Changes in blood and spleen lymphocyte populations following antigen challenge in immature male chickens

1. The effects of antigen (Ag) injection on the distribution of lymphocyte populations of Cornell K‐strain male chickens were studied.

2. Two experiments were conducted. In the first, chickens were injected with Brucella abortus (BA), a purported T‐independent antigen. In the second, chickens were injected with sheep red blood cells (SRBC), a T‐dependent antigen. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and spleen lymphocytes isolated at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 h following Ag injection were stained with monoclonal antibodies (mAb) detecting B‐lymphocytes, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cells.

3. B‐lymphocytes in the blood or spleen showed no significant changes following either BA or SRBC injection. In contrast, CD4⁺ cells were decreased in the blood and increased in the spleen following BA and SRBC injections. CD8⁺ cells were decreased in both blood and spleen following BA injection but were unchanged in either blood or the spleen following SR8C injection.

4. These results indicate that there is a change in both spleen and circulating lymphocyte populations, especially T‐helper cells, following Ag injection. T‐helper cells are apparently the primary population involved in the initiation of humoral immunity.     

Food intake adjustments of chicks: Short term reactions of genetic stocks to deficiencies in lysine,methionine or tryptophan

1. Growth, food intake, and food preference were measured in two experimental lines (White Rocks and White Leghorns) of chickens fed diets varying in content of lysine, methionine, or tryptophan. Diet A was balanced in all amino acids, while the remaining 6 diets were moderately ( ～ 30%) or slightly ( ～ 15%) deficient in either lysine, methionine, or tryptophan relative to NRC recommendations for broiler diets.

2. Body weight and food utilisation efficiency of White Leghorns at 10 d of age were not affected by diet, whereas the lower concentrations of lysine and methionine depressed these traits in White Rocks.

3. Tryptophan deficiency reduced food intake of White Leghorns, but not White Rocks.

4. With choice feeding of balanced and deficient diets from day 10 to 16, preferences between the diets were minimal for White Leghorns, whereas for White Rocks there was an almost immediate preference for the balanced diet, followed by lack of preference or preference for the deficient diet.

5. Apparently for some genetic stocks there is rapid adjustment to deficiencies in these amino acids with overconsumption, followed by compensation for preference of the balanced diet. The response, however, will vary depending on the deficient amino acid.     

Comparisons of frequencies and egg shell characteristics of broken and intact eggs within diverse populations of chickens

1. Differences were found among eight populations of White Plymouth Rock pullets in the frequency of broken eggs.

2. The shells of such eggs were thinner than those of intact eggs in seven of the populations.

3. The number of defective eggs, the specific gravity of the eggs, and the percentage hen‐day egg production of normal eggs were significantly correlated within populations with the incidence of broken eggs.

4. No significant correlations were found within populations between the incidence of egg breakage and either egg weight, body weight, or shank length.     

德国及蒙古沙棘品种无性系生物学和观赏性价值评估

沙棘由于其有丰富的内含物和多方面的用途正被作为＂新兴水果＂而赢得了人们越来越多的重视和喜爱.通过在柏林Baumschulenweg的育种工作,到目前为止,已经育成不同成熟期的5个雌性和4个雄性沙棘品种.更多的由欧洲和蒙古原生种产生的杂交选育工作仍在进行中.将这些无性系按照其生物学和果实性状进行评估.就单个性状来讲,各品种之间的差异非常大（比如维生素的含量在17～340mg/100g之间变动,胡萝卜素的变动范围为6.5～23.8mg/100g）.这表明,进一步的育种改良完全有可能.所有用于比较的沙棘品种由在德累斯顿Pillnitz进行的育种工作获得,这些品种将被进一步研究.为了保险起见,以及为了解决后来有可能产生的育种及植物病理学方面的问题,必须尽可能保存现有的所有的某一品种的基因多样性.为此目的,由国家资助扶持的基因库的建立是很有必要的.     

