Animal Sciences Commons^™

Correlation Of Amyloid Beta And Spatial Learning And Memory Deficits On A Thy1-App Mouse Model For Alzheimer's Disease, Amber Lynn Betz

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The McGill-Thy1 APP mouse is a triple transgenic model of Alzheimer disease, which has the mutant amyloid precursor protein to synergistically over-produce amyloid beta plaques. These mice exhibit visuo-spatial learning impairment at 3 months of age and memory impairment at 10-13 months of age in the Morris water maze. To extend these findings mice at 3, 5, and 7 months of age were tested on the Barnes maze. Non-Transgenic and Transgenic mice showed improvement during acquisition. However, 3 month and 5 month McGill Thy1- APP mice showed impaired acquisition learning while 7 month showed a learning and memory deficit compared …

Progressive Decline Of Testicular Function In Leptinreceptor Deficient Obese Mice, Jennifer Long

Masters Theses

The incidence of obesity and metabolic syndrome among the human population is increasing, but the effects on male fertility are unresolved. Leptin insensitivity appears to show a consistent relationship between obesity and fertility problems in men. Genetically modified mice lacking the leptin hormone (ob/ob) or leptin receptor (db/db) are reported to be subfertile and/or infertile but there is only minimal information about testicular function (sperm and hormone production) and the progression of infertility. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate testicular function using a leptin-receptor-deficient obese mouse model (the POUND mouse; Charles River). Testicular sperm production is reduced in POUND …

Investigations Into The Incidence And Control Of Selected Parasites And Pathogens Which Infect Arkansas Horses, Stephanie Ann O'Berg Rainbolt

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Parasite control is an important aspect of health management of horses, particularly the control of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites. Recently, treatment recommendations have involved selective use of anthelmintics in horses with fecal egg counts (FEC) greater than a specified threshold. The objectives of this study were; (1) to determine the prevalence of helminths in our area by egg and L3 determinations, (2) to determine if certain horses maintained low FEC, therefore eliminating the need to treat them on a year-round basis and (3) to determine the effectiveness of four common treatments (moxidectin, ivermectin (pioneer and generic), fenbendazole and pyrantel tartrate) via …

The Reproductive Ecology Of The Timber Rattlesnake, Crotalus Horridus, In Northwestern Arkansas: Interactions Between Environment, Steroid Hormones, And Life History, Craig Michael Lind

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation I examined the relationship between individual energetic status, hormone production, and life history trait expression in field-active Timber Rattlesnakes, Crotalus horridus. In chapter one I reviewed what is known regarding these relationships in snakes and defined major research goals. In chapter two I described the seasonal profile of testosterone (T) and corticosterone (CORT) in relation to the breeding season and to individual energetic status in males. Results showed that the seasonal pattern of T production in C. horridus was different than other pit viper species with similar mating patterns. Testosterone was elevated in the months leading up …

Intestinal Inflammation Model Inducing Gut Leakage By Different Methods In Broiler Chickens Using Fitc-D As A Marker, Eduardo Vicuna

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Traditionally, antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) have been used in food animals to reduce enteric inflammation and maintain intestinal homeostasis, thus improving performance. Due to increasing restrictions regarding the use of AGP, precise and high throughput enteric inflammation models and markers to search for effective alternatives are urgently needed. Oral administration of fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-d) and its passage into blood can be used as a marker for tight junction permeability. FITC-d is a large molecule (3-5 kDa) which does not usually leak through the intact gastrointestinal tract barrier. However, when conditions disrupt the tight junctions between epithelial cells, the FITC-d …

Distribution Of The Egyptian Goose (Alopochen Aegyptiacus) In Northwestern Arkansas And In The United States Of America, Cameron Chesbro

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus) is an exotic member of the Anatidae that has been residing in northwestern Arkansas since the 1980s (Smith and James 2012). Following the discovery of Egyptian Geese in the area, not much attention has been given to the consequences of population increase. The Egyptian Goose has shown many diverse population growth patterns in areas where it has been introduced and started feral populations. The purpose of this study was to assess the current population size of the Egyptian Goose in northwestern Arkansas,and confirm successful breeding. The methods used in this study included conducting road surveys …

