Animal Research and One Health最新文献

Zimbabwe is currently rated as one of the top 10 fish producers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Fish farming in Zimbabwe is dominated by the culture of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) followed by rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Over 90% of the cultured fish is O. niloticus, which comes from Lake Kariba. Since the first decade of the 21^st century, there has been a significant increase in fish production from two tons to eight tons annually. The increase in fish production has been attributed to the government and donor-funded fishery programs. In this review, current practices, opportunities, and challenges for aquaculture in Zimbabwe are highlighted. The current practices include intensive, semi-intensive, and extensive aquaculture systems. Consistent high market demand for fish and numerous water bodies with potential for cage culture are some of the drivers for aquaculture. Despite the industry's significant growth, there are still a number of management and production issues that need to be resolved. Weaknesses in structural issues and operational frameworks in Non-Governmental Organizations, lack of credit facilities, subsidies, limited technology, obfuscated governance, weak fish disease surveillance mechanisms and legal frameworks, and constrained human resources capacity are some of the challenges plaguing fish culture in Zimbabwe. Cogent aquaculture policies, sustainable subsidies, intensive training of human resources and fisheries experts, strengthened disease surveillance, cheaper alternative fish feeds, reliable viable fingerling production, concerted value chain efforts, and exploration of lucrative export markets is a panacea for the fledgling aquaculture industry in Zimbabwe.

Pseudomonas plecoglossicida (P. plecoglossicida) is a pathogen in aquaculture that causes considerable economic loss. According to artificial infection experiments, the fish were classified into control group, moribund group, and survival group. Compared to the control group, both the moribund group and the survival group of fish had fewer red blood cells (RBCs) and lower oxygen saturation (SaO₂). Furthermore, the fish in the survival group has more RBCs and SaO₂ compared to the moribund group. The concentrations of total iron, ferrous iron, ferric iron, and mineralized iron in the fish spleen of the moribund and survival groups were lower compared to those of the control group. Additionally, the concentrations of these iron components in the fish spleen of the survival group were higher than those of the moribund group. The results demonstrated that iron mineralization is involved in the survival of fish challenged with P. plecoglossicida. Compared to the control and survival groups, the fish spleen had several distinguishing features in the moribund group, including less reduced glutathione (GSH), higher mitochondrial complex V activity, more lipid peroxidation, and reactive oxygen species, as well as reduced glutathione peroxidase 4 (gpx4) expression. Moreover, there were intact cell membranes, a normal nucleus size, no chromatin concentration, and disappearance of cristae in the mitochondria of the spleens of the moribund group. The characteristics of spleen cells in the moribund group were consistent with ferroptosis, suggesting that ferroptosis was involved in the death of fish challenged with P. plecoglossicida.

Nutrition modulates the vulnerability of animals to xenobiotics insults including antibiotics in cultured fish. However, studies exploring the role of low-fat diet (LFD) in modulating adverse effects of antibiotics are currently limited. This study explored the physiological effects of feeding LFD supplemented with oxytetracycline (OTC) in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. Thirty Nile tilapia (8.64 ± 0.44 g) were tagged and randomly stocked into three tanks and fed on a control diet (CD, 70 g/kg lipid), LFD (20 g/kg lipid) and the LFD supplemented with 2.00 g/kg diet of OTC (80 mg/kg body weight/day), hereafter LFD + OTC for 9 weeks. The results indicated that the Nile tilapia fed on LFD + OTC reduced growth performance and feed utilization efficiency than those fed on CD and LFD. Moreover, the fish fed on LFD + OTC had lower body composition, nutrients digestibility and mesenteric fat index than those fed on CD and LFD. Feeding the fish with LFD + OTC decreased antioxidant capacity in the liver than those fed on CD and LFD. The Nile tilapia fed on LFD + OTC increased hepatotoxicity than those fed on CD and LFD. Feeding the Nile tilapia on LFD + OTC decreased immunity response in the kidney and liver than those fed on CD and LFD. The LFD + OTC affected nutrients metabolism in the liver and serum than other diets. Taken together, feeding LFD with OTC impairs physiological functions of Nile tilapia by inhibiting growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immunity response and nutrient metabolism.

