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Environmental sensitivity differs between rabbit lines selected for reproductive intensity and longevity. Animal 2013; 7:1969-77. [DOI: 10.1017/s175173111300178x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
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Schwarm A, Viergutz T, Kuhla B, Hammon HM, Schweigel-Röntgen M. Fuel feeds function: Energy balance and bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cell activation. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2012; 164:101-10. [PMID: 23085292 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2012.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2012] [Revised: 10/12/2012] [Accepted: 10/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
A general phenomenon in peripartum mammals is the breakdown of (acquired) immunity. The incidence of parasite load, disease and inflammation often rise during the specific energetically demanding time of pregnancy and lactation. In this period, blood leukocytes display decreased DNA synthesis in response to mitogens in vitro. Leukocyte activation, the phase of the cell cycle preceding the DNA synthetic phase has hardly been investigated, but the few studies suggest that leukocyte activation may also be impaired by the limited energy/nutrient availability. Leukocyte activation is characterized by manifold processes, thus, we used the cellular oxygen consumption rate (OCR) as a measure of ATP turnover to support all these processes. We hypothesized that the activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) - in terms of oxygen consumed over basal levels after in vitro stimulation - is altered by energy balance around parturition. We studied peripartum high-yielding dairy cows because they undergo substantial fluctuations in energy intake, energy output and body fat mass. We established a fluorescence-based test strategy allowing for long-term (≥24h) quantification of O(2)-consumption and studied the peripartum period from 5 weeks ante partum to 5 weeks postpartum. In addition, we determined cellular lactate production, DNA/RNA synthesis and cell size and zoo-technical parameters such as animal energy intake and milk yield were assessed, as well as selected plasma parameters, e.g. glucose concentration. The basal OCR of PBMC from pregnant, non-lactating cows (n=6, -5 weeks ante partum) was 1.19±0.15 nmol min(-1) (10(7)cells)(-1) and increased to maximum levels of 2.54±0.49 nmol min(-1) (10(7)cells)(-1) in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated PBMC. The basal OCR did not change over the peripartum period. Whereas the activation indices, herein defined as the PHA-induced 24h-increase of OCR above baseline, amounted to 1.1±0.3, 4.2±0.3, 4.1±1.1, 2.1±0.3, and 2.7±0.5 at weeks -5, -1, +1, +2, and +5 relative to parturition, respectively. Because the activation index was positively correlated to plasma glucose levels and to energy balance during late pregnancy (week -5/week -1) and transition to lactation (week -1/week +2), we conclude that PBMC activation is modulated by energy/nutrient availability. In future studies, the activation index should aid the identification of causal mechanisms of disparity in PBMC activation, such as attenuated ion transport or macromolecule synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Schwarm
- Research Unit Nutritional Physiology Oskar Kellner, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
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Ferrian S, Guerrero I, Blas E, García-Diego FJ, Viana D, Pascual JJ, Corpa JM. How selection for reproduction or foundation for longevity could have affected blood lymphocyte populations of rabbit does under conventional and heat stress conditions. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2012; 150:53-60. [PMID: 22948031 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2012.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2011] [Revised: 07/21/2012] [Accepted: 08/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The present work characterises how selection for reproduction (by comparing two generations - 16th and 36th - of the V line selected for litter size at weaning) or foundation for reproductive longevity (the LP line) can affect the blood lymphocytes populations of reproductive rabbit does under normal [conventional housing, average daily minimum and maximum temperatures of 14°C and 20°C, respectively] and heat stress conditions [climatic chamber, 25°C and 36°C] from the first to the second parturition. Housing under heat stress conditions significantly reduced the B lymphocytes counts in female rabbits (-34 × 10(6)/L; P<0.05). The highest lymphocytes population value in blood (total, T CD5(+), CD4(+) and CD8(+)) was noted at the first parturition, while the B lymphocytes count was significantly lower at the second parturition (-61 × 10(6)/L; P<0.05). Selection for litter size at weaning (V females) reduced the average counts of total and B lymphocytes in blood (-502 and -60 × 10(6)/L, respectively; P<0.01), mainly because these populations in V36 females continuously lowered from the first to the second parturition under normal housing conditions. Thus, more selected females (V36) at the second parturition showed significantly lower counts in blood for total, T CD5(+) and CD25(+) lymphocytes (-1303, -446 and -33 × 10(6)/L, respectively; P<0.05). The main differences in blood counts between V36 and V16 females disappeared when housed under heat stress conditions, except for T CD5(+) and CD25(+), which significantly increased (T CD5(+): +428 × 10(6)/L; CD25(+): +41 × 10(6)/L; P<0.01) in the V16 vs. V36 females on day 10 post-partum. Under normal conditions, no differences between LP and V36 females were found for most lymphocyte populations; only higher counts were noted in CD25(+) (+20 × 10(6)/L; P<0.05) for LP females. However, the lymphocytes counts [especially total (+1327 × 10(6)/L; P<0.01) and T CD5(+) (+376 × 10(6)/L; P<0.10)] of LP females increased under heat vs. normal conditions when lymphocytes populations presented the lowest values (second parturition), while V36 females' counts remained invariable. Positive correlations were found between feed intake (r=+0.51; P<0.001) and females' perirenal fat thickness (r=+0.40; P<0.001) with B lymphocytes counts in the blood of primiparous rabbit females in the week 2 of lactation. These results indicate that selection for litter size at weaning might diminish their immune system's response and adaptation capacity, while the foundation for reproductive longevity criteria leads to more robust rabbit females as they present greater modulation under heat stress conditions when the immune system is affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selena Ferrian
