Swine breeding in the villages of Valcea county, Oltenia (Romania) - tradition or necessity?

Food supply has been a constant source of concern for mankind. In the present context, with food security a priority of European and national policies, an analysis of pig farming in a representative NUTS2 administrative level of Romania that emphasizes the proportion of households raising at least one pig and the main factors influencing farmers to adopt or give up swine breeding could allow a much clearer understanding of this phenomenon that lies at the border between cultural tradition and socio-economic necessity. This study uses mixed methods that complement each another to help reveal this complex phenomenon in the analyzed territory. Cluster analysis shows the concentration of swine breeding and maps its spread in terms of both subsistence and larger farms, and qualitative interviews prove the motivation of farmers to continue in this occupation. As a primary result, the study visualizes the spatial distribution of pig farming in the rural environment of Valcea county, Romania, from a diachronic perspective in the post-communist period. It also reveals areas of differing concentrations of both very small-sized farms, which prioritize meeting their own food needs, and larger farms, which prioritize commercial production to supplement their revenue streams. Both categories, but particularly the latter, are of particular interest in a period in which the socio-economic environment after 1990 - marked by economic restructuring, unemployment, population migration, the economic crisis of 2008-2010, the pandemic of 2020-2021, and the most recent energy crisis - periodically highlights the importance of rural areas in ensuring food security and sufficiency at both the local and regional levels.

Exploration on the potential mechanism of baicalein on Porcine Deltacoronavirus infection based on network pharmacology

This study aimed to explore the protective mechanism of baicalein against porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) infection. The targets of baicalein were obtained through Pharmamapper, Pubchem, STITCH, TCMSP and Swiss Targer Prediction databases, and the targets of PDCoV infection were obtained according to the proteomics data from our previous study. The targets of baicalein-PDCoV interaction were obtained and analyzed by STRING database and Cytoscape 3.8.2 software to construct a network diagram of "baicalein-PDCoV-targets". The CytoNCA was used to analyze network topology and core network construction. Metascape database was used for GO and KEGG analysis of core network genes. The expression levels of genes in the predicted signaling pathways were detected in vitro. A total of 268 potential targets of baicalein were screened out. There were 75 potential targets of baicalein-PDCoV infection. GO enrichment results showed that baicalein was mainly involved in the formations of membrane raft, spindle and mitochondrial membrane, cell cycle and MAPK signaling pathways. A total of 277 signaling pathways (P < 0.01) were screened out by KEGG enrichment. The PI3K-Akt, Ras and MAPK signaling pathways were the main pathways that involved in the protective effects of baicalein against PDCoV infection. The results showed that compared with the cellular control groups, the mRNA expressions of PI3K, AKT and NF-B significantly increased in the PDCoV infection group. Compared with the PDCoV group, treatment of baicalein significantly decreased the mRNA expressions of PI3K, AKT and NF-B (P < 0.05). The effect of baicalein on PDCoV infection has the characteristics of multi-targets and multi-pathways, through the intervention of AKT1, HSP90AA1, SRC, EGFR, CASP3, MAPK, STAT3 and other core genes in regulating PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, Ras signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway, apoptosis, and virus infection. These results suggested that baicalein could be a potential therapeutic drug against PDCoV infection for further study.

Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome: an overview

One of the conformational issues by the explosion Of pet ownership throughout the COVID 19 pandemic is the Ming number dunes of brachycephalic obstructive envay syndrome (BOAS), which is a condition prevalent in some of the UK's most copular dog breeds The challenges the veterinary profession is not only to identify and treat affected individuals from within the population of dogs presenting to primary care clinicians, using surgical and non-surgical options but also to educate clients on how to recognise clinical signs of the disease as early as possible.

STING gene knockout pig alveolar macrophage cell model constructed by CRISPR/Cas9 technology and its effect on type I interferon transcription. (Special Issue: Swine industry science.)

