The AFBI Repository
Not a member yet
442 research outputs found
Sort by
Parturition in mammals: animal models, pain, and distres
Get PDFPublication history: Accepted - 12 October 2021; Published online - 14 October 2021.Parturition is a complex physiological process and involves many hormonal, morphological, physiological, and behavioural changes. Labour is a crucial moment for numerous species and is usually the most painful experience in females. Contrary to the extensive research in humans, there are limited pain studies associated with the birth process in domestic animals. Nonetheless, awareness of parturition has increased among the public, owners, and the scientific community during recent years. Dystocia is a significant factor that increases the level of parturition pain. It is considered less common in polytocous species because newborns’ number and small size might lead to the belief that the parturition process is less painful than in monotocous animal species and humans. This review aims to provide elements of the current knowledge about human labour pain (monotocous species), the relevant contribution of the rat model to human labour pain, and the current clinical and experimental knowledge of parturition pain mechanisms in domestic animals that support the fact that domestic polytocous species also experience pain. Moreover, both for women and domestic animal species, parturition’s pain represents a potential welfare concern, and information on pain indicators and the appropriate analgesic therapy are discusse
The changing times of Europe's largest remaining commercially harvested population of eel Anguilla anguilla L
Get PDFPublication history: Accepted - 1 June 2021; Published online - 4 June 2021.This study quantifies the processes involved in regulating the European eel population of Lough Neagh, a lake in Northern Ireland. The relationship between glass eel input and silver eel output for the 1923–1997 cohorts was best described by a Beverton–Holt stock recruitment model. Glass eel input time series was not complete and was thus derived from the relationship between catches elsewhere in Europe and Lough Neagh, together with the addition of stocked glass eel. Silver eel output was the sum of silver eel escapement, catch and yellow eel catch converted to silver eel equivalents. Natural mortality increased with glass eel density, ranging from 0.017 to 0.142 year−1. The mean carrying capacity increased from ≈3.25 M silver eels (≈26 kg ha−1) for the 1923–1943 cohorts to ≈5.0 M (≈40 kg ha−1) for the 1948–1971 cohorts before regressing back to ≈3.25 M. The total silver eel output was highest during the late 1970s/early 1980s at 35–45 kg ha−1 year−1 and lowest during the early years of the 20th century and is currently at 10–15 kg ha−1 year−1. The findings are discussed in relation to (a) the ecological changes that have occurred within the lough, associated with eutrophication and the introduction of roach (Rutilus rutilus L.), and (b) the decline of the wider European eel stock across its distribution range. The findings from this study have relevance for the wider management of the European eel stock.Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (UK) for funding this study
A method to choose water depths for zooplankton samples in lakes
Get PDFPublication history: Accepted - 13 October 2021; Published online - 23 November 2021.As methods in the literature to sample zooplankton in lakes mostly offered general guidance on the sample
depths, a new one was developed. Using the principle of volume-weighted sampling of the lake volume and an
empirical function for the hypsometric curve, formulae for the volumes and areas of five equal sections of the
lake were derived, which were then used to calculate section mean depths. Vertical net hauls taken at the mean
depths are combined using a relation between their mean depths to produce one unbiased composite sample of
the zooplankton. While generic formulae were derived, starting values for the depths that divide the lake volume
into five equal sections are needed in order to apply the method, which then optimizes the depths; the
method is implemented in a spreadsheet. The method was applied to four hypothetical lakes of maximum
depth 12 m that cover a wide variation of lake form and how the sample depths vary with form was described;
as lake form becomes more convex, the sample depths decrease, reflecting that more of the lake volume is at
shallower depth. The method was used to estimate the whole-lake abundance of zooplankton in 51 lakes and
no practical difficulties were encountered. It can be used in lakes up to a few tens of km2 in area.The INTERREG IVA Programme of the European
Union’s European Regional Development Fund, managed by the Special
European Union Programmes Body, funded this work. It formed part of
the cross-border DOLMANT project (reference number 002862)
Phylodynamic analysis of an emergent Mycobacterium bovis outbreak in an area with no previously known wildlife infections
Get PDFPublication history: Accepted - 18 August 2021; Published online - 1 November 2021.1. Understanding how emergent pathogens successfully establish themselves and
persist in previously unaffected populations is a crucial problem in disease ecology,
with important implications for disease management. In multi-host
pathogen
systems this problem is particularly difficult, as the importance of each host species
to transmission is often poorly characterised, and the disease epidemiology is
complex. Opportunities to observe and analyse such emergent scenarios are few.
