bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
285 The effect of repeated lipopolysaccharide endotoxin challenge on immune response of breeding ewes
Authors: Austin Molly M , Arellanes Jeffrey Dominguez , Salas Yulianna , Soto-Navarro Sergio A , Gifford Craig A , Gifford Jennifer A 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Infectious disease caused by exposure to the gram-negative bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is recognized to suppress female fertility. However, the effect of varying low dose endotoxin exposure during the distinct stages of follicle development on immune response, and reproductive and lamb performance has yet to be elucidated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate acute phase response, mRNA abundance of inflammatory markers, reproductive performance and lamb growth characteristics of ewes challenged with subclinical doses of LPS. Rambouillet ewes [n = 36; body weight (BW) = 68.2 1.1 kg; age 3 to 7 yr] were stratified by BW and age and assigned to treatment groups. Ewes received subcutaneous injections of saline (CON, n = 12), 1.5 g/kg BW LPS (LOW, n = 12), or 3.0 g/kg BW LPS (HIGH, n = 12) on d 5, 10, and 15 of a synchronized follicular wave. Ewes were subsequently placed with a rattle-painted ram on d 16 for a 35-d breeding season. On treatment d 5 and 15, blood samples, peripheral blood leukocytes and rectal temperature were collected prior to and at regular intervals for 12 h after LPS challenge. Immune response to LPS was confirmed by an increase in rectal temperature and serum cortisol concentration on d 5 and 15. Endotoxin increased circulating plasma concentrations of the acute phase protein, haptoglobin, in both LPS-treated groups on d 5 and 15 at 12 h compared with control (P &lt; 0.05). Pro- and anti-inflammatory genes were evaluated by real time polymerase chain reaction and demonstrated no differences in gene expression for tumor necrosis factor a, superoxide dismutase 2, or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma among treatment groups. Toll-like receptor 4 was similar among treatment groups on d 5; however, ewes challenged with LPS on d 15 displayed greater expression of toll-like receptor 4 compared with controls 2 to 6 h after LPS (P &lt; 0.05). A robust induction of interleukin-8 was noted in low-LPS treated ewes compared with control and high-LPS treatment groups on d 5 from 2.5 to 6 h (P &lt; 0.05) and on d 15 at 2.5 h (P &lt; 0.05). First service conception rates were 80% for control ewes and 75% for both treated groups (P = 0.925). Lamb birth weight was reduced (P = 0.05) in response to LPS treatment. This reduction in birth weight resulted in reduced 60-d adjusted weaning weight (P = 0.09). Subacute endotoxin exposure aligning with key follicle and oocyte maturation events results in detrimental growth performance of the subsequent lamb.
PSII-1 Weaning as prenatal stress: preliminary study on indicators of calf resiliency
Authors: Goldhawk Christy , Orsel Karin , Pajor Edmond A 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Maternal stressors have been reported to alter fetal development in many species. During pregnancy beef cattle are subjected to different potential stressors, such as weaning their current offspring, as part of beef production practices. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between weaning method as a prenatal maternal stress and the effect on offspring resiliency. Multiparous cows were weaned of their calves in the fall of 2022 using either abrupt (A), fenceline (F), or nose-flap (N) weaning methods (n = 30 per group). Calves born from these cows the following spring (2023) were followed for birthweights, morbidity, and mortality. Mean estimated fetal age at exposure was 126 d (range 66 to 219 d) using breed averages for gestational length. Cognitive tests were performed at 2 mo of age using an outdoor arena to continuously monitor calves during 2 min of initial isolation, 2 min exposed to a novel object, and 1 min of exposure to a human in the arena. Tests were performed sequentially, and treatments were balanced across days. Prenatal exposure to A was associated with a 74.8 (2.5 to 2,237.3, P &lt; 0.01) and 21.5 (1.2 to 385.7, P = 0.03) times increase in the odds of calves being stillborn or failure to thrive within 24 h of birth compared with F or N, respectively. There was no difference in morbidity or mortality during d 1 to 60. Birthweights were available on one-half of the calves from each group and showed no statistical difference; however, there was a 4.53 kg numerical difference between A and N groups. Behavioral data from a subset of 36 calves (A = 14, F = 11, and N = 11) was assessed for time spent standing, moving, exploring, duration in the open center vs. perimeter of the arena. There was a tendency for A exposed calves to spend more time in the perimeter after being confronted with a novel object compared with N exposed calves (mean difference of percent of total test time in perimeter from isolation to novel object test: A = 24.0 ± 23.9 %, N = -2.9 ± 22.1 %, P = 0.08). Fenceline exposed calves spent more time moving during initial isolation than either abrupt or nose-flap (69.3 ± 14.7 %, 50.6 ± 11.9 %, and 69.9 ± 17.8 % for A, F, N, respectively (P = 0.01 for A vs F and F vs N). These behavioral and physiological indicators support a potential divergence in survivability and coping mechanisms associated with prenatal exposure to different weaning methods. Future research will evaluate different dimensions of cognitive performance as well as increasing sample size.
