Cryptosporidiosis in buffalo calves (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bubalus bubalis</Emphasis>): Prevalence and potential risk factors

The objective of the present study was to describe the prevalence and risk factors associated with cryptosporidiosis in buffalo calves in Middle Egypt. During one year, 458 fecal samples were collected from buffalo calves less than 3 month age in 55 small scale herds and examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts. Data describing age, gender, season, and herd management practices were gathered to assess potential risk factors. Fecal examination showed that 14.19% of the examined calves were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. Calves at 1-15 days were at the highest risk (P < 0.001), and a significant relationship between season and infection (P < 0.05) was recorded. A significant association between infection and hygiene (P < 0.001), type of floor (P < 0.01) and source of water (P < 0.01) was also recorded. Statistical analysis concerning the clinical signs and fecal characteristics revealed a significant association with fecal consistency (P < 0.001), presence of blood (P < 0.01) and mucous (P < 0.01). Moreover, a significant association was found between infection and the desire for suckling (P < 0.05) and tenesmus (P < 0.05). The results of the present study demonstrated the strong relation between infections by Cryptosporidium spp. and diarrhea in buffalo calves.     

Prevalence of VTEC O157 in dairy and veal herds and risk factors for veal herds

The aim of this study was to determine the herd prevalence of veal and dairy herds and to identify risk factors for VTEC O157 positive veal herds. The study was based on monitoring data from November 1996 through July 2005 of 1051 dairy herds and 930 veal herds. The herd level prevalence (95% CI) was 8.0% (6.4–9.6) for dairy herds and 12.6% (10.5–14.7) for veal herds. Within the population of veal herds, a prevalence of 39.8% (33.9–45.6) was found for pink veal herds (n = 269) and 1.5% (0.7–2.8) for white veal herds (n = 661).Multivariable logistic regression showed that the type of veal (pink vs. white; OR = 21.6; 95% CI: 10.4–45.0), ventilation (mechanical vs. natural; OR = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2–0.8), time between arrival in the herd and sampling (3–5 months vs. 0–2 months: OR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.1–5.1, ≥6 months vs. 0–2 months: OR = 4.11; CI: 1.9–8.9), other feed than the 7 most common (yes vs. no; OR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.2–3.7) and at least one dog present in the stable (yes vs. no; OR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.5–4.6) were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with the presence of VTEC O157. The large difference in the VTEC O157 prevalences for pink veal and white veal production might have been caused by a very different management of these type of herds. However, this could not be studied with the data collected.     

金黄色葡萄球菌对奶牛乳腺上皮细胞Wnt/β-catenin信号通路和相关修复因子的影响

采用金黄色葡萄球菌侵袭原代奶牛乳腺上皮细胞,观察该病原菌对乳腺上皮细胞Wnt/β-catenin信号通路关键蛋白和相关修复因子EGFR、TGF-β3和VEGF基因mRNA表达的影响。金黄色葡萄球菌以MOI=1∶1的比例接种奶牛乳腺上皮细胞,分别作用0,15,30,45,60,120,240 min,采用Western blot法检测乳腺上皮细胞β-catenin、Cyclin D1及c-Myc蛋白表达水平;免疫荧光法检测β-catenin的表达及核易位;荧光定量PCR检测EGFR、TGF-β3和VEGF基因mRNA表达。结果显示,β-catenin蛋白在45,60,120 min表达量升高,与0 min相比差异显著(P<0.05);Cyclin D1蛋白在45,60,120和240 min表达量升高,差异显著或极显著(P<0.05或P<0.01);c-Myc蛋白在15,30,60,120,240 min表达量升高,差异极显著(P<0.01)。修复相关因子EGFR、TGF-β3和VEGF基因mRNA的表达量在30 min均出现极显著升高(P<0.01),且VEGF基因mRNA在45,60,120和240 min均呈现极显著升高(P<0.01),EGFR基因mRNA表达量在30,45和60 min时表达量极显著升高(P<0.01)。结果表明,金黄色葡萄球菌侵袭奶牛乳腺上皮细胞后,诱导Wnt/β-catenin信号通路的转导和修复因子EGFR、TGF-β3和VEGF基因转录,该信号通路和修复因子可能参与金黄色葡萄球菌导致的炎症和细胞损伤的修复过程。     

