Serum levels of the immunoglobulins IgG and IgG(T) in horses

Levels of the immunoglobulins IgG and IgG(T) in serum in Norwegian horses of the breeds “Døle” and “Fjord” were determined by the quantitative radial immunodiffusion test.No significant differences were apparent between the 2 Norwegian breeds. The immunoglobulin levels were approximately in the same range as previously reported for Shetland ponies.Immunoglobulins could not be detected in the newborn foal. As early as 24 hrs. after birth the mean immunoglobulin level was within the adult range. After a drop during the first month of life, the immunoglobulins increased. IgG(T) rose more rapidly and to a higher level than IgG.In 2 year old horses, IgG(T) was significantly higher than in adults, while IgG was significantly lower. IgG(T) seems to be a very important immunoglobulin in foals and young horses.     

Protective effects of antioxidants on bitterweed (Hymenoxys odorata DC) toxicity in sheep

Antidotal effects of the 2 antioxidants butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and ethoxyquin (EQ) were evaluated in bitterweed (Hymenoxys odorata DC) toxicosis in sheep. Bitteerweed contains a toxic sesquiterpene lactone, hymenoxon, the toxicity of which is reduced by cysteine. Both BHA and EQ are known to induce hepatic glutathione production in rodents. Treatment of sheep with EQ (2.5 g/sheep/day for 9 days before poisoning) gave significant protection from toxic doses of bitterweed, but the protective effect of BHA was insignificant. Of 6 sheep given EQ in the feed, 5 survived 7 doses of bitterweed (4 g/kg/day or higher for 7 days), whereas 5 of 7 controls and 4 of 7 sheep given feed with added BHA died. The added EQ in the feed decreased the serum alkaline phosphatase activity and total protein, albumin, and calcium concentrations. Seemingly, EQ is the first protective agent with field application potential for bitterweed toxicity.     

大口黑鲈对饲料中丁基羟基茴香醚的耐受性评价

本试验旨在通过生长性能、血浆生化指标、组织抗氧化指标及肝脏、肠道组织学变化,评价大口黑鲈对饲料中丁基羟基茴香醚(BHA)的耐受性。以初始体重为(6.20±0.01)g的大口黑鲈为靶动物,在基础饲料中依次添加0(D0组,作为对照组)、150(D150组)、300(D300组)和1 500 mg/kg(D1500组)的BHA,其中300和1 500 mg/kg分别是最高推荐剂量(150 mg/kg)的2和10倍,进行为期10周的饲喂试验。每组6个重复,每个重复30尾鱼。结果表明:4组中以D150组的生长性能最好,其余各组的终末均重、特定生长率、增重率和摄食量无显著差异(P0.05)。各组肥满度、脏体比和肝体比无显著差异(P0.05)。对照组血浆中总胆固醇、甘油三酯含量及碱性磷酸酶活性显著高于其余各组(P0.05)。D150和D300组血浆中高密度脂蛋白胆固醇/总胆固醇显著高于对照和D1500组(P0.05)。D1500组血浆中谷草转氨酶、谷丙转氨酶活性显著低于对照组(P0.05),与D150、D300组无显著差异(P0.05)。D150和D300组肝脏中超氧化物歧化酶活性显著低于对照组(P0.05),与D1500组无显著差异(P0.05)。饲料中添加1 500 mg/kg BHA可以显著提高肝脏中总抗氧化能力(P0.05);饲料中添加150、300、1 500 mg/kg BHA均显著降低了血浆、心脏和肝脏中丙二醛的含量(P0.05)。对照、D150和D1500组大口黑鲈的肝脏、肠道都有不同程度的损伤,但D150和D1500组的损伤相对较少。上述结果表明,饲料中添加150 mg/kg BHA对大口黑鲈具有一定的脂肪代谢促进作用和抗氧化保护功能,且对大口黑鲈是安全的,安全系数为10倍。     

Pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) courtship and mating behavior

Background

Pampas deer, Ozotoceros bezoarticus (Linnaeus 1758), is a South American grazing deer categorized as "near threatened". However, knowledge about pampas deer behavior including courtship and mating is scarce and incomplete. The aim of this study was to characterize the courtship and mating behavior of the pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus), an endangered species from South America.

