Equine bronchoalveolar lavage cytology: survey of Thoroughbred racehorses in training

SUMMARY Sixty-two Thoroughbred horses aged between 1 and 7 years in training in Sydney had bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples collected for cytological examination. All horses, except the yearlings and those with a cough, had raced at the time of the examination and the trainers reported satisfactory performance. Free erythrocytes were found In 73% of samples and haemoslderophages In 90% of the samples, Indicating Immediate or past occurrences of exercise-Induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH). Bronchoalveolar fluid from the yearlings contained significantly less (P / 0.05) erythrocytes and haemosiderophages than samples from horses In other age groups. In the older horses, there was also more haemosiderln within the macrophages. No differences In BAL cytology could be attributed to gender, and there was no relationship between BAL cytology and racing performance. The main cytological findings were (mean ± sd): total nucleated cells - 832 ± 578/μL with the main cell types being: macrophages - 59 ± 10% (haemosiderophages - 20 ± 24%); neutrophlls - 9 ± 6%; lymphocytes - 31 ± 9%. The erythrocyte count was 10.3 ± 17.7% of the total cell count. Horses with chronic coughing had a higher proportion of macrophages and a lower proportion of lymphocytes in the leucocytes obtained from BAL. There was a higher occurrence of EIPH detected In BAL findings than that previously reported when endoscopic examination has been used to diagnose EIPH. The occurrence and severity of EIPH as Indicated by the BAL findings was found to be related to exercise Intensity. The cytological findings were similar to those reported in horses in the northern hemisphere. We conclude that BAL cytology may be useful In the diagnosis of various lower respiratory tract disorders and that exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage occurs In virtually all horses In race training.     

Responses in milk production to the control of gastrointestinal nematode and paramphistome parasites in dairy cattle

Objective To determine the effect of treating naturally acquired gastrointestinal nematode and paramphistome infections on milk production in dairy cattle.
Design A field trial.
Animals One thousand two hundred and thirty nine dairy cows.
Procedure Cows were either not treated or treated with 4.5 mg/kg oxfendazole, 16.6 mg/kg oxyclozanide or 4.5 mg/kg oxfendazole and 16.6 mg/kg oxyclozanide in March, May and August.
Results A significant increase in milk production, averaging 0.4 L (SE 0.2) per day, was seen when dairy cows infected with gastrointestinal nematodes and paramphistomes were treated with oxfendazole or oxfendazole and oxyclozanide in March, May and August. Cows treated with oxyclozanide alone at these times produced no more milk than untreated cows.
Faecal egg counts confirmed that oxyclozanide treatment reduced paramphistome populations and oxfendazole treatment reduced nematode populations in cows over the 7-month monitoring period.
Conclusion When dairy cows infested with gastrointestinal nematodes and paramphistomes were treated with oxfendazole alone or oxfendazole and oxyclozanide in March, May and August milk production increased.     

Cross-sectional serological study of canine Leishmania infection in Fortaleza, Ceará state, Brazil

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is one of the most important reemerging parasitic disease in the world. The domestic dog is the main reservoir in urban environments. The aim of this work was to extend the knowledge on canine Leishmania infection in the city of Fortaleza in northeastern Brazil, identifying the risk factors inherent in dog susceptibility to the infection. Two populations were analyzed, domestic dogs from clinics and the Veterinary Hospital Unit of Ceará State University and stray dogs captured by the Center for Zoonosis Control in Fortaleza. Blood samples were collected and centrifuged and the sera were stored at -20 degrees C. ELISA, with soluble crude Leishmania chagasi antigens (LTCC - WDCM731) was used for diagnosis. A total of 1,381 samples were tested, 750 from domestic and 631 from stray dogs. The seroprevalence of canine VL was 21.4% (135/631) in stray dogs and 26.2% (197/750) in domestic dogs. The seroprevalence of Leishmania infection in the six administrative regions of the city (Secretarias Executivas Regionais, or SER) among stray dogs was highest in SER V, representing 31.4% of the cases, with large dogs more infected (27.7%). Among domestic dogs Leishmania infection was most prevalent in SER V (38.5%) and VI (37.6%). The dogs' age (1-6 years), large size, environment with dense vegetation and presence of clinical signs compatible with Leishmania infection were associated with the illness in domestic dogs. The frequency of the infection varied seasonally. The seroprevalence was greatest in July and December. These results confirm Fortaleza is an endemic area for canine VL and suggest some variables associated with increasing infection risk in dog populations.     

