Field Evaluation of Cocksfoot,Tall Fescue and Phalaris for Dry Marginal Environments of South‐Eastern Australia. 1. Establishment and Herbage Production

Newly developed candidate cultivars of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. = syn. L. arundinaceum (Schreb) Darbysh.) were evaluated over four years for persistence and productivity against current commercial cultivars in small plots at five locations selected for lower and less reliable rainfall and difficult soils (low pH and high Al) in south‐eastern Australia known to be marginally too dry for these grass species. The five locations were ‐ representing summer dominant rainfall, Inverell, in northern New South Wales (NSW); ‐ representing uniform rainfall; Trungley Hall, (medium rainfall), and Beckom (lower rainfall) both in southern NSW; and; representing a winter dominant pattern ‐ Eversley, (higher rainfall), and Bealiba, (lower rainfall), in central Victoria. The objective was to determine if the new candidate cultivars were more likely to persist and to be productive than current commercial cultivars. The study showed that most phalaris and cocksfoot treatments were highly productive in high rainfall years at one or both sites in southern NSW. However, all treatments had become much less productive by the end of the experimental period due to plant loss under hot, dry conditions in the final summer. At Bealiba in central Victoria, cocksfoot was the most productive species with several cocksfoot treatments of both subsp. hispanica and subsp. glomerata still present at the final harvest despite a hot and dry final summer‐autumn. Tall fescue was the most productive species in the two higher rainfall environments (Inverell, Eversley) although most treatments of all species performed well at those sites. Continental tall fescues were more productive on average than Mediterranean tall fescues at the strongly acidic Eversley site. As a result of this work, two of the new cocksfoot candidates (Moroccan Fine and AVH48 Selection) and one of the tall fescue candidates (Summer Active 1) have been licensed for commercial development and release.     

Growth,Survivorship, Air‐bubble Disease,and Attachment of Feeble Juvenile Seahorses,Hippocampus kuda (Bleeker, 1852)

Seahorse aquaculture has been a focus for meeting the demand of traditional medicine and aquarium. Feeble (poor quality) juveniles are commonly found in the commercial seahorse culture. In this study, we compared the growth and survival performances of the feeble and healthy common seahorses Hippocampus kuda. The results show that the feeble juveniles had high growth and survival at the temperature of 27–29 C and salinity of 26–28‰ with frequent feeding (≥three times a day) during first 5 wk. Through a 12‐wk investigation, we found that the air‐bubble disease could significantly affect the specific growth rate and survival of the feeble juveniles. There was a positive and significant correlation between the substrate‐attachment rate and survival rate in the feeble juveniles, and substrate‐attachment rate may be used to assess the quality of the feeble populations in the seahorse H. kuda.     

Temporal and spatioal effects of enriched miRNAs in brain and possible role in neural tube defects

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to play an important role in regulating the cell proliferation, differentiation and organogenesis. Abnormal expression of miRNAs is associated with increased risk for various diseases, such as neural tube defects (NTD), which is a severe developmental disease as the result of closing the neural tube incompletely or too early. The present review summarizes some enriched miRNAs in the brain of mammals and their spatial temporal feature, and tries to elaborate the relationship between the aberrant expression of miRNAs and the pathogenesis of NTD.     

