Lateral Branches of the Testicular Artery Affect Testicular Shape in Adult Stallions

The objective of this study was to investigate the arterial patterns of the stallion testis in relation to testicular shape. Two hundred and fifty-one stallion testes were evaluated for the presence of the lateral branches of the testicular artery. Seven specimens had their testicular arteries filled with latex milk, fixed in 70% alcohol, and dissected. Two hundred six specimens (82%) had a single testicular artery and no lateral branches; 39 testes (16%) had one lateral branch of the testicular artery; and six testes (2%) had two lateral branches of the testicular artery each. The lateral branches of the testicular artery obtained from the adult stallions, more than 5 years old, were associated with distinct lateral bulging, giving them a pear-like shape, whereas similar vascular pattern in young colts, less than 1 year old, did not cause similar shape change. Five distinct patterns of the branching of the testicular artery were determined. We concluded that the lateral branches of the testicular artery are present in approximately 20% of stallion testes. This anatomic pattern is associated with a lateral bulge that develops slowly over several years and is associated with a change in testicular shape from an ellipsoid in colts to a pear-like shape in adult stallions.     

Anomalous Origin of the Coronary Arteries in Two Calves

Anomalities of the coronary arteries may include one or more of the following variations: abnormal number, abnormal course, or abnormal origin. Many of these anomalies have been described in man.⁽²⁸⁾ Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (A.O.L.C.A.) has been estimated ⁽¹⁹⁾ to occur in one of 300,000 children and to represent approximately 0.5% of all types of congenital heart disease. In a recent review⁽²⁸⁾ of these conditions in man, anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (A.O.R.C.A.) had been reported 16 times, A.O.L.C.A. 39 times, and anomalous origin of both coronary arteries from the pulmonary artery (A.O.B.C.A.) 5 times.     

圈养南非海狮血液生理生化指标初探

南非海狮是目前国内外动物园、水族馆中饲养比较普遍的动物,但经常出现一些细菌性、病毒性和寄生虫等疾病,在海狮健康状况监测和疾病诊断中需要有生理生化指标正常值作为参考。但目前南非海狮的正常生理生化指标报道较少。杭州动物园先后对6只成年南非海狮进行采血,共收集20个（12雄8雌）血液常规样本测定了15项主要生理指标和6个（4雄2雌）血清生化标本对18项主要生化指标进行检测。在测定项目中WBC、RBC、MCH、MCV、RDW、HCT、MPV、PCT、ALT、TP、ALB、TBIL、GLU、Ca2＋、Pi、Mg2＋、K＋、Na＋测定值个体间差异不大,而HGB、MCHC、PLT、GGT、ALP、Cr、UA测定值个体间差异较大。在血液常规指标中只有HGB和Lymph（％）雌雄间的差异显著（P〈0．05）。WBC、HGB、PIJT的测定值与斑海豹报道的参考值比较接近,红细胞大小、MCV与人的参考值较接近。这些指标的测定对于海狮的健康状况监测和疾病诊断等工作都将有一定的参考价值。     

Precision finishing of South African lambs in feedlots: a review

Tropical Animal Health and Production - In the intensification of sheep production systems, feedlot finishing plays a fundamental role in preparing lambs for slaughter, as well as relieving the...     

Macroanatomical Aspects of the Lumbar Plexus and its Branches in the Sparrowhawk

This study examined the plexus lumbalis and its branches in the sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus). Fifteen sparrowhawks were used in this study. After administering an anaesthetic to the birds, the body cavities were opened. The birds were fixed with formaldehyde after draining of the blood. The nerves of the plexus lumbalis were dissected separately and photographed. The plexus lumbalis was formed by the union of the branches of the synsacral spinal nerves, which left from the ventrolaterale of os lumbosacrale. The plexus consisted of three (2nd, 3rd and 4th) synsacral spinal nerves. The cranial and caudal nerves originating from the plexus lumbalis were the nervus cutaneous femoris, nervus coxalis cranialis, nervus femoralis, nervus saphenus and nervus obturatorius. The general macroanatomical shape of the plexus lumbalis and the distribution of the nerves originating from this plexus were similar to those of other bird species.     

