Apparent metabolizable energy value of whole date palm (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phoenix dactylifera</Emphasis> L.) and its possible use as a feedstuff for aged laying hens

This study was conducted to evaluate the feeding value of whole date palm (WDP) with and without enzyme supplementation on aged laying hen’s performance. Apparent metabolizable energy value of WDP was determined by the total collection method using ten adult leghorn cockerels. WDP was substituted with a corn-soybean meal basal diet at 40% level, and then the metabolizable energy of this experimental diet and basal diet was determined. After that, a total number of 256 Bovanz 95-week-old hens were randomly allocated into eight groups consisting of four replicates of eight birds each, based on a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement of the treatments. Eight iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous experimental diets including one corn-soybean meal-based control diet and two, three, and four corn-soybean meal-based diets included 70, 140, and 210 g/kg ground WDP, respectively. Each of the diets supplemented with two levels of an enzyme (0.0 and 0.07 g/kg Natozim Plus). There was no significant difference in feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg production, egg mass, eggshell thickness, and Haugh unit among the treatments (P > 0.05). However, yolk color score significantly decreased as dietary WDP level increased. The serum biochemical metabolites were not significantly affected by WDP and enzyme supplementation (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the relative weight of different organs except for abdominal fat. Our findings show that using WDP up to 21% of the diet was more economic and had no adverse effect on productive performance and serum metabolites of laying hens. However, WDP had an adverse effect on yolk color which can be ameliorated by carotenoid supplementation.     

An assessment of benzimidazole resistance against caprine nematodes in Central India

Current status of resistance to benzimidazole (BZ) group of anthelmintic drugs against caprine nematodes in Central India at Amanala goat farm, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh (M. P.), was systematically investigated using faecal egg count reduction (FECR) test and egg hatch test (EHT). Besides, allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR) was deployed to ascertain the susceptible genotype (alleles) especially of the Haemonchus contortus. Randomly selected 30 goats, irrespective of age and sex, were divided into three groups of 10 each, to serve as treated and untreated controls. It was ensured that the animals were not administered with an anthelmintic drug for the past 3 months prior to undertaking the study, and faecal egg counts were estimated. FECR test evidenced fenbendazole resistance by partial elimination (24.90%) copro-egg counts in the treated group of animals vis-à-vis controls with a lower confidence interval of ?26%. Further, EHT revealed ED-50 value of 0.335 μg of thiabendazole/ml, confirming benzimidazole resistance in the animals of that farm. AS-PCR showed that 62% of H. contortus larvae were homozygous resistant (rr), 24% heterozygous (rS) and 14% homozygous susceptible (SS). The genotypic frequencies of three genotypes (rr, rS and SS) were significantly (P < 0.01) different. The prevalence of benzimidazole resistance allele (r) was also significantly (P < 0.01) higher (74%) as compared to susceptible allele (S) (26%). The resistance to benzimidazole has been discussed while emphasizing improved managemental practices designed to reduce exposure of the goat population to parasites, minimize frequency of anthelmintic use at optimum dose and rotational use of different chemical groups of medicines with different mode of action, so as to overcome and combat the upcoming problem in the field.     

Current status of cattle production system in Nyagatare District-Rwanda

A study was conducted to characterize the cattle production systems in Nyagatare District, Eastern Province of Rwanda using pre-tested questionnaires, interviews with key informants as well as focus group discussions in a period of 2 months. The respondents were selected by multi-stage sampling at sector and cell levels. Based on the procedure of Krejcie and Morgan (Educational and Psychological Measurement 30:607–610, 1970) to determine the overall sample size, the result indicated that the majority (98.3%) of farms were privately owned by large families of five to seven members, and most farmers (53.9%) had only primary education. Most respondents (52.6%) were in the age bracket of 41–50 years and were mainly (48.3%) located within 3 km from trading centers. The farm size averaged 6.5 ± 0.8 ha and most farms (64.7%) were fenced except in Rukomo Sector (50%) where zero grazing prevailed. Natural pastures (savanna grass land) were the main feed resource; tethering (9%) and communal grazing had diminished. Napier grass was the main planted forage (93.2%), followed by Chloris guyana (3.1%) and Brachiara (1.2%). Leguminous forages were rarely (2.5%) reported. Vita-mineral and salt block supplements, hay, and crop residues were the predominant supplementary feed stuffs used except in Karangazi and Rwemiyaga Sectors where only vita-mineral block predominated. However, maize and rice brans were reported to be the main feed stuffs used in supplementary feeding of lactating cows. Most farmers (89.7%) reported shortage of water as most of the farmers trekked their cattle to the nearest valley dams (59.2%), rivers (21.1%), and a few 6% had water on farms. Indigenous cattle were predominant (67.03%) followed by cross-breeds (28.37%) and exotics (4.6%) while all farmers kept small ruminants. Natural breeding predominated (74.9%) and most farms (60.6%) had animal houses most of which were temporary (52.8%). The reported mean age at first calving (AFC) was highest (40.2 ± .33) for Ankole and the lowest (29.1 ± .50) months for exotic cattle. Calving interval was shorter in local breeds than 65.7 ± 3.0 in exotic. The mean dairy milk yield was lowest for Ankole cattle 2.4 ± .08 as compared to the exotics (10.42 ± .36) and their crosses (7.2 ± .34). The main challenges were diseases, shortage of water, feeds, and inadequate extension services. Same observation was reported by Okello (African Journal of Range and Forage Science 22(3), 2005) in Uganda.     

