Jihwan Lee, Younguk Park, D. Song, Seyeon Chang, Ji-Hun Cho
Simple Summary Substitution with black soldier fly larvae meal (BLM, Hermetia illucens L.) has been studied as a possible means of replacing expensive protein sources such as soybean meal and fish meal. However, availability of BLM can differ depending on the substrate and its processing. We investigated the effect of supplementation with defatted and hydrolyzed BLM as an alternative to fish meal in weaning pigs. We found that supplementation with defatted BLM improved nutrient digestibility, growth performance, and economic returns when compared with fish meal (FM) in weaning pigs. Abstract In Experiment 1, a total of eighteen crossbred ([Landrace × Yorkshire] × Duroc) barrows with an initial body weight of 6.74 ± 0.68 kg were randomly divided into three dietary treatments (one pig per cage and six replicates per treatment) and housed in metabolic cages that were equipped with a feeder and slatted floor to collect urine and feces. In Experiment 2, a total of 96 crossbred ([Landrace × Yorkshire] × Duroc) barrows with an initial body weight of 8.25 ± 0.42 kg were used in the 6-week trial. The pigs were randomly divided into three dietary treatments (three pigs per pen and eight replicates per treatment). In Experiment 1, nutrient composition of defatted black soldier fly larvae meal (BLM) was superior to that of hydrolyzed BLM but lower than that of fish meal (FM). Also, defatted BLM and FM had better apparent total track digestibility (ATTD) of crude protein (CP) and better nitrogen retention (p < 0.05) than hydrolyzed BLM, but there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between defatted BLM and FM. In Experiment 2, defatted BLM improved (p < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and feed cost per kg gain (FCG) compared with FM. Defatted BLM could replace soybean meal and fish meal as an alternative protein source for weaning pigs.
{"title":"Effects of Defatted and Hydrolyzed Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal as an Alternative Fish Meal in Weaning Pigs","authors":"Jihwan Lee, Younguk Park, D. Song, Seyeon Chang, Ji-Hun Cho","doi":"10.3390/ani14111692","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111692","url":null,"abstract":"Simple Summary Substitution with black soldier fly larvae meal (BLM, Hermetia illucens L.) has been studied as a possible means of replacing expensive protein sources such as soybean meal and fish meal. However, availability of BLM can differ depending on the substrate and its processing. We investigated the effect of supplementation with defatted and hydrolyzed BLM as an alternative to fish meal in weaning pigs. We found that supplementation with defatted BLM improved nutrient digestibility, growth performance, and economic returns when compared with fish meal (FM) in weaning pigs. Abstract In Experiment 1, a total of eighteen crossbred ([Landrace × Yorkshire] × Duroc) barrows with an initial body weight of 6.74 ± 0.68 kg were randomly divided into three dietary treatments (one pig per cage and six replicates per treatment) and housed in metabolic cages that were equipped with a feeder and slatted floor to collect urine and feces. In Experiment 2, a total of 96 crossbred ([Landrace × Yorkshire] × Duroc) barrows with an initial body weight of 8.25 ± 0.42 kg were used in the 6-week trial. The pigs were randomly divided into three dietary treatments (three pigs per pen and eight replicates per treatment). In Experiment 1, nutrient composition of defatted black soldier fly larvae meal (BLM) was superior to that of hydrolyzed BLM but lower than that of fish meal (FM). Also, defatted BLM and FM had better apparent total track digestibility (ATTD) of crude protein (CP) and better nitrogen retention (p < 0.05) than hydrolyzed BLM, but there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between defatted BLM and FM. In Experiment 2, defatted BLM improved (p < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and feed cost per kg gain (FCG) compared with FM. Defatted BLM could replace soybean meal and fish meal as an alternative protein source for weaning pigs.","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":"2019 43","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141400176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Simple Summary Injection of acetic acid into one leg of a crab caused rubbing of that leg and holding the leg off the floor of a tank. Such activities directed towards the site of a noxious stimulus are consistent with the idea of pain. Some crabs also cast off the leg injected with acid. Because that occurred in association with possible pain-related behaviour, it too might be caused by pain. Prior morphine injection caused various behavioural changes, but morphine did not ameliorate the responses to acetic acid. Therefore, morphine does not act as an analgesic, and this agrees with previous work. Nevertheless, the directed behaviour that follows injection into a leg agrees with other studies and provides additional evidence suggesting that these animals experience pain. Abstract Noxious chemicals, coupled with morphine treatment, are often used in studies on pain in vertebrates. Here we show that injection of morphine caused several behavioural changes in the crab, Carcinus maenas, including reduced pressing against the sides of the enclosure and more rubbing and picking at the mouth parts and, at least for a short time, more defensive displays. Subsequent injection of acetic acid into one rear leg caused rubbing of the injected leg and the injected leg was held vertically off the ground. These activities directed at or involving the specific leg are consistent with previous observations of directed behaviour following noxious stimuli and are consistent with the idea that decapods experience pain. Further, acetic acid but not injection of water induced autotomy of the injected leg in these animals. Because autotomy is temporally associated with directed behaviour, it is possible that the autotomy is a pain-related response. Acetic acid is clearly a noxious substance when applied to decapods. However, morphine had no effect on the activities associated with acetic acid injection and thus there is no evidence for an analgesic effect. Further, the injection of acetic acid did not interfere with behavioural effects of morphine. The activities directed towards the site of injection are like those observed with injection, or with external application, of various noxious substances and the present study adds to a growing body of knowledge about possible pain in decapods.