NPFFR1基因对鹅卵泡颗粒细胞激素分泌和细胞凋亡的影响研究

神经相关肽受体（RFamide-related peptide receptor,NPFFR1）是促性腺激素抑制激素的主要亲和受体,它在调控动物繁殖方面起着重要作用。为了解NPFFR1对鹅卵巢卵泡发育的作用,本研究以42周龄健康产蛋四川白鹅为试验材料（n=9）,利用RT-qPCR法检测NPFFR1基因在等级前和等级卵泡颗粒细胞中的mRNA表达规律;在颗粒细胞中过表达NPFFR1基因,酶联免疫吸附法检测颗粒细胞上清液（n=9）中雌二醇（estradiol,E2）、孕酮（progesterone,P4）和抗缪勒管激素（anti-Mullerian hormone,AMH）的浓度变化,剩余贴壁细胞作一步法TUNEL检测细胞凋亡情况;转录组测序方法筛选大黄卵泡（8~10 mm）颗粒细胞过表达NPFFR1前后表达差异显著基因,并对差异表达基因进行功能聚类分析。结果显示,除F1等级外,其余等级卵泡颗粒细胞NPFFR1表达量均极显著高于等级前卵泡（P<0.01）;过表达NPFFR1后,等级颗粒细胞上清液中的E2和等级前颗粒细胞上清液AMH的含量显著（P<0.05）降低,但孕酮P4含量变化不显著（P>0.05）;转录组测序共筛选到267个差异表达基因（119个下调,148个上调）,这些基因主要富集在生物节律过程、繁殖进程等生物学过程中;同时,与对照组相比,差异基因AMH显著下调表达（P<0.05）,Clock（clock circadian regulator）、FOS（proto-oncogene,AP-1 trans-cription factor subunit）、Per（period circadian regulator）和ANTXR2（cell adhesion molecule 2）分别极显著（P<0.01）或显著（P<0.05）上调表达。上述试验结果提示,NPFFR1可从激素、细胞凋亡和生物节律等多个环节影响卵泡颗粒细胞,参与调控卵泡的时序等级发育。     

Molecular characterisation of Theileria equi and risk factors associated with the occurrence of theileriosis in horses of Punjab (Pakistan)

Theileria equi (T. equi) is an obligate intra- and extra-erythrocytic parasite that causes equine theileriosis (ET) in equids. Equine theileriosis is considered a notifiable disease of global significance, a major constraint to the international movement of horses, and endemic in many countries. This disease may be difficult to diagnose, as it can produce variable and nonspecific clinical signs. A cross-sectional study was designed for the molecular characterisation of T. equi and to investigate the associated risk factors of ET accompanied by its consequences on haematological and sero-biochemical parameters. A convenience sampling of 500 blood samples were collected from ET suspect horses from January to December 2017. PCR was performed on all blood samples targeting the 18S rRNA gene of T. equi followed by sequencing; 9% animals tested positive with confirmed sequences. The isolates of this study showed high homology with Cuban, Russian and Brazilian isolates of T. equi (accession numbers KY111762.2 , MG551915.1 and KY952237.1 , respectively). Based on multivariate analysis, the principal risk factors consisted of absence of dogs on the premises and presence of tick infestation. The haemato-biochemical parameters showed a decrease in granulocytes and erythrocytes, and an increase in lymphocytes, monocytes, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean platelet volume, glucose, phosphorus and aspartate aminotransferase in positive horses. This is the first study which identified ET in Punjab (Pakistan) using molecular techniques and risk factors together with the haemato-biochemical variations in horses.     

雏鸭重组禽流感（H5+H7）三价灭活苗母源抗体消长规律

为探究雏鸭重组禽流感(H5+H7)三价灭活苗母源抗体消长规律,确定最佳首免日龄,将试验分为A组(种鸭免疫H5N1 Re-11+Re-12株、H7N9 H7-Re-2株、H5N2疫苗)和B组(种鸭免疫H5N2 rSD57株+rFJ56株、H7N9 rGD76株疫苗);选其孵化后的雏鸭各300羽,分别于1、7、14、21、28日龄时采血,每组随机采集100份样品,通过血凝(HA)和血凝抑制(HI)试验进行禽流感母源抗体检测。结果显示:两组各亚型母源抗体在1日龄时平均滴度均达最高水平( 7.27log2),且离散程度低( 0.22)。两组雏鸭的禽流感母源抗体阳性率均随日龄增长而逐渐下降,7日龄时,平均滴度在4.26log2以上,群体抗体阳性率在76%以上,其中B组阳性率略高于A组;14日龄时,平均滴度都下降到2.55log2以下,群体抗体阳性率下降到25%以下;21日龄时,平均滴度均在0.43log2以下,群体抗体阳性率下降至1%以下。结果表明,高抗体水平种鸭能够使后代雏鸭具有较高水平的禽流感母源抗体,但母源抗体保护时间较短,重组禽流感(H5+H7)三价灭活苗的最佳首免时间为7～14日龄。本研究为鸭禽流感疫苗免疫策略制定提供了参考。     

