The effect of dietary protein on the pathophysiology of acute ovine haemonchosis

An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of dietary protein on the pathophysiology iof acute haemonchosis in Finn Dorset/Dorset horn lambs.

Erythrokinetic and metabolic studies using ⁵¹Cr-red cells, ⁵⁹Fe-trasferrin and ¹²⁵I-albumine and digestive efficiency and nitrogen balance measurements wer conducted between 19 and 39 days after infection. Identical radioisotopic and nutritional studies were conducted later on pair-fed control lambs.

The results demonstrated that lambs on a law protein diet (88 g crude protein (CP) kg⁻¹ dry matter (DM)) were less able to withstand the pathyphysiological consequences of infection with 350 Haemonchus contortus larvae kg⁻¹ body weight than lambs given a high protein (170 g CP kg⁻¹ DM) diet, despite similar worm budens.

Erythrokinetic studies indicated that abomasal blood loss was similar in both groups of infected lambs, and circulating red cell volumes were reduced and plasma volumes were expanded to a similar degree in both groups. The majority of infected lambs in both dietary groups responded equally well to the gastric haemorrhage by increasing the rate of red cell production and their absorption of dietary iron was greater than in the control lambs. Albumin catabolism was increased in both groups of infected lambs, particularly in those given the low protein diet.

Within each dietary group there were no differences in the digestibilities of the various proximate fractions of the experimental diets and no differences in the urinary of faecal nitrogen losses between infected lambs and their pair-fed control. However, loss of appetive was a major feature of the disease, particularly in the lambs given the low protein diet and this feature appeared to be crucial in determining the ability of the infected sheep to withstand the pathophysiological effects of the parasite.     

Influence of dietary protein on the pathophysiology of ovine haemonchosis in Finn Dorset and Scottish Blackface lambs given a single moderate infection

Two experiments were conducted to examine the influence of dietary protein on the pathophysiology of Haemonchus contortus in lambs of two breeds, namely Finn Dorset and Scottish Blackface. Erythrokinetic and metabolic studies using 51Cr-red cells, 59Fe-transferrin and 125I-albumin, and digestive efficiency and nitrogen balance measurements were conducted between four and six weeks after infection. Identical radioisotopic and nutritional studies were also conducted on pair-fed control lambs of both breeds. The results demonstrated that in normal control animals, there were no significant effects of diet or breed on any of the erythrokinetic, metabolic or nutritional parameters, with the possible exception of red cell survival which was considerably longer in the Finn Dorset lambs. However, in the infected animals diet and breed did influence those parameters. The severest effects were seen in the infected Finn Dorset lambs given the low protein diet. These animals had the highest level of abomasal blood loss and this was associated with low red cell volumes and high levels of both albumin catabolism and plasma iron turnover. These animals were also in negative nitrogen balance which was partly accounted for by a significantly greater urinary nitrogen loss compared with their pair-fed controls and partly due to the poorer digestibility of the crude protein fraction of the diet. In contrast, although the infected Scottish Blackface lambs had high levels of blood loss and associated pathophysiological changes, these did not differ between dietary treatments and were similar to the changes in the infected Finn Dorset lambs given the high protein diet.     

Influence of dietary protein on the pathophysiology of haemonchosis in lambs given continuous infections

Mixed-sex groups of three-month-old Finn Dorset and Dorset Horn lambs were given complete diets containing either high or low protein. A trickle infection with Haemonchus contortus of 200 larvae, given three times a week, began one month later for a 17 week period. Erythrokinetic, metabolic, digestibility and balance studies were conducted with the male lambs during weeks 12 to 14 of the infection. Clinical signs of haemonchosis became evident only in the low protein diet group. The infection was characterised by severe macrocytic anaemia, hypoproteinaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, reduced survival, high egg counts and a significantly greater worm burden. In the high protein diet group many lambs developed resistance to further infection in contrast to the low protein group in which no resistance developed. Live-weight gain was not affected by infection in the high protein diet group but decreased in the lambs given the low protein diet compared with uninfected controls. However, infection did not appear adversely to affect the digestive efficiency, nitrogen retention or iron absorption in either dietary group although loss of appetite occurred in the low protein group. Examination of a sample joint from the carcases showed infection was associated with a marked reduction in muscle mass in lambs given the low protein diet relative to the control animals.     

