Ascaridia galli infection causes significant economic losses in poultry, with no available vaccine. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a novel nanovaccine by encapsulating A. galli excretory-secretory antigens (ESAs) in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and chitosan (CS) nanoparticles (NPs), comparing their efficacy to antigens delivered with Freund's adjuvant (FA). One-day-old chicks were randomly allocated into five groups. Three treatment groups were immunized intramuscularly on days 7 and 14 with 200 μg of A. galli ESAs delivered via PLGA NPs, CS NPs, or FA. An infected control group and an uninfected blank control group were also included. All groups except the blank control were challenged with 500 infective A. galli larvae on day 21. On day 77, chickens were euthanized for assessment of worm burden, growth performance, antibody responses (systemic and mucosal), and cytokine profiles. Immunization with ESAs-PLGA NPs induced the most significant reduction in total worm burden (34.38%), which was particularly effective against male worms. This group, along with the ESAs-CS NPs group, also showed a significant improvement in average daily weight gain compared to the infected control. Serologically, both NP groups elicited significantly higher and more sustained levels of serum total IgG and ESAs-specific IgG than the FA group. Crucially, only the ESAs-PLGA NPs significantly enhanced IgG levels in the jejunal mucosa. Furthermore, the ESAs-PLGA NP vaccine consistently promoted the strongest Th2-type immune response, characterized by the highest secretion of IL-4 and IL-13. A. galli ESAs are effective vaccine antigens that confer protection by stimulating IgG antibodies and a Th2-skewed immune response. Encapsulation of ESAs in PLGA NPs significantly enhances this immunoprotective efficacy, superior to both CS NPs and traditional FA, by potentiating systemic and mucosal humoral immunity and amplifying Th2-cell responses. The ESAs-PLGA NP formulation represents a promising vaccine candidate for controlling A. galli in poultry.

Bovine mastitis remains a globally prevalent disease, with the limitations of antibiotic-based treatments—such as the rise in antimicrobial resistance and the presence of drug residues—highlighting the urgent need for alternative therapeutic approaches. Inflammation is intricately linked to various cytokines and immunomodulatory proteins, among which cyclophilin A (CypA) serves as a pivotal inflammatory mediator, significantly contributing to the initiation and amplification of inflammatory responses under such conditions. The acquisition of high-purity recombinant protein is a fundamental prerequisite for in vitro functional studies of bovine CypA. This study aimed to construct a eukaryotic expression vector for bovine CypA and verify its expression in CHO-K1 cells. Utilizing the bovine CypA gene sequence available in GenBank, the coding region was artificially synthesized and optimized for codon usage, subsequently being inserted into the pPB[Exp] backbone vector via BsrGI and BstEII double digestion. The resulting polycistronic expression vector contained a CAG promoter driving the CypA transcription, an EF1α promoter driving the EGFP reporter gene, a PGK promoter controlling the puromycin resistance gene, and a C-terminal His-tag. Restriction enzyme digestion and bidirectional Sanger sequencing confirmed that the inserted fragment sequence was completely consistent with the optimized design. Robust EGFP fluorescence was observed 24 h post-transfection and remained stable after puromycin selection. qPCR analysis showed that the Ct value of CypA in the experimental group was 16.20 ± 0.04, while no amplification signal was detected in the control group. Additionally, Western blot analysis identified a CypA-specific band at approximately 18 kDa, confirming the correct expression of the exogenous CypA protein in CHO-K1 cells. Collectively, these results demonstrate the successful construction and validation of a bovine CypA eukaryotic expression vector. The established CHO-K1 expression system exhibited stable and efficient expression, thereby providing a robust foundation for future research on the production and application of recombinant CypA protein.

ABSTRACT Boar semen cryopreservation is crucial for the porcine industry. The two‐step (S2) is currently used for cryopreservation of boar semen. In this method, a cryoprotectant is added at 4°C to reduce its toxicity. Another method is the one‐step (S1), which is easier, cheaper and reduces the need for equipment, but may increase the toxicity of cryoprotectant. This study compared S1 and S2 equilibration protocols, evaluating post‐thaw total motility, viability, motion parameters, membrane integrity, antioxidant indicators, apoptosis and related gene expression. Results showed S2 had higher motility (p < 0.05), while S1 had greater average path velocity (p < 0.05), better plasma membrane integrity (p < 0.05), lower malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.01), higher total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC) and catalase (CAT) (p < 0.01), lower superoxide dismutase (SOD) (p < 0.05) and reduced apoptosis (p < 0.05). S2 had higher Caspase‐9, Bax and SOD‐2 expression (p < 0.05). S1 shows superiority in membrane protection, antioxidant capacity and anti‐apoptosis, despite slightly lower motility. It is a promising method for large‐scale use with further refinement to enhance post‐thaw motility.

