The effectiveness of and requirements for selected amino acids in growing female swine. 6. Summarizing discussion, evaluation and recommendations for use of the method presented

Physiologically based statements on the effectivity of lysine, methionine/cystine and threonine of protein sources as well as on the requirement of these amino acids depending on performance were derived on the basis of a total of 568 N balance measurings at growing female fattening pigs in the live weight range between 30 and 50 kg (Liebert, 1986) with the application of the N utilization model by Gebhardt (1963) as well as of particular further developments by the linking of N utilization and the utilization of the respective limiting amino acid. By means of combining protein sources with known amino acid effectivity, the additivity principle for content values of effective amino acid in the feed protein (c.k) suggested as criteria was verified. On the whole, it could thus be proved that the suggested method can decisively contribute to the elaboration of a closed system of quality assessment and requirement assessment depending on performance as well as of supply covering requirements of growing pigs. The advantages in particular over the 'slope ratio' method are emphasized.     

Poxvirus in farmed Nile crocodiles

In an outbreak of wart-like skin lesions in nine-month-old farmed Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) the lesions were especially common on the head and neck but occurred on all parts of the body except the tail. Eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies were present in epithelial cells and further examination of the lesions by transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of a poxvirus. An autogenous vaccine was produced from material from the lesions and in six vaccinated crocodiles the lesions healed more quickly than in unvaccinated controls.     

Limited efficacy of levamisole against adults of Dirofilaria immitis in a dog

A dog with chronic dirofilariasis (Dirofilaria immitis) was given 15 doses of 12 or 24 mg of levamisole/kg of body weight in 6 treatments within 96 days. Concentration of microfilariae in the blood was determined before and after treatment, and Aedes triseriatus mosquitoes were fed on the dog 1 to 5 days after each treatment and examined for D immitis larvae. Several adult worms were recovered from the dog 160 days after the end of the treatments.     

Influence of recombinant duck follistatin protein on embryonic muscle development and gene expressions

Follistatin (FST) acts as a positive regulator of muscle development by inhibiting the activities and expression of myostatin. The recombinant duck FST protein was injected into hatching eggs and was also added to the medium of duck myoblast to study its role on duck embryonic muscle development and gene expressions. Duck embryo weight increased 3.49% (p > 0.05) in FST treatment group as compared with control group, but minor effects were found on leg or breast muscle weights of ducklings at 2 days post‐hatching (p > 0.05). Relative expression of Pax7 was upregulated in both leg and breast muscle tissues (p < 0.05), while MyoD was only upregulated in leg muscle (p < 0.05), and Myf5 was only upregulated in breast muscle (p < 0.05). Relative expression of myostatin was downregulated in both muscle tissues researched (p < 0.05). In vitro studies also showed some maker genes relevant to protein synthesis and degradation, cells’ proliferation and differentiation had significant changes in myoblasts after treated with FST. These results suggested that in ovo feeding of recombinant FST protein to duck hatching eggs had an effect on duck embryo development but have less roles on the duck embryonic muscle development.     

Impact of Food Restriction on Ovarian Development,RFamide‐Related Peptide‐3 and the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Ovarian Axis in Pre‐Pubertal Ewes

RFamide‐related peptide‐3 (RFRP‐3), the mammalian ortholog of gonadotropin‐inhibiting hormone, has been implicated as a mediator between reproduction and energy balance. This study aimed to investigate the physiological effects of RFRP‐3 on the process of ovarian development in food‐restricted pre‐pubertal ewes. The results showed that food restriction significantly inhibited the ovarian development and follicular growth. The data of qPCR in the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian (HPO) axis showed that food restriction not only upregulated RFRP‐3 mRNA expression but also downregulated the mRNA expression of gonadotropin‐releasing‐hormone receptor, follicle‐stimulating hormone receptor and luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR). Immunohistochemistry of RFRP‐3 in the ovaries suggested that RFRP‐3 may regulate the follicular development. These results suggested that the changes of RFRP‐3 in response to food restriction might influence the HPO axis and inhibit ovarian development.     

Effects of dietary oregano and garlic essential oils on carcass characteristics,meat composition,colour, pH and sensory quality of broiler meat

1. An experiment was conducted to determine the individual and combined effects of two essential oils, oregano and garlic, on carcass characteristics, meat composition, colour, pH and sensory quality of broiler meat.

