Animals最新文献_第4页

Safety and Digestibility of a Novel Ingredient, Brewed Lamb Protein, in Healthy Adult Dogs.

IF 2.7 2区农林科学

Animals Pub Date : 2025-02-04 DOI: 10.3390/ani15030427

Stephen French, Chun-Yen Cochrane, Michael Faurot, Pernilla Audibert, Tomas Belloso, Dayakar V Badri

{"title":"Safety and Digestibility of a Novel Ingredient, Brewed Lamb Protein, in Healthy Adult Dogs.","authors":"Stephen French, Chun-Yen Cochrane, Michael Faurot, Pernilla Audibert, Tomas Belloso, Dayakar V Badri","doi":"10.3390/ani15030427","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15030427","url":null,"abstract":"Protein production through precision fermentation is an attractive option to reduce animal use in food production. This study focused on the safety and digestibility of food containing a test ingredient, brewed lamb protein (Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing a lamb protein), at inclusion levels of 0% (control), 15%, 30%, or 40% were evaluated over 182 days in 40 dogs. No significant differences in body weight, body condition score, body composition, physical examination, food intake, or urinary parameters were observed among groups. Hematological and serum biochemical parameters were within reference ranges and were largely similar among groups. Levels of chloride, cholesterol, and homocysteine were significantly lower at some time points in dogs fed the test ingredient foods compared with the control food, but all remained within reference ranges. Whole blood taurine levels indicated no deficiency. Alanine aminotransferase levels were above the normal range at Day 177 in dogs in the control and 15% test ingredient groups. Fecal score was slightly decreased in dogs fed the 30% or 40% test ingredient foods, and fecal pH was decreased in dogs fed any of the test ingredient foods. Digestibility of most parameters was similar among foods, but apparent fat digestibility was significantly lower in foods with the test ingredient. Overall, these results indicate that the test ingredient is safe for use in dog food.","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143405260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Linking Gut Microbiota and Stereotypic Behavior of Endangered Species Under Ex Situ Conservation: First Evidence from Sun Bears.

IF 2.7 2区农林科学

Animals Pub Date : 2025-02-04 DOI: 10.3390/ani15030435

Xiaobing Chen, Wenqi Chen, Xinyu Guo, Sheng Zhang, Bo Xu, Hong Wu, Dapeng Zhao

{"title":"Linking Gut Microbiota and Stereotypic Behavior of Endangered Species Under Ex Situ Conservation: First Evidence from Sun Bears.","authors":"Xiaobing Chen, Wenqi Chen, Xinyu Guo, Sheng Zhang, Bo Xu, Hong Wu, Dapeng Zhao","doi":"10.3390/ani15030435","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15030435","url":null,"abstract":"Integrative conservation research on animal behavior and nutritional health can contribute to the ex situ conservation of endangered species. Stereotypic behavior, a repetitive behavior without practical function, is associated with animal welfare in its manner and frequency for captive animals. Exploring the potential relationship between stereotypic behavior and internal factors, such as intestinal flora, could improve ex situ conservation, especially for endangered species. In this study, we analyzed the typical behavior characteristics of the endangered sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) under captive conditions based on the behavior sampling method. The seasonal and annual changes in the intestinal flora of H. malayanus in captivity were studied by 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing technology based on non-invasive fecal sample collection. This study provides the first evidence of a potential association between the gut microbiota and stereotypic behavior characteristics of captive H. malayanus. The results can significantly improve our understanding of the stereotypical behavior of H. malayanus in captivity and contribute to the captive breeding and conservation efforts of this endangered species.","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143405299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Integrating Conservation and Community Engagement in Free-Roaming Cat Management: A Case Study from a Natura 2000 Protected Area.

IF 2.7 2区农林科学

Animals Pub Date : 2025-02-04 DOI: 10.3390/ani15030429

Octavio P Luzardo, Andrea Hansen, Beatriz Martín-Cruz, Ana Macías-Montes, María Del Mar Travieso-Aja