河北省承德市接坝地区畜间包虫病感染风险因素研究

为寻找河北省承德市接坝地区牛羊群包虫病潜在风险因素,对承德市接坝地区23个乡镇的184个养殖户进行风险因素问卷调查,并分析调查结果。结果显示,牛羊养殖方式粗放、犬粪不进行无害化处理、犬密切接触羊牛群、驱虫后没有对犬进行拴养是包虫病感染的重要风险因素。通过Hosmer-Lemeshow检验,证明建立的Logistic回归模型拟合较好。结果表明,养殖户加强牛羊管理,对犬合理驱虫,限制散养犬接触牛羊群对于降低包虫病感染风险具有重要意义。     

α-硫辛酸对热应激绵羊生长性能、抗氧化及免疫的影响

本试验旨在研究α-硫辛酸(α-LA)对热应激绵羊生长性能、抗氧化及免疫的影响,以期阐述其抗热应激的机理。选择4～5月龄、体重35～40 kg的绵羊15只,随机分为对照组(CTL)、低剂量组(LA-L,添加600 mg/kgα-LA)、高剂量组(LA-H,添加900 mg/kgα-LA),在热应激条件下(7～8月)饲喂40 d。结果表明:1)与对照组相比,α-LA添加组平均日采食量增加,低剂量组和高剂量组分别比对照组增加了7. 3%和2. 7%(P> 0. 05);高剂量组血清中丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、门冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)活性及α-LA添加组血浆中丙二醛(MDA)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)、白细胞介素-8(IL-8)含量显著下降(P<0.05);α-LA添加组血浆中三碘甲腺原氨酸(T3)、热休克蛋白70(HSP70)、免疫球蛋白G(IgG)含量及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性显著升高(P <0.05)。2)与对照组相比,α-LA添加组肝脏中炎性相关因子IL-1β、IL-8、核因子-κB(NF-κB) mRNA表达量显著下降(P <0.05),抗炎因子干扰素-γ(IFN-γ)mRNA表达量显著升高(P<0.05)。综上,α-LA显著增强热应激绵羊的抗氧化能力,减少炎症相关因子的表达,增强抗炎因子的表达,提高机体免疫机能,且与α-LA剂量有关。     

Growth of rumen papillae in weaned calves is associated with lower expression of insulin‐like growth factor‐binding proteins 2, 3, and 6

This study aimed to characterize the relationship between the growth of rumen papillae in calves and the mRNA expression of insulin‐like growth factor‐binding proteins (IGFBPs) in the rumen papillae. The length of rumen papillae, the mRNA expression of IGFBPs in rumen papillae by quantitative real‐time PCR, and the presence of insulin‐like growth factors I and II (IGF‐I and II) by immunohistochemistry (IHC) were analyzed in nine Holstein calves divided into three groups: suckling (2 weeks, n = 3), milk‐continued (8 weeks, n = 3), and weaned (8 weeks, n = 3). The length of rumen papillae was greater (p < 0.01) in weaned calves than in suckling and milk‐continued calves, whereas the expressions of IGFBP2, IGFBP3, and IGFBP6 genes were lower (p < 0.05) in the rumen papillae of weaned calves than in milk‐continued calves. Thus, rumen papillae length and IGFBP2, 3, and 6 expressions were negatively correlated. The IHC analysis showed that IGF‐I and IGF‐II were present in the rumen epithelium of calves. These results suggested that the growth of rumen papillae after weaning is associated with the induction of IGFs by the low levels of IGFBP2, IGFBP3, and IGFBP6.     

