Virulence factors in Escherichia coli isolated from the blood of bacteremic neonatal calves

Twenty-five Escherichia coli isolates from the blood of critically ill bacteremic calves sampled in two separate studies on a calf-rearing farm housing over 15,000 calves, in the San Joaquin Valley, California were studied.Isolates were characterized for O serogroups and for pathotypes as determined by the presence of specific virulence factors including heat-labile enterotoxin (LT), heat-stable enterotoxins a and b (STa, STb), verotoxins 1 and 2 (VT1, VT2), cytotoxic necrotizing factor (CNF), aerobactin, intimin Eae and P, F17 and CS31A fimbrial adhesins, and resistance to bactericidal effects of serum.These isolates constituted a heterogeneous group. However, isolates were mostly aerobactin positive and often resistant to the bactericidal effects of serum. Isolates of pathotypes O78 (n=6), O119:CS31a (n=3), and P positive but O non-typeable (n=3) were associated with a high mortality rate. The remaining isolates belonged to diverse pathotypes, often possessing the adhesins P, F17, CS31A and Eae but belonging to O serogroups other than O78 and O119, and were less frequently associated with mortality.Although no virulence factor common to all isolates was identified, the capacity to use iron by the presence of aerobactin which is important to the capture of iron was a predominant factor. Moreover, certain pathotypes appear to be associated with primary colisepticemia whereas other pathotypes may cause a bacteremia without necessarily leading to septicemia.     

Surgical treatment of adrenocortical tumors: 21 cases (1990-1996)

Twenty-four adrenocortical tumors were surgically removed from 21 dogs. Histopathological examination confirmed 18 carcinomas and six adenomas. Four dogs died in the perioperative period. Fifteen of the 17 dogs that survived the perioperative period had long-term resolution of their clinical signs. Two dogs with incompletely resected tumors were treated with mitotane to control their clinical signs. Overall median Kaplan-Meier life-table survival for dogs with carcinomas was 778 days (range, one to 1,593 days). Median survival for dogs with adenomas was not reached (range, 11 to 730 days). Histopathological diagnosis, histopathological cellular features, age of the dog, and tumor size were not prognostic of outcome.     

Evaluation of urinary carnitine and taurine excretion in 5 cystinuric dogs with carnitine and taurine deficiency

Five client owned dogs with cystinuria were diagnosed with carnitine and taurine deficiency while participating in a clinical trial that used dietary management of their urolithiasis. Stored 24-hour urine samples collected from the cystinuric dogs before enrollment in the clinical diet trial were quantitatively evaluated for carnitine and taurine. These results were compared to those obtained from 18 healthy Beagles. Both groups of dogs were fed the same maintenance diet for a minimum of 2 weeks before 24-hour urine collection. The protocol used for 24-hour urine collections was the same for cystinuric dogs and healthy Beagles except that cystinuric dogs were catheterized at baseline, 8 hours, 12 hours, and at the end of the collection, whereas Beagles were catheterized at baseline, 8 hours, and at the end of the collection. Three of 5 dogs with cystinuria had increased renal excretion of carnitine. None of the cystinuric dogs had increased renal excretion of taurine, but cystinuric dogs excreted significantly less (P < .05) taurine in their urine than the healthy Beagles. Carnitinuria has not been recognized previously in either humans or dogs with cystinuria, and it may be 1 risk factor for developing carnitine deficiency. Cystinuric dogs in this study were not taurinuric; however, cystine is a precursor amino acid for taurine synthesis. Therefore, cystinuria may be 1 risk factor for developing taurine deficiency in dogs. We suggest that dogs with cystinuria be monitored for carnitine and taurine deficiency or supplemented with carnitine and taurine.     

