Characterization of Mycoplasma hyosynoviae Strains by Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis,Pulsed‐Field Gel Electrophoresis and 16S Ribosomal DNA Sequencing

Mycoplasma hyosynoviae strains from Denmark, Germany, Japan, Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK were examined for variations in the genomic DNA and within the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene. Variations in the chromosomal DNA among 57 isolates recovered from the respiratory tract and joints of pigs, were investigated by analysis of amplified fragment length polymorphisms of the BglII and MfeI restriction sites and by pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis of a BssHII digest of chromosomal DNA. Both methods allowed unambiguous differentiation of the analysed strains and showed similar discriminatory potential for the differentiation of M. hyosynoviae isolates. Concordant results obtained with the two whole‐genome fingerprinting techniques evidence the considerable intraspecies genetic heterogeneity of M. hyosynoviae. Sixteen field strains of M. hyosynoviae and the type strain S16^T were further examined for variation within the 16S rRNA gene. Ten field strains possessed the 16S rDNA sequences identical to the type strain, while the remaining six strains had sequences that differed by one to two nucleotides from that obtained from the type strain.     

Molecular Differentiation of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma imitans Strains by Pulsed‐Field Gel Electrophoresis and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA

Pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis were used to compare 21 Mycoplasma gallisepticum strains and five M. imitans strains. Each strain of M. gallisepticum typed by PFGE and RAPD methods was genetically quite unique and RAPD and PFGE fingerprinting enabled strain characterization. Relationships between the M. gallisepticum and M. imitans strains were established and dendrograms were drawn from PFGE and RAPD patterns. PFGE group A and RAPD group D were significantly associated with M. imitans strains (P < 0.05). Three M. imitans strains shared the same PFGE and RAPD patterns. The two M. gallisepticum vaccine strains had singular PFGE and RAPD patterns. Thus, PFGE and RAPD can be used to investigate disease outbreaks in vaccinated flocks or for epidemiological tracking. For M. gallisepticum, the RAPD and PFGE discriminatory powers were superior to 0.95 and the in vitro, in ovo and in vivo reproducibility of RAPD and PFGE was 100%. The RAPD drawback was the inconsistent band intensity complicating the interpretation of patterns, while the PFGE limit was its low typeability (86%). Thus, these two molecular typing methods seemed complementary for M. gallisepticum epidemiological studies.     

The Limitations of Pulsed‐Field Gel Electrophoresis for Analysis of Yersinia enterocolitica Isolates

This study describes the analysis of 432 isolates of Yersinia enterocolitica by pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). PFGE had a high level of discrimination with biotype 1A isolates (Simpson's Diversity Index 0.997), but with the clinically important biotypes 2, 3 and 4, the discriminatory ability of PFGE was so low as to severely limit its usefulness (DI <0.6). For biotypes 2, 3 and 4, 79% or more of isolates of each biotype were of just three different PFGE profiles. Because of this, four known outbreaks of yersiniosis would not have been identified by PFGE analysis. However, a previously unrecognized potential outbreak of yersiniosis caused by biotype 4 isolates was identified on the basis of a rare PFGE genotype with spatial and temporal clustering. We conclude that PFGE has a very limited application to the genotyping of Y. enterocolitica biotypes 2, 3 and 4, and inferences based on finding indistinguishable PFGE profiles among cases or between cases and sources need to be substantiated using alternative typing tools, or strong epidemiological evidence.     

Comparison of Closely Related Orthopoxvirus Isolates by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis

The reliability and reproducibility of random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis (RAPD) was compared with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) by analysing three virus strains isolated from zoo animals in Berlin and three isolates which were cultivated from pets from Northern Germany. The RAPD technique was evaluated as a reliable tool with good reproducibility of the patterns for each virus strain investigated. Problems of interpretation due to inconsistent intensity of bands in different polymerase chain reaction runs may arise for less experienced personnel. The RAPD analysis can be performed within one working day and needs less DNA compared with RFLP so costs will be reduced. The obvious advantage of RFLP is that the pattern can be traced to the recognition site of the restriction enzyme whereas the RAPD primer sequence is not present in the orthopoxvirus genome at all. To the authors knowledge, the RAPD technique has never been applied in DNA viruses before and they conclude that this technique is a useful tool for the discrimination of closely related cowpoxviruses.     

Evaluation of the Field Complement Fixation Test in the Diagnosis and Control of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The field complement fixation test and microtitre complement fixation test for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia were evaluated under field conditions in a...     

