Cotter, P. F. ; Heller, D. .
Complex Hemograms Of Isolator Raised Specific Pathogen Free (Spf) Chicks.
International Journal of Poultry Science 2016,
15, 211-217.
Publisher's VersionAbstractHeterophil/lymphocyte (H/L ratio) statistics and total white blood cell counts (TWBC) determined by light microscopic examination of blood from isolator raised specific pathogen free (SPF) chicks indicated complex hemograms. Brachial vein blood (N =12) obtained at 6 wk was spread into films, air dried, post-fixed in MeOH and Wright’s stained. H/L 1 ratios were calculated by dividing all heterophil types, typical (HT) variant (HV) and classic (HC) by the number of small (resting) lymphocytes (Ls) H/L 1 = (HT + HV + HC)/(Ls). A second ratio (H/L 2) obtained by dividing heterophils by all lymphocytes (resting, reactive and atypical, (HT + HV + HC)/ (Ls + Lm) was calculated; as was the H/L 1-H/L 2 difference (ΔH/L). TWBC’s were determined from the same films. Sorting, non-random distribution of cells and atypia affected all H/L statistics. The mean H/L 1 ratio from standard differential counts (SDC) = 0.17 and H/L 2 = 0.16. Edge based ratios (EB) were 8 times the SDC values. Atypical cells were in all samples and more common in EB counts. The H/L ratios and ΔH/L calculated from SDC and EB values were significantly different (p<0.02). Collectively these observations support earlier conclusions regarding the lack of sensitivity of a single H/L ratio, without a TWBC, or consideration of atypia to estimate welfare. Furthermore, hemograms of SPF chickens reared in isolation may be complex. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2016.
Goldenberg, D. ; Lublin, A. ; Rosenbluth, E. ; Heller, D. ; Pitcovski, J. .
Optimized Polypeptide For A Subunit Vaccine Against Avian Reovirus.
Vaccine 2016,
34, 3178-3183.
Publisher's VersionAbstractAvian reovirus (ARV) is a disease-causing agent. The disease is prevented by vaccination with a genotype-specific vaccine while many variants of ARV exist in the field worldwide. Production of new attenuated vaccines is a long-term process and in the case of fast-mutating viruses, an impractical one. In the era of molecular biology, vaccines may be produced by using only the relevant protein for induction of neutralizing antibodies, enabling fast adjustment to the emergence of new genetic strains. Sigma C (SC) protein of ARV is a homotrimer that facilitates host-cell attachment and induce the production and secretion of neutralizing antibodies. The aim of this study was to identify the region of SC that will elicit a protective immune response. Full-length (residues 1-326) and two partial fragments of SC (residues 122-326 and 192-326) were produced in Escherichia coli. The SC fragment of residues 122-326 include the globular head, shaft and hinge domains, while eliminating intra-capsular region. This fragment induces significantly higher levels of anti-ARV antibodies than the shorter fragment or full length SC, which neutralized embryos infection by the virulent strain to a higher extent compared with the antibodies produced in response to the whole virus vaccine. Residues 122-326 fragment is assumed to be folded correctly, exposing linear as well as conformational epitopes that are identical to those of the native protein, while possibly excluding suppressor sequences. The results of this study may serve for the development of a recombinant subunit vaccine for ARV. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd.
Berman, A. ; Horovitz, T. ; Kaim, M. ; Gacitua, H. .
A Comparison Of Thi Indices Leads To A Sensible Heat-Based Heat Stress Index For Shaded Cattle That Aligns Temperature And Humidity Stress.
International Journal of Biometeorology 2016,
60, 1453-1462.
Publisher's VersionAbstractThe combined temperature-humidity heat stress is estimated in farm animals by indices derived of an index based on human thermal comfort sensation. The latter index consists of temperature and humidity measures that sum to form the temperature-humidity index (THI). The hitherto unknown relative contribution of temperature and humidity to the THI was examined. A temperature-humidity data set (temperature 20–42 °C and relative humidity 10–70 %) was used to assess by regression procedures the relative weights of temperature and humidity in the variance of THI values produced by six commonly used heat stress indices. The temperature (Ta) effect was predominant (0.82–0.95 of variance) and humidity accounted for only 0.05 to 0.12 of THI variance, half of the variance encountered in animal responses to variable humidity heat stress. Significant difference in THI values was found between indices in the relative weights of temperature and humidity. As in THI indices, temperature and humidity are expressed in different physical units, their sum has no physical attributes, and empirical evaluations assess THI relation to animal responses. A sensible heat THI was created, in which at higher temperatures humidity reaches 0.25 of sensible heat, similarly to evaporative heat loss span in heat stressed animals. It relates to ambient temperature-humidity similarly to present THI; its values are similar to other THI but greater at higher humidity. In warm conditions, mean animal responses are similar in both indices. The higher sensitivity to humidity makes this index preferable for warm-humid conditions. © 2016, ISB.
