肠致病性大肠杆菌和魏氏梭菌PCR诊断方法的建立

本研究建立了一种同时检测大肠杆菌和魏氏梭菌的二重PCR方法,根据兔肠致病性大肠杆菌(REPEC)的eae毒力基因和魏氏梭菌的α-toxin毒力基因的基因文库,设计了两对分别与eae基因和α-toxin基因互补的引物,用这两对引物对同一样品中的REPEC和魏氏梭菌模板进行二重PCR扩增。结果均得到了两条特异性大小与试验设计相符的833bp(REPEC)和324bp(魏氏梭菌)的扩增条带,而对其它3种病原菌的PCR扩增结果均为阴性;敏感性试验结果表明,该二重PCR技术能检出10cfu的REPEC,10cfu的魏氏梭菌。     

肠致病性大肠杆菌和魏氏梭菌PCR诊断方法的建立

本研究建立了一种同时检测大肠杆菌和魏氏梭菌的二重PCR方法,根据兔肠致病性大肠杆菌（REPEC）的eae毒力基因和魏氏梭菌的α—toxin毒力基因的基因文库,设计了两对分别与eae基因和α—toxin基因互补的引物,用这两对引物对同一样品中的REPEC和魏氏梭菌模板进行二重PCR扩增。结果均得到了两条特异性大小与试验设计相符的833bp（REPEC）和324bp（魏氏梭菌）的扩增条带,而对其它3种病原菌的PCR扩增结果均为阴性;敏感性试验结果表明,该二重PCR技术能检出10cfu的REPEC,10cfu的魏氏梭菌。     

断奶幼兔腹泻肠致病性大肠杆菌LEE毒力岛的分子检测

为了了解 L EE毒力岛在山东省兔场的流行情况 ,自 2 0 0 0年 2月到 2 0 0 3年 6月从潍坊、曲阜、恒台、烟台、莱芜、泰安等地兔场的断奶前后腹泻和健康兔肠内容物或粪便中分离的大肠埃希氏菌 ,用 PCR法检测 L EE毒力岛上的 eae A基因。结果发现 ,在 2 0～ 30日龄、30～ 5 5日龄、5 5～ 80日龄的腹泻幼兔中 ,携带 L EE毒力岛的大肠埃希氏菌检出率分别为 0 (0 / 5 )、72 .7%(2 4 / 33)、2 3.5 % (4 / 17) ,而在相同日龄的健康幼兔中检出率为 0 (0 / 2 4 )。从其他肠道致病菌的检出情况来看 ,沙门氏菌和魏氏梭菌检出率极低 ,沙门氏菌在腹泻兔为 9% ,健康兔为 4 .2 % ,魏氏梭菌在健康兔和腹泻兔均为 0。生化试验表明 eae A阳性的大肠杆菌为乳糖发酵试验弱阳性的菌株。结论 eae A阳性的肠致病性大肠杆菌 (EPEC)应是导致上述兔场断奶后幼兔发生腹泻症的主要细菌性病原 ;L EE毒力岛的检测能够作为兔肠致病性大肠杆菌 (REPEC)的诊断和流行分子病学调查的主要手段     

魏氏梭菌PCR检测方法的建立及应用研究

根据GenBank发表的序列设计了α毒素引物,建立了魏氏梭菌PCR检测方法。结果表明仅魏氏梭菌扩增出了特异性条带,而大肠杆菌、沙门氏菌、巴氏杆菌、葡萄球菌没出现,该方法最低检测灵敏度为1 CFU／ml。用该法对山东齐河、枣庄、泰安、蒙阴等地的猪、牛、羊、兔的样品检测,总检出率为20．6％,与细菌分离、鉴定结果一致。     

兔肠致病性大肠杆菌和魏氏梭菌毒力基因的快速检测

以一中型肉兔场为研究对象,采集病、死兔肠内容物,粪便样品,饮水,污水,饲料和以兔舍为中心不同距离处的尘土样品,共得到样品135份,运用双重PCR法同时检测样品中的肠致病性大肠杆菌(eaeA基因 )和魏氏梭菌(α-毒素基因 ).结果表明在病、死兔肠内容物中、粪便、生活污水中这两种菌同时存在和仅一种菌单独存在的几率都较大;兔舍周围尘土由近到远肠致病性大肠杆菌(eaeA基因 )存在的几率呈递减趋势,魏氏梭菌(α-毒素基因 )在兔舍周围尘土中存在的几率较少,且变化不大.     

