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In orthopaedic research, the analysis of the gait pattern is an often-used evaluation method. It allows an assessment of changes in motion sequence and pain level during postoperative follow up periods. Visual assessments are highly subjective and dependent on the circumstances. Particular challenge in rabbits is their hopping gait pattern. The aim of the present study was to establish a more objective and sensitive lameness evaluation using a pressure sensing mat. Twelve NZW rabbits were implemented in the study. They got an artificial anterior cruciate ligament transection of the right knee in connection with an experimental study, which investigated PTOA treatment. Rabbits were examined by a visual lameness score. Additionally, load of the hindlimbs was measured by the use of a pressure sensing mat and a video was recorded. Peak pressure and time force integral, defined as cumulated integral of all sensors associated to a hind paw, were evaluated. Preoperative data were collected on three independent days. As postoperative measurement time points, week 1 and week 12 after surgery were chosen. The subjective visual scoring was compared to the objective data of the pressure sensing mat. Following the visual score, lameness in week one was mild to moderate. In week twelve, rabbits were evaluated as lame free bar one. Contrary, following the values of the sensor mat, lameness in week one appeared to be more pronounced and almost all rabbits still showed low-grade lameness in week twelve. Consequently, the pressure sensing mat is more sensitive than the visual score and captures the grade of lameness much more accurately. For specific orthopaedic issues, where subtle differences in lameness are important to detect, the used system is a good supplementary evaluation method.

Hypercytokinemia, or cytokine storm, is one of the severe complications of viral and bacterial infections, involving the release of abnormal amounts of cytokines, resulting in a massive inflammatory response. Cytokine storm is associated with COVID-19 and sepsis high mortality rate by developing epithelial dysfunction and coagulopathy, leading to thromboembolism and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Anticoagulant therapy is an important tactic to prevent thrombosis in sepsis and COVID-19, but recent data show the incompatibility of modern direct oral anticoagulants and antiviral agents. It seems relevant to develop dual-action drugs with antiviral and anticoagulant properties. At the same time, it was shown that azolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines are heterocycles with a broad spectrum of antiviral activity. We have synthesized a new family of azolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines and their condensed polycyclic analogs by cyclocondensation reactions and direct CH-functionalization and studied their anticoagulant properties. Five compounds among 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-ones and 5-alkyl-1,3,4-thiadiazolo[3,2-a]purin-8-ones demonstrated higher anticoagulant activity than the reference drug, dabigatran etexilate. Antithrombin activity of most active compounds was confirmed using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated blood to mimic the conditions of cytokine release syndrome. The studied compounds affected only the thrombin time value, reliably increasing it 6.5–15.2 times as compared to LPS-treated blood. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

New variants in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic are more contagious (Alpha/Delta), evade neutralizing antibodies (Beta), or both (Omicron). This poses a challenge in vaccine development according to WHO. We designed a more universal SARS-CoV-2 DNA vaccine containing receptor-binding domain loops from the huCoV-19/WH01, the Alpha, and the Beta variants, combined with the membrane and nucleoproteins. The vaccine induced spike antibodies crossreactive between huCoV-19/WH01, Beta, and Delta spike proteins that neutralized huCoV-19/WH01, Beta, Delta, and Omicron virus in vitro. The vaccine primed nucleoprotein-specific T cells, unlike spike-specific T cells, recognized Bat-CoV sequences. The vaccine protected mice carrying the human ACE2 receptor against lethal infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant. Interestingly, priming of cross-reactive nucleoprotein-specific T cells alone was 60% protective, verifying observations from humans that T cells protect against lethal disease. This SARS-CoV vaccine induces a uniquely broad and functional immunity that adds to currently used vaccines., QC 20230523

