Deoxynivalenol in chicken feed alters the vaccinal immune response and clinical biochemical serum parameters but not the intestinal and carcass characteristics

This study was conducted to investigate the impacts of deoxynivalenol (DON) feeding either alone or in combination with a microbial feed additive (MFA) on the immune response to a viral vaccine and serum clinical chemical parameters. Forty 1‐day‐old boiler chicks were weighed and randomly divided into four groups, 10 birds in each group: (i) control group fed with basal diet; (ii) DON group fed with basal diet artificially contaminated with 10 mg DON/kg feed; (iii) DON + MFA group fed with basal diet contaminated with 10 mg DON/kg feed and supplemented with 2.5 kg of MFA/ton feed; and (iv) MFA group fed with basal diet supplemented with 2.5 kg of MFA/ton feed. At 35 days of age, birds were slaughtered and blood was collected for investigating the antibody titre against infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and clinical chemical parameters. The results showed that DON reduced (p = 0.032) the titre against IBV, decreased (p = 0.005) the level of alanine transaminase (ALT) (4.2 ± 0.5 U/l) compared with control birds (6.4 ± 0.5 U/l), increased (p = 0.002) the serum cholesterol concentration (144 ± 6 mg/dl) compared with their control counterparts (123 ± 5 mg/dl) and increased (p = 0.074) the amount of circulating triglycerides (62.25 ± 7.50 mg/dl) compared with controls (39.55 ± 4.74). These results indicate that dietary DON altered the humoral immune response to viral vaccine and affected the serum clinical biochemistry. However, DON in combination with MFA did not affect serum IBV titre. Taken together, DON in the feed of broilers produced an impairment of the success of IBV vaccine and affected the health of birds.     

Effect of urea supplementation on performance and safety in diets of Dorper crossbred sheep

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dietary urea in sheep rations having a 50:50 concentrate:roughage ratio. Sixty‐four Dorper × thin‐tailed Han crossbred ram lambs with an average body weight of 30.8 (±0.02) kg were randomly divided into four groups of 16 sheep each, and each group was fed one of the following diets: a basal diet (CON), or CON supplemented with 0.5% (0.5UTM), 1.5% (1.5UTM) or 2.5% (2.5UTM) urea. Growth performance, carcass characteristics, non‐carcass offals, meat quality and peptic tissue lesions were assayed. The average daily weight gains for CON, 0.5UTM, 1.5UTM and 2.5UTM were 216, 218, 200 and 170 g, respectively, with the CON and 0.5UTM groups higher than 2.5UTM group (p < 0.05). Sheep from the 2.5UTM treatment had a significantly lower dry matter intake (1.29 kg/day) than those from the CON and 0.5UTM treatments (1.42 and 1.43 kg/day, p < 0.05), and the feed conversion ratio in the 2.5UTM group was the highest (p < 0.05). Carcass characteristics, including shrunk body weight, empty body weight, hot carcass weight, dress percentage, and the absolute or relative weight (% body weight) of heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney, were not altered by the treatments (p > 0.05). The muscular pH of 2.5UTM was higher than that of CON (5.68 vs. 5.52, p < 0.05), and shear force in 0.5UTM was lower compared with CON and 2.5UTM (p < 0.05). The anatomical structure lesions in kidneys became more serious with the increasing dietary urea concentrations, with the 2.5UTM animals showing the most severe lesions compared with CON animals. Therefore, supplementary urea as a non‐protein nitrogen source for sheep should not exceed 1.5% of ration having a 50:50 concentrate:roughage ratio to ensure efficacy and safety.     

The influences of ambient temperature and crude protein levels on performance and serum biochemical parameters in broilers

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of ambient temperature, crude protein levels and their interaction on performance and serum biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. A total of 216 Arbor Acre broiler chickens (108 males and 108 females) were used in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement and randomly reared at two temperatures (normal temperature: 23 °C; daily cyclic high temperature: 28–32 °C) and fed on three diets with different crude protein levels (153.3, 183.3 or 213.3 g/kg, with constant essential amino acids) from 28 to 42 days of age. Daily cyclic high ambient temperature decreased final body weight, average daily weight gain, average daily feed intake and serum total protein contents (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.008 respectively), but increased feed/gain, mortality, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, serum uric acid contents and serum creatine kinase activity (p = 0.008, p = 0.003, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p = 0.003 respectively), irrespective of crude protein levels. At the ambient temperature, reducing crude protein levels resulted in an increase in feed/gain (p < 0.001), but a decrease in serum total protein and uric acid contents. Only serum creatine kinase activity in broiler chickens was interacted by daily cyclic high ambient temperature and dietary crude protein levels (p = 0.003). These results indicated that daily cyclic high ambient temperature had a great effect on performance and serum biochemical parameters in broiler chickens, whereas dietary crude protein levels affected them partially.     

