Effects of inulin on performance, egg quality, gut microflora and serum and yolk cholesterol in laying hens

1. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of inulin on laying hens. A total of 360 Brown Nick laying hens were divided randomly into 6 groups of 60 with 6 replicates of 10 hens and fed on diets containing 0 (control), 0·1, 0·5, 1·0, 1·5 or 2·0% inulin during the 4-week trial. 2. Dietary supplementation of inulin reduced cholesterol concentration (mg/g yolk) and content (mg/egg) in eggs. Cholesterol content in eggs decreased linearly with increasing levels of dietary inulin level. 3. Supplementation of inulin in diets decreased coliform bacteria counts and pH in the caecum. The lowest coliform bacteria counts (6·30 ± 0·03 log10 cfu/g) and pH (6·47 ± 0·01) were obtained in the 2·0% inulin group, the two indices decreasing by 21·6% and 3·0% respectively, compared with the control group. Coliform bacteria count and pH were changed linearly in accordance with increasing levels of dietary inulin level. Caecal Bifidobacteria counts were increased in the 2·0%-inulin group. 4. Inulin supplementation of layer diets did not appear to have any adverse effects on laying rate, egg weight, feed intake, feed conversion efficiency, cracked-egg rate, eggshell thickness or Haugh unit compared with the control laying hens. 5. Therefore, dietary supplementation with inulin may lead to the development of low-cholesterol chicken eggs as demanded by health-conscious consumers.     

Serology of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus in wild rabbits before and after release of the virus in New Zealand

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) was illegally released in New Zealand in August 1997. The initial release and spread of the virus was conducted by landholders in an effort to reduce costs associated with more conventional control methods (poisoning and shooting). Serum was collected from wild rabbits throughout the Otago region prior to the release and from 13 sites in the months following the first epizootic. Following the occurrence of the first RHDV epizootic on 13 pastoral farming properties a range of survival rates was found. The major factor influencing the survival rate was found to be the method of release, with widespread use of carrot or oat baits containing RHDV resulting in poor kills. Widespread use of baits also resulted in higher levels of antibody in surviving adult rabbits with a higher proportion of adult females surviving the epizootic, compared with properties where the disease was allowed to spread naturally. A correlation was found between survival rate and the percentage of surviving adults with high levels of antibody. These results suggest that poor kill rates are not due to poor spread of the virus, that the large-scale use of baits resulted in protective immunisation and that rabbit control should in the future be achieved through establishing naturally spreading epidemics rather than widespread use of baits.     

Postnatal limb bone growth in relation to live weight in pigs from birth to 84 days of age.

Long limb bones were dissected from 30 Camborough x Canabrid pigs serially slaughtered at birth, 14, 28, 56, and 84 d of age to determine the growth patterns of long limb bones (humerus and radius for the forelimb and femur and tibia for the hindlimb) in relation to live weight from birth to 84 d of age, weighing up to approximately 31 kg. Relationships between individual long limb bone measurements (Y) and live weight or transformations of live weight (X) were evaluated using allometric analyses. Hindlimb bones tended to have higher growth coefficients than forelimb bones (P < .05), suggesting an anterior-posterior gradient of long limb bone growth. However, centripetal gradients of growth for long limb bones were not evidential (P > .05). Greater diameter growth compared with length growth of the long limb bones indicated that the differentiation in growth for diameter and length of the long limb bones was an effective response to the functional requirements of standing, walking, and running following birth.     

Delayed acute capture myopathy in three roe deer

Delayed acute capture myopathy is the term used to describe the clinical syndrome observed in three roe deer captured by drive-nets and transported to an enclosure for scientific purposes. The animals died 48 h, 60 h and 8 days after being captured. The simultaneous deaths coincided with a previous episode of deliberate human disturbance. The histopathological findings were indicative of acute myopathy and myoglobinaemic nephrosis. These could be related to an ataxic myoglobinuric syndrome brought on by capture and transport operations. The lack of clinical signs and negative prognosis indicators in the period between capture and just before death. the absence of gross muscular lesions in the animal that died after 8 days post-capture, the simultaneous deaths of animals captured at different times and the evidence of deliberate human disturbance in the enclosure are suggestive of death triggered by a second stress episode.     

A physiologically based pharmacokinetics model for florfenicol in crucian carp and oral‐to‐intramuscular extrapolation

Yang, F., Sun, N., Sun, Y. X., Shan, Q., Zhao, H. Y., Zeng, D. P., Zeng, Z. L. A physiologically based pharmacokinetics model for florfenicol in crucian carp and oral‐to‐intramuscular extrapolation. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap.  36 , 192–200. In this study, an oral physiologically based pharmacokinetics (PBPK) model was developed for florfenicol in crucian carp (Carassius auratus). Subsequently, oral‐to‐intramuscular extrapolation was performed and the two models were used to predict florfenicol concentrations in the edible tissues of crucian carp. The oral model gave good predictions in most tissues, except for kidney and liver in which the florfenicol concentrations were underestimated at the later time points. In contrast, using the intramuscular model, the concentrations in the kidney were overestimated at the later time points. Both models had the best predictive ability in the main edible tissue, the muscle. The oral model also accurately predicted the florfenicol concentrations in the muscle after multiple doses. The present study demonstrated the feasibility of predicting florfenicol concentrations in the edible tissues of crucian carp using a route‐to‐route extrapolation method.     

