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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Drexel University, 2010. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 187-224).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2010. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-89). Also available on the World Wide Web.

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In 2005, Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) migrating to the United Kingdom exhibited swollen, haemorrhagic vents, symptoms not previously recorded. The condition was latterly termed Red Vent Syndrome (RVS), and subsequently observed across the North Atlantic. RVS has been pathognomonically associated with one of the most abundant parasites within the marine environment, the ascaridoid nematode Anisakis simplex, which also causes Anisakiasis in humans. Although A. simplex is commonly found in Atlantic salmon, heavy infestation of the vent region is novel, and the expression of RVS has not been prevalent in other fish species. Red Vent Syndrome has been well studied, however, the causes of the condition, and the reasons driving the novel site of infestation exhibited by A. simplex, have not been clarified. The aim of this PhD therefore, is to provide new information regarding the underlying factors of the infestation of the vent region by A. simplex, and the emergence of RVS. This study therefore: i) assessed the relationship between nematode burdens within the viscera and musculature, in comparison to the vent in 117 adult Atlantic salmon; ii) compared the genetic structure of A. simplex present in the vent region and the viscera using the entire nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region; iii) investigated migratory route and feeding ground of Scottish salmon populations using stable isotope analysis of dorsal muscle tissue and parasite component communities and, iv) assessed the expression of the cytokine TNF-α1 within vent muscle tissue using (q)RT-PCR, in relation to RVS severity. Phylogenetic analyses have shown that it is A. simplex sensu stricto infesting the vent region. The results show that there is a significant positive relationship between the nematodue burden in the body (viscera and musculature) and in the vent region. Isotopic signatures of salmon populations showed no significant differences, however, A. simplex intensities between populations on the East and North coasts of Scotland suggest geographical differences in A. simplex transmission pathways. Finally, the expression of TNF-α1 is not significantly different between RVS severity, and nematode burden. Out of the four studied factors, increasing nematode intensities in Atlantic salmon populations, and the significant positive relationship of nematode intensities between the body (viscera and musculature) and the vent, are likely to explain the infestation of the vent by A. simplex. The underlying causes of RVS however remain uncertain and require further research. With incidences of RVS observed across a number of populations over a large spatial area, regional and global effectors such as warming sea surface temperatures, and the North Atlantic Oscillation are expected to play key roles in its aetiology.

There is increasing evidence that homeothermy (the maintenance of a high and stable body temperature-Tb) as observed in modern mammals was derived from an ancestral heterothermic (flexible Tb regulation) state. One of main hypotheses for why this occurred is that homeothermy benefits parental care. As such the study of the thermoregulatory physiology during reproduction in an otherwise heterothermic mammal can provide insights into the evolution of homeothermic endothermy in mammals. This thesis presents data collected over three reproductive seasons from one such mammal, the greater hedgehog tenrec (Setifer setosus, Tenrecidae). Flow-through respirometry was used to measure resting metabolism over a range of ambient temperatures (Ta). At low Ta S. setosus demonstrated a high propensity for torpor and highly labile Tb. This high degree of heterothermy was abandoned during reproduction; pregnant and lactating females maintained higher Tb and metabolic rates. Tb obtained from free-ranging animals showed similar trends. Reproductive females had less variability in Tb, whereas non-reproductive females and males had a higher propensity for torpor as well as higher overall Tb lability. These data indicate a larger degree of homeothermy during reproduction. Concurrent with the collection of physiological data, the use of radio-transmitters, implanted into the peritoneal cavity along with the temperature data-loggers, allowed for novel observations on the life-history of this little-studied species. The most striking finding was that S. setosus demonstrates an exceptional capacity to assimilate energy. In the short active season males showed high levels of activity and occupied home ranges larger than predicted for their body size. Females, in addition to maintaining a higher degree of homeothermy, can have up to three litters per year. Over this same time period individuals of both sex double their body mass in preparation for hibernation. Such high energetic outputs are thought to be incompatible with the low basal metabolic rates which this species displays. An explanation of this incongruity can be found in the high Ta at the study site, which negated most thermoregulatory costs. In reproductive females, the fitness benefits of small increments in homeothermy seem to be offset by the relatively low fitness costs involved in minimal thermoregulatory energy demands. Homeothermy during reproduction is therefore likely to have been a first step in the progressive evolution from heterothermic to homeothermic endothermy in mammals. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2014.

