Effects of music stimulus on behavior response,cortisol level,and horizontal immunity of growing pigs

An enriched environment is widely used to improve domestic animals’ welfare and promote their natural behaviors. Music can reduce abnormal behavior in humans, nonhuman primates, and rodents. However, little is known about the effects of music on pigs. This study aims to explore the effects of repeated music stimulation on the behavior, physiology, and immunity of growing pigs. A total of 72 hybrid piglets (Large White × Duroc × Minpig) were randomly divided into three groups, including music (Mozart K.448, 60 to 70 dB), noise (recorded mechanical noise, 80 to 85 dB), and control (natural background sound, <40 dB), and 6 h sound stimulation was given per day (1000 to 1600 hours) from 40 to 100 d of age. The behavioral activities of the pigs were observed during the music stimulation, and their serum cortisol, salivary cortisol, and serum immune indices were also measured. Compared with the control group, the music group and noise group increased activity but decreased lying of pigs (P < 0.05). A significant increase in tail-wagging, playing, and exploring behaviors of pigs was found in the music group (P < 0.05), and the noise significantly increased the aggressive behavior of the pigs (P < 0.05). Tail-wagging, playing, exploring, manipulating, and aggressive behaviors decreased over time. Short-term (8 d) music stimulus had a lower cortisol level than that of the noise and control groups (P < 0.05), whereas long-term (60 d) music stimulus increased immunoglobulin G (IgG), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels (P < 0.05) and decreased interleukin-4 (IL-4) level (P < 0.05). Long-term noise stimulus significantly reduced the level of IgG (P < 0.05) but did not affect the level of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ levels (P > 0.05). In conclusion, short-term music stimulus (8 d) reduced the stress response, whereas long-term music stimulus (60 d) enhanced the immune responses. In addition, the noise increased the aggressive behavior, and long-term noise reduced the immunity of the growing pigs.     

体细胞克隆荷斯坦奶牛出生后死亡犊牛内脏器官的组织病理学观察

为探究体细胞克隆荷斯坦奶牛出生后死亡的原因,对新生后死亡的克隆荷斯坦公牛和自然繁殖的荷斯坦公犊的主要组织器官进行比较。通过解剖和石蜡切片-HE(hematoxylin-eosin staining)染色技术,对主要的组织器官结构进行观察和分析。结果表明,新生后死亡的克隆荷斯坦公牛肺部结构清晰;肝脏的肝细胞明显肿大,出现脂肪轻度变性;肾小管上皮细胞出现变性;心肌的肌纤维间空隙增大;骨骼肌纤维间隙明显,空泡变性,这可能导致该克隆牛犊肌肉无力并功能不全;淋巴结皮髓质界限不分明,淋巴小结细胞较稀疏,生发中心不明显,淋巴窦细胞较少;脾脏内红细胞较少,这说明该克隆牛的造血功能可能不完善;胸腺的皮质部分和髓质部分界限不明显,嗜酸性胸腺小体不易辨认,可能发育不全。该克隆公牛免疫器官出现不同程度的发育不全现象较严重,这有可能是其出生后死亡率高的主要原因。     

社会林业与五指山的自然保护

五指山自然保护区是世界上现存地势最高的原始热带雨林之一，是我省目前面积最大的自然保护区，也是海南三大河流的发源地。但由于保护区横跨琼中、通什、保亭三县、市，紧邻保护区还生存着众多贫困的黎、苗族村民。因此，保护区与周边社区的联系是十分紧密的，社区的发展也直接影响到五指山热带天然林的保护。海南省林业局中德海南热带林保护和恢复项目在社会林业与五指山森林的保护上做出了有益的尝试，就在全省来说，也是首次对社会林业与森林保护上进行的探索。五指山地区社会林业的研究，对保护海南热带雨林也有着积极的意义。特对社会林业与五指山的森林保护进行了阐述、分析和设想。     

The advantages of the use of vitamin E and selenium for the prevention and therapy of porcine stress syndrome

In a feeding trial lasting for months Halothane-positive fattening pigs were put on a diet containing different concentrations of vitamin E and selenium. After a Myostress application vitamin E and selenium were additionally injected in order to examine stress resistance (CK-test) and regenerative capacity (histological examination of Musculus longissimus dorsi) of skeletal muscle. The study revealed that neither high dietary levels of vitamin E/selenium nor a vitamin E/selenium treatment applied after stress are capable of preventing stress related myopathy nor can they influence its healing up favourably.     

Long-term study of aerobic bacteria of the genital tract in stud dogs.