Oral chromium picolinate and control of glycemia in insulin-treated diabetic dogs

Chromium is an essential dietary trace mineral involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Chromium is required for cellular uptake of glucose, and chromium deficiency causes insulin resistance. Chromium supplementation may improve insulin sensitivity and has been used as adjunct treatment of diabetes mellitus in humans. In this study, 13 dogs with naturally acquired diabetes mellitus were treated with insulin for 3 months, then with insulin and chromium picolinate for 3 months. Dogs weighing <15 kg (33 lb: n = 9) were administered 200 microg of chromium picolinate PO once daily for I month, then 200 microg of chromium picolinate twice daily for 2 months. Dogs weighing >15 kg (n = 4) received 200 microg of chromium picolinate once daily for 2 weeks, then 200 microg twice daily for 2 weeks, then 400 microg twice daily for 2 months. Type of insulin, frequency of insulin administration, and diet were kept constant, and insulin dosage was adjusted, as needed, to maintain optimal control of glycemia. Mean body weight, daily insulin dosage, daily caloric intake, 10-hour mean blood glucose concentration, blood glycated hemoglobin concentration, and serum fructosamine concentration were not markedly different when dogs were treated with insulin and chromium picolinate, compared with insulin alone. Adverse effects were not identified with chromium picolinate administration. Results of this study suggest that, at a dosage range of 20-60 microg/kg/d, chromium picolinate caused no beneficial or harmful effects in insulin-treated diabetic dogs.     

夏秋季品种“华夏二号”（研·丰×7N·湘F）的选育（初报）

采用NaF水溶液进行累代或隔代添食的方法,选择"研137"、"丰一"、"7N"、"湘F"四个元母种,组配成四元杂交组合"研·丰×7N·湘F"进行室内及农村试养,并参加广东省新蚕品种品比鉴定.结果表明,该杂交组合耐氟性能强,综合经济性状优于现行生产品种"9·芙×7·湘".     

调整玉米揪期对玉米粗缩病控制作用研究初报

通过罩笼接虫和自然开放式状态下试验，对不同播期的玉米粗缩病病情进行了比较，明确了玉米敏感叶龄为可见叶9叶以下，展开叶为6叶以下，研究证实，将田间灰飞虱转移迁入高峰期与玉米敏感叶龄期错开，可以减轻玉米粗缩病的发病，春玉米播期4月10－15日，夏玉米在6月10－15日，能显著控制玉米粗缩病的危害。     

50％硒霉防治小麦穗期病害试验

５０%枯霉特系防治小麦穗期病害的药剂 ,为明确其对小麦后期病害的防治效果 ,进行小区试验 ,现将试验结果小结如下 :１材料与方法１．１供试药剂（１）５０%枯霉特可湿性粉剂（盐城利民化工厂生产） ;（２）４０%禾枯灵可湿性粉剂（东台市农用药剂厂生产） ;（３）２５%多菌灵可湿性粉剂（镇江市农药厂生产）。１．２试验设计与方法（１）５０%枯霉特可湿性粉剂８０ｇ／６６７ｍ２;（２）４０%禾枯灵可湿性粉剂１００ｇ／６６７ｍ２;（３）２５%多菌灵可湿性粉剂２００ｇ／６６７ｍ２;（４）对照。以上４个处理重复３次 ,计１２个小区 ,小区…     

基因处理后棉籽出棉花

美国得克萨斯大学分子遗传学及微生物学教授马尔科姆·布朗及研究生荣峰 (音 )等人组成的研究小组 ,通过对棉花种子进行基因工程处理 ,使棉籽直接长出了棉花纤维。这一技术 ,可省去烦琐的棉株生长、采摘棉桃和去除棉籽的过程。该研究小组的这一成果 ,已在实验室里获得成功。他们把从棉桃中取出的棉种 ,作基因工程处理好 ,撒在专门介质的表面上 ,在以后的 5天内 ,棉种的表面就会长出芽来。而这些芽 ,实际上都是棉花小纤维 ,不过 ,它的独特细胞 ,看起来特别像木质细胞 ,而不太像棉花细胞。是基因工程处理 ,促发了一些细胞组织结构 ,并改变了生…