{"title":"Effects of Acetic Acid and Morphine in Shore Crabs, Carcinus maenas: Implications for the Possibility of Pain in Decapods","authors":"Stuart Barr, Robert W Elwood","doi":"10.3390/ani14111705","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111705","url":null,"abstract":"Simple Summary Injection of acetic acid into one leg of a crab caused rubbing of that leg and holding the leg off the floor of a tank. Such activities directed towards the site of a noxious stimulus are consistent with the idea of pain. Some crabs also cast off the leg injected with acid. Because that occurred in association with possible pain-related behaviour, it too might be caused by pain. Prior morphine injection caused various behavioural changes, but morphine did not ameliorate the responses to acetic acid. Therefore, morphine does not act as an analgesic, and this agrees with previous work. Nevertheless, the directed behaviour that follows injection into a leg agrees with other studies and provides additional evidence suggesting that these animals experience pain. Abstract Noxious chemicals, coupled with morphine treatment, are often used in studies on pain in vertebrates. Here we show that injection of morphine caused several behavioural changes in the crab, Carcinus maenas, including reduced pressing against the sides of the enclosure and more rubbing and picking at the mouth parts and, at least for a short time, more defensive displays. Subsequent injection of acetic acid into one rear leg caused rubbing of the injected leg and the injected leg was held vertically off the ground. These activities directed at or involving the specific leg are consistent with previous observations of directed behaviour following noxious stimuli and are consistent with the idea that decapods experience pain. Further, acetic acid but not injection of water induced autotomy of the injected leg in these animals. Because autotomy is temporally associated with directed behaviour, it is possible that the autotomy is a pain-related response. Acetic acid is clearly a noxious substance when applied to decapods. However, morphine had no effect on the activities associated with acetic acid injection and thus there is no evidence for an analgesic effect. Further, the injection of acetic acid did not interfere with behavioural effects of morphine. The activities directed towards the site of injection are like those observed with injection, or with external application, of various noxious substances and the present study adds to a growing body of knowledge about possible pain in decapods.","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":"20 23","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141397476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Santiago García-Gómora, G. Gómez-Verduzco, C. Márquez-Mota, A. Cortés-Cuevas, O. Vazquez-Mendoza, Ernesto Ávila-González
Simple Summary Annually, the demand for food to supply the world’s population is increasing, and the demand for poultry products is constantly increasing. Therefore, to meet these requirements, it is necessary to implement low-cost poultry diets. One way to reduce the cost of production is with the use of feed additives that increase the amount of metabolizable energy, such as guanidinoacetic acid (GAA). In the present study, the effect of GAA in diets with three levels of metabolizable energy (ME) was evaluated. The addition of GAA to low-ME diets maintained egg production and egg mass at similar levels to those of hens fed a high-ME diet, which indicates that adding GAA is a promising nutritional strategy for reducing the level of ME in the diets of laying hens. Abstract Different levels of metabolizable energy (ME) and the inclusion of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) in the diet of 53-week-old Lohmann LSL-CLASSIC hens were used to evaluate its effect on reproductive parameters, egg quality, intestinal morphology, and the immune response. Six diets were used in a 3 × 2 factorial design, with three levels of ME (2850, 2800, and 2750 kcal/kg), and with (0.08%) or without the inclusion of GAA. The addition of GAA to diets with low levels of ME increased (p < 0.05) egg production and egg mass. Moreover, hens fed with 2800 kcal/g without GAA had the highest concentration (p < 0.05) of serum interleukin IL-2, while those fed diets with the same amount of ME but supplemented with 0.08% GAA had the lowest concentration. Finally, the inclusion of 0.08% GAA increased (p < 0.05) the concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), regardless of the ME level in the diet. This study highlights the potential role of GAA in decreasing the energy level of ME (50–100 kcal/g) in the feeding of hens and in the modulation of specific immune responses. Further research is recommended to fully understand the mechanisms of action of GAA on the mechanism target of rapamycin and its relationship with the immune response.
