Expression of Mitochondria‐Associated Genes (PPARGC1A,NRF‐1, BCL‐2 and BAX) in Follicular Development and Atresia of Goat Ovaries

Most follicles undergo atresia during the developmental process. Follicular atresia is predominantly regulated by apoptosis of granulosa cells, but the mechanism underlying apoptosis via the mitochondria‐dependent apoptotic pathway is unclear. We aimed to investigate whether the mitochondria‐associated genes peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐gamma, coactivator1‐alpha (PPARGC1A), nuclear respiratory factor‐1 (NRF‐1), B‐cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (BCL‐2) and BCL2‐associated X protein (BAX) played a role in follicular atresia through this pathway. The four mitochondria‐associated proteins (PGC‐1α, which are encoded by the PPARGC1A gene, NRF‐1, BCL‐2 and BAX) mainly expressed in granulosa cells. The mRNA and protein levels of PPARGC1A/PGC‐1α and NRF‐1 in granulosa cells increased with the follicular development. These results showed that these genes may play a role in the regulation of the follicular development. In addition, compared with healthy follicles, the granulosa cell in atretic follicles had a reduced expression of NRF‐1, increased BAX expression and increased ratio of BAX to BCL‐2 expression. These results suggested that changes of the mitochondria‐associated gene expression patterns in granulosa cells may lead to follicular atresia during goat follicle development.     

Dietary inclusion of dehydrated bocaiuva pulp increases the antioxidant potential of quail eggs

The aim of this study was to evaluate dietary supplementation of different levels of dehydrated bocaiuva pulp (DBP) on the productive performance of laying quails, and on lipid oxidation, and quality in their eggs. A total of 120 quails were distributed in a completely randomized design with six treatments (0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4% and 0.5% of DBP), five replicates and four birds per experimental unit. To evaluate lipid oxidation, the eggs were collected on five consecutive days at the end of the trial and distributed in a completely randomized experimental design in a 6 × 5 factorial scheme (eggs from quails fed different levels of DBP × evaluated fresh and after 7, 14, 21 and 28 days). The antioxidant potential of diets was improved (p < 0.05) when the DBP was added estimated as 2,2'‐azinobis‐3‐ethylbenzothiazolin‐6‐sulfonic acid (ABTS) free radical scavenging capacity. No effect (p > 0.05) was observed on feed intake, hen‐day egg production and feed conversion (kg/kg and kg/dz). There were no changes (p > 0.05) in the egg weight, Haugh unit, yolk index or eggshell percentage. Although no difference was observed (p > 0.05), when comparing each level with the control, a negative linear effect (p < 0.05) on specific gravity was observed. In addition, only the treatment with 0.5% pulp exhibited lower (p < 0.05) eggshell thickness compared with the control (0%). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) analysis showed that as the dietary pulp level was increased, malondialdehyde content decreased linearly (p < 0.05) in the egg yolks, regardless of the storage period. Inclusion of DBP in the diets had no effect (p > 0.05) on the concentration of conjugated dienes in the eggs. The diets containing DBP showed a potential antioxidant effect, reducing the degree of lipid oxidation in egg yolk. However, no beneficial effects were observed on performance and egg quality.     

Clostridioides difficile on Ohio swine farms (2015): A comparison of swine and human environments and assessment of on‐farm risk factors

Swine are known reservoirs for Clostridioides difficile, formerly known as Clostridium difficile, and transmission from swine to human farm workers is strongly suggested by previous studies. This cross‐sectional study evaluated the potential role of farm environmental surfaces, including those in worker breakrooms and swine housing areas, in the possible transmission of C. difficile from swine to farm workers. Environmental surfaces and piglet faeces at 13 Ohio swine farms were sampled in 2015. Typical culturing techniques were performed to isolate C. difficile from samples, and amplification of toxin genes (tcdA, tcdB and cdtB) and PCR‐ribotyping were used to genetically characterize recovered isolates. In addition, sequencing of toxin regulatory gene, tcdC, was done to identify the length of identified deletions in some isolates. A survey collected farm‐level management risk factor information. Clostridioides difficile was recovered from all farms, with 42% (188/445) of samples testing positive for C. difficile. Samples collected from all on‐farm locations recovered C. difficile, including farrowing rooms (60%, 107/178), breakrooms (50%, 69/138) and nursery rooms (9%, 12/129). Three ribotypes recovered from both swine and human environments (078, 412 and 005) have been previously implicated in human disease. Samples taken from farrowing rooms and breakrooms were found to have greater odds of C. difficile recovery than those taken from nursery rooms (OR = 40.5, OR = 35.6, p < .001 respectively). Farms that weaned ≥23,500 pigs per year had lower odds of C. difficile recovery as compared to farms that weaned fewer pigs (OR = 0.4, p = .01) and weekly or more frequent cleaning of breakroom counters was associated with higher odds of C. difficile recovery (OR = 11.7, p < .001). This study provides important insights into the presence and characterization of C. difficile found in human environments on swine farms and highlights how these areas may be involved in transmission of C. difficile to swine farm workers and throughout the facility.     

Effects of air temperature, air movement and artificial rain on the heat production of brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula): an exploratory study

Two groups of six mature brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpeculu) were housed in two respiration chambers, and their heat production, whole body conductance and lower critical temperatures were measured under a variety of simulated weather patterns. The possums were subjected to ambient temperatures of 30, 20 and 3 degrees C. At 20 and 3 degrees C, the animals were exposed to near still air and light winds (wind speed 0.8 and 6.7 km/h), both with, and without, simulated rain every 8 hours. The lower critical temperature in near still air lies between 7 and 10 degrees C. This temperature increases by about 2, 6 and 8 degrees C respectively for a wind velocity of 6.7 km/h, simulated rain and a combination of the two factors. Weather in New Zealand, especially in the cooler part of the year, will often produce conditions below the lower critical temperature of the thermoneutral zone of possums. This will necessitate significant increases in metabolic rate and hence food consumption or mobilisation of body fat reserves, which if not sustainable will result in the death of possums. Field studies have shown that this is often the case in the wild. It is proposed that this stress may be sufficient to decrease the resistance (especially cell-mediated immunity) of some possums and allow acceleration of the disease process in those infected with Mycobacterium bovis.     

Bodyweight and feed intake of German shepherd bitches during pregnancy and lactation

Thirty German shepherd bitches were assessed for weekly changes in bodyweight, daily food intake and litter size during pregnancy and lactation. The weekly changes in food intake and bodyweight were divided into two and three phases, respectively. Linear regression equations were used to fit each phase. The bodyweight of the bitches at mating ranged between 17 and 36 kg. The same diet was used for all the bitches throughout the study. Despite the tendency that litter size, birthweight and bodyweight of the puppies at three and six weeks increased with age of the bitch, no significant differences could be found. Significant (P<0·05) bodyweight differences existed at mating between the age groups. High correlations existed between mating weight and weight at 60 days of pregnancy (r²= 0·94] and between mating weight and weaning weight (r²= 0·89) of the litter. It was possible to successfully establish performance criteria for the reproductive German shepherd bitch in a commercial breeding unit, which can be used as a baseline to improve diets and feeding programmes by means of dietary manipulations.