Comparison of various tests for the serological diagnosis of Trypanosoma equiperdum infection in the horse

Comparative tests such as FAT, ELISA, RIA, IEO and CF in the diagnosis of dourine in the horse have proved a satisfactory concordance ratio of the ELISA with CF, which seems to be the most reliable test. Discrepancies have been observed as to the other tests which appear less sensitive than CF test.     

One-cycle growth studies with Maedi—Progressive pneumonia—Visna viruses: Shorter latent periods revealed

The latent periods of Visna virus and of progressive pneumonia virus were demonstrated by one-cycle growth studies to end 14–16 hr after infection of sheep choroid plexus cell cultures. Maedi virus was demonstrated to have a 14–18-hr latent period.     

Demonstration of inflammatory cell population changes in rat lungs in response to intratracheal instillation of spring wheat dust using lung enzymatic digestion and centrifugal elutriation

The inhalation of grain dust by grain workers is responsible for a large number of pulmonary pathophysiologies. These problems may be acute or chronic and may be mediated by the chronic activation of the immune system. Constant inflammatory states in the lung may eventually lead to tissue damage and respiratory deficit. This study was designed to measure the changes in the relative number of inflammatory cells in peripheral blood, bronchoalveolar spaces, and lung interstitium that occur in response to intratracheally instilled airborne spring wheat dust in rats. It was found that 6h after instillation with dust, neutrophils were present in greater numbers in the blood and bronchoalveolar spaces than in lung interstitium. After 24h, there appeared to be a larger number of neutrophils in the lung interstitium in dust-instilled animals than in saline-instilled controls. These results indicate that intratracheal instillation of grain dust initiates an acute inflammatory reaction, and that there is an initial influx of neutrophils into the air spaces of the lung followed by transit of these cells into the lung interstitium.     

Evaluation of an Electrolyte Analyser for Measurement of Concentrations of Ionized Calcium and Magnesium in Cats

The goal of this study was to evaluate the Nova CRT 8 electrolyte analyser for determination of concentrations of ionized calcium (Ca_i) and magnesium (Mg_i) in cats, todetermine the effects of sample handling and storage and to establish reference ranges. The precision and analytical accuracy of the Nova CRT 8 analyser were good. The concentrations of Ca_i and Mg_i were significantly lower in aerobically handled serum samples than in those handled anaerobically. The concentrations of Ca_i and Mg_i differed significantly among whole blood, plasma and serum. In anaerobically handled serum, the concentration of Ca_i was stable for 8 h at 22°C, for 5 days at 4°C and for 1 week at −20°C. The concentration of Mg_i was stable for 4 h at 22°C but for less than 24 h at 4°C and for less than 1 week at −20°C. In serum from 36 cats, the reference ranges were 1.20–1.35 mmol/L for Ca_i and 0.47–0.59 mmol/L for Mg_i. The Nova CRT 8 electrolyte analyser is suitable for determination of Ca_i and Mg_i concentrations in cats. Anaerobically handled serum samples are recommended and, stored at room temperature, they yield accurate results when analysed within 4 h.     

Urinary tract infections-microbial virulence determinants and reactive oxygen species

The human urinary tract is able to combat with the microbial invasion under normal circumstances. To cause urinary tract infection the organism has to evade the host defense mechanisms by possessing distinct properties which contribute to the virulence of the organism hence called virulence determinants Ninety percent of uncomplicated urinary tract infections are caused by Escherichia coli, hence the knowledge of the virulence determinants of this organism can be extrapolated to other uropathogenic organism as well. Virulence determinants of uropathogenic E. coli include adhesins, siderophore production, polysaccharide coating, hemolysin production, outer membrane proteins etc. The intestinal E. coli, which are the reservoir of E. coli for causing UTI, lack these virulence determinants. On the other hand these virulence determinants enable the organism to colonize and invade the urinary tract. In addition these are important in acquiring the nutrients in other wise nutrient deficient environment. Further, they also help the organisms in triggering an inflammatory response and hence bringing about pathological changes which leads to symptomatic UTI. Severity of symptomatic infections and tissue damage during the infective process depends upon the magnitude of the inflammatory response triggered by the uropathogen which in turn is dependent upon the amount of extrcellular release of reactive oxygen species by the phagocytic cells; hence role of antioxidants as an adjunct to antibiotics in the treatment of infective process needs to be evaluated further.     

