The effect of fermented persimmon shell diet supplementation on the growth performance and blood parameters in finishing pigs

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of fermented persimmon shell diet (FPSD) supplementation on growth performance and blood parameters in 96 Berkshire pigs. The FPSD was made from persimmon shell and mixed with rice bran and barley bran. Samples of FPSD on day 0 (D0) and day 60 (D60) were analyzed for chemical composition, pH and organic acids. The experimental diets were 0, 3, 5 and 7% FPSD added to C, T1, T2 and T3 of finishing diets on fresh matter basis. Dry matter (DM) was lower (P < 0.01) and crude protein was higher (P < 0.01) on D60 than on D0. pH value decreased (P < 0.01) on D60 than on D0 but organic acids were increased (P < 0.01). Average daily gain was higher (P < 0.05) in T2 than in other groups. Average daily feed intake was higher (P < 0.05) in T2 than in other groups. Total cholesterol was higher (P < 0.05) in T3 than in other groups. High‐density lipoprotein cholesterol increased (P < 0.05) in groups by the addition of FPSD. Blood urea nitrogen was lower (P < 0.05) in C than in other groups. The results indicate that FPSD improved the growth performance and blood parameters in Berkshire pigs.     

Xylazine-induced mydriasis: possible involvement of a central postsynaptic regulation of parasympathetic tone

Intravenous injection of xylazine (0.01 – 1 mg/kg) produced a dose-dependent mydriasis associated with a depression of tonic ciliary nerve activity in anesthetized cats. Xylazine-induced mydriasis was apparent in the sympathectomized iris but was absent in the parasympathectomized, physostigmine-treated iris. Epinephrine (30 μg/kg, i.v.) produced a slighdy greater mydriasis in the sympathectomized iris than in the parasympathectomized, physostigmine-treated iris. The α₂-adrenergic blocking agent, yohimbine (0.5 mg/kg, i.v.) antagonized the pupillary dilation and reversed the depression of ciliary nerve activity induced by xylazine administration.
In rats pretreated with reserpine (7.5 mg/kg, s.c., 20 h) and α-methyl-p-tyrosine (250 mg/kg, i.p., 5 h), intravenous injection of xylazine (0.01 – 1 mg/kg) resulted in mydriasis of similar magnitude as control animals. However, xylazine induced bradycardia in the control group but not in die pretreated animals.
The results suggest that pupillary dilation produced by i.v. xylazine is primarily die result of a central inhibition of parasympathetic tone to the iris. It also appears that xylazine produces this effect via postsynaptic α₂-adrenergic mechanisms, while it produces bradycardia through a presynaptic α₂-adrenergic mechanism.     

14-3-3σ regulates p27 and inhibits Rat1-Akt cell proliferation

AIM: The present study was designed to investigate the effect of adenovirus-mediated 14-3-3σ on the proliferation of Rat1-Akt cells and to explore whether this effect is completed regulating p27.METHODS: The effect of Ad-14-3-3σ gene transfection on Rat1-Akt cell proliferation was observed by using 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU).Then immunofluorescence and kinase assay were used to detect the effect of Ad-14-3-3σ on the phosphorylated level and intracellular location of p27.RESULTS: Ad-14-3-3σ-infected cells had fewer BrdU-positive cells (45%) than control (which was set at 100%).However,Ad-β-gal-infected cells had a high percentage of BrdU-positive cells (98%).14-3-3σ gene transfection downregulated phosphorylation level of p27 and decreased Akt-mediated intracellular location of p27.CONCLUSION: Transfection of 14-3-3σ gene suppresses the proliferation of Akt overexpession cell line Rat1-Akt.14-3-3σ decreases phosphorylation of p27 by downregulating Akt kinase,blocks Akt-mediated cytoplasm dislocation of p27,and inhibits proliferation of Rat1-Akt cells.     

海南俄贤岭及周边地区鸟类调查报告,含一海南省新记录

我们于1998年4月、2005年8月及2007年3月,分别3次对俄贤岭及周边地区鸟类资源开展调查.共记录鸟类119种,分别隶属于12目33科;当中包括1个海南新记录,即黄头扇尾莺Cisticola exilis.俄贤岭及周边地区共有27种鸟类被列入不同保护或濒危名录,占本调查鸟类记录总数的22.7%. 其中国家重点I级保护物种2种,他们是海南山鹧鸪Arborophila ardens和海南孔雀雉Polyplectron katsumatae,另外23种是国家重点II级保护物种.被列入中国红色名录的有11种,其中濒危2种、易危8种及近危2种.IUCN红色名录2种,其中易危1种及近危1种.调查还发现已知海南最大种群的戈氏金丝燕Collocalia germani,戈氏金丝燕在中国已经极度濒危,俄贤岭地区是我国保护这物种的最关键地区.     

