Effect of placenta feeding to sows on plasma biochemical composition and growth of their piglets

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects on the plasma biochemical composition and growth of piglets of placenta‐fed sows. The experimental animals were a total of 21 sows (L × LW) of third parity, and each sow was suckled by 11 ± 1 piglets. Sows fed without placenta were considered as the control (C), treatment 1 (T1) were placenta‐fed from days 1–7 after farrowing and treatment 2 (T2) were placenta‐fed from day 7 before farrowing to day 7 after farrowing. Glucose of piglets was lower (P < 0.05) in T2 than C and T1 on day 10. Total cholesterol of piglets was higher (P < 0.05) in T2 than C on day 4. Fe of piglets was higher (P < 0.05) in T2 than C on days 4, 20 and 30. Unsaturated iron‐binding capacity was lower (P < 0.05) in T2 than C on days 4 and 30. Immunoglobulin G of piglets was higher (P < 0.05) in T1 and T2 than C on days 4 and 10. Daily gain of piglets was higher (P < 0.05) in T1 than C and T2 on day 4 when daily gain was calculated. Total daily gain increased (P < 0.05) by prolongation of placenta feeding period. The results indicate that feeding placenta to sows may improve the plasma biochemical composition and growth of their piglets.     

Seroprevalence of five arboviruses in sentinel cattle as part of nationwide surveillance in South Korea, 2009?2012

To investigate the possible circulation of arboviruses in South Korea, nationwide surveillance of five arbovirues was conducted in sentinel calves during 2009−2012. We used serum neutralization tests to investigate the presence of antibodies for the Aino virus, Akabane virus, bovine ephemeral fever virus, Chuzan virus and Ibaraki virus. In 2009, 2011 and 2012, the seropositive rates for these five arboviruses were all less than 14.1%. In 2010, however, the seropositive rates for Aino virus and Akabane virus were 33.2% and 40.2%, respectively. High seropositive rates were also associated with a large-scale outbreak of Akabane viral encephalomyelitis in cattle in southern Korea in 2010. Continued seroprevalence surveillance will be useful for monitoring natural arboviral diseases.     

VIRTUAL CT OTOSCOPY OF THE MIDDLE EAR AND OSSICLES IN DOGS

Virtual otoscopy enables noninvasive 3D endoluminal imaging of the middle ear through postprocessing of computed tompgraphy (CT) data. A standardized imaging approach for the middle ear was established in six normal dogs in an attempt to optimize the clinical application and student education. High‐resolution CT data were obtained. Virtual otoscopic images of the middle ear cavity and ossicles were generated using commercially available software. The views of the four different directions (the ear canal, tympanic bulla, eustachian tube, and ossicular chain) were made for virtual otoscopy. The promontory, cochlea window, tympanic bulla, septum bulla, and auditory tube were distinguished easily and clearly. One of the ossicles, the malleus, was visualized accurately. However, small structures such as the incus and stapes always could not be seen. The main advantage of virtual otoscopy is not only to provide diagnostic information but also to enhance the quality and efficiency of student education, because it contributes to an understanding of the anatomy of the middle ear. We describe the normal topographical 3Dimages of the middle ear of the dog using virtual otoscopy.     

Herbicidal action of clove oil on cucumber seedlings

The herbicidal action of clove oil on cucumber seedlings was characterized under light and dark conditions. Paraquat showed herbicidal activity only under the light condition, whereas the clove oil displayed herbicidal activity in both the light and the dark condition. Specifically, wilting and water content reduction progressed rapidly under both the light and the dark condition 1 h after the clove oil treatment, whereas the paraquat damage occurred only under the light condition 5 h after treatment. The malondialdehyde concentration increased more with the clove oil treatment than with the paraquat treatment under the light and dark conditions. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was stimulated, but the catalase activity decreased in the clove oil treatment. In contrast, both the SOD and catalase activity decreased in the paraquat treatment. These results suggest that clove oil exerts herbicidal effects through a mechanism that is different from that of paraquat.     

Mesh selectivity of encircling gill net for gizzard shad Konosirus punctatus in the coastal sea of Korea

ABSTRACT:   Fishing experiments were carried out in Yeongil Bay, Korea using an encircling gill net with four different mesh sizes and two different hanging ratios to measure the mesh selectivity for gizzard shad Konosirus punctatus . Twenty-six trials were conducted giving a total catch of 485 gizzard shad. The 'share each length's catch total' (SELECT) analysis with maximum likelihood method was used to fit the different functional models, the normal, lognormal, and bi-normal model, for a selectivity curve to the catch data. In addition, two cases in which the relative fishing intensity was either estimated or fixed were compared. The bi-normal model with the fixed relative fishing intensity was found to fit the data best. For the selectivity curve on the bi-normal model, the relative length (the ratio of fish length to mesh size) with the maximum efficiency was obtained as 3.70. From this, the focal fish lengths in the commercial encircling gill net, with mesh size ranging from 5.0 to 6.0 cm, were inferred to be 18.5–22.2 cm.