A micromethod for measuring swine fever antibody by neutralisation and immunofluorescence

A micromethod employing the neutralisation and direct immunofluorescence technique for the detection of antibodies against swine fever in pig serum samples is described. The micromethod is simple and reproducible when compared with the macromethod. A total of 80 blood samples were randomly collected for comparison. The results are promising and reveal a 100 per cent correlation with the macrotechnique.     

Risk factors associated with extended spectrum beta-lactamase Escherichia coli (CTX-M) on dairy farms in North West England and North Wales

This study investigated the potential spread of CTX-M-14 Escherichia coli from a known ESBL E. coli positive farm and risk factors for the presence of CTX-M E. coli on dairy farms. Between November 2009 and March 2010, 65 farms in North West England and North Wales were visited and animals sampled for E. coli producing CTX-M ESBLs. Seventeen of these were known to have received animals from a known ESBL E. coli positive 'index' farm since 2005 (linked farms). The prevalence of CTX-M E. coli in the population of linked farms was 58.8% (10/17; CI(95%) 32.9-81.6%) and in the randomly selected control population was 35.4% (17/48; CI(95%) 22.2-50.5%). There was no significant (p>0.05) linkage for the detection of any CTX-M E. coli or specifically a CTX-M-14 E. coli to the index farm. Group 1 (CTX-M-15, CTX-M-55, CTX-M-1, CTX-M-32), group 2 (CTX-M-2) and group 9 (CTX-M-14, CTX-M-14B, CTX-M-27) CTX-M E. coli were identified on the study farms. Molecular analysis revealed that three plasmids from linked farms had similar sizes (95kbp), replicon type (IncK) and backbone genes as that from the index farm. Logistic regression analysis revealed that farms that had used a 3rd or 4th generation cephalosporin (ceftiofur, cefoperazone and cefquinome) in livestock in the last 12months were nearly 4times more likely to have ESBL E. coli present (p=0.037; OR=3.93). There was no significant association between presence of CTX-M E. coli and the use of any 1st or 2nd generation cephalosporins. Several other risk factors for the presence of CTX-M E. coli were identified, such as storage of slurry in a pit, operating an open herd policy and infrequent cleaning of calf feeding equipment.     

Dairy cow preference for a soft track surface

Abstract

Extract

As dairy herds get larger cows have to walk further, and foot care becomes more important. Lameness from bruising of the soles of the feet is a particular hazard (Tranter and Morris 1991 Tranter, W P and Morris, RS. 1991. A case study of lameness in three dairy herds. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 39: 88–96. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar], especially on hard tracks with loose angular stones or grit (Clackson and Ward 1991 Clackson, DA and Ward, WR. 1991. Farm tracks, stockman's herding and lameness in dairy cattle. Veterinary Record, 129: 511–512.  [Google Scholar]. One way of reducing this problem might be to provide an overlay of woodchips on top of the normal hard track. This would provide a softer grit-free surface, which could be more comfortable for the cows.     

Investigation of the presence of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli in the North Wales and West Midlands areas of the UK in 2007 to 2008 using scanning surveillance

Between November 5, 2007 and November 4, 2008, faecal samples from cattle and sheep submitted for diagnostic purposes to the Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) (now AHVLA) regional laboratories (covering North Wales and the West Midlands) were screened for the presence of Escherichia coli that produces CTX-M extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) using the selective medium CHROMagar CTX. Samples from 113 farms were tested and eight ESBL-positive farms identified. Of these, six farms were identified via submissions of cattle faeces and two from sheep. Gene sequencing revealed both group 1 and group 9 CTX-M enzymes corresponding to CTX-M-14, CTX-M-14B (group 9) and CTX-M-15/28 (group 1). Analysis of these isolates by nanoarray revealed that some were carrying a range of virulence genes including ireA, iroN and prfB, which have been associated with extraintestinal pathogenic E coli, and were multidrug resistant. Geographical analysis with choropleth maps suggested that these CTX-M genes are relatively widespread in the North Wales and West Midlands study area. This work was carried out concurrently with the running of a VLA ESBL surveillance system, which has subsequently identified many more CTX-M positive farms in the UK.     