We present a co-axial acoustic-based optical coherence vibrometry probe (CoA-OCV) for vibro-acoustic resonance quantification in biological tissues. Sample vibrations were stimulated via a loudspeaker, and pre-compensation was used to calibrate the acoustic spectrum. Sample vibrations were measured via phase-sensitive swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT). Resonance frequencies of corneal phantoms were measured at varying intraocular pressures (IOP), and dependencies on Young¿s Modulus (E), phantom thickness and IOP were observed. Cycling IOP revealed hysteresis. For E = 0.3 MPa, resonance frequencies increased with IOP at a rate of 3.9, 3.7 and 3.5 Hz/mmHg for varied thicknesses and 1.7, 2.5 and 2.8 Hz/mmHg for E = 0.16 MPa. Resonance frequencies increased with thickness at a rate of 0.25 Hz/µm for E = 0.3 MPa, and 0.40 Hz/µm for E = 0.16 MPa. E showed the most predominant impact in the shift of the resonance frequencies. Full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the resonance modes increased with increasing thickness and decreased with increasing E. Only thickness and E contributed to the variance of FWHM. In rabbit corneas, resonance frequencies of 360–460 Hz were observed. The results of the current study demonstrate the feasibility of CoA-OCV for use in future OCT-V studies.

Viruses are ubiquitous in nature; however, very few have been identified in the Leporid species. In the fall of 2018, an outbreak of myxomatosis in Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis) was reported in Spain and a novel recombinant myxoma virus strain (MYXV-Tol) was identified. To investigate variability within the recombinant region of the MYXV-Tol and identify any potential viral coinfections, samples (ear, eyelid or vaginal) of Iberian hares were collected from Spain and analyzed. The presence of the recombinant region of the MYXV-Tol was confirmed in six out of eleven samples analyzed. Additionally, a polyomavirus (family Polyomaviridae), representing a putative new species, and anelloviruses (family Anelloviridae) belonging to two putative species were identified, some as coinfection with the recombinant MYXV-Tol. The two polyomavirus genomes were identified in two hares and share >99% genome-wide identity. Based on the analysis of their large T-antigen, the new polyomavirus clusters in a distant clade from other mammals sharing <64% amino acid identity. A total of 14 anelloviruses were identified, which share 63–99% genome-wide identity. Overall, our results show a coinfection of different DNA viruses in the studied samples and raise awareness regarding the extensive unsampled diversity of viruses in hares.

[Abstract] Revisions performed in the last 15 years added remarkable novelties to the taxonomy and biochronology of Italian fossil lagomorphs. Several new taxa have been erected basing on new materials and on the revision of old materials. This paper aims to illustrate the state of the art of such researches. The lagomorph diversity in the Italian Neogene and Pleistocene is quite high, accounting 9 ochotonids, 14 leporids, and 3 stem lagomorphs. Among the lagomorph taxa recorded in Italy, quite a high number are insular or continental endemics. The oldest Italian lagomorphs are the insular endemic Paludotona aff. minor, P. etruria and P. minor from the early-middle Turolian of the Tusco-Sardinia palaeobioprovince, and Prolagus apricenicus and P. imperialis from the late Turolian of the Abruzzi-Apulia palaeobioprovince. In the Italian peninsula, lagomorphs are known since the late Turolian (early Messinian). Prolagus appears in pre-evaporitic Messinian (Prolagus sorbinii) and gives rise to species endemic to the Italian peninsula (Prolagus italicus, late Villányian, central Italy; P. savagei/P. aff. sorbinii, early Villányian-early Biharian, NW and central Italy). The presence of Prolagus was probably constant until the early Biharian, age of its latest report in the Italian peninsula. The gap in the Pliocene fossil record is apparent and due to the extreme scarcity of fossil localities bearing continental vertebrates in the Italian Pliocene. The Asian genus Ochotona appeared at least twice in the Middle-Late Pleistocene of NE Italy, in correspondence of cold climatic phases. Prolagus of the latest Miocene-Early Pliocene of Italy represents the stock which originated the Sardinian lineage of Prolagus. The Sardinian species of Prolagus form an endemic insular anagenetic lineage whose oldest element is the earliest Late Pliocene P. aff. figaro, and which persists till historical times. The main turnover in the lineage, i.e. the transition P. figaro-P. sardus, is an eve

