Stem cell factor supports migration in canine mesenchymal stem cells

Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) are cells that can be defined as multipotent cells able to differentiate into diverse lineages, under appropriate conditions. These cells have been widely used in regenerative medicine, both in preclinical and clinical settings. Initially discovered in bone marrow, MSC can now be isolated from a wide spectrum of adult and foetal tissues. Studies to evaluate the therapeutic potential of these cells are based on their ability to arrive to damaged tissues. In this paper we have done a comparative study analyzing proliferation, surface markers and OCT4, SOX9, RUNX2, PPARG genes expression in MSC cells from Bone marrow (BMMSC) and Adipose tissue (ASC). We also analyzed the role of Stem Cell Factor (SCF) on MSC proliferation and on ASCs metalloproteinases MMP-2, MMP-9 secretion. Healthy dogs were used as BMMSC donors, and ASC were collected from omentum during elective ovariohysterectomy surgery. Both cell types were cultured in IMDM medium with or without SCF, 10% Dog Serum (DS), and incubated at 38 °C with 5% CO2. Growth of BMMSCs and ASCs was exponential until 25–30 days. Flow citometry of MSCs revealed positive results for CD90 and negative for CD34, CD45 and MCH-II. Genes were evaluated by RT-PCR and metalloproteinases by zymografy. Our findings indicate morphological and immunological similarities as well as expression of genes from both origins on analyzed cells. Furthermore, SCF did not affect proliferation of MSCs, however it up-regulated MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretion in ASCs. These results suggest that metalloproteinases are possibly essential molecules pivoting migration.     

The role of Mycoplasma bovis in bovine respiratory disease outbreaks in veal calf feedlots

To assess the prevalence and relative importance of Mycoplasma bovis among the pathological agents implicated in bovine respiratory disease (BRD), we surveyed 135 veal calves from nine feedlots in eastern France during naturally occurring outbreaks of respiratory disease. Occurrence of respiratory pathogens, M. bovis, bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus, bovine respiratory syncytial (BRS) virus and parainfluenza-3 (PI3) virus was investigated by seroconversion and isolation of bacteria and viruses from broncho-alveolar fluids. M. bovis and pathogenic respiratory bacteria were isolated in eight of the nine feedlots, and from 106 and 32, respectively, of the 135 tested animals. Seroconversion to PI3 virus occurred in four lots. BVD and BRS viruses were detected in eight and one lot, respectively. M. bovis was the most frequently isolated aetiologic agent in these BRD outbreaks, spreading early and widely throughout the affected units (60-100% rate of isolation and seroconversion). These results stress the importance of M. bovis in the BRD complex.     

引入陕西的天山马鹿产茸性能分析

对引入陕西的87头天山公马鹿的产茸资料进行统计分析。结果表明天山马鹿年平均产茸量5.56±1.98 kg。各锯龄平均产茸量由0.98±0.72 kg(1锯)到6.53±2.58 kg(10锯)不等。     

Pharmacokinetics of total thyroxine in dogs after administration of an oral solution of levothyroxine sodium

Oral l -thyroxine ( l -T4) supplementation is used to replace thyroid hormone concentrations in dogs with hypothyroidism. The pharmacokinetics of l -T4 following administration of a solution (Leventa^®) was investigated in healthy dogs. l -T4 was absorbed fairly rapidly ( t _max 3 h). A mean bioavailability of 22% was calculated following a single oral administration of 40 μg l -T4/kg body weight. Repeated oral administration at the same dose for 14 consecutive days did not lead to any accumulation of T4 in serum. After intravenous administration of l -T4, a serum half-life of 11.6 h was calculated. Food intake concomitant with l -T4 oral administration delayed l -T4 absorption and decreased its rate and extent by about 45%. The relative bioavailability of l -T4 following administration of a tablet formulation was about 50% of that of the l -T4 solution. The pharmacokinetic properties of liquid l -T4 after oral administration support the use of a dose rate of 20 μg/kg once daily, as a starting dose for replacement therapy in dogs with hypothyroidism.     

羊驼毛纤维细度与单纤维强力相关性分析

本试验采用相关国家方法标准对321只羊驼毛绒样品开展了纤维细度及单纤维强力参数的检测,旨在分析羊驼毛纤维细度、单纤维强力及二者之间的相关性。结果表明,羊驼侧部毛纤维平均细度为24.30 μm,细度主体范围为18.01~27.00 μm,占样本总量的72%;平均纤维强力为8.31 cN,主体范围为5.01~11.00 cN,占样本总量的88%,说明羊驼毛整体细度较细,强力可满足纺织加工要求。羊驼毛细度和单纤维强力相关性分析发现,不同性别、年龄的羊驼颈部、肩部、股部、腹部、侧部、背部6个不同部位细度、单纤维强力都反映为背部最细,单纤维强力最小,腹部细度最粗,单纤维强力最大;另外,从羊驼毛不同细度区间对应单纤维强力分布也可看出,羊驼毛的单纤维强力值越大其细度值越大,反之越小;除此之外,不同性别、年龄的羊驼毛细度对应单纤维强力也呈正相关,成年羊驼毛细度粗于周岁羊驼,公羊驼毛细度粗于母羊驼,成年羊驼单纤维强力大于周岁羊驼,公羊驼单纤维强力大于母羊驼。综合以上结果,说明羊驼毛细度与单纤维强力呈正相关。     

