中华蟾蜍足垫部位对植物血凝素的反应及其组织学和血液学变化

为探究中华蟾蜍(Bufogargarizans)对植物血凝素(PHA-P)反应的最适浓度及足垫部位皮肤组织学和血液学的变化,比较了在足垫部位注射1.0、2.5和5.0g/L植物血凝素条件下的PHA-P反应,以及最适注射浓度条件下PHA-P反应高峰值时足垫部位皮肤组织和循环血中各型白细胞的百分比,血液中血清杀菌能力的变化。结果表明,中华蟾蜍对PHA-P的反应无性别差异(P 0.05),最适注射浓度为2.5 g/L,注射后12 h达反应峰值;注射PHA-P或生理盐水的左足与注射生理盐水或不注射任何物质的右足皮肤组织相比,各型白细胞的百分比均无显著差异(P0.05),但循环血中淋巴细胞的百分比升高(P 0.05),嗜酸性粒细胞的百分比下降(P 0.05),血清杀菌能力无明显变化(P 0.05)。2.5 g/L的注射浓度适用于中华蟾蜍,反应高峰值与足垫部位皮肤组织中各型白细胞的动态无关,但循环血中淋巴细胞被激活、嗜酸性粒细胞功能弱化,这可能是导致中华蟾蜍PHA-P反应的主要原因。     

Use of available crop by-products as alternative bedding materials to wheat straw for rearing broilers

The provision of suitable bedding for rearing broilers is an ongoing challenge for poultry producers. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of using different types of crop residues as alternative bedding materials to wheat straw on growth performance, carcass traits, health, and welfare of broilers; moreover, the effects on the bedding and air quality were analyzed. We randomly assigned 180 1-day-old chickens (Cobb 500) across six bedding groups (three replicates of 10 birds each). Chickens in all groups were reared under similar housing conditions. Chickens of one group were reared on a wheat straw bedding (control), whereas those of the remaining five groups were reared on clover straw, cornstalk chips (CS), sugarcane top chips, chopped palm spines (CPS), and corn ear husks. Cornstalk chip and chopped palm spines were associated with the lowest (P < 0.05) ammonia concentrations compared with the remaining beddings. The mean values of bedding moisture percentage (P < 0.05), caking score, and ammonia concentrations (P < 0.05) were decreased with 6-week-old broilers reared on cornstalk chips. At 6 weeks, wheat straw, clover straw, sugarcane top chips and corn ear husks resulted in higher (P < 0.0001) BW and average daily gain compared with CS and CPS. Broilers reared on clover straw bedding showed the best FCR during 4–6 weeks of age (P < 0.01), and those kept on clover straw and sugarcane top chips exhibited the best (P < 0.01) feed conversion ratio (1.61 and 1.64, respectively) during 0–6 weeks of age. The carcass dressing yield, airborne dust concentration, bedding pH, and bacterial counts did not differ among the different bedding materials. The proportions of the drumsticks, gizzards, and abdominal fat of 6-week-old broilers were affected by bedding type (P < 0.05); but the differences among the bedding treatments were small. The mean incidence of footpad dermatitis and breast blisters was significantly less using clover straw. Broilers reared on chopped palm spine had the highest (P < 0.05) heterophil/lymphocyte ratio when compared with their counterparts. Conclusively, using clover straw or cornstalks as an alternative bedding material may be a beneficial strategy and should be highly recommended for rearing broilers.     

Echinococcus multilocularis: Cell-mediated immune response in early and chronic alveolar murine hydatidosis

The in vivo cell-mediated immune response of C57L/J mice infected with Echinococcus multilocularis cysts was investigated using a homologous antigen, a T cell-dependent heterologous antigen (oxazolone) and an alloantigen at 6 and 12 weeks postinfection. Mice infected for 12 and 14 weeks harbored a 9 to 18 times larger larval cyst mass than those infected for 6 weeks and showed splenomegaly and elevated antihydatid antibody titers. In mice infected for 6 weeks and challenged with hydatid antigen the 48-hr footpad swelling and histological picture of footpad were consistent with cell-mediated immunity. These parameters were significantly reduced in the mice infected for 12 weks. Their response to skin allograft and oxazolone, however, remained comparable to the mice 6 weeks postinfection and uninfected controls. The lymphoid tissues of the mice 6 weeks postinfection were histologically intact and showed moderate to intense lymphoproliferation. In the mice 14 weeks postinfection disorganization of lymphoid tissue, plasma-, and histiocytosis in the thymus-dependent areas coincided with a large larval cyst mass.