Impact of macronutrient composition and palatability in wet diets on food selection in cats

Cats are obligate carnivores adapted to high‐protein diets, but are commonly fed diets rich in carbohydrate. The aim of this study was to examine the food intake choices of cats when diets with different protein and carbohydrate contents were offered. Thirty‐nine cats participated in voluntary dietary intake studies. Four foods were formulated to provide between 24% and 53% of metabolizable energy as protein, between 43% and 11% as carbohydrate and holding dietary fat constant with a contribution of approximately 36%. Foods were offered either singly to evaluate voluntary food intake or in pairs to compare food intake between pairs of diets. Cats regulated their macronutrient intake to attain an overall diet composition that provided 53% of metabolizable energy as protein, 11% as carbohydrate and 36% as fat. The protein contribution corresponded to approximately 6 g of protein/kg body weight/day. High‐protein/low‐carbohydrate diets were always eaten preferentially over low‐protein/high‐carbohydrate foods. When low‐protein/high‐carbohydrate diets were offered, cats limited their food intake to limit daily carbohydrate intake to less than 3 g of carbohydrate/kg body weight. This carbohydrate ceiling may limit protein and even energy intake when only low‐protein/high‐carbohydrate diets were offered. The inclusion of palatability enhancer in the diets increased food intake but did not change protein or carbohydrate intake patterns, indicating that macronutrient intake can be regulated regardless of the use of palatability enhancers in cats. We conclude that cats can discriminate between diets based on macronutrient composition and regulate their intake to maintain maximal protein intake but limit carbohydrate intake.     

感染16型蓝舌病病毒后绵羊部分细胞因子消长特点研究

本试验旨在探明绵羊感染16型蓝舌病病毒（Bluetongue virus type 16,BTV16）后细胞因子IFN-γ、IL-2、IL-4和IL-10的消长特点。用实时荧光定量PCR检测方法对感染BTV16后3只绵羊上述4种因子mRNA进行检测,同时设立阴性对照绵羊,并以0 d mRNA为基准,计算mRNA的相对表达量,同时检测病毒抗体效价、测量绵羊体温。结果显示,接种BTV16的3只绵羊均不同程度产生抗体和体温症状,4种细胞因子的mRNA在接种病毒2~4 d内均出现显著上升,其中IFN-γ峰值在2.58~27.84倍之间,IL-2峰值在5.24~17.19倍之间,IL-4峰值在2.16~3.43倍之间,IL-10峰值在15.78~48.77倍之间,个体上升幅度存在显著差异,4种细胞因子均在高水平持续6 d左右后逐渐下降。对照绵羊上述参数在正常范围内波动。本研究阐明了接种BTV16后绵羊细胞因子IFN-γ、IL-2、IL-4、IL-10在转录水平上的消长特点,为进一步深入开展BTV感染特征、宿主机体免疫机制研究提供参考。     

Influence of the three RN genotypes on chemical composition, enzyme activities, and myofiber characteristics of porcine skeletal muscle.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of the RN genotype on skeletal muscle characteristics in pigs sharing otherwise the same polygenic background. Animals were genotyped for RN on the basis of RTN (Rendement Technologique Napole) records using segregation analysis methods. Samples of longissimus (L) and semispinalis capitis (S) muscles were taken from 39 rn+/rn+, 38 RN-/rn+ and 37 RN-/RN- pigs slaughtered at 108 +/- 8.6 kg live weight. Activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), citrate synthase (CS), and beta-hydroxy-acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase (HAD) were measured on both muscles to assess glycolytic, oxidative, and lipid beta-oxidation capacities, respectively. Histological examinations and chemical analyses were performed on L muscle. The energetic metabolism of the white L muscle was more oxidative in RN-/RN- than in rn+/rn+ pigs, as shown by increased CS and HAD activities (P < .001), decreased LDH activity (P < .001), larger cross-sectional area of IIA (P < .05) and IIB-red (P < .05) fibers, higher relative area of IIA fibers ( P < .05), and lower relative area of IIB-white fibers (P < .001). No significant difference was found between heterozygous and homozygous carriers of the RN- allele, except for CS activity, which was lower in RN-/rn+ than in RN-/RN- pigs. In L muscle, the RN- allele led to a large increase in glycolytic potential (+3.5 phenotypic SD between homozygotes) and lightness (+.7 SD), and a decrease in ultimate pH, dry matter, and protein contents (-1.7 to -2 phenotypic SD for these three traits), with an almost completely dominant effect. No differences were found between genotypes for intramuscular fat and hydroxyproline contents. In the red S muscle, the presence of RN- had no influence on enzyme activities. These results indicate that the RN genotype greatly influences compositional and histochemical traits and metabolic enzyme activities in a muscle type-dependent manner, with a completely or incompletely dominant effect of the RN- allele.     

