Characterization of Leptospira infection in suckling and weaning rat pups

Rats are known to be the most important reservoirs of Leptospira spp. However, the leptospiral dose and age at which rats become resistant to Leptospira infection are not yet well elucidated. Aimed to characterize leptospirosis in rat pups, we found that suckling pups (4-, 7-, and 14-day old) are susceptible to leptospires and resistance starts from the weaning age (23-day old). Susceptibility of rat pups was also affected by the infecting dose of the organisms. Jaundice, decrease in body weight, and neurological symptoms prior to moribundity was evident in infected suckling pups. However, 23-day-old infected pups did not manifest any pathological changes and were able to survive the infection similar to adult rats. Based on these results, we propose the suckling rat pup as a novel animal model of human leptospirosis to investigate pathogenesis, development of host resistance, and the mechanisms involved in rats becoming maintenance hosts for leptospires.     

不同动物对醉马草种子扩散的影响

动物通过皮毛携带、搬运等方式对种子在空间上的扩散产生不同影响,是植物种子实现远距离扩散的重要途径。以草原毒害草醉马草（Achnatherum inebrians）为研究材料,采用野外模拟及控制性试验,测定了马、牛、羊皮毛附着和保留种子的能力,以及鼠类、蚂蚁对种子的搬运能力,分析动物对醉马草种子的扩散规律。结果表明,马、牛、羊模型种子的附着率：羊 > 牛 > 马（P<0.05）,种子掉落率：羊 < 牛 < 马（P<0.05）;随着行走天数的延长,种子在马、牛、羊皮毛上的附着率呈下降趋势。马的背部以及牛、羊的背、侧部最易附着种子;种子的侧部最易附着在皮毛上,以种子顶部附着的种子最不易掉落。24 h内鼠类、蚂蚁对种子的扩散范围分别为0~15 cm和0~40 cm。综上所述,家畜对醉马草种子起到远距离扩散作用,且羊比马、牛更容易增加种子的扩散强度。蚂蚁、鼠类对醉马草种子起到短距离扩散作用。     

餐厨废弃物饲料化技术及其在动物生产中的应用

餐厨废弃物(food waste,FW)的资源利用受到广泛关注。FW焚化、填埋、堆肥、厌氧消化等技术因其面临的环境可持续性问题而受到越来越多的批评。饲料化技术可以将FW转化为高价值的饲料,从而减少固体废物的排放、养殖成本和环境污染,但该技术应符合减少、再利用和回收有机废物的处理原则。作者综述了FW的饲料化技术及其在动物生产中的应用。FW饲料化技术主要包括热处理、酶处理、藻类培养、昆虫过腹、发酵技术。其中热处理可以确保微生物安全性,是其他技术的预处理技术。藻类培养和昆虫过腹技术可以将FW转化为植物和昆虫蛋白,避免同源污染,但尚不清楚藻类和昆虫在FW利用过程中是否会造成污染物积累。酶处理和发酵技术可以将FW中大分子转化为小分子。酶的催化性能和稳定性容易受外界条件的影响,需要考虑特殊的酶制剂。发酵技术的机械化程度和资源利用率高,其核心是微生物,需要筛选有效的、能充分利用FW的微生物。目前FW在畜牧业中的应用较少,在其生产和应用中要特别注意用量和使用时间。为了使FW饲料真正作为动物饲料进入食物链,研究人员必须对不同动物(含不同生长阶段)的生长性能和产品特性进行研究,以确保动物健康及动物产品对人类健康没有负面影响。     

猪场废弃物处理技术与应用

养殖废弃物对环境的污染越来越严重,为保证养殖与环境协调发展,我国开展养殖废弃物综合利用方式的研究。近年,各地开发出多种废弃物处理和利用方式,主要是以循环发展理念为技术发展方向,提高废弃物循环利用效率。该文列举国内外的养殖废弃物处理技术,结合我国生猪养殖现状,总结出适合我国的生猪养殖废弃物高效利用技术。     

Protein and energy concentrations of meat meal and meat and bone meal fed to pigs based on in vitro assays

