D-Dimer Improves the Prognostic Value of Combined Clinical and Laboratory Data in Equine Gastrointestinal Colic

The discriminating ability of 15 parameters alone or in combinations, including results from analysis of plasma endotoxin, the Nycomed plasma D-Dimer test and phospholipase A₂, were analyzed to predict morbidity and mortality in equine gastrointestinal colic. Endotoxaemia was a characteristic feature of the colic horses. The problem of adequately predicting non-survivors among colic horses required several parameters to be included in the logistic model: if the “classical parameters”, (heart rate, respiratory rate, PCV, anion gap) were included in the model, addition of plasma D-dimer, phospholipase A₂, and Cl^- significantly improved the predictive value of the logistic model. Increasing heart rate and D-dimer together with decreasing chloride was a risk factor for nonsurvival. The sensitivity of this three-parameter logistic model to predict nonsurvival was 78% and specificity 77%. The Nycomed D-Dimer test is recommended as a horse-site test to predict disseminated intravascular coagulation and nonsurvival in equine colic.     

复合酶高活性酵母对岭南黄肉鸡生产性能的影响

300只岭南黄肉鸡随机分为2组(每组设3个重复,每个重复50只),对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组在基础日粮中用3%活性酵母替代3%豆粕。饲养试验结果表明:0～49日龄,平均末重、平均日增重、成活率试验组分别比对照组提高8.74%(P<0.05)、8.91%(P<0.05)和5.00%(P<0.05),试验组料蛋比比对照组下降11.25%(P<0.05)。代谢试验表明:能量表观利用率和粗蛋白质表观利用率试验组比对照组分别提高4.05%(P<0.05)和6.84%(P<0.05)。     

Pathogenic mechanisms of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus

Goats infected with caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) show chronic arthritis and cachexia, which are progressive in nature. The immunopathogenic mechanisms responsible for these progressive clinical symptoms have not been fully elucidated. Various haematological and immunological parameters were evaluated in experimentally-infected goats showing typical signs of CAEV-induced disease. Infected goats showed recurrent lymphocytosis that may be due to constant presentation of antigen by infected cells of a monocyte/macrophage lineage. The serum alkaline phosphatase and -glutamyl transferase concentrations were elevated in infected goats, a characteristic of hepatic and bone disorders. All other serum chemistry parameters were similar between infected and control goats. Importantly, the serum tumour necrosis factor- (TNF-) levels were higher in infected goats. The cachexia seen in infected goats may be at least partly due to altered metabolism as a result of prolonged elevation of serum TNF- levels. Depressed natural killer cell activity was observed in infected goats and may contribute towards the establishment of a persistent infection with CAEV.Abbreviations AIDS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - CAEV caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus - GGT -glutamyl transferase - HBSS Hanks' balanced salt solution - HIV human immunodeficiency virus - NK natural killer - PBMC peripheral blood mononuclear cells - PCR polymerase chain reaction - SAP serum alkaline phosphatase - TNF tumour necrosis factor     

The evolution and application of enzymes in the animal feed industry: the role of data interpretation

ABSTRACT

1. Enzymes have been used commercially for nearly 40 years and save significant costs through sparing of expensive nutrients but the mechanism by which this is achieved is still debated.

2. The research focused on non-starch polysaccharidase (NSPase) enzymes is used as an example of where greater progress could have been made if the details of the work had been described more fully and the analysis of the data generated had been broader in scope and more critical.

3. Lack of standardisation of the details presented in the materials and methods has been identified as a significant barrier to meaningful retrospective analysis and thus limits advances in the understanding of the mode of action of these enzymes.

4. The identity of the enzyme employed and its activity is often lacking, and more importantly the purity is rarely disclosed. Contaminant activities which are neither listed nor assayed could play a significant role in the responses observed.

5. The dose optimum of most enzymes is often considerably higher than that employed in most studies. Thus studies claiming synergy between two ‘activities’ should ensure that the response is not related to each enzyme simply augmenting the dose of just one activity in the finished feed. This is a common problem, and coupled with the lack of factorial experiments to justify the presence of each enzyme in a multi-enzyme product, it is not surprising that there is still debate as to whether single or multi-enzymes are best suited poultry rations.

