An epidemic of parapoxvirus infection among cattle: isolation and antibody survey.

A disease characterized by papules, nodules, vesicles and, rarely, pustules and ulcers on teats was seen among cattle on a farm in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. A virus was isolated by inoculation of fetal bovine lung cell cultures from a vesicle on a teat of an infected cow. The virus was subsequently passaged in fetal bovine lung and muscle cells in which it produced complete cytopathic changes. The virus was identified by physicochemical examinations and electromicroscopic observation as a parapoxvirus. A seroepidemiological survey was performed on antibody to the isolated virus by the agar gel immunodiffusion test. The isolated virus formed a precipitation line which cross reacted with other parapoxviruses isolated previously in Japan. The positive rate was more than 50% among cattle in the Kanto district. The positive rate increased with age. It was suggested that parapoxvirus infection might have already been prevalent among cattle in Japan.     

The incidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation in dogs with malignant tumor

The incidence of DIC in 208 dogs with a malignant tumor was evaluated. The incidence of DIC was 9.6% in dogs with a malignant tumor which was a solid tumor in all. In 164 dogs with a malignant solid tumor, the incidence of DIC was 12.2%. The incidence of DIC in dogs with hemangiosarcoma, mammary gland carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung was significantly higher than that in dogs with other malignant tumors. These results suggested that special care in looking for DIC should be taken in dogs with a malignant solid tumor.     

Testicular neoplasia in the retained testicles of an intersex male dog

This case describes the presentation and management of an 8 yr old phenotypically female intersex male dog presented for evaluation of a mass in the right inguinal region. The right inguinal space was surgically explored, and a large irregular mass resembling a fully developed testicle was identified in the right vaginal tunic. A second mass resembling an atrophied, but anatomically mature testicle, was identified in the left tunic. The larger mass was identified as a Sertoli cell tumor that had replaced all normal testicular tissue. The smaller mass was identified as a testicle that contained a small intratubular seminoma. The patient was diagnosed as having a phenotypic female sex, chromosomal male sex, and a gonadal male sex. Hormone assays completed before and after the gonadectomy and mass removal document an elevation of circulating progesterone presurgically that returned to baseline by 1 mo postsurgically. The source of the progesterone was identified to be the Leydig cells of the atrophied testicle.     

非洲猪瘟病毒VP73结构蛋白表达及鉴定

 
为获得可作为血清学诊断抗原的体外诱导表达ASFV VP73 结构蛋白,根据GenBank登录的ASFV 基因序列,人工合成VP73主要抗原表位区基因克隆至pUC57载体中,设计1对引物,PCR扩增获得429 nt的VP73基因片段;将VP73基因片段使用EcoRI和SalI酶切后亚克隆至表达载体pGEX KG,经PCR、酶切、测序鉴定挑选阳性克隆,转化进表达菌株BL21(DM3)中进行体外诱导表达,SDS PAGE和Western blot分析蛋白表达及其活性。结果显示,成功构建表达重组载体pGEX KG VP73,且诱导有效表达了41Ku重组蛋白,表达量约占菌体总蛋白的35％;Western blot分析表达该蛋白具有良好的表达活性。试验为建立无感染性、快速、敏感的血清学诊断方法奠定了一定基础。     

Inherited hyperchylomicro-naemia in the cat: Lipoprotein lipase function and gene structure

Hyperchylomicronaemia was identified in a four-week-old Siamese kitten with lethargy, in-appetence, hindlimb ataxia and profound anaemia. The kitten was euthanased and at necropsy a thrombus was found occluding the caudal aorta. Two littermates later presented with lethargy, inappetence and hypertriglyceri-daemia which resolved after being weaned on to a low fat diet. A similar condition was subsequently diagnosed in a kitten born to the same sire but a different queen. The expression of hyperchylomicronaemia in two related litters was suggestive of an inherited, familial defect in the function of lipoprotein lipase (LPL). The activity of this enzyme was reduced in all three parents, the two recovered cases and two related, but apparently unaffected kittens, compared with a control group of unrelated cats belonging to the breeder. This reduction in activity was not attributable to defective activation of LPL by its serum cofactor apolipoprotein C-II or the presence in plasma of a factor that inhibited LPL. The gene that codes for LPL was examined by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using a human LPL cDNA probe. The results showed that the cat has a similar, but not identical, LPL gene to man. However, there were no differences in the restriction fragment patterns obtained from affected, unaffected and control animals.     

