Identification of Card15/Nod2 mRNA in intestinal tissue of experimentally induced colitis in rats

Card15/Nod2 has been suggested to be an intracellular pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMPs) recognition molecule, which contains a leucine-rich repeat region similar to the Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Card15/Nod2 gene variants play an important role in the susceptibility to Crohn's disease. In this study, we examined the kinetics of Card15/Nod2 expression in intestinal tissue during inflammation in the 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-treated rat experimental colitis model. At 2 and 4 days after TNBS administration, the mononuclear cells remarkably infiltrated the mucosal layer and tunica muscularis, which was followed by a gradual decrease to resting levels at 14 days after TNBS administration. Card15/Nod2 mRNA expression increased and peaked at 4 days after the TNBS administration, followed by a gradual decrease in accordance with the amelioration of the inflammatory response. Expressions of Tlr2, Tlr4 and Myd88 were also upregulated in the inflamed colonic region, and in an in situ hybridization study, a positive signal for Card15/Nod2 was observed in the crypt of the epithelial cell layer and in the infiltrated cells of the submucosal and myenteric regions. These results suggest that in addition to the TLR recognition systems, Card15/Nod2 may contribute to the inflammatory process not only in the epithelial and submucosal layers but also in the tunica muscularis.     

Individual differences and repeatability of post-prandial changes of plasma-free amino acids in young horses

Few data are available on post-prandial changes of plasma amino acids (AAs) in horses and on the repeatability and the individual variance on different sampling days. The objective of the present study was to measure pre- and post-prandial concentrations of plasma AA in 10 yearling horses. Blood samples were taken on days 1 and 40 of the study before feeding of hay, oats and soya meal and over an 8 h post-prandial period in 2-h intervals. The plasma AAs were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography after ortho-phthalaldehyde derivatization. Mean fasting concentrations of the AAs were not significantly influenced by the individuum and sampling day. Repeatability of the fasting AA levels in the individual horses on two different sampling days was only found for histidine, 3-methylhistidine, methionine, tryptophan and taurine. While the absolute post-prandial AA concentrations differed between sampling days, the relative changes were comparable. All AA concentrations except 3-methylhistidine increased after feeding by 13% to more than 200% of their fasting values if the combined data of both days were analysed. Four hours after feeding the concentrations of arginine, asparagine, lysine, leucine, isoleucine and threonine, decreased more than 20%. Histidine, methionine, phenylalanine, valine, tryptophan, glutamine, glycine, tyrosine and taurine concentrations decreased by less than 20%. Concentrations of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, ornithine, serine and citrulline remained elevated. Most AA approached the fasting concentrations at 8 h, only glycine increased between 6 and 8 h after meal and 3-methyl-histidine concentrations were constant throughout the entire period. In conclusion, the pre-prandial plasma AA in horses appeared less influenced by individuum or sampling day than post-prandial plasma AA concentrations. Therefore, plasma AA concentrations should be interpreted only under well-defined conditions, especially regarding the feeding regimen.     

The development of rabies in Switzerland--landscape determines the spread of a wildlife epidemic

The rabies epidemic that reached Switzerland in 1967 developed in response to landscape factors as long as no efficient control strategies were available. The landscape acted either as barrier to the spread of rabies, or it influenced the density of red foxes and thus the habitat of the epidemic. Following the first cases in the canton of Schaffhausen, the whole northwestern Switzerland was infected followed by the eastern Alps, large parts of the Plateau and the Jura mountains. In 1978, in the canton of Valais, the first campaigns of oral immunization of foxes against rabies started. The design of vaccination campaigns during the next two decades was always closely linked to landscape features. Thus, it was possible to free first the Alps and then the Plateau from rabies and finally, at the end of the 1990s, to eliminate it completely within the country. We describe the entire development of the epidemic within the period of 30 years from the first infection up to the last registered case and the final vaccination campaign.     

Production of transgenic rabbits using centrifuged pronuclear zygotes

Superovulation of female rabbits was induced by subcutaneous injection(s) of porcine FSH. Zygotes were recovered 17 to 19 hr after hCG injection and were classified into two categories under a microscope equipped with Nomarski interference-contrast optics at x 200 magnification: (A) zygotes with clearly visible pronuclei, or (B) zygotes with visualized pronuclei after 10 min centrifugation at 12,000 x g. No significant difference between strains was found in the proportion of category-A zygotes (JW 72.6% vs NZW 79.3%). Pronuclei of category-A zygotes were located in the center of the cytoplasm, and the pronuclei of category-B zygotes were slightly moved by centrifugation toward the mass of cytoplasmic lipid droplets. Exogenous DNA solution (5 microg/ml of fusion gene composed of bovine alphaS1-casein promoter and human growth hormone structural gene) was microinjected into the pronucleus of the JW zygotes. The pronucleus of category-A zygotes with a mean volume of 7.4 pl swelled up to 16.6 pl (132% increase), while that of category-B zygotes with a mean volume of 6.1 pl swelled up to 15.9 pl (148% increase). Nevertheless, similar proportions of category-A and category-B zygotes developed into offspring after transfer to recipient females (11.1 and 11.2%, respectively). The efficiency to produce hGH-carrying transgenic rabbits was 0.9% (2/235) from category-A zygotes and 0.5% (1/215) from category-B zygotes (P>0.05). To date, transgenic rabbits have been produced without centrifugation of pronuclear zygotes. However approximately 25% of fertilized rabbit zygotes can be used for DNA microinjection after they have been centrifuged to visualize their pronuclei.     

