Fractionation of the reference inoculum of epizootic rabbit enteropathy in discontinuous sucrose gradient identifies aetiological agents in high density fractions

Epizootic rabbit enteropathy (ERE) is a major cause of economic loss in intensive rabbit production. Since its first recognition in 1997, much work has been done to determine the pathogenic mechanisms of the disease and to identify the aetiological agent(s). Unfortunately, the quest for aetiology has only met with limited success despite the ability to reproduce the syndrome by inoculation of intestinal contents from field cases. These intestinal inocula contain a huge number of microorganisms which could all be involved in the aetiology of ERE. To decrease the number of putative agents, the French reference inoculum TEC3 was fractionated on a discontinuous sucrose gradient so that seven fractions (supernatant, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% and pellet) were obtained. Specific-pathogen-free rabbits were inoculated with three out of these seven fractions (supernatant, 30%, and pellet). The objectives were: (1) to characterise the seven fractions by bacteriological examination; (2) to verify whether the aetiological agent was present in the fractions by inoculation of rabbits; (3) to assign the aetiological agent of ERE to a morphological group of pathogens; (4) to identify a fraction which could replace the reference inoculum TEC3 in applications such as cell cultures or egg inoculation. The results strongly suggest that ERE is a bacterial disease and does not have a viral or parasitic aetiology.     

世界家兔种业发展现状初探

家兔种业是家兔产业发展基础的核心、发展水平的标志,是促进兔业长期稳定发展的根本。综述了国外家兔品种资源、种业实体类型、品种选育及对我国家兔种业发展的认识与思考。     

Reproductive performance of crossbred and purebred male rabbits

The effect of buck genetic type and crossbreeding parameters on fertility and prolificacy were estimated using two rabbit sire lines and their reciprocal crosses. The relationship between the reproductive performance of inseminated multiparous does and several semen quality traits was also investigated. The semen characteristics evaluated were: pH (pH), mass and individual motility (MM, IM), percentage of viable spermatozoa (Vi), spermatozoa with normal apical ridge (NAR), normal spermatozoa (NSP), spermatozoa with morphological abnormalities of head (HAP), neck-midpiece (NAP), and tail (TAP), spermatozoa with the presence of proximal (PD) and distal (DD) cytoplasmic droplets.

Fertility was analysed as a continuous trait (kindling rate) or as a binary trait (success or failure of kindling). In the first case, the analysis was performed using GLM procedures of SAS v.8 according to a model that included the fixed factors of buck genetic type, number of ejaculates per pool and week of insemination. In the second case, fertility was analysed using GENMOD procedures of SAS v.8 according to a mixed model including the same fixed factors as before plus the physiological status of the does and the permanent random effect of female. Number of kits born alive and number of stillborn were analysed with MIXED procedures of SAS v.8 with the same model used for the analysis of fertility as a binary trait. Estimates of the estimable functions of crossbreeding genetic parameters of the lines were obtained from the solutions of the corresponding models by generalized least squares using GLM, GENMOD and MIXED procedures. Crossbreeding parameters were estimated according to the model of Dickerson. A linear regression was used to determine the relationship between fertility and litter size and the semen characteristics evaluated.

Significant differences in fertility were observed among buck genetic types, which were favourable to type R. Differences between lines in maternal genetic effects were relevant and favourable to type R for fertility. Individual heterosis was important but unfavourable for fertility.

A slight correlation was obtained between all semen quality traits and fertility and prolificacy. Two multiple models were found for fertility, including NAP, IM, NSP, buck genetic type and Vi in one model or NAR in other model. Individual motility had an important positive effect, while NAP had a small negative effect. When MM, TAP and buck genetic type were included in a multiple model for the number of kits born alive, both MM and TAP had significant small effects. Individual motility and DD appeared to be related to number of kits stillborn, but only DD had a significant although negligible effect.     

Heterosis, direct and maternal genetic effects on semen quality traits of rabbits

A complete diallel cross involving two rabbit sire lines (C and R) was carried out to estimate the crossbreeding genetic parameters of seminal traits. 2140 ejaculates from 153 males were analyzed. The traits studied were: presence of gel plugs (G), urine (U), and calcium carbonate deposits (CC), number of useful ejaculates (UE), pH, volume (V), mass and individual motility (Mm, Mi), useful Mi (UM), concentration (Cn), number of spermatozoa per ejaculate (TSE), percentage of viable spermatozoa (Vi), spermatozoa with normal apical ridge (NAR), normal spermatozoa (Nr), spermatozoa with morphological abnormalities of head (H), neck-midpiece (Nm), and tail (T), presence of proximal and distal cytoplasmic droplet (Dp, Dd).

Estimates of heterosis, direct and maternal genetic effects were obtained from the solutions of the mixed model. There were major differences in direct genetic effects between lines, which were favourable to line C for Cn and TSE, and unfavourable for CC, Nm and Dp. Smaller differences were also observed in Vi and NAR favourable to line R. Differences between lines with respect to the maternal genetic effects were relevant and favourable to line C for V and to line R for U, UM, Cn, TSE, Nm, Mi, and Mm. Individual heterosis was high for Dp and Dd.     

精料补充料在家兔日粮中的应用研究

选择35日龄左右、健康无病的齐卡大型白兔120只,随机分为4组,分别饲喂全价饲料和3种不同营养水平的精料补充料,观察其采食量、日增重和成活率。结果表明:饲喂青草加精料补充料较饲喂全价饲料成本低。而精料补充料以消化能12.76MJ/kg、粗蛋白19.28%、粗纤维6.21%的营养水平饲喂效果最佳。     

应用噻唑蓝法初步研究兔外周血单个核细胞转化的条件

应用噻唑蓝法研究了ＰＨＡ－Ｐ引起兔外周血单个核细胞（ＰＢＭＣ）转化的最适条件,培养时间为４８ｈ,ＰＢＭＣ密度为５×１０１２／Ｌ,ＰＨＡ－Ｐ的终浓度为０．５ｍｇ％。并测定了在此最适条件下的吸光值（ＯＤ）,为０．２７６±０．１４２。     

中草药复合添加剂防治兔球虫病及增重效果研究

选用无感染幼兔４２只,随机分为Ａ、Ｂ、Ｃ、Ｄ、Ｅ５组,进行防治兔球虫病和增重试验,其中Ａ组为中药加矿微加喹乙醇组,Ｂ组为中药加矿微组,Ｃ组为西药对比组,Ｄ组为感染不给药组,Ｅ组为不感染不给药组;在同样饲料、同等饲养条件下,饲养３０天。结果,Ａ组保护率９０％,增重率９８．２％;Ｂ组保护率１００％,增重率１３２．１％;Ｃ组保护率９０％,增重率７６．６％;Ｄ组兔于第１１天全部死亡;Ｅ组保护率１００％,增重率９６．２％。试验结果证明,保护率以纯中药Ｂ组最佳,Ａ组次之,增重率Ａ、Ｂ组均高于Ｃ组和Ｅ组,以Ｂ组最佳。