Molecular characterisation of Theileria equi and risk factors associated with the occurrence of theileriosis in horses of Punjab (Pakistan)

Theileria equi (T. equi) is an obligate intra- and extra-erythrocytic parasite that causes equine theileriosis (ET) in equids. Equine theileriosis is considered a notifiable disease of global significance, a major constraint to the international movement of horses, and endemic in many countries. This disease may be difficult to diagnose, as it can produce variable and nonspecific clinical signs. A cross-sectional study was designed for the molecular characterisation of T. equi and to investigate the associated risk factors of ET accompanied by its consequences on haematological and sero-biochemical parameters. A convenience sampling of 500 blood samples were collected from ET suspect horses from January to December 2017. PCR was performed on all blood samples targeting the 18S rRNA gene of T. equi followed by sequencing; 9% animals tested positive with confirmed sequences. The isolates of this study showed high homology with Cuban, Russian and Brazilian isolates of T. equi (accession numbers KY111762.2 , MG551915.1 and KY952237.1 , respectively). Based on multivariate analysis, the principal risk factors consisted of absence of dogs on the premises and presence of tick infestation. The haemato-biochemical parameters showed a decrease in granulocytes and erythrocytes, and an increase in lymphocytes, monocytes, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean platelet volume, glucose, phosphorus and aspartate aminotransferase in positive horses. This is the first study which identified ET in Punjab (Pakistan) using molecular techniques and risk factors together with the haemato-biochemical variations in horses.     

部分商品化非洲猪瘟病毒荧光PCR检测试剂盒的比对

为获得商品化非洲猪瘟病毒(ASFV)荧光PCR检测试剂盒的敏感性、特异性、一致性和最低检测限等试验数据,以世界动物卫生组织(OIE)推荐引物探针为金标准,以62份已灭活的ASFV阳性田间样品、32份阴性田间样品和P72基因核酸标准物质为检测对象,对农业农村部公布许可的其中17个厂家生产的商品化ASFV荧光PCR检测试剂盒开展了试验特性方面的比对研究。结果显示,17个厂家生产试剂盒的敏感性最低为77.4%,最高为96.8%,特异性最低为87.5%,最高为96.8%,均未达到100%,且有一定差别;12个厂家的试剂盒与OIE推荐引物探针检测结果一致性较好(Kappa值≥0.75),其余5个厂家的试剂盒与其一致性一般(0.4Kappa值0.75);17个厂家的试剂盒均可检测到的最低稀释度为5.9×10~3×2~(-3)拷贝/μL,但不同厂家试剂盒的最低检测限有所差别,其中5个试剂盒可检测到的最低稀释度为5.9×10~3×2~(-3)拷贝/μL,2个试剂盒为5.9×10~3×2~(-4)拷贝/μL,6个试剂盒为5.9×10~3×2~(-5)拷贝/μL,3个试剂盒为5.9×10~3×2~(-6)拷贝/μL,1个试剂盒至少为5.9×10~3×2~(-7),且大部分国产试剂盒的最低检测限比进口试剂盒低。本研究为ASFV荧光PCR检测试剂盒的筛选和比对提供了参考数据。     

猪场生物安全体系中十个通道的设计应用

2018年8月开始,非洲猪瘟在我国快速多点发生,该病是高度接触性传染性疾病,目前无有效的疫苗和药物控制,各大公司和养殖户开始了猪场生物安全体系的升级改造。两年后我国大部分猪场的成功复产,全国生猪出栏量的大幅提升,证明了生物安全措施巨大效力;同时在严格的生物安全措施下创新了精准剔除、快速复产等操作,进一步证明了生物安全措施的有效作用。文章主要介绍猪场生物安全体系中入口(大门)和出口(后门)最为关键防线处的通道设计,方便所有的生物安全操作能够高效落实,切断病原轻易进出猪场的途径。     

Socio-spatial organization reveals paternity and low kinship in the Honduran white bat (Ectophylla alba) in Costa Rica

Ectophylla alba is a tent-making bat that roosts in mixed-sex clusters comprising adults and offspring. Our goal was to determine the genetic identity of individuals belonging to different roosting groups. We tested the hypothesis of kin selection as a major force structuring group composition. We used 9 microsatellites designed for E. alba to determine the genetic identity and probability of parentage of individuals. We analyzed parentage and kinship using the software ML-Relate, GenAIEx, and Cervus. The obtained relationship probabilities (0.5) revealed a clear maternal relationship between female adults and offspring with allele compatibility, and at least 5 relationships between male adults and pups. We found a low degree of relatedness within roosting groups. Between roosting groups at different sites, the mean probability of a half-sibling relationship ranged from 0.214 to 0.244 and, for full-sibling relationship, from 0.383 to 0.553. Genetically, adult individuals were poorly related within clusters, and kinship as an evolutionary force could not explain group membership.     