几种工程措施对黄土区陡峭边坡植被盖度的影响及其机理

陡削以兰州新区的一段陡峭边坡作为试验地点,通过分析在植被重建初期经人工整地后形成的4种微地形(大圆形坑、小圆形坑、条形坑和原状坡面)的植被盖度特征及环境因子(土壤硬度和水分、地表和空气温度、坡位、无纺布)对植被盖度的影响,探寻能有效提高植被盖度的几种工程改造措施。研究表明:①铺设了无纺布坡面的植被盖度显著大于对照坡面;陡峭边坡不同坡位的植被盖度:下坡位>中坡位>上坡位(P<0.05),这与自然坡面植被盖度分布规律一致。②3种微地形的植被盖度均显著大于陡峭坡面,其中条形坑的土壤水分和植被盖度最大,最大盖度维持的时间最长。③微地形和坡面的植被盖度均与土壤水分呈显著正相关,与空气温度、地表温度均呈显著负相关;微地形的土壤硬度(3kg·cm^-2)适宜植物生长,大于该值会对植被生长产生抑制作用;铺设无纺布有利于促进上坡位的植被生长,使坡面植被分布更均匀。研究结果表明,在陡峭边坡坡度、坡位和温度等无法改变的情况下,选择对压实的坡面进行整地翻耕处理,增加长条坑的数量并铺设无纺布等有效的工程改造措施,能显著增加植被盖度,促进植被恢复。     

Effect of the Pietrain breed used as terminal boar on Post-weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) in the offspring in four PMWS-affected farms

The aim of this study was to determine the potential risk factors for PMWS at the individual pig level and assess the effect of the Pietrain paternal genetic background of the animals in a cohort study. The survey was set up in four PMWS-affected farms with 2 repetitions (batches) per farm. A representative sample of 60 pigs per batch, stratified according to the paternal genetic background (Pietrain: yes vs. no), was randomly selected after farrowing. The representative cohort was divided into 8 batches and the pigs were individually monitored from birth to slaughter. Survival analysis was used to determine the factors related to the time to PMWS. The litter-cluster effect was taken into account using the marginal Cox model (robust estimation of the covariance matrix) and the gamma shared frailty model which were compared.No protective effect of the Pietrain breed on the time to PMWS and the proportion of affected pigs in the offspring was found in this study. Piglets showing low circovirus type 2 (PCV2) titres at 7 weeks-old with no subsequent seroconversion and piglets from PCV2 negative sows were most likely to be affected by PMWS (HR=7.0 and 2.8, respectively). Active infection of the pregnant dams with parvovirus was related to an increased risk of PMWS in the offspring (HR=2.3). Neck injuries due to poorly performed injections in the dams were associated with an increased risk of PMWS with the marginal model (HR=2.1). Oxytocin injection (dams) during farrowing was protective against PMWS in the offspring (HR=0.6).     

灵芝发酵菌丝三萜类化合物含量的测定

建立了灵芝发酵菌丝三萜类化合物含量的检测方法。方法以齐墩果酸作为标准品．用香草醛一高氯酸发色体系进行比色．确定灵芝发酵菌丝三萜含量测定的实验条件．结果三萜类在20—140ug范围内有很好的线性关系．y=0．005x-0．019r=0．998。结论本法简便、准确、重复性好．可用于灵芝发酵菌丝三萜类含量的检测．以鉴定灵芝的品质及其产品的三萜含量。     

Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in macrophages inversely correlates with parasitism of lymphoid tissues in dogs with visceral leishmaniasis

Background

There are only a few studies reporting the role of nitric oxide metabolites for controlling macrophage intracellular parasitism, and these are controversial. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the lymph nodes and spleen of dogs affected by visceral leishmaniasis through immunohistochemistry and to determine its correlation with tissue parasite burden and serum interferon (IFN)-γ levels. Twenty-eight dogs were selected and assigned to one of two groups, symptomatic (n = 18) and asymptomatic (n = 10), according to clinical status and laboratory evaluation. A negative control group (n = 6) from a non-endemic region for visceral leishmaniasis was included as well.

Results

Parasite density (amastigotes/mm²) was similar between clinical groups in the lymph nodes (P = 0.2401) and spleen (P = 0.8869). The density of iNOS⁺ cells was higher in infected dogs compared to controls (P < 0.05), without a significant difference in lymph node (P = 0.3257) and spleen (P = 0.5940) densities between symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs. A positive correlation was found between the number of iNOS⁺ cells in lymph nodes and interferon-γ levels (r = 0.3776; P = 0.0303), and there was a negative correlation between parasites and iNOS⁺ cell densities both in lymph nodes (r = −0.5341; P = 0.0034) and spleen (r = −0.4669; P = 0.0329).

Conclusion

The negative correlation observed between tissue parasitism and the expression of iNOS may be a reflection of NO acting on the control of parasites.     

Virulence factors of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from broilers from the south of Brazil

Sixty-three Escherichia coli strains isolated from broilers with respiratory problems were examined for virulence factors, hemolysin synthesis ability, motility, hemagglutination capacity, operon pap presence, colicin production, and serum resistance. The capacity to hemagglutinate guinea pig erythrocytes was found in 53 (84.1%) of the samples, but only 30 (47.6%) agglutinated chicken erythrocytes. D-mannose-sensitive hemagglutination against guinea pig erythrocytes was found in 19 (30.2%) samples and against chicken erythrocytes, in 15 (23.8%) samples, whereas the D-mannose-resistant hemagglutination with guinea pig erythrocytes was found in 34 (54%) samples, and 13 of these (20.6%) showed this characteristic against chicken erythrocytes. Operon pap, P fimbria codifier, was detected in 26 samples in a total of 34 D-mannose-resistant samples. Colicin production was observed in 55 (87.3%) of the strains, and 41.8% presented V colicin production. Of the samples analyzed, 56 (88.9%) presented serum resistance, six (9.5%) were intermediate, and only one (1.6%) was sensitive to the action of the complement. The diversity of virulence profiles detected in the samples in this study explains in part the multifactorial characteristics of avian colibacillosis.