麻鸭α干扰素基因的克隆与序列分析

根据GenBank文献，应用Oligo6．0分析软件设计合成了用于扩增鸭Ⅰ型干扰素（α—IFN）基因的2对引物。以麻鸭肝脏提取的基因组DNA为模板，采用Nest—PCR方法扩增获得了约600bp片段，经T载体克隆和测序分析证实，是麻鸭Ⅰ型干扰素基因（SDIFN—α）。生物信息学分析表明，SDIFN—α的开放阅读框架（ORF）由576个核苷酸所组成，预测蛋白质相对分子质量为21640，编码191个氨基酸。其中前28个氨基酸可能是信号肽部分，切割位点在28号氨基酸A和29号氨基酸S之间，序列中无内含子。成熟的多肽中含8个半胱氨酸和2个糖基化位点，2个蛋白激酶C磷酸化位点（protein kinase C phosphorylation site）和2个酪蛋白激酶Ⅱ磷酸化位点（casein kinase Ⅱ phosphorylation site）。SDIFN—α与鸭α—IFN基因核苷酸同源性为99．3％。有4个碱基的差异；与北京鸭α—IFN基因的核苷酸同源性为99．1％，氨基酸同源性为98．96％；与鸡α—IFN的核苷酸同源性为71．8％。与鹅、狗、牛、马和人的α—IFN基因的核苷酸同源性分别为96．0％、45．8％、45．5％、44．6％和41．7％。遗传进化分析结果表明，IFN—α的这些同源性与其动物分类地位相一致。     

北京鸭Ⅱ型干扰素基因分子克隆与序列分析

应用反转录－聚合酶链反应（RT－PCR）技术，从伴刀豆球蛋白A（ConA)刺激培养的北京鸭脾淋巴细胞提取的总RNA中扩增得到北京鸭Ⅱ型干扰素（IFN－γ）基因（DuIFN-γ2）。序列分析表明，DuIFN-γ2基因长度与报道的鸭IFN－γ基因（AF087134）长度一致，为497个核苷酸，共编码145个氨基酸的成熟蛋白，推测其分子量约17ku。两者核苷酸水平的同源性为99．6％，有2个位置发生非同义变异，其氨基酸序列的同源性为98．6％；与其他禽类同源性为67．0％－68．0％，与人的同源性为34．4％。     

惠阳胡须鸡IFN-α基因克隆和序列分析

根据红色原鸡IFN－A基因设计了引物对，采用PCR法克隆并测序了我国地方标准品种惠阳胡须鸡的IFN－α基因，定名为HyIFNA4.HyIFNA4与红色原鸡类IFN－α比较，FORF长度均为582个核苷酸，编码162个氨基酸，相互间同源性在97．4％－99％。UPGAM法构建鸡IFN基因系统树进一步揭示了HyIFNA4可能是一种新亚型干扰素。     

鸭Ⅰ型干扰素基因的克隆与序列测定

从植物血凝素（PHA刺激的鸭外周血单核细胞提取总RNA，采用RT-PCR扩增鸭Ⅰ型干扰素（DuIFN-Ⅰ）基因。将其克隆到pMD-18T载体中，进行序列测定。克隆到的鸭Ⅰ型干扰素基因与已公布的DuIFN-α核苷酸序列同源性为99.65%。氨基酸序列同源性为98.95%。同时表明，鸭外周血单核细胞在PHA刺激下能够表达Ⅰ型干扰素mRNA。     

鸡Ⅱ型干扰素存在亚型

采用RT－PCR法从惠阳胡须鸡克隆了Ⅱ型干扰素基因（ChIFNγ2)。ChIFNγ2是含19个氨基酸的信号肽和145个氨基酸的成熟蛋白，与已报道的鸡Ⅱ型干扰素基因（ChIFNγ)长度一致，核苷酸和氨基酸同源性分别为97％和92．7％；有12处氨基酸发生点变异。ChIFNγ2与禽类IFNγ和哺乳动物IFNγ在氨基酸水平上同源性分别为62．2％－92．7％和26．5％－31．8％。1980年国际干扰素命名委员会建议，在一特定的干扰素型别内，氨基酸序列或组成方面有差异时可确定为亚型。根据这些规定，惠阳胡须鸡ChIFNγ2可被定为一种新亚型的鸡Ⅱ型干扰素。即Ⅱ型干扰素中存在亚型。     

