Complex therapy against toxascariosis of caged silver foxes

The purpose of the research is evaluating the efficacy of complex therapy using dironet, lactobifadol and keratin food supplement (DLK) against toxascariosis of the arctic fox.Materials and methods. To determine the helminth fauna in the conditions of Vyatka Fur Breeding Farm, 61 females silver fox and 55 females voilevoy arctic fox were used as study objects. To conduct complex therapy against toxascariosis, the study object was 24 females culled from the breeding herd, spontaneously infected with toxascariosis and being clinically healthy. The morphological and biochemical blood parameters in female foxes were determined before and after dehelminthization, and control weighing of animals from experimental groups was carried out before and after the experiment.Results and discussion. Of the studied 116 fur-bearing animals, 26 (22.4%) were infected with Toxascaris leonina. Infection rate of Toxascaris sp. in silver fox females aged 5–7 years was 42.6% when 7-9 eggs were found in one microscope field (magnification 7 × 9). Infection with Toxascaris sp. affects on the body weight of infected animals. The females silver fox from the second experimental group infected with Toxascaris sp., which were not treated, had an average live weight of 1.3 kg less (16.6%) as compared to the control. The complex therapy with the DLK treatment-and-prophylactic complex contributed to the improved metabolic processes and digestion. The applicability of the DLK treatment-and-prophylactic complex for therapy against toxascariosis was proved.

Species- and age-dependent distribution of retinol and α-tocopherol in the Canidae family during the cold season

Vitamins A and E are known as nutrients involved in metabolic processes and facilitating the adaptation of animals. The metabolism of these vitamins is closely related to lipid metabolism, which has seasonal variations in animals inhabiting northern latitudes. The aim of this study was to investigate the concentrations of retinol (vitamin A) and α-tocopherol (vitamin E) in the cold season (October to February) in tissues of Canidae species that have different ecological characteristics: the blue fox (Vulpes syn. Alopex lagopus), silver fox (Vulpes vulpes), their interspecific hybrids (Vulpes×Vulpes), raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), and grey wolf (Canis lupus). In addition, age-related differences in the levels of these vitamins were determined. Results showed the distribution of retinol and α-tocopherol in the body of the canids was similar, with larger amounts being found in the liver and kidney cortex, which play a regulatory role in the metabolism of these nutrients. The higher retinol level in the liver of wolves and interspecific hybrids of blue fox and silver fox, as compared to the retinol level in the liver of other species, might be species-specific and could also be attributed to dietary differences. The blue fox and raccoon dog both have a higher capacity for α-tocopherol accumulation in the cold season, apparently due to their ability to store substantial fat reserves. Retinol and α-tocopherol levels were generally higher in the tissues of mature animals.

Chromosomal Instability at Fragile Sites in Blue Foxes, Silver Foxes, and Their Interspecific Hybrids

A cytogenetic assay based on fragile sites (FS) enables the identification of breaks, chromatid gaps, and deletions. In healthy individuals, the number of these instabilities remains low. Genome stability in these species is affected by Robertsonian translocations in the karyotype of the blue fox and by B chromosomes in the silver fox. The aims of the study were to characterise the karyotype of blue foxes, silver foxes, and their hybrids and to identify chromosomal fragile sites used to evaluate genome stability. The diploid number of A chromosomes in blue foxes ranged from 48 to 50, while the number of B chromosomes in silver foxes varied from one to four, with a constant number of A chromosomes (2n = 34). In interspecific hybrids, both types of karyotypic variation were identified, with the diploid number of A chromosomes ranging from 40 to 44 and the number of B chromosomes varying from 0 to 3. The mean frequency of FS in foxes was 4.06 ± 0.19: 4.61 ± 0.37 in blue foxes, 3.46 ± 0.28 in silver foxes, and 4.12 ± 0.22 in hybrids. A relationship was identified between an increased number of A chromosomes in the karyotype of the hybrids and the frequency of chromosomal breaks. The FS assay was used as a biomarker for the evaluation of genomic stability in the animals in the study.

