Evaluation of the efficacy and duration of immunity of a canine combination vaccine against virulent parvovirus, infectious canine hepatitis virus, and distemper virus experimental challenges

The results of this study confirmed that dogs vaccinated subcutaneously with a commercially available multivalent vaccine containing modified-live canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus type 2, canine parvovirus type 2b, and canine parainfluenza virus antigens were protected against sequential experimental challenge 55 to 57 months after initial vaccination given at 7 to 8 weeks of age. All 10 vaccinates were protected against clinical diseases and mortality following parvovirus and infectious canine hepatitis experimental infections. All vaccinates were protected against mortality and 90% against clinical disease following distemper challenge. These data support at least a 4-year duration of immunity for these three "core" fractions in the combination vaccine.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus</Emphasis> in Egypt

During 2010, yellowing symptoms were frequently observed in cultivated squash fields in Egypt. A total of 717 symptomatic squash leaf samples were collected from four regions where squash cultivation is of economic importance for the country: Kafrelsheikh, El-Behira, El-Sharkia and El-Ismailia. Serological analysis showed that 95.6% of the symptomatic squash samples were infected by Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV), and visual estimation of the incidence of yellowing symptoms suggested a very high incidence of CABYV in the fields. Twelve CABYV isolates were characterized by sequencing two regions of the viral genome, open reading frame (ORF) 3 and ORFs 4/5. Overall, Egyptian isolates were very similar among them, and had higher similarity values with a French than with a Chinese isolate. The average nucleotide diversity for ORF 3 was significantly higher than for the other two regions, indicating that variability is not evenly distributed along the viral genome. The ratios between nucleotide diversity values in non-synonymous (d _N ) and synonymous (d _S) positions (d _N /d _S) for each ORF showed that the three ORFs are evolving under different pressures, although predominantly under purifying selection. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that these Egyptian isolates, with only one exception, shared the same clade with a French isolate. Moreover, these analyses suggested that Egyptian isolates belong to the Mediterranean group described previously.     

The Contribution of Small-Scale Forestry-Based Enterprises to the Rural Economy in the Developing World: The Case of the Informal Carpentry Sector, Sudan

Small-scale forestry-based enterprises connected with wood processing are becoming of growing importance in the rural economy of developing countries. Little attention has been paid to the characteristics of these enterprises and their role in supporting economic development. The objectives of this study are to: (1) determine the socioeconomic characteristics of the operators of these enterprises; (2) assess the contribution of the informal carpentry sector to operators’ income; and (3) identify the factors limiting the expansion of the sector. The study was carried out in the Singa district, Sinnar State in 2011. Snowball sampling was used to select 250 operators from five markets in the district. The quantitative and qualitative data were collected using Participatory Rural Appraisal methods. The results revealed that most operators involved in the informal carpentry sector are males aged <30 years and their businesses have been in existence for <10 years. Operators’ incomes ranged between USD 100 and 500 monthly on average. The results also indicated that the operators face many constraints (e.g. finance shortage, lack of raw materials, insecure market, lack of technology and lack of organization) to expanding the informal carpentry sector. The study concluded that the informal carpentry sector has potential to contribute to rural economic development through increasing income and reducing rural poverty.     

Parental Selection in Rice Cultivar Improvement

The evaluation of rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars assists breeders in identifying useful trait relationships and in selecting parents as donors of specific traits. This study was conducted to compare long-grain rice cultivars using genotype × trait (GT) biplot analysis and determine potential donors of traits related to grain yield and quality. Seventeen cultivars in the 2005 and 2006 Uniform Regional Rice Nursery in Beaumont, Texas, USA were analyzed for 20 traits using GT biplot analysis. The GT biplots showed the diversity among cultivars with regards to yield-related traits. Cultivars recommended as donor parents were: Trenasse, Spring, Presidio, and Cocodrie for high grain yield and head rice rate; Trenasse and Presidio for semi-dwarfness; Banks for tall plant height; Wells for high flag leaf area, panicle weight, and number and mass of filled grains per panicle; Hidalgo for high tiller density; Francis for high number of spikelets per panicle; Spring and Trenasse for short flowering duration; Cheniere for more days to heading and maturity and Spring for less days; and Spring and Hidalgo for high grain weight. Breeders can use these cultivars with specific traits to increase grain yield and quality.     

Post‐grazing cutting management in tall fescue affects the sward structure,forage and liveweight production

Tall fescue is the main perennial grass of the pastures of the temperate region of Argentina. However, after flowering in spring, tall fescue loses productivity and quality. Based on this, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of different post‐grazing mechanical cutting managements on the forage mass, leaf proportion, stocking rate, liveweight gain and liveweight production of tall fescue pastures. The treatments were post‐grazing mechanical cutting at anthesis (FC), post‐grazing mechanical cutting throughout spring and summer (SSC), and no post‐grazing mechanical cutting (NC). The experiment was performed from 2011 to 2014 in Argentina. The greatest and lowest forage mass were determined in September–November and May–September respectively. The leaf proportion of the SSC treatment was greater than that of the NC treatment, except in September–November. NC had higher stocking rate and lower liveweight gain than SSC, and neither NC nor SSC differed from FC. The liveweight production of the treatments was characterized by a trade‐off between stocking rate and liveweight gain. We conclude that FC is an attractive management because, with a single post‐grazing cutting, swards remain productive and leafy.     

