Effects of Carbohydrate-free Diets on the Performance of Lactating Mink (Mustela vison) and the Growth Performance of Suckling Kits

The effects of carbohydrate-free diets on body weight changes, feed consumption, and plasma concentrations of nutrients, metabolites, and hormones in lactating mink and on growth performance in kits were investigated in a total of 108 litters during the lactation period of seven weeks. The litters were distributed in three experimental groups fed different ratios of metabolisable energy (ME) derived from protein and fat (61:38; 47:52; 33:66). The females and kits were weighed at parturition and 2, 3, 4, and 7 weeks after parturition. Blood samples were collected from females in the second, fourth, and sixth week of the lactation period. Carbohydrate-free diets fed to lactating mink can in principle support normal performance, health of the females, and growth performance of the kits. However, mink need a sufficient supply of available gluconeogenic precursors in the form of amino acids. In the present experiment, the diet with 33% of ME from protein contained insufficient amounts of gluconeogenic precursors for lactating mink, and three weeks post partum this group was excluded from the experiment. The differences in dietary protein level (61% and 47% of ME) and fat level (38% and 52% of ME) influenced the plasma concentrations of free fatty acids (FFA) and urea, but had minimal influence on plasma concentrations of other nutrients, metabolites, and hormones.     

Differential responses of cells from human skin keratinocyte and bovine mammary epithelium to attack by pore-forming Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin

Human skin keratinocytes HaCat attacked by Staphylococcus aureus α-toxin showed a transient drop of cellular ATP levels whereas in toxin-perforated bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMEC), the ATP levels dropped more slowly. Morphologically, during the ATP level depletion, HaCat cell developed a spacious intracellular vacuole together with the transient influx of trypan blue. WST-1 signal, which tested the function of mitochondrial enzyme in viable cells, also decreased concomitantly. On the other hand, BMEC excluded trypan blue and vacuolation was not observed throughout the experiment. We conclude that mammary epithelial cells resist the toxin better than keratinocytes. This is the first report showing that α-toxin enhances transient membrane permeability to large molecules, temporary vacuole formation and the transient defect of mitochondrial enzyme in viable cells without cell lysis.     

The effects of chronic intermittent noise exposure on broiler chicken performance

Effects of different noise levels (70 or 80 dB) that broilers were exposed to during the entire fattening period and also the effect of the timing of the first exposure to intermittent noise in the course of fattening (day 1 vs. day 7) were monitored. After 7 days of exposure to intermittent noise, experimental chickens already showed a significant decrease in live body weight in comparison with the control group. The difference between the group exposed to intermittent noise at 70 dB and the group exposed to 80 dB levels was not statistically significant, although the mean live body weight of broilers in the latter was lower during the entire fattening period. The chickens exposed to intermittent noise from day 1 of age showed lower mean live weight throughout the fattening period compared to chickens exposed to the same level of intermittent noise only from day 7 of age, although at the end of fattening the difference was statistically significant only in chickens exposed to the higher level of intermittent noise (80 dB).     

Characterizing green and gray space exposure for epidemiological studies: Moving from 2D to 3D indicators

The presence of green spaces has been associated with improved physical health and better mental health and wellbeing. In contrast, the presence of gray features including build-up areas might have a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of citizens. To date, the available evidence on the health effects of green and gray spaces have mainly relied on 2-dimensional (2D) indicators of these spaces such as land use maps or, more recently, satellite derived indices (e.g., green space indices such as normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) or gray space indices such as imperviousness). Although they are acceptable proxies of these exposures, 2D indicators could have inaccuracies when characterizing diverse set of vegetation types in combination with different types of gray spaces, which is typical of urban environments. To overcome this gap, we developed a set of three-dimensional (3D) indicators derived mainly from airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) acquired in 2008 and 2010 over the metropolitan area of Rome (Italy). In particular, we extracted volume of green features such as shrubs and trees (Green volume [m3/ha]), volume of buildings (Gray volume[m3/ha]), a novel index called Normalized Difference Green-Gray Volume index (NDGG) as well as indicators of the tree count. We compared the 3D indicators with two widely used 2D indicators for characterizing green and gray spaces (i.e., NDVI and imperviousness) in different buffers around 79140 address points in the city. For the green indicators, we found that the Pearson correlations between NDVI and Green Volume were 0.47 (50 m buffer) and 0.33 (300 m buffer) while the correlations between NDVI and number of trees were 0.56 (50 m buffer) and 0.58 (300 m buffer). For gray indicators, the correlations between imperviousness and gray volume were 0.62 (50 m buffer) and 0.79 (300 m buffer). For NDGG, the correlations were higher with both NDVI (0.76 and 0.83 for 50 m and 300 m buffers) and imperviousness (−0.75 and −0.83 for 50 m and 300 m buffers). Our results showed that the use of 3D indicators can have potential benefits, especially regarding green features which can be highly heterogeneous in complex urban landscapes such as the city of Rome.     

