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At least 1,477 records · Page 82Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

An attempt to protect cats against infestation with Ctenocephalides felis felis using gut membrane antigens as a vaccine.

Cats (n = 5) were vaccinated with membrane antigens extracted from the gut of unfed fleas (Ctenocephalides felis felis) together with Quil A and RIBI as adjuvants. Five unvaccinated cats were retained as controls. All the cats were infested on 6 separate occasions with fleas (46-250 per challenge). Protection was assessed from the number of fleas retrieved and the fecundity of the female fleas, measured as the number of developed oocytes contained in the reproductive tract. Cats injected with gut membrane antigens had significantly elevated levels of anti-flea antibodies in their sera, but they were neither protected significantly against infestation with fleas nor was the apparent fecundity of fleas which had fed on vaccinated cats decreased. The possible reason why gut membrane antigens failed to protect cats against fleas are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Experimental Oesophagostomum dentatum infection in the pig: worm populations resulting from single infections with three doses of larvae.

This report describes the effect of different dose levels of infection upon worm burdens and development and fecundity of the parasites. Three groups each of 40, 9-week-old, helminth naive pigs were inoculated once with either 2000 (group A), 20,000 (group B), or 200,000 (group C) infective third stage larvae of Oesophagostomum dentatum. Subgroups of 5 pigs from each major group were killed 3, 6, 11, 14, 18, 25, 34 and 47 days post inoculation (p.i.) and the large intestinal worm burdens were determined. Faecal egg counts were determined at frequent intervals after day 13 p.i. There were no overt clinical signs of gastrointestinal helminthosis during the experiment. Faecal egg counts became positive in groups A and B at around day 19 p.i., whereas most pigs in the high dose group C did not have positive egg counts until day 27-33 p.i. and some pigs remained with zero egg counts until the end of the study. Throughout the experiment the worm populations in group C consisted mainly of immature larval stages, while those in groups A and B were predominantly adult stages after days 14-18. Adult worms from the low dose group A were significantly longer than those from group C. At high population densities, stunted development of worms and reduced fecundity among female worms were found. Furthermore, there was a tendency for the distribution of the worms within the intestine to be altered with increasing population size.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Radiation and transposon-induced genetic damage in Drosophila melanogaster: X-ray dose-response and synergism with DNA-repair deficiency.

The interaction of X-ray-induced and transposon-induced damage was investigated in P-M hybrid dysgenesis in Drosophila melanogaster. The X-ray dose-response of 330-1320 rad was monitored for sterility, fecundity and partial X/Y chromosome loss among F2 progeny derived from the dysgenic cross of M strain females xP strain males (cross A) and its reciprocal (cross B), using a weaker and the standard Harwich P strain subline. The synergistic effect of P element activity and X-rays on sterility was observed only in cross A hybrids and the dose-response was nonlinear in hybrids derived from the strong standard reference Harwich subline, Hw. This finding suggests that the lesions induced by both mutator systems which produce the synergistic effect are two-break events. The effect of increasing dose on the decline of fecundity was synergistic, but linear, in hybrids of either subline. There was no interaction evident and thus no synergism in X/Y nondisjunction and in partial Y chromosome loss measured by the loss of the Bs marker alone or together with the y+ marker. Interaction was detected in the loss of the y+ marker alone from the X and Y chromosomes. The possible three-way interaction of X-rays (660 rad), post-replication repair deficiency and P element mobility was assessed by measuring transmission distortion in dysgenic males derived from the II2 P strain. X-Irradiation of spermatids significantly increased the preferential elimination of the P-element-bearing second chromosome in mei-41, DNA-repair-deficient dysgenic males, but had no effect in their DNA-repair-proficient brothers. These findings indicate that the post-replication repair pathway is required for processing lesions induced by the combined effect of P element mobility and X-rays, and that the unrepaired lesions ultimately lead to chromosome loss.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

The influence of above-optimal constant temperatures on South African Biomphalaria pfeifferi (Krauss) (Mollusca: Planorbidae).

