Prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs from public shelters in Serbia

Data on endoparasitic infections in dogs from dog shelters in Southeastern Europe are limited; thus, this study aimed to add to the existing knowledge on this topic by reporting on the prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs from public dog shelters in the Republic of Serbia. In 2017 and 2018, individual and pooled fecal samples, were collected from 1267 dogs from six shelters. All samples were qualitatively examined for parasites using flotation tests. Seven taxa of intestinal parasites were identified: Cystoisospora spp., ascarids: Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina, hookworms, Trichuris vulpis, taeniids and Dipylidium caninum. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 58. 3 % (78. 1 % in young dogs and 53.1 % in adult dogs). The parasites detected in both young (<1 year old) and adult dogs (>1 year old) were Cystoisospora spp. (20 % and 4.9 %), T. canis (33.5 % and 14.7 %), T. leonina (7.7 % and 2.3 %), and hookworms (16.9 % and 15 %), respectively. However, T. vulpis (9.6 %), taeniids (1.3 %), and D. caninum (5.4 %) were detected only in adult dogs. In the Belgrade shelter, young dogs had a higher prevalence of endoparasitic infections (18.9 %, 49/260) than adult dogs (14.8 %, 149/1007). In the Subotica, Jagodina and Niš shelters, young dogs had significantly higher (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively) prevalence of endoparasitic infections (10 %, 12.3 % and 14.6 %) than adult dogs (5.3 %, 8 % and 7.2 %). These results will be useful for establishing health care programs in dog shelters and implementing effective strategies for the control of intestinal parasites.     

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.     

Comparison of flagellin and an oil-emulsion adjuvant in inactivated Newcastle disease vaccine in stimulation of immunogenic parameters

The present study was designed to investigate the potential application of native (N) and recombinant (truncated modified [tmFliC] and full-length [flFliC]) flagellin proteins along with inactivated Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Fifty six SPF chickens were immunized twice with PBS (control), inactivated NDV (Ag), inactivated NDV/flFliC (AgF), inactivated NDV/tmFliC (AgT), inactivated NDV/N (AgN), commercial vaccine containing Montanide (Vac) and Vac/N (VacN), with a two-week interval. Blood was collected weekly and spleens were harvested after chickens were sacrificed. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α) gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by Real-Time PCR. Antibody response was assessed by haemagglutination inhibition (HI). Cellular activity was quantified by MTT assay. Results showed that the most IL-6 and TNF-α gene expression was observed in AgF group (P < 0.01). The lowest gene expression among vaccinated groups was observed in Ag group for IL-6 and Ag and Vac group for TNF-α. The highest HI titer was observed in Vac, VacN, AgF and AgT groups. The AgF group showed the highest cellular activity (P < 0.01). In conclusion, flagellin-adjuvanted groups showed a pro-inflammatory effect and acted similarly to or better than the Vac group. Hence, flagellin can be proposed as a potential adjuvant for ND vaccine.     

The effect of feeding a novel multistrain yeast fraction on European seabass (Dicentrachus labrax) intestinal health and growth performance

Fish were fed a single‐strain yeast fraction (SsYF; 2 g/kg) or a multistrain yeast fraction (MsYF; 0.8 g/kg) for 10 weeks. The results demonstrated significant (p ≤ 0.03) elevations in weight gain, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, and feed conversion ratio in fish fed the yeast fraction‐supplemented diets. In the distal intestine, a significant elevation in microvilli density was observed after 5 and 10 weeks of dietary supplementation with MsYF and SsYF, respectively, compared to control fed fish (p < 0.001). A significant elevation (p = 0.02) in the perimeter ratio was observed in fish fed diets supplemented with the yeast fractions. After 10 weeks of feeding on the experimental diets, Rt‐qPCR demonstrated a significant downregulation (p < 0.05) in the stress response genes, heat‐shock protein 70 (hsp70) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (pcna), in fish fed diets supplemented with the yeast fractions. Significant (p < 0.05) elevations in interleukin 1‐beta (il1β) and interleukin‐10 (il10) gene expression were observed in fish fed diets supplemented with the MsYF compared to the other dietary groups. These findings suggest that feeding an MsYF specifically at a lower incorporation rate < 1 g/kg, compared to a commercial SsYF at 2 g/kg, is effective in improving the intestinal health status and growth performance of European seabass.     

