Effect of the β‐carotene oxygenase 2 genotype on the content of carotenoids,retinol and α‐tocopherol in the liver,fat and milk of rabbit does,reproduction parameters and kitten growth

Mutations in the β‐carotene oxygenase 2 (BCO2) gene can impair the function of the enzyme that breaks down carotenoids. As a result, gradual accumulation of unoxidized carotenoids in animal tissues gives them a yellow colour. The aim of the study was to determine the content of carotenoids, retinol and α‐tocopherol in the liver, fat and milk of rabbit does with three different genotypes determined by AAT‐deletion mutation at codon 248 of the BCO2 gene and to find out whether differences in the concentrations of the above compounds in the tissues and milk of the does affect reproduction parameters and the rearing rate of kittens. The experimental materials comprised 36 does, 12 of each genotype of the BCO2 gene, with their litters. Females with their litters were placed in individual cages, on deep litter. Between days 7 and 13 of lactation, samples of milk were collected from the does. The kittens stayed with their mothers until 35 days of age. After weaning, the does were sacrificed. Tissue samples of liver and perirenal fat were collected for chemical analyses. Additionally, based on samples taken from one female, RNA expression levels were determined from the mammary gland and liver, adipose tissue and skin. It was found that homozygous does with deletion at codon 248 of the BCO2 gene were characterized by considerably higher concentrations of xanthophylls and beta‐carotene in the liver, adipose tissue and milk than does with the remaining genotypes. However, the differences in the content of the above compounds in milk had no influence on litter weight or the number and rearing rate of kittens. Additionally, RNA expression of the BCO2 gene was found in the mammary tissue of lactating doe and its level was similar to those noted in the liver and adipose tissue.     

Normal electrocardiographic and echocardiographic (M-mode and two-dimensional) values in Polish Landrace pigs

Background

Swine are recognized animal models of human cardiovascular diseases. Normal values of cardiac morphology and function have been published for swine but for smaller number of pigs and not for swine whose weights ranged up 100 kg. In order to improve the value of results of an investigation on cardiac morphology and function in swine when such data are extrapolated to humans, the aim of this study was to document electrocardiographic and echocardiographic measures of cardiac morphology and function in swine. The study comprised 170 single and repeated measurements that were made in 132 healthy domestic swine (Sus domesticus) whose weights ranged between 20-160 kg and were used as controls in three different experiments. All electrocardiographic and echocardiographic measurements in all swine were done under general anaesthesia.

Results

Statistically significant correlations were found between body weight and heart rate (HR), the duration of the P-wave, the duration of the QRS interval, the duration of the QT interval, and the corrected QT ratio (QTc). Since body weight was positively correlated with age, statistically significant correlations were also found between age and HR, the duration of the P-wave, the duration of the QRS interval, the duration of the QT interval, and the QTc. We found that the thickness of the left ventricular wall and the internal diameter of the left ventricle increased with age and body weight. We also found positive trends between body weight and ejection fraction and body weight and fractional shortening. We also found a positive relationship between age, body weight, and the ratio of the left ventricular internal diameter to its wall thickness, as well as the relative left atrial size.

Conclusion

Many electro- and echocardiographic measures of cardiac morphology and function of healthy swine are related to their body weight. When the electro- and echocardiographic measures of domestic swine and humans are compared, the most comparable electrocardiographic values are those that were determined in swine whose body weights are not greater than 70 kg. In contrast, the most comparable echocardiographic measures are those that were determined in swine with a body weight of 40–110 kg.     

Influence of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate on nonspecific humoral defense mechanisms and protection against furunculosis in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca)

Studies have shown that in both in vitro and in vivo tests, β‐hydroxy‐β‐methylbutyrate (HMB) increases the nonspecific cellular and humoral immune response and protection against diseases in animals. The present study examines the influence of HMB on nonspecific humoral defense mechanisms and protection against furunculosis in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca). β‐hydroxy‐β‐methylbutyrate was fed in a pelleted ration of 50 mg kg^?1 feed day^?1 for 4 weeks. Blood was drawn from 12 HMB‐fed and control‐fed pikeperch. The lysozyme and ceruloplasmin activities in the plasma, total immunoglobulin (Ig) levels, and total serum protein were analysed prior to and then after 2 and 4 weeks of HMB ingestion. After 4 weeks of HMB ingestion, a challenge test was performed by injecting the fish with live pathogenic Aeromonas salmonicida bacteria. β‐hydroxy‐β‐methylbutyrate at a dose of 50 mg kg^?1 feed resulted in a statistically significant (P<0.05) increase in the lysozyme activity of the plasma, total Ig, and serum protein levels. Additionally, reduced mortality (40%) after the in vivo challenge with pathogenic A. salmonicida suggested that HMB‐activated nonspecific protection against furunculosis in pikeperch.     

A physical map of the 1-gigabase bread wheat chromosome 3B

As the staple food for 35% of the world's population, wheat is one of the most important crop species. To date, sequence-based tools to accelerate wheat improvement are lacking. As part of the international effort to sequence the 17-billion-base-pair hexaploid bread wheat genome (2n = 6x = 42 chromosomes), we constructed a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)-based integrated physical map of the largest chromosome, 3B, that alone is 995 megabases. A chromosome-specific BAC library was used to assemble 82% of the chromosome into 1036 contigs that were anchored with 1443 molecular markers, providing a major resource for genetic and genomic studies. This physical map establishes a template for the remaining wheat chromosomes and demonstrates the feasibility of constructing physical maps in large, complex, polyploid genomes with a chromosome-based approach.     

