Autochthonous Dirofilaria immitis infection in a ferret with aberrant larval migration in Europe

A two-year-old male ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was presented to the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, for investigation of somnolence. Following unsuccessful therapeutic attempts, the ferret was euthanased and a male Dirofilaria immitis worm was found in the pulmonary artery and a female D. immitis specimen in the subdural space of the cranial cavity. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first European record of D. immitis infection in a ferret, and the first case in which aberrant larval migration and consequent central nervous system signs were observed in a ferret in the course of D. immitis infection.     

Determination of 3,5,3′-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) levels in tissues of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) and the effect of low ambient pH and aluminum

Tissue T₃ (3,5,3′-triiodo-L-thyronine) concentrations were measured in rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, after digestion by Pronase or collagenase and extraction with ethanolic ammonia (99:1, v/v) followed by 2N NH₄OH and chloroform. Recoveries of [¹²⁵I]T₃ administered in vivo or in vitro were high and consistent and there was close parallelism between sample dilutions and the radioimmunoassay curve, but recoveries of unlabeled T₃ administered in vitro were low and variable. Alternatively, trout were brought to isotopic equilibrium by [¹²⁵I]T₃ infusion for 96 h, the extracted [¹²⁵I]T₃ determined by gel filtration and the tissue T₃ content calculated from the specific activity of plasma [¹²⁵I]T₃. By the latter method, tissue T₃ concentrations were: intestine (4.2 ng/g), kidney (2.5), liver (2.8), stomach (1.5), heart (1.0), muscle (0.7), gill (0.6) and skin (0.3). Muscle (67% of body weight) comprised the largest tissue T₃ pool (82% of all tissues examined). Seven days exposure of trout to water acidified with H₂SO₄ (pH 4.8) or acidified water containing aluminum (21.6 mM), decreased tissue T₃ content generally and particularly in muscle (14% of controls). In conclusion, skeletal muscle is the largest T₃ tissue pool and seems highly responsive to altered physiologic state.     

Canine neosporosis in Hungary: screening for seroconversion of household, herding and stray dogs

In order to assess the seroprevalence of canine neosporosis 651 blood samples were collected from 586 household, 41 herding and 24 stray dogs, at small animal clinics in four large cities and other places of Hungary. Nineteen (2.9%) showed positivity in the IFAT with titres between 1:80 and 1:10240. Two dogs with high titres of antibodies to Neospora caninum had neuromuscular signs (imbalance, tremor) and a further one developed papulomatous, ulcerative and necrotizing dermatitis. There was no correlation between titers and age, sex, breed or keeping place. Although more male dogs had antibodies to N. caninum than females in case of both household and herding dogs, this association was not significant. No breed predisposition was observed. However, dogs with seroconversion were significantly more prevalent among rural (6%) than among urban dogs (1%), indicating that dogs in the countryside may have contact with or access to potentially infected offal from cattle and other intermediate hosts more frequently than those in large cities. Furthermore, significantly more herding dogs (29.3%) had antibodies to N. caninum than household dogs (1.2%), confirming the association between the occurrence of neosporosis and dog keeping on farms. The 12 dogs found seropositive among herding ones lived on 6 farms, on 5 of which seropositive cattle were also identified. This is the first report on the prevalence of N. caninum infection in dogs in Hungary.     

转基因作物对农户生计影响的实证分析——以转基因抗虫棉为例

在对河北主产棉区农户实地调查基础上,采用典型相关分析方法分析了种植转基因抗虫棉对农户家庭生计的影响。结果表明:棉花收入和农户家庭教育支出及医疗保健支出相关系数较大,对农民增加家庭收入起到了积极作用。但由于农户对转基因技术的不了解和相关信息的缺乏,使转基因抗虫棉效益的发挥受到一定的限制,政府等相关部门应采取相应措施加强对转基因抗虫棉的管理,使其真正成为农业生产系统的重要组分。     

