Molecular characterisation of Theileria equi and risk factors associated with the occurrence of theileriosis in horses of Punjab (Pakistan)

Theileria equi (T. equi) is an obligate intra- and extra-erythrocytic parasite that causes equine theileriosis (ET) in equids. Equine theileriosis is considered a notifiable disease of global significance, a major constraint to the international movement of horses, and endemic in many countries. This disease may be difficult to diagnose, as it can produce variable and nonspecific clinical signs. A cross-sectional study was designed for the molecular characterisation of T. equi and to investigate the associated risk factors of ET accompanied by its consequences on haematological and sero-biochemical parameters. A convenience sampling of 500 blood samples were collected from ET suspect horses from January to December 2017. PCR was performed on all blood samples targeting the 18S rRNA gene of T. equi followed by sequencing; 9% animals tested positive with confirmed sequences. The isolates of this study showed high homology with Cuban, Russian and Brazilian isolates of T. equi (accession numbers KY111762.2 , MG551915.1 and KY952237.1 , respectively). Based on multivariate analysis, the principal risk factors consisted of absence of dogs on the premises and presence of tick infestation. The haemato-biochemical parameters showed a decrease in granulocytes and erythrocytes, and an increase in lymphocytes, monocytes, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean platelet volume, glucose, phosphorus and aspartate aminotransferase in positive horses. This is the first study which identified ET in Punjab (Pakistan) using molecular techniques and risk factors together with the haemato-biochemical variations in horses.     

三种荒漠植物叶绿素荧光参数日变化特征

利用Photosynq MultiseQ多功能植物测量仪测定塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地3种主要防护林植物头状沙拐枣、多枝柽柳和梭梭的叶绿素荧光参数日变化,探讨其与环境因子的关系,以揭示3种植物对极端环境的适应策略,为沙漠公路防护林的管护提供理论依据。结果表明：1）3种土壤都呈碱性;0~30 cm土层中的电导率（EC）远高于30 cm以下的土层。1 m内梭梭土层中的含水量高于多枝柽柳高于头状沙拐枣。2）3种植物的光合有效辐射（PAR）、叶片温度和线性电子传递（LEF）及植物周围的大气温度日变化均先升后降,且都在14：00达到最高;而大气湿度、实际光化学效率Y_（II）日变化均呈‘V’型。3）PAR基本上与3种植物的LEF、非光化学淬灭系数（NPQ）、调节性能量耗散量子产量Y_（NPQ）、非调节性能量耗散量子产量Y_（NO）呈显著正相关,与实际光化学效率Y_（II）呈显著负相关;3种植物的Y_（II）与Y_（NPQ）、Y_（NO） 均呈极显著负相关。3种植物的LEF、Y_（II）、Y_（NPQ）的日均值差异不显著,但梭梭与多枝柽柳的NPQ和Y_（NO）日均值差异显著。4）在3种植物的叶绿素荧光参数中,梭梭和头状沙拐枣的LEF、NPQ和Y_（II）要高于多枝柽柳;而多枝柽柳的Y_（NO）要显著高于头状沙拐枣和梭梭。因此,高温和高光均对3种植物造成了不同程度的影响,通过主成分分析表明,3种植物的抗逆性强弱顺序分别为梭梭>头状沙拐枣>多枝柽柳。     

基于非洲猪瘟病毒标准物质的荧光PCR检测试剂盒初步评价

为探究非洲猪瘟病毒(African swine fever virus,ASFV)标准物质作为试剂盒评价体系的可行性,比较了市场上5种主流品牌ASFV荧光PCR检测试剂盒的检测性能。使用ASFV P72基因核酸标准物质作为模板,根据5种试剂盒说明书分别进行相应的荧光定量PCR检测,结合扩增曲线、Ct值,分析不同试剂盒的敏感性、可重复性以及所需反应时间。结果显示:5种试剂盒的阴性、阳性对照均成立,最低检测限均为5.9×10^-1拷贝/μL;4个厂家的试剂盒线性关系R2>0.98,其中最优的R²=0.994,离散度最小;各试剂盒的实际反应耗时与理论反应耗时均有一定差异(0.20~0.96 h)。结果表明,各生产厂家使用P72基因作为靶基因研制的ASFV荧光PCR检测试剂盒都可以使用ASFV标准物质作为评价体系,来评判试剂盒的检测性能。本试验为各实验室不同样品检测的ASFV荧光PCR检测试剂盒选择提供了一种可用的评价方法。     

