An immunohistochemical study of S-100 protein in the intestinal tract of Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis

The present work describes the distribution of S-100 protein in the intestinal tract of a Chinese soft-shelled turtle specimen (Pelodiscus sinensis). S-100 protein positive cells were located in the intestinal tract, from the proximal small to distal large intestine. S-100 protein positive dendritic cells had irregular shape and were positive in both cytoplasm and nucleus. Most of them were located both lamina propria and submucosa in the small intestine, while few were found in the large intestine. S-100 protein, C-kit positive ICCs and Silver staining glial cells were predominantly observed in three locations: (1) in the interspace between the submucosa and circular muscle layer; (2) in the circular muscle layer; and (3) between the circular and longitudinal muscle layers of the intestine. Fewer were found in the large intestinal lamina propria and submucosa. Three types of positive cells (S-100 protein positive cells, C-kit positive ICCs and Silver staining glial cells) with 1–2 long or 2–3 short processes were distributed as lace-like or surrounding blood vessels in the different locations mentioned above. In the lamina propria, all the positive cells with irregular processes were connected with each other and formed a network. In the submucosa, all the positive cells were found surrounding the blood vessels.     

The binding of soybean agglutinin (SBA) to the intestinal epithelium of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar and Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, fed high levels of soybean meal

A lectin present in soya, soybean agglutinin (SBA), was identified in electrophoretic profiles and immunoblots of dehulled solvent-extracted soybean meal (DSSM), full-fat soybean meal (FFSM) and of aqueous extracts of feeds incorporating them in their formulation. A quantitative estimation was made of the proportion of SBA comprising the total protein in FFSM and a trial diet was prepared containing an amount of pure SBA similar to that in diets incorporating high levels of the whole soya product. Fish fed with this diet exhibited similar pathological disruption of the intestinal tract to that observed in fish given a diet with a high level of DSSM (60% of the diet). Furthermore, immuno-histochemistry revealed the binding of the SBA to the enterocytes lining the intestinal villi both of fish fed a diet incorporating pure SBA and those fed a diet containing a high-level of soya (60%). Our results suggest that SBA binds in vivo to the intestinal epithelium of fish and has a contributory role in pathological changes associated with fish feeds containing high levels of soybean proteins.     

The biological stress of early weaned piglets

Pigs experience biological stress such as physiological, environmental, and social challenges when weaned from the sow. The process of weaning is one of the most stressful events in the pig’s life that can contribute to intestinal and immune system dysfunctions that result in reduced pig health, growth, and feed intake, particularly during the first week after weaning. Technological improvements in housing, nutrition, health, and management have been used to minimize some of the adverse effects of weaning stress, but a greater understanding of the biological impact of stress is needed to improve strategies to overcome weaning stress. The focus of this review paper is to briefly describe how the biological stress associated with weaning impacts intestinal morphology, structure, physiology, and intestinal immune responses that can impact subsequent production efficiencies such as growth, intake, morbidity, and mortality.     

Glycoconjugate histochemistry in the small and large intestine of normal and Solanum glaucophyllum-intoxicated rabbits

Vitamin D participates in mineral homeostasis, immunomodulation, cell growth and differentiation. The leaves of Solanum glaucophyllum contain high levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 as glycoside derivatives and their chronic ingestion generates a hypervitaminosis D-like state. We analyzed changes on carbohydrate expression as a cell differentiation indicator on samples of the small and large intestine of S. glaucophyllum-intoxicated rabbits, using conventional and lectin histochemistry. Male New Zealand white rabbits were intoxicated with S. glaucophyllum during two or four weeks and killed the day after. A group of animals (“possibly recovered group”) were intoxicated during 15 days and killed at day 45 of the beginning of the experiment. We found changes in the lectin binding pattern in the small and large intestine of the intoxicated rabbits. Some of these changes were reverted in the possibly recovered group. Vitamin D could be a new regulator factor of the intestinal glycosylation process.     

Health screening of free-ranging European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) on the German North-Sea island Pellworm

Background

A sudden decline of the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) population in one of the best hunting districts for small game species in northern Germany, the German North-Sea island Pellworm, in the years 2007/08 following marked habitat changes led to the implementation of a thorough health assessment program of the population. 110 animals were collected during the normal hunting season in the years 2010 and 2011. A post-mortem examination and histopathological investigation was performed on all animals. Additionally, routine bacteriology of the small intestine and parasitology were carried out. Sera of hares were tested for European Brown Hare Syndrome (EBHS) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and for Treponema sp. by indirect immunofluorescent test. Additional testing was performed when deemed necessary.

