Effects of feed and water restriction and receiving diet crude protein on feeder pig performance

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feed and water restriction and receiving diet crude protein level on feeder pig performance. In Exp. 1, a total of 239 commingled feeder pigs transported over 1,000 km were used in two trials. Pigs given access to feed and water (FW) at the market weighed more (P less than .0001) following marketing and transport than pigs given no feed and water (N) for the comparable 25-h market period (20.7 vs 19.6 kg). While FW pigs weighed less (P less than .02) than N pigs at the conclusion of the trials (93.9 vs 96.6 kg), there was no effect (P greater than .1) on overall average daily gain (.32 vs .35). There were no effects of receiving diets containing 12, 16 or 20% crude protein on daily gain, daily feed intake or feed efficiency for the overall growing-finishing period. Scour scores on d 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14 post-arrival increased (P less than .01) with increased levels of protein in the receiving diets. In Exp. 2, a total of 360 crossbred feeder pigs was mixed and moved from a nursery to grower-finisher facilities in three trials, given feed and water access immediately (FWG) or denied access for 44 h (NG). At the end of the 44-h period, FWG pigs were heavier than NG pigs (P less than .0001; 18.3 vs 16.7 kg). There was no treatment effect on overall pig weight, daily gain or feed efficiency.     

Salsolinol is present in the bovine posterior pituitary gland and stimulates the release of prolactin both in vivo and in vitro in ruminants

The aims of the present study were to determine whether salsolinol (SAL), a dopamine-related compound, is present in the bovine posterior pituitary (PP) gland, and to clarify the effect of SAL on the secretion of prolactin (PRL) in ruminants. SAL was detected in extract of bovine PP gland using high-pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-EC). A single intravenous (i.v.) injection of SAL (5 and 10mg/kg body weight) significantly and dose-dependently stimulated the release of PRL in goats (P<0.05). Plasma PRL levels reached a peak 10min after the injection, then gradually returned to basal values in 60-80min. The PRL-releasing pattern was similar to that in response to sulpiride (a dopamine receptor antagonist). The intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of 1mg of SAL had no significant effect on the release of PRL in calves, however, 5mg significantly stimulated the release (P<0.05) with peak values reached 30-40min after the injection. Moreover, SAL significantly stimulated the release of PRL from cultured bovine anterior pituitary cells at doses of 10(-6) and 10(-5)M, compared to control cells (P<0.05). Taken together, our data clearly show that SAL is present in extract of the PP gland of ruminants, and has PRL-releasing activity both in vivo and in vitro. Therefore, this endogenous compound is a strong candidate for the factor having PRL-releasing activity that has been previously detected in extract of the bovine PP gland.     

Monitoring the circadian rhythm of serum and salivary cortisol concentrations in the horse

Daily fluctuations of cortisol concentration in the blood or saliva have been repeatedly reported. However, several contradictions in the existing literature appear on this subject. The present study was performed to definitively establish options for testing adrenocortical function. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate parallel circadian rhythms in salivary and serum cortisol concentrations during a 24-h period. Twenty horses were examined under the same conditions. Blood and saliva samples were taken every 2 h for 24 h to determine the daily changes in cortisol concentrations of saliva and serum at rest and to determine the relationship between salivary and serum cortisol levels. Cosinor analysis of group mean data confirmed a significant circadian component for both serum and salivary cortisol concentrations (P < 0.001 in both cases). The serum cortisol circadian rhythm had an acrophase at 10:50 AM (95% CI, 10:00 AM–11:40 AM), a MESOR of 22.67 ng/mL, and an amplitude of 11.93 ng/mL. The salivary cortisol circadian rhythm had an acrophase at 10:00 AM (95% CI, 9:00 AM–11:00 AM), a MESOR of 0.52 ng/mL, and an amplitude of 0.12 ng/mL. We found a significant but weak association between salivary and serum cortisol concentrations; the Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.32 (P < 0.001). The use of salivary cortisol level as an indicator of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity may be warranted. However, the salivary cortisol levels are more likely to be correlated with free plasma cortisol than with the total plasma cortisol concentration.     

