Benefits of prophylactic gastropexy for dogs at risk of gastric dilatation-volvulus

The lifetime probability of death from gastric dilation–volvulus (GDV) for five dog breeds was estimated based on published breed-specific longevity and GDV incidence. These breeds were Great Dane, Irish Setter, Rottweiler, Standard Poodle and Weimaraner. Lifetime risk (95% CI) of GDV in these breeds ranged from 3.9% (0–11.2%) for Rottweiler to 36.7% (25.2–44.6%) for Great Dane.

A decision-tree analysis for prophylactic gastropexy—using lifetime probability of death from GDV and expected cost savings for veterinary services as outcome measures—was undertaken to determine the preferred course of action in several dog breeds. Prophylactic gastropexy was the preferred choice of action for all breeds examined, with the reduction in mortality (versus no gastropexy) ranging from 2.2-fold (Rottweiler) to 29.6-fold (Great Dane). Assuming a prophylactic gastropexy costs US$ 400, the procedure was cost-effective when the lifetime risk of GDV was ≥34%. The maximum and minimum estimated breakeven costs for the gastopexy procedure ranged from US$ 20 (Rottweiler) to US$ 435 (Great Dane). The cost-effectiveness of prophylactic gastropexy was most sensitive to the cost of treating GDV (US$ 1500). Prophylactic gastropexy raises ethical issues that need to be considered by veterinarians and dog breeders.     

Understanding stakeholders’ opinions and preferences for non-native pet trade management in Florida

There is growing recognition of the link between the non-native pet trade and the introduction and establishment of invasive species due to the release and escape of non-native pets. However, it is unclear whether participants in the pet trade recognize the magnitude of this invasion risk. Successful mitigation of the pet trade invasion risk requires stakeholder support for, and participation in, regulations. We conducted 29 interviews in Florida to investigate key stakeholders’ opinions about the pet trade invasion risk and the effectiveness of potential regulations to mitigate this risk. Respondents framed the effectiveness of regulations in terms of their feasibility. Respondents also identified lack of trust and the existence of an adversarial relationship among stakeholder groups as major barriers to managing the pet trade invasion risk. Compliance with regulations may be improved if policy makers and managers utilize participatory decision-making to engage stakeholders in management of this risk.     

Cloning of Buffalo AQP9 Gene and Analysing its Expression in the Buffalo Tissues

Cloning buffalo AQP9 gene and analyzing its expression in buffalo tissues.A pair of primers was designed according to the released bovine AQP9 sequences in GenBank,which was used to clone buffalo AQP9 gene.The AQP9 gene was amplified by RT-PCR,whose nucleotide sequence and protein structure were analyzed by bioinformatics methods.The expression of AQP9 in buffalo tissues was assayed by Real-time quantitative PCR.The expression of AQP9 gene in buffalo ovary and testis tissue was detected by immunohistochemical staining method.The results showed that the cloned ORF length of buffalo AQP9 gene was 888 bp,which coded 295 amino acids.The results of multiple sequence comparison showed that the nucleotide sequence of buffalo AQP9 shared 99%,90%,97% and 88% homologeous compared with that of Bos taurus,Sus scrofa,Ovis ariessis and Homo sapiens,respectively,while shared 99%,86%,97%,83% homologeous for amino acids,respectively.Phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that AQP9 gene was highly conservative in the evolutionary process.Real-time quantitative PCR results showed that AQP9 gene expressed in buffalo liver,lung,brain,skin,testis and ovary tissues with different levels,had the most abundant expression in liver,followed by in skin and testis,less observed in lung and ovary.The results of immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of AQP9 protein varied with the development of buffalo ovarian tissue,and gradually enhanced with follicle development.In testicular tissue,AQP9 protein expressed in spermatocyte and leydig cells of developmental stage testis.These results indicated that we had successfully cloned buffalo AQP9 gene sequences.The expression and its function of AQP9 in buffalo ovaries and testes might play an important role in follicle development and spermatogenesis.     

Qualitative risk assessment of routes of transmission of the exotic fish parasite Gyrodactylus salaris between river catchments in England and Wales

Gyrodactylus salaris is a freshwater, monogenean ecto-parasite of Atlantic-salmon. Infection of its natural host, the Baltic strain of Atlantic-salmon, is inapparent. G. salaris also can infect rainbow-trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) permanently, and cause infection of ≤50 days in several other species. It is only on Atlantic stocks of Atlantic-salmon (Salmo salar) that the parasite multiplies unchecked by an immune response, causes death in juveniles and dramatic reductions in wild populations. In Norway, the parasite has been introduced into 45 rivers, resulting in reductions in Atlantic-salmon stocks of up to 98%. It is probably the most-important exotic fish-disease threat to the UK. We used risk analysis to assess the most-important routes of spread for G. salaris between rivers in England and Wales. The movement of live rainbow-trout was identified as the most-important route of transmission; this route is likely to lead rapidly to the wide geographic spread of the parasite. The movement of other species of fish (especially from sites holding rainbow-trout) is also an important risk. Other routes of spread (including mechanical transmission on farm equipment and vehicles, angling equipment, canoes, etc.) might allow limited local spread (mainly to neighbouring rivers).     

