Flow Cytometry Identification of X- and Y-Chromosome-Bearing Goat Spermatozoa

Flow cytometric sorting technology was used to measure the difference in DNA content between X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa in bucks. Spermatozoa were analysed by flow cytometry to characterize X- and Y-chromosome-bearing sperm populations and to quantify the DNA difference between them. Two symmetrical, overlapping and clearly separated peaks, corresponding to X- and Y-bearing spermatozoa, were detected. The difference in fluorescence intensity between the peaks was 4.4 +/- 0.03% without any significant inter- or intra-animal variations. Therefore, the identification and selection of high-purity samples of sperm populations for sex sorting is easier in bucks compared with other domestic species.     

No major effect of the leptin gene polymorphism on porcine production traits

Porcine leptin gene (LEP) and its association with production traits was analysed in the Polish Large White (PLW, n = 135), Polish Landrace (PL, n = 120) and synthetic line 990 (L990, n = 184). Two fragments of exon 3 of LEP were studied with the use of RFLP and SSCP techniques. The frequencies of C allele for the T3469C polymorphic site were 0.11, 0.10 and 0.11 in PLW, PL and L990, respectively. Phenotypic data were collected for the average daily weight gain, the feed conversion ratio, the weight of abdominal fat, backfat thickness (five measurements), intramuscular fat, meat content, loin weight, loin muscle area, ham weight and ham cut weight. The contrasts between TT and TC genotypes at the T3469C polymorphic site were estimated in the unitrait Animal Model with genotype at the RYR1 locus included. The lowest p values occurred for association test between T3469C polymorphism and intramuscular fat content in PLW (0.26 ± 0.14%, p = 0.05) and loin weight in L990 (?0.32 ± 0.13 kg, p = 0.01). We conclude that the detected associations are population‐specific and the analysed polymorphism of the LEP gene does not contribute directly to genetic variability of growth and carcass traits in pigs.     

Key Factors Affecting Reproductive Success of Thoroughbred Mares and Stallions on a Commercial Stud Farm

To evaluate factors contributing to fertility of thoroughbred mares, data from 3743 oestrous periods of 2385 mares were collected on a large thoroughbred farm in Ireland. Fourteen stallions (mean age 8.3 years; range 4–15 years) had bred 2385 mares (mean age 9.4 years; range 3–24 years). Maiden mares accounted for 12%, mares with a foal at foot for 64%, and barren, slipped or rested mares for 24% of the total. The mean pregnancy rate per cycle was 67.8% (68.6% in year 1 and 66.9% in year 2). Backward stepwise multivariable logistic regression analysis was utilized to develop two models to evaluate mare factors, including mare age, reproductive status, month of foaling, dystocia, month of cover, foal heat, cycle number, treatments, walk‐in status and stallion factors including stallion identity, stallion age, shuttle status, time elapsed between covers and high stallion usage on the per cycle pregnancy rate and pregnancy loss. Old age (p < 0.001) and cover within 20 days post‐partum (p < 0.003) were associated with lowered pregnancy rates. High mare age (p < 0.05) and barren, slipped or rested reproductive status (p = 0.05) increased the likelihood of pregnancy loss. Uterine inflammation or infection, if appropriately treated, did not affect fertility. Only high usage of stallions (used more than 21 times in previous week) was associated with lowered (p = 0.009) pregnancy rates. However, shuttle stallions were more likely to have increased (p = 0.035) pregnancy survival, perhaps reflecting a bias in stallion selection. In conclusion, mare age exerted the greatest influence on fertility; nonetheless, thoroughbreds can be effectively managed to achieve high reproductive performance in a commercial setting.     

Untersuchungen zur ökologischen situation ostdeutscher landwirtschaftsbetriebe

Repräsentative ostdeutsche Landwirtschaftsbetriebe sind hinsichtlich ihrer Umweltverträglichkeit bewertet worden. Dazu diente eine Methode, die für ca. 30 relevante Umwelt‐Gefährdungspotentiale aus den Bereichen Düngung, Bodenschutz, Pflanzenschutzmitteleinsatz, Agrarraumgestaltung, Artendiversität, Energiebilanz und Tierbesatz kritische Umweltbelastungen formuliert und damit aktuelle Betriebsdaten wertend vergleicht.

Die Ergebnisse zeigen eine sehr differenzierte Situation. Während Stoffbelastungen mit Konsequenzen für die Nahrungsqualität weitgehend unkritisch sind, bestehen Defizite vor allem als “Altlasten”; in den Bereichen Bodenschutz und Agrarraumgestaltung.

Beziehungen zwischen Intensität und Umweltverträglichkeitsbewertung werden diskutiert.     

