Ultrastructure of the hydrophobic gastric surfactant barrier in the dog

OBJECTIVES: To confirm the hydrophobicity of the luminal surface of the canine stomach and to elucidate the ultrastructure of the lining imparting that property. DESIGN AND PROCEDURES: Gastric and duodenal mucosal samples from eight dogs were collected immediately after euthanasia and subjected to contact angle measurement using a goniometer. Other samples were examined by electron microscopy following a fixation procedure known to preserve phospholipids and oligolamellar structures. RESULTS: Contact angles for the canine gastric mucosal surface (85.1 +/- 5.5) were significantly greater (P < 0.0001) than for the duodenum (24.0 +/- 1.7). Electron microscopy revealed the existence of surfactant as abundant osmiophilic phospholipid material within the gastric and duodenal mucosae. CONCLUSION: We have confirmed the hydrophobic nature of the canine gastric mucosa whereas the luminal surface of the duodenum is hydrophilic. We propose that the water-repellent nature of the canine gastric lining contributes to the 'gastric mucosal barrier' and is imparted by an oligolamellar layer of surface-active phospholipid ('gastric surfactant') adsorbed to the surface. Both gastric and duodenal mucosae may also utilise phospholipids as an intercellular defense mechanism in the event that tight junctions are breached by acid. It is tempting to speculate that a deficiency of gastric phospholipids may predispose dogs to ulcers. Further, exogenous administration of phospholipids may be useful in preventing gastric ulceration.     

牛支原体单克隆抗体的制备与鉴定

以牛支原体(Mycoplasma bovis)湖北分离株HB0801作为抗原免疫8周龄BALB/c小鼠,利用杂交瘤技术筛选出了6株能稳定分泌抗牛支原体的单克隆抗体细胞株,分别生产腹水并对单抗进行了纯化和特性鉴定。经亚型测定,这些单抗都属IgG类。腹水ELISA效价在1×10⁵~1.6×10⁶。ELISA特异性分析结果表明,6株单抗与临床分离的牛支原体菌株以及ATCC标准株PG45都显阳性反应,但与牛的其他常见病原菌如多杀性巴氏杆菌、化脓隐秘杆菌等都显阴性反应。所有制备的单抗都与无乳支原体有交叉反应,其中两株单抗1A5和1C11只与无乳支原体有交叉反应,与其他支原体无交叉反应。经Western blotting验证,6株单抗分别识别牛支原体全菌蛋白中的不同条带,说明分别针对不同的蛋白抗原。这些牛支原体单克隆抗体为后期建立牛支原体检测方法及致病机理研究奠定了良好基础。     

Evaluation of PCR assays for the detection of Campylobacter fetus in bovine preputial scrapings and the identification of subspecies in South African field isolates

As a result of the high lability and slow growth of Campylobacter fetus subspecies, the laboratory diagnosis of bovine genital campylobacteriosis has always been difficult. This is especially true under South African conditions, where farms are far apart, laboratories are only present in major centres and there are high ambient temperatures. In order to overcome the shortcomings associated with traditional diagnostic methods, the implementation of a molecular assay was sought. This work describes how a previously published PCR assay (MG3F/ MG4R primers) was adapted, optimised and applied in the diagnostic laboratory to test preputial samples directly for the presence of Campylobacter fetus. Field evaluation of the assay revealed an analytical sensitivity and specificity of 85.7% and 99%, respectively. Subsequent genotyping and phenotyping of a diverse collection of South African field isolates revealed that South Africa has an unexpected and previously unreported high incidence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis biovar intermedius strains. These strains were not identified correctly by the subspecies-specific primer set evaluated. Until such time that cost- effective genotyping methods are available to diagnostic laboratories in South Africa, and other countries with these atypical Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis strains, the need for bacterial culture will persist. Identification to subspecies level of isolates at present remains dependent upon a single phenotypic criterion, namely tolerance to 1% glycine.     

