ability of the deer to controlled infection was related to the route of inoculation.     

饲粮维生素A添加水平对7～12月龄梅花鹿生长性能、血清生化指标及初角茸生长的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮维生素A添加水平对7~12月龄梅花鹿生长性能、血清生化指标及初角茸生长的影响。选取40只7月龄平均体重为(39.64±4.10)kg的健康雄性梅花鹿,随机分成4组,每组10个重复,每个重复1只,分别饲喂在基础饲粮(含5 mg/kgβ-胡萝卜素)中添加0(对照组)、2 500、5 000和10 000IU/kg维生素A的试验饲粮。试验期从7月龄开始至12月龄结束。结果表明:1)饲粮维生素A添加水平对梅花鹿生长性能无显著性影响(P0.05)。2)与对照组相比,饲粮添加2 500、5 000IU/kg维生素A显著提高梅花鹿血清免疫球蛋白A(IgA)含量、总超氧化物歧化酶(T-SOD)活性(P0.05),饲粮添加2 500、5 000、10 000IU/kg维生素A显著提高谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性(P0.05),饲粮维生素A添加水平对血清免疫球蛋白G(IgG)、免疫球蛋白M(IgM)、丙二醛(MDA)、睾酮(T)及雌二醇(E2)含量无显著性影响(P0.05)。3)5 000IU/kg维生素A添加组初角茸干茸重显著高于对照组(P0.05),但与其他2组差异不显著(P0.05)。由此得出,在本试验条件下,适量添加维生素A能够增强7~12月龄梅花鹿免疫和抗氧化功能,提高初角茸干茸重。7~12月龄梅花鹿饲喂以玉米和苜蓿草粉为主的饲粮时,饲粮维生素A适宜添加水平为2 500~5 000IU/kg。     

Babesias of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Ireland

ABSTRACT: Blood samples were obtained from 38 wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) at two sites in Ireland and subjected to PCR analysis of the 18S rRNA gene followed by sequencing. Two fragments of the 18S rRNA gene were generated by two different PCR protocols and subsequent sequencing suggested that at least six of the deer were infected by a babesia that, in those loci, is indistinguishable from Babesia divergens, an important tick-borne pathogen of cattle and of zoonotic significance. Additionally, a B. odocoilei-like parasite was detected in three samples and a babesia that did not match any sequences in the GenBank database was found in five samples. Neither B. capreoli nor B. venatorum (EU1) were found. There have been several reports of B. divergens occurring in deer species, including red deer, roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). However, in view of recent re-sequencing of bovine-origin samples deposited previously in GenBank, it is unlikely that any of these sequences from deer are B. divergens. The present study describes the only deer piroplasm detected so far that shows complete identity with B. divergens, in just over half of the 18S rRNA gene. The entire gene of this deer parasite should be analysed and transmission experiments undertaken before the infectivity of B. divergens for red deer can be confirmed.     

Dictyocaulus infection in farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Post mortem examination of red deer calves on a deer farm situated on hill ground in north-east Scotland revealed infection by a lungworm morphologically similar to Dictyocaulus viviparus. Trials were conducted to monitor the natural development of D viviparus infection in red deer, to investigate the value of a commercial lungworm vaccine and to evaluate methods of treating clinical cases. The findings indicate that the syndrome may be less apparent in red deer than it is in cattle, protection might be gained by vaccination and that housing and medication provide useful therapy. The extent of clinical disease is likely to depend on the general health, bodily condition and nutritional status of the animals versus the weight of infection acquired from the pasture. However, various factors can affect both sides in this confrontation.     

Laminitis in a mature elk hind (Cervus elaphus)

Laminitis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in elk presenting with shifting leg lameness, reluctance to move, recumbency and hoof wall ridging. Eliminating the underlying cause and corrective trimming lead to a good prognosis for recovery.