Animals

19 pages, 358 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Dietary Supplementation of L-Carnitine and Mannan-Oligosaccharides on Growth Performance, Selected Carcass Traits, Content of Basic and Mineral Components in Liver and Muscle Tissues, and Bone Quality in Turkeys

by Małgorzata Kwiecień, Karolina Jachimowicz-Rogowska, Wanda Krupa, Anna Winiarska-Mieczan and Magdalena Krauze

Animals 2023, 13(4), 770; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040770 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2296

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the effect of L-carnitine and Bio-Mos administration on selected production performance, slaughter parameters, elemental and mineral content of liver, breast and thigh muscles, and physical, morphometric, strength and bone mineral composition parameters of turkeys. The experiment was conducted [...] Read more.

The study aimed to determine the effect of L-carnitine and Bio-Mos administration on selected production performance, slaughter parameters, elemental and mineral content of liver, breast and thigh muscles, and physical, morphometric, strength and bone mineral composition parameters of turkeys. The experiment was conducted on 360 six-week-old Big-6 turkey females, randomly divided into three groups of 120 birds each (six replicates of 20 birds). The turkeys of the control group were fed standard feed without additives; group II was fed with drinking water, a preparation containing L-carnitine at a dose of 0.83 mL/L, while group III was provided mixed feed with 0.5% Bio-Mos. The addition of L-carnitine and Bio-Mos increased body weight at 16 weeks (p = 0.047) and reduced the proportion of fat in the breast muscle (p = 0.029) and liver (p = 0.027). It also modified the content of some minerals in breast muscle, thigh muscle, liver, and bone. Furthermore, the addition of L-carnitine and Bio-Mos increased bone mass and length and modified the value of selected morphometric and strength parameters. The results indicate a positive effect of the applied feed additives on selected rearing indices and carcass quality while improving the elasticity and fracture toughness of the femur. There is a need for further research to determine optimal doses of L-carnitine and Bio-Mos in poultry nutrition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Trace Element in Animal Health and Metabolic)

12 pages, 1495 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of Personality-Related Candidate Genes in Thoroughbred Racehorses Using a Bioinformatics-Based Approach Involving Functionally Annotated Human Genes

by Tamu Yokomori, Aoi Ohnuma, Teruaki Tozaki, Takao Segawa and Takuya Itou

Animals 2023, 13(4), 769; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040769 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2654

Abstract

Considering the personality traits of racehorses (e.g., flightiness, anxiety, and affability) is considered essential to improve training efficiency and decrease accident frequency, especially when retraining for a second career that may involve contact with inexperienced personnel after retiring from racing. Studies on human [...] Read more.

Considering the personality traits of racehorses (e.g., flightiness, anxiety, and affability) is considered essential to improve training efficiency and decrease accident frequency, especially when retraining for a second career that may involve contact with inexperienced personnel after retiring from racing. Studies on human personality-related genes are frequently conducted; however, such studies are rare in horses because a consistent methodology for personality evaluation is lacking. Using the recently published whole genome variant database of 101 Thoroughbred horses, we compared horse genes orthologous to human genes related to the Big Five personality traits, and identified 18 personality-related candidate genes in horses. These genes include 55 variants that involve non-synonymous substitutions that highly impact the encoded protein. Moreover, we evaluated the allele frequencies and functional impact on the proteins in terms of the difference in molecular weights and hydrophobicity levels between reference and altered amino acids. We identified 15 newly discovered genes that may affect equine personality, but their associations with personality are still unclear. Although more studies are required to compare genetic and behavioral information to validate this approach, it may be useful under limited conditions for personality evaluation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health, Safety, and Welfare in Horse Racing)

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17 pages, 1415 KiB

Open AccessReview

Clinical Experiences and Mechanism of Action with the Use of Oxytocin Injection at Parturition in Domestic Animals: Effect on the Myometrium and Fetuses

by Míriam Marcet-Rius, Cécile Bienboire-Frosini, Karina Lezama-García, Adriana Domínguez-Oliva, Adriana Olmos-Hernández, Patricia Mora-Medina, Ismael Hernández-Ávalos, Alejandro Casas-Alvarado and Angelo Gazzano

Animals 2023, 13(4), 768; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040768 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5944

Abstract

Oxytocin is a key hormone for parturition and maternal traits in animals. During the peripartum period, the levels of endogenous oxytocin dictate physiological events such as myometrial contractions, prostaglandin production with the subsequent increase in oxytocin receptors, and the promotion of lactation when [...] Read more.

Oxytocin is a key hormone for parturition and maternal traits in animals. During the peripartum period, the levels of endogenous oxytocin dictate physiological events such as myometrial contractions, prostaglandin production with the subsequent increase in oxytocin receptors, and the promotion of lactation when administered immediately after birth. While this hormone has some benefits regarding these aspects, the exogenous administration of oxytocin has been shown to have detrimental effects on the fetus, such as asphyxia, meconium staining, ruptured umbilical cords, and more dystocia cases in females. This review aims to analyze the main effects of oxytocin on myometrial activity during parturition, and its potential favorable and negative administration effects reflected in the fetus health of domestic animals. In conclusion, it is convenient to know oxytocin’s different effects as well as the adequate doses and the proper moment to administrate it, as it can reduce labor duration, but it can also increase dystocia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Perinatology: Behavior and Health of the Dam and Her Offspring)

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35 pages, 985 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Roles of Essential Oils, Polyphenols, and Saponins of Medicinal Plants as Natural Additives and Anthelmintics in Ruminant Diets: A Systematic Review

by Diky Ramdani, Endah Yuniarti, Anuraga Jayanegara and Abdul Shakoor Chaudhry

Animals 2023, 13(4), 767; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040767 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3830

Abstract

Public awareness on health and safety issues in using antibiotics for livestock production has led many countries to ban the use of all growth-promoting antibiotics (GPA) for livestock feeding. The ban on the utilization of antibiotics in livestock, on the other hand, is [...] Read more.

Public awareness on health and safety issues in using antibiotics for livestock production has led many countries to ban the use of all growth-promoting antibiotics (GPA) for livestock feeding. The ban on the utilization of antibiotics in livestock, on the other hand, is an opportunity for researchers and livestock practitioners to develop alternative feed additives that are safe for both livestock and the consumers of animal derived foods. Many feed additives were developed from a number of plants that contain secondary metabolites, such as essential oils, polyphenols, and saponins. These secondary metabolites are extracted from various parts of many types of plants for their uses as feed additives and anthelmintics. Recent investigations on using essential oils, polyphenols, and saponins as dietary additives and anthelmintics demonstrate that they can increase not only the production and health of ruminants but also ensure the safety of the resulting foods. There are many publications on the advantageous impacts of dietary plant bioactive components on ruminants; however, a comprehensive review on individual bioactive constituents of each plant secondary metabolites along with their beneficial effects as feed additives and anthelmintics on ruminants is highly required. This current study reviewed the individual bioactive components of different plant secondary metabolites and their functions as additives and anthelmintics to improve ruminant production and health, with respect to safety, affordability and efficiency, using a systematic review procedure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Animal Nutrition)

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17 pages, 1085 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from Honey Production: Two-Year Survey in Italian Beekeeping Farms

by Arianna Pignagnoli, Stefano Pignedoli, Emanuele Carpana, Cecilia Costa and Aldo Dal Prà

Animals 2023, 13(4), 766; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040766 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2784

Abstract

The objective of this study was to quantify the climate change (CC) impact of the honey supply chain in different beekeeping systems and farms, over two consecutive years. The CC impact category is quantified as kg CO₂ equivalent and it evaluates the [...] Read more.

The objective of this study was to quantify the climate change (CC) impact of the honey supply chain in different beekeeping systems and farms, over two consecutive years. The CC impact category is quantified as kg CO₂ equivalent and it evaluates the GHG emissions, mainly CO₂, N₂O, and CH₄. The results ranged from 0.44 to 3.18 (p = 0.039) kg CO₂e/kg honey with higher values in 2021 than 2020. The main contributors to climate change of the honey supply chain are represented by transport and supplemental feeding inputs. The beekeeping system (migratory or stationary) influenced CC: the contribution to CC for stationary farms was estimated at 0.58 kg CO₂e/kg honey and 2.48 for migratory ones (p < 0.001). Given the close connection between honey yield and LCA results due to the unit of measurement of impact, i.e., kg of honey produced, an index was developed (wildflower honey climate index) as a simple benchmark tool for prediction of honey yield in the survey context. Using the data from the present study, we found that the index is positively related to honey yield (r = 0.504; p < 0.05) but negatively related to supplemental feeding (r = −0.918; p < 0.01) and overall carbon footprint (r = −0.657; p < 0.05). Further studies are needed to better explain the effects of weather on honey production, as well as environmental impact. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Precision Beekeeping for the Development of More Productive and Resilient Apiculture Systems, Higher-Quality Products, Improved Sustainability, and Honey Bees’ Health)

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17 pages, 3971 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Individual and Geographic Variation in Non-Harmonic Phases of Male Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) Song

by Richard Policht and Vlastimil Hart

Animals 2023, 13(4), 765; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040765 - 20 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1675

Abstract

Individually distinct acoustic signals, produced mainly as tonal and harmonic sounds, have been recorded in many species; however, non-tonal ‘noisy’ signals have received little attention or have not been studied in detail. The capercaillies (Tetrao urogallus) produce complex courtship songs composed [...] Read more.