兔肠致病性大肠杆菌和魏氏梭菌毒力基因的快速检测

以一中型肉兔场为研究对象,采集病、死兔肠内容物,粪便样品,饮水,污水,饲料和以兔舍为中心不同距离处的尘土样品,共得到样品135份,运用双重PCR法同时检测样品中的肠致病性大肠杆菌(eaeA基因 )和魏氏梭菌(α-毒素基因 )。结果表明在病、死兔肠内容物中、粪便、生活污水中这两种菌同时存在和仅一种菌单独存在的几率都较大;兔舍周围尘土由近到远肠致病性大肠杆菌(eaeA基因 )存在的几率呈递减趋势,魏氏梭菌(α-毒素基因 )在兔舍周围尘土中存在的几率较少,且变化不大。     

兔支气管败血波氏杆菌PCR快速检测方法的建立及应用

参考GeneBank中支气管败血波氏杆菌fimN基因序列设计了一对特异性引物,扩增出大小为387bp的目的基因片段,优化PCR反应条件,建立了兔支气管败血波氏杆菌的PCR快速检测方法。特异性和敏感性试验显示,该方法与大肠杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、沙门氏菌、魏氏梭菌和巴氏杆菌均无交叉反应,且检出最低浓度为10pg,可用于临床检测。     

肉品中肠毒素性大肠杆菌和肠沙门菌多重PCR检测方法的建立

利用肠毒素性大肠杆菌(ETEC)的LT-A、ST-1毒素基因和肠沙门菌的iroB基因设计3对引物,建立能同时检测ETEC和肠沙门菌的多重PCR方法。结果:多重PCR扩增出了预计的PCR产物,本方法的特异性为100%、灵敏度达10~10~2CFU/mL,用建立的多重PCR方法对30份临床可疑腹泻样品进行检测并与生化试验比较,结果两种方法检出大肠杆菌和沙门菌的阳性符合率达100%。     

鸡源大肠杆菌中HPI和LEE毒力岛相关基因的检测

采用PCR方法检测辽宁锦州地区分离的150株鸡源大肠杆菌中耶尔森菌强毒力岛基因(HPI)和肠细胞脱落位点毒力岛(LEE),利用多重PCR方法检测HPI irp2和fyuA基因,以及LEE ler和eaeA基因.在分离的鸡源大肠杆菌中,HPI毒力岛基因检测结果为:18.7％的菌株irp2和fyuA基因扩增阳性,6.7％的菌株irp2基因阳性;LEE毒力岛基因检测结果为:15.3％的菌株ler和eaeA基因扩增阳性.结果表明,25.3％的鸡源大肠杆菌携带HPI,15.3％的鸡源大肠杆菌携带LEE.     

魏氏梭菌α-毒素基因探针的制备及应用

以A型魏氏梭菌贵州分离株为材料,提取染色体DNA，经PCR扩增和酚：氯仿抽提回收得到242bp的α-毒素基因部分片段，用地高辛标记制备了α-毒素基因探针。该探针不与埃希氏大肠杆菌、都柏林沙门氏菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、猪丹毒杆菌、蜡样芽胞杆菌及多杀性巴氏杆菌等细菌的DNA样品发生反应,只与魏氏梭菌DNA样品呈阳性反应，能检出300pg的DNA样品；应用探针对40株魏氏梭菌进行了Dot-Blotting检测,结果与生化试验鉴定的符合率达到90％，表明该探针具有较高的特异性和灵敏度，可应用于临床上魏氏梭菌的检测。     

Phase I evaluation of CCNU (lomustine) in tumor-bearing cats

1-(2-Chloroethyl)3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU) is an alkylating agent in the nitrosourea subclass. A prospective evaluation of CCNU was done to determine the maximally tolerated dosage of CCNU in tumor-bearing cats. Response data were obtained when available. Twenty-five cats were treated with CCNU at a dosage of 50-60 mg/m3 body surface area. Complete hematologic data were available for 13 cats. Neutropenia was the acute dose-limiting toxicity. The median neutrophil count at the nadir was 1,000 cells/microL (mean, 2,433 cells/microL; range, 0-9,694 cells/microL). The time of neutrophil nadir was variable, occurring 7-28 days after treatment, and counts sometimes did not return to normal for up to 14 days after the nadir. Based on these findings, a 6-week dosing interval and weekly hematologic monitoring after the 1st treatment with CCNU are recommended. The nadir of the platelet count may occur 14-21 days after treatment. The median platelet count at the nadir was 43,500 cells/microL. No gastrointestinal, renal, or hepatic toxicities were observed after a single CCNU treatment, and additional studies to evaluate the potential for cumulative toxicity should be performed. Five cats with lymphoma and 1 cat with mast cell tumor had measurable responses to CCNU. Phase II studies to evaluate antitumor activity should be completed with a dosing regimen of 50-60 mg/m3 every 6 weeks.     