PSII-2 Does environmental feeder enrichment for weaned pigs drive feeder usage and improve final body weight?
Authors: Fortney Daytona , Sundman Emiline R , Gabler Nicholas K , Millman Suzanne T , Johnson Anna K 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Transition from the sow to nursery pens is a stressful time for pigs and commonly leads to post-weaning anorexia and growth check. This can have negative impacts on pig health, welfare, and lifetime performance. The objective of this study was to test the relationship between enrichment use and feeder use immediately post-weaning on final nursery pig body weight (BW). At arrival, 29 mixed-sex pigs (Camborough 1050 X 337, PIC), 19 to 24d of age, were randomly sorted into 3 pens (~0.29 m2/pig) at the Iowa State University Swine Nutrition Farm. Each pen was equipped with a 4-hole, dry self-feeder measuring 0.6 m long. Each pen had two enrichment devices, consisting of one cotton rope and two biscuits, suspended from the feeder at pig height. Biscuits were replaced daily. Total number of interactions with the enrichment and feeder were collected at the individual pig level. All pigs were continually observed for two 1 h periods (h 1 and the h 6 after biscuit replacement) each day over wk 1 (d 0 – d 6). A pig was considered interacting with enrichment if its snout contacted the rope or enrichment biscuit. A pig was considered interacting with the feeder if 1) its head was over the feeder tray, and 2) its nose down in the feeder. Both enrichment and feeder interactions were considered terminated if the pig ceased active interaction for 3 s or more. Behaviors were summed together by time period and day for each pig. Individual BW were taken at the end of the 42-d nursery study. After the nursery trial was completed, the 29 pigs were allocated to a light BW treatment (n = 14) and a heavy BW treatment (n = 15) using the final average BW (24.22 kg) of the. Pigs with a final BW lighter than the group average were assigned to the light treatment, while pigs with a heavier BW than average were assigned to the heavy treatment. T-tests were conducted for enrichment and feeder interactions by final BW group and the pig was the experimental unit. A P ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. There were no observed differences between final pig body weight treatments and the enrichment and feeder interactions over the first week of nursery (P ≤ 0.87). Numerically, there were more overall enrichment interactions than feeder interactions for both BW treatments over wk 1 (Table 1). In conclusion, this enrichment device was of biological interest to the pigs, but other factors impact feeder usage in the first week and need to be considered in future work.
