Colony Cages Research Articles

MATING BIOLOGY OF AUSTROMUSOTIMA CAMPTOZONALE (LEPIDOPTERA: CRAMBIDAE), A POTENTIAL BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT OF OLD WORLD CLIMBING FERN, LYGODIUM MICROPHYLLUM (SCHIZAEACEAE)

Abstract Austromusotima camptozonale (Hampson) is under investigation as a potential biological control agent of Old World climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br., which is a serious invasive weed in southern Florida. Studies were conducted to investigate aspects of the mating biology of A. camptozonale with a view to improving field colonization efforts. A laboratory colony of A. camptozonale had a female-biased sex ratio of 1:1.3 male:female, with females emerging slightly earlier than males. The majority of female moths mated only once, even when they were confined with multiple males for several nights. Sex ratio had a significant effect on the percentage of females that were mated, with higher percentages of females mated at high male sex ratios. However sex ratio had no effect on the number of times individual females mated. Larval production was significantly higher in colony cages with high male sex ratios, and this was likely due to the higher percentages of females that were mated in ...

Receptor-mediated and bulk-phase endocytosis cause macrophage and cholesterol accumulation in Niemann-Pick C disease

These studies explored the roles of receptor-mediated and bulk-phase endocytosis as well as macrophage infiltration in the accumulation of cholesterol in the mouse with Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease. Uptake of LDL-cholesterol varied from 514 microg/day in the liver to zero in the central nervous system. In animals lacking LDL receptors, liver uptake remained about the same (411 microg/day), but more cholesterol was taken up in extrahepatic organs. This uptake was unaffected by the reductive methylation of LDL and consistent with bulk-phase endocytosis. All tissues accumulated cholesterol in mice lacking NPC1 function, but this accumulation was decreased in adrenal, unchanged in liver, and increased in organs like spleen and lung when LDL receptor function was also deleted. Over 56 days, the spleen and lung accumulated amounts of cholesterol greater than predicted, and these organs were heavily infiltrated with macrophages. This accumulation of both cholesterol and macrophages was increased by deleting LDL receptor function. These observations indicate that both receptor-mediated and bulk-phase endocytosis of lipoproteins, as well as macrophage infiltration, contribute to the cholesterol accumulation seen in NPC disease. These macrophages may also play a role in parenchymal cell death in this syndrome.

Egg Quality Traits of Layers Influenced by Supplementation of Different Levels of Sugarcane Press Residue

4 Abstract: Nearly three percent of the crushed sugarcane from sugar industries turns into Sugarcane Press Residue (SPR), which is a valuable source of minerals as well as organic matter. A biological experiment was conducted using 160 (32-week old) white leg horn hens to assess the beneficial effect of Sugarcane Press Residue (SPR) in soya and fish based diets. Two BIS (1992) specified practical control diets for both soya (T ) and fish based (T ) test diets were formulated, while the SPR was included at three levels (5%, 10% 1 5 and 15%) in test diets of both soya based (T to T ) and fish based (T to T ) types to form a total of eight 2 4 6 8 treatment diets. Each of such formulated diets was offered to five replicates of four birds each reared in colony cages for a period of twelve weeks. Among the egg characteristics studied, the 84 day mean egg weights were found to be 54.70, 53.58, 52.46, 54.69, 54.09, 54.22, 53.21 and 52.62 g in T through T groups, 1 8 respectively. Inclusion of SPR inconsistently (p>0.05) reduced the egg weights when compared to control groups both in soya and fish based diets. Average egg shape index values ranged from 76.30 (T ) to 78.16 1 (T ). Mean albumen index values were comparable. Mean Haugh unit score values ranged (p>0.05) from 7 52.17 (T ) to 56.49 (T ). From the different egg parameters studied, it can be concluded that SPR appears 1 8 to be a valuable source of organic as well as inorganic nutrients for economical layer production.

