Effects of size on Vervet (Cercopithecus aethiops) gait parameters: A cross-sectional approach

A comparison of the values of certain temporal and spatial locomotor parameters was made among ten different-aged (sized) vervet monkeys locomoting at nine identical speeds. Cycle and stance durations decreased across speed for all the animals; at any one speed both parameters also varied directly with body size. Stride length increased with speed for all the animals and was greater in the larger animals. Swing duration and hindlimb support length tended to be relatively consistent for each animal across speed, but varied among the animals directly with body size. Hindlimb duty factor decreased with speed for any one animal but showed no direct correlation with size. Hindlimb angular excursion also showed no correlation with size, nor did it show a simple relationship with speed. In terms of gaits and gait transitions, the data indicate that vervets use a very wide variety of gait types, which are not easily correlated with speed or body size. Furthermore, the data suggest the existence of a run–gallop transition zone of speeds for these animals, rather than the existence of a specific transition speed. Finally, the data were used to test intraspecifically the elastic and dynamic similarity models, both of which predict how locomotor parameters will change with size in animals. The results are generally consistent with the dynamic model.     

Physiological responses of feedlot heifers provided access to different levels of shade

Heat stress has a significant impact on all livestock and poultry species causing economic losses and animal well-being concerns. Providing shade is one heat-abatement strategy that has been studied for years. Material selected to provide shade for animals greatly influences the overall stress reduction provided by shade. A study was conducted to quantify both the environment and animal response, when cattle had no shade access during summertime exposure or were given access to shade provided by three different materials. A total of 32 Black Angus heifers were assigned to one of the four treatment pens according to weight (eight animals per pen). Each pen was assigned a shade treatment: No Shade, Snow Fence, 60% Aluminet Shade Cloth and 100% Shade Cloth. In the shaded treatment pens, the shade structure covered ~40% of the pen (7.5 m²/animal). Animals were moved to a different treatment every 2 weeks in a 4×4 Latin square design to ensure each treatment was applied to each group of animals. Both environmental parameters and physiological responses were measured during the experiment. Environmental parameters included dry-bulb temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, black globe temperature (BGT), solar radiation (SR) and feedlot surface temperature. Animal response measurements included manual respiration rate (RR_m), electronic respiration rate (RR_e), vaginal temperature (body temperature (BT)), complete blood count (CBC) and plasma cortisol. The environmental data demonstrated changes proportional to the quality of shade offered. However, the animal responses did not follow this same trend. Some of the data suggest that any amount of shade was beneficial to the animals. However, Snow Fence may not offer adequate protection to reduce BT. For some of the parameters (BT, CBC and cortisol), 60% Aluminet and 100% Shade Cloth offers similar protection. The 60% Aluminet lowered RR_e the most during extreme conditions. When considering all parameters, environmental and physiological, 60% Aluminet Shade Cloth offered reductions of BGT, SR, feedlot surface temperature and the best (or equal to the best) overall protection for the animals (RR_e, RR_m, BT, blood parameters).     

Hematologic values of normal Bolivian squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus): a comparison between wild-caught and laboratory-bred male animals

Complete and differential blood counts were conducted on 23 male squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) of Bolivian origin. The sample included 9 laboratory-bred and 14 wild-caught adult monkeys weighing between 600 and 1,500 g. The means of total white blood cell (WBC) counts, total hemoglobin and hematocrits of laboratory-bred animals were found to be significantly different from those of wild-caught monkeys (p less than 0.01). Other hematologic parameters showed no significant differences between the two experimental groups. 3 of 14 (21.0%) wild-caught animals each had 1 reactive lymphocyte and 7% of the same group had 10 nucleated erythrocytes per 100 WBC. No reactive lymphocytes or nucleated erythrocytes were observed in laboratory-bred animals. The importance of these baseline data and the basis for the differences observed between laboratory and wild-caught monkeys are discussed within the context of experimental studies involving primates in which hematologic parameters are valuable.     