Tick-borne encephalitis epidemic in Hungary 1951–2021: The story and lessons learned

The authors analysed epidemiological data of the Hungarian tick-borne encephalitis epidemic from the past seven decades. A total of 911 meningitis serosa cases were described from 1930-1950 s by local hospital physicians, indicating that the virus had been present in the country decades before its official identification in 1952. The virus spread freely in the 1950s–1960s, occupying almost all habitats where ticks occurred in large numbers. The increasing number of cases drove authorities to classify this illness as a notifiable disease in 1977 and to organize the first measures to stop the epidemic. Statistical analysis revealed that the large-scale vaccination launched from the 1990s was responsible for the sharp decrease in the number of human cases from 1997. A significant negative correlation was found between the number of vaccine doses sold and human cases 6 years later. The TBEV endemic area covers 16.57% of the territory and 16.65% of the population of the country. In the last 10 years, 186,000 vaccine doses/year in average were enough to keep the incidence of human TBEV infections between 0.45 and 0.06/100,000 persons. A 20-year-long study found evidence for easing clinical signs in TBEV-infected hospitalized patients. Statistics found a sharp decrease in the number of samples sent for TBEV diagnosis after 1989. Male dominance of patients was characteristic of the epidemics since the 1940s, but now analysis of detailed data from the 1981–2021 period (60.5%–87.5%) proved the statistical significance of this dominance. Obviously, the voluntary vaccination programme was the tool which broke the spread of the epidemic. Widespread public awareness of the disease and the tick vector, probable evolutionary spread of less pathogenic virus strains supplemented with the vaccination campaign led to a negligible level of human TBE cases in Hungary in the last years.     

Hair coat contamination with zoonotic helminth eggs of farm and pet dogs and foxes

Infections of dogs with Toxocara canis and Echinococcus multilocularis pose an infection-risk particularly for contact persons. We examined specimens of hair coat and faeces of 124 farm dogs, 118 household dogs, 49 kennel dogs, 15 puppies from two litters, and 46 red foxes. Microscopically identified eggs of Toxocara or taeniids were further investigated by species-specific PCRs. In farm dogs, eggs of E. multilocularis or T. canis were identified in each 2.4% of faecal samples, eggs of T. cati (gastrointestinal passage) in 7.3%, respectively. Household dogs excreted eggs of T. canis (0.8%) and of T. cati (2.5%). In kennel dogs, eggs of T. canis (4.1%), but not of T. cati were detectable. Coat samples contaminated with eggs of Toxocara spp. were found from farm dogs (5.6%), household dogs (1.7%) and kennel dogs (2.0%). Taeniid eggs were isolated from the coat samples from only two farm dogs (1.6%); a molecular species determination was not achieved. In six intrauterinely infected puppies, Toxocara-eggs were found in 17/38 samples taken within six weeks. No intact Toxocara eggs could be isolated from the coat of nine puppies from a second litter 13 days after deworming. Of the 46 red foxes investigated (dissection and faecal samples) 13 (28.3%) were infected with E. multilocularis and 20 (43.5%) with Toxocara. Eggs of taeniids and Toxocara were found in 13% (in three cases confirmed as E. multilocularis) and 21.7%, respectively, of the coat samples. None of the retrieved Toxocara eggs in the coat samples were embryonated. Thus, an infection of humans through the transmission of E. multilocularis eggs after direct contact with dogs or foxes is conceivable, whereas a corresponding infection risk by Toxocara eggs must be critically challenged.     

