Prevalence and risk factors of mycobacterial infections in farm and trade cattle in southwestern Nigeria

We evaluated the prevalence of mycobacterial infections (i.e., Mycobacterium bovis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria [NTM]) and their associated risk factors among cattle herds and trade cattle in southwestern Nigeria. Through cross-sectional study design, cattle herds from three locations were screened using the single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin test based on two diagnostic standards; more than 4 mm (? 4 mm) and more than 2 mm (? 2 mm) cut-off points. Abattoir study involved screening trade cattle for tuberculous lesions. Overall, 515 cattle from 45 herds were screened. Using >?4 mm, animal level and herd prevalence of 11.7 and 46.7% were recorded, respectively. Applying the ? 2 mm cut-off, animal level and herd prevalence increased to 31.1 and 60.0%, respectively. Significantly, using the ? 2 mm cut-off, cattle in medium size herds/extensive management system (OR?=?1.6; 95% CI 1.1–2.5) and Sokoto Gudali (OR?=?2.3; 95% CI 1.4–3.8) were more at risk of being positive reactors, while Rahaji (OR?=?0.3; 95% CI 0.1–0.7) breeds of cattle and cows in the peri-urban area (OR?=?0.4; 95% CI 0.2–0.9) were less at risk of being positive reactors. Again, M. avium reactor of 21.7% was observed. In the abattoir, 1797 cattle were examined with 126 lesions suggestive of tuberculosis (TB). Culture/molecular analyses confirmed 2.2% M. bovis and 0.9% NTM infections. Risk factors associated with bovine TB among trade cattle were sex (OR?=?4.0; 95% CI 1.2–13.5) and age (OR?=?0.3; 95% CI 0.1–0.9). We confirm 11.7% prevalence of mycobacterial infections among populations of cattle screened with breed and herd size being major risk factors.     

Comparative expression profile of microRNAs and piRNAs in three ruminant species testes using next‐generation sequencing

microRNA (miRNA) and piwi‐interacting RNA (piRNA) are two classes small non‐coding regulatory RNAs that play crucial roles in multiple biological processes such as spermatogenesis. However, there are no published studies on conjoint analysis of miRNA and piRNA profiles among cattle, yak and their interspecies (the dzo) using sequencing technology. Next‐generation sequencing technology was used to profile miRNAs and piRNAs among those three ruminants to elucidate their functions. A total of 119, 14 and six differentially expressed miRNAs were obtained in cattle vs. dzo, cattle vs. yak and yak vs. dzo comparison groups, while there were 873, 1,065 and 1,158 differentially expressed piRNAs in those three comparison groups. The expression of three miRNAs was validated in the three ruminants, and the results suggested that the miRNA expression profiles data could represent actual miRNA expression levels. Moreover, the putative targets of differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted by their own genome, it is worth to note that both the cattle and yak genome were used for dzo, then the targets were subjected to GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis, revealing the likely roles for these differentially expressed miRNAs in spermatogenesis. In conclusion, this study provided a useful resource for further elucidation of the miRNAs and piRNAs regulatory roles in spermatogenesis. It may also facilitate the development of therapeutic strategies for dzo reproduction research.     

低温胁迫对细茎柱花草与TPRC2001-1柱花草抗寒生理指标的影响

为了探究柱花草的抗寒性,本研究以细茎柱花草(Stylosanthes guianensis var.intermedia)和TPRC2001-1柱花草(S.guianensis‘TPRC2001-1’)营养期叶片为材料,分别进行时长为0(对照)、24h和48h的低温处理,然后对其相对电导率、丙二醛、脯氨酸、可溶性糖以及可溶性蛋白的含量等指标进行测定与分析。结果表明,两种柱花草叶片的抗寒性生理指标随着低温处理时间的增加逐步上升。低温处理后,细茎柱花草的相对电导率和丙二醛含量显著低于TPRC2001-1柱花草(P0.05),而脯氨酸、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白的含量显著高于TPRC2001-1柱花草(P0.05)。综合各项生理指标可得,两种柱花草的抗寒性强弱为细茎柱花草TPRC2001-1柱花草。     

假臭草幼苗生长对水氮耦合效应的响应

为揭示入侵植物假臭草(Praxelis clematidea)幼苗生长对不同水、氮养分耦合模式的响应机制,探讨其与入侵性的关系,以假臭草为供试材料,设计3个供水量水平、4个供氮量水平共12个处理,比较假臭草的形态、生物量分配和叶绿素含量等生长指标对不同水氮耦合效应的可塑性反应。结果显示,假臭草幼苗生长受水氮耦合影响显著(P0.05),在适宜水分和养分条件,如中水中氮处理(沙土饱和含水量60%~70%,供水量60 mL·kg~(-1),供氮量0.30g·kg~(-1))处理下,假臭草幼苗株高、茎粗、叶面积、总根长度和根表面积等根、茎、叶形态指标表现较好,生物量积累较多,植株生长较好。低水处理(沙土饱和含水量30%~40%,供水量30 mL·kg~(-1))和高水处理(沙土饱和含水量90%~100%,供水量90mL·kg~(-1))的各个氮含量处理的假臭草植株的各项根、茎、叶形态及生物量指标均差于中水处理。假臭草叶绿素对氮素较为敏感,随着氮素增加其积累量也相应增多。研究结果表明,假臭草入侵植物喜好一定的水、氮环境,过多或不足的水分或养分则不利于假臭草的生长发育,但仍有一定的分布,这与其入侵性密切相关。     