The pathogenesis of ovine footrot

Ovine footrot is a contagious and debilitating disease that is of major economic significance to the sheep meat and wool industries. The causative bacterium is the gram negative anaerobe Dichelobacter nodosus. Research that has used a classical molecular genetics approach has led to major advances in our understanding of the role of the key virulence factors of D. nodosus in the disease process. D. nodosus strains produce polar type IV fimbriae and extracellular serine proteases. Mutagenesis of the fimbrial subunit gene fimA and the pilT gene, which is required for fimbrial retraction, and subsequent testing of these mutants in sheep virulence trials has shown that type IV fimbriae-mediated twitching motility is essential for virulence. The extracellular protease genes aprV2, aprV5 and bprV have also been mutated. Analysis of these mutants has shown that ArpV5 is the major extracellular protease and that AprV2 is the thermostable protease that is responsible for the extracellular elastase activity. Structural analysis of AprV2 has revealed that it contains several novel loops, one of which appears to act as an exosite that may modulate substrate accessibility. Finally, virulence experiments in sheep have shown that the AprV2 protease is required for virulence.     

The effect of dietary forage on the development and survival of helminth parasites in ovine faeces

Studies in New Zealand and the UK have shown that lambs grazing birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) or chicory (Cichorium intybus) have reduced parasite intensities compared to lambs grazing ryegrass swards. However, data in the literature on the influence of forages on helminth parasites is equivocal and the underlying mechanisms by which different forage diets may affect these parasites have not been fully determined. The aim of the experiments reported here was to investigate the hypothesis that the consumption of these forages does not affect the hatching and development of helminth eggs in the faeces subsequently produced by the host animal. Lambs grazed monoculture swards of birdsfoot trefoil, chicory, Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum)/red clover (Trifolium pratense) or perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)/white clover (Trifolium repens) for 5 weeks and faecal samples collected on days 14, 21, 28 and 35 directly from the rectum of each lamb were used to prepare replicate cultures for each forage type on each occasion. The experiment was repeated over two consecutive years but ryegrass/red clover was not included in Year 2. The dry matter of all faeces was made constant and the faeces were cultured at 27 degrees C for 7 days, before larvae were extracted, counted and identified according to genus or, where possible, species. Overall, the results showed that forage diet had no effect on egg hatchability but significantly affected the development/survival of infective helminth larvae in the faeces of the host animal. Furthermore, feeding birdsfoot trefoil to lambs was found to increase the percentage of helminth parasites that reached the infective stage in the subsequent faeces compared to other forages. Further work is needed to assess whether this would increase the number of larvae on birdsfoot trefoil swards overall under field conditions and to understand the implications of these findings in an applied farming system.     

The effect of dietary protein level on exercising horses

Six mature Quarter Horse mares were used in a crossover design to assess the effect of dietary protein level on metabolic response to exercise. After a 2-wk adaptation period to either a 12.9% (control) or an 18.5% CP (high-protein) diet, each mare performed a standard exercise test. The test consisted of a 15-min exercise period at 4.5 m/sec on a 9% grade motorized treadmill. Exercise resulted in an increase in heart rate (P less than .001), but there was no difference (P less than .05) between dietary treatments. In the jugular vein, lactate increased (P less than .01) from 6.3 to 52.0 mg/100 ml in the control group and increased from 6.3 to 45.6 mg/100 ml in the high-protein group. There was an interaction (P less than .05) between diet and exercise for lactate. Plasma NH3 increased (P less than .001) during exercise, but not until the 15th min, at which time NH3 increased over fourfold in both groups. Dietary protein did not affect NH3; however, urea-N was higher (P less than .001) in horses receiving the high-protein diet. Plasma alanine increased from 13.6 to 30.3 mumol/100 ml and glutamine increased from 49.3 to 62.5 mumol/100 ml in the control group. In the high-protein group, alanine increased from 10.2 to 25.8 mumol/100 ml, whereas glutamine increased from 39.3 to 49.2 mumol/100 ml. Our study detected no metabolic evidence for a detrimental effect of excess dietary protein in horses exercising on a graded treadmill at 4.5 m/sec for 15 min.     