The objective of this study was to develop equations for estimating ileal digestible crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) contents of meat meal (MM) and meat and bone meal (MBM) as feed ingredients for pigs based on in vitro assays. Test ingredients were 4 sources of MM and 3 sources of MBM. Ash and CP contents of the ingredients ranged from 3.8% to 33.1% and 46.8% to 82.9% (as-is basis), respectively. In vitro ileal disappearance (IVID) of CP was determined and ileal digestible CP content was calculated by multiplying CP content by IVID of CP. In vitro total tract disappearance (IVTTD) of dry matter (DM) was determined and ME was calculated using gross energy, CP contents, and IVTTD of DM. The IVID of CP and IVTTD of DM ranged from 77.2% to 88.7% and from 82.7% to 92.4%, respectively. Calculated ileal digestible CP and ME contents ranged from 37.8% to 73.5% DM and 2,405 to 3,905 kcal/kg DM, respectively. Ash contents were negatively correlated (P < 0.001) with CP (r = −0.99), in vitro ileal digestible CP (r = −0.97), gross energy (r = −1.00), in vitro digestible energy (r = −0.97), and adjusted ME (r = −0.97). The most fitting equations for ileal digestible CP and adjusted ME were: ileal digestible CP (% DM) = 11.91 − 0.90 × Ash (% DM) + 0.74 × IVID of CP (%) (R² = 0.99) and adjusted ME (kcal/kg DM) = 130.85 − 50.90 × ash (% DM) + 47.06 × IVTTD of DM (%) (R² = 0.99). To validate the accuracy of the prediction equations for ME, mean bias and linear bias were determined using a regression analysis. Calculated ME values of MM and MBM were in a good agreement with data obtained from animal experiments based on a statistically insignificant bias in the models. In conclusion, ME concentrations of MM and MBM as swine feed ingredients can be calculated using ash concentration and in vitro disappearance of dry matter.     

Characterization of tuberculous granulomas in different stages of progression and associated tertiary lymphoid tissue in goats experimentally infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis

Oral infection of goats with Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis (MAH) resulted in a large variety of granulomas in organized gut-associated lymphatic tissues and intestinal lymph nodes. To characterize the cellular composition of granulomas, CD4⁺, CD8⁺, γδ, B lymphocytes and plasma, CD25⁺, CD68⁺, MHC-II⁺, Ki67⁺ and endothelial cells were labeled in consecutive frozen sections by immunohistochemistry and acid fast bacilli (AFB) by Kinyoun stain. Granulomas with extensive necrosis, little mineralization and variable numbers of AFB surrounded by many CD4⁺ T cells, but only few epitheloid macrophages were observed in severely sick goats at 2–3 mpi. They were interpreted as exuberant immune reaction. Organized granulomas with very few AFB were seen in clinically healthy goats at 13 mpi. The necrotic cores were surrounded by a zone of granulomatous infiltrate with many epitheloid macrophages and few lymphocytes. This zone was initially wide and highly vascularized and became progressively smaller. It was enclosed by an increasing layer of connective tissue. All organized granulomas were surrounded by compartimentalized tertiary lymphoid tissue. The granulomas in experimental infection of goats with MAH reflect the heterogeneity of lesions seen in mycobacterial infections of humans and ruminants and are therefore valuable for comparative research.     

Tsetse control in cattle from pyrethroid footbaths

In Burkina Faso, we assessed the efficacy of treating cattle with a footbath containing aqueous formulations of pyrethroids to control two tsetse-fly species, Glossina tachinoides Westwood, 1850 (Diptera, Glossinidae) and Glossina palpalis gambiensis Vanderplank 1949. Legs were the most targeted parts of the body for tsetse-fly blood meals: 81% (95% CI: 73, 89) for G. tachinoides and 88% (81, 95) for G. palpalis.

The in-stable efficacy of footbath treatments was compared with manual full spraying with a 0.005% alphacypermethrin (Dominex, FMC, Philadelphia, USA) formulation (250 mL versus 2 L). The proportions of knocked-down flies were the same with footbath and full spray but the latter was more protective against fly bites. In field use, the efficacy of both methods should be similar given the recommended treatment frequency: 3 days for footbath versus 7 days for full spray.

Among 96 cattle drinking at the same water point in Dafinso (Burkina Faso), 68 (71%) were treated with a footbath containing a 0.005% deltamethrin formulation (Vectocid, CEVA SA, Libourne, France). We observed the effect of this live-bait technique on the one hand on released cohorts of reared, irradiated flies, and on the other hand on wild tsetse flies. In both cases, the footbath treatment was associated with a reduction of the apparent fly density probably related to an increased mortality.     

Quantification of stress sensitive markers in single fecal samples do not accurately predict excretion of these in the pig

All feces produced during 24 h were collected from five pigs and cortisol and immunoreactive cortisol metabolites (CICM), and IgA were quantified. Within pigs, the concentrations of CICM and IgA varied extensively between random samples obtained from a single fecal dropping, and deviated in most cases significantly from the true concentration measured in total fecal output (CV 6.7-130%). The CICM and IgA contents varied considerably (CV 8.1-114%) within and between individual fecal droppings from the same pig compared to the total fecal excretion. In conclusion, single random samples could not be used to reliably quantify the total fecal concentration or excretion of CICM or IgA in pigs. Analyses of all feces collected during shorter periods than 24 h did not provide an accurate estimate of the daily excretion of CICM. Thus, the concentration of stress sensitive molecules in random single fecal samples as an indicator of animal welfare should be interpreted with prudence.