Purification and analyses of the specificity of two putative diagnostic antigens for larval cyathostomin infection in horses

Cyathostomins are important equine gastrointestinal parasites. Mass emergence of mucosal stage larvae causes a potentially fatal colitis. Mucosal stages are undetectable non-invasively. An assay that would estimate mucosal larval stage infection would greatly assist in treatment, control and prognosis. Previously, we identified two putative diagnostic antigens (20 and 25 kDa) in somatic larval preparations. Here, we describe their purification and antigen-specific IgG(T) responses to them. Western blots confirmed the purity of the antigens and showed that epitopes in the 20 kDa complex were specific to larval cyathostomins. No cross-reactive antigens appeared to be present in Parascaris equorum or Strongyloides westeri species. Low levels of cross-reactivity were observed in Strongylus edentatus and Strongylus vulgaris species. Use of purified antigens greatly reduced background binding in equine sera. These results indicate that both antigen complexes may be of use in a diagnostic assay.     

A Framework for Economic Analysis of Cropping Systems: Profitability,Risk Management,and Resource Allocation

SUMMARY

A cropping system must be economically viable for it to be sustainable. This study focuses upon the economic components of profitability, risk management potential, and optimal resource allocation. Some of the primary aspects of economic analysis of cropping systems to a broad multidisciplinary audience of researchers, extension specialists, graduate students, and senior undergraduate students are addressed. Analytical economic tools are discussed including data requirements, advantages, and disadvantages of each method. A case study of a Henderson, Kentucky producer is presented as a primary example along with empirical applications from the literature. The importance of various types of economic analysis is demonstrated through the selection of different production decisions dependent on the level of economic analysis included.     

渔业公共资源管理的制度经济学探讨

渔业公共资源管理既是一个国际性难题,也是我国渔业现代化和市场经济进程中,必须面对和妥善解决的渔业公共资源问题.本文重点分析了当前我国渔业公共资源存在的冲突矛盾,揭示其内在共性特征,总结了福建省渔业公共资源管理的经验和管理模式,结合渔业公共资源管理现状,提出了进一步完善我国渔业公共资源管理的制度设计思路和体制机制设计的原则,研究了适应我国社会主义市场经济条件下的渔业公共资源管理思路.     

Expression of recombinant triangular bream (Megalobrama terminalis) pre-IGF-I in Escherichia coli

The insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) cDNA (GenBank Accession No. AY247412) of triangular bream (Megalobrama terminalis) was expressed for the first time in Escherichia coli. To construct the expression plasmid, the IGF-I cDNA was subcloned into prokaryotic-expressing vector pGEX-4T-1. The E.coli JM109 was transformed with the recombinant plasmid pGEX-4T-1-IGF-I, and the transgene expression was observed after being induced with isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG). The results of SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blotting indicated that the recombinant fusion protein had immune activity and the molecular weight was about 47 kDa. The results of SDS-PAGE and thin layer scanning showed that the yield of fusion protein had been enlarged with prolonging time. When the time of induced expression was 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 h, the expression amount was approximately 1.4, 4.3, 8.1, 11.3, 16.3 and 18.8% of total bacterial protein respectively.     