Individually distinct acoustic signals, produced mainly as tonal and harmonic sounds, have been recorded in many species; however, non-tonal ‘noisy’ signals have received little attention or have not been studied in detail. The capercaillies (Tetrao urogallus) produce complex courtship songs composed of non-tonal noisy signals in four discrete phases. We analyzed recordings from 24 captive male capercaillies in breeding centres in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany, and songs from wild males in Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Estonia to test whether a non-harmonic song can encode individual-specific information. We also analyzed the intra-population variation of the male song from three separate areas: Carpathian (Polish and Czech Beskid), Sumava, and Boreal (boreal range of species distribution). Temporal and frequency characteristics can reliably distinguish capercaillies at the individual level (91.7%). DFA model testing geographic variation assigned 91% of songs to the correct area (Carpathian, Sumava, Boreal). The cluster analysis revealed that males from the Boreal area formed a distinct cluster. Our analysis shows clear geographical patterns among our study males and may provide a valuable marker for identifying inter-population dynamics and could help to characterize the evolutionary histories of wood grouse. We discuss the potential use of this marker as a non-invasive monitoring tool for captive and free-roaming capercaillies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Birds)

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19 pages, 2680 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Co-Ensiling of Maize with Moringa oleifera on the Production of Greenhouse Gases and the Characteristics of Fermentation in Ruminants

by Edwin Rafael Alvarado-Ramírez, Aristide Maggiolino, Mona M. M. Y. Elghandour, Marco Antonio Rivas-Jacobo, Gilberto Ballesteros-Rodea, Pasquale De Palo and Abdelfattah Z. M. Salem

Animals 2023, 13(4), 764; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040764 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2266

Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the impact of maize co-ensiling with increasing percentages of MOL forage on the kinetics of biogas, methane (CH₄), carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) production, as well as the characteristics [...] Read more.

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the impact of maize co-ensiling with increasing percentages of MOL forage on the kinetics of biogas, methane (CH₄), carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) production, as well as the characteristics of ruminal fermentation and CH₄ conversion efficiency, using steers (STI) and sheep (SHI) as inoculum sources. With the STI, the inclusion of MOL reduced (linear: p ≤ 0.0199; quadratic: p ≤ 0.0267) biogas production (mL g⁻¹ DM incubated and degraded), CH₄ (mL g⁻¹ DM degraded), CO (mL g⁻¹ DM degraded), and H₂S (mL g⁻¹ DM incubated and degraded), without affecting (p > 0.05) the parameters (b = asymptotic gas, c = rate of gas production and Lag = initial delay time before gas production) of CH₄ and H₂S, and the proportion and production of CH₄ per kg of dry matter (DM). In addition, with this inoculum, pH, and dry matter degradation (DMD) increased (linear: p ≤ 0.0060), and although short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and metabolizable energy (ME) decreased (linear: p < 0.0001; quadratic: p ≤ 0.0015), this did not affect (p > 0.05) the CH₄ conversion efficiency. Meanwhile, with the SHI, the inclusion of MOL only decreased (linear: p ≤ 0.0206; quadratic: p ≤ 0.0003) biogas per dry matter (DM) degraded and increased (linear: p ≤ 0.0293; quadratic: p ≤ 0.0325) biogas per DM incubated, as well as the production (mL g⁻¹ DM incubated and degraded and g⁻¹ kg DM) and proportion of CH₄, and CO per DM incubated and degraded. In addition, it did not impact (p > 0.05) on the CH₄ and H₂S parameters, and in the H₂S by DM incubated and degraded, and although it increased (linear: p ≤ 0.0292; quadratic: p ≤ 0.0325) the DMD, SCFA, and ME, it was inefficient (quadratic: p ≤ 0.0041) in CH₄ conversion. It is concluded that regardless of the percentage of MOL, the STI presented the highest values in the production of biogas, CH₄, H₂S, DMD, SCFA, and ME, and the lowest pH, so it turned out to be the most efficient in CH₄ conversion, while with the SHI only the highest production of CO and pH was obtained, and the lowest DMD, SCFA, and ME, so it was less efficient compared to STI. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Strategies to Control Enteric Methane Production of Ruminants)

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Kinetics of ruminal biogas production of co-ensiling of whole-plant maize (Zea mays L.) with 0 (M0), 20 (M20), 40 (M40), 60 (M60), 80 (M80) and 100 % (M100) of M. oleifera forage (a), using steers and sheep as a source of inoculum (b). Full article ">Figure 1 Cont.
Kinetics of ruminal biogas production of co-ensiling of whole-plant maize (Zea mays L.) with 0 (M0), 20 (M20), 40 (M40), 60 (M60), 80 (M80) and 100 % (M100) of M. oleifera forage (a), using steers and sheep as a source of inoculum (b). Full article ">Figure 2
Kinetics of ruminal methane (CH4) production of co-ensiling of whole-plant maize (Zea mays L.) with 0 (M0), 20 (M20), 40 (M40), 60 (M60), 80 (M80) and 100 % (M100) of M. oleifera forage (a), using steers and sheep as a source of inoculum (b). Full article ">Figure 2 Cont.
Kinetics of ruminal methane (CH4) production of co-ensiling of whole-plant maize (Zea mays L.) with 0 (M0), 20 (M20), 40 (M40), 60 (M60), 80 (M80) and 100 % (M100) of M. oleifera forage (a), using steers and sheep as a source of inoculum (b). Full article ">Figure 3
Kinetics of ruminal carbon monoxide (CO) production of co-ensiling of whole-plant maize (Zea mays L.) with 0 (M0), 20 (M20), 40 (M40), 60 (M60), 80 (M80) and 100 % (M100) of M. oleifera forage (a), using steers and sheep as a source of inoculum (b). Full article ">Figure 3 Cont.
Kinetics of ruminal carbon monoxide (CO) production of co-ensiling of whole-plant maize (Zea mays L.) with 0 (M0), 20 (M20), 40 (M40), 60 (M60), 80 (M80) and 100 % (M100) of M. oleifera forage (a), using steers and sheep as a source of inoculum (b). Full article ">Figure 4
Kinetics of ruminal hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production of co-ensiling of whole-plant maize (Zea mays L.) with 0 (M0), 20 (M20), 40 (M40), 60 (M60), 80 (M80) and 100 % (M100) of M. oleifera forage (a), using steers and sheep as a source of inoculum (b). Full article ">Figure 4 Cont.
Kinetics of ruminal hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production of co-ensiling of whole-plant maize (Zea mays L.) with 0 (M0), 20 (M20), 40 (M40), 60 (M60), 80 (M80) and 100 % (M100) of M. oleifera forage (a), using steers and sheep as a source of inoculum (b). Full article ">

11 pages, 1646 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dry Matter Intake Prediction from Milk Spectra in Sarda Dairy Sheep

by Antonello Ledda, Silvia Carta, Fabio Correddu, Alberto Cesarani, Alberto Stanislao Atzori, Gianni Battacone and Nicolò Pietro Paolo Macciotta

Animals 2023, 13(4), 763; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040763 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1807

Abstract

Individual dry matter intake (DMI) is a relevant factor for evaluating feed efficiency in livestock. However, the measurement of this trait on a large scale is difficult and expensive. DMI, as well as other phenotypes, can be predicted from milk spectra. The aim [...] Read more.

Individual dry matter intake (DMI) is a relevant factor for evaluating feed efficiency in livestock. However, the measurement of this trait on a large scale is difficult and expensive. DMI, as well as other phenotypes, can be predicted from milk spectra. The aim of this work was to predict DMI from the milk spectra of 24 lactating Sarda dairy sheep ewes. Three models (Principal Component Regression, Partial Least Squares Regression, and Stepwise Regression) were iteratively applied to three validation schemes: records, ewes, and days. DMI was moderately correlated with the wavenumbers of the milk spectra: the largest correlations (around ±0.30) were observed at ~1100–1330 cm⁻¹ and ~2800–3000 cm⁻¹. The average correlations between real and predicted DMI were 0.33 (validation on records), 0.32 (validation on ewes), and 0.23 (validation on days). The results of this preliminary study, even if based on a small number of animals, demonstrate that DMI can be routinely estimated from the milk spectra. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Small Ruminants)

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13 pages, 2584 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Probiotics Supplementation on the Intestinal Metabolites, Muscle Fiber Properties, and Meat Quality of Sunit Lamb

by Ting Liu, Yanping Bai, Chenlei Wang, Taiwu Zhang, Rina Su, Bohui Wang, Yan Duan, Lina Sun, Ye Jin and Lin Su

Animals 2023, 13(4), 762; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040762 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2236

Abstract

The development of animal husbandry is closely related to the meat quality of small ruminants. Intestinal metabolites and the muscle fiber types of lambs are important factors that affect their meat quality, but few studies have examined the regulation of the "intestinal muscle [...] Read more.