Research Progress on Bacillus amyloliquefaciens in Animal Breeding Industry

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is a kind of non-pathogenic bacteria and widely exists in the environment.During the metabolic process,Bacillus amyloliquefaciens can produce bioactive substances which highly inhibit the activation of multiple pathogens and fungus.In recent years,some bioactive substances are isolated,extracted and purified.With the deeper understanding of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens,it is gradually applied in animal husbandry and aquaculture.This paper summarizes the application and action mechanism of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens in animal breeding industry,it is expected to provide information for further exploration and application.     

The large‐scale capture of eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) and red kangaroos (Osphranter rufus) and its application to a population management project

Objective: A large‐scale capture method was developed to enable sterilisation of a macropod population in western Sydney from 2005 to 2018. Methods: Until March 2007, free ranging eastern grey kangaroos and red kangaroos were herded into purpose‐built 15 m diameter capture yards (CYs) for darting with a projectile syringe. From March 2007 onwards, animals were free‐range darted in large areas without herding. Kangaroos were darted with 1.33–5.10 mg/kg tiletamine/zolazepam and 0.01–0.02 mg/kg medetomidine, ± 0.03 mg/kg acepromazine. Deaths were monitored. Population counts were performed annually. Results: There were 5825 capture events involving 3963 kangaroos. Over 85% of all captures occurred from 2005 to 2008. Of all reported deaths (n = 523), 135 were attributed to ill health. Musculoskeletal injuries incurred during capture were the main project‐related cause of death (n = 116). Post capture myopathy was uncommonly diagnosed following capture (n = 19). Conclusion: The herding and capture method enabled a large number of kangaroos to be mobilised and captured with low mortality rates, and the use of CYs resulted in fewer capture‐related injuries and deaths than free‐range capture. The drug doses and combinations used for darting were safe and effective, and the capture technique was successfully applied to a population management project.     

巴林右旗干草原主要牧草的营养成分季节动态与饱和链烷烃组成结构的研究

通过测定10种牧草5月至翌年1月的7种常规营养成分含量及其中8种牧草7和10月的8种饱和链烷烃浓度,对巴林右旗典型干草原的主要牧草的营养成分季节变化规律和同一季节饱和链烷烃组成差异进行了研究。结果表明,多数草样的粗蛋白含量5月到翌年1月逐季显著降低(P<0.05),Ca含量10月最高(P<0.01),总磷(TP)含量5月最高(P<0.01),中性洗涤纤维与酸性洗涤纤维含量极显著正相关(P<0.01),Ca与TP含量极显著负相关(P<0.01);7、10月,多数草样的C₂₉、C₃₁饱和链烷烃浓度极显著(P<0.01)高于其余的6种饱和链烷烃,其饱和链烷烃组成结构的主成分值Z₁、Z₂的差异显著(P<0.05)。上述研究表明,巴林右旗干草原的主要牧草的蛋白质逐季减少且钙磷含量彼此反向变化,需对家畜及时补饲,其饱和链烷烃组成差异明显,通过链烷烃技术估测放牧家畜采食结构可行。     

不同品种紫花苜蓿转录组分析及营养品质差异的探讨

为了丰富紫花苜蓿转录组数据信息,找出不同品种紫花苜蓿的差异基因及代谢通路。通过Illumina HiSeq 4000平台对准格尔和WL319HQ的苜蓿叶片的RNA文库进行de novo组装。得到了约39G总的核苷酸,2亿多个reads,组装得到66734个Unigenes,平均长度为869 bp。将所得到的Unigenes与NCBI nonredundant protein(Nr),A manually annotated and reviewed protein sequence database(Swissprot),Clusters of eukaryotic orthologous groups(KOG)和Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)数据库比对,分别获得44888(67.26%),29190(43.74%),24844(37.23%)和15647(23.45%)条序列的注释信息。在2个紫花苜蓿叶片中找到1098个差异表达基因 (DEGs) ,其中有706个上调,392个下调(准格尔-vs-WL319HQ)。对其差异基因做了Gene ontology(GO)功能分析和KEGG途径分析,初步分析了2个品种营养品质差异的内在原因。极大地丰富了紫花苜蓿转录组数据信息,为今后紫花苜蓿的转录组测序提供理论依据,同时为紫花苜蓿生产实践提供参考。