Comparison of acetate tape impression with squeezing versus skin scraping for the diagnosis of canine demodicosis

This study compared the sensitivity of acetate tape impression and skin squeezing with that of deep skin scraping for the diagnosis of demodicosis in dogs. Demodex canis was detected in 100% of acetate tape impressions obtained after skin squeezing and in 90% of deep skin scrapings. There was a significant difference (P < 0.001) between the techniques in the total number of mites detected. Acetate tape impression with skin squeezing was found to be more sensitive than deep skin scraping and is an alternative diagnostic method for canine demodicosis.     

Serum cardiac troponin I concentration in dogs with ehrlichiosis

Background: Ehrlichiosis is a multisystemic disease with the potential to cause cardiomyocyte injury in naturally infected dogs.
Hypothesis: Myocardial injury occurs in dogs infected with Ehrlichia canis .
Animals: One-hundred and ninety-four dogs from Brazil with clinical and laboratory abnormalities indicative of ehrlichiosis. Sixteen healthy dogs served as controls.
Methods: Electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, noninvasive blood pressure measurement, and serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations were evaluated. Serologic assays and PCR determined the exposure and infection status for E. canis, Anaplasma spp., Babesia canis vogeli, Bartonella spp., Borrelia burgdorferi, Dirofilaria immitis, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, Leishmania chagasi , and spotted-fever group Rickettsia . Dogs were assigned to groups according to PCR status: E. canis infected, infected with other vector-borne organisms, sick dogs lacking PCR evidence for infection, and healthy controls.
Results: E. canis -infected dogs had higher serum cTnI concentrations than controls (median: 0.04 ng/dL; range 0.04–9.12 ng/dL; control median: 0.04 ng/dL; range: 0.04–0.10 ng/dL; P = .012), and acute E. canis infection was associated with myocardial injury (odds ratio [OR]: 2.67, confidence interval [CI] 95%: 1.12–6.40, P = .027). Severity of anemia was correlated with increased risk of cardiomyocyte damage ( r = 0.84, P < .001). Dogs with clinical signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) were at higher risk for myocardial injury than were other sick dogs (OR: 2.55, CI 95%: 1.31–4.95, P = .005).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Acute infection with E. canis is a risk factor for myocardial injury in naturally infected Brazilian dogs. Severity of anemia and SIRS might contribute to the pathophysiology of myocardial damage.     

Evaluation of conventional and real-time PCR assays for detection and differentiation of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia in dog blood

Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia is important cause of emerging and re-emerging infectious disease in people and dogs. Importantly, dogs can serve as sentinels for disease in people. Sensitive and specific diagnostic tests that differentiate among species of infecting Rickettsia are needed. The objective of this study was to develop a sensitive and specific PCR that differentiates SFG Rickettsia infecting dog blood. Conventional and real-time PCR assays were developed using primers that targeted a small region of the ompA gene. Their sensitivity, determined by testing a cloned target sequence in the presence of host DNA, was 15–30 and 5 copies of DNA, respectively. Testing of Rickettsia cultures and analysis of Rickettsia gene sequences deposited in GenBank verified DNA could be amplified and used to differentiate species. DNA from the blood of infected dogs was also tested. Importantly, Rickettsia DNA was detected before seroconversion in some dogs. The species of infecting Rickettsia was also identified. We conclude these assays may assist in the timely diagnosis of infection with SFG Rickettsia. They may also facilitate the discovery of novel SFG Rickettsia infecting dogs, and in the investigation of dogs as sentinels for emerging rickettsioses.     

不同年限玉米秸秆还田对土壤微生物多样性的影响

秸秆还田是培肥地力、改良土壤的重要措施。内蒙古高原向松辽平原过渡地带春玉米区,玉米长期连作导致了耕层变薄、土壤次生盐渍化等土壤退化问题。采用田间定位试验的方法,研究连续多年(8、5、2年)秸秆旋耕还田条件下对土壤微生物的影响。结果表明,秸秆还田土壤中最丰富的细菌类型为变形菌门(Proteobac-teria),其次为放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、芽单胞菌门(Gemmatimonadetes)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes);真菌类型为子囊菌门(Ascomycota)和担子菌门(Basidiomycota)。随着秸秆还田年限的增加,变形菌门和酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)相对丰度增加、放线菌门相对丰度下降,拟杆菌门相对丰度较稳定;子囊菌门、担子菌门、接合菌门(Zygomycota)相对丰度先下降后上升,而球囊菌门(Glomeromycota)和壶菌门(Chytridiomycota)相对丰度变化规律相反;属水平上Sphingomonas、Lysobacter、Hannaella相对丰度先上升后下降,而Leptosphaeria和Mono-dictys相对丰度变化规律相反;Pseudarthrobacter、Fusarium相对丰度下降,Gaiella相对丰度较稳定;Guehomyces相对丰度增加;并且细菌和真菌相对丰度拐点均出现在秸秆还田5年后。随着秸秆还田年限的增加,土壤细菌和真菌多样性均有所降低;秸秆还田与秸秆不还田土壤的差异物种有Aquicella、Fusicolla和Spizellomyces;由此可推测,秸秆还田增加土壤氮和钾含量,减少病害;试验区连续多年的玉米秸秆还田改变了土壤微生物群落组成,玉米秸秆连续还田5年后土壤微生物多样性有下降趋势。     

