Effects of different finishing systems on carcass traits, fatty acid composition, and beef quality characteristics of young Eastern Anatolian Red bulls

The effects of three finishing systems on carcass composition and other characteristics of meat were studied in 15 young Eastern Anatolian Red bulls in Eastern Turkey. For 93?days, five bulls grazed pasture (P), five grazed the same pasture and were given concentrate supplementation (P + C), and five grazed the same pasture for 93?days, and then for an additional 40?days, they received concentrate in a barn (PF). Carcasses of the P bulls were lighter and leaner than those of the PF animals. Compared with the P carcasses, PF carcasses had a greater percentage of kidney, pelvic, and heart fat (P?相似文献   

Influence of biochar amendment and foliar application of iron oxide nanoparticles on growth,photosynthesis, and cadmium accumulation in rice biomass

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The majority studies used the biochar or nanoparticles alone in metal-contaminated soils while less is known about the combined use of these amendments in...     

The effects of diazinon on pancreatic damage and ameliorating role of vitamin E and vitamin C

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of an organophosphate insecticide, diazinon (DI), on pancreas, and possible ameliorating role of vitamins E and C. We examined both in vivo and in vitro effects of DI on serum activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), amylase, and lipase enzymes. We also evaluated possible ameliorating effects of vitamins E and C combination against DI toxicity and blood levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) only in vivo. In vivo experimental groups were: control group, DI-treated group, and DI + vitamins E plus C-treated group. In vitro study groups were: control group and DI-treated group. The biochemical analyses were determined in in vitro experiments at both hour 0 and 24 while in in vivo experiments were determined only at hour 24. Lipase activity and TBARS level were found increased by DI in in vivo experiments while lipase activity was found decreased in in vitro experiments. Amylase and ALP activities were found decreased by DI in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. Also, the combination of vitamins E and C was found to partially improve these disorders. These results suggest that DI treatment causes pancreas damage via increasing oxidative stress in rats, and a combination vitamins E and C can reduce this lipoperoxidative effect.     

A novel "small round virus" inducing poult enteritis and mortality syndrome and associated immune alterations

The role of a novel "small round virus" (SRV) isolated from poult enteritis and mortality syndrome (PEMS) cases in inducing PEMS and associated immune alterations was examined in this study. Specific-pathogen-free and conventional poults were orally challenged with SRV and/or turkey coronavirus and monitored for clinical signs. Intestines, thymus, bursa, and spleens were examined for SRV antigen at various days postinoculation (DPI). Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs), thymocytes, and splenic lymphocytes from inoculated poults or lymphocytes isolated from healthy poults after incubation with SRV in vitro were examined for lymphoproliferative potential against concanavalin A (Con A). The incidence of lymphocyte subpopulations in the peripheral blood and thymic lymphocytes of SRV-challenged poults was examined by flow cytometry. The results of these studies showed that the SRV challenge induced diarrhea, growth suppression, and atrophy of thymus and bursa resembling those of PEMS in field and/or experimental infections. The SRV antigen was detected in intestinal tissues soon after infection (i.e., at 2 and 4 DPI), whereas lymphoid tissues such as thymus, bursa, and spleen were positive for SRV antigen starting at 4 DPI until 8 DPI, suggesting virus translocation to lymphoid organs. The responsiveness of PBLs to Con A at 2 DPI was significantly reduced in all virus challenge groups (e.g., 28% and 22% in the SRV-alone group in studies 1 and 2, respectively) below the uninfected group. However, this suppressed response was no longer evident in the SRV group by 7 DPI. The SRV incubation with normal thymocytes and splenocytes in vitro resulted in significantly reduced lymphoproliferative response against Con A (41.2% and 10.49% reductions at 1:50 SRV dilution vs. controls in thymocytes and splenocytes, respectively). Flow cytometry analysis revealed a sudden decline at 2 DPI in the numbers of CD4- CD8+ lymphocyte subset in PBLs of SRV-infected poults. However, by 8 DPI, SRV-challenged poults had relatively higher CD4- CD8+ lymphocytes in PBLs. On the contrary, thymocytes had higher percentages of CD4- CD8+ lymphocytes at 2 and 4 DPI and reached comparable levels at 8 DPI in controls and SRV-infected poults. No differences were observed in CD4+ CD8- lymphocyte numbers in controls vs. SRV-infected poults. The findings of these studies imply that SRV may be a promising primary etiologic agent of PEMS. Furthermore, the SRV infection may compromise the lymphocyte-mediated immune defenses by reducing lymphoproliferation and the CD4- CD8+ (presumably T-cytotoxic cells) lymphocytes during the acute stage of SRV infection.     