Movement behaviour of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides in a South African impoundment

The objectives of this study were to describe movements and area use patterns of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides in relation to abiotic factors (water temperature, river inflow and water level). The study was conducted in the Kubusi arm of Wriggleswade Dam, Eastern Cape, South Africa where nine largemouth bass (310–385?mm FL) were surgically implanted with individually coded acoustic transmitters and monitored for nine months (May 2010 to January 2011) using an array of five moored acoustic data-logging receivers. The daily position occupied by largemouth bass was significantly affected by water temperature (P<0.001) and river inflow (P<0.001), whereas water level had no effect. Largemouth bass spent little or no time in the shallow river inlet areas when water temperature was <12.5 °C, but as water temperature increased, their utilisation of shallow areas increased significantly. The results from this study demonstrate the importance of environmental factors, particularly water temperature, on the movement of largemouth bass.     

Balloon Valvuloplasty for Treatment of Pulmonic Stenosis in English Bulldogs with an Aberrant Coronary Artery

Background: English Bulldogs (EB) with pulmonic stenosis (PS) sometimes have an aberrant coronary artery (CA) type R2A encircling the pulmonary artery (PA). Balloon valvuloplasty (BV) is treatment of choice for severe PS, but is considered to be contraindicated in dogs with aberrant CA. Hypothesis: Conservative BV in EB with aberrant CA is safe and improves clinical signs and quality of life. Animals: Four client‐owned EB with severe PS were retrospectively reviewed/analysed. Methods: Retrospective study: Case records, echocardiography, BV, and follow‐up investigations of EB diagnosed with severe PS and treated with BV were reviewed. The ratios of PA to aortic (Ao) velocity time integral (VTI) were calculated to assess progression/improvement of PS. Results: An aberrant CA was confirmed on angiography in all EB. Conservative BV was performed, using a balloon of the size of the PA annulus or smaller (0.6–1 × PA annulus size). All dogs survived the procedure, but only a mild reduction in pressure gradient was achieved. There was an improvement in PA to Ao VTI in 3 of 4 dogs (P≤ .017), which were free of evidence of congestive heart failure (CHF) 5, 10, and 15 months after BV. One dog that had right‐sided CHF when BV was performed died due to progressive right‐sided CHF within 3 months. Conclusions: Conservative BV in EB might be safe and might improve quality and quantity of life.     

基于RAD-seq静原鸡保种群体的遗传变异分析

旨在分析静原鸡白羽、麻羽、黑羽保种群之间的遗传变异,挖掘调控特征性状的关键候选基因。本研究利用RAD-seq技术对180日龄特征明显、发育正常且健康的白羽、麻羽、黑羽静原鸡(每个羽色选取60个个体,40只母鸡,20只公鸡)进行测序,基于SNP标记计算观察杂合度(Ho)、群体内核酸多态性(Pi)、群体的平均近交系数(Fis)等指标,分析静原鸡3个类群的遗传多样性和群体结构,并通过选择性清除分析和全基因组关联分析(GWAS)筛选出候选基因,利用KOBAS对候选基因进行KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes)通路富集,最终筛选出调控静原鸡羽色的候选基因。测序结果表明,静原鸡180个样品共产生198.83 Gb Clean Data,Q30达到93%以上。遗传多样性分析表明,白羽、麻羽、黑羽静原鸡分别鉴定出238 533、233 562和240 820个SNPs标记,Ho、Pi和Fis分别在0.273 2~0.278 2、0.304 9~0.309 6和0.096 1~0.109 8之间。群体结构分析表明,静原鸡根据不同羽色分为不同类群。通过选择性清除分析和全基因组关联分析共筛选出11个(FZD4、WNT16、EDNRB、TYR、KRAS、CTNNB1、DDC、MC1R、CAMK2A、PRKCB、PRKCA)与静原鸡羽色相关的候选基因,富集结果显示这些基因主要与黑色素生成、酪氨酸代谢和Wnt信号传导等通路相关。综上所述,本研究利用SNPs标记信息可以全面地评价静原鸡的保种现状,为静原鸡的遗传资源保护奠定理论基础。同时,筛选出了与静原鸡羽色性状相关的候选基因,为静原鸡不同羽色的品系化培育提供新的遗传标记和基因靶点。     

