High prevalence of “Candidatus Rickettsia amblyommii” in Amblyomma ticks from a Spotted Fever Endemic Region in North Argentina

Ticks from an endemic Spotted Fever region in Argentina were analysed by PCR for Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae. DNA of “Candidatus Rickettsia amblyommii” was found in 21.3% of Amblyomma hadanii and in 44.0% of A. neumanni. Amblyomma sculptum (formerly A. cajennense) and Haemaphysalis juxtakochi were negative for rickettsial DNA. DNA of Rickettsia rickettsii, the etiological agent of the clinical cases reported within the studied region was not detected in the analysed sample.     

Effects of plastic mulches on root zone temperature and on the manifestation of tomato spotted wilt symptoms and yield of tomato

Tomato spotted wilt (TSW) disease is a serious constraint to tomato production in various regions of the world. The effect of TSW on tomato yield is largely influenced by time of infection. Early infection usually results in severe stunting of the seedling and even death of the plant. Plastic film mulches affect both the incidence of TSW, and plant growth and yield of tomato. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of root zone temperature (RZT) as affected by plastic film mulch on the manifestation of symptoms of TSW, and growth and yield of tomato plants either artificially inoculated with tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) or under natural TSW infection. In artificially inoculated plants as well as in plants under natural TSW infection, vegetative top fresh weight (FW) and fruit FW both increased with the length of time after transplanting that the plants remained free from TSW symptoms. The root zone temperature was highest under black mulch (seasonal mean = 27.5 °C), followed by gray (27.0 °C), silver (25.8 °C), and white (24.8 °C) mulches. The plants grown on black mulch showed the earliest appearance of TSW symptoms, and had significantly reduced vegetative growth and fruit yields compared to plants on the other mulches. In conclusion, utilization of plastic mulches that created conditions of high RZT stress resulted in reduced plant growth and yield and predisposed the plants to earlier expression of TSW symptoms compared to plants grown at RZTs more favorable to tomato plant growth (optimal RZT = 26.1 °C [Díaz-Pérez, J.C., Batal, K.D., Granberry, D., Bertrand, D., Giddings, D., Pappu, H., 2003. Vegetative top growth and yield of tomato grown on plastic film mulches as affected by the appearance of symptoms of Tomato spotted wilt virus. HortScience 38, 395–399]). Since these plant responses to TSW under heat stress occurred in artificially inoculated plants as well as in plants under natural TSW infection, high RZTs probably affected the plants directly, independently of any possible effects on the thrips vectors.     

Effects of photoperiod, stocking density and diet on growth in young spotted wolffish (Anarhichas minor olafsen)

Full scale experiments in tanks were conducted to elucidate the effect of photoperiod regime, dietary fat level and stocking density on growth in spotted wolffish. The study showed that continuous light (LD24:0) did not give a higher final mean weight or faster overall growth rate in spotted wolffish compared to constant 8 h light and 16 h darkness (LD8:16). However, there were indications that the fish needed time to adapt to a new photoperiod regime. The feeding experiment indicated a negative relation between dietary fat level and growth, where fish given 15% fat in the diet had a 13% higher final mean weight compared to fish on a diet with 20% fat. However, no conclusions could be made. The final mean weight was 10% higher at 25 kg/m² compared to 40 kg/m², indicating a negative impact of high stocking density on spotted wolffish.     

Effects of egg disinfection and incubation temperature on early life stages of spotted wolffish