家蚕泛肽-核糖体蛋白S27a的表达及功能研究

泛肽(UB)-核糖体蛋白S27a(UBRPS27a)是泛肽和核糖体蛋白的融合蛋白,在真核细胞中表达时,被酶解成UB和核糖体蛋白S27a(RPS27a)。从家蚕蛹cDNA文库中获得了该基因并原核表达了该蛋白,命名为BmUBRPS27a。将纯化的融合蛋白免疫新西兰兔得到抗血清,通过亚细胞免疫荧光定位发现该蛋白存在于细胞核和细胞质。用荧光定量PCR对该蛋白在家蚕中的表达作了初步分析,发现RPS27a在活性增殖细胞中表达量很高。将合成了BmUBRPS27a的dsRNA进行RNAi,用脂质体转染家蚕卵巢上皮细胞Bm5后,细胞的形态发生了变化:细胞由圆形、椭圆形变成了梭形,甚至出现类似神经细胞的突触结构。该基因对维持细胞正常形态具有重要的作用。     

Intraocular hemorrhage in a goat with thrombocytopenia and metastasis of an adenocarcinoma in the iris

This case report describes the findings in a 10-year-old goat with metastasis of an adenocarcinoma in the iris. Two weeks before admission, the owner had noticed blepharospasm of the left eye. Clinical examination by the referring veterinarian revealed unilateral intraocular hemorrhage. The goat was referred to our clinic for further work-up. The rectal temperature was 40 degrees C. The most important haematological result was severe thrombocytopenia. There was mild corneal oedema of the left eye. Approximately 75 per cent of the anterior chamber was filled with non-coagulated blood. The fluid in the anterior chamber dorsal to the blood was cloudy, and the corpora nigra could not be seen clearly. All other internal parts of the eye could not be seen. Ultrasonography of the left eye confirmed cloudiness of the anterior chamber and revealed moderate thickening of the iris. The right prescapular lymph node was markedly enlarged. Cytological examination of a fine needle aspirate of the lymph node showed a mixed population of neoplastic cells. Based on immunohistochemical evaluation of the cells metastasis of a carcinoma was diagnosed. The goat was subjected to euthanasia, and a postmortem examination was carried out. The anterior chamber of the left eye contained blood, and the iris was thicker than normal and adhered to the posterior surface of the cornea. There were neoplastic alterations in the iris, the oesophagus, the lung lobes, the liver, the kidney and in the prescapular, retropharyngeal, mediastinal and hepatic lymph nodes. Histologically, a diagnosis of carcinoma was confirmed, but the origin of the tumour could not be determined.     

Duplex gall bladder associated with choledocholithiasis, cholecystitis, gall bladder rupture and septic peritonitis in a cat

A 10-year-old cat was presented with a history of inappetence, pyrexia and weight loss. Clinical investigations showed anaemia, hyperbilirubinaemia, septic peritonitis and a double gall bladder with choleliths in an extrahepatic duct. Initial medical stabilisation was performed. At laparotomy, a duplex gall bladder with two separate cystic ducts was identified. The left gall bladder was thickened and had ruptured at the apex. Multiple choleliths were identified in the left cystic duct. The right gall bladder and cystic duct were grossly normal. The ruptured gall bladder was repaired, the gallstones were removed via a choledochotomy of the left cystic duct and a choledochoduodenostomy was created from the dilated left cystic duct. The cat remained depressed and anorexic, and it was euthanased 72 hours postoperatively at the owners' request. This is the first ante-mortem investigation of extrahepatic biliary disease associated with gall bladder duplication in the cat.     

