Avian endoscopy

Endoscopic techniques in birds provide invaluable information on the medical care and husbandry of avian species. The instruments required to perform these examinations have been adapted from human arthroscopic instruments. With the advances in avian anesthetic techniques, endoscopic techniques can be readily and successfully applied to the avian patient in a general practice setting.     

鸡传染性鼻气管炎

鸡的传染性鼻气管炎（ＡｖｉａｎＲｈｉｎｏｔｒａｃｈｅｉｔｉｓ,ＡＲＴ）是由火鸡传染性鼻气管炎病毒（ＴｕｒｋｅｙＲｈｉｎｏｔｒａｃｈｅｉｔｉｓＶｉｒｕｓ,ＴＲＴＶ）引起的肉鸡、肉种鸡、产蛋鸡的一种传染病。以打喷嚏,头部肿胀,眼鼻有分泌物等上呼吸道症状为特征。易感染大肠杆菌、新城疫、流感等,给养鸡业造成很大损失。早在７０年代初,南非就发现此病,最初被人们认为是腺病毒、尤凯巴病毒、传染性支气管炎病毒、新城疫病毒、衣原体等引起的,后来被认为是火鸡鼻气管炎病毒。荷兰、美国、法国、阿根廷等国也相继爆发了此病,我国…     

A review of antimicrobial peptides: defensins and related cationic peptides

Cationic antimicrobial peptides are present throughout the plant and animal kingdoms and bear striking structural and functional similarities across species lines. They provide primitive, nonspecific means of combating a variety of bacteria, fungi, enveloped viruses, and protozoa. Some are also cytotoxic against host cells, including neoplastic cells. Cationic antimicrobial peptides may play various roles in inflammation and tissue repair. Antimicrobial peptides are found in epithelial tissues regularly exposed to microbial attack as well as in cells whose primary function is defense against potential pathogens. They constitute an important part of the nonoxidative antimicrobial arsenal of leukocytes. They are preformed and/or readily synthesized when the cells are stimulated by exposure to pathogens. They exert their effects directly by inserting into membranes of target cells and forming ion channels which increase membrane permeability; however, antimicrobial peptides can also act as opsonins to facilitate phagocytosis. Resistance to defensins is a virulence factor for organisms such as Salmonella sp. The study of cationic antimicrobial peptides is increasing our understanding of innate immunity, inflammation, and the pathogenesis of genetic diseases such as specific granule disease in humans. Therapeutic applications of antimicrobial peptides are currently under investigation.