The development of animal husbandry is closely related to the meat quality of small ruminants. Intestinal metabolites and the muscle fiber types of lambs are important factors that affect their meat quality, but few studies have examined the regulation of the "intestinal muscle axis" by probiotics. In this study, 12 Sunit lambs were divided into a control group (C) and a probiotics group (P). The gene expressions of the myosin heavy chain, metabolic enzyme activity, and short-chain fatty acids in the intestines were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed that levels of propionic acid and butyric acid in the intestines of group P were significantly higher than in group C (p < 0.05). In addition, probiotics increased the number and area ratio of type I muscle fibers. They also increased the mRNA expression of MyHC IIA and the activity of malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH). Propionic acid was negatively correlated with the number ratio of type IIB muscle fibers. Butyric acid was found to be significantly positively correlated with the number ratio of type IIA muscle fibers. Cooking loss, pH_24h, and shear force decreased significantly in group P. In conclusion, intestinal metabolites (SCFAs) altered the activity of oxidative-myofibril-metabolizing enzymes and the expression of myosin heavy-chain type IIA, reduced the meat shear values, and improved meat tenderness. This study provides a new basis for improving the production and meat quality of small ruminants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights on Factors Affecting Goat and Sheep Meat Production and Quality)

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Effect of probiotics on the quality of Sunit lamb. * indicates a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05), and ** indicates a highly significant difference (p < 0.01). a* value means the redness, b* value means the yellowness, and L* value means the brightness. Full article ">Figure 1 Cont.
Effect of probiotics on the quality of Sunit lamb. * indicates a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05), and ** indicates a highly significant difference (p < 0.01). a* value means the redness, b* value means the yellowness, and L* value means the brightness. Full article ">Figure 2
ATPase staining results for the muscle longissimus thoracis of Sunit lambs. A magnification of 200× was used (bar = 200 μm). I: fiber type I, black; IIA: fiber type IIA, white; IIB: fiber type IIB, brown. Full article ">Figure 3
Effects of probiotics on the relative mRNA expression of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoforms (MyHC I, IIA, IIX, and IIB) in the muscle longissimus thoracis; 18S was used as an internal control. Data are expressed as means ± SE (n = 6). * indicates a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). Full article ">Figure 4
Effect of probiotics on the LDH, MDH, and SDH activities of the muscle longissimus thoracis. * indicates a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). Full article ">Figure 5
Correlation heat map of intestinal metabolites and muscle fiber types. The color band is mapped to the heat map matrix data; colors close to positive values indicate a positive correlation, while colors close to negative values indicate a negative correlation. * indicates a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). Full article ">

14 pages, 3785 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antiviral Activity of Luteolin against Pseudorabies Virus In Vitro and In Vivo

by Xiaoyu Men, Su Li, Xiaojing Cai, Lian Fu, Yi Shao and Yan Zhu

Animals 2023, 13(4), 761; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040761 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2090

Abstract

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) can cause acute swine disease leading to economic losses worldwide and is a potential causative agent of viral encephalitis in humans. Although effective vaccines are available, an increasing number of variants have emerged in China, and identifying effective antiviral agents [...] Read more.

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) can cause acute swine disease leading to economic losses worldwide and is a potential causative agent of viral encephalitis in humans. Although effective vaccines are available, an increasing number of variants have emerged in China, and identifying effective antiviral agents against PRV to prevent latent infection is essential. In this study, we assessed the antiviral activity of luteolin against PRV in vitro and in vivo. Luteolin was found to significantly inhibit PRV at a noncytotoxic concentration (70 μM), with an IC₅₀ of 26.24 μM and a selectivity index of 5.64. Luteolin inhibited the virus at the replication stage and decreased the expression of viral mRNA and gB protein. Luteolin reduced the apoptosis of PRV-infected cells, improved the survival rate of mice after lethal challenge, reduced the viral loads in the liver, kidney, heart, lung, and brain, reduced brain lesions, and slowed inflammation and oxidation reactions. Our results showed that luteolin has promise as a new alternative antiviral drug for PRV infection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances of Swine Viral Disease Research in China: Epidemiology, Virus-Host Interactions and Control)

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CCK8 assay was used to determine the toxicity of luteolin toward PK15 cells compared with normal cells at 52, 70, 87, 105, 140, and 175 μM (**** p < 0.0001). Full article ">Figure 2
CCK8 assay was used to determine the antiviral activity of luteolin at 0, 11, 17.5, 22, 35, 44, and 70 μM. Different concentrations of luteolin were added 1 h after PRV infection. The cell survival rate after 48 h of continuous culture was determined **** p < 0.0001). Full article ">Figure 3
FQ-PCR was used to detect the effect of luteolin on the copy number of three stages of viral infection. (A) Luteolin was added at the viral replication stage. (B) Luteolin was added at the viral entry stage. (C) Luteolin was added at the viral adsorption stage. (ns: nonsignificant,* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 and **** p < 0.0001). Full article ">Figure 4
Luteolin inhibited the expression of a PRV gene. Gene expression levels of PRV in the presence or absence of luteolin (70 μM) were assayed at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hpi (n = 3, in each group). (* p < 0.05, *** p < 0.001 and **** p < 0.0001). Full article ">Figure 5
Luteolin inhibited the expression of the PRV gB protein. (A) Optimal binding results of the PRV gB protein to luteolin. The pink rod structure represents luteolin, and the PRV gB complex protein is represented by the shadow. The contact amino acid residues of the gB protein are displayed as rods and labeled. Two hydrogen bonds (yellow) were observed between luteolin and the gB amino acid residues. (B) After PRV infection for 1 h, luteolin was added, and the cells were cultured for 48 h. Then, the viral gB protein was measured by Western blotting. (C) Quantification of the gB protein (** p < 0.01, **** p < 0.0001). Full article ">Figure 6
Luteolin inhibited the apoptosis of infected PRV cells at 48 h. (A) Normal cell group, (B) PRV-infected group, (C) 70 µM luteolin treatment group after viral infection, and (D) quantitative evaluation of the cell apoptosis rate. The data are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (ns: nonsignificant, ** p < 0.01, compared with the normal cell group). Full article ">Figure 7
Changes in the survival rate and body weight of mice in each group. (A) Survival rate of mice in each group. (B) Changes in the body weight of mice in each group. Full article ">Figure 8
Virus copy number in different organs of mice and three groups of mouse brain tissue sections. (A) Virus copy number in different mouse organs (** p < 0.01, and **** p < 0.0001). (B) Normal group mouse brain tissue sections. (C) Virus group mouse brain tissue sections. The site shown by the arrow is the lesion site. (D) Luteolin-treated group mouse brain tissue sections. The site shown by the arrow is the lesion site. Full article ">Figure 9
Concentrations of TNF-α, IL-4, and IFN-γ in the serum of mice in each group, (A) IFN-γ, (B) IL-4, (C) TNF-α (ns: nonsignificant, **** p < 0.0001). Full article ">Figure 10
Levels of SOD and GSH in the serum of mice in each group (A) SOD, and (B) GSH (** p < 0.01, and **** p < 0.0001). Full article ">

8 pages, 678 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

The Effect of Placement and Group Size on the Use of an Automated Brush by Groups of Lactating Dairy Cattle

by Borbala Foris, Negar Sadrzadeh, Joseph Krahn, Daniel M. Weary and Marina A. G. von Keyserlingk

Animals 2023, 13(4), 760; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040760 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1867

Abstract

Mechanical brushes are often provided on dairy farms to facilitate grooming. However, current brush designs do not provide data on their use, and thus little is known about the effects of group size and placement of brushes within the pen. The objectives of [...] Read more.

Mechanical brushes are often provided on dairy farms to facilitate grooming. However, current brush designs do not provide data on their use, and thus little is known about the effects of group size and placement of brushes within the pen. The objectives of this study were to automatically detect brush use in cow groups and to investigate the influence of (1) group size and the corresponding cow-to-brush ratio and (2) brush placement in relation to the lying stalls and the feeding and drinking areas. We measured brush use in groups of 60, 48, 36, and 24 cows, with the brush placed either in the alley adjacent to the feed bunk and water trough or in the back alley. Cows used the brush for longer when it was placed in the feed/water alley compared to when placed in the back alley. Average brush use per cow increased when cows were housed in smaller groups, but the brush was never in use more than 50% of the day, regardless of group size. We conclude that brush use increases when availability is increased and when the brush is placed closer to the feed and water. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Animal Welfare)

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15 pages, 2486 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association between Rumination Times Detected by an Ear Tag-Based Accelerometer System and Rumen Physiology in Dairy Cows

by Anne Simoni, Andrew Hancock, Christian Wunderlich, Marcus Klawitter, Thomas Breuer, Felix König, Karina Weimar, Marc Drillich and Michael Iwersen

Animals 2023, 13(4), 759; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040759 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2954

Abstract

Monitoring rumination activity is considered a useful indicator for the early detection of diseases and metabolic disorders. Accelerometer-based sensor systems provide health alerts based on individual thresholds of rumination times in dairy cows. Detailed knowledge of the relationship between sensor-based rumination times and [...] Read more.

Monitoring rumination activity is considered a useful indicator for the early detection of diseases and metabolic disorders. Accelerometer-based sensor systems provide health alerts based on individual thresholds of rumination times in dairy cows. Detailed knowledge of the relationship between sensor-based rumination times and rumen physiology would help detect conspicuous animals and evaluate the treatment’s success. This study aimed to investigate the association between sensor-based health alerts and rumen fluid characteristics in Holstein-Friesian cows at different stages of lactation. Rumen fluid was collected via a stomach tube from 63 pairs of cows with and without health alerts (ALRT vs NALRT). Pairs were matched based on the day of lactation, the number of lactations, and health criteria. Rumen fluid was collected during and after health alerts. The parameters of color, odor, consistency, pH, redox potential, sedimentation flotation time, and the number of protozoa were examined. Results showed differences between both groups in odor, rumen pH, sedimentation flotation time, and protozoan count at the first rumen fluid collection. Within the groups, greater variations in rumen fluid parameters were found for ALRT cows compared to NALRT cows. The interaction between health alert and stage of lactation did not affect the rumen fluid parameters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Artificial Intelligence (AI) Applied to Animal Health and Welfare)

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Study design. Cows with a health alert (ALRT) were matched with healthy cows (NALRT) to sample rumen fluid twice daily at the same time, first within 12 h after the start of the alert (TIME1) and second within 24 h after the end of the alert (TIME2). The animal’s alert status was blinded through a randomized sample number before the examination of rumen fluid parameters. For the rumen fluid examination, the content of 20 milliliter of rumen fluid was filled into two test tubes, for each animal. Rumen fluid parameters were assessed for color, odor, consistency (between thumb and forefinger), rumen pH, redox potential, sedimentation flotation time, and the number of protozoa. Full article ">Figure 2
Distribution of odor qualities (sour, foul, aromatic to fade) at the first (TIME1) and second (TIME2) rumen fluid collections according to the health alert (ALRT vs. NALRT): (a) 15 pairs of cows in early lactation (eL); (b) 36 pairs of cows in mid to latelactation (mlL). Full article ">Figure 3
Boxplots of the distribution of rumen fluid parameters for cows with a health alert (ALRT) and their counterparts (NARLT) in early and mid to late lactation (eL and mlL) at the first (TIME1) and second (TIME2) rumen fluid collections: (a) rumen pH; (b) redox potential (millivolt); (c) sedimentation flotation time (seconds); (d) the number of protozoa per milliliter of rumen fluid. Significant differences are presented with a: p < 0.01, b: p < 0.05. Full article ">

11 pages, 244 KiB

Open AccessReview

Feeding Management Strategies to Mitigate Methane and Improve Production Efficiency in Feedlot Cattle

by Michael L. Galyean and Kristin E. Hales

Animals 2023, 13(4), 758; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040758 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3692

Abstract

Mitigation of greenhouse gases and decreasing nutrient excretion have become increasingly important goals for the beef cattle industry. Because feed intake is a major driver of enteric CH₄ production and nutrient excretion, feeding management systems could be important mitigation tools. Programmed feeding [...] Read more.

