Effect of differences in tendon properties on functionality of the passive stay apparatus in horses.

Objective: To determine the effect of differences in structural and mechanical tendon properties on functionality of the passive stay apparatus in horses.

Sample: 5 forelimbs each from nondwarf Friesians, dwarf Friesians, and ponies.

Procedures: Harvested forelimbs were loaded to test the passive stay apparatus.

An investigation into the chemical composition of alternative invertebrate prey.

The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition of eight invertebrate species and evaluate their suitability as alternative prey. The species selected were rusty red cockroaches (Blatta lateralis), six-spotted cockroaches (Eublaberus distanti), Madagascar hissing cockroaches (Gromphadorhina portentosa), fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), false katydids (Microcentrum rhombifolium), beetles of the mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), and superworm beetles (Zophobas morio), as well as woodlice (Porcellio scaber). Dry matter (DM), crude protein, crude fat, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, ash, macro and trace minerals, vitamins A and E, and carotenoid concentrations were quantified.

Heterogeneity of macrophage activation in fish.

In this review, we focus on four different activation states of fish macrophages. In vitro, stimulation with microbial ligands induces the development of innate activated macrophages whereas classically activated macrophages can be induced by stimulation with LPS in combination with (recombinant) IFNγ. Both types of macrophages show elevated phagocytic activity, expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes and radical production.

Effects of diet on the chemical composition of migratory locusts (Locusta migratoria).

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of diet on the chemical composition of migratory locusts (Locusta migratoria L.). Fresh and dry weight and the contents of dry matter, ash, lipid, protein, Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, Cu, Fe, Zn, retinol, lutein, zeaxanthine, cryptoxanthin, carotenes, lycopene and gross energy were determined in penultimate instar and adult locusts, that had been fed three different diets.

Nitrosative stress during infection-induced inflammation in fish: lessons from a host-parasite infection model.

The inflammatory response should be considered a protective immune reaction of the host aimed at the removal of pathogens, sometimes irrespective of negative side-effects. In this review we discuss the differential contribution of macrophages and neutrophilic granulocytes to nitrosative stress in vivo and discuss how the timing and concentration of nitric oxide (NO·) are important factors determining the degree of nitrosative stress during parasite-induced inflammation. Infections of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) with the extracellular protozoan parasite Trypanoplasma borreli provide an excellent example of how adaptation and homeostasis are essential elements of the host-pathogen relationship.

Field study on effects of a heat exchanger on broiler performance, energy use, and calculated carbon dioxide emission at commercial broiler farms, and the experiences of farmers using a heat exchanger.

In broiler houses, ventilation removes moisture and maintains ambient temperature and air quality. During cold weather conditions, ventilation can result in undesirable heat loss from the house. Extra input of energy for heating the building is needed then, resulting in extra CO(2) emissions when fossil fuels are used for this purpose.

MRSA CC398 in the pig production chain.

In 2005, a distinct clone of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA CC398) was found in pigs and people in contact with pigs. The structure of the pig production chain in high technology pig husbandry enables pathogens to spread during animal trading, with an increasing prevalence in herds further down the chain. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of the MRSA status of the supplying herd on the MRSA status of the receiving herd in order to gain more insight into the role of animal trading as a transmission route for MRSA CC398.

Transmission of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus among pigs during transportation from farm to abattoir.

The prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in pigs at abattoirs is higher than in pigs sampled on farms. This study investigated whether MRSA negative pigs can become MRSA positive during transportation from the farm to the abattoir after exposure to other pigs and environmental sources of MRSA. Nasal swabs were collected from four batches of pigs during loading at the farm, on arrival at the abattoir and after stunning.

Teleost intestinal immunology.

Teleosts clearly have a more diffuse gut associated lymphoid system, which is morphological and functional clearly different from the mammalian GALT. All immune cells necessary for a local immune response are abundantly present in the gut mucosa of the species studied and local immune responses can be monitored after intestinal immunization. Fish do not produce IgA, but a special mucosal IgM isotype seems to be secreted and may (partly) be the recently described IgZ/IgT.

Effect of live weight development and reproduction in first parity on reproductive performance of second parity sows.

An impaired reproductive performance in second parity compared to first parity sows, decreases reproductive efficiency and, perhaps, longevity of sows. This study aims to quantify the effect of live weight development and reproduction in first parity on reproductive performance of second parity sows, i.e.

Comparison of sampling methods used for MRSA-classification of herds with breeding pigs.

Since the first report on methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) CC398 in pigs, several countries have determined the prevalence of MRSA-positive pig herds using different sampling and laboratory techniques. The objective of the study was to compare three sampling methods for MRSA-classification of herds. Therefore, nasal swabs of pigs and environmental wipes were collected from 147 herds with breeding pigs.

Short communication: ketone body concentration in milk determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy: value for the detection of hyperketonemia in dairy cows.

The objective of this study was to evaluate Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry to measure milk ketone bodies to detect hyperketonemic cows and compare this method with milk fat to protein ratio to detect hyperketonemia. Plasma and milk samples were obtained weekly from calving to wk 9 postpartum from 69 high-producing dairy cows. The reference test for hyperketonemia was defined as plasma concentration of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) >or=1,200 micromol/L.

Effects of environmental enrichment and loose housing of lactating sows on piglet performance before and after weaning.