Results

The most striking result was a shift in the intestinal bacterial flora towards Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae with a predominance of either Escherichia coli, or Aeromonas sp., or a high-grade double-infection with these two pathogens with subsequent catarrhal enteritis. Additionally, a marked coccidiosis, and varying infestations with the nematode Trichostrongylus retortaeformis were found. The sero-prevalence for EBHS was 78.1%, and for Treponema 43.9%.

Conclusions

The shift and decrease in diversity of the intestinal flora was the main and most consistent result found. In the authors’ opinion the change of the habitat combined with other stressors increased the animals’ sensitivity to ubiquitous bacterial species and parasites which usually would not have such fatal effects.     

Protective effect of ischemic-preconditioning under the mild hypothermia against small intestine ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of ischemic-preconditioning under the mild hypothermia against small intestine ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats and its mechanism. METHODS: Thirty-two rats were randomized into 4 groups (8 rats in each group): sham operated group (Sham), ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) group, ischemic-preconditioning (IP) group, mild hypothermia ischemic-preconditioning (MHIP) group. The wet/dry ratio, Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase activity in intestine tissue, the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxdase (TAX) in blood were determined. Ultrastructure, Bcl-2 and Bax expression in intestinal mucosa tissue were also observed. RESULTS: After I/R, the intestinal tissue wet/dry ratio, the content of MDA, LDH activity, the optic density of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were significantly higher in I/R group than those in sham group (P<0.01). The activities of Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase, SOD, TAX were significantly lower in I/R group than those in sham group (P<0.01). The intestinal tissue wet/dry ratio, the content of MDA, LDH activity and the optic density of Bax protein were significantly lower in IP group than those in I/R group (P<0.01), and also lower in MHIP group than in IP group (P<0.05). The activities of Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase, SOD, TAX and the optic density of Bcl-2 protein were significantly higher in IP group than in I/R group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: MHIP can protect intestine against I/R injury in rats, which may be related to enhancing oxidation-resistance of intestine, inhibiting lipid peroxidation, upregulating the expression of Bcl-2 protein and downregulating the expression of Bax protein.     

投饵与不投饵池塘刺参肠道异养菌区系比较

从2007年6月到2008年5月,对威海市荣成不投饵刺参养殖池塘和青岛市胶南投饵刺参养殖池塘内的刺参肠道内的异养细菌总活菌数的周年变化进行了调查,并分析了刺参肠道内异养细菌的区系组成。结果表明,投饵与不投饵池塘中刺参肠道内活菌的数量随季节总体变化趋势相似,均为春夏季较低,秋冬季较高,但不投饵池塘刺参肠道内活菌数量在0．01水平显著高于投饵池塘。通过对分离得到的菌株鉴定,发现308株细菌分别属于20个属。在投饵和不投饵池塘中,刺参肠道内的优势菌均为弧菌、假单胞菌和芽孢杆菌,但在投饵池塘中,刺参肠道内的弧菌和芽孢杆菌的比例明显高于不投饵池塘,假单胞菌和其他细菌的比例则明显低于不投饵池塘。不投饵池塘刺参肠道细菌Shannon-Wiener多样性指数在夏季明显高于投饵池塘,其他季节差异不明显。从异养细菌的种类组成看,色杆菌属、Endozoicimonas、瑰杆菌属、副球菌属、短杆菌属、Jeotgalicoccus、Glaciecola仅出现在不投饵池塘刺参肠道内,而屈扰杆菌属、希瓦氏菌、八叠球菌属则仅出现在投饵池塘刺参肠道内。     

牙鲆仔鱼肠道白浊病病原菌的分离鉴定

对工厂化育苗中患肠道白浊病的牙鲆仔鱼进行了病原菌的分离与特性鉴定,从众多患病仔鱼的肠 道中均分离到几乎纯一的细菌,并对仔鱼的分离培养物进行形态特征检查及理化特性鉴定,结果初步表明所 分离鉴定的病原菌为鳗弧菌(Vibrio anguillarum),为牙鲆仔鱼肠道白浊病的致病菌,测定了对常用抗菌类药 物的敏感性,结果表明分离菌株对环丙沙星等11种药物高度敏感,对林可霉素等4种药物中度敏感,对利福 平等3种药物耐药。     

乳酸菌益生特性及其在畜禽养殖中的应用

乳酸菌作为微生态制剂的主要菌种之一,广泛应用于畜禽生产中。本文综述了乳酸菌的生理特性及乳酸菌维持肠道菌群平衡、肠道定植与免疫调节、促进食物消化吸收等益生功能,分析了乳酸菌制剂在养猪、养牛和家禽生产中的应用现状。