Improving Production Efficiency Of Beef Cow-Calf Operations, Amanda Jo Davis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Three studies were conducted to improve and incorporate reproductive management practices into beef cow-calf production. First study evaluated serial use of Estrotect estrous detection patches as a simple, cost-effective reproductive management tool to identify cyclic animals before breeding, distinguish between females conceiving to AI versus natural service, and determine seasonal pregnancy rate after bull removal. Also determined, was effectiveness of altered timing of GnRH treatment (1 d ± CIDR removal) in a modified 14-d CIDR-Select Synch protocol. When evaluated over a 4-wk period, estrous detection patches correctly (P < 0.01) identified 79% of cyclic and 86% of non-cyclic heifers. Patches were 96 and 98% accurate in identifying heifers and cows pregnant by AI, respectively, and were 76 and 87% accurate in identifying pregnant heifers and cows at the end of the breeding season (P < 0.01). Treatment with GnRH at CIDR removal reduced labor costs and animal handling without compromising estrous response (both ~63.0%) and AI pregnancy rates (~76 and 77%; P > 0.1). Second study determined if addition of PGF2alpha treatment on d 7 …

Prediction Of Superovulatory Response In Beef Cows Based On Serum Anti-Mullerian Hormone And Antral Follicle Number, Keith Center

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A study investigated the use of Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and/or follicle counts as a predictor of subsequent superovulatory response and embryo production in 79 beef cows. Before initiation of superovulation, ultrasonography was used to scan the ovaries of each donor cow to record the number of 3 to 5 mm follicles present, and a blood sample was collected for measure of serum AMH. At the time of embryo collection, the ovaries of donor cows were palpated to estimate the number of corpora lutea (CL) present on each ovary. Recovered embryos were evaluated for stage of development and morphological quality. Across …

The Influence Of The Bovine Fecal Microbiota On The Shedding Of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia Coli (Stec) By Beef Cattle, Nirosh D. Aluthge

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

During the past three decades, Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC) have emerged as an important food safety concern. Although initially E. coli O157 was the main focus, recent outbreaks and resulting investigations have shown that certain non-O157 STEC are as much a threat to food safety as their O157 counterparts. To the beef industry, STEC have been of particular concern due to the frequent association of beef and beef products as vehicles of STEC infection. As a result, along with E. coli O157, six non-O157 STEC serogroups (known as the ‘big six’) are now regulated as adulterants in certain raw beef …

Parasite Infection Mediates Trait Tradeoffs In Fundulus Heteroclitus, Sarah Dunn

Honors College Theses

To be successful, an animal must eat, grow, and reproduce. With limited resources, there are tradeoffs between these critical life history parameters but the direction of the tradeoffs is largely unknown in a changing environment. To determine whether environmental context affects life-history tradeoffs, I surveyed and quantified investment into reproduction, growth, and a proxy for immunity (parasitism), in the mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus, a common inhabitant of salt marshes in Georgia. Three salt marsh sites along coastal Georgia (Shellman Bluff, Skidaway Island, and Tybee Island) were selected using a proxy for anthropogenic disturbance (impervious surface), which also fell along a …

"Luck Of The Draw:" Enhancing Safety In Equine University Sport, Angela Barbour

Honors Projects

Equestrian sports have the highest rates of injury across all sports with traumatic brain injury rates twice as high as those in football. The goal of this project is to make our university Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) athletes safer by creating an easy-to-use tool that athletes can apply to evaluate new horses they ride at competitions. The tool guides team members through evaluation techniques by providing important safety dimensions and scoring guidelines. An undergraduate majoring in biology with an interest in Veterinarian specialization developed the diagnostic tool. The tool allows evaluation of movement/quality of gaits, jumping ability, equine personality, …

Assessment Of Workers Exposure To Ammonia In Animal Facilities At Walter C. Todd Agricultural Research Center, Nacogdoches, Texas, Ahmad F. Nasser, Sheryll B. Jerez

