Phylogenetic and host-parasite relationship analysis of Henneguya multiplasmodialis n. sp. infecting Pseudoplatystoma spp. in Brazilian Pantanal wetland

A new species of the genus Henneguya (Henneguya multiplasmodialis n. sp.) was found infecting the gills of three of 89 specimens (3.3%) of Pseudoplatystoma corruscans and two of 79 specimens (2.6%) of Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum from rivers in the Pantanal wetland, Brazil. Partial sequencing of the 18S rDNA gene of the spores obtained from one plasmodium from the gills of P. corruscans and other one from the gills of P. reticulatum, respectively, resulted in a total of 1560 and 1147 base pairs. As the spores of H. multiplasmodialis n. sp. resemble those of Henneguya corruscans, which is also a parasite of P. corruscans, sequencing of the 18S rDNA gene of the spores of H. corruscans found on P. corruscans caught in the Brazilian Pantanal wetland was also provided to avoid any taxonomic pendency between these two species, resulting in 1913 base pairs. The sequences of H. multiplasmodialis n. sp. parasite of P. corruscans and P. reticulatum and H. corruscans did not match any of the Myxozoa available in the GenBank. The similarity of H. multiplasmodialis n. sp. obtained from P. corruscans to that from P. reticulatum was of 99.7%. Phylogeny revealed a strong tendency among Henneguya species to form clades based on the order and/or family of the host fish. H. multiplasmodialis n. sp. clustered in a clade with Henneguya eirasi and H. corruscans, which are also parasites of siluriforms of the family Pimelodidae and, together with the clade composed of Henneguya spp. parasites of siluriforms of the family Ictaluridae, formed a monophyletic clade of parasites of siluriform hosts. The histological study revealed that the wall of the plasmodia of H. multiplasmodialis n. sp. were covered with a stratified epithelium rich in club cells and supported by a layer of connective tissue. The interior of the plasmodia had a network of septa that divided the plasmodia into numerous compartments. The septa were composed of connective tissue also covered on both sides with a stratified epithelium rich in club cells. Inflammatory infiltrate was found in the tissue surrounding the plasmodia as well as in the septa.     

昆明小鼠早期胚胎发育时程

以昆明种小鼠为对象,在严格控光条件下,对交配后阴道栓形成时间、排卵时间、精子入卵与原核形成时间以及2-细胞至囊胚的发育时程等进行了系统研究。结果如下:(1)从注射hCG 当天(0 d)21:00(hCG后6 h)至次日(第1 天)1:00(hCG 后10 h),有84.2% 的超排小鼠形成阴道栓;(2)大部分小鼠(66% ～100% )排卵从hCG后第1 天2:00(hCG 后11 h)开始,至3:00～4:00(hCG后12～13 h)结束;(3)从hCG 后第1 天7:00(hCG后16 h)至11:00(hCG 后20 h),小鼠卵受精率为5.6% ～82.4% ;(4)从hCG后第1 天7:00(hCG 后16 h)至11:00(hCG 后20 h),原核形成率为4.4% ～67.5% ;(5)从hCG 后第1 天21:00(hCG 后30 h)至第2 天1:00(hCG后34 h),2-细胞形成率为14.9% ～83.1% ;hCG后第2 天19:00(hCG后52 h)至23:00(hCG后56 h),4-细胞形成率为12.9% ～85.7% ;hCG 后第3 天6:00(hCG后63 h)至10:00(hCG 后67 h),8-细胞形率为12.8% ～88.2% ;(6)从hCG 后第3 天10:00(hCG 后67 h)至24:00(hCG后81 h),8～16 细胞(早期桑葚胚)形成率由100% 下降到42.9% ;从hCG 后第3 天24:00(hCG 后81 h)至第4 天4:00(hCG后85 h),17～32 细胞(晚期桑葚胚)形成率由57.1% 增加到90.0% ;(7)从hCG 后第4 天6:00(hCG后87 h)至8:00(hCG后89 h),囊胚形成率从11.4% 上升到60.9% 。     

Structure and function of Peyer's patches in the intestines of different animal species

Structure and function of Peyer's patches in man and animals are compared reviewing reports of recent years. Differences exist regarding number and distribution of Peyer's patches along the small intestine and regarding distribution of m-cells of dome epithelium. M-cells trigger the contact between infectious organisms and intestinal epithelium. Several different ways of interaction are possible: 1. Selective uptake of organisms by m-cells. 2. Paracellular transport of organisms between m-cells. 3. Multiplication of organisms above dome epithelial areas. 4. Restriction of interaction between organism and mucosa to absorptive enterocytes. 5. Specific damage of organisms to lymphatic areas of Peyer's patches.     

