Viral skin diseases in the Netherlands

The most common viral skin problems are discussed in the third article in our equine dermatology series.     

广东省广州市活禽批发市场从业人员H7N9流感“知信行”现状调查

为了解广东省广州市活禽批发市场从业人员对H7N9流感的认知、态度和行为,也为制定针对性的健康教育措施提供依据,2017年4—5月对广州市全部6个活禽批发市场的435名从业人员进行了问卷调查。调查结果显示:318名密切接触人员和117名非密切接触人员对H7N9流感相关知识的总知晓率分别为80.59%和69.60%;在"发现对禽高致病性的H7N9流感病毒""病死禽应该进行深埋或焚烧等无害化处理""外省养殖场发生过H7N9流感疫情"方面,密切接触者的知晓率显著高于非密切接触者(P0.03);获取H7N9流感知识的途径主要有培训,以及电视、网络和海报等宣传媒介;绝大多数市场从业人员认为政府有能力防控H7N9流感,对政府采取的H7N9流感防控措施及对目前的"1110"制度感到满意,认为活禽集中屠宰可行(P0.01);从业人员在预防H7N9流感时,接触禽类后用肥皂或洗手液洗手的占比最高(83.45%),其次是戴手套(69.20%)和穿水鞋(63.91%),而戴口罩(39.77%)和用消毒液消毒手(35.86%)的占比较低。调查认为,广州市活禽批发市场从业人员的H7N9流感知识知晓率较高,但个人防护措施实施不全面。调查结果提示,应充分利用培训,以及电视和网络等优势媒介,强化微信和微博等新兴媒介,加强对H7N9流感防控知识的宣传。     

湖南省长沙市羊布鲁氏菌病基线调查

为了解湖南省长沙市布鲁氏菌病流行现状,对奶羊养殖场(户)和种羊场采用普查策略,对其他羊养殖场(户)采用两阶抽样策略,选择羊群并选定群体中个体,采集血样进行布鲁氏菌抗体检测。同时,通过问卷调查和查阅资料等方式,分析布鲁氏菌病感染和传播风险。结果显示:全市羊布鲁氏菌病表观场群流行率为1.54%(95%CI:0.42%~3.91%),表观个体流行率为0.60%(95%CI:0.43%~0.80%);4个阳性群集中分布于长沙县和宁乡县;和以往监测数据相比,长沙市的羊群布鲁氏菌病流行率和人间发病率均呈下降趋势,说明前期的防治策略取得积极成效。总体来说,长沙市布鲁氏菌病流行率较低,疫情处于稳定控制状态,因而可以分区域逐步实现全市布鲁氏菌病净化。     

Influence of the root endophyte Piriformospora indica on the plant water relations,gas exchange and growth of Chenopodium quinoa at limited water availability

This study aimed to evaluate the ability of Piriformospora indica to colonize the root of Chenopodium quinoa and to verify whether this endosymbiont can improve the growth, performance and drought resistance of this species. The study delivered, for the first time, evidence for successful colonization of P. indica in quinoa. Hence, pot experiment was conducted in the greenhouse, where inoculated and non‐inoculated plants were subjected to ample (40%–50% WHC) and deficit (15%–20%WHC) irrigation treatments. Drought adversely influenced the plant growth, leading to decline the total plant biomass by 74%. This was linked to an impaired photosynthetic activity (caused by lower g_s and C_i/C_a ratio; stomatal limitation of photosynthesis) and a higher risk of ROS production (enhanced ETR/A_gross ratio). P. indica colonization improved quinoa plant growth, with total biomass increased by 8% (controls) and 76% (drought‐stressed plants), confirming the growth‐promoting activity of P. indica. Fungal colonization seems to diminish drought‐induced growth hindrance, likely, through an improved water balance, reflected by the higher leaf ψ_w and g_s. Additionally, stomatal limitation of photosynthesis was alleviated (indicated by enhanced C_i/C_a ratio and A_net), so that the threat of oxidative stress was minimized (decreased ETR/A_gross). These results infer that symbiosis with P. indica could negate some of the detrimental effects of drought on quinoa growth, a highly desired feature, in particular at low water availability.     

