MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF INTRACRANIAL TISSUE ACCUMULATIONS IN DOMESTIC DUCKS (Anas platyrhynchos f. dom.) WITH FEATHER CRESTS

The crested breed of domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos f. dom.) has been described as a variety which has high pre- and postnatal mortalities, malformations in skull and brain anatomy, and several central nervous deficiencies. In addition, intracranial tissue accumulations have been diagnosed in purebred Crested ducks. The incidence, heredity and inheritance of these accumulations as well as their pathogenesis are still generally unknown. The aims of this study were to examine the head of Crested ducks, plain-headed duck breeds, and their crossbreeding relating to the incidence of intracranial alterations. These examinations were performed using magnetic resonance imaging. We found a high incidence of intracranial tissue accumulations in domestic ducks with feather crests. Creasted ducks had more intracranial tissue deposits than plain-headed ducks (p < 0.001). In the present study a correlation between the volume of the crest cushion and the volume of the intracranial tissue deposit could not be found (r = 0.014). Some of the Crested ducks had encephaloceles in addition to the crest cushion.     

Brain size, brain composition and intracranial fat bodies in a population of free-living crested ducks ('Hochbrutflugenten')

(1) Brain sizes and brain structure volumes of crested specimens from a population of 'Hochbrutflugenten' ducks (HBTcr), living under seminatural conditions, were compared with those of other duck breeds, among them the breed 'Landente' with the same morphological trait, the crest (LEcr). (2) Brains of both HBTcr and LEcr were larger than expected from an allometric comparison with uncrested breeds. (3) Fat bodies invading the skull were observed in both breeds. (4) In LEcr they could be voluminous; after subtraction of their volume from the brain volume, most brain structures measured were allometrically of the same size as in uncrested breeds. (5) In contrast, HBTcr had small fat bodies, and most of their brain structures were allometrically larger than those of the other breeds. (6) A small fat body in the skull does not appear to influence the survival of HBTcr under seminatural conditions.     

高邮鸭肌肉生长抑制素基因(MSTN)5'调控区多态性与生长及腹脂率的关联分析

肌肉生长抑制素(Myostatin,MSTN)基因在发育和成熟的骨骼肌中特异表达,对肌肉具有负调控作用。采用PCR-SSCP技术检测了3个不同高邮鸭群体和1个绍鸭群体MSTN5'的单核苷酸多态性,并与0及3～10周龄体重和腹脂率进行相关性分析。结果:在MSTN基因5'调控区的1 046 bp处检测到C→G的突变。在4个鸭群中,均检测到3种基因型(CC、CG和GG基因型),且都以C等位基因为优势等位基因。最小二乘法分析结果表明,不同基因型对试验的4个群体鸭周龄生长无显著影响;高邮鸭3个群体间平均腹脂率无显著差异,但绍鸭腹脂率均极显著低于3个高邮鸭群体(P<0.01);不同基因型对高邮鸭3个不同群体的腹脂率均有显著影响,GG型高邮鸭腹脂率显著高于CG型和CC型(P<0.05)。就5'调控区而言,MSTN基因作为影响腹脂率的候选基因有待于进一步的研究。     

Dietary L-arginine supplementation beneficially regulates body fat deposition of meat-type ducks

1. Unlike mammals, uricotelic species, such as the duck, cannot synthesise endogenous arginine (Arg). This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that dietary L-Arg supplementation might regulate body fat deposition in ducks without affecting their fast growth rate. 2. A total of 160 21-d-old male and female White Pekin ducks were assigned randomly to two treatments: a non-supplemented control and supplementation at 10 g/kg L-Arg of a maize and soybean meal-based diet. 3. The 3-week feeding trial showed that the addition of L-Arg had no significant effect on feed intake, but significantly increased body weight gain by 5·2 %, breast muscle weight relative to live body weight by 9·9%, carcase crude protein content by 9·2%, ether extract content in breast muscle by 11·9%. Arg supplementation significantly decreased skin with fat and abdominal fat pad contents by 7·6% and 4·9% respectively and the ether extract content of carcase by 7·2%. 4. The results of this study indicate that a diet with 10 g/kg supplemental L-Arg could reduce the fat deposition of carcase and abdominal adipose cell size (diameter and volume), enhance intramuscular fat in breast muscles, as well as increase muscle and protein gain. The decreased fat depot in the carcase may be attributed to a reduction of hepatic lipogenic enzyme activity.     