Viral agents associated with poult enteritis and mortality syndrome: the role of a small round virus and a turkey coronavirus

Intestinal samples from turkey poults affected with poult enteritis and mortality syndrome (PEMS) were examined for viruses by immune electron microscopy and double-stranded RNA virus genome electropherotyping. Turkey coronavirus (TCV), avian rotaviruses, reovirus, and a yet undefined small round virus (SRV) were detected. The SRV and TCV were isolated and propagated in turkey embryos. Challenge of specific-pathogen-free turkey poults with SRV, TCV, or both resulted in mortality and clinical responses similar to those of natural PEMS. Our experiments indicate that SRV and TCV are possibly important agents in the etiology of PEMS and the combination of these infections might result in outbreaks with high mortality. The severity of clinical signs and mortality of PEMS are postulated to be partly related to the virus agents involved in individual outbreaks.     

Induction of functional defects in macrophages by a poult enteritis and mortality syndrome-associated turkey astrovirus.

The interaction of a poult enteritis and mortality syndrome (PEMS)-turkey astrovirus-Ohio State University (TAst-OSU) with the mononuclear phagocytic system cells, namely macrophages, was examined after in vitro and in vivo exposure. In vitro exposures were performed by incubating adherent turkey macrophages with various volumes of 10(6) 50% embryo infective dose (EID50)/ml TAst-OSU stock, whereas for in vivo challenge, poults were given a 200 microl inoculum of 10(6) EID50/ml TAst-OSU stock at 7 days of age. Results show that TAst-OSU in vitro exposure reduced macrophage viability relative to controls (P < 0.05) and decreased phagocytosis (P < 0.05) and intracytoplasmic killing of Escherichia coli (P < 0.05) after a 42-48-hr exposure. Poults challenged with TAst-OSU in vivo recruited almost 50% fewer Sephadex-elicited inflammatory cells in the abdominal cavity (P < 0.05) as compared with the sham controls. Similar to in vitro exposure, macrophages isolated from in vivo TAst-OSU-challenged poults exhibited reduced percentage of phagocytic macrophages (P < 0.05) as well as fewer intracytoplasmic E. coli per phagocytic macrophage (P < 0.05). TAst-OSU-challenged poults had a greater number of viable E. coli in their spleens (P < 0.05) after an intravenous E. coli challenge as compared with the non-TAst-OSU-challenged control poults. Macrophage-mediated cytokines and metabolites were also examined during this study. Both in vitro and in vivo TAst-OSU challenge resulted in reduced interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 activity. On the contrary, nitrite levels in macrophage culture supernatant fraction of TAst-OSU-challenged macrophages were significantly higher (P < or = 0.05). The findings of these studies indicated that TAst-OSU challenge induced defects in macrophage effector functions, implying that PEMS-turkey astrovirus can potentially impair the immune response of turkeys, thereby leading to enhanced susceptibility of turkeys to secondary, perhaps even fatal, bacterial infections.     