Genotyping of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and M. synoviae by Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) analysis and digitalized Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and M. synoviae (MS) are the cause of considerable economic losses in the poultry industry. Molecular differentiation of avian Mycoplasma strains may be helpful in tracing infections and in the evaluation of implemented intervention strategies. Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) has shown to be a powerful typing technique but the application for poultry Mycoplasma strains is very limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility and discriminatory power of AFLP HindIII/HhaI and AFLP BglII/Mfel for the inter- and intraspecies differentiation of avian mycoplasmas and to compare these test characteristics with digitalized Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. The reproducibility of RAPD, AFLP HindIII/HhaI and AFLP BglII/Mfel was 50-100, 97-98 and 86-99%, respectively. RAPD and both AFLP enzyme combinations were able to differentiate between five avian Mycoplasma species. For AFLP, five MG and four MS clusters could be identified. The phylogenetic tree for both enzyme combinations was comparable. For RAPD, four MG clusters could be identified. For MS, however, due to the poor reproducibility of the RAPD technique, no clear genogroups could be identified. On basis of the results of this study it can be concluded that AFLP is a powerful technique for the genotyping of avian mycoplasmas and that, although AFLP HindIII/HhaI generated patterns with less fragments, the final results showed homologous results.     

Differentiation of Twelve Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae Serotypes by Outer Membrane Lipoprotein Gene‐based Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism

Twelve Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotypes were differentiated by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐amplified fragments from the outer membrane lipoprotein (omlA) gene. All 12 reference serotypes and 80 field isolates produced the expected 950‐base pair (bp) fragment of the omlA gene by PCR. Combining the RFLP patterns obtained with SfaNI, Bst71I, AluI, NciI, nine distinct patterns were observed in the 12 serotype reference strains. The PCR‐based RFLP analysis of omlA genes allows differentiation among the 12 serotypes, with the exception of group 1 (serotypes 1, 9 and 11), and group 2 (serotypes 2 and 8). When the PCR products from the 70 field isolates were subjected to RFLP analysis, 68 showed the same RFLP patterns as their respective serotype reference strain. Two isolates that could not be typed had the same RFLP patterns as those of serotype 5. These results suggest that PCR‐based RFLP analysis of the omlA genes may be of value in differentiating among 12 A. pleuropneumoniae serotypes.     

Comparison of the Value of Pulsed-field Gel Electrophoresis,Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA and Amplified rDNA Restriction Analysis for Subtyping Taylorella equigenitalis

Eight strains of Taylorella equigenitalis were identified by a polymerase chain reaction using a primer pair specific to the 16S rDNA of T equigenitalis. These eight strains were chosen because they had previously been shown to represent eight distinct genotypes by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis after separate digestion of the genomic DNA with ApaI or NotI. The eight strains could be classified into six or seven types by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis using different kinds of primers. Amplified rDNA restriction analysis after separate digestion with five restriction enzymes, including AluI and MboI, of the 1,500 bp fragments of rDNA amplified by polymerase chain reaction did not discriminate the genomic variations among the eight strains of T equigenitalis. Thus, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was shown to discriminate these eight organisms better than random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis, while amplified rDNA restriction analysis was found to be unsuitable for subtyping T equigenitalis.     

传染性支气管炎病毒中国地方分离株RFLP基因分型的研究

为初步确定我国不同地区流行的传染性支气管炎病毒（ＩＢＶ）的基因分型，对分离自国内８个不同地域疫区的ＩＢＶＱＤ、ＧＺ、ＺＺ、ＴＪ、ＤＬ、ＹＣ、ＪＳ１和ＪＳ２及参考株Ｍ４１、Ｈ５２和Ｔ的Ｓ１基因ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ扩增ｃＤＮＡ进行ＨａｅⅢ的ＲＦＬＰ分析。结果，ＱＤ与ＭＤ４１、Ｈ５２同属Ｍａｓｓａｃｈｕｓｓｅｔｅ基因型，ＧＺ、ＺＺ、ＹＣ与Ｔ的基因型相同，ＤＬ、ＪＳ１和ＪＳ２则表现为各自独立的基因型，而ＴＪ则为ＤＬ和Ｔ２种基因型毒株的混合感染，表明我国的广大地域内存在着Ｍａｓｓ基因型、Ｔ基因型和可能的变异株ＩＢＶ的流行。     

