Vaginal isolation of beta‐haemolytic Streptococcus from bitches with and without neonatal deaths in the litters

The aim of the study was to identify beta‐haemolytic streptococci in the vagina of bitches who had delivered healthy litters and bitches who had delivered litters in which neonatal deaths occurred. Fifty‐one bitches divided into two groups were used. Group 1 (G1) included 28 bitches that had delivered healthy litters and group 2 (G2) included 23 bitches that had delivered puppies who died in the neonatal period. Two vaginal samples were taken, one in proestrus and the other at the end of gestation (EG). Beta‐haemolytic Streptococcus (BS) was isolated from 16 bitches (57%) in G1 and from 21 bitches (91%) in G2. The bacteriological cultures, serological tests (Streptex^®) and PCR assay allowed identification of Streptococcus canis and Streptococcus dysgalactiae in G1 and G2. Ultramicroscopic studies allowed the observation of M Protein and capsules in strains of S. dysgalactiae and S. canis in G1 and G2. The S. canis strains isolated from G2 showed thicker capsules than S. canis strains isolated from G1 (234 ± 24.2 vs 151.23 ± 28.93 nm; p < .001.). No differences were observed in capsule thickness between strains of S. dysgalactiae isolated from G1 and G2 (210 ± 13.54 vs 211.66 ± 19.67 nm; p > .70). All strains of beta‐haemolytic Streptococcus isolated were penicillin sensitive. Penicillin was administered from EG to 5 days post‐partum in 10 G2 females with isolation of BS (G2A). Saline solution was administered in eleven G2 females with isolation of BS (G2B). Ninety per cent of the puppies survived in G2A and 25% survived in G2B. Our results suggest BS is involved in canine neonatal deaths.     

Application of for the identification and management of hybrid poplar accessions

Molecular markers are a powerful tool with many potential applications in agriculture and forestry. In particular, can provide information on the relatedness of various clones or varieties that are difficult to distinguish morphologically, thus helping in the management of plant accessions and in breeding programs. The goal of this study is to genotype 15 clones used in the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) breeding programs. Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR, or microsatellite markers) were selected for genotyping using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This type of marker is considered the method of choice due to their abundance, polymorphism and reliability compared to other types of . Sixteen previously isolated and characterized in aspen (Populus tremuloides) and other poplar species (Populus spp.) were initially tested. Nine markers were selected based on the “informativeness” and the quality of the amplification products. The nine markers were combined in groups of three to improve the efficiency of the genotyping technique. Using the nine markers, the average number of alleles per locus was 5.1. The expected and observed heterozygosity ranges were 0.32 to 0.80 and 0.13 to 0.92 respectively. The results also show that it is possible to produce a unique “DNA fingerprint” specific to each of the 15 hybrid poplar clones with the nine . In this study it was possible to show that two clones, P. ‘Melville’ and P. x ‘Walker’ used in Saskatchewan have similar DNA profiles with nine markers and a combined probability of identity of 2.23×10⁻⁶ suggesting that these clones are identical. This observation will prevent unnecessary duplication of the two accessions in breeding programs. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

An octahedral coordination complex of iron(VI)

The hexavalent state, considered to be the highest oxidation level accessible for iron, has previously been found only in the tetrahedral ferrate dianion, FeO4(2-). We report the photochemical synthesis of another Fe(VI) compound, an octahedrally coordinated dication bearing a terminal nitrido ligand. M?ssbauer and x-ray absorption spectra, supported by density functional theory, are consistent with the octahedral structure having an FeN triple bond of 1.57 angstroms and a singlet d2(xy) ground electronic configuration. The compound is stable at 77 kelvin and yields a high-spin Fe(III) species upon warming.     

喷雾血浆蛋白是断奶仔猪营养的良好选择

喷雾血浆蛋白被称作“天然的抗菌促长剂”,用于非反刍动物饲料中,在欧盟和其它地方正日益受到青睐。