Molecular epidemiology of cryptosporidium and giardia in humans on prince edward island, Canada: evidence of zoonotic transmission from cattle

To determine the zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, 658 human faecal specimens were screened that were submitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital diagnostic laboratory. Overall, 143 (22%) samples were Cryptosporidium positive, while three (0.5%) were positive for Giardia. Successful genotyping of 25 Cryptosporidium isolates by sequence analysis of the HSP70 gene revealed that 28 and 72% were C. hominis and C. parvum, respectively. Cryptosporidium isolates from humans and previously genotyped C. parvum from beef cattle were subtyped by sequence analysis of the GP60 gene. Subtyping identified three subtypes belonging to the family IIa. All three subtypes IIaA16G2RI (55%), IIaA16G3RI (22%) and IIaA15G2RI (22%) were found in the animal isolates, while two of the subtypes found in the animals, IIaA16G2RI (80%) and IIaA15G2RI (20%), were also identified in the human isolates. Cryptosporidium infection in humans peaked in April-June. Molecular epidemiological analysis of the human data showed a C. parvum peak in the spring and a relatively smaller peak for C. hominis in July-September. The majority (57%) of human Cryptosporidium isolates were found in children between 5 and 10 years of age. All three Giardia isolates were identified as G. duodenalis assemblage A. The overall Cryptosporidium prevalence in our human samples was high relative to other studies, but because the samples were submitted to a hospital diagnostic laboratory, the results may not be representative of the general population. Further, the presence of the same zoonotic C. parvum subtypes in cattle and human isolates implies that transmission is largely zoonotic and cattle may be a source of sporadic human infections on PEI. The presence of Giardia in people on PEI is rare, and the assemblage A found in humans might originate from humans, livestock or other domestic or wild animals.     

Salmon poisoning disease in dogs on southern vancouver island

Salmon poisoning disease in dogs has previously been reported in North America only along the western coast of the U.S.A. This paper presents the findings from eight affected dogs recently diagnosed on Vancouver Island, Canada. The clinical signs shown by these dogs were lethargy, anorexia, pyrexia and lymph node enlargement. The causative agent, Neorickettsia helminthoeca was observed in macrophages obtained from lymph node aspirates. This organism is transmitted to dogs in cysts of the fluke Nanophyetus salmincola salmincola within the tissues of the salmon or trout. The presence of fluke eggs in the feces of dogs showing typical signs is very suggestive of a diagnosis of salmon poisoning disease. Appropriate treatment, including chloramphenicol or oxytetracycline and fluid therapy, resulted in recovery. Prevention of salmon poisoning disease in endemic areas can be achieved by advising owners against allowing their dogs to eat raw salmon or trout. We suggest, based on the diagnoses made in these eight dogs, that Vancouver Island now be considered an endemic area for salmon poisoning disease.     

海南岛热带草地饲料资源浅析

根据海南草地演变、植被利用动态、牧草生长特性以及外来牧草在海岛的表现等阐明了海南草地分布和饲料资源空间配置特征，据此提出在海南中部建设人工草场以轮牧为主、在农区以割草或制草粉补饲为主的草地饲料利用方式。     

海南岛野生牧草种质资源考察

2004年6月—2005年4月对海南岛野生牧草种质资源进行了实地考察。收集了野生牧草种质资源549份,隶属7科、33属,近60种。并对收集到的野生牧草种质资源的种类、分布情况、生长习性进行了描述。通过考察,挽救了一批濒临灭绝的品种;发掘了一批可供生产和育种单位直接利用的种质资源,丰富了国家种质库。还就海南的野生牧草种质资源的保存和利用等提出意见和建议。     

Genetic characterization of a small closed island population of Norwegian coastal goat

ABSTRACT

The Norwegian coastal goat is a national and endangered breed. Coastal goat populations are mainly divided with a large mainland and two small island populations. The objective of this study is to describe genetic diversity in the feral Skorpa island population and its relationship to the mainland coastal goat population (Selje) using the Norwegian milk goat population as a reference. Analyses were based on 96 samples genotyped by the CaprineSNP50 Beadchip from three populations; 7 Skorpa (SK), 37 Selje (SE) and 52 Norwegian milk goats (MG). The SK population had significantly less genetic variation and higher levels of inbreeding than the two other populations. It was more distant from the two mainland populations than they were from each other. The marginal contribution of the SK population to genetic diversity was small. Means of introducing genetic diversity into the SK population should be considered if the population is prioritized for conservation.     

科学利用湖洲草滩发展肉牛生产技术研究

文章介绍一养牛大户科学利用洞庭湖区湖洲草场,以湘西黄牛和南阳黄牛为母本、西门塔尔牛为父本杂交生产肉牛的成功经验与技术.该草场面积200 hm2(间种速生杨),现存栏牛274头.2003-2008年共生产肉牛215头,年均出栏肉牛43头.近两年年平均出栏率选26.17%,每公顷产肉50.40 kg.5年累计产值59.88万元(年均产值11.976万元),共获利49.05万元(年均4,1润9.81万元).牛的繁殖率达98%,成活率95%,血吸虫的感染率控制在2%以下,为发展洞庭湖湖洲养牛提供了重要的经验.     