乌鬃鹅a干扰素基因的克隆及生物信息学分析

采用RT-PCR方法从乌鬃鹅肝脏中扩增a干扰素（Interferon,IFN-a）基因片段,将扩增片段克隆到pMD18-T载体上,经PCR和双酶切鉴定为阳性后进行序列测定,并用生物信息学软件Lasergene v7．1DNAStar和在线分析方法对IFN—a基因的核苷酸序列及其氨基酸序列进行了生物信息学分析,同时与GenBank中登录的鸡、鸭和鹅IFN．仅基因核苷酸序列进行同源性比较分析。结果表明,所扩增的IFN—a基因编码完整的开放阅读框,基因长度为576bp,与鸡、鸭与鹅IFN-a基因核苷酸序列同源性在72．0％～99．7％,遗传进化树显示鸡、鸭、鹅IFN-a因在遗传进化上各处一支。乌鬃鹅IFN-a基因的克隆及生物信息学分析为进一步研究鹅干扰素抗病毒的作用机理奠定基础。     

水貂 β-干扰素基因的克隆、测序与遗传进化分析

根据Genβank发表的序列,应用DNAstart分析软件设计并合成一对引物用于扩增水貂β干扰素（IFN—β）基因,从病死水貂的脾脏中提取总RNA,RT—PCR扩增水貂β干扰素基因,获得了约561bp片段,将其克隆到pEasy—T1载体中,进行序列分析,证实该基因是水貂β干扰素基因。将测序结果与GenBank发表的雪貂（EF581890．1）的IFN—β基因序列进行比较,核苷酸序列同源性为100．0％,氨基酸同源性为100．0％。同时将核苷酸序列、氨基酸序列与其他几种犬科动物进行遗传进化分析,其同源性分别在83．0％～100．0％之间和69．4％～100．0％之间。     

北京鸭Mx基因克隆及其在鸭呼肠孤病毒感染的鸭胚成纤维细胞中的表达分析

本试验旨在研究北京鸭Mx基因的结构及功能。利用干扰素诱导剂Poly(I∶C)诱导鸭胚成纤维细胞(DEF),提取细胞总RNA,采用RT-PCR方法扩增北京鸭Mx基因全长编码区序列,并观察其在感染了鸭呼肠孤病毒(DRV)的DEF中的动态表达情况。北京鸭Mx基因序列分析结果显示,该基因编码区全长2 166bp,编码721个氨基酸残基。通过与GenBank中已登录的脊椎动物Mx基因进行核苷酸系统进化树分析,结果显示北京鸭Mx基因与野鸭Mx基因关系最近。北京鸭Mx序列与其他动物基因序列的比对结果显示,核苷酸同源性为47.8%~99.8%,氨基酸同源性为47.9%~99.4%。DRV孵育DEF后,Mx呈波动性表达。结果表明,本试验成功克隆了北京鸭Mx基因,预测分析证实其编码的蛋白具有脊椎动物Mx蛋白共有的结构特征,北京鸭Mx蛋白全基因的获得为下一步研究禽类Mx蛋白的抗病毒活性、作用机制及干扰素的监测奠定了基础。     

狮头鹅α-干扰素基因的克隆与遗传分析

从狮头鹅外周血细胞中提取基因组DNA,采用巢式PCR方法扩增α-干扰素基因片段（d-Go-IFN-α）;同时从新城疫病毒（NDV）刺激培养外周血淋巴细胞提取总RNA,用RT-PCR方法扩增α-干扰素基因片段（m-Go-IFN-α）,将上述扩增片段分别克隆到pGEM-T载体并进行序列测定。结果表明,α-干扰素基因全长均为576 bp,编码192个氨基酸,比较d-Go-IFN-α和m-Go-IFN-α的核苷酸序列,可见155位核苷酸由A突变为G,相应地52位氨基酸由M突变为R,提示狮头鹅α-干扰素基因存在单链核苷酸多态性;狮头鹅与其它家禽品种α-干扰素基因的核苷酸序列同源性介于41.2%~98.3%之间,其推导的氨基酸序列同源性为13.0％～96.4％,不同鹅品种的α-干扰素具有极为相似的二级结构。     

