The 1997-1998 classical swine fever epidemic in The Netherlands--a survival analysis

The aim of this analysis was to characterise the temporal pattern of infection during the 1997/98 classical swine fever (CSF) epidemic in The Netherlands and hence identify and quantify risk factors for infection in different enterprise types and areas. Survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to describe the epidemic. Substantial differences in temporal survival patterns (herd breakdown rate) were found between areas where different control policies operated. Factors with a significant influence on the infection hazard of individual herds included: sow numbers as a percentage of total sows and fatteners (HR = 3.38 for mixed herds (0.1–60% sows) vs. fattening herds (0% sows) and HR = 2.74 for breeding herds (60–100% sows) vs. fattening herds), the number of ‘transport contacts per month’ (>0.3 vs. <0.3; HR = 4.11), pig density (pigs/km²) in the area (HR_{1000 pigs} 1.48) and herd size (HR_{100 pigs} = 1.01).

Pre-emptive slaughter in an area appeared to be associated with lower subsequent disease levels. Higher frequency of transport contacts for welfare slaughter during the epidemic, however, well regulated and controlled, was associated with a substantially higher risk of becoming infected. The positive association of a higher pig density with CSF indicates the potential importance of local spread as a factor in disease transmission and emphasizes that dilution of the pig population can contribute to reduction in CSF occurrence. This analysis suggests however, that if pre-emptive slaughter can promptly be applied effectively in an area after initial diagnosis, pig density is then not a significant factor. Mixed and breeding herds had a higher probability of becoming infected than fattening herds, possibly due to different types and frequencies of inter-herd contacts. These contacts continue to some extent during the epidemic, despite the standstill of animal movements.     

Molecular prevalence,risk factors assessment and haemato-biochemical alterations in hepatozoonosis in dogs from Punjab,India

Hepatozoonosis caused by Hepatozoon canis is an important tick-borne disease of dogs in tropical and sub-tropical regions throughout the world. In the present study evaluation of blood samples collected from 225 dogs presented at Small Animal Clinics, GADVASU, Ludhiana, Punjab (India) was done for the presence of H. canis by PCR based assay targeting a portion of 18S rRNA gene. Of the total samples subjected to PCR, an amplicon of 666 bp was detected in 13.78% samples whereas, routine blood smear examination revealed gamonts in 5.78% samples. Furthermore, prevalence of H. canis infection was found to be significantly associated with season, being highest in summer and lowest in winter while other risk factors e.g. age, sex and breed showed non-significant association. In terms of various clinico-pathological parameters, significant drop in haemoglobin, total red blood cell count, packed cell volume and lymphocytes were recorded in positive cases whereas the total white blood cell count was non-significantly increased. The haematological alterations in the positive cases were lymphopenia, anaemia, thrombocytopenia, relative neutrophilia, neutrophilic leucocytosis, eosinophilia, monocytosis and lymphocytosis while the biochemical profile revealed hypoproteinemia and increased levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine (in positive cases) pointing towards renal failure.     

胰岛素样生长因子及其受体mRNAs在绵羊生殖系统中的表达和分布

为检测胰岛素样生长因子（IGFs）及其受体（IGFR）mRNAs在绵羊发情周期早期卵巢、子宫和输卵管中的表达,探讨绵羊胚胎早期发育过程中其发育环境——生殖道中生长因子的表达、分泌及其作用,取绵羊发情周期早期卵巢、子宫和输卵管,经固定、切片、免疫染色,观察IGFs mRNAs的表达和分布情况。同时用RT-PCR技术研究了各组织中IGF-Ⅰ、IGF-Ⅱ、IGF-ⅠR、IGF-ⅡR mRNAs的表达情况。结果表明,IGFs mRNAs在绵羊发情周期早期的卵巢、子宫和输卵管中都有表达,4种因子表达模式相似：在卵巢中,IGFs主要定位于卵泡颗粒细胞,间质细胞亦有少量表达。在输卵管中,上皮细胞免疫染色呈阳性;在子宫中,腺细胞及上皮细胞的阳性信号强于固有层。RT-PCR检测表明IGFs mRNAs在3种组织中均有表达。     

天水地区葡萄霜霉病田间病情、孢子囊数量动态及病害始发关键因子分析

葡萄霜霉病是为害天水地区葡萄的主要病害,为明确当前环境条件下天水地区田间霜霉病发生、霜霉病菌孢子囊数量时间动态及病害初始发生的关键因子,本研究采用捕孢法及病害定点调查,对葡萄生长期田间霜霉病菌孢子囊数量及霜霉病发生动态进行了观测,用农田小气候自动观测仪记录田间气象数据。结果表明,天水地区葡萄霜霉病菌孢子囊始见期一般为7月初左右,若条件适宜,7月下旬至8月下旬为扩散盛期,9月以后进入快速消退期;田间病害始发期为7月上中旬,条件适宜时8月中下旬进入盛发期。在田间检测到霜霉病菌孢子囊后7 d左右田间开始见到霜霉病斑,从病害始发期至盛发期田间病情扩展与霜霉菌孢子囊数量呈显著正相关;葡萄霜霉病的发生与温度、相对湿度、降水等气象因子密切相关,其中有效降水是影响葡萄霜霉病初始发生及蔓延流行的关键气象因子。     

