Clinical characteristics and mode of inheritance of familial focal seizures in Standard Poodles

OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical characteristics and mode of inheritance of seizures in a family of Standard Poodles. DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: 90 Standard Poodles descended from the same maternal bloodline (30 with probable idiopathic epilepsy [PIE] and 60 without any history of seizures). PROCEDURES: Researchers contacted owners to determine whether dogs had ever had any seizures and, if so, the nature of any such seizures and any potential underlying causes. Dogs were considered to have PIE if they were between 6 months and 7.5 years old at the time of seizure onset and had no evidence of any underlying cause. To determine the mode of inheritance, segregation analyses were designed to allow the family to be analyzed as a whole, as opposed to as nuclear families. Competing models of inheritance were compared statistically for their ability to explain the data. RESULTS: Of the dogs with PIE, 28 (93%) had focal onset seizures with or without secondary generalization. Median age of onset was 3.7 years; 6 dogs were > 5 years old at the onset of seizures. Segregation analyses strongly suggested that PIE was inherited as a simple recessive autosomal trait with complete or almost complete penetrance. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that in this family of Standard Poodles, PIE was inherited as a simple recessive autosomal trait with complete or almost complete penetrance. Seizures often had focal, as opposed to generalized, onsets, and it was not uncommon for seizures to begin after 5 years of age.     

Purification and characterization of feline ghrelin and its possible role

Ghrelin, a novel 28-amino acid peptide with an n-octanoyl modification at Ser3, has been isolated from rat and human stomach as an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. Here, we purified feline ghrelin and examined its possible physiological role in cats. The major active form of feline ghrelin is a 28-amino acid peptide octanoylated (C8:0) at Ser3; except for one amino acid residue replacement, this structure is identical to those of rat and human ghrelins. However, much structural divergence in peptide length and fatty acid modification was observed in feline ghrelin: peptides consisting of 27 or 26 amino acids lacking Gln14 and/or Arg28 were found, and the third serine residue was modified by octanoic acid (C8:0), decanoic acid (10:0), or unsaturated fatty acids (C8:1, C10:1 and C10:2). In agreement with the structural divergence, two kinds of cDNA with different lengths were isolated. Administration of synthetic rat ghrelin increased plasma growth hormone levels in cats, with a potency similar to that in rat or human. Plasma levels of ghrelin in cats increased approximately 2.5-fold after fasting. The present study indicates the existence of structural divergence in feline ghrelin and suggests that, as in other animals, ghrelin may play important roles in GH release and feeding in cats.     

Evaluation of immunogenicity and protective efficacy of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae HB04C(-) mutant lacking a drug resistance marker in the pigs

Previously, we reported the construction and characterization of a genetically defined Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (A. pleuropneumoniae) apxIIC gene mutant, HB04C(-), which conferred protection to mice against infection with A. pleuropneumoniae. In this study, we further evaluated HB04C(-) for safety and its ability to elicit protective immunity in pigs. It was demonstrated that a dose of 2 x 10(8) CFU HB04C(-) was safe to the pigs via intranasal or intramuscular injection. Immunization with a dose of 2 x 10(8) HB04C(-) by both intranasal and intramuscular routine could yield equal protective efficacy and elicited significant protection against experiment challenge with homologous or heterologous serotypes of a virulent A. pleuropneumonia. Taken together, HB04C(-) might serve as a promising vaccine candidate against infection with A. pleuropneumoniae.     

Hypertrophic osteopathy associated with disseminated metastases of renal cell carcinoma in the dog: a case report

A 6-year-old, mixed breed, intact male dog showed signs of left carpal joint swelling and weakness of the forelimbs one month before presentation. The symptoms gradually progressed to bilateral carpal and tarsal joint swelling and tetraparalysis. There were a number of radiographically identified lytic-proliferative bone lesions noted on the axial skeleton. Hypertrophic osteopathy of the metacarpi and all distal long bones was also evident. Because of the deteriorating quality of life and guarded prognosis, the patient was euthanized and a complete necropsy was performed. Renal cell carcinoma, with metastasis to the lung, thoracic vertebrae, ribs, and the right adrenal gland, was diagnosed. To our knowledge, renal cell carcinoma with bone metastases and hypertrophic osteopathy has not been reported in dogs.     

Surgical outcome and ocular complications of evisceration and intraocular prosthesis implantation in dogs with end stage glaucoma: a review of 20 cases

Surgical outcome and complications following evisceration and implantation of intraocular silicone prosthesis (ISP) in 20 canine eyes with end-stage glaucoma were analyzed, including clinical signs, complications, cosmetic appearance, and owners' responses. The mean postoperative follow-up time was 312 days. Major short-term surgical complications were central corneal ulceration (6/20) and infections (3/20), while long-term complication was keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) (2/20). All patient owners (100%) showed satisfied with the surgical outcome and postoperative cosmetic effect including 85% of the owners gave an excellent or good rating of satisfaction. No more medication needed for long term control except the KCS cases. With careful case selection and post-operative care, evisceration with ISP implantation proves a good and safe surgical procedure with minimal complications for end stage glaucoma.     