返青期休牧对退化高寒草地植被特征及优势种光合生理的影响

为探讨返青期休牧对退化高寒草地植被特征及优势种光合生理的影响,本研究在祁连山区选择已实施返青期休牧6年的高寒草甸开展了植被特征及优势种光合生理相关指标的调查研究。结果表明：返青期休牧6年后,高寒草甸的植被盖度、地上生物量、地下生物量和土壤含水量较未休牧区分别增加了38.44%,985.00%,209.56%和62.62%,其优势禾草垂穗披碱草（Elymus nutans）株高、叶片净光合速率、光化学量子效率、呼吸速率、叶面积、相对叶绿素含量和叶片氮含量分别提高了965.77%,139.86%,4.92%,269.37%,254.13%,197.02%和96.24%（P<0.05）,其地上地下生物量与除叶温和光化学猝灭系数外的指标显著相关,叶片净光合速率与除叶温外的指标显著相关。因此,返青期休牧可显著增强高寒草地优势禾草的光合作用和呼吸作用,促进植物生长及退化草地的恢复。本研究为推广实施返青期休牧这一措施来恢复退化高寒草地植被提供了理论基础。     

黄河源区建植19年人工草地生物结皮CO2通量与叶绿素荧光参数的变化

为了解黄河源人工草地不同类型生物结皮和植被群落CO₂释放和固定的变化特征,并探讨二者的影响因子,本文通过调查黄河源建植19年人工草地不同类型生物结皮CO₂通量和植被土壤特征变化发现：藻和地衣结皮CO₂通量均显著小于苔藓结皮（10.58 μmol·m^-2·s^-1）（P<0.05）;苔藓结皮对应的植被群落CO₂通量（11.55 μmol·m^-2·s^-1）显著低于藻和地衣结皮（P<0.05）;藻和地衣结皮下的土壤CO₂通量显著大于苔藓结皮（约2倍,P<0.05）。苔藓结皮叶绿素初始荧光参数F₀（Minimal Fluorescence）和最大荧光参数F_m（Maximal Fluorescence）均最大;藻和苔藓结皮的PS Ⅱ最大光化学量子产量F_v/F_m（Optimal/Maximal Quantum Yield of PS Ⅱ）均高于地衣结皮。CO₂通量和叶绿素荧光参数的主要影响因子相似,均与禾本科高度、土壤铵态氮含量正相关,与pH负相关。因此,在研究草地碳平衡过程中应充分考虑生物结皮的贡献,同时需注意不同类型的生物结皮的CO₂通量和叶绿素荧光参数的差异变化。     

猪圆环病毒2型灭活疫苗中病毒抗原含量实时荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立

依据GenBank公布的猪圆环病毒2型Cap基因序列,在保守区域设计特异性引物和TaqMan探针,优化反应体系,建立评价猪圆环病毒2型灭活疫苗中病毒含量的实时荧光定量PCR检测方法,对方法的特异性、敏感性和重复性进行试验,并验证灭活剂用量和灭活时间对检测结果的影响。结果显示：该方法只对猪圆环病毒2型基因有特异性扩增,其他3种对照病毒基因的扩增结果均为阴性;检测灵敏度达到10^2.0 TCID₅₀/mL,比普通PCR方法高100倍;方法的重复性好,对同一样品进行10次检测,变异系数为2.28%;不同灭活剂用量和灭活时间对结果的影响较小,不会因各厂家使用的灭活剂用量和灭活时间不同,影响疫苗对比实验的公平性。该研究成功建立了一种评价猪圆环病毒2型灭活疫苗中病毒含量的实时荧光定量PCR检测方法,用于猪圆环病毒2型灭活疫苗样品中病毒抗原含量的定量,其结果可以反映不同猪圆环病毒2型灭活疫苗样品中抗原含量差异,为研究猪圆环病毒2型灭活疫苗病毒抗原含量评估方法提供了新的思路。     

