Current knowledge about the processes of luteolysis and maternal recognition of pregnancy in camelids

Camelids have many unique reproductive features that considerably differ from those of other domestic species. Females are induced ovulators with subsequent development of a corpus luteum (CL) with a short lifespan. Plasma progesterone concentration starts to increase on day 4, peaks on day 8–9 and, in non-pregnant animals, basal concentration is reached around day 10–11 post-induction of ovulation. Luteolytic pulses of prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) are firstly detected on day 7 or 8 (approximately on day 5–6 after ovulation), with maximal luteolytic peaks observed between days 9 and 11 post-mating, in coincidence with a high endometrial expression of cyclooxygenase 2, a limiting enzyme in prostaglandins synthesis. Unlike other species, oxytocin seems not to be involved in the luteolytic process in these species. The CL is the main source of progesterone secretion, and its function is required to support pregnancy. Despite constant research efforts, aspects of reproduction and maternal recognition of pregnancy in camelids remain not fully understood. A transient decrease and subsequent recovery in plasma progesterone concentration are observed after day 9 post-mating in pregnant animals in association with a pulsatile release of PGF_2α and a transitory decrease in CL vascularization. Thus, embryo recognition should occur between days 8 and 12 post-mating. In camels, conceptus tissues exhibit aromatizing activity with the capacity to synthesize large amounts of oestradiol. Similarly, llama blastocysts secrete oestradiol-17β during the preimplantation stage, with a higher production during the elongation period. An increase in the endometrial expression of oestrogen receptor α is also observed on day 12 post-mating. All these evidences suggest that oestrogen could be the signal released by the embryo at the time of its recognition in camelids. Besides, nearly 98% of pregnancies are carried out in the left horn. A decrease in the endometrial expression of mucin 1 and 16 genes has been reported, suggesting that these changes are crucial for successful embryo implantation; however, no differences have been observed between horns. Thus, maternal recognition of pregnancy in camelids is a particularly complex process that must occur in a concise time to allow the rescue of the CL and embryo survival.     

曲拉通和硝酸混合溶液直接提取快速测定草鱼中铅含量

为建立快速测定草鱼中铅含量的方法,通过分析曲拉通和硝酸混合溶液浓度、提取时间、称样定容体积比例等因素的影响,以及基体改进剂的使用效果,确定了草鱼中铅元素提取测定的最佳条件。验证结果显示：采用曲拉通和硝酸混合溶液提取草鱼中铅元素方法的提取率为86.5%～95.6%,加标回收率为91.5%～95.6%,精密度均小于4.0%,检出限和定量限分别为0.011和0.032 mg/kg,满足了国家标准GB 5009.12—2017第一法石墨炉原子吸收光谱法的要求。与国家标准方法比较,本研究建立方法的样品前处理时间从4～12 h缩短至0.2 h内,酸试剂用量从湿法消解的7～12 mL减少至1～2 mL;前处理过程无需高温消解,无需其他前处理设备,避免了样品污染和待测元素损失,实现了降低分析成本以及保护环境和试验人员的目的。结果表明,该方法是一种简单、准确、绿色、快速测定草鱼中铅含量的方法,尤其适合大量样品检测。     

Bacteraemia in neonatal foals: clinicopathological differences between Gram-positive and Gram-negative infections, and single organism and mixed infections

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Treatment for bacteraemia in foals must be started before the identity of the causative organism is known. Information aiding selection of effective antimicrobials should improve outcome. OBJECTIVES: To describe differences in clinical and clinicopathological data and outcome in foals with bacteraemia due to different classes of bacteria. METHODS: Records of foals with a positive blood culture, age < 10 days and presenting to a university hospital 1995-2004, were reviewed. Bacterial culture results, subject details, historical information, physical examination findings at admission and clinicopathological data generated during the first 48 h of hospitalisation were analysed. Results from foals with Gram-positive or Gram-negative organisms, single or mixed organism bacteraemias, and with bacteraemia due to 3 commonly isolated organisms were compared. RESULTS: Eighty-five foals met the inclusion criteria. Gram-negative organisms (n = 59) Gram-positive organisms (n = 13) or multiple organisms (n = 19) were cultured from individual foals. Foals with Gram-negative bacteraemia had lower total white blood cell and lymphocyte counts at admission than did those from which only Gram-positive bacteria were cultured. Mixed organism bacteraemia was associated with tachycardia, increased serum concentrations of sodium, chloride and urea nitrogen, acidosis, respiratory distress, recumbency on admission and nonsurvival. Actinobacillus spp. infections were associated with leucopenia, neutropenia, lymphopenia and depression on hospital admission. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Recognising particular patterns of clinical and clinicopathological findings associated with infection with specific groups of bacteria may, in the future, aid antimicrobial selection and influence prognosis in bacteraemic foals.     

大肠埃希菌多重耐药调节子研究进展

大肠埃希菌多重抗生素耐药主要是由多重耐药调节基因和外输泵共同作用产生的。大肠埃希菌多重耐药调节子是广泛存在于肠杆菌科细菌染色体上的抗生素多重耐药调节中心,是大肠埃希菌耐药的主要组成部分。为解决多重抗生素耐药问题,很多专家和学者对大肠埃希菌多重耐药调节子和外输泵的耐药机制进行了深入的研究,研究开发多重抗生素耐药基因消除剂和外输泵抑制剂,或增加外输泵抑制基因的表达,将成为从根本上解决多重抗生素耐药问题的最好方法。文章对大肠埃希菌AcrAB、AcrAB-Tolc,Mar和膜孔蛋白Ompf、Ompc等多重抗生素耐药调节子的组成、功能及其影响因素进行了综述。     

Reproductive outcomes of anestrous goats supplemented with spineless Opuntia megacantha Salm-Dyck protein-enriched cladodes and exposed to the male effect

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The possible influence of the “male effect” upon reproductive outcomes of adult anestrous goats under marginal rangeland conditions and...     