Effect of rearing technique in outdoor floor cage on slow growing rabbit population performance

The aim of this research was to test the effect of floor cage in outdoor pen on productive performance and carcass characteristics of a rabbit local population characterized by slow growing rate. A sample of 48 rabbits female 57 days old was divided into two groups: Indoor group, housed in colony cages indoor at the density of 14 animals/m2 and Outdoor group, in wire net floor colony cages in outdoor pen, at the density of 5 animals/m2. The animals were fed a commercial feed and ad libitum alfa-alfa hay. Individual live weight and cage feed consumption were checked every week and feed conversion ratio was calculated; at 103 ± 2 days old a sample of 24 animals was slaughtered and carcass traits were recorded. The results showed that the Outdoor group had the highest live weight and the best daily weight gain, together with an higher feed intake. Outdoor group showed the lower mortality, the higher slaughtering weight, the higher reference carcass incidence and hind leg percentage. These favourable results encouraged this kind of rearing system characterized also by lower investment costs.

Effect of Feeding Time on Laying and Reproductive Performance of Pharaoh Quail (Coturnix coturnix Pharaoh) Housed in Different Cage Systems

A total of 120 male and 240 female quail (Coturnix coturnix Pharaoh) were used to determine the effect of feeding time on laying and reproductive performance of Pharaoh quail. They were fed ad libitum between 09:00 to 17:00 or full day, daily. Each female-male pair was housed in multiple-bird cages and colony cages. Initial and final body weight, quail-day egg production, feed consumption per egg and mortality were measured to determine laying performance of breeders. A total of 960 eggs were used to determine reproductive performance of quail in each treatment group. Eggs were incubated in a commercial setter and hatcher in standard conditions. Embryonic mortality, apparent fertility, hatchability of total and fertile eggs were calculated to determine the reproductive performance. Results indicated that feeding between 09:00 to 17:00 h reduced final body weight and egg production (p<0.001, p<0.001). Whereas, limited time of feeding improved hatchability of total (p<0.001) and fertile eggs (p<0.001) and reduced embryonic mortality (p<0.001) when compared with the effects of feeding full day. It was found that there were no significant differences for the egg production of quail housed in different cage systems. Quail caged in multiple-bird cages consumed less feed (p<0.01) compared to quail housed in colony cages. There were significant differences for the mortality (p<0.05), hatchability of total (p<0.001) and fertile eggs (p<0.001), and embryonic mortality (p<0.001) during the incubation due to main effect of cage systems. There were significant cage systems×feeding time interactions for hatchability of total and fertile eggs and embryonic mortality (p<0.001). As a conclusion; feeding from 09:00 to 17:00 reduced laying performance of quail and improved the reproductive traits compared to full day feeding of quail breeders. But, further investigations are needed to determine the optimum length of feeding time and egg production of breeders in quail fed limited time must be evaluated in comparison with its beneficial or detrimental effects. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2006. Vol 19, No. 1 : 67-71)

Ubiquitination of 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA Reductase in Permeabilized Cells Mediated by Cytosolic E1 and a Putative Membrane-bound Ubiquitin Ligase

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) enzyme, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase, catalyzes the production of mevalonate, a rate-controlling step in cholesterol biosynthesis. Excess sterols promote ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of reductase as part of a negative feedback regulatory mechanism. To characterize the process in more detail, we here report the development of a permeabilized cell system that supports reductase ubiquitination stimulated by the addition of sterols in vitro. Sterol-dependent ubiquitination of reductase in permeabilized cells is dependent upon exogenous cytosol, ATP, and either Insig-1 or Insig-2, two membrane-bound ER proteins shown previously to mediate sterol regulation of reductase degradation in intact cells. Oxysterols, but not cholesterol, promote reductase ubiquitination under our conditions. Finally, we show that ubiquitin-activating enzyme (E1) can efficiently replace cytosol to ubiquitinate reductase in response to sterol treatment, suggesting that other molecules required for ubiquitination of reductase, such as the ubiquitin-conjugating and -ligating enzymes (E2 and E3), are localized to ER membranes.