割草场不同演替系列羊草和光稃茅香种群构件结构的研究

对松嫩平原割草场空间演替系列中羊草Leymus chinensis和光稃茅香Hierochloe glabra种群构件的结构进行了研究。结果表明,在5月中旬,2种植物的现实种群均以冬性株占绝对优势,羊草为98.6%~100%,光稃茅香为97.6%~100%;潜在种群中分蘖节芽所占比例羊草为34.1%~61.0%,光稃茅香为30.8%~73.9%,根茎芽所占比例分别为49.0%~65.9%和26.1%~69.1%,芽库的输出率分别为34.7%~38.3%和25.7%~43.9%。当时2种群的1龄根茎尚未形成,根茎累积长度与生物量均以2龄为主。羊草的更新能力高于光稃茅香,在5个演替系列中,随着羊草种群数量的增大,光稃茅香的数量不断地减少。随着演替时间的增加,羊草将逐渐取代光稃茅香而成为割草场的优势种群。     

Remembrances of Jacques Jenny, DrMedVet 1917–1971

Editor's note : The holding of the 19th Annual Meeting of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in Philadelphia in conjunction with the Centennial Celebration of the School of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania provides an opportunity for reflection. Dr. Jacques Jenny, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the School, was Chairman of the Organizing Committee that gave rise to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons on December 16,1965, and was elected as first President of the College. The solid foundation and high ideals that the Organizing Committee established are in large part responsible for the success of the College. Dr. Jenny died on November 20, 1971. Those of us fortunate to have known him personally realize the immense gap that his premature death left. For those that did not know him, I hope that this article permits some appreciation of the contributions of Dr. Jenny the comparative orthopedic surgeon, as well as of the very special human qualities of Jacques Jenny the man. The first author, Dr. Mark Allam, was Professor of Surgery and Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine during most of Dr. Jenny's career at the University of Pennsylvania, and was the first Chairman of the Board of Regents of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. The second author, Dr. David Nunamaker, is the first holder of the Jacques Jenny Professorship in Veterinary Orthopedics at the University of Pennsylvania.     

Campylobacter as the cause of diarrhea in calves]

The modified Preston medium allows the isolation of C. jejuni, C. coli and C. fetus subsp. fetus from intestinal samples of calves at an incubation temperature of 37 degrees C. In the first series of investigation, Campylobacter excretion in calves (n = 7) was followed up to the age of 4 months. In the first 4 days of life, these bacteria could not be detected in any of the animals. Thereafter first C. coli we found in all calves. In 4 animals, only strains of this species were isolated during the whole investigation period. In 3 animals C. fetus subsp. fetus could be detected repeatedly, however C. coli and sometimes C. jejuni were found, too. In the second series of investigation, isolation of Campylobacter from different parts of the gastrointestinal tract or organs was successful in 19 out of 25 diarrhoeal, moribund calves. 16 out of 19 positive animals harboured large amounts of these gramnegative bacteria in the distal jejunum and ileum. In 10 animals out of these 16, the germ colonized also the proximal jejunum and abomasum. From 6 calves, C. fetus subsp. fetus was isolated, and C. jejuni from 7 calves. C. coli was relatively rare. From the lymph nodes of the proximal and distal jejunum, Campylobacter (exclusively C. jejuni) were isolated from 5 animals. Due to the Campylobacter presence in the small intestine of diarrhoeal calves, a contribution of this bacteria within the pathogenesis of calf diarrhoea is possible. Final evaluation of their pathogenesis importance is only positive by means of virulence tests.     

Staphylococcus aureus isolated from poultry in Australia. I. Phage typing and cultural characteristics

The phage typing and cultural characteristics of 574 strains of S. aureus of poultry origin in Australia were examined. With the avian phage set of Shimizu (1979) it was possible to type 74.2% of strains. A number of significant variations in the phage typing patterns of Australian strains compared to those reported from Japan and Europe were observed. A lower proportion of Australian strains were of avian phage group I and a higher proportion of group III. A high proportion of strains were of mixed lytic groups. No locally isolated phages were able to increase significantly the percentage of typeable strains, although four local phages appeared to be of greater value for phage typing poultry strains of S. aureus than some other phages of the avian phage set. The international (human) phage set was of limited value in typing Australian strains of poultry origin although four strains were identified which were indistinguishable from strains of human origin. Using cultural characteristics of the strains in conjunction with phage typing, the Australian strains of S. aureus were assigned to one of three major groups and nine subgroups. A list of typing phages considered to be valuable for use on Australian poultry strains of S. aureus is given.     

