Dogs with patent Dirofilaria immitis infection have higher expression of circulating IL-4, IL-10 and iNOS mRNA than those with occult infection

Dirofilaria immitis is the agent of canine heartworm disease, in which adult worms reside in the pulmonary arteries, producing first stage larvae (microfilariae) that are released into the bloodstream. The present work describes the cytokine and iNOS mRNA expression in the peripheral blood of naturally infected dogs classified as either microfilariemic or amicrofilariemic. Results show that microfilariemic dogs had higher expression of IL-4 and iNOS mRNA than amicrofilariemic dogs. Furthermore, IL-10 mRNA expression was strongly expressed in dogs with circulating microfilariae, compared to only negligible expression in amicrofilariemic dogs. Finally, mf+ status was associated with a predominance in IgG1 production against worm antigens. These results would suggest that circulating mf may stimulate, like in other filarial infections, an immune bias towards unresponsiveness in D. immitis-infected dogs, consenting long-term adult worm survival.     

控制鼠害应遵循的原则

鼠类盗食粮食、饲料等食物 ;破坏建筑、家具、衣物、书籍 ;传播人畜共患疾病 ,能携带２００余种病原体 ,其中能使人致病的有５７种 ;鼠类能损坏电路引起火灾 ,掘穿堤坝导致水患 ;在个别情况下 ,还会咬人。如星子县蓼花乡不完全统计被鼠咬伤手脚、耳朵的有３０多人 ,其中一婴儿被鼠咬掉眼睛致死。所以 ,“老鼠过街 ,人人喊打”。鼠害如此严重 ,为什么打了几千年 ,还没有消灭呢？这主要是 :①鼠类的适应性强 ,反应灵敏 ,善于隐藏 ,很难一网打尽 ,种群被消灭一批后又很快繁殖 ;②人们对鼠类的生态特点了解不够 ,灭鼠方法不甚理想 ,组织不够严密…     

泰国养猪人盈利于对猪接种蓝耳病(PRRS)疫苗

正最近,《国际猪业杂志》的记者参观了泰国呵叻集团(Mittraphap)的一个养猪场(图1),并与该猪场的CEO,即该场的所有者苏拉差(Surachai Taepaisitphongse)先生讨论泰国养猪生产者目前正在面临的一些挑战。我们参观了他们位于养猪密集区Lopburi的一家大型养猪场,该地区距曼谷有几个小时的车程。该猪场现在的生产状况是母猪分娩率大于90%,每头母猪的产活仔数11~13头,通常仔猪在分娩舍的损失低于7%,且可能低到小于5%。仔猪3周龄断奶,断奶体重为7~8 kg(图2)。     

明确思路强化管理努力提高蚕桑业主经营的综合效益

大英县委、县政府从大英经济发展的战略高度出发,因地制宜加大了蚕茧生产这一传统产业的发展力度,利用国家退耕还林还草的优惠政策,大力发展蚕茧生产,鼓励发展蚕桑业主经营.全县实施退耕还林两年来,共实现退耕还桑0.1万hm2.占退耕还林面积的60%以上,发展蚕桑业主68户,建桑园166.7hm2.其中6.66hm2以上业主10户;3.3hm2以上业主8户;0.66hm2以上业主50户,为我县蚕业产业化的发展打下了坚实的基础.