{"title":"An Assessment of the Effects of Guanidinoacetic Acid on the Performance and Immune Response of Laying Hens Fed Diets with Three Levels of Metabolizable Energy","authors":"Santiago García-Gómora, G. Gómez-Verduzco, C. Márquez-Mota, A. Cortés-Cuevas, O. Vazquez-Mendoza, Ernesto Ávila-González","doi":"10.3390/ani14111675","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111675","url":null,"abstract":"Simple Summary Annually, the demand for food to supply the world’s population is increasing, and the demand for poultry products is constantly increasing. Therefore, to meet these requirements, it is necessary to implement low-cost poultry diets. One way to reduce the cost of production is with the use of feed additives that increase the amount of metabolizable energy, such as guanidinoacetic acid (GAA). In the present study, the effect of GAA in diets with three levels of metabolizable energy (ME) was evaluated. The addition of GAA to low-ME diets maintained egg production and egg mass at similar levels to those of hens fed a high-ME diet, which indicates that adding GAA is a promising nutritional strategy for reducing the level of ME in the diets of laying hens. Abstract Different levels of metabolizable energy (ME) and the inclusion of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) in the diet of 53-week-old Lohmann LSL-CLASSIC hens were used to evaluate its effect on reproductive parameters, egg quality, intestinal morphology, and the immune response. Six diets were used in a 3 × 2 factorial design, with three levels of ME (2850, 2800, and 2750 kcal/kg), and with (0.08%) or without the inclusion of GAA. The addition of GAA to diets with low levels of ME increased (p < 0.05) egg production and egg mass. Moreover, hens fed with 2800 kcal/g without GAA had the highest concentration (p < 0.05) of serum interleukin IL-2, while those fed diets with the same amount of ME but supplemented with 0.08% GAA had the lowest concentration. Finally, the inclusion of 0.08% GAA increased (p < 0.05) the concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), regardless of the ME level in the diet. This study highlights the potential role of GAA in decreasing the energy level of ME (50–100 kcal/g) in the feeding of hens and in the modulation of specific immune responses. Further research is recommended to fully understand the mechanisms of action of GAA on the mechanism target of rapamycin and its relationship with the immune response.","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":"4 25","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141415541","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Simple Summary Growth traits have been widely studied as economically important traits in the beef cattle industry. However, traditional studies often miss how these traits change under different environmental conditions, only focusing on single genetic changes that affect traits directly. In our study, we analyzed how genetics and environment interact to affect growth in beef cattle, considering four growth traits and two environmental factors. This analysis uncovered several genetic markers for growth traits that are not usually evident in standard studies, showing that some genes have effects that can be obliterated by environmental conditions Further testing showed whether these genetic markers are grouped in specific genes or functional pathways, helping us understand how genetics can influence growth under different environmental conditions. By uncovering novel genetic loci, genes, and candidate biological mechanisms associated with growth traits, our study provides valuable information for selection prediction and breeding decisions in the beef cattle industry. Abstract Complex traits are widely considered to be the result of a compound regulation of genes, environmental factors, and genotype-by-environment interaction (G × E). The inclusion of G × E in genome-wide association analyses is essential to understand animal environmental adaptations and improve the efficiency of breeding decisions. Here, we systematically investigated the G × E of growth traits (including weaning weight, yearling weight, 