Herd-level risk factors for subclinical Salmonella infection in European finishing-pig herds

Our objective was to find herd factors associated with pigs testing seropositive for Salmonella. Data were collected from 359 finishing-pig herds in Germany, Denmark, Greece, The Netherlands and Sweden, between 1996 and 1998. Pigs fed non-pelleted feed (dry or wet) had 2- and 2.5-times lower odds of seropositivity, compared to pigs fed pelleted feed. The protective effect of non-pelleted feed over pelleted feed may be ascribed to the structure and composition. Also, pigs that were given whey (to drink or as the liquid part of the diet) had 2.6-times lower odds to test seropositive than pigs not getting whey. Pigs produced in batches in herds with hygienic-lock facilities had >3-times lower odds for testing seropositive compared to pigs in herds where only one or neither factor was present. In herds where the caretaker(s) washed hands consistently before tending to the animals, pigs had 1.5-times lower odds of seropositivity than pigs in herds where the caretaker did not. Pigs which were able to have snout contact with pigs in neighbouring pens (because pen separations were either open or too low) had 1.7-times higher odds to test seropositive compared to pigs for which such contact was prevented. Pigs in herds recruiting from more than three supplier herds had three-times higher odds to test seropositive than pigs in herds which breed their own replacement stock or recruit from a maximum of three supplier herds.     

Comparison of cardioprotective abilities between the flesh and skin of grapes

Recent studies have documented that grapes and grape juices are equally cardioprotective as red wine. The existing reports implicate that the skin and seeds of the grapes containing polyphenolic antioxidants are instrumental for the cardioprotective properties of grapes. The present study examines if the flesh of grapes also possesses any cardioprotective abilities. Three groups of randomly selected rats were fed, water only (control), flesh of the grapes (2.5 mg/kg b. wt.) or the skins (2.5 mg/kg b. wt.) for 30 days. At the end of the 30 days, isolated perfused hearts were made ischemic for 30 min followed by 2 h of reperfusion in the working mode. The results demonstrated that both flesh and skin of the grapes could protect the hearts from ischemic reperfusion injury as evidenced by improved postischemic ventricular recovery and reduced myocardial infarct size. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed that skin and flesh contained comparative amounts of glucose, fructose, tartaric acid, malic acid, shikimic acid, and trans-caftaric acid. In addition, the flesh contained reduced amounts (compared to skin) of cis-coutaric, trans-coutaric, caffeic, p-coumaric, cinnamics, and catechin/epicatechin. Total polyphenolic index was also lower in flesh compared to skin. The anthocyanins were present exclusively in the skin. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometry of hydroxy radicals indicated that both flesh and skins possessed equal amount of ROS scavenging activities. Total malonaldehyde content in the heart was reduced comparatively with either flesh or skin. The results indicate for the first time that the flesh of grapes are equally cardioprotective as skin, and antioxidant potential of skin and flesh of grapes are comparable with each other despite of the fact that flesh does not possess any anthocyanin activities.     

Antibody responses of calves to Histophilus somni recombinant IbpA subunits

Histophilus somni causes bovine pneumonia and septicemia, but protective immune responses are not well understood and immunodiagnostic methods are not well defined. We previously showed that antibody to a new virulence factor, IbpA, neutralizes cytotoxicity and immunization with a recombinant IbpA domain protects calves against experimental H. somni pneumonia. To further define immune responses to IbpA, we determined isotypic serum antibody responses to three IbpA domains (IbpA3, an N-terminal coiled coil region; IbpA5, a central region of 200 bp repeats and IbpA DR2, a C-terminal cytotoxic domain). ELISA was used to quantitate IgG1 or IgG2 antibodies to each of the IbpA subunits as well as H. somni whole cells (WCs) or culture supernatant (SUP). Calves experimentally infected with H. somni and monitored for up to 10 weeks had the least "0 time" (background) antibody levels to IbpA5, as well as the earliest and highest responses of greatest duration to the IbpA5 subunit. Responses of these calves were high to WC or SUP antigens but with higher "0 time" (background) antibody levels. We concluded that IbpA5 may be a useful immunodiagnostic antigen. Calves immunized with H. somni WC vaccine had antibody responses to WC antigens, but not to IbpA subunits before challenge. After challenge with H. somni, vaccinated calves had slight anamnestic responses to IbpA3 and IbpA5, but not to IbpA DR2. Since IbpA DR2 is a protective antigen, the data suggest the IbpA DR2 would be a useful addition to H. somni vaccines.     

Resonance of scantlings indicates the stiffness even of small specimens of Eucalyptus from plantations

The aim of this study was to establish the relationship between the stiffness of scantlings, approaching structural size materials, and small specimens of 6-year-old Eucalyptus urophylla?×?grandis wood using a resonance technique. The correlation between the elastic modulus (E) of the scantlings in longitudinal vibration and small specimens in flexural vibration was r?=?75 when comparing the scantling values with the averaged values of the specimens per scantling. However, when the E of each single specimen was compared with its respective scantling, the coefficient of correlation decreased to r?=?0.64 in the longitudinal tests and r?=?0.61 in the flexural tests. A roughly linear correlation (r?=?0.59) between specific modulus and loss tangent was obtained for the small specimens of Eucalyptus. In short, the resonance technique rapidly provided a large, accurate data set of mechanical wood properties as required for high-throughput phenotyping in recent genetic studies.     

