The effect of Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate on small intestinal morphology,antioxidant capacity and anti‐inflammatory effect in heat‐stressed broilers

This study was to investigate the effects of Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG) on intestinal morphology, antioxidant capacity and anti‐inflammatory response in heat‐stressed broiler. A total of 192 2‐week‐old Arbour Acres broilers chickens were divided into four groups with six replicates per group and eight chickens per replicate: one thermoneutral control group (28°C, group TN), which was fed the basal diet; and three cyclic high‐temperature groups (35°C from 7:00 to 19:00 hr; 28°C from 19:00 hr to 7:00 hr, heat stress group), which were fed the basal diet supplementation with EGCG 0 mg/kg (group HS0), 300 mg/kg (group HS300) and 600 mg/kg (group HS600). The gut morphology and intestinal mucosal oxidative stress indicators, as well as intestinal barrier‐related gene expression, were analysed. The results showed that compared with group TN, heat stress reduced the villus height (VH), activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD)and catalase (CAT), increased the crypt depth (CD) and malondialdehyde (MDA)content at 21, 28 and 35 days (p < 0.05). After the heat‐stressed broilers were supplemented with EGCG, VH, VH/CD (V/C), and the activities of GSH‐Px, SOD and CAT were increased, and CD and MDA content were reduced compared with those in group HS0 without EGCG supplementation at 21, 28 and 35 days (p < 0.05). The EGCG supplementation promoted the gene expression of nuclear factor‐erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2), Claudin‐1, Mucin 2 (Muc2) and alleviated the nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) and lipopolysaccharide‐induced tumour necrosis factor (LITAF) gene expression compared with group HS0 (p < 0.05). Moreover, intestinal morphology was strongly correlated with antioxidant ability and inflammatory response. In conclusion, EGCG alleviated the gut oxidative injury of heat‐stressed broilers by enhancing antioxidant capacity and inhibiting inflammatory response.     

A putative RNA silencing component protein FoQde-2 is involved in virulence of the tomato wilt fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium oxysporum</Emphasis> f. sp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">lycopersici</Emphasis>

RNA silencing pathways in filamentous fungi are composed of multiple component proteins and known to be involved in vegetative growth, virulence or sexual reproduction. We found that the tomato wilt fungus, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol), carries four homologues genes of Qde-2, an argonaute protein gene and one of the main component protein genes in Neurospora crassa. Gene targeting revealed that FoQde-2, one of the Qde-2 homologues in Fol, is involved in virulence to tomato but not in vegetative growth.     

河南省肉鸡4株禽传染性支气管炎病毒的分离鉴定及S1基因序列分析

通过病料接种SPF鸡胚和鸡胚尿囊液的RT-PCR鉴定,于2017至2018年从河南省不同发病鸡场分离到4株鸡传染性支气管炎病毒(IBV),分别命名为HB/L1/201711、ZMD/L2/201704、SQ/L3/201803、LY/L4/201710,并对4株毒株S1基因进行克隆和序列分析。结果:HB/L1/201711、SQ/L3/201803 S1基因全长1 620 nt,编码540 aa,其裂解位点分别为HRRRR,分属于基因型V、Ⅰ分支;ZMD/L2/201704、LY/L4/201710株S1基因全长1 617 nt,编码539 aa,其裂解位点为RRSRR,属于基因型Ⅱ分支。ZMD/L2/201704与LY/L4/201710分离株核苷酸序列及其推导的氨基酸序列同源性较高,分别为97.6%、95.4%,与另外2株分离株之间核苷酸序列同源性为76.5%、76.8%。4株分离株与国内外参考毒株及疫苗株的氨基酸序列同源性在58.5%~98%之间,具有较大的差异性。其中:ZMD/L2/201704、LY/L4/201710与491型传支疫苗氨基酸同源性较高,可达95.4%、95.9%;SQ/L3/201803与CHI分支参考毒株氨基酸同源性在94.6%~98.9%之间;HB/L1/201711与TWⅠ型毒株2575/98、3468/07有较高同源性,分别为94.8%和93.5%。本研究表明河南省肉鸡鸡群鸡传染性支气管炎病毒基因型相对复杂,推测存在重组与突变。     

Protein requirements of collared peccary (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pecari tajacu</Emphasis>)

