Prevalence of anthelmintic resistance on sheep farms in New Zealand

AIM: To establish the prevalence of anthelmintic resistance in parasitic nematodes on sheep farms in New Zealand.

METHODS: A cross-sectional prevalence study was conducted, using a standardised faecal nematode egg count (FEC) reduction (FECR) test (FECRT) for ivermectin, at a full (0.2 mg/kg) and half (0.1 mg/kg) dose rate, and albendazole, levamisole and albendazole-levamisole in combination, on 60 lambs (n=10 per group) on farms selected from throughout New Zealand. Farms that conformed with selection criteria were chosen at random (n=80) or with a history of suspected resistance to macrocy- clic lactone (ML) anthelmintics (n=32). Resistance to an an- thelmintic was inferred when there was <95% reduction in FEC 7-10 days after treatment. Larval cultures were performed for all control groups and for treated groups for which resistance was evident.

RESULTS: Of the farms randomly selected, 36% showed ≥95% FECR for all anthelmintics tested; resistance to ivermectin at 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg liveweight was evident on 36% and 25% of these farms, respectively. Resistance to both ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg) and levamisole was evident on 8/80 (10%) farms, to ivermectin and albendazole on 10/80 (13%) farms, and to iver- mectin, levamisole and albendazole on 6/80 (8%) farms. The prevalence of resistance to a half dose of ivermectin tended to be more prevalent on farms with a history of suspected ML resistance (p=0.06). Resistance to albendazole was seen across all the main parasite genera, and to levamisole in Nematodirus, Ostertagia (= Teladorsagia) and Trichostrongylus species. Resistance to ivermectin was dominated by Ostertagia spp, although Cooperia, Nematodirus and Trichostrongylus species were also implicated.

CONCLUSION: Anthelmintic resistance in parasitic nema-todes of sheep is common in New Zealand. Not only was resistance to albendazole and levamisole common, but resistance to the ML, ivermectin, was at a higher prevalence than expected. Sheep farmers and advisors in New Zealand need to re-evaluate the way they manage parasites, and more research is urgently needed if the steady decline in anthelmintic susceptibility is to be halted.     

Mucopolysaccharidosis type VI in a Miniature Poodle-type dog caused by a deletion in the arylsulphatase B gene

Abstract

AIM: To investigate and characterise an inborn error of metabolism in a dog with skeletal and ocular abnormalities.

METHODS: A 2.5-year-old small male Miniature Poodle-like dog was presented with gross joint laxity and bilateral corneal opacities. Clinical examination was augmented by routine haematology, serum chemistry, radiographs, pathology, enzymology and molecular genetic studies. Euthanasia was requested when the dog was 3 years of age because of progressively decreasing quality of life.

RESULTS: Radiology revealed generalised epiphyseal dysplasia, malformed vertebral bodies, luxation/subluxation of appendicular and lumbosacral joints with hypoplasia of the odontoid process and hyoid apparatus. These clinical and radiographic findings, together with a positive urinary Berry spot test for mucopolysaccharides, and metachromatic granules in leucocytes, were indicative of a mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS), a lysosomal storage disease. Histological lesions included vacuolation of stromal cells of the cornea, fibroblasts, chondrocytes, macrophages and renal cells. The brain was essentially normal except for moderate secondary Wallerian-type degeneration in motor and sensory tracts of the hind brain. Dermatan sulphate-uria was present and enzymology revealed negligible activity of N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulphatase, also known as arylsulphatase B, in cultured fibroblasts and liver tissue. A novel homozygous 22 base pair (bp) deletion in exon 1 of this enzyme's gene was identified (c.103_124del), which caused aframe-shift and subsequent premature stop codon. The “Wisdom pure breed-mixed breed” test reported the dog as a cross between a Miniature and Toy Poodle.

CONCLUSIONS: The clinicopathological features are similar to those of MPS type VI as previously described in dogs, cats and other species, and this clinical diagnosis was confirmed by enzymology and molecular genetic studies. This is an autosomal recessively inherited lysosomal storage disease.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The prevalence of MPS VI in Miniature or Toy Poodles in New Zealand and elsewhere is currently unknown. Due to the congenital nature of the disorder, malformed pups may be subject to euthanasia without investigation and the potential genetic problem in the breed may not be fully recognised. The establishment of a molecular genetic test now permits screening for this mutation as a basis to an informed breeding policy.     