Pseudotuber culosis in man: Possible epidemiological role of the cats

Human infection by Malassez and Vignal's bacillus (Yersinia pseudotuberculosis) can take many clinical aspects, the most frequent of which is mesenteric adenitis with pseudo-appendicular syndrome, but occasionally also appearing as a tumor of the right lower abdominal quadrant.

In a subsequent stage this mesenteric adenitis is often accompanied by erythema nodosum. There also exist some septicemia-like forms, which have become more and more frequent of late, always appearing on a particular terrain (predisposed persons).

These various forms all correspond to contamination via the digestive route. Other, more exceptional modes of contamination may result in much rarer forms, such as ocular or pulmonary forms.

Diagnosis is based on: (a) demonstrating the presence of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, (b) serodiagnosis, (c) a positive intradermal reaction, (d) the characteristic aspect of lymph node lesions.

Pseudotuberculosis is extremely frequent in animals. Many species, most of them rodents or birds, can serve as healthy carriers. This is how cats, through their access to this natural “reservoir”, get contaminated and thus act as a “conveyor belt” in transmitting the disease to man.     

Prolonged elevated atmospheric CO2 does not affect decomposition of plant material

Prolonged elevated atmospheric CO₂ might alter decomposition. In a 90-day incubation study, we determined the long-term (9 years) impact of elevated CO₂ on N mineralization of Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens plant material grown at ambient and elevated CO₂ and low- and high-¹⁵N fertilizer additions. No significant differences were observed in recovery rates between any of the treatments, except an N addition effect was observed for L. perenne (0.4 versus 0.5% day⁻¹ in high versus low N). The results suggest that elevated CO₂ did not change plant N mineralization in any of the soils, because of a surplus of available N in the fertilized and leguminous systems, and because of insignificant plant responses to elevated CO₂ in the low soil N availability systems.     

不同保鲜剂对4种鲜切花保鲜效果的研究

以切花菊、香石竹、切花月季和唐菖蒲为研究对象,采用9种不同保鲜剂组合进行切花瓶插处理,测定不同处理对鲜切花的瓶插寿命、鲜重变化率、花朵直径变化率及花枝直径变化率的影响,研究不同保鲜剂对4大切花的保鲜效果并筛选出适合4种鲜切花的保鲜剂配方.结果表明:4种鲜切花采切后花枝直径变化率、花朵直径变化率、切花鲜重变化率具有先升高、后下降的变化规律.各保鲜剂对4种鲜切花均有不同程度的保鲜效果,延长了瓶插寿命.3％蔗糖+ 250mg/L8-HQ+ 200mg/L柠檬酸是适合4种鲜切花的理想保鲜剂.     

利用交错式热不对称PCR法获取多脊椎蒙古羊Hoxc8启动子序列的研究(英文)

[目的]探索获得蒙古羊Hoxc8基因启动子序列的方法。[方法]尝试利用交错式热不对称PCR法,获得蒙古羊Hoxc8启动子序列。[结果]通过PCR获得的序列不理想,测序结果无法与已知序列相匹配。虽然利用交错式热不对称PCR法未获得蒙古羊的Hoxc8的启动子序列,但可为今后的相关研究提供借鉴。[结论]该研究为进一步分析蒙古羊Hoxc8的启动子区域的甲基化状态奠定了基础。     

桂春8号间作和夏繁播期试验

【目的】研究桂春8号在不同地区间作条件下适宜的间作播期和夏繁时间,为广西大豆生产及大豆间套种提供参考。【方法】2011年以桂春8号为试材,在广西武宣县、武鸣县和都安县进行播期试验。【结果】在不影响间作主体作物的条件下,武宣县3月中上旬播种大豆产量为1459.5~1597.5 kg/ha;武鸣县2中旬~3月下旬播种大豆产量为2476.5~2877.5 kg/ha;都安县2月初~3月上旬播种大豆产量为2262.0~2499.0 kg/ha,6月上旬~7月上旬为2122.5~2409.0 kg/ha。【结论】在间作条件下,桂春8号在武宣县适宜的播期为3月中上旬;在武鸣县适宜的播种期为2月中旬~3月下旬;在都安县适宜的播期为2月初~3月上旬,夏繁适宜的播期为6月上旬~7月上旬,且在适宜的播期内可适时早播。