Eggs of spotted wolffish (Anarhichas minor Olafsen)were incubated at constant 4, 6 and 8 °C, and disinfected withglutaric dialdehyde (150 p.p.m. for 5 min) once ortwice a month during two thirds of the incubation period, to prevent growth ofmicroorganisms. Hatching of apparently normal larvae started earlier when eggswere disinfected twice a month compared to once a month at all incubationtemperature regimes. The time to 50% hatch was 900 and 920 day-degrees (16 and16,5 weeks) at 8 °C, 835 and 880 day-degrees (20 and 21 weeks)at 6 °C and 725 and 800 day-degrees (26 and 28,5 weeks) at 4°C, in the egg groups disinfected twice or once a month,respectively. The best survival until hatching was noted when eggs weredisinfected twice a month and incubated at 6 and 8 °C.Survivalwas very low at 4 °C. Prematurely hatched larvae wereregistered in all egg groups disinfected twice a month and the highestfrequencywas noted in the 8 °C groups. The larval weight at normalhatching in the 6 and 8 °C groups was negatively correlatedwith incubation temperature and intervals of disinfection during the incubationperiod, but after 42 days feeding with live feed (unenrichedArtemia) the weights of the larvae were not significantlydifferent. The specific growth rates of the larvae from the eggs incubated at 6°C and 8 °C were 3.0% and 3.2%, respectively.The mean survival of larvae was between 88% and 96% at 42 days post-hatching.Young wolffish originating from the 6 °C incubation groupsshowed lowest mortality.     

Core terrestrial habitat for conservation of local populations of salamanders and wood frogs in agricultural landscapes

Pond-breeding amphibians require aquatic and terrestrial habitats to complete their lifecycles, and preservation of both habitats is necessary for maintaining local populations. Current wetland regulations focus primarily on aquatic habitats, and criteria to define critical upland habitats and regulations to protect them are often ambiguous or lacking. We examined the association between the presence of seven pond-breeding amphibian species and the landscape composition surrounding 54 wetlands located within the Till Plains and the Glaciated Plateau ecoregions of Ohio, USA. We quantified landscape composition within 200 m of the wetland (“core terrestrial zone”) and the area extending from 200 m to 1 km from the wetland (“broader landscape context zone”). We constructed binary logistic regression models for each species, and evaluated them using Akaike Information Criterion. Presence of spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum), Jefferson's salamander complex (A. jeffersonianum) and smallmouth salamanders (A. texanum) was positively associated with the amount of forest within the core zone. Presence of wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) was positively associated with the amount of forest within the core zone and the amount of forest within the broader landscape context zone. Presence of tiger salamanders (A. tigrinum tigrinum) was negatively associated with the cumulative length of paved roads within 1 km of the site, and presence of red-spotted newts (Notophthalmus v. viridescens) was negatively associated with the average linear distance to the five nearest wetlands. Overall salamander diversity was positively associated with the amount of forest within the core zone, and negatively associated with the presence of predatory fish and cumulative length of paved roads within 1 km of the site. Our results confirm the strong association between the structure of surrounding upland areas and amphibian diversity at breeding ponds, and stress the importance of preserving core terrestrial habitat around wetlands for maintaining amphibian diversity.     

限饲模式下宁乡花猪商品猪的生长肥育性能分析

为探索限饲模式下宁乡花猪商品猪生长肥育性能以适应品牌猪肉具备风味性、安全性需要,在初生重(0.98±0.02)kg饲养(99.69±2.48)d的基础上,相应于25~35 kg、35~60 kg、60~75 kg等3个体重阶段,采用精料重分别占90%、80%、70%,青料重分别占10%、20%、30%配制饲粮,并按8.5成饱模式饲喂。结果表明:1)试猪由体重(24.79±0.64)kg饲养至出栏日龄(243.77±2.67)d、出栏体重(78.22±1.76)kg,该生长肥育全程(144.03±0.23)d、日增重(370.50±9.50)g、料重比(3.51±0.03),充分体现出限饲模式可行性;2)在≤240 d、240~260 d、>260 d的日龄梯级下分别以初生重(1.02±0.02)kg、(0.94±0.04)kg、(0.99±0.08)kg所求取的日增体重百分率曲线与日龄梯级呈负相关态势,显现日龄低梯级明显优于高梯级,反映出生长强度与日龄负相关的必然性;3)自起运至屠宰分别间隔5 h、29 h的胴体率、白条率的相差值达5.04和5.05个百分点,屠宰间隔直接造成胴体损失。     

