Is the use of formulae a reliable way to predict the accuracy of genomic selection?

We studied four formulae used to predict the accuracy of genomic selection prior to genotyping. The objectives of our study were to investigate the impact of the parameters of each formula on the values of accuracy calculated using these formulae, and to check whether the accuracies reported in the literature are in agreement with the formulae. First, we computed the marginal distribution of accuracy (by integration) for each parameter of all four formulae: heritability h², reference population size T, number of markers M and number of effective segments in the genome M_e. Then, we collected 145 accuracies and corresponding parameters reported in 13 publications on genomic selection (mainly in dairy cattle), and performed analysis of variance to test the differences between observed and predicted accuracy with effects of formulae and parameters. The variation of accuracy for different values of each parameter indicated that two parameters, T and M_e, had a significant impact and that considerable differences existed between the formulae (mean accuracies differed by up to 0.20 point). The results of our meta‐analysis showed a big formula effect on the accuracies predicted using each formula, and also a significant effect of the value obtained for M_e calculated from N_e (effective population size). Each formula can therefore be demonstrated to be optimal depending on the assumption used for M_e. In conclusion, no rules can be applied to predict the reliability of genomic selection using these formulae.     

Effect of lactoferrin on murine embryo development created from lipopolysaccharide-treated sperm

The effect of lactoferrin (LF) on embryo development was investigated by using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mouse sperm. For the development rate of the 2-cell stage embryo, the embryo derived from LPS- and LF-treated sperm showed similar survival rate to the control embryo. On day 12 after the embryo transfer into the recipient, the frequent abnormality was observed in the embryo derived from LPS-treated sperm, and the abnormality was tended to be inhibited in the embryo derived from LPS- and LF-treated sperm. These results imply that LF treatment on sperm contaminated with bacteria may facilitate the embryo development, which contribute to the improvement of infertility.     

家禽种质资源保存研究

动物品种资源的保存正受到世界各国的高度重视,由于鸟类生殖系统的特殊性,目前还无法冷冻保存其受精卵。饲养和周期性地继代繁殖活体仍是家禽种质资源保存最可靠的方案,但很难被经济承受力所接受。冷冻保存的研究主要集中在精液,但效率不高,而且只能保存雄性资源。冷冻保存多能细胞是一种正在研究的能弥补目前鸟类种质资源保存缺陷的一种很有潜力的方法。     

Use of a staphylococcal vaccine to reduce prevalence of mastitis and lower somatic cell counts in a registered Saanen dairy goat herd

This investigation evaluated the efficacy of a bacterin in reducing the prevalence of staphylococcal mastitis and somatic cell counts (SCC) in a dairy goat herd. Does were vaccinated or left as controls, and the levels of mastitis and SCC monitored over 18 months. Staphylococcus caprae (42.5%), S. xylosus (15.1%), and S. simulans (10.0%) were the predominant causes of intramammary infections (IMI). The infection rate was 1.64 IMI/doe among vaccinates, which tended to be lower (P < 0.12) than controls (2.67 IMI/doe). The spontaneous cure rate of IMI after immunization was 1.28 cures/doe in vaccinates, which was higher than controls (0.6 cures/doe; P < 0.043). Average SCC of milk samples from vaccinates tended to be lower than that of controls (1274 × 10³/ml vs. 1529 × 10³/ml, respectively) (P < 0.10). Results support the continued study of mastitis vaccines for use in managing staphylococcal mastitis and SCC in dairy goats.     

Associations between bacterial genotype and outcome of bovine clinical Staphylococcus aureus mastitis

Background

Staphylococcus aureus is an important cause of clinical mastitis in dairy cows worldwide. The cure rate after antimicrobial treatment of clinical S. aureus mastitis is very variable due to both cow and bacterial factors. Studies have shown that bacterial genotype might affect short-term bacteriological and clinical cure, but the long-term outcome has been less studied. The objectives of this study were to investigate associations between bacterial genotype and long-term outcome of veterinary-treated clinical mastitis (VTCM) caused by S. aureus during a follow-up period of 120 days and to study genotype variation among Swedish S. aureus isolates. S. aureus isolates from cases of VTCM were genotyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Long-term outcome measurements used were somatic cell count (SCC), additional diagnoses of VTCM, milk yield and culling. Isolates were classified into clusters (>80% similarity) and pulsotypes (100% similarity). Clusters and pulsotypes were grouped according to occurrence. Multivariable mixed-effect linear regression models including cow and bacterial factors with possible influence on SCC or milk yield were used to calculate differences in SCC or milk yield between groups. Additional outcome measures were calculated using a test of proportions.

