Experimental infection with BCG as a model of tuberculosis in the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)     

MM Cooke  MR Alley  BW Manktelow 《New Zealand veterinary journal》2013,61(3):132-138

AIMS: To study the development and progression of lesions produced following experimental inoculations of possums with Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Pasteur Strain 1173P2 and to compare these with lesions that occurred following natural Mycobacterium bovis infection.

METHODS: Possums were inoculated with 5 x 10⁶ colony forming units (cfu) of BCG via the intra-dermal (I/D) route into the dorsum of the neck (n=38) or the left brachium (n=7), orally (n=10), via the endo-bronchial (E/B) route (n=12), or intravenously (I/V) (n=10, half of which received 5 x 10⁶ cfu and half of which received 5 x 10⁷ cfu of BCG). The possums were humanely killed between 1–4 weeks post inoculation (p.i.), and the nature and distribution of lesions examined grossly and histopathologically.

RESULTS: The distribution of lesions following I/D inoculation via either route was similar to that of the natural disease, but there were few lesions in the lung. Endo-bronchial inoculation resulted in pulmonary disease but produced few lesions outside the respiratory tract. Lesions produced by I/V inoculation were similar in distribution to those seen in terminally ill tuberculous possums. No lesions were produced following oral inoculation. Regression of lesions commenced after 3 weeks p.i.

CONCLUSIONS: Although the phenomenon of lesion resolution restricts the use of BCG to the study of early lesion development, it avoids the overwhelming disease induced using M. bovis and thus allows the early phases of the development and progression of tuberculosis in this species to be observed. Intra-dermal inoculation produced evidence that infection through the skin is associated with lesions in superficial lymph nodes, whereas pulmonary disease was associated with E/B inoculation. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that both percutaneous and respiratory routes are important in natural infection of possums with M. bovis.  相似文献   

Twinning and embryonic mortality in a free-living kaka (Nestor meridionalis)     

MR Alley  R Berry 《New Zealand veterinary journal》2013,61(1)

Abstract

Compared to mammals, twinning in birds is rare. The reported incidence in domestic chickens (Gallus gallus) is 0.11 % (Byerly and Olsen 1934 Byerly, TC and Olsen, MW. 1934. Polyembryology in the domestic fowl. Science, 80: 247–248.  [Google Scholar]) and in pigeons (Columba livia) only 0.07% (Riddle 1923 Riddle, O. 1923. The causes of twinning and abnormal development in birds. American Journal of Anatomy, 32: 199–252.  [Google Scholar]). Monozygotic twins occur following the fission of an early embryo and may or may not share the same yolk. Dizygotic twins are thought to occur following 2 simultaneous ovulations or perhaps by the slow passage of an ovum down the oviduct, resulting in it being caught by a succeeding yolk and then being incorporated into the same membrane and shell (Harrison 1986 Harrison, GJ. 1986. “Reproductive Medicine”. In Clinical Avian Medicine and Surgery, Edited by: Harrison, GJ and Harrison, LR. 620–633. Philadelphia: WB Saunders.  [Google Scholar]). Regardless of their origin most avian twins do not survive beyond hatching.  相似文献   

Improved Prediction of Ovulation Time may Increase Pregnancy Rates to Artificial Insemination in Lactating Dairy Cattle     

CD Hockey  JM Morton  ST Norman  MR McGowan 《Reproduction in domestic animals》2010,45(6):e239-e248