In the context of semen cryopreservation, egg yolk is frequently utilized as a protective agent; however, it poses a potential risk of contamination by pathogenic microorganisms. Pasteurization of egg yolk can effectively eliminate pathogenic bacteria while retaining its active components. This study established two groups for comparison: (1) the experimental group (PS), which utilized a diluent containing pasteurized chicken egg yolk, and (2) the control group (Control), which employed a diluent with chicken egg yolk mixed at ambient temperature. The diluents from both groups were subjected to microscopic structural observation, bacterial isolation and culture, as well as Gram staining. Boar semen was cryopreserved using two different diluents following standard methods. Following thawing, sperm motility parameters, acrosome and plasma membrane integrity, antioxidant indicators, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and the expression of genes related to oxidative stress and apoptosis were assessed. Microscopic observation revealed no significant differences in yolk granule morphology between PS and the control. Bacterial isolation and Gram staining results indicated the presence of small, spherical Gram-positive bacteria in the control, whereas no bacterial growth was observed in the PS. Post-thaw sperm analysis showed that, compared to the control, the PS exhibited significantly lower sperm survival rate and motility (P < 0.05), but significantly higher values for straight line velocit (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL), and average path velocity (VAP) (P < 0.05). Although the integrity of the acrosome and plasma membrane in sperm from the PS group showed improvement compared to the control, this difference did not reach statistical significance (P > 0.05). The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in the PS group were significantly lower (P < 0.05), while the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) showed a decreasing trend, but the difference was not significant (P > 0.05).The content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the PS group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Gene expression analysis related to cellular oxidative stress and apoptosis showed that the mRNA levels of CAT, SOD, P53, and Bax were lower in the PS than in the control, with CAT expression significantly diminished (P < 0.05), and Bcl-2 expression slightly elevated (P > 0.05). In conclusion, pasteurized chicken egg yolk diluent can effectively eliminate pathogenic bacteria, reduce oxidative damage to sperm, and lower sperm apoptosis rate. Nonetheless, it is important to note that in the PS group, the post-thaw survival rate and motility of porcine sperm were markedly diminished, accompanied by an upregulation of certain apoptosis-related genes.

Ascaridia galli is the most prevalent nematode parasite in the intestinal tract of chickens. However, the direct impact of A. galli excretory-secretory proteins (ESPs) on intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) function and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. To address this, A. galli ESPs were isolated for investigation of their tissue localization and effects on IECs. Immunohistochemical analysis localized ESPs to the parasite's cuticle and internal tissues. LC-MS/MS identification revealed 26 putative ESPs that bind to chicken IECs, including actin, heat shock proteins, elongation factor-1α, and fructose-bisphosphate aldolase. Functionally, ESPs exposure suppressed IECs proliferation through disruption of cellular metabolism, signal transduction, and cell cycle progression. Furthermore, ESPs induced a pro-inflammatory response, characterized by increased secretion of TNF-α, IL-6, and nitric oxide. Mechanistically, this response was accompanied by increased TLR4 expression and suppression of IL-10. This study suggests a dual mechanism whereby A. galli ESPs subvert intestinal barrier function by simultaneously impairing epithelial repair and driving maladaptive inflammation, providing profound insights into the pathogenesis of avian ascariasis.