6. The three proposed mechanisms for NSPases (viscosity, cell wall and prebiotic) are discussed, and along with their strengths and weaknesses it is suggested that a re-evaluation of each is needed. Viscosity may have to be re-evaluated as being a function not only of the cereal being fed, but of the age of the animal as well. The cell wall theory as described is poorly modelled in vitro and hence the validity of these data is questioned. The prebiotic theory may need significant modification as it appears that the quantities of oligomers produced are insufficient to generate the additional volatile fatty acids (VFA)’s reported. It is likely that all three mechanisms play a role in the responses observed, but the prebiotic mechanism probably plays by far the most important part in low viscosity diets.

7. Future research would be improved if it considered all potential mechanisms when designing a trial. Significant failings are apparent as a result of adherence to tenets in explanation of the results. Most importantly, it should be emphasised that a hypothesis is there to be tested, not defended.     

豆粕对乌鳢肠道菌群组成及微生物氨基酸代谢酶活性的影响

为研究豆粕替代鱼粉对乌鳢生长、肠道菌群组成和微生物相关氨基酸代谢酶活性的影响,分别用豆粕替代0、25%、50%和75%的鱼粉配制4组等氮等能的饲料饲喂初始体质量为(8.65±0.25) g的幼鱼(分别命名为G1、G2、G3和G4组),养殖实验在室内纤维玻璃钢桶中进行,实验周期为21 d。结果显示,各组间幼鱼成活率无显著性差异;G4组乌鳢幼鱼的生长性能显著低于G1和G2组,而G3组幼鱼生长性能与其余3组差异不显著。厚壁菌门在G1和G2组乌鳢肠道中的比例显著高于G3组,且在G4组中的比例最低;变形菌门在G1和G2组中的比例显著低于G3和G4组;G4组中乳球菌属、杆菌属、假单胞菌属、链球菌属、芽孢杆菌属和不动杆菌属的比例显著低于其余3组。另外,G4组幼鱼肠道微生物谷丙转氨酶、腺苷脱氨酶活性显著高于其余3组,而G1组乳酸脱氢酶的活性最高。研究表明,豆粕替代鱼粉除了对乌鳢幼鱼的生长产生影响外,也显著影响了肠道微生物组成及微生物相关氨基酸代谢酶的活性,本研究结果对于从微生态角度进一步理解豆粕在乌鳢配合饲料中的应用提供了理论依据和参考。     

鱼类组蛋白核苷酸的多态性及其在杀鱼爱德华氏菌感染中的作用

组蛋白是染色体核小体的重要组分,在调控染色质结构、基因转录、个体发育等不同生物学过程中起着重要作用。为了研究鱼类组蛋白基因是否存在核苷酸的多态性以及组蛋白核苷酸多态性是否会影响鱼类的抗病力,本实验以斑马鱼和草鱼为研究对象,通过PCR扩增克隆了组蛋白H2A的全长开放阅读框;利用过表达技术、菌落平板计数、感染存活分析以及荧光定量PCR技术,研究了斑马鱼和草鱼组蛋白H2A核苷酸多态性不同变异体在杀鱼爱德华氏菌感染中的作用。在本研究中,实验发现鱼类组蛋白H2A存在着丰富的核苷酸多态性。序列分析结果显示斑马鱼和草鱼组蛋白H2A核苷酸多态性的变异体核苷酸序列相似性为90%～100%;而两两H2A核苷酸多态性变异体氨基酸序列之间最多只有3个位点存在差异。通过体内和体外抗菌实验可知,斑马鱼和草鱼组蛋白H2A核苷酸的多态性显著影响H2A的抗菌活性。此外,筛选出的抗菌组蛋白H2A核苷酸多态性的变异体在斑马鱼体内的过表达,不仅具有免疫增强的作用,还能显著增强斑马鱼对杀鱼爱德华氏菌感染的抗病力。本研究为筛选具有抗病作用的组蛋白H2A免疫保护原奠定了重要基础。     

NaF和PFOS对斑马鱼肝脏抗氧化能力、非特异性免疫及组织结构的影响

为探讨有机氟化物和无机氟化物单一及联合暴露对斑马鱼(Danio rerio)肝脏的毒性效应,本研究将雄性斑马鱼随机分为对照组、氟化钠(NaF,无机氟)暴露组、全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS,有机氟)暴露组、NaF+PFOS(无机氟及有机氟联合)暴露组,经15、30 d暴露试验后,检测了血液硝基蓝四氮唑(NBT)阳性细胞数及肝脏...     

