Preliminary findings from an experimental study of caprine besnoitiosis in Kenya

Inoculation of cystozoites obtained from natural, chronic cases of caprine besnoitiosis produced clinical disease in goats but not in rabbits, mice, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats or cattle. Histological examination of tissue sections from the experimental animals showedBesnoitia cysts only in goats. This, together with field observations that cattle reared together with goats having besnoitiosis do not contract the disease, suggests that theBesnoitia species that infects goats in Kenya is host-specific and is notBesnoitia besnoiti. We suggest that the nameBesnoitia caprae be adopted for the caprine pathogen.     

Inclusion body disease in two captive Australian pythons (Morelia spilota variegata and Morelia spilota spilota)

Two captive Australian pythons, one carpet and one diamond python, presented with signs of central nervous system dysfunction. The carpet python was agitated. Its head was tilting and it was incoordinated and had convulsions. It was treated with antibiotics and anthelmintics but was eventually euthanased after failing to respond to therapy. The diamond python had flaccid paralysis of the caudal half. It was not treated and became disoriented and died. Hepatocytes from both pythons contained irregular 2 to 10 m m eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies. The brain of the diamond python was not available for examination. Occasional neurones in the carpet python brain contained similar inclusion bodies and other changes suggestive of viral infection. The clinical signs and histopathological findings in both pythons were consistent with boid inclusion body disease.     

RZWQM2模型模拟地膜覆盖时间对棉田氮素迁移特征和氮肥利用效率的影响

[目的]地膜覆盖时间影响着棉田养分的迁移及氮素利用效率,我们尝试利用根区水质模型(root?zone water?quality?model-version?2,?RZWQM2)评估新疆绿洲棉田不同地膜覆盖时间下土壤氮素迁移特征和作物吸收利用率,为优化地膜覆盖方法提供理论依据.[方法]于2017—2018年在新疆进行了...     

降解地膜对南疆棉田土壤水热及棉花产量的影响

为探讨降解地膜对南疆棉田土壤水热及棉花产量的影响,选取3种氧化-生物双降解地膜[天壮1号(T-1)、天壮2号(T-2)、天壮3号(T-3)]及一种新型生物降解地膜(HS),以PE普通地膜为对照,通过测定棉田降解地膜的降解情况及土壤水热,计算其棉田耗水及土壤生长度日,筛选适宜南疆棉田生产的降解地膜。结果表明:在棉花进入吐絮期时,T-3和HS的降解率达88.6%和58.7%,而T-1和T-2仅为15.9%和13.4%。不同降解地膜对棉田的水热状况也存在一定影响,对于生育期总耗水量而言,T-3和PE的耗水量较大,为688.6 mm和690.7 mm,但T-3的耗水模数明显高于PE处理。在土壤生长度日上,4种降解地膜在棉花全生育期土壤生长度日均低于PE地膜,其中T-3和HS的土壤生长度日比PE地膜低了294.3℃·d和222.8℃·d。在棉花产量和水分利用效率上,T-1比PE高6.2%和7.2%,HS明显低于PE地膜,但T-3和PE地膜差异不大。综上,T-1和T-2增温保墒效果好,产量较高,但降解效果差。T-3降解速度较好,增温保墒的性能低于PE地膜,但能够满足作物对温度和水分的需求,使棉花产量和水分利用效率接近PE地膜。因此,在南疆棉田降解地膜T-3替代PE地膜应用于棉花生产具有一定的可行性。     

Experimental transmission of Besnoitia caprae in goats

Experimental transmission of Besnoitia caprae from naturally chronically-infected goats to susceptible ones was achieved by intra-nasal instillation and intra-conjunctival inoculation of cystozoite-containing suspensions, subcutaneous implantation of fascia containing cysts and alternate needle pricking between the infected and non-infected goats. Typical chronic symptoms developed in the fascia-infected does. Cystozoite inoculation into the eyes and mouth did not result in infection. Kids born of dams with acute and chronic besnoitiosis did not contract the infection in utero, suggesting that intra-uterine transmission may not occur. In contrast to does with acute besnoitiosis, which occasionally aborted, the does with chronic besnoitiosis gave birth to healthy kids. Kids below the age of 4 months (pre-weaned period) born of both infected and non-infected does were susceptible to besnoitiosis but appeared to be more resistant than adult goats.     