As a model of regenerative medicine, hair follicle stem cell (HFSC) plays a determining role in the hair cycle. Emerging evidences showed that long noncoding RNAs regulated the biological function of HFSC. In this current study, we found that lncRNA-000552, standing for “goat secondary HFSC Associated SYNE3 Regulator of HF Cycle” (HFSCARC) expressed higher in anagen than that in telogen of cashmere goat. Through experiments involving nucleocytoplasmic separation and RNA-FISH, we determined that HFSCARC was primarily located in the nucleus of HFSC. To understand the function of HFSCARC, the study performed various assays, including crystal violet staining, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, EdU, and flow cytometry analysis, which collectively revealed that HFSCARC inhibited HFSC proliferation. Additionally, HFSCARC promoted the differentiation of HFSC by investigating the expression of marker genes specific to stem cells and keratinocytes. RNA sequencing analysis was conducted to investigate the global gene expression changes associated with HFSCARC expression. The results showed that HFSCARC altered the expression of genes involved in cell proliferation, hair follicle development, and regulation of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) signaling. Furthermore, the study revealed that HFSCARC activated the BMP signaling pathway. Intriguingly, the study found a decreased expression of SYNE3, which was a neighboring gene of HFSCARC. The altered expression of genes associated with transmethylase and demethylase further suggested that HFSCARC might play an important role in regulating the SYNE3 expression. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the regulatory role of HFSCARC in the biological function of HFSC. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the involvement of noncoding RNAs in the regulation of hair cycle.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a lipid messenger, propagates its signals by interacting with its intracellular targets or is transported to autocrine/paracrine to activate its cell surface receptors. In the female reproductive system, the homeostasis of S1P plays an important role in ovarian follicular development. Our recent studies show that S1P emerges as a functional mediator of LH-EGFR signaling from cumulus cells to oocytes: elevating calcium levels in cumulus cells to induce oocyte meiotic maturation, and activating Akt/mTOR cascade reaction to promote oocyte developmental competence. Thus, S1P might be applied to promote oocyte maturation in animals and humans.

High stocking density and suboptimal conditions limit animal behaviors in modern livestock farming. This is particularly evident in captive animals, in which the motivation for foraging behavior is often thwarted. Oral stereotypic behaviors are common in farm animals. Ruminants (e.g., cattle and sheep) show oral stereotypic behaviors such as tongue-rolling, self-sucking, and inter-sucking. Captive pigs exhibit oral stereotypic behaviors such as bar-biting, sham-chewing, and ear-biting. Chickens peck at drinkers, feeders, and pens. Stereotypic behavior in livestock can be reduced by selecting a specific diet composition that prolongs their eating time and increases their satiety. Furthermore, reducing stocking density and enriching the farming environment encourage livestock to explore and reduce stereotypic behavior. It is important to note that stereotypic behavior is also influenced by organismal physiology. Stereotypic behavior was considered an indicator of poor animal welfare. However, recent research has revealed that animals engage in stereotypic behavior as a response to external stimuli, aiming to alleviate the negative impact of these stimuli on their well-being. Animals that frequently show stereotypic behavior may have higher levels of stress. Certain stress indicators also affect the expression of stereotypic behavior, such as 5-hydroxytryptamine and dopamine. Consequently, further investigation is necessary to understand how stereotypic behaviors affect the physiological state and metabolic processes of animals. This paper discusses the research progress on the oral stereotypic behaviors of farm animals. The objective is to establish a foundation for enhancing livestock feeding conditions and optimizing feeding practices, ultimately reducing stereotypic behaviors.