Endotoxin stress responses in chickens from different genetic lines. 1. Sickness, behavioral, and physical responses

Genetic variation in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge was studied in chicken lines divergently selected for high (HGPS) and low (LGPS) group productivity and survivability resulting from cannibalism and flightiness in colony cages and in a Dekalb XL (DXL) commercial line. Six-week-old chicks were randomly assigned to control or experimental groups and were injected intravenously with Escherichia coli LPS (5 mg/kg of BW) or distilled saline (control). Sickness responses were measured at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h following injection (n = 10 at each point in time for each line). Although LPS induced widespread sickness symptoms in all of the treated chicks, the reactions were in a genotypic- and phenotypic-specific manner. Compared with LGPS and DXL chicks, HGPS chicks had acute, transient behavioral and physical changes with less effect on BW gain, organ development, and core temperature, which were in the order HGPS < DXL < LGPS. The effects of heritable factors and LPS challenge on the differential responses among the present lines may reflect each line's unique adaptability to stress and resistance to infection and inflammation. The results suggested that the present chicken lines may provide a valuable animal model for investigating the effects of genetic-environmental interactions on the behavioral and physiological homeostasis in response to stress and disease.

Chronic social stress differentially regulates neuroendocrine responses in laying hens: II. Genetic basis of adrenal responses under three different social conditions

Chicken lines were divergently selected for both high (HGPS) or low (LGPS) group productivity and survivability resulting from cannibalism and flightiness in colony cages. Each line has unique characteristics in physical indexes, domestic behavior, and physiological responsiveness to stress. The differences between the selected lines could be reflected in differing regulation of the neuroendocrine system such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Change of the adrenal function is a key initial event in response to stress in animals, which differs for this trait. Comparisons between the selected lines showed that adrenal function was stable in HGPS hens but not in LGPS hens in response to chronic social stress. Social stress-induced adrenal hypertrophy and its positive correlation with plasma corticosterone concentrations were found in the LGPS hens but not in the HGPS hens. The data demonstrated that chickens selected for variations in productivity and survivability variously altered the adrenal system in response to social stressors. The results suggest that these chicken lines could be valuable animal models for biomedical investigation of the effect of genetic-environmental interactions on the neuroendocrine function in controlling stress responses.

Diminished Hepatic Response to Fasting/Refeeding and Liver X Receptor Agonists in Mice with Selective Deficiency of Sterol Regulatory Element-binding Protein-1c

Two treatments, fasting/refeeding and administration of liver X receptor (LXR) agonists, elevate the mRNA for sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) and enhance lipid synthesis in liver. These treatments do not affect the mRNA for SREBP-1a, an alternative transcript from the same gene. Through homologous recombination, we eliminated the exon encoding SREBP-1c from the mouse genome, leaving the SREBP-1a transcript intact. On a normal diet, livers of SREBP-1c(-/-) mice manifested reductions in multiple mRNAs encoding enzymes of fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis, including acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS). In contrast, SREBP-1c(-/-) livers showed a compensatory increase in hepatic SREBP-2 mRNA, accompanied by increased mRNA levels for cholesterol biosynthetic enzymes. In fasted/refed animals, ACC and FAS mRNAs rose, but not to the same extent as in wild-type livers. The refeeding-induced increase in SREBP-1c(-/-) mice was greater than in mice lacking SREBP cleavage-activating protein (SCAP), in which all nuclear SREBPs are absent. Thus, SREBP-2 and/or SREBP-1a can substitute partially for SREBP-1c in permitting an insulin-mediated increase in ACC and FAS mRNAs. In contrast, mRNAs for several other lipogenic enzymes (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme, glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1) showed a complete failure of the normal inductive response to refeeding, indicating specific reliance on SREBP-1c. Moreover, these mRNAs, as well as multiple other lipogenic mRNAs, showed a markedly blunted response to the LXR agonist T090137, indicating an essential role of SREBP-1c in the LXR response.