Body condition scoring (BCS) in corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus) and comparison to pre-existing body condition index (BCI) for snakes

In the veterinary profession, the body condition score (BCS) plays an important role in the assessment of patients. It is a subjective, tactile method of evaluating body fat and muscle mass and is used in numerous species. Recognizing obesity (or the contrary, emaciation) is important for veterinarians treating reptiles and could be facilitated by a BCS. An existing form of body condition assessment already used is the body condition index (BCI), where the residuals from a regression of body mass on body length are calculated. Therefore, the goal of this study was to provide practitioners with a BCS system for corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus) and to test it against the BCI. A total of 22 corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus), stationed at the “Auffangstation für Reptilien” in Munich (reptile rescue centre, RRC), were subject of this study. Each had the following measurements taken: body weight (BW), snout–tail tip length (STL), snout–vent length (SVL) and circumference in the middle (C). Manual palpation of spine, area between vertebral spinous and transverse process, ribs and neck of each snake was performed by three veterinarians and assigned to specific scores by each examiner. A BCS (mean of examiners’ scores) was given to each snake according to manual palpation. The BCS system was chosen to be out of 5 in 0.5-point steps with 2.5 considered as ideal BCS. In the studied snakes, the BCS ranged from 1.5 to 3.5, with a median of 2.5. The median BW was 309 g (75–967 g), the median STL was 123 cm (79–153 cm), the median SVL was 104 cm (73–133 cm) and the median C was 7.5 cm (4.3–11 cm). BCS and BCI were positively correlated. A BCS includes a manual palpation of the animal and thus gives the examiner additional information to the objectively measured/calculated index.     

Removal of a metallic foreign body from the tongue of three horses

The objective of this case report is to describe the diagnostic and surgical techniques for removal of a metallic foreign body in the tongue of three adult horses. The three horses were presented for evaluation and treatment of dysphagia and marked hypersalivation of 3–5 days duration. Radiographs of the head revealed the presence of a metallic foreign body in the tongue of each horse. The foreign bodies could be precisely localised under general anaesthesia using palpation and lingual ultrasonography and/or lingual radiography in combination with a forceps as a marker. The foreign bodies were successfully removed using laparoscopic instruments creating minimal soft tissue trauma. The use of long (43 cm) small laparoscopic (5 mm) instruments enabled good visualisation of the surgical field, providing optimal conditions for successful minimally invasive surgical treatment of horses with foreign bodies in the tongue. The three horses made uneventful recoveries and 12 months after surgery were eating normally and could be ridden with a bit as per usual routine. It was concluded that using long laparoscopic instruments in combination with palpation, ultrasonography and/or radiography allowed removal of the foreign body creating minimal soft tissue trauma and allowing optimal conditions for a fast recovery.     

Long-Term and Immediate Effects of Whole Body Vibration on Chronic Lameness in the Horse: A Pilot Study

The effects of whole body vibration (WBV) in horses with chronic lameness were evaluated in an experimental, single subject, repeated measure design. To assess the long-term effect of WBV, eight horses not previously exposed to WBV were subject to WBV, 30 minutes twice daily, five days a week, for 60 days in addition to their regular exercise routine. Lameness was assessed subjectively and objectively 30 days before the start, at the start and 30 and 60 days after the start of the treatment (WBV). The immediate effect of WBV was assessed in four horses accustomed to WBV, by comparing lameness before and within 30 minutes of a single 30-minute WBV session at four different time intervals. Change in lameness was sought using paired t tests on the kinematic data. A P-value of <.05 was considered statistically significant. Intraindividual change was sought using a subjective and objective scoring system. No statistically significant change in lameness was seen after 30 or 60 days of WBV, respectively, in the chronically lame horses not previously exposed to WBV. However, a trend toward improvement was observed after the first 30 days of WBV, but this improvement appeared to be lost during the second 30 days of WBV. Although a statistically significant worsening of front limb lameness was seen immediately after a single 30-minute WBV session in the chronically lame horses accustomed to WBV, this result was largely attributed to a very significant worsening of the front limb lameness in one horse within that group.     

意大利皮埃蒙特肉用牛线性体型评分方法

本文将线性描述的方法用于肉牛性状的评定,从外貌（含６项）、肌肉度（６项）、细致度（２项）及乳房（２项）四个方面为意大利皮埃蒙特肉用牛提供了线性外貌评定的方法。     

驱除牛肝片形吸虫及消化道圆形线虫与体增重相关性的研究

通过寄生虫区系调查和临床检验,发现肝片形吸虫及消化道圆形线虫感染普遍。因此,应用硝氯酚和左旋咪唑给牛驱虫,并观察牛的虫卵减少率与体增重的关系。结果用药组的体增重与对照组比,硝氯酚组平均多增重２６．１ｋｇ／头;左旋咪唑７８．９ｋｇ／头。     

吡啶羧酸铬对肉鸭后期作用效果初探

选用21日龄樱桃谷鸭36只,采用有重复对照试验,比较饲粮中添加0．2×10－6吡啶羧酸铬对肉鸭生产性能、屠体品质和血液生化指标的影响。结果表明,吡啶羧酸铬对增重、饲料转化率无显著影响,对屠宰率、胸肌率和皮脂率亦无显著影响;但使心重、血清总甘油三酯显著降低,血清总胆固醇、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇显著增加。