卷盘式喷灌机卷盘驱动负载计算与分析

为优化卷盘式喷灌机驱动结构,研制高效卷盘喷灌机驱动器,需要对卷盘式喷灌机的卷盘负载情况进行计算和分析。为此,以软管牵引式卷盘喷灌机为对象,建立了卷盘负载转矩计算的物理模型,理论推导了在运行时的卷盘负载转矩数学计算模型。以JP50和JP75型卷盘式喷灌机为例,按推导所得数学模型进行计算,得到了运行时卷盘负载转矩随已回卷PE管长度的变化规律和估计值。计算结果表明:JP50型卷盘式喷灌机运行时最大负载转矩约为960N·m,JP75型为6 001N·m;卷盘负载转矩随已回卷长度的增加而减小,且当卷盘回卷半径变化时,负载转矩将突然变大;负载转矩的大小和变化规律只与喷灌机的参数和运行条件有关,与运行时的速度无关。     

Nanoemulsion formulation of florfenicol improves bioavailability in pigs

Nanotechnology applications in medicine have seen a tremendous growth in the past decade and are being employed to enhance the stability and bioavailability of lipophilic substances, such as florfenicol. This study aimed to examine the pharmacokinetic properties of the formulated oil‐in‐water florfenicol‐loaded nanoemulsion (FF‐NE). FF‐NE and florfenicol control (Nuflor^®) were administered to the pigs at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Nanoemulsion formulation of florfenicol was highly influenced in vivo plasma profile. The in vivo absorption study in pigs indicated that C_max (14.54 μg/mL) was significantly higher in FF‐NE, 3.42 times higher than the marketed formulation. In comparison with the control group, the relative bioavailability of formulated nanoemulsion was up to 134.5%. Assessment of bioequivalence using log‐transformed data showed that the 90% confidence intervals (90% CI) of C_max and AUC_0–∞ were 2.48–4.60 and 1.21–1.72, respectively.     

HSP90 gene expression induced by aspirin is associated with damage remission in a chicken myocardial cell culture exposed to heat stress

1. To understand the potential protection of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) induced by aspirin against heat stress damage in chicken myocardial cells, enzyme activities related to stress damage, cytopathological changes, the expression and distribution of HSP90, and HSP90 mRNA levels in the myocardial cells exposed to heat stress (42°C) for different durations with or without aspirin administration (1 mg/ml, 2 h prior) in vitro were investigated.

2. Significant increase of enzyme levels in the supernatant of heat-stressed myocardial cells and cellular lesions characterised by acute degeneration, karyopyknosis and karyorrhexis were observed, compared to non-treated cells. However, the lesions of cells treated with aspirin were milder, characterised by earlier recovery of enzyme levels to the control levels and no obvious heat stress-related cellular necrosis.

3. Stronger positive signals in the cytoplasm and longer retention of HSP90 signal in nuclei were observed in aspirin-treated myocardial cells than those of only heat-stressed cells. HSP90 level in the aspirin-treated myocardial cells was 11.1-fold higher than that in non-treated cells, and remained at a high level at the early stage of heat stress, whereas it was just 4.1-fold higher in only heat-stressed cells and returned rapidly to a low level.

4. Overexpression of HSP90 mRNA in aspirin-treated cells was observed throughout the experiment, whereas HSP90 mRNA decreased significantly only in heat-stressed cells.

5. The early higher HSP90 expression induced by aspirin during heat stress was accompanied by decreased heat stress damage, suggesting that aspirin might play an important role in preventing myocardial cells from heat stress damage in vitro.

     

Free choice feeding of whole grains in meat-type pigeons: 1. effect on performance,carcass traits and organ development

1. The effects of 5 different feeding systems on the performance, carcass traits and organ development were studied in pigeon squabs.

