The absence of Rhodococcus equi in Mongolian horses

In native Mongolian horses, the incidence and distribution of Rhodococcus equi are poorly understood. One hundred and fourteen equine fecal samples and 71 soil samples were collected from the camp sites of 26 nomadic families located in three areas less than 100 km from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Five fecal samples were also collected from foals of Przewalski's Horses introduced into the Hustai National Park, Mongolia. No R. equi was isolated from the Mongolian horses or the soil samples. However, three colonies of R. equi were isolated from two fecal samples collected from foals of Przewalski's Horses. These isolates were avirulent, with neither 15- to 17-kDa antigens (VapA) nor a 20-kDa antigen (VapB) genes being detected. We concluded that native Mongolian horses and their environment appear free from contamination with R. equi.     

Morphological and genetic analysis of Vietnamese Sus scrofa bones for evidence of pig domestication

In the present study, we used morphological and genetic analyzes to distinguish bones of domestic boars from those of wild boars. We analyzed 65 Sus bones (cranium, mandible and teeth) stored in three research institutes in Vietnam and in a village in Vietnam. Based on comparison of bucco‐lingual measurements of mandibular parts, the 58 specimens were morphologically classified into two size groups: a large bone group and a small bone group. Analysis of 572‐bp mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences indicated that the large bones had genetic links to wild boar lineage including Ryukyu, Taiwan and Korean wild boars, and that the small bone group was closely related to East Asian domestic pigs. The phylogenetic analysis and parsimonious networks constructed among mtDNA haplotypes belonging to Ryukyu wild boar lineage showed that the Ryukyu wild boar is closely related to the Vietnamese wild boars, and uniquely miniaturized on their islands after the Ryukyu archipelago became isolated from the Asian continent.     

Ammonia-assimilating microbes in microbial community in a lagoon for wastewater from paddock of dairy cattle

In the present article the distribution and abundance of ammonia‐assimilating microbes among the natural habitants in a lagoon were investigated. In the medium containing lagoon‐extract, about 20% of total 82 isolates showed ammonia‐assimilating ability. By sequencing of 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA), the highest ammonia‐assimilating isolates at 10°C and 37°C were identified as Janthinobacterium lividum and Bacillus sp., respectively. The structure of the microbial community was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR‐DGGE). Almost of the dominant species that were detected by PCR‐DGGE did not coincide with isolates, which showed the high ammonia‐assimilating ability, but one specie by PCR‐DGGE coincided with ammonia‐assimilating isolate. These results suggested that ammonia‐assimilating microbes existed as non‐dominant species in the microbial community in a lagoon.     

Effect of dietary ascorbate fortification on lipolysis activity of juvenile black sea bream Acanthopagrus schlegeli

ABSTRACT:   Hatchery-reared black sea bream Acanthopagrus schlegeli juveniles averaging 0.05 g in body weight were fed either a control diet (commercial diet) or an experimental diet in which the commercial diet was fortified with 50 mg l -ascorbyl 2-monophosphate Mg (APM)/100 g diet for 50 days. Calcium ascorbate supplemented as a vitamin mixture in the control diet was completely destroyed during storage. Fortification with APM significantly increased the ascorbic acid levels in the muscle, liver, brain and eye. Although APM fortification did not influence growth, survival or fish body composition, adipocyte diameter in the intraperitoneal fat body (IPF) was significantly reduced. After the feeding experiment, the fish were kept for 39 days without feeding. Fortification with APM resulted in high survival, high muscle protein retention and low body weight loss. The results suggested the necessity of fortification with an adequate amount of ascorbate in the diet. While fatty acid compositions of the IPF, muscle and liver were not significantly influenced by APM fortification, characteristic changes in the fatty acid profile were found after starvation. Vitamin C and highly unsaturated fatty acids seemed crossly interactive in relation to lipolysis activity in black sea bream juveniles.     

灌浆结实期弱光对水稻籽粒淀粉积累及相关酶活性的影响

 选用IR72（籼稻）和日本晴（粳稻）为材料，在开花后进行遮光处理，对弱光条件下籽粒淀粉和直链淀粉含量的动态变化及相关酶的活性进行了研究。在弱光条件下，两品种籽粒的淀粉含量减少，直链淀粉含量下降，蔗糖含量降低，ADPG焦磷酸化酶活性的变化较小，可溶性淀粉合成酶和颗粒结合型淀粉合成酶活性减弱，可溶性淀粉分支酶Q酶和颗粒结合型淀粉分支酶活性增强，淀粉去分支酶活性因品种而异，IR72表现为减弱，日本晴则为增强。相关分析表明，遮光下蔗糖输入量的减少量和淀粉合成量的下降量呈显著正相关；ADPG焦磷酸化酶和淀粉分支酶活性与淀粉积累速率呈显著正相关。分析指出，遮光下淀粉合成酶活性的降低与淀粉合成量的下降有关，淀粉分支酶活性的升高是直链淀粉占淀粉总量的比率减少的重要原因。     

Analgesic and cardiopulmonary effects of premedication with tramadol in calves anesthetized with the infusion of guaifenesin and thiamylal

This study examined the analgesic and cardiopulmonary effects of intravenous (IV) tramadol during general intravenous anesthesia in calves. Calves were premedicated with diazepam (0.2 mg/kg, IV) with tramadol (2 mg/kg, IV) (group T) or saline (group S). Anesthesia was induced by thiamylal sodium (4 mg/kg, IV) and maintained with an infusion (2 ml/kg/hr) of 5% guaifenesin containing thiamylal sodium (2 mg/ml). Additional thiamylal sodium (1–2 mg/kg, IV) was administered when interference from the calves was observed during surgery. The total counts of additional thiamylal sodium administration, analgesia score using a visual analog scale, recovery time, and cardiopulmonary function in the different groups were assessed and compared. Group T showed significantly fewer counts of additional drug administration and a significantly higher analgesia score. Tramadol may provide adequate analgesia with minimal cardiopulmonary changes in calves during general anesthesia.