浅析发酵乳霉菌零星污染来源及控制方法

霉菌在自然环境中普遍存在,而且以孢子形态随空气、水等媒介进行扩散。对食品原辅料及生产环境均可造成污染,是造成发酵乳变质的主要原因。发酵乳作为保质期较短且需冷链储运、销售的产品,零星的霉菌污染不会引起食品安全问题,但由于部分销售终端及三四线市场冷链运输缺失,造成霉菌生长,发酵乳呈现明显霉斑,导致消费者体验差,给企业品牌造成极坏影响,也影响了食品安全。本文概述了发酵乳中来自原辅料、环境、水中霉菌零星污染来源、验证方法以及相应控制措施,以期为发酵乳中霉菌控制提供参考。     

Socio-spatial organization reveals paternity and low kinship in the Honduran white bat (Ectophylla alba) in Costa Rica

Ectophylla alba is a tent-making bat that roosts in mixed-sex clusters comprising adults and offspring. Our goal was to determine the genetic identity of individuals belonging to different roosting groups. We tested the hypothesis of kin selection as a major force structuring group composition. We used 9 microsatellites designed for E. alba to determine the genetic identity and probability of parentage of individuals. We analyzed parentage and kinship using the software ML-Relate, GenAIEx, and Cervus. The obtained relationship probabilities (0.5) revealed a clear maternal relationship between female adults and offspring with allele compatibility, and at least 5 relationships between male adults and pups. We found a low degree of relatedness within roosting groups. Between roosting groups at different sites, the mean probability of a half-sibling relationship ranged from 0.214 to 0.244 and, for full-sibling relationship, from 0.383 to 0.553. Genetically, adult individuals were poorly related within clusters, and kinship as an evolutionary force could not explain group membership.     

蛋鸡不同阶段营养调控

蛋鸡养殖期间不同生长发育阶段的营养需求有所差异,为更好地满足不同阶段蛋鸡的生长需求,应对饲料配方做出动态化调整,加强营养调控技术的研究。通过对饲料配方进行科学调整,能保证营养供给更加充足,更加均衡满足蛋鸡生长需求,保证蛋鸡健康生长,减少饲料成本,提高饲料利用效率。该文主要论述蛋鸡在不同生长阶段的营养调控技术,并提出完善蛋鸡营养调控技术的措施。     

Necrotic enteritis challenge regulates peroxisome proliferator-1 activated receptors signaling and β-oxidation pathways in broiler chickens

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is an important enteric disease in poultry and has become a major concern in poultry production in the post-antibiotic era. The infection with NE can damage the intestinal mucosa of the birds leading to impaired health and, thus, productivity. To gain a better understanding of how NE impacts the gut function of infected broilers, global mRNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed in the jejunum tissue of NE challenged and non-challenged broilers to identify the pathways and genes affected by this disease. Briefly, to induce NE, birds in the challenge group were inoculated with 1 mL of Eimeria species on day 9 followed by 1 mL of approximately 10⁸ CFU/mL of a NetB producing Clostridium perfringens on days 14 and 15. On day 16, 2 birds in each treatment were randomly selected and euthanized and the whole intestinal tract was evaluated for lesion scores. Duodenum tissue samples from one of the euthanized birds of each replicate (n = 4) was used for histology, and the jejunum tissue for RNA extraction. RNA-seq analysis was performed with an Illumina RNA HiSeq 2000 sequencer. The differentially expressed genes (DEG) were identified and functional analysis was performed in DAVID to find protein–protein interactions (PPI). At a false discovery rate threshold <0.05, a total of 377 DEG (207 upregulated and 170 downregulated) DEG were identified. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that DEG were considerably enriched in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) signaling (P < 0.01) and β-oxidation pathways (P < 0.05). The DEG were mostly related to fatty acid metabolism and degradation (cluster of differentiation 36 [CD36], acyl-CoA synthetase bubblegum family member-1 [ACSBG1], fatty acid-binding protein-1 and -2 [FABP1] and [FABP2]; and acyl-coenzyme A synthetase-1 [ACSL1]), bile acid production and transportation (acyl-CoA oxidase-2 [ACOX2], apical sodium–bile acid transporter [ASBT]) and essential genes in the immune system (interferon-, [IFN-γ], LCK proto-oncogene, Src family tyrosine kinase [LCK], zeta chain of T cell receptor associated protein kinase 70 kDa [ZAP70], and aconitate decarboxylase 1 [ACOD1]). Our data revealed that pathways related to fatty acid digestion were significantly compromised which thereby could have affected metabolic and immune responses in NE infected birds.