The effects of constant above-optimal temperatures on the hatching, growth, survival, fecundity and development of the ovotestis of Biomphalaria pfeifferi from Komatipoort, South Africa, have been studied and compared with observations reported on B. glabrata. While rates of gametogenesis at 25 degrees C and ambient temperature (mean 22-8 degrees C) were similar, they were slightly accelerated at 27 degreesC. Fecundity and survival at 27 degrees C were considerably reduced and at 29 degrees C hyperthermia was pronounced.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The epidemiology and population biology of Necator americanus infection in a rural community in Zimbabwe.

Baseline data from an epidemiological study of hookworm infection in a rural community in Zimbabwe are presented. The infection status of an age-stratified sample of the community was assessed using anthelmintic expulsion techniques. Necator americanus was the only helminth parasite found to be present. The age-prevalence and intensity profiles rose asymptotically to an adult prevalence of about 80% and adult mean burden of 7.7 worms per host. The overall mean burden was 4.8 worms per host. The frequency distribution of N. americanus was overdispersed and well described by the negative binomial distribution with a value for the aggregation parameter, k, of 0.346. Separate estimates of k were lower in males and older hosts. The distribution patterns were difficult to reconcile with any simple process of age-dependent acquisition of an effective immune response. A significant negative correlation was recorded between per caput fecundity and worm burden, providing evidence for a density-dependent regulation of female worm fecundity. The basic reproductive rate (R0 congruent to 2) was found to be similar to estimates from other geographical areas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Risk spreading as an adaptive strategy in iteroparous life histories.

It has long been conjectured, though without satisfactory proof, that life tables with a long reproductive span are advantageous in an environment where fecundity or immature survival rates fluctuate randomly. In the present analysis we recast the nonlinear Leslie matrix problem as an autoregressive time series model for the birth rate, with random addition and removal of newborn. This transformation renders the model linear with respect to the environmental variation, allowing ready solution for the ultimate population size and for the conditions resulting in stationarity of the population distribution. We show that for life tables where the fecundities of all adult age classes are the same (no restrictions are put on the survivorship schedule, or on the age at first reproduction), and where density dependence operates via total adult density, the realized growth rate is less than the growth rate calculated from the mean Leslie matrix associated with the population's growth history. The degree of the discrepancy increases with the environmental variability, and decreases with iteroparity, thus completing a proof which confirms the correctness of the initial conjecture for a class of biologically reasonable life-table models.

Birth Rate↗
PubMed1987

Individual and population sex allocation patterns.

A variety of sex allocation models is considered in which the reproductive returns on investment in males differ from the returns on investment in females, the amounts of resources available for reproduction vary in the population, the costs of making male and female reproductive structures differ, and the conception sex ratio may be fixed and there may be an initial minimum investment per offspring. Results of these models include quantitative predictions for both individual- and population-level sex allocation, an opportunity to study the magnitude of changes in predicted patterns as key variables change, and therefore an analysis of the robustness of Fisher's equal investment theory. One example is that Fisher's argument is extremely robust for high fecundity organisms, but, in low fecundity organisms, is sensitive to differences between the sexes in reproductive returns on investment per offspring, a situation that occurs in many vertebrates to which Fisher's theory is often applied. A second example is that individual- and population-level patterns often depend strongly on the distribution of resources available for reproduction among individuals in the population.

Female↗
PubMed1988

Models of growth with density regulation in more than one life stage.

