猪的母性行为研究进展

母猪的母性行为包括分娩前后的一系列行为活动,例如做窝、哺乳以及抚育仔猪等。本文就母猪分娩前行为、分娩行为(产仔行为)、哺乳行为、护仔行为和念亲行为做一综述。     

Heterosis, direct and maternal genetic effects on semen quality traits of rabbits

A complete diallel cross involving two rabbit sire lines (C and R) was carried out to estimate the crossbreeding genetic parameters of seminal traits. 2140 ejaculates from 153 males were analyzed. The traits studied were: presence of gel plugs (G), urine (U), and calcium carbonate deposits (CC), number of useful ejaculates (UE), pH, volume (V), mass and individual motility (Mm, Mi), useful Mi (UM), concentration (Cn), number of spermatozoa per ejaculate (TSE), percentage of viable spermatozoa (Vi), spermatozoa with normal apical ridge (NAR), normal spermatozoa (Nr), spermatozoa with morphological abnormalities of head (H), neck-midpiece (Nm), and tail (T), presence of proximal and distal cytoplasmic droplet (Dp, Dd).

Estimates of heterosis, direct and maternal genetic effects were obtained from the solutions of the mixed model. There were major differences in direct genetic effects between lines, which were favourable to line C for Cn and TSE, and unfavourable for CC, Nm and Dp. Smaller differences were also observed in Vi and NAR favourable to line R. Differences between lines with respect to the maternal genetic effects were relevant and favourable to line C for V and to line R for U, UM, Cn, TSE, Nm, Mi, and Mm. Individual heterosis was high for Dp and Dd.     

Effect of maternal restraint stress during gestation on temporal lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroendocrine and immune responses of progeny

The impact of gestational dam restraint stress on progeny immune and neuroendocrine temporal hormone responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge was assessed. Maternal stress (5-min snout snare restraint stress during days 84 to 112 of gestation) increased (P < 0.05) the magnitude of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin-6, epinephrine (E), norepinephrine, and serum amyloid A (SAA) production following LPS infusion in the offspring. Moreover, these effects appear to be dependent on gender for TNF-α, E, and cortisol production. However, maternal stress did not affect (P > 0.05) the normalization of proinflammatory cytokines or neuroendocrine hormones produced following LPS. Collectively, these results indicate that maternal stress impacts aspects of the proinflammatory cytokine and stress hormone response in their progeny following LPS dosing of the offspring. This response is potentially responsible in part for the resultant changes to SAA production. Because several of the changes observed here are dependent on pig gender, these results are also the first evidence that inherent epigenetic factors coupled with maternal stress impact the cumulative response to stress and LPS in young pigs.     

Poor maternal nutrition inhibits muscle development in ovine offspring

Background

Maternal over and restricted nutrition has negative consequences on the muscle of offspring by reducing muscle fiber number and altering regulators of muscle growth. To determine if over and restricted maternal nutrition affected muscle growth and gene and protein expression in offspring, 36 pregnant ewes were fed 60%, 100% or 140% of National Research Council requirements from d 31 ± 1.3 of gestation until parturition. Lambs from control-fed (CON), restricted-fed (RES) or over-fed (OVER) ewes were necropsied within 1 d of birth (n = 18) or maintained on a control diet for 3 mo (n = 15). Semitendinosus muscle was collected for immunohistochemistry, and protein and gene expression analysis.

Results

Compared with CON, muscle fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) increased in RES (58%) and OVER (47%) lambs at 1 d of age (P < 0.01); however at 3 mo, CSA decreased 15% and 17% compared with CON, respectively (P < 0.01). Compared with CON, muscle lipid content was increased in OVER (212.4%) and RES (92.5%) at d 1 (P < 0.0001). Muscle lipid content was increased 36.1% in OVER and decreased 23.6% in RES compared with CON at 3 mo (P < 0.0001). At d 1, myostatin mRNA abundance in whole muscle tended to be greater in OVER (P = 0.07) than CON. Follistatin mRNA abundance increased in OVER (P = 0.04) and tended to increase in RES (P = 0.06) compared with CON at d 1. However, there was no difference in myostatin or follistatin protein expression (P > 0.3). Phosphorylated Akt (ser473) was increased in RES at 3 mo compared with CON (P = 0.006).

Conclusions

In conclusion, maternal over and restricted nutrient intake alters muscle lipid content and growth of offspring, possibly through altered gene and protein expression.     

Pet Virginia Opossums and Skunks

The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) and the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) are often kept as pets, although they are both wild animals. The opossum and striped skunk are usually docile and sociable when raised from infancy. Many states and municipalities restrict ownership, and veterinarians should familiarize themselves with local laws and regulations pertaining to these animals. The biology, husbandry, diet, and general disease information is available for both species. Vaccination recommendations are included for skunks.     

Effect of the route of administration on the mucosal and systemic immune responses to Lawsonia intracellularis vaccine in pigs

In an on‐farm study, 40 weaned piglets aged 3 weeks were vaccinated with Lawsonia intracellularis vaccine orally, IM or IP while a fourth group remained unvaccinated. All vaccinated animals showed increased serum levels of L. intracellularis‐specific IgG antibodies, but significantly elevated concentrations of specific IgG, IgA and cytokines were generated in ileal mucosal secretions from the orally and IP vaccinated pigs when examined at 17 days after vaccination.     

基因疫苗在畜禽传染病中的应用及前景

介绍了基因疫苗的免疫学特性、增强免疫效力策略以及在畜禽传染病领域中应用的最新动态,展望了其广阔的应用前景,并提出了基因疫苗在应用过程中产生的一系列有待于进一步解决的问题,从而为畜禽传染病的防制提供了新思路和新途径。     

猪瘟免疫猪接种PRRSV Nsp2Δ1882-2241弱毒疫苗后免疫应答及T细胞表型变化特征

选择17头28日龄的CSFV和PRRSV抗体均为阴性的仔猪,于试验的第1天和第14天分别对其进行猪瘟耐热保护剂活疫苗（兔源）和高致病性猪繁殖与呼吸综合征Nsp2A1882—2241弱毒疫苗免疫。在免疫后的第28、42天采集外周血液,分析特异性抗体表达量和外周血T淋巴细胞表型的变化,评估猪瘟免疫对猪繁殖与呼吸综合征免疫的影响。结果显示,在CSF免疫后第28、42天,CSFV高抗组中的CD4^＋、CD4^＋／CD8^＋、CD4^＋CD8^＋和CD4-CD8数目均比CSFV低抗组高,CD3^＋和CD8^＋细胞数量比CSFV低抗组低;PRRS高抗组中,CD4CD8-细胞含量高于PRRS低抗组;在CSF免疫后第28天,CSFV抗体产生较高（阳性比率为73．33％）,PRRSV抗体产生较低（阳性比率仅为6．67％）。在CSF免疫后的第42天,CSF高抗组中PRRSV抗体阳性比率较CSF低抗组高8．33％。结果表明,CSFV特异性抗体产生高时能增加PRRSV特异性细胞免疫应答,增加CD4^＋细胞、CD4^＋CD8^＋细胞数量,提高机体免疫水平。CD3＋和CD4CD8-细胞应答作用值得重视。