RESUMO
Objective To analyze the changes and gender differences of organ coefficients, intestinal length and body size of SJ5-SPF chickens at different weeks of age,and to provide experimental data for the sex selection of laboratory chickens. Methods The body weight,the weight of 15 main organs,and length of 5 main segments of intestine and the 6 main parameters of body size of SJ5-SPF chickens at the age of 4,20,25 and 40 weeks were measured,respectively,and the organ coefficients were calculated. In addition, the gender differences in body weights, organ coefficients, intestinal lengths and body sizes between the female and male SJ5-SPF chickens at the four different weeks of age were compared, respectively. Results There were significant differences in body weights between the male and female SJ5-SPF chickens at each of the four different weeks of age(P < 0.01). The organ coefficients varied between females and males to different extents at different weeks of age. As for the intestinal length,there were no significant differences in the length of jejunum and ileum as well as rectum between the male and female chickens, while the length of duodenum, left cecum and right cecum showed gender differences at some of the four different weeks of age. During the determination of body size, there were gender differences in body length,shank length,pelvic width,chest depth and chest width at two or three of the four different weeks of age. Conclusions The organ coefficients, intestinal length and body size of SJ5-SPF chickens are affected by both their age and gender.
RESUMO
Objective To establish a Chinese hamster model of babesia infection, to find the changing pattern of organs and biochemical parameters in Chinese hamster infected with Babesia, and to promote the detection and treatment of babesiosis.Methods Healthy 5-week old Chinese hamsters were infected by intraperitoneal injection of blood containing Babesia.Blood samples were collected at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 23, 30, and 37 days after infection from 5 hamsters at each time point.Blood smears were prepared to detect the parasites using Giemsa staining.ELISA assay was employed to test the IL-2 concentration.The blood biochemical indexes were detected using an automatic biochemical analyzer.DNA was extracted from the whole blood and REAL-TIME RCR was performed to determine the reproduction of Babesia.Aftert the animals were sacrificed, the heart, lung, spleen, liver, and kidney were taken to analyze the changes of organ coefficients.Results The highest level of Babesia in the hamsters occurred on day 4 after the Babesia injection, and then showing a decreasing tendency.However, there was a transient increase on the 12th day after infection.The liver and spleen displayed most extensive response to the infection showing hepatomegaly and splenomegaly, but the variation of heart and kidneys coefficients was within the norm.There were prominent changes of blood cells, especially leucocytes, with two peaks at day 10 and 23 after the Babesia infection.The peak changes of blood biochemical indexes occurred at day 12 after infection.The concentration of serum IL-2 reached a peak on the 10th day after infection.Conclusions The Chinese hamsters display typical characteristics of tick-borne diseases such as hepatomegaly and splenomegaly.The immunological system is activated along with the infection and reaches a highest stage in the second week.Afterwards the Babesia can live in the hamster body for a long period of time.The results of this study provide useful information supporting further studies on the detection, treatment and prevention of Babesiosis.