Detection of Oocyst‐Associated Toxoplasmosis in Swine from Southern Chile

Pork has been traditionally considered an important source of human Toxoplasma gondii infection. Pigs, as other meat‐producing animals, can become infected by the ingestion of oocysts that are shed in the environment by infected cats or by the consumption of cysts present in tissues of infected mammals, commonly small rodents. The objective of this study was to investigate the level of T. gondii infection in swine from southern Chile that can be associated with the ingestion of oocysts and therefore exposure to a contaminated environment. A total of 340 serum samples from swine were obtained from three commercial slaughterhouses located in the Araucania and Los Rios Regions from southern Chile. Study animals originated from local farms, mainly small commercial producers, and the meat is sold locally. Overall, 8.8% (30/340) of the samples showed T. gondii‐specific IgG antibodies. Of these sero‐positive animals, 80% (24/30) were also positive for antibodies specific against the oocyst stage of the parasite, indicating that animals had been infected recently by the ingestion of oocysts. The observed results suggest a high level of environmental contamination with oocysts on the farms of origin. In addition to the food safety problems associated with the consumption of meat from infected animals, the high level of environmental contamination on the farm represents a direct health risk for people living and/or working on these farms. Consequently, there is a need to develop on‐farm monitoring programmes and identify risk reduction strategies (food storage, water purification, rodent control and contact with cats) that are appropriate and cost‐effective for informal and outdoor type of farms.     

Blood, Bull Terriers and Babesiosis: further evidence for direct transmission of Babesia gibsoni in dogs

This study reports on the epidemiology of Babesia gibsoni in American Pit Bull Terriers living in a region of western Victoria in southern Australia. Both American Pit Bull Terriers (n = 100) and other dog breeds (n = 51) were screened for B gibsoni using immunofluorescent antibody testing (IFAT) and/or polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). A questionnaire was also completed by each dog owner, ascertaining the husbandry and habits of the dogs sampled. Fourteen dogs were positive for B gibsoni using IFAT and/or PCR-RFLP and all were American Pit Bull Terriers. Dogs that were male and/or had been bitten by or were biters of other American Pit Bull Terriers were more likely to be B gibsoni positive, thus suggesting that blood-to-blood transmission contributes to the spread of this disease between dogs.     

Modelling the introduction and transmission of Campylobacter in a North American chicken flock

Campylobacter is the second leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States. Although many food production animals carry Campylobacter as commensal bacteria, consumption of poultry is the main source of human infection. Previous research suggests that the biology of Campylobacter results in complete flock colonization within days. However, a recent systematic review found that the on-farm prevalence of Campylobacter varies widely, with some flocks reporting low prevalence. We hypothesized that the low prevalence of Campylobacter in some flocks may be driven by a delayed introduction of the pathogen. The objectives of this study were to (a) develop a deterministic compartmental model that represents the biology of Campylobacter, (b) identify the parameter values that best represent the natural history of the pathogen in poultry flocks and (c) examine the possibility that a delayed introduction of the pathogen is sufficient to replicate the observed low prevalence examples documented in the literature. A deterministic compartmental model was developed to examine the dynamics of Campylobacter in chicken flocks over a 56-day time period prior to movement to the abattoir. The model outcome of interest was the final population prevalence of Campylobacter at day 56. The resulting model that incorporated a high transmission rate (β = 1.04) was able to reproduce the wide range of prevalence estimates observed in the literature when pathogen introduction time is varied. Overall, we established that the on-farm transmission rate of Campylobacter in chickens is likely high and can result in complete colonization of a flock when introduced early. However, delaying the time at which the pathogen enters the flock can reduce the prevalence observed at 56 days. These results highlight the importance of enforcing strict biosecurity measures to prevent or delay the introduction of the bacteria to a flock.     