IntroductionEnterotoxic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is the main pathogen that causes diarrhea, especially in young children. This disease can lead to substantial morbidity and mortality and is a major global health concern. Managing ETEC infections is challenging owing to the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance. Berberine, categorized as a substance with similarities in “medicine and food,” has been used in China for hundreds of years to treat gastrointestinal disorders and bacteria-induced diarrhea. This study investigated the preventive effect of dietary berberine on the intestinal mucosal barrier induced by ETEC and the microbial community within the intestines of weaned piglets.MethodsTwenty-four piglets were randomly divided into four groups. Piglets were administered either a standard diet or a standard diet supplemented with berberine at concentrations of 0.05 and 0.1%. and orally administered ETEC or saline.ResultsDietary supplementation with berberine reduced diamine oxidase, d-lactate, and endotoxin levels in piglets infected with ETEC (P < 0.05). Berberine increased jejunal villus height, villus/crypt ratio, mucosal thickness (P < 0.05), and goblet cell numbers in the villi and crypts (P < 0.05). Furthermore, berberine increased the optical density of mucin 2 and the mucin 2, P-glycoprotein, and CYP3A4 mRNA expression levels (P < 0.05). Berberine increased the expressions of zonula occludins-1 (ZO-1), zonula occludins-2 (ZO-2), Claudin-1, Occludin, and E-cadherin in the ileum (P < 0.05). Moreover, berberine increased the expression of BCL2, reduced intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis (P < 0.05) and decreased the expression of BAX and BAK in the duodenum and jejunum, as well as that of CASP3 and CASP9 in the duodenum and ileum (P < 0.05). Berberine decreased the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and IFN-γ (P < 0.05) and elevated total volatile fatty acids, acetic acid, propionic acid, valeric acid, and isovaleric acid concentrations (P < 0.05). Notably, berberine enhanced the abundance of beneficial bacteria including Enterococcus, Holdemanella, Weissella, Pediococcus, Muribaculum, Colidextribacter, Agathobacter, Roseburia, Clostridium, Fusicatenibacter, and Bifidobacterium. Simultaneously, the relative abundance of harmful and pathogenic bacteria, such as Prevotella, Paraprevotella, Corynebacterium, Catenisphaera, Streptococcus, Enterobacter, and Collinsella, decreased (P < 0.05).DiscussionBerberine alleviated ETEC-induced intestinal mucosal barrier damage in weaned piglets models. This is associated with enhancement of the physical, chemical, and immune barrier functions of piglets by enhancing intestinal microbiota homeostasis.

Background: Chinese herbal medicine are rich in nutrients and active ingredients, with advantages such as immune function, antioxidant capacity, stress reduction, tumor inhibition and improved meat quality. The effects of Chinese herbal medicines on the muscle microstructure and meat quality of broiler chickens were investigated by feeding with compound Chinese herbal medicines composed of stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala, licorice, astragalus, hawthorn fruit, poria cocos, isatis root, dried tangerine peel and common yam rhizome. Methods: The 800, 1-day-old, chickens were allocated to 4 treatments with 5 replicates, each replicate containing 40 birds. Birds were fed diets supplemented with 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% compound Chinese herbal medicines for a period of 7 weeks ad libitum. At 21 and 42 days old, the birds were slaughtered and the breast and thigh muscles were sampled from 4 birds per replicate to determine meat quality and microstructure of muscle. Result: The results revealed that 1.0% compound Chinese herbal medicines significantly increased water holding capacity of the thigh muscle and decreased drip loss, cooking loss and water loss rate of 21-day-old broiler chickens. Moreover, 1.0% compound Chinese herbal medicine significantly decreased the muscle fibers diameters of breast and thigh muscle. Microscopic observation showed that 0.5% and 1.0% compound Chinese herbal medicines decreased the fibers diameters of muscle fibers. The results indicated that the addition of 0.5% and 1.0% compound Chinese herbal medicines in the diets could promote muscle growth and improve the meat quality of broiler chickens.

Avian coccidiosis, caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Eimeria, is a globally prevalent and highly pathogenic disease that poses a serious threat to the poultry industry, resulting in significant economic losses. However, the mechanism by which Eimeria species invade host cells remains unclear. Previous studies have identified rhoptry neck protein 2 (RON2) from Eimeria tenella as a critical factor in host cell invasion, but a comprehensive understanding of the role of EtRON2 in host cell invasion and its relationship with E. tenella invasion is lacking. To address this gap, this study focused on the secreted protein EtRON2 from E. tenella and its interaction with host cell receptors. The receptor interacting with the EtRON2 protein was identified through a GST pull-down assay, followed by mass spectrometry, and the interaction was further validated through subcellular co-localization analysis. Furthermore, sporozoites and host cells were treated with a specific antibody targeting the EtRON2/annexin A2 interaction, and the invasion rate of E. tenella was assessed using RT-qPCR to analyze the effect of inhibiting this interaction on host cell invasion by E. tenella. Annexin A2 protein, located on the surface of the host cell membrane, was screened, and the results of the sporozoite invasion assay revealed that inhibiting the interaction between these two proteins reduced F-actin aggregation. Understanding the interaction between the EtRON2 protein and its receptor during parasite invasion could help elucidate the function of the EtRON2 receptor and provide a theoretical foundation for further studies on the invasion mechanisms of E. tenella and the prevention and control of avian coccidiosis.