Wein, Y. ; Barshira, E. ; Friedman, A. .
Avoiding Handling-Induced Stress In Poultry: Use Of Uniform Parameters To Accurately Determine Physiological Stress.
Poultry Scienceps 2016,
96, 65 - 73.
Publisher's VersionAbstractDue to increase in awareness of poultry welfare and concomitant legislation, it has become necessary to determine poultry's response to stress, with minimal harm and maximum reliability. Several methods to determine the response to physiological stress were developed throughout the years to identify stressors and to measure stress in poultry. The most commonly used are plasma corticosterone levels and peripheral blood heterophil/lymphocyte ratio (H/L ratio). However, the value of these responses to determine a state of stress has been questioned in several instances, as these parameters are increased during the process of bird handling and blood sampling irrespective of the general state of stress. Due to these limitations, it appears that the classic stress markers might be sub-optimal in evaluating stress in poultry, particularly those encountered in high-stress environments. Thus, there is a continuing need for stress indicators, preferably indicators that are quantitative, highly repeatable, not influenced by handling and sampling, determined in peripheral blood, represent an initial response to the stressor, and do not daily fluctuate. As the immune system has been shown to rapidly respond to stress, we assessed pro-inflammatory gene expression in peripheral blood cells as an indicator for stress. We initially show that while corticosterone plasma levels and the H/L ratio were responsive to handling and blood sampling, pro-inflammatory gene expression (lysozyme, IL-1β, IL-6, and HSP-70) was not. We then determined the expression of the same pro-inflammatory genes during acute stress (transit) in layer pullets (hen and turkey) and during chronic stress (different caging densities of layers utilizing 2, 3, and 4 hens/cage). While gene expression was significantly and highly elevated during transit, the effect of differing caging densities on gene expression was minimal; collectively, this might indicate that expression of pro-inflammatory genes is more responsive to acute stress than to chronic stressors. We propose to use pro-inflammatory gene expression in peripheral blood cells to measure responses to stress in poultry.
Vetter, W. ; Ulms, K. ; Wendlinger, C. ; van Rijn, J. .
Novel Non-Methylated Furan Fatty Acids In Fish From A Zero Discharge Aquaculture System.
2016,
2, 8 - 14.
Publisher's VersionAbstractBackgroundFuran fatty acids (F-acids) are valuable minor fatty acids which are appraised for their protective role against lipid oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The most relevant dietary source for F-acids is fish with the predominant occurrence of up to five dimethyl- or monomethyl-substituted homologues. During the screening of fish from a zero discharge aquaculture (ZDA) system we noted the potential presence of unusual F-acids.
Methods
We developed a method by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry operated in the selected ion monitoring mode for elucidation of the structures of the uncommon F-acids.
Results
Carp from the ZDA system contained seven non-methylated F-acids with dominance of 8-(5-hexylfuran-2-yl)-octanoic acid (8F6). Non-methylated F-acids have never been detected before in fish. Subsequent analysis of other fish species and a batch of the fish feed confirmed the presence of non-methylated F-acids.
Conclusions
F-acids in fish are derived from the feed. Our investigation indicates that more emphasis should be put on the F-acid concentrations in fish from aquaculture, which appears to depend on the quality of the fish feed.
Rakovitsky, N. ; Brook, I. ; van Rijn, J. ; Ryskin, M. ; Mkhweli, Z. ; Etkin, H. ; Nir, S. .
Purification Of Greywater By A Moving Bed Reactor Followed By A Filter Including A Granulated Micelle-Clay Composite.
2016,
132-133, 267 - 272.
Publisher's VersionAbstractReuse of grey water (GW) enables to reduce fresh water consumption, but a treatment is required to prevent potential transmission and propagation of pathogenic organisms. This study presents results on the removal of pathogenic bacteria from GW as well as reduction of turbidity, TSS COD, and BOD by a novel treatment system. Compared to previous studied methods, three new elements are presented in the current treatment of GW: (1) A granulated complex of micelles of the organic cation octadecyltrimethylammonium (ODTMA) with montmorillonite was employed in filtration of GW. This complex was efficient in purifying GW due to its large surface area, positive charge and existence of hydrophobic domains. The granulated complex enabled flow when present exclusively in the filter; (2). A moving bed reactor for decomposition of part of the organic matter in the GW. This pretreatment stage, prior to the micelle-clay filter, was also efficient in removing pathogenic bacteria; (3) A regeneration stage of the micelle-clay filter conducted by passing either dilute solutions of Na-hypochlorite or HCl through the micelle-clay complex, or by heating the complex. Incubation of GW for either two weeks or one day in the pretreatment stage yielded a 10- and 7-fold enhancement in the volume filtered, which did not contain fecal coliforms, i.e., 300 and 210L for 40g of complex, respectively. The capacity of purified volume per gram of the complex increased further several-fold (>23L/g) for filters filled exclusively with granules. Regeneration of the complex in the filter further enhanced the capacity.