Furosemide continuous rate infusion in the horse: evaluation of enhanced efficacy and reduced side effects

Continuous rate infusion (CRI) of furosemide in humans is considered superior to intermittent administration (IA). This study examined whether furosemide CRI, compared with IA, would increase diuretic efficacy with decreased fluid and electrolyte fluctuations and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in the horse. Five mares were used in a crossover-design study. During a 24-hour period, each horse received a total of 3 mg/kg furosemide by either CRI (0.12 mg/kg/h preceded by a loading dose of 0.12 mg/kg IV) or IA (1 mg/kg IV q8h). There was not a statistically significant difference in urine volume over 24 hours between methods; however, urine volume was significantly greater after CRI compared with IA during the first 8 hours ([median 25th percentile, 75th percentile]: 9.6 L [8.9, 14.4] for CRI versus 5.9 L [5.3, 6.0] for IA). CRI produced a more uniform urine flow, decreased fluctuations in plasma volume, and suppressed renal concentrating ability throughout the infusion period. Potassium, Ca, and Cl excretion was greater during CRI than IA (1,133 mmol [1.110, 1,229] versus 764 mmol [709, 904], 102.7 mmol [96.0, 117.2] versus 73.3 mmol [65.0, 73.5], and 1,776 mmol [1,657, 2.378] versus 1,596 mmol [1,457, 1,767], respectively). Elimination half-lives of furosemide were 1.35 and 0.47 hours for CRI and IA, respectively. The area under the excretion rate curve was 1,285.7 and 184.2 mL x mg/mL for CRI and IA, respectively. Furosemide CRI (0.12 mg/kg/h) for 8 hours, preceded by a loading dose (0.12 mg/kg), is recommended when profound diuresis is needed acutely in horses.     

Prevalence of gastric lesions in racing Alaskan sled dogs

Human and equine athletes are reported to have a high prevalence of gastric disease, and anecdotal evidence suggests a similar phenomenon applies to racing sled dogs. To investigate the prevalence of gastric disease in racing sled dogs, we conducted 2 gastroscopy studies on dogs competing in the annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race. A pilot study of dogs that were either dropped from the 2000 Iditarod Sled Dog Race because of illness or that finished the race indicated that, approximately 5 days after competing, 10 of 28 dogs (35%) had endoscopic evidence of gastric ulceration, erosion, or hemorrhage. The next year, an endoscopic study of 73 dogs participating in the 2001 Iditarod race was performed in order to evaluate a larger population of dogs. Data from 70 of these dogs could be used; 34 (48.5%) had ulceration, erosion, gastric hemorrhage, or some combination of these findings. When this group of 70 dogs was compared retrospectively to a control group of 87 dogs presented to the Texas A&M University (TAMU) Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, the Iditarod sled dogs had a significantly higher prevalence (P = .049) of gastric lesions. These findings suggest that, similar to athletes of other species, elite canine athletes have an increased prevalence of gastric disease compared to the canine population at large.     

The Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Dairy Cattle in Central Kenya

The epidemiology of H. placei and of other gastrointestinal nematodes in yearling dairy cattle was examined on two farms in Kiambu District, central Kenya during each of 13 one-month periods from April 1993 to April 1994. On each farm, 32 newly weaned dairy calves were given a single dose of albendazole and then placed on experimental pastures. Twelve of the animals were designated for bi-monthly slaughter (n = 2) and analysis of worm population characteristics and 20 were designated for blood and faecal collection and for weighing. Two parasite-free tracer calves were grazed alongside the weaner calves each month throughout the study period and were also slaughtered for analysis of worm populations. Faecal egg counts, haematological and serum pepsinogen determinations, herbage larval counts, and animal live weight changes were recorded monthly. The study revealed that Haemonchus placei, Trichostrongylus axei, Cooperia spp. and Oesophagostomum radiatum were responsible for parasitic gastroenteritis and that H. placei was the predominant nematode present in the young cattle on both farms. Faecal egg counts from resident cattle and necropsy worm counts revealed that pasture larval levels were directly related to the amount of rainfall. The total worm burdens in the animals were highest during the rainy season (March–June and October–December) and lowest during the dry seasons (July–September and January–February). The very low recovery of immature larvae of H. placei from the tracer calves indicated that arrested development is not a feature of the life cycle of this parasite in central Kenya. The maintenance of the parasite population depended on continuous cycling of infection between the host and the pasture. The agroclimatic conditions of the study area were such that, in general, favourable weather conditions for the development and survival of the free-living stages of gastrointestinal nematodes existed all year round.     