三聚氰胺对小鼠睾丸病理损伤的观察

本研究采用组织病理学和免疫组织化学技术观察了三聚氰胺（Melamine,MA）对雄性小鼠睾丸的毒性作用,以深入揭示三聚氰胺的毒性作用及其机理。将25只28日龄SPF雄性昆明小鼠随机均分为5组,1组为对照组,其他4组为试验组。4个试验组分别按下述不同剂量灌服三聚氰胺：0.6 mg/kg（bw）/d（每日每公斤体重0.6 mg）、3.0 mg/kg（bw）/d、15.0 mg/kg（bw）/d和17.5 mg/kg（bw）/d,用玉米油做溶剂;空白对照组每日灌服等量玉米油。连续灌胃30天后剖检小鼠并取其睾丸组织进行固定、切片和染色,观察睾丸的组织病理变化。同时,采用免疫组织化学方法检测睾丸组织中增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）的表达量。观察结果表明,与对照组相比,试验组不同剂量浓度的三聚氰胺对小鼠睾丸组织造成不同程度的病理损伤;三聚氰胺也会在一定程度上影响睾丸组织中PCNA的表达。研究结果表明三聚氰胺对于小鼠生殖系统有明显毒性作用。     

Stress response of extensively reared young bulls being transported to growing-finishing farms under Spanish summer commercial conditions

To evaluate the effect of Spanish summer commercial journeys on the stress response of young bulls born and reared under extensive conditions, 2 replicates of a transport from an assembly centre to a growing-finishing farm were studied. Journeys lasted 27 h, involving a total of 62 young bulls. Variables under study included haematocrit, red blood cell count (RBC), total white blood cell count (WBC), differential WBC counts, serum haptoglobin (Hp), cortisol, glucose, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total protein, and albumin at loading, at the end of an intermediate market stop, and at the unloading. Before the beginning of the journey elevated WBC and neutrophil counts, and high Hp values were detected, reflecting high stress levels probably as a consequence of previous procedures associated with the grouping at the assembly centre. Some stress was also detected at the end of the market stop, with cortisol increasing from 6.5 to 12.6 ± 2.0 ng/mL (P < 0.001), although a change in Hp concentration was not observed. Neither CPK and LDH activities, related to muscular tissue damage, nor haematocrit and RBC count, related to dehydration revealed a significant effect of this first stage of the journey on the physical stress of the young bulls. Subsequent 13 h transport to the growing-finishing farm induced an increase in Hp levels from 0.48 to 0.78 ± 0.16 mg/mL (P < 0.001), reflecting an onset of the acute stress response, although cortisol levels immediately after the unloading were similar to those found before loading at the market, suggesting that calves got accustomed to transport. At the end of the journey some dehydration and physical stress were also detected. Overall, our study provides new information to the discussion of the effect of temperatures during cattle transport. Although an improvement in pre-transport conditions is essential if the welfare of assembled and transported cattle is to be improved, the stress-related alteration of cattle physiology under Spanish summer commercial transport conditions is similar to that observed under colder conditions.     

Emesis in dogs: a review

Emesis is a common presenting sign in small animal practice. It requires a rational approach to management that is based upon a sound understanding of pathophysiology combined with logical decision making. This review, which assesses the weight of available evidence, outlines the physiology of the vomiting reflex, causes of emesis, the consequences of emesis and the approach to clinical management of the vomiting dog. The applicability of diagnostic testing modalities and the merit of traditional approaches to management, such as dietary changes, are discussed. The role and usefulness of both traditional and novel anti-emetic drugs is examined, including in specific circumstances such as following cytotoxic drug treatment. The review also examines areas in which common clinical practice is not necessarily supported by objective evidence and, as such, highlights questions worthy of further clinical research.     

Surgical management of a malacic corneal ulcer in a greater one-horned Asian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) using a free island tarsoconjunctival graft

A greater one-horned Asian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) presented for presumed ocular trauma to the left eye, with secondary bacterial infection, resulting in severe and progressive corneal ulceration. Following a poor response to medical therapy, the animal was anesthetized for further examination, and a bulbar conjunctival pedicle graft performed. This graft failed by 48-h postsurgery as a result of self-trauma. The animal was re-anesthetized, and a free island tarsoconjunctival graft performed. This second procedure was successful, resulting in globe preservation, cosmesis, and functional vision in the affected eye.