Mitigation of greenhouse gases and decreasing nutrient excretion have become increasingly important goals for the beef cattle industry. Because feed intake is a major driver of enteric CH₄ production and nutrient excretion, feeding management systems could be important mitigation tools. Programmed feeding uses net energy equations to determine the feed required to yield a specific rate of gain, whereas restricted feeding typically involves decreasing intake relative to the expected or observed ad libitum intake. In the context of growing/finishing systems typical of those in the United States and Western Canada, experimental results with programmed and restricted feeding have often shown decreased overall feed intake and increased gain efficiency relative to ad libitum feeding, but too much restriction can negatively affect harvest weight and associated carcass quality. Slick feed bunk management is a time-based restriction that limits day-to-day variation in feed deliveries, but the effects on intake and performance are not well defined. Simulations to estimate enteric CH₄ emission and nitrogen excretion indicated that programmed feeding of a high-grain diet could appreciably decrease CH₄ emissions and nitrogen excretion compared with traditional growing programs based on high-forage diets. For feedlot finishing, programming gain for a portion of the feeding period will decrease CH₄ emission and N excretion only if cattle perform better than expected during the programmed phase or if compensatory growth occurs when cattle are transitioned to ad libitum feeding. Optimal approaches to implement programmed or restricted feeding that will yield increased efficiency should be the subject of future research in this area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Rumen Fermentation, Microbial Population and Digestibility in Ruminants)

13 pages, 1212 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Two Diagnostic Assays for the Detection of Serum Neutralizing Antibody to Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus

by Justin Brown, Korakrit Poonsuk, Ting-Yu Cheng, Chris Rademacher, Erin Kalkwarf, Liying Tian, Lauren A. McKeen, Chong Wang, Luis Gimenez-Lirola, David Baum and Locke A. Karriker

Animals 2023, 13(4), 757; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040757 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2317

Abstract

Lactogenic immunity is important for the protection of piglets against many pathogens including porcine epidemic diarrhea virus. Circulating neutralizing antibodies levels in sow sera may help determine if a detectable immune response could confer protection to piglets. Neutralizing antibodies can be detected through [...] Read more.

Lactogenic immunity is important for the protection of piglets against many pathogens including porcine epidemic diarrhea virus. Circulating neutralizing antibodies levels in sow sera may help determine if a detectable immune response could confer protection to piglets. Neutralizing antibodies can be detected through various diagnostic assays. This study evaluated the diagnostic characteristics of two neutralizing antibody assays for porcine epidemic diarrhea virus neutralizing antibodies in serum of challenged gilts. Four treatment groups, control, non-vaccinated, vaccinated prior to challenge, and vaccinated following challenge, were comprised of 20 gilts. Serum sample were collected from each gilt prior to and following challenge with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus. Samples were evaluated for the presence of neutralizing antibodies via a fluorescent focus neutralization assay and a high-throughput neutralization assay. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for the fluorescent focus neutralization and high-throughput neutralization assays for this study were optimized at a cutoff of a dilution of 80 and 80% fluorescent reduction respectively and demonstrated moderate agreement based off the kappa statistic. The focus fluorescent neutralization and high-throughput neutralization assays can be used to monitor the status of neutralizing antibodies within animals or a population of animals. The high-throughput assay has advantages over the focus fluorescent assay in that it has a higher specificity at the indicated cut-off and the nature of the results allows for more discrimination between individual results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Issues and Advances in the Surveillance of Food Production Animals)

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Box-and-whisker plots of the HTNT antibody response curves by the days post challenge for each treatment group. The middle bar represents the median value of the results by week. The hinges (top and bottom of the box) represent the first (Q1) and third (Q3) quartiles. The shaded region represents the interquartile range (IQR). The whiskers are determined as follows: Top whisker = Q3 + 1.5∗IQR; Bottom whisker = Q1 + 1.5∗IQR. If no data point is at the calculated value, the next data point closest to Q1 or Q3 is the limit of the whisker. Open circles (◦) indicate outliers. A cut of 85 is denoted by the dashed line at 85 on the y-axis. Full article ">Figure 2
Box-and-whisker plots of the FFN antibody response curves by the days post challenge for each treatment group. The middle bar represents the median value of the results by week. The hinges (top and bottom of the box) represent the first (Q1) and third (Q3) quartiles. The shaded region represents the interquartile range (IQR). The whiskers are determined as follows: Top whisker = Q3 + 1.5∗IQR; Bottom whisker = Q1 + 1.5∗IQR. If no data point is at the calculated value, the next data point closest to Q1 or Q3 is the limit of the whisker. Open circles (◦) indicate outliers. A cut of 40 is denoted by the dashed line at ln(40) on the y-axis. Full article ">Figure 3
(A). Positive Predictive values for the HTNT (black lines) and FFN (gray lines) assays at various cutoffs. A cutoff of 90 is not represented for the HTNT. (B). Negative predictive values or the HTNT (black lines) and FFN (gray lines) assays at various cutoffs. A cutoff of 20 is not represented for the FFN assay. Full article ">

13 pages, 1591 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Infection with Cryptosporidium parvum Affects Secondary Sexual Characteristics of Male Mice by Altering the Pheromone Content in Preputial Gland

by Gaojian Li, Tao Zhang, Bin Hu, Shuyi Han, Chen Xiang, Guohui Yuan and Hongxuan He

Animals 2023, 13(4), 756; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040756 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1834

Abstract

The olfactory acuity of female mice allows them to discriminate the urinary odors of males. Parasitic infection can reduce the odor attractiveness of male mice to females and result in female aversion or avoidance responses in odor selection. However, the chemical signaling changes [...] Read more.

The olfactory acuity of female mice allows them to discriminate the urinary odors of males. Parasitic infection can reduce the odor attractiveness of male mice to females and result in female aversion or avoidance responses in odor selection. However, the chemical signaling changes in the pheromone contents produced by the foreskin gland were not fully revealed after parasitic infection. Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) is a common zoonotic intestinal parasite and has a wide range of hosts, including human, domestic animals, and wild animals. In this study, we immunosuppressed ICR/CD-1 male mice by dexamethasone sodium phosphate treatment. After C. parvum infection, physiological indexes such as body weight and organ weight were significantly decreased. Furthermore, the gene expression level of MUP (major urinary protein) in liver and urine were significantly down-regulated, which could be the reason for the decrease in urine attractiveness to females. GC-MS was performed to analyze the changes in the pheromone produced by the preputial gland before and after parasitic infection, and the results indicated that the levels of different pheromones were significantly reduced after parasitic infection. In summary, this study reveals that C. parvum infection damages the secondary sexual characteristics of male ICR/CD-1 male mice and decreases the pheromone content produced by the foreskin gland. Full article

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Dexamethasone sodium phosphate treatment lowered the immunity of ICR/CD-1 male mice. (A) Dexamethasone sodium phosphate treatment increased the percentage of CD8+ cells in the whole white blood cells. (B) The CD4+/CD8+ ratio from the Dex group was significantly lower than that in the control group. (C) The dexamethasone sodium phosphate treatment suppressed the viability of splenic T lymphocyte cells. All data are presented as means ± standard deviation. Two-way ANOVA was used for comparison between the two groups, and all statistical analyses were performed with GraphPad Prism 8. **** p < 0.0001; *** p < 0.001; ** p < 0.01. Full article ">Figure 2
C. parvum infection decreased the physiological indexes. (A) The comparison of body weight between the infection group and control group before and after parasitic infection. (B–H) The changes in mass indexes for different organs between the two groups are presented before and after parasitic infection,. The mass indexes of the spleen, thymus, and preputial gland were reduced after parasitic infection. All data are presented as means ± standard deviation. Two-way ANOVA was used for significance analysis, and all statistical analyses were performed with GraphPad Prism 8. *** p < 0.001; ** p < 0.01. Full article ">Figure 3
The parasitic infection decreased the attractiveness of ICR/CD-1 male mouse urine to females. Attractiveness was evaluated by recording the cumulative duration of female mice in sniffing and exploring the different urine samples within 3 min. All data are presented as means ± standard deviation. Two-way ANOVA was used for significance analysis, and all statistical analyses were performed with GraphPad Prism 8. ** p < 0.01. Full article ">Figure 4
C. parvum infection reduced the expression of MUP variants and showed no influence on the hormone level. (A) The expression level of MUP variants in the liver tissue was significantly down-regulated after parasitic infection. (B) SDS-PAGE analysis indicated that the protein expression level of MUP was significantly decreased for the mice infected with C. parvum. The levels of testosterone (C) and corticosterone (D) in serum showed no significant differences between the infection group and control group. All data are presented as means ± standard deviation. Two-way ANOVA was used for significance analysis, and all statistical analyses were performed with GraphPad Prism 8. * p < 0.1; ** p < 0.01; ns non-significant. Full article ">Figure 5
C. parvum infection significantly reduced the pheromone contents in the secretions separated from the preputial gland. (A) Representative gas chromatogram of the secretions from the infection group. (B) The absolute abundances of Z-7-tetradecen-1-ol, 1-tetradecanol, Z-5-tetradecenol acetate, 1-tetradecanol acetate, 1-hexadecanol acetate, and 1-hexadecanol acetate in the secretions of the preputial gland were decreased after parasitic infection. **** p < 0.0001. Full article ">

