Cytokine gene expression in ileal tissues of cattle infected with Mycobacterium paratuberculosis

Cytokine gene expression in ileal tissues of cattle infected with Mycobacterium paratuberculosis was evaluated. The effects of infection with M. paratuberculosis on cytokine production may influence immune regulation at the site of colonization, resulting in the chronic inflammatory state associated with the latter stages of this disease. Ileal samples were obtained at necropsy from noninfected control cows (n=8) and clinically infected cows (n=7) and processed for immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Cows infected with M. paratuberculosis were in the latter stages of disease with clinical signs such as weight loss, watery diarrhea, and inappetence. Among cytokines we studied, interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), IL-1beta, IL-6, and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were expressed significantly more in infected animals than in noninfected control animals. The expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), however, was not different between the two groups of cattle. In addition, immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that the number of resident macrophages in the ileum of infected animals was three times greater than that of noninfected cows. In contrast to this, ileal tissues from noninfected control animals contained 1.5 times more neutrophils than the ileal tissues from cows infected with M. paratuberculosis. These data demonstrate that localized ileal cytokine production is different between cows chronically infected with M. paratuberculosis and noninfected control cows.     

Milk utilisation patterns in the low-input production systems in South Africa

Understanding the utilisation patterns of milk assists in designing appropriate dairy development schemes in rural communities. The objective of the study was to determine milk utilisation patterns in different smallholder farming systems in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Data were collected through the administration of recording sheets to 130 randomly selected households in Alice, Fort Beaufort and Queenstown districts. Amounts of milk produced per household ranged from 9 to 21 l per household per day. Milk consumption/household/day was similar among the three districts. Milk consumption in the early lactation doubled the amount consumed in late lactation (P < 0.05). Milk in the communal areas was largely utilised as fresh or sour milk. Fresh milk was mostly used in tea/coffee or to make porridge for children. Sour milk was consumed with thick boiled maize meal. Fort Beaufort (10.2 ± 1.37 l/day) had the highest sour milk sales whilst Queenstown had the highest fresh milk sales (9.7 ± 5.57 l/day). It was concluded that quantities of milk consumed or sold as fresh or sour were generally low and varied across smallholder farming systems.     

Exogenous DNA Uptake of Boar Spermatozoa by a Magnetic Nanoparticle Vector System

The sperm‐mediated gene transfer method is applicable to transgenesis in many species that use spermatozoa for reproduction recently, which has been shown various results. In the current study, we show that transgenic porcine embryos can be efficiently produced by employing a simple transfection method that uses magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). The complexes formed between plasmid DNA and MNPs were bounded on ejaculated boar spermatozoa at a higher efficiency compared to methods using DNA alone or lipofection. Using confocal microscopy, rhodamine fluorophore‐labelled MNPs were detected on external surfaces of the spermatozoa membrane, which were bounded on zona pellucida of in vitro maturated oocyte during in vitro fertilization. Electron microscopy revealed that clusters of MNPs were detected in inside of plasma membrane and nucleus of the spermatozoa head. Additionally, we found that magnetofected boar spermatozoa could be fertilized with oocytes in vitro and that the resulting gene of green fluorescent protein was detected in fertilized eggs by genomic PCR analysis. Taken together, these results suggest that MNPs can be used to efficiently introduce a transgene into embryo via spermatozoa.     

Risk factors associated with occurrence of nematodes in free range pigs in Busia District,Kenya

Nematode infections are a serious constraint to pig production, especially where free range pig keeping is practiced. This study investigated the epidemiology of nematodes in free range pigs in Busia District, Kenya. Three hundred and six pigs from 135 farms were sampled for faeces that were analysed for nematode eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces using the McMaster technique. The nematode eggs were also identified to genus and species based on morphology. A questionnaire on risk factors was also administered to the pig owners. The overall prevalence and mean nematode EPG were 84.2% and 2,355, respectively. The nematode eggs were identified as those belonging to Oesophagostomum spp. (75%), Strongyloides ransomi (37%), Ascaris suum (18%), Metastrongylus spp. (11%), Trichuris suis (7%) and Physocephalus sexalatus (3%). The prevalence of nematodes was positively correlated (p < 0.05) with the amount of rainfall in the division of the pigs' origin (all nematodes except S. ransomi). The prevalence of nematodes was also associated with the age of the pigs. A lower burden of nematodes was associated (p < 0.05) with a history of deworming (A. suum) and the provision of night housing (S. ransomi and Metastrongylus spp.). In conclusion, this study has provided information on nematode infections and the associated risk factors for free range pigs in Busia District, which can be used when implementing integrated control measures.     