18-month body weight, and 24-month body weight) with environmental factors (farm and temperature) using genome-wide genotype-by-environment interaction association studies (GWEIS) with a dataset of 1350 cattle. We validated the robust estimator’s effectiveness in GWEIS and detected 29 independent interacting SNPs with a significance threshold of 1.67 × 10−6, indicating that these SNPs, which do not show main effects in traditional genome-wide association studies (GWAS), may have non-additive effects across genotypes but are obliterated by environmental means. The gene-based analysis using MAGMA identified three genes that overlapped with the GEWIS results exhibiting G × E, namely SMAD2, PALMD, and MECOM. Further, the results of functional exploration in gene-set analysis revealed the bio-mechanisms of how cattle growth responds to environmental changes, such as mitotic or cytokinesis, fatty acid β-oxidation, neurotransmitter activity, gap junction, and keratan sulfate degradation. This study not only reveals novel genetic loci and underlying mechanisms influencing growth traits but also transforms our understanding of environmental adaptation in beef cattle, thereby paving the way for more targeted and efficient breeding strategies.
简单摘要 生长性状是肉牛业中具有重要经济价值的性状,已被广泛研究。然而,传统的研究往往忽略了这些性状在不同环境条件下的变化,而只关注直接影响性状的单一遗传变化。在我们的研究中,我们分析了遗传和环境如何相互作用影响肉牛的生长,考虑了四个生长性状和两个环境因素。这项分析发现了几个在标准研究中通常并不明显的生长性状遗传标记,表明有些基因的影响可能会被环境条件所抹杀。进一步的测试表明,这些遗传标记是否归类于特定的基因或功能通路,帮助我们了解遗传如何在不同的环境条件下影响生长。通过发现与生长性状相关的新遗传位点、基因和候选生物学机制,我们的研究为肉牛业的选择预测和育种决策提供了宝贵的信息。摘要 复杂性状被广泛认为是基因、环境因素和基因型与环境相互作用(G × E)的复合调控结果。将 G × E 纳入全基因组关联分析对于了解动物的环境适应性和提高育种决策的效率至关重要。在此,我们利用 1350 头牛的数据集,通过全基因组基因型与环境交互关联研究(GWEIS)系统地研究了生长性状(包括断奶体重、一岁体重、18 个月体重和 24 个月体重)与环境因素(农场和温度)的 G × E。我们验证了稳健估计器在 GWEIS 中的有效性,并检测到 29 个独立的互作 SNPs,显著性阈值为 1.67 × 10-6,表明这些在传统全基因组关联研究(GWAS)中未显示主效应的 SNPs 可能在不同基因型之间具有非加性效应,但被环境因素所湮没。使用 MAGMA 进行的基于基因的分析发现了三个与 GEWIS 结果重叠的基因,即 SMAD2、PALMD 和 MECOM。此外,基因组分析中的功能探索结果揭示了牛生长如何对环境变化做出反应的生物机制,如有丝分裂或细胞分裂、脂肪酸β氧化、神经递质活性、间隙连接和角蛋白硫酸盐降解。这项研究不仅揭示了影响生长性状的新遗传位点和潜在机制,而且改变了我们对肉牛环境适应性的认识,从而为制定更有针对性和更有效的育种策略铺平了道路。
{"title":"Genome-Wide Gene–Environment Interaction Analysis Identifies Novel Candidate Variants for Growth Traits in Beef Cattle","authors":"Tianyu Deng, Keanning Li, Lili Du, Mang Liang, Li Qian, Qingqing Xue, Shiyuan Qiu, Lingyang Xu, Lupei Zhang, Xue Gao, Xianyong Lan, Junya Li, Huijiang Gao","doi":"10.3390/ani14111695","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111695","url":null,"abstract":"Simple Summary Growth traits have been widely studied as economically important traits in the beef cattle industry. However, traditional studies often miss how these traits change under different environmental conditions, only focusing on single genetic changes that affect traits directly. In our study, we analyzed how genetics and environment interact to affect growth in beef cattle, considering four growth traits and two environmental factors. This analysis uncovered several genetic markers for growth traits that are not usually evident in standard studies, showing that some genes have effects that can be obliterated by environmental conditions Further testing showed whether these genetic markers are grouped in specific genes or functional pathways, helping us understand how genetics can influence growth under different environmental conditions. By uncovering novel genetic loci, genes, and candidate biological mechanisms associated with growth traits, our study provides valuable information for selection prediction and breeding decisions in the beef cattle industry. Abstract Complex traits are widely considered to be the result of a compound regulation of genes, environmental factors, and genotype-by-environment interaction (G × E). The inclusion of G × E in genome-wide association analyses is essential to understand animal environmental adaptations and improve the efficiency of breeding decisions. Here, we systematically investigated the G × E of growth traits (including weaning weight, yearling weight, 18-month body weight, and 24-month body weight) with environmental factors (farm and temperature) using genome-wide genotype-by-environment interaction association studies (GWEIS) with a dataset of 1350 cattle. We validated the robust estimator’s effectiveness in GWEIS and detected 29 independent interacting SNPs with a significance threshold of 1.67 × 10−6, indicating that these SNPs, which do not show main effects in traditional genome-wide association studies (GWAS), may have non-additive effects across genotypes but are obliterated by environmental means. The gene-based analysis using MAGMA identified three genes that overlapped with the GEWIS results exhibiting G × E, namely SMAD2, PALMD, and MECOM. Further, the results of functional exploration in gene-set analysis revealed the bio-mechanisms of how cattle growth responds to environmental changes, such as mitotic or cytokinesis, fatty acid β-oxidation, neurotransmitter activity, gap junction, and keratan sulfate degradation. This study not only reveals novel genetic loci and underlying mechanisms influencing growth traits but also transforms our understanding of environmental adaptation in beef cattle, thereby paving the way for more targeted and efficient breeding strategies.","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":"5 41","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141394459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Criado, Marta Silva, Pedro Mendívil, E. Molina, Valentín Pérez, Julio Benavides, N. Elguezabal, D. Gutiérrez-Expósito
Simple Summary Among other limitations, the currently available vaccines against paratuberculosis do not offer complete protection against infection, and further vaccine development is limited by a lack of understanding of the mechanisms behind vaccine-induced protection. In this regard, the most recent studies have demonstrated that neutrophil function can be modulated through vaccination against several pathogens, including Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map). However, this modulation has not been described in ruminants, which are the natural hosts of Map. In the present work, the effect of vaccination on the neutrophil response against Map was assessed in goats using the only available vaccine against small ruminant paratuberculosis, Gudair®. No differences were found in the ex vivo response of neutrophils isolated from non-vaccinated and vaccinated animals, which suggests that the protection conferred by this heat-inactivated vaccine is based on mechanisms other than neutrophil modulation. It is possible that neutrophil modulation depends largely on the intensity of the immune response elicited by the vaccine employed or the antigen dose, as the previous reports which observed this modulation used live attenuated vaccines or were performed in laboratory animals using experimental vaccines. Abstract Neutrophils are believed to play a role in the initial stages of paratuberculosis, and it has recently been demonstrated that vaccination can modulate their function via priming or through epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming (training). Modulation of the neutrophil response against Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map) through vaccination has been demonstrated in a rabbit model but not in ruminants. Therefore, in the present work, the effect of vaccination on the response of caprine neutrophils against Map was studied. Neutrophils were isolated from non-vaccinated (n = 7) and Gudair®-vaccinated goat kids (n = 7), before vaccination and 30 days post-vaccination. Then, several neutrophil functions were quantified ex vivo: cell-free and anchored neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) release, phagocytosis, and the differential expression of several cytokines and TLR2. The induction of cell-free NETosis and TLR2 expression by Map is reported for the first time. However, vaccination showed no significant effect on any of the functions studied. This suggests that the protection conferred by Gudair® vaccination is based on mechanisms that are independent of the neutrophil function modulation. Further research into the impact of alternative vaccination strategies or the paratuberculosis infection stage on ruminant neutrophil function could provide valuable insights into its role in paratuberculosis.