添加动植物性油脂填饲对鸭肥肝性能的差异影响

在骡鸭与樱桃谷鸭的填肥料中添加4%玉米油或鸭油,研究添加动植物油脂填饲对鸭产肝性能的差异影响。结果表明:添加玉米油与添加鸭油填饲相比,两品种鸭于较低的料肝比获得较高的肝重,且骡鸭添加玉米油组的肥肝率显著高于鸭油组(高出30%);经填饲,骡鸭的肥肝重较樱桃谷鸭高,同时料肝比较低,但差异均不显著(P>0.05)。这意味着肥肝生产中,填饲时添加玉米油较添加鸭油更利于提高产肝性能,并且对骡鸭更有效。对于其根本原因,需进一步从分子水平上研究鸭肝的生脂酶基因、与甘油三酯分泌及脂肪分解相关酶基因的表达差异。     

仙湖肉鸭A系皮脂率与体重、体尺的相关及通径分析

本研究对仙湖肉鸭(A系)7周龄的皮脂率、体重、体尺指标等8个性状进行了相关分析和通径分析。结果表明:仙湖肉鸭公鸭的体斜长、胸宽、胫长与皮脂率均呈中等正相关,且相关关系显著(0.01相似文献   

Isolation and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from chickens and ducks from Egypt

The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in free range chickens is a good indicator of the prevalence of T. gondii oocysts in the environment because chickens feed from the ground. In the present study, prevalence of T. gondii in 121 free range chickens (Gallus domesticus) and 19 ducks (Anas sp.) from a rural area surrounding Giza, Egypt was assessed. Blood, heart, and brain from each animal were examined for T. gondii infection. Antibodies to T. gondii, assayed with the modified agglutination test (MAT), were found in 49 (40.4%) chickens in titers of 1:5 in 11, 1:10 in four, 1:20 in four, 1:40 in eight, 1:80 in 10, and 1:160 or more in 12 chickens. Antibodies were found in three ducks each with a titer of 1:80. Hearts and brains of seropositive (MAT > or = 1:5) chickens and ducks were bioassayed in mice. Additionally, hearts and brains of seronegative (MAT<1:5) animals were bioassayed in T. gondii-free cats. T. gondii was isolated from 19 of 49 seropositive chickens (one with a titer of 1:5, two with a titer of 1:20, one with a titer of 1:40, five with a titer of 1:80, three with a titer of 1:160, and seven with a titer of > or = 1:360). One cat fed tissues pooled from 15 seronegative chickens shed T. gondii oocysts, while two cats fed tissues of 34 seronegative chickens did not shed oocysts. T. gondii was isolated from one of the seropositive ducks by bioassay in mice. The two cats fed tissues from 16 seronegative ducks did not shed oocysts. Genotyping of 20 chicken isolates of T. gondii using the SAG 2 locus indicated that 17 isolates were type III and three were type II. The duck isolate of T. gondii was type III. The mice inoculated with tissue stages of all 21 isolates of T. gondii from chickens and ducks remained asymptomatic, indicating that phenotypically they were not type I because type I strains are lethal for mice. Infections with mixed genotypes were not found.     

Effect of selection for improved body weight and composition on muscle and meat characteristics in Muscovy duck

1. For 25 years, the Muscovy duck has been selected for greater body weight at slaughter age, higher meat yield and lower fat content. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of such selection on the biochemical and technological characteristics of duck meat. 2. A line which has been maintained without any selection since 1975 (control line) and a heavy line now commercialised (selected line) were reared under the same conditions. We compared growth performances, dressing and dissection yields and biochemical and technological characteristics of duck meat at 8, 10 and 12 weeks of age. 3. Our results showed that an indirect effect of selection was to increase the duck growth rate. At a given age, muscle weights and yields as well as carcase fat content were higher for selected ducks. In the selected line, muscle fibres were larger and the collagen content in muscles lower. 4. The Sartorius muscle in ducks from the selected line exhibited a higher percentage in numbers of white type IIb fibres to the detriment of red type IIa fibres. Its glycolytic enzyme activity was higher and its oxidative enzyme activity lower. 5. In breast muscle, selection decreased the rate of post-mortem decline in pH value, increased protein and mineral contents and decreased moisture. It did not affect fibre type, colour, haem pigment and lipid contents, collagen solubility or drip loss. 6. In conclusion, the effects of Muscovy duck selection on meat quality were relatively moderate.     

