Hematological Parameters of Geese Used in Biomedical Research

Domestic geese are birds of zootechnical interest commonly created for ornamentation and guard in farms but are also useful for biomedical research, once they supply blood as a byproduct for laboratory analysis. The study aimed to contribute to the completion of health data available on these animals to trace a hematological profile of domestic geese that supply blood for research and provide data on the influence of periodic collections to the health of these animals. Ten Chinese geese (Anser domesticus), white and males, were kept in a research center installation. Four blood samples were performed weekly after the 1st collection, the sample with greater volume was sent to the laboratories of the Evandro Chagas Institute to be used in the arbovirus tests. The hematological evaluations observed values of packed cell volume (PCV), total number of erythrocytes (Hm), total number of leukocytes (Lc) and differential leukocyte count and the number of thrombocytes (Tb). All the animals were weighed and correlation of volume of blood collected from the animals weight was performed. No differences were found among the means obtained in the hematological values of the 1st collection and the subsequent collections demonstrating that the periodic collection in geese, when performed in obedience to the correlation between animals weight and blood volume, does not cause significant alterations in the animals hematological profile. The results of the hematological profile obtained in this study will add to the biological data of species available allowing a better health assessment of these animals in the creation of environments and in animal research facilities.(AU)

Hematological Parameters of Geese Used in Biomedical Research

Domestic geese are birds of zootechnical interest commonly created for ornamentation and guard in farms but are also useful for biomedical research, once they supply blood as a byproduct for laboratory analysis. The study aimed to contribute to the completion of health data available on these animals to trace a hematological profile of domestic geese that supply blood for research and provide data on the influence of periodic collections to the health of these animals. Ten Chinese geese (Anser domesticus), white and males, were kept in a research center installation. Four blood samples were performed weekly after the 1st collection, the sample with greater volume was sent to the laboratories of the Evandro Chagas Institute to be used in the arbovirus tests. The hematological evaluations observed values of packed cell volume (PCV), total number of erythrocytes (Hm), total number of leukocytes (Lc) and differential leukocyte count and the number of thrombocytes (Tb). All the animals were weighed and correlation of volume of blood collected from the animals weight was performed. No differences were found among the means obtained in the hematological values of the 1st collection and the subsequent collections demonstrating that the periodic collection in geese, when performed in obedience to the correlation between animals weight and blood volume, does not cause significant alterations in the animals hematological profile. The results of the hematological profile obtained in this study will add to the biological data of species available allowing a better health assessment of these animals in the creation of environments and in animal research facilities.

Growth Patterns of Two Chinese Native Goose Breeds

To study the development rules of Chinese native geese, two breeds, Shitou and Sichuan White geese were analyzed from 0 to 12 weeks of age. The growth curves were fitted with commonly used four kinds of nonlinear models (Logistic, Gompertz, Von Bertalanffy and Richards). The results showed that the growth curves were appropriately fitted with all four models but the Logistic and Richards both had the best fitting with growth curve (R2>0.99). Analyzing the fitting parameters of the Logistic and Richards, we found that male Shitou had the highest adult body weight while Sichuan White female had the lowest weight. In Shitou breed, Shape parameter Predicted with Richards model was corresponded with Gompertz curve, while in Sichuan breed it was in between Gompertz and Bertalanffy. Growth parameters predicted with Logistic model was much more closed to observed value as compared others. So overall logistic was the best model to analyze the growth curve in Chinese native goose and Shitou goose had excellent growth performance when compared to Sichuan White.(AU)

Growth Patterns of Two Chinese Native Goose Breeds

To study the development rules of Chinese native geese, two breeds, Shitou and Sichuan White geese were analyzed from 0 to 12 weeks of age. The growth curves were fitted with commonly used four kinds of nonlinear models (Logistic, Gompertz, Von Bertalanffy and Richards). The results showed that the growth curves were appropriately fitted with all four models but the Logistic and Richards both had the best fitting with growth curve (R2>0.99). Analyzing the fitting parameters of the Logistic and Richards, we found that male Shitou had the highest adult body weight while Sichuan White female had the lowest weight. In Shitou breed, Shape parameter Predicted with Richards model was corresponded with Gompertz curve, while in Sichuan breed it was in between Gompertz and Bertalanffy. Growth parameters predicted with Logistic model was much more closed to observed value as compared others. So overall logistic was the best model to analyze the growth curve in Chinese native goose and Shitou goose had excellent growth performance when compared to Sichuan White.

