Commercial Rabbit Research Articles

RABBIT PRODUCTION IN UGANDA : POTENTIAL VERSUS OPPORTUNITY

In only the past ten years, meat rabbit production in Uganda has been actively prometed by enthusiasts, via the Rabbit Craze, as a get rich quick business opportunity with unlimited potential markets, both domestic and abroad. In Kampala, the capital of Uganda, the infantile rabbit industry can generally be described as a semi­intensive, commercial production system based on high costs of investment (breeding stock, shelter, and wire hutches) and operation (pelleted feed and labor), and non-realized profitability. Further, purebred seedstock producers sell animals at exorbitant prices (25,000-70,000 USH (Uganda shillings) [exchange rate: 1,225 USH = 1 USO]), and feed companies sell pelleted feed at high prices (300-400 USH/kg or 0.24-0.33 USD/kg). This business exploitation invariably forces commercial rabbit producers to sell fryers at light market weights (~2 kg liveweight) and at high market prices in an attempt to recover business costs. In turn, sellers typically double market prices, which further inflate consumer costs at 4,000-5,000 USH/kg. Current market costs for beef and chicken are lower at about 1,700 and 2,200 USH/kg. High consumer costs llmit market demand. Notwithstanding this, rabbit meat is not traditionally consumed by Ugandans. In Kampala, only two meat markets, two restaurants, and one university sell rabbit meat (estimated volume of only 100-200 fryers/month). Customers are mostly expatriates. As expected, many commercial producers have lost money, abandonment rate has been moderate to high, and the present reputation of rabbit production is waning. Paradoxically, real opportunities exist in Uganda to foster development by assisting needy families through a grassroots level, village-based rabbit program. Rabbits can benefrt many families, nutritionally and economically, in less time than many other livestock projects and at lower investment costs, but only if a sound project plan is implemented. A proposed development project consists of a subsistence production system, whereby utilization of renewable farm resources (e.g., 5-doe unit, local feeds and building materials, and family labor) and home consumption of inexpensive rabbit meat are primarily emphasized. Concurrently, an economic incentive must co-exist to encourage rabbit productlon. Appropriate and timely rabbit training, nutrition education, and market development activities will be critical. The initial management of limited pilot projects should foster the gradual development of rabbit meat consumption in villages as a short-term goal and expansion of formal markets for rabbit meat as a long-term goal. An opportunity and a challenge exist to develop a technically sound and sustainable rabblt program in Uganda.

PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF GROWING RABBITS AS AFFECTED BY WEANING AGE

SUMMARY Main big problems which face meat production in commercial rabbit breeds are high mortality rate after weaning and decreased growth rate during fattening period of broiler rabbits. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the doe-offspring relationship through prolongation of weaning period on growth rate parameters and mortality percentages during high growth rate period (first 10 weeks of age in rabbits). A total of 150 of growing bunnies rabbit of New Zealand White rabbit were divided into two groups. The first group was weaned at 35 days of age (control group).While, the second group was weaned at 60 days of age. Growth rate measurements, mortality rate, blood metabolites levels and marketing weight at 10 weeks of age were determined. Blood samples were collected to assay blood metabolites levels of total protein, total lipids, glucose, creatinine and urea nitrogen during experimental period in blood serum samples. Data showed that there were significant differences (P < 0.05) between the two groups in most of the studied traits. Where, weaning at 60 days of age enabled growing rabbit pups to reach a higher body weight at marketing age (10 weeks). Marketing body weight averaged 1.845±0.48 (Kg) and 1.650 ± 0.35 Kg for delayed weaning and control group, respectively. It could be concluded that weaning at 60 days of age is better to get a higher marketing weights and high economic efficiency values for rabbit meat production especially under extensive and semi-intensive rabbit breeding programs.

Growth of Juvenile Crayfish Procambarus llamasi (Villalobos 1955) Fed Different Farm and Aquaculture Commercial Foods

In this study, a range of commercially available animal and fish feeds were tested in the production of juveniles of the crayfish Procambarus llamasi, an endemic species of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. A randomized block design was implemented to observe the effect of commercial shrimp (Crude Protein, CP = 38%), trout (CP = 43.2%), tilapia (CP = 31.8%), rabbit (CP = 16.1%), turkey (CP = 18%), and pig (CP = 15.2%) diets in a recirculating aquaculture system. Shrimp food showed the best results in terms of growth performance, while lowest growth values (P<0.05) were obtained with farm animal diets. Trout and tilapia diets were intermediate. Pig feed was the most cost-effective at US$ 0.44 per kg of crayfish growth. Where no feeds specifically for crayfish are available, terrestrial animal feeds have the advantage of low price, ready availability in the market, and acceptable performance.