{"title":"Integrating Conservation and Community Engagement in Free-Roaming Cat Management: A Case Study from a Natura 2000 Protected Area.","authors":"Octavio P Luzardo, Andrea Hansen, Beatriz Martín-Cruz, Ana Macías-Montes, María Del Mar Travieso-Aja","doi":"10.3390/ani15030429","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15030429","url":null,"abstract":"La Graciosa, a Natura 2000 site in the Canary Islands, faces substantial conservation challenges, including a large free-roaming cat population that threatens the island's native biodiversity. In July 2024, a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) campaign achieved an 81.4% sterilization rate within urban areas, highlighting TNR's short-term effectiveness in reducing reproductive potential and, consequently, mitigating predation pressures primarily through the prevention of new litters and reduced reproductive activity in cats. The campaign's success relied heavily on the active involvement of the local community, who assisted with identifying, trapping, and monitoring free-roaming cats, thereby facilitating a high sterilization rate. However, administrative restrictions hindered access to peri-urban zones, leaving essential population clusters unsterilized and limiting the campaign's overall scope. Additionally, strong opposition from conservation groups, amplified by extensive media coverage, halted the project prematurely, reducing the effective sterilization rate to 69.3% within three months. Population Viability Analysis (PVA) suggests that achieving high sterilization rates could lead to population reduction over time; however, the inability to access all population segments and to reach the ideal 93-95% sterilization threshold limits TNR's potential as a long-term standalone solution. Our findings underscore the need for adaptive, context-specific management frameworks in ecologically sensitive areas that integrate TNR with complementary measures, consider regulatory barriers, and value community involvement. This case study provides crucial insights for policymakers and conservationists seeking to balance biodiversity conservation with humane management practices in protected areas.","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143405197","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Research Progress on the GP3 Protein of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus.

IF 2.7 2区农林科学

Animals Pub Date : 2025-02-04 DOI: 10.3390/ani15030430

Chen Lv, Zhiyu Yang, Xiaolin Lan, Fang Liang, Weili Kong, Ruining Wang, Mengmeng Zhao

引用次数: 0

Taxonomic Revision of the Relationship Between Coproptilia and Nosphistica (Lepidoptera: Lecithoceridae) with Descriptions of Two New Species and a New Record from China.

IF 2.7 2区农林科学

Animals Pub Date : 2025-02-04 DOI: 10.3390/ani15030426

Haotian Li, Shuai Yu

{"title":"Taxonomic Revision of the Relationship Between Coproptilia and Nosphistica (Lepidoptera: Lecithoceridae) with Descriptions of Two New Species and a New Record from China.","authors":"Haotian Li, Shuai Yu","doi":"10.3390/ani15030426","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15030426","url":null,"abstract":"The family Lecithoceridae represents one of the most diverse yet understudied groups within Lepidoptera, with numerous unresolved taxonomic issues requiring urgent attention. Among these, the genus Coproptilia Snellen, a small genus within Lecithoceridae, has traditionally been distinguished from its closely related genus, Nosphistica Meyrick, primarily by the presence of vein R1 in the forewing. However, Nosphistica exhibits considerable interspecific variation in wing venation, complicating clear differentiation between these genera. In this study, we conducted a molecular phylogenetic analysis of Lecithoceridae based on a concatenated dataset of 5350 bp, comprising one mitochondrial marker and six nuclear markers from 28 Lecithoceridae individuals. The result shows that (1) the topological results of both Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI) trees show the Coproptilia branch embedded within the Nosphistica branch, so Nosphistica Meyrick should be synonymized with Coproptilia Snellen. (2) Two new species are described from China: Coproptilia uniformis Yu, sp. nov. and C. funiuensis Yu, sp. nov. (3) Coproptilia tawiensis Park, 2009, is newly recorded from China, with the first description of its female. Finally, we integrated molecular and morphological evidence to examine the taxonomic relationship between Coproptilia and Nosphistica. Additional molecular data will be needed to further clarify the subfamily affiliation of Coproptilia sensu nov.","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143405340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Shape and Size Variations in the Astragalus of Large and Small Bovids.

IF 2.7 2区农林科学

Animals Pub Date : 2025-02-03 DOI: 10.3390/ani15030425

Burak Ünal, Barış Can Güzel, Buket Çakar, Yeşim Aslan Kanmaz, Funda Yiğit, Ozan Gündemir, Mihaela-Claudia Spataru

