Mucopolysaccharidosis IIIA (Sanfilippo syndrome) in a New Zealand Huntaway dog with ataxia

Aim: To investigate the nature of a progressive ataxia in a New Zealand Huntaway dog.

Methods: The affected dog was examined clinically before being humanely killed and necropsied. Selected tissues were submitted to light and electron microscopy and to biochemical analyses.

Results: The histological lesions were interpreted as indicative of one of the forms of mucopolysaccharidosis type-III (dMPS-III), a lysosomal storage disease. Biochemically there was a deficiency of heparan sulphamidase. All the heparan sulphate chains had non-reducing-end glucosamine-N-sulphate residues.

Conclusion: The disease is dMPS-IIIA (Sanfilippo syndrome). An autosomal recessive mode of inheritance can be provisionally assumed from the nature of this disease in other species.     

Usefulness of the murine model to study the immune response against Histoplasma capsulatum infection

The present paper is an overview of the primary events that are associated with the histoplasmosis immune response in the murine model. Valuable data that have been recorded in the scientific literature have contributed to an improved understanding of the clinical course of this systemic mycosis, which is caused by the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. Data must be analyzed carefully, given that misinterpretation could be generated because most of the available information is based on experimental host–parasite interactions that used inappropriate proceedings, i.e., the non-natural route of infection with the parasitic and virulent fungal yeast-phase, which is not the usual infective phase of the etiological agent of this mycosis.     

生物地球化学模型DNDC的研究进展与碳动态模拟应用

脱氮脱碳模型(denitrification-decomposition,DNDC)是通过计算反硝化和有机质分解来模拟氮和碳从土壤丢失而转移入大气时的主要生物地球化学过程模型。作为目前国际上最成功的模拟陆地生物地球化学循环的模型之一,本文主要阐述了DNDC模型的发展过程及其结构,整理了DNDC模型在碳动态模拟过程中的主要研究进展,总结了当前DNDC模型在碳动态模拟领域的应用热点和优势。     

青海省海晏县放牧牦牛体重及血清生化指标的全年监测

本试验旨在探明青海省主要牦牛饲养区海晏县牦牛的营养状况,为制定添补措施提供科学依据。于2015-09—2016-08跟踪测定了青海省海晏县牧户草场天然牧草产量以及牦牛干物质采食量、体重和血清生化指标,同时分析平均日增重与血清生化指标的相关性。结果表明:天然牧草可食草产量7月份高于其他月份;春季牦牛干物质采食量显著高于秋、冬季(P0.05),秋季显著低于其他季节(P0.05);1月份、2月份、3月份、10月份、11月份、12月份牦牛平均日增重呈现负增长,4月份后逐渐上升,6月份、7月份显著高于其他月份(P0.05);血清葡萄糖(GLU)的含量7月份显著高于除6月份、10月份外的其他月份(P0.05);2月份、3月份血清尿素氮(UN)含量及碱性磷酸酶(ALP)活性低于其他月份;由相关性分析可知,平均日增重与血清UN含量呈显著的正相关(P0.05)。综合得出,青海省海晏县10月份至次年3月份为饲草供给不足,牦牛平均日增重呈现负增长,4月份后平均日增重逐渐上升,因此,建议轮牧的放牧形式下,10月份至次年3月份,采用天然草场配合补饲饲料的饲养方式。     

Pigs as an experimental model for systemic Mycobacterium avium infectious disease

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is an opportunistic pathogen in AIDS patients and pigs, and causes dissemination through primary intestinal lesions. However, its pathogenesis is not well understood. In this article, we hypothesize that pigs can provide a suitable experimental model of disseminated MAC disease. We compared the initial route of infection, the characteristics of the pathogenic strains, the immunological status of the hosts, and the histological characteristics. The route of infection and infective strains are similar in AIDS patients and pigs. Pigs can respond to infection by the formation of systemic epithelioid granuloma with sufficient cell-mediated immunity. However, there are differences in immunological status and histological features between AIDS patients and pigs. Therefore, pigs might be used as an appropriate animal model because of their good cell mediated immunity triggered by systemic mycobacterial infection. In conclusion, MAC infections in AIDS patients and pigs show similarities in terms of the initial route of infection and the genetic characteristics of the pathogenic strains.     

