Design and evaluation of primer pairs for efficient detection of avian rotavirus

The use of molecular methods for rotavirus characterisation provides increased sensitivity for typing and allows the identification of putative reassortant strains. Reagents and methods for genotyping the virus need constant modification because of the reassortant nature of the virus. This study was aimed at designing and evaluating new oligonucleotide degenerate primer pairs that provide increased sensitivity and specificity for detecting avian rotavirus. Gene-specific primer pairs were designed by analysing different rotavirus strains isolated during the last decade by downloading them from the GenBank. The alignments were generated using clustal analysis from the BioEdit program. Degenerate nucleotides were included due to the reassortant nature of rotavirus. The consensus sequences were aligned using the BioEdit program and then treated with the Fast PCR software to derive the primers. The derived primer sequences were submitted for a BLAST search to ensure alignment was exclusive to the desired target genes. The designed primers had specific bands and were efficient in detecting rotavirus in faecal samples than previously published primers. Thus, a successful surveillance of rotaviruses requires that primer pairs be updated regularly in order to detect the emergence of novel or “unusual types”, which have occurred by genetic drift causing nucleotide changes at the primer binding sites that result in typing failures. We recommend the use of the proposed primers in molecular surveillance studies for efficient detection of avian rotavirus.     

La Sota vaccination may not protect against virus shedding and the lesions of velogenic Newcastle disease in commercial turkeys

The aim of this project is to study the clinical signs and lesion of velogenic Newcastle disease (vND) in commercial turkeys, and also to find out if La Sota vaccination offered protection against these signs and lesions. The cockerels were included as positive controls. One hundred and twenty turkey poults and cockerels were divided into eight groups as follows: unvaccinated unchallenged turkeys (UUT), unvaccinated challenged turkeys (UCT), vaccinated unchallenged turkeys (VUT), vaccinated challenged turkeys (VCT), and along the same lines, the cockerel groups were UUC, UCC, VUC and vaccinated challenged cockerels (VCC). Vaccination was at 3 weeks of age while challenge was at 6 weeks of age. The unvaccinated turkeys and cockerels (UCT and UCC) showed different degrees of depression, diarrhoea and later paralysis at challenge. Total mortality was 100% in cockerels within 6 days, but 60% in turkeys. Similar but milder clinical signs were found in the VCC with a total mortality of 13.3%. The VCT showed mild drop in feed and water consumption, and no mortality. All the challenged groups had significant (p < 0.05) loss of weight when compared with their controls. Necropsy showed that while the UCC had severe proventricular haemorrhages, intestinal and caecal tonsil ulcers, the UCT had no digestive tract lesion. There was severe atrophy of the lymphoid organs in all the challenged groups. Histopathological sections of the bursa, spleen and thymus in all the challenged groups with special emphasis on the vaccinated and unvaccinated turkeys with mortalities of 0 and 60%, respectively, had very severe necrosis and depletion of the lymphoid tissue. Virus was isolated from the cloacal swabs. The haemagglutination inhibition antibodies were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the challenged groups than the unchallenged. The above observations in the intestinal tracts of UCT are of diagnostic significance while the gross and microscopic lesions in the UCT and VCT show that La Sota vaccination may not protect turkeys against the destruction of the lymphoid organs by vND as earlier reported in chickens. This may lead to immunosuppression and production problems in areas where vND is enzootic.     

Long-term study (2005–2010) on the vaccination with BoHV-1 glycoprotein E-deleted marker vaccine in selected two dairy herds in Turkey

A follow-up study from 2005 to 2010 was carried out in two herds where eradication programme for the bovine herpes virus-1 (BoHV-1) infection depends on the vaccination with inactivated glycoprotein E-deleted vaccine that was started in 2001 following the vaccination with inactivated conventional vaccine between 1999 and 2001. For serological screening, a total of 12,976 sera sampled over several sampling times approximately 6 months of interval during 5 years (2005–2010) were tested for glycoprotein E (gE)- and glycoprotein B-specific antibodies using ELISA. According to the serological evidence, the long-term persistence of BoHV-1 antibodies, success of marker vaccine, first vaccination time of the calves in herds regularly vaccinated, etc. were discussed in this paper. In conclusion, the vaccination programme using gE (?) marker vaccines, with making efforts to prevent the other factors about transmission of infection, was suggested for the eradication of BoHV-1 infection in Turkey as many EU countries. This is the first report on the BoHV-1 eradication programme in some dairy cattle in Turkey.     