Methods

We performed focal observations of 5 males allocated at the Estación de Cría de Fauna Autóctona Cerro Pan de Azúcar, Uruguay, 4 times a day from 5 to 20 minutes each time on a daily basis from February to May. During that period we recorded all courtship and mating behaviors, as well as quantified the frequency of the specific behaviors shown. As mating were rarely observed, we recorded that behavior when it was observed in the context of other studies performed in the same population during the following 2 years.

Results

During the observation period we recorded 928 courtships and 5 mating periods. In addition, we recorded 10 more matings performed during other studies, totaling 15. The duration of each mating calculated from the 15 recordings was 3.9 ± 0.4 s, and the total period of female receptivity (from first to last mating acceptance) was 8.2 ± 1.1 min. Main observed courtship behaviors in males were “chase” and “ostentation”, while the most observed close to mating were “chinning”, “raised head” and “anogenital sniffing”. The most observed behaviors in females during the mating period were “vulva exhibition” and “move away”.

Conclusion

This is the first detailed report in pampas deer mating behavior. Estrus lasted only 8 min accepting only 3 short copulations per estrus. However, female behavior during courtship can be characterized as highly proceptive.     

Pulsatile administration of gonadotropin releasing hormone (Gn-RH) to lactating sows using a portable automatic pump ("Zyklomat")

The object of this investigation was to study the feasibility of using a “Zyklomat roller peristaltic pump” for pulsatile administration of gonadotropin releasing hormone (Gn-RH) in primiparous lactating sows. Four primiparous sows were used. The pump catheter was inserted into a jugular vein on day 8 or day 22 of lactation. The pump delivered a 1 min Gn-RH pulse of 10 μg every 89 min for 7 days. The pump worked without any complication or detrimental effect on the sows throughout the experimental period. Two sows showed standing oestrus during lactation and one of them ovulated. It can be concluded that the “Zyklomat” pump can be used for pulsatile infusion of Gn-RH in lactating sows.     

Evaluation of a broad range real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for the diagnosis of septic synovitis in horses

Septic synovitis is a potentially debilitating and life-threatening disorder in horses. We hypothesized that a universal bacterial real-time PCR (RT-PCR) assay would have improved sensitivity and decreased turn-around time for detection of bacteria in synovial fluid (SF) samples. Forty-eight SF samples were collected from 36 horses that presented to two referral institutions with suspected septic synovitis. Universal RT-PCR, bacterial culture and SF analysis were performed on all samples, and an interpretation on the sample being septic or not was derived by three board certified specialists from the history, clinical assessment and SF characteristics. RT-PCR results were compared to a composite standard comprised of positive culture and interpretation by all three specialists of samples as “septic”. For 41 of 48 samples (85%), culture and RT-PCR results were concordant. Compared to the composite standard, 83% of samples were correctly classified by RT-PCR (turn-around time of approximately 4 hours). Relative sensitivity and specificity of RT-PCR were 87% and 72% respectively, and 56% and 86% for culture. Hence, universal RT-PCR was a rapid and highly sensitive test, which may accelerate diagnosis and improve outcome for horses with septic synovitis.     

The Effect of Experimental Methyl Mercury Poisoning on the Number of Sulfhydryl (SH) Groups in the Brain,Liver and Muscle of Rat

Fifteen adult male rats, the “experimental” rats, were fed a daily diet which contained methyl mercury hydroxide combined with liver homogenate. The daily dose of methyl mercury in terms of metallic mercury was 1.8 mg per rat. Six similar rats, the “controls”, were fed the same diet without methyl mercury. After the experimental rats had developed symptoms typical of methyl mercury poisoning, which occurred on the 15th day of the experiment, all the test animals were decapitated. The average total dose of methyl mercury producing toxic symptoms was 58,1 ± 6.1 mg Hg per kg body weight. The sulfhydryl groups and the mercury content of the brains, livers and caudal femoral muscles of the animals were determined. The SH determinations were made by amperometric titration and the mercury determinations by neutron activation analysis.The mean number of SH groups in the brains (14.95 ± 1.97 µM/g) and livers (35.89 ± 4.10 µM/g) of the methyl mercury-fed rats was found to be significantly (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01 respectively) lower than the corresponding means of the livers (17.63 ± 1.12 µM/g) and brains (44.75 ± 5.60 µM/g) of the controls. The number of SH groups in the muscles did not differ significantly between the animal groups (0.5 < P < 0.6). The mean mercury content of the brains, livers and muscles was found to be 26.0, 124.6 and 39.1 p.p.m. respectively, corresponding to 0.12, 0.62 and 0.19 µM per g of tissue. The decrease in the number of SH groups in the brains, 2.68 µM/g, and in the livers, 8.86 µM/g, of the methyl mercury-fed rats is thus considered to be due mainly to other effects of methyl mercury than to the direct binding of this compound to the tissue SH groups.     