口蹄疫病毒牛源整联蛋白受体β3、β8亚基基因的克隆及分子特征分析

本研究旨在从分子角度阐明口蹄疫病毒(FMDV)牛源整联蛋白受体β3和β8基因的结构特征,并为研究病毒遗传变异与宿主范围改变奠定基础。采用RT-PCR技术在国内首次从牛肾组织获得β3和β8基因,并用生物软件对它们的分子特征进行了分析。结果显示:β3亚基基因全长2 355bp,编码784个氨基酸,其中信号肽由22个氨基酸组成,胞外区由692个氨基酸组成,跨膜区由29个氨基酸组成,胞质区由41个氨基酸组成,氨基酸同源性与羊最高,与易感FMDV的牛、骆驼、猪和羊的β3亚基位于同一进化分支,各功能区的保守性为胞质区>跨膜区>配体结合区>胞外区>信号肽,但半胱氨酸富集区的突变率仅次于信号肽。牛源β8亚基基因全长2 304bp,编码767个氨基酸,包括42个氨基酸的信号肽,637个氨基酸的胞外区,29个氨基酸的跨膜区及59个氨基酸的胞质区,氨基酸同源性与马最高,进化分析发现与猪的β8亚基不在同一分支,各功能区的保守性排序为跨膜区>配体结合区>胞质区>胞外区>信号肽。将β3亚基与β8亚基比较发现,β8亚基的配体结合区比β3亚基更为保守,β3亚基的胞质区存在NPLY基序,而β8亚基无此基序,且β8亚基胞质区可变性更高。本研究提示FMDV对ανβ8的利用率高于ανβ3可能与β8亚基配体结合区更为保守有关。     

Transvenous retrograde portography for identification and characterization of portosystemic shunts in dogs

Transvenous retrograde portography for identification and characterization of portosystemic shunts in dogs A method for transvenous retrograde portography (TRP) in dogs suspected to have a portosystemic shunt (PSS) and results in 20 dogs are described. For TRP, dogs were anesthetized and positioned in left lateral recumbency A dual-lumen balloon-tipped catheter was inserted into the right jugular vein and advanced into the azygos vein. The balloon was inflated to occlude the azygos vein, and contrast material was injected during fluoroscopic evaluation. The catheter was then positioned in the caudal vena cava just cranial to the diaphragm. The balloon was again inflated to occlude the vena cava, and contrast material was again injected. Once a shunt was identified, selective catheterization was attempted with a guide wire and angled catheter. A PSS was identified in 18 of the 20 dogs. In 10 of the 18, the shunt vessel could be selectively catheterized, allowing measurement of portal pressures while the shunt was occluded with the balloon. In 1 dog, results of TRP were normal, but subsequent exploratory celiotomy revealed a single extrahepatic PSS, which was surgically attenuated. The other dog in which results of TRP were normal did not have a macroscopic PSS. In dogs suspected to have a PSS, TRP may be a useful adjunctive diagnostic test that is less invasive than operative mesenteric vein portography and allows measurement of portal pressures before and after temporary shunt occlusion.     

荧光定量RT-PCR法对高致病性PRRSV变异株感染猪体内分布规律的研究

根据GenBank发表的高致病性猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)变异株Nsp2基因序列设计1对特异引物,以重组质粒作为阳性标准品,采用SYBR-Green Ⅰ嵌合荧光染料建立了1种荧光定量RT-PCR方法用于检测该病毒核酸载量,在101~106拷贝/μL范围内具有良好的线性关系,相关系数为R2=0.999 8,扩增效率为E=0.950,对质粒标准品最低检测限为12.8拷贝/μL,重复性检测的变异系数低于2.0%。用高致病性PRRSV变异毒株人工感染25日龄非免疫仔猪,对不同时间采集的血清进行了病毒核酸定量检测,结果表明病毒血症于攻毒后48 h被检测出,于7~10 d达到高峰,其病毒核酸载量能达到106拷贝/μL。试验猪临床表现为体温升高至40.5℃以上,持续7~11 d;出现嗜睡、打喷嚏、眼结膜炎、偶见一过性的耳尖发绀、皮肤苍白或有小疱疹、被毛粗糙、消瘦、便秘、后躯无力等临床症状。感染猪发生高热期与毒血症消长规律有一定相关性。对人工感染猪体内病毒分布检测结果表明,以多种脏器均有病毒存在,如扁桃体、淋巴结、心脏、肾脏中含量较高,肝、脾脏和肺次之,脑组织中也检测到病毒存在。试验表明,该方法可用于PRRSV变异毒株核酸定量检测,为该病毒致病性、致病机理、疫苗免疫及诊断等方面的研究提供了技术手段。     