Virulence traits of avian pathogenic (APEC) and fecal (AFEC) <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis> isolated from broiler chickens in Algeria

Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) is the etiologic agent of avian colibacillosis, the most common disease responsible for chicken morbidity in the world. Although multiple virulence-associated factors were identified, their prevalence in Algeria is still poorly known. In the present research, 92 avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) isolates were recovered from broilers with clinical signs and lesions of colibacillosis. In addition, 32 E. coli isolates collected from feces of healthy birds (AFEC) were included for comparison. All isolates were investigated by PCR for the presence of a total of 11 virulence-associated genes described for avian pathogenic (iroN, ompT, hlyF, iss, iutA, and fimC) and diarrheagenic E. coli (eae, stx, elt/est, ipaH, and aggR). The sensitivity of 39 APEC isolates to 16 antibiotics was also determined using antimicrobial pretreated microplates. Here, we report that 98% of the examined isolates host at least one of the tested virulence factors. The most prevalent genes in APEC were iutA (90.6%), ompT (86.9%), and iss (85.8%); whereas, iutA (78.1%), fimC (78.1%), and iroN (68.7%) were the highest prevalent genes in AFEC. Our data showed that none of the AFEC isolates harbor any of the tested diarrheagenic genes. Moreover, only elt/est (5.4%), stx (2.1%), and ipaH (2.1%) genes were carried by APEC isolates. We further established that ceftazodime, ceftiofur, mequindox, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and meropenem were the most efficient antibiotics against the analyzed APEC isolates. Overall, our findings provide more insights about APEC and AFEC virulence potential in Algeria which could participate in the fight against colibacillosis.     

饲用荞麦在畜牧业中的应用与研究

荞麦(Fagopyrum esulentum)原产于中国,其栽培种甜荞和苦荞在世界各地已被广泛种植,我国西南地区蕴含着丰富的野生荞麦资源。荞麦营养丰富,除含有常见的蛋白质、纤维素和糖类外,还富含芦丁等抗氧化物质,具有耐瘠薄、抗病虫害、适应性强、生长迅速等优点,特别是一些野生种叶片大、叶量多,更适合于刈割,这些优点使其成为一种很具有发展潜力的优质牧草资源。但目前荞麦的饲用价值仍未得到充分的发掘与利用。本文着重介绍了荞麦在我国的栽培、饲用历史和现状,结合荞麦饲用于猪、反刍动物及家禽等方面的研究进展,分析了荞麦在饲用化发展中将面临的问题,并对其应用前景进行了评价与展望。     

先张法预应力空心板纵向开裂的防治

多年来先张法预应力空心板在中、小桥结构物中一直被广泛应用.但在设计回访中发现,部分空心板板底多存在有纵向裂缝的问题,为有效杜绝此弊病的发生,本文对其产生的原因进行了分析并提出了预防措施.     

日本北海道北部寒温带森林流域林冠层凋落物及其养分归还量的景观格局(英文)

Within a forested watershed at the Uryu Experimental Forest of Hokkaido University in northern Hokkaido, overstory litterfall and related nutrient fluxes were measured at different landscape zones over two years. The wetland zone covered with Picea glehnii pure stand. The riparian zone was deciduous broad-leaved stand dominated by Alnus hirsuta and Salix spp., while the mixture of deciduous broadleaf and evergreen conifer dominated by Betula platyphylla, Quercus crispula and Abies sachalinensis distributed on the upland zone. Annual litterfall averaged 1444, 5122, and 4123 kg.hm^-2·a^-1 in the wetland, riparian and upland zones, respectively. Litterfall production peaked in September-October, and foliage litter contributed the greatest amount （73.4%-87.6 %） of the annual total litterfall. Concentrations of nutrients analyzed in foliage litter of the dominant species showed a similar seasonal variation over the year except for N in P glehnii and A. hirsuta. The nutrient fluxes for all elements analyzed were greatest on riparian zone and lowest in wetland zone. Nutrient fluxes via litterfall followed the decreasing sequence： N （11-129 kg.hm-2.aq） 〉 Ca （9-69） 〉 K （5-20） 〉 Mg （3-15） 〉 P （0.4-4.7） for all stands. Significant differences were found in litterfall production and nutrient fluxes among the different landscape components. There existed significant differences in soil chemistry between the different landscape zones. The consistently low soil C：N ratios at the riparian zone might be due to the higher-quality litter inputs （largely N-fixing alder）.     