{"title":"No Evidence of Neutrophil Response Modulation in Goats after Immunization against Paratuberculosis with a Heat-Inactivated Vaccine","authors":"M. Criado, Marta Silva, Pedro Mendívil, E. Molina, Valentín Pérez, Julio Benavides, N. Elguezabal, D. Gutiérrez-Expósito","doi":"10.3390/ani14111694","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111694","url":null,"abstract":"Simple Summary Among other limitations, the currently available vaccines against paratuberculosis do not offer complete protection against infection, and further vaccine development is limited by a lack of understanding of the mechanisms behind vaccine-induced protection. In this regard, the most recent studies have demonstrated that neutrophil function can be modulated through vaccination against several pathogens, including Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map). However, this modulation has not been described in ruminants, which are the natural hosts of Map. In the present work, the effect of vaccination on the neutrophil response against Map was assessed in goats using the only available vaccine against small ruminant paratuberculosis, Gudair®. No differences were found in the ex vivo response of neutrophils isolated from non-vaccinated and vaccinated animals, which suggests that the protection conferred by this heat-inactivated vaccine is based on mechanisms other than neutrophil modulation. It is possible that neutrophil modulation depends largely on the intensity of the immune response elicited by the vaccine employed or the antigen dose, as the previous reports which observed this modulation used live attenuated vaccines or were performed in laboratory animals using experimental vaccines. Abstract Neutrophils are believed to play a role in the initial stages of paratuberculosis, and it has recently been demonstrated that vaccination can modulate their function via priming or through epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming (training). Modulation of the neutrophil response against Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map) through vaccination has been demonstrated in a rabbit model but not in ruminants. Therefore, in the present work, the effect of vaccination on the response of caprine neutrophils against Map was studied. Neutrophils were isolated from non-vaccinated (n = 7) and Gudair®-vaccinated goat kids (n = 7), before vaccination and 30 days post-vaccination. Then, several neutrophil functions were quantified ex vivo: cell-free and anchored neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) release, phagocytosis, and the differential expression of several cytokines and TLR2. The induction of cell-free NETosis and TLR2 expression by Map is reported for the first time. However, vaccination showed no significant effect on any of the functions studied. This suggests that the protection conferred by Gudair® vaccination is based on mechanisms that are independent of the neutrophil function modulation. Further research into the impact of alternative vaccination strategies or the paratuberculosis infection stage on ruminant neutrophil function could provide valuable insights into its role in paratuberculosis.","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":"2006 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141400557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ju-Han Kim, Jonghyun Park, Dong-Kyu Lee, Won-Il Kim, Y. Lyoo, Choi-Kyu Park, Hye-Ryung Kim
Simple Summary The current epidemiology of porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV) in domestic pig farms in the Republic of Korea is not well understood. In this study, PRCV was found to still be present in Korean pig herds with a high seroprevalence. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses of PRCV S gene sequences suggested that Korean PRCV originated from European PRCV and has evolved in Korea. These findings will help expand knowledge about the epidemiology and genetic characteristics of PRCV in Korea. Abstract Porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV) is a member of the species Alphacoronavirus 1 within the genus Alphacoronavirus of the family Coronaviridae. A few studies have been conducted on the prevalence of PRCV since its first identification in 1997, but there have been no recent studies on the prevalence and genetic characterization of the virus in Korea. In this study, the seroprevalence of PRCV was determined in Korean pig farms using a commercially available TGEV/PRCV differential enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. The farm-level seroprevalence of PRCV was determined to be 68.6% (48/70), similar to previous reports in Korea, suggesting that PRCV is still circulating in Korean pig herds nationwide. Among the 20 PRCV-seropositive farms tested in this study, PRCV RNAs were detected in 17 oral fluid samples (28.3%) from nine farms (45.0%), while TGEV RNAs were not detected in any sample. To investigate the genetic characteristics of Korean PRCV strains, genetic and phylogenetic analyses were conducted on PRCV spike gene sequences obtained in this study. The three Korean PRCV strains (KPRCV2401, KPRCV2402, and KPRCV2403) shared 98.5–100% homology with each other and 96.2–96.6% and 91.6–94.5% homology with European and American strains, respectively. A 224-amino acid deletion was found in the S gene of both Korean and European PRCVs but not in that of American PRCVs, suggesting a European origin for Korean PRCVs. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Korean PRCVs are more closely related to European PRCVs than American PRCVs but clustered apart from both, suggesting that Korean PRCV has evolved independently since its emergence in Korean PRCVs. The results of this study will help expand knowledge on the epidemiology and molecular biology of PRCV currently circulating in Korea.