2. Here, we exploit a unique dataset combining densely collected data on the epidemiological
and evolutionary characteristics of an outbreak of Mycobacterium
bovis (the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis, bTB) in a population of cattle
and badgers in an area considered low risk for bTB, with no previous record of
either persistent infection in cattle, or of any infection in wildlife. We analyse the
outbreak dynamics using a combination of mathematical modelling, Bayesian evolutionary
analyses and machine learning.
3. Comparison to M. bovis whole-genome
sequences from Northern Ireland confirmed
this to be a pathogen single introduction from the latter region, with evolutionary
analysis supporting an introduction directly into the local cattle population
6 years prior to its first discovery in badgers.
4. Once introduced, the evidence supports M. bovis epidemiological dynamics passing
through two phases, the first dominated by cattle-to-
cattle
transmission before
becoming established in the local badger population.
5. Synthesis and applications. The Mycobacterium bovis emergent outbreak that was
the object of this study was of considerable concern because of the geographical
distance from previously known high-risk
areas. Initial decisions about the outbreak
control were supported by the whole-genome
sequencing data. The further
analyses described here were used to estimate the time of introduction (and therefore the likely magnitude of any hidden outbreak) and the rates of cross-species
transmission, and provided valuable confirmation that the extent and focus
of the imposed controls were appropriate. Not only do these findings strengthen
the call for genomic surveillance, but they also pave the path for future outbreaks
control, providing insights for more rapid and decisive evidence-based
decision-making.
As the methods we used and developed are agnostic to the disease itself,
they are also valuable for other slowly transmitting pathogens.This work was supported by BBSRC (grants BB/P010598/1, BB/L010569/1, and BB/L010569/2), SFI (grant 16/BBSRC/3390), DAERA (project 13-03-07) and Defra
Development and validation of a rapid LC–MS/MS method for the confirmatory analysis of the bound residues of eight nitrofuran drugs in meat using microwave reaction
Get PDFPublication history: Accepted - 28 October 2021; Published - 23 November 2021.A rapid analytical method was developed and validated for the analysis of eight bound nitrofurans in animal tissue, shortening
laboratory turnaround times from 4 to 2 days. The majority of methodologies for nitrofuran analysis focus on the detection
of only four drugs (nitrofurantoin, furazolidone, furaltadone and nitrofurazone), and is time-consuming given the 16-h
overnight derivatisation step and a double liquid–liquid extraction. In this study, the narrow scope of analysis was addressed
by including further four important nitrofuran drugs (nifursol, nitrofuroxazide, nifuraldezone and nitrovin). Full chromatographic
separation was achieved for the metabolites of all eight nitrofurans, using phenyl-hexyl column chemistry and a
rigorous optimisation of the mobile phase additives and gradient profile. The conventional, lengthy sample preparation was
substantially shortened by replacing the traditional overnight water bath derivatisation with a rapid 2-h microwave-assisted
reaction, followed by a modified-QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) extraction. This confirmatory
method was fully validated in accordance with the new 2021/808/EC legislation, and was shown to perform satisfactorily
when applied to incurred tissues. The decision limit (CCα) for the eight analytes ranged between 0.013 and 0.200 μg kg−
1,
showing abundant sensitivity given that the current RPA for nitrofurans is 0.5 μg kg−
1. This innovative method can play a
major role in the surveillance of the illegal use of nitrofuran drugs.This research was funded as part of the European Union’s
Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under Grant Agreement
No 727864 and from the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology
(EU-China-Safe)
Associations between Circulating IGF-1 Concentrations, Disease Status and the Leukocyte Transcriptome in Early Lactation Dairy Cows
Get PDFPublication history: Accepted - 19 November 2021; Published - 25 November 2021.Peripartum dairy cows commonly experience negative energy balance (EB) and immunosuppression together with high incidences of infectious and metabolic disease. This study investigated mechanisms linking EB status with immune defense in early lactation. Data were collected from multiparous Holstein cows from six herds and leukocyte transcriptomes were analyzed using RNA sequencing. Global gene expression was related to circulating IGF-1 (as a biomarker for EB) by subdividing animals into three groups, defined as IGF-1 LOW (100 ng/mL, n = 43) at 14 ± 4 days in milk (DIM). Differentially expressed genes between groups were identified using CLC Genomics Workbench V21, followed by cluster and KEGG pathway analysis, focusing on the comparison between LOW and HIGH IGF-1 cows. LOW cows were older and had significantly lower dry matter intakes and EB values, whereas HIGH cows produced more milk. During the first 35 DIM, 63% of LOW cows had more than one health problem vs. 26% HIGH cows, including more with clinical mastitis and uterine infections. Gene expression analysis indicated that leukocytes in LOW cows switched energy metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis (PGM, LDH, and PDK4). Many antimicrobial peptides were up-regulated in LOW cows (e.g., PTX3, DMBT1, S100A8, and S100A9) together with genes associated with inflammation, platelet activation and the complement cascade. HIGH cows had greater expression of genes regulating T and B cell function and the cytoskeleton. Overall, results suggested an ongoing cycle of poor EB and higher infection rates in LOW IGF-1 cows which was reflected in altered leukocyte functionality and reduced milk production.This project received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme
(Brussels, Belgium) for research, technological development, and demonstration under grant agreement
no. 61368
Essential fatty acids as biomedicines in cardiac health
Get PDFPublication history: Accepted - 13 October 2021; Published online - 14 October 2021.The destructive impact of cardiovascular diseases on health, including heart failure, peripheral artery disease, atherosclerosis, stroke, and other cardiac pathological conditions, positions these health conditions as leading causes of increased global mortality rates, thereby impacting the human quality of life. The considerable changes in modern lifestyles, including the increase in food intake and the change in eating habits, will unavoidably lead to an unbalanced consumption of essential fatty acids, with a direct effect on cardiovascular health problems. In the last decade, essential fatty acids have become the main focus of scientific research in medical fields aiming to establish their impact for preventing cardiovascular diseases and the associated risk factors. Specifically, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), such as omega 3 fatty acids, and monounsaturated fatty acids from various sources are mentioned in the literature as having a cardio-protective role, due to various biological mechanisms that are still to be clarified. This review aims to describe the major biological mechanisms of how diets rich in essential fatty acids, or simply essential fatty acid administration, could have anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory, anti-arrhythmic, antithrombotic, antioxidant, and anti-atherogenic effects. This review describes findings originating from clinical studies in which dietary sources of FAs were tested for their role in mitigating the impact of heart disorders in human healt
Allonursing in Wild and Farm Animals: Biological and Physiological Foundations and Explanatory Hypotheses
Get PDFPublication history: Accepted - 27 October 2021; Published - 29 October 2021.The dams of gregarious animals must develop a close bond with their newborns to provide
them with maternal care, including protection against predators, immunological transference, and
nutrition. Even though lactation demands high energy expenditures, behaviors known as allonursing
(the nursing of non-descendant infants) and allosuckling (suckling from any female other than the
mother) have been reported in various species of wild or domestic, and terrestrial or aquatic animals.
These behaviors seem to be elements of a multifactorial strategy, since reports suggest that they
depend on the following: species, living conditions, social stability, and kinship relations, among
other group factors. Despite their potential benefits, allonursing and allosuckling can place the health
and welfare of both non-filial dams and alien offspring at risk, as it augments the probability of
pathogen transmission. This review aims to analyze the biological and physiological foundations
and bioenergetic costs of these behaviors, analyzing the individual and collective advantages and
disadvantages for the dams’ own offspring(s) and alien neonate(s). We also include information on
the animal species in which these behaviors occur and their implications on animal welfare
Bioinformatic Analysis of the Campylobacter jejuni Type VI Secretion System and Effector Prediction
Get PDFPublication history: Accepted - 7 June 2021; Published online - 29 June 2021.The Type VI Secretion System (T6SS) has important roles relating to bacterial
antagonism, subversion of host cells, and niche colonisation. Campylobacter jejuni
is one of the leading bacterial causes of human gastroenteritis worldwide and is
a commensal coloniser of birds. Although recently discovered, the T6SS biological
functions and identities of its effectors are still poorly defined in C. jejuni. Here, we
perform a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis of the C. jejuni T6SS by investigating the
prevalence and genetic architecture of the T6SS in 513 publicly available genomes using
C. jejuni 488 strain as reference. A unique and conserved T6SS cluster associated with
the Campylobacter jejuni Integrated Element 3 (CJIE3) was identified in the genomes of
117 strains. Analyses of the T6SS-positive 488 strain against the T6SS-negative C. jejuni
RM1221 strain and the T6SS-positive plasmid pCJDM202 carried by C. jejuni WP2-202
strain defined the “T6SS-containing CJIE3” as a pathogenicity island, thus renamed
as Campylobacter jejuni Pathogenicity Island-1 (CJPI-1). Analysis of CJPI-1 revealed
two canonical VgrG homologues, CJ488_0978 and CJ488_0998, harbouring distinct
C-termini in a genetically variable region downstream of the T6SS operon. CJPI-1 was
also found to carry a putative DinJ-YafQ Type II toxin-antitoxin (TA) module, conserved
across pCJDM202 and the genomic island CJIE3, as well as several open reading
frames functionally predicted to encode for nucleases, lipases, and peptidoglycan
hydrolases. This comprehensive in silico study provides a framework for experimental
characterisation of T6SS-related effectors and TA modules in C. jejun
Bio-Fabrication of Human Amniotic Membrane Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and the Wet/Dry HAM Dressing Membrane for Wound Healing
Get PDFPublication history: Accepted - 25 June 2021; Published online - 28 July 2021.The preparation of unique wet and dry wound dressing products derived from
unprocessed human amniotic membrane (UP-HAM) is described. The UP-HAM was
decellularized, and the constituent proteins were cross-linked and stabilized before
being trimmed and packed in sterile Nucril-coated laminated aluminium foil pouches
with isopropyl alcohol to manufacture processed wet human amniotic membrane (PWHAM). The dry type of PD-HAM was prepared by decellularizing the membrane, UV
irradiating it, lyophilizing/freeze-drying it, sterilizing it, and storing it at room temperature.
