减毒沙门氏菌为载体传递DNA疫苗诱导对新城疫病毒的免疫保护

探讨了以减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏茵为栽体传递新城疫病毒DNA疫苗的安全性、免疫原性和可行性。将含新城疫病毒(NDV)F48E9株融合蛋白(F)基因的真核表达质粒pcDNA3-F的重组减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌ZJ111株(ZJ111／pcD-NA3一F菌株)，以10^8CFU进行首免，2周后二免，三免后4周攻击强毒株F48E9，观察其安全性和免疫原性，同时设只含空载体pcDNA3的ZJ111／pcDNA3菌株对照及口服PBS对照。结果表明：重组ZJ111／pcDNA3-F菌株具有良好的安全性。对强毒株攻击的保护率达64．7％。重组ZJ111／pcDNA3-F菌株不仅能诱导雏鸡产生NDVELISA抗体，而且诱导产生的法氏囊B淋巴细胞和胸腺T淋巴细胞增殖反应显著高于ZJ111／pcDNA3时照组。这些结果提示，减毒沙门氏菌为载体不仅可直接将NDVF基因呈递给鸡体细胞进行表达，产生抗NDV的体液免疫，而且还可诱导细胞免疫应答。     

减毒沙门氏菌为载体的草鱼口服生长抑素DNA疫苗的构建及其稳定性

将生长抑素(SS)和乙肝表面抗原基因(HBsAg)融合后，插入真核表达载体pcDNA3，构建成pcDNA3-SS，再转化减毒沙门氏菌(S．typhimurium,dam^-和phop^-)，构建了以减毒沙门氏菌为载体的生长抑素口服DNA疫苗ZJ111／pcDNA3-SS，并通过体外传代、灌服草鱼检验了ZJ111／pcDNA3-SS的侵袭力及体外和侵入草鱼体内过程中的德定性。对草鱼肝脏和脾脏分离菌的生化特性检验和特异性PCR鉴定表明，ZJ111／pcDNA3-SS能很好地侵入草鱼体内；对在Amp^ 、Amp^-平板上传5、10代和灌服7d后草鱼肝、脾脏分离的减毒菌抽提重组质粒进行PCR和酶切鉴定表明．减毒菌中的重组质粒在体外和侵入草鱼体内过程中具有较好的稳定性。     

减毒沙门氏菌为载体的口服生长抑素DNA疫苗对草鱼的安全性

幼草鱼灌服10^8、10^9、10^10cfu／mL减毒沙门氏菌为载体的口服生长抑素DNA疫苗ZJ111／pcDNA3-SS，另设野生型鼠伤寒沙门氏菌（10^9cfu／mL）和PBS对照组，试验期20d，观察并比较各组死亡率。另取150g左右的草鱼灌服PBS、10^8cfu／mL ZJ111／pcDNA3-SS和10^8cfu／mL野生型鼠伤寒沙门氏菌组，7d后屠宰取肝和脾脏，做透射电镜切片观察。结果显示，灌服10^9cfu／mL ZJ111／pcDNA3-SS的幼鱼在试验期间死亡2尾，灌服10^8cfu／mL ZJ111／pcDNA3-SS和PBS的幼鱼采食和生长正常，灌服野生型S．typhimurium和10^10cfu／mL ZJ111／pcDNA3-SS的幼鱼死亡率分别为76．67％、26．67％。灌服10^8cfu／mL ZJ111／pcDNA3-SS的草鱼肝、脾细胞形态正常，肝脏线粒体略微肿胀，内质网间距略有增大，但病变特征不明显；10^8cfu／mL的zJ111／pcDNA3-SS对草鱼具有相对安全性。     

柔嫩艾美耳球虫ZJ株5401基因的克隆和序列分析

利用RT—PCR方法扩增出了柔嫩艾美耳球虫(E．tenella)ZJ(浙江)株的子孢子表面抗原5401基因。把这一基因片段克隆到PGEM—T克隆载体上，得到的阳性克隆经PCR鉴定及酶切分析，结果表明重组子(pGEM—T—5401)中含有5401基因，该序列全长为864bp，序列本身是一个开放阅读框，将克隆得到的基因与国外报道的5401基因比较，有两个碱基发生有义突变，引起两个氨基酸发生突变，核苷酸同源性为99．8％，氨基酸同源性为99．3％。克隆出的5401基因可以用于将来重组疫苗的研究。     

