A survey of Newcastle disease in Swiss laying-hen flocks using serological testing and simulation modelling

Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious viral disease of birds particularly domestic poultry. Switzerland is currently declared free from ND; since vaccination is prohibited, the detection of antibodies against ND virus (NDV) results in the destruction of the respective flock (stamping-out policy). However, in 1995 and 1996, antibody-positive flocks were detected and sporadic ND outbreaks even occurred in Switzerland. Therefore, a serosurvey was done to look for evidence of NDV infections in Swiss laying-hen flocks. The survey was designed to provide 95% confidence of detecting at least one seropositive flock if the flock prevalence were 1%. Thirty blood samples from each of 260 commercial laying-hen flocks were collected during 1996 in a central poultry slaughterhouse. Sera were screened for NDV antibodies with a commercial blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Samples with a questionable or positive test result were retested with the same ELISA. A stochastic computer model was applied to define a cut-off number of test-positive samples to help to differentiate between true- and false-positive flocks and to estimate the true flock prevalence of infection. Four flocks were identified as NDV-seropositive and the NDV true seroprevalence among commercial laying-hen flocks in Switzerland was most likely between 1.35 and 1.55%. This indicates that Swiss laying-hen and parental flocks with more than 150 animals have been in contact with strains of NDV that cause subclinical infection in chicken, because no clinical symptoms have been observed. In this context, computer simulation was a useful technique to interpret survey results.     

RADIOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF THE UTERUS: A REVIEW

Radiographic evaluation of uterine enlargement is discussed and illustrated. Normal (pregnancy) and abnormal (pyometra, complications of pregnancy, neoplasma) causes of uterine enlargement are addressed. Special radiographic procedures for uterine evaluation are described.     

Cyclosporin: applications in small animal dermatology

Abstract Cyclosporin has been increasingly used for the treatment of skin diseases in small animals. Reported uses include the treatment of atopy, cutaneous lupus erythematosus, feline acquired alopecia resembling pseudopelade of humans, pemphigus erythematosus, pemphigus foliaceus, perianal fistulae and sebaceous adenitis. In addition, cyclosporin has been used anecdotally for several other skin diseases. Few side effects have been noted at doses therapeutic for dermatologic diseases. Current suggestions for monitoring, and the value of trough cyclosporin serum concentrations for prediction of toxicity and efficacy are discussed.     

宁夏苜蓿病虫害发生现状及防治对策

通过2001—2002年的田间调查和室内鉴定,明确了宁夏苜蓿病虫害的发生种类、分布和危害程度。目前,在宁夏苜蓿生产中大面积发生并引起灾害性损失的害虫为蚜虫、蓟马、草地螟、象甲和潘叶蝇,病害为苜蓿褐斑病、霜霉病、白粉病和花叶病,并提出相应的防治对策。     

The Occurrence of dsRNA Species in Apparently Healthy and Virus-infected Ribes Cultivars, and Evidence That One Such Species Originates from a Member of the Virus Family Totiviridae

Analysis was made of dsRNA in 37 cultivars and species of Ribes, that were healthy, naturally affected with the virus-like diseases, blackcurrant yellows, blackcurrant infectious variegation, gooseberry veinbanding or blackcurrant reversion, or graft-inoculated with scions from such diseased plants. Various dsRNA species, differing in size (from ca. 2 to 11kbp), number and staining intensity in gels, were detected in some or all assays of all plants, including those held as virus-tested stock. In different plant tissues from individual plants, the dsRNA species were usually similar in size and number but, in some sources, the dsRNA profile from flowers and/or bark differed greatly from the profiles of dsRNA obtained from leaves. No dsRNA species were associated consistently with any of these diseases. A 499kbp cDNA probe was obtained that in Northern blot analysis was specific to a ca. 5kbp dsRNA species present in the blackcurrant cv. Baldwin. It also detected a similarly sized dsRNA species in plants of many other blackcurrant cultivars, but it did not react with a similarly sized dsRNA species in redcurrant and gooseberry tissues. The 156 amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA was very similar to sequences in the RNA-directed RNA polymerases of virus species in the family Totiviridae, especially Saccharomyces cerevisiae viruses L-1 and L-A. The significance of these findings and the possible origin of these dsRNA species are discussed.     