家蚕与中国野桑蚕的RAPD标记遗传多样性比较分析

对家蚕品种C10 8及江苏地区野桑蚕进行了RAPD分析 ,并利用已有的不同家蚕品种及其它地区野桑蚕的RAPD数据 ,比较了家蚕品种内和野桑蚕地理种群内个体间、家蚕品种间和野桑蚕地理种群间的遗传多样性。家蚕品种内的多态位点比率、Shannnon信息指数、Nei基因多样性指数等都远较野桑蚕地理种群内个体间的小 ,2 5个家蚕品种在分组和未分组时的遗传多样性指数仅有一组例外 ,其余均较野桑蚕地理种群间的大。由此说明家蚕品种内的遗传多样性比野桑蚕地理种群内个体间的低 ;而家蚕品种间的遗传多样性水平却比野桑蚕地理种群间的高。未分组家蚕品种间的遗传多样性指数略大于分组后的 ,表明分析比较的样本数不同对结果也有一定影响。     

黄土丘陵区植被演替中不同草本植物间的化感效应

为了解植被演替过程中不同植物间的化感作用,选取黄土丘陵区退耕地撂荒演替中不同阶段的优势物种茵陈蒿(Artemisia capillaries)和铁杆蒿(Artemisia sacrorum),分析它们对其他植物种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响。结果表明:不同部位水浸提液由于其化感物质及其释放方式的不同,化感作用存在明显差异。演替前期物种茵陈蒿水浸提液对铁杆蒿和白羊草(Bothriochloa ischaemum)种子萌发有明显抑制作用,而对达乌里胡枝子(Lespedeza davurica)和白羊草幼苗的生长总体表现为促进作用;茵陈蒿根际土和根系水浸提液促进铁杆蒿、白羊草和达乌里胡枝子根的生长,而地上部水浸提液可促进白羊草和胡枝子根的生长。演替后期物种铁杆蒿对茵陈蒿和白羊草种子萌发有较强的抑制作用;其根际土和根系水浸提液可促进茵陈蒿、白羊草和达乌里胡枝子幼苗的生长;地上部水浸提液抑制白羊草和达乌里胡枝子幼苗的生长。茵陈蒿和铁杆蒿对于自身种子萌发以及幼苗的生长具有一定的自毒作用,表现为茵陈蒿根系和地上部水浸提液强烈抑制自身种子萌发;高浓度的铁杆蒿根系和地上部水浸提液对自身的种子萌发以及根、芽的生长具有明显抑制作用。综上所述,茵陈蒿和铁杆蒿不同部位水浸提液对4种受体植物种子萌发表现出不同程度的抑制作用,对根和芽的生长呈现出由"高抑低促"的作用。     

白三叶和高羊茅对青菜幼苗生长的化感抑制效应

用白三叶和高羊茅茎叶的水浸提溶液处理,初步探讨了白三叶和高羊茅对青菜种子发芽和幼苗生长的化感抑制效应及机理.结果表明,白三叶和高羊茅茎叶浸提液对青菜种子的发芽率和幼苗生长均有不同程度的抑制作用;抑制作用具有明显的供体种和品种间差异,白三叶的抑制作用显著大于高羊茅.化感物质定性鉴定表明,白三叶和高羊茅浸提液中含邻位和间位羟基的酚类化感物质.这些化感物质通过抑制细胞生长和影响细胞膜的功能而抑制青菜幼苗的生长.     