鸡柔嫩艾美耳球虫3-1E真核重组表达质粒的构建及其免疫保护性分析

为构建鸡柔嫩艾美耳球虫(E.tenella)重组真核表达质粒并检测其免疫保护性,本实验将E.tenella表面抗原基因3-1E(E)与鸡IFN-γ、IL-2基因分别串联在真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(+)中,构建真核重组表达质粒pcDNA-E-IFNγ、pcDNA-E-IL2,同时构建对照质粒pcDNA-E、pcDNA-IFNγ、pcDNA-IL2.经酶切鉴定得到预期大小目的片段,测序结果与预期序列一致.将构建的重组质粒免疫鸡只,经western blot检测表明该重组质粒在鸡体内可以正常表达;对感染鸡只的免疫保护效果显示,pcDNA-E-IFNγ、pcDNA-E-IL2组抗球虫指数(ACI)分别为181.04、187.30,具有高效的抗球虫效果,为将其进一步研制成为具有实用价值的抗球虫疫苗奠定了基础.     

EnMIC2重组减毒沙门氏菌的构建及免疫保护效果研究

成功构建了表达鸡毒害艾美耳球虫(Eimeria necatrix)广东株(GD)微线蛋白-2基因(EnMIC2)的重组减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌，在IPTG诱导下获得了EnMIC2的高效表达，SDS-PAGE分析表明，表达产物约占菌体总蛋白的8．6％，分子量大小约为35ku，与抗E．necatrix的高免血清进行Western Blotting，结果为阳性。将重组减毒沙门氏菌以10^8和10^9 CFU／鸡免疫4日龄岭南黄肉鸡，免疫后2周血清中可检测到特异性IgG，3周时抗体水平达到峰值，同时可在肠道检测到特异性IgA的分泌。免疫接种后3周，试验鸡分别经口攻击感染500个E．necatrix(GD)孢子化卵囊，结果显示免疫组与非免疫组有相似的排卵囊曲线；但10^8和10^9CFU免疫组的卵囊总产量分别能降低26．62％和48．92％。     

柔嫩艾美耳球虫感染对蛋鸡生产肠炎沙门氏菌污染蛋和感染肠炎沙门氏菌敏感性的影响

为揭示球虫感染对蛋鸡的肠炎沙门氏菌敏感性及鸡蛋的肠炎沙门氏菌污染率的影响而进行了本研究。结果显示,柔嫩艾美耳球虫感染对蛋鸡生产肠炎沙门氏菌污染蛋及感染肠炎沙门氏菌的敏感性均具有增强作用。具体表现为：柔嫩艾美耳球虫感染可使肠炎沙门氏菌污染蛋壳显著增多（Ｐ＜０．０５）;球虫感染鸡所产蛋,无论是新鲜的还是贮存１周后的,其蛋内容物的肠炎沙门氏菌阳性率比仅感染肠炎沙门氏菌鸡所产蛋要高;球虫感染鸡盲肠中的沙门氏菌阳性率和沙门氏菌数显著增加（Ｐ＜０．０１）;球虫感染鸡输卵管中的肠炎沙门氏菌也有增多;球虫感染使泄殖腔拭子的肠炎沙门氏菌阳性率增加。研究结果表明,柔嫩艾美耳球虫感染可以增加鸡群中肠炎沙门氏菌的水平及其垂直传播的危险。     

ADF-IL-2基因重组卡介苗的构建及免疫保护效果

构建柔嫩艾美尔球虫ADF基因和鸡IL-2基因的重组卡介苗,并研究其免疫保护性.将柔嫩艾美尔球虫的ADF基因和鸡的IL-2基因串联后连接到至穿梭表达载体pMV261和整合表达载体pMV361中电转化卡介苗,制备重组卡介苗pMV261-ADF-IL-2和pMV361-ADF-IL-2,将构建的基因重组卡介苗分别以不同免疫途径接种雏鸡,研究其对柔嫩艾美耳球虫的攻毒的免疫保护效果.结果显示,成功构建重组rBCG pMV261-ADF-IL-2和pMV361-ADF-IL-2,且rBCG滴鼻免疫组的免疫效果较好,其抗球虫指数分别为176.08和172.89.结果表明,构建的基因重组卡介苗pMV261-ADF-IL-2和pMV3 61-ADF-IL-2对柔嫩艾美尔球虫卵囊的攻击具有一定的保护作用.     