Objective: To elucidate the mechanism of interferon gene stimulating factor (STING) in the anti-pathogenic microbial infection of pigs, so as to further provide a reference for the scientific prevention and control of viral diseases such as porcine transmissible gastroenteritis, epidemic diarrhea and porcine pseudorabies. Method: High-scored targets were found in exons 4 and 8 of STING gene and corresponding sgRNA sequences were designed based on CRISPR/ Cas9 technology. The annealed sgRNAs were linked with the enzyme digested LentiCRISPRV2 carrier with T4 DNA ligase to obtain LentiCRISPRV2-STING-sgRNA lentivirus carrier(STING-sgRNA);Different combinations of STING sgRNA lentivirus carriers, packaging plasmid psPAX2 and envelope plasmid pMD2.G were transfected into 293T cells to obtain lentivirus containing sgRNA and then transduced into 3D4/21 cells. Monoclonal cell lines were obtained by puromycin screening and limited dilution method. The knockout efficiencies of the STING gene were identified by PCR amplification, Sequencing and Western blotting;The effect of STING gene knockout on the expression of type I interferon was verified by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. Result: When 293T cells were transfected with different combinations of STING-sgRNA lentivirus carrier and HA-STING over expression vector, the editing effect of STING eukaryotic expression carrier could be detected in cells, and the combination of STING-sgRNA(1+5)lentivirus carrier showed the supreme editing efficiency. Thus, the STING-sgRNA(1+5)lentivirus carrier combined with the packaging plasmid psPAX2 and the envelope plasmid pMD2.G were transfected 293T cells to package lentivirus, and then infected 3D4/21 cells with lentivirus. The results showed that a 3D4/21 cell line with a large deletion of the STING gene(4989 bp)was obtained. The STING protein was not observed by Western blotting, indicating that the STING gene knockout 3D4/21 cells(3D4/ 21-STING-/-)were successfully constructed. The transcription level of IFN-beta in 3D4/21-STING-/- cells decreased significantly (P<0.05) compared with parental cells when stimulated by transfection of Haemophilusparasuis DNA. Conclusion : By applying CRISPR/Cas9 technology, STING gene is successfully knock out in 3D4/21 cells, resulting in loss of function of STING gene;STING knockout leads to the transcription disorder of type I interferon when cells are stimulated by DNA, which also suggests that STING gene may be a key factor in the anti-pathogenic microbial infection of pigs.

The development of beef cattle breeding business at Anutapura Public Animal Husbandry school during the COVID-19 pandemic and post earthquake, tsunami and liquefaction in Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Earthquake is the vibrations on the earth's surface due to the sudden release of energy from the earthquake center in the earth. The released energy propagates through the ground in the form of vibrations. It is a natural ground movement caused by a variety of phenomena, including tectonic processes, volcanism, and explosions, as well as collapse. An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 on the Richter Scale that rocked the Central Sulawesi region caused the tsunami that hit the Talise Beach and the liquefaction in Petobo and Balaroa of Palu City, as well as the liquefaction in Sibalaya of Sigi Regency. After the disaster, the Sigi area, especially Bulubete Village, was the subject of flash floods due to the changes in waterways which should pass into the residential area instead through the river. This study aimed to determine the Development of Beef Cattle Breeding Business at the Public Animal Husbandry School (SPR) in Sigi Regency during the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the earthquake, tsunami, and liquefaction. This research was conducted from March to May 2022. The location of this research was determined based on purposively. This research was conducted in Bulubete Village of Sigi Regency. Population method was used in determining the number of samples which was also used as the sample of 36 breeders. The result obtained in this study was that natural disasters and the spread of covid-19 greatly affected the development of the cattle business at Anutapura SPR of Bulubete Village of South Dolo District of Sigi Regency. The population and demand at Anutapura SPR experienced a sales trend after the disaster and the covid-19 pandemic. In this case, the cattle population increased before the natural disaster and decreased after the natural disaster coupled with the covid-19 pandemic which affected the demand for beef.

Special Issue: Genetics and genomics of adaptation. (Special Issue: Genetics and genomics of adaptation.)

This special issue consists of 9 articles on the following topics: population genomics reveals repeated signals of adaptive divergence in the Atlantic salmon of north-eastern Europe;transcriptome wide genotype-phenotype associations in Daphnia in a predation risk environment;the pitfalls and virtues of population genetic summary statistics: Detecting selective sweeps in recent divergences;using gradient Forest to predict climate response and adaptation in Cork oak;variable routes to genomic and host adaptation among coronaviruses;little parallelism in genomic signatures of local adaptation in two sympatric, cryptic sister species;genomic signatures of UV resistance evolution in Escherichia coli depend on the growth phase during exposure;visual and nonvisual opsin genes of sharks and other nonosteichthyan vertebrates: Genomic exploration of underwater photoreception;and microRNA expression variation as a potential molecular mechanism contributing to adaptation to hydrogen sulphide.

Effects of COVID-19 on China's fur-bearing animal breeding industry

In this paper, the development trend and current situation of fur-bearing animal breeding industry in China in last decade were summarized. The effect of the sudden break out of Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on fur-bearing animal breeding in China was analyzed. Meanwhile, the future development of China's fur-bearing animal husbandry was prospected, and the suggestions to perfect fur-bearing animal husbandry in our country were also put forward.

Research progress on mink Coronavirus

Mink coronavirus(MCoV),a member of Coronaviridae,Alphacoronavirus,is an important pathogenic agent of Mink epizootic catarrhal gastroenteritis(ECG), which is characterized by catarrhal diarrhea in minks. ECG has broken out in many mink farms in several countries and caused serious threats to minks. This article reviews the research progress on ECG reported since 1975, including the genomic structure, genetic evolution and receptor characteristics of MCoV,diagnosis, prevention and treatment of ECG. This review will provide reference for clinical prevention and treatment of ECG, and arouse people's attention to MCoV.