A nitrogen (N) balance digestion trial was conducted to determine the protein requirement of collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu). In a 4 × 4 Latin square design, four captive adult male peccaries were fed four isoenergy diets containing four different levels of N (11.7, 16.3, 22.8, and 26.7 g N/kg of dry matter—DM). After 15 days of adaptation, a total collection of feces and urine was carried out for five consecutive days. Regression analyses between N intake and N in feces and urine allowed to calculate the metabolic fecal nitrogen (MFN = 2.3 g N/kg of dry matter intake—DMI) and daily endogenous urinary N (EUN = 185 mg N/kg^0.75). Likewise, by regression analyses between consumption of nitrogen and the nitrogen balance (NB = N ingested ? N excreted, mg N/kg^0.75), a daily requirement of 514 mg N/kg^0.75 was calculated. Therefore, if food intake is unrestricted, collared peccaries require a minimum in their diet of about 5.4% crude protein on DM basis. These values are almost as low as those found for browsing and frugivorous wild ruminants, which reinforce the proposition that peccaries’ digestive physiology is nearer to that of domestic and wild ruminants than domestic pigs. This relatively low protein requirement of collared peccary and its great ability to digest protein reveal the relevance of the forestomach for the species on nitrogen/protein metabolism and allow the use of diets with lower crude protein levels than the commercial ones used for the domestic pig, which reduces feed costs.     

双向电泳结合蛋白质印迹技术分析猪囊尾蚴乳酸脱氢酶

为了研究猪囊尾蚴乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)的表达,试验选择四川省雅江县呷拉乡猪带绦虫病患者,给其口服槟榔-南瓜子驱虫,收集、制备虫卵悬液(8万个/mL),再给3头20日龄三元杂交乳猪猪灌胃虫卵悬液,每头1 mL,40 d后收集、制备猪囊尾蚴蛋白,进行双向电泳(2-DE)分析,将凝胶蛋白斑点转移至聚偏氟乙烯膜(PVDF膜),用自制的大鼠抗猪带绦虫LDH血清作为一抗、健康大鼠血清作为阴性对照进行蛋白质印迹(Western-blotting)分析。结果表明:双向电泳凝胶共检测到(207±9)个蛋白质斑点,相对分子质量(Mr)为14 400～94 000,等电点(pI)为3.0～10.0;试验组特异性抗原抗体阳性杂交斑点为1个,阴性对照未见阳性杂交斑点;将Western-blotting检测的抗原抗体阳性杂交斑点与原双向电泳凝胶斑点进行比对,找到对应蛋白斑点,经ImageMaster 2D Platinum 5.0软件分析后初步确定该蛋白斑点的pI/Mr为7.03/35 368,与猪带绦虫LDH的pI/Mr理论推导值接近,说明猪囊尾蚴表达LDH。     

Effects of temperature and humidity on the contact angle of pesticide droplets on rice leaf surfaces

The effects of external factors such as temperature, humidity, pesticide formulation, and pesticide concentration on the contact angle of pesticide droplets on rice leaf surfaces were analyzed. The experiments showed that there were significant differences in the contact angles of droplets on the leaf surfaces under different temperatures and humidity. As the ambient temperature increased, the contact angle first decreased and then increased, reaching a minimum value at 25°C. With a gradual increase in humidity, the contact angle significantly increased and reached a maximum at 100% humidity. Finally, it was concluded that both the formulation and concentration of the pesticide had a significant effect on the contact angle of droplets on rice leaf surfaces. The experiments also illustrated that the effects of the pesticide formulation and concentration on the contact angle were more significant than those of temperature and humidity.     

Prevalence of antimicrobial residues in raw table eggs from farms and retail outlets in Enugu State,Nigeria

The use of antimicrobial agents in poultry production results in their accumulation in the body tissues and products such as milk and egg. The subsequent accumulation of these drugs and their metabolites in body cells is known as drug residue. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of antimicrobial residues in eggs from poultry farms and retail outlets in Enugu State, Nigeria. Eggs from 25 selected commercial farms and ten retail outlets were screened for the prevalence of antimicrobial residue. Also, structured questionnaires were administered to 25 commercial farms in the state to determine the management practices and the most widely used antimicrobial drugs in farms and possible association between the management practices and the occurrence of antimicrobial residues in eggs from these farms. All the 25 farms surveyed use oxytetracycline. Eggs from nine of the surveyed farms tested positive for antimicrobial residue and three of the ten surveyed farms also tested positive for antimicrobial residue. No association was observed (p 0.05; Fisher’s exact test) between the occurrence of antibiotic residues in eggs and farm size, feed source and housing systems. This study was able to demonstrate the presence of antimicrobial residues in eggs destined for human consumption. Drugs like nitrofurans which has been banned for use in food animals are still very much in use in Enugu State, Nigeria. Antibiotics given as feed additives may give rise to drug residues in food animals.     

First report of leaf spot caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alternaria alternata</Emphasis> on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drimia maritima</Emphasis>

Drimia maritima (squill) is a historically important medicinal plant. During the spring of 2016, small, yellow leaf spots, which became brown and finally necrotic, were observed on squill plants in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Provinces in Iran. A fungus was consistently isolated from infected leaves and identified as Alternaria alternata based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses. Pathogenicity tests confirmed A. alternata to be the causal agent of the newly observed leaf spot disease. This is the first report of leaf spot on D. maritima caused by A. alternata in the world.