Immune function in dairy cows related to energy balance and metabolic status in early lactation

Two feeding experiments were carried out in 2 successive years with 28 cows of the Norwegian Red Cattle (NRF) in each experiment. The cows were randomly distributed into 4 groups and subjected to different feeding regimens from 1 month prior to calving until 12 weeks after calving. The experimental design was factorial (2 x 2) with respect to protein content of the concentrate (17.5% digestible crude protein (DCP) v.s. 12.5% DCP) and concentrate allowances (standard v.s. substandard allowances after calving). Silage was offered ad libitum. Samples for estimation of serum immunoglobulin-G, white blood cells and lymphocyte responses to the mitogens phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen were collected 4 weeks prior to expected calving, and 2, 4 and 8 weeks after calving. The levels of milk immunoglobulin-G were estimated at calving and 2, 4 and 8 weeks after calving. A significant positive relationship was found between the estimated energy balance and the lymphocyte response to mitogens. Little evidence was found for the existence of a significant relationship between the immunologic parameters and plasma indicators of metabolic status. The lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin and levels of serum immunoglobulin-G increased, while levels of milk immunoglobulin-G decreased during the period from calving to 8 weeks after calving. Increased milk somatic cell counts were associated with a significant decrease in the lymphocyte responses to mitogens.     

HYPERCALCEMIC NEPHROPATHY IN THREE DOGS: SONOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE

Persistent hypercalcemia in the dog is most commonly seen as a paraneoplastic syndrome or in association with widespread osteolytic lesions. In high concentrations calcium is a potent nephrotoxin and may cause severe and irreversible renal damage. The ultrasonographic changes in the kidneys of three dogs with hypercalcernic nephropathy are described'and compared with the changes described in the same human condition. It is suggested that ultrasound could be a useful technique for evaluation of the severity of renal damage and the potential return of renal function in such instances.     

血浆极低密度脂蛋白浓度的双向选择对肉鸡腹脂、肝脂和产肉性能的影响

对零世代８周龄血浆极低密度脂蛋白（ＶＬＤＬ）浓度进行降低腹脂的间接选择，一世代取得了明显效果：腹脂和肝脂向两极分化，其中肌胃脂和肝脂选择反应较大。低血浆ＶＬＤＬ的选择使腹脂降低，肝脂增加，对产肉性状未产生不利影响。９周龄腹脂率、板油率和肌胃脂率在高ＶＬＤＬ系分别高于低ＶＬＤＬ系２１％，１６％和５１％；肌胃脂率品系间差异极显著（Ｐ＜０．００１）。品系与性别互作对肌胃脂率有明显影响（Ｐ＜０．０５）。腹脂、肌胃脂存在性别差异，腹脂率雌性略高于雄性，而肌胃脂率雄性高于雌性。９周龄肝脂率，高ＶＬＤＬ系显著低于低ＶＬＤＬ系（Ｐ＜０．０１），雌性高于雄性。一世代８周龄血浆ＶＬＤＬ产生了直接选择反应，血浆ＶＬＤＬ浓度，高ＶＬＤＬ系高于低ＶＬＤＬ系。血浆ＶＬＤＬ存在性别差异，雄性高于雌性。一世代高、低ＶＬＤＬ系血浆ＶＬＤＬ和腹脂的变异系数仍然很大，继续对其选择仍然有效。由于血浆ＶＬＤＬ属中等遗传力，并且家系间差异显著，因此，在世代选育中应采取家系结合个体选择法     

DG3型割灌机振动的实验研究

该文对国产ＤＧ３型割灌机的振动频谱以及各振源点与手柄间的振动传递函数进行了实验分析．结果表明，在工作转速（６０００ｒ／ｍｉｎ）下的振动加速度几乎都集中在６０～２００Ｈｚ范围内，并且７６Ｈｚ，１００Ｈｚ和１５２Ｈｚ是３个主要支配性峰值，它们是减振的主要对象频率；轴承Ｂ１，Ｂ２，Ｂ３处与手柄Ａ点的振动传递函数值比其它大，而且Ｂ１的影响最主要；长轴上各激振点上下方向（ｚ方向）与Ａ点左右方向（ｘ方向）之间的传递函数在６０～８０Ｈｚ之间存在一个峰值     

USE OF QUANTITATIVE HEPATIC SCINTIGRAPHY TO EVALUATE SPONTANEOUS PORTOSYSTEMIC SHUNTS IN 12 DOGS

Quantitative hepatic scintigraphy is a valid means for estimating total liver blood flow and relative portal hepatic perfusion. The Hepatic perfusion index (HPI) was determined for a group of 12 dogs with portosystemic shunts prior to and two days after corrective surgery. HPI values for the dogs prior to operation were significantly elevated (p<0.001) as compared with those for a group of normal dogs, indicating reduced effective portal hepatic perfusion in dogs with shunts. Dogs showing a favorable clinical response after surgery had a significant decrease (p<0.02) in HPI values after operation. One dog showing a poor clinical response after operation had an increase in HPI score after operation. Quantitative hepatic scintigraphy is a valuable diagnostic test for screening presumptive cases of portosystemic shunts and monitoring the response to surgical intervention.     

The effect of different food types and rations on the liver and muscle of cod (Gadus morhua L.)

In a short time feeding experiment it was shown that the liver weight of cod was significantly reduced in prawn-fed cod compared to sand-eel-fed cod. The dry weight and the protein content of the muscle were not significantly reduced. It is concluded that short time energy deprivation of cod primarily affects the liver. The results futher support the view that the food type and ration of cod can produce anomalous effects in field studies of e.g. parasite induced liver weight decrease in cod.     