Effects of an autumn defoliation on overwintering, spring growth and yield of a white clover/grass sward

An established sward of binary mixtures of meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis) and white clover (Trifolium repens) (either AberHerald, Grasslands Huia or Sandra) was subjected to (A) no further defoliation, (B) a defoliation in late September or (C) a defoliation in late October after four harvests had been taken during the grazing season. About a tonne of dry matter (DM) was removed by the autumn defoliations. There were two levels of nitrogen application in spring, either 0 or 90 kg ha^?1. The development of grass and clover morphology and population sizes from early autumn until the first harvest the following year was followed by regular sampling of the above-ground material. Stolons were analysed for total non-structural carbohydrates (TNCs), and the temperature at stolon level was continuously recorded. There were no interactions between autumn defoliation, clover cultivar or nitrogen treatments on any of the parameters studied. White clover growing-point numbers and stolon morphological characteristics were reduced in size during the winter and did not recover during the spring. A defoliation in late September resulted in the greatest reduction, whereas there were no differences between the other two treatments. The grass tiller population increased from early autumn until the last sampling occasion in May, but both autumn defoliations resulted in a smaller increase. Defoliation in late September had the greatest impact. The TNC content of white clover stolons fell from about 350 g kg^?1 to 150 g kg^?1 DM from late autumn until late April. There were small differences between the treatments, but a defoliation in late September resulted in a significantly lower level in late autumn. The temperature amplitude at stolon level was consistently greater in plots defoliated in late September. Total DM harvested in spring was 4367, 2564 and 3536 kg ha^?1, of which 388, 352 and 460 kg ha^?1 was white clover, from treatments A, B and C respectively. It is concluded that an autumn defoliation may affect the overwintering of white clover negatively, but that the effect on the grass may be even more detrimental.     

玉米蛋白粉替代鱼粉对异育银鲫生长、蛋白酶活性及表观消化率的影响

分别用4%、8%、12%和16%玉米蛋白粉替代异育银鲫饲料中25%、50%、75%和100%鱼粉配制4种等氮、等能的试验饲料,以不替代鱼粉的饲料为对照,试验饲料与对照饲料等氮、等能,在室内循环水养殖系统饲养异育银鲫(初始体重1.32±0.16 g)71 d,旨在研究玉米蛋白粉替代鱼粉对异育银鲫生长、蛋白酶活性以及表观消化率的影响.结果表明,玉米蛋白替代鱼粉对异育银鲫的存活率、肥满度无显著性影响(P>0.05).4%、8%及12%玉米蛋白粉组的相对增重率、相对增长率、饲料系数、蛋白质效率、肠道和肝胰脏蛋白酶活性、干物质和蛋白质表现消化率与对照组无显著差异(P>0.05),玉米蛋白粉完全替代鱼粉组的生长性能、饲料利用、蛋白酶活性和表观消化率均显著低于对照组(P<0.05).因此,本实验条件下,玉米蛋白粉可以替代75%鱼粉.     

植物生长调节剂对黑麦草生长特性的影响

探讨了3种植物生长调节剂烯效唑、缩节胺和防落素对黑麦草生长特性的影响。结果表明:单独喷施烯效唑(50mg/L)和缩节胺(300mg/L)均能显著延缓黑麦草生长,矮化其株高,增加根冠比,提高叶绿素含量,其中50mg/L烯效唑的处理效果比较显著;烯效唑、缩节胺和不同浓度的防落素(50mg/L和100mg/L)混合喷施,只有烯效唑的复合使用能显著提高叶绿素含量,对改善黑麦草坪用性状的作用较好。     

Detection of antibiotic residues and association of cefquinome residues with the occurrence of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria in waste milk samples from dairy farms in England and Wales in 2011

Waste milk samples from 103 farms in England and Wales were examined for the presence of β-lactam antibiotics and ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Approximately 10 months after the initial sampling, further waste milk, environmental and faecal samples from farms shown to be positive for CTX-M Escherichia coli were investigated further. Isolates with an ESBL phenotype were tested by PCR for the presence of bla_CTX-M, bla_OXA, bla_SHV and bla_TEM genes. Isolates positive for bla_CTX-M were sequenced to determine CTX-M type. Representative isolates were further examined by PFGE, plasmid replicon typing and serotyping. Of particular interest, 21.4% of waste milk samples contained residues of the cephalosporin cefquinome, which was significantly associated with CTX-M bacteria. Such bacteria occurred in 5.8% of the waste milk samples (including 3.9% CTX-M E. coli). CTX-M types identified were 1, 14, 14b and 15, but none of the E. coli were serotype O25, the serotype of the human pandemic strain.     

不同旱稻品种灌浆期抗旱生理适应性的研究

选择抗旱性不同的4个旱稻品种,对其灌浆期旗叶抗旱性生理指标进行测定。结果表明:超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性及游离脯氨酸含量均为抗旱性较强品种(旱稻15号,旱稻2号)极显著地高于抗旱性较弱品种(旱稻1号,旱稻3号);丙二醛(MDA)含量和细胞膜相对透性大小表现为抗旱性较强品种(旱稻15号,旱稻2号)极显著地低于抗旱性较弱品种(旱稻1号,旱稻3号)。SOD、POD、CAT活性和丙二醛含量、游离脯氨酸含量、细胞膜相对透性可用来说明旱稻品种之间的抗旱生理适应性的差异。