Development and validation of an efficient real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay of Chinese goose CD4 and CD8

Background: CD4+ T cells, which are often referred as T-helper cells, play a central role through secreting various cytokinesto enhance immune defense to pathogen. CD8+ T cells, which are called cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), provide potentdefenses against virus infection and intracellular pathogens by killing the targets cells directly. In our previous researches,the conventional and semi-quantitative PCR were used to detect the goose CD4 and CD8α. However, the semi-quantitativeRT-PCR only detect the relative amount of gene transcription. Quantitative PCR assay was more sensitive than conventionalPCR assay, and quantitative PCR assay has a lower limit of sensitivity.Materials, Methods & Results: Contrast to conventional assays, the detection of amplicons by quantitative RT-PCR couldbe visualized as the amplifi cation progressed. This effect has provided a great deal of insight into the kinetics of the reaction and it is the foundation of kinetic of real-time qPCR. The analysis of gene transcription by qPCR has proven to bean attractive method due to its potential for increasing laboratory throughput, simultaneous processing of several samplesas well as more reliable instrumentation. With those in mind, the real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRTPCR) methods for the detection of goose CD4 and CD8α transcripts were reported here for the fi rst time. With this assay,it is possible to carry out a rapid quantitative analysis of goose CD4 and CD8α transcripts over a wide linear range, withan unknown template.CD8 is expressed on the membrane of T cells either as an αα-homodimer or αβ-heterodimer. Sinceboth forms of CD8 have α chain, the transcription levels of CD8 can be monitored by detecting CD8α mRNA expression.Assays were based on the DNA sequence of goose CD4 [GenBank: JX902315], CD8α [GenBank: KC476104], and β-actin[GenBank: M26111]. qPCR was carried out in quadruplicates in a total volume of 20 µL containing...(AU)

Development and validation of an efficient real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay of Chinese goose CD4 and CD8

Background: CD4+ T cells, which are often referred as T-helper cells, play a central role through secreting various cytokinesto enhance immune defense to pathogen. CD8+ T cells, which are called cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), provide potentdefenses against virus infection and intracellular pathogens by killing the targets cells directly. In our previous researches,the conventional and semi-quantitative PCR were used to detect the goose CD4 and CD8α. However, the semi-quantitativeRT-PCR only detect the relative amount of gene transcription. Quantitative PCR assay was more sensitive than conventionalPCR assay, and quantitative PCR assay has a lower limit of sensitivity.Materials, Methods & Results: Contrast to conventional assays, the detection of amplicons by quantitative RT-PCR couldbe visualized as the amplifi cation progressed. This effect has provided a great deal of insight into the kinetics of the reaction and it is the foundation of kinetic of real-time qPCR. The analysis of gene transcription by qPCR has proven to bean attractive method due to its potential for increasing laboratory throughput, simultaneous processing of several samplesas well as more reliable instrumentation. With those in mind, the real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRTPCR) methods for the detection of goose CD4 and CD8α transcripts were reported here for the fi rst time. With this assay,it is possible to carry out a rapid quantitative analysis of goose CD4 and CD8α transcripts over a wide linear range, withan unknown template.CD8 is expressed on the membrane of T cells either as an αα-homodimer or αβ-heterodimer. Sinceboth forms of CD8 have α chain, the transcription levels of CD8 can be monitored by detecting CD8α mRNA expression.Assays were based on the DNA sequence of goose CD4 [GenBank: JX902315], CD8α [GenBank: KC476104], and β-actin[GenBank: M26111]. qPCR was carried out in quadruplicates in a total volume of 20 µL containing...

Relevance of Chinese Goose (Anser cygnoides) in Experimental Epidemiology of Newcastle Disease

This study aimed to characterize the true epidemiological role played by the Chinese goose (Anser cygnoides) as a potential source of infection by the Newcastle disease virus (NDV). For this, Specific-Pathogen-Free chicks (SPF) were used and were housed with Chinese geese that had been inoculated with a pathogenic strain (velogenic viscerotropic, strain São João do Meriti) of NDV (DIE50=108.15/0.1 mL) pathogenic to chickens, by the ocular-nasal route. Each group was composed of 6 SPF Leghorn chicks and 3 geese. At 6 days (Group I) and 14 days (Group II) after inoculation of the Chinese geese with NDV, SPF chicks were put into direct contact with each goose group. Cloacal swabs were collected from both species (Chinese geese and SPF chicks) 6, 10 and 20 days after challenge to genome viral excretion by Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Chinese geese did not demonstrate any clinical signs of Newcastle disease (ND). They were refractory to the clinical disease with the NDV. However, NDV genome was detected 20 days after challenge. Therefore, NDV carrier status was demonstrated by Chinese geese. Moreover, 100% of SPF chicks housed with the infected Chinese geese had died by 6 (Group I) and 14 days (Group II) after challenge. Thus, the transmission of the pathogenic virus from the Chinese geese to cohabiting SPF chicks was evident within 20 days of the experimental infection. This reveals the epidemiological importance of Chinese geese as a potential transmitter of NDV infection to other commercial birds that could be raised in close proximity.(AU)