鹅α和γ干扰素基因的克隆及序列分析

从植物血凝素(PHA)刺激的鹅外周血白细胞提取总RNA,采用RT-PCR方法扩增鹅IFN基因,将其克隆到pMD18-T载体中,进行序列分析.克隆到的鹅IFN-α和IFN-γ基因与GeneBank上已公布的鸭IFN核苷酸序列进行比较,其同源性分别为IFN-α96.70%、IFN-γ94.95%;氨基酸序列同源性分别为IFN-α93.72%、IFN-γ93.29%.这为进一步研究鹅干扰素的生物学特性和应用奠定了基础.     

白术、微米白术和白术多糖对断奶仔猪生长性能和肠道形态及微生态区系的影响

试验选用96头平均体重14.82 kg左右的杜×长×大断奶仔猪,随机分成4组,每组3栏,每栏8头(公母各半)。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验1、2、3组分别添加1%80目白术、0.2%白术多糖和1%微米白术。试验期30 d。结果表明:在生长性能方面,与对照组相比,1%微米白术添加组可显著提高日增重(P0.05)、降低饲料增重比和腹泻率,而且效果优于1%80目白术组和0.2%白术多糖组,在肠道形态和肠道微生态区系方面,与对照组相比,日粮添加1%80目白术、0.2%白术多糖、1%微米白术均可不同程度的提高十二指肠和空肠的绒毛高度,加深十二指肠和空肠的隐窝深度,并且增加肠道微生态区系的多样性,其中以1%微米白术添加组的效果最佳。     

Prevalence and seasonal incidence of nematode parasites and fluke infections of sheep and goats in eastern Ethiopia

Sissay, M.M., Uggla, A. and Waller, P.J., XXXX. Prevalence and seasonal incidence of nematode parasites and fluke infections of sheep and goats in eastern Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, XXXX. A 2-year abattoir survey was carried out to determine the prevalence, abundance and seasonal incidence of gastro-intestinal (GI) nematodes and trematodes (flukes) of sheep and goats in the semi-arid zone of eastern Ethiopia. During May 2003 to April 2005, viscera including liver, lungs and GI tracts were collected from 655 sheep and 632 goats slaughtered at 4 abattoirs located in the towns of Haramaya, Harar, Dire Dawa and Jijiga in eastern Ethiopia. All animals were raised in the farming areas located within the community boundaries for each town. Collected materials were transported within 24 h to the parasitology laboratory of Haramaya University for immediate processing. Thirteen species belonging to 9 genera of GI nematodes (Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus axei, T. colubriformis, T. vitrinus, Nematodirus filicollis, N. spathiger, Oesophagostomum columbianum, O. venulosum, Strongyloides papillosus, Bunostomum trigonocephalum, Trichuris ovis, Cooperia curticei and Chabertia ovina), and 4 species belonging to 3 genera of trematodes (Fasciola hepatica, F. gigantica, Paramphistomum {Calicohoron} microbothrium and Dicrocoelium dendriticum) were recorded in both sheep and goats. All animals in this investigation were infected with multiple species to varying degrees. The mean burdens of adult nematodes were generally moderate in both sheep and goats and showed patterns of seasonal abundance that corresponded with the bi-modal annual rainfall pattern, with highest burdens around the middle of the rainy season. In both sheep and goats there were significant differences in the mean worm burdens and abundance of the different nematode species between the four geographic locations, with worm burdens in the Haramaya and Harar areas greater than those observed in the Dire Dawa and Jijiga locations. Similar seasonal variations were also observed in the prevalence of flukes. But there were no significant differences in the prevalence of each fluke species between the four locations. Overall, the results showed that Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Nematodirus, Oesophagostomum, Fasciola and Paramphistomum species were the most abundant helminth parasites of sheep and goats in eastern Ethiopia.     

