Effects of inulin on performance, egg quality, gut microflora and serum and yolk cholesterol in laying hens

1. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of inulin on laying hens. A total of 360 Brown Nick laying hens were divided randomly into 6 groups of 60 with 6 replicates of 10 hens and fed on diets containing 0 (control), 0·1, 0·5, 1·0, 1·5 or 2·0% inulin during the 4-week trial. 2. Dietary supplementation of inulin reduced cholesterol concentration (mg/g yolk) and content (mg/egg) in eggs. Cholesterol content in eggs decreased linearly with increasing levels of dietary inulin level. 3. Supplementation of inulin in diets decreased coliform bacteria counts and pH in the caecum. The lowest coliform bacteria counts (6·30 ± 0·03 log10 cfu/g) and pH (6·47 ± 0·01) were obtained in the 2·0% inulin group, the two indices decreasing by 21·6% and 3·0% respectively, compared with the control group. Coliform bacteria count and pH were changed linearly in accordance with increasing levels of dietary inulin level. Caecal Bifidobacteria counts were increased in the 2·0%-inulin group. 4. Inulin supplementation of layer diets did not appear to have any adverse effects on laying rate, egg weight, feed intake, feed conversion efficiency, cracked-egg rate, eggshell thickness or Haugh unit compared with the control laying hens. 5. Therefore, dietary supplementation with inulin may lead to the development of low-cholesterol chicken eggs as demanded by health-conscious consumers.     

Temporal pattern of locomotor activity recuperation after administration of propofol in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

The present study evaluates the organization and complexity of the temporal pattern of locomotion after an acute administration of propofol in Japanese quail by using traditional and fractal analysis. Birds were administered with propofol 0, 10, 20, 40 or 80 mg/kg. Ten min after administration, they were placed in an open-field apparatus and their locomotor activity was recorded during 45 min at a resolution of 0.5 s. A significant dose dependant increase in the latency to initiate ambulation was observed for doses of 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg when compared to the control group. A rapid recuperation of normal locomotor activity was observed after sedation with 20 mg/kg. Birds administered with propofol 40 mg/kg showed signs of recuperation of normal locomotion after 30 and 40 min (males and females, respectively) of propofol administration, that was not observed in quail treated with propofol 80 mg/kg. Our results suggest that depending on the dose, propofol administration in quail may allow full locomotor recovery of a sedative/anesthetic dose as early as 30 min post-administration.     

A novel treatment for dynamic laryngeal collapse associated with poll flexion: the modified checkrein

Reasons for performing the study: Dynamic laryngeal collapse (DLC) associated with poll flexion is a performance limiting dynamic upper airway disorder commonly diagnosed in Coldblooded trotters. An inspiratory obstruction occurs when affected horses are driven with tension on the reins, inducing poll flexion. To date, surgical treatment and conservative management have failed to improve racing performance in affected horses. Objectives: To test the efficacy of an external device, the modified checkrein, in limiting poll flexion, diminishing laryngeal collapse and improving airway mechanics when horses are driven on a treadmill with tension on the reins and test the hypothesis that the modified checkrein will limit poll flexion thereby improving endoscopic appearance of the larynx and reduce airway obstruction in harness racehorses affected with DLC. Methods: Fourteen Norwegian Coldblooded trotter (NCT) racehorses previously diagnosed with DLC associated with poll flexion exercised on a high‐speed treadmill at speeds that resulted in heart rate >200 beats/min. Upper airway videoendoscopy recordings, tracheal pressures and video recordings of the head and neck position were collected while horses exercised with the conventional checkrein on Day 1 and the modified checkrein on Day 2. Results: The modified checkrein successfully limited poll flexion as measured by no change in head position parameters between phases of no rein tension and phases of rein tension. Endoscopic scores were significantly improved (arytenoids cartilage collapse P<0.0001; vocal fold collapse P<0.0001) and tracheal peak inspiratory pressures were significantly less negative (P = 0.0162) when horses were fitted with the modified checkrein compared to the conventional checkrein. Conclusions and potential relevance: The modified checkrein successfully limited poll flexion and also prevented upper airway obstruction in NCT horses affected with DLC associated with poll flexion. The modified checkrein seems promising in offering a method of conservative management in harness racehorses affected with this disorder.     

Total and relative deficiency of gut mucosal IgA in German shepherd dogs demonstrated by faecal analysis

The concentration of immunoglobulins in faecal extracts was investigated as a method of assessing the production of immunoglobulins by the gut mucosa of 137 dogs. There were significant correlations between the concentrations in faecal extracts and the concentrations produced in duodenal organ cultures. Seventy-six German shepherd dogs had significantly lower median immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations in their faecal extracts than 63 controls of various breeds. Sixteen of the German shepherd dogs had IgA concentrations below the 95 per cent confidence limit of the control population and six had no demonstrable faecal IgA. The faecal concentrations of immunoglobulin G and albumin were significantly higher in the German shepherd dogs than in the controls, but their immunoglobulin M concentrations were similar.     