Vanadium stimulates immunological responses of chicks

In a continuation of studies on the interaction of dietary phosphorus (P) and vanadium (V) levels, studies have directed toward an examination of this interaction on the immune system of chicks. Antibody titers to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were increased at 7 days post-inoculation (PI) by as little as 10 mg V/kg diet in the P-deficient group, while 50 mg V/kg was required in the P-supplemented group. At 14 days PI, only the 50 mg V/kg was significantly higher in both P-deficient and P-supplemented groups. At 21 days PI, vanadium had no significant effect. P-deficiency resulted in a decrease in the percentage of phagocytic macrophages obtained from the abdominal cavity and a decrease in the number of intracytoplasmic SRBC per phagocytic macrophage. These two criteria were increased by vanadium in both the P-deficient and P-supplemented animals. In P-supplemented animals, the CD4/CD8 ratios of lymphocytes obtained from the blood and spleen were increased by the inclusion of 50 mg V/kg diet. The IL-1-like activity of macrophage supernatants was not significantly affected by dietary V, but IL-6 activity was increased. Densitometric analysis of lysates of macrophages isolated from control and V-fed chicks for anti-protein-tyrosinephosphate (PTP) bands indicate that dietary V increased PTP. While the evidence is not clear that there is a P x V interaction in the immune system studies, it is clear that dietary V at the levels used results in a positive immune response of chicks, possibly mediated through increased PTP.     

Isolation and characterization of two lytic bacteriophages against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus</Emphasis> from India: newer therapeutic agents against Bovine mastitis

Bovine mastitis causes severe economic losses to dairy farmers. Staphylococcus aureus, is one of the most important pathogen implicated in etiology of clinical and subclinical mastitis in bovines. In view of increasing antimicrobial resistance alternatives to antibiotic therapy are much needed. The present decade has witnessed a renewed interest in phage based therapeutics and diagnostics. The present study, describes isolation and characterization of two lytic phages SAJK-IND and MSP against Staphylococcus aureus having a potential to be used in therapy against mastitis. SAJK-IND and MSP phages belonged to Myoviridae and Podoviridae families, respectively. TEM imaging of the two phages revealed an iscosahedral head. MSP phage has a short non contractile tail. SAJK-IND and MSP have a burst size of 44?±?3 and 25?±?5 PFU/ infected cell, respectively. SAJK-IND and MSP phages revealed ? 12 and ?16 proteins, respectively on SDS-PAGE analysis. The lytic activity of the phages was specific for Staphylococcus aureus. SAJK-IND revealed 100% lytic activity against several strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from mastitis milk samples whereas, MSP had only 40% lytic activity. SAJK-IND phage genome was sequenced, assembled and deposited in Genbank under accession no MG010123.     

Dynamics of innate immune response in Gallus domesticus using two methods of induced molting

The aim of this study was to compare the ability of laying hen abdominal macrophages during the second production cycle by using two different methods of induced molting. Two groups of Single Comb White Leghorn hens were induced to molt at the end of their first production cycle using feed restriction and ZnO supplementation. Macrophages were isolated from the abdomen and in vitro cytotoxic ability, at which point macrophage bactericidal moiety nitric oxide (NO) was recorded. Serum IgM and IgG titers against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were determined at various stages: before molting (BM), 5% production level (5P), peak production stage (PP) and at the end of production (EP) level after fast and Zn-induced molt. Macrophages adherence percentage remained unaffected (p ≤ 0.05) during all production cycles, whereas the macrophage engulfment percentage and engulfment/cell was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) at PP in both fast and Zn-induced molted groups, as compared to all other studied stages. Macrophage NO production was increased (p ≤ 0.05) at PP and after SRBC and lipopolysaccrides (LPS) stimulus, when molted with ZnO supplementation. Serum total antibody titer against SRBC increased serum IgG and IgM titers during the second production cycle by Zn-induced molt. However, molting stress greatly reduced IgG and IgM production at the 5P stage. Serum Zn concentration increased with the onset of production but decreased at the EP stage irrespective of their molting regimes. Our results validate the strengthened innate and acquired immune response during the second production cycle after Zn-induced molting instead of fasting.