气候变化下西北太平洋大海洋生态系海表面温度特征分析

黄鳍金枪鱼 (Thunnus albacares) 为高度洄游的大洋性鱼类,有较高的生态和经济价值,中西太平洋 (Western and Central Pacific Ocean, WCPO) 是全球金枪鱼捕捞产量最高的海区。为了解和预测中西太平洋黄鳍金枪鱼不同渔业对气候变化的反应,根据1990—2020年世界各国在中西太平洋的围网和延绳钓作业以及海洋尼诺指数 (Oceanic Niño index, ONI) 数据,分析了常规自回归积分滑动平均模型 (Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average Model, ARIMA) 和加入ONI标准差为协变量的动态ARIMA模型在渔业资源量研究中的适用性,以及ONI对中西太平洋黄鳍金枪鱼年际单位捕捞努力量渔获量 (Catch per unit effort, CPUE) 的影响。结果表明：1) 常规ARIMA模型能够充分考虑中西太平洋黄鳍金枪鱼年CPUE的变化特征,可用于黄鳍金枪鱼年CPUE的长期拟合;2) 相比常规ARIMA模型,动态ARIMA模型的拟合度更好,拟合值和真实值的相关性更高,同时平均绝对误差、均方根误差更小;3) ONI对中西太平洋赤道南北海域黄鳍金枪鱼的年CPUE影响不同,相对而言,在赤道以北,ONI的影响因素更关键,模型的拟合度更高;4) ONI对中西太平洋不同渔业的黄鳍金枪鱼的年CPUE影响有差别,对中西太平洋黄鳍金枪鱼延绳钓渔业存在滞后1~2年的影响,而在强厄尔尼诺和强拉尼娜现象时,对围网渔业的影响速度较快,不存在滞后。     

Comparative economic performance and carbon footprint of two farming models for producing Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar): Land-based closed containment system in freshwater and open net pen in seawater

Ocean net pen production of Atlantic salmon is approaching 2 million metric tons (MT) annually and has proven to be cost- and energy-efficient. Recently, with technology improvements, freshwater aquaculture of Atlantic salmon from eggs to harvestable size of 4–5 kg in land-based closed containment (LBCC) water recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) has been demonstrated as a viable production technology. Land-based, closed containment water recirculating aquaculture systems technology offers the ability to fully control the rearing environment and provides flexibility in locating a production facility close to the market and on sites where cost of land and power are competitive. This flexibility offers distinct advantages over Atlantic salmon produced in open net pen systems, which is dependent on access to suitable coastal waters and a relatively long transport distance to supply the US market. Consequently, in this paper we present an analysis of the investment needed, the production cost, the profitability and the carbon footprint of producing 3300 MT of head-on gutted (HOG) Atlantic salmon from eggs to US market (wholesale) using two different production systems—LBCC-RAS technology and open net pen (ONP) technology using enterprise budget analysis and carbon footprint with the LCA method. In our analysis we compare the traditional open net pen production system in Norway and a model freshwater LBCC-RAS facility in the US. The model ONP is small compared to the most ONP systems in Norway, but the LBCC-RAS is large compared to any existing LBCC-RAS for Atlantic salmon. The results need to be interpreted with this in mind. Results of the financial analysis indicate that the total production costs for two systems are relatively similar, with LBCC-RAS only 10% higher than the ONP system on a head-on gutted basis (5.60 US$/kg versus 5.08 US$/kg, respectively). Without interest and depreciation, the two production systems have an almost equal operating cost (4.30 US$/kg for ONP versus 4.37 US$/kg for LBCC-RAS). Capital costs of the two systems are not similar for the same 3300 MT of head-on gutted salmon. The capital cost of the LBCC-RAS model system is approximately 54,000,000 US$ and the capital cost of the ONP system is approximately 30,000,000 US$, a difference of 80%. However, the LBCC-RAS model system selling salmon at a 30% price premium is comparatively as profitable as the ONP model system (profit margin of 18% versus 24%, respectively), even though its 15-year net present value is negative and its return on investment is lower than ONP system (9% versus 18%, respectively). The results of the carbon footprint analysis confirmed that production of feed is the dominating climate aspect for both production methods, but also showed that energy source and transport methods are important. It was shown that fresh salmon produced in LBCC-RAS systems close to a US market that use an average US electricity mix have a much lower carbon footprint than fresh salmon produced in Norway in ONP systems shipped to the same market by airfreight, 7.41 versus 15.22 kg CO₂eq/kg salmon HOG, respectively. When comparing the carbon footprint of production-only, the LBCC-RAS-produced salmon has a carbon footprint that is double that of the ONP-produced salmon, 7.01 versus 3.39 kg CO₂eq/kg salmon live-weight, respectively.     

