多酚对草鱼生长、肝脂及免疫功能的影响

以体长为12.5～13.5cm的草鱼种为试验对象,在基础饲料中分别添加20、40mg/kg的α-苯基苯并吡喃——一种植物多酚类物质,研究其对草鱼生长性能、肝脂代谢及免疫功能的影响,2个月后测定的结果表明,添加40mg/kg剂量可以显著提高草鱼的净增重(P0.05)、肥满度(P0.05)以及血清中的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和溶菌酶(LSZ)的活力(P0.05),显著降低草鱼的饵料系数(P0.05)以及血清丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)和天门冬氨酸转氨酸(AST)(P0.05),对草鱼的肌肉品质没有显著的影响。     

Comparison of different testing schemes to increase the detection <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium bovis</Emphasis> infection in Ethiopian cattle

Host immune responses to Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) infection are variable at the different severity stages of pathology of the disease. In countries like Ethiopia, where routine screening of bovine TB is not undertaken, the use of tests which measure cellular and antibody responses may help for the maximum detection of infection. In the present study, 701 cattle were tested for bovine tuberculosis (BTB) using comparative intradermal tuberculin (CIDT) test, interferon (IFN)-γ test, and lateral flow assay. The apparent prevalence was 32% when all the three tests were used, but varied from 23 to 25% when a pair of tests was used and from 9% to 15% when a single test was used. Agreement was observed between CIDT and IFN-γ tests both at a cut-off >2 mm (Kappa ± standard Error, k ± SE, 0.129 ± 0.045; 95%CI = 0.041,0.216) and a cut-off >4 mm (k ± SE, 0.094 ± 0.044, 95%CI = 0.008,0.179) while no agreement was observed either between CIDT test and lateral flow assay (k ± SE, −0.04 ± 0.033; 95%CI = −0.104,0.024) or between IFN-γ tests and lateral flow assay (k ± SE, −0.031 ± 0.032; 95% CI = −0.093,0.031). Thus, the use of more than one test leads to the detection of the maximum number of infected animals.     

The effect of the Naked Neck genotype (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Nana</Emphasis>), feeding and outdoor rearing on growth and carcass characteristics of free range broilers in a hot climate

Alternative poultry production with special reference to free range broilers has increased significantly since the nineties in many regions of the world. Numerous factors influence the productive performance of this type of broilers: genotype (namely the use of naked neck animals), feeding and access to an outdoor area. The aim of this paper is to study the influence of each of these factors on the productive performance of free range broilers under commercial rearing conditions. A total of 3200, day old chicks of both sexes from naked neck and normally feathered genotypes were used in this trial. After a joint initiation phase, animals were divided into four different treatments with the combination of two concentrates (high vs low energy content) and management (access to outside park or not). Experiment lasted a total of 12 weeks. Live weight date was recorded weekly and a samples of animals from the trial were sacrificed at the age of 8, 10 and 12 weeks, when carcass characteristics were determined. Besides sex, the only factor that seems to affect growth characteristics was genotype as naked neck animals had poorer growth rates than normally feathered. No effect was detected on carcass yields and percentages of carcass components for any of the variables. From the data presented in this trial the practises associated with free range production are of relative inconsequence to the technical animal production parameters and can only be justified by a pressing need to differentiate these products from standard poultry products in what concerns both welfare issues and meat characteristics. The results also indicate that genetic material from alternative poultry production in Europe can be a useful option in poultry production development projects in the tropics.     

Molecular phylogenetic studies on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Theileria</Emphasis> spp. isolates (China) based on small subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequences

Six Theileria spp. from cattle, buffalo and black goat were identified in the Hubei province of China. In order to study the taxonomic status of these parasites, phylogenetic analysis of 18S rRNA genes were carried out. The 18S rRNA genes from each isolate were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and the approximate 1.75 kb products were cloned and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of these gene sequences revealed that the five parasites from buffalo and cattle belonged to the Theileria sergenti/buffeli/orientalis group. The parasite from the Chinese goat (Macheng-Hubei, DQ286802) was closely related to Theileria luwenshuni isolated from sheep in the north of China. This represent the first report on the use of molecular phylogeny to classify Theileria spp. obtained in the Hubei province, showing that Theileria spp. from ruminants found in Hubei province belongs to the benign group of Theileria spp.     

Expression of chicken LEAP-2 in the reproductive organs and embryos and in response to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmonella enterica</Emphasis> infection

In recent years host antimicrobial peptides and proteins have been recognised as key mediators of the innate immune response in many vertebrate species, providing the first line of defense against potential pathogens. In chickens a number of cationic antimicrobial peptides have been recently identified. However, although these peptides have been studied extensively in the avian gastrointestinal tract, little is known about their function in the chicken reproductive organs and embryos. Chicken Liver Expressed Antimicrobial Peptide-2 (cLEAP-2) has been previously reported to function in protecting birds against microbial attack. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of cLEAP-2 gene in the chicken reproductive organs, as well as in chicken embryos during embryonic development, and to determine whether cLEAP-2 expression in the chicken reproductive organs was constitutive or induced as a response to Salmonella enteritidis infection. RNA was extracted from ovary, oviduct, testis and epididymis of sexually mature healthy and Salmonella infected birds, as well as from chicken embryos until day ten of embryonic development. Expression analysis data revealed that cLEAP-2 was expressed in the chicken ovary, testis and epididymis as well as in embryos during early embryonic development. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that cLEAP-2 expression was constitutive in the chicken epididymis, but was significantly up regulated in the chicken gonads, following Salmonella infection. In addition, expression of cLEAP-2 during chicken embryogenesis appeared to be developmentally regulated. These data provide evidence to suggest a key role of cLEAP-2 in the protection of the chicken reproductive organs and the developing embryos from Salmonella colonization.     