Endoscopic balloon dilation of benign esophageal strictures in dogs and cats

Endoscopic balloon dilation of benign esophageal strictures was performed in 18 dogs and 10 cats with a median age of 4 years. Stricture formation was associated with a recent anesthetic episode in 18 patients. Regurgitation was the most common clinical sign and was present a median of 4 weeks before dilation. Most animals had a single stricture; median diameter was 5 mm, and median length was 1 cm. Esophagitis and mucosal fibrosis were detected in 9 patients each. Dilation was performed with progressively increasing diameter balloons, from 6 to 20 mm. After dilation, mucosal hemorrhage was mild to moderate in most patients. Esophageal perforation was the only serious complication and occurred in 1 patient. Postdilation therapy consisted of administration of cimetidine, metoclopramide, sucralfate, and prednisone in most animals. The median number of dilation procedures performed in each animal was 2, with a range of 1-5. The median interval between dilations was 13 days. Stricture diameter markedly increased with subsequent dilations. Median duration of follow-up was 131 weeks. A successful outcome occurred in 88% of patients, with most animals able to eat canned, mashed, or dry food without regurgitation. Mucosal fibrosis was associated with a better clinical response score, while increasing age was weakly associated with fewer dilations. The dilation protocol used in this group of animals was safe and efficacious.     

鹅艾美耳球虫(Eimeriaanseris)克隆株的建立及生物学特性研究

采用单种卵囊分离技术建立了鹅艾美耳球虫(Eimeriaanseris)克隆株,并对其基本生物学特性进行了研究。卵囊呈梨形,一端截平,另一端钝圆。卵囊壁单层,光滑无色或淡黄色,狭窄截平端有卵膜孔。无极粒,外残余体似一块不规则的塞状物,位于卵膜孔的正下方。测量100个卵囊,平均大小为19·37μm×16·06μm,形状指数为1·20。孢子囊卵圆形,斯氏体明显,有内残余体。测量100个孢子囊,平均大小为9·09μm×6·83μm。潜在期为168~173h,显露期为107~118h,最短孢子发育时间为55h。用不同剂量感染时,E·anseris的繁殖力差异显著(P<0·05)。     

规模化猪场蓝耳病血清学调查

蓝耳病是影响规模化猪场繁殖性能的主要传染性疾病,笔者在江苏省6个年产万头商品猪的规模化猪场猪群中随机采集297头种猪及仔猪血清进行蓝耳病血清学调查,使用IDEXX酶联免疫吸附诊断试剂盒,检测蓝耳病病毒抗体。结果表明,2个未免疫接种老猪场猪群抗体阳性率52%,断奶仔猪群阳性率39.1%;2个免疫接种老猪场猪群抗体阳性率94%,断奶仔猪群阳性率89.8%。而较新猪场的种猪群阳性率28.6%,断奶仔猪群阳性率5%。     

Properties of a coronavirus isolated from a cow with epizootic diarrhea

A coronavirus (Kakegawa isolate) isolated from a cow with epizootic diarrhea was grown in BEK-1 cells and examined for biophysical and biochemical properties. The Kakegawa isolate was able to replicate in the presence or absence of 5-iodo-2′-deoxy-uridine, indicating that its viral nucleic acid was RNA. It was highly sensitive to ether and chloroform, and moderately sensitive to trypsin and heat. It was, however, readily stabilized by treatment with cation at 50°C for 1 h. Its infectivity was slightly reduced at pH 3.0. The virus passed through a membrane filter of 200 nm pore size, but not through one of 100 nm pore size. The buoyant density of the virus was determined in a sucrose density gradient. The peak of infectivity and hemagglutinin activity was found at a density of 1.182. Neutralization and hemagglutination inhibition tests showed a close serological relationship between the Kakegawa isolate and the American strain of calf diarrhea coronavirus.     

Expression of small stress protein hsp20 gene in the maturing rat testis

In this study, we cloned a cDNA that encodes a small heat shock protein, Hsp20 (alphaB crystallin-related protein), from a maturing rat testis by means of differential display. The full-length cDNA sequence was completely identical to that registered in the DNA databank. The expression of Hsp20 gene was detected strongly in the heart and slightly in the testis of a 9-week-old rat. The expression of Hsp20 increased gradually from three weeks to 9 weeks, and the strongest expression was observed in the testis at week fifteen. The expression was localized in spermatocytes and round spermatids. The gene expression was not affected by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) when it was administered into male rats during the nursling period.     

