Life Sciences Commons^™

Feline Lentivirus: Molecular Analysis And Epidemiology In Southern African Lions, Hayley Rebecca Adams

Doctoral Dissertations

Feline immunodeficiency virus is a retrovirus of domestic cats causing significant lifelong infection. Infection has also been detected in nondomestic species, including African lions. It is endemic in certain populations in east and southern Africa. Infection leads to immunologic dysfunction and immunosuppressive disease in domestic cats; however, little research exists about the pathogenic effects of infection in lions and its epidemiological impact on free-ranging and captive populations. Little is known about the lentivirus in these populations at the molecular and host level. Analysis of the virus from these populations is necessary for development of detection assays that are both sensitive …

Development, Stability, And Molecular Mechanisms Of Macrolide Resistance In Campylobacter Jejuni, Dave Bryson Caldwell

Masters Theses

Previous studies on macrolide resistance in Campylobacter were primarily focused on the isolates from various origins using in vitro systems. In this study, both in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to examine the development, stability, and genetic basis of macrolide resistance in C. jejuni. All in vitro and in vivo selected Ery^R mutants were derived from the same parent strain C. jejuni NCTC 11168. To determine if long-term exposure of low-level Ery^R C. jejuni to low-dose tylosin selects for high-level Ery^R mutants (MIC > 512 μg/ml), two low-level Ery^R mutants (MIC = 32 or …

Heat-Induced Perturbations During Oocyte Maturation Carry Over To Increase Susceptibility Of Preattachment Embryos To Heat Stress, Amber Nicole Bogart

Masters Theses

Objectives were to 1) examine effects of heat stress on maturing oocytes to alter the ability of resulting embryos to develop after fertilization, 2) evaluate blastocyst development of compact morulae derived from control or heatstressed oocytes after culture at 38.5°C or 41.0°C, and 3) evaluate effects of heat stress on compact morulae to alter sex ratio. Culture of cumulus oocytes at 41.0°C did not alter ability of presumptive zygotes (PZ) to cleave; however, the proportion of embryos that cleaved to the 8- to 16-cell stage was lower (P = 0.01). Also, the proportion of 8- to 16-cell embryos derived from …

Possible Strategies To Increase Ovulatory Follicle Size And Reduce Time To Ovulation In Lactating Dairy Cows, Julio Omar Giordano

Masters Theses

Specific objectives of this study were to examine growth response of the dominant follicle (DF) after administration of Folltropin-V (FSH and LH) at onset of luteolysis and investigate use of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for decreasing ovulation time in lactating Holstein cows. On day 8 or 9 of a synchronized cycle, cows (n = 35) received an EAZI-BREED CIDR plus 100 μg of GnRH. CIDRs were removed 7 days later and cows were administered 500 μg cloprostenol. Concurrently, cows were randomly allocated to receive either 80 mg Folltropin-V (FSH, n = 19) or 4 mL of sterile saline (SAL, …

Pb1741-Horse Welfare, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Animals/Livestock

In Tennessee, horses are commonly owned throughout the state. Tennessee law requires that all animals have necessary water, feed, shelter and care. This publication defines what are considered the minimum requirements for horses in these areas. It is important to remember that these represent only the minimums, and horse owners should strive to provide care above these levels.

An Experimental Release Of Elk Into Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Jennifer Lynn Murrow

Doctoral Dissertations

I conducted 6 years of field work to evaluate the habitat use and population dynamics of an experimental release of elk (Cervus elaphus) into Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Park). Elk exhibited relatively small home ranges (female: 10.4 km² and males: 22.4 km²) and movement distances decreased over time. I calculated survival rates (x = 0.73–0.93) and litter production rates (x = 0.73) for the population. To assess the potential for a long-term elk population, I incorporated those vital rates into the population modeling software Riskman and tested its sensitivity to any given …

Pb1624-Managing Nuisance Animals And Associated Damage Around The Home, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Insects, Pests, Plant Diseases and Weeds

Managing wildlife damage is the opposite of traditional wildlife management where practices are implemented to attract wildlife. To attract wildlife, food, water and cover are made available for animals throughout the year. If unwanted wild animals are frequenting your home or garden, there is at least one source of food, water and/or cover that is attracting them. The solution is to remove or alter these resources so that the area is no longer attractive. Most wildlife, like humans, are creatures of habit; thus, steps should be taken immediately upon observing damage.

An Evaluation Of Field Management Practices To Improve Bobwhite Habitat, John P. Gruchy

Masters Theses

Conversion of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) to managed native warm-season grasses (nwsg) and associated forbs benefits many wildlife species that depend on early successional habitat. Planting nwsg, however, may not be necessary depending on the composition of the seedbank. Treatments were implemented in a randomized complete block design with replication during 2003 and 2004 at three study sites across Tennessee to determine the effects of seasonal herbicide applications and disking on tall fescue eradication and resulting vegetation composition and structure. Treatments included: fall glyphosate (2.2 kg ai/ha; Gly-4 2qt/ac); fall glyphosate followed by winter disking; fall imazapic (0.2 …

Influences Of Cattle On Community Structure And Pathogen Prevalence In Larval Amphibians On The Cumberland Plateau, Tennessee, Anne Chandler Schmutzer

Masters Theses

There is considerable evidence that amphibians are declining globally due to various anthropogenic stressors. Cattle grazing in wetlands is a stressor that may have negative impacts on amphibians and has not been investigated intensively. Cattle could have a negative effect on larval amphibians by decreasing water quality through deposition of nitrogenous waste. Reduction in water quality also may compromise immune function by inducing stress thus making larvae more susceptible to pathogens. My objective was to quantify differences in amphibian larvae community metrics, water quality, and pathogen prevalence between cattle-access and non-access wetlands. I also measured fish abundance and biomass of …