Glaucoma drainage devices are used in surgical glaucoma therapy. Success of controlling the intraocular pressure is limited due to fibrous implant encapsulation and fibrin coating on the implant which lead to drainage obstructions. An innovative implant with a magnetically adjustable valve was developed. The valve opening of the implant should eliminate inflammatory products from the outflow area and affect fibrous tissue formation to achieve a sufficient long-term aqueous humour outflow. Lifting of this valve should disturb cell adhesion by exerting mechanical forces. Before testing this hypothesis, the flow characteristics of glaucoma drainage devices, especially the outflow resistance by regular IOP, should be considered in a pilot study, as they are important in preventing too low postoperative intraocular pressure known as ocular hypotony. Therefore, two prototypes of the innovative implant differing in their valve area design were examined regarding their flow characteristics in a limited animal experiment lasting two weeks. Ten healthy New Zealand White rabbits were divided into two groups (A & B) with different implanted prototypes. Daily, tonometry and direct ophthalmoscopy were performed to assess the intraocular pressure and the inflammatory reaction of the eye. After two weeks, the rabbits were euthanised to evaluate the initially histological inflammatory reaction to the implant. In group A, one case of hypotony emerged. When considering the entire observation period, a highly statistically significant difference between the intraocular pressure in the operated eye and that in the control eye was detected in group A (p < 0.0001) in contrast to group B (p = 0.0063). The postoperative inflammatory signs decreased within two weeks. Histologically, a typical but low level foreign body reaction with macrophages and lymphocytes as well as mild to moderate fibrosis was seen after the short experimental period. Based on our tonometric results, prototype B seems

The paper presents the most important parasitic infections of wild rabbits and hares, which harmful effect in this animal population is manifested as a gradual weakening of the immune system, reduction in fertility, weight loss and constant exhaustion. Order of Lagomorpha (hares or lagomorphs) belongs to superorder of higher mammals which includes the family of rabbits (Leporidae) which are represented in Europe as well as the family of whistleblowers (Ochotonidae) which live only in North America and Northern regions of Asia. The most important representatives of Leporidae family are European hare (Lepus europeus) and wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). The most important endoparasitosis of hares and wild rabbits are: coccidiosis, encephalitozoonosis (nosemosis), toxoplasmosis, sarcocystosis, giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, protostrongylosis, trichostrngylodosis, passalurosis, anoplocephalidosis, cysticercosis and fasciolosis. The most frequent ectoparasites of rabbits and wild hares are fleas, lice and ticks. Reduction in hare population, which is noticed in whole Europe including Serbia, is caused by changed living conditions, quantitatively and qualitatively insufficient nutrition, increased use of herbicides as well as various infectious diseases and the diseases of parasitic etiology. Since wild rabbits and hares pose a threat to health of domestic rabbits and people, knowledge of parasitic fauna of these wild animals is of extreme epizootiological and epidemiological importance., U radu su prikazane najznačajnije parazitske infekcije divljih kunića i zečeva, čiji se štetan uticaj kod ove populacije divljači manifestuje kao postepeno slabljenje imuniteta, smanjenje plodnosti, gubitak telesne mase i konstantna iscrpljenost organizma. Red Lagomorpha (zečevi ili dvojezupci) pripada nadredu viših sisara i obuhvata porodicu zečeva (Leporidae), koji su zastupljeni u Evropi i porodicu zečeva zviždača (Ochotonidae), koji žive samo u Severnoj Americi i severnim predelima Azije. Najznačajniji predstavnici familije Leporidae su evropski zec (Lepus europeus) i divlji kunić (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Najznačajnije endoparazitoze žečeva i divljih kunića su: kokcidioza, encefalitozoonoza (nozemoza), toksoplazmoza, sarkocistioza, đardioza, kriptosporidioza, protostrongiloza, trihostrongilidoza, pasaluroza, anoplocefalidoza, cisticerkoza i fascioloza. Najčešći ektoparaziti zečeva i divljih kunića su vaši, buve, krpelji, grinje i šugarci. Na smanjenje brojnosti populacije zečeva, koje je poslednjih godina utvrđeno u celoj Evropi i Srbiji, odgovorni su izmenjeni životni uslovi, kvalitativno i kvantitativno nezadovoljavajuća ishrana, sve veća upotreba herbicida, kao i različita oboljenja zarazne i parazitske etiologije. Pošto divlji kunići i zečevi predstavljaju rizik za zdravlje domaćih kunića i ljudi, od izuzetnog je epizootiološko/epidemiološkog značaja poznavanje parazitske faune ove vrste divljih životinja.