Identification and analyses of the proteins interacting with the nucleocapsid protein of the Porcine Deltacoronavirus

Preliminary screening and identification of the host proteins interacting with the nucleocapsid(N)protein of the porcine deltacoronavirus(DCoV). Co-immunoprecipitation and liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry were used to screen out the host proteins interacting with the N protein of the porcine DCoV. Bioinformatics analysis was carried out, and then co-immunoprecipitation was used for identification. Sodium dodecyl sulfate - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the immunoprecipitation products revealed different protein bands around 40 kDa and 100 kDa. Sixty-eight host proteins interacting with the N protein of the porcine DCoV were screened by mass spectrometry. Two candidate interacting proteins(ANXA2 and TUBB2 B)were selected by analyses using the Gene Ontology, Clusters of Orthologous Groups, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes databases. After co-immunoprecipitation verification, the N protein of the porcine DCoV was found to interact with TUBB2 B. Our study provides a new direction for further exploration of the role of the N protein of the porcine DCoV in infection.

US catfish production is becoming more efficient

In this article the authors discussed how catfish producers in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama were able to maintain and even increase their production despite of Covid-19 by adopting new intensive production systems and complementary technologies such as intensively aerated small ponds, use of hybrids, automated oxygen monitoring systems, and vaccinations.

We don't know everything (we know) about dogs

This article highlights information on the beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms of the oral cavity of dogs, effects of grass consumption, and the breeding and care of dogs.

Special Issue: One health. (Special Issue: One health.)

This special issue consists of 17 papers dealing with issues animal health (captive and wild primates), environmental health (rain forests and mountain areas), and human health (the role of religion in One Health, lessons from the Hanuman langur (Semnopithecus entellus) and other human-non-human primate interactions,and Covid-19).

Screening and identification of host proteins interacting with PDCoV S1-CTD

The C-terminal domain (CTD) of porcine deltacoronavirus S1 subunit is the main region which induces the neutralizing antibody. S1-CTD was expressed by HEK-293T eukaryotic expression system and purified, and porcine ileal epithelium cells membrane proteins were extracted to investigate porcine host proteins that interact with it. Thirty-two suspected interacting host proteins were obtained by co-inmunprecipitation (Co-IP) and mass spectrometry. Eukaryotic expression plasmid of KIF1 binding protein (KIFBP) was constructed, and the interaction between KIFBP and S1-CTD was identified by Co-IP and laser confocal microscopy. All results proved that KIFBP interacted with S1-CTD and co-located in cytoplasm. Further research indicated that overexpression of KIFBP could effectively reduce the viral mRNA level and the viral titer in which the mRNA level decreased by about 70%, and the viral titer decreased by 101.6TCID50. In conclusion, a host protein KIFBP interacting with PDCoV S1-CTD was screened and identified in this study which provides a theoretical basis for understanding the pathogenesis of PDCoV.

The 3rd International conference on Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Surabaya, Indonesia, 10 September 2020

This proceedings contains 96 papers on ocean biodiversity;breeding, reproduction, feeding and diseases of aquacultured fish and shellfish;water quality;fishery management, seafood preservation and quality;aquaculture and fishery economics and the impact of COVID-19 on aquaculture and fishery production.

Proceedings of the XIIth International Scientific Congress in Fur Animal Production, Warsaw, Poland, 24-25 August 2021

This proceedings contains 43 papers on the behaviour, welfare, breeding, reproduction, feeding and diseases of mink, blue foxes and chinchillas, as well as the impacts of COVID 19 on fur farming.

Trachea transcriptome analysis in SPF broiler chickens infected with avian infectious bronchitis

Avian infectious bronchitis (IB) is an acute and highly contagious disease of the upper-respiratory tract caused by the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). The virus is a member of the Coronaviridae family and has numerous serotypes and strains. Rapid replication combined with high mutation rate and recombination are the main causes of the observed high diversity. Feed conversion and average daily gain are affected in broilers, and infection is often followed by secondary bacterial infections. In layers, IBV causes a reduction in egg production. Today, IB is one of the most economically important diseases in the poultry industry. Transcriptional profiles of trachea tissue of the infected group (IBV) were studied with control group to evaluate changes in transcriptome profile at the early stages of infection. After the challenge of SPF chickens with IBV IS-1494 like (GI-23), the trachea tissue was used for RNA extraction, and changes in the transcriptome were investigated by Illumina RNA-seq technique. Up-regulated and down-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the transcriptome of trachea were identified. Gene ontology category, KEGG pathway were analyzed to identify relationships among differentially expressed genes. In general, the numbers of up-regulated genes were higher than of down-regulated genes in experimental group. In the experimental group, a more severe immune response occurred;an important up-regulated genes in this group's was Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, apoptotic pathway, MAPK signaling pathway. Results of this study could provide a general overview of transcriptome changes in the trachea at the early stage of infection with avian infectious bronchitis (IBV) virus.