{"title":"Shape and Size Variations in the Astragalus of Large and Small Bovids.","authors":"Burak Ünal, Barış Can Güzel, Buket Çakar, Yeşim Aslan Kanmaz, Funda Yiğit, Ozan Gündemir, Mihaela-Claudia Spataru","doi":"10.3390/ani15030425","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15030425","url":null,"abstract":"The astragalus acts as a crucial intermediary in the tarsal joint, facilitating the transfer of body weight to the lower extremities while also ensuring both stability and mobility through its articulation with adjacent bones, enabling efficient movement. This study investigates the morphological diversity of the astragalus in three modern cattle breeds, one goat breed, and three sheep breeds using three-dimensional geometric morphometric methods. A total of 225 specimens were analyzed in this study. Large bovids, such as the Holstein and Simmental cattle breeds, had a more developed lateral edge of the proximal trochlea and a more rounded astragalus. In small bovids, the Akkaraman and Morkaraman sheep breeds displayed a more prominent medial edge and a rounded astragalus form, while the Hair goat breed exhibited a rectangular structure with a well-developed lateral projection. The results of this study demonstrate that the astragalus serves as a reliable morphological marker for differentiating between large and small bovids, as well as between closely related taxa such as sheep and goats. These shape variations, particularly observed in the proximal trochlea, reflect functional adaptations to size, body mass, and locomotor demands, making the astragalus a critical element for taxonomic identification and biomechanical analysis.","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143405305","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

The Effect of Increasing the Proportion of Dietary Roughage Based on the Partial Replacement of Low-Quality Roughage with Alfalfa Hay on the Fatty Acid Profile of Donkey Milk.

IF 2.7 2区农林科学

Animals Pub Date : 2025-02-03 DOI: 10.3390/ani15030423

Xiaoshuai Liang, Xiaoyu Guo, Yuanxi Yue, Fang Hui, Manman Tong, Yongmei Guo, Yaguang Zheng, Binlin Shi, Sumei Yan

{"title":"The Effect of Increasing the Proportion of Dietary Roughage Based on the Partial Replacement of Low-Quality Roughage with Alfalfa Hay on the Fatty Acid Profile of Donkey Milk.","authors":"Xiaoshuai Liang, Xiaoyu Guo, Yuanxi Yue, Fang Hui, Manman Tong, Yongmei Guo, Yaguang Zheng, Binlin Shi, Sumei Yan","doi":"10.3390/ani15030423","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15030423","url":null,"abstract":"As a lactation source, donkey milk contains a higher percentage of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the milk fatty acid profile than cow's milk, especially the percentage of α-linolenic acid (ALA). We hypothesized that the ratio of dietary concentrate/roughage could influence the composition of the fatty acid (FA) profile of donkey milk, and that the substitution of low-quality roughage with high-quality roughage could improve the composition of the polyunsaturated fatty acid profile of donkey milk. The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effects of the partial dietary replacement of low-quality roughage with alfalfa hay to increase the proportion of roughage in the diet on the FA profiles in the milk of lactating donkeys, with the goal of optimizing the FA profiles of donkey milk. The trial design was a single-factor randomized design. Sixteen Dezhou donkeys of similar age, weight, parity, and lactation days were selected and equally divided (n = 8 per group) into a low alfalfa hay group (LG, 40 concentrate/60 roughage, alfalfa hay: 44.85 g/kg dry matter) and a high alfalfa hay group (HG, 30 concentrate/70 roughage, alfalfa hay: 179.48 g/kg dry matter). The trial lasted 8 weeks and the energy and protein levels of the two diets were identical. The results showed that the profile of milk ALA increased (p = 0.048) and the n-6/n-3 ratio and index of thrombogenicity were decreased (p = 0.019 and p = 0.002) in the HG. Partial replacement of low-quality roughage with alfalfa hay and increasing the percentage of dietary roughage from 60% to 70% optimized the FA quality of donkey milk fat.","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143405432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Gene Editing for Enhanced Swine Production: Current Advances and Prospects.

IF 2.7 2区农林科学

Animals Pub Date : 2025-02-03 DOI: 10.3390/ani15030422

Won Seok Ju, Seokho Kim, Jae-Yeong Lee, Haesun Lee, Jingu No, Seunghoon Lee, Keonbong Oh

