鼠李糖乳杆菌发酵中药制剂条件优化及对鸡球虫感染的疗效试验

为探究鼠李糖乳杆菌发酵中药组方(青蒿、常山、仙鹤草、何首乌、白头翁及白茅根)制剂的最佳条件及其对感染球虫鸡存活率、血便计分、每克粪便卵囊数(OPG)及免疫细胞等的影响,试验筛选了鼠李糖乳杆菌发酵中药组方制剂的最佳中药浓度、接菌量、培养时间和pH值。用在该条件下发酵的中药制剂对正阳三黄鸡进行抗球虫感染试验,试验鸡分为空白对照组、球虫攻毒组、地克珠利组、纯中药组、鼠李糖乳杆菌发酵中药组及鼠李糖乳杆菌组;21日龄时分别称量各试验组鸡的体重,计算存活率、OPG值及检测血便记分与血液中的CD4⁺、CD8⁺T淋巴细胞含量。结果显示：中药浓度为1.5 g/mL、接菌剂量为2%、培养时间为18 h、pH为6.5时,鼠李糖乳杆菌活性最高;鼠李糖乳杆菌发酵中药组试验鸡21日龄体重和14～21日龄平均日增重显著高于球虫攻毒组、纯中药组和鼠李糖乳杆菌组(P<0.05);鼠李糖乳杆菌发酵中药组血便记分和OPG值显著低于球虫攻毒组、纯中药组和鼠李糖乳杆菌组(P<0.05);鼠李糖乳杆菌发酵中药组CD4⁺、CD8⁺T...     

常山提取物对人工感染鸡柔嫩艾美耳球虫病的疗效观察

为探讨常山提取物对鸡球虫病的治疗效果,通过人工感染15日龄鸡柔嫩艾美耳球虫后在饲料中添加一定比例的药物,试验设常山提取物组(分别为200,100,50 mg/kg饲料)、鸡球虫散组(300mg/kg饲料)、地克珠利组(1 mg/kg饲料)、感染对照组和健康对照组,试验期至22日龄.结果显示,与感染对照组比较,所有给药组试验鸡盲肠和十二指肠肿胀明显减轻,血液性内容物明显减少;抗球虫指数分别为171.98,169.18,169.01,163.84,166.74,均达到中等抗球虫水平.结果表明,常山提取物具有良好的抗球虫效果,且作为一类中药组分,具有绿色环保、低毒低残留的特点,有望成为新型抗球虫药物.     

中药鸡球虫散超微粉对鸡球虫病的疗效研究

以15日龄817肉杂鸡为试验动物,研究中药鸡球虫散超微粉对人工感染鸡柔嫩艾美耳球虫的疗效。试验共设7个组：中药超微粉2％、1％、0．5％拌料给药组、中药普通粉（2％）拌料给药组、地克珠利组、感染不给药对照组和不感染不给药对照组。结果显示：中药超微粉2％拌料组、超微粉1％拌料组和地克珠利组抗球虫指数（AcI）分别为196．4、184．6、182．8,抗球虫效果优秀;中药普通粉组（2％拌料）和超微粉组（0．5％拌料）的ACl分别为174．2和169．0．抗球虫效果良好。     

复方抗球虫中药添加剂对肉鸡肠道健全指数和生产性能的影响

探讨复方抗球虫中药添加剂对肉鸡肠道健全指数和生产性能的影响。选取1日龄健康科宝(Cobb)雏鸡486 200只，随机分为对照组和试验组，每组11个重复，每个重复22 100只。对照组在1～14日龄日粮中添加盐霉素60 mg/kg, 15～35日龄日粮中添加马度米星铵5 mg/kg;试验组在1～35日龄日粮中添加3%复方抗球虫中药。试验周期为38 d。分别在18日龄、26日龄、34日龄采样进行球虫病变和肠道健全指数评估。结果表明，试验组对三种主要球虫病(堆型球虫、巨型球虫与柔嫩球虫)控制效果优于对照组(P<0.01),试验组肉鸡肠道健全指数评分极显著高于对照组(P<0.01)。与对照组比较，试验组1～38日龄肉鸡的平均体增重显著提高，每只增加88.67 g(P<0.01),平均料重比改善0.07(P<0.01),欧洲效益指数(EEF)提高28.07(P<0.01)。由此可见，复方抗球虫中药添加剂显著提高了鸡群肠道健全指数和生长性能肉，对鸡球虫病防控效果显著。     

