Stalked Barnacles Conchoderma Auritum on an Elephant Seal: Occurrence of Elephant Seals on South African Coast

For most of the year, Meyer’s parrots in the Okavango Delta do not form large feeding flocks, and groups larger than two or three are probably the result of opportunistic aggregation at favoured food items after dispersion from communal roosts. Communal roosting likely does not facilitate flocking unless the food resources are close to the roost site, but may function in anti-predator defence. Meyer’s parrots appear to be dependent on riverine forest, Acacia-Combretum marginal woodland and mopane woodland for roost sites in the Okavango Delta. They aggregated more during the breeding season due to their specialist nutritional requirements, and female dependence on food provisioning by the male parrots. Meyer’s parrots may be sedentary in the Okavango Delta, but the possibility of limited local movements in other areas (especially the Zimbabwean highlands) should be investigated.     

Near-shore distribution of Heaviside’s (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii) and dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) at the southern limit of their range in South Africa

Photo-identification surveys over three years along 390 km of coastline north of Cape Town, revealed that Heaviside’s dolphin distribution was consistent between years and higher in areas more exposed to swells and with greater long-term availability of small hake Merluccius capensis (their principal prey). Dusky dolphin sighting rates varied considerably between years, but were generally higher in areas with lower hake availability and sandier shores (mostly straighter coastline). Large groups of 50–200 dusky dolphins were only seen in St Helena Bay, the site of a wind-driven upwelling zone. Heaviside’s dolphins were found in shallower, cooler water than dusky dolphins and were more likely to be seen during brighter phases of the moon (when nocturnal light conditions may influence the vertical migration patterns of prey) and in areas of high hake abundance. Near-shore fishing activity was higher in the northern half of the study area and clustered around harbours. Set netting occurred only at Yzerfontein and St Helena Bay, but due to changes in the industry is currently thought to be a low threat to the population. Interactions between Heaviside’s and dusky dolphins were usually neutral and sympatry appears to be mediated by differences in overall range and the type and size of prey species taken.     

山东省部分地区兔大肠杆菌病发病特点与药敏试验分析

于2011年1月至2012年7月,自山东省潍坊、临沂、淄博、滨州等部分地区送检114份病死兔病例中,经细菌分离鉴定,共分离到45株大肠杆菌。对上述大肠杆菌发病病例及发病日龄分析发现,1~3月龄发病数量占到64.4%;通过对其他病原的分离鉴定发现,不同病例存在球虫、魏氏梭菌、巴氏杆菌、波氏杆菌、链球菌、兔瘟等混合感染问题,混合感染病例占总病例近50%;对分离菌进行了药敏试验,发现其存在不同程度的耐药情况,其中对复方新诺明耐药性高达95.6%,对环丙沙星、阿莫西林、庆大霉素、新霉素的耐药性比率超过60%,而且二重耐药、多重耐药的情况较为普遍。     

Histological and immunohistochemical evaluation of granulosa cells during different stages of folliculogenesis in bovine ovaries

Bovine granulosa cells (GC) vary in their morphological aspect during different stages of folliculogenesis. In this study, 10 morphologically normal bovine ovaries were collected to study the structural aspects of different stages of GC using intermediate filament protein antibodies including cytokeratin AE1/AE3 (AE1/AE3), vimentin, nectin‐4 and desmin. Hormonal immunolocalization was assessed using the immunomarkers anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin alpha. In addition, tumour markers and proliferation markers using c‐erbB‐2 oncoprotein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, respectively, were investigated. The immunolabelling of AE1/AE3 in GC was strongest in the early follicle stage and gradually decreased when reaching the Graafian follicle stage. Its immunolabelling increased again as the stage progressed from stage I to stage III. The immunolabelling of inhibin alpha was inversely proportional to that of AE1/AE3 in the developing ovarian follicles as their immunolabelling is opposite to each other during folliculogenesis. AMH was immunopositive in almost all GC stages in different intensities and percentages, except for some negative staining in the atretic IV follicles. The atretic IV follicle is a unique type of atretic follicle that shows Call‐Exner body formation, which was mainly found in older cows in this study. The distinct patterns of immunoreactivity for various types of immunomarkers in the different GC stages will play an important role in diagnostic assistance of various follicle conditions, including cystic ovaries and GC tumours.     

细粒棘球蚴Eg95s基因的串联表达及表达系统优化

为研制新型棘球蚴病基因工程疫苗,根据GenBank公布的细粒棘球蚴Eg95基因序列,针对其中一段348 bp高度亲水的优势表位序列设计引物,扩增Eg95s基因,利用同尾酶法基因同向串联方案,获得3拷贝Eg95s串联体。分别用两种表达载体pGEX-6p-1和pET-32a构建重组质粒,转化入3种大肠杆菌表达宿主BL21(DE3)、Rosseta(DE3)和Origami (DE3),对其进行IPTG诱导表达,经免疫印迹分析结果表明,均能正确表达具有免疫原性的Eg95s蛋白。通过重组蛋白的表达量、可溶性、纯化方法等方面的比较,对Eg95s重组表达系统的载体及宿主菌进行了优化,结果表明,3拷贝的串联Eg95s在以pET-32a为表达载体,Rosseta(DE3)为宿主菌的系统中表达最佳。最终获得了表达量高、可溶性好、纯化方便的Eg95s重组蛋白表达系统,为大规模生产棘球蚴病基因工程疫苗提供了科学依据。     