Identification of Suspected Stem/progenitor Cells in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells Culture System

To develop the potential function of dairy cow mammary stem cells (DCMECs) in regulation of lactation,we identify putative DCMECs which were BrdU label retaining epithelial cells,at the same time,analysis the location of two new mammary stem cells molecular marks FNDC3B and PROCR to verify the feasibility of them to indicate DCMECs.The mRNA levels of prolactin,growth hormone,insulin-like growth factor-1 and their receptors were detected along with cell passage by Real-time quantitative PCR.The results showed that the proportion of BrdU label-retaining epithelial cells was nearly 0.4% after 25 d continuous culture (passaged 4 times) and few cells were positive for FNDC3B or PROCR.Moreover,we observed the BrdU labelled epithelial cells by asymmetric division.The mRNA levels of prolactin,growth hormone,insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ and their receptors in primary and passage cells were extremely significant difference(P<0.01).DCMECs would rapidly lose some physiological characteristics and the ability of milk synthesis when not under the condition of induction of lactation differentiation,but a certain percentage of mammary stem/progenitor cells will be retained,whose potential effects on the regulation of lactation and mammary acinar remodeling were worthy of attention.     

Evaluation of Cold Tolerance in NERICAs Compared with Japanese Standard Rice Varieties at the Reproductive Stage

New Rice for Africa (NERICA) is a general name for interspecific rice varieties derived from a cross between the high‐yielding Asian rice (Oryza sativa L.) between locally adapted African rice (Oryza glaberrima Steud.). Eight NERICAs were evaluated for cold tolerance (CT) at the reproductive stage and compared with their O. sativa parents and three Japanese standard rice varieties over 3 years. Cold tolerance was evaluated based on the filled grain ratio (FGR) after cold water irrigation. The FGR was greatly reduced by cold water irrigation. NERICA 1, 2 and 7 had higher FGR (51.9–57.9 %), while NERICA 6, 15 and 16 had lower FGR (6.2–14.5 %). NERICA 1, 2 and 7 were less affected by cold stress, with a 31 % mean reduction in FGR, while NERICA 6, 15 and 16 were greatly affected, with their FGRs being reduced by more than 80 %. NERICA 3 and 4 were moderately affected by cold stress, with about 45 % reduction rate in FGR. FGR significantly influenced the grain weights of the varieties with strong positive correlations (r = 0.83–0.91; P < 0.001), and thus, similar trends in grain weights were observed. Grain weights were reduced by 61.7–96.4 % under cold stress. NERICA 1, 2 and 7 showed significantly better performance than NERICA 3 and 4, while NERICA 6, 15 and 16 performed poorly under cold water irrigation. The Japanese varieties Koshihikari (very tolerant) and Ozora (moderately tolerant) were more affected by cold water irrigation than NERICA 1, 2 and 7. On the basis of the mean reduction rate (%) in FGR under cold stress, the varieties were classified as follows: NERICA 1, 2 and 7 as tolerant; NERICA 3 and 4 as moderately tolerant; and NERICA 6, 15 and 16 as susceptible to cold stress. However, NERICA 7 grain yields were lower under cold stress due to both greatly reduced number of panicles per plant and number of spikelets per panicle. Therefore, NERICA 1 and 2 are suitable candidates for production in the highland regions of East Africa and should be promoted for production.     

Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes and Lipid Metabolism Signaling Pathways between Muscle and Fat Tissues in Broiler Chickens

In this study, signaling pathways and key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in lipid metabolism in muscle and fat tissues were investigated. Muscle and abdominal fat tissues were obtained from 35-day-old female broilers for RNA sequencing. DEGs between muscle and fat tissues were identified. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses of DEGs were performed. A total of 6130 DEGs were identified to be significantly enriched in 365 GO terms, most of which were involved in biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions in muscle and fat tissues. Three important lipid signaling pathways (pyruvate metabolism, the insulin signaling pathway, and the adipocytokine signaling pathway) were identified among the fat and muscle tissues of broilers. The key common DEGs in these pathways included phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2 (PCK2), acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 alpha and beta (ACACA and ACACB), and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (AMPK) gene family. Hence, our findings revealed the pathways and key genes and gene families involved in the regulation of fat deposition in the muscle and fat tissues of broilers.     

狗尾草应用基础的研究进展

狗尾草具有NADP-ME型C4光合作用,适合高光效形成机制的研究,生命周期短暂,基因组较小,植株低矮,种子数量多,便于进行遗传操作,被认为是研究C4光合作用的模式物种,并且狗尾草生长要求简单,抗旱耐盐,适应性广,与谷子、柳枝稷近缘,又是理想的旱生禾本科粮食作物和生物能源植物的遗传研究模型.该研究介绍了狗尾草的研究基础,综述了狗尾草的生长发育特性、生理生化特性、种质资源、功能基因以及药用价值的研究进展,并对狗尾草的发展趋势进行展望.