壳聚糖对饲料镉致罗非鱼急性毒性的影响

通过两个试验研究了壳聚糖对饲料中镉致罗非鱼急性毒性的影响。试验1将360尾罗非鱼随机分为两个处理(对照组和试验组),每个处理3个重复,比较壳聚糖添加后饲料镉致罗非鱼96 h半致死剂量的变化情况。对照组一次性投喂镉水平分别为0.00%、0.10%、0.25%、0.50%、1.00%和2.00%的6种对照饲料;试验组饲料镉含量与对照组相同,并加入10%壳聚糖,同法进行饲料镉对罗非鱼的急性毒性试验。试验2将160尾罗非鱼随机分为两个处理,每个处理4个重复,分别投喂镉含量为0.50%的对照组和试验组饲料,研究饲料中添加壳聚糖对镉致罗非鱼半致死时间的影响。试验结果为:两个试验中试验组鱼的死亡率均低于对照组;对照组96 h半致死剂量(LD50)和半致死时间(LT50)分别为(49.67±6.11)mg/kg.BW和(47.76±3.03)h,试验组96 h LD50和LT50分别为(86.05±6.11)mg/kg.BW和(65.20±6.09)h,试验组96 h LD50和LT50与对照组相比差异极显著(P<0.01),表明壳聚糖能够缓解饲料中镉对罗非鱼的急性毒性。     

Immunization against ovine haemonchosis with three low molecular weight somatic antigens of adult Haemonchus contortus

Individual bands (15) from electroblotted soluble extracts of adult Haemonchus contortus were excised and three peptides of molecular weight ca. 56 (F4), 39 (F8) and 18.5 kDa (F14) used to vaccinate 4-4.5-months-old lambs against the nematode. Immunizing doses from each peptide were administered in 1 ml Freund complete adjuvant (first 50 microg injection) and 1 ml Freund incomplete adjuvant (second and third 50 microg injections) to six lambs. Two weeks after last immunization, animals were challenged with 300 L-3/kg live weight (LW). Lambs were slaughtered 34 days after challenge. Immunization induced a strong antibody response estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, whereas no peripheral lymphoproliferative response was observed. Lambs in the F8-vaccinated group showed on average delayed pre-patent period, lower faecal egg counts and reduction of abomasal worm burdens, although the differences were not statistically significant.     

Influence of supplementation with dietary soyabean meal on resistance to haemonchosis in Hampshire down lambs

The influence of dietary protein supplementation on resistance to haemonchosis was examined in Hampshire down lambs fed either a basal diet or a diet supplemented with soyabean. At seven months of age the lambs were challenged with an initial loading dose of Haemonchus contortus, followed by a trickle infection three times a week. Blood and faecal samples were collected three times a week and bodyweights were recorded weekly. After 10 weeks the lambs were slaughtered and their worm burdens and carcase composition determined. Although their mean worm burdens were similar, the lambs given the basal diet had higher faecal egg counts, lower packed red cell volumes and lower concentrations of total plasma protein and plasma albumin than the lambs given the supplemented diet. The dietary supplementation also improved the carcase composition of the lambs.     