山西省部分猪场猪传染性胸膜肺炎血清学检测分析

[目的]掌握山西省猪传染性胸膜肺炎感染情况,为防控该病提供参考依据。[方法]用ApxIV-ELISA抗体检测试剂盒,对山西省11个市46个猪场851份猪血清进行猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌ApxIV抗体血清学检测分析。[结果] 山西省猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌抗体平均阳性率为57.11%;11个市猪场均有不同程度感染,感染率较高的是大同市、朔州市、忻州市,分别达到84.44%、83.75%和83.33%,临汾市感染率相对较低,为16.67%;母猪群体感染率最高,育肥猪次之,仔猪感染率最低;规模猪场感染率明显高于散养户感染。[结论] 猪传染性胸膜肺炎感染在山西省较为普遍,特别是母猪群阳性率达到74.60%,处在一个相对较高水平。     

Molecular Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance Mechanisms of Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Bovine Milk

The aim of this study was to identify methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains gathered from 2002 to 2006 from milk samples in Aydin region in Turkey. Among 93 S. aureus strains isolated from bovine milk with mastitis, 16 were resistant to methicillin. Methicillin‐resistant S. aureus strains were studied further for their staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) types, pulsotypes, spa and MLST types, antimicrobial susceptibilities, mechanisms of resistance and presence of Panton–Valentine leucocidin (PVL) toxin gene. The MRSA strains were multi‐drug resistant. The susceptibility rates to antimicrobials tested were 0%, 0%, 0%, 0%, 6.25%, 16.25% and 56.25% for erythromycin, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, tetracyclin, ciprofloxacin and vancomycin, respectively. All tetracycline and gentamicin resistant strains carried tet(M) and aac(6)‐aph(2) gene, respectively. Among macrolide‐resistant isolates, nine had erm(A), and seven had both erm(A) and erm(B) genes. The molecular characterization by pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis showed presence of three pulsotypes with their variants. The pulsotype B strains were type IV with SCCmec typing, and representative of pulsotype B was t190 by spa typing and ST8 by MLST typing. The strains with pulsotype A and C were SCCmec III, and representative of these pulsotypes was t030 by spa typing. The MLST type of pulsotype A was ST239 and pulsotype C was one allele variant of ST239. None of the isolates harboured the PVL gene. Presence of hospital‐related MRSA strains may indicate transmission of these strains between human and animals. In case of clonal spread beside the infected animals’ treatment of MRSA carrier, farm workers should also be considered. Hygienic measures and rational antibiotic use may avoid resistance selection, clonal dissemination of resistant strains and decrease losses because of mastitis in dairy herds.     

PRRSV广东及周边地区分离株ORF5基因PCR-RFLP分析

用RT—PCR方法对分离自广东及周边地区包括43株高致病性PRRSV（HP—PRRSV）在内的共56株PRRSVORF5基因进行了扩增,应用MluⅠ、HincⅡ和SacⅡ3种限制性内切酶对PCR扩增片段进行限制性片段长度多态性（RFLP）分析。结果56株分离株中共获得8种不同的RFLP模式,其中有6株分离株（10．7％）模式与美洲型PRRSV弱毒疫苗株一致,为2-5—2模式;其余50株分离株表现为7种不同的RFLP模式,均为野毒株。43株HP—PRRSV表现为除2—5—2模式外的其余7种模式;13株经典PRRSV也表现了4种模式。结果表明广东及周边地区的PRRSV发生了较大的变异。     

奶山羊肠毒血症的诊治报告

羊肠毒血症又称软肾病，类快疫，是由Ｄ型魏氏梭菌在羊肠道内繁殖产生毒素所引起的羊急性传染病。２０００年２月首先在我市小集镇赵庄发生，而后扩散到宋营、张庄、古庄、马庄等９个自然村，时有零星发生。现将诊治情况报道如下：１临床症状发病急，死亡快，大多数表现急剧水泻，行走不稳，继而卧地不起，双目凝视，呼吸困难，头向后仰，四肢伸直做急促的游泳动作。全身抽缩，有腹痛表现，最后哀叫痉挛而死。２剖检变化死尸迅速腐败膨胀，可视粘膜充血呈暗紫色。主要见真胃出血性炎症，胃底部及幽门部粘膜可见大小不等的出血斑点及坏死区。…     

奶山羊肠素毒血症的诊治报告

羊肠毒血症又称软肾病,类快疫,是由D型魏氏梭菌在羊肠道内繁殖产生毒素所引起的羊急性传染病. 　　……     

IS900 Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) Analysis of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis Isolates from Goats and Cattle in Norway

