Identification of equine herpesvirus 3 (equine coital exanthema virus), equine gammaherpesviruses 2 and 5, equine adenoviruses 1 and 2, equine arteritis virus and equine rhinitis A virus by polymerase chain reaction

OBJECTIVE: To develop rapid (< 8 hour) tests using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the diagnosis of equine herpesvirus 3 (EHV3; equine coital exanthema virus), equine gammaherpesviruses 2 (EHV2) and EHV5, equine adenovirus 1 (EAdV1), EAdV2, equine arteritis virus (EAV), equine rhinitis A virus (ERAV; formerly equine rhinovirus 1) DESIGN: Either single round or second round (seminested) PCRs were developed and validated. METHODS: Oligonucleotide primers were designed that were specific for each virus, PCR conditions were defined and the specificity and sensitivity of the assays were determined. The application of the tests was validated using a number of independent virus isolates for most of the viruses studied. The PCRs were applied directly to clinical samples where samples were available. RESULTS: We developed a single round PCR for the diagnosis of EHV3, a seminested PCR for EHV2 and single round PCRs for EHV5, EAdV1, EAdV2 and RT-PCRs for EAV and ERAV. The PCR primer sets for each virus were designed and shown to be highly specific (did not amplify any recognised non-target template) and sensitive (detection of minimal amounts of virus) and, where multiple virus isolates were available all isolates were detected. CONCLUSION: The development and validation of a comprehensive panel of PCR diagnostic tests, predominantly for viruses causing equine respiratory disease, that can be completed within 8 hours from receipt of clinical samples, provides a major advance in the rapid diagnosis or exclusion diagnosis of these endemic equine virus diseases in Australia.     

提高辣椒离体再生不定芽伸长率的研究

通过调整培养基中的几种生长调节剂种类及其浓度组合，以及不同添加物，诱导不定芽分化与植株再生，有效地提高了不定芽的伸长率．结果表明：选用辣椒9～11d苗龄的带柄子叶在培养基MB＋BA5．0mg／L＋IAA1．0mg／L十GA31．0mg／L＋蔗糖3％＋琼脂6．5g／L十椰乳5％＋AgN035．0mg／L上培养，分化频率达97．8％；芽丛在MB＋ZT1．0mg／L＋IAA1．0mg／L＋GA31．5mg／L十椰乳5％＋AgN035．0mg／L培养基上伸长率达76．0％；幼苗在Ms＋IAA0．1mg／L＋NAA0．2mg／L培养基上能正常生根，生根率最高100％，并成长为健壮的再生植株。     

The absence of neuromas in beaks of adult hens after conservative trimming at hatch

Objective To determine the effects of the amount of beak removed and cauterisation time on neuroma formation in hens.
Design A pathology study with controls.
Animals Twenty domestic fowl were beak-trimmed. Three non-beak-trimmed domestic fowl were used as controls.
Procedure Beaks of two age groups with two levels of beak removal and either 2 s or 4 s cauterisation, were investigated macroscopically and microscopically for deformities.
Results Scattered trauma-associated neuromas were present in the beaks of pullets 10 weeks after moderate trimming at hatch. Neuromas were not present in beaks of adult hens that had been similarly trimmed. Sensory corpuscles were present 10 and 70 weeks after moderate trimming, though fewer in number than in intact control hens. In contrast, trauma-associated neuromas persisted in beaks of 70-week-old hens that had been severely trimmed at hatch. A range of deformities that were absent in moderately trimmed hens, were observed in hens with severely trimmed beaks. Receptors were not seen in severely trimmed beaks.
Conclusion Beak-trimming at hatch induces the formation of neuromas, regardless of the amount of tissue removed. There is a critical amount of beak tissue that can be removed, beyond which trauma-associated neuromas will not resolve, but will persist in mature hens.     

低O 2和高CO 2对草莓采后酯类生物合成的作用模式

草莓(Fragria ananassa Duck.cv.Chandler)果实于采收当天分别放在:①空气;②0.25%O_2;③21%O_2+50%CO_2;④0.25%O_2+50%CO_2(用 N_2平衡)四种流动气体条件(5℃)下1～7d,以研究气调贮藏对草莓的挥发性物质和发酵性酶活性的影响。在三种气调贮藏条件下,果肉中乙醛、乙醇、乙酸乙酯、丁酸乙酯的浓度较空气处理明显增加而乙酸异丙酯和乙酸丁酯的含量下降。气调贮藏处理增加了丙酮酸脱羧酶(PDC)和乙醇脱氢酶(ADH)的活性但略微减少了醇酰基转移酶(即酯化酶,AAT)的活性。低 O_2、高 CO_2条件下草莓中乙醇的大量累积加速了乙酸乙酯的生物合成。由于 AAT 活性的降低及过量的乙醇与其他醇类化合物对相同羧基化合物的竞争作用导致其他乙酸酯类产物的减少。     