L-carnitine significantly decreased aging of rat adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the ability to divide continuously and tissue regeneration potential during the transplantation. Aging and loss of cell survival, is one of the main problems in cell therapy. Since the production of free radicals in the aging process is effective, the use of antioxidant compounds can help in scavenging free radicals and prevent the aging of cells. The aim of this study is evaluate the effects of L-carnitine (LC) on proliferation and aging of rat adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rADSC). rADSCs were isolated from inguinal region of 5 male Rattus rats. Oil red-O, alizarin red-S and toluidine blue staining were performed to evaluate the adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation of rADSCs, respectively. Flow cytometric analysis was done for investigating the cell surface markers. The methyl thiazol tetrazolium (MTT) method was used to determine the cell proliferation of rADSCs following exposure to different concentrations of LC. rADSCs aging was evaluated by beta-galactosidase staining. The results showed significant proliferation of rADSCs 48 h after treatment with concentrations of 0.2 mM LC. In addition, in the presence of 0.2 mM LC, rADSCs appeared to be growing faster than control group and 0.2 mM LC supplementation could significantly decrease the population doubling time and aging of rADSCs. It seems that LC would be a good antioxidant to improve lifespan of rADSCs due to the decrease in aging.     

Vasovagal tonus index (VVTI) as an indirect assessment of remission status in canine multicentric lymphoma undergoing multi-drug chemotherapy

Vasovagal tonus index (VVTI) is an indirect measure of heart rate variability and may serve as a marker of disease severity. Higher heart rate variability has predicted lower tumour burden and improved survival in humans with various tumour types. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate VVTI as a biomarker of remission status in canine lymphoma. The primary hypothesis was that VVTI would be increased in dogs in remission compared to dogs out of remission. Twenty-seven dogs were prospectively enrolled if they had a diagnosis of intermediate to high-grade lymphoma and underwent multidrug chemotherapy. Serial electrocardiogram data were collected under standard conditions and relationships between VVTI, remission status and other clinical variables were evaluated. VVTI from dogs in remission (partial or complete) did not differ from dogs with fulminant lymphoma (naive or at time of relapse). Dogs in partial remission had higher VVTI than dogs in complete remission (p = 0.021). Higher baseline VVTI was associated with higher subsequent scores (p < 0.001). VVTI also correlated with anxiety level (p = 0.03). Based on this pilot study, VVTI did not hold any obvious promise as a useful clinical biomarker of remission status. Further investigation may better elucidate the clinical and prognostic utility of VVTI in dogs with lymphoma.     

细菌多糖的生物合成机制研究进展

多糖是细菌细胞的主要组成部分,在细菌与宿主的相互作用中起到重要作用,在参与细菌与宿主的识别,帮助细菌产生毒力,调节宿主免疫反应等生物过程中扮演着重要的角色。随着基因组学的发展,人们发现尽管细菌多糖的种类很多,但它们的合成机制具有相似性。多糖生物合成的研究主要基于基因组的序列分析预测,结合代谢产物研究的基因分析,不够详尽。随着研究的深入,人们越来越关注细菌多糖的合成机制,这种机制的研究将为进一步阐明细菌多糖多样性的形成机制及与宿主间的相互作用机制奠定基础,为开发针对相应病原菌的新型疫苗和治疗方法,及进一步实现分子水平的相关疾病防控和资源开发提供技术支持。作者以肽聚糖、O-抗原和夹膜多糖为代表,阐述了其生物合成及体外生物合成机制的研究进展和相关问题,并总结了细菌多糖合成途径的研究在寻找候选抗原和控制病原细菌靶位以及研究细菌遗传进化和生物合成方面的作用。     