Treatment of pigs with enrofloxacin via different oral dosage forms – environmental contaminations and resistance development of Escherichia coli

BackgroundAntibacterial agents play important roles in the treatment of bacterial infections. However, the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and carry-over of substances into the environment are several problems arising during oral treatment of bacterial infections. We assessed AMR development in commensal Escherichia coli (E. coli) in enrofloxacin treated and untreated animals. In addition, we examined fluoroquinolone in the plasma and urine of treated and untreated animals, and in sedimentation dust and aerosol.MethodsIn each trial, six pigs were treated with enrofloxacin via powder, granulate or pellet forms in two time periods (days 1–5 and 22–26). Four pigs served as untreated controls. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined to evaluate AMR development. Analysis of enro- and ciprofloxacin was performed with high performance liquid chromatography.ResultsNon-wildtype E. coli (MIC > 0.125 µg/mL) was detected in the pellet treated group after the first treatment period, whereas in the other groups, non-wildtype isolates were found after the second treatment period. E. coli with MIC > 4 µg/mL was found in only the pellet trial. Untreated animals showed similar susceptibility shifts several days later. Bioavailability differed among the treatment forms (granulate > pellet > powder). Enro- and ciprofloxacin were detected in aerosols and sedimentation dust (granulate, powder > pellet).ConclusionsThis study indicates that the kind of the oral dosage form of antibiotics affects environmental contamination and AMR development in commensal E. coli in treated and untreated pigs.     

Characteristics of phosphorus uptake kinetics of poinsettia and marigold

In a previous experiment it has been found that maximum uptake rate (I_max), Michaelis constant (K_m), and minimum nutrient concentration (C_min) as plant physiological characteristics may be important for phosphorus (P) uptake in peat-substrate. Thus, variation of P uptake parameters was evaluated with a series of depletion studies for poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) and marigold (Tagetes patula) under fluctuating climatic conditions and different developmental stages.     

Structure determination of partially deuterated carotenoids from intrinsically labeled vegetables by HPLC-MS and 1H NMR

The structures of biosynthetic deuterated carotenoids in labeled vegetables were investigated: (all-E)-lutein and (all-E)-beta-carotene from spinach, and (all-E)-beta-carotene and (all-E)-alpha-carotene from carrots. The vegetables were grown hydroponically using a nutrient solution enriched with deuterium oxide (D(2)O) and were extracted using matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD). Deuterium enrichment in the carotenoid molecules was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). (all-E)-Lutein and (all-E)-beta-carotene in spinach showed partial deuteration from (2)H(1) to (2)H(12), with the abundance maximum at (2)H(5). (all-E)-beta-Carotene and (all-E)-alpha-carotene from carrots showed partial deuteration from (2)H(1) to (2)H(17), with the abundance maximum at (2)H(11). The (1)H NMR spectra of the four deuterated carotenoids showed additional signals for all methyl groups and decreased signal intensity for the olefinic protons and the methylene protons in the ring. These differences are due to isotopic effects and are based on the substitution of protons by deuterium atoms. The deuteration was distributed randomly throughout the carotenoid molecules.     

Interactions of local habitat type,landscape composition and flower availability moderate wild bee communities

Context

Landscape and local habitat traits moderate wild bee communities. However, whether landscape effects differ between local habitat types is largely unknown.

Objectives

We explored the way that wild bee communities in three distinct habitats are shaped by landscape composition and the availability of flowering plants by evaluating divergences in response patterns between habitats.

Methods

In a large-scale monitoring project across 20 research areas, wild bee data were collected on three habitats: near-natural grassland, established flower plantings and residual habitats (e.g. field margins). Additionally, landscape composition was mapped around the research areas.

Results

Our monitoring produced a dataset of 27,650 bees belonging to 324 species. Bee communities on all three habitats reacted similarly to local flower availability. Intensively managed grassland in the surrounding landscape had an overall negative effect on the studied habitats. Other landscape variables produced diverging response patterns that were particularly pronounced during early and late season. Bee communities in near-natural grassland showed a strong positive response to ruderal areas. Flower plantings and residual habitats such as field margins showed a pronounced positive response to extensively managed grassland and woodland edges. Response patterns regarding bee abundance were consistent with those found for species richness.

Conclusion

We advise the consideration of local habitat type and seasonality when assessing the effect of landscape context on bee communities. A reduction in the intensity of grassland management enhances bee diversity in a broad range of habitats. Moreover, wild bee communities are promoted by habitat types such as ruderal areas or woodland edges.

     

Beilage III

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