Antioxidative effect of BHA in soya bean lecithin‐based extender containing Glycerol or DMSO on freezing capacity of goat semen

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of butylated hydroxyanisole (0 or 4 mM) along with different concentrations (5 or 7%) of glycerol (G) and dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) as cryoprotectant (CPAs) on freezability of goat semen. Semen was collected from four bucks (3–4 years) twice a week for five weeks. The pooled ejaculates were diluted with extender containing two different concentrations of G or DMSO in combination with BHA. Afterwards, the diluted samples were loaded into 0.25 ml straws and frozen using a standard protocol. After thawing motility parameters, viability, membrane integrity and total abnormality were assessed. The Results showed that the presence of BHA in extender, type and level of CPAs as main factors had significant effects on goat sperm viability, total and progressive motility after freezing–thawing processes (p < .05). Also, the interaction of BHA (0 and 4 mM) and levels of G or DMSO (5 or 7%) had a significant effects (p < .05) on total motility, viability and some characteristic. In this case, the addition of 5% G or DMSO with BHA resulted in highest motility and viability than the other groups (p < .05). The addition of G5 (with and without BHA) increased VSL and reduced abnormality than the other groups (p < .05). The results showed that the main effects of CPAs and CPAs level on membrane functionality were significant (p < .05). Also there were no significance differences in the interactive effects of MDA, VCL, VAP, ALH, LIN and STR among the groups (p > .05). Finally, it can be concluded that the use of 5% CPAs with or without BHA may result in better post‐thaw sperm quality of goat.     

兰州百合同源四倍体诱导及其基因组大小估算

兰州百合(2n=2x=24)是重要的“药食同源”植物,进行其种质创新和基因组大小分析对于丰富其种质资源和生物学信息具有重要意义。以兰州百合的种子和试管小鳞茎为试验材料,通过秋水仙素浸泡诱导染色体加倍,经流式细胞仪倍性检测获得的同源四倍体植株分别有10和4株,四倍体诱导率分别为21.11%和33.27%。为了估算兰州百合基因组大小,以小麦品种“中国春”为内标,通过流式细胞仪测算兰州百合二倍体和四倍体植株中的DNA含量,得出兰州百合基因组为64.9 Gbp,是“中国春”核基因组的4倍。     

Changes in the predicted function of the rumen bacterial community of Japanese Black beef cattle during the fattening stages according to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses

We investigated changes in the predicted functions of the rumen bacterial community in Japanese Black beef cattle during fattening. Nine cattle were fed a high-concentrate diet during the early, middle, and late fattening stages consecutively (10–14, 15–22, and 23–30 months of age, respectively). The rumen fluid and solid samples collected at each stage were subjected to sequencing analyses. The sequencing results were clustered and classified into operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Representative sequences and a raw counting table for each OTU were submitted to the Piphillin website. The predicted functions were revealed by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database as the ratio of the total sequence. In the early stage, “Biosynthesis of secondary metabolites” was significantly higher in the fluid fraction than in the solid fraction. “Two-component system” in the middle stage was significantly lower and “Purine metabolism” in the late stage was significantly higher in the fluid fraction than those in the solid fraction. The fluid fraction was significantly correlated with acetic acid, propionic acid, and bacterial metabolism, such as “Biosynthesis of secondary metabolites” and “Sugar metabolism.” Moreover, the solid fraction was correlated with “Purine metabolism” and “Biosynthesis of secondary metabolism”. These results suggest that the rumen bacterial community in Japanese Black beef cattle adapts to changes in rumen conditions by altering their functions in response to a long-term high-grain diet.     