内蒙古不同类型草地NPP时空动态特征及其气候影响因素分析

为揭示内蒙古不同类型草地净初级生产力(NPP)时空动态,探究其与气候因子的相关性,利用2001～2016年遥感数据,气象数据和20世纪80年代中国草地分类数据,采用光能利用率(CASA)模型,模拟获取2001～2016年内蒙古草地NPP,并分析了不同类型草地NPP的时空动态及其对气候因子的响应。结果表明:(1)2001～2016年,内蒙古草地年均NPP为163.9 gC/(m^2·a),空间上呈现东北部高西南部低的特征,年均NPP总量为31.6 TgC/a(1Tg=10¹²g);(2)试验的16年,内蒙古草地年均NPP呈增加趋势增加量为2.1 gC/(m^2·a),年际波动较大;(3)温性草甸草原、热性草丛、低地草甸、山地草甸和沼泽的年均NPP呈显著增加趋势,其他5类呈显著减少趋势;(4)NPP与年均温和年总降水量的相关系数分别为-0.01和0.4;(5)除温性荒漠草原和温性草原化荒漠外,其他类型草地NPP均与温度呈负相关关系,所有类型草地NPP与降水量均呈正相关关系。降水是影响内蒙古草地NPP最主要的气候因子。     

环境因素对羊繁殖性能影响的研究

在现代化的养羊业中,环境因素对羊的繁殖等生产性能造成的影响不可忽视,高温对羊性细胞生成、受精卵发育、内分泌和妊娠等方面危害性最大,其他因素也不容小觑。文章从空气温度、湿度对母羊发情受胎和公羊精子品质的影响,光照对母羊发情排卵及其他生殖激素的影响,饲养密度对羊繁殖性能的影响以及空气中有害气体对羊的危害和防治措施等方面进行简要介绍,以期在生产中改善环境条件,提高羊的繁殖效率。     

Reproduction and Development of the Released Przewalski’s Horses (Equus przewalskii) in Xinjiang,China

In China, the first Przewalski’s horse (Equus przewalskii) group was released in Kalamaili Ungulate Protected Area in Xinjiang, in August 2001. The objective of this study was to investigate reproduction and development of released Przewalski’s horses in Xinjiang, China from 2002 to 2006. Twenty-four descendants were naturally born, average reproduction rate was 38.7%, and average survival rate of foals was 69.1% in this interim. Frequent alternation of the leading stallion and infertility in female horses due to environmental factors were main causes for the low reproduction rate. The infant mortality rate of released Przewalski’s horses was 25.0%, and 83.3% of death in infants was due to the leading stallion infanticide. The released Przewalski’s horses exhibited seasonal breeding, 70.8% of infants were born in May and June. The fertility rates were 8.3% in April and 37.5% in May, which were lower compared to those of the captive Przewalski’s horse groups (18.3% and 44.3%, respectively). Furthermore, the fertility rate in June was 33.3% and higher than the captive groups (18.3%). These findings showed that the breeding peak of the released Przewalski’s horse groups was later than the captive groups, and suggested that the altered survival environment and food supplies were the main reasons contributing to the delayed breeding peak.     

Effect of supplementing vitamin E analogues on post-thaw semen parameters and fertility in chicken

1. The effect of supplementing water-soluble vitamin E analogues 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchromane-2-carboxylic acid (trolox) and butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT) was studied in two separate experiments.

2. In the first experiment, trolox was supplemented at 0.2 mM, 0.4 mM and 0.8 mM concentrations along with N-methylacetamide (MA; 12% final concentration) and semen was cryopreserved in 0.5 ml French straws. Different semen parameters and fertility were assessed from post-thaw samples.

3. Sperm motility, live sperm, and mitochondrial activity were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in cryopreserved semen. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in cryopreserved semen that was reduced by trolox supplementation. The treatment containing trolox at 0.2 mM concentration produced significantly higher (P < 0.05) fertility compared to unsupplemented cryopreservation treatment.

4. In the second experiment, BHT was supplemented at 0.25 mM, 0.5 mM, and 1 mM concentrations along with MA during semen cryopreservation.

5. Sperm motility, live sperm and MTT dye reduction test were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in cryopreserved semen. These parameters declined with increasing BHT concentration. Abnormal sperm was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the BHT supplemented treatments. The sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in cryopreserved samples and was highest in samples supplemented with 0.5 mM and 1 mM BHT. The percentage fertility was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in cryopreserved semen and BHT supplementation did not improve fertility.

6. In conclusion, trolox supplementation at 0.2 mM concentration during semen cryopreservation improved fertility, whereas BHT supplementation resulted in a decline in post-thaw semen parameters.