Epidemiology of typical and atypical rotavirus infections in New Zealand pigs

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were employed to investigate the epidemiology of typical and atypical rotavirus infections in five piggeries. Of 152 faecal samples examined, 46 (30 per cent) were positive by ELISA for group A rotavirus. Rotaviruses with electrophoretic patterns resembling groups A, B and C were detected. At least two and up to five different rotavirus electrophoretypes (typical and/or atypical) were detected in each of the five piggeries. Out of 152 faecal samples examined, 28 (18 per cent) contained rotaviruses with group A electrophoretypes, 9 (6 per cent) with group C but only 1 with Group B. Six samples contained both group A and group C rotaviruses. No common electrophoretypes of group A or C rotaviruses were detected in these five piggeries. The PAGE technique was also used to analyze group A rotavirus isolated sequentially from another piggery over a three year period. A single electrophoretype was found during the first two years, but in the third year a different electrophoretype was detected.     

Characterisation of water use by Sultana grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) on their own roots or on Ramsey rootstock drip-irrigated with water of different salinities

Seasonal evapotranspiration (ET) was determined for Sultana grapevines grown on their own roots (Own-rooted) or grafted onto Ramsey rootstock (Grafted), and irrigated with water of three salinity levels – low (0.4 dS m^–1), medium (1.8 dS m^–1) and high (3.6 dS m^–1) – during the 1994/1995 growing season in south-eastern Australia. Transpiration (T) was determined from sap flux, soil evaporation (E _s) with a model, and soil water (S) with a neutron probe. Total ET for the season was similar for both Own-rooted and Grafted, averaging 382 mm. However, Grafted partitioned a mean of 193.5 mm (50.8%) of the ET through T compared to 146.7 mm (38.4%) by Own-rooted. Daily rates of T were generally low and attained peaks of 1.2 mm (9.9 l per vine) for Grafted and 0.9 mm (7.5 l) for Own-rooted in late November, and changed very little until after harvest in February. In contrast to T, the E _s rate was consistently higher for Own-rooted than for Grafted from November onwards, and at the end of the season totalled 237 mm for Own-rooted compared to 187 mm for Grafted. Differences between Own-rooted and Grafted in their partitioning of ET into T and E _s were associated with their canopy development. Grafted had a higher rate of canopy development than Own-rooted, and in mid-season, the former intercepted about 50% more incident radiation than Own-rooted. The crop factors, i. e. ratio of water use to evaporative demand, based on ET were similar for both vine types with an average seasonal value of 0.25, but when based on T were 0.12 for Grafted and 0.10 for Own-rooted. The ratio of fresh fruit weight to total water used at harvest, i. e. crop water use efficiency (CWUE), based on ET, had a mean of 86 kg mm^–1 ha^–1 for Grafted and 43 kg mm^–1 ha^–1 for Own-rooted, and when based on T, was 165 and 115 kg mm^–1 ha^–1, respectively; however, supplementary data obtained during the 1993/1994 season, indicated a CWUE based on T of 294 and 266 kg mm^–1 ha^–1 for Grafted and Own-rooted, respectively. Salinity did not have significant effects on canopy development and water use for most of the 1994/1995 growing season. The study shows ET and crop factors for the drip-irrigated grapevines to be much lower than previously reported for this district. Received: 6 May 1996     

牛DES基因的SNPs检测

设计了6套引物对利木赞(Limousin)和娟姗(Jersey)两个牛品种杂交一代的3头公牛进行DES基因的PCR扩增和测序,除引物4外均获得扩增产物,并在引物1扩增产物的上、下游及引物2扩增产物的上游序列的非编码区中各发现一个SNP,分别为SNP1(A/G)、SNP2(C/T)和SNP3(T/G)。同时测得公牛1、2、3的SNP1、SNP2、SNP3的基因型分别为A/A、A/G、A/G,C/C、C/C、C/T,T/G、G/G、G/G。     

Myofibroblastic fibrosarcoma with multifocal osseous metaplasia at the site of equine influenza vaccination

We describe a fibrosarcoma in a 12-year-old Quarterhorse × Arabian gelding as a sequela to equine influenza vaccination. Shortly after the second vaccination, swelling at the site was noticed by the owner and it continued to increase in size over the following 6 months. Biopsy of the mass indicated a fibrosarcoma had developed at the vaccination site. It was approximately 20 cm in diameter and elevated well above the level of the skin. There was no clinical evidence of metastases to the lungs or local lymph nodes. Surgical resection of the mass was performed and the wound healed by first and second intention. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical staining confirmed a myofibroblastic fibrosarcoma with multifocal osseous metaplasia. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first equine case of a vaccine-associated fibrosarcoma.     