In intensive poultry production, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria, addressing the issues of agricultural waste and feed costs for farmers is crucial. This study explores a solution by incorporating cassava waste into broiler chicken diets. The research examines its effects on economic factors, growth performance, carcass yield, and agricultural waste utilization over 8 weeks. Three hundred broiler chickens were divided into three groups: a control group without cassava waste and two treatment groups with 10% and 15% cassava waste inclusion. Results showed that a 10% inclusion improved key performance indicators such as weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and carcass weight, while a 15% inclusion was less efficient than the control. Economically, diets with 10% and 15% cassava tuber waste were more cost-effective than the control, emphasizing the economic benefits of cassava-based diets for broiler chickens, and offering a sustainable, cost-efficient feeding option for poultry farmers.

China has a rich cultural heritage spanning thousands of years, and the significance of animal welfare and sustainability are reflected in China's diverse traditional philosophies, beliefs, and literature. These concepts have shaped Chinese people's perception of nature and treatment of animals throughout history. In this article, we will explore how animal welfare and sustainability are reflected in traditional Chinese culture, and discuss their significance and implication in modern Chinese society.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of tannic acid (TA) derived from gallnut supplementation on growth performance and health status of weaned piglets. A total of 432 weanling piglets (7.05 ± 1.05 kg) were randomly allocated into 4 treatment groups with 6 replicates of 18 pigs/pen. Piglets were fed either a basal diet (CON), or basal diets supplemented with 1.5 kg/t TA, 3.0 kg/t TA, or 1.8 kg/t zinc oxide (ZnO) for 21 days. The results showed that, compared to the CON, dietary TA supplementation did not affect (p > 0.05) growth performance and serum biochemistry of weaned piglets. However, 3.0 kg/t TA had higher SOD, GPX, and CAT activities and a lower MDA concentration in the jejunum than those of the CON or the ZnO group. Meanwhile, 3.0 kg/t TA increased (p < 0.05) villus height and villus height/crypt depth, and decreased (p < 0.05) crypt depth in the small intestine. Dietary TA also downregulated (p < 0.05) IL-1β and TNF-α expression in jejunum. Furthermore, 3.0 kg/t TA reduced (p < 0.05) the abundance of Candidatus Brocadia and Escherichia-Shigella in cecal digesta. Notably, both Candidatus Brocadia and Escherichia-Shigella had a negative correlation with antioxidant enzymes activities (R < −0.60, p < 0.01), but Escherichia-Shigella was positively correlated with MDA concentrations (R = 0.44, p < 0.05) in the jejunum. In conclusion, compared to the CON, 3.0 kg/t TA supplementation improved the gut health status of weaned piglets, potentially by regulating redox homeostasis and gut microbiota.

Fish health assessment is essential for maintaining sustainable aquatic ecosystems and ensuring the well-being of wild and farmed fish populations. Hematological parameters are crucial indicators of fish health, with poikilocytosis emerging as a fundamental marker with significant diagnostic value. Poikilocytosis refers to abnormally shaped erythrocytes in bloodstream, reflecting underlying physiological and pathological conditions. Poikilocytosis can occur in various fish species and can be influenced by environmental stressors, infectious agents, nutritional deficiencies, and exposure to pollutants. Morphological alterations in erythrocytes, such as acanthocytes, echinocytes, dacrocytes, schistocytes, spherocytes, and codocytes are common poikilocytes in fish. Understanding the relationship between poikilocytosis and fish health has important implications for disease diagnosis, monitoring, surveillance, and management. By quantifying poikilocytic changes, researchers and veterinarians can differentiate normal variations from pathological conditions, facilitating targeted interventions and treatment strategies. While most studies have focused on heavy metal toxicity, stressors, nutritional deficiencies, pollutants, and therapeutics, the etiological induction of poikilocytosis in fish health has been overlooked. Nonetheless, poikilocytosis remains a valuable biomarker for assessing fish health and their environment. This review highlights piscine poikilocytosis as a significant fish hematological biomarker and its importance in understanding their health and culture conditions.