Neonatal rats with outstanding values of brain and body parameters

“Outstanding” newborn rats, with parameter values more than two standard deviations above the mean (OH) or below the mean (OL), were identified in a normal population of 720 animals and were studied for correlations between these parameters: body weight, brain weight, brain DNA (cell number) and brain protein. The animals OH on any one of these parameters were also higher than average on all the others, and some of these animals came from OH litters. The animals OL on one parameter tended to be OL on all the others, and correlations between parameters were higher in this group than in the entire population. Such findings may facilitate the search for OH or OL individuals. The correlations among the OH parameters were not the same as the correlations among the OL. The causes of the occurrence of OH and OL animals are more likely to be environmental than genetic.     

Hematological,biochemical, respiratory,cardiovascular and electroneurophysiological parameters in African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus). Its use in non‐clinical toxicological studies

Background The purpose of this study is to better characterize the hematological, biochemical, respiratory, cardiovascular and electroneurophysiological parameters in young adult Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus of both sexes. The rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys are widely used as experimental primate models. However, only few articles have been published testing toxicological effects of pharmaceuticals on African green monkey. Methods The present study was carried out with the recompilation of all parameters recorded before the first drug administration in five sub‐chronic or chronic toxicological studies performed on 66 Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus, born in Cuba. Results This study provides hematological, biochemical, respiratory, cardiovascular and electroneurophysiological data for both choosing animals to be included into experiments and monitoring these parameters during the study. Conclusions We conclude that this study provides valuable integrated data for determining the health status, including electroneurophysiological parameters, data not previously reported for this species, of the African green monkey.     

Evidence of a major gene from Bayesian segregation analyses of liability to osteochondral diseases in pigs

Bayesian segregation analyses were used to investigate the mode of inheritance of osteochondral lesions (osteochondrosis, OC) in pigs. Data consisted of 1163 animals with OC and their pedigrees included 2891 animals. Mixed-inheritance threshold models (MITM) and several variants of MITM, in conjunction with Markov chain Monte Carlo methods, were developed for the analysis of these (categorical) data. Results showed major genes with significant and substantially higher variances (range 1.384-37.81), compared to the polygenic variance (sigmau2). Consequently, heritabilities for a mixed inheritance (range 0.65-0.90) were much higher than the heritabilities from the polygenes. Disease allele frequencies range was 0.38-0.88. Additional analyses estimating the transmission probabilities of the major gene showed clear evidence for Mendelian segregation of a major gene affecting osteochondrosis. The variants, MITM with informative prior on sigmau2, showed significant improvement in marginal distributions and accuracy of parameters. MITM with a "reduced polygenic model" for parameterization of polygenic effects avoided convergence problems and poor mixing encountered in an "individual polygenic model." In all cases, "shrinkage estimators" for fixed effects avoided unidentifiability for these parameters. The mixed-inheritance linear model (MILM) was also applied to all OC lesions and compared with the MITM. This is the first study to report evidence of major genes for osteochondral lesions in pigs; these results may also form a basis for underpinning the genetic inheritance of this disease in other animals as well as in humans.     

Influence of age,sex, and caging on joint mobility in the patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas)

Normal range of joint mobility in the extremities of the patas monkey, Erythrocebus patas, was established for a free-ranging colony of 64 animals at La Parguera, Puerto Rico (Caribbean Primate Research Center). Eighty-five animals that had been caged (30″ × 30″ cages) for up to 5 years were used for comparison. Passive joint mobility of anesthetized animals was measured with a goniometer. Nine parameters (five on the forelimb and four on the hindlimb) were measured on each animal. The data were sorted into subsets according to the animal's age, sex, place of birth, and type of confinement, if any. The number of animals in each subset was recorded and the mean (in degrees) and standard deviation for each parameter were calculated. A P?0.05 on two-tailed Student's t-tests was considered significant. Comparisons between free-ranging males and females showed significant differences in one or two parameters for all age groups. A cross-sectional sample of free-ranging animals of both sexes showed that significant changes in joint mobility occurred only in the first 18 months of life. Joint mobility of all caged animals, however, was highly variable, and even between the more mature animals there were significant differences in several parameters. Almost all comparisons of subsets of the same age and sex showed significant differences between caged and free-ranging animals in at least one parameter. When the caged animals were laboratory-born, however, these differences were significant in five out of nine parameters. The results suggest that, although caging itself affects joint mobility, the age of first confinement may have an even greater effect than the length of the confinement.     

