Attempted transmission of Ehrlichia risticii by field-captured Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae)

The capability of field-collected American dog ticks, Dermacentor variabilis, to infect horses with Ehrlichia risticii, causative agent of Potomac horse fever (PHF), was examined by allowing adult ticks collected from horse farms with a history of PHF to feed on susceptible horses. More than 500 male and female ticks attached and fed on 3 test horses; however, no clinical or serologic evidence of PHF was observed in treated or control horses. All horses were challenge exposed with E risticii-infective blood by inoculation at 60 to 65 days after ticks fed, and all developed clinical PHF with subsequent seroconversion. The data, therefore, indicated that adult D variabilis, a common parasite of horses on Maryland premises where PHF is enzootic, may not serve as a vector of E risticii.     

Greenhouse gas emissions in response to straw incorporation,water management and their interaction in a paddy field in subtropical central China

A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of combination of straw incorporation and water management on fluxes of CH₄, N₂O and soil heterotrophic respiration (Rh) in a paddy field in subtropical central China by using a static opaque chamber/gas chromatography method. Four treatments were set up: two rice straw incorporation rates at 0 (S1) and 6 (S2) t ha^?1 combined with two water managements of intermittent irrigation (W1, with mid-season drainage) and continuous flooding (W2, without mid-season drainage). The cumulative seasonal CH₄ emissions for the treatments of S1W2, S2W1 and S2W2 increased significantly by 1.84, 5.47 and 6.63 times, respectively, while seasonal N₂O emissions decreased by 0.67, 0.29 and 1.21 times, respectively, as compared to S1W1 treatment. The significant increase in the cumulative Rh for the treatments S1W1, S2W1 and S2W2 were 0.54, 1.35 and 0.52 times, respectively, in comparison with S1W2. On a seasonal basis, both the CO₂-equivalents (CO₂e) and yield-scaled CO₂e (GHGI) of CH₄ and N₂O emissions increased with straw incorporation and continuous flooding, following the order: S2W2>S2W1>S1W2>S1W1. Thus, the practices of in season straw incorporation should be discouraged, while mid-season drainage is recommended in paddy rice production from a point view of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.     

胶合板剪切强度试件的力学分析

通过对胶合板剪切强度试件的力学分析,表明试验机的夹头应采取上下可移动、左右固定法。在测试时,应注意取样方法,试验用水、加荷速度、计算公式和试验的判定。     

Behavioural and physiological responses of sheep to 16 h transport and a novel environment post-transport

The effect of a novel lairage environment on the ability of sheep to recover from 16 h of transport was investigated. Sheep were transported from grass paddocks to either novel outside paddocks or inside pens, and housed groups were transported to either familiar or novel inside pens. During transport, sheep from outside paddocks lay down less than those from inside pens. In sheep transported to inside pens, those from outside paddocks spent more time lying and spent less time eating; hay and water intakes during the first 12 h post-transport were lower than those previously kept inside. There was no obvious effect of a novel environment post-transport on blood biochemistry, suggesting that the lower post-transport feed and water intakes in a novel environment did not have a significant effect on the ability of the sheep to recover from the feed and water deprivation associated with transport.     

Tetracycline-resistance genes of Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium septicum and Clostridium sordellii isolated from cattle affected with malignant edema

The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 10 antimicrobial agents against a total of 33 isolates of Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium septicum and Clostridium sordellii from cattle affected with malignant edema in Japan was determined. The low MIC activities of benzylpenicillin confirm the place of benzylpenicillin as the antibiotics of choice for treatment of malignant edema. Five (22%) of 23 C. septicum strains, five (71%) of seven C. perfringens strains and all strains of C. sordellii showed resistance to oxytetracycline. These oxytetracycline-resistant strains carried tetracycline-resistance genes [tetA(P), tetA408(P), tetB(P) and tetM]. The sequences of the tetracycline-resistance genes of some C. septicum strains were completely or nearly completely identical to those of strains belonging to other clostridiual species. This is the first report of resistance of C. septicum to tetracycline.     

雷琼牛肌肉生长抑制素基因序列研究

通过PCR方法对18头雷琼牛的MSTN基因进行扩增、测序.编码区序列分析结果表明:雷琼牛MSTN基因比外域瘤牛存在较丰富的多态性,共发现4个突变位点(2个转换,2个颠换),定义了6种单倍型,群体单倍型多样性较高(0.810±0.057);分析结果表明:MSTN基因的相关突变的发生可能早于Bos属瘤牛、普通牛、牦牛的分化;在瘤牛种内,我国南方的瘤牛可能是更原始的种群.     

Effect of liming on extractable Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn in selected Scottish soils

Ten naturally acidic Scottish soils have been limed with CaCO₃ at 0,0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00 and 1.25 times the recommended lime requirement, and then subjected to three cycles of alternate wetting to field capacity at 20°C for 1 month and drying for 1 month. The Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn extracted by DTPA solution, both at pH 7.3 and also after adjustment to match the final soil pH, were measured by flame AAS. The same elements were determined in ammonium acetate extracts, for extractants buffered at pH 4.8, pH 7.0 or at the final soil pH. The effect of extractant pH upon the amounts of trace elements removed is discussed for the two extractants, with particular reference to Zn. The influence of soil pH upon the amounts of trace elements extracted is also considered. There appears to be a distinct relationship between rate of decrease of DTPA-extractable Fe with increasing soil pH and the effect of pH upon DTPA-extractable Zn, high rates of decrease of extractable Fe being associated with a more continuous decline in extractable Zn with increasing soil pH. Possible reasons for this relationship are discussed, in the light of an experiment conducted to examine the effect of Fe and A1 on loss of Zn from solution at high pH. DTPA-extractable Cu varied little with increasing soil pH.