Limited awareness of animal influenza prevention and control among Dai Lue smallholder farmers in Southwest China

Awareness of animal influenza and its prevention and control is important for ensuring livestock health, production and welfare. In China, a country stereotyped as a major source of emerging zoonotic infectious diseases, research on the public understanding of animal influenza is limited to the Han, the main ethnic group. The present qualitative study in Southwest China investigated awareness of animal influenza among the Dai, an ethnic minority. The participants (15 men and 10 women, ages 18–83) were smallholder farmers of pigs and poultry in rural areas of Jinghong, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province. A mixture of interviews and group discussions took place in homes and villages. The participants were asked about their knowledge of avian influenza (H7N9), swine influenza (H1N1), precautions taken to protect against influenza, procedures when animals were sick and perceived risk of animal influenza. The data were analysed following coding and thematic analysis. The findings demonstrated a limited understanding of animal health and welfare among participants. Specifically, they were largely unaware of animal influenza (H7N9, H1N1) including its causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment. The farmers were also uninformed of the risks they faced and unknowingly engaged in behaviours which increased direct or indirect exposure to infected animals, a risk factor for human infection. They also reported poor usage of veterinary services. In order to guarantee the health, welfare and production of their livestock, immediate action is needed to enable Dai smallholder farmers to prevent and respond to animal influenza effectively and timely.     

沼液浸种对黑麦草种子发芽的影响

为了研究沼液浸种对黑麦草种子发芽的影响,设置4个浓度沼液分别浸泡黑麦草种子,分析种子各项发芽指标的变化。结果表明:各处理均能正常发芽,黑麦草种子的发芽率和发芽势等4项发芽指标均随着浸种沼液浓度的增加呈现先上升后下降的趋势,以75%沼液浓度浸种效果最优,但沼液浸种对发芽率和发芽势的影响要高于苗高和根长。综合分析认为利用沼液浸泡黑麦草种子是提高其生产性能的有力措施,适宜在生产中推广利用。     

Temporal-spatial epidemiology of foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in Mongolia, 2000 – 2002

Prior to 2000, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) had not been observed in Mongolia since 1973; however, between April 2000 and July 2002, Mongolia reported 44 FMD outbreaks that affected cattle, sheep, goats, and camels. The objectives of this study were to describe the distributions of the 44 reported FMD outbreaks in Mongolia and to assess their spatial clustering and directions of movement. Official reports were collected to obtain the number and species of animals both affected and at risk, and the date and geographical coordinates of each outbreak. Significant global and local spatial clusters of reported FMD outbreaks were identified. Disease spread during the second epidemic moved 76° northeast and the spread of the disease during the third epidemic moved 110° northwest. FMD outbreaks were clustered intensely close to other FMD-positive counties. These findings can be used in the future to help plan prevention and control measures in high risk areas.     

变革饲养模式引领蛋鸡产业升级

改革开放以来,我国蛋鸡事业得到了迅猛的发展也取得了辉煌的成就,从1993年起已连续22年禽蛋产量世界第一。但面临着规模小、设施设备简陋、饲养模式落后、管理粗放、生产水平低、产品质量不高、疫病复杂和市场需求高、环保要求高、政策引导作用加强等等诸多困难与挑战。德青源公司通过调查分析,运用先进的理念,变革陈旧模式,大胆创新,勇于实践,取得了优异的经营成果,起到了良好的示范效应。希望通过本文的介绍,能给国内同行些启发,共同引领我国蛋鸡行业进行整体升级。     

Thr-Ser-Ser位点对猪BCL10募集功能的影响

在完整克隆出猪BCL10基因的基础上,用大引物PCR法构建3个真核表达载体：pEGFP-B（完整猪BCL10）载体、pEGFP-D（缺失CARD结构域）载体和pEGFP-P（缺失Thr-Ser-Ser位点）载体,转染猪血管内皮细胞（SU-VEC）,观察其表达情况,以此研究Thr-Ser-Ser位点（富含TS区）对猪BCL10募集功能的影响。结果显示,pEGFP-B仅在胞质中表达,并呈短棒状,而pEGFP-D与pEGFP-P则在胞质和核内均有表达。表明CARD结构域参与猪BCL10募集过程,且Thr-Ser-Ser为CARD结构域中关键氨基酸位点,这为进一步研究猪BCL10功能和作用机制奠定了基础。     

Synergistic effects of Miconazole and Polymyxin B on microbial pathogens

The therapeutic value of antibiotics depends on the susceptibility of the infecting microorganism and the pharmacological profile of the drugs. To assess the value of an antibiotic combination of polymyxin B and miconazole this study examined the in vitro synergistic potential of the two drugs on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and yeast. Antifungal and antibacterial activity was tested by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of broth macrodilution and urea broth microdilution, by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Synergism was calculated using the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICi). With Staphylococcus intermedius as target we found up to an eightfold reduction of the individual MICs when both drugs were combined. However, the FICi was 0.63 suggesting no real interaction between the two drugs. With Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Malassezia pachydermatis as targets the antimicrobial drug combination reduced the MICs of polymyxin B and miconazole from fourfold to hundredfold resulting in FICi between 0.06 and 0.5 which defines a synergistic action. Thus, if polymyxin B and miconazole are combined their effect is greater than the sum of the effects observed with polymyxin B and miconazole independently, revealing bactericidal and fungicidal synergism. Our results indicate a strong therapeutic value for the combination of these antimicrobial agents against Gram-negative bacteria and yeast and a weaker value against Gram positive bacteria for clinical situations where these pathogens are involved.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptococcus uberis</Emphasis>-specific T cells are present in mammary gland secretions of cows and can be activated to kill <Emphasis Type="Italic">S. uberis</Emphasis>

The presence, phenotype and function of Streptococcus uberis-specific T cells in the mammary gland secretion (MGS) and blood of cows exposed to S. uberis were assessed. MGS T cells in the udder were purified and incubated with autologous blood monocytes as antigen-presenting cells (APC). Most cows, irrespective of prior S. uberis infection status and lactation status, were shown to have S. uberis-specific T cells both in MGS and in the blood. When cells from a subgroup of cows were studied, it was found that the S. uberis-specific T cells produced high levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), but low levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10). A high percentage of responding T cells were of the CD8 ⁺ memory (CD45RO) subset. T cells from the MGS specific for S. uberis were propagated from animals during the drying off period and expanded in vitro using interleukin-2 (IL-2) and S. uberis antigens. This led to the accumulation of T cells of the CD8 ⁺ subset bearing memory cell markers (CD45A ⁻ , CD45RO ⁺ ), which released high levels of IFN-γ. Four of the five T cell lines derived from the MGS of three animals had substantial direct killing activity towards S. uberis in vitro. It is concluded that there is an emergence of S. uberis-specific bactericidal T cells in the MGS of cows after infection or environmental exposure to S. uberis. Vaccines aimed at activating and expanding this T cell population in the mammary glands of cattle may offer an avenue for the prevention of mastitis caused by S. uberis.     

中国荷斯坦种公牛BLAD遗传缺陷的分子检测及系谱分析

本试验运用限制性片段长度多态性聚合酶链式反应（RFLP-PCR）方法,检测我国荷斯坦种公牛白细胞粘附缺陷（bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency,BLAD）基因的携带频率。共检测了来自全国14个公牛站的587头种公牛,发现BLAD携带者8头,携带率为1.36%。对现有公牛系谱信息分析显示,携带者公牛来自美国、加拿大和中国,其中6头携带者公牛可以追溯到共同祖先Osborndale Ivanhoe。此外,本研究还对我国荷斯坦牛遗传缺陷的控制和携带者公牛的利用提出建议。