The diploma thesis deals with the evaluation of the growth of cold-blooded stallions in pig breeding test rearing houses. The Czech Republic has set up three pig breeding test rearing houses. A total of 96 stallions were measured with 14 body measurements and they were also weighed whilst alive. Statistically significant differences were detected between breeds as well as between age groups when evaluating the intensity of growth of all measured body size and body weight. In most body sizes there were the biggest Silesian Norics horses (SN). At the age of two and a half years they stagnated growth in chest circumference, the circumference of the tibia and sternum height, even though it is stated in the Rules and Regulation of breeding book that SN mature between 5-6 years of age. During the evaluation there were no statistically significant differences between rearing houses. Stallions from the rearing house of Proseč prevailed in growth usually at the beginning of rearing, and later stallions from the rearing house of Dvorka at the age of one and a half year grew most. Stallions in the rearing house of Humňany had the lowest WHS, WHT and CC. The smallest variances of individual body size from the three studied cold-blooded breeds were detected by the CzechMoravian Belgian horse (CMB). This breed can therefore be regarded as the most well bred. The greatest value of the index body frame, the index heights in the crisis as well as index of severity were found in the breed SN. On the other hand CMB reached the lowest values in the above-mentioned indices and also in the index of boniness. Norick horses (N) have the most massive skeleton. In the scope of the height index of the sternum there was prevailed CMB at the beginning of rearing, but at the age of year and a half they began reaching a higher value N. This work was supported by the Project NAZV, project number QJ1510141 and project GAJU 019/2016/Z.

Performance tests of cold-blooded mares are the only control criterion of their performance and characteristic features, along with completing assembly centre and entry into the appropriate herd book. This dissertation inquires into the analysis of performance tests results that the mares went through in the period 2004 - 2016. During this period, the tests evaluated the performance of 1099 mares where was 39.58% ČMB, 36.03% SN and 24.39% N. There was found that the number of mares SN participating performance tests rises unlike the number of mares N which drops. In the next part of this work, we found that the best total rating in the monitored period achieved the breed mares SN with an average of 7.92 points, as well as minimum and maximum of average total rating assumes higher values than the breed ČMB and N. The third feature (value 8.28) achieved in the partial character of assessment performance tests the highest average mark. This feature is in total best evaluated by all breeds. In the tests of performance in the monitored period there was a cold-blooded mares evaluated with 3260 marks. Out of these marks it was found out that a statistically significant difference between each breed wasn´t at characteristic mark of step when the P> 0.05 level. Other characters achieved p-value of 0.001, which indicates the difference of the breeds in those marks. It was proved the dependence of the overall assessment on the marks of partial character of assessment performance tests of cold-blooded mares and there was a notable tightness of dependence of character saddiction in the first, second, third and the fourth - willingness -controllability. It follows that the discovery of the most difficult move affects the most the result of an overall assessment of performance tests of cold-blooded mares.

On the basis of written sources and actual information obtained from the forest owners a proposal for a solution has been prepared. The proposal concerns stabling system, health care and professional use of horses in the forest cover. Natural and terrain conditions as well as usability of particular cold-blooded horse breeds are taken into consideration while dealing with this matter. This study also includes a proposal for the organisation of work, necessary number of workers needed and rough financial budget of cost items. Study also compares horses to mechanical means of collecting wood. Based on the analysis, where 85 cold-blooded horses have been evaluated, an overview has been elaborated. The overview includes priorities and satisfaction of the owners with horses and horses´ current situation in forestry. In conclusion it is proven that average age of coachmen working in forestry is 42 years. The most often used breed is Slézský norik, in the age of 6 to 10 years. The coachmen usually work in a hard, sometimes even steep and chaotic, terrain. The most often stated payment for one concentrated cubic meter of wood is 80 CZK. The average number of concentrated cubic metres is 14 per day. The most often used type of stable for cold-blooded horses is tethering. The second most frequently used is stalls.

The aim of this diploma project is to work out an overviw about temporary cold-blooded horse families bred in Czech republic. Based on breed evidence and information from Approved breed associations the overview is to introduce horse families appearing in cold-blooded breeds (Bohemian-Moravian belgic horse, noric horse and Selezian noric).In individual families all information about their (number of females in the family) are mentioned, according to efficiency tests. Investigation about background of horse breeders helps to gain broader view on cold-blooded horses breeding issue - from the point of viw of motivation, attraction and ambitions of breeders.The source is the serial about breeding codblooded horses written by Jindřiška Svobodová, published in magazine Jezdectví in 2015, entitled: ¨Serial about new generation¨ - which deals with an issue about horses sentenced to scanzens and archives for their redundancy. Results lead to conclusion and recommendation for breed activities of Approved breed association.