Disease screening profiles and colostrum management practices on 16 Irish suckler beef farms

Background

Calf output is a key element in determining the profitability of a suckler beef enterprise. Infectious agents such as Bovine Virus Diarrhoea (BVD) virus, colostrum management and parasitic challenge can all affect calf output. Prior to the national BVD eradication programme, there was little published information on either the prevalence or effect of BVD in Irish beef herds. There is little published information on colostrum management practices in Irish commercial beef herds and there have also been few studies published on the prevalence of liver fluke or rumen fluke infection in Irish beef herds. Sixteen farms participating in the Teagasc/Farmers Journal BETTER farm beef programme were used in this study. Fourteen herds were screened for the presence of BVD virus in 2010 using RT-PCR. In 13 herds, blood samples were collected from calves (2–14 days of age) in November 2011 - April 2012 to determine their passive immune status using the zinc sulphate turbidity (ZST) test, while in 12 herds, blood and faecal samples were taken in order to determine the level of exposure to gastrointestinal and hepatic helminths.

Results

The overall prevalence of BVD virus-positive cattle was 0.98% (range 0 - 3% per herd, range 0.6 - 3.0% per positive herd). Eighteen of the 82 calves (22%) sampled had ZST values less than 20 units (herd mean range 17.0 – 38.5 units) indicating a failure of passive transfer. The overall animal-level (herd-level) prevalence of liver fluke and rumen fluke infection in these herds was 40.5% (100%) and 20.8% (75%), respectively.

Conclusions

The potential costs associated with the presence of animals persistently infected with BVD virus through the increased use of antibiotics; the rate of failure of passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins and the high prevalence of liver fluke infection in these herds highlight that some Irish suckler beef farms may not be realizing their economic potential due to a range of herd health issues. The use of farm-specific herd health plans should be further encouraged on Irish suckler beef farms.     

Histopathologic Variation between Liver Lobes in Dogs

Background

Biopsy of the liver evaluates a small portion of tissue, with inferences made to the entire organ. The method and number of biopsies obtained are tempered by consideration of the risks and benefits. Recommendations often include biopsy of more than one liver lobe, although the consistency of histopathology among lobes in dogs is unknown.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To describe the distribution of histopathologic abnormalities between liver lobes. We hypothesized that discordant results would be evenly distributed among all liver lobes.

Animals

Seventy dogs undergoing necropsy.

Methods

Prospective study. Liver samples were obtained from all lobes. A primary diagnosis was assigned to each liver sample based on the predominant histopathologic abnormality.

Results

In this population of dogs, biopsy of at least 2 liver lobes identified the predominant histologic abnormality in 98.6% of the cases. Ten (14%) of the dogs had ≤3 lobes in agreement and could not be assigned a predominant diagnosis. The same diagnosis was present in 6/6 lobes in 39 (56.5%) dogs, 5/6 lobes in 10 (14.5%) dogs, 4/6 lobes in 10 (14.5%) dogs, 3/6 lobes in 7 (10.1%) dogs, and 2/6 in 3 (4.3%) dogs. The number of discordant results did not differ between the liver lobes.

Conclusion and Clinical Importance

The likelihood of obtaining a sample that is reflective of the predominant histologic abnormality in the liver is increased when multiple liver lobes are biopsied.     

Serum Bile Acid Concentrations,Histopathological Features,and Short‐, and Long‐term Survival in Horses with Hepatic Disease

Background

Serum bile acid concentrations (SBA) and a histopathological biopsy score [Equine Vet J 35 (2003) 534] are used prognostically in equine hepatic disease.

Hypothesis

Histopathologic features and scores, but not SBA, differ between survivors and nonsurvivors and correlate with histopathologic evidence of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis.