小篷竹群落邻体干扰指数的研究

运用邻体干扰指数模型,分析小蓬竹群落种内、种间竞争强度,确立小蓬竹群落的竞争干扰因子。结果表明,在小蓬竹群落中,对小蓬竹干扰指数最大是猴樟,其次是小蓬竹本身。在自然情况下的群落演替过程中,猴樟种群将占优势,最终小蓬竹将在小蓬竹群落彻底消失。     

Advanced Onset of Puberty in Gilts of Thrifty Genotype (Iberian Pig)

The Iberian pig is an autochthonous breed of the Mediterranean area, reared extensively in the central and southern areas of Spain and Portugal and that is known worldwide for the production of Iberian ham. The characteristics of the Iberian ham are related to its abundance of intramuscular fat, owing to the high capacity of the pig to accumulate fat under its skin and between the muscular fibres. This ability to store excess fat enables survival during periods of scarcity and it has been found in other antique animal breeds and even in humans, being named as the thrifty genotype. The reproductive management of the Iberian pig, in spite of a lack of accurate information unlike in other swine breeds, is based on the assumption of lower reproductive precocity and efficiency than the modern commercial breeds. The current study characterized and compared the onset of puberty in gilts of Iberian breed and meat commercial crosses (Large White × Landrace) reared in the same conditions by assessing weekly plasma progesterone profiles. At the end of the experimental period, when the gilts became 180 days old, the percentage of Iberian females that had reached puberty was 72.2%, with a mean age and weight of 160.5 ± 2.6 days and 92.9 ± 4.7 kg, respectively. The percentage of Large White × Landrace cross‐breed females reaching puberty at 180 days was only 15% (p < 0.05). The mean age and weight were 165.0 ± 4.1 days and 107.8 ± 2.2 kg (p < 0.05), respectively. Thus, converse to the traditional assumption, onset of puberty was advanced in Iberian gilts. These results are important for the reproductive management of the Iberian pig but, at the same time, may set the basis for future studies on the metabolism–reproduction link and, specifically, on the possible relationship between earlier accumulation of fat and attainment of puberty.     

Effects of meiotic inhibitors and gonadotrophins on porcine oocytes in vitro maturation,fertilization and development

This study evaluated the effect of three reversible meiotic inhibitors (MINs) and their interaction with gonadotrophins (Gns) on the meiotic maturation and developmental competence of porcine oocytes. In experiment 1, the oocytes were matured for 22 hr in the presence or absence of dbcAMP (1 mM), cycloheximide (7 μM) or cilostamide (20 μM) with or without Gns, and for an additional 22 hr in the absence of MINs and Gns. At 22 hr of maturation, regardless of the presence of Gns, a higher proportion (p < .001) of oocytes cultured in the presence of MINs were effectively arrested at the germinal vesicle stage compared with the oocytes cultured without MINs. At 44 hr of maturation, the proportion of oocytes that reached MII was higher (p < .05) in groups with Gns compared with groups without Gns. In experiment 2, oocytes that were matured as in experiment 1 were inseminated and cultured for 7 days to evaluate fertilization parameters and blastocyst formation. Only oocytes from the dbcAMP + Gns group had higher (p < .05) efficiency of fertilization compared with the other treatment groups. The presence of dbcAMP during maturation also increased (p < .05) blastocyst formation and efficiency of blastocyst formation in both the presence and absence of Gns. These results indicate that the interaction of Gns with the tested MINs improved meiotic progression. In addition, regardless of supplementation with Gns, the presence of dbcAMP during the first maturation period increased and even doubled the capacity of oocytes to develop to the blastocyst stage.     

A new device to inseminate cows at the base of the uterine horns

A new device (Chapingo device) to deposit semen at the base of the uterine horns of cattle was developed at Universidad Autonoma Chapingo, Mexico. Nine Holstein heifers were inseminated by transvaginal laparoscopy, using a laparoscope for cattle and the Chapingo device. A dose of sexed semen (2.1 × 10⁶ spermatozoa) was deposited at the base of the uterine horn ipsilateral to the ovary where the preovulatory follicle was identified. Insemination was achieved in all the heifers, taking on average 13.7 ± 3.1 min per animal. In all cases, it was possible to see both ovaries, the base of the uterine horns and the oviducts. After the procedure, none of the heifers showed any type of complications such as haemorrhage, adhesions or trauma. On days 21 and 22 after insemination, four of the nine heifers (44.4%) returned into oestrus; on day 30 after insemination, one heifer was found to be pregnant by ultrasound. The results show the feasibility of generating pregnancies by transvaginal laparoscopy in heifers inseminated with sexed semen.