Temporo-spatial observation of the leg could provide important information about the general condition of an animal, especially for those such as sheep and other free-ranging farm animals that can be ...difficult to access. Tri-axial accelerometers are capable of collecting vast amounts of data for locomotion and posture observations; however, interpretation and optimization of these data records remain a challenge. The aim of the present study was to introduce an optimized method for gait (walking, trotting and galloping) and posture (standing and lying) discrimination, using the acceleration values recorded by a tri-axial accelerometer mounted on the hind leg of sheep. The acceleration values recorded on the vertical and horizontal axes, as well as the total acceleration values were categorized. The relative frequencies of the acceleration categories (RFACs) were calculated in 3-s epochs. Reliable RFACs for gait and posture discrimination were identified with discriminant function and canonical analyses. Post hoc predictions for the two axes and total acceleration were conducted, using classification functions and classification scores for each epoch. Mahalanobis distances were used to determine the level of accuracy of the method. The highest discriminatory power for gait discrimination yielded four RFACs on the vertical axis, and five RFACs each on the horizontal axis and total acceleration vector. Classification functions showed the highest accuracy for walking and galloping. The highest total accuracy on the vertical and horizontal axes were 90% and 91%, respectively. Regarding posture discrimination, the vertical axis exhibited the highest discriminatory power, with values of RFAC (0, 1=99.95% for standing; and RFAC (-1, 0=99.50% for lying. The horizontal axis showed strong discrimination for the lying side of the animal, as values were in the acceleration category of (0, 1 for lying on the left side and (-1, 0 on the right side. The algorithm developed by the method employed in the present study facilitates differentiation of the various types of gait and posture in animals from fewer data records, and produces the most reliable acceleration values from only one axis within a short time frame. The present study introduces an optimized method by which the tri-axial accelerometer can be used in gait and posture discrimination in sheep as an animal model.
The pig industry faces many animal welfare issues. Among these, biting behaviour has a high incidence. It is indicative of an existing problem in biters and is a source of physical damage and ...psychological stress for the victims. We categorize this behaviour into aggressive and non-aggressive biting, the latter often being directed towards the tail. This review focusses specifically on predisposing factors in early life, comprising the prenatal and postnatal periods up to weaning, for the expression of aggressive and non-aggressive biting later in life. The influence of personality and coping style has been examined in a few studies. It varies according to these studies and, thus, further evaluation is needed. Regarding the effect of environmental factors, the number of scientific papers is low (less than five papers for most factors). No clear influence of prenatal factors has been identified to date. Aggressive biting is reduced by undernutrition, cross-fostering and socialization before weaning. Non-aggressive biting is increased by undernutrition, social stress due to competition and cross-fostering. These latter three factors are highly dependent on litter size at birth. The use of familiar odours may contribute to reducing biting when pigs are moved from one environment to another by alleviating the level of stress associated with novelty. Even though the current environment in which pigs are expressing biting behaviours is of major importance, the pre-weaning environment should be optimized to reduce the likelihood of this problem.
Feral pigeons (
Columba livia domestica), which thrive in most European towns and cities, are commonly infected with the zoonotic bacterium
Chlamydophila psittaci, the agent of psittacosis (also ...known as ornithosis) in humans. A number of surveys carried out over the last thirty years across Europe have detected high seropositivity values and high percentages of infection in feral pigeon populations. Overall, when considering data from 11 European countries, seropositivity values to
C. psittaci in the sampled populations ranged from 19.4% to 95.6%. In most surveys, the complement fixation test was used, and antibodies were detected in 19.4–66.3% of the samples, with a median of 46.1%. Indirect immunofluorescence and ELISA tests were employed less frequently, but led to the detection of higher percentages of seropositivity (23.7–67.7% and 35.9–95.6%, respectively). Attempts to grow
C. psittaci in cell culture or embryonated chicken eggs were successful in 2–42.3% and 0–57.1% of samples, respectively, antigen detection methods were positive in 2.3–40% of samples, while conventional PCR and real-time PCR using different genomic targets detected the organism in 3.4–50% of samples. Twenty-five
C. psittaci isolates from pigeons were typed as
ompA genotype B (
n
=
14), E (
n
=
10) and E/B (
n
=
1).
The huge increase of feral pigeon populations in Europe is a major cause of concern for the detrimental effect of pigeon droppings on environmental hygiene, in addition to the extensive damage due to the fouling of buildings and monuments. The most important pathogenic organism transmissible from feral pigeons to humans is
C. psittaci, with 101 cases of disease reported in the literature. Exposure to
C. psittaci-contaminated dust, direct contact with pigeons through handling and, to a lesser extent, through pigeon feeding have been identified as hazardous exposures in more than half of the human cases, while loose or transient contacts with feral pigeons have been mentioned in about 40% of the cases.
Education initiatives as to the communication of a health risk resulting from contact with pigeons and pigeon excreta should primarily be targeted at individuals who may be exposed to
C. psittaci-contaminated dust, such as demolition/construction workers. Recommendations to this category of workers include wearing protective clothes with hoods, boots, gloves and air filter face masks when removing pigeon faeces from roofs, garrets and buildings, especially if working indoors. Monitoring for
C. psittaci infections in these workers over time should also be considered. Children should be warned not to handle sick or dead pigeons, and immunocompromised individuals should be advised to carefully limit their contact to feral pigeons.
Culling of pigeons by shooting or poisoning is both unethical and ineffective as the place of the killed birds in the population is quickly filled by new juveniles or immigrating birds from neighbouring areas. Pigeon-deterring systems, such as nets and plastic or metal spikes applied to buildings and monuments will prevent their fouling, and the administration of contraceptive drugs may allow size regulation of the pigeon populations. Nevertheless, the measure that will ultimately lead to permanent reduction and will establish healthy sustainable populations is the restriction of indiscriminate feeding by pigeon lovers. The erection of dovecotes and artificial breeding facilities should be considered for providing shelter and a balanced diet to the birds, as well as a chance of interaction for pigeon lovers in a hygienically controlled environment.
