The use of ultrasonography in the reproductive evaluation of boars

The objective was to study the use of ultrasound as a complementary test in the breeding soundness evaluation in male pigs and study the pattern of echogenicity of the testicular parenchyma in boars of different racial groups. Twenty‐six adult boars from four different racial groups were used, 10 from the Piau breed (group 1), four from the commercial and finishing group (group 2), six Pietrain breed (group 3) and six from the Duroc breed (group 4). All animals were evaluated for breeding soundness evaluation and the ultrasound examination of the testicles. The groups of animals that were evaluated showed no difference in the main semen parameters that were evaluated, except for the sperm volume, concentration of the ejaculated sperm and the supravital staining; the lowest figures were for the animals from the Piau breed (group 1). In relation to the testicular biometrics, Duroc animals (group 4) had a greater scrotal width compared to the other groups. But when we assessed the intensity of pixels of the testicles, there was a difference between groups. The groups 2 (finishing animals), 3 (Pietrain) and 4 had no difference between themselves. Group 3 had greater pixel intensity in relation to group 1. Of the 26 animals studied, five showed an abnormality during ultrasound evaluation, like hydrocele, hyperechoic mass in the testicular parenchyma, cyst in the head of the epididymis and the presence of fluid in the head and tail of the epididymis. The various animal groups studied did not differ in the principal reproductive parameters evaluated, showing that despite the great variability of reproductive traits between breeds and within the same breed, the breeding soundness evaluation, the more complete it is, is essential for the selection of breeders and the ultrasonography of the reproductive system becomes an important addition in this examination.     

2008年上半年度全国白羽肉鸡生产形势报告

2008年上半年,我国的白羽肉鸡市场还是国外引进品种一统天下。在引种数量上,全国共有9家企业先后从国外引进祖代肉种鸡34．16万套。在品种方面,爱拔益加（AA＋）的市场份额仍然保持第一,达到50．1％,罗斯308（Ross）和科宝（Cobb）分别占据第二和第三位,市场份额分别占到31．0％和18．9％。     

Some physicochemical factors influencing foliar uptake enhancement of glyphosatemono(isopropylammonium) by polyoxyethylene surfactants

Structure-concentration–foliar uptake enhancement relationships between commercial polyoxyethylene primary aliphatic alcohol (A), nonylphenol (NP), primary aliphatic amine (AM) surfactants and the herbicide glyphosatemono(isopropylammonium) were studied in experiments with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and field bean (Vicia faba L.) plants growing under controlled-environment conditions. Candidate surfactants had mean molar ethylene oxide (EO) contents ranging from 5 to 20 and were added at concentrations varying from 0·2 to 10 g litre^?-1 to [¹⁴C]glyphosate formulations in acetone–water. Rates and total amounts of herbicide uptake from c. 0·2–μl droplet applications of formulations to leaves were influenced by surfactant EO content, surfactant hydrophobe composition, surfactant concentration, glyphosate concentration and plant species, in a complex manner. Surfactant effects were most pronounced at 0·5 g acid equivalent (a.e.) glyphosate litre^?-1 where, for both target species, surfactants of high EO content (15–20) were most effective at enhancing herbicide uptake: surfactants of lower EO content (5–10) frequently reduced, or failed to improve, glyphosate absorption. Whereas, at optimal EO content, AM surfactants caused greatest uptake enhancement on wheat, A surfactants gave the best overall performance on field bean; NP surfactants were generally the least efficient class of adjuvants on both species. Threshold concentrations of surfactants needed to increase glyphosate uptake were much higher in field bean than wheat (c. 2 g litre^?-1 and < 1 g litre^?-1, respectively); less herbicide was taken up by both species at high AM surfactant concentrations. At 5 and 10 g a.e. glyphosate litre^?-1, there were substantial increases in herbicide absorption and surfactant addition could cause effects on uptake that were different from those observed at lower herbicide doses. In particular, the influence of EO content on glyphosate uptake was now much less marked in both species, especially with AM surfactants. The fundamental importance of glyphosate concentration for its uptake was further emphasised by experiments using formulations with constant a.i./surfactant weight ratios. Any increased foliar penetration resulting from inclusion of surfactants in 0·5 g litre^?-1 [¹⁴C]glyphosate formulations gave concomitant increases in the amounts of radiolabel that were translocated away from the site of application. At these low herbicide doses, translocation of absorbed [¹⁴C]glyphosate in wheat was c. twice that in field bean; surfactant addition to the formulation did not increase the proportion transported in wheat but substantially enhanced it in field bean.     

