Prevalence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection in suspected diarrhoeic buffaloes and cattle reporting at Veterinary University in India

Murrah buffaloes, best breed for milk production are native of Haryana state. They contributes significantly to the farmer’s income, livelihood and food (milk and meat) security, in the semi-tropical regions of North India. Johne’s disease though endemic in the domestic livestock of the country, but reports are not available in the buffaloes suffering from morbidity due to progressive weakness and diarrhoea. We estimated the status of JD in diarrhoeic buffaloes and cattle reporting at Veterinary Clinical Complex of Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India, using conventional, serological and PCR assays.141 buffaloes suffering from chronic diarrhoea were screened to estimate sero-prevalence of MAP and 50.0 % young and 53.52 % adult animals were positive. Of 14 cattle screened, none of the young and 66.6 % adult cows were positive. In buffaloes, 66.1 and 6.77 %, fecal samples were positive in microscopy and IS900 PCR, respectively. Sero-prevalence of JD was very high in diarrhoeic buffaloes and cattle from Haryana state of India.Buffaloes positive for Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection had reduced total leukocyte count and lymphocytes.     

Inter-observer agreement between two observers for bovine digital dermatitis identification in New Zealand using digital photographs

Aims: To assess the inter-observer agreement for detecting bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) lesions in digital colour photographs of the hind feet of cows, which had been taken while the animals were standing to be milked, between two trained observers.

Methods: Thirty-six photographs were selected from a total of 184 photographs held by the first author (R1), who had classified them as negative (n=11) or positive (n=25) for BDD. They were delivered to a technician (R2) who had previously visually inspected cattle for BDD lesions, and who then recorded the photographs as being either BDD-positive or BDD-negative. The percentage agreement between R1 and R2, and two other inter-observer agreement statistics, Cohen’s κ and Gwet’s first-order chance correction agreement coefficient (AC1), were calculated. The cumulative membership probabilities of Cohen’s κ and Gwet’s AC1 were then calculated for different benchmark ranges of κ.

Results: The percentage agreement between R1 and R2 was 33/36 (92%), Cohen’s κ was 0.80 (95% CI=0.57–1.0) and Gwet’s AC1 was 0.86 (95% CI=0.69–1.0). Based on the cumulative membership probabilities for Gwet’s AC1, there was 75% probability that the two observers had almost perfect agreement (κ≥0.81). For both Cohen’s κ and Gwet’s AC1, there was >95% probability that the two observers had at least substantial agreement (κ≥0.61).

Conclusions: The two trained observers had at least substantial agreement in identifying from a digital photograph as to whether BDD lesions were present or absent. Therefore results from the two could be used interchangeably.

Clinical Relevance: Visual assessment for BDD lesions in the milking parlour can be subjective. However a high agreement between these two trained BDD inspectors means BDD prevalence reported from different regions in New Zealand by these two can be directly compared.     

热加工方式对牛乳过敏原αs1-酪蛋白二级结构和抗原性的影响

为探究热加工方式对牛乳过敏原αs1-酪蛋白构象和抗原性的影响,利用间接竞争酶联免疫吸附测定方法、 免疫印迹方法分析不同加热条件下αs1-酪蛋白免疫原性的变化,进而通过8-苯胺-1-萘磺酸荧光探针和圆二色谱分 析其二级结构变化,初步揭示热处理调控过敏原αs1-酪蛋白抗原性的机制。结果表明：在80 ℃、60 min,90 ℃、 10 min,90 ℃、60 min条件下热处理后,αs1-酪蛋白中α-螺旋结构含量显著低于未加热αs1-酪蛋白,在70 ℃、 20 min,80 ℃、20 min,90 ℃、20 min条件下热处理后,αs1-酪蛋白中无规卷曲含量显著增加,70～100 ℃加热 20 min条件下表面荧光强度最强,其他温度-时间条件下二级结构含量变化不显著;αs1-酪蛋白构象的变化导致αs1-酪 蛋白的抗原性显著降低,间接竞争酶联免疫吸附测定显示,在70～100 ℃加热20 min条件下,αs1-酪蛋白的抗原残留 量均较高,而免疫印迹方法显示不同温度-时间条件下αs1-酪蛋白仍具有免疫反应特性,建议进一步通过动物实验揭 示热处理调控αs1-酪蛋白抗原性的机制。     

