禽白血病病毒J亚群(ALV-J)的攻毒试验

将禽白血病病毒 J亚群 (AL V- J)内蒙株 NM876 1和 NM9996人工接种于 1日龄爱维茵肉种鸡 ,通过眼观、病理组织学检查观察了攻毒鸡的病理学特征 ;通过 PCR和 EL ISA技术检测了病毒感染率、抗体变化规律以及病毒和抗体的相关性。结果显示 ,攻毒鸡从第 3周开始即可检出病毒 ,NM876 1株和 NM9996株病毒感染率分别为 71.4 %和6 4 .3% ;从第 5周开始 ,出现较明显的病理学变化 ,病变特征以骨髓、肝脏、心脏、脾、卵巢等组织内髓细胞增生为主 ,而法氏囊、脑、坐骨神经无变化 ;攻毒鸡抗体消长变化有一定的规律 ,一般在 7～ 8周龄和 18～ 2 0周龄时分别出现 1次高峰 ,而在 4～ 6周龄、10周龄和 2 3周龄分别出现 1次低谷 ,提示鸡场进行 EL ISA检测时要避开这一时期 ;攻毒鸡产生耐受性病毒血症 ,即病毒阳性而抗体阴性 (V A- )的比例较高 (7/14 ,9/14 )。通过以上的研究证明 ,AL V- J内蒙株疾病模型复制成功 ,NM876 1、NM9996可作为原型株进行相关研究     

The ventricles of the brain in the N. American mink (Mustela vison (Brisson, 1756))

Using anatomical as well as radiographic and tomographic methods, sixty brains of the N. American mink were examined. It was found that the brain consists of four ventricles. Also, it was noted that the posterior horn was missing and that there was the olfactory recess present in the lateral ventricle, a large-size interthalamic connection present in the third ventricle, and a flat, necklace-like bottom in the fourth ventricle. Only recently, the ins and outs of the mink's anatomical structure have begun to absorb anatomists. Apparently, it is related to the fact that furry animals, among them the mink, are being domesticated as if "before our eyes". For this reason and because of the easy access to material, examining of the brain ventricles in the mink was taken up.     

Thermal features,ambient temperature and hair coat lengths: Limitations of infrared imaging in pregnant primitive breed mares within a year

Infrared thermography is a non-invasive technique which allows to distinguish between pregnant and non-pregnant animals. Detecting accurate body surface temperatures can be challenging due to external factors altering thermograph measurements. This study aimed to determine the associations between the ambient temperature, the hair coat features and the temperatures of mares' abdomens. It compared pregnant and non-pregnant mares throughout 11 months. The research was carried out on 40 Konik Polski mares, which were divided into pregnant and non-pregnant groups. The temperature (Tmax, maximal; Taver, average; Tmin, minimal) of the mares' abdomen was evaluated in two regions of interest: the whole area of the lateral surface of the mares' abdomen (Px1) and the flank area of the lateral surface of mares' abdomen (Px2). During the increasing period, the slopes in the linear regression equation did not differ significantly for ambient (Tamb) and surface temperatures in both groups. In the decreasing period, the slopes did not differ significantly for Tamb and Tmax in the non-pregnant group. They also did not differ for Tamb and Taver in Px1 and Tamb and Tmin in Px1 in both pregnant and non-pregnant groups respectively. Other slopes varied significantly (p < .001). There was no evidence of parallel changes in hair coat features and measured temperatures. The flank area appears more suitable for thermal imaging in pregnant mares due to the seasonal fluctuations in hair coat lengths.     

Investigations of the maintenance system of the Konik Polski horse and its effects on fecal microbiota activity during the winter and summer seasons

Gastrointestinal microbiota play a key role in the nutrients digestion and hence maintaining animal health and welfare. The diet offered to the animals in captivity may differ considerably from that on natural pastures. In a stabled maintenance system, horses have a limited choice of habitat and feed. Time spend for feeding is relevant for equine welfare because the reduction of the time devoted for foraging may be responsible for inducing gastric inflammation and ulceration. Therefore, in the present study, it was hypothesized that fecal bacterial fermentative processes differ between free-roaming and stabled Konik Polski Horses (KPHs) with respect to microbial enzymatic activity, and thus the fecal concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), which can be further utilized for assessing the feeding behavior and welfare in free-roaming versus stabled horses. The SCFA concentration and profile, as well as the extracellular and intracellular activities of selected bacterial enzymes, were characterized in horse feces collected during the winter and summer feeding seasons. The results showed higher enzymatic activity and SCFA production in the feces excreted by free-roaming versus stabled horses, especially during summer. An increase in pasture plant diversity may be beneficial for the gastrointestinal microbiota and hence for maintaining health and welfare.     

Isolation,identification and antibiotic resistance of Campylobacter strains isolated from domestic and free-living pigeons

1. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. in domestic and free-living pigeons and to evaluate the antibiotic resistance profiles.

2. The material consisted of cloacal swabs obtained from 108 homing pigeons and fresh faeces from 72 wild birds from Lublin and its vicinity. The identification of strains isolated on differential/selective media for Campylobacter spp. was carried out by MALDI-TOF and PCR. The susceptibility to antibiotics was evaluated by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in Mueller-Hinton broth.

3. A total of 35 strains of Campylobacter spp. were isolated; 27 were identified as Campylobacter jejuni and 8 as Campylobacter coli. Over half of the isolates were resistant to erythromycin and streptomycin, 40% of strains were resistant to tetracycline and ampicillin and 37% isolates were resistant to amoxicillin. Resistance to two or more antibiotics was observed in all strains tested.