The paper presents the most important parasitic infections of wild rabbits and hares, which harmful effect in this animal population is manifested as a gradual weakening of the immune system, reduction in fertility, weight loss and constant exhaustion. Order of Lagomorpha (hares or lagomorphs) belongs to superorder of higher mammals which includes the family of rabbits (Leporidae) which are represented in Europe as well as the family of whistleblowers (Ochotonidae) which live only in North America and Northern regions of Asia. The most important representatives of Leporidae family are European hare (Lepus europeus) and wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). The most important endoparasitosis of hares and wild rabbits are: coccidiosis, encephalitozoonosis (nosemosis), toxoplasmosis, sarcocystosis, giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, protostrongylosis, trichostrngylodosis, passalurosis, anoplocephalidosis, cysticercosis and fasciolosis. The most frequent ectoparasites of rabbits and wild hares are fleas, lice and ticks. Reduction in hare population, which is noticed in whole Europe including Serbia, is caused by changed living conditions, quantitatively and qualitatively insufficient nutrition, increased use of herbicides as well as various infectious diseases and the diseases of parasitic etiology. Since wild rabbits and hares pose a threat to health of domestic rabbits and people, knowledge of parasitic fauna of these wild animals is of extreme epizootiological and epidemiological importance., U radu su prikazane najznačajnije parazitske infekcije divljih kunića i zečeva, čiji se štetan uticaj kod ove populacije divljači manifestuje kao postepeno slabljenje imuniteta, smanjenje plodnosti, gubitak telesne mase i konstantna iscrpljenost organizma. Red Lagomorpha (zečevi ili dvojezupci) pripada nadredu viših sisara i obuhvata porodicu zečeva (Leporidae), koji su zastupljeni u Evropi i porodicu zečeva zviždača (Ochotonidae), koji žive samo u Severnoj Americi i severnim predelima Azije. Najznačajniji predstavnici familije Leporidae su evropski zec (Lepus europeus) i divlji kunić (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Najznačajnije endoparazitoze žečeva i divljih kunića su: kokcidioza, encefalitozoonoza (nozemoza), toksoplazmoza, sarkocistioza, đardioza, kriptosporidioza, protostrongiloza, trihostrongilidoza, pasaluroza, anoplocefalidoza, cisticerkoza i fascioloza. Najčešći ektoparaziti zečeva i divljih kunića su vaši, buve, krpelji, grinje i šugarci. Na smanjenje brojnosti populacije zečeva, koje je poslednjih godina utvrđeno u celoj Evropi i Srbiji, odgovorni su izmenjeni životni uslovi, kvalitativno i kvantitativno nezadovoljavajuća ishrana, sve veća upotreba herbicida, kao i različita oboljenja zarazne i parazitske etiologije. Pošto divlji kunići i zečevi predstavljaju rizik za zdravlje domaćih kunića i ljudi, od izuzetnog je epizootiološko/epidemiološkog značaja poznavanje parazitske faune ove vrste divljih životinja.