猪日粮中酵母硒应用的研究进展

酵母硒是饲料中优质的有机硒源,较无机硒具有更高的吸收率与生物安全性,可提高猪的生长、成活率和繁殖性能,而且可提高肉品质和营养价值。作者综述了酵母硒在猪日粮中的应用研究进展。     

马立克氏病病毒肿瘤Meq基因缺失株的保护性免疫作用

马立克氏病病毒（MDV）的致病性一直在不断增强中,甚至已出现了能抵抗CV1988/Rispens疫苗的特超强株。本实验室用BAC克隆技术构建了MDV中国野毒株的Meq基因缺失株,显示出在抗马立克氏病方面具有与美国Meq基因缺失株同样有效的保护性免疫效果,而且其自身没有明显的免疫抑制作用。对美国和中国的两个MDV的Meg基因缺失株的优缺点做了比较。     

Direct and indirect lymphocyte participation in the immunity and immunopathology of tropical canine pancytopenia—A review

Erlichia canis, a rickettsial pathogen which infects monocytes, induces generalized lymphocyte activation. Activated T lymphocytes differentiate into effector cells capable of destroying infected and uninfected monocytes and platelets. Activated B lymphocytes differentiate into plasma cells associated with plasmocytosis, hypergammaglobulinemia with high levels of specific antibody and a platelet migration inhibition factor. These effector mechanisms, aimed at parasite destruction, contribute to the pathogenesis of acute tropical canine pancytopenia and do not completely eliminate the etiologic agent. A carrier state of ‘infection-immunity’ exists between the immunocompetent host and virulent parasite. E. canis has evolved mechanisms of ‘tolerant-symbiosis’ with hostile macrophages and other effector cells in the immune host.     

Pathological findings and probable causes of the death of Stejneger’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon stejnegeri) stranded in Japan from 1999 and 2011

One hundred and twenty stranding events of Stejneger’s beaked whales were reported in Japan between 1999 and 2011. The purpose of this study is to introduce pathological data and to discuss probable causes of death for 44 Stejneger’s beaked whales among them. The significant pathological findings were the pulmonary edema, parasitic granulomatous nephritis, emaciation, amyloidosis, suppurative bronchopneumonia and so on. The probable causes of death were categorized as noninfectious in 43 of the cases, which included drowning, starvation and secondary amyloidosis. One individual was diagnosed with septicemia, which was the only example of an infectious disease. Because we could not always perform advanced analyses, such as microbiology tests, biotoxin examinations or contaminant analyses, the finality of our findings may be impaired. However, the present study has broad implications on the causes of death of Stejneger’s beaked whales of the seas around Japan, which are valuable for the future studies and for the detection of emerging diseases.     

2010年版《中华人民共和国兽药典》一部凡例及其品种标准增修订概况

解读2010年版《中华人民共和国兽药典》一部收载兽药标准的增修订内容和特点,详细描述了兽药典一部收载凡例和兽用化学药品、抗生素等兽药标准的增修订情况。对于读者理解、领会和执行2010年版《中华人民共和国兽药典》一部标准,将起到较好的帮助作用。     

Ventricular systolic dysfunction in dogs diagnosed with hypoadrenocorticism

In human patients with hypoadrenocorticism, a secondary dilated cardiomyopathy is noted that has been reported to resolve with replacement steroid therapy. A similar secondary dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs with hypoadrenocorticism has not been previously described. We present three dogs concurrently diagnosed with hypoadrenocorticism and ventricular dilation with systolic dysfunction. Two dogs were presented with clinical signs consistent with biventricular congestive heart failure and a third dog was presented with signs of acute hypoadrenocorticism without congestive heart failure. All dogs recovered to normal cardiac size and function with therapy. Hypoadrenocorticism should be considered as a differential diagnosis in dogs that present with ventricular dilation and systolic dysfunction if there are other indicators in the clinical and laboratory testing. Additionally, a thorough cardiac evaluation should be recommended for dogs that are found to have a heart murmur at the time of diagnosis of hypoadrenocorticism.