The aerobic bacterial flora of the genital tract was characterized in 15 stud dogs in an 18-month study. The dogs represented 4 breeds and were from 3 kennels. Bacterial samples from the prepuce and semen were collected every month, except in connection with matings, when they were collected weekly (464 samples). The dogs that were included all mated at least once during the study. The mean pregnancy rate, litter size, and pup mortality for the bitches with which they had mated were all within normal limits. The most frequent bacteria isolated from the prepuce and semen were Pasteurella multocida, beta-hemolytic streptococci, and Escherichia coli. There was a tendency for breeds to differ in frequency of the most common bacterial species. Bacterial culture yielded no aerobic growth in 14.2% of the preputial samples and 69.8% of the semen samples. Bacteria were transferred between dog and bitch at mating. In this study of healthy breeding dogs, neither the fertility of the dog nor that of the bitch was affected by the bacteria transferred.     

Eradication of lice in cattle.

The purpose of this field study was to develop and evaluate eradication as a strategy to control lice in cattle. Thirty-three herds of cattle were selected and observed during a period of two and a half years. Before eradication, biting lice (Damalinia bovis) were present in 94% of the herds and 27% of the animals. Sucking lice (Linognathus vituli) were present in 42% of the herds and 5% of the animals. These levels were very similar to those reported from other countries in Northern Europe. The eradication strategy was successful in 28 of 33 herds, but lice were still present in 5 herds 3 to 6 months after treatment. Biting lice were present in all these 5 herds, sucking lice were present in 3 herds. During the next 12 months, nine of the 28 herds were reinfected with lice. Six herds were reinfected with just biting lice, 2 herds with just sucking lice and one herd was reinfected with both. There was no significant difference between the 2 louse species regarding the risk of unsuccessful eradication or reinfection. The only significant risk factor for reinfection was either purchase of livestock or use of common pasture, combined with failure in pre-treatment of newly introduced animals.     

Inflammatory mammary carcinoma in dogs: 33 cases (1995-1999).

OBJECTIVE: To determine epidemiologic, clinical, and pathologic characteristics of inflammatory mammary carcinoma (IC) in dogs. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 33 dogs with IC and 153 dogs with malignant mammary tumors other than IC. PROCEDURES: Medical records were reviewed, and signalment, history, physical examination findings, and results of thoracic radiography and necropsy were obtained. RESULTS: 33 of 436 (7.6%) dogs examined at a veterinary teaching hospital because of dysplasia or tumors of the mammary glands and 33 of 186 (17.7%) dogs with at least 1 malignant tumor had IC. Thirty-two of the 33 dogs were sexually intact. Dogs with IC were significantly older than were dogs with other malignant mammary tumors, and in dogs with IC, the tumor was initially noticed a mean of 52 days after the beginning of the last observed estrus, whereas in dogs with other mammary tumors, the tumor was initially noticed a mean of 137 days after the beginning of the last observed estrus. Dogs with IC were more likely to be anorectic and to have generalized weakness, weight loss, and thoracic metastases. Dogs with IC survived a mean of 25 days with palliative treatment. Histologically, involvement of dermal lymphatic vessels was identified in 14 of 19 (74%) dogs with IC. Two clinical forms of IC (primary and secondary) were identified. Dogs with primary IC had a worse clinical condition. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that IC is an uncommon but distinct entity in dogs. A histologic finding of dermal lymphatic involvement should be considered a hallmark for the pathologic diagnosis of IC in dogs.     

对我国节水灌溉技术发展的几点思考

我国节水灌溉技术的推广应用多年来在国家有关部门的领导下 ,通过广大科技、生产和应用人员的共同努力 ,取得了显著成效。面对新世纪的来临和我国加入世贸组织 ,我国节水灌溉技术如何发展 ,以适应新时期新形势的要求 ,笔者浅见如下。1　进一步提高推广节水灌溉技术对我国经济持续发展重要意义的认识　　我国是一个水资源相对短缺的国家 ,水资源总量约为 2 .8万亿ｍ3,人均占有量仅 2 2 0 0ｍ3,不足世界人均占有量的 1 4,平均每公顷占有量仅 12 0 0 0ｍ3,只有世界平均水平的 1 2。进入 90年代以来 ,我国农业年均受旱面积达2 0 0 0万ｈｍ2 以上…     

硒蛋白的基因表达与调控

硒蛋白是微量元素硒以硒代半胱氯酸(SeC)形式进入多肽链的蛋白质。SeC的遗传密码是UGA。在原核细胞中,4种基因产物SELA、SELB、SELC和SELD参与了硒蛋白的合成过程。真核生物硒蛋白mRNA3’-UTR的硒代半胱氨酸插入序列(SECIS)是真核细胞UGA密码编码SeC的顺式作用元件。动物的硒营养状态不影响硒蛋白基因的转录,但影响硒蛋白mRNA的稳定性。饲料硒水平与含硒酶活性呈正相关。