林业生态工程效益补偿问题研究初探

生态效益补偿对于促进林业生态工程建设、保护森林生产者和经营者的切身利益具有重要的作用.本文在分析国内外生态效益补偿现状的基础上,通过对建立森林生态效益补偿机制的必要性、原则、途径以及补偿标准等问题进行深入探讨,为进一步完善我国森林生态效益补偿机制提供科学依据.森林生态效益补偿资金的建立,不仅为森林资源管护提供稳定的资金来源,更是对森林生态效益价值的认可,从根本上解决了林业生态工程建设的动力和机制问题,将对中国林业和生态建设产生广泛而深远的影响.     

Concentration variations of several ions in stream after a wildfire

In May 2006, a high intensity wildfire occurred in Songling forest region in Daxing＇an Mountains, China. The concentration changes of eight ions （K^＋, Na^＋, Ca^2＋, Mg^2＋, Cl^-, Br^-, NO3^- and SO4^2-） were measured in burned and tmbumed streams after fire from May to Oct., 2006. Results show that the most ions flux were higher in burned stream than that in unburned stream during the sampling period, and the greatest concentrations of most ions transported from burned stream occurred in July. After fire, the most amplitude chemical ion was Ca^2＋, whose average concentration was 5.50 mg·L^-1 higher than that in unburned stream, and the total concentration of every chemical ion presents a trend Ca^2＋〉SO4^2- 〉Na^＋〉Mg^2＋〉NO3^- . The average concentrations of Ca^2＋, SO4^2- , Na^＋＇Mg^2＋,NO3^- showed an increase trend, but those of K^＋, Cl^- , Br had a decreased trend. SO4^2- had the largest loss among these anions, followed by NO3^-. Overall, the increase degree of cation was greater than that of anion after burning.     

湖南省新化县高风险区羊布鲁氏菌病横断面研究及活羊流通网络调查

湖南省新化县近几年动物布鲁氏菌病疫情和人间病例不断增多。为掌握新化县羊群布鲁氏菌病的群体流行率,了解饲养场户、贩运户和经销商对该病的知晓情况以及羊贩运户和经销商的一般经济行为,寻找养殖环节中导致布鲁氏菌感染的风险因素,应用流行病学方法,以新化县10个乡镇现存栏羊15只以上的养殖场户为研究对象,第一阶段以场户为单位,以估计流行率为目的,以名单为抽样框,随机抽样;第二阶段在群内选择个体,以发现疫病为目的,随机或基于风险采样。将采集的血清样品,采用虎红平板凝集和竞争酶联免疫吸附垂直试验进行检测。重点调查出现动物布鲁氏菌病疫情和人间病例乡镇的养殖场,以及活羊贩运经纪人和经销商等从业人员,掌握羊群布鲁氏菌病流行情况和活羊流通情况。调查结果显示:新化县高风险区存栏羊15只以上养殖场户的羊布鲁氏菌病流行率为0(95%CI:0～2.8%);新化县羊养殖场户以小规模自繁自养为主,一般放牧于自家附近山头;出栏羊主要在县内流通,养殖场户内生物安全防护措施不到位;养殖场户的布鲁氏菌病总体知晓率为80.6%,屠宰零售商为15.2%,贩运经纪人为25.0%,职业人群自我防护差;活羊调入以省外为主,冬季调运频繁,主要流向屠宰终端,经纪人在流通环节中充当重要角色。调查结果提示:应加强活羊流通领域的检疫监管,特别是冬季,要提高监测频次;当地需坚持实行"监测+扑杀"的综合防控策略,持续开展布鲁氏菌病相关的健康宣教和行为干预,重点针对屠宰经销商和经纪人,以提高职业人群的预防意识,培养其良好的职业行为和习惯。本研究为新化县布鲁氏菌病防控提供了依据,也为全国布鲁氏菌病防控积累了经验。