Synovial fluid total protein concentration as a possible marker for canine idiopathic polyarthritis

Idiopathic polyarthritis (IPA) is a very common inflammatory arthropathy in the dog. Canine IPA is diagnosed mainly by detecting increased number of leukocytes in the synovial fluid (SF), which is easily influenced by glucocorticoid therapy. We obtained 31 SF samples from 24 IPA dogs prior to (n=19) and/or after (n=12) 1 to 10 weeks of glucocorticoid therapy. The SF total protein concentrations of IPA dogs were significantly higher than those of dogs with non-arthritis diseases (n=34) and healthy controls (n=10). Our data revealed that the SF total protein concentrations are not influenced by several weeks of glucocorticoid therapy. Hence, the SF total protein concentration is applicable as a diagnostic marker of canine IPA even when the patients are receiving glucocorticoid therapy.     

Changes in the predicted function of the rumen bacterial community of Japanese Black beef cattle during the fattening stages according to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses

We investigated changes in the predicted functions of the rumen bacterial community in Japanese Black beef cattle during fattening. Nine cattle were fed a high-concentrate diet during the early, middle, and late fattening stages consecutively (10–14, 15–22, and 23–30 months of age, respectively). The rumen fluid and solid samples collected at each stage were subjected to sequencing analyses. The sequencing results were clustered and classified into operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Representative sequences and a raw counting table for each OTU were submitted to the Piphillin website. The predicted functions were revealed by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database as the ratio of the total sequence. In the early stage, “Biosynthesis of secondary metabolites” was significantly higher in the fluid fraction than in the solid fraction. “Two-component system” in the middle stage was significantly lower and “Purine metabolism” in the late stage was significantly higher in the fluid fraction than those in the solid fraction. The fluid fraction was significantly correlated with acetic acid, propionic acid, and bacterial metabolism, such as “Biosynthesis of secondary metabolites” and “Sugar metabolism.” Moreover, the solid fraction was correlated with “Purine metabolism” and “Biosynthesis of secondary metabolism”. These results suggest that the rumen bacterial community in Japanese Black beef cattle adapts to changes in rumen conditions by altering their functions in response to a long-term high-grain diet.     

Proteomic Characterization of Equine Cerebrospinal Fluid

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a biofluid that is reflective of overall health. Although proteomic profiling of human CSF has been performed in the context of a variety of disease states, this report represents the first comprehensive proteomic analysis of equine CSF. A total of 320 proteins were confidently identified across six healthy horses, and these proteins were further characterized by gene ontology terms mapped in UniProt, and normalized spectral abundance factors were calculated as a measure of relative abundance. Theses results provide an optimized protocol for analysis of equine CSF and lay the groundwork for future studies involving the study of equine CSF in the context of pathogenic disease states.     

Flavobacterium psychrophilum in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), hatcheries: studies on broodstock, eggs, fry and environment

The occurrence of Flavobacterium psychrophilum at four rainbow trout hatcheries was investigated to provide more knowledge about the reservoirs and transmission of this bacterium. Broodstock were sampled at stripping (including both unfertilized and fertilized eggs), and the offspring were then sampled at the eyed egg and fry stages. Water and surface samples (e.g. hatchery trays) were also sampled. Flavobacterium psychrophilum was found in ovarian fluid and milt, indicating that broodstock may serve as a reservoir and are latent carriers of the pathogen. Flavobacterium psychrophilum was not found on or inside eggs, but further egg studies will be necessary to elucidate the possibility of vertical transmission of the pathogen. Flavobacterium psychrophilum was isolated from water samples, but only from water that had been in close contact with farmed rainbow trout or eggs. Flavobacterium psychrophilum isolates were characterized and compared with well-characterized strains, using degradation of elastin, serotype and ribotype profiles. Different ribotypes of F. psychrophilum were found between hatcheries, but a common ribotype A was found at all four hatcheries. Different ribotypes were found in broodstock without clinical disease, whereas only a few ribotypes (mostly ribotype A) were found in diseased fry. The same ribotype A was found in broodstock, in water samples from hatchery trays and in fry, which suggests the possibility of transmission of F. psychrophilum between broodstock and offspring.     

长吻鮠精子保存液在人工授精中的应用试验

分别在安徽长江流域的无为和淮河流域的滁州进行长吻鮠的人工繁殖,使用LRH-A2、PG、混合激素B型、DOM 进行催产,从长江捕获的亲鱼立即催产,其催产率为66．67％,受精率80％-85％,经培育选择后催产率为83．33％,受精率65%- 87％。在滁州经多年培育的亲鱼催产率为100％,受精率78％-95％。精子保存液在精子保存和人工授精中使用效果良好。在冰桶内保存,20-30 h仍能保持良好的受精能力。     

Physiological and biochemical parameters for egg quality determination in lake trout,Salmo trutta lacustris

