Seroprevalence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella</Emphasis> antibodies in camels in Katsina State,Nigeria

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the status of Brucella infection in one-humped (Dromedary) camels in the North and Central senatorial districts of Katsina State, Nigeria. Nine hundred and eighty serum samples from live and slaughtered camels were tested. Modified Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) and serum agglutination test (SAT) with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, (EDTA) were used as screening and standard tests, respectively. The prevalence of Brucella antibodies were 110 (11.2%) and 103 (10.5%) for RBPT and SAT, respectively. Of the 472 and 508 serum samples tested from the herds and abattoirs, respectively, 63 (13.3%) and 47 (9.3%) were positive by RBPT while 62 (13.1%) and 41 (8.1%) were positive by SAT, respectively. Based on the results, it was concluded that Brucella antibodies were present in camels in the study area. Poor management practices and mixing of camels with other species of livestock as well as unrestricted movement of camels were proposed to be the reasons for the prevalence of the disease in the study area. In view of the public health importance of the disease, it is recommended that there is the need to develop a strategic plan to decrease spread of brucellosis in the study area.     

Lack of glucokinase regulatory protein expression may contribute to low glucokinase activity in feline liver

In most mammals, glucokinase (GK) acts as a hepatic “glucose sensor” that permits hepatic metabolism to respond appropriately to changes in plasma glucose concentrations. GK activity is potently regulated by the glucokinase regulatory protein (GKRP), which is encoded by the GCKR gene. GKRP binds GK in the nucleus and inhibits its activity. GK becomes active when it is released from GKRP and translocates to the cytosol. Low glucokinase (GK) activity is reported to be a principal feature of feline hepatic carbohydrate metabolism but the molecular pathways that regulate GK activity are not known. This study examined the hypothesis that species-specific differences in GKRP expression parallel the low GK activity observed in feline liver. Hepatic GKRP expression was examined using RT-PCR, immunoblot, and confocal immunomicroscopy. The results show that the GCKR gene is present in the feline genome but GCKR mRNA and the GKRP protein were absent in feline liver. The lack of GKRP expression in feline liver indicates that the low GK activity cannot be the result of GKRP-mediated inhibition of the GK enzyme. However, the absence of the permissive effects of GCKR expression on GK expression and activity may contribute to reduced GK enzyme activity in feline liver. The study results show that the cat is a natural model for GCKR knockout and may be useful to study regulation of GCKR expression and its role in hepatic glucose-sensing and carbohydrate metabolism.     

Kinetics of immune response to foot-and-mouth disease virus (type Asia 1) in experimental cattle

Humoral and mucosal (secretory antibody)immune response to FMDV type Asia 1 in cattle was analyzed after vaccination and infection using virus neutralizing test (VNT). Vaccination (1/16th the usual dose) failed to protect cattle from generalized clinical disease following experimental FMDV Asia 1 infection. Our results showed that infection induced higher and prolonged serum antibody titres indicating antigen mass is important for optimal immune response. Experimental FMDV infection induced significant secretory antibody (mucosal) response in cattle. Though, there was no difference in the serum antibody response between the cattle that developed generalized infection (unprotected) and those with only localized infection (protected), secretory antibody response differed, wherein the unprotected cattle had higher secretory response than protected cattle. Thus, FMDV Asia 1 infection stimulates a similar serum antibody response and a unique secretory antibody response among the infected cattle. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Immune responses and protective efficacy of a recombinant swinepox virus co-expressing HA1 genes of H3N2 and H1N1 swine influenza virus in mice and pigs

The recombinant swine poxvirus rSPV/H3-2A-H1 co-expressing HA1 genes of H3N2 and H1N1 subtype SIV has been constructed and identified. Inoculations of rSPV/H3-2A-H1 yielded ELISA and neutralization antibodies against SIV H1N1 and H3N2, and elicited potent H1N1 and H3N2 SIV-specific INF-γ response from T-lymphocytes in mice and pigs in this study. Complete protection against SIV H1N1 or H3N2 challenge in pigs was observed.     