生物技术在畜牧业上的应用研究

从生物技术与畜禽品种、动物遗传育种,动物饲料资源开发,动物疫病的预防与诊断几个方面,论述了其在畜牧业中的应用,以期用生物技术来推动我国畜牧业的更快发展。     

灰霉菌(Botrytis cinerea)采后致病性研究

 灰霉菌(Botrytis cinerea)是引起葡萄采后病害的主要病原真菌之一。葡萄灰霉菌可在田间潜伏侵染,采后由健康果实携带进入销售市场,该菌的显著致病症状为果实软腐和脱落。灰霉菌与葡萄的其它采后致病菌,如链格孢菌(Alternaria alternata)、镰刀菌(Fusarium sp.)、芽枝霉(Cladosporium sp.)、青霉菌(Penicillium sp.)、黑曲霉(Aspergillus nigar)和粉红单端孢菌(Trichothecium roseum)相比,不仅表现出明显的潜伏侵染优势,而且具有较强的低温(4℃)条件下的致病优势。4℃低温下灰霉菌在寄主葡萄体外和体内分泌多聚半乳糖醛酸酶(PG)活力均显著高于以上各菌,而在25℃下无显著差异,这一结果与该2种温度下灰霉菌接种果实后的症状表现一致。     

拮抗细菌BMY-1菌株对几种水果储藏病原真菌的抑制作用

采用平板对峙培养法测定从土壤中分离获得的拮抗细菌BMY-1菌株对柑桔绿霉病菌（Penicillium digatatum）、柑桔青霉病菌（Penicillium italicum）、苹果炭疽病菌（Glomerella cingulata）、苹果轮纹病菌（Physalospora piricola）、梨扩展青霉病菌（Penicillium expansum）、葡萄白腐病菌（Coniothyrium dlodiella）等6种水果产后病原真菌的抑制作用。结果表明，BMY-1菌株对苹果炭疽病菌（G.cingulata）和梨扩展青霉菌（P．expansum）的生长有较好的作用，抑菌率分别达48．43％和50．37％。采用液体共培养法观察到BMY-1菌株对病原真菌的菌丝有破坏作用，使苹果炭疽病菌菌丝扭曲和断裂，葡萄白腐病菌菌丝膨大畸形。对几种水果同时接种拮抗细菌BMY-1和病原真菌，BMY-1菌株对苹果炭疽病病斑和梨扩青病病斑扩展有较强的抑制作用，并能有效延迟葡萄白腐病发病时间。     

转基因抗病毒病四倍体西瓜的培育

利用西瓜花叶病毒2号(WMV-2)外壳蛋白(CP)基因、小西葫芦黄花叶病毒(ZYMV)复制酶(NIb)基因和黄瓜花叶病毒(CMV)复制酶基因构建三价基因的植物表达载体,通过农杆菌介导转化四倍体西瓜植株,经分子检测证明目的基因成功地导入西瓜植株,并在后代中稳定遗传。经温室及大田接种鉴定,T3代转基因西瓜抗病毒性达中抗水平,为抗病毒无籽西瓜新品种的培育提供了可能性。     

Relating plant and pathogen development to optimise fungicide control of phoma stem canker (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptosphaeria maculans</Emphasis>) on winter oilseed rape (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">napus</Emphasis>)

In winter oilseed rape experiments at Rothamsted in 2000/01 to 2002/03 growing seasons, the severity of phoma stem canker epidemics in summer depended on the timing of phoma leaf spot epidemics in the previous autumn, and hence on the timing of Leptosphaeria maculans ascospore release. The first major release of L. maculans ascospores was earlier in 2000 (26 September) and 2001 (18 September) than in 2002 (21 October). Consequently, the autumn phoma leaf spot epidemic was also earlier in 2000 and 2001 than in 2002. The resulting stem canker epidemics were severe by harvest (July) in 2001 and 2002 but not in 2003. No correlation was found between the severity or duration of phoma leaf spotting (lesion days or lesion °C-days) and the subsequent severity of phoma stem canker epidemics. Rates of leaf production and loss were similar in the three growing seasons. Out of ca. 25 leaves produced on plants during each season, leaf numbers 10–14 generally remained on plants for the longest. Treatment with flusilazole + carbendazim in autumn decreased the severity of phoma leaf spotting for several weeks after treatment, decreased the severity of stem canker the following summer and increased yield significantly in 2001 and 2002 but not in 2003. The most effective timings for flusilazole + carbendazim application were when leaves 7–11 were present on most plants and at least 10% of plants were affected by phoma leaf spot. Two half-dose applications of fungicide reduced phoma stem canker and increased yield more than a single full dose application when phoma leaf spot epidemics were early (<800 °C-days after sowing).