Experimentally induced melanin-like pigmentation (thesaurismosis) related to acorn ingestion in Nero Siciliano pigs

In this study, an experimental challenge was carried out by feeding Nero Siciliano pigs with acorn to evoke melanin-like pigmentation and support the hypothesis that it is caused by ingested material. Twelve pigs were studied, 6 fed with acorns and 6 fed commercial feed. At slaughter, all the animals fed on acorns showed black discolouration of almost all lymph nodes. The lymph nodes were normal in size and shape. Histochemical tests performed on tissues allowed us to identify and differentiate the pigment. Immunohistochemical staining for macrophage markers showed macrophages containing a variable amount of melanin-like granules. Our data, and the well-known steps of melanin formation, confirm that swine enzymes could act on phenolic substances found in acorns.     

One dose of a porcine circovirus 2 subunit vaccine induces humoral and cell-mediated immunity and protects against porcine circovirus-associated disease under field conditions

This study investigated the efficacy of a one-dose porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) subunit vaccine based on the PCV2 Cap protein expressed in a baculovirus system on two different farms at which a history of porcine circovirus-associated disease (PCVD) was present. Morbidity, mortality, average daily weight gain, carcass weight, PCV2 load in serum and vaccine immunogenicity were assessed. Serology to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae was performed. A double-blind, randomised, and controlled field trial was performed distributing 818 piglets between two treatment groups. At inclusion (weaning at 21 ± 3 days of age), 408 animals (group B) received a 2-mL intramuscular dose of Porcilis PCV(?) (vaccinated group). Controls (group A, 410 pigs) received 2 mL of the adjuvant Diluvac Forte(?) intramuscularly. Weights were recorded at inclusion and at 12 and 26 weeks of age, and the average daily weight gain (ADWG) was calculated. The carcass weights of the pigs from farm 2 were recorded at slaughter (274 days old). All dead animals (died or culled) underwent autopsy to classify them as PMWS-affected or not. At each farm, blood samples were taken from 22 pigs/group for serologic studies. A beneficial effect was found after vaccination with a single dose of a PCV2 Cap vaccine against PCVD. The vaccination reduced the mortality rate and morbidity, reduced PCV2 viremia and viral load, improved productive performances (e.g. ADWG: +70 g/day between 12 and 26 weeks of age when viremia and the specific disease occurred) as well as carcass weight at slaughter age (+4.5 kg). These effects were associated with virologic and clinical protection from the immunogenicity of the vaccine measured as activation of both a humoral and a cellular immune response.     

我国高致病性猪蓝耳病病毒的演化分析

自2006年以来,我国大面积暴发高致病性猪蓝耳病,但目前对其病原HP-PRRSV的起源还不得而知.本试验通过对多株HP-PRRSV进行全长基因组分析,发现HP-PRRSV中存在4处缺失,而且这4处缺失是逐步形成的,在中间过渡类型的毒株中存在着缺失1处、2处、3处的毒株.此外,中间过渡类型毒株中的一些氨基酸基序也是逐步变化的.本试验初步阐明了我国HP-PRRSV的起源是CH-1a-1ike PRRSV,在中间过渡的毒株中能够发现逐步演变的轨迹.     

Soil organic C variability and microbial functions in a Mediterranean agro-forest ecosystem

Five soils characterised by different agro-forest managements, typical of Mediterranean environment and with increasing human impact were chosen in Sardinia (Italy): two vineyards with different management systems, a rotation hay crop-pasture and a forest (Quercus suber L.). The study aimed to investigate the relationships between C storage and microbial functionality in soil under different managements. Pools of total organic C and microbial biomass C were determined, as well as the loss of organic C due to microbial respiration (basal and cumulative) and several microbial indices (metabolic, mineralization, and microbial quotient) as indicators of the microbial efficiency in the use of energy and the degree of substrate limitation for soil microbes. Enzymes were chosen on their relevance in the C (β-cellobiohydrolase, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, β-glucosidase, α-glucosidase), N (leucine aminopeptidase), S (arylsulphatase) and P (acid phosphatase) cycling and were used as indicators of functional diversity in soil. Organic C pools and enzyme activities on average increased noticeably in soils with a lower human impact showing the highest values in forest and the lowest in the vineyards, following the trend of organic matter availability. The trend in functional diversity reflected the increase of microbial pool and organic C availability: the vineyards showed a lower Shannon’s diversity index, whilst pasture and forest sites reached the maximum levels of functional diversity. These soils showed an increase of microbial efficiency in the use of available resources and the decrease of substrate limitation for soil microbes.     

Methanotroph abundance not affected by applications of animal urine and a nitrification inhibitor,dicyandiamide, in six grazed grassland soils

Purpose  

Methanotrophs are an important group of methane (CH₄)-oxidizing bacteria in the soil, which act as a major sink for the greenhouse gas, CH₄. In grazed grassland, one of the ecologically most sensitive areas is the animal urine patch soil, which is a major source of both nitrate (NO₃ ⁻) leaching and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. Nitrification inhibitors, such as dicyandiamide (DCD), have been used to mitigate NO₃ ⁻ leaching and N₂O emissions in grazed pastures. However, it is not clear if the high nitrogen loading rate in the animal urine patch soil and the use of nitrification inhibitors would have an impact on the abundance of methanotrophs in grazed grassland soils. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of animal urine and DCD on methanotroph abundance in grazed grassland soils.     

大气湿度与氮肥水平对冬小麦形态建成及水分利用效率的影响

通过大型智能人工气候箱中的盆栽试验, 研究了35%RH、85%RH 两个大气湿度与0、150 mg·kg^-1、300 mg·kg^-1 3 个氮肥水平对冬小麦株高、分蘖数、叶面积、干物质积累以及水分利用效率的影响。结果表明: 高大气湿度能够增加冬小麦株高和叶面积, 但对冬小麦分蘖在不施氮和中施氮时表现出负效应; 大气湿度对冬小麦干物质量的影响取决于氮肥施用水平, 中施氮时, 高大气湿度可显著提高冬小麦生物量并降低其根冠比; 高大气湿度可显著降低冬小麦水分消耗量, 中、高施氮水平下提高水分利用效率, 且施氮肥处理显著高于不施氮肥处理。     

江苏省蚕桑综合利用模式分析

本文阐述了蚕桑综合利用是提高蚕桑产业经济效益的重要途径之一.江苏省是蚕桑生产大省,桑、蚕及其附属物和衍生物资源丰富,综合利用的潜能很大.文章结合江苏省蚕桑综合利用实际,分析蚕桑综合利用几种发展模式及经济效益.分析了当前江苏省蚕桑综合利用存在的主要问题,提出了蚕桑综合利用发展建议.     

Zoonoses and potential zoonoses of bears

Captive and free‐ranging wild bears can carry and transmit several zoonotic pathogens. A review of nearly 90 years of scientific publications concerning confirmed and potential zoonotic diseases that can be present in any of the eight species of bears in the world was conducted. The findings were organized amongst the following disease sections: bacterial, viral, protozoal, mycotic, helminth and arthropod‐borne. The most commonly reported pathogens of concern were of parasitic (Trichinella, Toxoplasma) and bacterial (Francisella, Brucella) origin.