柔嫩艾美耳球虫重组IL-2-EtMIC-2质粒的免疫效力研究

为了确定鸡IL-2对柔嫩艾美耳球虫(E.tenella)河北株Et MIC-2质粒的免疫增效作用,将构建的pcDNA3.0-IL-2、pcDNA3.0-EtMIC-2和pc DNA3.0-IL-2-EtMIC-2质粒分别免疫雏鸡,研究其对E.tenella攻毒后的免疫保护效果。结果显示,pcDNA3.0-IL-2-EtMIC-2重组质粒的免疫剂量为100μg、150μg时,抗E.tenella攻击的保护率均高达95%,抗求虫指数(ACI)分别为163和165,比免疫pcDNA3.0-IL-2和pcDNA3.0-EtMIC-2组分别提高了91.99%、94.35%和31.88%、33.50%。     

堆型艾美耳球虫重组质粒pcDNA3-1E在鸡体组织中的分布

为了探索堆型艾美耳球虫重组质粒pcDNA3-1E在雏鸡组织中的分布情况,将重组质粒pcDNA3-1E经肌肉注射免疫雏鸡,分别在免疫后15d、30d和60d剖杀雏鸡并采取各种组织,抽提各组织总基因组DNA进行PCR扩增后经琼脂糖凝胶电泳分析,并观察接种后雏鸡的临床特征。结果:免疫后15d各组织均可检测到3-1E基因,而免疫后30d和60d,仅在pcDNA3-1E质粒注射部位检测到3-1E基因,其他组织均未检测到3-1E基因;50μg的pcDNA3-1E质粒并未对雏鸡产生不良影响。由此表明堆型艾美耳球虫重组质粒pcDNA3-1E在雏鸡体内至少可存在15d,30d后质粒DNA仅分布于接种部位,并至少可持续60d,而且未发现异常临床表现。     

Feline intracranial neoplasia: retrospective review of 160 cases (1985-2001)

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of different tumor types within a large cohort of cats with intracranial neoplasia and to attempt to correlate signalment, tumor size and location, and survival time for each tumor. Medical records of 160 cats with confirmed intracranial neoplasia evaluated between 1985 and 2001 were reviewed. Parameters evaluated included age, sex, breed, FeLV/FIV status, clinical signs, duration of signs, number of tumors, tumor location(s), imaging results, treatment, survival times, and histopathologic diagnosis. Most of the cats were older (11.3 +/- 3.8 years). Primary tumors accounted for 70.6% of cases. Metastasis and direct extension of secondary tumors accounted for only 5.6 and 3.8% of cases, respectively. Twelve cats (7.5%) had 2 or more discrete tumors of the same type, whereas 16 cats (10.0%) had 2 different types of intracranial tumors. The most common tumor types were meningioma (n = 93, 58.1%), lymphoma (n = 23, 14.4%), pituitary tumors (n = 14, 8.8%), and gliomas (n = 12, 7.5%). The most common neurological signs were altered consciousness (n = 42, 26.2%), circling (n = 36, 22.5%), and seizures (n = 36, 22.5%). Cats without specific neurological signs were common (n = 34, 21.2%). The tumor was considered an incidental finding in 30 (18.8%) cats. In addition to expected relationships (eg, meninges and meningioma, pituitary and pituitary tumors), we found that lesion location was predictive of tumor type with diffuse cerebral or brainstem involvement predictive of lymphoma and third ventricle involvement predictive of meningioma.     

The Prevalence and Intensity of Helminth and Coccidial Infections in Dairy Cattle in Central Kenya

A survey of gastrointestinal parasite infections of young (<6 months old), immature (6–12 months old) and adult (>12 months old) dairy cattle on 16 farms in Kiambu District, Kenya was conducted during a dry season (September 1991 to January 1992) and during a wet season (March to July 1992). The survey was based on monthly coproparasitological examination of cohorts and worm counts in tracer calves. The effects of age, sex, farm and season on the prevalence and intensity of helminth and coccidial infections were determined. Faecal egg and oocyst counts revealed that the overall prevalences were: strongyles (including trichostrongyles) (85.5%), liver flukes (Fasciola gigantica) (34.0%), coccidia (30.9%) and tapeworms (9.6%). Eight species of the protozoan Eimeria were identified, the most prevalent species being E. bovis and E. zuernii. The most prevalent nematode genera were Haemonchus, Cooperia, Oesophagostomum and Trichostrongylus. Season, farm and age of the animals had a significant (p<0.05) influence on the intensity of infection with strongyles, liver flukes and coccidia, whereas the sex of the animals had no significant (p>0.05) effect on the prevalence or intensity of infections. A higher intensity of infection with strongyles and coccidia was found in the wet season than in the dry season (p<0.05). The age-specific intensity was in the following order: for strongyles, immature animals of 6–12 months of age had the highest egg counts, followed by young calves and adults. Calves had significantly (p<0.05) higher oocyst counts than immatures or adults. Liver fluke egg counts did not differ significant (p>0.05) between immatures and adult cattle.     