油蒿与沙蒿枝构件特征研究

研究了生长在腾格里沙漠南缘油蒿与沙蒿两种固沙半灌木植物的枝构件特征。结果表明：油蒿与沙蒿大部分枝条分枝角度较大,为中等分枝角度类型（分枝角度50°～70°）;油蒿与沙蒿枝条的伸展从3级枝到1级枝呈现减弱的趋势,即3级枝到1级枝的长度是逐渐变短的,且油蒿各级枝条长度均大于沙蒿的对应枝级的枝条长度;油蒿与沙蒿的枝径比和逐步分枝率均呈增加的趋势,油蒿的各级枝径比高于沙蒿,而逐步分枝率却比沙蒿的低。     

不同修剪频次和丝茅入侵量对细叶结缕草 竞争力和草坪质量的影响

针对亚热带地区暖季型草坪夏季易受丝茅入侵影响的问题,通过设置4个修剪频次(0~3次·月^-1),对取代试验设计形成的5个丝茅侵入量(10%、20%、30%、40%、50%)的细叶结缕草草坪,进行留茬高度7 cm,连续3个月修剪处理后,测定丝茅和结缕草地下和地上相对产量、相对产量和、攻击力、竞争平衡指数等竞争参数,分析丝茅和结缕草的株高、分蘖数、叶数、生物量和根茎比等生长参数,以密度、质地、叶色、均一性、草层高度和生物量等指标对草坪质量进行综合评定,研究修剪频次对不同丝茅侵入量下结缕草竞争力、单株生长及草坪质量的影响。结果表明:1)修剪频次对丝茅和结缕草的地上和地下竞争参数产生显著影响(P<0.05),修剪增加了两种植物地上部分的拮抗作用,2~3次·月^-1修剪则降低了地下部分的拮抗作用。2)结缕草地上部分受修剪频次和丝茅比例的影响大于地下部分,1次·月^-1修剪可提高结缕草地上竞争力,2次·月^-1修剪可提高其地下竞争力,修剪频次和侵入量协同作用增加了丝茅对结缕草的根系攻击力。3)修剪频次和侵入量对丝茅和结缕草的后续生长产生显著影响(P<0.05),1~2次·月^-1修剪增加了两种植物的分蘖数和叶片数,2次·月^-1修剪下结缕草的分蘖数和叶片数增加约40%,丝茅比例≥10%下结缕草生物量降低,≥20%下结缕草分蘖减少,≥30%下结缕草株高增加而叶数减少,修剪频次是影响结缕草株高、分蘖数、叶片数和根茎比的主要因子,丝茅侵入量主要影响结缕草的单株生物量。4)修剪频次主要影响草坪的密度、高度和生物量,丝茅比例主要影响草坪的质地、叶色和均一性(P<0.05),≤10%丝茅比例和2次·月^-1修剪下草坪综合质量高于其他处理,草坪质量主要受修剪频次影响,丝茅比例影响次之。5)1~2次·月^-1修剪可显著提高受丝茅入侵的细叶结缕草的地上或地下竞争力,促进结缕草分蘖形成,降低草坪高度,提升草坪密度和质地,但修剪无法改变结缕草相对丝茅地上、地下竞争力弱的特点,故控制丝茅侵入量≤10%和2次·月^-1修剪是夏季结缕草草坪养护的基本要求。     

禾草种群对白三叶构型的影响

间苗试验结果表明,黑麦草、鸭茅、鸭茅+黑麦草3组禾草种群对白三叶种间竞争力及构型影响显著。用Wilson的竞争指数及竞争平衡指数进行分析发现,黑麦草、鸭茅、鸭茅+黑麦草3组禾草种群对白三叶的竞争指数分别为0.32,0.47和0.71,禾草种群与白三叶之间的竞争指数及竞争平衡指数大小顺序均为鸭茅+黑麦草>鸭茅>黑麦草。随着种间竞争指数的增加,白三叶构件密度、分枝密度、分枝强度、分枝角度及构件能量减少,节间长度明显增加,根及单位长度茎的能量分配及生殖分配下降。     

Population genetic analysis of the new dog breed Elo

The breeding of the dog breed Elo was started in 1987. This dog breed was established by using 16 dogs of nine different breeds. All pedigree information of the dogs from 1987 to 2002 was included for the analysis of the proportion of genes of the different founder breeds, of the inbreeding coefficient, and relationship coefficients. Additionally, the number of died puppies per litter were investigated. The Eurasian dog breed contributed about 48% of the genes in the whole Elo dog population. Old English sheepdog and Chow Chow contributed about 23% and 10% of the genes. The other dog breeds were of minor importance. The mean inbreeding and relationship coefficients of the whole Elo dog population were 12.04% and 19.22%, respectively. With the exception of 3.5% of animals, all Elo dogs were related to each other. The mean litter size was 6.39 puppies. The percentage of stillborn puppies per litter averaged at 9.47%. The inbreeding coefficients of the puppies and of their dams, the age of the sire and the dam at the time of birth of the puppies, the litter size, the puppies' year of birth and the proportion of genes of the Chow Chow showed a significant effect on the number of stillborn puppies per litter. The heritability for the frequency of stillborn puppies was estimated using a linear animal model. After transformation of the linear estimates to the underlying liability scale, the heritability amounted to h2 = 0.15.     