A prospective observational study was conducted in two Australian dairy herds to assess the potential for improving pregnancy rates (proportions of inseminations that result in pregnancy) to artificial insemination (AI) if the time of ovulation could be predicted with more certainty. Herd 1 calved year‐round and inseminations were performed during two periods each day. Herd 2 calved during autumn–winter and inseminations were performed only after the morning milking each day. In both herds, the AI to ovulation interval of enrolled cows was determined by trans‐rectal ovarian ultrasonography approximately 0, 12, 24 and 36 h after AI, and pregnancy was assessed by palpation per rectum 35–56 days after AI. Also, in Herd 1 vaginal electrical resistance (VER) measurements were taken at approximately 0, 12, 24 and 36 h after AI, and in Herd 2 cows were fitted with neck mounted activity meters that monitored cow activity count in 2‐h periods. There was substantial variation in the intervals from AI to ovulation within and between herds (mean ± SD 21.2 ± 10.7, n = 102; 14.7 ± 10.4, n = 100 in herds 1 and 2, respectively). Pregnancy rates were higher for inseminations close to, but preceding, ovulation. Using combined herd data (n = 202), the highest pregnancy rate (50.8%) was observed for inseminations between 0 and 16 h before ovulation, a period in which only a modest proportion of inseminations (31.2%) occurred. In contrast, pregnancy rate was significantly lower (28.7%; risk ratio 0.6; 95% CI 0.4–1.0; p = 0.039) for inseminations between 16 and 32 h before ovulation, a period where the highest proportion of inseminations (53.2%) occurred. Thus pregnancy rates could potentially be improved if a greater proportion of inseminations were conducted shortly before ovulation. In Herd 1, mean VER during the peri‐ovulatory period varied with time from ovulation. Lowest values (mean ± SEM, VER = 64.8 ± 1.2, n = 55) occurred approximately 18 h before ovulation and were significantly lower than measurements approximately 6 h before ovulation (67.4 ± 1.0; n = 73; p = 0.003). Further work is required to determine if VER can be used to identify ovulation time and hence the optimal time to inseminate in individual animals. In Herd 2 a modest proportion of inseminations (26.9%) occurred between 24 and 40 h after the onset of increased cow activity where the highest pregnancy rate (67.9%) was observed, whereas a significantly lower pregnancy rate (42.4%; risk ratio 0.6; 95% CI 0.4–0.9; p = 0.036) was observed for inseminations between 8 and 24 h after the onset of increased cow activity where the highest proportion of inseminations (56.7%) occurred. Thus cow activity monitoring may be useful to identify the optimal time to inseminate cows. Results from this study indicate that improved methods of ovulation prediction may allow better insemination timing relative to ovulation and consequently increased pregnancy rates.  相似文献   

Prevalence of Bartonella species,Rickettsia felis,haemoplasmas and the Ehrlichia group in the blood of cats and fleas in eastern Australia     

VR Barrs  JA Beatty  BJ Wilson  N Evans  R Gowan  RM Baral  AE Lingard  G Perkovic  JR Hawley  MR Lappin 《Australian veterinary journal》2010,88(5):160-165

Objectives To define the prevalence of Bartonella spp., Rickettsia felis, Mycoplasma haemofelis, ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ (Mhm) and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ (Mtc) in cats and their fleas in eastern Australia. Design and procedure Conventional PCR assays that detect Bartonella spp., M. haemofelis, Mhm, Mtc, Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp. and Neorickettsia spp. were performed on DNA extracted from blood and fleas collected from 111 cats. Cat sera were assayed by ELISA for IgG of Bartonella spp. Results DNA of M. haemofelis, Mtc and Mhm was amplified from 1 (0.9%), 1 (0.9%) and 17 cats (15.3%), respectively. Only DNA of Mhm was amplified from the 62 of 111 pooled flea samples (flea sets; 55.9%). Overall, the prevalence rates for Bartonella spp. DNA in the cats and the flea sets was 16.2% (18 cats) and 28.8% (32 flea sets), respectively. Bartonella spp. IgG was detected in 42 cats (37.8%), of which 11 (26.2%) were positive for Bartonella spp. DNA in their blood. R. felis DNA was amplified from 22 flea sets (19.8%), but not from cats. Overall, DNA of one or more of the organisms was amplified from 27% (30) of cats and 67.6% (75) of the flea sets. Conclusions This is the first Australian study to determine the prevalence of R. felis and B. clarridgeiae in both fleas and the cats from which they were collected. Flea-associated infectious agents are common in cats and fleas in eastern Australia and support the recommendation that stringent flea control be maintained on cats.  相似文献   

Fullerene and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids on fish brain antioxidant status     

da Silva Acosta D  Kneip FC  Alves de Almeida E  Ventura-Lima J  Monserrat JM  Geracitano LA 《Fish physiology and biochemistry》2012,38(5):1477-1485

The carbon nanomaterial fullerene (C(60)) can act as anti or pro-oxidant. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in cell suspensions of carp brains (Cyprinus carpio, Cyprinidae), the effect of C(60) after a pre-treatment with polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFAs) such as omega-3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) and omega-6 (linoleic acid, LA). Assays consisted of a pre-treatment with PUFA (48?h) and then exposure to C(60) (2?h). Cell viability and total anti-oxidant capacity did not differ (p?>?0.05). A reduction (p?相似文献   

Animal‐Level Factors Affecting Ovarian Function in Bos indicus Heifers Treated to Synchronize Ovulation with Intravaginal Progesterone‐Releasing Devices and Oestradiol Benzoate     

SAA Butler  NJ Phillips  GB Boe‐Hansen  GA Bo  BM Burns  K Dawson  MR McGowan 《Reproduction in domestic animals》2012,47(3):463-471