12 pages, 621 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Different Levels of Yucca Supplementation on Growth Rates, Metabolic Profiles, Fecal Odor Emissions, and Carcass Traits of Growing Lambs

by Ibrahim S. Alsubait, Ibrahim A. Alhidary and Ahmed A. Al-Haidary

Animals 2023, 13(4), 755; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040755 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2019

Abstract

Sixty male Awassi lambs were used to investigate the effects of dietary Yucca schidgera extract (YS) on the production, fecal and urinary odor emissions, and carcass traits of growing lambs fed complete pellets. Lambs were fed either a complete pelleted diet without yucca [...] Read more.

Sixty male Awassi lambs were used to investigate the effects of dietary Yucca schidgera extract (YS) on the production, fecal and urinary odor emissions, and carcass traits of growing lambs fed complete pellets. Lambs were fed either a complete pelleted diet without yucca (control) or supplemented with 300 or 600 mg YS/kg dry matter (DM) during the 84-day experiment. The weights and feed consumption of the lambs were measured weekly. Blood samples were taken on days 1, 28, 58, and 84, and ruminal fluid samples were collected on day 70. On day 90, the odor emissions from feces and urine were measured. On day 84, 12 lambs were slaughtered for the evaluation of carcass and meat quality. The final values for bodyweight, bodyweight gain, and feed efficiency of lambs fed the YS₃₀₀ diet were 3.40%, 6.64%, and 6.17%, respectively, higher (p < 0.05) than those fed the YS₆₀₀ diet. Additionally, the percentage of dressing, myofibril fragmentation index, and ruminal isovalerate percentage of lambs treated with YS₆₀₀ were higher than those treated with YS₃₀₀. Compared with the control, the addition of yucca reduced odor emissions from feces and urine. In conclusion, dietary YS₃₀₀ had no additional benefits on growth rate, feed efficiency, and carcass traits, while dietary YS₆₀₀ improved fecal and urinary odors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative Feeds and Feed Additives in Ruminants-Increasing Productivity and Reducing Environmental Pollution)

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17 pages, 12437 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Five Prebiotics on Growth, Antioxidant Capacity, Non-Specific Immunity, Stress Resistance, and Disease Resistance of Juvenile Hybrid Grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂)

by Li Zhu, Shaoqun Wang, Yan Cai, Huizhong Shi, Yongcan Zhou, Dongdong Zhang, Weiliang Guo and Shifeng Wang

Animals 2023, 13(4), 754; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040754 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2579

Abstract

To explore the short-term health benefits of five prebiotics on hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂), six experimental groups fed with different diets (basal diet, diet control (CON); basal diet + 0.2% fructooligosaccharide (FOS), diet FOS; basal diet + [...] Read more.

To explore the short-term health benefits of five prebiotics on hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂), six experimental groups fed with different diets (basal diet, diet control (CON); basal diet + 0.2% fructooligosaccharide (FOS), diet FOS; basal diet + 0.5% chitosan, diet chitosan (CTS); basal diet + 0.2% mannan–oligosaccharide (MOS), diet MOS; basal diet + 0.1% β-glucan (GLU), Diet GLU; basal diet + 0.05% xylooligosaccharide (XOS), diet XOS) were set up, and a 4-week feeding trial was conducted. MOS and XOS significantly improved the growth of hybrid grouper compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). Antioxidant enzyme assay showed that the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was significantly enhanced in the MOS group, and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the XOS group was significantly lower than in the CON group (p < 0.05). The catalase (CAT) activities were significantly enhanced in all prebiotic-supplemented groups compared with the CON group (p < 0.05). Non-specific immunity assay showed that the activities of alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and lysozyme (LZM) were significantly increased in all prebiotic-supplemented groups compared with the CON group (p < 0.05). The total protein content in the XOS group was significantly increased (p < 0.05), and the albumin (ALB) activity in the MOS group was more significantly increased than that in the CON group. Histological examination of the intestine revealed that muscle thickness was significantly increased in all prebiotic-supplemented groups compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). Villi length, villi width, muscle thickness all increased significantly in the MOS group (p < 0.05). In addition, the crowding stress and ammonia nitrogen stress experiments revealed that the survival rates of the MOS and XOS groups after stresses were significantly higher than those of the CON group (p < 0.05). Though MOS and XOS exhibited similar anti-stress effects, the antioxidant and non-specific immunity parameters they regulated were not the same, indicating that the specific mechanisms of MOS and XOS’s anti-stress effects were probably different. After being challenged with Vibrio harvey, MOS and GLU groups showed significantly higher post-challenge survival rates than the CON group (p < 0.05). These findings indicated that among the five prebiotics, MOS and XOS showed the best overall short-term beneficial effects and could be considered promising short-term feed additives to improve the stress resistance of juvenile hybrid grouper. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Second Edition of Feed Additives in Health and Immunity of Fish)

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Effects of different prebiotics on growth performance of hybrid grouper. (A) WGR, (B) SGR, (C) FC. Values are expressed as means ± SEM; Mean values in the same row with different superscript letters are significantly different (p < 0.05); CON, control; FOS, fructooligosaccharides; GLU, β-glucan; CTS, chitosan; MOS, mannan–oligosaccharides; XOS, xylooligosaccharides; SE, standard error of the mean. Full article ">Figure 2
Effects of different prebiotics on antioxidant activities of hybrid grouper. (A) GSH-PX, (B) MDA, (C) CAT, and (D) SOD. Values are expressed as means ± SEM; Mean values in the same row with different superscript letters are significantly different (p < 0.05); CON, control; FOS, fructooligosaccharides; GLU, β-glucan; CTS, chitosan; MOS, mannan-oligosaccharides; XOS, xylooligosaccharides; SE, standard error of the mean. Full article ">Figure 3
Effects of different prebiotics on non-specific immunity parameters of hybrid grouper. (A) AKP, (B) LZM, (C) TP, and (D) ALB. Values are expressed as means ± SEM; Mean values in the same row with different superscript letters are significantly different (p < 0.05). CON, control; FOS, fructooligosaccharides; GLU, β-glucan; CTS, chitosan; MOS, mannan–oligosaccharides; XOS, xylooligosaccharides; SE, standard error of the mean. Full article ">Figure 4
Histological examination images of the intestine in hybrid grouper-fed diets containing different prebiotics (magnification × 100). (A) CON; (B) FOS; (C) GLU; (D) CTS; (E) MOS; (F) XOS. Measured intestinal morphological parameters: villus length (VL), villus width (VW), and muscle thickness (MT). Scale bar: 100 μm. CON, control; FOS, fructooligosaccharides; GLU, β-glucan; CTS, chitosan; MOS, mannan–oligosaccharides; XOS, xylooligosaccharides. Full article ">Figure 5
Effects of different prebiotics on the survival rate of hybrid grouper after 96 h ammonia nitrogen stress. Values are expressed as means ± SEM; Mean values at the same time point with different superscript letters are significantly different (p < 0.05). CON, control; FOS, fructooligosaccharides; GLU, β-glucan; CTS, chitosan; MOS, mannan–oligosaccharides; XOS, xylooligosaccharides; SE, standard error of the mean. Full article ">Figure 6
Effects of different prebiotics on the survival rate of hybrid grouper after 24h crowding stress. Values are expressed as means ± SEM; Mean values with different superscript letters are significantly different (p < 0.05). CON, control; FOS, fructooligosaccharides; GLU, β-glucan; CTS, chitosan; MOS, mannan-oligosaccharides; XOS, xylooligosaccharides; SE, standard error of the mean. Full article ">Figure 7
Effects of different prebiotics on the cumulative survival rate of hybrid grouper after challenging with V. harvey. Values are expressed as means ± SEM; Values at the same time point with different superscript letters are significantly different (p < 0.05). CON, control; FOS, fructooligosaccharides; GLU, β-glucan; CTS, chitosan; MOS, mannan–oligosaccharides; XOS, xylooligosaccharides; SE, standard error of the mean. Full article ">

18 pages, 9512 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Genetic Structure of Henan Indigenous Chicken Breeds

by Yihao Zhi, Dandan Wang, Ke Zhang, Yangyang Wang, Wanzhuo Geng, Botong Chen, Hong Li, Zhuanjian Li, Yadong Tian, Xiangtao Kang and Xiaojun Liu

Animals 2023, 13(4), 753; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040753 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3010

Abstract

There are five indigenous chicken breeds in Henan Province, China. These breeds have their own unique phenotypic characteristics in terms of morphology, behavior, skin and feather color, and productive performance, but their genetic basis is not well understood. Therefore, we analyzed the genetic [...] Read more.