Prevalence of besnoitiosis in domestic ruminants in Kenya: a preliminary survey

A preliminary survey on the prevalence of besnoitiosis in domestic ruminants in Kenya based on field and farm visits, clinical and post mortem examinations and histopathological examination of tissues and biopsies, showed that goats are the most affected, followed by cattle, while sheep were unaffected. Caprine besnoitiosis occurred in a continuous belt in 5 of the 8 provinces in Kenya stretching from the Coast, Eastern, North Eastern, Nairobi and the Rift Valley Provinces. Mandera, in the North Eastern Province, had the highest prevalence rate of 36%, followed by Kwale (35%), Isiolo (35%), Marsabit (33%), Wajir (28%), Nairobi (26%), Meru (24%), Garissa (21%), Taita Taveta (18%), Embu (17%), Kitui (9%), Machakos (7%), Laikipia (3%), Kajiado (2%) and Turkana and Elgeyo-Marakwet (1% each). In all flocks where the prevalence rates were over 6%, kids were observed to be affected. There were no significant differences (P < 0.05) between the prevalence rates in bucks and does (18% and 18.4, respectively), but kids were less (4%) affected. Bovine besnoitiosis was found only in the Tana River District, with an infection rate of 11%.     

An epidemiological survey demonstrating decline in reproductive efficiency with age and non-seasonality of reproductive parameters in German shepherd bitches in Kenya

An epidemiological survey undertaken in Kenya indicated that 2 previously well-established factors, namely decline in reproductive efficiency with age, and non-seasonality of canine reproductive parameters, hold true for German shepherd (GSD) bitches in Kenya. Data collection forms were distributed to randomly selected GSD breeders and information so obtained was verified using East African Kennel Club records. Whelping was recorded throughout the year. The litter size varied from 1 to 14 pups per litter with a mean of 6.3 +/- 0.4 SD puppies. Records of 567 whelpings and 3592 puppies were studied. The mean monthly whelping rate was 47.3 +/- 7.2. There was no significant difference in the mean litter size by month (P < 0.05).     

单宁酶的研究进展

详细介绍了单宁酶的来源、生产、提取、纯化及其物理化学和生物学性质,并概述了它的固定化技术。     

Differential Rotation and Dynamics of the Solar Interior

Splitting of the sun's global oscillation frequencies by large-scale flows can be used to investigate how rotation varies with radius and latitude within the solar interior. The nearly uninterrupted observations by the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) yield oscillation power spectra with high duty cycles and high signal-to-noise ratios. Frequency splittings derived from GONG observations confirm that the variation of rotation rate with latitude seen at the surface carries through much of the convection zone, at the base of which is an adjustment layer leading to latitudinally independent rotation at greater depths. A distinctive shear layer just below the surface is discernible at low to mid-latitudes.     

Genetic improvement in beef cattle using a progeny testing system based on carcase merit

A progeny testing system to measure beef carcase merit, the Abtech Test, has been developed. Nine carcase characteristics are measured objectively at a slaughter age of 300 days on the carcases of 12 steer progeny per sire. Five carcase characteristics were used to quantify the carcase, namely, carcase composition as submitted, carcase composition (adjusted to 20% total carcase fat), estimated lean meat yield (adjusted to 20% total carcase fat), muscle-bone ratio (adjusted to a common muscle plus bone weight), and eye muscle volume index (adjusted for total carcase muscle weight). Four carcase measurements used to describe quality were evaluated: eye muscle area at the 10th rib (adjusted for total carcase muscle weight), marbling of the eye muscle at the 10th rib (chemically determined and adjusted to 20% total carcase fat), muscle texture at the 10th rib (mean muscle bundle diameter) and fat colour (determined on intermuscular fat at the 10th rib under standard conditions).
It is proposed that this testing system could be used for the genetic improvement of beef carcases.