Genomic variability among globally distributed isolates of equine arteritis virus.

Equine arteritis virus (EAV), a non-arthropod borne togavirus, has been shown to have a global distribution. To date, no major antigenic variation has been demonstrated between EAV isolates from different geographic origins. In this study, the genomic RNA of EAV isolates obtained from horses of different breeds in various countries around the world was oligonucleotide fingerprinted. Comparisons of these fingerprints were used to determine the extent of genomic variation among such isolates. Comparisons among isolates from North American horses revealed, for the most part, oligonucleotide homologies of less than 60%. Only 29 of the 98 comparisons revealed greater than 60% oligonucleotide homology. Nonetheless, several comparisons indicated a close epidemiologic relationship between isolates from horses of different breeds located in different states. Though all European isolates were of Standardbred origin and were from horses located in northern European countries, the majority had oligonucleotide homologies of less than 60%. Where oligonucleotide homology was apparent, it was, with one exception, greater than 70%. The two isolates from New Zealand had 93.2% oligonucleotide homology. This is indicative of an extremely close epidemiologic relationship. Comparisons between EAV isolates from around the world revealed oligonucleotide homologies between viruses from North America, Europe and New Zealand. In several instances, this homology was greater than 70% and in one case greater than 80%. No oligonucleotide homology was evident in comparisons involving the virus from South Africa. The high level of genomic conservation between certain EAV isolates of disparate geographic origins may reflect dissemination of the virus associated with the international movement of horses. The extent of genomic variation demonstrated between most of the EAV isolates used in this study confirms the need for further investigation of genomic heterogeneity among strains of this virus before techniques that rely upon nucleic acid hybridization can be effectively applied as diagnostic procedures.     

Toxic peripheral neuropathy with demyelination in Sprague-Dawley rats given CGS 21595--a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor.

Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were given CGS 21595, a pro-drug that is almost immediately metabolized to CGS 19213, a naphthoquinone that acts as a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor. The compound was administered by gavage to five groups of Sprague-Dawley rats (group Nos. 1, 5, n = 30; group Nos. 2-4, n = 20) at daily doses of 0, 50, 150, 500, or 1,000 mg/kg for 13 weeks. Rats in the higher dose groups had a reduced weight gain, but significant neurologic signs were not observed. A peripheral neuropathy consisting predominantly of myelin destruction in the spinal nerve roots and sciatic nerves in male rats treated with greater than or equal to 150 mg/kg CGS 21595 and in female rats treated with greater than or equal to 50 mg/kg CGS 21595 for 13 weeks. This lesion was not fully reversible after a recovery period of 4 weeks. Lesions consisted of ballooning of myelin sheaths, infiltration by macrophages, demyelination, and occasional areas of remyelination. Axons were generally preserved, and the brain and spinal cord were not affected. Male and female rats in all treatment groups had cytoplasmic hyaline droplets in the proximal renal tubules. This change was reversible after 4 weeks and was not associated with any other adverse effects on the kidney.     

Limits and risks of biotechnology in veterinary medicine from the viewpoint of the reproductive biologist

New biotechnical methods in reproduction have been introduced in animal breeding via embryo transfer. There are no serious objections against these methods as long as the variety of species is reassured and the animal protection law is considered. More substantial objections exist against genetic engineering methods which alter the genome of animals. Beside for legal protection there is a strong public demand for the adequete awareness and responsibility of scientists who are active in this field. Comprehensive information on such research projects can lead to a better understanding of the aims and methods and might, therefore, help to reduce inadequate apprehensions.     

Effects of predator-induced visual and olfactory cues on 0+ perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) foraging behaviour

Abstract –  Foraging juvenile fish with relatively high food demands are usually vulnerable to various aquatic and avian predators. To compromise between foraging and antipredator activity, they need exact and reliable information about current predation risk. Among direct predator-induced cues, visual and olfactory signals are considered to be most important. Food intake rates and prey-size selectivity of laboratory-reared, naive young-of-the-year (YOY) perch, Perca fluviatilis , were studied in experiments with Daphnia magna of two size classes: 2.8 and 1.3 mm as prey and northern pike, Esox lucius , as predator. Neither total intake rate nor prey-size selectivity was modified by predator kairomones alone (water from an aquarium with a pike was pumped into the test aquaria) under daylight conditions. Visual presentation of pike reduced total food intake by perch. This effect was significantly more pronounced (synergistic) when visual and olfactory cues were presented simultaneously to foraging perch. Moreover, the combination of cues caused a significant shift in prey-size selection, expressed as a reduced proportion of large prey in the diet. Our observations demonstrate that predator-induced olfactory cues alone are less important modifiers of the feeding behaviour of naive YOY perch than visual cues under daylight conditions. However, pike odour acts as a modulatory stimulus enhancing the effects of visual cues, which trigger an innate response in perch.     