A retrospective study of the clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical manifestations of 5 dogs originally diagnosed histologically as necrotizing scleritis

Purpose To describe the clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical manifestations of canine necrotizing scleritis. Methods A retrospective examination of the clinical records and samples of ocular tissues from five dogs with a histological diagnosis ‘necrotizing scleritis’ was completed. Archived, formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded samples and two control globes were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Gram, periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) and Masson trichrome stains, and they were immunohistochemically labeled for CD3, CD18, and CD20. Results Of the five cases reviewed, only two could be confirmed as idiopathic necrotizing scleritis. The other three cases were retrospectively diagnosed as unilateral focal, non‐necrotizing scleritis, one as episcleritis and the third was scleritis secondary to a proptosed globe based on our retrospective clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical evaluations. In these two cases, idiopathic necrotizing scleritis manifested as a bilateral, progressive, inflammatory disease of the sclera and cornea that induces significant uveitis. Light microscopic examination confirmed collagen degeneration and granulomatous inflammation. There was no evidence for an infectious etiology based on Gram’s and PAS stainings. Immunohistochemical labeling revealed a predominance of B cells in idiopathic, bilateral necrotizing scleritis. Tinctorial staining abnormalities with Masson’s trichrome stain were present in scleral collagen of the two cases with idiopathic necrotizing scleritis as well as a case of secondary traumatic scleritis. Conclusions Based on a limited number of cases, idiopathic canine necrotizing scleritis shares similar histopathological features with non‐necrotizing scleritis and episcleritis; however, necrotizing scleritis is B‐cell‐dominated and bilateral, and significant collagen alterations manifest with Masson’s trichrome stain.     

Origin of Clostridium perfringens isolates determines the ability to induce necrotic enteritis in broilers

Since the ban on growth-promoting antibiotics in animal feed in the European Union, necrotic enteritis has become a major cause of mortality in broiler chickens. Despite the importance of the disease, the pathogenesis is still not completely understood. In the current study, Clostridium perfringens strains isolated from healthy flocks and isolates from outbreaks of necrotic enteritis were evaluated for the ability to cause gut necrosis in an intestinal loop model in laying hens and in an experimental infection model in broilers. High, intermediate and low alpha toxin producing strains were chosen from each isolation source. Only the isolates from field outbreaks induced necrotic gut lesions, independent of the amount of alpha toxin produced in vitro. It was also shown that alpha toxin producing isolates from calf hemorrhagic enteritis cases were not able to induce necrotic enteritis in poultry. These results suggest the presence of host specific virulence factors in C. perfringens strains, isolated from chickens with intestinal necrotic enteritis lesions.     

PRDM16——控制BAT和WAT发育的分子开关

棕色脂肪组织通过大量表达解偶联蛋白-1(UCP-1)以加强线粒体呼吸作用的解偶联,使能量以热量形式散失,从而抵御肥胖和相关疾病.研究发现,PRDM16是调节棕色脂肪细胞形成的关键转录因子,是控制棕色和白色脂肪细胞特异基因表达程序的分子开关,其机制是C末端结合蛋白和过氧化物酶体增殖剂活性受体γ辅助激活子1 (PPARγ-coactivator-1α and β,PGC-1α/β) 竞争性结合PRDM16,分别形成PRDM16/CtBPs和PRDM16/PGC-1s转录复合物,前者可激活棕色脂肪特异基因的表达,后者则抑制白色脂肪特异基因的表达.论文通过对PRDM16的结构、功能及其作用机制的介绍,有助于研究者了解棕色脂肪组织发育的调控系统,为肥胖和相关疾病的治疗提供新思路.     

Demographics of cattle positive for Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis by faecal culture,from submissions to the Cork Regional Veterinary Laboratory

The demography of bovine infections caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) in Ireland is poorly defined. The objective of this study was to describe the demographics of cattle positive to MAP on faecal culture, based on submissions to the Cork Regional Veterinary Laboratory (Cork RVL) from 1994 to 2006. The study focused on all available faecal samples from adult cattle with non-responsive chronic diarrhoea that were submitted by private veterinary practitioners to Cork RVL for MAP culture. For each MAP-positive by faecal culture animal, data were collated from Cork RVL and Cattle Movement Monitoring Scheme (CMMS) records. Johne's disease (JD) was confirmed in 110 animals from 86 herds by the Cork RVL between 1994 and 2006, with a rate of positive cases between 15% and 18% over last four years of the study. Two breeds (Holstein/Friesian or Limousin) made up 78% of submissions. Movements were assessed for the 57 study animals with available movement information, 90% died within one year of the test and 26% tested positive in the herd they were born into. The study provides preliminary information about movement trends and demographics of animals with MAP positive submissions. Although the study area is restricted, it includes the most intensive (and economically-important) dairy region in Ireland. The demographics of JD infection from the study area are in agreement with international reports. Further work is required to determine demographic trends, incidence and prevalence of JD throughout Ireland. It is hoped this work may contribute to the development of a surveillance strategy for MAP by regional veterinary laboratories.