There are five indigenous chicken breeds in Henan Province, China. These breeds have their own unique phenotypic characteristics in terms of morphology, behavior, skin and feather color, and productive performance, but their genetic basis is not well understood. Therefore, we analyzed the genetic structure, genomic diversity, and migration history of Henan indigenous chicken populations and the selection signals and genes responsible for Henan gamecock unique phenotypes using whole genome resequencing. The results indicate that Henan native chickens clustered most closely with the chicken populations in neighboring provinces. Compared to other breeds, Henan gamecock’s inbreeding and selection intensity were more stringent. TreeMix analysis revealed the gene flow from southern chicken breeds into the Zhengyang sanhuang chicken and from the Xichuan black-bone chicken into the Gushi chicken. Selective sweep analysis identified several genes and biological processes/pathways that were related to body size, head control, muscle development, reproduction, and aggression control. Additionally, we confirmed the association between genotypes of SNPs in the strong selective gene LCORL and body size and muscle development in the Gushi-Anka F2 resource population. These findings made it easier to understand the traits of the germplasm and the potential for using the Henan indigenous chicken. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Animal Genetics and Genomics)

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Figure 1
Genetic relationships and population structure between Henan indigenous chickens and other Chinese chicken breeds. (A) Neighbor-joining (NJ) phylogenetic tree of 16 breeds. (B) Principal component analysis (PCA) of 16 chicken populations. (C) Admixture analysis across 16 chicken populations. Proportions of genetic ancestry for 16 chicken populations with K = 2–5 (K represents the number of inferred ancestral populations. Different colors represent assumed ancestors). Full article ">Figure 2
Runs of homozygosity and linkage disequilibrium of different indigenous chicken breeds and red jungle fowl. (A–C) Statistical for runs of homozygosity and genomic inbreeding coefficient of different breeds. (D) Decay of linkage disequilibrium in the 16 chicken populations. Full article ">Figure 3
Analysis of gene flow. A maximum likelihood tree along migration events. Events relating to migration are represented as colored, weighted arrows. Parallel branch lengths are proportional to the degree of genetic drift that has appeared on each branch. The scale bar displays a standard deviation that is 10 times the mean of the values in the sample covariance matrix. Full article ">Figure 4
Whole genome scanning of the selection signatures between HNG and NHNG chickens. Selection signals distribution of (A) FST, (B) ROD calculated for 40 kb windows sliding in 10 kb steps. (C) Signals intersection by FST and ROD. Blue points represent (HNG selected genomic regions with both an extremely high Z (FST) value (top 5% level) and ROD value (top 5% level). Full article ">Figure 5
Functional enrichment analysis of 399 selected genes. (A) Enrichment heatmap. (B) Cluster analysis of enrichment pathways or biological process subclasses, colored by cluster ID, where nodes that share the same cluster ID are typically close to each other. Full article ">Figure 6
Selective sweeping signatures of TMTC3, LCORL, and NCAPG genes in gamecock chickens. (A) FST analysis and haplotype diversity of TMTC3 genes between gamecock populations and the other non-gamecock chickens. (B) FST analysis and haplotype diversity of NCAPG and LCORL genes between gamecock populations and the other non-gamecock chickens. Red, yellow, and green represent homozygous mutant, heterozygous mutant, and homozygous wild-type, respectively. Full article ">Figure 7
Genotype association of SNP Chr4: 75,859,000G>A in LCORL with body weight (BW) and carcass traits in Gushi-Anka F2 chickens (A), and the allelic frequency in different breeds (B). Full article ">Figure 8
Enrichment analysis of common selected genes in gamecock chickens and those specific to HNG using Metascape. (A) Functional enrichment analysis of 52 common selected genes. (B) Functional enrichment analysis of 347 unique selected genes. Full article ">

23 pages, 8037 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ontogenetic Variation and Sexual Dimorphism of Beaks among Four Cephalopod Species Based on Geometric Morphometrics

by Chao Wang and Zhou Fang

Animals 2023, 13(4), 752; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040752 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1954

Abstract

Investigating the ontogenetic variation of biological individuals helps us to fully understand the characteristics of evolution. In order to explore the ontogenetic variation and sexual dimorphism of the beak shape in Octopus minor, Uroteuthis edulis, Sepia esculenta and Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis of [...] Read more.

Investigating the ontogenetic variation of biological individuals helps us to fully understand the characteristics of evolution. In order to explore the ontogenetic variation and sexual dimorphism of the beak shape in Octopus minor, Uroteuthis edulis, Sepia esculenta and Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis of the China’s coastal waters, the differences between immature and mature stages and the sex-linked differences in the beak shape and size were analyzed with geometric morphometrics methods in this study. The results of Procrustes analysis of variance, principal component analysis and multivariate regression showed that the shapes of the upper beaks of O. minor, U. edulis and S. esculenta differed significantly among various ontogenetic stages (p < 0.05). The shapes of the lower beaks of U. edulis, S. esculenta and Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis were also significantly different among various ontogenetic stages (p < 0.05). The results of thin-plate spline deformation grids showed that the beaks of the four cephalopod species presented different variation patterns. This study gives us basic beak geometry morphology information for Octopus minor, Uroteuthis edulis, Sepia esculenta and Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis present in China’s coastal waters. The ontogenetic differences in beak shape might be related to extrinsic factors (diet difference and intra and interspecific competition) in habitat. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment and Management of Cephalopod Fisheries and Ecosystems)

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11 pages, 259 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Dietary Sodium and Chloride on Slaughter Performance, Digestive Tract Development and Tibia Mineralization of Geese

by Yuanjing Chen, Zhiyue Wang and Haiming Yang

Animals 2023, 13(4), 751; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040751 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2093

Abstract

This study evaluated the slaughter performance, digestive tract development and tibia mineralization effects of sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) on geese. Four hundred and thirty-four male geese at 29 days were randomly assigned into nine groups with six replicates (eight in each). The [...] Read more.

This study evaluated the slaughter performance, digestive tract development and tibia mineralization effects of sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) on geese. Four hundred and thirty-four male geese at 29 days were randomly assigned into nine groups with six replicates (eight in each). The experiment employed a 3 × 3 factorial design, with two instances each of three Na levels (0.10%, 0.15%, and 0.20%) and three Cl levels (0.15%, 0.20%, and 0.25%). All experimental birds were husbanded for 42 days. Dietary Na and Cl levels and their interactions (Na ×Cl) had no significant effect on the slaughter, breast, thigh, abdominal fat yield, and digestive tract index of geese (p > 0.05). However, dietary Na and Cl level significantly affected the crypt depth of the jejunum and tibial development. Variations in Na and Cl levels had a significant interaction on the crypt depth of jejunal (p < 0.05), 0.20% Na × 0.25% Cl had a minor crypt depth. Dietary variations in Na and Cl significantly affected the tibial strength, and there was a significant interaction between them (p < 0.05). When Na and Cl were at their maximum (0.20% Na and 0.25% Cl), the strength of the tibia was the lowest. In addition, a single factor (Na or Cl) had no effect (p > 0.05), but its interaction significantly affected the calcium (Ca) content of bone (p < 0.05). When the Na and Cl levels were 0.15% and 0.15%, respectively, the Ca content in bone was the highest. These results suggest that dietary Na and Cl had interactive effects on geese, especially in the development of the tibia. High dietary Na and Cl levels adversely influenced the tibia and intestinal crypt morphology. Therefore, we do not advocate supplementing too much Na or Cl in the diet. Combined with our previous results, for 29–70-day-old geese, it is recommended that dietary Na and Cl levels should be 0.10% and 0.15%, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Effects of Feed Ingredients on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics in Animals)

17 pages, 2470 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Variability of External Egg Quality in Vertical Naturally Ventilated Caged Aviaries

by Letícia Cibele da Silva Ramos Freitas, Ilda de Fátima Ferreira Tinôco, Richard Stephen Gates, Tatiany Carvalho dos Santos, Rafaella Resende Andrade, Matteo Barbari and Gianluca Bambi

Animals 2023, 13(4), 750; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040750 - 19 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1527

Abstract

External egg quality is an essential parameter of egg production as it relates directly to economic losses. This study evaluated the spatial variability of external egg quality in five naturally ventilated caged vertical aviaries. Differences caused by bird age and thermal and luminous [...] Read more.

External egg quality is an essential parameter of egg production as it relates directly to economic losses. This study evaluated the spatial variability of external egg quality in five naturally ventilated caged vertical aviaries. Differences caused by bird age and thermal and luminous variability within aviaries during winter and summer were analyzed. Data on aviary air temperature, relative humidity, light intensity, and external egg quality were collected at evenly distributed points along the aviary length within three levels of cages. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial scheme. In the summer, the highest air temperature and lowest relative humidity were found in central cages, mainly in upper center cages; hens produced eggs with a lower weight and shape index in this area. Similar results were obtained in the winter. In the summer, eggs with lower shell weight and thickness were also produced by hens housed in the central cages, but in the winter, the opposite result was obtained. This study of the spatial variability of external egg quality proved efficient in detecting areas within an aviary with poor quality eggs; improvements to design and management in these areas could help management improve production efficiency and contribute to a sustainable egg supply. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Poultry)

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17 pages, 5609 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Stress on Intestinal Morphology, Redox Status, and Related Molecules in Squabs

by Yajing Zhong, Tingting Ma, Zhiqi Fu, Ailing Chen, Jiahao Yu, Yanhua Huang and Jing Fu

Animals 2023, 13(4), 749; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040749 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2816