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.     

Y‐chromosomal variation of local goat breeds of Turkey close to the domestication centre

Genetic variations in chromosome Y are enabling researchers to identify paternal lineages, which are informative for introgressions and migrations. In this study, the male‐specific region markers, sex‐determining region‐Y (SRY), amelogenin (AMELY) and zinc finger (ZFY) were analysed in seven Turkish native goat breeds, Angora, Kilis, Hair, Honaml?, Norduz, Gürcü and Abaza. A SNP in the ZFY gene defined a new haplotype Y2C. All domestic haplogroups originate from Capra aegagrus, while the finding of Y1A, Y1B, Y2A and Y2C in 32, 4, 126 and 2 Turkish domestic goats, respectively, appears to indicate a predomestic origin of the major haplotypes. The occurrence of four haplotypes in the Hair goat and, in contrast, a frequency of 96% of Y1A in the Kilis breed illustrate that Y‐chromosomal variants have a more breed‐dependent distribution than mitochondrial or autosomal DNA. This probably reflects male founder effects, but a role in adaptation cannot be excluded.     

A brief history of the prevention of infectious diseases by immunisations

Infectious diseases have always been a terrible scourge for humans. The appearance of these plagues, as they were called without distinction, was generally connected to various conditions: asters, climatic changes or religious reasons. The concept of contagious, and then infectious, diseases came slowly. Variolation, i.e. transmission of ‘virulent’ matter to induce a natural disease and the immunity against it, was brought from Constantinople to England by Lady Montague, in 1721. This ‘variolation’ technique was also often performed in veterinary medicine against diseases like sheep-pox or pleuropneumonia. As ‘vaccination’ is the term generally accepted for ‘immunisation’, variolation can be the word designating such a technique. The second period of the history of immunisation began, in 1880, with the studies of Pasteur and his collaborators. A great number of bacterial vaccines were developed: dead, live but attenuated or only parts of pathogens. The viruses were produced in animals, then in eggs and at last, in tissue cultures. Second generation vaccines appeared with genetic engineering: recombinant vaccines, vector vaccines, nucleic acids vaccines, and markers vaccines, among others. These novel technologies can permit the development of new ones and improve the quality of the vaccines already existing.     

Micronutrient Content of Certain Tropical Conventional and Unconventional Feed Resources of Southern India

The ash, silica and certain important micronutrients were estimated in conventional and unconventional feed and fodder resources available in Southern India. Commonly used dry roughages, such as paddy straw, ragi straw, maize kadbi/stalk, jowar kadbi/stalk, bajra stalk and wheat straw, were high in ash (9.9% +/- 0.77%) and silica (6.4% +/- 0.65%) and low in most of the other micronutrients, except iron, with paddy straw containing most silica (>9%). Cultivated non-leguminous (maize, jowar) and improved green crops (hybrid napier, guinea, green panic, NB-21, CO-1) were also high in ash (10.5% +/- 0.60% and 12.5% +/- 0.51%) but were moderate sources of P, Mg and Cu and good sources of Zn (98 +/- 13.8 ppm and 55 +/- 6.7 ppm). Leguminous green fodders (stylosanthus, lucerne, cow pea, soyabean) were excellent sources of Ca (1.9% +/- 0.16%), Mg (0.40% +/- 0.05%), Cu (30 +/- 5.2 ppm), Zn (121 +/- 14.7 ppm) and Fe (1234 +/- 166 ppm) and moderate sources of P. Mixed local grasses and weeds were high in silica (6.9% +/- 1.00%) but were good sources of Cu, Zn and Fe. Cereal grains (maize, wheat, rice, ragi) were low in ash (2.9% +/- 0.33%) and were relatively poor sources of Ca (0.22% +/- 0.03%), Mg (0.19% +/- 0.03%) and Cu (13 +/- 3.1 ppm). Pulses were low to medium sources of most minerals and good sources of Fe (1230 +/- 293 ppm). Oil seed cake/extractions (groundnut cake, cotton seed cake, soyabean meal, sunflower cake, safflower cake) and cereal by-products (rice polish, rice bran, wheat bran) were excellent sources of P (1.1% +/- 0.47% and 2.3% +/- 0.19%) and good sources of Zn (65 +/- 3.9 ppm and 66 +/- 10.7 ppm) and Fe (938 +/- 130 ppm and 662 +/- 126 ppm). Among the unconventional feeds screened, orange peel, sunflower heads, meat meal, rubber seed cake, spirulina algae and sea weeds contained plentiful Ca, Zn and Fe: tree leaves/top feeds (mulberry, erythrina, glyricidia, banana, subabul, groundnut haulms) were excellent sources of Ca (1.5% +/- 0.13%), Zn (120 +/- 22.9 ppm) and Fe (1033 +/- 133 ppm) but relatively poor sources of P. Soyabean husk, cocoa seed husk, rubber seed cake and meat meal were moderate to good sources of P (1.0% and 0.33%). The high Zn and Fe values of most feeds/fodders were probably due to soil contamination. This account of the micronutrient content of feed/fodder resources should help in strategic supplementation intended to alleviate local deficiencies.     