益生菌发酵饲料对猪的生长和肉质的影响

应用益生菌发酵饲料喂猪,能提高饲料中粗蛋白含量,明显降低猪粪臭味,促进生长、降低料肉比和提高猪肉品质。     

Effect of spineless cactus intake (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Opuntia ficus-indica</Emphasis>) on blood glucose levels in lactating sows and its impact on feed intake,body weight loss,and weaning-estrus interval

The effect of spineless cactus intake (Opuntia ficus-indica) on blood glucose (BG) levels in lactating sows and its impact on daily and total feed intake (dFI^?1 and TFI, respectively), body weight loss (BWL), and weaning-estrus interval length (WEI) were evaluated. Thirty-four hybrid (Yorkshire × Landrace × Pietrain) sows in lactation phase were used. Sows were divided into two groups: G1 (n = 17) where they received commercial feed and G2 (n = 17) provided with commercial feed plus an average of 2.0 ± 0.5 kg spineless cactus, based on a sow’s body weight. The variables evaluated were BG, dFI^?1, TFI, BWL, and WEI. Statistical analysis was performed by using a fixed and mixed model methodology, under a repeated measurements experiment. Group effects were found on all analyzed variables (P < 0.05). The BG was lower in G2 (55.2 and 64.5 mg/dL pre- and post-prandial, respectively), compared to that in G1 (70.9 and 80.1 mg/dL pre- and post-prandial, respectively) (P < 0.05). G2 showed better performance than G1 for dFI^?1, BWL, and WEI (P < 0.05) whose averages were 5.5 ± 1.8 kg, 7.4 ± 4.5%, and 5.3 ± 1.2 days, respectively. Averages for these variables in G1 were 4.7 ± 1.5 kg, 16.8 ± 4.6%, and 6.1 ± 1.6 days, respectively. Intake of spineless cactus reduced BG levels in lactating sows, generating greater dFI^?1, lower BWL at the end of lactation, and a lower WEI.     

三聚氰胺对小鼠睾丸病理损伤的观察

本研究采用组织病理学和免疫组织化学技术观察了三聚氰胺（Melamine,MA）对雄性小鼠睾丸的毒性作用,以深入揭示三聚氰胺的毒性作用及其机理。将25只28日龄SPF雄性昆明小鼠随机均分为5组,1组为对照组,其他4组为试验组。4个试验组分别按下述不同剂量灌服三聚氰胺：0.6 mg/kg（bw）/d（每日每公斤体重0.6 mg）、3.0 mg/kg（bw）/d、15.0 mg/kg（bw）/d和17.5 mg/kg（bw）/d,用玉米油做溶剂;空白对照组每日灌服等量玉米油。连续灌胃30天后剖检小鼠并取其睾丸组织进行固定、切片和染色,观察睾丸的组织病理变化。同时,采用免疫组织化学方法检测睾丸组织中增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）的表达量。观察结果表明,与对照组相比,试验组不同剂量浓度的三聚氰胺对小鼠睾丸组织造成不同程度的病理损伤;三聚氰胺也会在一定程度上影响睾丸组织中PCNA的表达。研究结果表明三聚氰胺对于小鼠生殖系统有明显毒性作用。     

牡丹江周边雉类种群数量调查

为了更好地掌握牡丹江周边地区雉类资源,有针对性地加以保护与合理利用,2007年7月-2009年11月对牡丹江周边的雉类种群密度进行了调查,主要采用固定路线踏查法和定点样方法等形式进行了详细的调查,共记录雉类4种,雉鸡(Phasianus colchicus)为优势种,占全部雉类总数量的46.2%.平均密度为1.8 R/km2,鹌鹑(Coturnix coturnix)为稀少,仅占9.231%.调查发现雉类分布与生境关系非常密切,夏季在草原和草甸低矮灌木为主的环境中雉类数量较大,秋冬季生境主要与食物条件有关.人类活动也是造成分布差异的一个主要原因.