The paper presents the most important parasitic infections of wild rabbits and hares, which harmful effect in this animal population is manifested as a gradual weakening of the immune system, reduction in fertility, weight loss and constant exhaustion. Order of Lagomorpha (hares or lagomorphs) belongs to superorder of higher mammals which includes the family of rabbits (Leporidae) which are represented in Europe as well as the family of whistleblowers (Ochotonidae) which live only in North America and Northern regions of Asia. The most important representatives of Leporidae family are European hare (Lepus europeus) and wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). The most important endoparasitosis of hares and wild rabbits are: coccidiosis, encephalitozoonosis (nosemosis), toxoplasmosis, sarcocystosis, giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, protostrongylosis, trichostrngylodosis, passalurosis, anoplocephalidosis, cysticercosis and fasciolosis. The most frequent ectoparasites of rabbits and wild hares are fleas, lice and ticks. Reduction in hare population, which is noticed in whole Europe including Serbia, is caused by changed living conditions, quantitatively and qualitatively insufficient nutrition, increased use of herbicides as well as various infectious diseases and the diseases of parasitic etiology. Since wild rabbits and hares pose a threat to health of domestic rabbits and people, knowledge of parasitic fauna of these wild animals is of extreme epizootiological and epidemiological importance., U radu su prikazane najznačajnije parazitske infekcije divljih kunića i zečeva, čiji se štetan uticaj kod ove populacije divljači manifestuje kao postepeno slabljenje imuniteta, smanjenje plodnosti, gubitak telesne mase i konstantna iscrpljenost organizma. Red Lagomorpha (zečevi ili dvojezupci) pripada nadredu viših sisara i obuhvata porodicu zečeva (Leporidae), koji su zastupljeni u Evropi i porodicu zečeva zviždača (Ochotonidae), koji žive samo u Severnoj Americi i severnim predelima Azije. Najznačajniji predstavnici familije Leporidae su evropski zec (Lepus europeus) i divlji kunić (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Najznačajnije endoparazitoze žečeva i divljih kunića su: kokcidioza, encefalitozoonoza (nozemoza), toksoplazmoza, sarkocistioza, đardioza, kriptosporidioza, protostrongiloza, trihostrongilidoza, pasaluroza, anoplocefalidoza, cisticerkoza i fascioloza. Najčešći ektoparaziti zečeva i divljih kunića su vaši, buve, krpelji, grinje i šugarci. Na smanjenje brojnosti populacije zečeva, koje je poslednjih godina utvrđeno u celoj Evropi i Srbiji, odgovorni su izmenjeni životni uslovi, kvalitativno i kvantitativno nezadovoljavajuća ishrana, sve veća upotreba herbicida, kao i različita oboljenja zarazne i parazitske etiologije. Pošto divlji kunići i zečevi predstavljaju rizik za zdravlje domaćih kunića i ljudi, od izuzetnog je epizootiološko/epidemiološkog značaja poznavanje parazitske faune ove vrste divljih životinja.

The rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is usually the most abundant taxon found in the Palaeolithic and Epipalaeolithic archaeological sites of southern Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. These accumulations may be the result of different abiotic factors, biotic agents and/or the interaction of both. For these reasons, over the last decades actualistic research has been conducted on different predators of rabbits. Among them, the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is an excellent candidate for study because: 1) its diet is based almost exclusively on this leporids and 2) its historical distribution overlaps with one of the most interesting areas for small game research, the Iberian Peninsula and southern France. Here we present the taphonomical analysis of non-ingested rabbit remains collected from two Iberian lynx captive breeding centers located in southern Spain. Our results show: i) predominance of the distal segment of the appendicular skeleton; ii) variable breakage patterns, with a high proportion of whole bones of the autopodium and heavy breakage of the zeugopodium and stylopodium; iii) rare bone surface modifications. Comparison of these results with those obtained for other terrestrial carnivores, such as the fox, reveals great similarities, the only difference being the more abundant tooth marks present on fox non-ingested rabbit assemblages.

