Variation in autosomal and sex-linked genetic effects for growth traits in Markhoz goat using multivariate animal models

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The present study was conducted to estimate autosomal and sex-linked genetic parameters by restricted maximum likelihood method using four different...     

Effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and radial pressure wave therapy on elasticity and microstructure of equine cortical bone

OBJECTIVE: To measure changes in the modulus of elasticity (E) and describe histologic findings after extracorporeal shock wave therapy and radial pressure wave therapy on equine cortical bone specimens. SAMPLE POPULATION: 16 bone specimens from the proximodorsal cortex of an equine third metacarpal or metatarsal bone. PROCEDURE: Baseline E was determined by the density (p) and unidirectional ultrasound transmission velocity (C) of each specimen according to the equation E = pC2. Eight specimens were treated with 500 pulses of 0.15 mJ/mm2 of extracorporeal shock wave therapy, and 8 specimens were treated with 500 pulses of 0.16 mJ/mm2of radial pressure wave therapy. After treatment, C was determined again. Four treatment sessions resulted in 2,000 pulses and 5 C measurements. The p of each sample was measured again. Mean post-treatment E was calculated for each group. Nondecalcified sections of all specimens were stained with toluidine blue or basic fuchsin for histologic evaluation. RESULTS: Overall treatment group effect was not significant for C or E. Final E was not different from baseline values for extracorporeal shock wave therapy and radial pressure wave therapy. No histologic changes could be attributed to either treatment modality. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy and radial pressure wave therapy did not affect the material properties of equine bone at the energy and pulse values used in this study.     

The effect of fertility control on the transmission of bovine tuberculosis in wild brushtail possums

AIM: To determine the effect of fertility control on the rate of transmission of bovine tuberculosis (Tb), caused by Mycobacterium bovis, in brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula).

METHODS: At two study sites with a history of Tb infection in the resident possum population, a sample of adult male and female possums (n=50), determined by palpation to be Tb-free, was surgically sterilised by gonadectomy. A sample of untreated Tb-free male and female possums (n=54) served as controls. Each study site was trapped every 2 months over a 3-year period, and the Tb status of the individuals in the trial assessed. At the conclusion of the trial, all remaining experimental individuals were killed, necropsied and examined for characteristic lesions typical of Tb. The rate of transmission of Tb infection was estimated using the incidence of tuberculous cases in the experimental animals and comparing it between sites, sex and sterilisation treatment.

RESULTS: Sterilisation by gonadectomy resulted in a reduction in the rate of transmission of Tb in male possums by 53%, but a corresponding increase in sterilised females for reasons that are still unclear. However, this interaction was statistically weak (p=0.10). When the sexes were combined, there was no overall effect of sterilisation on the rate of transmission of Tb (p=0.43). Sterility treatment notwithstanding, there was a highly significant difference in the rate of transmission between the sexes (p=0.01), being almost one order of magnitude higher in untreated males compared with untreated females.

CONCLUSIONS: Although lacking strong statistical support, these results suggest that fertility control that targets endocrine control of fertility may provide some additional benefits for disease control over that achieved by reductions in population density, by reducing the rate of transmission of M. bovis in male possums. However, additional studies are needed to confirm the validity of these results. The large difference in the rate of transmission of M. bovis in untreated males compared with untreated females suggests that transmission of Tb among males may be an important driver of the dynamics of Tb infection in possums.     

商业生产条件下香辣宝6930对肉鸡生产性能的影响

在欧洲,产品香辣宝6930(含3种植物提取物的有效成分:香芹酚、肉桂醛和辣椒素)作为抗生素促生长剂替代物在饲料中添加应用研究已经超过10年。然而,有关该产品在中国商业生产条件下的应用效果还未有过正式报道。本试验在同一栋畜舍内分2个批次进鸡重复相同的对比试验,试验分对照组和试验组,试验组是将对照日粮能量浓度降低25kcal/kg后,额外添加香辣宝6930100g/t到饲料中,观察其对肉鸡生产性能和成活率的影响效果。结果表明,在最初的2—4周,香辣宝对肉鸡体重增长有促进作用但尚未达到统计学的显著水平,但2个批次试验的料重比均减少2%以上;但试验最后2周和全期统计结果的增重和料重比与对照相比均有显著提高(3.5%,P0.05);从2个批次不同健康状态试验鸡的比较来看,香辣宝6930对健康状态稍差的鸡的成活率改善状况与对照相比更加明显(6.73%,P0.05)。