Quality of Attachment to Companion Animals among U.S. Adults 21 to 64 Years of Age

Abstract

Previous reports of scales and indices used in studying attachment to companion animals have not included representative samples of the United States population or have failed to show good psychometric properties. This report includes psychometric analyses of a companionanimal attachment scale used among a national probability sample of United States adults aged 21 to 64 years. Internal structures of the scale were shown to be good with all eight items loading strongly on one factor. Cronbach's alpha was 0.75 with all eight items included. As expected, those individuals who had sole responsibility for the care of the companion animal had stronger attachment scores, as did individuals who had never been married. Type of pet was not significantly associated with attachment scores, which indicates that this scale may be useful for all companion animals, not solely for dogs and cats. However, further work including a larger sample of bird and fish owners needs to be done before the value of this attachment scale in that population of owners is clearly established.     

Post-operative course in a surgical model of acute myocardial infarction in the rabbit

This study was undertaken to evaluate the post-operative (post-OP) course of rabbits in a surgical model of myocardial infarction (MI). Ten New Zealand White rabbits were subjected to coronary artery ligation after lateral thoracotomy. Anesthesia was delivered using a xylazine-ketamine-isoflurane protocol after endotracheal intubation. Among other cardiorespiratory parameters, arterial pressure was monitored via central ear artery catheterization. Post-OP care included oxygen, antibiotic and analgesic treatment as well as nutritional and fluid support. A series of cardiorespiratory, hematological, blood biochemical and clinical parameters were assessed during the first 21 days. The mortality rate was 10%. Hypotension and hypothermia, noted during the operation, reverted within the first few post-MI hours. Electrocardiographic alterations, which included ST segment elevation and Q wave, appeared after MI and remained throughout the study period. Tachycardia was observed during the first 5 days. Hematological examination revealed mild and transient anemia during the post-OP period and leucocytosis up to the 5th day. Urea was increased up to the 12th post-MI hour while increased AST, ALT, LDH and CK levels normalized by the first 4-5 days. Although the post-OP anorexia period lasted around 5 days, the animals did not manage to regain their body weight by the end of the study period. In conclusion, the present model offers a low mortality rate and could be useful in mid- or long-term MI studies. The animals go through a critical post-OP period of around 5 days during which special care should be given. After that time, their clinical and blood laboratory parameters tend to normalize.     

A comparison of physical examination and clinicopathologic parameters between sheared and nonsheared alpacas (Lama pacos)

The purpose of this study was to determine the physiological changes associated with chronic heat stress in sheared versus nonsheared alpacas. Fourteen intact male adult alpacas were randomly assigned to one of the two groups: Group S alpacas were sheared to within 2 cm of their skin; Group NS alpacas were not sheared. These animals were maintained from June through August in east central Alabama. Data collected in the morning, every two weeks, included vital signs, body weight, body condition score, complete blood counts, serum chemistries and electrolytes, whole blood selenium, and plasma cortisol. S and NS groups were contrasted using the repeated measures analysis of variance, and pertinent correlations with weather parameters were calculated. Clinical heat stress was not evident in any animals during the study. Significant differences between treatment groups were seen in rectal temperature (P=0.0095), sodium concentration (P=0.0219), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (P=0.0189). The mean rectal temperature of the NS group was above the normal range on five sampling times compared to only once for the S group. However, mean sodium and serum urea nitrogen levels were within normal limits in both groups at all sampling times. Rectal temperature of only the S group was positively correlated to weather parameters. Sodium of both S and NS groups and BUN of the NS group were negatively correlated with weather parameters. This study indicates that there are differences between sheared and nonsheared alpacas in physical examination and clinicopathologic parameters that can be correlated with changes in ambient conditions. These differences suggest that nonsheared alpacas are less heat tolerant than sheared alpacas. Therefore, shearing is recommended for animals exposed to similar conditions.     