宁夏压砂地土壤全盐量和pH值的空间变异分析

以宁夏境内压砂地为研究对象,研究了不同土层压砂地土壤全盐量和pH值的空间变异性。结果表明:描述性统计分析,在垂直方向上,pH值随土壤深度的增加而下降,每层土样pH值的变异系数变化均10%,属弱变异性;全盐量随着土样深度的增加而增加,变异系数均100%,属强空间变异性。各层pH值理论分布模型均为高斯模型,且具有中等程度的空间相关性,反映出压砂地土壤pH值的空间变异是随机性因素和结构性因素共同作用的结果;0~20、20~40cm全盐理论分布模型为高斯模型,40~60cm属球状模型,具有强烈的空间相关性,说明其变异主要是由结构性因素引起。Kriging插值分析表明研究区土壤全盐量和pH值在水平空间分布总体呈环状,pH值由西北向东南方向逐渐降低,全盐量由西北向东南方向递增。     

基于GIS的城市绿地系统景观生态评价

以哈尔滨市群力新区绿地系统为研究对象,在遥感和GIS技术支持下,从绿地类型的基本斑块特征、斑块类型等级、景观异质性及景观破碎化4个层面上选取14个指数,对群力新区绿地景观格局进行分析。结果表明:研究区绿地率低,各类型绿地斑块数分布失衡,面积差异较大,形状复杂程度各异。景观多样性较好,优势度明显,但缺失绿地类型,且分布不均匀,破碎化水平较高。针对研究区绿地景观格局中存在的问题,提出群力新区绿地生态规划建议,使研究区绿地系统具有良好的景观格局,更有效的发挥城市绿地的生态功能。     

光质和光强对红树莓组培苗叶绿素荧光参数的影响

为了确立红树莓组培苗生长的适宜光质和光强,以红树莓"海尔特兹"组培苗为试材,研究了不同光质和光强处理下红树莓生根组培苗的叶绿素含量及叶绿素荧光参数。结果表明:光质处理中,除R/B(红光∶蓝光=1∶1)处理外,Chl a(叶绿素a)、Chl b(叶绿素b)和Ct(叶绿素总含量)均随着R/B比率的增加呈现先增加后减小的趋势,Chl a和Ct均在2R/B(红光∶蓝光=2∶1)处理下呈现最大值,分别为1.344、1.716mg·g~(-1),Chl b则在R/2B(红光∶蓝光=1∶2)处理最高,为0.423mg·g~(-1),Chl a、Chl b和Ct均以10R/B(红光∶蓝光=10∶1)处理最低,分别为0.130、0.033、0.163mg·g~(-1),均显著低于其它光质;Chl a/b(叶绿素a/b)在10R/B、2R/B和R/B处理下较高,分别为3.942、3.709、3.653,呈现阳生植物的特性,而在6R/B(红光∶蓝光=6∶1)、W(白光)、4R/B(红光∶蓝光=4∶1)等处理下较低,分别为2.729、2.730、2.747,呈现阴生植物的特性;在R/2B处理下,红树莓组培苗叶片的叶绿素荧光参数值表现极优,Fv/Fm(PSⅡ最大光化学效率)值达到0.881,而10R/B处理下,Fv/Fm值降低到0.355,且显著低于其它光质处理;光强处理中,随着光强的增加,Chl a、Chl b和Ct呈现递减的趋势,最大值由1.218、0.503、1.720mg·g~(-1)分别降低到0.907、0.302、1.209mg·g~(-1),均形成显著差异,Chl a/b则表现为随着光强的增加而增加,在2 000lx处理达到最大值,为3.042,且3种光强处理差异显著;叶片的Fo(初始荧光)随着光强的增加而增加,在2 000lx处理下达到最大值,为180.000,Fm(最大荧光值)则在1 500lx处理下达到最大值,为907.000,而叶片的Fv/Fm、Fv/Fo(PSⅡ的潜在活性)、ΦPSⅡ(PSⅡ实际光化学效率)、Rfd(可变荧光下降比值)则均随着光强的增加呈现递减的趋势,均在1 000lx处理下呈现最大值,分别为0.847、5.573、0.815、4.200。     