Discrete-time models of growth of populations with nonoverlapping generations and density regulation in two life stages are studied. It is assumed that there is no delay in the effects of density. Assigning exponential, linear, or hyperbolic functions to describe the dependence of preadult survival and fecundity on density, nine models are obtained. The dynamics of the model resulting from using the exponential function to describe the density dependence of both preadult survival and fecundity is analyzed: for large values of the intrinsic rate of increase there may exist up to three equilibrium population sizes, two stable. This indicates that a life history with two episodes of density regulation can give origin to alternative stable states. The models are fitted to recruitment data from growth experiments of Drosophila laboratory populations obtained with the Serial Transfer System Type 2 (Ayala et al., 1973. Theor. Pop. Biol. 4, 331-356) and collected by other authors. The results of the fittings suggest that this recruitment data can be adequately described with the models.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Effect of vitamin E on lifespan and reproduction in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Vitamin E extends the lifespan of many animals, including the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Our results confirm previous studies that 200 micrograms/ml vitamin E significantly prolonged C. elegans survival (17-23%, P less than 0.05) when added from hatching to day 3, while continuous exposure, either at hatching or from 4 days prior to hatching, had little additional effect. Treatment with 100 or 400 micrograms/ml vitamin E, or with other antioxidants (80 micrograms/ml vitamin C, either alone or in combination with vitamin E, or 120 micrograms/ml N,N'-diphenyl-1,4-diphenylenediamine (DPPD] did not significantly affect lifespan. All treatments with 200 micrograms/ml vitamin E moderately reduced fecundity (total progeny) and increased the mean day of reproduction. At 400 micrograms/ml, vitamin E had severe effects, while DPPD, vitamin C, and 100 micrograms/ml vitamin E had slight effects on both these parameters of reproduction. These data suggest that vitamin E increases lifespan in C. elegans in part by slowing development in the same manner that metabolic-depressant or mildly cytotoxic drugs increase lifespan, decrease fecundity, and delay the timing of reproduction.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Effect of PMSG on the reproductive performance of totally confined ewes bred at synchronized estrus.

The reproductive performance (fertility, prolificacy and fecundity of totally confined sheep in a controlled breeding program at the Animal Research Centre (ARC) was analyzed to evaluate the effect of pregnant mares' serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) on ewes synchronized for estrus with fluorogestone acetate (FGA). PMSG did not significantly enhance reproductive performance. Fertility for ewes receiving 500 IU PMSG was 57% and for ewes not receiving PMSG it was 47%. Corresponding values for prolificacy were 2.4 and 2.2, and for fecundity, 144 and 103%. The reproductive performance was not affected by any of the other factors (flock, strain, lighting regime, ram age or reproductive status of the ewe) indigenous to the controlled breeding program for sheep housed in total confinement.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1985

Effect of PMSG dosage on the reproductive performance of adult ewes and ewe lambs bred at a progestagen-PMSG synchronized estrus.

The effect of dose of pregnant mares' serum gonadotropin (PMSG) on the reproductive performance of adult ewes and ewe lambs and lamb survival at birth after treatment with fluorogestone acetate (FGA)-impregnated intravaginal sponges and PMSG (250 IU or 500 IU) to synchronize estrus was evaluated. Ewes were exposed to rams for breeding at the synchronized and subsequent estrous cycles. The flock, comprised of three synthetic strains and two control breeds, was maintained in a controlled environment and exposed to an artificial light regimen which alternated at 4-mo intervals from 16h of light daily to 9h of light daily. Trials were conducted during January, May and September at the end of a 9-h daylength cycle. Adult ewes were bred in May and 8 mo later in January. Ewe lambs were bred in September at 6.5 to 7.5 mo of age. The overall reproductive performance of the adult ewes was similar at the two breedings: fertility approximately 90%, prolificacy approximately 2.7, fecundity approximately 240% and lambs born alive approximately 2.4. Dosage of PMSG had no effect. Reproductive performance of ewe lambs was lower and there was a strain x treatment interaction, suggesting greater variability in response. The results indicate there is no advantage to using a higher dose of PMSG in ewes with a natural relatively high fecundity. Moreover, the use of the artificial photoperiod appears to overcome the natural seasonal variation in reproductive performance.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

Effect of immunizing prepuberal lambs of low and high ovulation rate genotypes with inhibin partially purified from bovine follicular fluid.

