First record of bacillary rickettsia-like organisms in European tick Dermacentor marginatus (Sulzer).

Bacillary rickettsia-like organisms (BRLO) were found in the tick Dermacentor marginatus. They are gram-negative and differ from common bacteria and reckettsiae both in the cultivation conditions and morphology. BRLO are non-pathogenic for ticks and guinea pigs. In our studies they were isolated on half-engorged females of D. marginatus, on which they are still maintained.     

Histological studies on cow intestinal mucosa and electron microscopic studies of the ruminal epithelium of cows fed a deficient diet for a prolonged time]

Histological and histochemical studies were carried out on the gastro-intestinal mucosa of three experimental cows (roughages/maize silage) and three control animals. The animals were slaughtered on termination of the long-term trial. Mucosa samples were taken, for further study, from the rumen, the duodenum, the jejunum, the large intestine and the appendix. Histochemical analysis did not reveal any essential differences in the activities of non-specific esterase, alkaline and acid phosphatase and lactic acid dehydrogenase in the mucosa of the rumen, the large and the small intestine and the appendix of both the experimental animals and the controls. The experimental animals were found to exhibit a higher rate of glutamate-dehydrogenase activity in the ruminal mucosa and in the mucosa of the large and small intestine. A higher succinate dehydrogenase activity was observed in the ruminal mucosa of the experimental animals, relative to that of the controls, while the activity in the intestinal mucosa was decreased. Only slight changes were noted in the activity of the enzymatic systems tested. Electron microscopic studies did not reveal any differences in the ultrastructure of the epithelial cells of the ruminal mucosa in both the experimental animal and the controls.     

Testing of the protective effect of cell-free lyophilized vaccine against Marek's disease in field trials]

The protective effect of a lyophilized vaccine against Marek's disease ("Keramvac"--Pfizer), prepared from a cell-free turkey's herpesvirus (strain FC 126), was compared in field trials with losses in the group of non-vaccinated chickens. Under the indicated conditions, the vaccine had only a 50.86% effectiveness. The possible causes of the reduced vaccination effect are discussed with regard to the pathomorphological and virological findings suggesting, among others, an increased incidence of the symptoms of the classical form of Marek's disease in the population investigated.     

Pregnancy Rates in Repeat-breeder Heifers Following Multiple Artificial Inseminations during Spontaneous Oestrus

Hormonal asynchronies during oestrus, related to the presence of suprabasal plasma-progesterone (P4) concentrations and a delayed ovulation, interfere with the fertility of repeat-breeder heifers (RBH). Since tubal dysfunction can occur in connection with hormonal asynchronies and constrained availability of fertile spermatozoa at the time of ovulation, the present study tested the hypothesis that frequent sperm deposition from onset of oestrus to ovulation may improve pregnancy rates in RBH. Five RBH and five virgin heifers (VH; controls) were repeatedly artificially inseminated (AI) at 6 h intervals from onset of oestrus to spontaneous ovulation. Hormone analyses revealed suprabasal P₄ concentrations and a delay in the occurrence of the luteinising hormone (LH) surge, but a normal cortisol profile in RBH. Compared with controls, RBH presented longer interval from onset of oestrus to ovulation, and therefore, received more AIs. Pregnancy rates in RBH reached control levels (60%; NS), indicating that the hypothesis might be correct. Pregnancy rates in VH were below the expected range, presumably attributed to a deleterious influence of the frequent handling. The study suggests that pregnancy rates can be improved in RBH by frequent AI in relation to spontaneous ovulation. However, this practice of repeated manipulations, while seeming not to show adverse effects, lacks practicality for routine use.     

C-reactive protein measurement in canine saliva.

An established time-resolved immunofluorometric assay designed for measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP) in canine blood was evaluated and validated for use in canine saliva. C-reactive protein was measured in saliva specimens from 5 healthy dogs before and after the injection of casein and in 37 dogs with different disease conditions. The analytical and functional limits of detection were 0.000053 microg/ml and 0.0091 microg/ml, respectively, and intra- and interassay coefficients of variation ranged between 6.7-9.9% and 8.5-16.5%, respectively. A recovery experiment showed no significant disagreement between detected values and expected ones, and saliva CRP concentration was measured in a linear and proportional manner. A positive correlation was found between CRP levels obtained in saliva and serum samples in the experimental (R2 = 0.76) and clinical studies (R2 = 0.70). The assay was able to detect significant differences between salivary CRP levels in healthy dogs and dogs with inflammatory processes. These results suggest that saliva can be used for CRP measurement in dogs. The use of saliva presents the advantage of an easier and less stressful sampling method for the animals, which might be performed outside of hospital environments.     