不同品种芹菜品质指标测定及其聚类分析

以12个不同品种的芹菜为试材,对其可溶性糖、可溶性固形物、叶绿素、维生素C、硝酸盐、纤维素、蛋白质、氨基酸、微量元素、芹菜素含量等10个营养品质性状进行了测定,采用聚类分析对其进行比较。结果表明:不同品种的芹菜在营养品质方面不尽相同,其中"鲍芹"营养成分丰富,维生素C、芹菜素含量极高,适合食用。试验初步明确了各品种芹菜营养成分,为进一步开发芹菜的应用价值提供理论依据。     

不同树莓品种叶片解剖结构与抗旱性的关系

以树莓叶片为试材,分析了叶片的厚度气孔密度和表皮细胞、表皮毛、栅栏组织、海绵组织、保卫细胞等叶解剖结构,比较了不同树莓品种的抗旱性。结果表明:"凯欧"和"莎妮"的叶片最厚,"加拿大黑莓"次之,其次是"南方黑树莓""海尔特兹"的叶片最薄;"凯欧"的上下表皮、栅栏组织均最厚,其次是"莎妮""加拿大黑莓"和"南方黑树莓"居中,"海尔特兹"最薄;"凯欧"和"莎妮"的气孔密度均最大,"加拿大黑莓"和"南方黑树莓"居中,"海尔特兹"最小;隶属函数综合分析发现,5个树莓品种中"凯欧"的耐旱性最强,其次是"莎妮",再次是"南方黑树莓"和"加拿大黑莓";"海尔特兹"的耐旱性最弱。     

Postnatal development of canine axial globe length measured by B-scan ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to document the development of axial globe length (AGL) in normal mesocephalic cross-bred dogs between 2 and 52 weeks of age, to determine a relationship between AGL and age, and derive an equation to predict AGL in normal mesocephalic cross-bred dogs. ANIMALS STUDIED AND PROCEDURE: The AGL of twenty normal mesocephalic cross-bred dogs was measured at 12 time points from 2 to 52 weeks of age using B-scan ultrasonography. RESULTS: The mean (+/- SEM) AGL increased from 12.65 mm (+/- 0.18) at 2 weeks of age to 19.52 mm (+/- 0.18) at 52 weeks of age. The correlation between AGL and age was evaluated by fitting possible variables to a regression pattern. A linear model of natural logarithmic-transformed value of AGL (mm) and age (week) was established. Side (left or right eye) and gender did not correlate with development of AGL. CONCLUSIONS: A reverse transformation of the formula can be used to predict AGL in mesocephalic cross-bred dogs: AGL = 10.847 * age in weeks 0.1653.     

Hyperthyroidism due to an intrathoracic tumour in a dog with test results suggesting hyperadrenocorticism

The elevated urinary corticoid/creatinine ratios of an 11-year-old Jack Russell terrier with polyuria were suppressible in a high-dose dexamethasone suppression test, which was suggestive of pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism. The absence of physical and routine-laboratory changes compatible with hyperadrenocorticism and the relatively high plasma thyroxine concentration were the impetus for additional studies of thyroid and adrenocortical functions. A high plasma thyroxine concentration (62 nmol/l; 5.0 microg/100 ml) suggested the presence of hyperthyroidism. Radiography, (99m)TcO(4) (-) scintigraphy, ultrasonography, computed tomography and cytology revealed a hyperfunctioning intrathoracic thyroid tumour. In the low-dose dexamethasone suppression test, the plasma cortisol concentration exceeded the reference value of 40 nmol/l (1.4 microg/100 ml) at eight hours after dexamethasone administration (0.01 mg/kg intravenously), a test result compatible with hyperadrenocorticism. In conclusion, this report represents the first case of a dog with an autonomously hyperfunctioning thyroid tumour in the thorax. The elevated urinary corticoid excretion and the positive low-dose dexamethasone suppression test may be explained by alterations in cortisol metabolism, the stress of the hyperthyroid state or both.