Interview met Barto Abee over het fokken van Belgische hazen en de kenmerken van dit ras.

De Haas (Lepus europaeus) is één van de meest algemene zoogdiersoorten in Limburg. Buiten de stedelijke gebieden komt hij in vrijwel ieder kilometerhok voor. Maar welke variatie gaat er schuil achter dit op het eerste gezicht monotone beeld? Sinds 1998 neemt de provincie in jaarlijkse monitoringsplots van vogels ook de hazen in de tellingen mee. Van Noorden (2006) ging in op de populatietrend in, gezien de tijd. Maar hoe zit het met de variatie in de ruimte. Zijn er verschillen in dichtheden van Hazen tussen de verschillende biotopen

Hoe Belgische Hazen klaar te maken voor de show? Ze zijn zelfs een beetje te trainen

In heel Europa gaat de haas achteruit. Zo ook in Vlaanderen. Maar hoe zit dat precies en welke rol speelt het veranderend landschap? In Vlaanderen is nu voor het eerst uitgebreid onderzoek verricht naar hazen. Onderzoeker Thomas Ceulemans licht, uit eerste hand, de uitkomsten toe en pleit voor verder onderzoek

A new species of the genus Serengetilagus, here named S. tchadensis n. sp., is described from Toros Menalla deposits, Late Miocene of Djurab Erg (North Chad, central Africa). It shows primitive features, such as a simple archaeolagine-type p3, with only two main external folds, and upper cheek teeth strongly widened with wear. Its size and skeletal features resemble S. praecapensis from the Middle Pliocene of Laetoli (Tanzania). They differ in several cranial and dental features (choanae width, zygoma, orbits, basicranial-basifacial angle, lack of hypoflexus in P2, short and asymmetric hypoflexus in P3-M2, lack of lingual folds in p3, etc). Individual variations in S. tchadensis n. sp. approach S. praecapensis. The genus Serengetilagus is here assigned to the subfamily Archaeolaginae and related to Hypolagus, namely to H. gromovi from the Late Miocene of Southern Russia. Other related species are Serengetilagus orientieuropaeus and primitive species of the genus Trischizolagus, such as T. maritsae and T. crusafonti. Pliocene leporids from Spain, Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan and Mongolia have been questionably attributed to Serengetilagus or Trischizolagus. Several features are here proposed to distinguish both genera. Serengetilagus could have a mixed fossorial-cursorial mode of life, as can be inferred by its ecomorphological traits (combining features of hare and rabbit) and taphonomical indications. This new African archaeolagine is contemporaneous of the widespread palaeolagine Alilepus, recorded in the Late Miocene of Kenya. The independence of these two lineages is favoured after revision of previous hypotheses on the phylogeny of the highly diverse Mio-Pliocene peri-Tethysian leporid species., Se describe una nueva especie de Lagomorfo del género Serengetilagus Dietricht 1941, llamada S. tchadensis n. sp., de los depósitos de Toros Menalla, Mioceno superior del Djurab Erg (norte del Chad, Africa central). Este lepórido muestra rasgos primitivos, como un simple p3 de tipo archaeolagino, con sólo dos surcos externos, y dientes yugales superiores fuertemente ensanchados por el uso. Su tamaño y rasgos esqueléticos son semejantes a S. praecapensis Dietricht 1941 del Plioceno medio de Laetoli (Tanzania). Ambas especies difieren en varios rasgos craneales y dentarios (anchura de coanas, zigoma, órbitas, ángulo basicranial-basifacial, falta de hipoflexo en P2, hipoflexo corto y asimétrico en P3-M2, falta de surcos linguales en p3, etc). Las variantes individuales de S. tchadensis n. sp. se acercan a S. praecapensis, p.ej. anterofléxido incipiente o hipofléxido curvado hacia adelante en algún p3. El género Serengetilagus es aquí asignado a la subfamilia Archaeolaginae Dice 1929 y relacionado con Hypolagus Dice 1917, particularmente con H. gromovi Gureev 1964 del Mioceno superior del sur de Rusia. Otras especies relacionadas son Serengetilagus orientieuropaeus Topachevsky 1987 y especies primitivas del género Trischizolagus Radulesco & Samson 1967, como T. maritsae De Bruijn, Dawson & Mein 1970 y T. crusafonti (Janvier & Montenat 1971). Lepóridos del Plioceno de España, Ucraina, Rusia, Afganistán y Mongolia han sido cuestionados en su asignación a Serengetilagus o a Trischizolagus, que resultan sinónimos para algunos autores. Proponemos varios caracteres para distinguir ambos géneros: p3 redondeado o rómbico, anterocónido lingual y anterofléxido débiles o fuertes, e hipofléxido doblado hacia delante o hacia atrás. Serengetilagus pudo haber tenido un modo de vida mixto cavador-corredor, como puede inferirse por sus rasgos ecomorfológicos (que combinan caracteres de liebre y conejo) y por indicaciones tafonómicas. Este nuevo arqueolaguino africano es contemporáneo de, Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia, Depto. de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y Paleontología, Fac. de Ciencias Geológicas, TRUE, pub