Determination of intraspecies variations of the V2 region of the 16S rRNA gene of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus

The 16S rRNA gene of 39 S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus strains and two S. equi subsp. equi strains was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and subsequently digested with the restriction enzyme Hinc II. A restriction profile with two fragments with sizes of 1250 bp and 200 bp could be observed for both S. equi subsp. equi strains and for 30 of the 39 S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus strains indicating a sequence variation within the V2 region of the 16S rRNA gene of the remaining nine S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus isolates. A segment of the 16S rRNA gene including the hypervariable V2 region of 11 S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus and two S. equi subsp. equi could be amplified by PCR and sequenced. The sequence of the V2 region of eight S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus strains appeared to be identical or almost identical to the sequence of the two S. equi subsp. equi strains. The sequence of the remaining three S equi subsp. zooepidemicus strains differed significantly from the sequence of S. equi subsp. equi. These differences allowed a division of S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus strains into two 16S rRNA types and might possibly have consequences for the taxonomic position of these phenotypically indistinguishable strains of one subspecies. A molecular typing could additionally be performed by amplification of the gene encoding the 16S-23S rRNA spacer region. A single amplicon of the spacer gene of 1100 bp could be observed for one S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus, an amplicon of 950 bp for two S. equi subsp. equi strains and 10 S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus strains, a amplicon of 780 bp for 27 S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus strains and a single amplicon of 600 bp for one S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus strain. The variations of the V2 region of the 16S rRNA gene and the size variations of the 16S-23S rRNA spacer gene were not related to each other. Both variations could be used for molecular typing of this species, possibly useful in epidemiological aspects.     

Radiological Study of the Movements of the Cervical Spine in the Dog Compared with Those in Man

Six dogs were used for a radiological investigation of movement of the cervical vertebrae for comparison of range of motion, instantaneous centers of motion and patterns of flexion and extension with those determined for man. Five dogs were embalmed and one live dog was investigated under the influence of general anesthesia. All animals were adult with the exception of one of the embalmed animals. None of the animals exhibited any abnormalities of cervical vertebrae or intervertebral discs. It was demonstrated that range of motion of the dog cervical spine exceeds that of man, largely due to a greater flexion-extension range of the atlanto-occipital joint and of lateral flexion of the cranial and caudal cervical spine. Patterns of flexion and extension of the cranial and caudal cervical spine of the dog are similar to that of man with no differences in the location of centers for these movements. Other differences were primarily due to the organization of intervertebral articulations.
These relationships are discussed in regard to the significance of individual groups of cervical muscles, joint functions and influence of movement on the spinal cord.     

Residual chlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in the eggs and adipose tissue of wild birds

In 1983 and 1984, in the State Veterinary Institute at Jihlava, 129 samples of eggs of wild birds of 14 species were analyzed coming from different regions of the Czech Socialist Republic for the presence of residues of chlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). Apart from this, nine samples of hawk fat and 27 samples of buzzard fat were examined. The method of gas chromatography with a detector of electron capture was used for the analysis. The analyzed samples were found to contain residues of PCB, DDT (and mainly its metabolite DDE), HCB, alpha-HCH, gamma-HCH. No residues of other chlorinated carbohydrates were detected. The residue levels of these substances in the eggs and fatty tissues of different species of wild birds vary within a very wide range. A significant influence is exerted on these levels by the differences in food spectrum, the age of the birds, lack of food causing mobilization of food reserves, and mainly the environment where the birds live. The highest levels of residues were found in the eggs and fatty tissues of predatory birds with a narrow spectrum of food, i.e. those feeding on other birds (sparrow-hawk 33.00 mg.kg-1 in the dry matter of eggs, hawk 239.98 mg.kg-1 in fat) or those associated with water (great crested grebe 11.97 mg.kg-1, sea-gull 11.24 mg.kg-1 in the dry matter of eggs). Much lower levels of the residues of the chemicals were recorded in the species feeding mainly on small rodents (kestrel 0.681 mg.kg-1, buzzard 2.456 mg.kg-1 in the dry matter of eggs and 11.398 mg.kg-1 in fat). Some of the samples under study contained dead embryos. These embryos had particularly high residue levels, often higher than the levels regarded in literature as toxic.     