Bright Ideas Conference

Poultry, swine, and equine animal facilities are all considered as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). All these CAFOs are emission sources of gases and other pollutants which have negative impacts on the environment, human health, and animal health as well. One of those gases is Ammonia (NH3), which is a colorless, highly irritating gas with a pungent, suffocating odor, and if inhaled in high concentrations, it may cause harm to the human body and the function of lungs. Personal exposure to ammonia was assessed for six workers in the three animal facilities: poultry, swine, and equine. Two workers from each …

Relationship Between Temperament And Performance Traits In Yearling Cattle, Courtney R. Branton, C. J. Koffskey, E. O. Warden, E. G. Brown

Bright Ideas Conference

To examine relationships between exit velocity (EV, objective measure of temperament) and performance traits, calves were weighed 14 days prior to weaning, at weaning, 128 days post weaning, and at time of carcass measurements. Exit velocity obtained on day -14 and carcass ultrasound measurements (n = 6) obtained on day 208 and carcass harvest measurements (n = 12) obtained on day 349 were used to determine correlations between EV, performance and carcass measurements. Exit velocity showed a tendency to be negatively correlated (P < 0.15) with weaning weight (r = -0.40), but not correlated (P > 0.05) with average daily gain post 128 days. Exit velocity was not correlated (P > 0.05) with carcass …

Horses' Responses To Receiving Masterson Method™ Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork™ Treatments, Carla O. Beu

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This research documents the changes of comfort levels in horses resulting from receiving Masterson Method™ Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork™ treatments. The Masterson Method™ (MM) is a bodywork technique used to identify and release accumulated tension from the equine body. MM focuses on three main anatomical junctions: the poll-atlas junction, neck-shoulder-wither junction, and the sacroiliac junction. Research documentation includes pre and post treatment evaluations, the treatments, owner questionnaires, and cribbing observations. Also, all evaluation and treatment sessions were videotaped with the intent of further analysis for changes in range of motion, flexibility, and comfort level as applicable. Each horse received a …

Extrinsic And Intrinsic Factors Influence Parasite Burden In The Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus Fuscus), Maarten Vonhof

Faculty Research and Creative Activities Award (FRACAA)

In most host-pathogen systems, the key feature of transmission dynamics and rate of spread of a parasite or disease is the variation among hosts in the numbers of parasites they harbor and the factors controlling infection. Pathogens are typically aggregated across their host populations: relatively few individuals are heavily infected, while most potential hosts suffer light infections or remain uninfected. Aggregation among hosts may be generated by variation among individuals in their exposure to parasite infective stages and by variation in susceptibility once an infectious agent has been encountered. Host heterogeneity in parasite burden has a strong influence on the …

Block And Bridle Annual 2015

Block and Bridle Annual (1933–2021)

Three objectives of the National Block and Bridle Club are to promote animal agriculture through the activities of the club, to supplement students’ study of the animal sciences, and to bring about a closer relationship among students who choose to be a part of the organization. I believe the Block and Bridle club at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln has been successful in accomplishing these goals over the past year and I sincerely thank all of the officers and members who have given their time and effort to make this possible. I am excited to say that our active …

Two New Euscorpius Species From Central-Western Greece (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae), Gioele Tropea, Victor Fet

Euscorpius

Two new Euscorpius species are described, based on specimens collected by P.M. Giachino & D. Vailati in central-western Greece in neighboring Aitoloakarnania (Western Greece) and Fokida (Central Greece) regional units. No Euscorpius specimens were previously available from this area. The first new species, Euscorpius giachinoi sp. n., is very similar to a recently described E. birulai Fet et al., 2014 from Euboea Island, and is also characterized by a low trichobothrial count (Pv = 7, et = 5), a low pectinal teeth count (Dp = 7 in males, 6 in females), and long-limbed features. The second species, …

Plant Driven Movement: Does Plant Quality Affect The Foraging Patterns Of Successful Male Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus Urophasianus)?, Karli Graski, Marcella R. Fremgen, Gail Patricelli, Alan Krakauer, Jennifer S. Forbey

College of Arts and Sciences Presentations

The structural and dietary quality of plants is highly variable across the landscape and may influence energy acquisition by herbivores needed for energy dependent activities. For sage-grouse, male display efforts are energetically expensive, with successful males expending up to four times their basal metabolic rate to display. Previous work found that males who had the greatest energy expenditure during the lekking season also lost the least weight and foraged farthest from the lek. We hypothesized that the energetic benefit of foraging farther from the lek is due to higher quality food or cover compared to near lek vegetation. To initially …