Molecular identification of tick-borne bacteria in wild animals and their ticks in Central Anatolia,Turkey

Wild animals fulfill an important mission in the ecology of tick-borne diseases as both suitable hosts to tick vectors and reservoirs of the pathogens. However, current data regarding the role of wild animals in the ecology of tick-borne pathogens is insufficient and more investigations are required. In this study, we investigated tick-borne bacterial pathogens in wild boar, hare, and fox and their ticks in Turkey. A total of 102 tick pools comprised of 445 ticks and blood samples were analyzed for the presence of bacterial DNA by PCRs targeted rickettsial gltA and ompA genes, 5S-23S rDNA gene for Borrelia spp., and msp4 gene for Anaplasma spp. As a result of PCR and sequence analyses, three pathogenic spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae, two SFG rickettsiae with unknown pathogenicity and one pathogenic Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato were detected in samples obtained from wild animals. Rickettsia slovaca was detected in ticks (13.7% of tick pools) collected from wild boars and blood of a wild boar. In addition, the presences of R. hoogstraalii (19.6% of tick pools), R. aeschlimannii (5.8% of tick pools), R. sibirica subsp. mongolitimonae (1.9% of tick pools) and Candidatus R. goldwasserii (0.9% of tick pools) were detected in ticks collected from wild animals. Furthermore, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto was detected in a tick pool collected from a wild boar. This is the first report on the presence of Candidatus R. goldwasserii in Turkey. Consequently, this study shows that pathogenic Rickettsia and Borrelia species are circulating in Turkish wildlife and these pathogens can pose a threat to human health. Also, it has been determined that the investigated wild animals play a role as maintenance host for vector ticks; therefore, these animals must also be considered in the ecology of the mentioned pathogens.     

利用血液生化指标多辅助性状综合选择指数对蛋鸡进行早期选种的研究

国内外畜牧工作者都十分重视利用雏鸡血液生化指标进行早期选种的研究。然而有关利用雏鸡血液生化指标综合选择指数对产蛋量进行早期选种的研究,在国内外均未见报道。为此,我们进行了蛋鸡早期选种血液生化指标多辅助性状综合选择指数的研究,制订出蛋鸡血液生化指标多辅...     

Evaluation of conventional and real-time PCR assays for detection and differentiation of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia in dog blood

Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia is important cause of emerging and re-emerging infectious disease in people and dogs. Importantly, dogs can serve as sentinels for disease in people. Sensitive and specific diagnostic tests that differentiate among species of infecting Rickettsia are needed. The objective of this study was to develop a sensitive and specific PCR that differentiates SFG Rickettsia infecting dog blood. Conventional and real-time PCR assays were developed using primers that targeted a small region of the ompA gene. Their sensitivity, determined by testing a cloned target sequence in the presence of host DNA, was 15–30 and 5 copies of DNA, respectively. Testing of Rickettsia cultures and analysis of Rickettsia gene sequences deposited in GenBank verified DNA could be amplified and used to differentiate species. DNA from the blood of infected dogs was also tested. Importantly, Rickettsia DNA was detected before seroconversion in some dogs. The species of infecting Rickettsia was also identified. We conclude these assays may assist in the timely diagnosis of infection with SFG Rickettsia. They may also facilitate the discovery of novel SFG Rickettsia infecting dogs, and in the investigation of dogs as sentinels for emerging rickettsioses.     

黔邵花猪肉切块品质点评

本调研对114kg级、75kg级黔邵花肥猪胴体作了切块分析。114kg级切块瘦肉呈现玫瑰深红并且带有较丰富大理石纹，肉面干爽，系水力强，弹性良好，切块肥肉洁白无瑕，皮下脂肪肥厚而且饱满坚实，皮厚适度，基本无褶，该切块具备极品肉潜力。75kg级胴体切块瘦肉率较高，大排眼肌硕大，五花肉肥瘦均衡，具有精品肉切块素质。