带幅设计对玉米/苜蓿间作群体光环境特征及光能利用效率的影响北大核心CSCD

探究间作带幅设计对玉米/苜蓿间作群体光环境特征、产量及光能利用效率(LUE)的影响,提出黄土高原旱作条件下玉米/苜蓿间作群体最佳带幅比例。研究设置了玉米单作(SM)、紫花苜蓿单作(SA)以及玉米/紫花苜蓿1∶2(I_(12))、2∶2(I_(22))和2∶4(I_(24))间作5种种植模式,并采用田间试验和数学模拟相结合的方法,分别测定了玉米和苜蓿的干物质产量及作物冠层光合有效辐射(PAR)等指标;建立了考虑光线入射角度和群体冠层结构几何关系的玉米/苜蓿间作群体辐射传输模型,并用实测值对其进行了验证。试验结果表明,在2018年,单作处理的苜蓿干物质产量显著高于间作处理(P<0.05),而在2019年各间作处理苜蓿的干物质分别比单作高197.8、180.3和197.0 g·m^(-2);处理I_(12)、I_(22)和I_(24)两年总的玉米生物量比SM处理高12.1%、0.9%和23.9%。所有间作处理的土地当量比在2019年均大于1.0,表现出间作优势。辐射传输模型可准确模拟玉米/苜蓿间作群体冠层底部的光合有效辐射,间作群体光合有效辐射模拟值与实测值的平均绝对误差和均方根误差分别为59.0和66.6μmol·m^(-2)·s^(-1)。除玉米和苜蓿生育前期及玉米收获后,不同间作处理苜蓿群体冠层上方的PAR均低于单作苜蓿。2018和2019年I_(12)、I_(22)和I_(24)间作处理玉米的光能利用效率分别比单作处理高52.5%、9.3%、51.7%和28.5%、9.6%、21.0%,而间作苜蓿的LUE仅在2019年显著高于单作19.2%、32.4%和20.9%(P<0.05)。因此,合理的玉米/苜蓿间作带幅搭配可改善苜蓿的光照环境,提高其光能利用效率,尤其是玉米/紫花苜蓿2∶4间作群体光能利用效率和产量优势显著,建议在具有类似气候的地区推广种植。     

抗鸡传染性喉气管炎重组鸡痘病毒基因工程疫苗同居感染试验

疫苗的接触传播是疫苗免疫接种需要考虑的重要因素,为了检测重组鸡痘病毒载体疫苗水平传播的能力,对隔离条件下饲养的SPF鸡用重组鸡痘病毒基因工程疫苗接种,同时设立非免疫对照鸡,饲养期间特意延长清粪时间以增加感染的机会,1个月之后攻击传染性喉气管炎WG株强毒和鸡痘102株强毒,疫苗免疫鸡全部获得保护,而非免疫鸡则全部发病.在试验动物饲养场的自然条件下,将免疫鸡和试验对照两组鸡饲养在同一个鸡舍内,让疫苗毒的传播更接近自然条件.在每个月的攻毒试验中,对照鸡都没有获得对鸡痘和传染性喉气管炎强毒的保护.在疫苗免疫期间进行连续5个月的跟踪检测,同居未免疫鸡没有检测到抗传染性喉气管炎病毒gB抗体.这些实验结果表明抗鸡传染性喉气管炎重组鸡痘病毒基因工程疫苗不能通过接触传播.     

Experimental in vitro transmission of Babesia sp. (EU1) by Ixodes ricinus

Babesia sp. (EU1), first characterized in 2003, has been implicated in human cases of babesiosis in Italy, Austria and Germany. It has been identified in roe deer and in its suspected tick vector, Ixodes ricinus, in several European countries. The aim of the present study was to validate the competence of I. ricinus as a vector of Babesia sp. (EU1) via experimental infections. For this purpose, a parasite strain isolated from roe deer was cloned in sheep erythrocytes. After experimental infections, parasite DNA was successfully amplified by PCR in both eggs and larvae originating from infected I. ricinus females and in the salivary glands of females exposed to Babesia sp. (EU1) as nymphs. We also demonstrate that infected females were able to transmit parasite DNA during a new blood meal. Together with previous epidemiological studies, these results validate I. ricinus as a competent vector for Babesia sp. (EU1).     

奶业产业链纵向价格传导的时滞效应与政策启示

奶业产业链纵向价格传导受阻,导致奶牛养殖长期处于价值链的低增值环节,甚至出现“行业萎缩”现象.本文对上游奶牛养殖成本向下游乳品加工环节价格传导机制进行理论分析,并基于2008年1-12月份奶牛饲养成本和原料奶价格的月度数据,运用有限分布滞后模型测度价格传导的滞后效应.结果 表明:饲养成本向下游传导存在显著的滞后性,饲养...