干旱区绿洲农业生态经济系统结构与功能分析—以塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘的墨玉县为例

在分析国家和新疆自治区重点扶持的贫困县———墨玉县农业生态系统的水土资源结构、农业种群结构和产业结构的基础上,对其绿洲农业生态经济系统进行了能量流、物质流和价值流的分析。结果显示其水土资源结构不平衡、种群结构单一、产业结构不甚合理,决定了绿洲功能较差,产投比低下的特点,并据此从可持续发展的角度提出了以发展生态农业为中心,改善绿洲农业生态经济系统结构并提高其功能的对策与建议。     

High Throughput Sequencing to Study the Effect of Chronic Renal Failure on the Diversity and Gene Function Prediction of Gut Microbiota in Dogs

This study aimed to investigate the effect of chronic renal failure(CRF) on the gut microbiota diversity and predict the gene function of the flora. A total of 30 2-year-old dogs were selected and randomly divided into the chronic renal failure model group (CRF, established by renal artery ligation), sham operation control group (Sham) and healthy control group (HCG). All animals were fed normally during the 56 days of test period. The serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and urine protein / creatinine ratio (UP/C) were detected regularly during the experiment. The effects of chronic renal failure on the structure, diversity and function of gut microbiota were analyzed according to the result of bacterial 16S rDNA sequencing from fresh feces collected without contamination. The flora markers index (FMI) was constructed based on the principal component Logistic regression analysis of different microbiota in CRF group to predict the development of chronic renal failure. The results showed that: 1) The levels of Scr, BUN and UP/C in CRF group from the start of the 28th day of the experiment were significantly higher than those of HCG group and Sham group (P<0.05), and significantly higher than that of the first day of CRF group (P<0.05). 2) Compared with those before chronic renal failure (CRF group at day 0 and 28), HCG group and Sham group, the Chao 1 diversity and Shannon diversity of gut microbiota in CRF group at day 56 were significantly lower (P<0.05), while the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria significantly increased and the number of Firmicutes significantly decreased (P<0.05). 3) LEfSe analysis showed that 20 species were enriched in CRF group, mainly including Pseudomonas, Escherichia, Proteus and so on, and most of them had negative correlation with other intestinal bacteria. Functional prediction revealed that genes of those different species were mainly enriched in amino acid metabolism, sugar biosynthesis and metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism in CRF group. The area under ROC curve (AUC) of the FMI constructed with those species enriched was 0.788, which could be used as the intestinal microbial marker for CRF in dogs. In summary, chronic renal failure can reduce the diversity of intestinal microbiota, lead to the imbalance of bacterial structure and change of bacterial function. Moreover, the enriched gut microbiota in CRF group can be used as the intestinal microbial marker of CRF in dogs, and the best prediction effect can be obtained by FMI.     

Sensitivity of Tru-cut and fine needle aspiration biopsies of liver and kidney for diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis

BACKGROUND: The detection of typical lesions and feline coronavirus (FCoV) antigen in tissues is the only conclusive method for making a diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). A positive result using Tru-cut biopsy (TCB) and fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) has high diagnostic specificity, but information about the capacity of these techniques to correctly identify cats with FIP lesions is not available. OBJECTIVES: The diagnostic sensitivity of TCB and FNAB for detecting liver and kidney histologic lesions caused by FIP was evaluated. METHODS: TCB and FNAB specimens collected mainly at necropsy from 25 cats with FIP were analyzed. Diagnostic sensitivity was calculated on the basis of the number of false-negative and true-positive specimens, compared with the number of organs bearing histologic lesions of FIP. RESULTS: Diagnostic sensitivity was higher for hepatic TCB (64%) and FNAB (82%) than for renal (39% and 42%, respectively) procedures. A high percentage of renal cytologic and TCB specimens were inadequate. Combined analysis of TCB and FNAB specimens collected from the same organ increased the diagnostic sensitivity for liver (86%) and kidney (48%). The sensitivity of immunohistochemical/cytochemical analysis was low (11-38% depending on the technique), probably due to variable distribution of feline coronavirus in the lesions. CONCLUSION: Biopsy of liver and kidney can correctly identify FIP lesions. However, false-negative results or inadequate samples occur with moderate frequency, especially for immunochemical analysis. Diagnostic sensitivity may be increased when both TCB and FNAB specimens from the same organ are examined.     

Selenium and zinc concentrations in kidney, liver and muscle of cattle from different parts of Norway.

Cattle slaughtered in four different parts of Norway have been examined with respect to selenium and zinc content in kidney, liver and muscle. Highest selenium concentrations were found in kidney and lowest in muscle. In spite of extensive use of standardized concentrates, geographic differences were detected with regard to selenium tissue levels, animals from the southeastern inland region having the lowest levels. According to other workers, this region has low-selenium humus soils, and selenium responsive diseases among young ruminants have been of considerable importance, especially when concentrates had not been given during winter feeding. The recorded tissue selenium levels are compared to other workers’ proposals for normal values. All animals examined in this study seem to be well within healthy limits. Kidney, liver and muscle from cattle are good sources of selenium with respect to human nutrition.As far as zinc concentrations are concerned, muscle has the highest and kidney the lowest levels. Geographic differences were found, and individuals from the midland and northern coastal regions have the highest zinc tissue levels. Cattle from the northern coastal region seems to have especially high zinc concentrations in the organs.