Impact of Dietary Fat Type and Amount on Growth Performance and Serum Cholesterol in Rabbits

Problem statement: Literature data on the effect of dietary fat on growth performance in rabbits are inconclusive. For commercial rabbit production it is relevant to know to what extent dietary fat level and type can be manipulated. In the present study serum cholesterol was also analyzed because its relation to the amount and type of dietary fat was not known for rabbits. Approach: Young growing rabbits were fed diets containing one of four different levels (5.2-41.8 energy %) of either coconut fat or corn oil. Fat was added to the diets at the expense of an isoenergetic amount of corn starch and dextrose in a 1:1 ratio. The diets were in pelleted form and supplied ad libitum. Results: Increasing fat intakes in the form of either coconut fat or corn oil enhanced weight gain and improved feed efficiency. The effect of coconut fat was maximal at 20.9 energy % (9.9%, w/w) and the greatest effect of corn oil was seen at an inclusion level of 41.8 energy % (20.2%, w/w). As would be expected, replacement of dietary corn oil by coconut fat significantly decreased serum cholesterol concentrations. The cholesterol-lowering effect of corn oil versus coconut fat increased markedly with higher dietary inclusion levels of fat. Conclusion: The addition of fat to the diet improved growth performance. It is suggested to find out whether the present observations can be applied in the formulation of diets for fryer rabbits. The new observation for rabbits is that the hypocholesterolemic response to corn oil increased with higher intake levels.

Expression of heparanse peptide in tissue chips of gastric cancer and its correlation with prognosis

Objective To investigate expression of heparanase （Hpa） peptide in tissues of gastric cancer and its relation to tumor invasion, metastasis and prognosis. Methods Using self-developed 3 rabbit polyclonal antibodies against Hpa muhiple antigenic peptides （MAP） and one commercial polyclonal rabbit antibody against 50kDa-8kDa Hpa heterodimer, Hpa expression in tumors of 132 patients with gastric cancer was evaluated by tissue chip technology and immunohistological staining. The correlation between Hpa expression and disease prognosis was evaluated by chi-square test and survival curve analysis. Results The expressions of MAP2 and antibody against Hpa heterodimer were positive in 65.2% （86/132） and 60. 6% （80/132） of the patients, respectively, while no expression of MAP1 or MAP3 was noted in cancer tissues of 132 cases. Most Hpa expression was observed in cancer tissues from patients with vessel invasion, serosa involvement, distant metastasis, poor differentiation and stage III of IV of TNM staging. The patients with positive Hpa expression had poor prognosis with lower one- and five-year survival rates. Conclusion Similar to whole Hpa protein, MAP2 expression is closely correlated with tumor invasion, metastasis and poor prognosis of gastric cancer, which may be of potential use in clinical therapy and prognosis estimation of the tumor. Key words: Gastric cancer ; Heparanase ; Immunohistochemistry ; Tissue chip ; Prognosis

Egg yolk antibodies for detection and neutralization of Clostridium botulinum type A neurotoxin.

The objective of this research project was to determine the usefulness of an egg antibody platform for producing materials for the detection and neutralization of botulinum type A neurotoxin. Yield estimates for detection and neutralizing antibodies produced using methods described were calculated. Antibody specific to botulinum toxoid A (aToxoid) and toxin A (aBoNT/A) was produced by immunizing hens with botulinum toxoid A (toxoid) followed by increasing amounts of botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) in Freund incomplete adjuvant. Egg yolks were extracted with polyethylene glycol (PEG) for antibody detection and neutralization experiments. A model aToxoid/toxoid immunoassay using only egg yolk antibody was developed and had a detection limit of 1 pg/ml of toxoid. In an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of BoNT/A-specific antibody, the aBoNT/A contained more BoNT/A-specific antibody than did the aToxoid, and aBoNT/A was as effective as commercial rabbit antibody. The aToxoid provided no protection against BoNT/A in a standard mouse neutralization assay; however, 1 mg of PEG-extracted aBoNT/A neutralized 4,000 lethal doses of BoNT/A injected intraperitoneally. Based on these results, we calculated that in 1 month one hen could produce more than 100 liters of antibody detection reagents or enough antibody to neutralize approximately 11.6 million mouse lethal doses of botulinum toxin. Utilization of an egg antibody platform is potentially rapid (28 to 70 days) and scalable to kilogram quantities using current egg production facilities with as few as 1,000 hens.