东北马鹿肌肉生长抑制素基因序列的克隆、编码氨基酸序列及结构特征分析

以与东北马鹿物种最近的牛(Bos taurus cattle,序列号为AB076403)的肌肉生长抑制素(myostatin,MSTN)基因序列为模版,根据该基因保守序列进行引物设计,扩增产物连接入pMD18-T载体,克隆出3个外显子片段.根据5′-GU-AG-3′规则和同源基因比对拼接出带有部分5′、3′末端的cDNA,并采用生物信息学技术对编码氨基酸序列进行蛋白质同源性比较和二级、三级结构等分析.结果表明:所获序列全长为1 128 bp,编码375个氨基酸;具有较明显的螺旋、片层和无规卷曲等二级结构;有1个较明显的跨膜区和1个疏水区,并发现明显的信号肽和糖基化位点.三级结构同源建模预测结果显示与Human Activin A的相似性为42%.结果说明东北马鹿和其他哺乳类生物的肌肉生长抑制素基因之间关系密切,并同属于TGF-β家族.     

Quarantine requirements for the importation of black rhinoceros from Zimbabwe into Australia

SUMMARY The proposal by the Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales to import 10 southern black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) from Zimbabwe as part of an international project for conservation of the species presented the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) with a unique challenge. This importation is, at least in the modern era, the first importation of live herbivores from the African continent. Many of the serious animal diseases in the world are endemic in parts of Africa. Knowledge of which of these diseases infect wild species and may be transmitted from the wild species to domesticated species, is limited. This paper describes the strategies adopted by AQIS to facilitate the importation of rhinoceros while maintaining protection of Australian consumers, rural industries, domestic livestock and fauna against the entry and spread of unwanted pests and diseases.     

QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF SURGICALLY INDUCED MITRAL REGURGITATION USING RADIONUCLIDE VENTRICULOGRAPHY AND FIRST PASS RADIONUCLIDE ANGIOGRAPHY

Radionuclide ventriculography has been used in humans to evaluate valvular incompetency. The stroke volume ratio, derived from the radionuclide ventriculogram, is used to quantify the severity of mitral regurgitation (MR). Previous studies conducted in humans have shown that left to right stroke volume ratio increases as the severity of MR increases. In this study, we evaluated radionuclide ventriculography as a noninvasive method to detect MR in dogs with surgically created mitral insufficiency. Six male and three female adult, conditioned mongrel dogs were used. Scintigraphic studies were performed prior to and 4 weeks after surgically created MR. Because of the overlap of the left and right ventricles when viewed from a left lateral position, we combined data from a first-pass radionuclide angiocardiogram with the radionuclide ventriculogram to obtain a corrected stroke volume ratio. Blood flow transit parameters were also derived from the first-pass radionuclide angiocardiogram. Standard left ventricular functional indices were also measured from the radionuclide ventriculogram. On the left lateral view of the heart, 25 to 30% of the right ventricular volume overlaps the left ventricle. After correcting for the overlap, the stroke volume ratio of normal dogs was 1.17±0.178 (mean±SD), which increased to 2.06±0.41 (mean±SD) (p<.001) 4 weeks after creation of MR. The was no significant change in left ventricular ejection fraction or peak rate of ejection following MR. The transit times of blood through the left ventricle were measured from the first-pass radionuclide angiocardiogram and were expressed as half-time clearance, peak clearance rate, and time to peak clearance rate. The baseline half-time clearance was 2.07±0.71 s (mean±SD), which increased to 6.70±4.89 s (mean±SD) (p=.02) after creation of MR. The baseline peak clearance rate was 49.75±8.96 cts/s (mean±SD), which decreased to 23.12±6.84 cts/s (mean±SD) (p<.001) after creation of MR. Stroke volume ratios significantly increased following creation of MR. Blood flow transit through the left ventricle slowed following creation of MR. The variability of these parameters were small in the baseline studies, suggesting these techniques may be clinically useful to gauge the severity of MR in dogs.     

Seroprevalence of Anaplasma marginale in 2 Iowa feedlots and its association with morbidity, mortality, production parameters, and carcass traits

A prospective cohort observational study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence of Anaplasma marginale in Iowa feedlots and its association with morbidity, mortality, and treatment costs. Blood samples were taken from 659 calves from 31 consigners at processing and classified as seropositive to A. marginale using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) with a 30% cutoff. Health and production parameters were modeled by A. marginale serostatus with mixed model regression analysis. The apparent prevalence of seropositive cattle was 15.17% (100/659). When the cELISA positive cutoff was at 42% inhibition, the apparent prevalence was 5.00% (33/659). There was no significant association between A. marginale serostatus and production parameters; however, seropositive status had a weak positive association with undifferentiated fever (P = 0.17). Although prevalence of anaplasmosis in Iowa feedlots is higher than reported in Montana-sourced calves arriving in Canadian feedlots, this was not associated with increased production costs.