A review of some characteristics,socio-economic aspects and utilization of Zulu sheep: implications for conservation     

Kunene NW  Bezuidenhout CC  Nsahlai IV  Nesamvuni EA 《Tropical animal health and production》2011,43(6):1075-1079

Zulu sheep are Nguni sheep of Zululand and are adapted to the harsh conditions of KwaZulu-Natal. They are used by rural farmers for economic purposes. Their numbers are declining, indicating a potential extinction threat. Knowledge of their phenotypic and genotypic characteristics is essential for conservation planning. In this review, there is a focus on the utilization, socio-economic aspects, phenotypic and genotypic characteristics as well as a proposed breeding programme. A survey has shown that rural farmers in the areas of northern KwaZulu-Natal prefer to keep this breed for its adaptability, resistance to diseases and meat quality. Zulu sheep are small-framed multi-coloured animals. Mature males weigh up to 38 kg and females up to 32 kg. Based on four morphological traits and live weight, phenotypic diversity between three populations was estimated at 48%. A genetic diversity between these three populations was estimated at 22%. Live weight of Zulu sheep can be estimated using the heart girth and wither height measurements. Scrotum circumference of young rams (up to 22 months old) is reliable for estimating the live weight. Animals that were characterized in the studies were grazed extensively and no supplements were provided. There is therefore a potential of weight increase if these animals are reared in a semi-extensive environment. An open nucleus breeding scheme is thus recommended for a sustainable use and conservation of this breed. For more conclusive results, larger numbers of phenotypic and genetic characteristics, in larger numbers of Zulu sheep populations, should be investigated.  相似文献   

Vascular distribution in ruptured canine cranial cruciate ligament     

Hayashi K  Bhandal J  Rodriguez CO  Kim SY  Entwistle R  Naydan D  Kapatkin A  Stover SM 《Veterinary surgery : VS》2011,40(2):198-203

Objective: To (1) determine the microanatomic vascular distribution in ruptured canine cranial cruciate ligaments (CCL) using specific vascular immunohistochemical techniques, and (2) compare vessel density between ruptured and intact canine CCL and between different areas of interest in ruptured CCL using histomorphometric analysis. Study Design: In vitro study. Animals: Dogs (n=41) admitted for surgical treatment of ruptured CCL and 19 dogs euthanatized for nonorthopedic conditions. Methods: Diseased (variable CCL rupture) and intact (normal control) CCL were processed for immunohistochemical staining specific to vessels (factor VIII, laminin). Mean vascular density was assessed and compared in areas of interest (torn end versus remaining core regions of CCL, proximal femoral versus distal tibial core CCL regions). Results: Ruptured CCL was more vascular than intact CCL; however there was no difference in vascular density between the torn end and the remaining core area of the ruptured CCL. Ruptured CCL was vascularized to a greater degree at the proximal portion than the distal portion of the CCL. Partially ruptured CCLs had a higher vessel density than completely ruptured CCLs. Conclusions: Vascular density is increased in diseased CCL compared with intact CCL. It remains to be determined whether this finding is associated with the cause of CCL rupture or is a result of CCL degeneration and rupture.  相似文献   

Differential immunohistochemical expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 in cow uteri with adenomyosis during follicular phase     

Moreira L  de Carvalho EC  Caldas-Bussiere MC 《Veterinary research communications》2011,35(5):261-269

The present investigation was intended to show a different immunohistochemical profile of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and Tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-2 in bovine uteri with adenomyosis during follicular phase. Uterine samples of 32 cows in reproductive age were taken from the medial third of one of the uterine horns and grouped according to the adenomyosis degree (superficial and deep). Tissue sections (4 μm) were incubated overnight at 4°C with monoclonal antibody for matrix metalloproteinase-2 and Tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-2. Staining intensities were evaluated in the luminal epithelium, ectopic and dystopic endometrial tissue (stroma, capillaries and glands), endometrial-myometrial border, myometrium, myometrial vessels (middle tunic and endothelium). The matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression was higher for deep adenomyosis samples, showing a differential mean reactivity in superficial endometrium, myometrial vessels, myometrium adjacent to adenomyotic focus and endometrial-myometrial border (P < 0.05). Moreover, matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression was higher in deep adenomyosis samples than that of Tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-2 in almost all uterine structures analyzed (except for the endometrial and myometrial vessels and endometrial-myometrial border). The opposite was observed in the follicular phase, for both normal specimens and with superficial adenomyosis, where Tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-2 expression was higher than that of matrix metalloproteinase-2. In conclusion, a differential pattern of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and Tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-2 was observed in cow uteri with adenomyosis.  相似文献   