Zu Larval-, Adultentwicklung und Organisation einer Zucht der Mittelmeer-Feldgrille ( Gryllus bimaculatus de Geer, 1773)

The working routine and detailed experiences of the systematic breeding of the Mediterranean or two-spotted field cricket ( Gryllus bimaculatus) at the Department of Animal Ecology I, University of Bayreuth, are described. The animals are kept under “optimal conditions” at 27 °C and a long day light cycle (16 h light/8 h dark). Eggs are laid in wet peat or sand. Young crickets hatch after 13 days. Larval development in the subfamily Gryllidae consists of eight or nine larval stages and takes about 45–50 days under the conditions employed in Bayreuth's keeping facility. In nature, the number of larval instars and developmental time can fluctuate substantially, depending on temperature and food quality. Before the adult moult, mass is slightly reduced. Body length, length of the antenna and pronotum width advance gradually from moult to moult. Larvae differ from the adults in being wingless and unable to fly. Larvae and adults are fed on a mixture of commercial cat, rabbit and rat diet. Crickets are an excellent source of proteins for many insectivore species. Examples of protein and glycogen contents of different body compartments are given. The protein content rises between day one and two after adult emergence and glycogen stores are also built up during the first days of adult life. Many physiological changes take place in the adult females: the ovary mass rapidly increases from the third day after adult emergence. The mass of muscles exclusively used for flight activity decreases. These events stand in context of dispersal flights before reproduction. The fat body acts as the main compartment for synthesis and storage of highly energetic substrates (lipid and protein), the flight muscles mainly store protein and glycogen.

Sandwich Enzyme‐Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for the Detection of Lupine Residues in Foods

Lupine has been increasingly used in food applications due to its high nutritional value and excellent functional properties. However, lupine provokes allergic reactions in susceptible individuals. The presence of undeclared lupine residues in foods can pose a serious health risk to lupine-allergic individuals. Therefore, the objective of this research was to develop a sandwich-type ELISA for the detection of lupine residues in foods. Lupine flour derived from Lupinus albus was used to immunize 3 rabbits and a sheep. Pooled lupine-specific antibodies were partially purified from the sera by ammonium sulfate precipitation. A sandwich lupine ELISA with a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 1 ppm was developed by utilizing the rabbit antisera as the capture reagent and the sheep antiserum as the detector reagent. The binding of the antigen-antibody complex was visualized by the addition of commercial rabbit antisheep IgG antibody labeled with alkaline phosphatase with subsequent addition of p-nitrophenyl phosphate substrate to produce a colored product for quantification. Minor cross-reactivity was observed with soy (Glycine max) and black bean (Castanospermum australe). The performance of the lupine ELISA was evaluated in reference food standards (beef frankfurter and apple cinnamon muffin) and laboratory-prepared cooked frankfurters and corn muffins. The mean percent recovery for lupine spiked-frankfurters and corn muffins were 108.4%+/- 8.8% and 103.1%+/- 11.5%, respectively. The sandwich-type lupine ELISA developed in this study provides food manufacturers and regulatory agencies with an effective analytical tool to detect and quantify lupine residues in processed foods.

In this issue

In this issue

Detection of light chain restriction in chronic B-lymphoid leukaemia and B-non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

The determination of immunoglobulin light chain restriction using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies is a rapid method for the detection of a neoplastic B-cell-population. Cytocentrifuge preparates of mononuclear blood cells from 42 patients with chronic B-lymphoid leukaemia and of lymph node aspirates from 24 patients with B-non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were examined using the alkaline phosphatase-antialkaline phosphatase (APAAP) method. Monoclonal antibodies from different commercial sources and rabbit polyclonal antibodies were used in this study. Staining with polyclonal antibodies demonstrated light chain restriction in 65 cases. The leukaemic cells of a patient with hairy cell leukaemia did not express light chain immunoglobulins. Monoclonal antibodies from two manufacturers demonstrated monotypic staining for light chains in all cases with light chain immunoglobulins. Monoclonal antibodies from four manufactures failed to show monotypic light chains in 5, 21, 25 and 28 of the 65 cases. All investigated antibodies detected a similar percentage of light chain-positive lymphocytes in 10 healthy persons. We conclude that not all investigated monoclonal antibodies are suitable for detection of light chain restriction in B-non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and chronic B-lymphoid leukaemias. However, using selected monoclonal antibodies or rabbit polyclonal antibodies the APAAP method is very sensitive for detection of light chain restriction in these disorders.