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.     

Bovine Mastitis in Selected Areas of Southern Ethiopia

A study on bovine mastitis, designed to determine the causal agents, prevalence of infection and impact of risk factors in three cattle breeds, was conducted in selected areas of southern Ethiopia. A total of 307 lactating and non-lactating cows, of which 162 were indigenous Zebu, 85 Jersey and 60 Holstein-Friesian, were examined by clinical examination and the California mastitis (CMT) test. Of these, 40.4% were positive by CMT and bacteriology for clinical or subclinical mastitis, with prevalence rates of 37.1% and 62.9%, respectively. Out of 1133 quarters examined, 212 (18.7%) were found to be infected, 83 (39.2%) clinically and 129 (60.8%) subclinically. The prevalence of mastitis was significantly higher in Holstein-Friesian than in indigenous Zebu, in non-lactating cows than in lactating cows, in the early lactation stage than in the mid-lactation stage, in cows with lesions and/or tick infestation on skin of udder and/or teats than in cows without this factor, and in the wet season than in the dry season. Mastitis increased with parity number (R = 0.9). Of 248 CMT and clinically positive udder quarter samples analysed microbiologically, 212 were culturally positive for known mastitis pathogens and 36 were negative. Of the 199 positive samples, Staphylococcus accounted for 39.2%, Streptococcus for 23.6%, coliforms for 14.1%, Micrococcus and Bacillus species for 8.0% each and Actinomyces or Arcanobacterium (Corynebacterium) for 7.0%. It was concluded that there was a high prevalence of clinical and subclinical mastitis, mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae and Escherichia coli, in this study area.     

不同日粮氮水平对山羊氮代谢和微生物蛋白质合成的影响

本试验旨在探讨不同日粮氮水平对内蒙古白绒山羊氮代谢和微生物蛋白质合成(MCP)的影响,以达到提高氮利用率,减少环境污染和饲料资源的浪费。试验选用9只体况良好、体重为(43.83±2.95)kg,装有瘤胃瘘管的内蒙古白绒山羊,按体重随机分为3组,每组3只。日粮分为低氮7.5%、中氮10.5%、高氮13.5%3个氮水平。试验使用常规试验方法分析测定粪尿血液等生化指标,通过全收尿法和尿嘌呤衍生物法估测MCP。结果表明:随着氮水平增加,氨氮(NH3-N)浓度、氮摄入量、尿氮排出、尿中尿素氮(UUN)和MCP显著增加(P0.05),干物质采食量(DMI)显著降低(P0.01);沉积氮占总摄入氮的比例在中氮组最高,MCP在高氮组最高。综上所述,适当降低日粮氮水平可减少粪尿氮排放,提高反刍动物氮利用率。