Health and production in improved cage designs

This paper describes the effects of various cage designs on health characteristics such as skeleton strength, plumage and foot condition, mortality, and some production traits such as egg quality and feed consumption. Three major steps in improving cage design and in developing new cage designs are described. Firstly, cage design in general has been improved by comparing different conventional commercial cage designs under the same experimental conditions. Secondly, unconventional design features, such as an abrasive strip to reduce excessive growth of claws or a perch to improve the behavioral repertoire for the hens as well as to strengthen skeletal structure, are described. Thirdly, the effects of fully furnished cages that also include a nest and dustbath for smaller or larger groups of birds are discussed. These designs create an environment in which the problems of conventional cages, such as behavioral restriction, are reduced and the shortcomings of large litter aviaries, such as cannibalism, parasites, and a poor working environment, are improved. Cages with one perch level containing groups of 4 to 10 hens seem more likely alternatives to conventional cages on larger scale farms than litter systems or colony cages for more than 10 birds. This is due mainly to the higher predictability of production, the decreased risk of cannibalism, and improved hygienic conditions.

Group Selection for Adaptation to Multiple-Hen Cages: Humoral Immune Response ,

A selected line of White Leghorns, which has shown improved survivability and reduced feather loss in large multiple-hen cages, was evaluated for humoral immune response to SRBC under both stressed and unstressed conditions. Three lines of chickens (selected, control, and commercial) were housed in either single- (1 hen) or multiple-hen cages (12 hens, social competition) and subjected to a cold ambient temperature (0 C) at 33 wk of age and to two heating episodes (38 C) at 44 wk of age. Each hen was challenged intravenously with 1 mL of a 7% saline suspension of SRBC at the time that cold exposure was initiated. Hens subjected to high ambient temperatures had been exposed previously to a cold temperature, but were not challenged with SRBC until 16 to 18 h following the end of the second heating episode.Exposure to cold caused immunosuppression in single-caged hens, but not in hens in colony cages. Single- vs colony-caged hens of the control environment challenged with SRBC at 33 wk of age had similar primary hemagglutinin responses to SRBC. Hens subjected to heat experienced immunosuppression at 9 and 12 d following challenge to SRBC when compared to the controls. Hens of multiple-bird cages challenged with antigen at 44 wk of age had a significantly lower hemagglutinin response to SRBC than those reared in single-bird cages. The three lines of genetic stock had similar primary hemagglutinin responses to SRBC; the interactions of genetic stock with cage size or environmental temperature were not significant. It was concluded that genetically selecting hens for survival in multiple-hen cages did not affect their humoral immune response to SRBC.

Developmental Rates of Bagous affinis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) at Constant Temperatures

Bagous affinis Hustache (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a biological control agent of Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle (Hydrocharitaceae; hydrilla), a weed in ponds, lakes, and waterways. Adults feed on hydrilla stems and leaves that are left exposed as waters recede during the dry season or following a drawdown (Baloch et al. 1980). The adults oviposit in moist organic matter found in and among the exposed hydrilla stems (Bennett & Buckingham 1991). The larvae burrow in the soil beneath the exposed stems and feed on subterranean vegetative propagules called tubers (Baloch et al. 1980). The basic life history and host range of B. affinis has been studied (Buckingham 1988, Bennett & Buckingham 1991). However, other aspects of the life history of B. affinis need to be determined to assess its potential and optimize its use as a biological control agent. For example, information on the rate of development of each life stage can be used to predict the best time for release (i.e., when air and soil temperatures are above developmental thresholds). In addition, the time of egg hatch or completion of the larval or pupal stage in the field after release and the number of generations possible at a site in a given period of time can be estimated. Therefore, in this study we measured the rate of development of the egg, larval, and pupal stages at six constant temperatures and constructed simple linear thermal unit models. The range of temperatures used represent those typical of northern California from late spring through fall, the dry season when aquatic systems undergo natural drawdowns (NOAA 1985). The rates of development of the egg, larval, and pupal stages were estimated at 18, 21, 25, 28, 30, and 32?C (? 1?C) constant temperature regimes. The weevils used in these experiments were maintained in laboratory culture for 8 to 14 generations and were from the same colony as that described by Godfrey et al. (1994). B. affinis were reared individually in small, plastic containers (5.5 x 5.5 x 6.5 cm) to measure development at each temperature. Each container was filled with moist soil (a fine sandy loam), and five dioecious hydrilla tubers were buried 3 cm beneath the soil surface. Eggs were dissected from water-soaked wood (an oviposition substrate) that had been placed in colony cages for less than 24 hours. Each egg was placed on a piece of moist filter paper on the soil surface. The container was covered with aluminum foil to maintain humidity. The rearing containers were placed in a growth chamber (Model CEC 36-1OHLE, Rheem Sherer, Weaverville, NC) at the appropriate temperature regime, and checked once daily for egg hatch. The time of day that the eggs were checked and the condition of the eggs (i.e., hatched or not hatched) were recorded. The following number of eggs were placed at each temperature regime: 180 at 18?C; 145 at 21?C; 181 at 25?C; 135 at 28?C; 130 at 30?C; and 293 at 320C. Differing numbers of eggs were used because the survivorship of B. affinis from egg to adult varied with temperature. In addition, measurement of developmental rate was attempted at 150C (n=20) and 35?C (n=60), but no B. affinis survived to the adult stage.