Studies on the efficiency of absorbed bovine PPD in tuberculin and serological tests

The passive haemagglutination, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and indirect fluorescent antibody tests were applied to study the non-specific reactions in experimentally infected guinea pigs and tuberculin positive bovines. These cross-reactions were greatly decreased after absorption of either sera with avian PPD or bovine PPD antigen with anti-avian PPD serum. The use of both absorbed sera and antigen raised the specificity of PHA and ELISA to 100%. The use of absorbed sera rendered the IFA specific in 95%. The absorption has reduced the sensitivity of ELISA, IFA and PHA by 14, 27 and 29%, respectively.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC, GROSS, AND HISTOLOGIC EVALUATION OF A TENDINITIS DISEASE MODEL IN THE HORSE

Collagenase-induced lesions of the superficial digital flexor tendon were monitored using diagnostic ultrasound and subsequently compared with gross and microscopic findings. The postinjury sonograms demonstrated hypoechoic or anechoic areas corresponding to areas of hemorrhage and necrosis. The size of the lesion increased and the echogenicity decreased with increasing units of collagenase injected into the tendon. As postinjury time increased, echogenicity increased, which corresponded to fibrous-tissue invasion and collagen deposition. The extent of tendon injury produced correlated with the amount of collagenase injected into the tendon. Diagnostic ultrasound is useful in evaluating injury and healing in collagenase— induced tendinitis.     

The effect of a single intramammary infusion of a biological response modifier in cows at drying off

Biological response modifiers (BRM) are compounds that interact with the immune system to regulate specific aspects of host response. The objective of this study was to describe clinical and morphological changes during involution of bovine mammary gland following a single-dose infusion of a BRM containing lipopolysaccharide and cellular fractions of Escherichia coli incorporated into liposomes. A massive leukocyte response and increased subepithelial stroma infiltration of mononuclear cells, eosinophils and mast cells was observed in BRM-treated quarters compared with untreated controls; however, morphologic parameters assessed at 11 days post infusion were indicative of only slightly accelerated involution compared with untreated controls. In addition, BRM infusion at the end of lactation did not interfere with mammary epithelial cell proliferation and caused only mild systemic effects.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptococcus uberis</Emphasis>-specific T cells are present in mammary gland secretions of cows and can be activated to kill <Emphasis Type="Italic">S. uberis</Emphasis>

The presence, phenotype and function of Streptococcus uberis-specific T cells in the mammary gland secretion (MGS) and blood of cows exposed to S. uberis were assessed. MGS T cells in the udder were purified and incubated with autologous blood monocytes as antigen-presenting cells (APC). Most cows, irrespective of prior S. uberis infection status and lactation status, were shown to have S. uberis-specific T cells both in MGS and in the blood. When cells from a subgroup of cows were studied, it was found that the S. uberis-specific T cells produced high levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), but low levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10). A high percentage of responding T cells were of the CD8 ⁺ memory (CD45RO) subset. T cells from the MGS specific for S. uberis were propagated from animals during the drying off period and expanded in vitro using interleukin-2 (IL-2) and S. uberis antigens. This led to the accumulation of T cells of the CD8 ⁺ subset bearing memory cell markers (CD45A ⁻ , CD45RO ⁺ ), which released high levels of IFN-γ. Four of the five T cell lines derived from the MGS of three animals had substantial direct killing activity towards S. uberis in vitro. It is concluded that there is an emergence of S. uberis-specific bactericidal T cells in the MGS of cows after infection or environmental exposure to S. uberis. Vaccines aimed at activating and expanding this T cell population in the mammary glands of cattle may offer an avenue for the prevention of mastitis caused by S. uberis.     

Lysine restriction and realimentation affected growth,blood profiles and expression of genes related to protein and fat metabolism in weaned pigs

To investigate the effects of lysine restriction and subsequent realimentation on growth performance, blood profiles and gene expression of leptin and myostatin, 128 weaned pigs [initial body weight (BW) 6.96 ± 1.07 kg, 26 ± 2 days of age] were randomly allotted to four treatments. The starter diets during the first 2 weeks (P1) contained 100%, 80%, 70% or 60% of recommended lysine levels ( National Research Council, 1998 ). Then, common grower 1 and 2 diets were offered for 2 weeks (P2 and P3) each. During P1, average daily gain (ADG) was linearly reduced (p < 0.05) with the increasing levels of lysine restriction. Growth rate was greater in pigs previously fed lysine‐restricted diets than well‐fed pigs although it did not reach a significant level during realimentation. However, the final BW and overall ADG were the lowest (p < 0.05) and F/G was poor in pigs fed 60% lysine diet. Relative visceral organ weights and composition of skeletal muscle were similar (p > 0.05) among the treatment. Blood triglyceride and glucose levels were increased (p < 0.05) during P1, while blood urine nitrogen, total protein and albumin levels were decreased (p < 0.05) during P2 with the reduction in dietary lysine levels. The abundance of myostatin mRNA in skeletal muscle and leptin mRNA in subcutaneous adipose tissue were lower (p < 0.05) in lysine‐restricted pigs than in pigs fed non‐restricted diets. In conclusion, 80% and 70% lysine restriction of starter diets resulted in inferior growth and compensatory growth effect was noted during realimentation, while 60% lysine restriction had a negative influence on growth performance. Moreover, the changes in myostatin and leptin mRNA abundance caused by nutritional manipulations may be involved in the regulation of protein and fat deposition in young pigs.