The effects of farm management practices on liver fluke prevalence and the current internal parasite control measures employed on Irish dairy farms

Fasciolosis caused by Fasciola hepatica is responsible for major production losses in cattle farms. The objectives of this study were to assess the effect of farm management practices on liver fluke prevalence on Irish dairy farms and to document the current control measures against parasitic diseases. In total, 369 dairy farms throughout Ireland were sampled from October to December 2013, each providing a single bulk tank milk (BTM) sample for liver fluke antibody-detection ELISA testing and completing a questionnaire on their farm management. The analysis of samples showed that cows on 78% (n = 288) of dairy farms had been exposed to liver fluke. There was a difference (P < 0.05) between farms where cows were positive or negative for liver fluke antibodies in (a) the total number of adult dairy cows in herds, (b) the number of adult dairy cows contributing to BTM samples, and (c) the size of the total area of grassland, with positive farms having larger numbers in each case. There was no difference (P > 0.05) between positive and negative farms in (a) the grazing of dry cows together with replacement cows, (b) whether or not grazed grassland was mowed for conservation, (c) the type of drinking water provision system, (d) spreading of cattle manure on grassland or (e) for grazing season length (GSL; mean = 262.5 days). Also, there were differences (P < 0.001) between drainage statuses for GSL with farms on good drainage having longer GSL than moderately drained farms. The GSL for dairy cows on farms with good drainage was 11 days longer than for those with moderate drainage (P < 0.001). The percentage of farmers that used an active ingredient during the non-lactating period against liver fluke, gastrointestinal nematodes, lungworm, and rumen fluke was 96%, 85%, 77% and 90%, respectively. Albendazole was the most frequently used active ingredient for treatment against gastrointestinal nematodes (57%), liver fluke (40%) and lungworm (47%), respectively. There was a difference (P < 0.05) in the use of triclabendazole and albendazole between positive and negative farms, with triclabendazole use being more common in positive farms. This study highlighted differences in dairy management practices between Irish farms with dairy herds exposed or not exposed to liver fluke and stressed the need of fine-scale mapping of the disease patterns even at farm level to increase the accuracy of risk models. Also, comprehensive advice and professional support services to farmers on appropriate farm management practices are very important for an effective anthelmintic control strategy.     

miR-122靶向调控鸡BZW2基因的表达

miR-122(MicroRNA-122)是在肝脏中高表达的miRNA,在肝脏的生长发育和脂类代谢等过程发挥重要作用,BZW2 (basic leucine zipper and W2 domains 2)主要参与蛋白质合成代谢,本研究目的是确定BZW2是否为miR-122调控的靶基因.通过生物信息学预测miR-122的靶基因,并分析BZW2的3-UTR区域与miR-122种子区的配对情况,再用双荧光素酶报告系统和突变实验证明miR-122作用于BZW2的3'UTR.用荧光定量PCR检测转染miRNA-122mimic的鸡(Gallus gallus)肝癌细胞系(leghorn hepatocellar,LMH)细胞和转染LNA-antimiR-122的鸡原代肝细胞中BZW2的表达.鸡BZW2的3'-UTR区域与miR-122种子区互补配对,荧光素酶报告基因和突变实验分析表明,miR-122能够通过与BZW23'-UTR区结合抑制基因的表达;将miR-122在LMH细胞中过表达后,发现BZW2 mRNA表达水平显著下降;利用LNA-antimiR-122抑制鸡肝脏原代细胞中的miR-122后,BZW2 mRNA表达水平呈显著性上升.结果证明BZW2是miR-122的靶基因,其在mRNA水平上受到miR-122的负性调控,本研究为揭示miR-122在鸡肝脏中的广泛的功能提供了理论依据.     

鲈鱼对7种饲料原料的表观消化率及其对肝脏、肠道组织结构的影响

试验以Cr2O3为指示物,以70%基础饲料和30%的待测饲料原料组成试验饲料,在室内流水养殖系统中,采用虹吸法收集粪便,测定了初始体重为30±2.3 g的鲈鱼Lateolabrax japonicus对白鱼粉、血粉、虾糠、羽毛粉、双低菜粕、高筋粉和米糠中干物质、粗蛋白和能量的表观消化率.试验结果表明,鲈鱼对不同饲料原料的干物质表观消化率为98.71%～41.84%.其中白鱼粉为98.71%,显著高于其他各组(P<0.05).鲈鱼对白鱼粉和米糠的蛋白表观消化率很高,均在98%以上,双低菜粕也较高,为86.86%,血粉、羽毛粉和高筋粉在62.94%～71.08 9,6之间,虾糠仅为45.01%,显著低于其他各组(P<0.05).鲈鱼对不同饲料原料的能量表现消化率为95.24%～65.54%,对白鱼粉和高筋粉在90%以上,对血粉、羽毛粉、双低菜粕和米糠的能量表观消化率在74%以上.进行70 d的饲养实验后,取鲈鱼肝脏和肠道组织制作切片.观察到血粉、羽毛粉、双低菜粕、高筋粉和米糠对鲈鱼肝脏表现出肝损害所致的组织炎症反应、肝细胞水样变性和脂肪变性等病理特征.血粉、羽毛粉、双低菜粕组鲈鱼肠道皱襞出现顶端上皮细胞脱落、炎症细胞浸润等病理症状.     

Evidence of Inheritance of Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunts in Irish Wolfhounds

Background: The etiogenesis of congenital portosystemic shunt in dogs is not understood. In Irish Wolfhounds, intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (IHPSS) is thought to be hereditary, but the mode of inheritance is unknown.
Objectives: To document the genetic background and investigate the potential mode of inheritance of IHPSS in Irish Wolfhounds.
Animals: Three mature, privately owned, affected siblings and their progeny produced in 2 litters.
Methods: Prospective, observational study. Two test matings of 1 affected sire with 2 of his affected sisters were used to determine the inheritance pattern. Affection status was determined by measuring venous blood ammonia concentrations, detection of the shunt by ultrasonography and confirmation during surgical attenuation of the intrahepatic shunting vessel.
Results: In 1 litter of 5 pups all had an IHPSS. In the other litter 5 of 11 pups were affected. Both left- and right-sided shunts occurred in both litters. No sex predisposition was evident among affected dogs.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Our results show that IHPSS in Irish Wolfhounds is a familial disorder that is likely genetic. It is unlikely that the mode of inheritance is monogenic. A digenic, triallelic trait could explain the observed occurrence of IHPSS but other modes of inheritance cannot be excluded.     

八点黑獭兔胃、空肠、肝组织结构的研究

取60、90和180日龄八点黑獭兔的胃、空肠、肝制作切片,显微镜下研究其组织构造特点。结果显示：獭兔胃组织由内到外依次为粘膜、粘膜下层、肌层和浆膜,胃肌层随着日龄的增加而逐渐加厚;空肠粘膜层和肌层均随着年龄的增加而增厚,粘膜层中的肠绒毛尤为明显,杯状细胞的数目也有所增加;各年龄段肝切片差异不大,肝小叶不明显,肝细胞以中央静脉为轴心呈放射状排列,窦状隙内见有大量红细胞：相同年龄段獭兔的胃、空肠、肝组织学结构未见性别间的明显差异。