Morphological and functional events associated to weaning in rabbits

It is acknowledged that the most critical period of rabbit post natal development comprises the first 10–15 days after weaning, when the animals are most susceptible to gastrointestinal infections and at greatest risk of a fatal outcome. Detailed information on rabbits' weaning is provided. The advantages and disadvantages of early weaning (under 23 days of age) are summarised. Regardless of the numerous reports, the effects of early weaning on the growth and development of bunnies and the physiological status of rabbit does are contradictory. The morphological changes in rabbit digestive tract related to weaning – development of intestinal mucosa, height of villi, crypt depth and villus height to crypt depth ratio – are described in detail. The review also goes over several functional changes in rabbits' organism during weaning: blood cholesterol, triglycerides, α‐amylase, lysozyme, complement, triiodothyronine and thyroxine concentrations, and the time course of epidermal growth factor in the milk of lactating does. Based on published research reports, both ours and of other authors, we suggest that from a physiological point of view, the early weaning of rabbits is not fully justified at present. Nevertheless, the increasing market demand for rabbit meat makes early weaning an attractive alternative for farmers and necessitates further studies on the optimisation of weaning in this species.     

中国假俭草种质资源主要性状变异及其形态类型

对中国59份假俭草的11个重要经济性状进行统计分析,并对其形态类型加以聚类分析。结果表明:1花序密度变异系数高达76.9%,是所测性状中变异范围最大者,叶长次之,变异系数为31.3%,结实率、草层高度以及生殖枝高度变异系数分别为23.0%、18.0%及22.1%,变异范围为25.0%～74.8%、14.3～33.2cm及5.8～17.0cm;百粒重、叶宽、花序长、花序小花数以及节间长度变异幅度相对较小,分别为15.1%、14.6%、12.5%、12.5%及11.4%,其中以节间直径最小,仅为4.7%;2生殖枝高度和花序密度随着纬度的增加,呈显著增高和极显著增加趋势,而其它性状未出现显著变异规律;3节间直径与叶宽呈极显著正相关;草层越高,生殖枝愈高,节间愈长愈粗,而生殖枝愈高,花序愈长,节间愈长,花序密度也愈大,结实率愈高;4在欧氏距离11.2处,可将供试草种分为营养繁殖型和种子繁殖型两大类型,前者花序密度低,结实率低,叶片较长,而后者花序密度高,结实率较高,叶片则较短。     

Immunohistochemical characteristics of canine aortic and carotid body tumours

In an immunohistochemical study of 25 canine chemodectomas, 17 tumours were stained with antisera to neurone specific enolase and the same number were stained for synaptophysin; a single tumour was stained for S100. Staining for Ki-67 occurred in 18 cases; the Ki-67-labelling index and the intensity of immunostaining was increased in more pleomorphic and malignant tumours, as assessed on histological grounds. Immunohistochemistry did not aid in recognition of less well-differentiated tumours.     

Macroscopic anatomical studies of the carotid body in dogs

In 20 dogs of different breeds the shape, topographic relationships, supplying arteries, veins, and nerves of the glomus caroticum were studied, using a dissecting microscope. The exact size could only be calculated by micrornorphometric methods because in some cases the specific tissue of the glomus was scattered in the surrounding connective tissue. The glomus, caroticum closely embraced the origin of one or two of the first three branches of the A. carotis externa. The origins of these branches varied greatly and therefore were included in this study.     

Aortic body and carotid body tumours in dogs in Iran (A record of six cases)

A survey was made on 527 dog carcases in Iran. Six cases of nonchromaffin paraganglion tumour (one carotid body and five aortic body) were observed. After due consideration of the site and of gross and microscopic findings the tumours were diagnosed as a carotid body tumour in the first case and as aortic body tumours in the other five cases. These are the first reported cases of such tumours in animals from Iran. This may be significant if it truly represents a geographical distribution.
Résumé. On a étudié 527 cadavres de chiens en Iran et on a observé parmi eux 6 cas de tumeur paraganglionnaire non-chromaffine, dont I du corpuscule carotidien et 5 du paraganglion cardiaque; considérant le siège et Ies caractères microscopiques et macroscopiques, on a porté le diagnostic de tumeur du corpuscule carotidien dans le premier cas et de tumeur au paraganglion cardiaque dans les 5 autres. II s'agit des premières observations de cette sorte de tumeur faites en Iran et on évoque l'hypothèse d'une distribution géographique particulière.
Zusammenfassung. 527 Hundeleichen im Iran wurden untersucht. Sechs Fälle von chromophoben Paragangliontumoren (einer P. caroticum und fünf P. supracardiale) wurden gefunden. Nach gebührender Berücksichtigung der Lokalisierung und der makroskopischen und mikroskopischen Feststellungen wurden die Tumoren im ersten Fall als Carotiskörpertumor und in den anderen fünf Fällen als Aortenkörpertumoren diagnostiziert. Dies sind die ersten Fälle solcher Tumoren in Tieren vom Iran, über die in der Literatur berichtet wird, und sie können über die geographische Verteilung Aufschluss geben.     

