牛体外受精胚胎衍生干细胞能力影响因素的研究

以牛卵巢卵母细胞体外受精获取囊胚期胚胎，比较体外受精牛胚胎不同获取内细胞团的方法和不同培养液对体外培养胚胎干细胞能力的影响。结果表明，囊胚期胚胎不除去透明带而直接培养产生胚胎干细胞，初次克隆率为55％；胰酶法去透明带分离的内细胞团（ICM）培养产生胚胎干细胞，初次克隆率为90％。免疫外科法去透明带分离的ICM在4种不同的培养液中，初次克隆率分别为16．4％、11．5％、21．8％、18．2％，但是其分离的ICM经传代后形成的衍生细胞不易发生分化，经过4～6代的传代，仍然保持其完整的形态，说明免疫外科法是一种理想的牛ICM分离法，培养液为D20＋LIF（40ng／mL）可用于牛胚胎干细胞培养。     

Performance of Legume Mixtures under Small-plot Periodic Grazing

The potential of pastures sown with species mixtures of tropical legume species compared with single species was investigated in subhumid west Africa, over a period of three grazing seasons. Through compensation and complementation of the individual legume species, the mixtures were seasonally and temporally (seasonal refers to different seasons in a year, temporal to different years) more stable than the single species stands. Crude protein contents of individual legumes in the mixtures were higher than of the same species grown in single stands, indicating possible synergistic effects in the mixtures. The ability of legume mixtures to withstand environmental and management variations and, thus, their subsequent potential for on-farm utilization under farmers' conditions are discussed.     

Study on Nutritional Characteristics of Cottonseed Hull as a Feed of Sheep

In this paper through digestive and metabolic experiments studied the voluntary intake and apparent digestibility of cottonseed hulls (kernel-contained CH,kernel-free CH) and cornstalk on sheep to evaluate the nutrition value and digestion characteristics of cottonseed hulls.12 of adult Xinjiang merino rams were selected and divided into two groups (n=6 each group),and on the basis of 300 g/(head·day) of mixed concentrate,fed with kernel-free CH by 400 (group 1) or 800 (group 2) g/(head·day) respectively,to estimate the digestibility of CH by difference method;As well,another 18 of adult Xinjiang merino rams were selected and divided into three groups (n=6 each group),and on the basis of 300 g/(head·day) of mixed concentrate,cafeteria feeding with kernel-contained CH (group 3),kernel-free CH (group 4) or ground cornstalks (group 5) respectively,to study the effects of three diets on the voluntary intake,digestion and metabolism of sheep.The results showed that the apparent digestibility of the DM,OM,CP,cellulose,hemicellulose and energy of kernel-free CH by sheep were 46.71%,47.37%,-53.40%,66.60%,62.48% and 42.59%,respectively.There were no significant differences in the intake of DM,OM,cellulose,hemicellulose,energy and Ca between kernel-contained CH and kernel-free CH groups (P> 0.05);Intake of CP and P in kernel-contained CH group were extremely significantly higher than that in kernel-free CH group (P< 0.01);Intake of lignin in kernel-contained CH group was extremely significantly lower than that in kernel-free CH group (P< 0.01).There were no significant differences in the apparent digestibility of DM,OM and energy between kernel-contained CH and kernel-free CH groups (P> 0.05).The apparent digestibility of cellulose and hemicellulose in kernel-free CH group were significantly and extremely significantly higher than that in kernel-contained CH group (P< 0.05;P< 0.01),respectively.The apparent digestibility of CP in kernel-contained CH group was extremely significantly higher than that in kernel-free CH group (P< 0.01).The apparent digestibility of DM,OM,CP,cellulose and energy in ground cornstalks group were extremely significantly higher than that in kernel-contained CH and kernel-free CH groups (P< 0.01),however,the apparent digestibility of Ca and P were lower than that in kernel-contained CH and kernel-free CH groups (P> 0.05).Intake and retention of nitrogen in kernel-contained CH group were extremely significantly higher than that in kernel-free CH group (P< 0.01);The was no significant difference in the retention of nitrogen between kernel-free diet group and cornstalk diet group (P> 0.05).It was concluded that CH was a kind of special forage with larger intake,higher digestibility on the fiber substances and energy,but with a serious obstruction on protein digestion;The nutritional value between kernel-free diet and cornstalk diet was almost equal,and with lower nitrogen digestibility on kernel-free diet.     

Prevalence of bluetongue virus antibodies and associated risk factors among cattle in East Darfur State,Western Sudan

Background

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is an insect-transmitted virus, which causes bluetongue disease (BT) in sheep and a fatal hemorrhagic infection in North American white-tailed deer. However, in cattle the disease is typically asymptomatic and no overt clinical signs of disease appear to be associated with BTV infection. Serological evidence and isolation of different BTV serotypes have been reported in Sudan, however, no information is currently available in regard to previous exposure of Sudanese livestock to BTV infection in East Darfur State, Sudan.

