Prevalence of bluetongue virus antibodies and associated risk factors among cattle in East Darfur State,Western Sudan

Background

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is an insect-transmitted virus, which causes bluetongue disease (BT) in sheep and a fatal hemorrhagic infection in North American white-tailed deer. However, in cattle the disease is typically asymptomatic and no overt clinical signs of disease appear to be associated with BTV infection. Serological evidence and isolation of different BTV serotypes have been reported in Sudan, however, no information is currently available in regard to previous exposure of Sudanese livestock to BTV infection in East Darfur State, Sudan.

Aims

To determine the prevalence of BTV antibodies and to identify the potential risk factors associated with BTV infection among cattle in East Darfur State, Sudan.

Methods

A total of 224 blood samples were collected randomly from five localities in East Darfur State, Sudan. The serum samples were screened for detection of BTV-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA).

Results

Serological evidence of BTV infection was observed in 150 out of 224 animals accounting for a 67% prevalence rate among cattle in East Darfur State. Older cattle (>2 years of age) were six times more likely to be infected with BTV (OR = 6.62, CI = 2.87-15.26, p-value = 0.01). Regarding animal source (contact with other herds) as a risk factor, it was shown that cattle purchased from market or introduced from other herds were 3 times at higher risk of being infected with BTV (OR = 3.87, CI = 1.07-13.87, p value = 0.03). Exposure of cattle to the insect vector increased the risk of contracting BTV infection by six times compared to non-exposed cattle (OR = 6.44, CI = 1.53-27.08, p value = 0.01).

Conclusion

The present study indicated that age, animal source and the intensity of the insect vector are influential risk factors for BTV infection in cattle in the Darfur region. Surveillance for BTV infection should be extended to include other susceptible ruminants and to study the distribution of the insect vectors to better predict and respond to a possible BTV outbreak in the State of East Darfur, Sudan.     

Antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria isolated from infections in cats and dogs throughout Europe (2002–2009)

A monitoring program of the pre-treatment susceptibility of clinical isolates of bacteria from diseased dogs and cats was active between the years 2002 and 2009. Susceptibility of each isolated strain to a panel of nine antibiotics (amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ampicillin, penicillin, clindamycin, doxycycline, enrofloxacin, marbofloxacin, trimethoprim and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) was assessed. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of marbofloxacin was also determined by a standardized microdilution technique following CLSI recommendations. In total, 1857 bacterial strains were collected throughout Europe from cases of otitis, respiratory, urinary and dermatological infections. Although bacterial susceptibility varied for each of the antibiotics within the panel, patterns of susceptibility were similar to those described in the literature for comparable time periods and geographical areas. With a clinical resistance varying from 0 to 14.48% against the isolated strains, marbofloxacin susceptibility was very high and remains an effective antibiotic for the treatment of otitis, urinary, respiratory and dermatological infections in companion animals.     

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明晰中国口粮消费的变化特征是保障中国粮食安全的根本。全国尺度的中国健康与营养调查数据提供了多期的中国城乡居民口粮消费调查数据。文章利用食物成分表将中国健康与营养调查数据折算成原粮,分析1997-2011年中国城乡居民口粮消费的数量与结构变化特征,以期明晰中国城乡居民口粮消费的真实情景。结果表明:1)近年来中国城乡居民口粮消费量明显减少,1997-2011年间,中国城镇居民口粮消费量从168.4 kg/a下降到111.2 kg/a,农村居民从209.6 kg/a下降到131.5 kg/a,全国平均水平从196.6 kg/a下降到124.7 kg/a。以发达国家或地区口粮消费的125 kg/a稳定态为参考,中国城乡居民口粮消费的下降区间可能有限。2)城乡口粮消费的差距在缩小。1997-2011年间,中国城镇与农村居民的口粮消费差距由41.2 kg/a缩小为20.3 kg/a,而且两者也正由存在显著性差异向无显著差异转变,最终两者可能会归为统一值。3)2011年中国口粮绝对安全的耕地保障面积为2 691.6万hm2,约占1/4的基本农田面积。《全国种植业结构调整规划(2016-2020年)》稳定2020年稻谷、小麦8亿亩播种面积,极有可能会造成稻谷与小麦的生产过剩,产生口粮饲用或卖粮难的现象。     

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连云港云台山风景区有竹类植物7属20种,1变种和11变型,5个栽培变型。其中,短穗竹属1种,箬竹属2种,竹属2种3变型,刚竹属8种,1变种和9个变型,2个栽培变型,青篱竹属5种2变型,矢竹属1种,支竹属1变型。这些竹种中,属云台山乡土竹种有3属8种,1变种5变型2栽培变型。其中金条竹为国内首次发现并命名的新变型。经长期观察,刚竹属大部分竹种能适应云台山的生态环境,并在自然状态下生存繁衍。20世纪90年代后引进的观赏竹种也表现出较强的生命力。连云港云台山地区是我国黄河—长江竹区长江以北重要的竹种资源地,同时也是南竹北移理想的驯化场所。     

广州市海珠区果树保护区鸡生态学研究

鸡（荔枝菌）是广州市海珠区果树保护区极具地方特色的野生食用菌,其生态类型是荔枝菌与白蚁共生共衰的＂蚁栽＂食用菌,属蚁巢伞属（Termitomyces）,在雨量充沛（旬均雨量132mm、旬均日照时数28.8h）、高温、高湿（旬均气温28.9℃、旬均湿度80.3%、旬均地温28.6℃）的6月出产,其中尤与相对湿度关系密切。荔枝菌菌圃含水量高（20.74%）,呈酸性（pH值4.38）,且营养丰富,主要为糖和蛋白质,分别达到40.38%和6.27%。     

祁连山自然保护区康乐自然保护站野生动物调查与研究

为进一步查清祁连山自然保护区康乐自然保护站辖区内野生动物资源现状,全面、准确地掌握野生动物资源的动态变化,分析变化的原因,提出保护管理与合理利用对策,更好地贯彻执行《中华人民共和国野生动物保护法》及《中华人民共和国陆生野生动物保护实施条例》,进行了为期2a的针对康乐保护站辖区内国家Ⅰ、Ⅱ级和省级重点保护野生动物的全面调查,并针对辖区环境情况,分析研究影响动物活动的因素,提出整改措施。     

广德县林农复合经营情况调查与思考

本文调查了广德县林农复合经营现状,进一步分析了该县林农复合经营存在的问题,介绍了几种值得推广的特色林农复合经营模式,并提出了相关措施和建议。     

基于SPOT5森林资源二类调查目视解译的探讨

以重庆市彭水土家族苗族自治县为试验区,对森林资源二类调查目视解译的技术进行探讨,并对比分析计算机自动解译相对于目视解译的不足。森林资源目视判读存在很多人为主观性,常产生一些误差,而SPOT5遥感影像具有高空间分辨率和多光谱分辨率,可提供丰富、可靠、高精度的基础数据。