High Throughput Sequencing to Study the Effect of Chronic Renal Failure on the Diversity and Gene Function Prediction of Gut Microbiota in Dogs

This study aimed to investigate the effect of chronic renal failure(CRF) on the gut microbiota diversity and predict the gene function of the flora. A total of 30 2-year-old dogs were selected and randomly divided into the chronic renal failure model group (CRF, established by renal artery ligation), sham operation control group (Sham) and healthy control group (HCG). All animals were fed normally during the 56 days of test period. The serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and urine protein / creatinine ratio (UP/C) were detected regularly during the experiment. The effects of chronic renal failure on the structure, diversity and function of gut microbiota were analyzed according to the result of bacterial 16S rDNA sequencing from fresh feces collected without contamination. The flora markers index (FMI) was constructed based on the principal component Logistic regression analysis of different microbiota in CRF group to predict the development of chronic renal failure. The results showed that: 1) The levels of Scr, BUN and UP/C in CRF group from the start of the 28th day of the experiment were significantly higher than those of HCG group and Sham group (P<0.05), and significantly higher than that of the first day of CRF group (P<0.05). 2) Compared with those before chronic renal failure (CRF group at day 0 and 28), HCG group and Sham group, the Chao 1 diversity and Shannon diversity of gut microbiota in CRF group at day 56 were significantly lower (P<0.05), while the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria significantly increased and the number of Firmicutes significantly decreased (P<0.05). 3) LEfSe analysis showed that 20 species were enriched in CRF group, mainly including Pseudomonas, Escherichia, Proteus and so on, and most of them had negative correlation with other intestinal bacteria. Functional prediction revealed that genes of those different species were mainly enriched in amino acid metabolism, sugar biosynthesis and metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism in CRF group. The area under ROC curve (AUC) of the FMI constructed with those species enriched was 0.788, which could be used as the intestinal microbial marker for CRF in dogs. In summary, chronic renal failure can reduce the diversity of intestinal microbiota, lead to the imbalance of bacterial structure and change of bacterial function. Moreover, the enriched gut microbiota in CRF group can be used as the intestinal microbial marker of CRF in dogs, and the best prediction effect can be obtained by FMI.     

Listeria associated mural and valvular endocarditis in an alpaca

An alpaca presented for emergency evaluation of respiratory distress. Physical examination revealed weakness, pyrexia, and a grade V/VI left apical holosystolic murmur. Initial thoracic examination and radiographs were consistent with left sided congestive heart failure. Blood cultures, echocardiographic evaluation, and necropsy findings established a diagnosis of bacterial endocarditis associated with a Listeria monocytogenes infection. Left ventricular endocarditis is uncommon in ruminants, and to the authors' knowledge there are no other reports of L. monocytogenes being the causative agent in an alpaca.     

匹莫苯丹的合成工艺研究进展

匹莫苯丹是国家二类新兽药。但由于该药的原料药成本较高,不易合成,反应步骤多而限制了该药物的临床普遍应用。因此,进行了对匹莫苯丹合成工艺的调查,概述了近年来国内外关于匹莫苯丹的10个合成方法。主要包括以氯苯、乙酰苯胺、对氯苯甲醛、3-(4-乙酰胺基苯甲酰基)-丁腈、邻苯二乙酸二铵和5-(2-溴代丙酰基)-1,3-2H-苯丙[d]咪唑-2-酮为起始原料合成制备匹莫苯丹,并分析了这些合成方法中存在的问题,还考察了匹莫苯丹副产物的产生和解决办法,为其工业化合成研究提供参考。     

Evaluation of cystatin C as an endogenous marker of glomerular filtration rate in dogs