广东省广州市活禽批发市场从业人员H7N9流感“知信行”现状调查

为了解广东省广州市活禽批发市场从业人员对H7N9流感的认知、态度和行为,也为制定针对性的健康教育措施提供依据,2017年4—5月对广州市全部6个活禽批发市场的435名从业人员进行了问卷调查。调查结果显示:318名密切接触人员和117名非密切接触人员对H7N9流感相关知识的总知晓率分别为80.59%和69.60%;在"发现对禽高致病性的H7N9流感病毒""病死禽应该进行深埋或焚烧等无害化处理""外省养殖场发生过H7N9流感疫情"方面,密切接触者的知晓率显著高于非密切接触者(P0.03);获取H7N9流感知识的途径主要有培训,以及电视、网络和海报等宣传媒介;绝大多数市场从业人员认为政府有能力防控H7N9流感,对政府采取的H7N9流感防控措施及对目前的"1110"制度感到满意,认为活禽集中屠宰可行(P0.01);从业人员在预防H7N9流感时,接触禽类后用肥皂或洗手液洗手的占比最高(83.45%),其次是戴手套(69.20%)和穿水鞋(63.91%),而戴口罩(39.77%)和用消毒液消毒手(35.86%)的占比较低。调查认为,广州市活禽批发市场从业人员的H7N9流感知识知晓率较高,但个人防护措施实施不全面。调查结果提示,应充分利用培训,以及电视和网络等优势媒介,强化微信和微博等新兴媒介,加强对H7N9流感防控知识的宣传。     

羊种布鲁氏菌疫苗株PCR-RFLP鉴定方法的建立

为建立一种羊种布鲁氏菌Rev.1疫苗株PCR-RFLP鉴定方法,利用羊种布鲁氏菌Rev.1具有链霉素抗性的特性,选取与链霉素抗性相关编码核糖体蛋白S12的rps L基因为模板设计引物,经PCR扩增后,将产物进行Nci I酶切,发现羊种布鲁氏菌疫苗株Rev.1出现约500 bp条带,而不具有链霉素抗性的羊种布鲁氏菌株16M则出现384 bp条带。结果表明,PCR-RFLP方法能够用于羊种布鲁氏菌Rev.1疫苗株的鉴定,这为今后区分羊种布鲁氏菌疫苗株Rev.1免疫与野株感染提供了基础。     

浙北地区早熟松花菜品种比较试验

在浙北松花菜秋季栽培区选择试点,对6个早熟松花菜新品种进行了比较试验。试验结果表明,浙农松花50天是浙北地区秋季抢早栽培的较为理想的品种,而农美50天产量潜力最大,但成熟期略迟,生产上可根据实际情况加以应用。     

TFSQ型高效环保组合式粮食杂质清理筛的研制

通过对振动筛理、垂直风选、旋风分离与沉降系统的研究,研制出集振动筛理、风选、旋风分离沉降、含尘气流循环再利用为一体的TFSQ型高效环保组合式粮食杂质清理筛。经应用测试和专家鉴定:该设备具有清理效率高、清理过程粉尘污染小,使用维护方便、可靠性强等优点,具有广阔的市场推广前景。     

Symbiotic N<Subscript>2</Subscript> fixation and nitrate utilisation in irrigated lucerne (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Medicago sativa</Emphasis>) systems

Symbiotic N₂ fixation by lucerne (Medicago sativa) has capacity to provide significant inputs of N to agro-ecosystems, and the species has also been shown to scavenge soil mineral N and thus act as a sink for excess reactive N. The balance between these two N cycle processes was investigated in an extensive irrigated lucerne growing region where nitrate contamination of groundwater has been reported. We sampled 18 permanent pure lucerne stands under irrigation for standing dry matter, total shoot N, and N₂ fixation using ¹⁵N natural abundance along with activity of the inducible enzyme nitrate reductase as indicators of use of soil NO₃⁻ by lucerne. On average 65% of lucerne N was obtained from symbiotic N₂ fixation. Converting standing dry matter estimates to annual N₂ fixation amounts we calculated average N₂ fixation of 311 kg N/ha, including N in roots and nodules. Uptake of N from soil by lucerne was calculated to be 181 kg N/ha/year. We were not able to identify the source of this soil mineral N, although nitrate reductase activity of lucerne was higher than that of non-N₂ fixing species examined.     

有机生态栽培基质配比对生菜生长及品质的影响

以传统基质草炭、蛭石及腐熟羊粪和玉米秸秆为原料,配制成12种不同配比的栽培基质,以商品叶菜类栽培基质作为对照,研究不同基质配方对生菜生长的影响,以期获得最适合生菜栽培的基质配比组合。结果表明,不同组合基质配比均能满足生菜的正常生长,所有处理的株高、叶面积、单株鲜重和单株干重都较对照组(CK)有着不同程度提高,其中T11(草炭∶腐熟羊粪∶玉米秸秆∶蛭石=1∶4∶3∶4)条件下各指标表现最好,分别较CK提高了31.80%、47.15%、59.43%和79.53%;从生理生化指标来看,T11处理的Vc含量最高,是CK的2.5倍;T10(草炭∶腐熟羊粪∶玉米秸秆∶蛭石=3∶1∶4∶4)的根系活力是所有处理中最高的,达到CK的2.02倍;T12(草炭∶腐熟羊粪∶玉米秸秆∶蛭石=3∶4∶1∶4)处理的叶绿素含量最高,是CK的1.41倍,硝酸盐含量最低,较CK降幅达到74.59%。通过隶属函数进行综合比较分析,我们认为T11是所有供试处理中最适合生菜栽培的基质配比。