Veterinary medicine educational requirements to meet the needs of the US Agency for International Development

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) works within the overall purpose of US foreign assistance to improve the lives of the citizens of the developing world. Through partnerships with other agencies, organizations, and governments, and using its field offices around the world, USAID strives to develop local capacity and thus build sustainable development. Two specific USAID programs pertinent to veterinary medicine are global health and agriculture. In the area of global health, veterinarians can aid USAID's work to improve the quality, availability, and use of essential health services that specifically target maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS, family planning and reproductive health, infectious diseases, environmental health, nutrition, and other life-saving areas. The challenge of making the agricultural sector in a developing country more productive is a critical one for USAID and a clear area for input from the veterinary profession. Animal agriculture is the largest single sector of agricultural economies in most developing countries, and livestock remains a critical component of poverty alleviation. There are educational requirements that benefit anyone working at USAID and can be met prior to admittance to a DVM program, as part of a DVM curriculum, or in post-graduate training/employment, such as proficiency in a foreign language; environmental sciences background; familiarity with accounting and management techniques; expertise in foreign animal diseases, zoonotic diseases, epidemiology, food safety, and nutrition, as well as the application to human health of those areas; an advanced degree such as an MPH; and management experience. Appropriately trained veterinarians can make enormous contributions to USAID's global efforts to improve the health and agriculture sectors of developing nations.     

Ghrelin在绵羊卵母细胞体外成熟过程中对BCL-2、BAX的mRNA表达的影响

为了探讨Ghrelin在绵羊卵母细胞体外成熟过程中与BCL-2、BAX的相关性及Ghrelin在绵羊卵母细胞成熟过程中可能的作用机理,试验在绵羊卵母细胞成熟液中添加500 ng/mL Ghrelin,采用实时荧光定量PCR分别在0,8,16,24小时时检测卵母细胞BCL-2、BAX的表达量。结果表明:试验组添加Ghrelin后8,16小时时卵母细胞BCL-2 mRNA相对表达量显著升高(P<0.05),但成熟后16,24小时时较8小时时有下降趋势;下降到24小时时,其表达量与0小时时没有显著变化(P>0.05);8,16小时时试验组与对照组比较差异显著(P<0.05),0,24小时时差异不显著(P>0.05)。试验组添加Ghrelin后8,16,24小时卵母细胞BAX mRNA相对表达量较0小时时下降,且差异显著(P<0.05),但成熟后16,24小时时与8小时时比较有上升趋势;在8,16小时时试验组较对照组BAX mRNA相对表达量均有所下降,且差异有显著性(P<0.05),而在0,24小时时差异不显著(P>0.05)。说明Ghrelin在绵羊卵母细胞成熟过程中与BCL-2和BAX的表达存在相关性,推测Ghrelin在卵母细胞成熟过程中存在积极调控作用。     

阿勒泰地区疣枝桦育苗技术

疣枝桦是阿勒泰地区广泛分布的乡土树种,文章简要介绍了疣枝桦在阿勒泰地区的分布、生物学特性以及播种繁殖过程,其中包括采种、种子处理、播种前的整地、播种、苗期管理等。文章阐述了疣枝桦育苗技术措施,在生产实践中具有较强的可操作性。     

Determination of deoxynivalenol and nivalenol chemotypes of Fusarium culmorum isolates from England and Wales by PCR assay

Functioning Tri13 and Tri7 genes are required for the production of nivalenol and 4-acetyl nivalenol, respectively, in Fusarium species producing type B trichothecenes. Mutations have been identified in isolates which are able to produce deoxynivalenol (DON) but unable to convert this to nivalenol (NIV). In such isolates of Fusarium culmorum , the Tri7 gene is deleted entirely. PCR assays specific for functional and nonfunctional/deleted versions of Tri7 and Tri13 were used to determine the ability of 153 single spore isolates of F. culmorum to produce the 8-ketotrichothecenes deoxynivalenol and nivalenol. The isolates were collected from 76 different locations across England and Wales between 1994 and 2002. Four isolates were also obtained from one field in Scotland. Both DON and NIV chemotypes of F. culmorum were identified, with DON chemotypes predominating overall. In addition, all DON chemotypes were shown to produce 3-acetyl DON using primer sets developed to Tri3 . From fields where more than one F. culmorum isolate was obtained, isolates were not exclusively of a single chemotype. Differences in the distribution of DON and NIV chemotypes were identified, with a greater proportion of NIV chemotypes present in the south and west of England and Wales, whereas a greater proportion of DON chemotypes were found in the north and east of England. Seasonal differences in the ratio of DON:NIV chemotypes were indicated. However, these were related to seasonal variation in the distribution of F. culmorum .     

几种生态因子对红砂和霸王种子萌发与幼苗生长的影响

自然条件下进行了土壤温度、水分、播深及覆沙地境对红砂和霸王种子萌发与幼苗生长的效应研究,结果显示,模拟阵雨期(人工洒水)覆沙和未覆沙试验小区白天播种层土壤温度均较高,尤其中午(14:00)覆沙小区1和4 cm播种层土壤温度平均值分别高达43.2和37.3℃,未覆沙小区分别高达38.0和33.6℃.高温引发种子次生休眠是该期红砂和霸王种子不能萌发的主要原因.而且播种层土壤含水量日内下降十分明显,其中覆沙和未覆沙小区1 cm土层平均土壤含水量下降至0.11%和2.62%,也会引发种子产生次生休眠,成为红砂和霸王种子不能萌发的另一原因.自然连续降水期2种试验小区播种层平均土壤温度适宜,播种层土壤含水量高而稳定,满足了红砂和霸王种子萌发的适宜温度和较高水势的条件.因此,在干旱荒漠区进行荒漠草地的人工辅助建植,需要依靠连续性降水过程.自然条件下霸王发芽率最高的播深处理在覆沙小区为2 cm、未覆沙小区为1 cm;在2种试验小区内霸王幼苗生物量最大的播深处理均为2和3 cm.覆沙较未覆沙地境有利于霸王种子萌发和幼苗的生长.播种当年霸王地上生物量为红砂的75～117倍.     

Leucoencephalomyelopathy in Australian Rottweiler dogs

Clinical and pathological studies of a neurological disorder of 3 adult Rottweiler dogs are described. Dogs developed proprioceptive losses involving the limbs, leading to progressively worsening ataxia and hypermetria. Blood and CSF fluid analyses were normal and radiographs and myelograms showed no compressive lesions of the spinal cord. At necropsy, severe demyelination of the dorsal and lateral funiculi of the cervical spinal cord was visible grossly. Microscopically there was more extensive, symmetrical involvement of the spinal cord and brain than was apparent grossly, with demyelination of white matter tracts and sparing of axons in affected areas. These changes were considered diagnostic for leucoencephalomyelopathy. This condition has not been previously reported in Australia, and is probably transmitted genetically, presumably as an autosomal recessive trait.     

内蒙古镶黄旗草原生态环境退化原因及可持续发展

以内蒙古自治区草原生态环境严重恶化、经济落后的镶黄旗为研究对象，通过对制约镶黄旗草原生态系统可持续发展的因素进行分析，并结合镶黄旗实际情况，提出适合该区域草原生态环境及经济可持续发展的思路和对策。     

Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty for treatment of pulmonic stenosis in a dog

A 2.5-year-old dog with congenital pulmonary valve dysplasia was treated by percutaneous balloon dilation of the stenotic orifice. Clinical and hemodynamic improvement was apparent immediately and for 9 months after the valvuloplasty procedure.