Interactions between effects of adrenalectomy and diet on insulin secretion in fa/fa Zucker rats

Our objective was to determine if a cafeteria-type diet with increased fat content would block the decrease in insulin secretion induced by adrenalectomy in obese rats. Five week old Zucker (fa/fa) rats were adrenalectomized. One week later, half of the adrenalectomized groups, and age-matched, sham-operated animals were given a diet of 16% fat and 44% carbohydrate. Control animals were maintained on standard rat chow (4.6% fat and 49% carbohydrate). After 4 weeks on the diets, in vivo measurements included caloric intake, weight gain, plasma corticosterone, triglyceride, free fatty acids, and oral glucose tolerance tests. In vitro measurements included glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, glucose phosphorylating activity, islet triglyceride content, and fatty acid oxidizing activity of cultured islets. Generally, the cafeteria diet did not block the effects of adrenalectomy on in vitro insulin secretion parameters, even though in sham-operated animals weight gain and insulin resistance was induced by the diet in vivo. Adrenalectomy and the diet exerted independent effects on glucose phosphorylation and fatty acid oxidation in islets. In conclusion, adrenalectomy decreased the elevated insulin secretion in fa/fa rats. The failure of a cafeteria diet enriched in fat to block the adrenalectomy-mediated changes in B-cell function indicates the importance of glucocorticoids and centrally-mediated effects on insulin secretion and other metabolic parameters.     

The stimulus control of biting inAplysia

Summary A number of different parameters of the biting response ofAplysia californica were examined while varying either the strength of excitatory stimuli that elicit biting, or the strength of inhibitory stimuli that suppress biting and produce satiation. Response amplitude, response latency and the interresponse interval of repetitive responses were the parameters investigated. In individual animals as well as in the mean data, all parameters of the biting response were found to be affected in a graded manner when the concentration of seaweed extract was varied, and when animals were fed to different levels of satiation. Feeding animals with non-nutritive bulk produced graded effects similar to those seen when animals were fed with seaweed. These results indicate that the biting response is modulated in a graded manner by external stimuli which elicit the response, as well as by internal stimuli which produce satiation.We would like to thank L. Eli Bronner for assistance in collecting the data, S. Hauser and K. Hilten for assistance with the illustrations, and T. Carew, V. Castellucci, and E. Kandel for comments on earlier drafts of this paper. This research was supported by NINCDS grant NS 12492, by P.H.S. Predoctoral Training Grant to the Department of Physiology, New York University Medical School, 71176-234, and by Sloan Foundation 360-3070-2772.     

The use of different models for the estimation of residual feed intake (RFI) as a measure of feed efficiency in meat sheep

The concept of residual feed intake (RFI), in determining differences among animals in converting feed into body tissue, was first raised in 1963. Feed efficiency is typically calculated as a function of liveweight gain (LWG) and feed intake (FI). Historically two versions of the same model were proposed, one where FI was adjusted for liveweight (LW) and LWG, and the other where LWG was adjusted for FI and LW. Variation in LWG or FI could then be partitioned into two parts; that which is expected and can be attributed to differences in FI or LWG; and that which is the residual portion, which is the deviation from the expected value based on regression, and therefore not accounted for by differences in FI or LWG. Based on this definition, it is the residual portion which is the measure of efficiency. Both within a livestock industry and between different livestock industries there is no set model for calculating RFI. This paper evaluated four models used to calculate RFI and one model used to calculate residual LWG (RLWG) at a standard level of nutrition. They were the main model currently in use in the Australian beef cattle industry (RFI_B), the original models proposed in 1963 (RFI₁₉₆₃; RLWG₁₉₆₃); a French model which included ultrasound measures of muscle and fat depth (RFI_F) and the use of the Australian feeding standards to calculate predicted intake and thus RFI (RFI_SCA). Using feed intake, liveweight and body composition data generated from the same group of sheep (n = 52) at two ages (6 mo, 13 mo), the relative merits of each model were evaluated and compared to the other models, to determine the most appropriate model to calculate RFI for sheep. For all the models except that used to calculate RLWG, over half of the variation in FI could be explained by the model. The amount of variation in FI accounted for depended on the parameters included and the dataset, with less variation in FI explained by the specific models in the older animals. The RFI_F model, which included measures of body composition, accounted for the greatest proportion of the variation in FI and as such suggests that the inclusion of body composition parameters is likely to more accurately reflect true biological efficiency.     