{"title":"Prevalence and Genetic Characterization of Porcine Respiratory Coronavirus in Korean Pig Farms","authors":"Ju-Han Kim, Jonghyun Park, Dong-Kyu Lee, Won-Il Kim, Y. Lyoo, Choi-Kyu Park, Hye-Ryung Kim","doi":"10.3390/ani14111698","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111698","url":null,"abstract":"Simple Summary The current epidemiology of porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV) in domestic pig farms in the Republic of Korea is not well understood. In this study, PRCV was found to still be present in Korean pig herds with a high seroprevalence. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses of PRCV S gene sequences suggested that Korean PRCV originated from European PRCV and has evolved in Korea. These findings will help expand knowledge about the epidemiology and genetic characteristics of PRCV in Korea. Abstract Porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV) is a member of the species Alphacoronavirus 1 within the genus Alphacoronavirus of the family Coronaviridae. A few studies have been conducted on the prevalence of PRCV since its first identification in 1997, but there have been no recent studies on the prevalence and genetic characterization of the virus in Korea. In this study, the seroprevalence of PRCV was determined in Korean pig farms using a commercially available TGEV/PRCV differential enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. The farm-level seroprevalence of PRCV was determined to be 68.6% (48/70), similar to previous reports in Korea, suggesting that PRCV is still circulating in Korean pig herds nationwide. Among the 20 PRCV-seropositive farms tested in this study, PRCV RNAs were detected in 17 oral fluid samples (28.3%) from nine farms (45.0%), while TGEV RNAs were not detected in any sample. To investigate the genetic characteristics of Korean PRCV strains, genetic and phylogenetic analyses were conducted on PRCV spike gene sequences obtained in this study. The three Korean PRCV strains (KPRCV2401, KPRCV2402, and KPRCV2403) shared 98.5–100% homology with each other and 96.2–96.6% and 91.6–94.5% homology with European and American strains, respectively. A 224-amino acid deletion was found in the S gene of both Korean and European PRCVs but not in that of American PRCVs, suggesting a European origin for Korean PRCVs. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Korean PRCVs are more closely related to European PRCVs than American PRCVs but clustered apart from both, suggesting that Korean PRCV has evolved independently since its emergence in Korean PRCVs. The results of this study will help expand knowledge on the epidemiology and molecular biology of PRCV currently circulating in Korea.","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":"58 18","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141416156","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
N. Ullah, I. Basheer, F. Rehman, Minghai Zhang, Muhammad Tayyab Khan, Sanaullah Khan, Hairong Du
Simple Summary Livestock herding is an essential and time-honored practice in Balochistan, playing a pivotal role in the region’s economy, culture, and way of life. The livestock sector is of utmost important in the province, catering to nearly 20% of the national stock. Over centuries, large predators and their prey species, including livestock, have coexisted in these mountainous landscapes. Consequently, large carnivores are more likely to interact with humans due to their extensive home ranges. This research aims to explore the impact of livestock depredation by large predators on livelihoods and conservation efforts in two districts of Balochistan, Pakistan. A human–carnivore conflict survey was conducted from July to September 2019, gathering data from 311 residents in the selected study area. Large predators in the region preyed on a total of 876 livestock over a year, comprising 560 goats, 292 sheep, 19 cows, and 5 donkeys. The gray wolf emerged as the primary predator, accounting for 66.3% of livestock depredation, which was followed by the caracal (24.3%), Asiatic jackal (8.9%), and striped hyena (0.6%). The economic loss totaled USD 78,694. Notably, 80% of respondents held negative perceptions toward wolves compared to 24.4% for caracals. Only 20.6% of respondents were aware of the importance of conserving carnivores. Livestock depredation by carnivores has fostered negative perceptions among locals toward these animals. There exists a lack of awareness regarding the significance of conserving carnivore species and their ecological roles. It is crucial to raise awareness among communities about the ecological importance of predators like the gray wolf, caracal, Asiatic jackal, striped hyena, and Balochistan black bear