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential effect of oxidative stress on the intestine of squabs, and to explore the molecular mechanisms. A total of 360 1-day-old squabs were divided evenly into five different groups (n = 72/group): control, negative [...] Read more.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential effect of oxidative stress on the intestine of squabs, and to explore the molecular mechanisms. A total of 360 1-day-old squabs were divided evenly into five different groups (n = 72/group): control, negative control, low, medium, and high dose groups. On the 3rd, 5th, and 7th days, squabs in the control group were not effectively treated and the negative control group were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline, whereas the H₂O₂ group was injected with H₂O₂ of 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 mmol/kg BW respectively. On the 21st day, the serum and duodenum were collected for further analysis. The results indicated that, compared with the control group, H₂O₂ caused squabs weight loss and intestinal morphology damage, and these effects were enhanced with an increase in dose. Further examination revealed that the contents of oxidative stress markers in both the serum and duodenum of the H₂O₂ group were significantly enhanced as the dose was increased. In addition, H₂O₂ exposure also resulted in the lower mRNA expression of Occludin, ZO-1, Beclin1, Atg5, and Caspase-3, but the expression of Claudin2 and Bcl-2 was decreased in comparison to the control group. These findings suggested that duodenal oxidative damage was accompanied by weight loss, changes in intestinal morphology, redox status imbalance, apoptosis as well as autophagy of intestinal cells, with, effects of 3.0 mmol/kg BW of H₂O₂ being the most severe. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Animal Physiology)

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16 pages, 1681 KiB

Open AccessReview

Changing Hearts and Minds in the Equestrian World One Behaviour at a Time

by Inga A. Wolframm, Janet Douglas and Gemma Pearson

Animals 2023, 13(4), 748; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040748 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5956

Abstract

Equestrianism is currently facing a range of pressing challenges. These challenges, which are largely based on evolving attitudes to ethics and equine wellbeing, have consequences for the sport’s social licence to operate. The factors that may have contributed to the current situation include [...] Read more.

Equestrianism is currently facing a range of pressing challenges. These challenges, which are largely based on evolving attitudes to ethics and equine wellbeing, have consequences for the sport’s social licence to operate. The factors that may have contributed to the current situation include overarching societal trends, specific aspects of the equestrian sector, and factors rooted in human nature. If equestrianism is to flourish, it is evident that much needs to change, not the least, human behaviour. To this end, using established behaviour change frameworks that have been scientifically validated and are rooted in practice—most notably, Michie et al.’s COM-B model and Behaviour Change Wheel—could be of practical value for developing and implementing equine welfare strategies. This review summarises the theoretical underpinnings of some behaviour change frameworks and provides a practical, step-by-step approach to designing an effective behaviour change intervention. A real-world example is provided through the retrospective analysis of an intervention strategy that aimed to increase the use of learning theory in (educational) veterinary practice. We contend that the incorporation of effective behaviour change interventions into any equine welfare improvement strategy may help to safeguard the future of equestrianism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Equestrian Practice to Improve Equine Quality of Life)

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18 pages, 2113 KiB

Open AccessReview

Going Wild in the City—Animal Feralization and Its Impacts on Biodiversity in Urban Environments

by Thomas Göttert and Gad Perry

Animals 2023, 13(4), 747; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040747 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4408

Abstract

Domestication describes a range of changes to wild species as they are increasingly brought under human selection and husbandry. Feralization is the process whereby a species leaves the human sphere and undergoes increasing natural selection in a wild context, which may or may [...] Read more.

Domestication describes a range of changes to wild species as they are increasingly brought under human selection and husbandry. Feralization is the process whereby a species leaves the human sphere and undergoes increasing natural selection in a wild context, which may or may not be geographically adjacent to where the originator wild species evolved prior to domestication. Distinguishing between domestic, feral, and wild species can be difficult, since some populations of so-called “wild species” are at least partly descended from domesticated “populations” (e.g., junglefowl, European wild sheep) and because transitions in both directions are gradual rather than abrupt. In urban settings, prior selection for coexistence with humans provides particular benefit for a domestic organism that undergoes feralization. One risk is that such taxa can become invasive not just at the site of release/escape but far away. As humanity becomes increasingly urban and pristine environments rapidly diminish, we believe that feralized populations also hold conservation value. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Recent Advance in Wildlife Conservation)

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Conceptual framework using the wolf-dog-dingo continuum to illustrate the general processes of domestication (top) and feralization (bottom). Photos: T. Göttert. Full article ">Figure 2
Ongoing interrelations between domestication and feralization as the Neolithic Revolution progressed into central Europe. Both processes were entangled as the wild taxon was around and the domestic taxon was not really detached from the natural environment. Domestic animals feralize and the hybrids of feralized domestic and wild animals may be re-incorporated into the human sphere as animal herders might consider this desirable. Photos: T. Göttert. Full article ">Figure 3
Selected examples of feral organisms from different parts of the world. (A): water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) floating around at Lake Tana, Ethiopia; photo: G. Perry; (B): Florida red-bellied cooter (Pseudemys nelsoni), one of several found in the Road Town botanical garden pond, Tortola, British Virgin Islands; photo: G Perry; (C): Egyptian geese (Alopochen aegyptiacus) found at a pond in Saxony Anhalt, central Germany; photo: T. Göttert; (D): feral domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) found at a water body in Lubbock, Texas, USA; photo: G. Perry; (E): feral dogs (Canis lupus f. familiaris) photographed at a bait station near Yigo, Guam; photo: USDA-Wildlife Services Guam; (F): subadult wild boar (Sus scrofa) photographed in the city of Berlin, Germany and showing the characteristic coat color pattern of domestic pigs; photo: T. Göttert. Full article ">Figure 4
Livestock species found in urban areas in the Global South (A–D) and in the Global North (E,F). (A): horse pulling a wagon in Oromia region, Ethiopia; (B): cattle in Oshakati, Namibia; (C): sheep on the streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh; (D): chickens roaming in Cusco, Peru; (E): children’s zoo at Tierpark Berlin-Friedrichsfelde, Germany; (F): sign at children`s zoo at Dallas Zoo, USA; photos: (A,E): G. Perry; (B,E): T. Göttert; (C): C. Hobelsberger; (D): J.S. Rojas. Full article ">

17 pages, 2139 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antioxidant, Immunostimulant, and Growth-Promoting Effects of Dietary Annona squamosa Leaf Extract on Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, and Its Tolerance to Thermal Stress and Aeromonas sobria Infection

by Salem Hamad Almarri, Alshimaa A. Khalil, Abdallah Tageldein Mansour and Walaa El-Houseiny

Animals 2023, 13(4), 746; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040746 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3373

Abstract

Plant extracts are a phytochemically-rich alternative to antibiotic and synthetic feed additives, with high systemic bioactivity in animals. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of a hydroalcoholic extract of custard apple (Annona squamosa) leaf (ASLE) on the growth, hematobiochemical [...] Read more.

Plant extracts are a phytochemically-rich alternative to antibiotic and synthetic feed additives, with high systemic bioactivity in animals. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of a hydroalcoholic extract of custard apple (Annona squamosa) leaf (ASLE) on the growth, hematobiochemical parameters, digestive enzyme activities, redox status, nonspecific immune response, and cold and bacterial infection tolerance in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). A total of 300 Nile tilapia fingerlings (11.87 ± 0.48 g) were fed ASLE-supplemented diets at increasing levels of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 g/kg for 60 days. At the end of the feeding period, the fish were experimentally challenged with cold water stress or Aeromonas sobria, and mortalities were recorded for 10 days. The results revealed that the growth performance and feed conversion ratio were significantly improved with an increasing level of ASLE supplementation. The hematologic profile and hepato-renal functions were retained within a healthy range in the various groups supplemented with an ASLE diet. Antioxidant status was significantly improved in the serum of fish fed ASLE-supplemented diets, in terms of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities, reduced glutathione, and total antioxidant capacity. Meanwhile, the myeloperoxidase (MPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels decreased significantly. Similarly, there was a noticeable improvement in the hepatic CAT and SOD activities and a reduction of hepatic MDA. Marked improvements in lysozyme activity, nitric oxide production, complement3 level, and phagocytic activity were recorded in groups fed ASLE-supplemented diets, which peaked with the 20 g ASLE/kg diet. Moreover, the serum glucose and cortisol levels significantly declined in groups fed ASLE at levels of 15–20 g/kg compared to the other groups. Supplementation with ASLE increased the activities of protease, lipase, and α-amylase. ASLE supplementation at a concentration of 10–20 g/kg diet enhanced the resistance of Nile tilapia to A. sobria infection. According to this study, ASLE supplementation enhanced the antioxidant balance, non-specific immune response, physiological status, resistance against infection, and growth performance of Nile tilapia at supplementation levels of 10–20 g/kg diet. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Nutritional Strategies to Control Disease of Aquaculture)

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15 pages, 1352 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Citrus Pellet on Extrusion Parameters, Kibble Macrostructure, Starch Cooking and In Vitro Digestibility of Dog Foods

by Salvatore Cucinotta, Marianna Oteri, Mayara Aline Baller, Lucas Bassi Scarpim, Camila Goloni, Biagina Chiofalo and Aulus Cavalieri Carciofi

Animals 2023, 13(4), 745; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040745 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1846

Abstract

Fiber supplemented extruded foods are produced by pet food companies to help with several specific health conditions. The fiber material, however, is difficult to incorporate efficiently into dry kibble diets for dogs. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of [...] Read more.

