Establishment and characterization of a continuous cell line (GF-1) derived from grouper, Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton): a cell line susceptible to grouper nervous necrosis virus (GNNV)

A new continuous cell line (GF-1) was established and characterized. The GF-1 cell line, derived from the fin tissue of a grouper, Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton), was maintained in L15 medium containing 5% foetal bovine serum (FBS) at 28 °C, and has been subcultured more than 160 times since 1995. The majority of GF-1 cells are fibroblast-like, together with some epithelioid cells. Spontaneous transformation of GF-1 cells occurred during subculture 50 to subculture 80, and led to an increase of plating efficiency, less requirement of FBS and de novo susceptibility to grouper nervous necrosis virus (GNNV). Cytopathic effects (CPEs) could be observed in GF-1 cells 3–5 days post-infection with pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV), hard clam reovirus (HCRV), eel herpes virus Formosa (EHVF) and GNNV. In addition, abundant GNNV particles were found in the cytoplasm of GNNV-infected GF-1 cells using electron microscopy and nucleic acids of GNNV virus were detected by polymerase chain reaction in the culture medium of GNNV-infected cells after CPE appeared. The experimental results indicated that GF-1 can effectively proliferate fish nodavirus and is a promising tool for studying fish nodavirus.     

Using Seven Types of GM (1, 1) Model to Forecast Hourly Particulate Matter Concentration in Banciao City of Taiwan

In this study, seven types of first-order and one-variable grey differential equation model (abbreviated as GM (1, 1) model) were used to predict hourly particulate matter (PM) including PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations in Banciao City of Taiwan. Their prediction performance was also compared. The results indicated that the minimum mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), mean squared error (MSE), root mean squared error (RMSE), and maximum correlation coefficient (R) was 14.10%, 25.62, 5.06, and 0.96, respectively, when predicting PM₁₀. When predicting PM_2.5, the minimum MAPE, MSE, RMSE, and maximum R value of 15.24%, 11.57, 3.40, and 0.93, respectively, could be achieved. All statistical values revealed that the predicting performance of GM (1, 1, x ⁽⁰⁾), GM (1, 1, a), and GM (1, 1, b) outperformed other GM (1, 1) models. According to the results, it revealed that GM (1, 1) GM (1, 1) was an efficiently early warning tool for providing PM information to the inhabitants.     

Assessment of synthetic chemicals for disruption of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus response to attractant-baited traps in an urban environment

The red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), is one of the most severe pests of ornamental palm species in urban areas of Mediterranean countries. Aiming to discover inhibitory semiochemicals for RPW population management in urban environments, we conducted electroantennographic (EAG) screenings of 17 commercially available synthetic compounds, representing three groups of plant volatiles (isoprenoids, phenyl propanoid derivatives and fatty acid derivatives) known for their repellent effects toward insects. These tests were followed by trap-based screenings of EAG-active menthone, α-pinene and methyl salicylate, singly and in combination, under urban conditions. In EAG bioassays, RPW antennae of both sexes showed positive dose-dependent responses to 13 of the 17 synthetic chemicals with significant differences among them. In field trapping experiments, conducted in the city of Palermo, Italy, from weeks 31 to 38 in 2010 and 2011, α-pinene, tested singly or in combination with methyl salicylate (2010) or menthone (2011), reduced trap catches by about 30% to 40%. Methyl salicylate and menthone alone were inactive. In conclusion, RPW is significantly affected by α-pinene. This isoprenoid is a promising disruptant for semiochemical-based management of this pest. In addition, identification of a large number of EAG-active chemicals could serve as a database for future design of active repellents or attractants of RPW adults.     

Evaluation of an antimicrobial resistance monitoring program for Campylobacter in poultry by simulation

An ideal national resistance monitoring program should deliver a precise estimate of the resistance situation for a given combination of bacteria and antimicrobial at a low cost. To achieve this, decisions need to be made on the number of samples to be collected at each of different possible sampling points. Existing methods of sample size calculation can not be used to solve this problem, because sampling decisions do not only depend on the prevalence of resistance and sensitivity and specificity of resistance testing, but also on the prevalence of the bacteria, and test characteristics of isolation of these bacteria. Our aim was to develop a stochastic simulation model that optimized a national resistance monitoring program, taking multi-stage sampling, imperfect sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests, and cost-effectiveness considerations into account. The process of resistance testing of Campylobacter spp. isolated from cloacal swab samples from poultry was modeled using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo model. Different sampling scenarios on the number of flocks to be tested, the number of birds from each flock, and the number of campylobacter colonies submitted to susceptibility testing were evaluated regarding the precision of the resulting prevalence estimate. Precision of the prevalence estimate was defined as the absolute difference between apparent and true prevalence of resistance. A partial budget approach was utilized to find the most cost-effective combination of samples to obtain a defined precision of the prevalence estimate. For a sampling scenario testing 100 flocks, five birds per flock, and one campylobacter colony per sample, the median error of the prevalence estimate was 2.5%, and 95% of the simulations resulted in an error of 7% or less. When the total number of samples was kept constant, maximizing the number of flocks tested, and only testing one bird per flock resulted in the most precise prevalence estimate. Submitting more than one campylobacter colony to resistance testing did not improve the prevalence estimate. Partial budget analysis indicated that the most cost-effective strategy was testing of two birds per flock, and submitting one colony per sample to resistance testing.     

柑桔无病虫栽培试验初报

柑桔类的严重病虫主要由苗木带入新区,造成危害。因而培育不带有这些病虫的苗木(简称无病虫苗木),在隔离地点建立果园并采取防疫措施,殊为预防新果区发生此类病虫危害的根本办法。(林孔湘1975) 1974年春,我们开始采用热水消毒种子和采用洗刷接穗芽条并用蒸汽和药剂消毒接穗芽条的方法,在隔离地点培育各种柑桔类的无病虫实生苗和嫁接苗。1976年第一批无病虫苗木出圃,栽植在各地。在隔离和防疫条件不同的情况下,这些新果园发生的病虫危害有明显差异。隔离及防疫条件较好的果园,一年之后检查,除潜叶蛾外,没有发现任何其他病虫。而与有病虫的柑桔树接近的或虽有隔离而不注意防疫的果园,很快或不久便受到各种病虫侵害。试验结果表明,用无病虫苗木在隔离地点建立果园,并采用严格防疫措施,可长期不发生严重病虫的危害,既可保证不会发生黄龙病和斑黄病等类似病毒病的危害,又可节省喷药防病虫的费用。这是在国内外尚未见报道的一项技术革新。     

水稻白叶枯病发生流行预测的研究

 作者应用多重回归法和噬菌体技术对水稻白叶枯病的发生流行趋势的预测作了研究。结果表明:(1)根据始病前两旬降水量≥ 0.1毫米日数和越冬期(12月至2月)三个月的日平均气温,可以预测田间始病期,(2)在水稻生育期内测定稻田水中噬菌体量,并根据病害流行前两旬连续三次测定噬菌体累计量、降水量和降水量≥ 10毫米日数等可预测水稻后期病害的流行趋势。同时分析了影响病害流行的主导因素(降水量≥ 10毫米日数和噬菌体量)及建立了多重回归预测模式。     

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。     

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.