不同形式补铁补硒对仔猪生长性能、血液生化指标、免疫性能的影响

[目的] 比较母猪和仔猪不同形式的补铁补硒对仔猪生产性能、血液生化指标、免疫性能的影响。[方法] 将32头母猪随机分为8组,每组4头,1~4组基础日粮中添加硫酸亚铁和亚硒酸钠,5~8组基础日粮中添加甘氨酸螯合铁和硒代蛋氨酸。2组和6组母猪所产仔猪于3日龄肌注铁硒合剂;3组和7组仔猪基础日粮中添加硫酸亚铁和亚硒酸钠;4组和8组仔猪基础日粮中添加甘氨酸螯合铁和硒代蛋氨酸;1组和5组仔猪饲喂基础日粮,不接受任何形式的补铁补硒。母猪预产期前30 d开始饲喂试验日粮,仔猪7日龄时开始饲喂试验日粮,试验至仔猪21日龄断奶结束。测定并比较不同组别仔猪生长性能指标、血液生化指标以及免疫性能指标,以及不同组别母猪初乳和常乳中的铁硒含量。[结果] 在仔猪补铁补硒形式相同的条件下,母猪基础日粮中添加甘氨酸螯合铁和硒代蛋氨酸（5~8组）与基础日粮中补充硫酸亚铁和亚硒酸钠（1~4组）相比,能够显著（P<0.05）或极显著（P<0.01）提高仔猪的初生重、断奶重、断奶存活率、断奶合格率,2日龄和21日龄血浆铁含量、血浆硒含量、血红蛋白含量、血浆转铁蛋白含量、IgA含量、IgG含量、IgM含量,以及母猪初乳和常乳中的铁硒含量;在2种形式的母猪补铁补硒条件下,与不补铁补硒相比,仔猪不同补铁补硒形式（2~4组和6~8组）对其断奶重、断奶存活率、断奶合格率,以及21日龄血浆铁含量、血浆硒含量、血红蛋白含量、血浆转铁蛋白含量、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性、IgA含量、IgG含量、IgM含量均有极显著（P<0.01）的提高作用,并且仔猪基础日粮中添加甘氨酸螯合铁和硒代蛋氨酸的效果优于肌注铁硒合剂和基础日粮中补充硫酸亚铁和亚硒酸钠。[结论] 母猪和仔猪基础日粮中添加甘氨酸螯合铁和硒代蛋氨酸,能有效提升仔猪的生长性能、血液生化指标和免疫性能。     

土壤入渗传输函数输入变量分析

依据土壤水分入渗参数与其相关土壤理化参数之间的相关性,从土壤学的角度用物理的方法分析应县土壤常规土壤理化参数对土壤入渗传输函数影响程度,进一步确定其土壤入渗传输函数的输入变量。并用大田耕作土壤水分入渗参数及其土壤理化参数的实测资料,建立土壤入渗传输函数进行验证。     

Relationship between serum cortisol levels and some physiological parameters following reining training session in horse

The changes of cortisol, red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT) were evaluated after a reining training session in eight Quarter Horses. All parameters were measured before exercise (T0), immediately after exercise (T1), 1 h after exercise (T2), 2 h after exercise (T3) and 24 h after exercise (T4). One‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures, followed Bonferroni's post hoc test, showed a significant effect of the reining training session (P < 0.0001) on cortisol, RBC, Hb, Hct, HR, RR and RT. Simple linear regression analysis showed the positive correlation (P < 0.05) between cortisol changes and variations of studied parameters in T1, T3 and T4. Exercise‐induced cortisol concentrations reflect the physiological response of reining training, suggesting that the changes observed are useful to assess the performance in reining horses and their reining training adaptability.     

Effect of micronized pea seeds (Pisum sativum L.) as a substitute of soybean meal on tissue fatty acid composition and quality of broiler chicken meat

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of micronized pea seeds introduced into feed mixes for broilers on the slaughter yield, blood lipid parameters, content of fatty acids in selected tissues, and meat quality. The studies involved 150 1‐day‐old Ross 308 chicks split into three groups (for 42 days). The feed rations differed in terms of the source of proteins: in the control group (C), it was post‐extraction soybean meal (SBM) 100%; in group I, SBM 50% and micronized peas 50%; and in group II, micronized peas only, 100%. Irradiated pea seeds added to the feed ration for chicks reduced the fattening grade of carcasses (P < 0.05). Additionally, significant improvement of blood lipid indices was recorded. The share of the irradiated pea seeds in feed mixes decreased the share of saturated fatty acids in the muscles and abdominal fat and had a positive effect on the n‐6/n‐3 ratio, hypocholesterolemic / hypercholesterolemic ratio, as well as the atherogenic and thrombogenic indices (P < 0.05).