Comparative assessment of fattening qualities of rabbits of different breeds under the conditions of the private farm

A comparative assessment of the fattening qualities of rabbits of different breeds on a farm with an intensive technology of rabbit meat production was carried. The material for the study was a herd of rabbits of meat and skin breeds: Gray Giant Flander, Californian, Silver Fox. The experiment was carried by the group method. For this purpose, 30 rabbits were selected at 45 days of age and 3 groups of 10 heads were formed. Analogue rabbits were selected by breed, age, live weight, sex. The experimental livestock was housed in a shed-type room equipped with 4 rows of mesh cages arranged in two tiers, in which bunker feeders and nipple drinking bowls were installed. The animals were fed with pellets compound feed with the addition of leguminous Herbal hay. Compound feed was distributed from bunker self-feeders, Herbal hay – from feeders (mangers). The rabbits were watered from nipple drinkers, which provided the animals with constant access to food and water. In the course of the research, the live weight of rabbits, absolute and average daily gain, relative growth rate and feed costs were studied. It has been found that the Californian rabbits fulfill their growth potential better than the Silver Fox and Gray Giant Flander rabbits. Average daily gains in rabbits of the Californian breed were 1.8 g higher compared to analogs of the Silver Fox breed and 1.18 g higher than in the Gray Giant Flander. In terms of live weight, at the end of the experiment, the Californian rabbits were dominated by analogs of the Silver Fox breed by 116.7 g and by 90 g of Gray Giant Flander rabbits. The level of profitability of raising young rabbits for meat of the Californian breed was 12.2 %, and the Gray Giant Flander and Silver Fox breeds, respectively – 3.8 and 4.0 %. Key words: fattening qualities, Gray Giant Flander, Silver Foxy breed, Californian breed, average daily gains, economic efficiency.

Morphometric Characteristics of the Spermatozoa of Blue Fox (Alopex lagopus) and Silver Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

The results presented in this study are the first such extensive characterization of the sperm morphometry of the blue fox (Alopex lagopus) and silver fox (Vulpes vulpes), as representatives of the family Canidae. Canine spermatozoa, especially the sperm of farmed foxes, are not often described in studies on reproduction. The aim of the study was a detailed comparison of the morphometric dimensions and shape of the sperm of two fox species: silver fox and blue fox. Semen collected from 10 silver foxes and 10 blue foxes was used for the study. The specimens were stained with silver nitrate. Measurements were performed of the length, width, perimeter, and area of the head; the area of the acrosome and its coverage; the length of the midpiece and its coverage; the length of the tail; and the length of the end piece of the tail. In addition, four head shape indices were calculated: ellipticity, elongation, roughness and regularity. The following values for the morphometric parameters and shape indices were obtained for blue fox and silver fox, respectively: head length—6.72 µm and 6.33 µm; head width—4.54.µm and 4.21 µm; head perimeter—18.11 µm and 17.37 µm; head area—21.94 µm2 and 21.11 µm2; acrosome area—11.50 µm2 and 10.92 µm2; midpiece length—12.85 µm and 12.79 µm; tail end piece length—3.44 µm and 3.28 µm; tail length—65.23 µm and 65.09 µm; acrosome coverage—52.43% and 52.83%; midpiece coverage—19.71% and 19.65%; sperm length—71.95 µm and 71.42 µm; ellipticity—1.49 and 1.52; elongation—0.19 and 0.20; roughness—0.84 and 1.88; regularity—1.09 and 0.99. The significance of differences between species was verified by Tukey’s test at p ≤ 0.05. Statistically significant differences between species were found for the following parameters: head length, width, perimeter and area; acrosome area; tail, end piece, and total sperm length; roughness and regularity. The differences in the size and shape of sperm can be used to establish reference patterns for fox sperm enabling more accurate species identification.

The Phorgotten Phenotype

This chapter provides a detailed description of the concept of securitarianism. Research on non-human animals including the Russian silver fox and American oldfield mouse as well as human research using eyetrackers suggests that protective threat responses are often based on something other than fear. Many securitarians do not trust others to take care of them and are attracted to isolationism and survivalist strategies not because they are fearful but because they believe being vigilant and working to provide security are ennobling duties. Thus, securitarians, including many intense Trump supporters, can advocate gun rights, tough crime laws, defense spending, and border walls even though they are not particularly neurotic and scared. Securitarians are not eager to fight and they are not eager to submit but they are eager to be vigilant and prepared. This chapter concludes by comparing securitarianism to other concepts such as libertarianism and communitarianism.