Cystatin C is a cysteine protease inhibitor produced by all nucleated cells. It is freely filtered by the glomerulus and is unaffected by nonrenal factors such as inflammation and gender. Because of greater sensitivity and specificity, cystatin C has been proposed to replace creatinine as a marker of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in humans. The aims of this study were to validate an automated assay in canine plasma and to evaluate the usefulness of cystatin C as a marker of GFR in dogs. Western blotting was used to demonstrate cross-reactivity of an anti-human cystatin C antibody. An immunoturbidimetric assay was used to detect cystatin C in 25 clinically healthy dogs and 25 dogs with renal failure. Mean cystatin C concentration in the healthy dogs and the dogs with renal failure was 1.08 +/- 0.16 mg/L and 4.37 +/- 1.79 mg/L respectively. Intra- and interassay variability was <5%. The assay was linear (r = .974) between 0.14 and 7.53 mg/L. Both cystatin C and creatinine concentrations were measured in banked, frozen serum from 20 remnant kidney model dogs and 10 volume-depleted dogs for which GFR measurements by exogenous creatinine clearance had been determined previously. In the remnant kidney model, cystatin C was better correlated with GFR than creatinine (r = .79 versus .54) but was less well correlated with GFR in volume-depleted dogs (r = .54 versus .95). GFR measurements were repeated in the remnant kidney model dogs 60 days after initial GFR measurements. At this time, cystatin C and creatinine concentrations correlated equally well with GFR (r = .891 versus .894, respectively). Cystatin C concentration is a reasonable alternative to creatinine for screening dogs with decreased GFR due to chronic renal failure.     

A possible predisposition to dilated cardiomyopathy in Huntaway dogs

AIM: To compare the prevalence of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in New Zealand Huntaway dogs with the prevalence of DCM in other breeds of dog.

METHODS: The necropsy database at Massey University was used to identify cases of DCM diagnosed between January 1999 and March 2006. Dogs were considered to have DCM if echocardiographic, gross necropsy, or histological findings were consistent with this diagnosis. The prevalence in Huntaways was then compared with the prevalence observed in all breeds of dog, as well as the prevalence observed in large breeds of dog.

RESULTS: Twelve dogs were identified with DCM. One was diagnosed using echocardiography, while the other 11 were diagnosed by gross necropsy examination. The gross diagnosis of DCM was confirmed histologically in 6/11 dogs. The prevalence of DCM in Huntaways was significantly higher than the prevalence seen in all breeds of dog (p=0.008), and the prevalence in large breeds of dog (p=0.025). All four Huntaways diagnosed with DCM were male, and had an average age of 4 years. Three dogs presented with symptoms attributable to impaired heart function while one presented with symptoms of chronic renal failure. The duration of clinical symptoms prior to presentation ranged between 1 day and 3 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that Huntaways may be predisposed to the development of DCM. Although the increased prevalence in this breed was significant, only small numbers of affected Huntaways were identified, and additional cases are required to confirm these preliminary findings.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Huntaways are the most common working dog in New Zealand. The premature loss of a working dog is expected to have a significant economic impact on farmers. Further investigation of DCM in Huntaways may allow measures to reduce the prevalence in this breed.     

猪场免疫失败常见因素分析

免疫是预防猪发生传染病的主要手段。近年来国内外对猪的各种疾病进行了预防接种,收到了一定的效果。但免疫后发病的现象也时有发生,给养猪业造成不可估量的损失,并因此而引发多起民事纠纷。本文根据实践经验,对免疫失败的因素详细分析,以帮助养猪户合理防疫,提高养殖效益。     

苏云金芽孢杆菌YJ-2000菌株对家蚕安全性和杀虫活性的评价

应用时间-剂量-死亡率模型就苏云金芽孢杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis)YJ-2000菌株对6种鳞翅目昆虫的杀虫活性作了初步评价。该菌株对家蚕基本无毒性,而对蔬菜害虫小菜蛾、菜粉蝶,水稻害虫三化螟、二化螟,桑树害虫桑螟幼虫均有不同程度的毒性,其中对小菜蛾和菜粉蝶的毒性最强;幼虫死亡率可高达100％。该菌株是对家蚕安全而对其它鳞翅目害虫具杀虫活性的特异性菌株,有望用于养蚕地区桑园及其邻近作物的鳞翅目害虫防治。     

民国时期美术教育发展模式研究分析

从1911年至1949年,中国近代美术教育是在初期的社团、师范学堂、私立、公立美术教育的基础上,形成了后期的国统区与延安鲁艺的美术教育,教育理念借鉴与效法“新式”、“兼容并包”、“通才”、“理论和实践相结合”的人才培养模式。