Risk management in primary apicultural production. Part 2: a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point approach to assuring the safety of unprocessed honey     

Formato G  Zilli R  Condoleo R  Marozzi S  Davis I  Smulders FJ 《The Veterinary quarterly》2011,31(2):87-97

In managing risks associated with the human consumption of honey, all sectors of the production chain must be considered, including the primary production phase. Although the introduction of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system has not been made compulsory for purposes of quality and safety control in farming operations, European legislation makes many references to the key role of primary production in food safety management and the HACCP system has been indicated as the preferred tool to ensure that consumers are provided with safe foods. This article describes a systematic HACCP-based approach to identifying, preventing and controlling food safety hazards occurring in primary apicultural production. This approach serves as a useful tool for beekeepers, food business operators, veterinary advisors, and for Food and Veterinary Official Control Bodies in their planning and conducting of audits and for establishing priorities for the evaluation of training programmes in the apicultural sector.  相似文献   

Hepatic profile of Gallus gallus Linnaeus, 1758 experimentally infected by Plasmodium juxtanucleare Versiani & Gomes, 1941     

Vashist U  Falqueto AD  Lustrino D  Tunholi VM  Tunholi-Alves VM  dos Santos MA  D'Agosto M  Massard CL  Pinheiro J 《Veterinary parasitology》2011,175(3-4):207-211

One of the species that causes avian malaria is Plasmodium juxtanucleare. It is commonly found in poultry, especially when the birds receive food free of coccidiostats. Since industrial and organic poultry breeding is increasing in the world and few studies have been conducted examining the clinical parameters of both healthy and infected birds, this work evaluated whether the infection caused by P. juxtanucleare in Gallus gallus provokes alterations in the birds' hepatic profile. We analyzed the activity of ALT and AST and carried out histological analyses of liver sections of infected fowls by intracelomic inoculation with infected blood from a donor fowl with a parasite load of around 7%. The infected birds' parasite load was evaluated during 45 days by means of blood smears. There was a positive correlation between the increase in parasite load and higher ALT activity in the infected fowls, but there was no significant variation of the AST activity between the control and infected groups, possibly because of the non-specificity of this enzyme as an indicator of hepatic lesion. The results show that infection caused by P. juxtanucleare in G. gallus provokes hepatic alterations, indicated by the increase in the ALT enzyme activity and by the inflammatory infiltrates found in the liver sections of the infected fowls.  相似文献   

Real-time polymerase chain reaction based on msa2c gene for detection of Babesia bovis     

Ramos CA  Araújo FR  Souza II  Bacanelli G  Luiz HL  Russi LS  Oliveira RH  Soares CO  Rosinha GM  Alves LC 《Veterinary parasitology》2011,176(1):79-83

This paper reports a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) based on the msa2c gene and standardized with Platinum SYBR Green/ROX for the detection of Babesia bovis in cattle. The msa2c q-PCR amplified a DNA fragment with average dissociation temperature of 77.41°C (± 0.25°C). No amplification was detected when DNA from B. bigemina, A. marginale or Bos taurus was used as the template. The detection limit of the msa2c q-PCR was 1000 copies per ml of blood sample, with a linear correlation between the number of msa2c copies and threshold cycle. The comparison between msa2c q-PCR and conventional PCR for cytochrome b revealed 88.8% agreement, with a Kappa index of 0.75. In the comparison between msa2c q-PCR and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with semi-purified B. bovis antigen, agreement was 96.3% and the Kappa index was 0.91. The agreement between three tests was 85.8%. The msa2c q-PCR detected a higher number of positive cattle than conventional PCR in an enzootically stable area, but did not differ significantly from ELISA. No significant differences were detected between the three diagnostic tests with cattle from an enzootically unstable area. All animals raised on a tick-free facility were negative for B. bovis in the three tests. These results suggest that msa2c q-PCR is a useful test for the detection of B. bovis infection.  相似文献   

Characterization of an ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity present on the cell surface of Tritrichomonas foetus     

De Jesus JB  Cosentino-Gomes D  Meyer-Fernandes JR 《Veterinary parasitology》2011,179(1-3):50-56