To investigate the role of mitochondrial antioxidant capacity during increased susceptibility to heat accompanied by the aging, young and aged Wistar rats were exposed on heat for 60 min. After heat ...exposure, hepatic and brain mitochondria were isolated. Our results revealed changes in antioxidant enzyme activities in liver and brain mitochondria from young and to a greater extent in aged rats. Our measurements of MnSOD, GPx and GR activity indicate greater reactive oxygen species production from the mitochondria of aged heat exposed in comparison to young heat exposed rats. Also in the aged rats, the effect of alpha-tocopherol treatment in the prevention of oxidative stress occurred as a result of heat exposure, is less pronounced. Taken together, our data suggest that mitochondria in aged rats are more vulnerable and less able to prevent oxidative changes that occur in response to acute heat exposure.
This article takes a future focus on the direction in which social forces develop the market for animal-friendly products in Europe. On the basis of qualitative data gathered in the context of the ...European EconWelfare project, the differences across eight European countries are studied. The findings suggest that, given international trade barriers that prevent an improvement of animal welfare through legislation, many stakeholders believe that the market is the most viable direction to improve farm animal welfare. Economic productivity of the chain remains, however, an issue that on a fundamental level conflicts with the objective to improve animal welfare. With the help of a deeper conceptual understanding of willingness to pay for animal welfare, the paper finds that the European market for animal-friendly products is still largely fragmented and that the differences between European countries are considerable. A more animal-friendly future that is achieved through the market will therefore need substantial policy attention from stakeholders in society.
Information about animal welfare standards and initiatives from eight European countries was collected, grouped, and compared to EU welfare standards to detect those aspects beyond minimum welfare ...levels demanded by EU welfare legislation. Literature was reviewed to determine the scientific relevance of standards and initiatives, and those aspects going beyond minimum EU standards. Standards and initiatives were assessed to determine their strengths and weaknesses regarding animal welfare. Attitudes of stakeholders in the improvement of animal welfare were determined through a Policy Delphi exercise. Social perception of animal welfare, economic implications of upraising welfare levels, and differences between countries were considered. Literature review revealed that on-farm space allowance, climate control, and environmental enrichment are relevant for all animal categories. Experts' assessment revealed that on-farm prevention of thermal stress, air quality, and races and passageways' design were not sufficiently included. Stakeholders considered that housing conditions are particularly relevant regarding animal welfare, and that animal-based and farm-level indicators are fundamental to monitor the progress of animal welfare. The most notable differences between what society offers and what farm animals are likely to need are related to transportation and space availability, with economic constraints being the most plausible explanation.
Introduction: Histamine and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) are well known biogenic amines (substances), which rapidly elute from the mast cell granules under physiological conditions. They ...play an important role in the smooth muscle cells motility.
Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate histamine‐ and VIP‐positive mast cells in the wall of pig kidney blood vessels in concern to their role of motility of smooth muscle cells and renal haemodynamics, respectively.
Material and Methods: Extra‐ and intraorgan renal blood vessels taken immediately after slaughtering of eight 6–8 months pigs were studied. Tissue samples were immersion fixed in 0.05 Mcacodylate buffer, pH 7.2, containing 2% paraformaldehyde and 0.2% glutaraldehyde for 5 days at 4°C. After fixation, tissue blocks were rinsed in 30% sucrose in distilled water at 4°C for 1–3 days. Cryostat sections (20–30 μm thick) were prepared and thawed in 0.05 M cacodylate buffer, pH 2, overnight. Immunocytochemical procedure started for free‐floating sections which were incubated in 1.2% hydrogen peroxide in methanol for 30 min, and rinsed in 0.1 M phosphate buffered saline (PBS), pH 7.4, for 15 min. Afterwards, sections were incubated with the primary antibodies in a dilution of 1:100 (histamine) and in vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) 1:1000 for 24 h at room temperature (RT), then rinsed in 0.1 M PBS, pH 7.4. Incubation succeeded: first, with biotinylated anti‐rabbit (histamine) and anti‐mouse VIP antibodies in a dilution of 1:20 for 4 h, and rinses in 0.1 M PBS, pH 7.4, and in 0.05 M tris‐HCl buffer, pH 7.5, for 10 min. Peroxidase activity was localized by using a mixture of 3 mg 3,3’ diaminobenzidine (DAB), in 15 ml 0.005 M Tris‐HCl buffer, pH 7.5, and 36 ml 1 % hydrogen peroxide for 10–20 min. Finally, a rinse in 0.01 M PBS, pH 7.4, was undertaken.
Immunochemicals: The antibodies used were rabbit anti‐histamine (H7403) and rabbit anti‐vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), or (PEPA41) (Sigma, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA).
Results and Discussion: It was established that VIP‐positive mast cells were located in the media and in the adventitia of large arterial vessels and renal vein, as well. Histamine positive mast cells were found mostly in the intima of renal artery and in the other layers of the wall. Both VIP and histamine mast cells were observed next to small arteries and veins in the fat tissue, around extraorgan blood vessels. Our finding suggest to mast cells participation in the smooth muscle cells motility and the maintenance of local homeostasis, as well.
Provider: Czech digital library/Česká digitální knihovna - Institution: Academy of Sciences Library/Knihovna Akademie věd ČR - Data provided by Europeana Collections- V. Stojkovski ... et al..- ...Obsahuje bibliografii- All metadata published by Europeana are available free of restriction under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. However, Europeana requests that you actively acknowledge and give attribution to all metadata sources including Europeana
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