Clinical evaluation of protein electrophoresis of cerebral spinal fluid

Protein fractions of cerebral spinal fluid samples were analyzed in an effort to find a reliable, minimally invasive and cost effective method of diagnosing cervical vertebral myelopathy. There were six separate protein fractions analyzed by electrophoresis. In this study we specifically looked for a post beta spike in horses with spinal cord compression. There was no correlation in our study between horses with a post beta spike and CVM as diagnosed by a myelogram.     

额济纳胡杨林土壤含水量时空变化的研究

使用管状土壤水分仪,对额济纳胡杨林、沙枣林、柽柳林以及其它不同样地的土壤含水量时空变化进行了调查研究。结果表明,大部分样地有大约20CM的干沙层,使表层土壤含水量最低;土壤剖面的30~150CM土层内,随土壤深度的增加,土壤含水量逐渐增大;沙枣林和柽柳林的土壤含水量明显高于胡杨林土壤含水量;土壤质地的变化和三种林型耗水量的差异是土壤含水量高低变化的原因;2004年5月份的土壤含水量明显高于2003年7月份的土壤含水量。     

米易县核桃产业发展的思考

在论述了米易县核桃产业发展现状的基础上,分析了米易县发展核桃产业的必要性和存在的问题,针时存在问题提出了相应的对策和建议：一是以核桃基地建设为重点,合理规划核桃种植;二是以科技为依托,强化技术支撑体系;三是引进龙头企业,带动核桃产、工、销一体化发展;四是拓宽核桃产业发展的融资渠道;五是建立苗圃基地,确保良种供应;六是制定一系列的优惠政策,促进核桃产业健康快速发展。     

Evaluation of Cluster Bean Meal Cyamposis fefrugonoloba as a Dietary Protein Source for Common Carp Cyprinus carpio L.

Abstract— A12-wk feeding experiment was conducted to study the feasibility of utilizing cluster bean seed meal (CBM) as a replacement for fishmeal in the diets for common carp Cyprnus carpio fingerlings. The replacement levels of cluster bean meal protein in the diets were 25, 50, 75, and 100% of the total fishmeal protein. All diets were isonitrogenous at 33.1% crude protein and isocaloric at 4.8 Kcal/g. There were significant differences in the final individual weights, weight gains, specific growth rates (SGR %/d), feed conversion ratios (FCR), feed efficiency ratio (FER), protein efficiency ratios (PER), and feed intake among fish group ( P × 0.05). Common carp fed the diet containing 50% (CBM) exhibited comparable growth to those fed a fishmeal-based diet. Digestibility of protein, energy and lipid decreased with increasing levels of CBM above 50% of total fishmeal replacement in the diet. Incorporation of CBM in diets significantly affected the dry matter, protein, and energy of whole fish body. These results suggest that CBM can replace 50% of the fishmeal in diet for common carp.     

Survival of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis in amitraz cattle dip fluid

OBJECTIVE: To determine the survival time of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis in amitraz-based cattle dip fluid derived from an active dip site in northern New South Wales. PROCEDURE: Following inoculation of triplicate 5 L containers with faeces (0.5 g/L) from a clinical case of bovine paratuberculosis, samples collected up to 8 weeks after inoculation were examined by conventional and radiometric culture. M a paratuberculosis colonies were enumerated on solid media. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: M a paratuberculosis survived in amitraz cattle dip fluid for up to 2 weeks, but not 3 weeks. Where 1% of solids in dip fluid is derived from a clinical case of paratuberculosis, dip fluid may contain viable M a paratuberculosis for at least 2 weeks. These findings have implications for the management of cattle dip sites.