Influences Of Cattle On Postmetamorphic Amphibians On The Cumberland Plateau, Elizabeth Carrie Burton

Masters Theses

Global decline of amphibian populations has been linked to various anthropogenic stressors. Recent studies have quantified the influences of cropland agriculture and deforestation; however, few have examined the impacts of allowing cattle access in wetlands on resident amphibians. I compared four wetlands exposed to cattle grazing for >10 years against four wetlands that had not been grazed for >10 years, at the University of Tennessee Plateau Research and Education Center. At each wetland I measured species richness, diversity, and species-specific relative abundance of postmetamorphic amphibians captured in pitfall traps and during breeding call surveys, amphibian egg mass abundance, shoreline vegetation …

Validation Of A Three Dimensional Motion Capture System For Use In Identifying Characteristics Of The Running Walk, Paul Roberson

Masters Theses

Validation of a Three Dimensional Motion Capture System for Use in Identifying Characteristics of the Running Walk

A three-dimensional (3-D) motion capture system was adapted for use in characterizing the biomechanics of the Running Walk, a stepping gait of the Tennessee Walking Horse (TWH) breed. Registered TWH (n = 4) were ridden through an arrangement of high-speed digital cameras at the walk (W) and running walk (RW). Infrared reflective markers (65 per horse) were used to track body segments and joint centers. Five trials per gait per horse were recorded. A dynamic 3-D model was created and used to label …

Relationship Of Intracellular Signaling Pathways With Migration In Bovine Neutrophils With Different Cxcr1+777 Genotypes, Angela Pollock Loughery

Masters Theses

Prior research in our lab has demonstrated a significant association between the incidence of subclinical mastitis and neutrophil functions with polymorphisms of the CXCR1 gene in Holstein dairy cattle. The objective of this study was to evaluate the specificity of the response relative to CXCR1 and potential involvement of intracellular signaling pathways. Migration was evaluated in cows of both homozygous genotypes (n=7 each) in response to high and low doses of interleukin-8 (IL -8; specific for CXCR1 and CXCR2), epithelial neutrophil activating peptide (ENA-78; specific for CXCR2) or zymosan activated sera (ZAS; complement receptors). Cows with a GG genotype had …

Supplementation Of Energy And Glucomannan To Alleviate Tall Fescue Toxicosis, Rodney Lynn Mills

Masters Theses

An 84 d randomized block design using 96 beef calves (238.8 + 20.1 kg) in each of two years was used to assess the efficacy of energy supplementation and glucomannan (MTB) to alleviate tall fescue toxicosis. Groups of four calves were randomly assigned to 24 endophyte-infected tall fescue pastures (1.23 + 0.06 ha). Pastures of calves were randomly assigned to treatments: unsupplemented (CON), supplemented with soybean hulls (SH) at 0.33% BW (DM basis; LO), supplemented with SH at 0.66% BW (DM basis; HI), LO plus 20 g·hd^-1·d^-1 MTB-100® (LO-MTB), HI plus 20 g·hd^-1·d^-1 MTB-100® …

Captive Propagation Of Tangerine Darters For Re-Introduction In The Pigeon River, Tennessee, Craig Lee Phillips

Masters Theses

The Pigeon River suffered major water quality degradation from 1908 through the 1980’s from paper mill effluent which resulted in the extirpation of many native fish species. Mill modifications have cleaned the effluent to the degree where some native species are recolonizing many areas of the river. In 2001, the Pigeon River Restoration Project was initiated to re-introduce native non-game species which have been unable to return of their own accord. In addition to relocation of selected suitable species, captive production of the tangerine darter (Percina aurantiaca) has been attempted since current translocation methods have proven impractical due …

Effects Of Egg Yolk Antibodies On Weanling Pigs Challenged With Pathogenic Salmonella Typhimurium, Sukanya Rattanatabtimtong

Doctoral Dissertations

An experiment was conducted to determine effects of anti-Salmonella egg yolk antibodies (ASEYA) on shedding and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella enterica Typhimurium and E. coli, growth performance and immunological parameters. Weaned pigs in two replicate trials (n = 132) were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments, including a control diet without additives, apramycin followed by carbadox, oxytetracycline (OXY), egg yolk powder containing ASEYA, egg yolk powder lacking ASEYA, or spray dried plasma protein (SDPP). Treatments were given to pigs on day 3 of the trial and all pigs were intranasally and orally challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium containing a …

Pb1727-A Review Of Usda-Inspected Livestock Slaughtering Facilities In Tennessee, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Marketing, Finances and Value-Added Agriculture

This publication is an important part of the Center for Profitable Agriculture’s ongoing educational programs with individual farm families, value-added entrepreneurs and agricultural leaders across the state. The results presented in this publication represent one of the five objectives of the 2001 – 2003 Federal-State Market Improvement Program (FSMIP) project titled “Developing Target Markets for Value-Added Niche Products.”

Facilities in Tennessee that slaughter livestock for the public and whose services are inspected by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are identified. Based on the results of the original study conducted in 2002, specific information pertaining to services rendered, species …

Volume 5, Number 2 (2007), Ut Institute Of Agriculture

Tennessee Land, Life and Science Magazine

Issue Highlights:

• Diversifying Research