Serum chemistry values for free-ranging ringed seals (Pusa hispida) in Svalbard

BACKGROUND: Diseases and abnormal physiologic conditions can alter the concentrations of enzymes, metabolites, minerals, and hormones in the blood of animals. The ringed seal (Pusa hispida) has been selected as a key species for environmental monitoring, but information on disease and health parameters for this species is scarce. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study reported here was to obtain serum chemistry reference intervals for free-ranging ringed seals in Svalbard, and then to evaluate serum chemistry values in relation to age, body condition, and sex. METHODS: Blood samples were collected after death from ringed seals in Wijdefjorden and Billefjorden, Svalbard (2002-2003; n = 75). Serum was analyzed for 24 selected serum chemistry parameters (enzymes, protein, metabolites, minerals, and cortisol). RESULTS: Compared with younger or older animals, seals between 7 and 16 years of age had larger variations in the activities of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase (CK). Animals classified as having low body condition status had more variation in the serum activity of these enzymes, compared with that in animals with higher condition scores. Serum cortisol concentration was higher in young animals (1-5 years) than in older animals. Serum CK activity was higher in males than in females. CONCLUSION: The data reported here may be useful in monitoring the health of ringed seals and for tracking the impact of environmental changes in the Arctic.     

Standardization of Ultraviolet Irradiation of Channel Catfish Sperm

Gynogenesis is a naturally occurring phenomenon in lower vertebrates in which offspring receive two sets of chromosomes from the female (Dawley 1989). This occurs when development is activated by sperm, but genetic material from the male is not incorporated into the embryo. Normally, haploid offspring result that do not survive to hatching, although in certain instances suppression of meiosis II or first mitosis can result in diploid gynogenetic offspring (Purdom 1993). Artificially induced gynogenesis has been used in the breeding and genetic study of several fishes, including salmonids (Chourrout 1982; Allendorf et al. 1986), tilapia (Don and Avtalion 1988), and channel catfish (Liu et al. 1992). Gynogenesis has been applied to production of monosex populations, isogenic populations, and inbred lines of fish (Ihssen et al. 1990; Tave 1993). Gynogenesis can be induced artificially by irradiating sperm with ultraviolet (UV) radiation to inactivate genetic material. Eggs are fertilized with the irradiated sperm and shocked by temperature or pressure change to restore diploidy.     

Prevalences of welfare-related lesions at post-mortem meat-inspection in Danish sows

We investigated the prevalences and intercorrelations of all daily meat-inspection recordings at four Danish sow abattoirs in the year 2000 from 23,794 sows coming from 207 sow or farrow-to-finisher herds. The meat-inspection data were obtained from databases at the Danish Bacon and Meat Council (DBMC). Prevalences generally were low—but large herd-to-herd variations were seen. Despite low prevalences, many slaughtered sows had recordings which raise welfare concerns. Intercorrelations between the meat-inspection recordings were evaluated using exploratory factor analysis describing underlying latent factors related to health and welfare problems within herds.     

Inheritance of disc calcification in the dachshund

The occurrence of intervertebral disc calcification was investigated by conventional spinal radiography in eight families of wirehaired dachshunds, with each family comprising one sire, two dams and one litter from each dam. Each offspring was examined radiographically once at 24-35 months of age. The occurrence of disc calcification was rated according to four different scales. A strong correlation was found in the occurrence of disc calcification between offspring and mean parent (P < 0.001) and between offspring and dams (P < 0.005) on an either/or scale. Statistically significant estimates of heritability of 0.60 and 0.87 were found based on the offspring-sire relationship using the total score and three-class scale, respectively. Higher correlation estimates were found based on the dam-offspring relationship than based on the sire-offspring relationship, suggesting an effect of maternal environmental factors.