Flow cytometric analysis of intracellular complexity and CD45 expression for use in rapid differentiation of leukocytes in bovine blood samples.

OBJECTIVE: To develop an efficient and reliable method that accurately differentiates bovine lymphocytes from monocytes in leukograms. SAMPLE POPULATION: Blood samples from 30 healthy cows and 1 calf with bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency. PROCEDURE: Flow cytometric analysis of intracellular complexity and CD45 expression on bovine leukocytes was compared with results for conventional light microscopy methods. Verification of leukocyte subpopulations determined by intracellular complexity and CD45 expression was conducted, using 2-color phenotypic analysis with selected monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: The CD45 and side-scatter properties of bovine leukocytes clearly differentiated cell types, including neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This is a rapid assay that is simple to use. More importantly, it is more accurate than the conventional method that involves the use of blood slides and light microscopy, because of the ability of the assay to readily distinguish bovine monocytes and lymphocytes. Rapid preparation of samples and short analysis times allow for efficient and reliable examination of a large number of samples, and the task of viewing slides by light microscopy is eliminated. The labor-savings benefit of this procedure is most apparent in research environments that require frequent processing of batches of blood samples.     

Feeding Frequency Affects Growth, Not Fillet Composition, of Juvenile Sunshine Bass Morone chrysops×M. saxatilis Grown in Cages

Abstract.— In an effort to feed sunshine bass Morone chrysops × M. saxatilis efficiently, promote optimal growth, and reduce labor costs associated with feeding, sunshine bass were grown in cages and fed one of four feeding frequencies: once/d, twice/d, once every other day (I X/EOD), and twice every other day (2X/EOD) for 21 wk. Juvenile sunshine bass were fed a commercial floating diet containing 40% protein and 11.5% lipid. One hundred fish were hand-counted and stocked into each of 12 3.5-m³ cages with three replications per treatment. At the conclusion of the study, percentage weight gain of sunshine bass fed twice/d was significantly (P < 0.05) higher (1,850%) compared to fish fed all other feeding frequencies. Specific growth rate (SGR) of fish fed twice/d was significantly higher (2.1%/d) compared to fish fed all other feeding regimes, while fish fed once/d had a higher SGR (2.0%/d) compared to fish fed I X/EOD (1.6%/d) and 2X/EOD (1.8%/d). Percentage survival was not significantly different (P > 0.05) among all treatments and averaged 70.4%r. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) of fish fed twice/d was significantly higher (2.40) compared to fish fed all other feeding regimes. Percentage fillet weight of fish fed twice/d was significantly higher (27.8%) compared to all other treatments. Percentage moisture, protein, lipid, and ash in fillet were not significantly different among all treatments and averaged 75.7%, 19.4%, 3.5%, and 1.2%n, respectively (wet-weight basis). Based upon data from the present study, it appears that producers growing juvenile sunshine bass in cages may want to feed fish twice daily. This feeding regimen allows for higher growth rates, without adverse effects on body or fillet compositions. However, economic analysis needs to be conducted to determine if feeding twice/d is profitable.     

Genetic diversity of herbicide-resistant and -susceptible Avena fatua populations in North Dakota and Minnesota

Genetic diversity within and among 20 herbicide-resistant (HR) and 16 herbicide-susceptible (HS) Avena fatua multi-field populations was determined using 82 polymorphic loci resulting from two intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers and one long-primer random amplified polymorphic DNA (LP-RAPD) primer. Collections from the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota, sampled in 1964 and 2000, represented A. fatua populations before and after intensive exposure to herbicides. A 1995 collection from south-west North Dakota represented A. fatua exposed to low herbicide selection. Despite differences in years of herbicide exposure among collections, both HR and HS populations from every collection maintained nearly similar levels of ISSR and RAPD diversity. Genetic differentiation among populations (G_ST) varied from 11% to 13% among HR populations and from 9% to 16% among HS populations, indicating that 84–91% of total variation remained within HS or within HR populations. Minimal difference in gene diversity between HR and HS is consistent with multiple origins of resistance, where HR A. fatua most likely evolved from diverse founding individuals.     