Aims

To determine the prevalence of BTV antibodies and to identify the potential risk factors associated with BTV infection among cattle in East Darfur State, Sudan.

Methods

A total of 224 blood samples were collected randomly from five localities in East Darfur State, Sudan. The serum samples were screened for detection of BTV-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA).

Results

Serological evidence of BTV infection was observed in 150 out of 224 animals accounting for a 67% prevalence rate among cattle in East Darfur State. Older cattle (>2 years of age) were six times more likely to be infected with BTV (OR = 6.62, CI = 2.87-15.26, p-value = 0.01). Regarding animal source (contact with other herds) as a risk factor, it was shown that cattle purchased from market or introduced from other herds were 3 times at higher risk of being infected with BTV (OR = 3.87, CI = 1.07-13.87, p value = 0.03). Exposure of cattle to the insect vector increased the risk of contracting BTV infection by six times compared to non-exposed cattle (OR = 6.44, CI = 1.53-27.08, p value = 0.01).

Conclusion

The present study indicated that age, animal source and the intensity of the insect vector are influential risk factors for BTV infection in cattle in the Darfur region. Surveillance for BTV infection should be extended to include other susceptible ruminants and to study the distribution of the insect vectors to better predict and respond to a possible BTV outbreak in the State of East Darfur, Sudan.     

Growth and Yield Response of Facultative Wheat to Winter Sowing, Freezing Sowing and Spring Sowing at Different Seeding Rates

Growth and yield of wheat are affected by environmental conditions and can be regulated by sowing time and seeding rate. In this study, three sowing times [winter sowing (first week of September), freezing sowing (last week of October) and spring sowing (last week of April)] at seven seeding rates (325, 375, 425, 475, 525, 575 and 625 seeds m^?2) were investigated during the 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons, in Erzurum (Turkey) dryland conditions, using Kirik facultative wheat. A split‐plot design was used, with sowing times as main plots and seeding rates randomized as subplots. There was a significant year × sowing time interaction for grain yield and kernels per spike. Winter‐sown wheat produced a significantly higher leaf area index, leaf area duration, spikes per square metre, kernel weight and grain yield than freezing‐ and spring‐sown wheat. The optimum time of sowing was winter for the facultative cv. Kirik. Grain yields at freezing and spring sowing were low, which was largely the result of hastened crop development and high temperatures during and after anthesis. Increasing seeding rate up to 525 seeds m^?2 increased the spikes per square metre at harvest, resulting in increased grain yield. Seeding rate, however, was not as important as sowing time in maximizing grain yield. Changes in spikes per square metre were the major contributors to the grain‐yield differences observed among sowing times and seeding rates. Yield increases from higher seeding rates were greater at freezing and spring sowing. We recommended that a seeding rate of 525 seeds m^?2 be chosen for winter sowing, and 575 seeds m^?2 for freezing and spring sowing.     

Characterisation of Nocardia farcinica isolated from cattle with bovine farcy

Twenty-one strains of Nocardia farcinica isolated from cattle with bovine farcy in the Sudan were examined to determine their taxonomic relationships. The strains had morphological, cultural and physiological properties of Nocardia, but exhibited some variations of minor taxonomic importance. All strains contained lipids characteristic of nocardiae (LCN-As) and all except two were found by immunodiffusion tests to be serologically related to each other, to N asteroides but not to Mycobacterium tuberculosis nor M bovis. Consequently, these organisms were regarded as true members of the genus Nocardia.     

Detection of infectious laryngotracheitis virus in trigeminal ganglia by avidin-biotin complex method in chickens: short communication

Detection of infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) by avidin-biotin complex (ABC) method was studied in trigeminal ganglia (TRG) during the acute and post-acute or latent period in chickens inoculated with an A96 strain of the antigen. TRG tissue samples were collected from uninoculated (10 chickens) and inoculated (30 chickens) animals at various intervals post inoculation (PI), and stained by the ABC method. The results indicated that no ILTV antigen was detected in the TRG between PI days 3 and 11. However, the antigen was detected in most of the chickens between PI days 13 and 41. It is concluded that the ABC method can be used successfully for the detection of ILTV antigens in TRG during post-acute or latent period.     

Detection of Chlamydophila abortus in ovine milk by immunomagnetic separation-polymerase chain reaction

The present study was carried out to investigate the presence of Chlamydophila abortus, the causative agent of ovine enzootic abortion, in milk samples collected from sheep flocks with and without the history of abortion in Eastern Turkey by means of immunomagnetic separation (IMS) in conjunction with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total number of 201 milk samples collected from 10 flocks with abortion and four flocks without abortion were tested. In the analysis of the milk samples by IMS-PCR, correct amplification was obtained with three (1.5%) samples originating from one flock with abortion. In the digestion of PCR positive products by AluI, restriction profiles observed in all three samples were determined to be the same as C. abortus S26/3.