We investigated effects of loose housing of the sow during lactation and enrichment of the pen pre- and postweaning on performance of newly weaned piglets. Before weaning, piglets (n = 320) were housed in an enriched (straw, wood shavings, peat, and branches) or barren pen with a confined or loose-housed sow (n = 32). Loose-housed sows and their piglets could eat together from a family feeder, whereas confined sows and piglets had separate feeding troughs.

Maternal presence and environmental enrichment affect food neophobia of piglets.

Young omnivores show food neophobia in order to avoid the potential harmful effects of ingesting unfamiliar food items. We investigated whether the presence of the mother and an enriched rearing environment would reduce food neophobia in piglets. A mother may provide information on suitable food types to include in the diet, whereas an enriched environment may stimulate behavioural development and reduce reactivity towards novel stimuli (including food).

Eimeria acervulina: the influence of inoculation dose on transmission between broiler chickens.

The course and clinical appearance of an Eimeria species infection in chicken flocks depend on the response of an individual bird to infection and on population-dynamics of the infection in the flock. Differences in ingested numbers of oocysts may affect oocyst load in the flock and the subsequent infectious dose for not yet infected birds. To study the link between numbers of oocysts excreted by infected birds and transmission of Eimeria acervulina, experiments were carried out with 42 pairs of broiler chickens using inoculation doses with 5, 50, 500 or 50,000 sporulated oocysts.

Prenatal flavor exposure affects growth, health and behavior of newly weaned piglets.

Young animals can learn about flavors from the maternal diet that appear in the amniotic fluid and mother's milk, which may reduce neophobia for similarly flavored food types at weaning. Flavor learning may be beneficial for piglets, which after the rather abrupt weaning in pig husbandry frequently show a period of anorexia, reduced health, and stress-induced behaviors. We investigated the effects of pre- and postnatal flavor exposure through the maternal diet on acceptance of a similarly flavored food and subsequent growth, health and behavior of newly weaned piglets.

Preliminary insight into the age and origin of the Labeobarbus fish species flock from Lake Tana (Ethiopia) using the mtDNA cytochrome b gene.

The high diversity of Cyprinid fish in Ethiopia's Lake Tana appears to be an example of ecological differentiation and assortative mating leading to rapid sympatric speciation. Lake Tana's Labeobarbus species flock consists of 15 morphological and ecological distinct species. This is the first attempt to determine the age and origin and inter-species relationships of Lake Tana's Labeobarbus species using the mtDNA cytochrome b gene.

Effect of early life thermal conditioning and immune challenge on thermotolerance and humoral immune competence in adult laying hens.

Effects of early life experience with climatic (heat) and hygienic [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] stress on adaptability to the same stressors in later life were studied in laying hens. Chicks were exposed to 37 degrees C for 24 h at d 5 of age (n = 12) or were i.v.

Prenatal flavor exposure affects flavor recognition and stress-related behavior of piglets.

Exposure to flavors in the amniotic fluid and mother's milk derived from the maternal diet has been shown to modulate food preferences and neophobia of young animals of several species. Aim of the experiment was to study the effects of pre- and postnatal flavor exposure on behavior of piglets during (re)exposure to this flavor. Furthermore, we investigated whether varying stress levels, caused by different test settings, affected behavior of animals during (re)exposure.

Receptor-mediated and lectin-like activities of carp (Cyprinus carpio) TNF-alpha.

Functional characterization of TNF-alpha in species other than mammalian vertebrates is limited, and TNF-alpha has been studied in a limited number of fish species, primarily in vitro using recombinant proteins. Studies on TNF-alpha from different fish species so far pointed to several inconsistencies, in particular with respect to some receptor-mediated activities of fish TNF-alpha, such as the ability to directly activate phagocytes. In the present study a comprehensive analysis of in vitro as well as in vivo biological activities of two isoforms of carp TNF-alpha was performed.

Nitric oxide hinders antibody clearance from the surface of Trypanoplasma borreli and increases susceptibility to complement-mediated lysis.

Trypanoplasma borreli is an extracellular blood parasite of carp belonging to the same Order (Kinetoplastida) as African trypanosomes. These mammalian parasites have developed different strategies to evade the host immune system including antigenic variation, immunosuppression and clearance of surface-bound antibodies. The latter mechanism allows trypanosomes to use their swimming movement to cause surface-bound antibodies to 'sail' and accumulate at the posterior end of the parasite, to be internalized via the flagellar pocket and be degraded.

Time-related changes of the intestinal morphology of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., at two different soybean meal inclusion levels.

Abstract Soybean meal (SBM) induces enteritis in the distal intestine of Atlantic salmon. The present study assesses the effects of SBM concentrations on the kinetics of the enteritis process. Fish of 300 g, kept at 12 degrees C, were fed diets with different SBM inclusions: 0%, 10% and 20% SBM for 57 days.

Transcript levels of five enzymes involved in cortisol synthesis and regulation during the stress response in common carp: relationship with cortisol.

In this study the expression of five genes involved in cortisol synthesis and regulation in the head kidneys of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) has been investigated in response to 3h net confinement stress, followed by 22h recovery. Cortisol, glucose, lactate and free fatty acid levels were measured in blood plasma.

Effects of genetic group selection against mortality on behavior and peripheral serotonin in domestic laying hens with trimmed and intact beaks.

Severe feather pecking is a maladaptive behavior in laying hens that may result in cannibalism and ultimately death of the victims. Selection methods in which the genetic effect of an animal on the survival of its group members is taken into account, i.e.