The consequence of low mannose-binding lectin plasma concentration in relation to susceptibility to Salmonella Infantis in chickens

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a key protein in innate immunity. MBL binds to carbohydrates on the surface of pathogens, where it initiates complement activation via the lectin-dependent pathway or facilitates opsonophagocytosis. In vitro studies have shown that human MBL is able to bind to Salmonella, but knowledge in relation to chicken MBL and Salmonella is lacking. In order to study this relation day-old chickens from two selected lines L10H and L10L, differing in MBL serum concentration, were either orally infected with S. Infantis (S.123443) or kept as non-infected controls. The differences between healthy L10H and L10L chicken sublines were more profound than differences caused by the S. Infantis infection. The average daily body weight was higher for L10H than for L10L, regardless of infection, indicating beneficial effects of MBL selection on growth. Salmonella was detected in cloacal swabs and the number of Salmonella positive chickens during the experiment was significantly higher in L10L than L10H, indicating that MBL may affect the magnitude of Salmonella colonisation in day-old chickens. MBL expression was determined in ceca tissue by real-time RT-PCR. L10H chickens showed a significantly higher relative expression than L10L at days 1 and 41 pi, regardless of infection. Finally, flow cytometric analysis of whole blood from infected chickens showed that L10H had a significantly higher count of all assessed leucocyte subsets on day 5 pi, and also a higher count of monocytes on day 12 pi than L10L. No difference was observed between infected and non-infected L10L chicken.     

Effect of ovarian hormones on maturation of dendritic cells from peripheral blood monocytes in dogs

Previously, we reported that ovarian hormones affect the immune response against E. coli isolated from the dogs affected with pyometra. In order to investigate mechanisms underlying the immune modulation, we examined the effects of ovarian hormones on the generation of dendritic cells (DCs), the most potent antigen presenting cell. DCs were differentiated from peripheral blood monocytes (PBMOs) using a cytokine cocktail. Both estrogen receptor and progesterone receptors were expressed by the PBMOs and immature DCs. When various ovarian hormones were added to the culture for the DC differentiation, progesterone significantly decreased the expression of DC maturation markers, such as CD1a, CD80 and CD86, on mature DCs. Conversely, the addition of estrogen to the cultures increased the expression of CD86, but not other maturation makers. Furthermore, DCs differentiated in the presence of progesterone did not stimulate allogeneic mononuclear cells in PB. Taken together, these results indicate that progesterone diminishes the maturation of DCs, leading to decreased immune responses against invading pathogens.     

苏氨酸和异亮氨酸对皖西白鹅屠宰性能、器官指数及肠道形态结构、消化酶活性、抗氧化和免疫指标的影响

本试验旨在研究苏氨酸和异亮氨酸对皖西白鹅屠宰性能、器官指数及肠道形态结构、消化酶活性、抗氧化和免疫指标的影响。选取30日龄体重相近的皖西白鹅180只,随机分为3组,每组3个重复,每个重复20只。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,苏氨酸组在基础饲粮中添加2.0 g/kg的L-苏氨酸,异亮氨酸组在基础饲粮中添加2.5 g/kg的L-异亮氨酸。试验期60 d。结果表明：1）各组之间90日龄屠宰性能和器官指数无显著差异（P>0.05）。2）异亮氨酸组60日龄十二指肠和空肠绒毛高度、隐窝深度显著或极显著高于对照组（P<0.05或P<0.01）,苏氨酸组60日龄十二指肠、空肠和回肠隐窝深度及90日龄十二指肠和回肠绒毛高度显著或极显著高于对照组（P<0.05或P<0.01）。3）苏氨酸组和异亮氨酸组60、90日龄十二指肠胰蛋白酶活性极显著高于对照组（P<0.01）,苏氨酸组60、90日龄十二指肠麦芽糖酶活性及90日龄空肠淀粉酶、乳糖酶活性显著或极显著高于对照组（P<0.05或P<0.01）。4）异亮氨酸组60日龄空肠总抗氧化能力显著高于对照组和苏氨酸组（P<0...     

Hepatitis E virus in Cuba: A cross-sectional serological and virological study in pigs and people occupationally exposed to pigs

Surveillance of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in risk groups is an important strategy to monitor its circulation pattern and to timely detect changes thereof. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to estimate the prevalence of HEV infections in pigs and humans from different regions of the country, to identify risk factors for increasing anti-HEV IgG prevalence and to characterize HEV strains. The presence of anti-HEV antibodies was assessed by commercial ELISA in serum samples from the general population, farm and slaughterhouse employees, as well as pigs sampled in the three regions of Cuba from February to September 2016. Overall, individuals with occupational exposure to swine or swine products (70/248, 28.2%) were 4 times more likely to be seropositive compared to the general population (25/285, 8.7%; OR: 4.18; p < .001). Within the risk group, risk factors included age, number of years working in a professional activity with direct exposure to swine, geographic region and distance between residence and closest professional swine setting, while wearing gloves had a protective effect. Prevalence of total anti-HEV antibodies in swine was 88.2% (165/187) and HEV RNA was detected by real-time RT-PCR in 9.2% (16/173) swine stools. All HEV strains sequenced clustered within genotype 3. Some strains clearly belonged to subtype 3a, while another group of strains was related with subtypes 3b and 3 k but partial HEV sequences did not allow unequivocal subtype assignment. These findings suggest that the high HEV exposure in Cuban individuals with swine-related occupations could be due to enzootic HEV in certain regions, direct contact with infectious animals or their products as well as environmental contamination.     