through community meetings and educational seminars. Furthermore, providing basic education to herders on effective livestock guarding practices is recommended to mitigate human–carnivore conflicts and promote coexistence between wildlife and local communities in Balochistan. Abstract Livestock herding is a vital practice in Balochistan, contributing to the economy and culture. The livestock sector is significant in Balochistan, providing 20% of the national stock. Large predators and their prey species, including livestock, have coexisted in these mountainous landscapes for centuries. The aim of the present research is to investigate the impacts of livestock depredation by large predators on livelihoods and predator conservation in two districts of Balochistan, Pakistan. A human–carnivore conflict survey was conducted from July to September 2019, collecting data from 311 residents in a selected study area. Large predators in the study area preyed on a total of 876 livestock during a one-year period, including 560 goats, 292 sheep, 19 cows, and 5 donkeys. The gray wolf is the leading predator, responsible for 66.3% of livestock depredation, followed by the caracal (24.3%), Asiatic jackal (8.9%), and striped hyena (0.6%).
{"title":"Livestock Depredation by Large Carnivores and Human–Wildlife Conflict in Two Districts of Balochistan Province, Pakistan","authors":"N. Ullah, I. Basheer, F. Rehman, Minghai Zhang, Muhammad Tayyab Khan, Sanaullah Khan, Hairong Du","doi":"10.3390/ani14071104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14071104","url":null,"abstract":"Simple Summary Livestock herding is an essential and time-honored practice in Balochistan, playing a pivotal role in the region’s economy, culture, and way of life. The livestock sector is of utmost important in the province, catering to nearly 20% of the national stock. Over centuries, large predators and their prey species, including livestock, have coexisted in these mountainous landscapes. Consequently, large carnivores are more likely to interact with humans due to their extensive home ranges. This research aims to explore the impact of livestock depredation by large predators on livelihoods and conservation efforts in two districts of Balochistan, Pakistan. A human–carnivore conflict survey was conducted from July to September 2019, gathering data from 311 residents in the selected study area. Large predators in the region preyed on a total of 876 livestock over a year, comprising 560 goats, 292 sheep, 19 cows, and 5 donkeys. The gray wolf emerged as the primary predator, accounting for 66.3% of livestock depredation, which was followed by the caracal (24.3%), Asiatic jackal (8.9%), and striped hyena (0.6%). The economic loss totaled USD 78,694. Notably, 80% of respondents held negative perceptions toward wolves compared to 24.4% for caracals. Only 20.6% of respondents were aware of the importance of conserving carnivores. Livestock depredation by carnivores has fostered negative perceptions among locals toward these animals. There exists a lack of awareness regarding the significance of conserving carnivore species and their ecological roles. It is crucial to raise awareness among communities about the ecological importance of predators like the gray wolf, caracal, Asiatic jackal, striped hyena, and Balochistan black bear through community meetings and educational seminars. Furthermore, providing basic education to herders on effective livestock guarding practices is recommended to mitigate human–carnivore conflicts and promote coexistence between wildlife and local communities in Balochistan. Abstract Livestock herding is a vital practice in Balochistan, contributing to the economy and culture. The livestock sector is significant in Balochistan, providing 20% of the national stock. Large predators and their prey species, including livestock, have coexisted in these mountainous landscapes for centuries. The aim of the present research is to investigate the impacts of livestock depredation by large predators on livelihoods and predator conservation in two districts of Balochistan, Pakistan. A human–carnivore conflict survey was conducted from July to September 2019, collecting data from 311 residents in a selected study area. Large predators in the study area preyed on a total of 876 livestock during a one-year period, including 560 goats, 292 sheep, 19 cows, and 5 donkeys. The gray wolf is the leading predator, responsible for 66.3% of livestock depredation, followed by the caracal (24.3%), Asiatic jackal (8.9%), and striped hyena (0.6%). ","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":"43 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140797706","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}