Tritrichomonas foetus is the causative agent of sexually transmitted trichomoniasis in cattle. In females, the infection can be associated with infertility, vaginitis, endometritis, abortion or pyometra, leading to significant economic losses in cattle raising. T. foetus is devoid of the ability to synthesize purine nucleotides de novo, depending instead on salvaging purines from the host environment. Ecto-5'-nucleotidase catalyzes the final step of extracellular nucleotide degradation, the hydrolysis of nucleoside 5'-monophosphates to the corresponding nucleosides and Pi. In this work we show that living, intact cells of T. foetus were able to hydrolyze 5'AMP at a rate of 12.57 ± 1.23 nmol Pi × h(-1) × 10(-7) cells at pH 7.2 and the 5'AMP hydrolysis is due to a plasma membrane-bound ecto-enzyme activity. The apparent K(m) for 5'AMP was 0.49 ± 0.06 mM. In addition to 5'AMP, the enzyme hydrolyzed all substrate monophosphates tested except 3'AMP. No divalent metals or metal chelators were able to modulate enzyme activity. Phosphatase inhibitors did not have an effect on ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity while ammonium molybdate did inhibit the activity in a dose dependent manner. The presence of adenosine in the culture medium negatively modulated the enzyme. These results indicate the existence of an ecto-5'-nucleotidase that may play a role in the salvage of purines.  相似文献   

Emerging perspectives in the research of bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis     

Suarez CE  Noh S 《Veterinary parasitology》2011,180(1-2):109-125

The Babesia bovis and B. bigemina apicomplexan protozoa in conjunction with the rickettsia Anaplasma marginale are intraerythrocytic pathogens that are responsible for the most prevalent and costly tick borne diseases (TBD's) of cattle worldwide. These organisms are historically associated as they can cause clinically related hemolytic diseases in cattle, are all transmitted by Rhiphicephallus (Boophilus) ticks, and share an uncanny ability to evade the immune systems of the vertebrate hosts, causing persistent disease. In addition, acute babesiosis and anaplasmosis can be prevented quite effectively by combining tick control and vaccination with living attenuated organisms. However these methods of control have numerous limitations and improved approaches are needed. Importantly, immunizations of cattle with inactivated experimental Babesia and Anaplasma vaccines can elicit variable degrees of protection, indicating the feasibility for the development of inactivated or subunit vaccines. A new research toolbox that includes full genome sequencing combined with the improved ability to genetically modify the organisms is enhancing our understanding of their biology. An emerging paradigm is the use of recently developed Babesia and Anaplasma transfection methods for functional gene characterizations and for vaccine development. Promising recently identified subunit vaccine candidates are also emerging, including babesial proteases, putative rhoptry, microneme, and sexual stage antigens, as well as subdominant, conserved, A. marginale outer membrane major surface proteins. However, significant knowledge gaps on the role of key parasite molecules involved in cell invasion, adhesion, asexual and sexual reproduction, tick transmission, and evasion of the immune system, remain. A better understanding of the biology of these organisms and the protective immune responses will positively contribute toward the goal of developing improved immunological and pharmacological interventions against these elusive pathogens that are responsible for the most devastating TBD's of cattle. Importantly, the currently available research toolbox provides basic research instruments for helping close current knowledge gaps which will aid the design and production of effective vaccines and alternative pharmacological interventions.  相似文献   

Novel hemotrophic mycoplasma identified in naturally infected California sea lions (Zalophus californianus)     

Volokhov DV  Norris T  Rios C  Davidson MK  Messick JB  Gulland FM  Chizhikov VE 《Veterinary microbiology》2011,149(1-2):262-268

  相似文献   

Application of Fuzzy Logic to Qualify the Environmental Impact in Abandoned Mining Sites   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Teresa Maria Valente  Manuel Joao Ferreira  Carlos Leal Gomes 《Water, air, and soil pollution》2011,217(1-4):303-315

This work deals with the topic of qualification and prioritization of environmental impact in abandoned mining sites using fuzzy logic. It aims to classify old mining sites and describe their environmental impact through a numeric index. This is variable in the interval [0,1], and was named as index of environmental impact (I _EI). Its determination was made through a fuzzy inference system that allows the integration of several characterization components. The system was supported by data obtained in five sites in NW Portugal, which is a paradigmatic region regarding the variety of typical environmental problems provoked by old metallic mines. These sites may be considered environmental patterns as they represent such regional diversity. In a general way, the I _EI can be applied to other sites where the existence of abandoned mining structures generates environmental impact.  相似文献