Body weight and body condition of breeding rabbits in commercial units

Live BW and BCS data were collected from 2,775 breeding rabbits (644 males and 2,131 females) of 34 genetic types and sorted according to their specialization (maternal, paternal, and others). Data were gathered on 66 visits to 43 commercial farms in Spain between 2009 and 2011. Mean BW was 4.72 kg (range of 2.87 to 8.13 kg, with a median BW of 4.60 kg) and mean BCS was 4.6 (range of 1.0 to 9.0, with a median BCS of 5.0). females had heavier (P < 0.05) BW than males and paternal lines of rabbits had greater (P < 0.05) BW than maternal lines and other breeds/lines not selected for meat production. Between 69.3% and 75.4% of the rabbits were deemed healthy by a veterinarian and, as expected, healthy rabbits were heavier (P < 0.05) than sick rabbits diagnosed with rhinitis, mastitis, sore hocks, and several other diseases. Among purebred, maternal lines of rabbits, Hyplus GD24, UPV A, and UPV V were heavier (P < 0.05) than hyplus GD14 and Hyla HL-D lines, and line UPV R had the greatest (P < 0.05) BW among the purebred, paternal lines. Additionally, A×H, A×V, PS19, and P×A crossbreds had greater (P < 0.05) BW than HE-C×D, HL-C×D, H×V, LP×V, and V×P crossbreds among the maternal lines, whereas HE-SL were the heaviest (P < 0.05) crossbred paternal line of rabbits. Additionally, females received greater (P < 0.05) BCS than males and BCS were greater (P < 0.05) in healthy than sick rabbits. Moreover, maternal lines had smaller (P < 0.05) BCS than either paternal lines or other lines/breeds not selected for meat production. Results also indicated a moderate relationship between BCS and BW (r = 0.32), with a 1-point change in BCS equivalent to an ~ 245-g change in BW. results from this study can be used as baseline figures for breeding rabbits in spain and are essential factors in several decisions concerning housing, feeding, reproduction, health, and welfare of breeding rabbits.     

卵泡刺激素受体在雌性山羊颈动脉体的分布

为了检测雌性山羊颈动脉体中是否存在卵泡刺激素受体(FSHR),探讨卵泡刺激素(FSH)是否可以影响雌性山羊颈动脉体的活动,本试验采用免疫组织化学SP法观察卵泡刺激素受体(FSHR)在山羊颈动脉体内的分布特点,利用IPP 6.0图像半定量分析系统分析FSHR在颈动脉体中实质细胞和非实质细胞上的表达量差异。结果显示,FSHR主要分布在颈动脉体的实质细胞(Ⅰ型细胞和Ⅱ型细胞)。Ⅰ型细胞中FSHR强阳性产物分布于细胞核,中等阳性产物分布于细胞膜,弱阳性或阴性产物分布于细胞质;Ⅱ型细胞中有强阳性产物;血管内皮细胞中有中等阳性或强阳性产物。FSHR在颈动脉体的实质细胞与非实质细胞中相对表达量呈显著性差异(P<0.05)。结果表明,证实FSHR在雌性非妊娠山羊颈动脉体内广泛表达,提示颈动脉体可能接受FSH的调节,这为研究FSH作用于非生殖系统及颈动脉体神经内分泌调节机制提供形态学依据。     

Peri-operative body temperatures in isoflurane-anaesthetized rabbits following ketamine-midazolam or ketamine-medetomidine

