Neospora caninum infected the alimentary tract of nude mice and was transmitted to other mice by intraperitoneal inoculation with the intestinal contents

Neospora caninum (BT-2 strain) that originated from the brain of a Holstein calf was serially passaged through 10 generations of BALB/c nude mice by intraperitoneal inoculation. Histological examination of the mice revealed that numerous clusters of tachyzoites appeared in the pancreas, stomach and small intestine as well as in the central nervous system (CNS) and skeletal muscles. Intestinal contents of the infected mice were inoculated intraperitoneally into uninfected nude mice and 3 of the 17 inoculated mice showed clinical signs at post inoculation days 3 to 10. The present experiments demonstrated a proliferation of N. caninum tachyzoites in the mucosa of the alimentary tract and pancreas of the nude mice and the intestinal contents of the mice were infective to other nude mice.     

Treatment of chronic digital septic tenosynovitis in 12 horses by modified open annular ligament desmotomy and passive open drainage

A modified open annular ligament desmotomy followed by passive open drainage was used to treat 12 horses with chronic digital septic tenosynovitis due to trauma in the form of open wounds or self-sealing punctures. The surgical approach included complete transection of the palmar/plantar annular ligament of the fetlock and proximal digital annular ligament, which facilitated the removal of fibrin, selective debridement and synovectomy, followed by lavage of the digital sheath. The incision was partially closed leaving a 2 cm gap open distally to allow for passive open drainage. Gentamicin was administered intrathecally during surgery. Postoperatively the horses received ceftiofur and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. A sterile bandage was used to protect the wound until the gap had healed completely by second intention. Infection was controlled in 11 of the horses which all returned to their previous levels of work, but one horse was euthanased as a result of the persistence of the infection and financial considerations.     

Dietary lutein stimulates immune response in the canine

The possible immuno-modulatory action of dietary lutein in dogs is not known. Female Beagle dogs (17-18-month old; 11.4+/-0.4kg body weight) were supplemented daily with 0, 5, 10 or 20mg lutein for 12 weeks. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to saline, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and a polyvalent vaccine was assessed on Weeks 0, 6 and 12. Blood was sampled on Weeks 0, 2, 4, 8 and 12 to assess (1) lymphocyte proliferative response to PHA, concanavalin A (Con A), and pokeweed mitogen (PWM), (2) changes in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) populations, (3) interleukin-2 (IL-2) production and (4) IgG and IgM production. After the completion of 12-week study, we continued to collect the blood weekly up to 17 weeks to evaluate the changes in immunoglobulin production upon first and second antigenic challenges on Weeks 13 and 15. Plasma lutein+zeaxanthin was undetectable in unsupplemented dogs but concentrations increased (P<0.05) rapidly on Week 2 in lutein-supplemented dogs. Thereafter, concentrations generally continued to increase in dose-dependent manner, albeit at a much slower rate. Dogs fed lutein had heightened DTH response to PHA and vaccine by Week 6. Dietary lutein increased (P<0.05) lymphocyte proliferative response to all three mitogens and increased the percentages of cells expressing CD5, CD4, CD8 and major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) molecules. The production of IgG increased (P<0.05) in lutein-fed dogs after the second antigenic challenge. Lutein did not influence the expression of CD21 lymphocyte marker, plasma IgM or IL-2 production. Therefore, dietary lutein stimulated both cell-mediated and humoral immune responses in the domestic canine.     

Ganglion cysts in a juvenile dog

Ganglion cysts were diagnosed in a 4-month-old male Afghan Hound. Grossly, the subcutaneous ovoid cysts around the caudal right elbow joint and left ischiatic tuberosity had abundant mucinous fluid and internal folding. The lesions recurred twice around the elbow joint after surgical removal. Neither cyst communicated with the joint cavity. Histologically, the cyst wall consisted of inner myxomatous and outer immature connective tissue. Some parts of the cyst wall had various stages of myxoid metaplasia of collagen tissue leading to new cyst formation. Ultrastructural study revealed that cells in the myxoid metaplastic lesion had well-developed cytoplasmic secretory elements, including abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and many smooth-walled vesicles. These ganglion cysts apparently resulted from the metaplasia of fibroblasts to secreting cells.     