发酵豆粕替代鱼粉对大口黑鲈幼鱼生长、饲料利用和消化酶活力的影响

为研究发酵豆粕替代鱼粉对大口黑鲈生长、饲料效率、表观消化率和消化酶活力的影响,以枯草芽孢杆菌有氧发酵豆粕替代部分鱼粉配置5组等氮、等能的实验饲料。发酵豆粕的添加量为0%(FM组)、10%(FSM10组)、15%(FSM20组)、20%(FSM30组)、25%(FSM40组),分别替代0%、10%、20%、30%、40%的鱼粉。初始体质量(19.83±0.33) g的大口黑鲈,随机分成5组,每组3个重复,每个重复30尾鱼,每天饲喂2次(7:00和17:00),养殖75 d。结果显示：各组饲料系数无显著性差异,FSM20和FSM30组的均末重和特定生长率显著高于其他各组;各组蛋白质效率无显著性差异,FSM组的摄食量显著高于FM组,FSM40组的蛋白质沉积率和脂肪沉积率显著低于其他组;各组全鱼粗蛋白无显著性差异,在FSM20组出现最大值;FSM组的全鱼粗脂肪显著低于FM组;各组之间的蛋白质消化率和脂肪消化率无显著性差异,FSM30和FSM40的干物质表观消化率显著低于其他组;低于15%(FSM20组)替代,FSM组与FM组的蛋白酶、淀粉酶和脂肪酶活力无显著差异。     

棉蚜对吡虫啉抗性的初步研究

用吡虫啉对棉蚜进行室内抗性筛选,用药处理25次后抗性是筛选前的20.03倍;2007年对田间棉蚜进行抗性调查,发现不同地区种群对吡虫啉的抗性差异显著,江苏南京种群最为敏感,河南安阳、山东泰安和北京地区棉蚜与之相比,抗性分别为2.21、7.63和9.53倍;抗、感品系解毒酶活力分析发现,抗性品系的谷胱甘肽S-转移酶活性增加很少(比活力1.12倍),但酯酶活力显著高于敏感品系(比活力1.71倍);增效试验结果表明,顺丁烯二酸二乙酯(DEM)在抗、感品系中对吡虫啉均没有明显的增效作用,而磷酸三苯酯(TPP)和增效醚(PBO)虽然在敏感品系中对吡虫啉的增效作用较小(SR 1.24和1.29),但在抗性品系中的增效作用显著增高(SR 2.13和1.74);此外还发现,吡虫啉处理可提高棉蚜群体的酯酶活力。由此认为,棉蚜至少具有对吡虫啉产生中等水平抗性的风险,其抗性可能是由于棉蚜的酯酶和P450单加氧酶的解毒能力提高所致。     

长期咸水灌溉对土壤酶活性及反应动力学的影响

为了探讨咸水灌溉导致土壤质量下降的原因,研究了5个含盐量水平(1.25(对照)、2.50、5.00、7.50d S·m~(-1)和10.00 d S·m~(-1))的咸水长期田间污染对0~20 cm和20~40 cm土壤水解酶活性及酶促反应动力学性质的影响。结果表明:咸水灌溉导致土壤脲酶、β-葡糖苷酶和碱性磷酸酶活性呈现不同程度的降低,与对照相比,10d S·m~(-1)咸水灌溉下0~20 cm土壤层三种酶活性分别下降45.5%、50.8%和24.9%,20~40 cm土壤层三种酶活性分别下降37.44%、32.1%和21.8%;咸水灌溉改变了土壤酶的催化动力学特性,与对照相比,10 d S·m~(-1)咸水灌溉下脲酶、β-葡糖苷酶和碱性磷酸酶的最大反应速度V_(max)分别下降47.77%、44.62%和15.01%,Km分别下降57.12%、保持不变和下降14.64%,β-葡糖苷酶V_(max)/K_m下降39.63%,脲酶和碱性磷酸酶的V_(max)/K_m没有显著变化。数据表明咸水灌溉对不同的酶抑制机制不尽相同。