Rapidly quantitative detection of Nosema ceranae in honeybees using ultra-rapid real-time quantitative PCR

BackgroundThe microsporidian parasite Nosema ceranae is a global problem in honeybee populations and is known to cause winter mortality. A sensitive and rapid tool for stable quantitative detection is necessary to establish further research related to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of this pathogen.ObjectivesThe present study aimed to develop a quantitative method that incorporates ultra-rapid real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (UR-qPCR) for the rapid enumeration of N. ceranae in infected bees.MethodsA procedure for UR-qPCR detection of N. ceranae was developed, and the advantages of molecular detection were evaluated in comparison with microscopic enumeration.ResultsUR-qPCR was more sensitive than microscopic enumeration for detecting two copies of N. ceranae DNA and 24 spores per bee. Meanwhile, the limit of detection by microscopy was 2.40 × 10⁴ spores/bee, and the stable detection level was ≥ 2.40 × 10⁵ spores/bee. The results of N. ceranae calculations from the infected honeybees and purified spores by UR-qPCR showed that the DNA copy number was approximately 8-fold higher than the spore count. Additionally, honeybees infected with N. ceranae with 2.74 × 10⁴ copies of N. ceranae DNA were incapable of detection by microscopy. The results of quantitative analysis using UR-qPCR were accomplished within 20 min.ConclusionsUR-qPCR is expected to be the most rapid molecular method for Nosema detection and has been developed for diagnosing nosemosis at low levels of infection.     

The effects of maxillary nerve block,ethmoidal nerve block and their combination on cardiopulmonary responses to nasal stimulation in anesthetized Beagle dogs

ObjectiveTo describe an approach for ethmoidal nerve block (E_BLOCK) and to compare the effects of a maxillary nerve block (M_BLOCK), E_BLOCK and their combination (M-E_BLOCK) on heart rate (HR), systolic (SAP), mean (MAP), diastolic (DAP) arterial pressures and respiratory rate (f_R) during nasal stimulation in dogs.Study designProspective, blinded, randomized, crossover placebo-controlled study.AnimalsBeagle dogs (five cadavers, nine live dogs), with a median (interquartile range) weight of 10.5 (10.3–11.0) kg.MethodsThe accuracy of iohexol injections (each 1 mL) at the maxillary and ethmoidal foramina in cadavers was evaluated using computed tomography. Then, anesthetized dogs were administered four bilateral treatments separated by 1 week, saline or 2% lidocaine 1 mL per injection: injections of saline at the maxillary and ethmoidal foramina (Control), injections of lidocaine at the maxillary foramina and saline at the ethmoidal foramina (M_BLOCK), injections of saline at the maxillary foramina and lidocaine at the ethmoidal foramina (E_BLOCK) and injections of lidocaine at all foramina (M-E_BLOCK). The ventral nasal meatus was bilaterally stimulated using cotton swabs, and HR, SAP, MAP, DAP and f_R were continuously recorded. Values for each variable were compared before and after stimulation using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Changes in variables among treatments were analyzed using Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests (p ≤ 0.05).ResultsComputed tomography revealed iohexol distribution around the openings of the target foramina in all cadavers. In living dogs, HR, SAP, MAP, DAP and f_R significantly increased after stimulation within each treatment (p < 0.03). Physiologic responses were significantly attenuated, but not absent, in the M-E_BLOCK [HR (p = 0.019), SAP, MAP, DAP and f_R (all p ≤ 0.001)] compared with those in the Control.Conclusions and clinical relevanceConcurrent injections of lidocaine at the maxillary and ethmoidal foramina attenuated HR, arterial pressure and f_R responses to nasal stimulation in Beagle dogs.     