Morphology and electrical conductivity of PS/PMMA/SMMA blends filled with carbon black

An alternative strategy to reduce the percolation threshold of carbon black (CB) in polymer blends was investigated using random copolymer ternary blends of polystyrene (PS), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and a styrene-methyl methacrylate random copolymer (SMMA). The target morphology was to selectively locate CB particles in the encapsulating layer of SMMA during melt mixing. The CB used in this study is BP-2000 from Cabot and has a strong selective affinity to PS. Even when the CB was premixed with SMMA, it moves to the PS phase during the melt mixing. However, we also observed the CB particles located at the interface between SMMA and PS phases. Through this study it is found that the interaction between polymers and CB particles is critical for selectively localizing CB particles in multi-component polymer blends. Although appropriate processing condition may retard the movement of CB particles to the polymer phase with affinity, it cannot prevent it completely and locate them to the SMMA phase, which is not thermodynamically favored. To locate CB particles in an encapsulating layer of ternary polymer blends, first of all, polymers forming it should have selective affinity to CB.     

Preparations of carbon fibers from precursor pitches synthesized with coal tar or petroleum residue oil

Pitch precursors were synthesized from coal tar(CT) and pyrolysis fuel oil(PFO, petroleum residue oil) at relatively low temperature of 250°C, in the presence of borontrifluoride/diethyletherate complex(BFDE) as a catalyst and nitrobenzene(NB) as a co-catalyst. The softening point, nitrogen content and carbon yield increased with an increase of concentration of NB. The pitch precursors with good spinnability were prepared by removing the volatile components through N₂ blowing. The precursor pitches were spun through a circular nozzle, stabilized at 310°C and finally carbonized at 1000°C. The optically anisotropic structure formed at the absence of NB was changed into isotropic structure, showing a decrease in size of the flow domain. The hollow carbon fiber could be prepared in the process of stabilization. The results proposed that the morphology of carbon materials could be controlled by changing the concentration of catalyst and/or co-catalyst and/or stabilization condition that affect on the mobility of molecules during carbonization.     

太白山南坡蝗虫群落排序及环境因素分析

应用主分量分析(PCA)和相关分析方法,对秦岭太白山南坡蝗虫群落垂直分布样方资料进行了分析,并通过排序值与环境参数的多元回归,对各群落类型的定量解释.结果表明,大体上可将这些蝗虫群落分为低山、中山和高山3种主要类型.其中,低山蝗虫群落包括农耕带、常绿阔叶落叶林带和辽东栎杂木林带,中山蝗虫群落包括桦木林带和冷杉林带,高山蝗虫群落包括落叶松林带及高山草甸带.相关分析及回归分析显示,其蝗虫分布主要取决于热量、温度及植被状况,它们可通过环境因素参数的数学表达式定量确定.     

First report of Exobasidium gracile causing hypertrophied leaves of Camellia sasanqua in South Korea

This study presents the first report of Exobasidium gracile in South Korea. In 2012, a Camellia sasanqua tree with typical Exobasidium disease symptoms was observed for the first time in South Korea. The causal fungus was determined as E. gracile. The identification was based on host range, symptomatology, morphology and two‐gene sequence analyses.     

淀山湖光泽黄颡鱼的生物学初步研究

光泽黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrusnitidus)是淀山湖重要的优势种之一,也是渔民重要的捕捞对象。2011年8月至2012年7月在淀山湖采集780尾光泽黄颡鱼样本,按肉眼观察选取体态完整的238尾进行体长分布、体重分布、体长与体重的关系、性比、食性、性腺成熟度和性腺指数等方面的生物学初步研究。研究结果表明:(1)光泽黄颡鱼体长范围为4.7~16.0 cm,优势组为8.0~12.0 cm;体重范围为1.3~28.4 g,优势组为5.0~15.0 g;(2)雌、雄样本平均体长分别为10.9cm和11.4 cm,平均体重分别为15.1 g和15.9 g;(3)雌雄样本体长与体重关系为,W♀=0.041×L2.533,W♂=0.037×L2.557,呈显著差异;(4)雌性光泽黄颡鱼最小性成熟个体体长为8.6 cm,体重为6.9 g;雄性最小性成熟个体体长为9.4 cm,体重为8.9 g;(5)雌、雄性腺指数具有差异性,雌性性腺指数大于雄性,成熟个体的性腺指数大于未成熟个体,雌性性未成熟个体性腺指数随着鱼体增大而增大,而雌性性成熟个体的性腺指数却随着鱼体增大而减小;(6)胃含物以虾为主,摄食等级以2~3级为主,占57.66%。