Improvement in the diagnosis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella abortus</Emphasis> infections in naturally infected water buffaloes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bubalus bubalis</Emphasis>) using an ELISA with a Protein-G-based indicator system

Brucellosis caused by Brucella abortus in domestic water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) raised under the traditional system of husbandry in northern India was diagnosed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) with a Protein-G-based indicator system (Protein-G ELISA). A total of 1,551 animals that are positive (N = 61), negative (N = 243), and suspected (N = 1,247) for brucellosis were examined. Rose bengal test (RBT) was used to predict the disease, and accordingly, animals were dichotomized in positive and negative population for receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to determine the sensitivity, the specificity, and the performance index of Protein-G ELISA. Taking all animals (N=1551) into account, the ROC curve analysis revealed cut off value of 29.6% positivity (%P) with 98.40% and 94.94%, sensitivity and specificity, respectively. The results were compared with ELISA in which anti-bovine conjugate was used. The cut off in ELISA was 37.9%P and sensitivity and specificity were 96.26% and 97.07%, respectively. The performance indexes of both the assays were almost equal and were 193.34 for Protein-G ELISA and 193.33 for ELISA. The cut off values of both the tests changed, if only known positive (N = 61) and known negative (N=243) animals were used for ROC curve analysis, and accordingly, changes in sensitivity and specificity were observed with significant decrease of performance indexes of both the tests. The high optical density (P<0.0001) background signal with negative serum control and high %P (P<0.0001) in sera from negative population were noticed in ELISA in comparison to Protein-G ELISA.     

In vitro inhibitory effect of trichostatin A on canine grade 3 mast cell tumor

Mast cell tumor (MCT) is one of the most prevalent neoplasms that affect skin and soft tissue in dogs. Because mast cell tumors present a great variety of clinical appearance and behavior, their treatment becomes a challenge. Trichostatin A (TSA), an antifungal antibiotic, has shown inhibitory effects on the proliferation and induction of apoptosis in various types of cancer cells. In order to evaluate the potential of trichostatin A as a therapeutic drug, cells of grade 3 MCT were cultured and treated with concentrations of 1 nM to 400 nM of TSA. MTT assay and trypan blue exclusion assays were performed to estimate cell growth and cell viability, and cell cycle analysis was evaluated. TSA treatment showed a reduction in numbers of viable cells and an increase of cell death by apoptosis. The cell cycle analysis showed an increase of hypodiploid cells and a reduction of G0/G1 and G2/M –phases. According to these results, trichostatin A may be an interesting potential chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of canine MCT.     

Characterization of Doayo and Kapsiki taurine cattle breeds of Cameroon in their natural environment

Data were collected on live weight (LW), heart girth (HG), height-at-withers (HW), trunk length (TL), age, sex, and coat color of 207 taurines cattle—122 of the Doayo (Namchi) breed and 85 of the Kapsiki (Kirdi) breed. The animals, aged 1 to 20 years, were selected from 60 herds randomly selected from villages of Poli of Faro and Mokolo of Tsanga, divisions of the North and Far North Regions of Cameroon. The data were analyzed using the SAS program with a linear model, applying standard tests. Results indicated no breed effect (P > 0.05) in the growth trends of LW, HG, HW, and TL. HG and TL were highly significantly (P < 0.0001) related to LW. The growth pattern for the two breeds was the same since the linear contrast of least square means for the traits at various age groups did not differ (P > 0.05) significantly. The breeds attained maturity as from 4 years. In the absence of breed effect (P > 0.05), a single regression equation was established for the estimation of live weight as thus LW = - 244.42 ( ±22.57 ) kg + 2.49 ( ±0.23 ) HG + 1.04 ( ±0.25 ) TL {\hbox{LW}} = - {244}.{42 }\left( {\pm {22}.{57}} \right){\hbox{ kg}} + {2}.{49 }\left( {\pm 0.{23}} \right){\hbox{ HG}} + {1}.0{4 }\left( {\pm 0.{25}} \right){\hbox{ TL}} , with HG contributing up to 70% of total variation and TL, 2%. This equation could be used to develop a measuring band useful in the rural environment for commercial and clinical veterinary purposes.     

Rumen development and growth of Balouchi lambs offered alfalfa hay pre- and post-weaning

The consumption of solid feed is essential for successful transition from a pre-ruminant to a functional digestive tract. Lambs fed starter rations containing highly fermentable carbohydrates often experience dramatic changes in concentrations of rumen and blood metabolites. The optimal amount of roughage required in the diet of pre-ruminant animals is still unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of feeding alfalfa hay on performance and rumen development in young Balouchi lambs. In a completely randomized design, 30 lambs were fed one of three experimental diets consisting of a control, without alfalfa hay (C), a diet containing 7.5% alfalfa hay (A1), and a diet containing 15% alfalfa hay (A2). Lambs fed A1 and A2 diets had lower dry matter intake during the pre-weaning period (P?P?=?0.02), but feed conversion ratio and average daily gain were not affected by feeding alfalfa hay. Concentration of beta-hydroxybutyric acid was higher in C compared with the A1 and A2 groups (P?P?=?0.04) and increased thickness of muscular layer (P?=?0.05). We concluded that including 15% alfalfa hay in the starter diet could reduce thickness of the keratinization layer and increase muscularity of rumen wall without adverse effects on growth and performance of newborn lambs.     