Active immunization of prepuberal lambs with a partially purified inhibin preparation, isolated from bovine follicular fluid, increased the ovulation rate. In ewe lambs of a low fecundity breed (Suffolk x Galway), the ovulation rate rose from 1.15 to 1.95 (P<0.05) compared with that of the controls. An ovulation rate of 3.38 was recorded for immunized ewe lambs of a high fecundity breed (Finn x Dorset Horn), while the rate for mature ewes from the same flock was 2.29. Immunization did not affect the time of onset of puberty or estrous cycle length. Following immunization, antibodies were produced that bound to a pure preparation of 68kDa bovine inhibin. This report demonstrates the production of antibody to a 68kDa preparation of inhibin following active immunization of sheep using a partially purified preparation. It was concluded that the increased ovulation rate was due to the production of antibodies to inhibin, which may have reduced its negative feedback effect of FSH secretion.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

Altered performance of white sucker populations in the Manitouwadge chain of lakes is associated with changes in benthic macroinvertebrate communities as a result of copper and zinc contamination.

White sucker (Catostomus commersoni) collected from the Manitouwadge chain of lakes show a lower growth rate and fecundity in lakes contaminated with copper and zinc from a mixed metal mine. This study evaluated whether the changes in performance of the fish were related to direct impacts of the metals or indirect impacts associated with changes in food availability. Concentrations of metals in the water and sediment of lakes in the Manitouwadge chain were elevated, relative to reference sites. The concentrations of Cu and Zn in the digesta of white sucker were significantly higher, as were the levels of both Cu and Zn in liver, kidney, and gill tissue. Muscle and spleen levels of Cu and Zn were significantly lower or not different from controls. Tissue levels were within the homeostatic range for Cu and Zn. However, the total density of invertebrates varied from greater than 25,000 m-2 at control sites to less than 13,000 m-2 at contaminated sites, and the number of genera recorded was more than 50% lower in shallow water samples. There was almost a complete absence of several invertebrate taxa at contaminated sites, including Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Trichoptera, Amphipoda, and Unionidae. Diptera accounted for 78 to 96% of the total numbers of individuals at metal-contaminated sites as compared with 40 to 75% at the control sites. An analysis of white sucker stomach contents showed that the contents closely reflected the benthic composition observed in the natural substrate. Changes in food availability and feeding activity were correlated with previous changes documented in the growth, fecundity, and lipid levels of white sucker.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

The relative importance of Ah versus H-2 genotype on Trichinella resistance following exposure to 3-methylcholanthrene.

The relative influence of Ah vs H-2 genotype on the outcome of Trichinella spiralis (Tsp) infections of mice was examined following methylcholanthrene (MC) treatment. Female mice of four inbred strains were treated with MC and infected 24 h later with Tsp muscle larvae. The strains, with their respective major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotype, aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase responsiveness (Ah phenotype) and level of susceptibility to Tsp infection, were: C3HeB/FeJ (C3), H-2k, Ahb, Tsp susceptible; C57BL/10.BR (B10.BR), H-2k, Ahb, Tsp susceptible; C57BL/10.Q (B10.Q), H-2q, Ahb, Tsp resistant; and AKR/J (AK), H-2k, Ahd, Tsp resistant. The proliferative response of splenic lymphocytes to crude Tsp L1 stage antigen was significantly depressed in all MC-treated groups, with the exception of the B10.BR strain. MC administered at 40 mg/kg impaired the ability of C3 and B10.Q mice to eliminate adult worms. At 80 mg/kg, C3 strain mice were also impaired, as well as AK strain mice. The fecundity of female worms recovered from B10 or AK strain mice was not significantly altered by MC treatment, although female worms from treated C3 mice exhibited increased fecundity on day 9 post infection. Muscle larvae burdens of MC-treated B10 and C3 mice were elevated, while those of AK strain mice were unaffected. These data suggest that with acute exposures to MC, the immunogenetic resistance or susceptibility of a given mouse strain may have a more pronounced effect on immune depression and the severity of Tsp infection than does the Ah phenotype.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Effects of different food (Chlorella) concentrations on the chronic toxicity of cadmium to survivorship, growth and reproduction of Echinisca triserialis (Crustacea: Cladocera).

