Estimating the level of disease risk and biosecurity on commercial poultry farms in New Zealand

ABSTRACT

Aims: To collect baseline data on the contact risk pathways and biosecurity practices of commercial poultry farms in New Zealand, investigate the relationship between the farm-level disease contact risks and biosecurity practices, and identify important poultry health concerns of producers.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of all registered New Zealand commercial poultry operations was conducted in 2016 collecting information on farm demographics, biosecurity practices, and contact risk pathways. Survey responses were used to generate an unweighted subjective disease risk score based on eight risk criteria and a subjective biosecurity score based on the frequency with which producers reported implementing seven biosecurity measures. Producer opinions towards poultry health issues were also determined.

Results: Responses to the survey response were obtained from 120/414 (29.0%) producers, including 57/157 (36.3%) broiler, 33/169 (19.5%) layer, 24/55 (44%) breeder, and 6/32 (19%) other poultry production types. Median disease risk scores differed between production types (p?<?0.001) and were lowest for breeder enterprises. The greatest risk for layer and broiler enterprises was from the potential movement of employees between sheds, and for breeder enterprises was the on- and off-farm movement of goods and services. Median biosecurity scores also differed between production types (p?<?0.001), and were highest for breeder and broiler enterprises. Across all sectors there was no statistical correlation between biosecurity scores and disease risk scores. Producers showed a high level of concern over effectively managing biosecurity measures.

Conclusions: The uptake of biosecurity measures in the commercial poultry farms surveyed was highly variable, with some having very low scores despite significant potential disease contact risks. This may be related to the low prevalence or absence of many important infectious poultry diseases in New Zealand leading farmers to believe there is a limited need to maintain good biosecurity as well as farmer uncertainty around the efficacy of different biosecurity measures. Further research is needed to understand barriers towards biosecurity adoption including evaluating the cost-effectiveness of biosecurity interventions.     

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy activates CREB/BDNF signaling pathway to reduce synaptic damage in hippocampal neurons of Alzheimer disease mice

AIM To investigate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on synaptic damage of hippocampal neurons in APP/PS1 transgenic (TG) mice and its possible mechanism. METHODS The 6-month-old male APP/PS1 TG mice were randomly divided into TG group, HBO group and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) inhibitor H89 group, with 10 mice in each group. Ten male wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice of the same age were used as negative control group (WT group). The mice in HBO and H89 groups were treated with HBO for 6 cycles, while the mice in WT group and TG group were not treated. The learning and memory abilities were observed by Morris water maze. The nesting ability of the mice was detected by nesting test. The Nissl bodies in hippocampal neurons were observed by Nissl staining. The mRNA expression of CREB and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hippocampus was detected by real-time PCR. The protein levels of synapsin (SYN), postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), CREB, phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB) and BDNF in the hippocampus were determined by Western blot. RESULTS Compared with WT group, the learning and memory abilities of the mice in TG group were signilficantly reduced (P<0.05). In addition, the nesting score, the number of Nissl bodies in the hippocampal neurons, the mRNA expression of CREB and BDNF, and the protein levels of SYN, PSD95, GAP43, p-CREB and BDNF were also decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with TG group, the learning and memory abilities of the mice in HBO group were improved (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the nesting scores of the mice were significantly increased (P<0.05), the neurons in the hippocampus were arranged neatly, and the number of Nissl bodies, the relative mRNA expression of CREB and BDNF,and the protein levels of SYN, PSD95, GAP43, p-CREB and BDNF were also increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with HBO group, the mice in H89 group had poor learning and memory abilities, lowered nesting scores and decreased number of Nissl bodies. Futhermore, the relative mRNA expression of CREB and BDNF, and the protein levels of SYN, PSD95, GAP43, p-CREB and BDNF were also decreased significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSION HBO improves the learning and memory abilities of APP/PS1 TG mice, and its mechanism may be related to activating the CREB/BDNF signaling pathway to reduce synaptic damage of hippocampal neurons in mice.     

硫磺对苹果连作土壤环境及平邑甜茶幼苗生长的影响

以盆栽的试验方式，研究了在老龄苹果园土壤中添加不同量（0、0.1、0.3、0.5 g ? kg-1）的硫磺对土壤微生物环境及再植平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）幼苗的影响，为减轻苹果连作障碍提供理论依据。温室和露地盆栽结果显示：硫磺对改善连作土壤环境及促进平邑甜茶幼苗的生长具有良好的效果，但不同添加量促进效果不尽相同，其中以0.3 g ? kg-1的促进效果最为显著。与对照相比，0.3 g ? kg-1的硫磺处理浓度下平邑甜茶幼苗株高、地径、鲜质量、干质量分别增加了60.83%（26.03%，露地数据，下同）、26.78%（19.66%）、73.44%（62.15%）和93.32%（72.93%）；根长、根表面积、根体积、根尖数、根系呼吸速率提高了1.47倍（1.82倍）、2.28倍（2.05倍）、2.05倍（2.74倍）、1.73倍（1.67倍）、2.12倍（1.98倍）。硫磺处理后叶片叶绿素含量、光合参数、土壤酶的活性均有不同程度提高。0.3 g ? kg-1硫磺处理具有最高的细菌与真菌比值、真菌的丰富度和多样性指数及最低的优势度指数。主成分分析发现，随硫磺添加量增加，土壤真菌群落与对照距离越来越远，但当添加量由0.3 g ? kg-1增加至0.5 g ? kg-1对改善连作土壤环境的效果不是特别明显。实时荧光定量结果表明，硫磺的添加可以显著降低串珠镰孢菌基因拷贝数。综上，0.3 g ? kg-1硫磺处理可较好地优化土壤环境，促进平邑甜茶幼苗的生长，可作为一种减轻苹果连作障碍的有效方法。     

