Inhibition of porcine circovirus type 1 and type 2 production in PK-15 cells by small interfering RNAs targeting the Rep gene

Porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1) and type 2 (PCV2) are two genotypes of porcine circovirus. Both of them are presumed to be widespread in the swine population. Currently, there is no specific treatment for their infections. RNA interference (RNAi) is a sequence-specific RNA degradation mechanism mediated by small interfering RNA (siRNA), which represents a possible therapeutic application for the treatment of viral infections. In this study, three siRNA expression plasmids (pS-RepA, pS-RepB and pS-RepC) were generated to target three different coding regions of the Rep protein (Rep) of PCV. These siRNAs were used to inhibit PCV production in a porcine kidney cell line, PK-15 cells. Our results revealed that Rep gene expression was inhibited by pS-RepA, pS-RepB and pS-RepC to different degrees. Moreover, our study also showed that the production of PCV1 and PCV2 was reduced by these siRNAs. pS-RepC, which targets the middle region of Rep gene, proved to be the most efficient siRNA for inhibition of Rep expression and viral production. Taken together, our data suggest that RNAi could be investigated as a potential treatment for PCV infection.     

Cartilage proteoglycans from normal and osteochondrotic porcine joints.

Modern pigs grow fast but are highly susceptible to degenerative joint abnormalities, including osteochondrosis. Normal and osteochondrotic humeri and femurs were obtained from five normal and ten lame adolescent boars to study cartilage proteoglycans. Histological examination of joints indicated a locally-reduced intensity of proteoglycan staining by safranin-O in lesion areas of cartilage. Cartilage proteoglycans extracted with 4.0 M guanidinium chloride were studied using Sepharose 2B gel chromatography. The proteoglycans from severely osteochondrotic joints were less (P less than 0.05) aggregated and contained a greater (P less than 0.05) proportion of smaller monomers than those from normal joints. Loss or damage of core protein, including its hyaluronic acid-binding regions, may account for the greater proportion of small monomers. The results also indicated that the proportion of hyaluronic acid in the total glycosaminoglycan uronic acid fraction, estimated by Sephadex G-200 chromatography and cellulose acetate electrophoresis, was lower (P less than 0.05) for the extracted proteoglycans than for the residual or the whole cartilage proteoglycans in all joints studied.     

Effect of cortisol on luteinizing hormone release during sexual behavior in the boar.

The effect of inhibiting the rise in cortisol concentrations that occurs at copulation upon luteinizing hormone release was studied in seven adult boars. Plasma samples were collected for assay of luteinizing hormone, testosterone and cortisol on a control day and before, during and after exposure to an estrous sow. The area under the curve was used to evaluate hormone production and treatment effects were evaluated by a paired Student's t-test. The 11 beta-hydroxylase inhibitor, metyrapone, was used to suppress glucocorticoid hormone production. Cortisol concentrations increased significantly (p less than 0.05) after breeding compared to values on the control day while treatment with metyrapone prior to breeding prevented the cortisol increase (p greater than 0.05). Although luteinizing hormone production increased significantly after copulation in both breeding experiments, metyrapone pretreatment resulted in a reduction of luteinizing hormone secretion (p less than 0.05). Testosterone production was also reduced in boars pretreated with metyrapone. The results suggest that the increased levels of cortisol occurring at copulation may enhance luteinizing hormone release in boars.     

野马追克喘散治疗猪呼吸道疾病效果试验

目的：应用野马追克喘散新兽药对呼吸道综合征进行临床疗效试验,为推广野马追克喘散提供科学依据。方法：将自然感染、症状典型、猪呼吸道综合征的140头病猪（杜长大三元杂交）,平均体重20～25kg,随机分为7个组,每组20头,其中第Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组用野马追克喘散治疗,分别以高、中、低剂量给药;第Ⅳ、Ⅴ组分别用麻杏石甘散、金花平喘散以常规剂量给药;Ⅵ、Ⅶ组以硫酸卡那霉素注射液（0.2mL/kg体重）和泰乐菌素（0.4mL/kg体重）以常规剂量给药。结果：野马追克喘散的治疗效果较麻杏石甘散和金花平喘散治疗效果好,治愈率也达93.3%。结论：野马追克喘散治疗猪气喘咳嗽疗效较高,收效较快,维持时间较长,是较理想的药物。     

Thermoregulatory capacity of the Thoroughbred racehorse and its relationship to the pathogenesis of exertional heat illness

When racehorses fail to thermoregulate effectively, whether due to intrinsic or extrinsic factors, a condition called exertional heat illness (EHI) may occur, which can be life-threatening and represents a significant welfare issue. Horses usually become affected in the recovery phase soon after racing, so that a knowledge of the ‘normal’ thermoregulatory processes which operate at this time and their variations is essential to enable early detection of EHI. Racing in hot or warm and humid weather conditions represents the upper extreme of thermoregulatory variations, and observations on how horses normally recover at the racetrack may provide a clearer perspective on the physiology of that process for all sports horses. This review focuses on the post-exercise thermoregulatory capacity of the Thoroughbred racehorse, with a view to understanding the physiological mechanisms that should efficiently dissipate excess heat. The clinical manifestations of exertional heat illness are due to inadequate or harmful physiological responses, and if recognised and treated early can be effectively curtailed.     

