Effects of contact dermatitis on hepatic gene expression in broilers

1.?Severe foot and hock dermatitis in broiler chickens can reduce growth rate and increase susceptibility to bacterial infection, affecting both profitability and welfare. However, little is known about the underlying physiological changes associated with foot and hock lesions.

2.?This study compared global hepatic gene expression in control birds and those with ammonia-induced foot and hock lesions using Agilent 44?K chicken oligonucleotide microarrays (8 birds per group).

3.?In total, 417 genes were differentially expressed of which 174 could be mapped onto the genome. Genes associated with energy metabolism, thyroid hormone activity and cellular control were affected, while there was also evidence of an up-regulation of genes linked to a pro-inflammatory response.

4.?It is conceivable that pain is the underlying cause for the observed changes in energy metabolism genes.

5.?Changes in hepatic gene expression provide new information on how a chicken's physiological mechanisms alter to cope with foot and hock lesions. The findings support other data indicating that birds with increased severity of lesions are likely to be in pain and that growth will be compromised. Reduction of the incidence of dermatitis by improved husbandry should therefore benefit both welfare and commercial performance.     

Association of a missense mutation in the luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor gene （LHCGR） with superovulation traits in Chinese Holstein heifers

Background: Upon binding luteinizing hormone in the ovary, the luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) is necessary for follicular maturation and ovulation, as well as luteal function. We detected mutations in the LHCGR gene and evaluated their association with superovulation. Methods: Using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and DNA sequencing, we examined polymorphisms in LHCGR and the genotypes associated with superovulation traits in 127 Chinese Holstein heifers. Results: A G/T polymorphism (ss52050737) in exon 11 was significantly associated with the total number of ova and the number of transferable embryos. Conclusions: LHCGR may be a new predictor for superovulation in Chinese Holstein heifers.     

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Onchocerca lupi and its Wolbachia endosymbiont

The morphology of Onchocerca lupi, responsible for canine ocular onchocercosis, is unique within the genus. Earlier analyses of the 5S ribosomal RNA gene spacer region sequence of the parasite and the 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence of its Wolbachia endosymbiotic bacteria (Rickettsiales) supported the morphological and biological arguments that O. lupi is a distinct species. However, the exact phylogenetic position of O. lupi and its endosymbiont could not be unambiguously determined. Herein we report analyses based on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene of the filarial species and the Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) and the bacterial cell-cycle ftsZ genes of their wolbachiae. Our results indicate that O. lupi separated from other Onchocerca spp. early in evolution. This is in line with the previous morphological analysis demonstrating that O. lupi is an atypical Onchocerca species showing both primitive and evolved characters. The phylogenetic trees generated for the COI sequences of filariae and the wsp and ftsZ sequences of their wolbachiae were congruent with each other, which supports the hypothesis that nematodes and their Wolbachia endobacteria share a long co-evolutionary history.     

禽白血病病毒ELISA检测方法的建立与初步应用

本研究以在毕赤酵母系统中表达并纯化的p27重组蛋白为包被抗原,HRP标记的兔抗鸡IgY为酶标二抗,建立了一种快速有效的禽蛋白血病病毒ELISA检测方法,并对其反应条件进行优化。结果显示,该方法具有良好的特异性和重复性;与市售商品试剂盒相比,符合率为96.92%,且更为敏感。应用建立的ELISA方法检测来自吉林省内鸡场314份疑似样品,阳性检出率为75.15%。本研究为禽白血病病毒的检测与诊断提供了一种简便、有效的检测方法。     

鸡肠炎沙门氏菌外膜蛋白F的原核表达及免疫原性分析

根据GenBank中收录的鸡肠炎沙门氏菌OmpF基因序列设计1对引物,以鸡肠炎沙门氏菌辽宁分离株基因组为模板,扩增鸡肠炎沙门氏菌OmpF基因,用IEDB Analysis Resource在线预测分析,该基因可能存在15个线性B细胞抗原表位;同时将该基因克隆至原核表达载体PGEX-4T-1中,构建重组表达质粒PGEX-4T-1-OmpF,转入大肠杆菌BL21中,获得OmpF重组蛋白。Western-blot检测结果表明,该重组蛋白的分子质量约为66 kD(含标签蛋白),能被鸡沙门氏菌阳性血清识别,初步证实该蛋白具有免疫原性,为鸡肠炎沙门氏菌亚单位疫苗的进一步研究和开发奠定了理论基础。     

铜对意大利蜜蜂工蜂生理机能的影响

本研究旨在探索意大利蜜蜂工蜂成蜂饲粮中铜的添加水平对蜜蜂生长发育、生理生化及抗氧化性能的影响。从蜂群中随机取3000只刚出房的蜜蜂,随机平均分成6组,分别命名为A、B、C、D、E、F,每组5个重复,每个重复100只蜜蜂;6组工蜂幼虫分别饲喂铜的添加水平为0.00、2.00、4.00、6.00、8.00、10.00μg/g的糖水,饲养至全部死亡。分别取成蜂测定体成分、血淋巴生化指标、抗氧化指标、相关基因表达量、制作中肠切片,并测定寿命。结果表明:(1)铜对蜜蜂寿命的影响显著,从蜜蜂存活率曲线图来看,当饲粮中铜的添加水平为2.00μg/g时对蜜蜂中肠食膜的结构最为有利。(2)与对照组相比,铜的添加水平为2.00~10.00μg/g组9日龄蜜蜂体组织铜含量显著升高(P<0.05),蜜蜂血淋巴中总蛋白(TP)和总胆固醇(TCHO)含量显著降低(P<0.05)。(3)9日龄蜜蜂蜂体超氧化物歧化酶(Cu/Zn-SOD)活性随着铜添加水平的提高出现先升高后降低的趋势,在2.00μg/g时活性最高(P<0.05)。(4)当饲粮中铜的添加水平在0.00~10.00μg/g的范围内不断升高时,CAT、Ctr1基因相对表达量显著增加(P<0.05)。由此得出饲粮中铜的添加水平对蜜蜂的生理机能影响显著。     

动物专用半合成大环内酯类抗生素——替米考星

替米考星是由泰乐菌素半合成的动物专用的大环内酯类抗生素，最初是由美国礼来公司开发成功。由于其独特的抗菌活性和特殊的药动学特征，目前已被批准用于牛、羊、猪、鸡、兔等动物感染性疾病的防治。替米考星适合于防治牛、羊、猪的肺炎和溶血性巴氏杆菌、多杀性巴氏杆菌、胸膜肺炎放射杆菌、霉形体和其他敏感菌感染。     

Genetic analysis of vesicular stomatitis virus-New Jersey from the 1995 outbreak in the western United States

OBJECTIVE: To compare molecular associations between the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-New Jersey isolates of the 1995 outbreak with those from previous outbreaks between 1982 and 1985 in the western United States. SAMPLE POPULATION: 23 virus isolates considered representative of the 1995 outbreak of vesicular stomatitis. PROCEDURE: Viral gene coding for surface-envelope protein G was evaluated by use of nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: Changes in up to 0.77% of the nucleotide bases and 1.35% of the amino acids were detected among the 1995 viral isolates, whereas changes in up to 3.2 and 2.9% of the nucleotides and amino acids, respectively, were found, compared with the 1982 to 1985 viruses. Insertions or deletions were not found in the entire gene, which spanned 1,554 nucleotide bases. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the 1995 VSV-New Jersey belongs to a lineage distinct from that of the 1982 to 1985 viruses that caused previous outbreaks in the western United States. Furthermore, it also is distinct from strains from Central America and from the Georgian Hazelhurst strain.