Survival of Leptosphaeria maculans in soil on residues of Brassica napus in South Australia

The survival of Leptosphaeria maculans , which causes phoma stem canker (blackleg), on oilseed rape residues ( Brassica napus ) in South Australia was investigated. Using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for L. maculans DNA, the pathogen was mainly detected in the upper 5 cm of the soil profile, including residues on the soil surface. As the size of organic matter particles in the soil decreased, so did the quantity of L. maculans detected in them. To obtain representative data for a field, at least 30 subsamples needed to be collected over the 0·81 ha area studied. In a survey of 49 commercial fields in South Australia, most L. maculans was detected in fields 1 year after oilseed rape had been grown, with less detected after 2 years and negligible amounts 3 years or more after cropping. The diagnostic DNA-based assay for L. maculans reduced the time and cost of studying L. maculans survival in soil and increased the sensitivity and accuracy of results compared with estimates of propagule number of colony-forming units on a semiselective medium.     

Nutrient digestibility of angling baits for carp, Cyprinus carpio, with implications for groundbait formulation and eutrophication control

Abstract  To evaluate the suitability of angling groundbaits as a fish feed and the potential for nutrient loss, the macronutrient digestibility of four groundbaits was investigated in carp, Cyprinus carpio L., using a sieving method of faeces collection and chromic oxide. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of protein and lipids were >80% for all angling baits. ADCs of nitrogen-free extracts and phosphorus (P) differed significantly between the test diets, probably because of divergent feed compositions and ingredient treatments. The generally high digestibility estimates indicated that fish feeding on angling groundbait will benefit from this food source. The differences in nutrient digestibility suggested that type of groundbait and ingredient used will have a major effect on potential eutrophication and fish production caused by groundbaiting. The principle of groundbaits to protect the environment should be to minimise the P-content of the groundaits and maximising P-digestibility and P-retention efficiency.     

欧盟对动物促生长剂的措施及其对畜牧业的影响

欧盟专员 Ｆｒａｎｚ Ｆｉｓｃｈｌｅｒ于 １９９５年 １１月 ２９～３０日和１２月１日在布鲁塞尔组织了关于肉类生产中使用生长促进剂的科学研讨会。此后有关抗生素作为饲料添加剂的一场新的争论又开始了。同时对同化激素和生长激素类促生长剂的应用前景也展开了争论。禁用生长激素的理由，是否有科学的依据？对于中国畜牧业会有什么潜在的影响？本文将就欧盟禁用动物促生长剂产品的科学依据以及对中国畜牧业有什么影响作一探讨。１同化激素和生长激素是否有应用前景 让我们首先回顾一下同化激素（促合成代谢剂ａｎａｂｏｌｉｃ ｏｇｅｎ…     

Rotavirus infection in calves in Bangladesh

Faecal samples from 434 calves under 1 year of age (307 diarrhoeal and 127 normal) were collected from three dairy farms and one village in selected areas of Bangladesh. The samples were tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the presence of rotavirus antigen. Of 402 dairy calves tested, 28 (7.0%) were positive, of which 21 (7.2%) were from diarrhoeic calves and 7 (6.3%) from non-diarrhoeic calves. Rotavirus infection varied from farm to farm (2.7–9.2%) and there was no positive response from any of the 32 village calves. Rotavirus was most commonly found in calves of 1 week of age or less (up to 22.2% in one group) but was not found in any calves later than 6 months of age. More than 80% of rotavirus-positive samples from diarrhoeic calves exhibited a titre of 128 or more (geometric mean 345±4.5), whereas non-diarrhoeal calves had titres less than or equal to 128 (geometric mean=29±1.9), suggesting that rotavirus infection in calves in Bangladesh was mostly associated with diarrhoea.