在前临床期检测金仓鼠羊痒病淋巴结中病理型朊蛋白PrP（Sc）

12只雌性5周龄金仓鼠腹腔注射50μL羊痒病（SCRAPIE）263K株10%的脑组织匀浆。在临床前期,感染后第2、4、6、8、10、12周和临床末期第20周,金仓鼠被分别处死,取大脑、淋巴组织、脾脏、肾脏、肝脏、心脏和肌肉等组织,进行蛋白质免疫印迹杂交实验检测朊病毒病理型朊蛋白PrPSc。研究结果显示在临床前期,通过改进后的纯化技术,我们能够检测出淋巴组织和脾脏组织中的PrPSc,但是在肾脏、肝脏、心脏和肌肉等组织中仍然没有检测到PrPSc。     

Association between bovine-leukosis virus seroprevalence and herd-level productivity on US dairy farms

Bovine-leukosis virus (BLV; also termed ‘bovine-leukemia virus’) is a retrovirus that primarily affects lymphoid tissue of dairy and beef cattle. Our objective was to investigate the association between BLV infection and annual value of production (AVP) on dairy herds within the United States, as part of the USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System’s 1996 dairy study. 1006 herds (in 20 states) with at least 30 dairy cows were interviewed during 1996. The agar-gel immunodiffusion test was used to detect serum antibodies to BLV. 10–40 cows from each herd were tested and each tested cow was classified as negative or positive based on results of a single test.

A multivariable regression model was used with the 976 herds with complete data for analysis. When compared to herds with no test-positive cows, herds with test-positive cows produced 218 kg per cow (i.e. 3%) less milk. The average reduction in AVP was $ 59 per cow for test-positive herds relative to test-negative herds. For the dairy industry as a whole, BLV seropositivity was associated with loss to producers of $ 285 million and $ 240 million for consumers. Most of this $ 525 million industry loss was due to reduced milk production in test-positive herds.     

Seroprevalence of Ehrlichia canis, Ehrlichia equi, and Ehrlichia risticii in sick dogs from North Carolina and Virginia

Ehrlichia canis, E. equi, and E. risticii seroprevalence was determined by microimmunofluorescent antibody testing (IFA) in a sequential population of 1,845 sick dogs admitted during a 1-year period to the North Carolina State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. A seroreactor was defined by a reciprocal IFA titer of > or =80 to E. canis, E. equi, or E. risticii antigens. Of the 48 IFA seroreactors, 44 dogs were seroreactive to E. canis, 21 to E. equi, and 0 to E. risticii. Seventeen dogs reacted to both E. canis and E. equi antigens. There was concordance of E. canis IFA and western immunoblot (WI) test results for 36/44 dogs. Because of cross-reactivity of E. canis sera with E. equi antigens, WI was of less utility to confirm E. equi exposure. After elimination of E. canis seroreactors, there was concordance of 2/4 E. equi IFA and WI test results. Based upon a retrospective review of medical records, ehrlichiosis was diagnosed in 10/48 (21%) IFA seroreactive dogs, 9 of which were confirmed positive by WI. Of the remaining 38 IFA seroreactors, 29 also were confirmed by E. canis or E. equi WI. These results indicate that (1) ehrlichiosis was not diagnosed in the majority of serologically confirmed cases, (2) based upon E. canis and E. equi WI analysis, IFA testing was not specific (21% false positive), (3) E. canis sera cross-react with E. equi antigens, and (4) serologic evidence of E. risticii infection was lacking in the dog population studied.     

堆型艾美球虫3-1E基因在大肠杆菌中的可溶性表达及鉴定

将堆型艾美球虫（E．acervulina）3-1E基因克隆至pET-32a（＋）载体中。转化大肠杆菌BL21，在37℃下，用终浓度为1.0mmol／L的IPTG诱导表达，得到相对分子质量约为38500的重组蛋白。Western blot检测证实，该重组蛋白可以与特异性抗血清结合。在20℃条件下，以终浓度分别为2．0、1．0、0．5mmol／L的IPTG进行诱导．当IPTG终浓度为0．5mmol／L时，以可溶性形式存在的目的蛋白含量最高。