Complement-fixation and Hemagglutination Antigens from a Chlamydial (Ornithosis) Agent Grown in Cell Cultures

Methods are described for the preparation of complement-fixation (CF) and hemagglutination (HA) antigens from the Texas turkey ornithosis agent grown in McCoy cell culture monolayers. The particulate antigens prepared for this study were satisfactory for testing mammalian sera by direct CF tests and avian sera by indirect CF or modified direct CF tests. Comparison of titers were made on human, bovine and ovine sera using direct CF tests employing antigen prepared for this study, 6 BC yolk sac antigen, and a commercially available antigen.

The HA antigen agglutinated mouse erythrocytes, but it was not of value in hemagglutination inhibition tests because of “nonspecific” inhibitors in both mammalian and avian sera.

     

Liquoid-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation in the blue fox

The present experiments were performed to study the effects of a single high intravenous dose of Liquoid (10 mg/kg body weight) upon platelets, coagulation activities and hematocrit in blue foxes, and their correlation with the survival time. Both “short-living” (< 9 h) and “long-living” (24 h or more) blue foxes showed a marked consumption of coagulation factors, initial fall in fibrinogen, positive ethanol gel test and a gradual decrease in platelet counts. In addition “short-living” animals developed a marked rise in hematocrit, reflecting a considerable increase in vascular permeability. We conclude that activation of plasma proteases has as one of its effects increased permeability in microvasculatory vessels and that this may play a central role for the course and outcome of Liquoid-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation.     

Effects of food enriched with egg yolk hydrolysate (bone peptide) on bone metabolism in orchidectomized dogs

We examined the effects of chicken egg hydrolysate (also known as “bone peptide” or BP) on bone metabolism in 5- to 8-month-old orchidectomized dogs. The bone formation marker serum bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and the bone resorption marker urine deoxypyridinoline (DPD) were used as indicators to measure changes in bone metabolism. The following results were observed that Serum BAP was higher in dogs fed BP-enriched food throughout the clinical investigation. Serum BAP was statistically significantly higher in dogs fed BP-enriched food than in dogs fed non-BP-enriched food at 2 months after orchidectomy. This suggests that BP promoted bone formation immediately after orchidectomy.     

Flight Distance and Avoidance Score in Thoroughbred Foals and Yearlings and the Relationship with Handling Frequency in the Young Ages

Flight and avoidance reactions from human were examined using 168 postweaning Thoroughbred foals in 22 breeding farms. Further 114 yearlings of 168 foals were tested in the following summer. The foal handlings by the stabler were asked in questionnaire. The relationship between the behavioural reactions and the foal handling frequencies was analyzed. The flight reaction was estimated as the distance from the animal to a stranger when the animal began to flight away from his approach. The avoidance scores were set up from (1) (not resistant) to (5) (touch rejection) from human touching. In the stabler questionnaire, handling frequencies of “body brushing”, “rectal temperature measurement”, “hoof cleaning”, and “stall cleaning” in the early nursing period were asked. The handling frequencies were scored from (1) (not done) to (5) (every day). In the preliminary test, a measurement reliability of the flight distance and the avoidance score was confirmed. The mean flight distances were 0.56 m and 0.27 m in the postweaning foals and the yearlings, respectively. Touch-avoidance scores of the highest frequency were (3) and (2) in the postweaning foals and the yearlings, respectively. As the results of Spearman’s rank-correlation analysis, “body brushing” showed highly negative relationships with “flight distance” (ρ=–0.31, P<0.001) and “avoidance score” (ρ=–0.37, P<0.001) in the postweaning foals. In the yearlings, “hoof cleaning” also showed significantly negative relationships with these behavioural indices (ρ=–0.24, P<0.01; ρ=–0.22, P<0.01, respectively).     