Effects of alfalfa meal on carcase quality and fat metabolism of Muscovy ducks

1. The effects of alfalfa meal on carcase quality and fat metabolism of Muscovy duck were evaluated. The objective of this research was to establish whether alfalfa meal can reduce fat content and improve carcase quality of Muscovy duck. Animal products with a high fat content present a risk factor for many diseases. Reducing fat content in poultry products is an important goal for the poultry industry.

2. A total of 240 14-d-old white Muscovy ducks were selected and randomly allocated to 1 of 4 dietary treatments containing 0, 3, 6, and 9% of alfalfa meal for 5 weeks. Growth performances were recorded and carcase characteristics and lipid parameters were analysed.

3. Results showed that 3, 6, and 9% alfalfa meal in diet had no significant effects on growth performance of Muscovy ducks from 14 to 49?d of age. Ducks given 3, 6, and 9% alfalfa meal had significantly higher dressing percentage and lower abdominal fat percentage compared with those given no alfalfa meal. Ducks given 9% alfalfa meal had higher breast meat percentage compared with those given no alfalfa meal. The concentrations of triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and free fatty acid in serum of ducks fed on alfalfa meal decreased. Alfalfa meal in the diet decreased abdominal fat percentage and improved carcase traits of Muscovy duck.

4. The study showed that dietary alfalfa meal decreased abdominal fat percentage and improved carcase traits, without an adverse effect on performance.     

枞阳媒鸭体尺及屠宰性能研究

 枞阳媒鸭是安徽省新发现的遗传资源,本研究对来自枞阳媒鸭保种区的60只300日龄枞阳媒鸭（公母鸭各30只）进行了体尺及屠宰性能测定。结果表明枞阳媒鸭公母鸭的体斜长、龙骨长和半潜水长差异极显著（P<0.01）,胸深差异显著(P<0.05),其他体尺指标差异不显著(P>0.05);母鸭腹脂率极显著高于公鸭(P<0.01),而全净膛率和半净膛率显著低于公鸭(P<0.05),其它屠宰性能指标差异不显著(P>0.05)。测定结果表明枞阳媒鸭体型较小,应将体斜长、龙骨长和半潜水长等指标作为育种中的选育指标;枞阳媒鸭具有瘦肉率高,皮脂率低的特点,屠宰率、皮脂率和瘦肉率公母鸭差异很小,是选育高瘦肉低脂肪型肉鸭的理想素材,应当加大对枞阳媒鸭的品种保护,并对该地方鸭种进行深入的研究和开发利用。     

枞阳媒鸭新类群(皖山媒鸭)母鸭体尺及屠宰性能相关性研究

本研究对安徽省怀宁县养殖的枞阳媒鸭新类群(皖山媒鸭)300日龄产蛋母鸭进行了体尺、屠宰性能测定及相关性分析,为以后进行媒鸭新品系的选育提供参考资料。本研究对200只母鸭进行称重、体尺测量及屠宰,并测定屠体重、半净膛、全净膛、胸肌、腿肌、皮脂、腹脂等性状指标,并分析了各指标间的相关性。测定结果显示,枞阳媒鸭新类群(皖山媒鸭)母鸭体型较小,平均体重为1.5kg,屠宰率为87.53%,皮脂率为27.99%,腹脂率2.76%,瘦肉率为24.31%。各指标间相关性分析表明,活体重与多数指标有显著或极显著的相关,其中与皮脂率、腹脂率相关极显著(P<0.01),与瘦肉率存在显著负相关(P<0.05)。测定结果表明,皖山媒鸭成年母鸭体重较小,具有瘦肉率高,皮脂率低的特点,是选育高瘦肉低脂肪型肉鸭的理想素材,应当加大对该类群媒鸭的品种保护,并进行深入的研究和开发利用。     