Relationships between electrocardiographic findings, racing performance and training in Standardbred horses

SUMMARY The presence of abnormal T waves in three or more electrocardiographic leads has been used to diagnose the cause of poor race performance in horses. This study investigated the relationship between previous racing performance in Standardbred horses and T waves, and the effect of training on the T wave. Thirty-two horses were electrocardiographed in two Sydney racing stables. Sixteen horses (50%) had ECGs with three or more leads with abnormal T waves, and these horses had won more races, had a greater ratio of wins per start and a greater number of dollars earned per start than horses with less than three abnormal T waves (P < 0.05). Horses with abnormal T waves also had significantly faster racing times (P < 0.01). There were significant (P < 0.01) correlations between the number of abnormal T waves and both number of wins (R = 0.47) and dollars earned per start (R = 0.45). Fastest winning mile rate was also negatively correlated with number of leads with abnormal T waves (R =?0.52, P < 0.01). Twenty two horses were also electrocardiographed within seven days of good racing performance. The mean number of abnormal T waves was 2.7 ± 0.41, and the mean T wave amplitude in the four chest leads (CV, CR, CL, CF) was 0.9 ± 0.15 mV. Thirteen horses (59%) had abnormal T waves in three or more leads. The effect of training on the T wave was also investigated in nine previously untrained and unraced Standardbred racehorses. There were significant effects of training (P < 0.01) on the number of abnormal T waves and mean chest lead T wave amplitude. These increases occurred in the second phase of training during which faster exercise, race trials and racing were conducted. We concluded that abnormal T waves are a common finding in the race-fit Standardbred horse, and can be found in more than 50% of horses currently performing well in races. In addition, chest lead T waves become more positive after training.     

4株Ⅰ亚群禽腺病毒分离株对SPF雏鸡的致病性研究

【目的】探究Ⅰ亚群禽腺病毒(Fowl adenovirus, FAdV)分离株GDDL-4(FAdV-4)、GDB3-8a(FAdV-8a)、GDT08-8b(FAdV-8b)、GDWYT-11(FAdV-11)对SPF雏鸡的致病性,进而制定更加有效的防控措施。【方法】设立4个攻毒组(GDDL-4、GDB3-8a、GDT08-8b、GDWYT-11)及对照组,攻毒组选择腿部肌内注射接种0.2 mL 10⁵ TCID₅₀病毒液,对照组接种等体积PBS。接种后观察SPF雏鸡的临床症状、剖检病变及组织病理学变化,同时检测其排毒量和病毒载量。【结果】所有攻毒组鸡均表现为精神沉郁、消瘦、扎堆等,病理剖检以严重心包积液-包涵体肝炎综合征病变为主,其中GDDL-4组症状最为严重,死亡率最高达85%,总体死亡率在0～85%之间。排毒分析结果发现,GDDL-4和GDB3-8a组出现高滴度排毒(≥10⁴拷贝/μL),GDT08-8b和GDWYT-11组仅能检测到低滴度(≤10³拷贝/μL)排毒。器官指数表明,除GDT0...     

尼罗罗非鱼无乳链球菌Sip蛋白乳酸菌活载体口服疫苗的研制及其免疫效果

链球菌病是威胁我国罗非鱼养殖产业健康发展的重要病害之一。为研制出免疫效果好、操作简便的罗非鱼链球菌病疫苗,本研究构建重组表达无乳链球菌Sip蛋白的穿梭质粒pNZ8124-Sip,通过酶切和测序验证后电转化乳酸乳球菌NZ9000,获得能够诱导重组表达无乳链球菌Sip蛋白的乳酸菌活菌载体疫苗。采用SPS-PAGE电泳摸索最佳诱导浓度和诱导时间以获得最大表达量,通过镍柱纯化目的蛋白并进行Western blot检测;利用不同浓度的重组乳酸菌活载体疫苗灌胃口服免疫尼罗罗非鱼,采用间接ELISA法测定免疫后血清抗体水平变化,通过人工腹腔注射感染无乳链球菌获得相对免疫保护率。研究结果显示,构建的重组乳酸乳球菌可通过nisin诱导表达大小为48 ku特异性蛋白,与目的蛋白大小一致;PAGE电泳显示,重组蛋白主要以可溶蛋白和包涵体2种形式存在,其中胞内可溶性蛋白浓度达7.65 mg/mL;诱导表达的最佳条件为100 ng/mL nisin诱导6 h;Western blot检测结果显示,诱导蛋白可与鼠抗His标签抗体特异性结合。口服免疫结果显示,中浓度组(2.24×10~(10) CFU/mL)和低浓度组(2.24×10~9 CFU/mL)免疫2次能够显著提高尼罗罗非鱼的血清抗体水平和抗无乳链球菌感染能力,中浓度免疫组的相对免疫保护率最高为41.0%。本研究可为罗非鱼链球菌病口服疫苗的研究奠定基础,具有广阔的应用前景。     