Is Habitat Use By Greater Sage-Grouse Proportional To Availability Of Plant Morphotypes?, Jacqueline Peña, Marcella Fremgen, John C. Connelly, Jennifer Forbey

College of Arts and Sciences Presentations

Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, sage-grouse) select sagebrush plants for food that are high in protein. However, sagebrush produce toxins called monoterpenes that can inhibit enzymatic reactions and interrupt cellular processes and therefore result in decreased intake by sage-grouse. Moreover, species, subspecies, populations, and morphotypes of sagebrush can vary in the concentration of toxins produced. Preliminary analysis has shown that different morphotypes of sagebrush have different chemical profiles, and this may influence selection at a scale below species. Our research aims to determine whether sage-grouse select specific morphotypes of sagebrush to maximize biomass consumed per bite or minimize …

Relative Abundances Of The Recently Introduced Barnacles, Megabalanus Coccopoma And An Unidentified Species Of Megabalanus, In The Southeastern U.S., Jennifer L. Tyson

Honors College Theses

ABSTRACT

Megabalanus coccopoma is a prominent invasive species off the coast of Georgia. Recently, among collected samples thought to be M. coccopoma, several individuals of an unidentified species of barnacle were found. The species has been identified as a Megabalanus species, but is still unidentified to the species level. Species identification is difficult due to morphological variation, inconsistent taxonomic keys, and unknown origin. In this study I developed a method to accurately distinguish M. coccopoma from the unidentified Megabalanus sp. using sequence differences in the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) gene. This study will provide an accurate estimate of …

Prevalence Of Disorders Recorded In Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Attending Primary-Care Veterinary Practices In England, Jennifer F. Summers, Dan G. O'Neill, David B. Church, Peter C. Thomson, Paul D. Mcgreevy, David C. Brodbelt

Epidemiology Collection

Background: Concerns have been raised over breed-related health issues in purebred dogs, but reliable prevalence estimates for disorders within specific breeds are sparse. Electronically stored patient health records from primary-care practice are emerging as a useful source of epidemiological data in companion animals. This study used large volumes of health data from UK primary-care practices participating in the VetCompass animal health surveillance project to evaluate in detail the disorders diagnosed in a random selection of over 50% of dogs recorded as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCSs). Confirmation of breed using available microchip and Kennel Club (KC) registration data was attempted. …

Manipulation Of Same Sex Social Pair Bonds In Budgerigars, Melopsittacus Undulatus, Amanda M. Stilwell

Undergraduate Distinction Papers

Same sex pair bonding can be found throughout various animal species. These relationships can be common in monogamous species, especially when there is a lack of members of the opposite sex. Budgerigars, Melopsittacus undulatus, are a socially monogamous species, which create strong pair bonds but are also known to engage in extra pair copulations. When looking at an all-male flock of budgerigars, the question arises, are these bonds easily broken or disrupted by a third party individual. After determining seven pair bonds in a flock of 32 males, these pairs were removed from an aviary and placed in separate …

Metabolic Theory Explains Latitudinal Variation In Common Carp Populations And Predicts Responses To Climate Change, Michael J. Weber, Michael L. Brown, David H. Wahl, Daniel E. Shoup

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

Climate change is expected to alter temperature regimes experienced by fishes, which may also alter life history traits. However, predicting population-level responses to climate change has been difficult. Metabolic theory of ecology has been developed to explain how metabolism controls a variety of ecological processes, including life history attributes. Thus, this theory may be a useful tool for predicting fish population responses to climate change. To understand how climate change may alter freshwater fish life history, we measured population characteristics (e.g., recruitment, growth, body size, and mortality) of 21 North American common carp Cyprinus carpio populations spanning a latitudinal gradient …

Intestinal Parasite Loads Of Minnows In Eastern Kentucky Streams, Seth H. Bromagen

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the College of Science and Technology Morehead State University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science by Seth H. Bromagen on April 13, 2015.