Hip dysplasia in a 6-year-old Salz ram

A 6-year old Salz ram was presented with a history of poor body condition, progressive gait abnormalities, pelvic limb lameness, and difficulty with copulation. Based on the history, clinical signs, hip palpation, and radiography, a diagnosis of hip dysplasia, previously unreported in sheep, was made.     

Effects of adrenocorticotropic hormone challenge and age on hair cortisol concentrations in dairy cattle

Dairy cattle suffer stress from management and production; contemporary farming tries to improve animal welfare and reduce stress. Therefore, the assessment of long-term hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function using non-invasive techniques is useful. The aims in this study were: to measure cortisol concentration in cow and calves hair by radioimmunoassay (RIA), to test cortisol accumulation in bovine hair after adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenges, and determine the influence of hair color on cortisol concentrations. Fifteen Holstein heifers were allotted to 3 groups (n = 5 each): in control group (C), just the hair was sampled; in the saline solution group (SS), IV saline solution was administered on days 0, 7, and 14; and the ACTH group was challenged 3 times with ACTH (0.15 UI per kg of body weight) on days 0, 7, and 14. Serum samples from the SS and ACTH groups were obtained 0, 60 and 90 min post-injection. Serum cortisol concentration was greater 60 and 90 min after injection with ACTH. Hair was clipped on days 0, 14, 28, and 44. Hair cortisol was methanol extracted and measured by RIA. Hair cortisol was preserved for 11 mo. Hair cortisol concentrations in the ACTH group were greater than in the saline and control groups on days 14 and 28, but not on day 44. Concentrations were greater in calves than in cows and greater in white hair than in black hair. Cortisol accumulated in bovine hair after ACTH challenges, but the concentration was affected by both age and hair color. If hair color effects are taken into account, assessing cortisol concentration in hair is a potentially useful non-invasive method for assessing stress in cattle.     

Evaluation of single and comparative intradermal tuberculin tests for tuberculosis eradication in caprine flocks in Castilla y León (Spain)

Goats can act as reservoirs for tuberculosis (TB) infection. The main etiological agents of TB in goats are Mycobacterium caprae and Mycobacterium bovis and they infect also a wide range of domestic and wild animals and humans. Control programmes based mainly on the application of single and comparative intradermal tuberculin (SIT and SCIT respectively) tests are being implemented in certain regions of Spain with a high density of caprine flocks as Castilla y León, including goats with epidemiological relationship with cattle. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the intradermal tests in naturally TB-infected caprine flocks from this region. The study was performed using data from 17,450 goats in 54 different flocks that were classified as TB-infected in the control programmes executed in 2010 and 2011. Data from 1237 goats from 7 dairy flocks depopulated after the first intradermal testing were used to estimate the sensitivity (Se) using bacteriology as the gold-standard. Overall Se of the SIT test using the severe interpretation was 43.9% (CI 95%, 40.4–47.4) and decreased to 38.8% (CI 95%, 35.5–42.3) using the standard interpretation. Overall Se of the SCIT test ranged between 21.3% (CI 95%, 17.6–25.4) and 7% (CI 95%, 4.9–9.8) depending of the interpretation criteria. A significant weak positive correlation was found between age and skin fold thickness (Spearman’s test p < 0.05). Results from this study yielded, in general, low Se values probably due the systematic detection and slaughter of reactors as a consequence of the eradication programme in previous years or the presence of factors that may interfere in the diagnosis. Therefore, these results suggest the necessity of including ancillary diagnostic tools and/or strict interpretation criteria to maximize detection of positive animals in infected settings.     

如皋鸡常规肉品质遗传规律研究

试验对如皋鸡的肌肉品质进行测定,进一步了解其生长性能和遗传特性,为指导育种提供理论依据,丰富这一优良品种的基本素材.研究结果表明:各测定周龄体重公母间存在极显著差异;12周龄肌肉品质方面,除剪切力外,其余性状在性别间差异均不显著;遗传力结果显示,各性状之间遗传力有很大差异.     

Na_2CO_3胁迫下星星草幼苗叶片电解质外渗率与PSⅡ光能耗散的关系

用荧光动力学的方法探讨Na2CO3胁迫下星星草幼苗叶片电解质外渗率与PSⅡ光能耗散的关系。结果表明,随着星星草幼苗叶片电解质外渗率的增大,PSⅡ的最大光化学效率（Fv/Fm）和潜在光化学效率（Fv/Fo）呈逐渐减小的趋势。同时,当电解质外渗率小于0.2时,PSⅡ实际光化学效率（ΦPSⅡ）、电子传递速率（ETR）、光化学淬灭系数（qP）、光化学速率（PR）、捕光色素的光能被用于热耗散的相对份额（HD）、热耗散速率（HDR）都随着电解质外渗率的增大而增大;而当电解质外渗率超过0.2时,PSⅡ实际光化学效率（ΦPSⅡ）、电子传递速率（ETR）、光化学淬灭系数（qP）、光化学速率（PR）却随着电解质外渗率的增大而减小。另一方面,电解质外渗率在小于0.15时,非光化学淬灭系数（qNP）一直在增加,但是当电解质外渗率超过0.15时,qNP却减少。本试验结果说明当电解质外渗率在一定范围内,星星草通过增加热耗散以及增加捕光色素吸收的光能被用于热耗散的相对份额（HD）和热耗散速率（HDR）来改善PSⅡ的功能,由此引起的活性氧增加则由体内较高的保护酶来清除,若超过了一定阈值则抑制了PSⅡ的功能,或者说PSⅡ系统可能遭受了不可逆损伤。