结缕草属植物的抗旱性初步评价

以目前生产上广泛应用的‘兰引3号’结缕草、‘青岛结缕草’和马尼拉为对照,对48份结缕草种源的表征永久萎蔫系数(APWI)进行了测定并分析,结果如下:1)各种源的APWI的变异范围为8.7 8%~1 3.4 1%,变异系数为9.10%。在48份供试种源中,APWI显著低于‘兰引3号’结缕草的有6份种源;APWI显著低于马尼拉的有2份种源;APWI显著低于‘青岛结缕草’的有15份种源;APWI同时显著低于3份对照的有2份种源。结缕草属植物的APWI存在极显著的差异。2)结缕草属植物不同种的APWI不同,其排序为:中华结缕草>大穗结缕草>结缕草>沟叶结缕草=细叶结缕草,其中变异系数最大为结缕草。3)APWI在结缕草、中华结缕草种内存在着极显著的差异,且结缕草种内抗旱性差异明显高于中华结缕草种内差异。4)结缕草属植物的APWI与经度和纬度均未发现显著相关;结缕草、中华结缕草种内的APWI与经纬度也未发现显著的线性相关。     

Diagnostic significance of Neospora caninum DNA detected by PCR in cattle serum

A nested PCR that successfully detected Neospora caninum DNA in serum of cattle was used for investigation of selected abortion cases and in a study of healthy pregnant cows at an abattoir. N. caninum DNA was not detected in serum from antibody positive dams that aborted due to N. caninum, but was present in serum of some antibody negative dams that aborted due to other causes. N. caninum DNA was also found in the serum of about half of the animals that aborted of undetermined cause, but was not detected in cow sera from two beef cattle herds in Western Australia with no recent history of abortion. In the abattoir study of 79 dams and their foetuses N. caninum DNA was found in serum of 3 dams and in material from 11 foetuses. The majority of the cows and all foetuses were antibody negative. Our findings suggest that there is no obvious relationship between the presence or absence of N. caninum DNA in serum and the presence of antibodies to N. caninum in dams, the presence of N. caninum DNA in foetuses or abortion due to N. caninum. This is the first report of the detection of N. caninum DNA in serum of cattle rather than the white blood cell fraction. It indicates the presence of free tachyzoites and/or parasite DNA in circulation. The results suggest that persistent infection in the absence of antibodies is a possible outcome of N. caninum infection. Infection of foetuses in the absence of antibodies supports the possibility of persistent infection due to immunotolerance to an early in utero infection. It is therefore important to test for N. caninum DNA as well as antibodies for the detection of exposed and/or infected animals. However, the presence or absence of N. caninum antibodies or DNA did not support nor exclude N. caninum as the cause of abortion. Additional criteria are required for a positive diagnosis of abortion caused by N. caninum.     

Detection of thermophilic Campylobacter from sparrows by multiplex PCR: the role of sparrows as a source of contamination of broilers with Campylobacter

The best combination of primers and the annealing temperature of multiplex PCR for Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and Campylobacter lari were examined. The multiplex PCR was able to detect type strains of the three species. All results of identification of wild strains (30 strains of C. jejuni, 20 strains of C. coli, and 4 strains of C. lari) by the multiplex PCR coincided with those of the conventional biochemical identification tests, suggesting that the multiplex PCR can simultaneously differentiate C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari from wild strains of campylobacters easily and rapidly. Campylobacters were detected from sparrow feces by the multiplex PCR and antimicrobial sensitivities of the strains were determined to discuss the role of sparrows in contamination of broilers with C. jejuni. Three out of 13 strains of C. jejuni isolated from sparrow feces showed quinolone resistance. From the frequent use of quinolones for treatment of industrial animals like chickens, pigs, and cows, the three strains of quinolone-resistant C. jejuni in sparrows must have been originated from those industrial animals. Sparrows that have quinolone-resistant C. jejuni were considered to have contacted with industrial animals or thier feed. It may be presumed, on the contrary, that C. jejuni in sparrows could be a potential source of contamination of broilers.