富锗酵母培养物对下笼蛋鸡肉品质、肠道菌群及结构的影响

本试验旨在研究富锗酵母培养物对下笼蛋鸡肉品质及肠道的影响。选取505日龄健康的海兰褐壳蛋鸡480只,随机分为4组,每组5个重复,每个重复24只鸡。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组在基础日粮中分别添加12、16、20 mg/kg的富锗酵母菌培养物。预试期7 d,正试期为42 d。结果表明:与对照组相比,12、16、20 mg/kg组腿肉的蒸煮损失分别降低45.2%、33.6%、39.7%(P<0.01),pH均高于对照组(P<0.01);16mg/kg组腿肌的亮度(L~*)低于对照组(P<0.05);12、16、20 mg/kg组腿肌的剪切力分别比对照组低44.13%、56.07%、50.60%(P<0.01);各试验组胸肌pH均高于对照组(P<0.01),16mg/kg组的pH高于12、20mg/kg组(P<0.05);与对照组相比,16mg/kg组乳酸菌数量升高(P<0.05);空肠中,各试验组的绒毛长度高于对照组(P<0.01);16、20 mg/kg组绒毛长度/隐窝深度高于对照组(P<0.01)。结果显示,日粮中添加富锗酵母培养物可以改善下笼蛋鸡小肠的形态结构和肠道菌群平衡,提高鸡肉品质,建议添加量为16 mg/kg。     

动物细胞因子研究进展

细胞因子是免疫活性细胞和其它细胞分泌的具有多种生物活性的多肽或蛋白质 ,这些细胞因子是重要的信息传递物质 ,特别在免疫、炎症和造血系统等生物学反应过程中具有重要的作用。近几年 ,细胞因子的研究已成为生物学研究中最活跃的领域之一。新的细胞因子不断被发现 ,大量的细胞因子正在或将要应用于医学临床。细胞因子的研究带动了整个免疫学的发展。其应用展现出广阔的前景。文章简要介绍了动物细胞因子的作用及其应用前景 ,包括细胞因子与免疫抑制的关系、细胞因子在免疫增强剂和免疫治疗剂、构建新型基因工程苗以及细胞因子对于蛋白质、脂肪和葡萄糖代谢的调控作用等方面的主要研究进展     

茶多酚(TP)对家禽免疫功能的研究

选用14日龄健康的海佩科内用仔鸡48羽,随机分成试验(24羽)和对照(24羽)两组.试验组在饲粮中添加0.25％的茶多酚(TP),研究TP对鸡免疫功能的作用.试验结果表明,TP对自然感染法氏囊病鸡,有明显提高(p<0.05)鸡血液中红细胞C_(3b)受体和免疫复合物的含量及保护鸡脾脏正常的免疫功能,同时也发现TP对公母鸡法氏囊的重量有不同影响.本试验表明,TP具有提高家禽免疫功能的作用.     

胃肠道线虫的黏膜免疫

从机体抗胃肠道线虫的黏膜免疫、胃肠道黏膜的抗原加工与递呈、胃肠道黏膜抵御寄生虫的效应机制等几方面论述了胃肠道线虫的免疫机理和免疫学研究的进展，旨在进一步阐明用免疫介入方法防治胃肠道线虫的理论基础，以解决胃肠道线虫治疗过程中的药物残留以及寄生虫的抗药性问题。     

双黄杀毒退烧颗粒对畜禽免疫功能的影响

研究了纯中药复方抗病毒制剂--双黄杀毒退烧颗粒对成年兔、鸡的体液免疫及细胞免疫功能的影响.HI抗体检测、MTT实验、E-玫瑰花环形成试验和酯酶染色试验的结果表明,双黄杀毒退烧颗粒能显著增强家兔的体液免疫作用,明显提高家兔和鸡的细胞免疫功能,对家兔的免疫增强作用优于鸡.     

D-LysAsnProTyr四肽对肉仔鸡免疫及主要生产性能的影响

将体重、发育及健康状况接近的300羽7日龄肉仔鸡随机等分为5个处理，每个处理设3重复，每重复20羽。试鸡用D-LysAsnProTyr四肽＋3头份新城疫Ⅳ系疫苗生理盐水混合液滴鼻，剂量为50μl／只，D-LysAsnProTyr四肽水平为：0μg／只（对照组），15μg／只，20μg／只，25μg／只，30μg／只。测定新城疫抗体水平及淋巴细胞ANAE阳性百分率，计算全期平均日增重、采食量和料肉比。结果表明，D-LysAsnProTyr四肽在20～25μg／只鸡剂量对ND抗体有明显的提高作用，不改变抗体变化规律；显著提高肉仔鸡血液中淋巴细胞阳性百分率，10～42日龄20μg／只和25μg／只试验组分别比对照组提高2．03～9．47个百分点和2．36～9．22个百分点，淋巴细胞阳性百分率的增减变化规律与对照组相一致，说明适宜剂量D-LysAsnProTyr四肽可以显著提高肉仔鸡对ND的体液免疫和细胞免疫。20μg／只、25μg／只组试期末体重、平均日增重显著高于15μg／只、30μg／只组（P〈0．05）。与20μg／只、25μg／只组相比，对照组日增重、饲料转化率有降低趋势（P〉0．05）。各处理组对肉仔鸡日均采食量无显著影响（P〉0．05）。