4. The results indicate that both domestic and free-living pigeons are reservoirs for bacteria of the genus Campylobacter, which are characterised by varied and growing resistance to commonly used antibiotics.     

Chronic tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis in a domestic donkey in Central Europe

Bovine tuberculosis is a contagious and zoonotic disease of animals and humans. In Europe, the number of reported cases of tuberculosis has decreased. Equidae are relatively rarely infected even in endemic areas. The presented report describes a case of chronic Mycobacterium bovis tuberculosis in a 30-year-old female donkey. The donkey initially presented with persistent lymphadenopathy; however, as the disease progressed, weight loss became apparent. To the authors' knowledge, this is the second confirmed case of tuberculosis in a donkey in Europe.     

Construction of mouse ESC line stably expressing Pdx1 by Tet-On system

AIM To construct the mouse embryonic stem cell （ESC） line with stable pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 （Pdx1） expression by Tet-On system, which may lay a foundation for further research on the differentiation of Pdx1⁺ definitive endoderm cells into pancreatic cells. METHODS The Pdx1-overexpressing lentiviral vector with green fluorescent protein marker and puromycin resistance was constructed by Tet-On system and was used to infect the mouse ESC. The cells were divided into 3 groups： blank control group （ESC group）, empty lentivirus control group （PDX1^- ESC group） and Pdx1 lentivirus transfection group （PDX1⁺ ESC group）. Flow cytometry was used to detect the transfected cells after screening by doxycycline （DOX）. The function of Tet-On system and the expression of Pdx1 gene were detected. The transfected cells in PDX1^- ESC group and PDX1⁺ ESC group were sorted by flow cytometry, and constructed ESC line with stable expression of Pdx1 and negative control ESC line were verified. RESULTS （1） The positive rates of transfected cells in PDX1^- ESC group and PDX1⁺ ESC group were 90.72% and 94.01% after screening by DOX, respectively. The positive rates of transfected cells in PDX1^- ESC group and PDX1⁺ ESC group was 97.84% and 98.13% after sorting by flow cytometry, respectively. （2） With DOX, green fluorescence was observed in PDX1^- ESC group and PDX1⁺ ESC group. The mRNA and protein expression of Pdx1 was significantly increased in PDX1⁺ ESC group （P<0.05）. Without DOX, no green fluorescence was observed in the cells of the 3 groups, and no significant difference in the mRNA and protein expression of Pdx1 was observed （P>0.05）. （3） After 3 months of cryopreservation, the cell lines still survived in resuscitation culture and were regulated by DOX. CONCLUSION Using Tet-On system, the mouse ESC line with inducible Pdx1 expression were successfully established and could be used as an effective cell model to research the differentiation of Pdx1⁺ definitive endoderm cells into pancreatic cells.     

The developmental pattern of c-fos expression in the rat thalamus following open-field stress stimulation

The thalamic nuclei with their defined set of input-output connections are the primary channel for information flow to the cerebral cortex. Several data suggest that neurons of that area are involved in the response to various aversive stimulations. However the pattern of activation seems to depend on the stress model as well as the stage of maturation. In the present study we would like to check which nuclei of the thalamus show expression of c-fos in the response to the "open field test", and how this response pattern changes during the maturation process. 30 rats of age ranged from P0 to P120 (P-postnatal day) were studied. The experimental group was exposed to the "open field test" for 10 minutes. After perfusion and fixation, brains were cut and stained for c-fos with immunohistochemical method. Our results showed that during development the pattern of c-fos activity in the thalamic nuclei after stress stimulation undergoes significant changes. Distinct c-fos expression was observed in the paraventricular nucleus, intergeniculate leaflet and ventral lateral geniculate nucleus. These findings suggest that these nuclei may play a direct role in the stress reaction involved in the response to the "open field test".     

内蒙古典型草原区植被动态与植被恢复——以锡林郭勒盟典型草原区为例

内蒙古草原植被是一个极脆弱的生态系统,易受干旱等自然灾害影响。自1999年以来,全区大部分地区连续三年干旱和虫害(蝗灾),造成严重的草原退化和沙化。2002年后,内蒙古天然植被整体上有不同程度好转,草原生态环境有所改善。本文以锡林郭勒1999至2004年MODIS和TM影象数据和地面样点数据为依据,从宏观和微观两方面揭示了锡林郭勒草地植被动态规律和变化趋势,并系统分析了草地植被发生的变化原因、驱动因素和机理,阐明了锡林郭勒盟典型区草地所面临的问题,以期为我区草原植被恢复应采取的对策和措施提供依据。     

The reflectance method for testing the effectiveness of fungicides against surface mould growth on materials: I. Wood

Summary An instrumental method for the measurement of the toxic value of preservatives against mould fungi on wood and wood products was tested as an alternative to the widely used visual method with its inherent disadvantage of subjectivity. The new criterion of effectiveness to be used was light reflectance as measured by either the Zeiss photometer (Leukometer) or the Zeiss spectrophotometer (Spekol 10) fitted with the Rd/0 reflectance adapter. Sodium pentachlorophenate and the WR-3 (quaternary ammonium compound), applied to pine and birch wood samples were tested for effectiveness against five species of fungi capable of causing surface moulding. Although the reflectance method was more laborious, the results obtained seem to be better than those obtained by the visual method. The proposed method appears to be of practical value in eliminating difficulties involved in the subjective assessment of both the intensity of surface growth and the effectiveness of the wood preservatives themselves.Paper sponsored by the State Enterprise of Conservation of Fine Arts Objects, Warszawa ul. Zielna 3The authors thank Dr. J. D. Thornton, CSIRO Division of Forestry and Forest Products, Highett, Australia, for kindly correcting the English text of this paper