The UP-HAM consists of a translucent yellowish mass of flexible membranes with an
average thickness of 42 µm. PW-HAM wound dressings that had been processed,
decellularized, and dehydrated had a thinner average thickness of 30 µm and lacked
nuclear-cellular structures. Following successful decellularization, discrete bundle of
fibrous components in the stromal spongy layers, microvilli and reticular ridges were
still evident on the surface of the processed HAM, possibly representing the location of
the cells that had been removed by the decellularization process. Both wet and dry HAM
wound dressings are durable, portable, have a shelf life of 3–5 years, and are available
all year. A slice of HAM dressing costs 1.0 US/cm2
. Automation and large-scale
HAM membrane preparation, as well as storage and transportation of the dressings,
can all help to establish advanced technologies, improve the efficiency of membrane
production, and reduce costs. Successful treatment of wounds to the cornea of the
eye was achieved with the application of the HAM wound dressings. The HAM protein
analysis revealed 360 µg proteins per gram of tissue, divided into three main fractions
with MWs of 100 kDa, 70 kDa, and 14 kDa, as well as seven minor proteins, with the
14 kDa protein displaying antibacterial properties against human pathogenic bacteria.
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology | www.frontiersin.org 1 July 2021 | Volume 9 | Article 695710
fbioe-09-695710 July 22, 2021 Time: 16:39 # 2
Ramasamy et al. HAMP-ZnO Nanoparticles HAM Wound Dressing
Wet and dry wound dressings were
produced. HAM proteins were
purified and analysed. The zinc
oxide nanoparticles (HAMP-ZnO
NP) made from HAM proteins
were characterised and tested for
their antibacterial activity.
Wounds to the cornea of the eye
healed easily when treated with
HAM wound dressings.
Fresh human Amniotic
membrane, Serological
screening, selection of
disease-free HAM, reome
stromal layer, preparation of
HAM.
UNPROCESSED HAM
Cuboidal epithelial cells, basement
membrane, compact layer, stromal
and spongy layers containing
scatted fibroblast cells are visible in
hsitological analysis.
The flow chart depicts the
methods for processing, and
preparation of wet (PWHAM) and dry (PD-HAM)
wound healing dressings.
HAM proteins, Nanoparticle
synthesis (HAMP-ZnO NP) and
analysis.
Antibacterial analysis show
Inhibition of growth and biofilm
formation of pathogenic bacteria .
Processed HAM
lacked a nuclear-cellular
epithelium, but it did have a
distinct fibrous elements in
basement membrane, stromal
and spongy layers.
Processed PW-HAM (Light
&SEM) showed smooth
epithelial surface topography
with microvilli,.
HAM dressing, wet/dry, packed,
labelled, sterilised and processed. They
are durable, portable, have long
shelf life . A slice of HAM dressing
costs US 1.0 / cm² . The wound
dressings are ready to be applied.
The dermal wounds and conjunctival
surface can be successfully repaired
using processed HAM wound dressings
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT | Flow chart depicting the methods, preparing, and characterizing, by histological, and scanning electron microscopy, of wet (PW-HAM)
and dry (PD-HAM)of wound healing dressing, and preparation of nanoparticles (HAMP ZnO NP); and application of HAM wound dressing.
A wide range of antibacterial activity was observed after treatment with 75 µg/ml zinc
oxide nanoparticles derived from human amniotic membrane proteins (HAMP-ZnO NP),
including dose-dependent biofilm inhibition and inhibition of Gram-positive (S. aureus,
S. mutans, E. faecalis, and L. fusiformis) and Gram-negative bacteria (S. sonnei, P.
aeruginosa, P. vulgaris, and C. freundii).PR has acknowledged Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital for providing the article processing charges of the journal, and moral and technical support. The support of Cologenesis Health Care Pvt. Ltd. for a study on “Human amniotic membrane for ocular and dermal applications” is sincerely appreciated