Studies on the sexual behaviour, haematology and spermatogenesis of male rabbits infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei

A total of 24 crossbreed buck rabbits (New Zealand White × chinchilla) were used to evaluate the effect of experimental infection with Trypanosoma brucei on symptoms, sexual behaviours, haematology and spermatogenesis. The rabbits were divided into two groups (A and B) of 12 rabbits each. Group A rabbits were infected with 1.25 × 106 of T. brucei, whereas group B served as the uninfected control. The trypanosomes were detectable in the blood of all the infected bucks by day 7 post-infection (PI) with mean pre-patent period of 4.7 ± 0.85 days. The red blood cell (RBC) and packed cell volume (PCV) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) from day 8 to 28 PI. The values however improved from day 36 PI and were similar to the uninfected control. The reverse was the case of parasitaemia. Two rats died at the peak of the decrease in RBC and PCV and increase in parasitaemia. There was also significant (P < 0.05) loss in live and testis weights, reduced libido and impaired spermatogenesis in the infected group. The infected bucks showed clinical signs similar to that reported in other trypanosome-infected animals. It is concluded that susceptibility of crossbreed rabbits usually kept in Africa to pathogenic trypanosomes is characterised by an acute stage manifested by anaemia, high parasitaemia and death and chronic stage manifested by improved PCV and RBC, very low parasitaemia but high tissue damage and low productivity. Control of this disease in endemic areas for purpose of commercial rabbit production is advocated.

Potential for False-Positive Staining With a Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody to Progesterone Receptor (SP2)

This study focused on recent assessment results from the United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Scheme for Immunocytochemistry and Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridisation breast hormone receptor module in which participants were asked to demonstrate progesterone receptors (PRs). The slides consisted of 3 infiltrating ductal breast carcinomas, previously classified as a high PR expresser, a moderate to low PR expresser, and a negative tumor. During this assessment, 2 commercial rabbit monoclonal antibodies, SP2 (Lab Vision/NeoMarkers, Fremont, CA), and 1E2 (Ventana, Tucson, AZ) were used by 15% of the participants. The SP2 rabbit monoclonal antibody showed false-positive and nonspecific staining on the previously established PR-tumor. This article highlights the necessity for all clinical laboratories to validate immunohistochemical methods and protocols when using newly marketed antibodies such as SP2; use composite tissue blocks with known levels of tumor expression such as a high, mid, and negative expression; and participate in internal and external quality assessment schemes, which can highlight potential technical issues in laboratory methods.

Prevalência e aspectos anatomopatológicos da mineralização metastática em coelhos provenientes de biotérios e criação comercial do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Uma investigação sobre a prevalência e os aspectos anatomopatológicos de casos naturais da mineralização metastática em coelhos (Oryctolagus cuniculus) foi realizada em 79 animais provenientes de dois biotérios de criação (A e B) e de uma criação comercial, do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. A ração comercial fornecida aos animais dos três criatórios foi a mesma. Apenas animais do biotério A, com uma prevalência de 21%, apresentaram alterações macroscópicas e microscópicas relacionadas à mineralização metastática. Todos os coelhos acometidos possuíam idade acima de 1 ano e 92% eram fêmeas. Os órgãos mais freqüentemente atingidos foram a artéria aorta e principais ramos, que apresentavam mineralização das túnicas íntima e média, metaplasia cartilaginosa e óssea na túnica média, arterite granulomatosa e degeneração hialina. Os rins foram o segundo órgão mais comumente acometido, mostrando mineralização da cápsula de Bowman, distensão do espaço de Bowman, fibrose intersticial e mineralização da parede, dos túbulos contornados e dos ductos coletores. As alterações patológicas foram similares às observadas nos casos de hipervitaminose D, excesso de cálcio e fósforo na dieta de coelhos, devendo os níveis dessas substâncias serem revistos e analisados periodicamente nas rações comerciais desses animais.

