Housing of dogs and cats in shelters and kennels in Switzerland

The study deals with the situation regarding housing of dogs and cats in Swiss shelters and kennels. In shelters, dogs were mainly held inside a cubicle with a small outside yard. In kennels, housing of dogs took place mainly in inside rooms. Usually two or three dogs were kept together. Cats were held in rooms, with or without outside yards, mainly in groups; no establishment preferred exclusively the housing in cubicles. Shelters received on average 183 dogs and 262 cats each year. Among them, about a third were lost animals while the remaining ones were relinquished. The study highlights some possibilities for improvements and the great diversity of the establishments regarding their size, infrastructure, housing conditions and aims.     

桑树的遗传变异特点及在品种选育中的应用

我国具有悠久的桑树栽培历史,拥有3 000余份桑树种质资源,分属15个桑种和4个变种,并逐渐形成适应不同生长环境的8个生态类型。依据已有的研究结果,综述桑树遗传变异的特点包括:广泛分布、自然有性杂交和异花授粉以及缺乏稳定性选择等,促进了桑树的突变发生,形成遗传变异的多样性;无性繁殖方式产生了丰富的无性系变异;性状遗传值中非加性效应占有较大比例;无性系品种间杂种一代存在复杂的多样性分离和经济性状的普遍退化;存在丰富的多倍体系列和普遍的混倍现象等。对桑树品种选育研究提出建议:基于桑树的高度杂合习性,不仅要重视研究不同品种中加性效应在遗传值中所占比率,更要研究非加性效应所占比率及充分利用的方法;基于桑树遗传变异的多样性和丰富的无性系变异,加强无性系和田间选优育种;利用桑树混倍现象,将培育多倍体特别是三倍体品种作为一条有效的多倍体育种途径。     

Evaluation of lysozyme and lactoferrin in lacrimal and other ocular glands of bison and cattle and in tears of bison

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate lactoferrin and lysozyme content in various ocular glands of bison and cattle and in tears of bison. SAMPLE POPULATION: Tissues of ocular glands obtained from 15 bison and 15 cattle and tears collected from 38 bison. PROCEDURE: Immunohistochemical analysis was used to detect lysozyme and lactoferrin in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of the ocular glands. Protein gel electrophoresis was used to analyze ocular glands and pooled bison tears by use of a tris-glycine gel and SDS-PAGE. Western blotting was used to detect lactoferrin and lysozyme. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining for lactoferrin was evident in the lacrimal gland and gland of the third eyelid in cattle and bison and the deep gland of the third eyelid (Harder's gland) in cattle. Equivocal staining for lactoferrin was seen for the Harder's gland in bison. An 80-kd band (lactoferrin) was detected via electrophoresis and western blots in the lacrimal gland and gland of the third eyelid in cattle and bison, Harder's glands of cattle, and bison tears. An inconsistent band was seen in Harder's glands of bison. Lysozyme was not detected in the lacrimal gland of cattle or bison with the use of immunohistochemical analysis or western blots. Western blots of bison tears did not reveal lysozyme. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Distribution of lactoferrin and a lack of lysozyme are similar in the lacrimal gland of cattle and bison. Differences in other tear components may be responsible for variability in the susceptibility to infectious corneal diseases that exists between bison and cattle.     

Ecology and epidemiology of anthrax in cattle and humans in Zambia

Anthrax is endemic in Western and North-western Provinces of Zambia. The disease occurs throughout the year and impacts negatively on the economy of the livestock industry and public health in Zambia. During 1989-1995, there were 1626 suspected cases of anthrax in cattle in Western province and of these 51 were confirmed. There were 220 cases of human anthrax cases in 1990 alone and 248 cases during 1991-1998 with 19.1% and 7.7% case fatality rates, respectively. Interplay of the ecology of affected areas and anthropogenic factors seem to trigger anthrax epidemics. Anthrax has drawn considerable attention in recent years due to its potential use as a biological weapon. In this paper, the history, current status and approaches towards the control of the disease in Zambia are discussed. Quarantine measures restrict trade of livestock and exchange of animals for draught power resulting in poor food security at household levels. Challenges of anthrax control are complex and comprise of socio-political, economical, environmental and cultural factors. Inadequate funding, lack of innovative disease control strategies and lack of cooperation from stakeholders are the major constraints to the control of the disease. It is hoped that the information provided here will stimulate continued awareness for the veterinary and medical authorities to maintain their surveillance and capabilities against the disease. This may lead to a culminating positive impact on livestock and human health in the southern African region.     