Agricultural robots—system analysis and economic feasibility

This paper focuses on the economic feasibility of applying autonomous robotic vehicles compared to conventional systems in three different applications: robotic weeding in high value crops (particularly sugar beet), crop scouting in cereals and grass cutting on golf courses. The comparison was based on a systems analysis and an individual economic feasibility study for each of the three applications. The results showed that in all three scenarios, the robotic applications are more economically feasible than the conventional systems. The high cost of real time kinematics Global Positioning System (RTK-GPS) and the small capacity of the vehicles are the main parameters that increase the cost of the robotic systems.     

Relationship between paired plasma and serum viscosity and plasma proteins in the horse

The relationship between paired plasma and serum viscosity measurements and plasma proteins, including fibrinogen, were compared in 106 horses with both normal and abnormal serum protein levels. There is a highly significant positive correlation between serum viscosity and total serum proteins and total globulin levels. The difference between plasma and serum viscosity correlated well with clottable fibrinogen concentration. Albumin levels showed a negative correlation with plasma and serum viscosity, globulins and fibrinogen. Simultaneous estimation of serum and plasma viscosity improves the diagnostic value of the latter test without appreciable increase in cost or time and should prove useful for screening large numbers of samples for the presence or absence of abnormal levels of globulins and, or, fibrinogen.     

Long-term, but not short-term, treatment with somatotropin during pregnancy in underfed pigs increases the body size of progeny at birth

Treatment of pigs with porcine ST (pST) in early to mid-pregnancy increases body weight and length of their fetuses by mid-pregnancy, but this increased weight may not persist to birth. We investigated the effects of short- (25 d) and long-term (75 d) treatment with pST, and interactions between long-term pST treatment and crude protein content of diet, in restricted-fed gilts. In both experiments, Large White x Landrace gilts were bred at first estrus to Large White x Duroc boars and allowed to farrow naturally. In the first experiment, gilts were fed 1.8 kg/d of a diet containing 13.5 MJ DE/kg of DM and 15.05% CP (as-fed basis) throughout pregnancy, and were injected daily with 0, 2, or 4 mg pST from d 25 to 50 of pregnancy. Maternal treatment with pST from d 25 to 50 of pregnancy did not affect the number of piglets born per litter or progeny size at birth. In the second experiment, gilts were injected daily with 0 or 2 mg of pST and fed 2.2 kg/d of a diet containing 14.5 MJ DE/kg and either (as-fed basis) 16.6% (0.81% lysine) or 22.2% CP (1.16% lysine) from d 25 to 100 of pregnancy. All gilts were then fed 3.0 kg/d of the lower protein diet from d 100 of pregnancy to farrowing. Treatment with 2 mg pST/d from d 25 to 100 of pregnancy increased live weight of all gilts during the treatment period (P = 0.016), but the change in maternal live weight from d 25 to 100 of pregnancy was only increased (P = 0.001) by pST in gilts fed the higher protein diet. Live weight of gilts 1 d after farrowing was increased by pST treatment (P = 0.007), but was not altered by protein content of diet during pregnancy. In gilts fed the lower protein diet, but not in those fed the higher protein diet, pST treatment decreased maternal backfat depth during treatment (P < 0.020) and 1 d after farrowing (P = 0.002). Treatment with pST during pregnancy did not affect the number of piglets born per litter but independently increased body weight by 11.6% (P < 0.001) and length by 3.4% (P = 0.005) of progeny at birth and decreased (P < 0.01) the negative effect of litter size on body weight at birth. We conclude that in feed-restricted gilts, fetal weight gains in response to 25 d of pST treatment before mid-pregnancy are not maintained to term but that treatment with pST during most of pregnancy increases progeny size at birth and reduces maternal constraint of fetal growth.