偃麦草种质资源外部性状变异及其形态类型的初步研究

对41份偃麦草Elytrigia repens种质资源的16个外部性状变异及其分布规律进行研究,并在对16个指标性状进行相关分析及主成分分析的基础上,对34份材料进行聚类分析。结果表明,偃麦草种内形态指标变异较大,变异系数为4.88%～33.30%,其中叶层高度变异系数最大,达33.30%,其次为旗叶长(26.03%),而种子宽度、种子长度、种子厚度、颖长、叶长变异较小,均在10.0%以下;海拔高度与偃麦草生殖枝高呈显著正相关(P0.01),与颖长呈显著负相关(P0.01),而在纬度上的相关性却呈现相反趋势;经度仅与穗下第1节间长呈显著正相关(P0.01);在对外部性状相关分析及主成分分析的基础上,通过聚类分析,在欧氏距离5.0处,34份偃麦草材料可被划分为高大型、偏高大型、特殊型、低矮型4个类型,且特殊型和低矮型均具有开发为草坪草的潜能。     

基于线性谱聚类的林地图像中枯死树监测

【目的】将基于线性谱聚类超像素的方法应用在森林病虫害防治领域,可智能监测无人机森林虫害图像中的枯死树,为森林有害生物的监测工作提供技术支撑。【方法】分别以湖北省受松材线虫与辽宁省受红脂大小蠹侵害的松林无人机图像为试验数据,首先使用线性谱聚类超像素分割算法将图像划分为多个超像素;然后基于枯死树木的颜色特征,初步提取可能为枯死树的超像素区域;最后基于枯死树木与其他干扰地物具有不同的纹理特征,计算超像素的区域密度和缝隙量,利用支持向量机对初步提取的超像素进行分类,从而检测出图像中的枯死树。【结果】基于线性谱聚类超像素和支持向量机的枯死树监测方法可有效排除与枯死树木颜色相近的其他干扰地物,较准确地提取出枯死树木。使用该方法与基于植被颜色指数的阈值分割方法、基于简单线性迭代聚类超像素和随机森林的方法,对35幅受灾松林无人机图像进行试验,并选用交并比、虚警率和漏检率3个评价指标对3种方法进行定量对比分析。结果表明,基于线性谱聚类超像素的方法监测出的枯死树区域最精确,其监测结果与人工检测结果的交并比均值大于58%,且虚警率和漏检率均优于另外2种方法。【结论】基于线性谱聚类超像素的枯死树监测方法能实现松林中枯死树的快速、准确检测及定位。     

Postulation of leaf-rust resistance genes in Czech and Slovak barley cultivars and breeding lines

Leaf‐rust resistance (Rph) genes in 61 Czech and Slovak barley cultivars and 32 breeding lines from registration trials of the Czech Republic were postulated based on their reaction to 12 isolates of Puccinia hordei with different combinations of virulence genes. Five known Rph genes (Rph2, Rph3, Rph4, Rph7, and Rph12) and one unknown Rph gene were postulated to be present in this germplasm. To corroborate this result, the pedigree of the barley accessions was analysed. Gene Rph2, as well as Rph4, originated from old European cultivars. The donor of Rph3, which has been mainly used by Czech and Slovak breeders, is ‘Ribari’ (‘Baladi 16’). Rph12 originates from barley cultivars developed in the former East Germany. Rph7 in the registered cultivar ‘Heris’ originates from ‘Forrajera’. A combination of two genes was found in 10 cultivars. Nine heterogeneous cultivars were identified; they were composed of one component with an identified Rph gene and a second component without any resistance gene. No gene for leaf rust resistance was found in 17 of the accessions tested. This study demonstrates the utility of using selected pathotypes of P. hordei for postulating Rph genes in barley.     

南极磷虾粉潜在危害因子分析及风险评价进展

南极磷虾粉是目前南极磷虾船载加工的主要产品之一,富含优质蛋白质、脂质、磷脂、虾青素和矿物质等物质,具有良好的开发利用前景。目前,南极磷虾粉主要用作水产动物饲料及提取油脂等的原料。然而,研究表明南极磷虾粉也存在潜在危害因子不明确等问题,严重限制了其应用领域和范围的拓展。因此,本文分析了南极磷虾粉潜在危害因子的来源、限量标准、检测方法等,介绍了南极磷虾粉风险评估进展,旨在为南极磷虾粉危害因子的减除和深度利用提供参考依据。     

黑龙江龙口自然保护区黑熊春季生境选择

分别于2008年4～5月和2009年4～5月,在龙口自然保护区对黑熊春季生境选择进行了研究,野外工作共设置87个10 m×10 m样方,并调查12个生态因子,其中利用样方41个,对照样方46个。通过Vanderploeg ＆Scavia选择指数得到,黑熊喜爱选择处于高海拔（〉450 m）、上坡位有石砬子且草本盖度适中（10%～40%）的生境,倾向选择乔木密度高（〉10株/100 m2）、郁闭度大（〉40%）、灌木密度较低（〈10%）、隐蔽级低（〈30%）、倒木密度大（〉1根/100 m2）、陡坡（〉30°）且向阳的针阔混交林。主成分分析与资源选择函数分析共同得到海拔、坡度、坡位、植被类型对黑熊生境选择影响较大,坡向和倒木密度影响较小的结果。综合分析,将Vanderploeg ＆ Scavia选择指数、主成分分析与资源选择函数相结合可以更好地反映黑熊生境选择情况。     

基于芯片数据和整合分析研究奶牛乳房炎的关键通路

奶牛乳房炎是奶牛的常见病和多发病之一,给奶牛业带来巨大的经济损失,严重制约着奶牛业的发展。为了进一步了解乳房炎的调控机理,对已发表的5套大肠杆菌感染奶牛乳腺上皮细胞的表达谱芯片数据统一进行预处理,并整合大肠杆菌感染1、6、24 h的基因富集分析,以期得到更可靠的影响奶牛乳房炎的关键基因和通路。结果发现,感染1、6和24 h数据集的分析结果中共同下调通路分别为9、30和17个,分析结果确定了一些奶牛乳房炎相关的通路及基因,为进一步揭示其调控机理提供参考。