Pharmacokinetics of penicillin-G in ewes and cows in late pregnancy and in early lactation

Concentrations of penicillin-G in serum were determined after single intravenous doses of potassium penicillin-G (10 mg/kg body wt) to ewes and cows in late pregnancy and in early lactation. Penicillin-G in serum was analysed by a microbiological method and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by model-independent methods. Serum concentrations were lower in early lactation than in late pregnancy in both ewes and cows. The differences were statistically significant at most sampling times in ewes but only during the first hour in cows.
Weight corrected values of clearance and volume of distribution were significantly higher in early lactation than in late pregnancy in both ewes and cows. Mean residence time and elimination-half life were shorter in lactating than in pregnant ewes, however for the latter parameter the difference was not statistically significant. Neither of these parameters changed in cows.
It is concluded that in both ewes and cows pharmacokinetic parameters of penicillin-G are altered from late pregnancy to early lactation but that these changes have little practical impact and do not call for a revised dosage regime of the studied drug.     

Variation in quantity and quality of native forages and grazing behavior of cattle and goats in Tanzania

The study was conducted to assess the effects of seasonal variation in the quality and quantity of pasture and management of livestock exclosures (ngitili) on the grazing behavior of cattle and goats. The study was 2×2×2 factorial design with three independent variables: season (Dry or Rainy), ngitili management (Private or Communal) and animal species (Cattle or Goats). Focal and scan observation methods were used to record different behavioral activities. Vegetation attributes from the study areas were measured in two consecutive seasons. Most key forage species had significant higher crude protein (CP) content and in vitro organic matter digestibility (INVOMD) in rainy than in dry season (P<0.05), but Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) and Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) did not vary significantly with season (P>0.05). ADF and NDF were significantly higher in species from communal ngitili than those from private ngitili (P<0.05). Above-ground herbaceous biomass and bulk density (BD) were significantly higher in the rainy season and in the private ngitili than in the dry season and in the communal ngitili respectively. Cattle and goats spent considerably more time grazing and browsing respectively in the rainy season than in the dry season (P<0.05). Cattle foraging activities did not vary significantly (P>0.05) with ngitili management, but goats found to spend considerably more time browsing in the communal ngitili and more time grazing in the private ngitili (P<0.05). Despite the merits of stocking cattle and goats together in the heterogeneous pasture, seasonal variation in forage resources requires investigation of other strategies such as use of multipurpose trees and treatment of crop residues to improve livestock production.     

兰州地区苜蓿和红豆草根际溶磷菌筛选及菌株部分特性研究

利用溶磷圈法对苜蓿和红豆草根际不同部位溶磷细菌进行了分离,共获得分离物386个,其中137个具有溶磷能力.苜蓿和红豆草根际不同部位溶磷菌数量分布有差异.其数量为RS>RP>NRS>HP.对筛选获得的12株溶磷圈较大的菌株进行菌落形态特征观察发现,大多数菌落呈灰白色或乳白色、不规则、半透明、边缘不整齐、突起、无光泽、无色素.进一步利用钼蓝比色法对菌株分解磷矿粉能力测定显示,各菌株分解磷矿粉能力差异较大,溶磷量最大为338.4mg/ml,最小为25.9mg/ml,这与其自身溶磷机制有关.溶磷量与菌株培养液pH值之间存在显著相关性.12株菌株大部分具有分泌IAA的能力,其中LM6和LH9分泌IAA能力较强.     

精氨酸在畜禽营养生理中的应用进展

精氨酸在动物体内参不仅参与多种营养物质的合成分解代谢,同时通过精氨酸酶、一氧化氮两条代谢途径,参与机体内的免疫调节。由于断奶仔猪与哺乳母猪自身不能合成足量的精氨酸以满足代谢需要,因此需要从外源摄取以满足需求;另外,家禽体内也缺乏可以合成精氨酸的氨甲酰磷酸酶,其整个生长阶段更是需要补充外源性精氨酸。     

犬和猫急性胰腺炎的病因及机制研究进展

胰腺周围脂肪组织和腺泡坏死被认为是急性胰腺炎(Acute pancreatitis,AP)的主要病理特征。胰腺炎轻者不累及其他器官,无并发症,为自限性疾病;重者胰腺出血、坏死、多器官功能衰竭,出现并发症,危及生命。近年来,胰腺炎在犬和猫中发病率非常高,而且病程一般是由急性期转至慢性期,由轻微转至严重。对其发病原因及其发病机制知之甚少,国内外兽医相关文献鲜有报道。论文参考大量研究文献并结合临床经验,综述该病的发病原因和发病机制,以期为临床预防和治疗提供思路。     