Ultrasonic treatment significantly improves the emulsifying properties of chicken egg yolk. This advancement not only provides a novel approach for enhancing the physical stability of yolk-based cryodiluents, but also holds promising implications for optimizing the cryopreservation efficacy of boar semen. This study evaluated the effects of conventional egg yolk (CON) and ultrasonicated egg yolk (UT-CEY) on boar semen cryopreservation. Semen samples were cryopreserved using standard straw freezing methods, with post-thaw sperm quality parameters assessed. Results demonstrated that UT-CEY significantly reduced yolk particle size (p < 0.01), improved emulsion stability (p < 0.01), and decreased creaming index (p < 0.05). Additionally, UT-CEY enhanced total motility, progressive motility, straight-line velocity (VSL), and plasma membrane integrity (p < 0.01), along with acrosome integrity (p < 0.05) compared to CON. Furthermore, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were elevated in UT-CEY (p < 0.01), while reactive oxygen species (ROS) fluorescence intensity showed no significant difference (p >0.05). Gene expression analysis revealed upregulated Bcl-2, CAT (p < 0.01), and SOD2 (p < 0.05) in UT-CEY. In conclusion, ultrasonicated egg yolk diluent improves boar semen cryopreservation efficiency and post-thaw sperm quality.

The experiment aimed to investigate the effects of plant polysaccharides combined with boric acid on digestive function, immune function and harmful gas and heavy metal contents in the faeces of fatteners. For this study, 90 healthy crossbred fatteners were selected and randomly divided into five groups: the control group was fed with a basal diet (Con); experimental group I was fed with basal diet + 40 mg/kg boric acid (BA); experimental group II was fed with basal diet + 40 mg/kg boric acid + 400 mg/kg Astragalus polysaccharides (BA+APS); experimental group III was fed with basal diet + 40 mg/kg boric acid + 200 mg/kg Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (BA+GLP); and experimental group IV was fed with basal diet + 40 mg/kg boric acid + 500 mg/kg Echinacea polysaccharides (BA+EPS). Compared with Con, the average daily gain (ADG), the trypsin activities in the duodenum and jejunum, the IL-2 levels in the spleen, the T-AOC activities and GSH-Px contents in the lymph node of fattening were increased in the BA group (p < 0.05), but malondialdehyde content in the lymph and spleen, and the contents of NH3, H2S, Hg, Cu, Fe and Zn in the feces and urine were decreased (p < 0.05). Compared with the BA, the ADG, gain-to-feed ratio (G/F), the trypsin and maltase activities in the duodenum and jejunum were increased in the BA+APS (p < 0.05), and the T-SOD activities in the spleen and T-AOC activities in the lymph node were also increased (p < 0.05), but the H2S level was decreased in the feces and urine (p < 0.05). Compared with the BA, the ADG, G/F and the trypsin and maltase activities in the duodenum were increased in the BA+GLP and BA+EPS (p < 0.05), the activities of maltase and lipase in the duodenum of fatteners in the BA+GLP and the activities of trypsin, maltase and lipase in the BA+EPS were increased (p < 0.05). Gathering everything together, our findings reveal that the combined addition of boric acid and plant polysaccharides in the diet of fatteners synergistically improved their growth performance and immune status. That may be achieved by regulating the activity of intestinal digestive enzymes, improving the antioxidant function and then promoting the digestion and absorption of nutrients. Furthermore, the above results reduce the emission of harmful gases and heavy metals in feces and urine.