直膨式太阳能热泵用于温室番茄根际-空气加温的试验研究

针对直膨式太阳能热泵所集热能利用率低,温室加温不足的问题,采用直膨式太阳能热泵为集热系统,根际-空气加温为放热系统,对大跨度主动蓄能型温室在不同天气仅根际加温和根际与空气同时加温的加温效果,集、放热系统运行性能,集热效率,热能利用率,节能率和集热系统的优化运行模式进行研究。结果表明:1)连续阴天和连续晴天,放热系统的热能利用率分别高于97.2%和92.7%;2)不同天气试验区的根际温度在17.9℃以上,比对照区高1.5℃,空气温度在11.6℃以上,比对照区高3.6℃,相对湿度在90.8%以下,比对照区低3.2%;3)不同天气整套系统的节能率R在47.2%以上,性能系数在1.9以上;4)不同天气集热系统均能在设定时间内达到设定集热温度目标,且其集热性能系数COPc在2.3以上,其集热效率在149.6%以上;5)9:30—11:30集热系统COPc随太阳辐射强度的增大,从1.4增大至3.0,11:30—14:50集热系统的集热性能系数均高于3.8,15:10以后,蓄热水池水温高于47℃时,集热性能系数由3.2最终降至0.8。该研究表明根际与空气结合的加温方式不仅提高了温室加温效果,还提高了热能利用率和直膨式太阳能热泵的集热性能。此外,根据集热条件调节集热系统的运行模式,可提高集热性能,达到温室加温节能的目的。     

常用农药对湛江红江橙和广州九里香柑桔木虱种群的室内药效

柑桔木虱(Diaphiorina citri Kuwayama)是柑桔黄龙病最重要的媒介昆虫,对其进行严格防控是阻延黄龙病传播的有效手段.采用室内药效测定方法,测定了 12种常用农药(采用生产上常用浓度)对广东重要柑桔品种红江橙(Citrus sinensis'Hongjiangcheng')和广州园林植物九里香(Mu...     

蒸压条件下废玻璃的水热特性研究

利用 X 射线衍射分析、扫描电子显微镜、红外光谱、力学性能等方法研究了不同蒸压条件下废玻璃石灰系统的强度。结果显示,不同细度废玻璃粉石灰蒸压制品的强度有较大差异,废玻璃粉用作蒸压制品存在最佳细度。废玻璃粉氢氧化钙系统的主要产物为含钾、钠的水化硅酸盐(Ca,Na_2,K_2)_2S_i4O_(10)·3H_2O,它的出现表明系统中 K~ 和 Na 并不能循环使用下去。蒸压处理16h 后形成结晶良好的水化产物,但其蒸压制品强度会下降,其原因是结晶差的水化硅酸盐大量形成、试样内部疏松结构与致密结构的分离而出现大量微裂纹造成的。     

五种鬼伞过氧化物酶和酯酶的同工酶研究

应用垂直板聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳对五种野生鬼伞 (Coprinus)真菌进行了过氧化物酶 (POD)和酯酶(EST)的同工酶分析 ,结果表明 :五种鬼伞的POD和EST同工酶酶谱比较稳定清晰 ,且分别有一条共同的酶带 ,可能是鬼伞属的POD和EST同工酶特征酶带 ;POD和EST同工酶酶谱均表明 ,家园鬼伞 (C .domesticus)和瓦鳞鬼伞 (C .clavatus)间有较近的亲缘关系 ;不同种鬼伞的POD和EST同工酶之间既有共同的特征 ,又各自有本物种的特有特征 ,POD和EST同工酶酶谱可以作为鬼伞属种类鉴定、亲缘关系比较的重要依据。