Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., Verocytotoxic Escherichia coli,and Antibiotic Resistance in Indicator Organisms in Wild Cervids

Faecal samples were collected, as part of the National Health Surveillance Program for Cervids (HOP) in Norway, from wild red deer, roe deer, moose and reindeer during ordinary hunting seasons from 2001 to 2003. Samples from a total of 618 animals were examined for verocytotoxic E. coli (VTEC); 611 animals for Salmonella and 324 animals for Campylobacter. A total of 50 samples were cultivated from each cervid species in order to isolate the indicator bacterial species E. coli and Enterococcus faecalis/E. faecium for antibiotic resistance pattern studies. Salmonella and the potentially human pathogenic verocytotoxic E. coli were not isolated, while Campylobacter jejuni jejuni was found in one roe deer sample only. Antibiotic resistance was found in 13 (7.3%) of the 179 E. coli isolates tested, eight of these being resistant against one type of antibiotic only. The proportion of resistant E. coli isolates was higher in wild reindeer (24%) than in the other cervids (2.2%). E. faecalis or E. faecium were isolated from 19 of the samples, none of these being reindeer. All the strains isolated were resistant against one (84%) or more (16%) antibiotics. A total of 14 E. faecalis-strains were resistant to virginiamycin only. The results indicate that the cervid species studied do not constitute an important infectious reservoir for either the human pathogens or the antibiotic resistant microorganisms included in the study.     

Confirmation of spatial patterns and temperature effects in Bluetongue virus serotype-8 transmission in NW-Europe from the 2007 reported case data

Two separate analyses were carried out to understand the epidemiology of Bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV-8) in 2007 in North West Europe: First, the temporal change in transmission rates was compared to the evolution of temperature during that season. Second, we evaluated the spatio-temporal dynamics of newly reported outbreaks, to estimate a spatial transmission kernel. For both analyses, the approach as used before in analysing the 2006 BTV-8 epidemic had to be adapted in order to take into account the fact that the 2007 epidemic was not a newly arising epidemic, but one advancing from whereto it had already spread in 2006. We found that within the area already affected by the 2006 outbreak, the pattern of newly infected farms in 2007 cannot be explained by between-farm transmission, but rather by local re-emergence of the virus throughout that region. This indicates that persistence through winter was ubiquitous for BTV-8. Just like in 2006, we also found that the temperature at which the infection starts to spread lies close to 15 °C. Finally, we found that the shape of the transmission kernel is in line with the one from the 2006 epidemic. In conclusion, despite the substantial differences between 2006 and 2007 in temperature patterns (2006 featured a heat wave in July, whereas 2007 was more regular) and spatial epidemic extent, both the minimum temperature required for transmission and the transmission kernel were similar to those estimated for the 2006 outbreak, indicating that they are robust properties, suitable for extrapolation to other years and similar regions.     

氮肥对大通河上游退化草地的影响

为提高祁连县高寒草地草场牧草产量、有效恢复轻度退化草地,采用随机区组试验,以尿素作为氮源,探讨不同氮肥水平对祁连地区轻度退化草地群落结构、地上植物量以及土壤养分的影响。结果表明：不同施氮水平处理的高寒草地植物群落物种丰富度、多样性指数均减少,植被盖度、高度显著增加（P<0.05）,地上植物量与禾草地上植物量显著提高（P<0.05）。随着施氮量增加全磷含量、速效氮含量、有机质含量呈逐渐增加趋势,而速效磷呈先增加后减小趋势,pH值呈逐渐减小趋势。结论：施氮对高寒草地土壤养分有改善作用,150 kg·hm^-2为最适施肥量。     

Runoff water quality characteristics in a small agriculture watershed

I have observed the water quality in the Ohwada District of Kasumigaura Town near Lake Kasumigaura for a period of over seven years (1993–1999). During this observation period, sampling was performed for 3 years at 4-h intervals using an automatic sampler, and the water quality was subsequently analyzed. As a result of this long-term precision study of water quality fluctuation, important new information was obtained. First, the quantity of nitrogen found to have been removed was great, especially in the paddy fields, and this contributed to water quality purification. Secondly, the paddy fields produced algae and this algae supported denitrification in the paddy fields. However, the paddy fields increased the COD runoff. Thirdly, for determining the average water quality by monitoring, monthly sampling is sufficient, though for understanding the fluctuation pattern of the water quality, weekly sampling is necessary.     

Quality aspect of fish sauce prepared from underutilized fatty Japanese anchovy and rabbit fish

ABSTRACT:   To explore the potential utility of underutilized fish in the fish sauce industry, fish sauces were prepared from both raw and heat-induced meat of Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonica and rabbit fish Siganus fuscescens using wheat malt, and their quality aspects and sensory properties were assessed. Proximate composition of the fish meat represents protein as the major component (16.0–17.8%), other than moisture. Analyses of free amino acids, peptides including oligopeptides, and organic acids contents in fish sauces revealed suitability of both raw and heat-induced meat of the selected species in commercial fish sauce production. The variations in taste of raw meat fish sauces were species-specific, but the taste of fish sauces from heat-induced meat were similar.     