中国野生毛葡萄芪合酶基因VqSTS11和VqSTS23调控抗白粉病的研究

利用同源克隆法得到抗白粉病的中国野生毛葡萄‘丹凤–2’芪合酶基因VqSTS11和VqSTS23的开放阅读框，并构建过表达载体；通过器官发生途径诱导不抗白粉病的欧洲葡萄‘无核白’分生愈伤组织并采用农杆菌介导法对其进行转化；经过PCR检测和Western blot鉴定，获得了5株VqSTS11超量表达植株和3株VqSTS23超量表达植株；人工接种白粉菌发现，转基因植株中白粉菌菌丝生长速度慢，孢子萌发受到一定的抑制，并且转基因植株中芪合酶基因相对表达量升高，抗病相关基因表达上调，芪类物质含量积累增多。本研究结果进一步证明中国野生毛葡萄‘丹凤–2’芪合酶基因VqSTS11和VqSTS23对白粉菌具有抗性，‘丹凤–2’可以为改良欧洲葡萄品种抗病性提供抗病基因，作为抗病育种的资源。     

中早熟辣椒新品种‘农大7号’

‘农大7号’辣椒是以HP1016为母本，Y0931为父本杂交选育而成。植株长势强，平均株高78.7 cm，中早熟。果实羊角形，青熟果黄绿色，果面光滑，果肉厚，平均单果质量80 g，平均单株结果数26.8个。果实维生素C含量0.56 mg • g-1，粗纤维含量1.15%。抗疫病、炭疽病等。适宜河南全省各地（含烟区）早春保护地种植。     

Rapid detection of potato late blight using a loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay

Potato late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans is one of the most destructive plant diseases that threaten global food security. Early and effective diagnosis of P. infestans is required before disease management decisions are made. Here, we developed a quick protocol to detect P. infestans based on a loop-mediated isothermal amplification(LAMP) assay. The P. infestans specific multiple copy DNA sequences(PiSMC), a transposon-like element, provides an ideal target for molecular detection of this pathogen. We designed highly specific and sensitive primers allowing effective LAMP detection of the pathogen at 64℃ in 70 min. In the validation assay, all 15 P. infestans isolates collected from China, Europe and South America could be positively detected, but results of the other 9 Phytophthora species infecting different plants, fungal and bacterial plant pathogens tested were negative. The detection limit of this assay is 1 pg P. infestans DNA. Moreover, the LAMP-PiSMC assay is able to detect P. infestans from infected leaves, tubers and soil. Taken together, this study reports the development of a specific and sensitive LAMP-PiSMC assay for early diagnosis of potato late blight.     

橡胶籽苗黑根病病原鉴定及生物学特性研究

橡胶籽苗黑根病严重影响橡胶育苗生产,本研究从感病籽苗中分离病原菌,经致病性的测定,病原的形态特征观察和菌丝体的ITS、RPB2、tub2等基因序列分析对比,鉴定病原菌为球毛壳菌Chaetomium globosum;生物学特性研究结果表明,该菌生长适应能力强,在10~35℃、pH 2~10范围内菌丝和子囊孢子能生长和萌发,全光照能减缓菌丝的生长,糖类营养物质有利于子囊孢子萌发,子囊孢子较耐高温,48℃持续20 min,50℃持续15 min,52℃持续10 min,以及54℃持续5 min时才能导致病原子囊孢子失活、死亡。在夏季大棚不育苗期间,采用高温闷棚杀死病原孢子,必要时在育苗期结合化学药剂防治,对该病害可取得较好的控制效果。     

Prevalence,intensity and histopathology of Zeylanicobdella arugamensis infestation on groupers reared on different aquaculture systems

The marine leech, Zeylanicobdella arugamensis, is a major threat to aquaculture in grouper-producing countries including Indonesia. This study aimed at investigating prevalence, intensity and histopathology of the ectoparasite in humpback and hybrid groupers cultured in different rearing systems. A total of 260 groupers (60 humpback groupers and 200 hybrid groupers) were used for samples. The marine leech was observed on skin, fins, gills and mouth, followed by histopathological assay on the skin tissue. The results showed that prevalence of the leech in both groupers was higher when they were cultured in the floating net cages compared with the hatchery, p < .05. Furthermore, humpback grouper had a higher prevalence than hybrid grouper when they were cultured in a similar system, p < .05. Meanwhile, there was no significant difference in intensity between the two groupers, p > .05. Within the hybrid groupers, the highest prevalence was obtained from hybrid groupers reared in the earthen ponds. Histopathological studies showed that the infected groupers exhibited inflammation, congestion and erosion of the epidermis layer. Hybrid grouper had more severe histopathological lesions in the skin tissues. These results suggested that species and type of aquaculture system had significantly determined the prevalence, intensity and severity of lesion in Z. arugamensis infestation.