Animals

Retrospective study. Records (1999–2011) of horses with hepatic disease diagnosed by biopsy and with concurrent measurements of SBA.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study. Biopsies were examined for inflammatory cell infiltration including type and distribution, fibrosis, irreversible cytopathology affecting hepatocytes, hemosiderin, or other pigment deposition and bile duct proliferation. SBA, histopathological findings and a histological score [Equine Vet J 35 (2003) 534] were compared between short‐ (survival to discharge) and long‐term (>6 months) survivors and correlations between SBA and histopathological findings investigated.

Results

Of 81 cases 90% survived short‐term and 83% long‐term. Short‐term and long‐term nonsurvival were associated with SBA (P = .009; P = .006), overall (P = .001; P = .002) and parenchymal (short‐term only; P = .01) inflammation, portal and bridging fibrosis (all P < .001), apoptosis or single cell necrosis (P < .001; P = .008), hemosiderin deposition in hepatocytes (P = .011; P = .028), biliary (both P < .001), vascular (P = .003; P = .045) and endothelial (P < .001; P = .02) hyperplasia, nucleic changes (P = .004; P < .001) and the histopathological score (both P < .001). SBA were significantly and positively correlated with overall (P = .001), parenchymal (P < .001) and portal (P = .004) inflammation and portal (P = .036) and bridging (P = .002) fibrosis.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

SBA, histopathological findings and scores differ between survivors and nonsurvivors. SBA concentrations are associated with inflammation and fibrosis suggesting interference with hepatic function. A histopathological score >2 and, less so, SBA >20 μmol/L are specific but not sensitive indicators of nonsurvival.     

Levels of histone modifications in activated primarily cultured rat hepatic stellate cells

AIM: To investigate the changes of histone modifications during the activation of primarily cultured rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and the relationship between histone modification patterns and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression, and to explore the roles of histone modifications in the activation of HSCs. METHODS: The rat HSCs were isolated by in situ perfusion of collagenase combined with density gradient centrifugation, cultured in vitro and identified by immunofluorescence staining. The morphological features of the cells were observed under inverted microscope. The changes of desmin and α-SMA during the activation of HSCs were detected by immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting. The levels of histone 3 lysine 4 dimethylation (H3K4me2), histone 3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2), histone 3 lysine 9 acetylation (acH3K9) and histone 4 lysine 12 acetylation (acH4K12) in quiescent HSCs and activated HSCs were determined by Western blotting.RESULTS: The morphology of HSCs shifted from a quiescent phenotype to highly activated myofibroblast during the culture. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting showed that the expression levels of α-SMA and desmin were increased over time and reached maximum at 15 d. According to the results of cell morphology and immunofluorescence staining, the cells cultured for 24 h and 15 d were quiescent and activated HSCs, respectively. Compared with quiescent HSCs, there were higher H3K4me2 and lower H3K9me2, acH3K9 and acH4K12 modification levels in activated HSCs (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Histone modifications show anomalous expression during the activation of primarily cultured rat HSCs. Histone modifications may contribute to the transdifferentiation of HSCs and the development of hepatic fibrosis.     

女贞子改善家禽肝脏损伤的作用机制

肝脏是动物机体脂质代谢的中心器官和重要的免疫组织,肝脏健康是保证家禽正常生产的前提。女贞子提取物具有抗氧化、抗炎、抗菌等功能,特别是其护肝作用显著。齐墩果酸是女贞子的主要活性成分,临床上被用于护肝、抗炎、治疗急性肝炎等。本文主要探讨肝脏损伤在家禽生产中的危害及女贞子改善肝损伤的作用机制,为女贞子在家禽生产中的推广应用提供理论依据。     

Analysis of Expressed Sequence Tags from Liver Tissue in Swine

In order to study the expression of function gene and its effect on metabolic control and other physiological function in liver, 438 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were determined, which were from a cDNA library of porcine liver tissue. The results showed that the nucleotide sequences of 186 ESTs have already presented in GenBank database, and 37 ESTs could be found the homology with human and other species,while the others were not identified. 45 full length insertion of the clones randomly isolated from cDNA library were also completely sequenced with different size, and the results showed that 19 of them were functionknown genes, 11 had no open reading frame ( ORF )at all and 15 had ORF but the function were not elucidated yet.     