不同性别雷州黑鸭屠宰性能及肉品质的测定

随机选取60只健康无病的300日龄雷州黑羽鸭,公、母各半,进行屠宰试验及肉品质分析。结果表明,公鸭全净膛率和瘦肉率显著高于母鸭(P<0.05);母鸭腹脂率和皮脂率极显著高于公鸭(P<0.01),而胸肌率却极显著低于公鸭(P<0.01);公、母鸭胸肌肉色(L、a、b值)、腿肌蒸煮损失率和胸肌嫩度均存在极显著差异(P<0.01);母鸭胸肌脂肪含量显著高于公鸭(P<0.05),胸肌和腿肌粗蛋白质含量极显著高于公鸭(P<0.01)。提示,雷州黑鸭屠宰率和全净膛率都较高,母鸭肉质和肌肉营养成分高于公鸭,胸肌优于腿肌。     

北京鸭胸肌厚度与屠体性能指标的相关关系研究

先后进行两次饲养试验和屠宰试验研究肉鸭胸肌厚度和胸肌质量、胸肌率的相关关系。试验1饲养大体型A品系和小体型B、C品系的北京鸭各150只至7周龄,每个品系随机选取8只公鸭和8只母鸭进行屠宰试验。探索超声波扫描技术活体测定北京鸭胸肌厚度的方法,建立北京鸭胸肌厚度与胸肌质量、胸肌率等指标的相关关系。试验2饲养B系肉鸭1900只至7周龄,随机选取100只公鸭和100只母鸭进行屠宰试验,测定胸肌厚度和主要屠体指标,进行相关分系。结果:超声波测定北京鸭的胸肌厚度,图象清晰;大体型品系北京鸭7周龄的胸肌厚度达到22.3mm,小体型为16.2和16.3mm。胸肌厚度与胸肌质量、胸肌率的相关系数分别为0.6328(P<0.01)、0.4721(P<0.01),均达到极显著水平。结果表明,超声波扫描技术能够准确地测定北京鸭的胸肌厚度;北京鸭的胸肌厚度与胸肌产量、胸肌率存在显著的正相关关系。     

白色羽毛半番鸭选育的研究

从正交，反交，轮交和侧交揭示产生半番鸭白色羽毛起主导作用的是家鸭。不同基因型家鸭产生白羽半番鸭频率是不同的，同一品种母家鸭个体间产生白羽半番鸭亦不同，母爱鸭生产白羽率高的个体，用不同公番鸭交配，其Ｆ１白率仍然是高的，估测ｈ＾２为０．６６３８。经５个世代亲本选择，半番鸭白羽率达９３．４９％，１０周龄活重２７８６克。     

Susceptibility of ducks and duck-origin cell cultures to infectious bursal disease virus

Specific-pathogen-free (SPF) ducks that were 1, 3, 4, 7, 10, 30, and 180 days old were inoculated experimentally orally or nasally with infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). Attempts to induce clinical disease in ducks with strain J1 or FK-78 of IBDV were unsuccessful. Virus-recovery attempts from organ and intestinal contents were also unsuccessful. No significant gross or histopathological lesions were found in liver, spleen, kidney, heart, or bursa of Fabricius of 1- and 3-day-old ducks at 4 or 7 days postinoculation. The ratios of bursa weight to body weight of 1-, 10-, and 30-day-old inoculated and control ducks revealed no difference at 21 days postinoculation. The ducks responded serologically, however, by developing both virus-neutralizing and agar-gel-precipitin antibodies. Virus multiplied in embryonated duck eggs and duck embryo fibroblast cells but not in duck kidney cells.     