不同地区动物源致病性大肠杆菌的分子特性与表型分析

为进一步了解致病性大肠杆菌流行状况,减轻大肠杆菌对畜牧业和公共卫生的危害,对不同时间国内外报道的动物中分离的大肠杆菌,进行毒力、血清型、耐药性和基因型等方面的比较,对比分析大肠杆菌分子特性和表型差异,从而为临床医学和公共卫生控制提供指导。     

进境鱼苗消毒药物的比较试验

由于国际间的交流及市场需求,每年都有一定数量的活体鱼苗由国外输入境内,为防止境外有害病原体传入国内,在进境鱼苗入关后应该采取必要的消毒措施,但必须保证鱼苗存活安全,为此在选择消毒药物时,要考虑到使用药物的方便、安全和可靠等因素.     

朱鹗雏鸟几种非传染性疾病的原因与防治概述

为做好朱鹛的迁地保护工作,进行人工繁育是短时间内提高种群数量的最有效措施。浙江省德清珍稀野生动物繁育研究中心自2008年从陕西野生动物救护中心引入5对朱鹦,通过5a努力,目前存栏数已达118只,取得了一些成绩,同时也积累了一些经验教训。本文以朱鹦浙江种群的人工繁育工作实践为基础,结合现有的相关文献,对浙江省德清珍稀野生动物繁育研究中心2008—2012年饲养的138只朱鹃雏鸟的非传染性疾病进行了统计分析,同时阐述了其发病原因和防治措施。主要疾病包括：腿部疾病4种（10例,占7．25％）：船桨腿、卷曲趾、关节肿大、皮下气肿;头颈部疾病3种（15例,占10,87％）：交叉喙、长短喙、歪脖子;还有其他疾病3种（5例,占3．62％）：育雏室小气候控制不良引发的疾病、胚胎病或孵化不良引发的疾病、不明原因死亡的疾病。通过分析病因,提出防范措施,为后续的育雏工作提供指导,以避免类似的疾病再次发生,促进朱鹦人工种群的发展,对其他濒危野生鸟类的人工复壮也有一定的指导意义。     

小尾寒羊泌乳期蛋白质需要量及其代谢规律的研究

选用6只小尾寒羊泌乳母羊，通过饲养试验、消化代谢试验、比较屠宰试验等手段，研究其蛋白质需要量。结果表明，小尾寒羊泌乳母羊代谢粪氮（MFN）和内源尿氮（EUN）的排出量分别为0．1312和0．13459／kg·W0.75·d。小尾寒羊泌乳期维持可消化粗蛋白需要量为1．51W0.75g／d，每产1kg奶需可消化粗蛋白829。小尾寒羊泌乳母羊的可消化粗蛋色总需要量（RDCP，g／d），可按下式求得：RDCP＝1．51W0.75＋82MP式中：W0.75——代谢体重，kg；MP——为产奶量，kg。     

小尾寒羊泌乳期母羊能量需要量及代谢规律研究

选择有代表性的小尾寒羊泌乳母羊6只，分成哺育单羔和双羔两组，每组3只，分泌乳前期（1～30天），泌乳中期（31～60天）和泌乳后期（61～90天）3个阶段进行饲养试验、消化代谢试验、呼吸测热试验及屠宰试验等研究。两组试羊均按NRC（1978）推荐的绵羊泌乳期哺育双羔母羊能量需要量供给代谢能和其它养分。结果表明，在本研究条件下，小尾寒羊泌乳母羊（包括哺育单、双羔者）在整个泌乳期内的平均日干物质（DM）、有机物质（OM）、代谢能（ME）和泌乳量分别为1689g，1571g，19．893MJ和653g。DM、OM和总能（GE）表观消化率分别为70.71％，72．58％和70．34％，代谢率（MEI／DEI）为84．89％。甲烷能占GEI的9．18％。每日畜体产热量（HP）为625．5KJ／kgW0.75。研究还表明：小尾寒羊泌乳母羊的每日维持代谢能和净能需要量分别为582．6和460KJ／kgW0.75，每户1kg原乳需要10802KJ的代谢能。维持效率为0．790泌乳效率为0．479，HI占GEI的18．10％。分析结果证明，试羊的泌乳量、采食量、畜体产热量和能量转化效率在单、双羔之间均无显著差异（P＞0．05）。小尾寒羊泌乳母羊的代谢能总需要量（MER）可用下式估计：羊羔：MER＝576．9W0.75＋10810M；双羔：MER＝588．2W0.75＋10794M；平均：MER＝582．6W0.75＋1     

PCR鉴定沙门氏菌血清分型方法的建立与应用

为建立快速有效、经济适用的沙门氏菌血清型鉴定方法,利用Primer Plex软件设计畜禽中常见沙门氏菌的菌体(O)抗原和鞭毛抗原(H)的引物,优化引物比例和退火温度等反应条件,建立沙门氏菌血清型鉴定的PCR法,并对46株沙门氏菌分离株进行血清型鉴定,同时与传统玻片凝集法和美国CDC的液相芯片(Luminex-x MAP)法进行比较。优化后获得了O抗原中B、C1、D和E1群的多重PCR引物,以及鞭毛抗原H1相抗原基因(fli C)和H2相抗原基因(flj B)的2对引物;建立了一套基于沙门氏菌O和H抗原的多重PCR血清型鉴定法;PCR法和Luminex-x MAP法鉴定出7种沙门氏菌血清型,传统玻片凝集法鉴定出6种血清型;PCR法与传统玻片凝集法和Luminex-x MAP鉴定结果的符合率均为95.65%。本研究建立的PCR沙门氏菌血清型鉴定法简便、快速,预期可在沙门氏菌的血清分型研究中发挥作用。