Specificity of the carbon immunoassay (CIA) test for the diagnosis of Toxoplasma infections.

A rapid and low cost procedure, the carbon immunoassay (CIA) test, was evaluated for the diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infections. Using a closely related parasite (Besnoitia jellisoni) as antigen, and homologous or heterologous immune sera, it was demonstrated by light and electron microscopy that CIA is a very reliable and specific test. As it is neither expensive nor time-consuming, it can be recommended for general and routine laboratory use.     

The severity of smouldering peat fires and damage to the forest soil

Smouldering wildfires propagate slowly through surface and subsurface organic layers of the forest ground and severely affect the soil, producing physical, chemical and biological changes. These effects are caused by the prolonged heating and the large loss of soil mass but are poorly documented in the literature. A series of smouldering experiments with boreal peat have been conducted under laboratory conditions to quantify these effects using small-scale samples. Peat samples of 100 mm by 100 mm in cross section and 50 mm in depth of different moisture were exposed to an external ignition source. Thermocouples placed throughout the sample bed measured the temperature evolution and tracked the peat ignition, intensity and spread of the smouldering front. The results show that moisture content controls peat ignition and that moisture below 125 ± 10% (in dry base) are required. The severity of the smouldering peat on the soil has been quantified in terms of temperature vs. residence time curves and mass loss. The measurements show temperatures in excess of 300 °C for residence times of 1 h leading to sterilization of the soil and mass loss in burnt layers above 90%.     

Genetic analysis and molecular mapping of quantitative trait loci in common bean against Pythium ultimum

Pythium ultimum is a soil pathogen that can cause seed decay and damage to roots in common bean. In this study, the response of a set of 40 common bean genotypes to P. ultimum and inheritance of the resistance in the 92 F? recombinant inbred lines (RIL) developed from a cross between Xana and Cornell 49242 was investigated by using emergence rate and seedling vigor. Emergence of the 40 genotypes showed a significant association between white seed coat and response to this pathogen. Among these, 11 common bean genotypes, all with colored seeds, exhibited a high percentage of emergence and seedling vigor not significantly different (P > 0.05) to noninoculated plants. Response of the RIL population revealed both qualitative and quantitative modes of inheritance. A major gene (Py-1) controlling the emergence rate was mapped in the region of the gene P, a basic color gene involved in control of seed coat color, located on LG 7. Using the RIL subpopulation with colored seeds, a significant quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with the emergence rate (ER3(XC)) and another with seedling vigor (SV6(XC)) were identified on the LG 3 and 6, respectively. QTL SV6(XC) was mapped in the region of the gene V, another gene involved the genetic control of color. QTLs associated with seed traits were mapped in the same relative position as regions involved in responses to P. ultimum suggesting the possible implication of avoidance mechanisms in the response to this pathogen.     

Morphological study of Socorro Island Merino sheep and its crosses with hair breeds

Tropical Animal Health and Production - A study was conducted with the objective to characterize the morphology of Socorro Island Merino sheep. A total of 67 sheep, 62 females, 26 purebred and 36...     

穿衣戴帽过新年

爱狗家族除了给自己家人添置新衣外,家中的小狗狗也受到了主人的恩惠纷纷穿上靓丽的衣服。笔者在大街小巷不时看到穿着唐装、燕尾服、旗袍、小棉背心的宠物狗神气地溜达。牵着穿着靓丽的宠物狗逛街也成为了都市女性的娱乐方式之一。     

家兔临床型乳腺炎病理模型的血液学检验

本试验选取16只3~4 kg健康泌乳家兔,通过人工造模的方法诱发其乳腺发炎,建立临床型乳腺炎模型。然后分别在造模前1 h和造模后4、12、24、36、487、2 h采集血液0.5 mL、血清1 mL,进行血常规、血生化检测和炎性细胞因子测定(ELISA)。结果显示:①外周血白细胞总数在造模后4 h显著高于造模前水平(P0.05),12~72 h内极显著高于造模前水平(P0.01);红细胞总数、红细胞压积、血红蛋白含量在造模前至造模后72 h内无显著差异(P0.05)。②血清磷离子含量、血清总胆红素含量、血清直接胆红素含量在造模前至造模后72 h内无显著差异(P0.05);血清钙离子含量在造模后4 h显著低于造模前水平(P0.05),12~72 h内极显著低于造模前水平(P0.01)。③血清TNF-α和IL-6含量造模后开始升高,12~72 h内极显著高于造模前水平(P0.01)。结果证明白细胞总数、血清钙离子含量、血清TNF-α和IL-6含量的变化可作为急性乳房炎炎症发展情况的指标。     

RADIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN DOGS WITH SPONTANEOUS PULMONARY THROMBOSIS OR EMBOLISM

Thoracic radiographs of 21 dogs with necropsy-confirmed pulmonary thrombosis or embolism (PTE) were reviewed. Two major lung patterns were seen: (1) regional oligemia, giving the impression of a hyperlucent zone; (2) alveolar pulmonary infiltrate, indicating hemorrhage or infarction. Hemorrhage and infarction could not be differentiated radiographically. Other common findings were attenuation or loss of visualization of a lobar artery or lobar vein and pleural effusion, particularly with infarction and cardiac disease. PTE was often associated with renal disease (glomerulonephritis, amyloidosis), septic processes, pancreatitis, systemic venous or right heart thrombosis, cardiac insufficiency, and hypercorticism.