The present study investigated the relationships between egg viability and ovarian fluid composition, egg physiology and egg metabolism in lake trout, Salmo trutta lacustris, to obtain biomarkers for egg quality determination. The ovarian fluid pH, protein levels and activities of aspartate aminotransferase and -d-glucuronidase were significantly correlated with egg viability expressed as the number of eyed stage embryos. Regression models demonstrated that an ovarian fluid pH between 8.44 and 8.57, protein levels below 235.56 mg 100 ml^–1ovarian fluid, aspartate aminotransferase activity below 31.65 m min^–1 l^–1ovarian fluid and -d-glucuronidase activity below 8.62 m min^–1 l^–1 ovarian fluid characterized egg batches with high viability (80%).The increase in the egg wet weight during water hardening was also significantly correlated with the number of eyed stage embryos, and egg batches with high egg viability (80%) increased in wet weight by 13% during water hardening.From the investigated metabolic parameters the number of eyed stage embryos was significantly correlated with activities of NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (egg viability 80% at 2.07 nM min^–1 mg^–1 protein) and NAD-dependent malate dehydrogenase (egg viability 80% at 47.25 nM min^–1 mg^–1 protein), with the respiration rate (egg viability 80% at 8.71 nM min^–1 mg^–1 protein), with the ratio of NADH to NAD levels (egg viability 80% 0.872), with the levels of free, non-esterified fatty acids (egg viability 80% 72.34 g mg^–1 protein), and the ratio of non esterified to esterified fatty acids (egg viability 80% at 0.749). Also, subjective and visual control methods were described to distinguish between batches with viable and non viable eggs.     

Motility Parameters of Rainbow Trout (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus mykiss</Emphasis>) Spermatozoa in Relation to Sequential Collection of Milt,Time of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Post-mortem</Emphasis> Storage and Anesthesia

The present study investigated the effects of sequential collection of milt, time of post-mortem storage and anesthesia on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) sperm motility parameters (using computer-assisted sperm analysis – CASA) as well as seminal plasma osmolality and sperm concentration. The post-mortem storage and time of anesthesia altered motility characteristics of rainbow trout sperm to different extents. The moderate impact of time of anesthesia was manifested in a shortened duration of sperm motility after 10 min exposure of fish to anesthetic. The prolonged post-mortem storage (≥40–60 min), in addition to lowering sperm motility duration, also significantly influenced sperm motility parameters, such as sperm velocities, percentage of motile sperm and sperm trajectory parameters. These results clearly demonstrate that when milt from sacrificed fish is used for sperm motility studies, the time of post-mortem storage significantly alters sperm motility characteristics. Since sperm motility rate and swimming velocity could predict fertilizing ability, detrimental effects of prolonged post-mortem storage may lead to reduced fertilization success. Sperm concentration and seminal plasma osmolality were lower in the first fractions and increased with successive collections of milt. It suggests the presence of urine contamination of the first milt fractions which were collected by stripping. Therefore, testing of sperm concentration and/or seminal plasma osmolality should be mandatory while handling stored milt.     

沼渣、沼液的养分含量及安全性研究

[目的]研究供试沼渣、沼液的养分含量及安全性。[方法]通过检测正常使用中的大型沼气工程产生的沼渣、沼液,根据相关国家标准进行对比分析,进而得出沼渣、沼液的养分情况和安全情况。[结果]沼渣的有机质含量超过国家有机肥标准,总养分基本达到国家制定的指标,沼液有机质含量和总养分低于国家有机肥标准,沼液、沼渣适宜与其他营养元素混合施用。供试沼渣和沼液中重金属含量低于国家复合肥标准,是可以用于农事生产的安全养分供应来源。供试沼渣和沼液中血吸虫、钩虫卵和寄生虫卵为零,表明沼气工程发酵过程能够杀灭有害虫卵。[结论]该研究可为沼渣、沼液应用于农业生产提供理论基础。     

泵站正向进水前池底坎整流机理数值模拟

为研究正向进水前池存在的不良流态,基于N-S方程和Realizable k-ε紊流模型,采用SIMPLE算法,数值模拟了正向进水前池中无任何措施和增设底坎整流措施的流态.CFD计算结果表明：原方案的前池两侧出现了大面积的回流区,泵站两侧机组进水条件差,水流偏斜较为明显;加底坎,且当底坎离进水池较远时,整流效果并不明显,前池内仍有大面积的回流产生,偏流依然严重;当底坎离进水池较近时,坎后旋涡直接影响到进水池的流态;通过CFD优化,底坎设在离进水池入口（7~10）D处,能明显改善前池的流态,水流能较均匀地流入各台机组;随着底坎坎高的增大,底层回流区会逐渐变小,较大回流区发生的位置也由坎后变为坎前,坎高的取值约为0.3H＇时,前池内流态较好;底坎的顶宽尺寸对前池流态的影响较小.CFD计算结果与试验结果基本吻合,研究成果对正向扩散前池流态改善有借鉴价值和实际意义.