多环芳烃污染土壤的微生物与植物联合修复研究进展

通过对江西省余江县洪湖乡历史资料的分析,结合农户经济行为调查,阐述了典型红壤丘陵区农作系统的演变过程及其特征,并且针对农业生产中存在的问题,提出解决对策。分析结果表明,20世纪50年代以前,长江中下游流域农作系统的演变过程可以分为丘陵和河谷砂性水稻土的游垦系统-雨季水稻耕作系统-水旱轮作系统3个阶段。20世纪50年代以后,江西省余江县洪湖乡农作系统的演变分为农业革命和现有系统2个阶段,粮食安全驱动和生存型经济福利驱动是其演变的主要驱动力。80年代以来,随着经济的发展,一部分农作系统演变为可持续再生产型,但需要较高的劳力和资金投入,并且有物价和农业政策等方面的风险。目前发展区域可持续农业需要解决的关键问题是优化农林牧副渔结构、扩大土地经营规模、增加种粮比较效益、促进信贷资金使用、提高劳力素质。     

转基因抗虫棉对农户生产行为的影响分析

以河北主产棉区340个农户2002-2003年的问卷调查和关键人物访谈为依据,分析了转基 因抗虫棉对农户生产行为的影响。结果表明,转基因抗虫棉的应用影响或改变了农户的植棉意向、抗 虫棉种子选择,棉田害虫防治及植棉技术需求等生产行为。     

Toxoplasmosis in Tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii) in the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden (2006-2010)

Smaller macropodid species (commonly referred to as wallabies) are extremely susceptible to toxoplasmosis: in most cases, infection with Toxoplasma gondii leads to death within a short time. Between June 2006 and July 2010, T. gondii was detected by immunohistochemical examination in six Tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii) that died in the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden; in another four specimens histopathology revealed T. gondii-like organisms (which could not be differentiated from Neospora caninum solely by morphology), and in another 11 animals toxoplasmosis as the possible cause of death could not be excluded. The current zoo population of 12 Tammar wallabies was tested for T. gondii IgG antibodies by the modified agglutination test (MAT), with negative results. We suppose that most of the deaths were due to acute toxoplasmosis resulting from a recent infection.     

The Application of GGE Biplot Analysis for Evaluat ng Test Locations and Mega-Environment Investigation of Cotton Regional Trials

In the process to the marketing of cultivars, identification of superior test locations within multi-environment variety trial schemes is of critical relevance. It is relevant to breeding organizations as well as to governmental organizations in charge of cultivar registration. Where competition among breeding companies exists, effective and fair multi-environment variety trials are of utmost importance to motivate investment in breeding. The objective of this study was to use genotype main effect plus genotype by environment interaction (GGE) biplot analysis to evaluate test locations in terms of discrimination ability, representativeness and desirability, and to investigate the presence of multiple mega-environments in cotton production in the Yangtze River Valley (YaRV), China. Four traits (cotton lint yield, fiber length, lint breaking tenacity, micronaire) and two composite selection indices were considered. It was found that the assumption of a single mega-environment in the YaRV for cotton production does not hold. The YaRV consists of three cotton mega-environments: a main one represented by 11 locations and two minor ones represented by two test locations each. This demands that the strategy of cotton variety registration or recommendation must be adjusted. GGE biplot analysis has also led to the identification of test location superior for cotton variety evaluation. Although test location desirable for selecting different traits varied greatly, Jinzhou, Hubei Province, China, was found to be desirable for selecting for all traits considered while Jianyang, Sichuan Province, China, was found to be desirable for none.     

Purification and sequence analysis of bioactive atrial peptides (atriopeptins)

Mammalian cardiac atria have several biologically active peptides that exert profound effects on sodium excretion, urine volume, and smooth muscle tone. In the present study two such peptides of low molecular weight were purified and separated from each other on the basis of differences in charge, hydrophobicity, and biological profile. The first peptide, designated atriopeptin I, exhibits natriuretic and diuretic activity and selectivity relaxes intestinal smooth muscle but not vascular smooth muscle strips. The second peptide, atriopeptin II, is a potent natriuretic and diuretic that relaxes both intestinal and vascular strips. Sequence analysis of atriopeptin I indicates that it is composed of 21 amino acids, of which serine and glycine residues predominate. The amino terminal sequence of atriopeptin II up to residue 21 is the same as that of atriopeptin I, with the addition of the Phe-Arg extension at the carboxyl terminus. Both peptides appear to be derived from a common high molecular weight precursor (designated atriopeptigen); their biological selectivity and potency may be determined by the site of carboxyl terminal cleavage.