Misclassified Resource Selection: Compositional Analysis and Unused Habitat

Abstract: During the past decade, compositional analysis (CA) has been used widely in animal—habitat and resource selection studies. Despite this popularity, CA has not been tested for potential systematic biases such as incorrect identification of preferred resources. We used computer-simulated data based on known habitat use and availability parameters to assess the potential for CA to incorrectly identify preferred habitat use. We consider in particular the situation when available habitat categories not used by all animals are included in the resource selection analysis, with substitution of a relatively small value, such as 0.01, for each 0% utilization value. Progressively larger misclassification-error*** rates in preferred habitat use resulted from substituting progressively smaller positive values for each 0% utilization of a habitat category.     

Distribution and ecology of Vibrio vulnificus and other lactose-fermenting marine vibrios in coastal waters of the southeastern United States.

Water, sediment, plankton, and animal samples from five coastal sites from North Carolina to Georgia were sampled for their lactose-fermenting vibrio populations. Over 20% of all vibrios tested were sucrose negative and o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (ONPG) positive, suggesting identification as the human pathogen Vibrio vulnificus. These vibrios were isolated from all sample sites and sources (water, sediment, plankton, and animals). Correlations with several of 19 environmental parameters monitored at each site were found for total vibrios. The presence of ONPG-positive, sucrose-negative vibrios was correlated with hydrocarbon levels in the water and, in the case of plankton samples, with salinity. A total of 279 sucrose-negative, ONPG-positive isolates were subjected to numerical taxonomic analysis, which resulted in three major clusters. Cluster I corresponded to and included 11 reference strains of V. vulnificus. Cluster II contained the largest number (133) of isolates, of which the great majority were bioluminescent. Although having a resemblance to V. harveyi, the isolates were ONPG positive and many were H2S positive. Cluster III consisted of strains similar to the group F vibrios (V. fluvialis). Of all of the isolates, 55% were luminescent, of which over 20% were lethal when injected into mice. Problems involved in detecting lactose fermentation among marine vibrios and the potential pathogenicity of these organisms are discussed.     

South American mammal diversity and Hernandez’s Novae Hispaniae Thesaurus

Following the discovery of the West Indies, philosophers of the XVI and XVII centuries came into contact with a particularly unexpected fauna which was considerably different from the documented animals at that time. These animals included the Xenarthra (the sloth, and armadillo) and Marsupialia. These new discoveries occurred during a period of crisis for the traditional Aristotelian and Galenical sciences. This debate developed in two opposing directions: on the one hand towards the confirmation of the well-established tradition of Magia Naturalis, and on the other towards the Galilean Scientia Nova which encouraged people to follow a more mathematical approach when interpreting nature in all its complexity. The first reports and zoological papers of the seventeenth century express the same wonder at these discoveries as all that was “mirum et insolitum” in the typical baroque style of that time.      

Error rate for imputation from the Illumina BovineSNP50 chip to the Illumina BovineHD chip

Background

Imputation of genotypes from low-density to higher density chips is a cost-effective method to obtain high-density genotypes for many animals, based on genotypes of only a relatively small subset of animals (reference population) on the high-density chip. Several factors influence the accuracy of imputation and our objective was to investigate the effects of the size of the reference population used for imputation and of the imputation method used and its parameters. Imputation of genotypes was carried out from 50 000 (moderate-density) to 777 000 (high-density) SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms).