The regulatory role of estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) and the JNK signaling pathway in the effect of high-dose boron on rat splenic lymphocytes has been examined by measuring proliferation, apoptosis, and immune function. The results showed that, compared with the control group, the addition of high-dose boron (40 mmol/L) reduced the proportion of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocytes, the concentrations of IgG, IL-2, IFN-γ, and IL-4, the proliferation rate of splenic lymphocytes, and the expression levels of PCNA and Bcl-2 mRNA (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and increased the apoptosis rate of splenic lymphocytes, caspase-3, and BAX mRNA expression levels (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). After specific blocking of ERβ, the addition of high-dose boron could not reduce the proportion of CD8+ T lymphocytes, the concentrations of IgG and cytokines IL-2, IFN-γ, and IL-4, the lymphocyte proliferation rate, or PCNA mRNA expression levels, nor could it increase BAX mRNA expression levels. After specific blocking of JNK, the addition of high-dose boron could not increase BAX mRNA expression levels. However, after specific blocking of ERβ and JNK, the addition of high-dose boron could neither reduce the proportion of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, the concentrations of IgG and IL-2 (P = 0.05), nor increase caspase-3 and BAX mRNA expression levels (P < 0.01). The results suggest that the ERβ-mediated JNK signaling pathway participates in regulating the effects of high-dose boron on the expression of genes related to the proliferation and apoptosis of rat splenic lymphocytes.

化学发光免疫分析法(chemiluminesecence immunoassay,CLIA)是一种以免疫反应原理为基础、与化学发光技术相结合的超微活性免疫测定方法.与现有的酶联免疫分析法、放射免疫分析法和荧光免疫分析法相比,CLIA具备灵敏度高、特异性强、操作简便、取样量小、可实现自动化等特点,现已被广泛应用于疫病临床检测、食品安全检测、兽药残留及药物分析等领域.本文综述了 CLIA的基本原理、分类、发光剂和纳米颗粒类型,叙述了它在动物疫病诊断、食品安全检测和动物生理激素检测方面的应用情况以及今后的发展前景,以期为CLIA在未来动物生产领域中进一步应用提供参考.

人五毛滴虫(Pentatrichomonas hominis)是一种寄生于人、非人灵长类动物、犬、猫、猪等动物消化道的厌氧鞭毛虫.最初认为该虫是一种与宿主共生的原生动物,但近期研究显示,该虫可能为一种潜在的人畜共患原虫和腹泻病原.迄今,对于人五毛滴虫的传播途径、生物学、生活史和感染宿主等知之甚少.随着分子检测技术的快速发展,对人五毛滴虫适应新宿主能力的认识以及其人畜共患潜力关注的增加,促使研究者越来越关注该虫.论文综述了人五毛滴虫的形态、生活史、致病性、流行病学、临床症状、诊断和防治等方面的研究进展,以期为人五毛滴虫的深入研究提供参考.

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is an infectious intestinal disease caused by Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) that is now re-emerging and causing concern within the poultry industry. Previously, the supplementation of antibiotics in feed was the most popular control strategy against C. perfringens. However, with the ban on supplementing growth-promoting antibiotics in livestock feed, alternatives to antibiotics will be essential in order to control necrotic enteritis. A possible alternative to antibiotics could be the medium or long chain fatty acids (MCFA or LCFA) as these are able to destroy cell membranes which in turn results in the death of bacteria. In this study, the in vitro antimicrobial activity of different combinations with microencapsulated caprylic acid (C8: 0), capric acid (C10: 0), lauric acid (C12: 0) and myristic acid (C14: 0) against C. perfringens and in vivo control the NE-inducing C. perfringens in broiler chicken were analyzed. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assay results revealed that three different combinations of medium/long chain fatty acids varied in antimicrobial activities against C. perfringens type A strain (CVCC52, quality control), C. perfringens type A strain (C8-1), C. perfringens type G strain (D25) and C. perfringens type G strain (MZ1). Specifically, combination of C12: 0 and C14: 0 (C12–14) showed the highest antimicrobial activity against the four strains of C. perfringens (MIC ≤ 12.5 μg/mL, MBC = 50 μg/mL), followed by the combination of C10: 0 and C12: 0 (C10–12) (MIC, MBC ≤ 50 μg/mL). The in vivo study, 189 of 818-crossbred chickens that were fed a wheat-based diet and randomly divided into nine groups, with six treatment groups supplemented with either a high dose (1 g/kg) or low dose (0.5 g/kg) of three combinations respectively. The remaining three groups comsisted of a positive group supplement with avilamycin (0.01 g/kg), an infected control and an uninfected control. All chickens were challenged with C. perfringens from day 14 to day 17, except those in the uninfected control group. On day 20, the duodenum and jejunum necrotic lesions scores were calculated and the results showed that there was significant decrease in the C12–C14 high dose group (1.43 ± 0.23, 0.48 ± 0.13) and the C10–12 high dose group (1.52 ± 0.19, 0.48 ± 0.11) compared to the infected group (2.86 ± 0.21, 1.20 ± 0.28). This finding indicated that dietary microencapsulated C12–C14 and C10–C12 could inhibit the growth of C. perfringens in chickens, which proves is viability to serve as an alternative to antibiotics used for necrotic enteritis caused by C. perfringens.