微白黄链霉菌对红豆草壳二孢的拮抗效果评价

红豆草壳二孢叶斑黑茎病(Ascochyta onobrychidis)是红豆草(Onobrychis viciaefolia)最重要的病害之一,在分离此病菌的同时得到一种对此病菌具有较强抑制作用的微生物,为评价此拮抗菌的开发利用前景,本研究采用形态学、分子生物学和生物化学方法鉴定了其分类地位,并测定了其对红豆草壳二孢的抑菌效果。通过构建系统发育树并结合其形态特征和生理生化特性,将该拮抗菌鉴定为微白黄链霉菌(Streptomyces albidoflavu),在高氏一号培养基上菌落为黄白色,可产生黄白色水溶性色素,孢子丝钩状,顶端螺旋形;在平板对峙试验中该菌的菌落对红豆草壳二孢菌落的相对抑制率达74.33%,同时该菌发酵液对红豆草壳二孢菌丝生长和孢子萌发的抑制率分别为80.95%和93.87%。该菌具有生物防治红豆草壳二孢的开发和利用价值。     

Post mortem parasitological evaluation of dogs seroreactive for Leishmania from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

A parasitological study was conducted on 66 dogs seroreactive for Leishmania captured as a control measure of visceral leishmaniasis in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Biological samples from different anatomical sites were collected during autopsy of the animals and cultured on biphasic medium (NNN/Schneider). The Leishmania isolates were characterized by isoenzyme electrophoresis. Leishmania was isolated from 80.3% of the animals: 12 animals with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis isolated exclusively from cutaneous lesions, 39 with L. (L.) chagasi isolated from different sites in the same animal, and 2 with simultaneous isolation of L. (V.) braziliensis from cutaneous lesions and L. (L.) chagasi from different sites. Isolation in culture revealed the absence of Leishmania parasites in 13 animals. The results obtained confirm the existence of mixed infections in dogs in Rio de Janeiro and indicate the need to complement the investigation of seroreactive dogs using methods for the parasitological diagnosis and identification of Leishmania species.     

2020年宁夏吴忠市畜间包虫病流行病学调查

为了解宁夏吴忠市畜间包虫病流行范围及防治效果,科学规范指导下一阶段包虫病防治工作,2020年对吴忠市5个县(市、区)采用基本情况调查、实验室抽样检测等方法进行了畜间包虫病流行病学调查.共检测犬粪样品1861份,犬细粒棘球绦虫感染阳性率为0.75％;抽检羊脏器4027份,棘球蚴感染率为0.22％,有3个县区检出感染;检测...     

Dietary supplementation with Acanthopanax senticosus extract enhances gut health in weanling piglets

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Acanthopanax senticosus extract (ASE) as a dietary additive on gut health in weanling piglets by examining diarrhea frequency, intestinal microbiota and morphology. A total of 96 Duroc× (Landrace × Yorkshire) piglets weaned at 21 days of age with an average initial body weight (BW) of 5.6 ± 0.4 kg were randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups with 4 duplicates of 8 piglets each. The piglets were fed basal diet to which had been added 0 or 1 g/kg of ASE, or 0.7 g/kg antibiotics, respectively. Fecal consistence was monitored twice daily and the frequency of diarrhea was calculated. On day 21 after the initiation of supplementation, 8 piglets were randomly selected from each treatment group (2 piglets per pen) and slaughtered. The jejunum, ileum, colon and cecum were then excised and fixed in 10% neutral formalin solution to determine villus height and crypt depth, after their contents were collected to determine microbiota. The results showed that dietary supplementation with ASE increased (P < 0.05) the density of bacterial populations that co-migrated with Lactobacillus amylovorus, Lactobacillus salivarius, Bacillus subtilis, and Clostridium lituseburens, but decreased (P < 0.05) those co-migrating with Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Ruminococcus forques, and E. coli O157:H7 in the PCR-DGGE profiling analysis when compared with the control group. The villus height of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum increased (P < 0.05) by 14.8, 13.7 and 10.0%, while the crypt depth decreased (P < 0.05) by 17.9, 9.1 and 12.1%, respectively, in response to dietary ASE supplementation. Additionally dietary supplementation with ASE or an antibiotic decreased (P < 0.05) the frequency of diarrhea by 55.6 and 52.2%, respectively, compared with the control group. In conclusion, these findings suggest that dietary supplementation with ASE could regulate the microbiota composition and maintain a normal morphology of gut mucosa in weanling piglets, thereby decreasing diarrhea that resulted from weaning stress.