2. The 5 treatments were (1) whole grains of maize, pea and wheat plus concentrate feed; (2)whole grains of maize and wheat plus concentrate feed (CWC); (3) whole grains of maize and pea plus concentrate feed; (4)whole grain of maize plus concentrate feed (CC); and (5) compound feed (CF).

3. Feed intake of parent pigeons increased significantly from 0 to 21 d and it was higher in the CF treatment. Body weight of squabs in the CWC treatment was the highest among the 5 treatments in 4 weeks. Body weight losses of parental pigeons during the rearing period were not significantly different among the 5 treatments.

4. Protein intake in CC and CWC treatments was lower than that of the other three treatments. The CWC treatment had the highest daily weight gain and the lowest feed conversion ratio. Treatments were statistically similar in the relative weight of carcass, breast and thigh. CF had the lower relative weight of abdominal fat.

5. Relative weight of gizzard in the CF treatment was significantly lower than that of CWC.

6. It was concluded that the application of free choice feeding of whole grains of maize and wheat plus concentrate feed increased the body weight of 28-d-old pigeon squabs and decreased the feed conversion rate of parent pigeons. This feeding strategy could be commercially interesting in meat-type pigeon production.

     

Crop milk protein is synthesised following activation of the IRS1/Akt/TOR signalling pathway in the domestic pigeon (Columba livia)

1. The experiment was conducted to study whether insulin receptor substance 1 (IRS1) / Protein kinase B (Akt)/target of the rapamycin (TOR) signalling pathway activation stimulates crop milk protein synthesis in the domestic pigeon (Columba livia).

2. Crop milk was collected from ten 1-d-old squabs and analysed for nutrient content. During the non-breeding period and the first day of lactation, blood samples were collected from 5 pairs of breeding pigeons and the levels of prolactin and insulin were determined.

3. Crop samples were collected from 5 pairs of breeders at d 14 and 16 of the incubation period and d 1, 3 and 7 of the lactation period. Crop samples were evaluated for changes in crop weight and thickness and changes in the expression patterns of IRS1/Akt/TOR signalling pathway–related proteins.

4. The results demonstrated that prolactin induces a gradual increase in the relative weight and thickness of the crop, with crops reaching a maximum size at the third day of lactation.

5. Pigeon crop milk contains 64.1% crude protein and 29.7% crude fat based on dry weight.

6. Serum prolactin and insulin levels in the lactation period were significantly higher than those in the non-breeding period. Compared with non-breeding pigeons, the expression of the phosphorylated IRS1 phosphorylated Akt, phosphorylated TOR, phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 kinase, phosphorylated S6, phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E were significantly up-regulated in the crop of pigeons in the lactation period.

7. In conclusion, prolactin might induce changes in crop tissue and form the physiological structure for crop milk synthesis. Furthermore, the synthesis of crop milk protein is regulated by activation of the IRS1/Akt/TOR signalling pathway.

     

Immunological and pathological investigations in equine experimental uveitis

Background

The pathogenic mechanism of equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is still poorly defined and many variations between experimental animal models and spontaneous disease exist.

Objectives

The aim of our study was to investigate if Th17 cell-mediated response plays role in the pathogenesis of the used experimental model in horses and to reveal its pathological findings.

Methods

Experimental uveitis was induced in 6 healthy horses. The concentrations of retinal autoantigen CRALBP and IL-17 were measured using ELISA in aqueous humor and vitreous body of the 12 inflamed eyes as well as in 12 control non-inflamed eyes taken from 6 horses in slaughter house. After centrifugation of the two eye media, smears were prepared and cytological investigation was performed. Tissue specimens were taken from all eye globes and were submitted to histopathological investigation.

Results

CRALBP and IL-17 concentrations were significantly elevated in eye media of horses with experimental uveitis in comparison with controls. Cytological and histopathological findings corresponded to the changes characteristic of chronic immune-mediated inflammation with mononuclear cell infiltration of uvea, choroid, retina, and eye media as well as severe retinal destruction.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated the involvement of the retinal autoantigen CRALBP as well as IL-17 in the pathogenesis of experimental uveitis in horses. These findings suggests that this experimental uveitis in horses may serve as a suitable animal model for investigation of IL-17- mediated immune response during spontaneous autoimmune uveitis in horses as well as in humans.