Diversity of Ectoparasites in Sheep Flocks in Sa~o Paulo,Brazil

The occurrence of ectoparasites in sheep flocks is frequently reported but seldom quantified. Sheep production used to be a predominantly family activity in the state of Sa~o Paulo (Brazil), but it began to become a commercial activity in the past decade. Thus, information about the ectoparasites existing in sheep flocks has become necessary. The present data were obtained by means of questionnaires sent to all sheep breeders belonging to the `Associaça~o Paulista de Criadores de Ovinos' (ASPACO; Sa~o Paulo State Association of Sheep Breeders). Response reliability was tested by means of random visits paid to 10.6% of the respondents. Most of the properties (89.5%) reported the presence of one or more ectoparasites. Screw-worm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) was the most frequent ectoparasite (72.5%), followed by bot fly larvae (Dermatobia hominis, 45.0%), ticks (Amblyomma cajennense) and Boophilus microplus, 31.3%) and finally lice (Damalinia ovis, 13.8%). Combined infestations also occurred, the most common one being screw-worm with bot fly larvae (36.0%) followed by bot fly larvae with ticks (13.9%), screw-worm with ticks (9.3%), bot fly larvae with lice (6.9%), and ticks with lice (5.0%). The most common triple combination was screw-worm, bot fly larvae and ticks (12.8%). Breeds raised for meat or wool were attacked by bot fly larvae and ticks more often than other breeds. Lice were only absent from animals of indigenous breeds. The relationships among these ectoparasites are discussed in terms of sheep breeds, flock size, seasonality and the ectoparasitic combinations on the host.     

Evaluation of biohydrogenation rate of canola vs. soya bean seeds as unsaturated fatty acids sources for ruminants in situ

An experiment was conducted to study disappearance of C14 to C18 fatty acids, lag times and biohydrogenation (BH) rates of C18 fatty acids of ground soya bean and canola seeds in situ. Three ruminally fistulated Dallagh sheep were used to determine ruminal BH of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs). Differences in the disappearance of fatty acids through the bags and lag times were observed between the oilseeds. We saw that the longer the incubation time of the oilseeds in the rumen, the lower the content of C18:2 and C18:3. Significantly higher lag times for both C18:2 and C18:3 were observed in ground canola compared to ground soya bean. BH rates of C18:2 and C18:3 fatty acids in soya bean were three times higher than those of canola. These results suggest that the fatty acid profile of fat source can affect the BH of UFAs by rumen micro‐organisms. So that UFAs of canola had higher ability to escape from ruminal BH. It seems that fatty acid profile of ruminant products is more affected by canola seed compared to soya bean seed.     

Serum biochemical values and mineral element contents of tissues in yaks

Serum biochemical values and the wet weight to dry weight ratios of tissues were determined in yaks in Shandan county of Gansu province. The liver, kidney, heart and muscle contents of seven elements in yaks were also analysed. Most serum biochemical values were similar to those of cattle, camels and sheep, but the calcium concentration was considerably above the normal range for other ruminants. The liver contained the highest concentrations of copper, manganese and cobalt and the kidney of selenium, iron and calcium.Abbreviations Alb albumin - ALT alanine aminotransferase - AST aspartate aminotransferase - BUN blood urea nitrogen - Chol cholesterol - Glob globulin - -GT -glutamyl transpeptidase - IP inorganic phosphorus - TP total protein     

Avian brood parasitism — a growing research area in behavioral ecology (part Ⅱ)

正We are pleased to publish the second special issue on avian brood parasitism and to be responsible guest editors for the two special issues of Chinese Birds (Vol. 3, No. 4, 2012 and Vol. 4, No. 1, 2013), entitled "Avian Brood Parasitism - A Growing Research Area in Behavioral Ecology". The first issue was published in December 2012. The goal of the two special issues is to publish accumulated knowledge and some of the recent developments in     

Internal Parasites and Haematological Values in Cattle Slaughtered in Buea Subdivision of Cameroon

Tropical Animal Health and Production -