Snow damages on trees of an uneven age in mixed broadleaf forests:effects of topographical conditions and tree characteristics

Snow damage on natural stands is an important problem concerning mountainous forest management.In the present research,the frequency and intensity of heavy snow damage on natural stands and the relationship of damages with characteristics of trees,stand and topography were studied in mountainous forests of northern Iran.A systematic sampling design was applied to the study area(140 ha),with 122 circular plots.The grid dimension was100 m and each plot area was 1000 m^2.The four types of snow damage to trees include:crown damage(8.6%),stem breakage(5.4%),uprooting(3.2%),and bending(1.4%).The frequency of crown damage grew with an increase inthe diameter at breast height(DBH),while the frequency of stem breakage,uprooting and bending decreased with an increase the DBH.The frequency of crown damage,stem breakage,and total damages was related to tree species(p<0.01).Not all tree species were equally susceptible to snow damage.The amount of damage grew with increasing elevation and slope angle and decreased with increasing soil depth.Young trees(DBH<25 cm)were more susceptible to snow damage than other trees.Snow damage decreased by as the trees in the stand became more mixed in age.The susceptibility of trees to snow damage increased by height and slenderness coefficient.With adequate silvicultural operation,snow damage can be reduced to a minimum level in these natural forests.     

Reproducible infection model for Clostridium perfringens in broiler chickens

Experiments were carried out to establish an infection and disease model for Clostridium perfringens in broiler chickens. Previous experiments had failed to induce disease and only a transient colonization with challenge strains had been obtained. In the present study, two series of experiments were conducted, each involving four groups of chickens with each group kept in separate isolators. A coccidial vaccine given at 10 times the prescribed dosage was used to promote the development of necrotic enteritis. In the first experiment, cultures of C. perfringens were mixed with the feed at day 9, 10, 11, and 12, and the coccidial vaccine was given at day 10, whereas in the second experiment, C. perfringens cultures were mixed with the feed at day 17, 18, 19, and 20, and the coccidial vaccine was given at day 18. Chickens were examined at day 9, 11, 12, and 15 (Experiment 1), and at day 17, 18, 20, and 24 (Experiment 2). There was no mortality in any of the groups; however, chickens in the groups receiving both coccidial vaccine and C. peifringens developed the subclinical form of necrotic enteritis, demonstrated by focal necroses in the small intestine, whereas chickens in control groups or groups receiving only coccidial vaccine or only C. perfringens cultures developed no necroses. The results underline the importance of predisposing factors in the development of necrotic enteritis.     

DDT、666对白翅叶蝉的毒效、残效及混用增效作用

DDT 是防治白翅叶蝉的良好药剂。25?T 乳剂1∶200和1∶300倍液的毒效均在90%以上;1∶400倍液的毒效为75—95%。2.5—5?T 粉剂的毒效也达90%以上。田间使用 DDT 防治白翅叶蝉的残效期约为10—12天。666单独用来防治白翅叶蝉效果甚差,但与 DDT 混合使用有增效作用,残效期与单独使用 DDT 相似;二者混用是最合理的施用方式,可以节省 DDT 用药量,减低药费,同时对多种稻虫可收综合防治之效。25?T 乳剂和6%可湿性666按1∶1∶400及1∶1∶600混用,其毒效相当于单用 DDT 1∶200及1∶300者;用1∶1∶500喷射效果比单用 DDT 1∶300者还略高;5% DDT 粉剂和0.5f6粉剂按1∶1混用,其毒效也和单用5% DDT 粉剂相接近。     

关中棉花枯萎病及其防治研究

棉花枯萎病在陕西关中,近几年由局部地区发展到点面发生,蔓延速度和面积已超过黄萎病。一般发病和死苗在30—50%,严重的棉田在90%以上。一些黄萎病区逐渐转为枯、黄萎混合发生区,枯黄萎同株型极为普遍。此病在棉花苗期即表现症状,潛育期为10—20天。1—2片真叶发病率达10—15%;5—6片真叶(蕾期)即会引起大量枯死和萎蔫。土壤致病温度平均在20°—25℃,维持10天以上,发病最烈;28℃以上病势减轻。土壤含水量在60—75%之间,枯萎病发病率最高。每年枯萎病发生消长与5、6月份的温、湿度及降雨量有一定关系。以4—6片真叶期,枯死植株发展较快,开花后期枯死率显著下降,到吐絮期尚有高峯出现。各品种间的枯死规律基本相同;仅有枯死程度上的差异。防治棉花枯萎病主要途径以抗病品种为主。由1956—1961年已鉴定出抗病品种(系)有52-128、鸭棚、147-Φ、57-50、南通二号、F96,F80等。其中确定能在病区生产应用的有52-128,鸭棚,平均降低发病率在30—70%,增产15—40%左右。并发现抗病免疫类型有中棉“嘉定硬子”。远缘杂交材料(353×G 1472)×芙蓉葵353 F_2可作杂交原始亲本材料。在病区增施氮、磷无机肥料,有降低苗期枯萎病的作用。轮作防病在关中采取二年小(?)、玉米轮作倒茬,发病率由原来的85%降低到38%,死苗率由50%下降到20%,有一定防病增产效果。