四种替代药剂对梨火疫病菌的抑制活性及其田间防效

为筛选农用链霉素替代药剂,以其为对照药剂,测定春雷霉素、中生菌素、噻霉酮和噻菌铜这4种常用细菌病害防治药剂对梨火疫病菌Erwinia amylovora的抑制活性、对梨火疫病的田间防效及不同药剂处理后梨中的农药残留,并对这4种药剂的作物安全性进行评价。结果表明,中生菌素、噻霉酮和春雷霉素对梨火疫病菌有抑制作用,抑制中浓度EC50分别为1.60、6.64和60.57 mg/L,中生菌素的抑制效果高于链霉素。在连续2年田间试验中,中生菌素1 000倍液和春雷霉素400倍液对梨火疫病的保护效果和治疗效果均达90.33%以上,噻霉酮500倍液和噻菌铜200倍液对梨火疫病的保护效果均达100.00%,治疗效果均超过86.97%,与对照药剂农用链霉素2 000倍液的效果相当。所有药剂处理后均未检出中生菌素、春雷霉素、高效氯氰菊酯和农用链霉素的农药残留,而噻虫嗪、阿维菌素和矮壮素虽有检出,但其残留量均低于国家限量标准。花期前后、幼果期和果实膨大期施药,中生菌素、春雷霉素、噻霉酮和噻菌铜对梨花、叶片、枝梢及果实生长均无不良影响。综合来看,中生菌素、春雷霉素、噻霉酮和噻菌铜均可作为农用链霉素的替代药剂,...     

短期围栏封育对高寒草甸植物群落及土壤理化性质的影响

充分了解围栏封育对植物群落及土壤理化性质的影响,是合理制定草甸恢复和利用相关政策、促进当地畜牧业经济可持续发展的关键。本研究通过对西藏三江并流区封育2年的高寒草甸的群落样方调查与土壤理化性质测定,结果表明,比较自由放牧,围封后地上和地下生物量分别提高26.24%和8.94%,但物种多样性指数略有下降;围封后土壤电导率、盐度和总溶解固体分别下降26.50%,29.03%,30.15%;围栏内地上生物量与土壤盐度、总溶解固体、电导率呈显著正相关(P<0.05),地下生物量与硝态氮、温度呈显著正相关(P<0.05);围栏外地下生物量与介电常数、体积含水率呈显著负相关(P<0.05),与铵态氮呈显著正相关(P<0.05)。研究结果表明,2年短期围封对高寒草甸植物群落及其土壤理化性质均有一定改善,可以作为应对草甸退化的干扰手段与管理措施。     

贮藏时间与蒙药黄芩对紫花苜蓿草颗粒维生素和化学成分的影响

为有效保全苜蓿草颗粒贮藏过程中维生素及营养品质,本研究以紫花苜蓿草颗粒为研究材料,研究贮藏时间(0,60,120,180,240 d,冷冻240 d)与蒙药黄芩(0%,0.5%,1.0%,1.5%)对其维生素含量和营养品质的影响。结果表明：在贮藏过程中,与其他添加量相比,添加1.5%黄芩有利于保存苜蓿草颗粒维生素B5、维生素C和α-维生素E含量。贮藏60 d及以上显著降低了苜蓿草颗粒维生素B1、维生素B3、维生素C和维生素E含量;贮藏120 d时苜蓿草颗粒DM含量趋于稳定;苜蓿草颗粒贮藏180 d后其CP含量显著降低;贮藏0～180 d期间,随着贮藏时间的延长,苜蓿草颗粒NDF和ADF含量显著升高。与常温贮藏240 d相比,冷冻贮藏相同时间有利于保存苜蓿草颗粒中维生素B1、维生素B5、α-维生素E和OM含量,显著降低DM、NDF和ADF含量。因此,1.5%黄芩添加剂有利于保存苜蓿草颗粒维生素含量,且常温贮藏时间不宜超过60天。     

基于ISSR分子标记的紫云英种质资源遗传多样性及结构分析

紫云英(Astragalus sinicus L.)是我国重要的稻田绿肥作物,为揭示不同地区种质资源遗传特征,本研究利用ISSR分子标记对77份紫云英种质资源进行了遗传多样性及结构分析。研究发现,77份供试紫云英种质资源遗传相似性系数为0.567 7～0.868 6,可划分为6个聚类。不同地区群体间分化系数为0.136 3,达到极显著水平(P<0.001),其中种群间变异占比13.9%,种群内变异占比86.1%。不同ISSR引物扩增信息鉴别紫云英资源的能力存在差异,构建了以P809第3,8,9,10,12,15扩增位点以及P886第1,3,5,9,10,11扩增位点为特征的指纹图谱,能有效区分77份供试紫云英资源。以资源所在省份为单元进行群体分析,供试紫云英资源遗传结构呈现分化特征,河南-安徽-江苏-上海资源遗传结构相似,构成北方亚群;四川-广西-湖南-江西资源相似,构成西南方亚群;福建种质资源则呈现混合型特征。本研究结果可为我国紫云英种质资源的科学利用及新品种选育提供依据。     

分子标记技术及其在稻瘟病抗性基因中的应用

分子标记技术是近20年发展起来的一种分子生物学技术，具有准确度高、多态性高、表现共显性等特点。根据检测手段的不同，分子标记技术可分为以DNA-DNA杂交为基础、以PCR技术为基础、以DNA杂交和PCR技术相结合为基础和以单核苷酸多态性为基础的4种类型分子标记技术。研究者利用各种分子标记技术已鉴定出30多个水稻抗稻瘟病基因，并进行了基因定位，其中抗稻瘟病基因Pi-ta和Pi-b已被克隆。本文简要介绍了多种分子标记技术及其在抗稻瘟病基因研究中的应用进展。