部分地区猪细环病毒1型感染的流行情况调查

猪细环病毒1型是近年来发现的又一种环状DNA病毒,可能存在潜在致病作用。为了初步了解其流行情况,用PCR技术和ELISA技术对来自京津冀、华东与华南地区578头保育猪血清样品进行了检测。结果显示,猪细环病毒1型的核酸与抗体的猪场阳性率均为100%;核酸阳性率为73.88%,抗体阳性率为78.72%,二者之间无显著差异（P>0.05）。进一步分析发现,猪细环病毒1型的核酸阳性率和抗体阳性率都超过50%的猪场达到86.67%,都超过80%的占53.33%。调查结果表明,猪细环病毒1型感染在我国部分地区普遍流行,其在多数猪场的感染率很高。     

苯并芘对猪卵母细胞SHH信号通路影响的研究

如今空气污染问题仍广泛存在,其中苯并芘（Benzo （a） pyrene,BaP）是一种常见的空气污染物,对人和动物的健康具有严重影响。据报道,BaP可以显著降低卵母细胞IVM （卵母细胞体外成熟）能力,但机制尚不清楚。因此,本研究在猪卵母细胞IVM培养液中添加不同浓度BaP （50 μM、100 μM、200 μM）检测其对卵母细胞IVM能力的影响,并检测此过程SHH信号通路相关基因和蛋白的表达。结果显示50 μM BaP处理组卵母细胞IVM能力显著低于对照组（76.5 vs 68.1,P<0.05）,并随着BaP浓度增加进一步下降。同时,qPCR和免疫荧光染色检测发现,50 μM BaP处理组卵母细胞中SHH信号通路相关基因mRNA和蛋白表达量,均显著低于对照组（P<0.05）。因此,本研究初步证明BaP可能通过破坏SHH信号通路降低猪卵母细胞IVM能力。     

Effects of dietary supplementation of nucleotides from late gestation to lactation on the performance and oxidative stress status of sows and their offspring

Increased metabolic burdens in breeding sows, which are induced by elevated systemic oxidative stress, could increase the need for nucleotides to repair lymphocyte DNA damage; however, de novo synthesis of nucleotides may be insufficient to cover this increased need. This study investigated the effects of dietary nucleotides on milk composition, oxidative stress status, and the reproductive and lactational performance of sows. Forty multiparous sows were assigned to 2 dietary treatments (Control group, and 1 g/kg Nucleotides group) based on a randomized complete block design using their BW at 85 d of gestation as a block. Sows from 2 groups were fed a restricted diet during gestation and ad libitum during lactation. The experiment lasted from 85 d of gestation to 21 d of lactation. The reproductive performance of sows and the growth performance of suckling piglets were measured. Oxidative stress parameters and milk components were also analysed. Data were analyzed using contrasts in the MIXED procedure of SAS. Sows in the Nucleotides group consumed more feed during the first week (P < 0.01) and from 1 to 21 d (P < 0.05) of lactation than those in Control group. Correspondingly, the litter weight gain of piglets showed a tendency to increase from cross-fostering to 9 d (P = 0.09) and from cross-fostering to 20 d (P = 0.10) in the Nucleotides group relative to the Control group. Additionally, the Nucleotides group was higher (P < 0.01) than the Control group in the concentrations of uridine 5''monophosphate, guanosine 5''monophosphate, inosine 5''monophosphate, adenosine 5''monophosphate and total nucleotides in milk. Furthermore, the Nucleotides group was higher (P < 0.01) than the Control group in the serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (P < 0.01) for sows at 109 d of gestation and glutathione peroxidase for weaning piglets, but lower at the levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (P < 0.05) in serum of weaning piglets. This study indicated that maternal dietary nucleotides could promote piglet growth, probably due to the higher lactational feed intake and higher concentration of nucleotides in the milk of sows, and lower oxidative stress for both sows and piglets.     

Protein and energy concentrations of meat meal and meat and bone meal fed to pigs based on in vitro assays