PSII-5 Effect of short-term feeding of hemp (Cannabis sativa) on stress biomarkers in weaned beef calves
Authors: Ogunkunle Nathaniel , Simpson Monya , Samuel Felix U , Jones Kendra , Herring Joshua , AbdelRahim Gamal Eden 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Hemp research is growing rapidly due to its health benefits for animals; however, there is little information on its effects on stress. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of hemp supplementation on stress biomarkers in beef calves during weaning. Calves (n = 12) were completely randomized into Control (CC: received commercial concentrates before and after weaning), Treatment 1 (CH: received commercial concentrates before weaning and 25 g of hemp diet after weaning), Treatment 2 (HC: received 25 g hemp diet before weaning and commercial concentrates after weaning) and Treatment 3 (HH: received 25 g hemp diet before and after weaning). The study lasted for 28 d; blood samples were collected at 7-d intervals for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Plasma was analyzed for heat shock protein 90, cortisol, haptoglobin, total antioxidant capacity, and glutathione peroxidase. There was treatment x time interaction in cortisol concentrations, with the (CH) group showing the greatest concentration of cortisol (124.23 ng/mL) in wk 3. There was no significant (P = 0.0675) difference in total antioxidant capacity. There was a treatment x time interaction (P = 0.0009) in glutathione peroxidase concentrations, with the (HH) group showing the greatest concentration of glutathione peroxidase of 46.83 ng/mL in wk 2 and 47.57ng/mL in wk 3. There was no significant (P &lt; 0.05) difference in heat shock protein and haptoglobin. We concluded that hemp supplementation could reduce weaning stress in beef cattle, thereby improving the productivity and performance of beef calves
PSVII-1 Widespread allele-specific expression across tissues and cells of the chicken genome
Authors: de Lima Andressa Oliveira , Ng Theros T , Drechsler Yvonne , Hawkins R David 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Chickens are a valuable livestock species, providing an affordable and nutritious food source worldwide through eggs and meat. Additionally, chickens are extensively used in scientific research as model organisms in virology, immunology, epigenetics, development, and conservation biology. Considering this, there are increasing efforts to deepen our understanding of their genome complexity, such as efforts by the Functional Annotation of Animal Genomes (FAANG) Consortium. Toward this goal, we are working to contribute to the annotation of the chicken transcriptome. Allele-specific expression (ASE) is an imbalance of allelic gene expression often driven by genetic and epigenetic changes in cis-regulatory regions. We, therefore, aimed to determine allelic imbalances in gene expression across 20 tissues and cells to shed light on mechanisms regulating gene expression. Using replicate paired-end (PE) RNA-seq samples, we identified around 7 million variants across 20 tissues and cells (e.g., reproductive tissues, intestine tissues, muscle, and immune tissues and cells). We applied quality control measures and filtered out monoallelic and homozygous variants. After that, we calculated read counts per allele to determine allelic expression. We found 365,894 significant ASE SNPs and 11,530 ASE genes in at least one tissue or cell type (FDR ≤ 0.05). We discovered that ASE SNPs are widely distributed throughout the chicken genome, and ASE SNPs and ASE genes showed a varied distribution across tissues and cells. Primary macrophage exhibited the most abundant, while the pectoralis major (breast muscle) had the lowest ASE genes and ASE SNPs, ranging from 7,592 to 32,505 ASE SNPs and 773 to 2,387 ASE genes. Our findings reveal several important pathways affected by allelic imbalance of expression. These pathways included fatty acid biosynthesis and regulation, cell proliferation and differentiation, cell metabolism, adipocytokine signaling, proteolysis and autophagy, and focal adhesion. In summary, our study provides insight into relevant biological processes critical to chickens and can contribute to improving genome annotation, helping to expand the transcriptomic reference source.
PSVII-6 Gender prediction in Hanwoo cattle using custom SNP arrays
Authors: Seong Ha-Seung , Park Mina , Cho Chung-Il , Lee Seung-Soo , Dang Chang-Gwon , Lee Jae-Gu , Cha Jaebeom , Lee Sang-Min , Alam Mahboob 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Hanwoo is one of the indigenous cattle breeds in South Korea, and genetic evaluation at the national level is conducted using custom Illumina SNP arrays. Accurate gender assignment is essential in genetic evaluation and breeding programs for livestock species. In this study, we described a method for using custom single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array data to predict gender of Hanwoo cattle using logistic regression model. We analyzed a set of 958 SNPs, with 947 located on the X chromosome and 11 on the Y chromosome, focusing on heterozygosity rates from the X chromosome and missing rates from Y chromosome SNPs. Using a training dataset comprising 5,000 bulls and 2,005 cows with accurately recorded genders, we built a prediction model. Subsequently, we evaluated the performance of the model on test datasets consisting of 6,657 bulls, 27 steers, and 8,418 cows. The concordance between predicted gender and recorded gender were 99.98%, 100.00% and 99.98% for bulls, steers, and cows, respectively. This result showed better accuracy of gender prediction compared with the GENOMESTUDIO tool that uses only the heterozygosity rate of SNPs in X chromosome in the case of restricted number of SNPs in sex chromosomes. Overall, our findings could be used as an effective method for more precise genetic evaluation by correcting potential gender errors in Hanwoo cattle breeding programs.