Prevalence of antibodies against Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale in broilers and breeders in Southern Brazil

In this investigation, we determined the prevalence of the Ornithobacerium rhinotracheale (ORT) infection in broilers and broiler breeders in southern Brazil. We also correlated the presence of antibodies in broilers with performance. Sera from 1550 broilers from 50 flocks were collected during the slaughter time in nine companies with federal veterinary inspection of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Sera from 480 meat-type breeders of 40 flocks from 14 companies in southern Brazil were also analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the prevalence of antibodies was determined. The prevalence of ORT antibodies in broiler flocks was 63.83%, but in each individual flock only 6.52% of the birds were positive. The prevalence in broiler breeder flocks was 100.00%, and in each individual flock 94.62% of the birds were positive. There was a positive correlation between the presence of antibodies to ORT and decreased body weight in broilers. There was no significant correlation between presence of antibodies to ORT and age, lineage, efficiency index, feed conversion, and mortality. There was a positive correlation between the presence of respiratory signs and antibodies to ORT, although the reverse correlation was not significant. These results confirm that ORT is present and widespread in broilers and broiler breeders in southern Brazil.     

Bacterial pathogens associated with lung lesions in slaughter pigs from 125 herds

Relationships between macroscopic lesions and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) detection of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhp), Pasteurella multocida (Pm), Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App), Haemophilus parasuis (Hps) and Streptococcus suis (Ssuis) of the lungs of 3731 slaughter pigs from 125 herds were assessed in France. Pneumonia and pleuritis were the most frequent lesions (69.3% and 15% of the lungs, respectively). Mhp, Pm, App, Ssuis and Hps were detected in 69.3%, 36.9%, 20.7%, 6.4% and 0.99% of the lungs, respectively. Mhp and Pm were associated with pneumonia at both the pig and herd levels. Pleuritis was not associated with any pathogen at the pig level, but was associated with a high percentage of pigs PCR-positive for App at the herd level. Measures focused on control of Mhp, Pm and App should significantly reduce the occurrence of both pneumonia and pleuritis.     

Estimation of transmission parameters of a fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli strain between pigs in experimental conditions

Antimicrobial resistance is of primary importance regarding public and animal health issues. Persistence and spread of resistant strains within a population contribute to the maintenance of a reservoir and lead to treatment failure. An experimental trial was carried out to study the horizontal transmission of a fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli strain from inoculated to naïve pigs. All naïve contact pigs had positive counts of fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli after only two days of contact. Moreover, re-infections of inoculated pigs caused by newly contaminated animals were suspected. A maximum likelihood method, based on a susceptible-infectious-susceptible (SIS) model, was used to determine the transmission parameters. Two transmission levels were identified depending on the quantity of bacteria shed by infected individuals: (i) low-shedders with bacterial counts of resistant E. coli in the faeces between 5*10³ and 10⁶ CFU/g (β_L = 0.41 [0.27; 0.62]), (ii) high shedders with bacterial counts above 10⁶ CFU/g (β_H = 0.98 [0.59; 1.62]). Hence, transmission between animals could be pivotal in explaining the persistence of resistant bacteria within pig herds.     

Interaction between energy level in the diet and environmental temperature on the utilization of energy in growing pigs

Thirty-two pigs weighing approximately 50 kg were maintained in respiration chambers to measure their heat production and the partition of energy retention between protein and fat deposition at two environmental temperatures (23 and 13 C) and with two energy levels in the diet: 3.39 (HE) and 2.92 (LE) Mcal ME/kg. From energy balance data, maintenance requirements (MEm) and the efficiency (k) of energy (ME) utilization for energy deposition were calculated for each treatment. For both diets, MEm averaged 122 kcal ME/kg.75 at 23 C, the rate of increase of MEm being 3.7 kcal ME/kg.75 for each 1 C decrease in the environmental temperature. At 23 C, k was higher with the HE diet (.81 vs .55) and similar for both diets (.78) at 13 C. At comparable ME intakes, heat production was higher with the LE diet at 23 C, and the rate of increase of heat production between 23 and 13 C was lower with the LE diet (1 kcal/kg.75) than with the HE diet (3 kcal/kg.75), resulting in similar heat production at 13 C for both diets. This resulted in an interaction (P less than .01) between temperature and diet on heat production. Protein retention was lower (P less than .01) at 13 C but unaffected by diet at both temperatures. This resulted in an interaction (P less than .01) between temperature and diet on fat retention. Consequently, energy of LE and HE diets was similarly utilized at 13 C, while at 23 C, the HE diet was better utilized. The comparison between these results and those obtained in growth experiments is discussed.