Effects of pethidine, acetylsalicylic acid, and indomethacin on pain and behavior in the mole-rat

The antinociceptive and behavioral effects of pethidine (10, 20, or 30 mg/kg), acetylsalicylic acid (200, 400, or 600 mg/kg) and indomethacin (20, 40, or 50 mg/kg) in the naked mole-rat was studied in the hot-plate test. Instead of inducing analgesia, pethidine caused a dose-dependent reduction in response latency. Sensorimotor impairment and aggressive behavior were also observed following administration of pethidine (20 or 30 mg/kg). All animals recieving pethidine (30 mg/kg) died following fighting when kept in colony cages. Aggressive behavior and death was prevented by naloxone or by keeping animals in single cages. Acetylsalicylic acid (600 mg/kg) and indomethacin (40 or 50 mg/kg) caused a significant increase in response latency. It is concluded that in the mole-rat pethidine elicits aggression, sensorimotor impairment, and apparent hypergesia.

Evaluation of Colony Size and Cage Space for Laying Hens (Gallus domesticus) Using Fuzzy Decision Analysis

A replicated experiment (two, 1-yr trials) was conducted to define colony size and cage space requirements of laying hens. DeKalb XL pullets, 19 wk of age, were randomly assigned to cages sized 1548, 3097, and 4645 cm2 at population densities of 2, 3, 4, or 5 hens. Membership values for fuzzy decision analysis were related to the performance of birds as measured by hen-day production and cumulative mortality. The decision analysis showed the crossover point between an uncrowded and a crowded condition was 3 birds in both trials for cage sizes of 1548 and 3097 cm2 based on maximum decision values. The crossover point for the largest cage area (4645 cm2) differed between 3 and 4 birds for Trials 2 and 1, respectively. This suggested crowding pressure was not as great when more space was available to the birds.

Morphine induces aggression but not analgesia in the naked mole-rat ( Heterocephalus glaber)

1. The antinociceptive effect in the mole-rat of morphine (1, 10, 20 or 30 mg/kg) and nefopam (10 or 20 mg/kg) was studied. 2. In the hotplate test, morphine had no analgesic effect. A reduced response latency after morphine (10 and 20 mg/kg) could possibly be explained by hyperactivity and excited behaviour. 3. After morphine (10, 20 and 30 mg/kg) most of the animals died after fighting when kept in colony cages. Aggressive behaviour and death was prevented by naloxone, or by keeping the animals in single cages. 4. Nefopam (20 mg/kg) significantly increased the latency for the nociceptive response. 5. It was concluded that in the mole-rat, opioid systems in the CNS may not be involved in the regulation of nociception, but in the regulation of agonistic and motor behaviour.

Rearing Dictya floridensis (Diptera: Sciomyzidae) in a continuously producing colony and evaluation of larval food sources.