Estudo de parâmetros clínicos, imunitários e do proteinograma sérico da vacinação contra a doença de Newcastle em gansos-da-China (Anser cygnoides) : pesquisa do estado portador do vírus e sua importância epidemiológica

Parâmetros clínicos, imunitários, proteinograma sérico e epidemiológicos da vacinação em gansos-da-China foram avaliados por três experimentos. Amostras vacinais Ulster 2C, B1 e La Sota do VDN foram utilizadas. A importância epidemiológica e pesquisa do estado de portador do VDN também foram avaliadas. No experimento 1, foram utilizados 120 gansos-da-China de um dia a 60 dias de idade, distribuídos em 4 tratamentos com 30 animais, submetidos a diferentes esquemas imunoprofiláticos. Os resultados dos títulos de anticorpos (HI) mostraram que os programas imunoprofiláticos ensaiados foram igualmente eficientes no estímulo da resposta imune humoral. Após o desafio frente a uma estirpe patogênica do VDN, aos 60 dias de vida das aves, em todos os grupos, realizou-se a extração de RNA viral através da reação de cadeia de polimerase pós Transcrição Reversa (RT-PCR). No experimento 2, foram utilizadas aves SPF conviventes com gansos-da-China inoculados com uma estirpe patogênica do VDN, decorridos seis, 10 e 20 dias da infecção experimental, após a infecção com o VDN, nas duas espécies, empregou-se a técnica do RT-PCR. Observou-se a transmissão de vírus patogênico (VDN) dos gansos-da- China para as aves SPF conviventes decorridos até 14 dias da infecção experimental com este patógeno, o que vem realçar a importância do ganso-da-China como fonte potencial de infecção de VDN para aves domésticas No experimento 3, foram determinadas as concentrações séricas das proteínas totais, albumina e globulinas das aves vacinadas e não vacinadas contra a doença de Newcastle. Notou-se que aos 42 dias de idade, de forma geral, os gansos vacinados com as estirpes Ulster 2C, B1 e Lasota apresentaram diferença de forma significativa em relação ao grupo controle para as concentrações séricas de albumina, especialmente o grupo vacinado com a estirpe LaSota

The clinical, epidemiological, immunological parameters and the serum proteinogram of vaccination in Chinese geese were investigated using 3 experiments. Ulster 2C, B1 and LaSota vaccines strains of the NDV were used. In experiment 1, 120 one-day-old Chinese geese were used, and divided into 4 different groups with 30 birds per group. They were submitted to different vaccination programs. The immunological responses in these birds were measured by HI test. These birds were also challenged with a pathogenic VDN strain at 60 days of age. After challenge, in all the groups, tracheal and cloacal swabs were collected for RT-PCR. Independent of the group, clinical signs of reaction to the vaccine were not observed. The antibody titers (HI) results showed that the immune vaccine programs adopted were equally efficient in stimulating protective levels of humoral immune responses. Challenged Chinese geese were refractory to the NDV clinical disease. However, a NDV carrier state was shown in this species until 20 days after experimental infection. The vaccinated groups of Chinese geese did not present any genetic material of virus in the RT-PCR. Therefore, these results show the relevance of vaccination in suppressing a NDV carrier state in the Chinese geese. In experiment 2, SPF chickens housed with Chinese geese which were previously inoculated with a pathogenic NDV strain, developed severe and characteristic NDV lesions and died, after five and 14 days. In experiment 3, the serum proteinogram showed significantly differences for albumin concentrations between the vaccinated and the control group at 42 days of age, especially the birds vaccinated with LaSota strain

Relevance of Chinese Goose (Anser cygnoides) in Experimental Epidemiology of Newcastle Disease

 This study aimed to characterize the true epidemiological role played by the Chinese goose (Anser cygnoides) as a potential source of infection by the Newcastle disease virus (NDV). For this, Specific-Pathogen-Free chicks (SPF) were used and were housed with Chinese geese that had been inoculated with a pathogenic strain (velogenic viscerotropic, strain São João do Meriti) of NDV (DIE50=108.15/0.1 mL) pathogenic to chickens, by the ocular-nasal route. Each group was composed of 6 SPF Leghorn chicks and 3 geese. At 6 days (Group I) and 14 days (Group II) after inoculation of the Chinese geese with NDV, SPF chicks were put into direct contact with each goose group. Cloacal swabs were collected from both species (Chinese geese and SPF chicks) 6, 10 and 20 days after challenge to genome viral excretion by Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Chinese geese did not demonstrate any clinical signs of Newcastle disease (ND). They were refractory to the clinical disease with the NDV. However, NDV genome was detected 20 days after challenge. Therefore, NDV carrier status was demonstrated by Chinese geese. Moreover, 100% of SPF chicks housed with the infected Chinese geese had died  by 6 (Group I) and 14 days (Group II) after challenge. Thus, the transmission of the pathogenic virus from the Chinese geese to cohabiting SPF chicks was evident within 20 days of the expe