Comparison of blind intubation and a smartphone-based endoscope-assisted intubation in rabbits

ObjectiveTo compare between blind and smartphone-based endoscope-assisted techniques for endotracheal intubation in rabbits.Study designProspective clinical study.AnimalsA total of 34 rabbits.MethodsRabbits were assigned to four groups: intubation by a veterinary anesthesiologist (VA) or an exotic pet medicine specialist (EPS) using blind or endoscope-assisted techniques. Propofol dose, number of attempts until successful intubation, total time for intubation, duration of the successful attempt and occurrence of lingual cyanosis/laryngeal lesions were recorded. Data were analyzed by t test, Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney U test or chi-square test. Pearson correlation for body weight was performed.ResultsThe success rate of blind intubation was 88.9% and 77.8% for VA and EPS, respectively. Propofol dose, total and median number of attempts, total time for intubation and duration of the successful attempt were 3.1 (0–6.2) mg kg^–1, 19, 2 (1–5), 79 ± 65 and 30 ± 20 seconds for VA and 1.5 (0–4.5) mg kg^–1, 24, 3 (1–5), 136 ± 92 and 38 ± 16 seconds for EPS. The success rate of endoscope-assisted intubation was 87.5% for both operators. Propofol dose, total and median number of attempts, total time for intubation and duration of the successful attempt were 2.5 (1.3–7.4) mg kg^–1, 22, 3 (1–5), 170 (65–368) and 46 (22–150) seconds for VA and 3.2 (0–6) mg kg^–1, 11, 1 (1–4), 56 (27–432) and 55 (26–79) seconds for EPS. VA performed blind intubation more quickly, propofol dose was lower and cyanosis was less frequent than in the endoscope-assisted group.Conclusions and clinical relevanceBoth techniques were reliable for rabbit endotracheal intubation. Best results were achieved when the operator was experienced in the technique. The smartphone-based endoscope is a useful aid for rabbit intubation.     

芦荟多糖的生物学功能及其在动物生产上的应用

芦荟多糖(aloe polysaccharide,AP)是从百合科多年生肉质草本植物芦荟中分离提取出来的,它具有免疫调节、抗肿瘤、护肝养胃等生物学功能,并可作为饲料添加剂用于动物生产。文章旨在综述芦荟多糖的生物学功能及其使用效果,为其在动物生产上的广泛应用提供综合性的理论依据。     

Studies on the mechanism of vaccinal immunity to Marek''s disease

Current knowledge of the nature of the antigens and of the host immune responses in vaccinal immunity to Marek's disease is reviewed. It is suggested that a two-step mechanism of resistance operates. The first step involves humoral and cell-mediated responses directed against viral antigens; the second step occurs after challenge with Marek's disease virus and consists of cellmediated responses directed against tumour cells.     

β-葡聚糖的生物学功能及在水产养殖中的应用

β-葡聚糖来源广泛,主要存在于植物和微生物细胞壁中,由葡聚糖单体构成,具有多种结构,因其侧链残基种类和数量的不同而具有多种生物学功能,如通过降低炎症相关基因表达及提高免疫因子的表达发挥调节免疫的作用;通过减少脂质的产生和吸收发挥调节脂质代谢的作用;通过提高抗氧化酶、自由基、超氧阴离子的清除活性及激活Nrf2信号通路、上调抗氧化基因的表达来增强机体的抗氧化能力,发挥抗氧化作用;通过增强缺氧耐受性及提高抗氨氮应激能力、能量代谢和抗氧化酶基因的表达等发挥抗应激作用。自抗生素禁用以来,β-葡聚糖在水产动物中的研究和应用逐渐深入,β-葡聚糖在预防水产动物疾病和减少抗生素使用等方面发挥着重要作用。在水产养殖中,β-葡聚糖可通过提高消化酶活性、改善肠道结构、优化肠道菌群及增强非特异性免疫力来提高水产动物生长性能,β-葡聚糖的联合使用比添加单一种类的免疫刺激剂具有更好的免疫效果。作者就β-葡聚糖的结构特征、生物学活性、作用机制及在水产动物中的应用进行了综述,并对β-葡聚糖今后的发展方向进行了展望,为实现水产动物生态健康养殖提供材料。     