The relationship between the size of caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte of the canine femoral neck and the radiographic view

Caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte (CCO), an osteophyte at the site of joint capsule attachment on the caudal aspect of the femoral neck, has been advocated as a radiographic criterion for coxofemoral subluxation. The correlation between the presence of CCO on radiographs (radiographic-CCO), the size of the CCO (CCO index) on three-dimensional computed tomographic (CT) images, and hip evaluation using transverse CT images was assessed in 22 Border Collies. CCOs were detected on the radiographs and CT images of 32% and 100% femurs, respectively. The CCO index correlated significantly with radiographic-CCO, but a large CCO index did not necessarily imply that the CCO was visible on radiographs. Hence, radiographic-CCO findings should be used cautiously in hip evaluation of Border Collies.     

In vitro effects of plant and mushroom extracts on immunological function of chicken lymphocytes and macrophages

1.?The present study was conducted to examine the effects of organic extracts from milk thistle (Silybum marianum), turmeric (Curcuma longa), reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum), and shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes) on innate immunity and tumor cell viability.

2.?Innate immunity was measured by lymphocyte proliferation and nitric oxide production by macrophages, and the inhibitory effect on tumor cell growth was assessed using a non-radioactive assay. For measuring the cytokine levels in the HD11 macrophages which were treated with extracts of turmeric or shiitake mushroom, the levels of mRNAs for interferon-α (IFN- α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-12, IL-15, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor superfamily 15 (TNFSF15) were quantified by real time RT-PCR.

3.?In vitro culture of chicken spleen lymphocytes with extracts of milk thistle, turmeric, and shiitake and reishi mushrooms induced significantly higher cell proliferation compared with the untreated control cells. Stimulation of macrophages with extracts of milk thistle and shiitake and reishi mushrooms, but not turmeric, resulted in robust nitric oxide production to levels that were similar with those induced by recombinant chicken interferon-γ. All extracts uniformly inhibited the growth of chicken tumor cells in vitro at the concentration of 6·3 through 100 µg/ml. Finally, the levels of mRNAs encoding IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, IL-18, and TNFSF15 were enhanced in macrophages that were treated with extracts of turmeric or shiitake mushroom compared with the untreated control.

4.?These results document the immunologically-based enhancement of innate immunity in chickens by extracts of plants and mushrooms with known medicinal properties in vitro. In vivo studies are being planned to delineate the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for their mechanism of action.     

马立克氏病病毒致瘤基因meq功能研究的概述

马立克氏病病毒 (Ｍａｒｅｋ’ｓＤｉｓｅａｓｅＶｉｒｕｓ,ＭＤＶ)之众多已得到鉴定的基因中 ,目前有 3个基因即 132 ｂｐｒ、ｐｐ38、ｍｅｑ被认为可能与致瘤相关。其中 ,ｍｅｑ与 132 ｂｐｒ两个基因是ＭＤＶ 1所特有 ,已证实 132 ｂｐｒ的拷贝数与毒株的致弱程度有关 ,ｐｐ38则被证实可抑制机体的免疫应答。ｍｅｑ基因由于具有与致瘤基因ｊｕｎ/ ｆｏｓ家族类似的分子结构 ,因此 ,我们有理由认为ｍｅｑ基因在ＭＤＶ致病、致瘤中可能发挥重要的作用。本课题在国家自然科学基金和广西自然科学基金的资助下 ,历经 5年由三个单位共同攻关…     

Cutaneous lymphoma in a juvenile dog

Abstract: An 18-month-old male Doberman Pinscher was referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the College of Veterinary Medicine for an erythemic nodular mass on the right forelimb. The mass was diagnosed as cutaneous lymphoma, based on cytologic examination of a mass aspirate and histopathology. Using immunohistochemistry the neoplastic cells were positive for CD3 but negative for CD79a, E-cadherin, and pancytokeratin, confirming their origin as T lymphocytes. No tumor recurrence was noted 18 months after surgery. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a solitary nodular form of cutaneous lymphoma in a young dog.