Methods for large-scale continuous propagation of Dictya floridensis Steyskal were developed. A colony originating from 22 specimens of several Dictya species collected in Alachua County, Fla., became a single species colony after several generations because of failure of all but D. floridensis to survive colonization. The colony was maintained as separate generations until the F5, after which new D. floridensis adults were pooled into mass colony cages. During the F7 generation, colony production was in excess of 1,000 neonate larvae per day, the number of adults was continually increasing, and the females had extended longevity and fecundity. At that time, the colony was considered to be continuously producing, and size of the colony was limited only by the availability of food and rearing facilities. Larvae were reared on living, freshly crushed, frozen snails, Physella hendersoni hendersoni (Clench) and Pseudosuccinea columella Say. Larval development and their survival rate to pupariation was the same whether reared on freshly crushed snails or on live food. Larvae reared on frozen snail tissue compared with live snails had the same sex ratio but were lighter in weight and had extended development time to pupariation and lowered survival rates. Larvae fed and developed successfully upon living embryonated snail egg masses but were unable to use egg masses that had been frozen.

Mass Rearing of Diglyphus begini (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) for Biological Control of Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

A method was developed for mass rearing the parasite Diglyphus begini Ashmead, using chrysanthemum, Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev, as the host plant and Liriamyza trifolii (Burgess) as the host. Four commercially rooted chrysanthemum cuttings were planted in 12.7-cm-diameter pots and held on greenhouse benches for about 30 d. Leaf area per pot after 30 d was 867.3 ± 35.3 cm2 (xˉ ± SEM; n = 27). Pots were exposed to adult leaf miners in colony cages for oviposition, which produced 357.4 ± 25.1 (xˉ ± SEM) larvae per pot. Plants containing late second to early third instars were exposed to adult D. begini in parasite colony cages for 24 h. The number of adult parasites emerging per pot was 99.7 ± 9.7 (xˉ ± SEM); 47% of these were females. The daily cost of parasite production (recurring costs only) was $19.40 per 1,000. With this technique, 140,000 parasites were field-released over a 3-mo period in 1986.

Egg Production in Four Generations of Paired Japanese Quail

Four generations of Japanese quail were hatched in succession starting with the progeny of an Athens Randombred quail colony. In each generation quail were maintained in cages as male-female pairs. The photoperiod was 16 hr of light per day with feed and water available ad libitum. From 6 to 20 weeks of age mortality, egg production, fertility, hatchability, and progeny livability were improved over previously published reports of reproduction in colony cages. Mortality decreased while age at 50% hen-day production, total number of eggs produced, and hatchability increased from the 1st to the 4th generation. This information may be of interest to researchers and commercial producers of Japanese quail.

Magnitude of Genetic Influence, Cage Type, and Genotype by Cage-Type Interactions on Soft-Shell and Shell-Less Egg Production

Abstract Genetic effects and the effects of single versus nine-bird colony cages upon the percent production of soft-shell (% SS), shell-less (% SL), and hard-shell (% HS) eggs were investigated in a randombred population of White Leghorns. Ovulation rate, (OR), % SL, and % HS eggs decreased (P Significant sire effects (P A large positive genetic correlation of % SS eggs with % SL eggs was observed. The genetic correlations of % HS eggs with % SS or % SL eggs were small and not significantly different from zero in both environments. Possible physiological mechanisms were discussed.

Relative Efficiency of Selection for Performance of Birds Housed in Colony Cages Based on Production in Single Bird Cages

Abstract Relative efficiency of selection based on sire families housed in individual versus colony cages was determined from the genetic correlation of production traits observed in the two cage environments. Two separate experiments, using a sample from the North Central Randombred White Leghorn Population, were conducted simultaneously to compare production in single cages with that in 4-bird and 9-bird colony cages, while initially holding density constant in the colony cages (413 cm2/bird). In each experiment, sire families were split between single and colony cages in a replicated manner. Records were obtained from 20 to 72 weeks of age on eggs per hen-day (EHD), egg weight (EW), days survival (DS), egg mass (EM), and eggs per hen housed (EHH). The mechanisms operating to reduce production in colony cages were shown to be cumulative in nature. Reductions of EHH and EM in 4-bird cages were due to a decline in EHD per bird. Further reductions of EHH and EM in 9-bird cages were due to increased mortality (DS). The only genetic correlation significantly (P