Soybean: feed quality and safety. Part 2: pathology of soybean feeding in animals. A review

Various animal models in farm and laboratory animals indicate the possible pathological effect of soybean feeding. Immunity and tolerance to oral soybean intake and a generalised meta-model of effects are discussed. It seems that FAO/WHO recommendations will have to be considered in assessing the biological value of soybean feed sources. Determination of hull content, antigenic potential, conglycinin and trypsin inhibitor content is warranted in view of the future component pricing of soybean meals.     

Molecular phylogeny of the kidney-parasitic Sphaerospora renicola from common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Sphaerospora sp. from goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus)

The genetic relatedness of two kidney-parasitic Sphaerospora species was studied. Although S. renicola, the causative agent of swimbladder inflammation of common carp fingerlings (Cyprinus carpio), and Sphaerospora sp. originating from goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus) were indistinguishable on the basis of spore morphology, they were found to be genetically different as their 18S rDNA sequences shared only 71.9% identical nucleotides. In the phylogenetic trees, Sphaerospora sp. from goldfish grouped with Myxidium truttae (AJ582061) within the clade of the coelozoic freshwater species. Sphaerospora renicola clustered with S. molnari (AF378345) within the group of myxosporeans histozoic in gills. The topology of the six Sphaerospora species on the phylogenetic trees implied that myxospore morphology does not correlate with the genetic relationships, and the genus seems to be polyphyletic.     

Clinicopathological changes and effect of imidocarb therapy in dogs experimentally infected with Babesia canis

In this study one spleen-intact dog (A) and two splenectomised dogs (BSE, CSE) were infected with Babesia canis. All animals developed an acute disease characterised by fever, haemoglobinuria and anaemia, the latter being more severe in the splenectomised dogs. Fever and parasitised red blood cells were detected for three days after imidocarb treatment in the splenectomised animals. Haematological abnormalities included regenerative anaemia, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia (due to neutropenia and lymphopenia) in the acute phase, soon followed by leukocytosis, neutrophilia and left shift a few days later. Acute hepatopathy was detected in all dogs with elevated ALT activity, which was more seriously altered in the splenectomised dogs. Diffuse changes in liver structure and hepatomegaly were seen by ultrasonography. Liver biopsy and histology revealed acute, non-purulent hepatitis in the splenectomised dogs. Both splenectomised dogs were successfully cured after collection of 400 ml highly parasitised blood, proving that large-amount antigen production is possible with rescuing the experimental animals. Whole blood transfusion, imidocarb and supportive care with infusions, antipyretics, glucocorticoids and diuretics were applied. The spleen-intact dog clinically recovered after receiving supportive treatment, with no imidocarb therapy. Microbial infections developed in both splenectomised animals (BSE: haemobartonellosis, CSE: osteomyelitis caused by Escherichia coli), probably as a consequence of immunosuppression after splenectomy and glucocorticoid therapy.     

The influence of laterality on mastitis incidence in dairy cattle--preliminary study

During summer (June to August) of continental weather conditions treated mastitis episodes at a large Hungarian dairy farm were studied to determine the relationship between the distribution of mastitis among quarters of the udder and the lying behaviour (laterality) of the cows. There was a significant difference in laterality between cows that developed mastitis and cows that did not. Cows that developed mastitis, had an increased left laterality in lying, which was related to the increased probability of a right-sided mastitis episode. However, the effect was not significant due to the large variation in the data. At the same time, significantly more cows with clinical mastitis had a somatic cell count (SCC) higher than that of cows without clinical mastitis. While a significant correlation was found between the occurrence of treated mastitis cases and SCC > 1,000,000, no statistically significant differences could be observed in milk production between the two groups.     

Transient interface sharpening in miscible alloys

We observed that diffuse interfaces sharpen rather than broaden in completely miscible ideal binary systems. This is shown in situ during heat treatments at gradually increasing temperatures by scattering of synchrotron radiation in coherent Mo/V multilayers containing initially diffuse interfaces. This effect provides a useful tool for the improvement of interfaces and offers a way to fabricate better x-ray or neutron mirrors, microelectronic devices, or multilayers with giant magnetic resistance.     

Effect of diets with different inclusion levels of distillers dried grain with solubles combined with lysine and methionine supplementation on the lipid peroxidation and glutathione status of chickens

To study the possible effects of different inclusion levels of distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS) on the lipid peroxidation and glutathione redox status of chickens, 200 three-week-old Ross 308 cockerels were assigned to four treatment groups of 50 birds each. The groups were fed a control and three experimental, isocaloric and isonitrogenous grower diets containing 15, 20 and 25% DDGS, respectively, combined with lysine (Lys) and methionine (Met) supplementation until 6 weeks of age. It was found that DDGS inclusion increased the ether extract content of the diets which resulted in higher reduced glutathione (GSH) content and elevated glutathione peroxidase activity (GSHPx) in the liver. However, DDGS addition with Lys and Met supplementation did not influence the malondialdehyde content of the blood and the liver. The oleic acid proportion of the diet showed a close positive correlation with GSH content of the liver. A smaller ratio of methionine and cysteine in the diet with DDGS resulted in significantly higher liver GSH content. GSHPx activity increased parallel with the elevated GSH content of the liver homogenate, suggesting that the enzyme is activated by the actual supply of its co-substrate. In conclusion, the results show that DDGS, even at a high inclusion level combined with Lys and Met supplementation, has no initiative effect on lipid peroxidation in the blood and liver of broiler chickens.     

Experimental results of using autologous rectus fascia sheath for venous patch grafts in dogs

Autologous vascular patch grafts developed from the internal rectus sheath were implanted onto the bilateral common iliac vein and jugular vein of 4 experimental beagle dogs. During the development and implanting of the grafts no technical difficulties or perioperative complications were encountered. The follow-up lasted 6 months and 3 months in the case of the common iliac vein grafts and the jugular grafts, respectively. In the postoperative period, the morphological and functional characteristics of the implanted venous sections were examined by Doppler ultrasonography and CT angiography. Normal patency was detected, and none of these check-ups showed obturation or stenosis. The histological survey showed no mesothelial cell layer, but the insides of the grafts showed total restructuring and were covered by a normal endothelial layer. No difference could be detected between samples harvested 3 and 6 months after implanting. The immunohistochemical examinations using anti-claudin-5 and anti-CD31 antibodies confirmed the preliminary results of the histological examinations that the luminal surfaces of the implanted grafts developed a differentiated monolayer endothelium which was free of degenerative and inflammatory signs. The control examinations show the suitability of the internal rectus sheath as a venous wall donor.     

Non-invasive measurement of fillet composition of four freshwater fish species by computer tomography

Thecrude fat and crude protein content of fillets was predicted by X-ray computertomography (CT) and determined by chemical analyses. Between 20 to 40 serialscans were taken of 48 freshwater fish and samples from the ground fillet withskin were prepared for chemical analyses. Fish species investigated were asfollows: common carp (n = 18), grass carp (n = 10), silver carp (n = 10) andpike-perch (n = 10), all collected directly from fishponds and processedimmediately. The variables of the prediction equations were taken from thedensity values of the Hounsfield scale, on a range between –90 and+150, by summing the frequencies within each interval of 10 values. Withprincipal component analysis fillet fat and crude protein content could beestimated with R² = 0.88 and R² = 0.87 accuracy,respectively. Three dimensional"volumetric" estimation of fat tissue was also carried out on the basis of fatindices developed at our lab. The fillet composition of the Cyprinid speciescould be evaluated well with the applied methods, but not that of pike-perchwhich had an extremely low fillet and body fat content.