Presence and diversity of mixed avian Plasmodium spp. infections in introduced birds whose distribution overlapped with threatened New Zealand endemic birds

ABSTRACT

Aims: To determine the presence of infection and co-infection of Plasmodium lineages in introduced birds at translocation sites for the North Island saddleback (Philesturnus rufusater), to investigate their role as Plasmodium spp. reservoirs.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from introduced bird species, with a special focus on blackbirds (Turdus merula) and song thrushes (Turdus philomelos), at six locations in the North Island of New Zealand that were the origin, or translocation sites, for North Island saddleback. Where available, blood smears were examined, and blood samples were tested using nested PCR with subsequent sequence analysis, for the presence of Plasmodium spp.

Results: Of the 55 samples tested using PCR analysis, 39 (71%) were positive for Plasmodium spp., and 28/40 (62%) blood smears were positive for Plasmodium spp. Overall, 31 blood samples were from blackbirds with 28/31 (90%) samples positive for Plasmodium spp. Six distinct avian Plasmodium lineages were identified, including three cosmopolitan lineages; Plasmodium vaughani SYAT05 was detected in 16 samples, Plasmodium matutinum Linn1 in 10 samples and Plasmodium elongatum GRW6 in eight samples. Mixed infections with more than one lineage were detected in 12 samples. Samples from two Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen) were positive for Plasmodium. sp. lineage MYNA02, previously not identified in New Zealand.

Conclusions and clinical relevance: This is the first report from New Zealand in which specific Plasmodium spp. mixed infections have been found in introduced birds. Co-infections with several cosmopolitan Plasmodium lineages were identified, as well as the first report in New Zealand of an exotic avian Plasmodium sp. lineage, in Australian magpies. Whilst the role of introduced birds in maintaining and spreading pathogenic avian malaria in New Zealand is unclear, there is a potential infection risk to native birds, especially where distributions overlap.     

美国黑核桃组织培养技术

采用组织培养方法对美国黑核桃进行组织培养研究。结果表明：获得外植体的最佳方法是用新鲜且经层积处理的种子育苗．再用其实生苗的顶芽或茎段;适合黑核桃茎尖(段)培养的培养基为1／2MS(、其中大量元素用量减半,微量元素用量不变)．且培养基中其他物质的含量为．VB15mg／L．VB62mg／L．烟酸2mg／L．腺素2mg／L．肌醇按1／2MS量．6-BA1．5mg/L．NAA0．05mg／L;外植体接种用流水冲洗．适当缩短转瓶周期(每10～l5d转瓶一次)．可减轻褐变现象。     

美国东部黑核桃不同家系幼树年生长节律研究

通过对引进的3个家系美国东部黑核桃4-5年生幼树的年生长节律及物候分析比较,结果表明:(1)黑核桃春季萌动、抽梢生长较晚,生长期仅为80 d左右,高、径生长集中在5-7月;(2)为使新梢充分木质化,预防2次生长带来的早、晚霜危害,树木停止高生长后,及时有效控水;(3)同一种源不同家系间,高、径生长存在差异,引进种子苗木时,应考虑引进经过区域试验种源的优良家系。     

Bluetongue virus infection in sheep: haematological changes and detection by polymerase chain reaction

SUMMARY Eight sheep vaccinated with 10⁶ pfu of attenuated Australian bluetongue virus serotype 23 (BTV-free sheep were challenged with virulent BTV 23. There was little subsequent variation in the mean clinical score, or in the mean lymphocyte and platelet concentrations in the peripheral blood of the eight vaccinated sheep. There was a marked thrombocytopenia and lymphopenia in the naive sheep as the mean lymphocyte and platelet concentrations fell to a minimum at days 8 and 11 after inoculation, respectively. Similar changes were observed in three other naive sheep inoculated with field isolates of BTV 1, 9 or 23. BTV was detected by nested polymerase chain reaction in whole blood of these sheep between days 6 and 28, in mononuclear leukocytes between days 3 and 14, and in platelets between days 6 and 21.     

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli: A new problem, an old group of organisms Inter faeces et urinam nascimur

All mammals are colonised by Escherichia coli generally at birth and these organisms become part of their intestinal flora for the rest of their lives. New types are acquired generally by an oral route. Some E coli are pathogenic and some may have a far more enhanced ability to colonise the human intestine than most others. Recently enterohaemorrhagic E coli have emerged. They can cause a number of intestinal illnesses in humans including bloody diarrhoea and haemolytic uraemic syndrome. These organisms produce a number of virulence factors particularly the Shiga-like toxins (verotoxins). The intestines of animals may be the reservoir of these organisms for human infection, and cattle particularly have been shown to harbour them. Food, especially undercooked meat products, have been associated with a number of outbreaks throughout the world. While a certain serotype O157.H7 has been associated with many outbreaks throughout the world, other serotypes, particularly 0111.H-, have also been reported. This latter serotype appears to be more common in Australia.     