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the impact of animal‐level factors including energy balance and environmental/management stress, on the ovarian function of Bos indicus heifers treated to synchronize ovulation. Two‐year‐old Brahman (BN) (n = 30) and BN‐cross (n = 34) heifers were randomly allocated to three intravaginal progesterone‐releasing device (IPRD) treatment groups: (i) standard‐dose IPRD [Cue‐Mate^® (CM) 1.56 g; n = 17]; (ii) half‐dose IPRD [0.78 g progesterone (P₄); CM 0.78 g; n = 15]; (iii) half‐dose IPRD + 300 IU equine chorionic gonadotrophin at IPRD removal (CM 0.78 g + G; n = 14); (iv) and a control group, 2× PGF_2α [500 μg prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α)] on Day ?16 and ?2 (n = 18). Intravaginal progesterone‐releasing device‐treated heifers received 250 μg PGF_2α at IPRD insertion (Day ?10) and IPRD removal (Day ?2) and 1 mg oestradiol benzoate on Day ?10 and ?1. Heifers were managed in a small feedlot and fed a defined ration. Ovarian function was evaluated by ultrasonography and plasma P₄ throughout the synchronized and return cycles. Energy balance was evaluated using plasma insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐I) and glucose concentrations. The impact of environmental stressors was evaluated using plasma cortisol concentration. Heifers that had normal ovarian function had significantly higher IGF‐I concentrations at commencement of the experiment (p = 0.008) and significantly higher plasma glucose concentrations at Day ?2 (p = 0.040) and Day 4 (p = 0.043), than heifers with abnormal ovarian function. There was no difference between the mean pre‐ovulatory cortisol concentrations of heifers that ovulated or did not ovulate. However, heifers that ovulated had higher cortisol concentrations at Day 4 (p = 0.056) and 6 (p = 0.026) after ovulation than heifers that did not ovulate.  相似文献   

Contents of total protein, L-canavanine and condensed tannins of the one-flowered vetch (Vicia articulata Hornem.) collection of the Bank of Plant Germplasm of Cuenca (Spain)     

R. Sánchez Vioque  I. Cantón Prado  F. Flores Gil  M. J. Giménez Alvear  M. De los Mozos Pascual  M. F. Rodríguez Conde 《Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution》2008,55(7):949-957

A total of 125 accessions of one-flowered vetch (Vicia articulata Hornem.) mostly from the Iberian Peninsula have been analysed for total protein, L-canavanine and condensed tannins. It was observed a high variability in the composition: the protein content ranged from 18.20 to 30.07%, L-canavanine from 0.27 to 0.67%, and condensed tannins from 0.13 to 0.35%, which indicates a scarce domestication of the crop. The inclusion of the seeds into a diet to non-ruminants should be limited to marginal percentages because of the contents of L-canavanine and it suggests that a reduction of this compound by breeding should be encouraged. The protein and the L-canavanine contents showed a low and positive significant correlation (r = 0.55, P < 0.001), which complicates the selection of seeds having simultaneously low L-canavanine and high protein contents. On the other hand, no correlation between protein and condensed tannins or between L-canavanine and condensed tannins was observed. There was a poor relationship between the origin and the composition of the accessions and only the protein content was able to discriminate among the regions.  相似文献   

Fractionation of antioxidants from autohydrolysis of barley husks     

Conde E  Moure A  Domínguez H  Parajó JC 《Journal of agricultural and food chemistry》2008,56(22):10651-10659

The liquid phase from nonisothermal autohydrolysis of barley husks was extracted with ethyl acetate and redissolved in ethanol to yield a crude extract (denoted BHEAE), which was subjected to further processing to enhance the antioxidant activity. A fractionation method, carried out for characterization purposes, consisted of the extraction of BHEAE with organic solvents of increasing polarity and further fractionation in Sephadex LH-20. Among the tested solvents, ethyl acetate allowed the highest yield, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity. Upon elution with methanol, products with high DPPH radical scavenging capacity (IC50 = 0.22 g/L) were obtained. The major compounds in the isolate were benzoic and cinnamic acids. Adsorption-desorption in commercial polymeric resins was carried out as an alternative strategy for BHEAE refining. This method is more suited for possible scale-up and provided a concentrate with a Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity of 9 mM, which was obtained at a yield of 18 g/kg of barley husks.  相似文献   

Preliminary investigations into the feasibility of freezing koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) semen     

SD JOHNSTON  MR McGOWAN  FN CARRICK  A. TRIBE 《Australian veterinary journal》1993,70(11):424-425

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The Application of Reproductive Technologies to Natural Populations of Red Deer   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

JJ Garde  F Martínez-Pastor  M Gomendio  AF Malo  AJ Soler  MR Fernández-Santos  MC Esteso  AJ García  L Anel  ERS Roldán 《Reproduction in domestic animals》2006,41(S2):93-102

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