PSIII-28 Evaluation of tissue and plasma meloxicam concentrations using a microneedle patch for drug delivery
Authors: Midkiff Kirsten A , Miranda-Munoz Katherine , Cheek Robin A , Tsai Tsung Cheng Cheng , Bear Misty , Kompalage Kushan , Tucker Ryan , Culbertson Christopher , Coetzee Hans F , Kegley Elizabeth B , Almodovar Jorge , Powell Jeremy G 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate plasma and ear tissue meloxicam concentrations when the drug was delivered using two different formulations of a microneedle patch placed on the back of the ear. Nursing pigs [n = 10; body weight (BW) = 3.64 ± 0.32 kg) from 1 litter were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 treatment groups. Patches delivered 2.5 mg of meloxicam/kg BW to pigs regardless of formulation, with the differences in patches being based on type of polymer located on the microneedles and base of the patch. Treatment groups were: 1) pigs receiving a microneedle patch with collagen, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and meloxicam on the microneedles, with PVA and chitosan on the base (n = 6 pigs; Patch A); and 2) pigs receiving a microneedle patch with chitosan, PVA, and meloxicam on the microneedles, with collagen and PVA on the base (n = 4 pigs; Patch B). During the study, pigs remained in the crate with the sow and littermates. An Estrotect Breeding Indicator strip was used to adhere the microneedle patch on the ear of the pigs. Blood was collected at study initiation prior to patch administration (0 h) and 24 and 48 h for plasma meloxicam analysis. To evaluate tissue meloxicam concentrations, 3 pigs that received Patch A and 2 pigs that received Patch B were humanely euthanized after blood collection and patch removal at 24 and 48 h, with the entirety of the ear removed for analysis. Statistical analyses were performed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 (Cary, NC) to assess the effects of treatment, hour, and treatment × hour interaction. Statistical significance was determined at P ≤ 0.05, with tendencies at 0.05 &lt; P ≤ 0.1. There were no differences (P = 0.83) between patch formulations for tissue meloxicam concentrations (Patch A = 6.55 ± 2.12 ng/mg; Patch B = 7.32 ± 2.60 ng/mg). Plasma concentrations were not detectable at any time point, but tissue concentrations of meloxicam were detectable for pigs that received either patch formulation at 24 (5.44 ± 2.37 ng/mg) and 48 h (8.42 ± 2.37 ng/mg). There were no differences (P = 0.41) between patch formulations for tissue meloxicam concentrations at either timepoint, nor was there an interaction of patch formulation and hour (P = 0.73). It is unknown why the meloxicam did not diffuse from the ear tissue into the plasma; however, further studies will focus on applying the microneedle patch at different areas on the animal to allow for optimal diffusion through the skin and into blood circulation for pain mitigation in livestock animals.
PSIV-23 Transcriptomic analysis revealed the mechanisms of resilience and susceptibility to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in dairy goats under high-concentrate diet
Authors: Wang Yue , Chen Xiaodong , Huws Sharon A , Wu Shengru , Yao Junhu , Guan Leluo 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Liver health is vital for growth and health of ruminants, which can directly affect their performance. High-concentrate diet (HCD) feeding, a common practice to meet the energy requirements for animal production and growth, has been known to induce liver damage, including nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in ruminants. To date, the regulatory mechanisms of liver metabolic dysfunctions in ruminants induced by HCD are not well defined. To elucidate molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying liver dysfunction in ruminants, we compared liver transcriptome and single-cell transcriptome of dairy goats that had varied responses to the HCD, aiming to underpin the key mechanisms behind resilience and susceptibility to NASH in ruminants. After feeding 30 dairy goats with low-concentrate diet (LCD, n = 15, defined as Con) or high-concentrate diet (HCD, n = 15) for 6 wk, 10 of them developed NASH (defined as NASH), while the other 5 did not showed any NASH symptom (defined as NASH-tolerance, NASH-T) under HCD. Liver tissues were collected to extract RNA. The paired-end RNA-seq library was sequenced with a NovaSeq6000 sequencer (Illumina). Real-time quantitative PCR was conducted to verify the significantly different genes among groups. Liver single-cell transcriptome was performed using 10×Genomics Chromium system. Liver transcriptome analysis revealed that the expression level of genes involved in the interleukin (IL)-17 signaling pathway, including IL-17A (P = 0.035; 0.001), Act1 (P = 0.036; 0.002), FOSB (P = 0.041; 0.048) and IL-1β (P = 0.022; 0.002) in the NASH group were significantly greater than those in the Con and NASH-T groups. Hepatic single-cell RNA sequencing identified seven cell types in the liver, including hepatocytes, macrophages, T cells, endothelial cell, natural killer (NK) cell, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), B cells. In T cell subset, significantly decreased T helper 17 (TH17) cells and increased regulatory T (Treg) cells were detected in the NASH group compared with Con and NASH-T groups. In TH17 cell, the expression levels of IL-17A (P = 0.004; 0.009) and IL-23R (P = 0.007; 0.01; the surface antibodies of TH17 cells) in NASH group were significantly greater than those in the Con and NASH-T groups. The expression levels of Foxp3 (P &lt; 0.001; 0.013), IL-2R (P &lt; 0.001; 0.001), CTLA-4 (P = 0.005; 0.017) and CD127 (P = 0.004; 0.009; the surface antibodies of Treg cells) in NASH group were significantly less than those in the Con and NASH-T groups. Our results revealed the role of liver immune cells in maintaining tolerance to NASH in dairy goats under HCD, which provides new understanding in pathogenesis of NASH under HCD. Further studies are needed to identify major factors that drive the changes of ratio of TH17/Treg cell.
PSI-8 Inflammatory cytokine concentrations and gene expression in mature and aging sedentary horses
Authors: DiSilvestro Adrianna N , Wesolowski Lauren T , Semanchik Pier L , Simons Jessica L , Seward Lee , Beer Christina , Barnes Lisa , White-Springer Sarah H 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Chronic inflammation associated with aging, termed “inflamm-aging” may negatively impact overall animal health. However, the mechanisms of inflamm-aging and, therefore, effective interventions, remain unknown. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2; NFE2L2) is a transcription factor that controls antioxidant gene expression and could be a target for promoting anti-inflammatory pathways. To test the hypothesis that supplementation of nonenzymatic derived antioxidants (Protandim Nrf2 Synergizer, LifeVantage Corporation) would activate Nrf2 and mitigate inflammation, 40 mature, sedentary horses [32 mares, 8 geldings; 15.7 ± 4.9 yr of age, body weight (BW) = 519 ± 46 kg] were stratified by age, sex, and BW and randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatment groups for 56 d: 1) 0 mg (CON); 2) 675 mg (Pro1); 3) 2,025 mg (Pro3); or 4) 4,050 mg (Pro6) Protandim Nrf2 Synergizer per day (n = 10 per group). Blood samples were collected at d 0 (September, 27°C, 61.6% humidity), d 28 (October, 21.6°C, 55.8% humidity), and d 56 (November, 15.1°C, 73.8% humidity) of supplementation prior to the morning feeding. Plasma cytokine concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were quantified using custom Meso Scale Discovery U-Plex kits and whole blood gene expression of IL-1β, NFE2L2, and heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) were determined using qRT-PCR. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS v9.4 with sex, time, treatment, age (under or over 15 yr), and time × treatment as fixed effects and time as a repeated effect with horse(treatment) as the subject. Day 0 was included as a covariate when treatment groups differed at d 0. Relationships between age and cytokine concentrations or mRNA expression were determined using PROC CORR. Plasma IL-4 (r = 0.4054) concentrations as well as whole blood HMOX1 (r = 0.3437) and NFE2L2 (r = 0.3382) expression on d 0 were positively correlated with age (P ≤ 0.04). Regardless of treatment or age, IL-1β and NFE2L2 expression and IL-4 and IL-8 concentrations decreased from d 0 to 28 (P ≤ 0.03) and remained depressed at d 56 (P ≤ 0.02) while IL-10 was not different from d 0 to 28 but decreased from d 0 to 56 (P = 0.02). TNFα concentrations were not different between treatments or over time. These data corroborate increased inflammatory markers with age and suggest a change in inflammatory status over time potentially due to seasonal environmental factors.