Resident forum abstractsEVALUATION OF THROMBOELASTOGRAPHY (TEG) IN NORMAL CATS

Objective: To establish normal parameters of thromboelastography (TEG) in healthy adult cats. Background: Thromboelastography (TEG) is an in vitro test of coagulation that has been shown to be useful in humans, dogs and select species to identify and quantify alterations of hemostasis (e.g., hypercoagulable and hypocoagulable states). It has also been demonstrated to be useful in monitoring effects of anticoagulant therapies. This test has not been evaluated in cats. Methods: Blood was collected from 25 clinically normal cats by venipuncture using a 21 gauge×3 1/2 inch butterfly catheter and syringe for medial saphenous or jugular venipuncture. A single 1.8 mL sample in 3.8% Sodium Citrate (9:1) was collected from each cat. Recalcified whole blood was analyzed 30 minutes following collection with the TEG® 5000 analyzer (Haemoscope, Niles, IL). Analysis temperature was 37.6°C. TEG parameters recorded included: R‐value (represents initial fibrin formation), K (time from R to standard fixed measure of clot firmness which represents contributions of platelets and fibrinogen), maximum amplitude (MA; represents absolute clot strength), and alpha angle (α; the slope of TEG tracing which represents rate of clot formation). The coagulation index (CI) was derived from the formula generated for humans to provide an overall assessment of whether the sample was hyper‐ or hypocoagulable. Results: Values for the 25 normal cat samples are reported as mean ±2 standard deviations. R=2.97; 1.23–4.72; K=1.54, 0.38–2.71; α=70.70, 57.76–83.65; MA=58.50, 45.26–71.74 and CI=2.27, 0.07–4.46. Compared to historical information obtained on normal dogs, cats have significantly shorter R and K and larger α, MA and CI. Conclusions: TEG does have reproducible performance when used to evaluate coagulation status in normal cats. Compared to dogs, normal cats favor a hypercoagulable state. Species‐specific normal values are necessary for interpretation of TEG results. This test bears potential value for use in future experimental and clinical work to investigate hemostasis in cats receiving anticoagulant therapies or in cats suffering from diseases such as cardiomyopathy which are thought to be associated with altered coagulation status.     

不同施肥时间及施氮水平对高寒草甸生物量和土壤养分的影响

采用随机区组设计,探讨了不同施肥时期及氮肥用量对三江源区高寒草甸初级生产力、植物养分及土壤养分的影响。结果表明:在施肥时间为7月10日,施肥量为150 kg·hm^-2时,地上生物量为最大值,较对照增加了2.06倍(P <0.05)。而植物氮素含量在施肥时间为7月10日,尿素用量为300 kg·hm^-2时达到最大值,较对照增加了31.18%(P <0.05)。相关性分析表明,地上生物量与植物全氮成显著正相关,施氮量与植物全氮成线性相关。施肥时间为7月10日左右时,尿素施用水平为150~300 kg·hm^-2,该类型高寒草甸初级生产力和土壤全氮都达到最大值,可作为优先氮素添加量来推荐。     

过量表达小麦TaCYP78A5增加花器官的大小

【目的】利用表达模式分析、转基因过表达和细胞学观察等策略,解析TaCYP78A5调控花器官大小的功能和机制,为作物遗传改良提供基因资源和理论基础。【方法】根据EnsemblPlants基因组数据库中不同物种CYP78A家族成员的序列信息,对小麦TaCYP78A5和其他物种中的同源基因进行序列比对和进化分析;利用生物信息学分析小麦TaCYP78A5的基因和蛋白结构,以及不同器官的表达模式;通过在拟南芥中组成型过表达和生殖器官局部特异性过表达TaCYP78A5的策略,明确TaCYP78A5具有调控花器官大小的功能;利用显微镜观察不同转基因拟南芥花器官的细胞学特征,解析TaCYP78A5调控花器官大小的细胞学机制;利用小麦转基因过表达策略,明确TaCYP78A5调控小麦穗部大小等其他穗部性状的功能;利用323份小麦品种的单倍型数据与穗部表型数据进行关联分析,探析不同小麦品种TaCYP78A5表达量的高低对穗部大小等其他穗部性状的影响。【结果】小麦TaCYP78A5与拟南芥AtCYP78A5的基因和蛋白序列相似性较低,但基因和蛋白结构相似性较高。小麦TaCYP78A5和拟南芥AtCYP78A5...     

美国瑞士褐牛在塔城地区舍饲条件下的适应性研究

[目的]通过对美国瑞士褐牛在塔城地区舍饲条件下适应性的研究,为新类型的培育提供科学依据。[方法]对美国瑞士褐牛犊牛和母牛进行为期三年的饲养观察,对其生长情况、泌乳、繁殖性能、耐粗饲、耐热抗寒性能及疾病项目进行测定及统计分析。[结果]在舍饲条件下,初生重平均为35.23 kg,6月龄平均日增重为719.81 g;12月龄平均日增重为724.16 g,生长发育良好。平均繁殖成活率为81.72%;一胎平均泌乳量为3 561 kg,二胎平均泌乳量为4 267 kg,三胎平均泌乳量为4 579 kg。[结论]美国瑞士褐牛在塔城地区舍饲饲养条件下其生长发育良好,表现出了良好的适应性。