盐霉素与中药联合用药抗鸡球虫病的疗效试验

将150只12日龄鸡随机分为5组,人工感染柔嫩艾美耳球虫,以鸡平均增重率、盲肠病变记分、卵囊值和抗球虫指数等指标为参数,综合评价中药和盐霉素单独及联合应用的抗球虫效果。研究结果表明:盐霉素组抗球虫指数为159.5,抗球虫效果中等;中药组抗球虫指数为181.5,抗球虫效果优秀;中药和盐霉素联合用药组的抗球虫指数为200.2,抗球虫效果也为优秀。试验证明中药和盐霉素联合用药效果要好于中药和盐霉素单独用药的效果。     

常山等中药浸提物复方对鸡柔嫩艾美耳球虫病的治疗试验

为了观察中药常山等浸提物与黄芪粗多糖组方对鸡球虫病的治疗效果,用广州大麻雏鸡对人工感染鸡柔嫩艾美耳球虫进行分组试验,结果显示,常山高(150mg)、中(100 mg)、低(50 mg)剂量组的抗球虫指数(ACI)分别为131.2、183.9、169.8,中剂量组和低剂量组分别达到了高效和中效;高剂量组可能由于常山浸提物过量产生了生长抑制等副作用致使ACI反而降低。试验表明,适量的中药常山等浸提物与黄芪粗多糖组方用于防治鸡球虫病是可行的,有望研发成一种新的抗球虫制剂。     

苦豆籽粕对鸡球虫病防治作用的试验研究

在三组15日龄试验鸡的饲料中分别添加0．5%、1．0%、1．5%的苦豆籽粕，同时用柔嫩艾美尔球虫孢子化卵囊进行攻毒，通过每克粪便卵囊教(OPG)、抗球虫指教(ACI)指标的测定及计算，结果显示说明在饲料中加入适当比例的苦豆籽粕能有效地预防和治疗鸡球虫病。增重效果经t检验表明三组试验鸡的增重效果不显著，但减轻了鸡球虫对雏鸡生长发育不良影响的程度。     

中药抗柔嫩艾美尔球虫机制研究

根据中兽医理论和鸡球虫病的特点，用纯中药组方，经组方药效筛选试验，选用抗球虫效果最佳的组方进行抗球虫机制研究，结果表明，所选中药组方具有明显的抑制未孢子化柔嫩艾美尔球虫卵囊的成熟，对孢子化孵囊具有杀灭作用，并且使外周血液中淋巴细胞尤其是Ｔ淋巴细胞增多，提高免疫器官中Ｔ和Ｂ淋巴细胞的数量和活性，从而提高机体的免疫能力，证明了该组具有高效抗球虫效果。     

安徽合肥市鸡球虫种类及感染情况调查

本文采用饱和盐水漂浮、重铬酸钾培养等方法，对合肥市79份鸡的粪样进行了鸡球虫感染情况的检查。结果表明：鸡球虫感染率为62．03％(49／79)。经鉴定，所获7种球虫均隶属艾美耳属，即：毒害艾美耳球虫(Eimeria necatrix)、堆型艾美耳球虫(E．acervulina)、巨型艾美耳球虫(E．maxima)、柔嫩艾美耳球虫(E．tenella)、和缓支美耳球虫(E．mitis)、哈氏艾美耳球虫(E．hagani)和早熟艾美耳球虫(E．praecox)。文中还对鸡球虫与地区、日龄的关系及优势虫种等进行了分析，得出合肥市鸡球虫感染率存在一定的地区性和日龄差异，鸡球虫优势虫种为毒害艾美耳球虫和堆型艾美耳球虫。     

中西抗球虫药配合用药疗效对比试验

以1日龄健康雏鸡为试验动物,研究了中药"克球散"、地克珠利、磺胺六甲氧嘧啶及其相互配合用药对鸡柔嫩艾美尔球虫疗效。试验共设9个组,12日龄时在饲料中按要求在相应试验组中加入药物,15日龄时,球虫感染组经口接种柔嫩艾美尔球虫孢子化卵囊8×104个/羽,23日龄剖杀试验鸡,测定抗球虫指数。结果显示:磺胺六甲氧嘧啶组、克球散+磺胺六甲氧嘧啶组、克球散+磺胺六甲氧嘧啶+地克珠利组的抗球虫指数分别为200.10、207.88和196.00,抗球虫效果优秀;磺胺六甲氧嘧啶+地克珠利组、克球散组、克球散+地克珠利组的抗球虫指数分别为169.46、169.14和175.16,抗球虫效果良好;地克珠利组的抗球虫指数为148.91,抗球虫效果相对较差。可见,中西配合用药能够提高疗效。     