Duration of protective immunity against ovine haemonchosis following vaccination with the nematode gut membrane antigen H11

To establish for how long protective antibody levels may be maintained, lambs were vaccinated with the gut membrane antigen H11 and challenged with Haemonchus contortus 14, 84, 126 or 168 days later. Compared to controls, mean faecal egg counts of vaccinated lambs were reduced by 97 per cent, 99 per cent, 92 per cent and 86 per cent respectively. Total worm burdens at postmortem five weeks after infection were reduced by 87 per cent, 94 per cent, 92 per cent and 62 per cent respectively. In vaccinated lambs, antibody levels to H11 peaked at about 60 days after the first vaccination and were maintained for the duration of the experiment. There was evidence of secondary antibody responses to H11 following challenge.     

Quantitative studies of ovine haemonchosis. I. Relationship between faecal egg counts and total worm counts

The successful operation of parasite-control programmes based on monitoring of faecal egg counts stimulated an examination of the quantitative relationship between egg counts and worm counts of Haemonchus contortus in sheep in the Goondiwindi area of south-east Queensland. Sixty-one commercial Merino sheep were selected from flocks where outbreaks of haemonchosis had occurred. Faecal samples were collected prior to euthanasia and eggs and worms subsequently counted and differentiated.A strong relationship ($\text{r}{}^2\text{= 0.83, 71P < 0.001}$) was found between faecal egg counts and the total number of adult H. contortus. The size of the worm population, the time of year, and the ratio of male to female adult worms were minor sources of variation. The relationship was considered to be of value in the implementation of programmes for the diagnosis and control of haemonchosis in sheep flocks in the area.     

The effect of dietary protein content on calcium and phosphorus retention in the growing Iberian pig

The effects of dietary protein content (DPC) from excessive (192 g/kg DM) to marginally deficient (101 g/kg DM) upon whole-body retention of Ca and P was studied in 25 purebred Iberian pigs growing from 15 to 50 kg BW by means of a comparative slaughter experiment which included a digestibility trial. Ca and P retention related to intake remained unaffected at 0.228 ± 0.0072 and 0.184 ± 0.0052, reaching 3.64 ± 0.119 and 2.00 ± 0.057 g Ca and P per day respectively. Pigs fed on diets containing protein levels in excess of requirements had significantly higher concentrations of Ca and P (P < 0.05) in their bodies (14.41–14.99 and 7.88–8.08 g Ca and P/kg fat-free empty-body gain respectively) than those given adequate or marginally deficient amounts of dietary protein (11.80–12.72 and 6.61–7.01 g Ca and P/kg fat-free empty-body gain respectively). In a second experiment, made with 25 Iberian pigs of 21 kg initial weight, daily intakes of Ca and P to maintain zero retention were determined using five experimental diets in which the concentrations of Ca and P were varied by the addition of graded levels of Ca carbonate and inorganic phosphate to a basal diet balanced in protein-to-energy ratio (131 g CP; 13.8–14.4 MJ ME/kg DM). Growth rate and protein deposition were unaffected by the level of Ca and P in the diet and reached average values of 485 ± 15.4 and 103 ± 1.2 g/d. Increasing the dietary Ca and P levels increased the absolute amounts of Ca and P retained daily from 0.69 to 5.77 and 1.12 to 3.70 g respectively (P < 0.001). Highly significant (P < 0.001) curvilinear regressions were obtained when relating Ca and P absorption or retention (g/d) with Ca and P intake (g/d). From these equations, daily maintenance requirements of 105 and 72 mg/kg BW for Ca and P respectively were obtained. Average total net requirements of Ca and P for the Iberian pig at this stage of growth were estimated to be 5.25 and 3.10 g/d respectively, considerably lower than those reported for conventional and high-performance pig genotypes.     