{"title":"Gene Editing for Enhanced Swine Production: Current Advances and Prospects.","authors":"Won Seok Ju, Seokho Kim, Jae-Yeong Lee, Haesun Lee, Jingu No, Seunghoon Lee, Keonbong Oh","doi":"10.3390/ani15030422","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15030422","url":null,"abstract":"Traditional pig breeding has improved production traits but faces limitations in genetic diversity, disease resistance, and environmental adaptation. Gene editing technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas9, base editing, and prime editing, enable precise genetic modifications, overcoming these limitations and expanding applications to biomedical research. Here, we reviewed the advancements in gene editing technologies in pigs and explored pathways toward optimized swine genetics for a resilient and adaptive livestock industry. This review synthesizes recent research on gene editing tools applied to pigs, focusing on CRISPR/Cas9 and its derivatives. It examines their impact on critical swine production traits and their role as human disease models. Significant advancements have been made in targeting genes for disease resistance, such as those conferring immunity to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses. Additionally, gene-edited pigs are increasingly used as models for human diseases, demonstrating the technology's broader applications. However, challenges such as off-target effects, ethical concerns, and varying regulatory frameworks remain. Gene editing holds substantial potential for sustainable and productive livestock production by enhancing key traits and supporting biomedical applications. Addressing technical and ethical challenges through integrated approaches will be essential to realize its full potential, ensuring a resilient, ethical, and productive livestock sector for future generations.","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143405466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Reproductive Traits and Hatchling Characteristics of the Endemic Sardinian Grass Snake (Natrix helvetica cetti): First Field Data, with Screening for Ophidiomyces ophidiicola.

IF 2.7 2区农林科学

Animals Pub Date : 2025-02-03 DOI: 10.3390/ani15030418

Matteo Riccardo Di Nicola, Luca Colla, Sergio Mezzadri, Anna Cerullo, Giuseppe Esposito, Paolo Pastorino, Giovanni Paolino, Pierluigi Acutis, Daniele Marini, Francesco Paolo Faraone

{"title":"Reproductive Traits and Hatchling Characteristics of the Endemic Sardinian Grass Snake (Natrix helvetica cetti): First Field Data, with Screening for Ophidiomyces ophidiicola.","authors":"Matteo Riccardo Di Nicola, Luca Colla, Sergio Mezzadri, Anna Cerullo, Giuseppe Esposito, Paolo Pastorino, Giovanni Paolino, Pierluigi Acutis, Daniele Marini, Francesco Paolo Faraone","doi":"10.3390/ani15030418","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15030418","url":null,"abstract":"The Sardinian grass snake, Natrix helvetica cetti, is an island-endemic subspecies with a restricted and highly fragmented distribution confined to Sardinia, Italy. Information on its reproductive biology and wild offspring remain scarce in the scientific literature. This present study reports the first recorded data on a clutch of eggs laid by a wild melanistic female N. h. cetti that exhibited lethargy when observed basking, prompting a brief period of health monitoring and screening for the presence of the pathogenic fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (Oo). The clutch yielded nine hatchlings, for which phenotypic data are provided and compared with existing information on the Natrix natrix complex. Both the adult female and its offspring tested negative in the Oo screening. The body size of the adult grass snake, specifically its snout-to-vent length of 48.3 cm, is the smallest ever recorded for a gravid female N. helvetica. This may indicate that maturity is reached at particularly small sizes, a distinctive trait of this intriguing island subspecies, suggesting the need for further investigation.","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143405225","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

The Impact of Job Demands, Job Resources, and Organisational Justice on Global Health and Turnover Intentions in Animal Care Workers.

IF 2.7 2区农林科学

Animals Pub Date : 2025-02-03 DOI: 10.3390/ani15030420

Remi Lezon, Vanessa Rohlf, Diana Rayment, Tiffani J Howell

{"title":"The Impact of Job Demands, Job Resources, and Organisational Justice on Global Health and Turnover Intentions in Animal Care Workers.","authors":"Remi Lezon, Vanessa Rohlf, Diana Rayment, Tiffani J Howell","doi":"10.3390/ani15030420","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15030420","url":null,"abstract":"Animal care workers in sheltering, rescue, and management are exposed to occupational stressors which negatively impact health. While the negative mental health impacts have been previously documented in this population, physical health, and its contributing factors, have not. This study investigated how job demands, job resources, and organisational justice relate to mental and physical health, and how they subsequently affect turnover intentions. Of the 285 participants, aged 19 to 94 years, who completed the online anonymous questionnaire, below average mental and physical health was reported. Mental health, but not physical health, was inversely related to intentions to leave. After controlling for age, hierarchical multiple regressions showed high emotional demands and direct euthanasia exposure significantly predicted poorer mental and physical health, while high levels of social support predicted better mental and physical health. No additional variance in either health domain was accounted for by organisational justice. It was concluded that both physical and mental health may be negatively impacted in those who work in shelter, rescue, and management environments which could lead to high turnover and poor outcomes for individuals and organisations. Monitoring through ongoing health records to enable early intervention and accommodations should be considered to promote the health of these workers.","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143405458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0