Beschrijving van de Belgische hazen, hun oorsprong, aandacht voor het typedier en het trainen van hazen

Na een periode van 25 jaar heeft men van de 27 getelde zoogdiersoorten in het stadspark de gegevens van haas en konijn verder uitgewerkt en geëvalueerd

In the Pleistocene of Eurasia three species of Prolagidae, 17 species of Ochotonidae and 16 species of Leporidae are known. The species diversity of lagomorphs gradually increased during the Pleistocene and in the late Pleistocene was the same as Recent. Some relict genera became extinct during the early Pleistocene (Pliopentalagus, Alilepus), others in the Middle Pleistocene (Ochotonoides, Hypolagus and Sericolagus). At least two lagomorph species became extinct during the Holocene (P rolagus sard us and Ochotona transcaucasica). The Pleistocene was not a critical period in the evolution of Lagomorpha. The extinction was caused by global cooling and was restricted to relict taxa mostly. During the Pleistocene intensive speciation took place in the genera Ochotona, Oryctolagus and Lepus in the Old World, and Sylvilagus in the New World. The Recent time is the period of flourishing and biological progress of phylogenetically young groups of lagomorphs (Ochotona, Leporinae), which started in the late Pliocene and continued during all the Pleistocene.

In this thesis the literature about the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis has been reviewed. The various risk indicators for atherosclerosis are discussed and related to the theory about atherogenesis. A review of the influence of milk fat constituents and dietary proteins on serum lipids and atherosclerosis is presented. Experimental results obtained with rabbits fed on semi-synthetic diets are reported. It is shown that large amounts of butyric acid have the same effect on blood, liver and tissue lipids and fatty acids as starch. Hypercholesterolemic affects of butter oil can be mainly ascribed to its cholesterol content. The hypercholesterolemic effects of semi-synthetic diets containing saturated fats can be mainly ascribed to the use of casein as protein source. The hypercholesterolemia induced by semisynthetic diets is shown to be the consequence of decreased faecal steroid excretion. It is suggested that the different serum cholesterol levels induced by various dietary proteins are due to a redistribution of serum cholesterol to other body compartments.