目的:以临床分离的G型产气荚膜梭菌(Clostridium perfringens type G,GCP)GCP-D25菌株为对象,研制GCP全菌灭活苗,并评估疫苗免疫效力.方法:利用甲醛灭活法处理GCP-D25菌液,白油佐剂乳化后免疫1日龄雏鸡检测灭活效果;150只1日龄817肉鸡,随机分为5组(G1～G5),即高剂量免疫组、中剂量免疫组、低剂量免疫组、攻菌对照组和空白对照组.G1～G3组分别于1、8、15日龄通过皮下注射不同剂量的GCP-D25乳化灭活疫苗进行免疫,G4～G5组通过皮下注射PBS,其中G1～G4组于26～29日龄每天灌服1次8×108 CFU/mL GCP新鲜菌液,G5组为不攻菌对照组.分别于一免、二免和三免后第7天采集鸡血液并分离血清,采用ELISA方法检测血清抗体及IL-2、INF-γ水平,同时结合攻菌后鸡临床表现及肠道病变计分等指标评估疫苗免疫保护效果.结果:GCP-D25全菌液能被0.5％甲醛完全灭活,灭活时间为36 h.间接ELISA测定抗原(全菌液)的最佳包被浓度为2×108 CFU/mL,血清最佳稀释度为1∶400.肉鸡免疫保护试验显示,攻菌对照组试验鸡的坏死性肠炎病变平均分显著高于各免疫组(P＜0.01).三免后第7天,各免疫组试验鸡血清抗体呈阳性,高剂量与中剂量免疫组试验鸡IL-2与IFN-γ含量均显著高于空白对照组(P＜0.05).结论:GCP-D25全菌灭活疫苗免疫1日龄817肉鸡可诱导机体产生高水平免疫应答,能够在一定程度上预防鸡坏死性肠炎的发生.

In order to study the effect of Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide (HEP) on the immune and antioxidation functions of immunosuppressed mice. The control group received distilled water orally and the model and experimental groups I, II, and III received 0, 80, 160, and 320 mg/kg HEP respectively for a fortnight after re-molding with cyoclphosphnalide (CTX). Compared with the control group, the secretion of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma, the activity or content of T-AOC, T-SOD, and GSH-PX, and the expression of PCNA mRNA in the thymus and spleen were reduced in immunosuppressed mice (P < .05 or P < .01). Compared with immunosuppressed mice, the levels of IL-2, IFN-gamma, and GSH-PX and the PCNA mRNA expression of spleen and thymus were increased (P < .05 or P < .01), and the microstructure were also obviously improved in the experimental group III. Overall, 320 mg/kg of HEP significantly improved the immune and antioxidant functions.

The Huai pig is a well-known indigenous pig breed in China. The main advantages of Huai pigs over Western commercial pig breeds include a high intramuscular fat (IMF) content and good meat quality. There are significant differences in the meat quality traits of the same muscle part or different muscle parts of the same variety. To investigate the potential genetic mechanism underlying the meat quality differences in different pig breeds or muscle groups, longissimus dorsi (LD), psoas major (PM), and biceps femoris (BF) muscle tissues were collected from two pig breeds (Huai and Duroc). There were significant differences in meat quality traits and amino acid content. We assessed the muscle transcriptomic profiles using high-throughput RNA sequencing. The IMF content in the LD, PM, and BF muscles of Huai pigs was significantly higher than that in Duroc pigs (p < 0.05). Similarly, the content of flavor amino acids in the three muscle groups was significantly higher in Huai pigs than that in Duroc pigs (p < 0.05). We identified 175, 110, and 86 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the LD, PM, and BF muscles of the Huai and Duroc pigs, respectively. The DEGs of the different pig breeds and muscle regions were significantly enriched in the biological processes and signaling pathways related to muscle fiber type, IMF deposition, lipid metabolism, PPAR signaling, cAMP signaling, amino acid metabolism, and ECM-receptor interaction. Our findings might help improve pork yield by using the obtained DEGs for marker-assisted selection and providing a theoretical reference for evaluating and improving pork quality.

Swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV), which causes severe diarrhea in newborn piglets, was first identified in Southern China in 2017. Since the Nucleocapsid (N) protein in SADS-CoV is highly conserved and plays a key role in virus replication, it is often used as a target protein in scientific research. In this study, the N protein of SADS-CoV was successfully expressed, and a new monoclonal antibody (mAb), 5G12, against the protein was generated successfully. The mAb 5G12 can be used to detect SADS-CoV strains by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and western blotting. The mAb 5G12 epitope was located to amino acids 11 EQAESRGRK 19 by evaluating the antibody for reactivity with a series of truncated N protein segments. The biological information analysis showed that the antigenic epitope had a high antigenic index and conservation. This study will help further understand the protein structure and function of SADS-CoV and in the establishment of specific SADS-CoV detection methods.

胎儿三毛滴虫(Tritrichomonas foetus)是一种寄生于多种不同宿主的原虫,主要引起牛和猫的毛滴虫病,也可作为猪和犬的一种共生毛滴虫.其中,牛毛滴虫病是一种经性传播的疾病,主要导致牛不孕、流产等,而猫毛滴虫病是猫的一种新发胃肠道疾病,主要引起猫的慢性大肠腹泻,两者均呈全球分布,在兽医临床上具重要意义.近年来,陆续从一些患有肺炎或急性呼吸综合征的患者体内分离到了 T.foetus或T.foetus样的毛滴虫,暗示胎儿三毛滴虫可能具有一定的人兽共患潜力.论文从病原学、分类地位、致病性、流行情况、诊断及防控等方面对T.foetus的研究进行综述,以期为T.foetus的深入研究提供参考.

Poultry necrotic enteritis (NE) is a complex and multifactorial disease caused by Clostridium perfringens types. Earlier, the disease was prevented and/or controlled through the addition of in-feed antibiotics and antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs). The ban on the use of these agents as feed additives has been a major reason for re-emergence of this disease leading to huge economic losses to the world poultry industry. Understanding the pathogenesis of NE by developing an effective experimental model remains challenging and lacks consistency owing to the involvement of several critical factors involved in causing lesions of disease in the field. In this study, locally characterized C. perfringens types, i.e., ACP (toxinotype A), and GCP (toxinotype G), obtained from NE outbreaks on commercial farms in China (2020–2022), were used to experimentally induce NE in Specific-Pathogen-Free (SPF) chicks. The lesion scores observed on day 20 were 1.9 ± 1.10 (GCP strain) and 1.5 ± 1.08 (ACP strain), and both had significant difference as compared to the control group. The inclusion of fishmeal in addition to oral clostridial dose, i.e., fishmeal (day 7 onward) + Clostridia (7.5 × 108 cfu/mL consecutively for 04 days) induced a lesion score of 2.0 ± 1.15 in respective groups. Use of coccidia (Eimeria necatrix) on day 9 followed by clostridia challenge enhanced the lesion scores to 2.5 ± 1.08 and 2.2 ± 1.23 for type G and type A strains, respectively. When both predisposing factors (coccidia + fish meal) were given together, i.e., fishmeal (day 7 onward) and coccidia (day 9) along with clostridia, the lesion scores were 3.2 ± 1.22 (GCP + coccidia + fish meal) and 3.0 ± 1.15 (ACP + coccidia + fish meal). These results were significantly different from group 1 (ACP) and 2 (GCP), in which only C. perfringens was used to induce NE. The clinical signs as well as histopathological lesions in experimentally induced groups were found similar as reported in the literature. The two type G strains identified in this study were also used for susceptibility testing against various drugs. Both strains were found to be resistant to amikacin, doxycycline, metronidazole, neomycin, nystatin, polymyxin B, streptomycin, and tetracycline. Variable susceptibility was seen against ceftriaxone, florfenicol, gentamicin, and kanamycin drugs. Amoxicillin, ampicillin, cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, ofloxacin, and penicillin were effective drugs based upon their low level of resistance and therefore they might be preferred over other antimicrobial agents for proper treatment/prophylaxis of NE infections. Further studies are needed to study the pathogenesis of NE in detail in experimentally induced models along with continuous monitoring of the resistance pattern of C. perfringens strains in the field.