江西绿壳蛋鸡生产性能及孵化性能与蛋品质的相关性分析

本研究通过对江西绿壳蛋鸡F1代产蛋性能、孵化效果和蛋品质进行分析,为江西绿壳蛋鸡选育提供参考。试验选取300日龄江西绿壳蛋鸡306只及其鸡蛋80枚,分别测定、分析蛋鸡产蛋性能及种蛋孵化效果和蛋品质,并对这些指标进行相关性分析。经测定,试验蛋鸡平均体重为1 596.99 g,平均蛋重为50.57 g,平均产蛋数为14.53枚;群体平均受精率为93.69%,平均死精率为5.55%,平均健雏率为84.3%,平死胚率为13.9%。群体平均蛋形指数为1.28,平均哈氏单位为71.77,平均蛋壳强度为4.44 kg/cm²。相关分析显示,健雏率与蛋重、蛋壳颜色与蛋形指数间呈显著相关（P < 0.05）;健雏率与死胚率、蛋壳强度与蛋壳厚度间呈极显著相关（P < 0.01）。以上结果表明,江西绿壳蛋鸡F1代蛋品质优良,产蛋性能、孵化效果较好,但仍需进一步选育。     

桑树多倍体育种材料遗传背景的AFLP分析

利用AFLP(Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism)分子标记技术,即扩增片段长度多态性,从DNA分子水平对19份人工三倍体桑育种材料进行了遗传背景分析,构建了指纹图谱.19份育种材料可组配70个杂交组合,各材料间AFLP相似系数大于0.750 0的有54个组合,经AFLP分析认为,它们不宜作亲本间杂交组合;AFLP相似系数小于0.750 0的有16个组合,经AFLP分析认为它们适于作亲本间杂交组合.本研究从基因组DNA分子水平上为人工三倍体桑品种选育以及杂交亲本的选择和组配提供了遗传背景依据.     

转录组解析白三叶根际溶磷菌株RW8的解磷机制

采用转录组测序的方法分析了白三叶根际溶磷菌RW8在含有难溶磷(A组)、可溶磷(B组)与无磷(C组)培养条件下差异基因表达。以可溶磷为对照,在难溶磷条件下,分别检测到4782个基因在RW8中上调表达,447个基因下调表达;在无磷组中,共检测到3630个基因上调表达,209个基因下调表达。GO基因注释发现RW8在A组和C组中的差异基因聚类基本相同。生物学过程主要聚类在代谢过程、细胞过程、单细胞过程、刺激应答、定位以及生物反应调节;细胞组分主要聚类在细胞组分、细胞膜、膜组分与高分子配合体等;分子功能主要聚类在催化活性、结合功能与转运功能。代谢途径分析发现2-α-氧代羧、α-亚麻酸、五碳二元酸、脂肪酸、甘氨酸-丝氨酸-蛋氨酸以及缬氨酸-亮氨酸-异亮氨酸等代谢途径的基因显著被富集。挑选10个差异基因并用荧光定量检测其在A、B、C 3种不同培养条件下的基因表达,发现所有挑选基因的表达变化与转录组结果变化趋势相同。液相色谱检测有机酸组成及含量,发现在A组和C组中乳酸、琥珀酸与柠檬酸显著高于B组,富马酸与苹果酸的含量在C组中显著升高, A组与B组差异不显著;α-酮戊二酸的含量在A组中显著增高, B组和C组差异不显著。     

Selection of immunodominant mimics of IROMP-99 of rabbit Pasteurella multocida from a random 12-peptide library

A random 12-peptide library was used to screen immunodominant mimics of 99kDa iron-regulated outer membrane protein (IROMP-99) of rabbit Pasteurella multocida. In the present study, expression of IROMPs of rabbit P. multocida strain C51-12 were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, and Western blot to determine the specificity of rat antiserum antibodies against IROMP-99. Only IROMP-99 whose expression was induced under iron-restricted conditions was detected on nitrocellulose paper. The phage display library was screened with rat normal and IROMP-99-specific antiserum. The positive phage clones were identified using enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) and inhibition assays for their reactivity to the antiserum. Out of the 18 randomly selected positive clones that showed higher reactivity to rat antiserum, only ten clones efficaciously inhibited binding of rat antisera to IROMPs and their displayed peptides were determined. Alignment using DNAStar-MegAlign software, results showed that motif WHxTxP was highly conserved among nine clones, only clone A7 had no obvious linear homology with either. Our findings suggest that the motif WHxTxP could be an immunodominant mimic epitope of IROMP-99 of rabbit P. multocida strain C51-12.