甘肃苜蓿田芫菁的种类为害及防治

通过对甘肃苜蓿田芫菁为害调查表明,常见芫菁种类有中华豆芫菁、绿芫菁、苹斑芫菁、腋斑芫菁、豆芫菁、暗头芫菁6种。对其成虫形态特征进行了描述,并列出了检索表。讨论了苜蓿田芫菁的为害性,指出其不仅取食为害,而且因其尸体内含有的斑蝥素,含其尸体的苜蓿草及草产品也会对家畜健康造成危害;因此,干草中不能有有其尸体。最后提出了芫菁的取样调查和防治技术。     

2005年国内豆粕市场回顾及2006年展望

2005年豆粕市场虽没有2004年那样惊心动魄,但在国内豆粕供应格局开始发生变化,国内养殖、饲料市场面临转型及国内宏观经济调整的大背景下,豆粕市场险象环生,给2006年的豆粕市场增添了诸多变数……本文也从宏观及行业发展角度对2006年豆粕市场进行预测,希望能为现货经营者提供参考。     

畜禽微量元素研究与应用的新进展

微量元素对维持动物的生长发育、免疫系统以及代谢反应具有重要作用,是动物必需的营养物质之一,但微量元素的过量和不平衡添加又容易引发环境污染问题的发生。受品种和地域差异的影响,饲料原料中微量元素含量差异较大,按照营养标准需要量全额添加而不考虑饲料原料中微量元素含量引起的不平衡现象非常普遍,同时微量元素的利用率也存在较大差异,仅以总量来表示微量元素需要量并不科学。本文旨在对微量元素在畜禽生产中的应用现状、微量元素的平衡添加、需要量的评价指标以及不同形式微量元素的生物学利用率进行综述。     

世界马传染性贫血的流行与我国的防控

马传染性贫血(equine infectious anemia)简称马传贫(EIA),是由反录病毒科慢病毒属马传染性贫血病毒引起的马、骡、驴传染病。其特征主要为间歇性发烧、消瘦、进行性衰弱、贫血、出血和浮肿,在无烧期间则症状逐渐减轻或暂时消失现几乎遍及全世界,对养马业造成巨大经济损失。     

Prevalence and molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in lambs and goat kids in Belgium

The prevalence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia was studied on 10 intensively reared sheep and goat farms in the province of East Flanders, Belgium. Random faecal samples were collected and examined using the Merifluor((R)) immunofluorescence assay. Cryptosporidium positive samples were withheld for molecular identification using primers targeting the 18S rDNA, 70 kDa heat shock protein and 60 kDa glycoprotein gene. For the molecular identification of Giardia the beta-giardin gene and a recently developed assemblage specific PCR based on the triose phosphate isomerase gene were used. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium in lambs was 13.1% (18/137), on 4 out of 10 farms. In goat kids the Cryptosporidium prevalence was 9.5% (14/148), on 6 out of 10 farms. The molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium positive isolates indicated that in lambs (n=10) the cervine genotype was predominant, whereas in the goat kids (n=11) only C. parvum was identified, with subgenotypes IIaA15G2R1 and IIdA22G1. The Giardia prevalence was 25.5% (35/137) in lambs with all 10 farms being positive, and 35.8% (53/148) in goat kids with 8 out of the 10 farms being positive. Both in the goat kids and in the lambs the host specific assemblage E was most commonly identified. However, the zoonotic assemblage A was identified in 6 out of 28 goat kids and in 2 out of 8 lambs, based on the beta-giardin sequence alignment. Using the assemblage specific PCR, mixed assemblage A and E infections were additionally identified in 2 lambs and in 5 goat kids. The results of the present study indicate that both Cryptosporidium and Giardia are common parasites on intensively reared sheep and goat farms in the province of East Flanders, Belgium, and that they are a potential source for zoonotic infections.     

猪卵母细胞体外成熟和孤雌培养体系的建立和优化

试验系统探讨了猪卵母细胞的体外成熟和孤雌激活方法。结果表明:在成熟液中分别添加FSH(促卵泡素:0.1ng/mL)和hMG(人绝经期促性腺激素:0.01IU/mL)的卵母细胞成熟率差异显著,但2组间的分裂率和囊胚率差异不显著。在成熟液中添加0、10、30、50、70ng/mL或90ng/mL的EGF(表皮生长因子),50ng/mLEGF组的分裂率达到84.90%,囊胚率达到30.20%,显著高于其余各组。分别使用以TCM-199和NCSU-23为基础液的成熟液来成熟培养猪卵母细胞,NCSU-23组的分裂率,成熟率和囊胚率均高于TCM-199组。使用离子酶素激活方法和电激活方法进行对比,离子酶素激活后孤雌胚胎发育效果好,差异极显著(P<0.01)。