全球禽肉生产和贸易中的沙门菌风险评估与控制

1 禽源沙门菌对公共卫生的影响 在许多国家,沙门菌仍是引发食源性肠道疾病的主要原因.沙门菌通常存在于家畜、家禽中,也可在啮齿类、爬行类和鸟类等野生动物中发现.当农场的禽群感染沙门菌后,通常会有一部分家禽的消化道中携带沙门菌,但并无症状.随后,沙门菌可能会通过粪便污染感染动物屠体.     

饲料颗粒：家禽生长不可忽视的基础

编者按:在家禽养殖中,饲料是支撑家禽生长的最基本元素.除去营养需要外,高度加工处理的饲料从一开始着眼于提高家禽的生产性能,以达到效率最优化.     

Endocrine and ovarian changes in response to the ram effect in medroxyprogesterone acetate-primed Corriedale ewes during the breeding and nonbreeding season

Two experiments were performed to determine the endocrine and ovarian changes in medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP)-primed ewes after ram introduction. Experiment 1 was performed during the mid-breeding season with 71 ewes primed with an intravaginal MAP sponge for 12 days. While the control (C) ewes (n = 35) were in permanent contact with rams, the ram effect (RE) ewes (n = 36) were isolated for 34 days prior to contact with rams. At sponge withdrawal, all ewes were joined with eight sexually experienced marking Corriedale rams and estrus was recorded over the next 4 days. The ovaries were observed by laparoscopy 4-6 days after estrus. Four weeks later, pregnancy was determined by transrectal ultrasonography. In eight ewes from each group, ovaries were ultrasonographically scanned; FSH, LH, and estradiol-17beta were measured every 12 hours until ovulation or 96 hours after estrus. The response to the rams was not affected by the fact that ewes had been kept or not in close contact with males before teasing. No differences were found in FSH, LH, estradiol-17beta concentrations, growth of the ovulatory follicle, onset of estrus, ovulation rate, or pregnancy rate. Experiment 2 was performed with 14 ewes during the nonbreeding season. Ewes were isolated from rams for 1 month, and received a 6-day MAP priming. Ovaries were ultrasonographically scanned every 12 hours, and FSH, LH, estradiol-17beta, and progesterone were measured. Ewes that ovulated and came into estrus had higher FSH and estradiol-17beta levels before introduction of the rams than did ewes that had a silent ovulation. The endocrine pattern of the induced follicular phase of ewes that came into estrus was more similar to a normal follicular phase, than in ewes that had a silent ovulation. The follicle that finally ovulated tended to emerge earlier and in a more synchronized fashion in those ewes that did come into estrus. All ewes that ovulated had an LH surge and reached higher maximum FSH levels than ewes that did not ovulate, none of which had an LH surge. We conclude that (a) the effect of ram introduction in cyclic ewes treated with MAP may vary depending on the time of the breeding season at which teasing is performed; (b) patterns of FSH, and estradiol-17beta concentrations, as indicators of activity of the reproductive axis, may be used to classify depth of anestrus; and (c) the endocrine pattern of the induced follicular phase, which is related to the depth of anestrus, may be reflected in the behavioral responses to MAP priming and the ram effect.     

A replication analysis of foot-and-mouth disease virus in swine lymphoid tissue might indicate a putative carrier stage in pigs

ABSTRACT: Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMVD), one of the most contagious viruses of cloven-hoofed animals, may cause a prolonged, asymptomatic but persistent infection in ruminants, named the "carrier state". However, it remains an open question whether this carrier state occurs in pigs. Here we present quantitative analyses of the duration of FMDV RNA and infectivity in lymphoid and epithelial tissues in experimentally infected pigs with FMDV C-S8c1. The data indicated that although FMDV RNA remained in blood until day 14 post-infection (pi), viremia was cleared by day 7 pi. However, all tissues tested were positive for FMDV until day 14-17 pi. Interestingly, the specific infectivity of FMDV in these tissues was in some cases even higher than the FMDV C-S8c1. We therefore propose that a "pseudopersistent state" may occur in pigs in which virus replicates in lymphoid tissues for a prolonged period of time, thereby representing a potential source of virus.     

Modulation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity through sequential posttranslational modifications of p22 phagocytic oxidase during capacitation and acrosome reaction in goat spermatozoa

Superoxide anion radical, produced in low quantities, plays a positive role in sperm function. Spermatozoa produce superoxide anion radical during posttesticular development, which shows an abrupt increase during capacitation. The NAD phosphate oxidase (NOX) family members NOX2 and NOX5 are the 2 enzymes implicated in superoxide production in spermatozoa. We examined the organization of NOX2 in goat spermatozoa during epididymal maturation, capacitation, and acrosome reaction. Spermatozoa from testis, caput epididymidis, corpus epididymidis, and cauda epididymidis possessed components of the phagocytic oxidase (PHOX; i.e., gp91phox, p22phox, p67phox, p47phox, p40phox), and ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1/2 (Rac1/2) on spermatozoa, and their concentrations did not show significant alterations during epididymal maturation. During capacitation in vitro, p22phox underwent Thr-phosphorylation, which resulted in a mobility shift of the corresponding band toward greater molecular mass. The Rac1/2 also showed a mobility shift from 32 to 23 kDa during capacitation. During progesterone-induced acrosome reaction, the spermatozoa experienced a total loss of p22phox and p47phox. The p47phox, but not p22phox, was detected in the exocytic vesicles of the acrosome. The Thr-phosphorylated form of p22phox was ubiquitinated and degraded through proteasome-mediated pathways in goat sperm cell lysates. Thus, Thr phosphorylation of p22phox acts as a regulatory switch in goat spermatozoa that transiently activates the NOX2 system during capacitation and subsequently directs it for degradation through the ubiiquitin-proteasomal pathway during progesterone-induced acrosome reaction.