Report of the Regional Workshop for Asia and the Pacific region on the development of a Registry Of Farmed Types of Aquatic Genetic Resources (incorporating a review of strategic priorities for a Global Plan of Action), virtual workshop, 8-12 June 2020

This report summarizes the proceedings and outcomes of the "Regional Workshop for Asia and the Pacific on the Development of a Global Information System for Farmed Types of Aquatic Genetic Resources (incorporating a review of strategic priorities for a Global Plan of Action)" held from 8 to 12 June 2020. The final wrap-up session was held on 22 June 2020. This workshop, supported financially by the Government of Germany, was the second in a series of regional workshops held to generate feedback on the Registry of Farmed Types of Aquatic Genetic Resources (Registry) being developed by FAO in response to the findings of the first report on The State of the World's Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (SoW-AqGR) prepared under the guidance of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Commission) and launched by FAO in 2019. As requested by the Commission, the workshop also sought feedback on an outline of a Global Plan of Action for Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (GPA). The workshop was originally planned to be held face to face in early 2020 but was eventually cancelled due to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. The workshop was thus held in a virtual online format over a period of six days, with sessions lasting between 60 and 120 minutes. The workshop was attended by National Focal Points for Aquatic Genetic Resources from Member Nations from Asia and the Pacific. The participants included officials from ministries, governmental organizations, research institutions and representatives of regional aquaculture organizations. The objectives of the workshop were to promote standardized use of nomenclature and terminology in the description and categorization of aquatic genetic resources (AqGR), especially below the level of species (i.e. farmed types). Also to identify priority regional stakeholders who would benefit from and could contribute to an information system, such as the Registry, to evaluate the key elements of the prototype Registry using regionally relevant species and their farmed types and finally to review the strategic priorities and propose concrete activities under each of the four Priority Areas of the GPA. Participants identified academia and researchers, government resource managers, aquaculture producers and policy-makers as the principal stakeholders and beneficiaries of the Registry. These same stakeholders would also be the main contributors of information to the Registry. Several participants noted the difficulty of knowing or even of estimating production data for farmed types and it was agreed that initially the registry would only attempt to collect estimates of the proportional contribution of farmed types to overall species production for the country. Through a series of working group sessions, participants identified regionally relevant long-term goals for the four Priority Areas of the GPA, revised the list of strategic priorities of the GPA, and identified specific regionally relevant actions that should be taken under the different strategic priorities, and identified some potential indicators that may be used to monitor progress in the implementation of the GPA. This input will be considered in the preparation of the draft GPA.

Assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dairy cattle farming in Ethiopia

The purpose of this report was to document the immediate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dairy cattle farming in Ethiopia and draw recommendations for enhancing dairy farming and the dairy sector's resilience to such pandemics and other market shocks. It presents the results of a rapid survey of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on smallholder and medium-scale dairy cattle farmers in Ethiopia during the period between 5 September and 11 October 2020. A total of 1815 farmers who are part of the African Dairy Genetics Gains (ADGG) programme from five regions of Ethiopia, and one city administration participated in the study. Majority of the respondents reported that dairy farming input supply and service provision such as feed, veterinary services, animal vaccines, artificial insemination and daily hired labour had all decreased during the pandemic. More than half (60%) of the respondents reported a decrease in the total volume of milk produced per household, which was linked to the shortage of feed and other services. Forty-six percent of the respondents reported selling milk at a lower price compared to periods before the pandemic. Decreasing demand for milk by direct consumers, cooperatives and processors is one potential reason for the lower milk sales price. In conclusion, service providers and input suppliers (both government and private sector) working in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture are important in safeguarding farmers from shocks which result from man-made or natural disasters such as those brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, supporting dairy cooperatives and processors to produce at full capacity and linking dairy farmers to microfinance providers so they can access credit will ensure sustained profitability of their dairy farms.

Optimisation of feed margins: as COVID-19 presents a real crisis for the aquaculture industry, it could also induce improvements in shrimp farming

This article describes the economic impact of COVID-19 to the global aquaculture industry and possible mitigation procedures to improve the supply, breeding and genetics, farming techniques, feed formulation, production costs, marketing and prices. The results of studies regarding the beneficial effects of proteinases on the growth performance and nitrogen digestibility and excretion in fishes and shrimp are also presented.

What are the main avenues to promote transmission/installation in breeding?

This article highlighted some of the proposals one of which is the development of training programmes to train future breeders as business leaders among others which is intended to help livestock breeders in France to improve their stocks and also to cope with the economic losses due to Covid-19.