Neurotoxicity of Micrurus altirostris (Uruguayan coral snake) venom and its neutralization by commercial coral snake antivenom and specific antiserum raised in rabbits

In this work, we studied the neuromuscular blockade caused by Micrurus altirostris venom (0.1–10 μg/mL) in indirect stimulated chick biventer cervicis and mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparations and the ability of commercial antivenom (Instituto Butantan) and antiserum raised in rabbits to neutralize neurotoxicity and lethality in chicks and mice (LD50 0.042 and 0.255 mg/kg), injected i.m. and i.p., respectively, with venom (5 LD50):antivenom or antiserum mixtures (n = 6) of 1:1-1:2.5-1:5-1:10-1:20. The venom caused a complete and irreversible neuromuscular blockade in both preparations, inhibited the acetylcholine and carbachol contractures, without interfering on KCl response. The neuromuscular blockade was not Ca2+ or temperature-dependent and did not affect the response to direct stimulation. Only a venom:antivenom or antiserum ratio of 1:20 neutralized the neuromuscular blockade in vitro and protected chicks and mice against 5 LD50 of venom. Our results indicated that Micrurus altirostris venom interferes with postsynaptic neurotransmission and that commercial antivenom and rabbit antiserum have low efficacy in neutralizing the neurotoxicity and lethality of this venom.

Infection-Enhancing and -Neutralizing Activities of Mouse Monoclonal Antibodies against Dengue Type 2 and 4 Viruses Are Controlled by Complement Levels

Dengue viruses are distributed widely in the tropical and subtropical areas of the world and cause dengue fever and its severer form, dengue hemorrhagic fever. While neutralizing antibodies are considered to play a major role in protection from these diseases, antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection is an important mechanism involved in disease severity, in addition to the involvement of T lymphocytes. Here, we analyzed relationships between neutralizing and enhancing activities at a clonal level using models of dengue type 2 virus (DENV2) and dengue type 4 virus (DENV4). Totals of 33 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against DENV2 and 43 against DENV4 were generated, all directed to the envelope protein. In these MAbs, enhancing activities were shown at subneutralizing doses under normal ADE assay conditions where test samples were heat inactivated. However, the inclusion of commercial rabbit complement or fresh sera from healthy humans in the ADE assay system abolished the enhancing activities of all these MAbs. The reductive effect of fresh sera on enhancing activities was significantly reduced by their heat inactivation or the use of C1q- or C3-depleted sera. In some fresh sera, enhancing activities were shown within a range of 20 to 80% of normal complement levels in a dose-dependent fashion. These results indicate that a single antibody species possesses two distinct activities (neutralizing/enhancing), which are controlled by the level of complement, suggesting the involvement of complement in dengue disease severity. Fresh human sera also tended to reduce enhancing activities more effectively in homologous than heterologous combinations of viruses (DENV2/DENV4) and MAbs (against DENV2/DENV4).

What a polyclonal antibody sees in von Willebrand factor

Introduction Von Willebrand factor (VWF) plays a critical role in hemostasis by carrying factor VIII (FVIII) and binding to specific ligands on the surface of blood platelets and within the blood vessel wall. Materials and methods We constructed a gene-specific phage display library containing small, random VWF fragments. Using this library, we mapped the repertoire of immune epitopes recognized by a commonly used commercial rabbit antihuman VWF polyclonal antibody. Results A total of eight discrete epitopes within the VWF protein were identified, including two dominant epitopes that account for 74% of immuno selected VWF fragments. Comparison with previously mapped epitopes for mouse monoclonal antibodies reveals four overlapping regions that may identify common antigenic determinants. The distribution of these epitopes was not readily predicted from primary amino acid sequence divergence among these mammalian species or standard algorithms for the prediction of antigenicity, hydrophobicity, or surface probability. Conclusion Taken together with previous monoclonal antibody epitope mapping studies, our results suggest that a limited number of exposed domains on the surface of the human VWF protein may be the primary determinants of immunogenicity.

Experimental study of pathogenicity of Pasteurella multocida serogroup F in rabbits

The role of Pasteurella multocida serogroup F in inducing disease in rabbits was investigated in this study. Three groups of 12 Pasteurella-free rabbits each were intranasally (i.n.), subcutaneously (s.c.), and perorally (p.o.) challenged, respectively. Six rabbits of each group were immunosuppressed using dexamethasone. Eight rabbits (four of them immunosuppressed) inoculated i.n. showed symptoms of respiratory distress resulting in respiratory failure and died or were euthanized in the terminal stage of the disease 3–6 days post-infection (p.i.). The main pathological findings were fibrinopurulent pleuropneumonia (immunocompetent rabbits) or diffuse haemorrhagic pneumonia (immunosuppressed rabbits). Septicemic syndrome ending with shock occurred in 11 rabbits (6 of them immunosuppressed) inoculated s.c., which died or were euthanized in the terminal stage of the disease 2–3 days p.i. The most significant pathological findings were extensive cutaneous and subcutaneous lesions. All of the p.o. inoculated rabbits survived the challenge showing no clinical signs of the disease and no macroscopic lesions. The observations in this study indicate that in addition to serogroups A and D of P. multocida, serogroup F also can be highly pathogenic for rabbits and therefore might be a cause of considerable economic loss in commercial rabbit production.