Effects of a tristearate-containing lipid and canola oil on plasma and tissue lipids in rats

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed semipurified diets containing 12% fat and 0.4% cholesterol for 4 wk. The fats were palm oil, a high-stearate fat and canola oil; each of the latter two fat sources was substituted for palm oil in 4% (w/w) increments (i.e, 4, 8 and 12%) thus yielding 3 stearate-containing, 3 canola-containing, and a 12% palm oil diet. Stearate-fed animals exhibited significantly decreased food efficiency ratios, plasma total cholesterol, and liver cholesterol whereas the substitution of canola for palm oil did not consistently alter these parameters. Liver fatty acids generally reflected the composition of the dietary fat sources with the exception of significantly higher arachidonate observed in the stearate-fed rats.     

Dietary secondary amines and liver hepatoma in Port Harcourt,Nigeria

Dietary secondary amines of some Nigerian foodstuffs were analyzed by Soxhlet extraction, using petroleum ether (b.p. 60–80 °C); followed by thin layer chromatography developed in a solvent system; n-butanol: 95% ethanol: water (4:2:1) for the qualitative test. Each UV fluorescent band in the test chromatogram was scraped and eluted with distilled water, filtered and assayed for secondary amine content for the quantitative test. Quantitative estimations were by the colorimetric methods. The results show that Ugu – Telfairia occidentalo; millet-Panicum miliaceum; bitter leaf – Vernonia amygdalina; mushroom – Boletus spp; and Okro – Hibiscus esculentus contain diethylamine, dimethylamine, morpholine and ethylaniline. Garri – Manihot utilissima flour contains diethylamine and dimethylamine only; while fish (frozen) Tilapia malanopleura contains diethylamine, dimethylamine and piperidine and the smoked fish – Tilapia nilotica contains diethylamine, dimethylamine, ethylaniline, morpholine, piperidine and n-propylamine. Cocoyam – Xanthosoma sagittifolium contains diethylamine, dimethylamine, morpholine, ethylaniline and proline. The results also show that the secondary amine content of the various foodstuffs ranged between 0.80–0.91 µg N/kg. The public health implications of these findings are discussed.     

Generation and characterization of a series of monoclonal antibodiesagainst recombinant human augmenter of liver regeneration

AIM:To generate monoclonal antibodies against human augmenter of liver regeneration (rhALR). METHODS:After BALB/C mice were immunized by the purified rhALR, the cells of spleen were fused with the cells of SP2/0; The titer and speciality were respectively fathomed from ascites or foster fluid by ELISA and Western-blot test. RESULTS:2 hybridoma cell lines were successfully obtained. The McAbs titer from ascites and foster fluid are respectively about 10^-3-10^-5 and 10^-2-10^-3. It is evident that the two McAbs were directed at different epitopes. CONCLUSIONS:The McAbs have higher speciality. It is significantly useful of the value that how hALR distribute in tissue organs, how the hALR signals the metabolism in the body and the control distribution of the hALR on cell growth on the translational level and so on is researched.     

蛋鸡日粮中添加植物油对肝脏和鸡肉中 C-18系列脂肪酸含量的影响

将 60只 5 2周龄蛋鸡分为三组 ,对照组饲喂基础日粮 ,两试验组分别饲喂含 3 %的大豆油和 3 %的花生油日粮 ,研究日粮中添加植物油对肝脏和胸肌中C 18系列脂肪酸的影响 ,结果表明 :日粮中添加 3 %植物油可明显提高生产性能。肝脏中硬脂酸、油酸、亚油酸和亚麻酸的含量以及胸肌中硬脂酸、亚油酸和亚麻酸的含量明显高于对照组 (P <0 0 5 )。试验 1组肝脏和胸肌中亚油酸和亚麻酸的含量与试验 2组差异显著 (P <0 0 5 )。