Methods

The effect of reference population size was studied in two datasets: one with 548 and one with 1289 Holstein animals, genotyped with the Illumina BovineHD chip (777 k SNPs). A third dataset included the 548 animals genotyped with the 777 k SNP chip and 2200 animals genotyped with the Illumina BovineSNP50 chip. In each dataset, 60 animals were chosen as validation animals, for which all high-density genotypes were masked, except for the Illumina BovineSNP50 markers. Imputation was studied in a subset of six chromosomes, using the imputation software programs Beagle and DAGPHASE.

Results

Imputation with DAGPHASE and Beagle resulted in 1.91% and 0.87% allelic imputation error rates in the dataset with 548 high-density genotypes, when scale and shift parameters were 2.0 and 0.1, and 1.0 and 0.0, respectively. When Beagle was used alone, the imputation error rate was 0.67%. If the information obtained by Beagle was subsequently used in DAGPHASE, imputation error rates were slightly higher (0.71%). When 2200 moderate-density genotypes were added and Beagle was used alone, imputation error rates were slightly lower (0.64%). The least imputation errors were obtained with Beagle in the reference set with 1289 high-density genotypes (0.41%).

Conclusions

For imputation of genotypes from the 50 k to the 777 k SNP chip, Beagle gave the lowest allelic imputation error rates. Imputation error rates decreased with increasing size of the reference population. For applications for which computing time is limiting, DAGPHASE using information from Beagle can be considered as an alternative, since it reduces computation time and increases imputation error rates only slightly.     

Hematology and serum chemistry parameters in juvenile cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) of Mauritius origin: comparison between purpose-bred and captured animals

Background  The vast majority of non-human primates used for experimental activities are purpose-bred. However, in case of particular procedures or specific projects, it may still be necessary to use animals captured in the wild.
Methods  Sixty cynomolgus monkeys were randomly selected on the basis of breeding origin, and assigned to two groups, each of fifteen males and fifteen females. Analyses included the most frequently investigated parameters for hematology, coagulation, and biochemistry.
Results  Differences were observed in some parameters, particularly in eosinophils, basophils and monocytes, and in fibrinogen, total protein, globulins, alanine amino-transferase, creatinine, aspartate amino-transferase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, iron, potassium, and phosphorus.
Conclusions  Some values in the cynomolgus monkey may show significant differences according to the breeding background of the animals. Only data obtained from animals of similar origin have to be compared, to avoid misinterpretation during the evaluation of the experimental results.     

Does rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis) support regeneration of rat liver after intoxication by carbon tetrachloride?

This study evaluates the effect of rooibos tea (RT, Aspalathus linearis) on biochemical and histological parameters during rat liver regeneration after intoxication by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). From the 10th week, when the administration of CCl4 was terminated, the liver tissue began to regenerate. Seven days later in the regeneration phase, the animals treated by RT during whole period of the experiment, and those which drunk RT only during the regeneration period, exhibited a trend for decrease in the activity of alanine aminotransferase and significant decrease in the activity of aspartate aminotransferase and in total bilirubin content when compared with the water-drinking group. At the same time, the concentration of plasma albumin was elevated and that of tissue malondialdehyde decreased in the both groups drinking RT. After 42 days of regeneration, all biochemical parameters in all three groups reached the level of control healthy animals. In both groups treated with RT, the extent of fibrotic tissue was lower than in the group which received water. We conclude that RT can be recommended not only for the prevention but also as a co-adjuvant for the therapy of liver diseases.     

Causes of mortality in reintroduced Eurasian lynx in Switzerland

Seventy-two lynx, found dead in the Swiss Alps and the Jura Mountains (Switzerland) from 1987-99, were evaluated to determine the cause of death. Seventy-two per cent (52/72) of all animals died because of noninfectious diseases or causes such as vehicular collision and poaching. Eighteen percent (13/72) died from infectious diseases, including some which could have been transferred to the lynx from domestic animals or other wild animals such as panleukopenia and sarcoptic mange. If only radio-tagged animals (included in a monitoring program) were taken into consideration, the percentage of mortality caused by infectious diseases rose to 40%, indicating that infections might be underestimated in randomly found mortality events. We hypothesize that even a few cases of infections in a small population like the lynx, which are additionally threatened by noninfectious causes, may threaten the long term survival of the population.