Rearing of coregonid fishes (Coregonidae) in illuminated lake cages: I. Growth and survival of Coregonus lavaretus L. and Coregonus peled Gmel.

The paper presents the results of rearing whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus L.) and peled (Coregonus peled Gmel.) in illuminated lake cages during a period of 4 years. In 3 successive years about 97 kg of summer coregonid fry were produced during initial 2-month rearing. Whitefish fry reached a length of 30.0–49.5 mm and an average individual weight of 201 mg–1 g. Peled fry reached 31.0–38.3 mm in length and 300–370 mg in weight. Whitefish survival rates amounted successively to 72.6% in 1977, 51.4% in 1978, and 3.1% in 1979. Survival rates for peled were 57.8%, 63.1% and 6%, respectively. Fishes at the age of 1+ and 2+ years showed high mortalities. Their growth rate was slower than in wild populations, and they did not attain sexual maturity.     

增施氮肥和地面管理对酸樱桃园土壤营养状况的影响

在一个连续进行了 ８年Ｎ肥定位试验的酸樱桃园,调查了每年施用 Ｎ６０ ｋｇ· ｈｍ~(－２)和行间生草制对土壤营养状况的影响。结果表明：在肥沃土壤里ＮＨ_４~＋是速效Ｎ的主要存在形式,而ＮＯ_３~－的含量很低。生草地土壤中含有较多的 ＮＨ_４~－,而清耕带土壤中含有较多的 ＮＯ_３~－。施肥增加土壤速效 Ｎ的含量。土壤 ＮＯ_３~－的季节性变化表明 ５至 ６月份土壤中 ＮＯ_３~－的含量高,而花前和 ７月份土壤中 ＮＯ_３~－含量低。 Ｐ、Ｋ在清耕带 １０ ｃｍ以下土壤的含量低于生草地土壤,但在 ０～ １０ｃｍ土层中Ｋ的含量高于生草地。Ｐ的含量不受影响。施Ｎ减少了土壤Ｐ、Ｋ的含量。土壤中Ｍｇ的含量分布均匀,不受施Ｎ和地面管理制度的影响。     

Pharmacokinetics of levosulpiride after single‐dose administration in goats (Capra hircus) by different routes of administration

Levosulpiride (LSP) is the l‐enantiomer of sulpiride, and LSP recently replacing sulpiride in several EU countries. Several studies about LSP in humans are present in the literature, but neither pharmacodynamic nor pharmacokinetic data of LSP is present for veterinary species. The aim of this study was to assess the pharmacokinetic profile of LSP after intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and oral (PO) administration in goats. Animals (n = 6) were treated with 50 mg LSP by IV, IM, and PO routes according to a randomized cross‐over design (3 × 3 Latin‐square). Blood samples were collected prior and up to 24 hr after LSP administration and quantified using a validated HPLC method with fluorescence detection. IV and IM administration gave similar concentration versus time curve profiles. The IM mean bioavailability was 66.97%. After PO administration, the drug plasma concentrations were detectable only in the time range 1.5–4 hr, and the bioavailability (4.73%) was low. When the AUC was related to the administered dose in mg/kg, there was a good correlation in the IV and IM groups, but very low correlation for the PO route. In conclusion, the IM and IV administrations result in very similar plasma concentrations. Oral dosing of LSP in goats is probably not viable as its oral bioavailability was very low.     

Yersinia ruckeri—A threat not only to rainbow trout

Yersinia ruckeri (Y. ruckeri) can cause mortalities that are contributing to substantial economic losses in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) aquaculture sector. Because of its most characteristic clinical signs, the disease in rainbow trout caused by this pathogen is called enteric redmouth disease. Although it is considered to affect mainly salmonids, there are reports in the available literature of isolating this bacterium from other fish species, both clinically healthy and diseased. The aim of this study was to analyse the available data concerning yersiniosis in non‐salmonid fish. The analysed data indicate that Y. ruckeri is a threat not only to rainbow trout. Some of the affected species have high commercial importance and mortalities may contribute to high economic losses. The disease symptoms may not be specific and can be different from those characteristic for enteric redmouth in trout, which may lead to misdiagnosis. Collected information indicates that infection with Y. ruckeri should be taken into account in the diagnostic procedures not only in salmonids.     

Response of a Juvenile Cyprinid,Lake Minnow <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eupallasella perenurus</Emphasis> (Pallas), to Different Diets

Three commercial starters (Carp Starter, Uni Starter and Perla Plus) and one non-commercial, with frozen Chironomidae larvae as a reference diet, were evaluated for the intensive rearing of juvenile lake minnow Eupallasella perenurus, a cyprinid fish that is critically endangered in Poland. The growth, condition, survival, body deformities, and chemical body composition were studied. The 90-day laboratory experiment was performed at 22 °C with fish that were initially 24.6 mm (mean total lenth (TL)) and 0.11 g (mean body weight (BW)). Satisfactory fish growth was attained with all of the diets; however, the largest (p ≤ 0.05) final size (48.5 mm TL, 1.55 g BW) and the lowest condition coefficient (K = 1.34) were noted in fish fed the non-commercial starter. The final survival rates were very high (97.5–100%). Skeletal deformities (in 74 to 92% fish) were recorded exclusively in fish fed commercial starters. All commercial starters resulted in considerably higher lipid content and lower ash content than did the non-commercial starter and the reference diet. This suggests that both these factors might be responsible for body deformities. The present results proved that only the non-commercial starter is suitable for juvenile E. perenurus rearing under controlled condition, and that none of the commercial starters can be recommended.