Fiber supplemented extruded foods are produced by pet food companies to help with several specific health conditions. The fiber material, however, is difficult to incorporate efficiently into dry kibble diets for dogs. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of citrus pulp pellet (CPP), the solid waste part of the production of orange juice characterized by a good proportion of soluble and fermentable fiber, on extrusion traits, kibble macrostructure, starch gelatinization and in vitro digestibility of dog foods. A control formula (CO) was developed for dogs. CPP was added to CO at different inclusion levels: 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%. Foods were extruded in a single screw extruder using two different die diameters (d_d): 5 mm and 7 mm. CPP inclusion with 5 mm d_d did not affect bulk and piece density and resulted in a lower impact on kibble expansion; It also resulted in greater starch gelatinization and kibble expansion compared to the 7 mm d_d configuration (p < 0.01). In addition to the nutritional implications, recycling and proper uses of this material exemplified in the present study by the exploration of CPP as a fiber source to dogs, this method can improve sustainable agriculture by transforming low-quality materials into high-quality foods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Impact of Feed Technologies in Animal Production)

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35 pages, 3599 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Past, Present, and Future of Naturally Occurring Antimicrobials Related to Snake Venoms

by Nancy Oguiura, Leonardo Sanches, Priscila V. Duarte, Marcos A. Sulca-López and Maria Terêsa Machini

Animals 2023, 13(4), 744; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040744 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3432

Abstract

This review focuses on proteins and peptides with antimicrobial activity because these biopolymers can be useful in the fight against infectious diseases and to overcome the critical problem of microbial resistance to antibiotics. In fact, snakes show the highest diversification among reptiles, surviving [...] Read more.

This review focuses on proteins and peptides with antimicrobial activity because these biopolymers can be useful in the fight against infectious diseases and to overcome the critical problem of microbial resistance to antibiotics. In fact, snakes show the highest diversification among reptiles, surviving in various environments; their innate immunity is similar to mammals and the response of their plasma to bacteria and fungi has been explored mainly in ecological studies. Snake venoms are a rich source of components that have a variety of biological functions. Among them are proteins like lectins, metalloproteinases, serine proteinases, L-amino acid oxidases, phospholipases type A₂, cysteine-rich secretory proteins, as well as many oligopeptides, such as waprins, cardiotoxins, cathelicidins, and β-defensins. In vitro, these biomolecules were shown to be active against bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses that are pathogenic to humans. Not only cathelicidins, but all other proteins and oligopeptides from snake venom have been proteolyzed to provide short antimicrobial peptides, or for use as templates for developing a variety of short unnatural sequences based on their structures. In addition to organizing and discussing an expressive amount of information, this review also describes new β-defensin sequences of Sistrurus miliarius that can lead to novel peptide-based antimicrobial agents, using a multidisciplinary approach that includes sequence phylogeny. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reptile Evolution and Genetics - Special Issue Dedicated to the Memory of Prof. Teresa Capriglione)

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16 pages, 2937 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Post-Mortem Computed Tomographic Features of the Most Caudal Lumbar Vertebrae, Anatomical Variations and Acquired Osseous Pathological Changes, in a Mixed Population of Horses

by Nicola Scilimati, Giovanni Angeli, Antonio Di Meo, Cecilia Dall’Aglio, Marco Pepe and Francesca Beccati

Animals 2023, 13(4), 743; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040743 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2179

Abstract

The radiographic, ultrasonographic, and scintigraphic findings of horses with thoracolumbosacral pain have been previously reported. In this study, the computed tomographic appearance of anatomical variations and pathological changes of the equine caudal lumbar region through a post-mortem examination were investigated. A total of [...] Read more.

The radiographic, ultrasonographic, and scintigraphic findings of horses with thoracolumbosacral pain have been previously reported. In this study, the computed tomographic appearance of anatomical variations and pathological changes of the equine caudal lumbar region through a post-mortem examination were investigated. A total of 40 horses that had died or were submitted for euthanasia, for reasons unrelated to the study, were included in the study. From all the specimens, the modified vertebral system was adopted to evaluate and describe the four most caudal lumbar vertebrae, which were numbered from a caudal reference point (lumbosacral junction), with the segment number designated within parentheses (i.e., L(i)-L(iv)). Contact of the spinous processes was detected in 21 specimens (54%) and fusion in 6 specimens (15%). Lumbar spondylosis was seen in 17 specimens (42.5%), more commonly on the lateral aspect or on both ventral and lateral aspects in 12 specimens (71%). The presence of spondylosis was found more commonly in older horses (p < 0.001). There was no difference in bony density in specimens with spondylosis or spinous processes contact compared to specimens without. The highest prevalence of bony changes was found at L(ii)-L(i) intertransverse joints in 28 specimens (97%) on the left and in 22 specimens (96%) on the right side. Spondylolisthesis and partial fusion of the L(ii)-L(i) vertebral disc were found in association with degenerative pathologies. This study showed a high frequency of several anatomical variations and acquired osseous pathological changes in the most caudal lumbar vertebrae via a CT examination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anatomical Variations in Equine Veterinary Medicine)

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12 pages, 2281 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ocular Ultrasonography in Healthy Calves with Different Transducers

by Giuliano Borriello, Flaminia Valentini, Mauro Rampinelli, Sara Ferrini, Giulia Cagnotti, Antonio D’angelo and Claudio Bellino

Animals 2023, 13(4), 742; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040742 - 19 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1442

Abstract

Ocular ultrasonography is seldom performed in cattle. Here, we compared three ultrasound probes (linear, convex, transrectal gynecological) for the measurement of eight eye biometry parameters on vertical and horizontal scans. The sample population was 20 healthy calves (n = 10 Holstein, n = [...] Read more.

Ocular ultrasonography is seldom performed in cattle. Here, we compared three ultrasound probes (linear, convex, transrectal gynecological) for the measurement of eight eye biometry parameters on vertical and horizontal scans. The sample population was 20 healthy calves (n = 10 Holstein, n = 10 Piedmontese breed). Intragroup (same probe for vertical vs. horizontal scanning) and intergroup (different probes measuring the same biometric parameter) comparisons were performed using Student’s t-test and the Mann–Whitney U test. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Intragroup comparison revealed few significant differences. Ultrasound examination with the convex transducer detected more differences than either of the two other probes on vertical (linear six out of eight; transrectal gynecological four out of eight) and horizontal (linear six out of eight; transrectal gynecological six out of eight) scans. Similar results were obtained for both breeds. More non-valuable parameters on the horizontal (77 out of 320, 24%) and the vertical (85 out of 320, 26%) (p ≤ 0.001) scans were obtained with the convex transducer. Both linear transducers were found comparable for ocular ultrasonography in field conditions. However, given its widespread application in the field, the transrectal gynecological transducer may offer veterinarians the added advantage of familiarity and ease-of-use without any additional costs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnostic Imaging Applied to the Internal Medicine of Ruminants)

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13 pages, 1812 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Metabolomic Analysis of Multiple Biological Specimens (Feces, Serum, and Urine) by ¹H-NMR Spectroscopy from Dairy Cows with Clinical Mastitis

by Chenglin Zhu, Qian Zhang, Xin Zhao, Zhibo Yang, Falong Yang, Yang Yang, Junni Tang and Luca Laghi

Animals 2023, 13(4), 741; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040741 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2226

Abstract

Due to huge economic losses to the dairy industry worldwide, mastitis can be considered as one of the most common diseases in dairy cows. This work aimed to study this disease by comparing multiple biological specimens (feces, serum, and urine) from individuals with [...] Read more.

Due to huge economic losses to the dairy industry worldwide, mastitis can be considered as one of the most common diseases in dairy cows. This work aimed to study this disease by comparing multiple biological specimens (feces, serum, and urine) from individuals with or without clinical mastitis. This was performed by a single analytical platform, namely ¹H-NMR, through a multi-matrix strategy. Thanks to the high reproducibility of ¹H-NMR, we could characterize 120 molecules across dairy cow feces, serum, and urine. Among them, 23 molecules were in common across the three biofluids. By integrating the results of multi-matrix metabolomics, several pathways pertaining to energy metabolism and amino acid metabolism appeared to be affected by clinical mastitis. The present work wished to deepen the understanding of dairy cow mastitis in its clinical form. Simultaneous analysis of metabolome changes across several key biofluids could facilitate knowledge discovery and the reliable identification of potential biomarkers, which could be, in turn, used to shed light on the early diagnosis of dairy cow mastitis in its subclinical form. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mastitis in Farm Animals: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, Control, and Prevention)

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Venn diagram showing unique and shared metabolites among dairy cow feces, serum, and urine. Each number represents a zone of intersection, while the numbers in brackets indicate the number of metabolites comprised in the specified zone (see <a href="#app1-animals-13-00741" class="html-app">Table S1</a> for the corresponding list of molecules). The list of core metabolites (zone 5) is shown on the right, divided in amino acids, peptides and analogues (AA), organic acids and derivates (OA), carbohydrates and derivates (CA), nucleosides, nucleotides and analogues (NU), and miscellaneous metabolites (MI). Full article ">Figure 2
rPCA model was set up on the basis of the molecules whose concentrations showed significantly distinct between groups. In the scoreplot (a), we use squares (Healthy) and circles (Clinical Mastitis) to show the samples from the two groups, respectively. The median of each samples’ group is indicated by wide, empty circles. Boxplot (b) highlights the position of the samples along PC 1. The loading plot (c) shows the significant relationships between the concentration of each molecule and its importance over PC 1 (p < 0.05). Full article ">Figure 3
rPCA model was set up on the basis of the molecules whose concentrations showed significantly distinct between groups. In the scoreplot (a), we use squares (Healthy) and circles (Clinical Mastitis) to show the samples from the two groups, respectively. The median of each samples’ group is indicated by wide, empty circles. Boxplot (b) highlights the position of the samples along PC 1. The loading plot (c) shows the significant relationships between the concentration of each molecule and its importance over PC 1 (p < 0.05). Full article ">Figure 4
Volcano plot indicating the changes in the concentrations of metabolites in urine samples from healthy and clinical mastitic dairy cows. Full article ">Figure 5
Enrichment analysis based on the biofluids’ metabolites whose concentrations showed significantly different between groups (the cut-off of impact value was above 0.2). Full article ">

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