This thesis deals with the effect of dietary casein and soybean protein on the concentration of serum cholesterol and the lipoprotein composition in rabbits. Special attention has been paid to the time course of the changes produced by the protein in the diet.After a short introduction, a review of the studies on the effect of dietary protein on serum cholesterol is presented. From these studies, it was concluded that the effect of dietary protein on the concentration of serum cholesterol is only manifested in hypercholesterolaemic subjects and in experimental animals fed a diet high in cholesterol. An exception to this generalisation is the rabbit, an animal highly susceptible to the induction of hypercholesterolaemia and atherosclerosis. In the rabbit, dietary protein is also able to influence serum cholesterol levels when cholesterol-free diets are used.In the next chapter a method is presented for the separation of serum lipoproteins by density gradient ultracentrifugation. By staining the serum lipoproteins prior to ultracentrifugation the various lipoprotein classes can be easily localized in the gradient after the separation. By means of this technique it was observed that the density profile of the serum lipoproteins of rabbits and other experimental animals differs to that in man.Subsequently the time course of the changes in serum cholesterol concentration and lipoprotein composition were studied, when rabbits were transferred from a commercial diet to a semipurified diet containing either casein or soybean protein. It was observed that after only one day of feeding a semipurified diet containing casein the serum cholesterol levels had more than doubled. In the rabbits fed soybean protein the serum cholesterol level increased only slightly. The ingestion of semipurified diets resulted in a steep increase in the ratio of cholesterol to protein in all the serum lipoprotein fractions. This suggests that lipoprotein particles relatively rich in cholesterol wer

Long-term fluctuations in European hare populations are common, but the synchronous declining tendency in the size of shooting bags during the last decades in several mid- and western European countries, including The Netherlands, is striking. In general this phenomenon is suggested to be connected with aspects of modern agriculture, but quantitative evidence is scarce. Furthermore, it is unknown to what extent the decline is the result of a decreasing reproduction rate and/or increasing mortality rate.Information about these parameters from The Netherlands was not available. Therefore, data were collected on litter size, production of young per adult female and the proportion of recruitment in shooting bags. Observations of nursing behaviour revealed that all members of a litter gather daily, the time of which is strictly related to sunset. This knowledge enabled us to collect information about the survival of young up to the end of the normal one month nursing period, which was 52% in the observed litters. The calculated number of 5.7 young weaned per adult female per year, compared with the average number of 3.4 young per adult female found in shooting bags, indicates a higher mortality rate in young than in adults during the time from weaning up to the shooting season. Unfortunately it was not possible to collect enough data to determine trends in these parameters.The percentage of young found in bags in three different areas during a period varying from 5 to 10 years, was in one area positively correlated with the total number of hares shot. In the other two areas this percentage was negatively correlated with the number of adults shot. It is hypothesized that the relative importance of density dependent and density independent factors affecting the recruitment determines which kind of correlation will be found.A density dependent mortality factor which is supposed to cause the negative correlation between the percentage of young and the density of adults in th

Seasonal population fluctuations of the cottontail rabbit were measured by evening roadside counts and trapping. During the latter part of July, roadside counts showed a rather marked and drastic decline in the number of rabbits. This decline was forecast by the low number of rabbits seen in the field and the low number of rabbits the investigator was able to trap. Further confirmation of this decline came during the first week of the 1960-61 hunting season. A 42 per cent decrease in the number of rabbits killed occurred in spite of a 10 per cent increase in hunting pressure. By the end of the hunting season a 60 per cent decrease in the rabbit harvest was recorded.

Seasonal population fluctuations of the cottontail rabbit were measured by evening roadside counts and trapping. During the latter part of July, roadside counts showed a rather marked and drastic decline in the number of rabbits. This decline was forecast by the low number of rabbits seen in the field and the low number of rabbits the investigator was able to trap. Further confirmation of this decline came during the first week of the 1960-61 hunting season. A 42 per cent decrease in the number of rabbits killed occurred in spite of a 10 per cent increase in hunting pressure. By the end of the hunting season a 60 per cent decrease in the rabbit harvest was recorded.

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Presentatie over het ontwikkelen van nieuwe huisvestingsvormen voor voedsters

Brochure over de activiteiten van het Netwerk Innovatieve Konijnenhouderij. In het bijzonder is er aandacht voor groepshuisvesting van voedsters. Ook is er aandacht besteed aan de visie van de belanghebbenden (stakeholders) binnen de konijnenhouderij