Variation in E(rns) viral glycoprotein associated with failure of immunohistochemistry and commercial antigen capture ELISA to detect a field strain of bovine viral diarrhea virus

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) affects cattle populations causing clinical signs that range from subclinical immunosuppression to severe reproductive and respiratory problems. Detection and removal of persistently infected (PI) calves is the single most important factor for control and eradication of BVDV. Current testing strategies to detect PI calves rely heavily on immunohistochemistry (IHC) and a commercially available antigen capture ELISA (ACE) assay. These viral assays depend on 1 or 2 monoclonal antibodies which target the E(rns) glycoprotein of BVDV. The sensitivity and specificity of these two tests have been reported previously. The purpose of this research was to characterize a strain of BVDV (AU501) that was undetectable using IHC and ACE based on a single monoclonal antibody, but was consistently detected in samples from a Holstein steer using virus isolation and PCR testing. Sequencing of this AU501 viral isolate revealed a unique mutation in the portion of the genome coding for the E(rns) glycoprotein. This unique field strain of BVDV demonstrates the risk of relying on a single monoclonal antibody for detection of BVDV. Multiple testing strategies, including polyclonal or pooled monoclonal antibodies that detect more than one viral glycoprotein may be necessary to detect all PI calves and facilitate eradication of BVDV.     

Efficacy of famotidine for the prevention of exercise-induced gastritis in racing Alaskan sled dogs

BACKGROUND: Omeprazole reduces the severity of exercise-induced gastritis but not the prevalence of gastric lesions in sled dogs. The frequent feeding of sled dogs during competition likely results in decreased absorption of omeprazole and, thereby, decreased efficacy. HYPOTHESIS: Famotidine, a histamine-2 blocker with good bioavailability in the presence of food, would reduce the incidence and severity of exercise-induced gastric disease in sled dogs. ANIMALS: Sixteen fit Alaskan sled dogs (4 female, 12 male, all intact, age 2-6 years). METHODS: Dogs were randomly assigned to treatment (22 mg famotidine PO q24h) or control groups (n = 8 per group). Famotidine was administered with a meal to the treatment group once daily for 7 days before a challenge and once during exercise. Control dogs were fed an identical diet as the principal group. The 16 dog team completed a 100-mile exercise challenge in 18 hours. A gastroscopy was performed 24 hours after the challenge. The appearance of the mucosa was scored by an individual by using a scoring system. RESULTS: Treatment with famotidine significantly reduced the severity score compared with control (P = .0004). No adverse effects of treatment were reported. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Famotidine is effective in reducing the severity of exercise-induced gastric disease in racing Alaskan sled dogs, with minimal to no adverse effects, and may be recommended for prophylactic use in short distance races.     

Citations of plenary-session articles published in the Proceedings of the International Symposium on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics

We measured the potential impact of articles representing the International Symposium on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics (ISVEE) plenary-session presentations in subsequent published literature. Between July 1, 2004 and November 9, 2004, we searched the Web of Science for citations in the scientific literature to all 99 plenary-session articles published in the proceedings of the previous nine ISVEEs (or in journal special issues dedicated to the ISVEE plenary articles). We used a 4-year window around the publication of each of the ISVEE proceedings. We located 187 citations for 37 (of the 99) articles. We infer that the ISVEE proceedings represent an important resource for veterinary epidemiology.     

桂西北喀斯特地区不同土地利用类型土壤抗蚀性研究

土壤抗蚀性是反映土壤抵抗侵蚀能力的重要参数之一,是土壤侵蚀研究的重要内容。本文选取土壤有机质、水稳性团聚体、团聚体结构破坏率、团聚状况、团聚度、分散率和<0.05 mm粉黏粒含量等7个指标,通过单因素方差分析及主成分分析,探讨了桂西北喀斯特地区5种不同土地利用类型土壤抗蚀性的差异。结果表明:原生林和次生林土壤有机质含量显著(P<0.05)高于撂荒地、坡耕地和人工林,撂荒地土壤有机质含量较坡耕地和人工林高,但差异不显著。原生林、次生林及撂荒地土壤>0.25 mm水稳性团聚体总量及团聚状况显著高于坡耕地及人工林,但其土壤团聚体结构破坏率及分散率显著低于坡耕地;人工林土壤团聚体结构破坏率显著高于次生林,但与原生林、撂荒地和坡耕地差异不显著;人工林土壤分散率则与坡耕地类似,显著低于原生林、次生林及撂荒地;原生林、次生林土壤团聚度与撂荒地、坡耕地差异不显著,但显著高于人工林;次生林、撂荒地及人工林<0.05 mm粉黏粒含量与原生林、坡耕地差异不显著,但坡耕地土壤<0.05 mm粉黏粒含量显著高于原生林。由主成分分析综合评分得到土壤抗蚀性强弱顺序为:原生林>次生林>撂荒地>坡耕地>人工林。因此,喀斯特地区人为干扰严重降低了土壤的抗蚀性,耕地通过撂荒方式能够提高土壤抗蚀性。     