Surfactant-enhanced foliar uptake of some organic compounds: Interactions with two model polyoxyethylene aliphatic alcohols

Interactions occurring during the surfactant-enhanced foliar uptake of seven model organic compounds were examined using two homogeneous surfactants, hexaethylene glycol monotridecyl ether (C13E6) and hexadecaethylene glycol monododecyl ether (C12E16). Surfactant–compound and compound–surfactant interactions were detected by measurement of their relative uptake rates following application of c. 0·2 μl droplets of the corresponding radiolabelled formulations. The magnitude of surfactant–compound interaction was found to vary according to the physicochemical properties of both the compound and the surfactant, and was influenced by surfactant concentration and target plant species. Interactive and non-interactive mechanisms, both leading to substantial enhancement of compound uptake, could be identified, but their precise nature could not be elucidated. Although penetration of C13E6 into the site of application appeared to be essential in order to activate the uptake of a compound, substantial absorption of C12E16 was not always required to produce the same effect. The results are discussed in the light of possible sites and modes of action for activator polyoxyethylene surfactant adjuvants.     

Evaluation of a commercially available hyperimmune plasma product for prevention of naturally acquired pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi in foals

OBJECTIVE: To determine efficacy of a commercially available hyperimmune plasma product for prevention of naturally acquired pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi in foals. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. ANIMALS: 165 foals. PROCEDURE: Foals were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups (hyperimmune plasma or nontreated controls). Foals with failure of passive transfer (FPT) of immunity were treated with hyperimmune plasma and evaluated as a third group. Foals that received plasma were given 950 ml between 1 and 10 days of age and between 30 and 50 days of age. A tracheobronchial aspirate was obtained from foals with clinical signs of respiratory tract disease for bacteriologic culture. RESULTS: A significant difference in incidence of pneumonia caused by R equi in foals with adequate passive transfer was not detected between foals that received plasma (19.1%) and nontreated foals (30%). Of 13 foals without FPT that received plasma and developed pneumonia caused by R equi, 12 developed disease prior to administration of the second dose of hyperimmune plasma. Incidence of undifferentiated pneumonia of all causes was not different between groups. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Intravenous administration of the commercially available hyperimmune plasma was safe, and the product contained high concentrations of anti-R equi antibodies. However, within this limited foal population, the difference in incidence of pneumonia caused by R equi observed between foals that received plasma and control foals was not significant.     

Amoxycillin and clavulanic acid combination in the treatment of experimentally induced bacterial cystitis in cats

Clavulanic acid (CA) competitively inhibits beta-lactamase hydrolysis of penicillins in vitro. Treatment with amoxycillin combined with clavulanic acid (A-CA) was compared with placebo in a blind study in cats with experimental cystitis caused by Escherichia coli demonstrating in vitro resistance to amoxycillin. Bacterial cystitis was induced in 20 cats by bladder infusion of 5 ml of 0.05 per cent alcoholic salicylic acid followed after 24 hours by a brain-heart infusion broth of E coli (10(8) colony forming units ml-1) previously found to be resistant to amoxycillin in vitro (minimum inhibitory concentration over 512 micrograms ml-1). Four days after infection, cats were randomly divided into two groups of 10 and treated with amoxycillin combined with clavulanic acid or placebo for 10 days. When compared to the placebo-treated group, the A-CA treated group showed: reduced quantitative bacterial counts in urine on days 7 (P less than 0.001) and 14 (P less than 0.02); reduced culture positive urine on days 7 (P less than 0.001) and 14 (P less than 0.001); and less severe inflammation on histological examination of the bladder and urethra (P less than 0.01). It was concluded that A-CA was effective in reducing the bacterial count and reducing the histopathological changes in the bladder and urethra in an experimental model of acute bacterial cystitis in cats infected with an E coli demonstrating in vitro resistance to amoxycillin.     

Cryopreservation of Piau‐Breed Wild Boar Sperm: Assessment of Cooling Curves and Centrifugation Regimes

This study aimed to assess the effects of different cooling curves and centrifugation regimes used in cryopreservation protocols on the post‐thaw viability of Piau‐breed wild boar (Sus scrofa) sperm using in vitro assessment tests. Two centrifugations (800  g for 10 min and 2400  g for 3 min) and two cooling curves (conventional cooling using nitrogen vapour – freezing 1 and automated cooling using a programmed freezing machine – freezing 2) were tested. Therefore, the treatments were divided into M3 – centrifugation at 2400  g for 3 min and freezing 2; M10 – centrifugation at 800  g for 10 min and freezing 2; R3 – centrifugation at 2400  g for 3 min and freezing 1; and R10 – centrifugation at 800  g for 10 min and freezing 1. No significant differences (p > 0.05) between treatments occurred post‐thawing regarding the total sperm motility means recorded. The mean values of the different treatments were not different from each other regarding the supravital staining (SV), hypo‐osmotic test (HO), sperm–egg binding assay or sperm morphology. This study showed that both the cooling curve and the centrifugation regime affected the quality of post‐thaw sperm, and centrifugation for shorter times and cooling curves using automated cooling are the most suitable for minimizing sperm injury.