Variation in clinical and parasitological traits in Pietrain and Meishan pigs infected with Sarcocystis miescheriana

Future prophylaxis needs new concepts, including natural disease resistance of hosts against infectious agents. Genomic approaches to detect and improve disease resistance in farm animals and the molecular mechanisms involved in host-parasite interactions depend to a high degree on the trait differences between founder breeds, i.e. on the animal model. The present study evaluates differences in susceptibility/resistance against Sarcocystis miescheriana in the European Pietrain (PI) and the Chinese Meishan (ME) pig breeds, based on 25 individuals, infected orally with 5x10(4) sporocysts of S. miescheriana. Significant differences appeared in clinical, serological, haematological and parasitological findings. The major discriminating period post infection (p.i.) was between days 42 and 45. Severity of signs was negatively correlated with specific immunoglobulin titres during the first 3 weeks p.i. and positively with the load of bradyzoites in muscle tissues of the pigs. Loads of bradyzoites in muscle tissues were 20 times higher in PI than in ME. Sarcocystis-specific differences between the two breeds were in the range of 1-2 standard deviations. The study lays the foundation for further experiments to analyse chromosomal regions, candidate genes, and thus the molecular basis of Sarcocystis susceptibility/resistance as a model for host-parasite interaction in protozoan infectious disease.     

Various approaches of teaching veterinary parasitology

In this paper, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various approaches of teaching veterinary parasitology, including the disciplinary, the problem-oriented and combined approaches. In the disciplinary approach, parasitology is taught in the classical manner as a coherent subject, covering parasite morphology, biology, molecular biology, epidemiology, pathology, immunology, clinical manifestation, diagnosis, therapy, control, and prevention. Problem-oriented teaching approaches the subjects starting from diseases in animal species or from organ systems or other objectives (e.g. food safety); it also tackles training of skills for problem solving and self-learning. Combined approaches include elements of the disciplinary approach and those of other methods. A combined approach of teaching veterinary parasitology, including basic disciplinary teaching of at least 70-90 h, and additional problem-oriented education, was recently proposed in a resolution by the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology [WAAVP News Lett. 5 (1) 3-4]. In 1999, a new curriculum has been established at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Berne, originally planned as a combination of organ-focused and problem-based approach. This model was soon identified to cause problems in teaching some disciplines, including infectious diseases. Conversely, the short-term experiences with this combined approach also confirmed some advantages of problem-oriented teaching in other, mainly clinical domains. Nevertheless, closer interdisciplinary contact and collaboration--especially in elective teaching--was enforced between paraclinical and clinical teaching by reforming the curriculum. However, it turned out that large student numbers in relation to the resources of manpower, rooms and finances limited the workability of the curriculum. Therefore, further and probably continuous improvement of the curriculum is necessary.     

Effects of delmadinone acetate on pituitary-adrenal function, glucose tolerance and growth hormone in male dogs

Objective To characterise the effects of delmadinone acetate on the pituitary-adrenal axis, glucose tolerance and growth hormone concentration in normal male dogs and dogs with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Design A prospective study involving nine normal male dogs and seven with prostatic hyperplasia.
Procedure Delmadinone acetate was administered to six normal male dogs and seven dogs with benign prostatic hyperplasia at recommended dose rates (1.5 mg/kg subcuta-neously at 0, 1 and 4 weeks). Three normal controls received saline at the same intervals. Blood concentrations of ACTH, cortisol, glucose, insulin and growth hormone were measured over 50 days. Intravenous glucose tolerance and ACTH response tests were performed before and after treatment in the nine normal animals.
Results A substantial suppression of basal and 2 h post-ACTH plasma cortisol secretion was demonstrated after one dose in all dogs given delmadinone acetate. Individual responses after the second and third administration varied between recovery in adrenal responsiveness to continued suppression. Plasma ACTH concentration was also diminished after one treatment. No effects were evident on glucose tolerance or serum growth hormone concentrations.
Conclusion Delmadinone acetate causes adrenal suppression from inhibition of release of ACTH from the pituitary gland. Treated dogs may be at risk of developing signs of glucocorticoid insufficiency if subjected to stressful events during or after therapy. Neither glucose intolerance nor hyper-somatotropism seems likely in male dogs given delmadinone acetate at the recommended dose rate, but the potential for excessive growth hormone secretion in treated bitches remains undetermined.     

Lipid Droplet Analysis Using In Vitro Bovine Oocytes and Embryos

The aim of this study was to quantify the content of lipid droplets in bovine oocytes and embryos from Bos indicus (Bi), Bos taurus (Bt) and Bos indicus × Bos taurus (Bi × Bt). Oocytes were aspirated post‐mortem and subjected to in vitro maturation, in vitro fertilization and in vitro development; the medium employed at each stage (TCM‐199, TALP, SOF) was supplemented with (i) serum replacement (SR), (ii) foetal calf serum (FCS) or (iii) oestrous cow serum (ECS). The structure and distribution of the lipid droplets were established using electron microscopy, but were quantified using an optical microscope on semi‐fine toluidine blue‐stained sections. The highest percentage of embryos corresponded to those produced with FCS and ECS, which differed from embryos generated with SR (p < 0.05). The highest percentage of morulae and the lowest percentage of blastocysts were obtained with the SR supplement (p < 0.05). The oocytes cultured in FCS demonstrated a higher number of lipid droplets compared to those cultured in SR and ECS (p < 0.05). Less accumulation of lipids was observed in embryos supplemented with SR. The lowest and highest numbers of lipid droplets in oocytes corresponded to the Bi and Bt strain, respectively. The lowest amount of lipid droplets in embryos was observed in Bi (p < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of the in vitro development culture medium (synthetic oviduct fluid) with a synthetic substitute serum produced similar results in terms of embryo development compared to those obtained with FCS, but a decreased degree of lipid droplet accumulation was observed in the in vitro‐cultured embryos.