Effect of feeding intensity and milking system on nutritionally relevant milk components in dairy farming systems in the North East of England

There is increasing concern that the intensification of dairy production reduces the concentrations of nutritionally desirable compounds in milk. This study therefore compared important quality parameters (protein and fatty acid profiles; α-tocopherol and carotenoid concentrations) in milk from four dairy systems with contrasting production intensities (in terms of feeding regimens and milking systems). The concentrations of several nutritionally desirable compounds (β-lactoglobulin, omega-3 fatty acids, omega-3/omega-6 ratio, conjugated linoleic acid c9t11, and/or carotenoids) decreased with increasing feeding intensity (organic outdoor ≥ conventional outdoor ≥ conventional indoors). Milking system intensification (use of robotic milking parlors) had a more limited effect on milk composition, but increased mastitis incidence. Multivariate analyses indicated that differences in milk quality were mainly linked to contrasting feeding regimens and that milking system and breed choice also contributed to differences in milk composition between production systems.     

CaCl2对细颗粒泥沙静水絮凝沉降的影响

细颗粒泥沙的絮凝或分散对土壤渗透性、土壤可蚀性有重要作用,是水土保持研究的重要内容.在CaCl2浓度为0～1.0 mmol/L,泥沙浓度为10 g/L时,用吸管法研究了CaCl2对细颗粒泥沙絮凝沉降的影响.结果表明:泥沙沉降分2个阶段,分选沉降段和絮凝沉降段;在絮凝沉降段,CaCl2浓度越大,絮凝沉降越快.但较高浓度时,细颗粒泥沙平均沉速反而随CaCl2浓度增大而逐渐减小;泥沙浓度随时间呈指数衰减;细颗粒泥沙絮凝临界粒径为0.03 mm.     

喀斯特地区典型峰丛洼地旱季表层土壤水分空间变异性初探

土壤水分空间变异性研究在喀斯特地区生态环境的恢复和重建过程中具有重要意义。通过网格(5 m×5 m)取样,用地统计学方法研究了喀斯特洼地典型区域(150 m×50 m)表层土壤水分(0~5 cm和5~10 cm)的空间变异特征。结果表明:土壤水分在采样区内呈比较简单的斑块状分布,相同性质斑块与土被连续分布区和石丛集中分布区范围相当;半变异函数在不同性质斑块内呈现出截然不同的变异特征,在整个采样区内表现出各向异性;旱季洼地表层土壤水分主要受石丛和地形两个不同尺度的环境因素影响;土壤水分具有一定的尺度效应,半变异函数的变程随着最小采样间隔增大而增大;当研究区域存在多重尺度的变异结构时,需要根据研究的目的和精度确定合理的采样尺度。     

Concentrations of metals (zinc, copper, cadmium, and mercury) in three domestic ducks in France: Pekin, Muscovy, and Mule ducks

The role of different factors such as biological material (tissues, organs) and trophic condition (overfeeding or not) in the metal accumulation was studied in three genotypes of ducks (Pekin, Muscovy, and Mule) under breeding conditions. Results showed that overfeeding decreased the concentration in Cd, Cu, and Zn through the dilution process. In contrast, mercury concentration increased with this method. A relation between lipidic metabolism of genotypes and the distribution of this metal in biological material was found. Domestic ducks were little contaminated, but a low chronic contamination in Cd was observed, probably coming from the food. Due to the low levels of contamination observed in these breeding ducks, they can be considered as a good control for further contamination studies and comparison with accumulation levels recorded in the field. The impact of feeding condition on accumulation showed the importance of taking into account the life cycle of birds before studying their contamination and the impact of pollutants.     

Reverse diel vertical migration: an escape from invertebrate predators

The marine copepod Pseudocalanus sp. exhibits an unusual reverse diel vertical migration in Dabob Bay, Washington, concurrently with a normal vertical migration by nocturnal invertebrate predators. Reduced spatial overlap with predators appears to decrease mortality rate of adult female Pseudocalanus. A life table analysis suggests that the demographic disadvantage associated with daily migration across a thermal gradient can be overcome if mortality is reduced by as little as 16 percent.     

Planktonic foraminifera of the California Current reflect 20th-century warming

It is currently unclear whether observed pelagic ecosystem responses to ocean warming, such as a mid-1970s change in the eastern North Pacific, depart from typical ocean variability. We report variations in planktonic foraminifera from varved sediments off southern California spanning the past 1400 years. Increasing abundances of tropical/subtropical species throughout the 20th century reflect a warming trend superimposed on decadal-scale fluctuations. Decreasing abundances of temperate/subpolar species in the late 20th century indicate a deep, penetrative warming not observed in previous centuries. These results imply that 20th-century warming, apparently anthropogenic, has already affected lower trophic levels of the California Current.