The interaction between maternal and post‐hatch n‐3 fatty acid supplementation in broiler diets

This study investigated whether offspring from n‐3‐supplemented breeders have an enhanced performance and immune organ weight when fed a post‐hatch n‐3‐enriched diet in comparison with their control‐fed counterparts and the importance of timing of omega‐3 supplementation. Therefore, 480 Ross‐308 broiler breeder hens were fed one of four different diets (120/treatment). The control diet (CON) was a basal diet, rich in n‐6 fatty acids (FA). The three other diets were enriched in n‐3 FA, formulated to obtain a different EPA/DHA ratio of 1/1 (EPA = DHA), 1/2 (DHA) or 2/1 (EPA). At 33 weeks of age, eggs were incubated to obtain 1440 offspring. They were set up according to their maternal diet and sex in 48 pens of 30 chicks each (12 pens per maternal treatment: six male and six female). Half of the offspring were given a post‐hatch control diet, whereas to other half received an n‐3‐supplemented diet. Zootechnical performance was followed for starter, grower and finisher phase, and at the end of each phase two, chicks per pen were sacrificed to determine the weight of the immune organs. No interaction was found between maternal and post‐hatch n‐3 treatment for zootechnical performance. An interaction arose between the maternal and post‐hatch n‐3 supplementation for proportional bursa weight at day 1 and day 14 and proportional liver weight at day 14, but effects on immune organ weight were rather limited. Offspring post‐hatch n‐3 supplementation did not enhance maternal n‐3 supplementation.     

昆虫病原线虫生物防控草地贪夜蛾的室内及田间效果和影响因素

联合国粮食及农业组织2018年向全球发布草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda是重要的预警害虫。据报道,2019年我国已有26个省（区、市）的作物受到草地贪夜蛾为害。目前已经发现草地贪夜蛾幼虫对某些化学农药产生抗性的现象,为缓解其抗药性产生,具有主动寻找寄主害虫的昆虫病原线虫为草地贪夜蛾的生物防治提供了应用潜能。该文从昆虫病原线虫高效侵染种（品系）及其浓度、共生菌、草地贪夜蛾幼虫易感龄期、田间致死力及影响防控效果的因素等方面进行综述,以期为田间有效利用昆虫病原线虫防治草地贪夜蛾提供参考。     

我国松毛虫发生率的空间分布格局及其驱动因子

了解我国松毛虫发生的空间分布格局及其驱动因子, 对松毛虫暴发的预防?控制和治理具有重要意义?本研究基于我国各行政区2004年-2012年间每年松毛虫发生面积及其寄主植物面积, 使用一般线性模型分析气候因子是否以及如何驱动我国松毛虫发生的空间分布格局?结果表明:在全国尺度上, 最暖季降水量是松毛虫发生的主要气候驱动因子, 松毛虫平均发生率与最暖季降水量显著正相关?在最暖季降水量的作用下, 我国松毛虫的发生呈现明显的空间分布格局, 最暖季降水量较高的南方和北方部分地区松毛虫发生率较高, 而降水量较低的西北和青藏地区松毛虫发生率较低?我们的研究结果可为松毛虫暴发的预防和管理工作提供指导?     

膜分离法纯化浓缩的猪细小病毒灭活疫苗效果研究

为了研究纯化浓缩的猪细小病毒灭活疫苗的免疫效果,应用微滤/超滤管式陶瓷膜分离系统对猪细小病毒细胞收获液进行纯化浓缩,使浓缩液病毒平均含量由10~(4.7)TCID_(50)/mL提高到10~(6.5)TCID_(50)/mL;将纯化浓缩的病毒液经检验合格后,进行甲醛灭活,与注射用矿物白油佐剂制成油包水灭活疫苗;按照猪细小病毒灭活疫苗的质量标准,对制备的灭活疫苗进行检验与免疫效果试验。结果显示:纯化浓缩的猪细小病毒液杂蛋白去除率平均达到71.6%左右;制备的三组灭活疫苗检验均合格;免疫至63 d时,免疫猪体内抗猪细小病毒抗体(HI)水平分别为:纯化浓缩的灭活疫苗平均高达9.62 log_2稀释倍数,常规疫苗平均为8.78log_2稀释倍数,差异显著(P0.05)。试验表明:疫苗病毒细胞收获液进行膜纯化技术处理后,免疫效果显著优于未经纯化的常规灭活疫苗。     

仙游县猪口蹄疫免疫效果检测与分析

通过对仙游县2014年秋季猪O型口蹄疫免疫抗体检测,了解和掌握仙游县猪口蹄疫免疫效果,以更好地指导今后动物疫病防控工作。