Expression, purification and characterisation of recombinant Escherichia coli derived chicken interleukin-12

Zoonotic viruses, such as H5N1 Avian Influenza, pose major threats to both animals and humans, and with this in mind there is a need for the development of new anti-viral strategies. The cytokine interleukin-12 (IL-12) is known to play a pivotal regulatory role in the anti-viral response due to its role in the induction of the key anti-viral cytokine IFN-gamma. Therefore, strategies which provide a means for the production of therapeutic quantities of IL-12 may be of major benefit. Here we describe the development of biologically active Escherichia coli (E. coli) derived chicken IL-12 (ChIL-12). The single chain ChIL-12 gene was cloned into the pET32b expression vector, transformed into the BL-21 E. coli strain and expression induced with IPTG. Over expressed protein was solubilised with zwittergent detergent and isolated utilising Nickel ion affinity chromatography. Biological activity was determined as ChIL-12 stimulated proliferation of pre-treated T-cells in vitro. This study is the first example of a biologically active E. coli derived IL-12 from a non-mammalian vertebrate subsequently providing a means for testing the anti-viral therapeutic potential of ChIL-12 in an in vivo model.     

Periodic vicissitudes of different concentrations of a developed prototype killed S. aureus mastitis vaccine on immune modulators,mediators and immunoglobulins in cows

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Mastitis is the inflammation of the mammary gland due to microbial infiltration causing a reduced mammary function. This study aims at developing a vaccine...     

Anatomical, magnetic resonance imaging and histological findings in the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon of forelimbs in nonlame horses

Reasons for performing the study: Detailed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological appearances of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon (AL‐DDFT) have not been documented previously in detail. Objectives: To: 1) describe anatomical connections between the AL‐DDFT and adjacent structures; 2) describe high‐field and low‐field MRI and histological appearances of the AL‐DDFT in the forelimb of horses with no carpal or proximal metacarpal pain; and 3) assess the relationship between age, breed, gender, height, weight and MRI findings. Methods: Ten forelimbs were dissected to determine anatomical relationships among the AL‐DDFT and adjacent structures. High‐ and low‐field MR images of the AL‐DDFT and related structures from 29 cadaver limbs of nonlame horses were analysed subjectively and objectively. The relationship between age, breed, gender, height, weight and MRI findings was assessed using a Chi‐squared test. Twelve ALs‐DDFT were examined histologically. Histological and MRI findings were compared subjectively. Results: Fibrous bundles were seen between the AL‐DDFT and the lateral aspect of the superficial digital flexor tendon (n = 9) and the DDFT (n = 2). The AL‐DDFT had low to intermediate signal intensity in most limbs in most high‐field and low‐field MRI sequences. In 69% of limbs, oblique bands of higher signal intensity than the rest of the ligament were identified in high‐field images of the AL‐DDFT. The cross‐sectional area of the AL‐DDFT in the proximal 7 cm of the metacarpal region ranged from 68.1–299 mm². There was no significant relationship between age, gender, weight or height and either the cross‐sectional area of the AL‐DDFT or the presence of oblique higher signal intensity bands. Histological examination revealed that the AL‐DDFT had thick collagen bundles arranged in large crimps and sometimes crossing in oblique directions. The cellularity was greater than in the deep digital flexor tendon in all limbs. Conclusion and potential relevance: The large variability in the MRI appearance and size of the AL‐DDFT in nonlame horses should be borne in mind when interpreting MR images of lame horses.     

Effects of extracerebral dopamine on salsolinol‐ or thyrotropin‐releasing hormone‐induced prolactin (PRL) secretion in goats

The aim of the present study was to clarify the effect of extracerebral dopamine (DA) on salsolinol (SAL)‐induced prolactin (PRL) secretion in goats. An intravenous injection of SAL or thyrotropin‐releasing hormone (TRH) was given to female goats before and after treatment with an extracerebral DA receptor antagonist, domperidone (DOM), and the PRL‐releasing response to SAL was compared with that to TRH. DOM alone increased plasma PRL concentrations and the PRL‐releasing response to DOM alone was greater than that to either SAL alone or TRH alone. The PRL‐releasing response to DOM plus SAL was similar to that to DOM alone, and no additive effect of DOM and SAL on the secretion of PRL was observed. In contrast, the PRL‐releasing response to DOM plus TRH was greater than that to either TRH alone or DOM alone and DOM synergistically increased TRH‐induced PRL secretion. The present results demonstrate that the mechanism involved in PRL secretion by SAL differs from that by TRH, and suggest that the extracerebral DA might be associated in part with the modulation of SAL‐induced PRL secretion in goats.