2. The diets were supplemented with no essential oil (control), oregano essential oil or garlic essential oil at 300 mg/kg and oregano essential oil at 150 mg/kg + garlic essential oil at 150 mg/kg.

3. Dietary oregano and garlic oil supplementation did not affect carcass yields, the relative weight of carcass parts, breast and thigh meat composition, pH or b* value of breast meat. Oregano + garlic oil supplementation significantly decreased the L* value. The a* value of breast meat in birds given a diet supplemented with oregano oil was lower than that in birds given a diet supplemented with garlic oil and oregano oil + garlic oil. The essential oil addition had no positive effect on the oxidative stability. There was no difference between the treatments in breast appearance.

4. The juiciness, flavour, oxidised flavour and acceptability of breast meat samples were affected by treatments.     

Aerosolized Micropolyspora faeni antigen as a cause of pulmonary dysfunction in ponies with recurrent airway obstruction (heaves)

Ponies with recurrent airway obstruction (principal ponies) and their controls were given aerosolized Micropolyspora faeni antigen via endotracheal tube during a period when the principal ponies were in disease remission. In both groups of ponies, we performed bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and measured pulmonary function at base line, and 5 hours after aerosol administration of 30 ml of 0.9% NaCl solution or 30 ml of 1% w/v particulate M faeni antigen in 0.9% NaCl solution. In both groups of ponies, aerosolized M faeni antigen increased WBC count, neutrophil numbers, and albumin concentration in BAL fluid, but macrophage numbers decreased. In the principal ponies, BAL mast cell numbers were decreased 5 hours after administration of M faeni antigen. The M faeni antigen had no effect on the mechanical properties of the lungs or on gas exchange in the control ponies, but did increase respiratory frequency minute ventilation and pulmonary resistance, and decreased arterial oxygen tension in the principal ponies. Changes in pulmonary function were apparent only in the principal ponies, which suggests that neutrophils, per se, do not cause pulmonary dysfunction and that M faeni may be one of the etiologic agents involved in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.     

Immune exclusion of Haemonchus contortus larvae in sheep: dose dependency, steroid sensitivity and persistence of the response

Naive and immune sheep, treated with anthelmintic, challenged directly into the abomasum and killed 48 hours later were used to examine the steroid sensitivity, persistence and dose dependency of immune mechanisms which result in the failure of incoming Haemonchus contortus larvae to establish (immune exclusion). Immune exclusion was almost totally abolished by corticosteroid treatment, the mean percentage of larvae establishing in the mucosa of immune sheep was 1.4 per cent of the challenge infection whereas in those treated with dexamethasone it was 24.4 per cent and in naive sheep 27.3 per cent. Immune animals challenged after seven and 42 days without antigenic experience excluded more than 90 per cent of the challenge larvae from their mucosae, whereas those challenged after 84 days without antigenic experience were as susceptible as naive animals. Immune exclusion was dose dependent, animals challenged with 10(6) and 10(5) larvae excluded 93 per cent and 82.5 per cent of the challenge dose whereas those challenged with 10(4) larvae failed to exclude larvae.     

A retrospective analysis of radiation therapy for the treatment of feline vaccine‐associated sarcoma*

We retrospectively evaluated predictive prognostic factors in 73 cats with vaccine‐associated sarcoma given postsurgical curative (n = 46, most with clean margins) or coarse fractionated radiotherapy (n = 27, most with either macroscopic disease or dirty margins). The former animals displayed a median survival of 43 months and a median progression free interval (PFI) of 37 months, the latter reached a median survival of 24 months and a median PFI of 10 months. In cats undergoing coarse fractionated therapy, factors predictive of a better outcome included lack of visible mass (n = 10) as opposed to macroscopic disease (n = 17, survival: 30 versus 7 months, P = 0.025; PFI: 20 versus 4 months, P = 0.01), adjuvant chemotherapy for gross disease (n = 5/17, survival: 29 versus 5 months, P = 0.04) and a smaller number of surgeries preceding radiation therapy (coeff = 0.41, P = 0.03). The Ki67 index was not predictive for survival. We concluded that postsurgical curative and coarse fractionated radiotherapy are effective legitimate options for managing vaccine‐associated sarcomas.