仙湖肉鸭B系肌内脂肪含量与屠体性能关系研究

本研究对仙湖肉鸭B系的肌内脂肪含量与屠体性状关系进行分析.结果表明:公鸭活重、屠体重、半净膛重、全净膛重与肌内脂肪含量均表现为中等正相关,其中半净膛重与肌内脂肪含量的相关关系达到显著水平(P<0.05),胸肌重、腿肌重、皮脂重、皮脂率均与肌内脂肪含量呈弱的正相关,相关关系不显著;母鸭腹脂重、腹脂率与肌内脂肪含量的相关系...     

不同饲养方式对优质肉鸭屠宰性能和肌肉营养成分的影响

为制定优质肉鸭最优饲养技术方案,提高优质肉鸭饲养的经济效益和品质,本研究选择900只1日龄优质肉鸭(益客集团E品系),随机分为3组,每组3个重复,分别采用地面平养、笼养、网上平养,在70日龄进行屠宰性能和肌肉主要营养成分测定。结果表明:网上平养肉鸭的屠体重较其他2种饲养方式有显著提升(P<0.05);网上平养的全净膛重与半净膛重、头脚重、胸肌重与笼养无显著差异,但其半净膛重、头脚重、胸肌重、腹脂重高于地面平养(P<0.05);网上平养的腿肌重与其他2种饲养方式无显著性差异;网上平养肉鸭的胸肌中蛋白质含量较其他2种方式显著提升(P<0.05),在腿肌蛋白质含量上三者差异不显著;网上平养肉鸭的腿肌脂肪含量高于地面平养(P<0.05),而3种饲养方式的胸肌脂肪含量无显著差异;胶原及水分含量与笼养相比在胸腿肌中差异不显著。可见,优质肉鸭采用网上平养较为适合。     

Influence of dietary calcium on lead poisoning in mallard ducks (Anas platyrynchos)

Forty-five mallard ducks were allotted into 3 dietary groups. Group I was fed pelleted calcium-supplemented corn; group II was fed a pelleted commercial duck ration; and group III was fed cracked corn. Ten ducks of each group were given four No. 4 lead shot via an esophageal tube, and 5 ducks of each dietary group were kept as pair-fed controls. Anorexia and weight loss were most severe in the treated group III ducks. Group III had a maximum reduction in food consumption of 87% followed by a slight improvement in appetite; they lost 35% of their initial body weight. Group I treated ducks had a reduction in food consumption of 64% that eventually returned to the quantities consumed at the start of the experiment; group I ducks lost 18% of their initial body weight. Group II treated ducks maintained healthy appetites during the experiment and had a weight gain of 2% of their initial body weight. The number of ducks that became moribund and were euthanatized differed significantly among the treated groups with 100% of group III, 50% of group I, and 0% of group II treated ducks becoming moribund. All 3 groups of treated ducks had increased protoporphyrin IX concentrations compared with controls. Groups I and III lead-treated ducks had significant (P less than 0.05) reductions in erythrocyte counts, PCV, hemoglobin concentrations, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations as compared with controls. Group II had reduced hemoglobin concentration and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration compared with controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Comparison of the kinetics of the specific cellular immune response to duck hepatitis B virus in infected and immune ducks.

The kinetics of the cell mediated immune response by ducks acutely and chronically infected with, or immune to infection by duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) was determined. This was measured by an antigen specific blastogenesis assay to duck hepatitis B surface antigen (DHBsAg) and duck hepatitis B core antigen (DHBcAg) using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The three outcomes of acute infection by DHBV were either clearance from both serum and liver, clearance from serum but not liver, or the development of persistent viraemia. Acutely infected ducks that failed to clear the infection also failed to develop a significant cellular immune response to both antigens. Ducks with chronic infection acquired as neonates or as the result of the failure to clear acute infection had an increasing cellular immune response over time. Two groups of immune ducks were examined. These were either ducks that had become immune following infection or that had been vaccinated. Both groups of ducks demonstrated significant cellular responses following challenge with DHBV irrespective of the level of their responses before challenge. However, there was a reduction in the response of their PBMC over a 4-week-period postchallenge. The range of cellular immune responses to DHBV antigens observed in this study has a number of counterparts in hepatitis B infection of humans. Coupled with the defined clinical outcomes that can be established in the duck/DHBV model, further study of the cellular immune response to DHBV is warranted.