- Instituto de Investigación CEU en Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Avda. Seminario, s/n. 46113 Moncada, Valencia, Spain
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de la Fuente LF, Rosell JM. Body weight and body condition of breeding rabbits in commercial units. J Anim Sci 2012; 90:3252-8. [PMID: 22585815 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2011-4764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Live BW and BCS data were collected from 2,775 breeding rabbits (644 males and 2,131 females) of 34 genetic types and sorted according to their specialization (maternal, paternal, and others). Data were gathered on 66 visits to 43 commercial farms in Spain between 2009 and 2011. Mean BW was 4.72 kg (range of 2.87 to 8.13 kg, with a median BW of 4.60 kg) and mean BCS was 4.6 (range of 1.0 to 9.0, with a median BCS of 5.0). females had heavier (P < 0.05) BW than males and paternal lines of rabbits had greater (P < 0.05) BW than maternal lines and other breeds/lines not selected for meat production. Between 69.3% and 75.4% of the rabbits were deemed healthy by a veterinarian and, as expected, healthy rabbits were heavier (P < 0.05) than sick rabbits diagnosed with rhinitis, mastitis, sore hocks, and several other diseases. Among purebred, maternal lines of rabbits, Hyplus GD24, UPV A, and UPV V were heavier (P < 0.05) than hyplus GD14 and Hyla HL-D lines, and line UPV R had the greatest (P < 0.05) BW among the purebred, paternal lines. Additionally, A×H, A×V, PS19, and P×A crossbreds had greater (P < 0.05) BW than HE-C×D, HL-C×D, H×V, LP×V, and V×P crossbreds among the maternal lines, whereas HE-SL were the heaviest (P < 0.05) crossbred paternal line of rabbits. Additionally, females received greater (P < 0.05) BCS than males and BCS were greater (P < 0.05) in healthy than sick rabbits. Moreover, maternal lines had smaller (P < 0.05) BCS than either paternal lines or other lines/breeds not selected for meat production. Results also indicated a moderate relationship between BCS and BW (r = 0.32), with a 1-point change in BCS equivalent to an ~ 245-g change in BW. results from this study can be used as baseline figures for breeding rabbits in spain and are essential factors in several decisions concerning housing, feeding, reproduction, health, and welfare of breeding rabbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- L F de la Fuente
- Depto. de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071-León, Spain
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Tusell L, Legarra A, García-Tomás M, Rafel O, Ramon J, Piles M. Genetic basis of semen traits and their relationship with growth rate in rabbits1. J Anim Sci 2012; 90:1385-97. [DOI: 10.2527/jas.2011-4165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- L. Tusell
- Unitat de Cunicultura, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon s/n, 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A. Legarra
- INRA UR 631 Station d'Améloration Génétique des Animaux, 31320, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - M. García-Tomás
- Unitat de Cunicultura, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon s/n, 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain
| | - O. Rafel
- Unitat de Cunicultura, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon s/n, 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J. Ramon
- Unitat de Cunicultura, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon s/n, 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M. Piles
- Unitat de Cunicultura, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon s/n, 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain
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Sánchez JP, de la Fuente LF, Rosell JM. Health and body condition of lactating females on rabbit farms. J Anim Sci 2012; 90:2353-61. [PMID: 22266998 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2011-4065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim was to study relationships between morbidity, defined through prevalence of diseases of rabbit females, and BCS, and to assess the effect of several risk factors on both morbidity and BCS. Our study was based on individual examinations of 18,510 does in lactation on 103 farms. We evaluated BCS on a linear scale from 1 to 9, with 5 being the optimum. Prevalence of major diseases were 22.7%, 4.0%, and 6.4% for coryza, mastitis, and ulcerative pododermatitis, respectively. In addition, prevalence was 3.0% for diseases of minor presentation, including mange, which had a prevalence of 1.9%. The BCS of the R line (selected for growth) was 5.55 ± 0.14, whereas for the A line (selected for litter size) it was 4.40 ± 0.11. Females with more than 20 kindlings had on average a BCS 0.25 ± 0.07 units less than those in the 12th lactation (P = 0.0002). Optimal BCS 4.60 ± 0.11 was reached during the third lactation week. Sick females had a BCS of 0.6 ± 0.01 units less than healthy females. Females with a footrest had on average a BCS 0.19 ± 0.05 units greater than those without. The absence of footrests was an enabling risk factor for ulcerative pododermatitis, the prevalence