OBJECTIVE: To investigate alterations in peri-operative body temperatures and oesophageal-skin temperatures in isoflurane-anaesthetized rabbits following either ketamine-midazolam or ketamine-medetomidine induction of anaesthesia. ANIMAL POPULATION: Fifty client-owned rabbits, (25 male, 25 female) of different breeds anaesthetized for elective neutering (age range: 3-42 months; mass range: 1.15-4.3 kg). STUDY DESIGN: Randomized, blinded clinical study. METHODS: Pre-anaesthetic rectal temperature was measured. A 24 SWG catheter was placed in a marginal ear vein after local anaesthesia. Ketamine (15 mg kg(-1)) with medetomidine (0.25 mg kg(-1)) (group KMT) or with midazolam (3 mg kg(-1)) (group KMZ) was injected intramuscularly (IM). Following endotracheal intubation anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. Carprofen (3 mg kg(-1)) and glucose saline (5 mL kg(-1) hour(-1)) were administered through the intravenous catheter. Room temperature and humidity, skin temperature (from tip of pinna) and oesophageal temperature were measured during anaesthesia. Ovariohysterectomy or castration was performed. Rectal temperature was taken when isoflurane was discontinued (time zero) and 30, 60 and 120 minutes thereafter. Atipamezole (0.5 mg kg(-1)) was administered IM to rabbits in group KMT at zero plus 30 minutes. Mass, averaged room temperature and duration of anaesthesia data were compared using a two-tailed t-test. Age, averaged room humidity, rectal temperature decrease, oesophageal temperature decrease and oesophageal-skin difference data were compared using a Kruskal-Wallis test. p < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The averaged oesophageal-skin temperature difference was significantly greater in group KMT [median 9.85 degrees C (range 6.42-13.85 degrees C)] than in group KMZ [4.38 degrees C (2.83-10.43 degrees C)]. Rectal temperature decreased over the anaesthetic period was not significantly different between the two groups; however, oesophageal temperature decrease was significantly less in group KMT [1.1 degrees C (-0.1-+2.7 degrees C)] than in group KMZ [1.4 degrees C (0.6-3.1 degrees C)]. CONCLUSIONS: Oesophageal-skin temperature difference is larger in rabbits anaesthetized with ketamine-medetomidine combination than ketamine-midazolam. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The oesophageal temperature in rabbits anaesthetized with ketamine-medetomidine and isoflurane decreases significantly less than in animals anaesthetized with ketamine-midazolam and isoflurane, during anaesthesia.     

Multiple osseous metastases of a carotid body tumor in a dog

Metastasis of malignant carotid body tumor to multiple bones was detected in a 13-year-old female Siberian husky dog. Radiographs exhibited an abnormal mass in the retropharyngeal site and osteolytic lesions in the vertebral bodies, spinous process, tibia, and ribs. At necropsy, multiple masses were observed in the bones as well as at the dorsal area of the retropharynx. Histologically, the tumor cells, arranged in sheets and clusters, had eosinophilic finely granular cytoplasm. Immunohistochemistry showed the tumor cells were positive for neuron-specific enolase and synaptophysin. Electron microscopy demonstrated a number of dense membrane-bound granules in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. Based on these findings, this case was diagnosed as multiple bone metastases of a malignant carotid body tumor. Spinal cord damage induced by the tumor mass was the cause of the hind limb paralysis of the present dog.     

Magnetic resonance and computed tomography imaging of a carotid body tumor in a dog

A 5-year-old castrated male Labrador Retriever was presented to a referring veterinarian for a swelling in the neck region. Based on the results of histopathology, a carotid body tumor, was diagnosed. The dog was referred to a medical imaging unit for further staging and follow up. This report describes the magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomographic (CT) appearance of a carotid body tumor.     

Preliminary investigation of the vitamin D status of pet rabbits

The plasma concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-(OH)2D3) (vitamin D3) were measured in blood samples taken from one wild rabbit and 13 pet rabbits at different times of the year. Some pet rabbits had low or undetectable plasma concentrations of 1,25-(OH)2D3 especially if they were kept in hutches. Rabbits with more access to sunlight had higher concentrations of 1,25-(OH)2D3.     

麦盖提羊体重与体尺指标及其相关性分析

对麦盖提羊初生、断奶和周岁公母羊体重与体高、体长、胸围、胸宽、胸深、耳长、尾长等指标的相关性进行了分析,结果表明,麦盖提羊初生重与体高、胸围和耳长有正强相关关系,差异极显著(P＜0.01);断奶公母羔体重与胸围、尾长、体长、尾厚、管围有正强相关关系,差异极显著(P＜0.01);周岁羊的体重与胸围、管围有正强相关关系,差异极显著(P＜0.01).