Use of computer tomography for imaging of Crassicauda grampicola in a Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus).

A mature male Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) stranded along the coasts of Friuli Venezia Giulia, northeast Italy, in May 2001. Parasitic infection with Crassicauda grampicola is often found in the tympanic bullae and pterygoid sinuses in many of the Risso's dolphins examined from the same area. For this reason, it was decided to perform computed tomography of the head to assess this imaging technique for the diagnosis of crassicaudosis in dolphins. A full postmortem examination confirmed the pathologic findings of the computed tomography scan. This technique can be considered a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of cranial crassicaudosis in live dolphins.     

马铃薯SGT3基因表达及其启动子功能分析

鼠李糖转移酶(rhamnosyltransferase SGT3)是植物糖苷生物碱合成的关键酶,它主要调控α-茄碱和α-查茄碱从其β形式的转化。本文研究马铃薯栽培种SGT3基因的表达特点及其启动子的功能。实时定量PCR结果发现在红光照射24 h后,SGT3的表达量是黑暗处理的26.8倍,说明红光显著诱导了SGT3的表达;为进一步分析该基因的光调控机理,本项研究克隆到SGT3上游长度为2449 bp的启动子序列,通过分析发现该启动子的转录起始位点位于翻译起始位点上游-152 bp,同时确定了该启动子核心序列及上游增强子、抑制子序列,受病原菌、损伤、干旱、ABA 激素及一系列光调控的顺式元件。构建不同长度(349,572,979,1312和1870 bp)的该启动子驱动报告基因GUS的植物表达载体并转化烟草。结果证明,不同长度的SGT3启动子都可以启动GUS表达,但没有CMV 35S启动的GUS表达量高;其中在P572和P979的表达强度较高,这可能与该片段含有启动子的正调控元件(GATA BOX,5′UTRPY-RICH STRETCH)有关,GUS表达强度在P1312和P1870中明显减弱,预测到该区段存在抑制基因表达的负调控元件(WRKY710S);SGT3启动子的组织特异性实验表明GUS染色主要集中在烟草叶片的叶脉部分,茎中的表皮、韧皮部及木质部,但髓部几乎不表达,根中主要分布在根冠、分生区以及维管束组织中。上述结果为将来研究SGT3在糖苷生物碱合成过程中的调节功能提供了依据。     

新型鸭呼肠孤病毒RT-PCR检测方法建立与初步应用

为建立一种能够快速检测新型鸭呼肠孤病毒（NDRV）的方法,本研究参考GenBank上登录的NDRV S3基因保守序列设计特异性引物.经条件优化后,建立了检测NDRV的RT-PCR方法.对其特异性、敏感性和重复性进行检验.结果显示：该方法仅能从NDRV分离毒中扩增到与预期大小相符,长度为298 bp的特异性目的片段,检测灵敏度达到83.4 pg病毒RNA;而其它病毒：番鸭呼肠孤病毒、禽呼肠孤病毒、鸭病毒性肝炎病毒、鸭瘟病毒、鸭新城疫病毒和禽流感病毒等样品的扩增结果均为阴性.采用该方法对在广东不同地区采集的15份鸭病料样品进行检测,NDRV阳性率为53.33％.表明建立的RT-PCR方法特异性强、敏感度高,可用于NDRV的临床诊断和流行病学调查.     

湘南红壤区牧草生产的气候模型

利用湖南省祁阳县的长期气象数据,结合不同牧草的生长特性,建立了一个反映当地牧草生长状况的气候模拟模型,并据此气候模型评价了当地气候条件对牧草生产的影响,鉴定了牧草周年生长的限制性因子。根据气候模型预测出温带牧草的最佳播种时期在１０月中旬至１１月下旬,热带牧草最好在３月下旬至４月中旬播种。牧草生长气候模型还可用于指导牧草品种筛选及牧草生产管理。     

Colocalization of DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activation during atresia in pig antral follicles

Apoptosis is the cellular mechanism of ovarian follicular atresia. The major downstream effector of this phenomenon in many tissues is caspase-3 but little is known about its role in pig ovarian apoptosis. In the present study, we detected the localization of caspase-3 in parallel with nuclear fragmentation (TUNEL) on healthy and early atretic antral follicles. In healthy antral follicles caspase-3 and TUNEL positivity were occasionally recorded within theca layer. The incidence of DNA fragmentation, as indicated also by the biochemical detection, increased mainly in the granulosa layer of early atretic follicles. Quantitative analysis revealed, besides, that atresia was accompanied by a higher incidence of caspase-3 (57.20 +/- 20.05 versus 3.64 +/- 0.61 positive cells in atretic versus healthy follicles, respectively; P < 0.05), of TUNEL positivity (20.13 +/- 9.33 versus 0.42 +/- 0.12; P < 0.05) and simultaneous immunostaining for caspase-3 and TUNEL (15.02 +/- 6.95 versus 0.31 +/- 0.05; P < 0.05) in the granulosa layer. In detached granulosa cells isolated from the follicular fluid of early atretic follicles a further significantly increase was recorded in the percentage of TUNEL positivity and in the incidence of cells that showed colocalization of caspase-3 activity and DNA fragmentation. Granulosa cells of early atretic follicles exhibited a higher positivity for caspase-3 localized in the cytoplasm and occasionally in the nucleus area of granulosa cells. These results indicate that capsase-3 was involved and precociously activated during the process of atresia. Finally, the progressively higher incidence of TUNEL positivity and of double immunostaining in atretic cells collected within the follicular fluid seems to indicate that proteases activity leads only tardily in a detectable DNA fragmentation.