In Norway, paratuberculosis has been frequently diagnosed in goats, while cattle have been almost free of the infection. This difference in prevalence between goats and cattle has led to speculations about the existence of a Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (M. a. paratuberculosis) isolate that is non-pathogenic for cattle. There is little information available on genotypic variation of M. a. paratuberculosis isolated from animals in Norway. In the present study, genotypic information on 51 isolates from goats and four isolates from cattle in Norway was obtained by use of IS900 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. All isolates from cattle and 84% of the isolates from goats had the same RFLP pattern (B-C1). Five RFLP patterns not previously detected were found. No genotypic variation that could explain a difference in host origin was found between the isolates from cattle and the majority of the Norwegian goat isolates. This lack of difference indicates that the most common M. a. paratuberculosis isolates in Norway may infect both cattle and goats.     

Epidemiology of Bovine Venereal Campylobacteriosis: Geographic Distribution and Recent Advances in Molecular Diagnostic Techniques

Bovine venereal campylobacteriosis (BVC) is a major cause of economic loss to the cattle industries in different parts of the world. Camplylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis (Cfv), the main causative agent of BVC, is highly adapted to the genital tract of cattle and is transmitted by carrier bulls. However, infertility and abortions can also be caused by the intestinal pathogens C. fetus subsp. fetus (Cff), and C. jenuni, which are not venereally transmitted. Bovine venereal campylobacteriosis, caused by Cfv associated with lowered fertility, embryo mortality and abortion, repeated returns to service, reduced pregnancy rates and extended calving intervals, has the highest prevalence in developing countries where natural breeding in cattle is widely practised. The epidemiology, pathogenesis and diagnosis of the disease have been the subject of previous reviews. The main focus of this review is to highlight the epidemiology of this disease with particular reference to geographical distribution and recent advances in molecular diagnostic techniques. It is hoped that further research interest of scientists will be stimulated with a view to finding lasting solutions to the reproductive problems associated with the disease for better livestock productivity, particularly in developing endemic countries.     

5个绵羊品种BMP6基因部分片段的多态及序列分析

根据GenBank发表的绵羊骨形态发生蛋白6（Bone morphogenetic protein6,BMP6）基因部分序列所包含的外显子5、6、7和小鼠BMP6基因外显子5、6、7序列设计3对引物,采用PCR-SSCP技术检测BMP6基因外显子5、6和7在小尾寒羊、湖羊、多赛特、特克塞尔、考力代5个绵羊品种301个个体中的单核苷酸多态性。结果发现这3对引物的扩增片段在检测的5个品种中均无多态性,说明所检测的BMP6外显子5、6、7序列比较保守。同时克隆了小尾寒羊（695bp）和济宁青山羊（699bp）部分BMP6mRNA以及小尾寒羊BMP6基因外显子3—4的内含子序列和两端部分外显子序列（785bp）。发现小尾寒羊和济宁青山羊的核苷酸和氨基酸序列差异很小,两者的核苷酸序列同源性高达99．28％,氨基酸序列同源性为98．1％,除济宁青山羊中插入一个丙氨酸外,两者只有4个氨基酸的差异。绵羊与牛、人、小鼠和大鼠的核苷酸同源性分别为97．04％、81．82％、84．68％和85．06％;氨基酸序列同源性分别为99．05％、91．43％、90．48％和92．38％,均大于90％,表明各物种BMP6核苷酸序列虽然差异较大,但氨基酸序列却非常保守。     

基于RAPD和SSR分子标记的家蚕部分实用品种多态性及其亲缘关系分析

分子标记是生物系统进化和亲缘关系分析的重要手段。利用RAPD和SSR标记对12个家蚕实用品种的基因组DNA进行多态性分析和聚类分析。采用21条RAPD引物对12个品种的基因组DNA扩增产生的清晰稳定条带数为196条,其中多态性片段143条,多态位点比例72.96%,品种间的遗传距离在0.157～0.352之间。采用32条SSR引物对12个品种的基因组DNA扩增产生的片段数为86条,其中多态性带80条,多态性位点比例93.02%,遗传距离在0.214～0.600之间。对12个家蚕品种的2种分子标记的单独聚类结果表现出一定差异,但均把12个品种分为中系、日系两大类,其中7532和湘晖、871和57B的亲缘关系较近,而传统分类于中系品种东34却聚类于日系,但又独立于其余6个日系品种。结合RAPD标记和SSR标记的12个品种间的遗传距离与聚类结果,更能准确地从分子水平上反映品种间的亲缘关系及其来源,是家蚕杂交育种亲本选择的依据。