苜蓿田主要节肢动物种群数量研究

对甘肃省定西市九华沟苜蓿(Medicago sativa)田节肢动物主要种类的数量动态进行系统研究,结果表明:苜蓿田主要害虫是苜蓿斑蚜(Therioaphis trifolii)、豌豆蚜(Acyrthosip hon pisum)、蓟马(Thripidae)和盲蝽(Miridae)等,主要天敌是瓢虫(Coccinellidae)、草蛉(Chrysopidae)、食蚜蝇(Syrphidae)、寄生蜂、小花蝽(Orius minutes)和蜘蛛等;苜蓿斑蚜、豌豆蚜和蓟马在苜蓿上的消长动态呈单峰型,高峰期分别出现在6月下旬、7月上旬和7月上旬;建立了苜蓿斑蚜、豌豆蚜、蓟马和盲蝽的时序动态模型;蚜虫与瓢虫、草蛉、食蚜蝇、寄生蜂、蜘蛛、蓟马与小花蝽,盲蝽与蜘蛛的相互作用表明主要天敌与害虫自然种群数量之间呈极显著的互作关系,天敌的发生出现明显的时间跟随现象,比害虫推迟10-20 d。     

Variation in the functions of village goats in Zimbabwe and South Africa

The objective of the study was to compare the functions and management systems of goats in Chirumanzu district in Zimbabwe and, Alfred Nzo and Amatole districts in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Data were collected using participatory rural appraisal techniques and direct observations. In addition, structured questionnaires from 344 households as follows; 69 from Alfred Nzo district, 144 from Amatole district and 132 from Chirumanzu district were also used to retrieve information from farmers. There were more female goat owners in male-headed households in Chirumanzu (75%) than in Amatole (27%) and Alfred Nzo (30%). Mean goat flock sizes per household were markedly high in Amatole (14.0 ± 0.31) and Alfred Nzo (14.1 ± 1.42) as compared to Chirumanzu (4.7 ± 0.30). There were positive correlations (r = 0.30 for Amatole, r = 0.34 for Alfred Nzo and r = 0.25 for Chirumanzu; P < 0.05) between goat flock sizes and cattle herd sizes kept per household. Seventy-nine and 78% of households in Amatole and Alfred Nzo kept goats mainly for initiation ceremonies, respectively. Nearly all (95%) of the households in Chirumanzu reared goats for household consumption. Goat houses in all the districts were poorly constructed. Farmers’ perceptions showed that most goat mortalities were mainly caused by gastrointestinal parasites and tick-borne diseases, especially heartwater. About 29, 15 and 27% of households in Alfred Nzo, Amatole and Chirumanzu, respectively, owned bucks. There were no formal markets for goats in the three districts. Chirumanzu had more females owning goats than the other two districts. No adolescents owned goats in all the three districts. Adolescent boys participated in the management of goats more than adolescent girls across the three districts. Differences in the importance of goats among countries and regions should be borne in mind when designing goat improvement and rural development programmes.     

Evidence for a new field Culicoides vector of African horse sickness in South Africa

Between February and May 1998, approximately 100 horses died of African horse sickness (AHS) in the cooler, mountainous, central region of South Africa. On 14 affected farms, 156,875 Culicoides of 27 species were captured. C. imicola Kieffer, hitherto considered the only field vector for AHS virus (AHSV), constituted <1% of the total Culicoides captured, and was not found on 29% of the farms. In contrast, 65% of the Culicoides were C. bolitinos Meiswinkel, and was found on all farms. Five isolations of AHSV were made from C. bolitinos, and none from 18 other species of Culicoides (including C. imicola).     