Predictive modes of action of pesticides in uterine adenocarcinoma development in rats

Endometrial adenocarcinoma in the uterine corpus is a malignant cancer that occurs in menopausal women and aged rodents. Because of the similarities in pathogenesis and morphology of endometrial adenocarcinoma in rodents and humans, prediction of the modes of action (MOA) in uterine carcinogenesis is important for extrapolation of rodent data to humans. Three MOAs have been accepted as major pathways for uterine carcinogenesis in rodents: 1) estrogenic activity, 2) increased serum 17beta-estradiiol (E2) to progesterone (P4) ratio and 3) modulation of estrogen metabolism to produce 4-hydroxyestradiol via P450 induction. Inhibition of estrogen excretion and increased aromatase in situ in the tumor are also a potential pathway. Here, chemicals showing uterine carcinogenicity were chosen from approximately 300 pesticides evaluated in Japan within the past decade, and their mechanisms were predicted using parameters from mechanistic and toxicity studies. Seven pesticides increased uterine tumor formation in rats, and the pathways of 4 pesticides could be predicted based on various mechanistic studies. The MOAs of cyenopyrafen and benthiavalicarb-isopropyl were predicted to be modulation of estrogen metabolism, while those of pyriminobac-methyl and spirodiclofen were predicted to be increased E2 to P4 ratio. The driven pathways of metazosulfuron and isopyrazam could not be predicted using several mechanistic studies. No mechanistic studies have been reported for sedaxane, which has a chemical structure and toxicological profile similar to isopyrazam. Our results indicated that appropriate mechanistic studies are useful for mechanism prediction in risk assessment. From this analysis, a flowchart showing a decision tree for predictive MOAs in uterine carcinogenesis was proposed.     

Predictive equations of selenium accessibility of dry pet foods

The trace element selenium is essential to both dogs and cats. Dry diets are formulated with a large range of ingredients, which may vary in selenium concentration and accessibility. This paper reports equations to predict the average in vitro selenium accessibility from dry pet foods based on essential dietary nutrient concentrations, including crude protein, amino acids and crude fat. Predictive equations were made using stepwise linear regression for extruded and pelleted diets. The equations can be used to aid diet formulation to optimize selenium accessibility within the diet and to prevent selenium deficiency or toxicity.     

《饲料质量分析与品质检测》课程实验考核模式改革与实践

针对《饲料质量分析与品质检测》课程实验长期以来考核方式存在的弊端,尝试通过教学改革建立一套能够有效反映学生学习成绩的科学合理、公平公正的实验课考核模式。实践表明,学生从思想上转变了对实验课的认识．极大地提高了学生的积极性、主动性及分析问题和解决问题的能力。     

鄱阳湖黑鹳越冬种群数量与空间分布

本研究于2003—2016年采用样线法对鄱阳湖越冬黑鹳种群数量和空间分布进行了同步调查,调查范围包括鄱阳湖周边三市13县72个子湖泊及周边草洲。结果表明:鄱阳湖黑鹳越冬种群数量年平均值为(35. 5±38. 5)只,其中2005年数量最多,为145只。鄱阳湖黑鹳越冬种群数量年际波动较大。共在15个子湖泊记录到黑鹳,主要分布区域为鄱阳县和鄱阳湖国家级自然保护区,其中鄱阳县湖区黑鹳记录总数量为371只,占鄱阳湖区历年黑鹳分布数量总和的74. 6%。鄱阳湖黑鹳越冬种群呈聚集型分布,只有17. 3%的黑鹳分布在鄱阳湖区主要的候鸟保护区内。本研究表明鄱阳湖越冬黑鹳主要分布于鄱阳湖重要的候鸟保护区范围之外,为有效地保护鄱阳湖黑鹳越冬种群,建议加强黑鹳种群监测,建立健全黑鹳种群就地保护体系。