of which increased by 53%. Ulcerative pododermatitis was associated (P = 0.045) with diet; females consuming a rich energy diet were prone to having this disorder; 1 SD increase in DE (0.32 MJ) determined an increase in ulcerative pododermatitis prevalence of 0.8 percentage points. Diet was not an enabling risk factor for the other diseases. The genetic type to which a female belongs is a predisposing risk factor of disease; P, V and H were also maternal lines, while S group was exclusively formed by maternal lines. With regard to coryza, the S group had the greatest prevalence (44.0%), followed by A, P, R (19.0 to 21.0%); the V line, selected for prolificacy, showed the least prevalence (12.0%). For the case of mastitis although significant (P < 0.05), the magnitude of the differences between disease prevalence was less; R line had a mastitis prevalence of 11.0% while the least prevalence was observed for V does (4.0%). Simultaneous evaluation of both BCS and morbidity on the rabbit farm is recommended for the right assessment of welfare conditions. In this study, the relationships between both variables have been shown, as well as how other intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors modulate these variables; and thus, these factors should be considered during a welfare assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Sánchez
- Genètica i Millora Animal, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, IRTA-Lleida. Av. Rovira Roure, 191. 25198 Lleida, Spain
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García-Diego FJ, Pascual JJ, Marco F. Technical Note: Design of a large variable temperature chamber for heat stress studies in rabbits. WORLD RABBIT SCIENCE 2011. [DOI: 10.4995/wrs.2011.938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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Rommers J, De Jong I. Technical Note: Plastic mats prevent footpad injuries in rabbit does. WORLD RABBIT SCIENCE 2011. [DOI: 10.4995/wrs.2011.868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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Romero C, Nicodemus N, Martínez de Morentin C, García A, de Blas C. Effect of grinding size of barley and dehydrated alfalfa on performance and body composition of does during their early reproductive cycles. Livest Sci 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2011.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Viana D, Selva L, Callanan JJ, Guerrero I, Ferrian S, Corpa JM. Strains of Staphylococcus aureus and pathology associated with chronic suppurative mastitis in rabbits. Vet J 2010; 190:403-7. [PMID: 21177127 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2010] [Revised: 11/17/2010] [Accepted: 11/18/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcal mastitis is one of the main reasons for culling adult does from commercial rabbitries. The aim of this study was describe the spectrum of gross and microscopic lesions in 178 cases of chronic staphylococcal mastitis in adult does and to determine whether there is a correlation between Staphylococcus aureus genotypes and pathology. On the basis of histopathology, chronic mastitis was differentiated into abscesses (66.3%), suppurative mastitis with a lobular pattern (7.9%), cellulitis (19.6%) and mixed lesions (6.2%). Pathological presentations were not related to S. aureus genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Viana
- Department of Producción Animal, Sanidad Animal y Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos (Histología y Anatomía Patológica), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Edificio Seminario s/n, 46113 Moncada, Valencia, Spain
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Castellini C, Dal Bosco A, Arias-Álvarez M, Lorenzo PL, Cardinali R, Rebollar PG. The main factors affecting the reproductive performance of rabbit does: A review. Anim Reprod Sci 2010; 122:174-82. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2010] [Revised: 09/22/2010] [Accepted: 10/01/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Lavara R, Vicente J, Baselga M. Genetic parameter estimates for semen production traits and growth rate of a paternal rabbit line. J Anim Breed Genet 2010; 128:44-51. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0388.2010.00889.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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65
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Effect of level of fibre and type of grinding on the performance of rabbit does and their litters during the first three lactations. Livest Sci 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2010.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Effect of footrests on the incidence of ulcerative pododermatitis in domestic rabbit does. Anim Welf 2009. [DOI: 10.1017/s0962728600000348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
AbstractUlcerative pododermatitis or sore hocks is a common condition in adult rabbits housed in cages with wire-mesh floors. This study was carried out on a recently-opened commercial farm with 224 breeding cages (112 without footrests [NFR] and 112 with footrests [FR]) to assess the effect of footrests on the incidence of sore hocks (SH) and plantar hyperkeratosis (K) on domestic rabbit does, throughout the first part of their productive lives. The accumulated incidence of SH in the fifth lactation was 71.5 and 15.1% for NFR and FR groups, respectively and the accumulated incidence of K, at the same point, was 100 and 64.5%. The footrests were also found to have a curative effect on 81.3% of affected does. Clinical and epidemiological information obtained in this study revealed that the installation of a plastic platform or slatted footrest on the wire mesh played a significant role in the prevention and cure of sore hocks. Problems specifically related to cage hygiene and cleanliness were not addressed in this study.
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