Hypothalamic dopamine is required for salsolinol‐induced prolactin secretion in goats

The aim of the present study was to clarify the relationship between hypothalamic dopamine (DA) and salsolinol (SAL) for the secretion of prolactin (PRL) in goats. SAL or thyrotropin‐releasing hormone (TRH) was intravenously injected into female goats treated with or without the D₂ DA receptor antagonist haloperidol (Hal), which crosses the blood‐brain barrier, and the PRL‐releasing response to SAL was compared with that to TRH. PRL‐releasing responses to SAL, Hal, and Hal plus SAL were also examined after a pretreatment to augment central DA using carbidopa (Carbi) and L‐dopa. The PRL‐releasing response to Hal alone was greater than that to SAL or TRH alone. The PRL‐releasing response to Hal plus SAL was similar to that of Hal alone. In contrast, the PRL‐releasing response to Hal plus TRH was greater than that to TRH or Hal alone. The treatment with Carbi plus L‐dopa inhibited SAL‐ and Hal‐induced PRL secretion. The inhibition of the PRL‐releasing response to SAL disappeared when SAL was injected with Hal. These results indicate that the mechanisms underlying the SAL‐induced PRL response differ from those of TRH, and suggest that hypothalamic DA and its synthesis is associated in part with SAL‐induced PRL secretion in goats.     

Prevalence of gastric lesions in racing Alaskan sled dogs

Human and equine athletes are reported to have a high prevalence of gastric disease, and anecdotal evidence suggests a similar phenomenon applies to racing sled dogs. To investigate the prevalence of gastric disease in racing sled dogs, we conducted 2 gastroscopy studies on dogs competing in the annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race. A pilot study of dogs that were either dropped from the 2000 Iditarod Sled Dog Race because of illness or that finished the race indicated that, approximately 5 days after competing, 10 of 28 dogs (35%) had endoscopic evidence of gastric ulceration, erosion, or hemorrhage. The next year, an endoscopic study of 73 dogs participating in the 2001 Iditarod race was performed in order to evaluate a larger population of dogs. Data from 70 of these dogs could be used; 34 (48.5%) had ulceration, erosion, gastric hemorrhage, or some combination of these findings. When this group of 70 dogs was compared retrospectively to a control group of 87 dogs presented to the Texas A&M University (TAMU) Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, the Iditarod sled dogs had a significantly higher prevalence (P = .049) of gastric lesions. These findings suggest that, similar to athletes of other species, elite canine athletes have an increased prevalence of gastric disease compared to the canine population at large.     

Laboratory diagnosis of respiratory diseases of cattle

The authors describe the procedure of laboratory diagnosis for bovine respiratory diseases: direct diagnosis by isolation and for identification of bacteria or viruses and indirect diagnosis by serological methods. They specify the restraints and limits of this diagnosis and the significance results which are obtained and connected with knowledge of anamnestic information.     

The effect of peri-parturient anthelmintic treatment on the productivity of dairy cattle in subtropical western India

Trials with fenbendazole (Panacur, Hoechst India Ltd) were carried out on two commercial farms in subtropical western India to study the response and economics of nematode treatment in adult dairy cows. Milk yield, lactation length, time to first oestrus and worm egg output were monitored in treated and control groups. Treatment reduced the egg count considerably. Treated cows produced 142 litres more milk over 100 days (p<0.05), with extension of lactation length and advancement of time to first oestrus. The economic gain in terms of milk yield far outweighed the cost of anthelmintic used.     

An Evaluation of the Acceptability as Forage of Some Nutritive and Antinutritive Components and of the Dry Matter Degradation Profiles of Five Species of Ficus

The suitability of five species of Ficus, F. mucoso, F. thonningii, F. polita, F. religiosa and F. benjamina, for feeding ruminant livestock was studied. The nutritive and antinutritive components were determined and the acceptability of the forages to livestock was assessed using a cafeteria method in 8 adult small ruminants. Also, the degradation potential of the dry matter of the five Ficus species was investigated using 3 fistulated sheep. The crude protein (CP) content of the Ficus species varied significantly (p < 0.05), ranging from 130 to 180 g/kg DM. The content of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) also varied significantly (p < 0.05), ranging from 650 to 710 g/kg DM. The organic matter (OM) contents did not differ significantly (p > 0.05), having a mean value of 916 g/kg DM. The concentrations of tannin, saponin, phytic acid and oxalic acid were low. The acceptability of the forage was similar for four of the species but poor for F. polita. The extent of DM degradation varied significant among the Ficus species, the ranking order being F. benjamina > F. thonningii > F. mucoso > F. religiosa > F. polita.