Seroprevalence and risk factors for influenza A viruses in pigs in Peninsular Malaysia

Following a series of H5N1 cases in chickens and birds in a few states in Malaysia, there was much interest in the influenza A viruses subtypes that circulate among the local pig populations. Pigs may act as a mixing vessel for avian and mammal influenza viruses, resulting in new reassorted viruses. This study investigated the presence of antibodies against influenza H1N1 and H3N2 viruses in pigs from Peninsular Malaysia using Herdcheck Swine Influenza H1N1 and H3N2 Antibody Test Kits. At the same time, the presence of influenza virus was examined from the nasal swabs of seropositive pigs by virus isolation and real time RT-PCR. The list of pig farms was obtained from the headquarters of the Department of Veterinary Services, Malaysia, and pig herds were selected randomly from six of 11 states in Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 727 serum and nasal swab samples were collected from 4- to 6-month-old pigs between May and August 2005. By ELISA, the seroprevalences of swine influenza H1N1 and H3N2 among pigs were 12.2% and 12.1% respectively. Seropositivity for either of the virus subtypes was detected in less than half of the 41 sampled farms (41.4%). Combination of both subtypes was detected in 4% of all pigs and in 22% of sampled farms. However, no virus or viral nucleic acid was detected from nasal samples. This study identified that the seropositivity of pigs to H1N1 and H3N2 based on ELISA was significantly associated with factors such as size of farm, importation or purchase of pigs, proximity of farm to other pig farms and the presence of mammalian pets within the farm.     

Lipid metabolism in juveniles of Yellowtail,Seriola dorsalis,fed different levels of dietary methionine containing a low level of cholesterol: Implication in feed formulation

The involvement of dietary methionine in the lipid metabolism of Seriola dorsalis, at different levels of dietary methionine (Met), and low content of cholesterol was investigated. Four diets containing different Met levels and a low amount of cholesterol (0.23 g/kg diet) were prepared. One hundred and eighty juveniles (16.2 ± 1.5 g) were randomly distributed into each 12 500‐L ponds. After 60 days, the growth in weight (%) significantly increased following the Met supplementation, whereas SGR of all the experimental treatments was higher than the Basal Diet. The expression of the insulin‐like growth factor (IGF‐1) increased significantly (0.2‐fold) and was complemented by significant changes in Mat, BHMT and HMG‐CoA, for fish that were in the low and higher Met levels. The cholesterol content in the whole body and liver increased following methionine supplementation, similarly to that observed for crude lipids, in particular in the whole body and liver tissues. However, the relative amount of most fatty acids remained unchanged. Only the oleic acid increased at a higher amount of Met. Therefore, once the dietary requirement of methionine is met, the methionine is used to synthesize cholesterol. It is recommended to supply a higher amount of methionine to spare energy for growth.     

干旱区土壤螨类群落多样性及其与环境因子的相关性分析

【目的】研究干旱区土壤环境因子对土壤螨类群落多样性的影响,对鄯善县7种不同生境进行土壤螨类群落调查与环境因子测定。【方法】采用改良的Tullgren法分离收集土壤螨类,并用Pearson相关分析和典范对应分析方法对土壤螨类群落多样性特征及其与环境因子之间进行相关分析。【结果】共捕获土壤螨类成体标本26 637只,隶属于4目69科98属。7种不同生境之间土壤螨类群落多样性指标均有极显著差异(P<0.001),其中Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H)依次为防护林＞葡萄园＞杏园＞苜蓿地＞草地＞耕地＞菜地。CCA分析结果表明,第一主轴和第二主轴分别解释了土壤螨类主要群落总变量的29.7%和17.1%,与环境因子的相关性系数分别为0.926和0.929,前两轴共解释了土壤螨类物种类与环境因素关系的92.9%。蒙特卡罗置换检验显示,10个土壤主要理化性质与第一排序轴(F=4.31,P=0.002)和全部排序轴(F=2.68,P=0.002)均存在极显著的相关性。【结论】鄯善县7种不同生境土壤螨类群落多样性与土壤含水量、有机质、容重及全氮含量呈显著相关(P<0.05),其中土壤含水量、全氮和有机质含量对螨类群落结构和多样性的影响显著。     

Influence of organic and inorganic passivators on Cd and Pb stabilization and microbial biomass in a contaminated paddy soil

Purpose

Soil contamination with heavy metals, such as Cd and Pb, has caused severe health and environmental risks all over the world. Possible eco-friendly solutions for Cd and Pb immobilization were required to reduce its mobility through various cost-effective amendments.

Materials and methods

A laboratory incubation study was conducted to assess the efficiency of biochar (BC), zeolite (ZE), and rock phosphate (RP) as passivators for the stabilization of Cd and Pb in paddy soil as well as soil microbial biomass. Various extraction techniques were carried out: a sequential extraction procedure, the European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR), toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) test, and single extraction with CaCl₂. The impact of passivators on soil pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and microbial biomass (carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus) was examined in the metal contaminated soil.

Results and discussion

The results showed that the exchangeable portion of Cd in soil was significantly reduced by 34.8, 21.6, and 18.8% with ZE, RP, and BC at a 3% application rate, respectively. A similar tendency of reduction in Pb soluble portion was observed by ZE (9.6%), RP (20%), and BC (21.4%) at a 3% application rate. Moreover, the TCLP leachate of Cd and Pb was apparently reduced by 17 and 30.3% with BC at a 3% application dose, respectively, when compared to the control. Soil pH, nutrients, and microbial biomass C, N, and P were significantly increased with the addition of BC, RP, and ZE passivators.

Conclusions

The results showed that the incorporation of BC, ZE, and RP significantly reduced the Cd and Pb mobility in paddy soil as well as enhanced soil nutrients and microbial biomass. Overall, among all the amendments, rice straw derived-BC performed better for Cd and Pb immobilization in paddy soil.