Characterization of ovine strains of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis by restriction endonuclease analysis and DNA hybridization.

Restriction endonuclease analysis and DNA hybridization revealed five ovine strains of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis from South Africa had identical DNA patterns to an ovine strain from Canada. Genetically this strain type has features in common with the two major groups of M. paratuberculosis.     

A Tremor Syndrome With a Central Axonopathy in Scottish Terriers

A central axonopathy in 2 male and 1 female Scottish Terrier puppies from 3 different but related litters is reported. Clinical signs consisting of severe whole-body tremors and ataxia were first detected at the age of 10 to 12 weeks. They worsened with activity and excitement and diminished during rest or sleep. Two dogs also had paraparesis. In 1 dog the neurological deficits progressed over several months. Neuropathological examination revealed widespread axonal changes, vacuolation, and gliosis in the white matter of the central nervous system.     

Association between Chlamydia psittaci seropositivity and abortion in Italian dairy cows.

Although the seroprevalence of Chlamydia psittaci is widespread in Italian dairy herds, its role in inducing genital disorders has not been elucidated. We therefore set up a case-control study to compare seroprevalence to C. psittaci in an aborted-cow population and in a randomly selected control group in the province of Parma (the Po Valley of northern Italy). The true seroprevalence (45%) in aborted cows was significantly higher than that in the control group (24%) (adjusted odds ratio=2.53).     

A light and scanning-electron microscopic study of infection of tomato plants by virulent and avirulent races of Cladosporium fulvum

Infection of tomato plants byCladosporium fulvum Cooke was studied using light and scanning-electron microscopy. Races 1.2.3 and 4 ofCladosporium fulvum were used, whereas tomato cultivars, carrying the Cf2 gene (susceptible to race 1.2.3 and immune to race 4) and the Cf4 gene (immune to race 1.2.3 and susceptible to race 4) served as differentials. No differences were observed in growth between compatible and incompatible combinations during germination, subsequent formation of runner hyphae and stomatal penetration. Runner hyphae did not show directional growth towards stomata. Penetration usually occurred on the third or fourth day after inoculation. In compatible combinations the fungus grew intercellularly, often in close contact with spongy mesophyll cells. Under optimal conditions it did not cause visible damage to plant cells during early stages of infection. Under suboptimal conditions in winter, the host cells often reacted with callose deposition, but growth of the fungus did not appear to be inhibited. Ten to twelve days after inoculation conidiophores emerged through the stomata and produced conidia. In incompatible combinations fungal growth was arrested one to two days after penetration and confined to stomata and surrounding cells. Very soon the host cells, in contact with the fungus, deposited extensive amounts of callose. Later these cells turned brown and collapsed. At the surface of the host cells, contacted by fungal hyphae, abundant extracellular material could be observed by scanning-electron microscopy. Removing the epidermis of leaves before inoculation delayed the resistant response. On stripped leaves the rate of fungal growth was equal for both interactions up to ten days after inoculation, but the incompatible combination lacked sporulation.     

Guanidinoacetic acid supplementation in broiler chickens fed on corn-soybean diets affects performance in the finisher period and energy metabolites in breast muscle independent of diet nutrient density

(1) Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is the single immediate endogenous precursor of creatine (Cr). It was hypothesised that dietary GAA would have different effects on performance and energy metabolites in breast muscle depending on the nutrient density (ND) of corn-soybean-based diets.

(2) A total of 540 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were allocated to 9 dietary treatments with 6 replicates (10 birds each) in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement with three levels of ND (low, 2800; medium, 2950 and high, 3100 kcal metabolizable energy (ME)/kg; and with the other nutrients being constant relative to ME) and supplemented with three levels of GAA (0, 0.6 and 1.2 g/kg) in a 42-d feeding trial.

(3) In the starter and grower periods, increasing levels of ND improved body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR), with the exception of ADFI in the starter period. GAA supplementation did not affect performance characteristics. All performance indicators responded markedly to increasing ND in the finisher period, whereas the highest GAA level reduced ADFI compared to the unsupplemented control (156 vs. 162 g/d) and concomitantly FCR (1.81 vs. 1.93). No interactive effects were noted for any performance trait. The high ND diet resulted in more breast meat yield on d42, associated with higher fat content and darker colour compared to the other ND levels. The GAA supplementation did not affect carcass and breast traits. At the end of the experiment, Cr was elevated when feeding GAA at 1.2 g/kg (5455 vs. 4338 mg/kg fresh muscle).

(4) To conclude, ND had a substantial effect on performance and carcass traits, whereas any effect of GAA was limited to FCR in the finisher period and independent of diet ND level.     

Polyarthritis secondary to septic thrombophlebitis in an Arabian mare

A 3‐year‐old Arabian mare presented with diarrhoea and depression. During hospitalisation, the mare developed septic thrombophlebitis associated with a jugular catheter. One week later, she developed secondary bilateral tarsocrural joint septic arthritis. Following surgical intervention and intensive medical therapy, the mare recovered successfully. The case highlights an unusual and previously unreported complication of septic thrombophlebitis.     

空间诱变甜椒M3代果实营养品质的变异分析

试验结果表明:空间诱变甜椒的3个营养品质性状(果实维生素C含量、可溶性固形物含量和糖酸比)在M3代的变异趋于稳定,株系内的株间变异均小于株系间变异,果实维生素C含量和糖酸比在群间的差异不显著,可溶性固形物含量在群间的差异显著;维生素C含量与可溶性固形物含量呈极显著正相关,与糖酸比呈极显著负相关,可溶性固形物含量与糖酸比呈显著正相关。宜筛选单株果实维生素C含量高、可溶性固形物含量和糖酸比适中的株系。优选的株系为A6、A7、C7、B2、B6、B1、A5、C5、B7、C4、A3、B5、A4和C6。     

烟草丛顶病毒RNA依赖RNA聚合酶(RdRp)介导的体外复制体系

通过重叠PCR扩增得到烟草丛顶病毒(Tobacco bushy top virus,TBTV)中国分离物RdRp的编码序列,构建以pMALC2X为基础载体的原核表达载体pMAL-TB-RdRp。0.5 mM IPTG诱导可特异性表达分子量约为120 kDa的MBP-RdRp融合蛋白。温度梯度实验显示,18℃下诱导表达的MBP-RdRp融合蛋白的可溶性比例较高,约17%;经亲和层析纯化的MBPRdRp可特异性识别TBTV正链和负链的3'末端序列,催化体外复制;对正负链的3'末端的体外复制效率存在差别,识别负链3'末端的体外复制效率明显高于正链3'末端。本研究创建的TBTV RdRp介导的体外复制体系为进一步研究TBTV基因组复制调控奠定了基础。     

番茄品系红熟果实的耐贮性与品质的通径分析

对11个番茄品系红熟果实在2因子4处理条件下贮藏21 d的变质率与采收时的果实品质性状进行通径分析,结果表明:变质率与果实采收时的营养成分的干物质、水分、可溶性固形物含量、糖酸比有关,其中果实干物质含量是果实变质率最重要的影响因子,其效应是由直接作用引起的.