影响老瓜头泌蜜量主导因素的研究

老瓜头自然分布于沙漠地带。在老瓜头开花期,天气变化无常。我们研究了对老瓜头泌蜜量起关键影响作用的气象因子。根据当地气候的变化规律进行预测预报,指导养蜂者正确选择场地,以夺取老瓜头蜜高产。     

Prevalence of feline calicivirus and the distribution of serum neutralizing antibody against isolate strains in cats of Hangzhou,China

BackgroundFeline calicivirus (FCV) is a common pathogen of felids, and FCV vaccination is regularly practiced. The genetic variability and antigenic diversity of FCV hinder the effective control and prevention of infection by vaccination. Improved knowledge of the epidemiological characteristics of FCV should assist in the development of more effective vaccines.ObjectivesThis study aims to determine the prevalence of FCV in a population of cats with FCV-suspected clinical signs in Hangzhou and to demonstrate the antigenic and genetic relationships between vaccine status and representative isolated FCV strains.MethodsCats (n = 516) from Hangzhou were investigated between 2018 and 2020. The association between risk factors and FCV infection was assessed. Phylogenetic analyses based on a capsid coding sequence were performed to identify the genetic relationships between strains. In vitro virus neutralization tests were used to assess antibody levels against isolated FCV strains in client-owned cats.ResultsThe FCV-positive rate of the examined cats was 43.0%. Risk factors significantly associated with FCV infection were vaccination status and oral symptoms. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a radial phylogeny with no evidence of temporal or countrywide clusters. There was a significant difference in the distribution of serum antibody titers between vaccinated and unvaccinated cats.ConclusionsThis study revealed a high prevalence and genetic diversity of FCV in Hangzhou. The results indicate that the efficacy of FCV vaccination is unsatisfactory. More comprehensive and refined vaccination protocols are an urgent and unmet need.     

山西铁杆蒿草地群落碳、氮密度区域差异及其驱动因素

为明确山西铁杆蒿（Artemisia sacrorum）群落碳、氮密度的区域差异,以及导致这种空间变化的驱动因素,本试验以山西省铁杆蒿草地群落为研究对象,通过测定晋北半干旱地区和晋南半湿润地区铁杆蒿群落的碳（C）、氮（N）密度,分析了其与年均气温、年降水量、土壤理化性质和地上、地下生物量等生态因子的相关性。结果表明：山西南北铁杆蒿群落碳、氮密度空间分布存在差异,晋南地区铁杆蒿群落的群落碳、氮密度分别为651.83 g C·m^-2和20.63 g N·m^-2,晋北地区铁杆蒿群落的群落碳、氮密度分别为418.89 g C·m^-2和13.90 g N·m^-2。以群落各组分碳、氮密度代表样点进行RDA（Redundancy analysis）冗余分析排序得出造成两地区群落碳、氮密度分异的主要生态因子均为地上生物量、地下生物量、年均气温、年降水量、土壤有机碳含量以及土壤砾石比。可见,山西晋南和晋北地区铁杆蒿群落碳、氮密度空间分布存在差异,不同气候区铁杆蒿群落碳、氮密度空间差异与生物量的积累密切相关,驱动晋南和晋北地区铁杆蒿群落碳氮密度分异的环境因素为年均气温、年降水量、土壤有机碳含量以及土壤砾石比。     

马肠道微生物组成及影响因素的研究进展

马肠道微生物群对其营养消化及维持机体健康具有重要作用,肠道不同部位的微生物具有不同功能,易受到各种因素的影响。马肠道正常微生物群结构遭到破坏,可导致肠道微生物失衡和机体功能紊乱,进而引起多种疾病。介绍了马肠道不同部位的微生物群结构组成特征,阐述了影响马肠道微生物群变化的各类因素,以期为改善马肠道营养健康、开发马健康监测和疾病预防工具提供科学依据,也为马肠道微生物研究提供新的视角。     

内蒙古典型草原黄囊苔草生长动态对气象因子的滞后响应分析

在全球变化与陆地生态系统关系的研究中,气候和植被相关关系的研究具有非常重要的意义。本文以2014年内蒙古草原生态系统定位站提供的气象数据资料为基础,运用灰色相对关联度以及含有时滞参数的灰色系统模型,分析了内蒙古典型草原区域尺度黄囊苔草(Carex korshinskyi)地上生物量对6种气象因子的响应。结果表明:黄囊苔草对6种气象因子的响应均有滞后效应。黄囊苔草地上生物量对降水量、气温、地温、蒸发量、相对湿度、日照时数的响应分别滞后10,16,16,10,15,5d。此结果将有助于更加深入理解气象因子对植物群落的影响机制,并为草地植被生产力建模与定量预测提供信息基础,以期在实践应用中发挥更高的价值。