禽致病性大肠杆菌中耶尔森菌强毒力岛的分子流行病学调查

为了解耶尔森菌强毒力岛（HPI）在禽致病性大肠杆菌（APEC）中的流行情况，根据HPI结构基因irp2和fyuA参考序列设计了引物，用PCR方法和斑点杂交法对从江苏等地分离的APEC基因组进行了扩增和检测，并对E．coli NTJC040406菌株相关基因进行了克隆和序列分析。结果表明，216株APEC中有44．9％的菌株携带有HPI，序列分析表明相关基因与GenBank中参考序列的同源性高达98％以上。提示HPI在APEC中广泛存在，经进一步分析，发现分离菌株是否携带HPI与O78等特定血清型有一定的相关性。     

Human outbreak of trichinellosis in the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, Italy

Trichinella sp. infection has been documented in both humans and animals in most Mediterranean countries, yet in the past 60 years no infections have been reported on the Mediterranean islands. We describe the first outbreak of Trichinella sp. infection to have been reported on the island of Sardinia. The outbreak occurred in two villages in 2005 and involved 11 persons who had eaten raw sausages made from the same free-ranging sow. All 11 persons developed signs and symptoms of trichinellosis and seroconverted within 48 days of consuming the infected meat. The etiological agent was Trichinella britovi. Sardinia, like all Mediterranean islands, had been considered to be Trichinella-free. The present report, together with a recent report of T. britovi infection in animals on the nearby island of Corsica (France), raises questions as to the validity of the concept of Trichinella-free areas or regions.     

海南岛沿海越冬水鸟及其保护

2003-2005年对海南岛沿海越冬水鸟进行了调查,旨在加强海南岛湿地的保护和管理.在调查的20个湿地中,共记录水鸟68种,新发现3处全球濒危鸟类黑脸琵鹭(Platalea minor)的越冬地,即临高后水湾、东方北黎湾和三亚河.2003-2009年冬季对黑脸琵鹭的越冬种群进行了持续调查.海南岛越冬水鸟数量最多的是鹭鸟,其次是鸻鹬类和鸥类.分析发现,在有红树林分布的湿地鸟类种数和个体数量均比无红树林分布的湿地明显增加.此外,博浦湾、黄龙港、后水湾、洋浦港、北黎湾、莺歌海、三亚河、清澜港和东寨港等地是海南岛鸟类优先保护的湿地,其人为干扰应该被禁止.     

城市绿地在减弱热岛效应中的作用

在太原市选取典型绿地,研究绿地的垂直结构、面积、形状对减弱热岛效应的影响,得出绿地结构在减弱热岛效应的程度大小为,树林>复合绿地>草地。绿地面积,形状指数与减弱热岛效应能力呈正相关,二者与温度变化指数和湿度变化指数均为线性回归。试验对定量研究绿地生态效应具有重要意义,可以作为评价城市绿地的方法,同时对城市园林规划设计具有一定的指导意义。     

Babesia motasi in sheep on the island of Gotland in Sweden

Serological survey with an IFA-test showed that 58% (73/125) of the lambs and 88% (46/52) of the ewes on the island of Gotland (Sweden) has antibodies against Babesia motasi.It is likely that such a high incidence of the blood protozoan organisms plays an important part in causing the often observed anaemia in sheep on that island.     

Evidence of West Nile virus seropositivity in wild birds on the island of Cyprus

West Nile Virus (WNV)¹ is an emerging pathogen in Cyprus, with the first human case of infection reported in 2016, and another documented in 2018. A cluster of cases in humans was then reported in 2019. However, little is known regarding which avian species might bring WNV to Cyprus. Here, we investigated seroprevalence of WNV antibodies in migratory and resident birds, captured across Cyprus to assess to what extent human populations might be exposed to WNV. We used Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)² to test for the presence of WNV antibodies in 836 avian blood samples of 44 species captured between 2015 and 2020. A seropositivity rate of 1.3 % was found. The majority of seropositive wild birds belonged to the migratory species Sylvia atricapilla, a common and widespread migrant, implying a high risk of WNV being introduced throughout Cyprus.     

Identification of Babesia bovis and Cowdria ruminantium on the island of Unguja, Zanzibar

Babesia bovis and Cowdria ruminantium were identified for the first time in cattle on Unguja Island, Zanzibar. B bovis is common and widespread, although clinical disease had not been diagnosed previously. The vector of heartwater, Amblyomma variegatum, is found throughout Unguja but C ruminantium appears to be more localised in distribution than B bovis.     

Surveillance of Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus in sheep in Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan

Surveillance of jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) infection was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of blood DNA samples collected from 40 sheep and goats in 10 different flocks in Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan. No exogenous (oncogenic) JSRV sequence was detected by PCR in these samples, while the ovine endogenous retrovirus sequence was successfully amplified in all samples. Our paper is the first demonstration of JSRV surveillance in Japan and shows no evidence of oncogenic JSRV infection in sheep and goats in Hokkaido.     

Greater palatine island axial pattern flap for repair of oronasal fistula related to eosinophilic granuloma

A Greyhound presented with eosinophilic granuloma lesions of the soft palate and oronasal fistula. Since other siblings had been known to also have oral eosinophilic granuloma, it was suspected that the dog reported here had a familial predisposition to develop the disease. Preoperative medical management consisting of anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive therapy was required before surgical repair of the oronasal fistula. Multiple surgical techniques, including a greater palatine island axial pattern flap, were used to repair the oronasal fistula.     

Isolation of Cryptosporidium andersoni Kawatabi type in a slaughterhouse in the northern island of Japan

Fecal samples were collected from 325 adult cattle and 108 pigs in a slaughterhouse in Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan. Five adult cattle were found to be positive for oocysts of Cryptopsoridium (1.5%). The oocysts were morphologically similar to those of Cryptosporidium andersoni. The partial sequence of the 18S rRNA gene of the isolate was 100% identical with that of the C. andersoni Kawatabi strain. SCID mice were infected after oral administration. Based on the morphology of the oocysts, the sequence of the 18S rRNA gene and the infectivity to SCID mice, the isolate was concluded to be of the same type as the C. andersoni Kawatabi strain that has been isolated in Honshu, the main island of Japan.