Chemical composition and microstructure of uroliths and urinary sediment crystals associated with the feeding of high-level cottonseed meal diet to water buffalo calves

The chemical composition and microstructure of seven uroliths and four urinary sediment samples associated with the feeding of high-level cottonseed meal diet to buffalo calves were examined by chemical qualitative analyses, scanning electron microscopy ( ), X-ray diffraction, and X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry ( ). Struvite was a major component of kidney stones and of some bladder stones. The kidney stone sample appeared cracked under low power under , aggregated into tiny balls under high power, and as a bladelike structure under even higher power. The bladder stone samples appeared finely granular or granular with various forms of prismatic crystals. The urinary sediments were prismatic crystals, with granules. The newly found prismatic crystals, which were rich in potassium and similar to struvite in crystal structure, were identified as potassium magnesium phosphate (KMgPO₄ · 6H₂O) in some bladder stones and urinary sediments. However, crystals which contained Mg and P only, which had been used for struvite identification, were not found by examination in urinary sediments from fresh urine samples of buffalo calves fed the high-level cottonseed meal diet.     

Anal leiomyoma in a Holstein heifer.

A 2-year-old heifer was presented with masses on her anus that were interfering with cervical manipulation during embryo flushing. The masses had broad stalks attached within the anal sphinchter. Recovery was without incident after surgical resection. No recurrence of the masses had occurred 3 months later. Histologic diagnosis was benign leiomyoma.     

Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of valnemulin in broiler chickens

Wang, R., Yuan, L.G., He, L.M., Zhu, L.X., Luo, X.Y., Zhang, C.Y., Yu, J.J., Fang, B.H., Liu, Y.H. Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of valnemulin in broiler chickens. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 34 , 247–251. The objective of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of valnemulin in broiler chickens after intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.m.) and oral administrations of 10 mg/kg body weight (bw). Plasma samples were analyzed by high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS/MS). Pharmacokinetic characterization was performed by non‐compartmental analysis using WinNonlin program. After intravenous administration, distribution was wide with the volume of distribution based on terminal phase(V_z) of 4.27 ± 0.99 L /kg. Mean valnemulin t_1/2β(h), Cl_β(L /h /kg), V_ss (L /kg) and AUC_(0–∞)(μg·h /mL) values were 2.85, 0.99, 2.72 and 10.34, respectively. After intramuscular administration, valnemulin was rapidly absorbed with a C_max of 2.2 μg/mL achieved at 0.43 h (t_max), and the absolute bioavailability (F) was 88.81%; and for the oral route the same parameters were 0.66 ± 0.15 μg/mL, 1.54 ± 0.27 h and 74.42%. A multiple‐peak phenomenon was present after oral administration. The plasma profile of valnemulin exhibited a secondary peak during 2–6 h and a tertiary peak at 32 h. The favorable PK behavior, such as the wide distribution, slow elimination and acceptable bioavailability indicated that it is likely to be effective in chickens.     

猪毛滴虫病病原及诊治的研究进展

猪毛滴虫病的历史较短,关于该病的研究和病例报道也较少。近年来,随着该病导致保育猪腹泻病例日益增多,猪毛滴虫病对养猪业的危害日益显现。本文就该病的病原、危害性、致病机理、流行病学、临床症状、病理变化、诊断以及防治作一综述,旨在为猪毛滴虫病的研究和防控提供参考。     

Bats adjust temporal parameters of echolocation pulses but not those of communication calls in response to traffic noise

Many studies based on acute short‐term noise exposure have demonstrated that animals can adjust their vocalizations in response to ambient noise. However, the effects of chronic noise over a relatively long time scale of multiple days remain largely unclear. Bats rely mainly on acoustic signals for perception of environmental and social communication. Nearly all previous studies on noise‐induced vocal adjustments have focused on echolocation pulse sounds. Relatively little is known regarding the effects of noise on social communication calls. Here, we examined the dynamic changes in the temporal parameters of echolocation and communication vocalizations of Vespertilio sinensis when exposed to traffic noise over multiple days. We found that the bats started to modify their echolocation vocalizations on the fourth day of noise exposure, with an increase of 42–91% in the total number of pulse sequences per day. Under noisy conditions, the number of pulses within a pulse sequence decreased by an average of 17.2%, resulting in a significantly slower number of pulses/sequence (P < 0.001). However, there was little change in the duration of a pulse sequence. These parameters were not significantly adjusted in most communication vocalizations under the noise condition (all P > 0.05), except that the duration decreased and the number of syllables/sequences increased in 1 type of communicative vocalization (P < 0.05). This study suggests that bats routinely adjust temporal parameters of echolocation but rarely of communication vocalizations in response to noise condition.     

辽西北暖性灌草丛类草原牧鸡治蝗效果试验

在辽西北暖性灌草丛类天然草原开展了牧鸡治蝗试验,通过对草原蝗虫防治效果、日捕食量、牧鸡日增重、牧草生产力水平及经济效益等指标进行测定分析,初步探索辽西北草原区牧鸡治蝗综合防治效果.     

陕西省动物研究所馆藏标本现状及分析

陕西省动物研究所现有馆藏标本5万余份,是秦岭地区野生动物保护及研究的重要参考资料。为加强标本管理,提高标本使用效率,我们在2008年4月至2009年6月对所内馆藏标本进行了系统分类整理,分析总结了馆藏标本的现实状况并就存在的问题进行了探讨,为标本数字化共享平台建设奠定了基础,并为今后科研院校在动物学研究领域的交流与合作奠定基础。