Phase I evaluation of CCNU (lomustine) in tumor-bearing cats

1-(2-Chloroethyl)3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU) is an alkylating agent in the nitrosourea subclass. A prospective evaluation of CCNU was done to determine the maximally tolerated dosage of CCNU in tumor-bearing cats. Response data were obtained when available. Twenty-five cats were treated with CCNU at a dosage of 50-60 mg/m3 body surface area. Complete hematologic data were available for 13 cats. Neutropenia was the acute dose-limiting toxicity. The median neutrophil count at the nadir was 1,000 cells/microL (mean, 2,433 cells/microL; range, 0-9,694 cells/microL). The time of neutrophil nadir was variable, occurring 7-28 days after treatment, and counts sometimes did not return to normal for up to 14 days after the nadir. Based on these findings, a 6-week dosing interval and weekly hematologic monitoring after the 1st treatment with CCNU are recommended. The nadir of the platelet count may occur 14-21 days after treatment. The median platelet count at the nadir was 43,500 cells/microL. No gastrointestinal, renal, or hepatic toxicities were observed after a single CCNU treatment, and additional studies to evaluate the potential for cumulative toxicity should be performed. Five cats with lymphoma and 1 cat with mast cell tumor had measurable responses to CCNU. Phase II studies to evaluate antitumor activity should be completed with a dosing regimen of 50-60 mg/m3 every 6 weeks.     

Furosemide continuous rate infusion in the horse: evaluation of enhanced efficacy and reduced side effects

Continuous rate infusion (CRI) of furosemide in humans is considered superior to intermittent administration (IA). This study examined whether furosemide CRI, compared with IA, would increase diuretic efficacy with decreased fluid and electrolyte fluctuations and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in the horse. Five mares were used in a crossover-design study. During a 24-hour period, each horse received a total of 3 mg/kg furosemide by either CRI (0.12 mg/kg/h preceded by a loading dose of 0.12 mg/kg IV) or IA (1 mg/kg IV q8h). There was not a statistically significant difference in urine volume over 24 hours between methods; however, urine volume was significantly greater after CRI compared with IA during the first 8 hours ([median 25th percentile, 75th percentile]: 9.6 L [8.9, 14.4] for CRI versus 5.9 L [5.3, 6.0] for IA). CRI produced a more uniform urine flow, decreased fluctuations in plasma volume, and suppressed renal concentrating ability throughout the infusion period. Potassium, Ca, and Cl excretion was greater during CRI than IA (1,133 mmol [1.110, 1,229] versus 764 mmol [709, 904], 102.7 mmol [96.0, 117.2] versus 73.3 mmol [65.0, 73.5], and 1,776 mmol [1,657, 2.378] versus 1,596 mmol [1,457, 1,767], respectively). Elimination half-lives of furosemide were 1.35 and 0.47 hours for CRI and IA, respectively. The area under the excretion rate curve was 1,285.7 and 184.2 mL x mg/mL for CRI and IA, respectively. Furosemide CRI (0.12 mg/kg/h) for 8 hours, preceded by a loading dose (0.12 mg/kg), is recommended when profound diuresis is needed acutely in horses.     

Prevalence of gastric lesions in racing Alaskan sled dogs

Human and equine athletes are reported to have a high prevalence of gastric disease, and anecdotal evidence suggests a similar phenomenon applies to racing sled dogs. To investigate the prevalence of gastric disease in racing sled dogs, we conducted 2 gastroscopy studies on dogs competing in the annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race. A pilot study of dogs that were either dropped from the 2000 Iditarod Sled Dog Race because of illness or that finished the race indicated that, approximately 5 days after competing, 10 of 28 dogs (35%) had endoscopic evidence of gastric ulceration, erosion, or hemorrhage. The next year, an endoscopic study of 73 dogs participating in the 2001 Iditarod race was performed in order to evaluate a larger population of dogs. Data from 70 of these dogs could be used; 34 (48.5%) had ulceration, erosion, gastric hemorrhage, or some combination of these findings. When this group of 70 dogs was compared retrospectively to a control group of 87 dogs presented to the Texas A&M University (TAMU) Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, the Iditarod sled dogs had a significantly higher prevalence (P = .049) of gastric lesions. These findings suggest that, similar to athletes of other species, elite canine athletes have an increased prevalence of gastric disease compared to the canine population at large.     

The Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Dairy Cattle in Central Kenya

