Growth performance, energy, and nitrogen balance of weanling pigs fed a cereal-based diet supplemented with Chinese rhubarb

Forty Swiss Large White piglets of 4 weeks of age were used to determine the effect of dietary Chinese rhubarb on growth performance, as well as on energy and nitrogen metabolism by means of indirect respiration calorimetry studies. A cereal-based diet, supplemented with four different dosages of Chinese rhubarb (0.0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%), was offered ad libitum to the piglets. Gaseous exchange was measured, and urine, faeces, and blood samples were taken. The addition of 0.25% dietary rhubarb increased feed intake (+32%) and daily weight gain (+67%) compared to the diet containing the greatest amount of rhubarb (1%). The piglets fed diet supplemented with 0.25% rhubarb digested and metabolised more energy and nitrogen relative to the animals of treatment 1%. As a consequence, the same group (0.25%) converted more energy and nitrogen into body protein than piglets receiving diet supplemented with 1% rhubarb. However, compared to the control group, the addition of 0.25% rhubarb to the diet resulted in not significantly alter growth performance, energy, and nitrogen metabolism of the animals.Blood parameters were not affected by the rhubarb supplementation. The dose-responding effect of Chinese rhubarb was reflected by the dry matter content of faecal samples. According to the laxative effect of higher doses of rhubarb, the addition of 1% rhubarb to the diet reduced dry matter content of faeces. This effect was well visible in practice, although not relevant in statistical terms. The addition of 0.5% dietary rhubarb had no relevant effect on growth performance or on energy and nitrogen metabolism of treated animals.     

Distribution and Activity of Fatty Acid Amide Hydralase (FAAH) in the Gastrointestinal Neurons of Mouse

The endocannabinoid anandamide may regulate intestinal motility through activation of CB1 receptors. Anandamide is then inactivated by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), a membrane bound enzyme. Under pathological conditions, inactivation of such enzymatic activity may lead to inhibition of the intestinal motility. Here, preliminary reports on the distribution of Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) immunoreactivity in the mouse gastrointestinal neurons, and the pharmacological effects of N‐arachidonoylserotonin (AA‐5HT), a selective inhibitor of FAAH, are reported. FAAH was revealed by an indirect immunofluorescence. Laminar preparations containing the myenteric or the submucous plexus adhered, were peeled off after the whole gut wall had been stretched out and fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde. They were subsequently incubated with a polyclonal anti‐serum directed against a region near the N‐terminus of the human FAAH and revealed by a FITC‐conjugated goat anti‐rabbit secondary anti‐serum. FAAH‐immunoreactive neurons were observed within the myenteric ganglia throughout the GIT. The positive nerve cells varied in size and density of immunoreactivity. Stomach and large intestine showed the highest neuronal density. AA‐5HT significantly reduced both gastric emptying and gastrointestinal tract transit. Such inhibitory effect was reduced by the C1 receptor antagonist SR141716A. Both morphological and pharmacological results suggest that FAAH may play a critical role in controlling gut anandamide levels.     

Serodiagnosis of Burkholderia mallei Infections in Horses: State‐of‐the‐art and Perspectives

Burkholderia mallei causes glanders or farcy in solipeds, a disease that must be reported to the OIE (Office International des Epizooties, Paris, France). The number of reported outbreaks has increased steadily during the last decade. Serodiagnosis is hampered by the considerable number of false‐positives and ‐negatives of the internationally prescribed tests. The major problem leading to low sensitivity and specificity of complement fixation test (CFT) and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been linked to the test antigens currently used, i.e. crude preparations of whole cells. Future perspectives for the development and evaluation of serological test kits using well‐characterized single antigens are discussed in the light of recent molecular research on B. mallei and the closely related saprozoonotic agent B. pseudomallei.     

Prepenetration stages in infection of clematis by Phoma clematidina

A detailed study of conidial germination, germ-tube growth and the formation of infection structures in Phoma clematidina , the causal agent of clematis wilt, is described for two clematis varieties differing in disease resistance. On both the resistant and susceptible varieties, the fungus entered leaves and stems by direct penetration of the cuticle, often, but not always, following the formation of infection structures. More germ tubes per conidium were formed on the susceptible host, but these germ tubes were on average shorter than on the resistant host. Although germ tubes regularly entered the plant via trichomes, stomata were not found to be sites of entry. Following penetration of the cuticle of resistant plants, germ-tube growth was sometimes restricted to the subcuticular region, and halo formation occurred at the sites where penetration was attempted. Subcuticular growth and halo formation were not observed on susceptible plants. These observations may partly explain the resistance of small-flowered clematis varieties to P. clematidina .