Modulation of systemic and mucosal immunity against an inactivated vaccine of Newcastle disease virus by oral co-administration of live attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium expressing chicken interleukin-18 and interferon-α

Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious disease of chickens causing significant economic losses worldwide. Due to limitations in the efficacy against currently circulating ND viruses, existing vaccination strategies require improvements, and incorporating immunomodulatory cytokines with existing vaccines might be a novel approach. Here, we investigated the systemic and mucosal immunomodulatory properties of oral co-administration of chicken interleukin-18 (chIL-18) and chicken interferon-α (chIFN-α) using attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium on an inactivated ND vaccine. Our results demonstrate that oral administration of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium expressing chIL-18 or chIFN-α provided enhanced systemic and mucosal immune responses, as determined by serum hemagglutination inhibition antibody and NDV Ag-specific IgG as well as NDV Ag-specific IgA in lung and duodenal lavages of chickens immunized with inactivated ND vaccine via the intramuscular or intranasal route. Notably, combined oral administration of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium expressing chIL-18 and chIFN-α significantly enhanced systemic and mucosal immunity in ND-vaccinated chickens, compared to single administration of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium expressing chIL-18 or chIFN-α. In addition, oral co-administration of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium expressing chIL-18 and chIFN-α provided enhanced NDV Ag-specific proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and Th1-biased cell-mediated immunity, compared to single administration of either construct. Therefore, our results provide valuable insight into the modulation of systemic and mucosal immunity by incorporation of immunomodulatory chIL-18 and chIFN-α using Salmonella vaccines into existing ND vaccines.     

Sarcoptic mange in captive maras: the first known outbreak and complete recovery with colony-wide acaricide treatment

Among 16 maras housed as a colony at a zoo, 2 initially showed generalized dermal lesions on the legs, head and abdomen. Approximately 1 month later, following completion of therapy with amitraz, 6 maras in the same colony, including the 2 previously diseased animals, showed dermal lesions with severe alopecia and crusting. Sarcoptic mange was diagnosed on skin scrapings on the basis of morphological criteria. The mites were highly mobile and abundant in all cases, and no other causative agents were detected. Colony-wide treatment with ivermectin and prednisolone was administered weekly for a total of 4 treatments. After therapy was completed in all cohabitants, follow-up scrapings were negative for Sarcoptes scabiei. This report describes the first known outbreak of sarcoptic mange in captive maras and successful treatment with acaricides.     

Usefulness of CT imaging for segmental lung lobe torsion without typical radiographic imaging in a Pomeranian

A 3-year-old, intact female Pomeranian presented with a 1-month history of coughing. Thoracic radiography showed focal infiltration of the left cranial lung lobe and widening of the cranial mediastinum. Subsequent computed tomography revealed torsion of the caudal segment of the left cranial lung lobe, which was confirmed by exploratory thoracotomy. There was no apparent underlying etiology for the condition. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of lung lobe torsion in this breed and the first detailed CT imaging report for segmental lung lobe torsion.     

Seroprevalence of five arboviruses in sentinel cattle as part of nationwide surveillance in South Korea, 2009?2012

To investigate the possible circulation of arboviruses in South Korea, nationwide surveillance of five arbovirues was conducted in sentinel calves during 2009−2012. We used serum neutralization tests to investigate the presence of antibodies for the Aino virus, Akabane virus, bovine ephemeral fever virus, Chuzan virus and Ibaraki virus. In 2009, 2011 and 2012, the seropositive rates for these five arboviruses were all less than 14.1%. In 2010, however, the seropositive rates for Aino virus and Akabane virus were 33.2% and 40.2%, respectively. High seropositive rates were also associated with a large-scale outbreak of Akabane viral encephalomyelitis in cattle in southern Korea in 2010. Continued seroprevalence surveillance will be useful for monitoring natural arboviral diseases.     

Cranial morphological homogeneity in two subspecies of water deer in China and Korea

The water deer (Hydropotes inermis) has conventionally been classified into two subspecies according to geographic distribution and pelage color pattern: H. i. inermis from China and H. i. argyropus from Korea. However, the results of a recent molecular study have called this into question. To further reappraise this classification, we examined morphological variation in craniodental measurements of these 2 subspecies. Results of univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that these 2 subspecies are not well-differentiated, suggesting that individuals of the 2 populations share common morphological traits. Despite the distribution of the subspecies at different latitudes, no clear morphocline was detected, suggesting that Bergmann’s rule does not apply in this case. Discriminant analysis indicated that the characteristics of individuals are shared by both populations, suggesting that not all individuals can be assigned to their original population. Results of principal component analysis showed that the two populations shared more than 75% of individuals, congruent with the “75% rule” of subspecies classification. In both the neighbor-joining and unweighted pair group methods with arithmetic mean cluster analyses, specimens of H. i. argyropus and H. i. inermis were highly mixed within the cladograms. These results suggest that the overall morphological variation in the 2 subspecies overlaps considerably and that there is no coherent craniofacial difference between the 2 groups. The present findings combined with prior observations from molecular biogeography point out that the taxonomic division of water deer into 2 subspecies should be revisited.