Extraneous factors have been shown to greatly modify pollutant stress. The present study was conducted with the objective of determining whether differences in food levels could modify chronic toxicity of cadmium to the various life-history parameters of the cladoceran Echinisca triserialis. Laboratory experiments were conducted on a sublethal range of cadmium (0, 2.5, 5.0, 10 and 20 microg litre(-1)) on life-history parameters such as survivorship, longevity, life expectancy, age at first reproduction, total fecundity, neonate size, net reproductive rate (R0), generation time (T), intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) and growth of Echinisca triserialis in relation to different food (Chlorella) levels of 0.5 (low), 1.5 (medium) and 4.5 (high) x 10(6) cells ml(-1). Cadmium levels of 10 microg litre(-1) and above, and low food levels, had a profound effect in decreasing the magnitude of all parameters studied. EC50 levels computed for life-history parameters, such as longevity, life expectancy at birth, total fecundity, R0 and T, were in the range of 2 to 21 microg litre(-1) cadmium, and this is indicative of extreme adverse effects on the population dynamics of E. triserialis when exposed to low food levels. At high food levels the EC50 was not achieved for cadmium in the toxicant range studied. The significance of these results is discussed in relation to field conditions.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1990

Genetic control of immunity to gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle.

Previous studies have indicated that host genetics significantly affects the number of gastrointestinal nematode eggs per gram (epg) in the feces of calves during their first grazing season. An entire calf crop of approximately 190 animals was monitored monthly until weaning to verify these earlier results, and to begin to discern the basis for this phenomenon. A significant genetic effect on fecal epg values was not observed until calves had been on pasture for 2-3 months, and was demonstrable until late in the grazing season when the effect was lost. The loss of a genetic effect coincided with the appearance of significant numbers of the more highly fecund nematode species Haemonchus placei and Oesophagostomum radiatum, and with an apparent increase in Ostertagia ostertagi transmission, indicating that the observed genetic control of epg values may be species specific, dose dependent or both. Calves were selected from the population, and grouped according to their epg phenotype over the grazing season as either high or low epg calves. Postmortem examination of some of these calves indicated that worm burdens in the low epg calves were 60% of those of the high epg calves. Experimental challenge inoculation of the remaining calves indicated that: (1) challenge with Cooperia oncophora resulted in low epg calves harboring worm numbers that were 65% of those of high epg calves; (2) challenge with O. ostertagi resulted in similar numbers of worms in both groups, but the fecundity of worms in the low epg groups was significantly lower (P less than 0.05) than in the high epg group. Analysis of serum anti-Ostertagia antibody levels in the grazing calf population showed rises in serum IgG1, IgG2, IgM and IgA antibody levels during the grazing season. Peak serum IgG2 and IgG1 anti-Ostertagia antibody levels were found to be significantly affected by host genetic factors while IgA and IgM levels were not under such control.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

A study of dietary restriction and lifespan in the rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli monitored by chronic neutral red exposure.

The rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli could be exposed to concentrations of neutral red at 0.1 to 0.75 microgram/ml for two consecutive generations with no adverse effect on the lifespan or fecundity of either generation. Chronic exposure to higher concentrations of neutral red caused reductions in both lifespan and fecundity of the rotifers. Because neutral red stains the Paramecium which serve as a food source for the rotifers, the extent of red coloration in each rotifer's gut gave an approximation of how much food that rotifer had consumed. The Paramecium concentration had to be reduced to 100 per ml before pale gut coloration provided clear evidence of reduced food intake or dietary restriction. The group of rotifers with reduced food intake had a significantly longer lifespan than any other group. Their lifespan was 14.2% longer than that of control rotifers.

Aging↗
PubMed1984

Does a relationship exist between spontaneous locomotor activity, fitness and lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster?

Spontaneous locomotor activity (SLA), fecundity, fertility and lifespan were measured in a wild laboratory strain of Drosophila melanogaster in order to ascertain whether there is a genetic correlation between these traits. In females there is no correlation either between SLA and fecundity or between SLA and lifespan. It is concluded that, although a high level of SLA probably constitutes a favorable behavioral component of fitness, this does not mean that more active females have a larger number of offspring and live longer than less active ones.

Animals↗