‘三棱榄''橄榄果实香气成分分析

1 材料与方法选取广东优良鲜食橄榄品种‘三棱榄’,2001年12月6日采样,采用固相微萃取法(SPME)富集香气成分(鲜橄榄果肉于15℃下捣碎后取样1.0 g放入4 mL聚四氟乙烯硅橡胶垫密封螺口玻璃瓶中,插入100μm聚二甲基硅氧烷纤维头于室温25-30℃顶空取样2 h),用美国Finnigan TRACE GC-MS气相色谱-质谱联用仪进行分析。气相色谱柱为DB-1弹性毛细管柱30 m×0.25 mm,载气为He(99.99％),流速1.0mL/min。程序升温从40℃开始先保持10 min,后以2℃/min的升温速率升至150℃保持10 min。质谱条件:电子能量70 eV,离子源温度250℃,质量范围35-450 aum,不分流进样。2002年12月18日采样重复分析。     

Detection of the Defoliating Pathotype of Verticillium dahliae in Infected Olive Plants by Nested PCR

Spread of Verticillium wilt into newly established olive orchards in Andalucía, southern Spain, has caused concern in the olive industry in the region. This spread may result from use of Verticillium dahliae-infected planting material, which can extend distribution of the highly virulent, defoliating (D) pathotype of V. dahliae to new areas. In this study, a molecular diagnostic method for the early in planta detection of D V. dahliae was developed, aimed especially at nursery-produced olive plants. For this purpose, new primers for nested PCR were designed by sequencing a 992-bp RAPD marker of the D pathotype. The use of the specific primers and different nested-PCR protocols allowed the detection of V. dahliae pathotype D DNA in infected root and stem tissues of young olive plants. Detection of the pathogen was effective from the very earliest moments following inoculation of olive plants with a V. dahliae pathotype D conidia suspension as well as in inoculated, though symptomless, plants.     

SeGLP-1的分离纯化及硒活性结构分析

灵芝（Ganoderma lucidum)加硒深层培养后的菌丝（含Se1600μg/g)分别经水及碱水提取，醇析，透析，Sevage法脱蛋白，DEAE－cellulose柱层析纯化，得SeGLP-1。经SephadexG－100，聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和紫外光谱分析鉴定，SeGLP-1为均一级分。GC与TLC分析表明，SeGLP-1含Gal,Glu,Xyl,Rha,Man，其单糖摩尔比为Gal:Glu:Xyl:Rha:Man=0.23:1.00:0.72:0.25:0.09。SeGLP-1硒含量1642μg/g。SeGLP-1中Se活性中心的结构可能为O＝Se=O,即Se取代了灵芝多糖GLP－1中－OCH3结构上的CH3，从而形成了硒氧双键结构。     

Identification ofTomato Mottle Taino Begomovirus strains in Cuban potato fields

The presence of a begomovirus in potato plants with yellow mottle symptoms was determined for the first time in Cuba. The incidence of typical begomovirus-like symptoms in potato plants in some regions of Havana province (Güira de Melena, San José de las Lajas, Güines and Boyeros) during the growing seasons from 1992 to 1998 was in general low. However, in some cultivars belonging to the National Program for Potato Genetic Improvement, the incidence reached 100%. Yield losses, determined in 1992 and 1994, ranged as high as 19% to 56.33% depending on the cultivar. Characterization of the causal agent was done by light microscopy, host range (graft and mechanical transmission), DNA hybridizations, polymerase chain reaction, and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Nucleotide sequence of the amplified fragments revealed the presence ofTomato mottle Taino virus. The virus was transmittedvia tubers and has been detected in mixed infections withPotato virus X and withPotato leaf roll virus. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Oct. 20, 2003. The first two authors contributed equally to this work.     

熊蜂为温室茄子授粉试验

通过对温室茄子应用熊蜂授粉、人工蘸花授粉和空白对照的比较研究,结果表明熊蜂组的座果数比人工组和对照组分别增加了17.84%和33.32%,产量比人工组和对照组分别提高了27.93%和41.98%,果实含糖量比人工组和对照组分别增加了18.33%和21.16%,而且,熊蜂组的果实大而充实,商品性较好.说明利用熊蜂为温室茄子授粉,不仅能够促进座果,提高产量,而且可以改善果实品质,提升产品的附加值.