Characteristics Of Trailer Thermal Environment During Commercial Swine Transport Managed Under U.S. Industry Guidelines, Y Xiong, Angela Green, Richard S. Gates

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Transport is a critical factor in modern pork production and can seriously affect swine welfare. While previous research has explored thermal conditions during transport, the impact of extreme weather conditions on the trailer thermal environment under industry practices has not been well documented; and the critical factors impacting microclimate are not well understood. To assess the trailer microclimate during transport events, an instrumentation system was designed and installed at the central ceiling level, pig level and floor-level in each of six zones inside a commercial swine trailer. Transport environmental data from 34 monitoring trips (approximately 1–4 h in duration each) …

Climate And Changing Winter Distribution Of Alcids In The Northwest Atlantic, Richard R. Veit, Lisa L. Manne

Publications and Research

Population level impacts upon seabirds from changing climate are increasingly evident, and include effects on phenology, migration, dispersal, annual survivorship, and reproduction. Most population data on seabirds derive from nesting colonies; documented climate impacts on winter ecology are scarce. We studied interannual variability in winter abundance of six species of alcids (Charadriiformes, Alcidae) from a 58-year time series of data collected in Massachusetts 1954–2011. We used counts of birds taken during fall and winter from coastal vantage points. Counts were made by amateur birders, but coverage was consistent in timing and location. We found significant association between winter abundance of …

Prevalence Of And Risk Factors For Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease In Dogs Attending Primary‐Care Veterinary Practices In England, M. Mattin, A. Boswood, D. B. Church, J. López-Alvarez, P. D. Mcgreevy, D. G. O'Neill, P. C. Thomson, D. C. Brodbelt

Epidemiology Collection

Background

To date, epidemiological studies on degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) in dogs have largely reported referral caseloads or been limited to predisposed breeds. Analysis of primary‐care data to identify factors associated with DMVD would help clinicians identify high‐risk individuals and improve understanding.

Objectives

To estimate the prevalence of and identify risk factors for DMVD in dogs attending primary‐care veterinary practices in England.

Animals

Cases were identified within the electronic patient records of 111,967 dogs attending 93 practices. Four hundred and 5 dogs were diagnosed with DMVD (diagnosed cases) and a further 3,557 dogs had a heart murmur (HM) consistent …

Monogenoidean Gill Parasite Infection In Darters Of Estill Fork, Tasha Horzempa, Miranda Honeycutt

Research Horizons Day Posters

No abstract provided.

Isotopic Incorporation Rates And Discrimination Factors In Mantis Shrimp Crustaceans., Maya Devries, Carlos Del Rio, Tate Tunstall, Todd Dawson

Faculty Publications, Biological Sciences

Stable isotope analysis has provided insights into the trophic ecology of a wide diversity of animals. Knowledge about isotopic incorporation rates and isotopic discrimination between the consumer and its diet for different tissue types is essential for interpreting stable isotope data, but these parameters remain understudied in many animal taxa and particularly in aquatic invertebrates. We performed a 292-day diet shift experiment on 92 individuals of the predatory mantis shrimp, Neogonodactylus bredini, to quantify carbon and nitrogen incorporation rates and isotope discrimination factors in muscle and hemolymph tissues. Average isotopic discrimination factors between mantis shrimp muscle and the new diet …

A Behavioral Analysis Of The Pre-Release Tasmanian Devils (Sarcophilus Harrisii) Currently At Devils@Cradle: An Assessment Of The Impacts Of Captivity On The Wild Behaviors Of Tasmanian Devils That Are Important For Their Reintroduction, Survival, And Inclusion In Wild Populations, Anna Staudenmaier

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The Tasmanian devil, Sarcophilus harrisi, is in danger of extinction in the wild due to the emergence of Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD). In an attempt to save the species the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (STTDP) has initiated the creation of an ‘Insurance Population’. These insurance animals are a part of the captive breeding population (CBP) designed to conserve the genetic diversity of the species to preserve their ecological function for their future reintroduction into the wild. CBPs are located at various bio-secure zoos, wildlife parks, free-range enclosures (FREs), Tasmanian islands and peninsulas and sanctuaries like Devils@Cradle - Tasmanian …