Genetic Engineering Approaches to Pig Production*

Modern biotechnology promises a number of new applications in animal breeding and production. Although conventional pig breeding has achieved a high level of efficiency and productivity numerous problems have been encountered with animal health and the loss of meat quality. Selection based on phenotypic performance data of individual animals does not take into account the importance of specific genes and their relevance within a complex regulatory system. In most cases it is therefore difficult to trace back the genetic origins of clinically important disorders. The application of genetic engineering techniques in pig production will facilitate diagnosis, improvement of productivity, and animal health by allowing direct genetic manipulation. Attention must be focussed on the physical and genetic analysis of the procine genome. The isolation and characterisation of genes, DNA-markers, polymorphic DNA-fragments, and their chromosomal assignment will be important prerequisites and tools for the elucidation of genetic disorders. Especially the detection of heterozygous carriers of recessive disorders and their elimination from the breeding stock will increase selection accuracy and decrease the generation intervals. But also the rapid and simple detection of infectious diseases, which is sometimes difficult if not impossible at present, will improve animal health and welfare. Although the production of transgenic animals either by DNA-microinjection into zygotes or the use of embryonal stem cells manipulated in vitro is less straightforward than DNA-based diagnosis it will play an important role in the direct manipulation of the porcine genome and genes. Breeding programmes including the use of transgenic livestock have already been developed. There is no doubt that genetic engineering has reached a degree of practical feasibility, allowing it to play an important role in pig breeding in particular and animal production in general.     

日粮纤维及其对幼龄单胃动物消化功能的影响

日粮纤维能提供大量的能量,而且有利于维持动物机体的正常消化功能。本文综述了日粮纤维的代谢及对幼龄单胃动物消化功能的影响。     

兽用抗寄生虫药物新剂型及其新技术的研究进展

兽用抗寄生虫药物由于使用频繁,其给药技术研究一直备受重视.目前,兽用抗寄生虫药物新剂型和新技术的研究主要集中在缓释控释制剂和脂质体制剂,其次是透皮给药系统、微囊、微球、环糊精包合物、固体分散体等.但这些新剂型和新技术大多还处于研究阶段,在处方设计或制剂工艺方面都还存在一些问题,今后应加强这些新剂型的工艺和技术研究,以真正发挥这些新剂型的优点.     

实验动物微生物学质量控制及效果观察

以SPF级（无特殊病原体）动物为种源，采取综合防治措施，在屏障设施饲养清洁级实验小鼠和大鼠。经过两年饲养繁育的结果表明：动物微生物学质量符合清洁级动物国家标准，质量控制效果显著。     

Detection of cigarettes and other tobacco products by giant African pouched rats (Cricetomys gambianus)

If the illicit tobacco trade were eliminated, governments could gain at least $31.3 billion a year, and more than 164,000 premature deaths a year could be avoided after 2030 (Joossens, Merriman, Ross, and Raw, 2009). Dogs have been used successfully in tobacco control programs, and there is a good chance that rats could also play an important role. In the present experiment, giant African pouched rats were trained to respond to filters that had been stored together with cigarettes (i.e., soaked) and to not respond to filters that had been soaked with noncigarette items. Generalization to untrained types of tobacco was then tested. The sensitivity of 4 rats trained on filters soaked with 1 of 7 types of cigarettes ranged from 86% to 100% (mean, 95%). There was very little evidence of generalization when the rats were tested on tobacco leaves and snuff but good evidence of generalization when the rats were tested on cigarettes that had been soaked with strong-smelling additives. These findings suggest that rats may be a valuable asset in the global effort to control illicit cigarette trade.     

大豆抗原蛋白对幼龄动物致敏作用的研究进展

大豆抗原蛋白对幼龄动物的致敏作用及不易灭活性使其成为大豆及其制品在动物养殖中有效利用的主要瓶颈。本文从主要抗原蛋白的特性、致敏机制、对幼龄动物的影响、降低抗原蛋白的方法及有待进一步探索问题等方面进行了阐述,旨在为高效利用大豆及其制品,以及进一步深入研究提供参考。     

水生动物肌醇营养研究进展

肌醇是大多数水生动物保持健康、促进生长发育必需的营养素,它在细胞膜磷脂合成、神经递质传递和肝脏脂质转运等方面发挥重要作用。饲料中肌醇缺乏导致水生动物生长不良、体表充血、鳍条糜烂、体色发黑、脂肪肝等症状。本文综述了肌醇的理化性质,肌醇在水生动物营养中营养生理作用、需要量及影响因素等,同时还介绍了肌醇的来源和测定方法,并展望了肌醇在水生动物营养中进一步的研究和应用方向。     

Avian anaesthesia related mortality and the associated risk factors in a UK zoological collection

ObjectiveTo analyse avian anaesthesia-related mortality in a UK zoological collection over a 5-year period and identify risk factors for mortality.Study designRetrospective cohort study.AnimalsA total of 135 individual birds across 37 species, anaesthetized during 206 events in a UK zoological collection between 1 January 2014 and 30 June 2019 (inclusive).MethodsAnaesthesia records were reviewed and variables such as age, body condition, weight, sex, duration of anaesthesia and health status were collated. Anaesthesia-related mortality was defined as those deaths occurring during anaesthesia and up to 7 days postanaesthesia. Outcome was analysed using multivariable conditional logistic regression. Overall mortality was defined and included birds euthanised during anaesthesia for non-anaesthesia related reasons. Data were summarised as median (range). A value of p < 0.05 was considered significant. Relative risks and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated for the association between risk factors and anaesthetic death where a statistically significant difference was found.ResultsThe overall mortality rate was 10.19% (95% CI = 6.06–14.3%), while anaesthesia-related mortality was 3.88% (95% CI = 1.69–7.51%). Birds with an abnormal health status had a 15.53-fold (95% CI = 1.95–123.63) increased risk of death compared with those with a normal health status. The duration of anaesthesia was also a statistically significant risk factor (p = 0.021) in the univariable analysis, but not when combined with health status. No other variables were associated with anaesthesia-related mortality.Conclusions and clinical relevanceAbnormal health status and longer anaesthetic procedures were associated with a significantly increased risk of anaesthesia-related death in this population of birds. It is recommended that anaesthetic duration is minimized, and pre-existing diseases are diagnosed where possible prior to general anaesthesia of birds. Anaesthetizing healthy birds was associated with a low risk of mortality.