The Past,Present and Future of Domestic Equines in Tanzania

Equines are minor species in Tanzania’s array of domestic livestock. Attempts to use them for transport by early explorers from the mid-nineteenth century usually failed. Donkeys were used extensively as pack animals to complement human porters by both British and German forces in the First World War, but their advantages were often outweighed by slow progress and competition with troops and porters for water, and they died in huge numbers. The British had regular cavalry troops in their campaign and mules found limited use as individual mounts for officers. In modern times, there are very few horses in Tanzania but they find several uses. Exotic safaris are made on horseback, they are used as stock horses on ranches, there is a polo club in northern Tanzania and there are leisure riding activities around the capital city. Official census records for donkeys estimate numbers at under 300,000 with concentrations in the northern pastoral and agropastoral areas where they are used as pack animals with water being the main commodity transported. Elsewhere donkeys are used to a limited extent in transport and traction work. There is little interest in equines by the central and local governments or the general public and the status quo can be expected to continue.     

转基因动物研究进展

转基因动物是现代生物技术中一个极其重要的研究领域，目前已经有转基因小鼠、兔、绵羊、山羊、猪、牛、鸡和鱼等多种转基因动物问世。本文综述了转基因动物的制作方法、转基因动物的应用研究以及所取得的重要成就，并指出了转基因动物存在的主要问题，展望了其发展前景。     

Investigations on the efficacy of routinely used phenotypic methods compared to genotypic approaches for the identification of staphylococcal species isolated from companion animals in Irish veterinary hospitals

Background

Identification of Staphylococci to species level in veterinary microbiology is important to inform therapeutic intervention and management. We report on the efficacy of three routinely used commercial phenotypic methods for staphylococcal species identification, namely API Staph 32 (bioMérieux), RapID (Remel) and Staph-Zym (Rosco Diagnostica) compared to genotyping as a reference method to identify 52 staphylococcal clinical isolates (23 coagulase positive; 29 coagulase negative) from companion animals in Irish veterinary hospitals.

Results

Genotyping of a 412 bp fragment of the staphylococcal tuf gene and coagulase testing were carried out on all 52 veterinary samples along with 7 reference strains. In addition, genotyping of the staphylococcal rpoB gene, as well as PCR-RFLP of the pta gene, were performed to definitively identify members of the Staphylococcus intermedius group (SIG). The API Staph 32 correctly identified all S. aureus isolates (11/11), 83% (10/12) of the SIG species, and 66% (19/29) of the coagulase negative species. RapID and Staph-Zym correctly identified 61% (14/23) and 0% (0/23) respectively of the coagulase-positives, and 10% (3/29) and 3% (1/29) respectively of the coagulase-negative species.

Conclusions

Commercially available phenotypic species identification tests are inadequate for the correct identification of both coagulase negative and coagulase positive staphylococcal species from companion animals. Genotyping using the tuf gene sequence is superior to phenotyping for identification of staphylococcal species of animal origin. However, use of PCR-RFLP of pta gene or rpoB sequencing is recommended as a confirmatory method for discriminating between SIG isolates.     

Detection of Brucella species in the milk of infected cattle,sheep, goats and camels by PCR

One hundred and three milk samples were collected from 52 cows, 21 ewes, 18 goats and 12 camels. The animals tested positive to at least one of the following: (1) standard tube agglutination test (SAT); (2) Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT); (3) milk ring test (MRT). All milk samples were examined by culture and single-step polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques for detection of Brucella species. The PCR assay amplified Brucella-DNA from 29 bovine milk samples, 10 from sheep, 13 from goats and one from a camel. The direct culture method detected Brucella organisms from 24 samples of cows' milk, 12 from sheep, 10 from goats and failed to detect any Brucella organisms from camels' milk. PCR detected up to 100 colony forming units (CFU) of B. abortus per millilitre of milk in 100% of diluted milk samples, and 1000 CFU of B. melitensis from 70% of milk samples. Although the overall sensitivity of the PCR was higher than the culture method, it should be possible to increase the sensitivity to detect lower numbers of Brucella organisms in field samples. The speed and sensitivity of the PCR assay suggest that this technique could be useful for detection of Brucella organisms in bovine milk, as well as in sheep, goat, and camels milk.