The objective of this study was to develop equations for estimating ileal digestible crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) contents of meat meal (MM) and meat and bone meal (MBM) as feed ingredients for pigs based on in vitro assays. Test ingredients were 4 sources of MM and 3 sources of MBM. Ash and CP contents of the ingredients ranged from 3.8% to 33.1% and 46.8% to 82.9% (as-is basis), respectively. In vitro ileal disappearance (IVID) of CP was determined and ileal digestible CP content was calculated by multiplying CP content by IVID of CP. In vitro total tract disappearance (IVTTD) of dry matter (DM) was determined and ME was calculated using gross energy, CP contents, and IVTTD of DM. The IVID of CP and IVTTD of DM ranged from 77.2% to 88.7% and from 82.7% to 92.4%, respectively. Calculated ileal digestible CP and ME contents ranged from 37.8% to 73.5% DM and 2,405 to 3,905 kcal/kg DM, respectively. Ash contents were negatively correlated (P < 0.001) with CP (r = −0.99), in vitro ileal digestible CP (r = −0.97), gross energy (r = −1.00), in vitro digestible energy (r = −0.97), and adjusted ME (r = −0.97). The most fitting equations for ileal digestible CP and adjusted ME were: ileal digestible CP (% DM) = 11.91 − 0.90 × Ash (% DM) + 0.74 × IVID of CP (%) (R² = 0.99) and adjusted ME (kcal/kg DM) = 130.85 − 50.90 × ash (% DM) + 47.06 × IVTTD of DM (%) (R² = 0.99). To validate the accuracy of the prediction equations for ME, mean bias and linear bias were determined using a regression analysis. Calculated ME values of MM and MBM were in a good agreement with data obtained from animal experiments based on a statistically insignificant bias in the models. In conclusion, ME concentrations of MM and MBM as swine feed ingredients can be calculated using ash concentration and in vitro disappearance of dry matter.     

供油提前角对甲醇发动机性能及排放的影响

利用在缸内加装电热塞的ZS1115单缸柴油,实现纯甲醇(M100)燃料的扩散燃烧,利用柴油机热效率高的优点,提高甲醇燃料的能量转换效率。通过改变供油提前角,研究不同供油提前角对甲醇发动机性能及排放的影响,并与原单缸柴油机燃用0#柴油进行对比。试验结果表明:供油提前角对甲醇发动机动力性、经济性及排放均有影响。与原机燃用0#柴油相比,燃油消耗率上升,使用成本降低;HC排放量升高,CO和NOX排放量降低。供油提前角提前4°CA时CO排放最少,最低平均减少23.89%;供油提前角退后2°CA时NOX排放最少,最低平均减少94.74%。     

黄淮海地区大豆生产机械化现状与发展趋势

机械化在大豆全程生产中发挥着重要作用。为此,针对黄淮海地区大豆机械化生产现状,分析了目前大豆机械化生产中存在的问题,对大豆产业发展,从"种子处理技术""机械化精密平播免中耕技术""科学施肥,合理使用杀虫剂和除草剂""大力推广大豆机械化收获技术"等方面简要阐述黄淮海地区大豆生产全程机械化的发展趋势。     

宽幅高效离心式双圆盘撒肥机设计与试验

为解决现有水旱田撒肥机械作业效率低、撒肥量调节技术落后、施肥均匀性稳定性差等实际问题,设计了一种同轴驱动的离心式双圆盘撒肥机。介绍了整机结构与工作参数,研究设计了撒肥传动系统、撒肥盘结构、排肥量液压调节装置等,并确定了关键结构和参数,同时进行了试验研究。试验结果显示,推肥板推肥角度-20°~30°可调,撒肥幅宽达到50m,总排肥量稳定性变异系数低于6%,施肥均匀性变异系数低于16%。研究结果表明,撒肥机工作性能稳定、撒肥量可控、抛撒均匀,整机设计满足水旱田宽幅高效撒肥作业要求。     

Comparison of emission estimates for non‐CO2 greenhouse gases from livestock and poultry in Korea from 1990 to 2010

It has often been claimed that non‐carbon dioxide greenhouse gases (NCGGs), such as methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated greenhouse gases, are significant contributors to climate change. Here we nvestigate emission estimates of methane and nitrous oxide from livestock and poultry production, which is recognized as a major source of those NCGGs, in Korea over the period of 1990 through 2010. Based on the data on livestock and poultry populations, emission estimates of methane and nitrous oxide are first derived based on the Tier 1 approach. Then, the Tier 2 approach is adopted to obtain emission estimates of methane and nitrous oxide from cattle, which are known to be the largest sources of these NCGGs and account for about 70% of emissions from livestock and poultry in Korea. The result indicates that the Tier 2 estimates of methane and nitrous oxide emissions from enteric fermentation and manure management are significantly different from the Tier 1 estimates over the analysis period.