Antibodies against C-Reactive Protein Cross-React with 60-Kilodalton Heat Shock Proteins

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase reactant frequently used in histochemistry as a marker of ongoing inflammation. Furthermore, CRP is a powerful biomarker for the prediction of coronary artery disease risk. Heat-shock protein 60 (Hsp60) and CRP are complement-activating molecules, and the effect of their interactions on the regulation of complement activation was studied. However, during the first experiments, we learned that polyclonal anti-CRP antibodies cross-react with Hsp60. Therefore, the aim of our present study was to analyze the cross-reactivity of anti-CRP antibodies (Ab) with Hsp60 in solid-phase enzyme immune assays, in epitope studies using a series of overlapping synthetic peptides, and in Ouchterlony analyses. We found that three different commercial rabbit polyclonal antibodies and two monoclonal (9C9 and CRP-8) anti-CRP antibodies specifically recognize recombinant human Hsp60 and recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Hsp65, respectively. Hsp60 was found to inhibit the binding of anti-CRP polyclonal Ab to Hsp60. Six epitope regions of Hsp60 were recognized by the anti-CRP antibodies, and one region (amino acids [AA] 218 to 232) was recognized by monoclonal antibodies CRP-8 and 9C9. This epitope region of Hsp60 displays 26.6% amino acid identity to CRP AA region 77 to 90. These data suggest that the B-cell epitopes shared between CRP and Hsp60 give rise to a true mimicry-based cross-reaction and the induction of cross-reactive antibodies. Our study underlines the importance of thorough study design and careful interpretation of results while using polyclonal anti-CRP antibodies for histochemistry, especially at low dilutions. Furthermore, analytical interference with Hsp60 in CRP assays should also be tested.

Ultradian rhythms and the nutritional importance of caecotrophy in captive Brandt’s voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii)

Ingestion of soft faeces derived from caecal contents, caecotrophy, in herbivorous small mammals is considered an adaptation to the metabolic disadvantage of small body size, especially when feeding on diets of low quality. We investigated daily activity patterns in captive Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii), including feeding, locomotion, caecotrophy, and defaecation, by continuous 24 h visual observation; and estimated the contribution of soft faeces ingestion (caecotrophy) to intake of protein and energy. Brandt's voles ingested 68.8 +/- 7.4 fecal pellets per day, averaging 17 +/- 2% of total faeces produced. The amount of faeces ingested did not differ between female and male voles or between night and day time. All animals showed average 3 h ultradian cycles in behaviour during the course of the day and night. The contributions of caecotrophy to the dietary intake of crude protein and metabolizable energy were estimated respectively as 9 and 8% on a high-protein, easily digested commercial rabbit pellet diet. However, the importance of caecotrophy to the field voles is likely to be higher on a natural diet of lower nutrient density. The rhythm of caecotrophy in voles depended mainly on the rhythm of the colonic separation mechanism in the proximal colon and passage in the distal colon, and may be regulated by feeding and other activity rhythms. Ultradian rhythms in caecotrophy helped to minimise potential conflicts in utilizing the gut, especially in balancing the caecal fermentation and salvaging nutrients contained in caecal bacteria.

Rapid detection of Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii in rabbit skin specimens by PCR–RFLP

Three commercial rabbit farms independently reported suspected dermatophyte infections during 2004. Cultures confirmed that the infection was caused by the zoophilic Tricophyton mentagrophytes, while mating studies and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1/4 polymerase chain reaction products, directly amplified from skin lesions and from pure culture isolates, established its Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii lineage. Subsequently, the corresponding DdeI restriction profiles of the ITS1/4 PCR products matched one of the two published T. mentagrophytes complex profiles. Sequence analysis of the published ITS sequences predicted distinct DdeI restriction sites for Arthroderma benhamiae and A. vanbreuseghemii, while all DdeI-generated restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the rabbit isolates were identical to those of A. vanbreuseghemii. The proposed procedure can be used for rapid dermatophyte detection and presumptive T. mentagrophytes identification.