宁夏枣树花药离体培养再生体系的建立

采用宁夏3个特色枣树品种的花药为外植体,探索MS培养基中不同激素、激素的不同浓度配比对愈伤组织诱导、不定芽分化的影响,建立其愈伤组织诱导及不定芽再生体系。结果表明,细胞分裂素6-BA对宁夏枣树胚性愈伤组织诱导起重要作用,AgNO3对愈伤组织分化不定芽影响显著。经过正交试验分析得出,最佳诱导培养基为MS+6-BA 1.0 mg/L+2,4-D1.0 mg/L+IBA 0.4 mg/L;最佳分化培养基是：MS+6-BA 1.5 mg/L +IBA 0.6 mg/L +AgNO3 0.5 mg/L。在最佳诱导培养基中灵武长枣诱导率最高,达89.0%,在最佳分化培养基中同心圆枣分化率最高,达88.0%。     

基于转录组数据分析环形泰勒虫对诱导宿主细胞转化相关基因的影响

本试验主要通过研究布帕伐醌(BW720)处理前后,环形泰勒虫转化牛单核细胞(TaNM Ⅰ)转录组数据的变化情况,为进一步研究环形泰勒虫诱导宿主细胞转化的分子机制奠定基础。以环形泰勒虫感染的牛单核细胞为试验材料,设置对照组(二甲基亚砜,DMSO)和试验组(BW720),利用Illumina HiSeq4000测序平台进行高通量测序,将测序得到的原始数据(Raw reads)与GenBank和Rfam数据库进行比对过滤,通过质控获得最终数据(Clean read)。利用Venn分析软件筛选出DMSO组和BW720组中差异表达明显的基因,进行功能注释(GO)以及信号通路(KEGG)分析。随机选择10个基因,利用荧光定量PCR (qPCR)检测基因在不同处理条件下细胞中的表达量。在验证测序结果的准确性后,选出差异表达明显的基因,分析其在TaNM Ⅰ细胞的凋亡、增殖等信号通路方面的作用。结果显示：BW720组和DMSO组中分别得到6 854 019 704和6 627 265 854条Raw reads,过滤、质控后分别得到22 925 606和22 171 427条Clean reads。BW720组和DMSO组中筛选出差异表达明显的基因共计4 054个(P＜0.05),其中,2 146个基因显著上调,1 908个基因显著下调;进一步筛选出共同差异表达的基因367个,其中,显著上调的196个,显著下调的171个。同时,qPCR验证随机选择10个基因的表达趋势与转录组测序结果一致,表明测序结果可靠。然后对差异表达基因进行GO功能注释,筛选到与细胞增殖相关的20个生物学过程、15个细胞组分以及11个分子功能条目。KEGG富集分析结果显示,在Top20的信号通路中筛选出与环形泰勒虫转化细胞有关的一些信号通路,如：癌症信号通路、PI3K-Akt信号通路、MAPK信号通路等。对这些信号通路进一步分析发现：PI3KR3、FOXO1、IL23A、FZD3、AKT、MMP9等基因在环形泰勒虫转化细胞的研究中也有相关文献的报道。本研究表明,在TaNM Ⅰ细胞中DAPK1、FZD3、FOXO3、PI3KR3等可能在感染细胞无限增殖的过程中发挥作用,为后续研究TaNM Ⅰ细胞无限增殖机制奠定了基础。     

Disseminated tuberculosis in hyrax (Procavia capensis) caused by Mycobacterium africanum

Tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium africanum was diagnosed in an adult female hyrax (Procavia capensis). Pathologic examination revealed disseminated tuberculous lesions. The same pathologic changes were also found in a male hyrax that died a year later. Both animals were imported from the United Arab Emirates and were held in captivity at the Zagreb Zoo in Croatia. The source of infection remains unknown. The acid-fast bacteria isolated from the lungs of the female hyrax were identifyed by polymerase chain reaction as Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and Geno Type MTBC test confirmed the strain to be M. africanum I.     

Risk factors for post-weaning diarrhoea on piglet producing farms in Finland

Background

Post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) is a significant gastrointestinal disease in pigs. It is considered a multifactorial disease associated with proliferation of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in the intestinal tract of affected pigs. The aim of this study was to analyse risk factors related to the occurrence of PWD on Finnish piglet producing farms.

Methods

The data of a follow-up study of 73 conventional piglet producing farms was used in the case-control study. The selection of the 41 PWD case and 28 control farms was based on the use of antimicrobials for treating diarrhoea in weaned pigs and the answers related to the occurrence of diarrhoea after weaning in the questionnaire. Four intermediate farms were excluded from the statistical analysis.Altogether 39 factors related to herd characteristics, weaner pig management and pig health were studied. The median number of sows was 59.0 (IQR = 44.0; 74.5) and 52.5 (IQR = 36.8; 61.5) on the case and the control farms, respectively.The significances of the univariable associations between the explanatory variables and the outcome variable were tested, and in the multivariate analysis quasibinomial generalized linear models were applied.

Results

An increased risk of PWD was associated with the regimen of twice a day feeding and feed restriction after weaning (P = 0.02; compared to feeding three or more meals a day or the use of ad libitum feeding) and with a higher number of sows on the farm (P = 0.02; risk increasing with increasing number of sows). Automatic temperature control was associated with a decreased risk of PWD (P = 0.03; compared to manual temperature control).

Conclusion

Twice a day feeding of newly-weaned pigs should be avoided if the amount of feed given is restricted. Variation in ambient temperature should be minimized in housing of newly-weaned pigs and this can be achieved by using automatic temperature control. With increasing number of sows in the herds the risk of PWD increases and more attention should be paid to prevention of post-weaning diarrhoea.