中国丝绸产业国际竞争力研究

采用显示性竞争优势指数法(CompetitiveAdvantage,CA),结合翔实的数据,对中国丝绸产业的国际竞争力进行较为全面的实证分析,分析结果表明中国的丝绸国际竞争力呈直线下降的趋势。笔者认为影响中国丝绸产业国际竞争力的主要因素为:(1)产品质量与世界先进水平仍然存在着较大的差距;(2)中国的茧丝绸管理体制不适应市场经济的要求,严重的阻碍了中国丝绸国际竞争力的发展;(3)行业法规迟迟不能出台,宏观调控能力乏力;(4)中国的品牌效应在中国仍然没有真正形成;等。笔者还进一步就提高中国丝绸产业的国际竞争力的提出自己的建议:(1)改革和理顺宏观管理体制;(2)加快茧丝绸行业法规制定,加强行业管理的权威性,加大宏观调控的力度;(3)加大中国的科技投入,争取实现各项关键技术的重大突破;(4)进一步巩固“东桑西移”产业布局调整的成果,加快促进产业升级和技术进步;(5)加大对丝绸产品的宣传力度,尽快开发中国的丝绸市场;(6)进一步宣传和实施中国的高档丝绸标志的品牌战略,提高中国丝绸品牌的知名度。     

CIDR PMSG FSH联合处理不同品种绵羊效果的研究

CIDR、PMSG、FSH联合使用对初产供体羊Borderdale(波德代)3♂15♀、Poll Dorset(无角陶赛特)5♂18♀和Ger-man Mutton Merino(德国肉毛兼用美利奴—德美)3♂15♀进行同期发情和超数排卵。同期化发情波德代、无角陶赛特和德美分别为100.00%、88.89%和93.33%,羊只同期化发情时间经历和各时间点分布3个品种各有特点。超数排卵效果品种间存在差异,波德代、无角陶赛特、德美分别为6.60±2.97(枚)、3.63±2.25(枚)、5.50±3.32(枚),波德代极显著地高于无角陶赛特(P<0.01)。超排有效率波德代、无角陶赛特、德美分别为100.00%、87.50%、92.86%。未受精卵波德代极显著地高于德美羊和无角陶赛特羊(P<0.01)。胚胎总数德美羊极显著地高于波德代(P<0.01)。有效胚胎波德代羊、无角陶赛特羊、德美羊分别为2.40±2.31、2.75±2.05、4.07±3.79,德美极显著地高于波德代(P<0.01)。同一方法进行同期化发情,羊只经历时间和各时间点均衡分布能否有效控制是同期发情的焦点问题,是有效胚胎数目差异的主导因素之一。     

禁用抗生素促生长剂(AGPs)对畜禽的影响

自20世纪40年代后期发现抗生素对畜禽有促生长作用以来,饲喂低于治疗剂量的抗生素已经成为家畜营养中必不可少的部分。但今天很多国家在对动物饲料中使用抗生素进行了重新评估。自Sw ann(1969)的报告发表以来,细菌对特定抗生素产生抗药性的潜在风险引起了很大关注,这些抗药性可     

Verification by polymerase chain reaction of vertical transmission of Theileria sergenti in cows

To evaluate the transplacental transfer of Theileria sergenti infection in cattle, we used DNA probes to detect T. sergenti in 6 pregnant cows and their calves. All the animals were monitored by parasitologic, serologic, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for a predicted 875-base-pair (bp) DNA product and a 684-bp amplicon detected by nested PCR in the blood and spleens of aborted fetuses. An open reading frame (ORF) starting at nucleotide 170 and terminating at position 1021 was shown to code for a polypeptide of 283 amino acid residues. All 6 dams and 5 calves were positive for T. sergenti in all tests. One calf was positive only with nested PCR. We conclude that transplacental transmission of T. sergenti is a significant problem. The relevance of the data in the programmed introduction of new (especially pregnant) animals into established clean herds needs serious consideration with regard to control of theileriosis and other tickborne diseases.     

The use of a Giardia vaccine as an immunotherapeutic agent in dogs.

Dogs (n = 13), which had failed to be cured of giardiosis following chemotherapeutic measures, were treated with a Giardia vaccine (2-3 injections). Clinical signs resolved between 16 and 42 days postvaccination and cessation of fecal cyst shedding was between 21 and 70 days. Vaccination is a potential method of treating giardiosis in dogs.