The effect of dietary energy and protein levels on production in breeding female ostriches

1. In a study spanning two breeding seasons, we assessed the effect of different dietary energy and protein levels on body mass, body condition, and egg production of female ostriches. 2. During the first breeding season, groups were given diets with energy concentrations of 8.5, 9.5 and 10.5 MJ/kg dry mass (DM) metabolisable energy (ME) and protein concentrations of 135, 150 and 165 g/kg. In the second breeding season, groups were given diets with ME of 7.5, 8.5 and 9.5 MJ/kg and protein contents of 105, 120 and 135 g/kg. 3. Body mass of birds on diets of 7.5 and 8.5 MJ/kg ME decreased significantly in the course of the breeding season compared with birds fed on diets with higher energy contents and body measurements decreased, suggesting a loss of body condition. 4. Females fed on diets containing only 7.5 MJ/kg ME produced significantly fewer eggs at significantly longer intervals, resulting in fewer chicks hatched. 5. There was no significant difference in egg mass, initial chick mass, chick survival to one month of age and body mass of chicks at one month. 6. Dietary protein concentrations had no effect on egg production, egg mass, hatchability, initial chick mass, chick survival or chick mass at one month old. 7. The female ostriches regained their original body mass during the 4-month rest period between breeding seasons, but significant differences in some parameters during the second breeding season suggest that they may not have fully recovered their body condition. 8. A dietary energy content of 7.5 MJ/kg proved to have an adverse effect on egg production by breeding female ostriches, and it may be concluded from this study that a diet containing 8.5 MJ ME/kg DM and 105 g/kg protein should be regarded as the minimum that can be used for breeding female ostriches without compromising egg production.     

Pathophysiology of ovine fascioliasis: The influence of dietary protein and iron on the erythrokinetics of sheep experimentally infected with Fasciola hepatica

Worm-free sheep were fed diets with a high or low protein and iron content and infected with 1,000 F. hepatica metacercariae. The adult fluke burdens of the sheep on each diet were similar, but animals on the poorer plane of nutrition developed an earlier and ultimately more severe anaemia and as a result had to be necropsied earlier. By measuring the attendant changes in blood volume and erythrokinetics, it was found that the underlying cause of the anaemia in all animals was a combination of haemodilution, intra-hepatic and biliary haemorrhage, and its earlier appearance and faster development in the poorer-fed group was a refelection of the earlier onset of these changes in association with a faster rate of fluke migration. The ultimate degree of anaemia was not related to the severity of biliary haemorrhage, but rather to the animals' erythropoietic capacity. This was substantially lower in the sheep maintained on the poorer diet, which unlike their better-fed counterparts, became iron deficient by virtue of their inability to replace from the diet iron lost in the faeces as a result of haemorrhage. It was concluded that this difference was primarily a reflection of the better appetite and hence iron intake of the supplemented sheep, but differences in the efficiency of dietary iron utilization, possibly related to protein intake, may also have been involved.In a further experiment involving sheep infected with 600 metacercariae, there was no evidence of haemodilution. When provided with a diet of high protein and iron content, these animals were able to maintain constant, albeit reduced PCV values in the face of substantial biliary haemorrhage. However, when switched to an inferior diet, the same degree of haemorrhage produced a sharp fall in PCV, suggesting that erythropoiesis was adversely affected by reduced protein and iron intake.     

饲料中不同蛋白和钙对鸡肾脏影响的研究

通过饲喂不同蛋白,人工试验出鸡尿酸盐沉积模型,并观察鸡肾脏临床病理变化。采用高蛋白高钙饲料造模,将动物分健康对照组、高蛋白组、高钙组、高蛋白高钙组,通过鸡的死亡率、采食饮水量的变化、体重变化率、血液中尿酸盐含量等指标,考察肾肿模型,其中用磷钨酸显色法测定鸡血液中尿酸的含量。高蛋白高钙能使鸡增重率降低,鸡的饮水量、采食量降低,死亡率升高,血清中尿酸盐含量升高,尿酸盐在肾脏沉积形成花斑肾。用44%高蛋白高钙(0.5%钙)可以人工试验出鸡尿酸盐沉积模型。