Evaluation of bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and bovine herpesvirus (BHV) specific antibody responses between heterologous and homologous prime-boost vaccinated western Canadian beef calves

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is an economically important cause of morbidity and mortality in beef calves. Control of BRD is most often addressed through “homologous” vaccination utilizing the same injectable modified-live viral (MLV) vaccine for both priming and boosting. Heterologous prime-boosting uses different routes and antigenic forms for priming and boosting. Three vaccine protocols were compared: an injectable (IJ) MLV (IJ-MLV) group (IJ-MLV priming at ~48 days and boosted with IJ-MLV at weaning), intranasal (IN) MLV (IN-MLV) group (intranasal priming with MLV at ~24 hours, boosted twice with an IJ-MLV), and intranasal killed viral (IN-KV) group (primed with an IN-MLV at ~24 hours, boosted twice with an IJ-KV). Serum antibody concentrations determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were compared and the IN-KV group had significantly higher BRSV-specific antibody concentrations after boosting compared with the 2 homologous groups. No differences in BHV-specific antibody concentrations were observed between any of the groups.     

Pathological findings of hemorrhagic bowel syndrome (HBS) in six dairy cattle cases

Six adult dairy cows clinically diagnosed as hemorrhagic bowel syndrome (HBS) were the subjects of this study. The involved intestinal lesions were fixed in formalin and examined macroscopically and histopathologically. Pathological examinations revealed large intramural hematomas with necrotic foci, resulting in luminal obstruction. The mucosal layer in the lesions was detached from the intestinal wall, and there were no hemorrhagic changes in the lumen. The intramural hematomas were sometimes covered with histologically intact mucosal layer. These pathological findings were not consistent with those of “intraluminal blood clots” reported previously. Gram-positive and anti-Clostridium antibody-positive short bacilli were found in hemorrhagic necrotic areas. However, the exact relationship between Clostridium spp. observed in the lesions and HBS remains unclear, because this bacterium is a normal inhabitant in cattle.     

Bovine progressive degenerative myeloencephalopathy (weaver syndrome) in brown swiss cattle in Canada: a literature review and case report

A 15-month-old purebred Brown Swiss heifer was presented because of posterior paresis and ataxia. Histopathological examination of the brain and spinal cord showed evidence of a mild diffuse degenerative myeloencephalopathy. The most severe degenerative lesions were located in the white matter of the thoracic spinal cord. We believe this to be the first documented case of bovine progressive degenerative myeloencephalopathy (“weaver syndrome”) in Canada.     

箭筈豌豆新品种DUS测试指南研制—测试性状评价和参照品种筛选

以国际植物新品种保护联盟(UPOV)制定的植物新品种DUS(distinctness, uniformity and stability)测试指南总则(TG/1/3)、箭筈豌豆DUS测试指南(TG/32/7)等技术文件为指导,对箭筈豌豆DUS测试指南的核心技术内容:测试性状和参照品种等开展了研究。在国内外共收集到51个箭筈豌豆品种,并进行连续2年的田间观测。观测性状总计31个,包括UPOV箭筈豌豆DUS测试指南中的23个性状,以及本实验发现有特异性的8个新增性状。对每个测试性状的表达状态、观测时期、测定方法、观测数量等进行了分级和详尽描述。共筛选出32个参照品种(国际21个, 我国11个),确定了123个表达状态。并对UPOV 箭筈豌豆DUS测试指南中“外种皮底色”和“种子形状”表达状态的分级进行了补充。本研究结果可为我国箭筈豌豆新品种 DUS 测试指南的制定奠定技术基础,对促进我国箭筈豌豆品种保护、审定和育种工作具有重要的意义。     

Tissue culture studies in bovine leukosis

By examining cover slips stained at regular intervals the development of primary lymph node tissue cultures from 2 cases of juvenile bovine leukosis and 2 “normal” foetuses was studied. Secondly, comparisons were made between cell lines prepared from 23 bovines — “normal” animals and foetuses, cases of adult leukosis, juvenile leukosis and skin leukosis — with respect to susceptibility to infection with interferon sensitive viruses (VSV and PRV) and/or growth rate in the presence of sera from “normal” and leukotic animals.Nuclear budding, nuclear fragmentation, lymphocyte adsorption and giant cell formation were observed — though to a much greater extent in cultures prepared from the leukosis animals — in all 4 cases studied. No indications of different susceptibility for the test virus infections appeared between cell lines prepared from “normal” and leukotic animals. The growth rate of the cell lines seemed similar irrespective of the kind of serum used.