Results

The isolates (n = 185) were divided into 18 clusters and 29 pulsotypes. Two pulsotypes were classified as common, and were found in 64% of the cases of VTCM. Remaining isolates were classified as less common or rare pulsotypes. The distribution was similar at cluster level. Outcome was calculated from follow-up data on 111 cows. Significantly lower SCC during the follow-up period was found in cows infected with common clusters compared to in cows infected with less common/rare clusters. The proportion of cows with SCC <200 000 cells/ml during the whole follow-up period was significantly higher in the group common clusters than in the group less common/rare clusters. Bacterial genotype did not influence the other outcome parameters.

Conclusions

In Sweden, two S. aureus pulsotypes, identified in about 64% of clinical S. aureus cases, were widespread. Cows infected with the common genotypes had significantly lower SCC during 120 days after treatment compared to cows infected with less common or rare genotypes.     

奶水牛乳汁体细胞数与抗氧化指标的相关性分析

[目的]了解奶水牛乳汁体细胞计数（SCC）与抗氧化指标之间的相关性,为乳汁质量监控和奶水牛健康养殖提供科学依据.[方法]随机选取南宁某牛场奶水牛139头,同步采集乳样与血样,乳汁SCC采用FOSS体细胞仪测定,血浆和乳清的总抗氧化能力（TAC）采用FRAP法（血浆铁还原力法）测定,丙二醛（MDA）含量采用TBA法（硫酸巴比妥法）测定.[结果]被检的139头奶水牛中,乳汁SCC≥50.00万/mL（隐性乳房炎诊断标准）的样本占被检总数的12.23％,乳汁SCC＜50.00万/mL的样本占被检总数的87.77％;奶水牛血浆和乳清的TAC分别为2.44±1.04和3.78±1.68 U/mL,MDA含量分别为2.07±0.48和1.55±0.52 nmol/mL,其差异均达极显著水平（P＜0.01）.乳清TAC随乳汁SCC的升高而呈下降趋势,二者间呈显著负相关（r=-0.168,P＜0.05）;血浆MDA与乳清MDA间呈显著正相关（r=0.189,P＜0.05）,而血浆MDA与血浆TAC（r=0.391）、乳清MDA与血浆TAC（r=0.315）间呈极显著正相关（P＜0.01）.[结论]乳清TAC可作为检测奶水牛乳房健康及其乳汁质量的备选指标.     

高压脉冲电场对南瓜浆的杀菌效果

研究了高压脉冲电场（PEF）对接种于南瓜浆中不同微生物的杀灭效果及其对南瓜浆中菌落总数的影响．结果表明：随着电场强度、脉冲处理时间和协同温度在试验参数范围内的增加,PEF对微生物的杀灭效果显著提高;不同微生物在南瓜浆中对PEF耐受力的大小为：青霉菌〉金黄色葡萄球菌〉沙门氏菌〉大肠杆菌〉酵母菌,嗜热脂肪芽孢杆菌的耐受力强于枯草芽孢杆菌;60℃的温和热与20．14kV·cm^-1、109．25μs PEF的协同处理使南瓜浆中的菌落总数显著下降,显示出很好的协同作用．     

Long-term cryopreservation of spermatophore of the giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man)

Long‐term cryopreservation of the giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, spermatophores using glycerol (Gly) and ethylene glycol (EG) as cryoprotective agents (CPAs) was studied. The tolerance of sperm to cryopreservation was evaluated on the basis of sperm survival and fertilizing ability. The survival of the sperm was determined by trypan blue staining, while the fertilizing ability was assessed from artificial insemination of the cryopreserved spermatophores. The rates of embryo survival on day 5 after spawning and of spermatophores capable of producing embryos survived to hatching were determined. Storage of spermatophores at ?20°C without CPA for a short period of up of 1–5 days decreased the sperm survival significantly and did not preserve fertilizing ability. Preservation at ?20°C in the presence of 10% or 20% Gly or of 10% or 20% EG offered a simple and efficient short‐term storage up to 10 days. For a long‐term storage, cryopreservation in the presence of 20% EG at ?196°C was more efficient than at ?20°C. High sperm survival rates and high fertilizing ability were recorded from those cryopreserved at ?196°C for up to 150 days. High sperm survival rates with moderate levels of fertilizing ability were obtained from those cryopreserved at ?20°C for not more than 30 days. The results indicate that preservation at ?196°C with 20% EG is a suitable procedure for long‐term storage of the giant freshwater prawn spermatophores.