A Case of Marie's Disease in a Broodmare

An 8-year-old Thoroughbred mare presented with acute bilateral epistaxis. The mare showed no clinical signs other than cough and profuse bilateral epistaxis. Antibiotic therapy was instituted and a transtracheal wash was collected. Large numbers of inflammatory neutrophils and gram-positive cocci were reported in the tracheal wash. The antibiotic therapy was continued for 7 days at which time the mare appeared clinically normal. The mare was successfully bred and was confirmed pregnant. She was referred to a hospital when the epistaxis recurred. She was treated with another antibiotic, and thoracic radiographs were also taken which revealed a space occupying lesion. The mare foaled a live foal. She developed bilateral thickening of her limbs. The swellings were of boney consistency and affected all four legs, particularly the forelimbs. A diagnosis of pulmonary hypertrophic osteopathy was made. The mare was again sent for further investigation. The thoracic mass had increased in size from the first examination. A biopsy was collected by endoscopy which confirmed a neoplastic process. After deterioration in her condition, the mare was euthanized on humane grounds. An autopsy report revealed that the mare had approximately 80% of the left lung replaced by neoplastic tissue. The right lung contained many small nodular masses. There was an associated cardiomegaly. In this case, the development of periosteal proliferation in multiple metaphyses was secondary to an intrathoracic neoplastic mass.     

布鲁菌外膜蛋白OMP10表达及其抗原性的研究

设计1对特异性引物对羊布鲁菌16M总DNA进行外膜蛋白omp10的PCR扩增,得到了一个大小为330 bp的目的基因片段(去掉17个氨基酸编码的信号肽),测序证实它与国外报道的羊布鲁菌omp10基因完全一致.将其克隆到表达载体PET-30a中,经酶切、PCR扩增和测序分析,表明重组表达载体构建成功.将此重组质粒转化入大肠埃希菌BL21(DE3)中,IPTG诱导表达,该基因以包涵体的形式在大肠埃希菌中表达,经过包涵体的变性、复性和亲和层析纯化,成功获得大小为14.2 ku的融合蛋白,与理论推测的蛋白分子质量一致;Western blot和间接ELISA试验证明,纯化之后的OMP10重组蛋白可以被布鲁菌阳性血清识别.     

Pathogenicity of Eperythrozoon suis alone and when mixed with Babesia trautmanni in experimentally-infected pigs

The pathogenicity of a single infection with Eperythrozoon suis and of a mixed infection of E. suis and Babesia trautmanni in experimentally-infected pigs, was described. In the pigs with a single infection, parasitaemia of E. suis was observed 4 days after blood inoculation. Although parasitaemia with this parasite was also observed on the 4th day in a mixed infection, the parasitaemia of B. trautmanni was not noted until 14 days after inoculation at a period when that of E. suis had started to fall. No parasitaemia was observed in any of the pigs in the splenectomized and unsplenectomized uninoculated control animals. The pigs carrying either single or mixed infections had pyrexia and their temperatures were consistently higher than those of the control animals. Infected pigs also showed anaemia with significant decline in Pcv, Hb and RBC values. The total WBC count rose in the infected pigs and the rise was more pronounced in pigs carrying E. suis alone. In addition, it was only in pigs infected by E. suis alone that a decline in the percentage of neutrophils and a rise in percentage lymphocytes was observed.     

Studies on the replacement policies in dairy cattle. III. Influence of variation in reproduction and production

The optimum policy of insemination and replacement of dairy cows was determined by the dynamic programming technique. The model used in the previous study was extended to allow variation in time of conception. From 2 to 7 months after calving three alternatives were considered for an open cow namely (a) inseminating the cow, with a calculated probability of success, (b) leaving her open, and (c) replacing her immediately. When it was profitable to leave a cow open, the optimum time for replacement during the lactation period was determined.The minimum production level for insemination to be the optimum choice depended on the stage of lactation and the parity of the cow. In the optimum situation the average calving interval was 371 days, while 13% of the cows had an interval of 14 months or longer.The optimum policy was greatly affected by changes in the replacement heifer price. Changes in the probability of conception and persistency of milk production had significant but smaller effects. In herds with a smaller decline in production after the peak, insemination should be continued for longer than in herds with a larger decline.The relation between production and calving interval that resulted from the optimum policy was determined. When a measure of milk production was used that was not affected by gestation, the average correlation was 0.09. The correlation increased to 0.35 when the total 305-day production was used.