The effect of a natural maedi-visna virus infection on the productivity of South African sheep

A cohort study was conducted in order to measure the effect of the chronic indurative lymphocytic mastitis caused by the South African strain of maedi visna virus (MVV) on the pre-weaning growth of lambs born either of naturally infected or uninfected ewes kept under similar conditions. Fifty naturally infected ewes as well as another 40 from a maedi-visna-free source to be used as control animals, were purchased and kept in separate flocks which were managed in a similar way. All the ewes were of the same breed and 3-4 years old. During the adaptation period, and through the mating, pregnancy and lactation periods they were periodically monitored for the presence of MVV serum antibodies. The lambs were weighed at birth and thereafter every 2 weeks until the age of 90 days, when they were weaned. The ewes were then slaughtered, and their udders examined histologically and the number of lymphocytic follicles were counted and assessed. Although the calculated values indicated a correlation between the number of follicles in the udder and the reduction in the growth rate of the lambs, this was not statistically significant. Similarly, despite higher counts of lymphoid follicles in the udders of sero-positive ewes as compared to those that were sero-negative and the lower ewe productivity indexes in infected ewes, no statistically significant differences were found in the indexes of ewes in different follicle categories.     

草原红牛微卫星DNA群体遗传变异分析研究

对于动物而言，遗传多样性一般指品种内个体在DNA水平上千差万别。通过对群体遗传变异进行分析研究，可以了解品种的遗传结构、生活背景，分析其进化历史，探讨品种濒危的原因和现状，提出合理的保种措施。     

Leptospirosis as a cause of "white spot" kidneys in South African pig abattoirs

The incidence of isolation of Leptospira sp. from the kidneys of slaughter pigs with "white-spot" macroscopic lesions was determined. Histology and general bacteriology were performed. Leptospira pomona was isolated from 19/21 kidneys showing macroscopic lymphocytic lesions.     

Efficacy of a commercially available coryza vaccine against challenge with recent South African NAD-independent isolates of Haemophilus paragallinarum in chickens

In South Africa the incidence of NAD-independent Haemnophilus paragallinarum isolation from clinical cases is increasing. This study was carried out to test whether a commercially available coryza vaccine (Nobilis Coryza, Intervet International BV) could protect chickens against challenge with recent NAD-independent isolates. SPF chickens were vaccinated twice at 3 and 7 weeks of age and were challenged at 9 weeks of age with 5 different NAD-independent isolates of serotype A or C-3. The results after challenge show that the coryza vaccine induces good protection against challenge with the different South African NAD-independent isolates of H. paragallinarum, including serotype C-3.     

Browsing of Grewia occidentalis by domestic stock in a South African savanna: the influence of bush clumps

In South African karoo categorised by multi-species bush clumps, skirted shrub species appear to physically defend the palatable shrub Grewia occidentalis against browsing by eland (Taurotragus oryx). Skirted shrubs appear to defend G. occidentalis by preventing access to plants and by reducing the accessibility of G. occidentalis foliage to the large muzzle of eland. Compared to eland, domestic stock such as goats, have a smaller body and muzzle, and these features may allow them to overcome the physical defence offered by skirted shrubs against the browsing of G. occidentalis. Our study of G. occidentalis browsed by domestic stock indicated that mature and seedling G. occidentalis typically occurred with skirted shrub species. Mature and seedling G. occidentalis growing with skirted shrubs had lower intensities of browsing than other G. occidentalis, and mature G. occidentalis growing with skirted shrubs had greater numbers of fruit than other G. occidentalis. In our study area, a non-selective grazing/browsing system is used and camps are grazed/browsed until a high proportion of forage is removed from most plants. Under this system, mature and seedling G. occidentalis are common within the study area and skirted shrubs appear to provide adequate defence for G. occidentalis against browsing by domestic stock.