The epidemiology of H. placei and of other gastrointestinal nematodes in yearling dairy cattle was examined on two farms in Kiambu District, central Kenya during each of 13 one-month periods from April 1993 to April 1994. On each farm, 32 newly weaned dairy calves were given a single dose of albendazole and then placed on experimental pastures. Twelve of the animals were designated for bi-monthly slaughter (n = 2) and analysis of worm population characteristics and 20 were designated for blood and faecal collection and for weighing. Two parasite-free tracer calves were grazed alongside the weaner calves each month throughout the study period and were also slaughtered for analysis of worm populations. Faecal egg counts, haematological and serum pepsinogen determinations, herbage larval counts, and animal live weight changes were recorded monthly. The study revealed that Haemonchus placei, Trichostrongylus axei, Cooperia spp. and Oesophagostomum radiatum were responsible for parasitic gastroenteritis and that H. placei was the predominant nematode present in the young cattle on both farms. Faecal egg counts from resident cattle and necropsy worm counts revealed that pasture larval levels were directly related to the amount of rainfall. The total worm burdens in the animals were highest during the rainy season (March–June and October–December) and lowest during the dry seasons (July–September and January–February). The very low recovery of immature larvae of H. placei from the tracer calves indicated that arrested development is not a feature of the life cycle of this parasite in central Kenya. The maintenance of the parasite population depended on continuous cycling of infection between the host and the pasture. The agroclimatic conditions of the study area were such that, in general, favourable weather conditions for the development and survival of the free-living stages of gastrointestinal nematodes existed all year round.     

Diversity of Ectoparasites in Sheep Flocks in Sa~o Paulo,Brazil

The occurrence of ectoparasites in sheep flocks is frequently reported but seldom quantified. Sheep production used to be a predominantly family activity in the state of Sa~o Paulo (Brazil), but it began to become a commercial activity in the past decade. Thus, information about the ectoparasites existing in sheep flocks has become necessary. The present data were obtained by means of questionnaires sent to all sheep breeders belonging to the `Associaça~o Paulista de Criadores de Ovinos' (ASPACO; Sa~o Paulo State Association of Sheep Breeders). Response reliability was tested by means of random visits paid to 10.6% of the respondents. Most of the properties (89.5%) reported the presence of one or more ectoparasites. Screw-worm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) was the most frequent ectoparasite (72.5%), followed by bot fly larvae (Dermatobia hominis, 45.0%), ticks (Amblyomma cajennense) and Boophilus microplus, 31.3%) and finally lice (Damalinia ovis, 13.8%). Combined infestations also occurred, the most common one being screw-worm with bot fly larvae (36.0%) followed by bot fly larvae with ticks (13.9%), screw-worm with ticks (9.3%), bot fly larvae with lice (6.9%), and ticks with lice (5.0%). The most common triple combination was screw-worm, bot fly larvae and ticks (12.8%). Breeds raised for meat or wool were attacked by bot fly larvae and ticks more often than other breeds. Lice were only absent from animals of indigenous breeds. The relationships among these ectoparasites are discussed in terms of sheep breeds, flock size, seasonality and the ectoparasitic combinations on the host.     

Evaluation of biohydrogenation rate of canola vs. soya bean seeds as unsaturated fatty acids sources for ruminants in situ

An experiment was conducted to study disappearance of C14 to C18 fatty acids, lag times and biohydrogenation (BH) rates of C18 fatty acids of ground soya bean and canola seeds in situ. Three ruminally fistulated Dallagh sheep were used to determine ruminal BH of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs). Differences in the disappearance of fatty acids through the bags and lag times were observed between the oilseeds. We saw that the longer the incubation time of the oilseeds in the rumen, the lower the content of C18:2 and C18:3. Significantly higher lag times for both C18:2 and C18:3 were observed in ground canola compared to ground soya bean. BH rates of C18:2 and C18:3 fatty acids in soya bean were three times higher than those of canola. These results suggest that the fatty acid profile of fat source can affect the BH of UFAs by rumen micro‐organisms. So that UFAs of canola had higher ability to escape from ruminal BH. It seems that fatty acid profile of ruminant products is more affected by canola seed compared to soya bean seed.     

Serum biochemical values and mineral element contents of tissues in yaks

Serum biochemical values and the wet weight to dry weight ratios of tissues were determined in yaks in Shandan county of Gansu province. The liver, kidney, heart and muscle contents of seven elements in yaks were also analysed. Most serum biochemical values were similar to those of cattle, camels and sheep, but the calcium concentration was considerably above the normal range for other ruminants. The liver contained the highest concentrations of copper, manganese and cobalt and the kidney of selenium, iron and calcium.Abbreviations Alb albumin - ALT alanine aminotransferase - AST aspartate aminotransferase - BUN blood urea nitrogen - Chol cholesterol - Glob globulin - -GT -glutamyl transpeptidase - IP inorganic phosphorus - TP total protein     

Avian brood parasitism — a growing research area in behavioral ecology (part Ⅱ)

正We are pleased to publish the second special issue on avian brood parasitism and to be responsible guest editors for the two special issues of Chinese Birds (Vol. 3, No. 4, 2012 and Vol. 4, No. 1, 2013), entitled "Avian Brood Parasitism - A Growing Research Area in Behavioral Ecology". The first issue was published in December 2012. The goal of the two special issues is to publish accumulated knowledge and some of the recent developments in