白斑综合征病毒广西株缺失区基因的比较分析

为了解广西养殖凡纳滨对虾中白斑综合征病毒(white spot syndrome virus,WSSV)的感染流行情况,并探讨WSSV广西株缺失区ORF23/24基因的遗传进化差异及其与各地WSSV毒株间的遗传进化关系,2010年5月至2013年9月在广西凡纳滨对虾主产区北海、钦州和防城港共采集306份患病虾样品,应用世界动物卫生组织(OIE)推荐的套式聚合酶链式反应(nested-PCR)方法进行WSSV检测;选取第一轮PCR为阳性的53份样品进行缺失区ORF23/24基因的PCR扩增,并将12份阳性PCR产物进行克隆、序列测定与比较分析。结果显示:306份患病虾样品中有82份为WSSV感染阳性,阳性率为26.8%;12株WSSV广西株缺失区ORF23/24基因大小均为2 096 bp,相对于此区域最为完整的WSSV-TW株,广西株均在中间缺失了10 970 bp;12株WSSV广西株的缺失区ORF23/24基因差异小,核苷酸同源性均在99.6%以上,仅存在少数碱基的替换,没有缺失和插入,其中BH-3、QZ-1、FCG-1和FCG-2的核苷酸序列完全一致;基于缺失区构建的系统发育进化树显示,WSSV广西地方株在遗传上相距较近,全部与印度株IN-05-Ⅰ聚在一个大的分支,而与台湾株、中国株及韩国株在遗传上相距较远。研究表明,WSSV感染在广西凡纳滨对虾主要养殖地区存在一定程度的流行;广西WSSV毒株缺失区ORF23/24基因的变异类型为中间大片段缺失,各毒株间无明显的地域和时间差异;WSSV广西株与印度株IN-05-Ⅰ的遗传进化关系最近。     

Clinical Outcome of 14 Obese,Laminitic Horses Managed with the Same Rehabilitation Protocol

A specific method of rehabilitation was used to manage obese horses with laminitis, and clinical outcome was evaluated after 5 to 20 months. Clinical data from 14 similar laminitis cases were statistically analyzed to evaluate response to rehabilitation. Data were analyzed using repeated measures or logistic regression methodologies. Each horse presented as obese and laminitic with no history of a systemic inflammatory disease. The rehabilitation method emphasized a mineral-balanced, low nonstructural carbohydrate diet; daily exercise; hoof trimming that minimized hoof wall loading; and sole protection in the form of rubber hoof boots and/or hoof casts. Distal phalanx alignment within the hoof capsule was significantly improved, and hoof wall thickness was significantly decreased (P < .0001) following treatment. Solar depth was significantly increased (P < .0015). Reduction of palmar angle measurements was detected in acutely and chronically affected horses. This treatment effect was statistically greater for horses with chronic laminitis than for horses with acute laminitis (P interaction < .0001). Horses were 5.5 times more likely to be sound post-treatment than before treatment. Daily exercise, dietary modification, and removal of ground reaction force from the hoof wall were foci of the rehabilitation program. Hoof care and husbandry as applied to these horses may be an effective method of rehabilitation of horses from obesity-associated laminitis.     

Thyroid Function and Dysfunction in Term and Premature Equine Neonates

Background

This study was performed to compare thyroid function of premature foals to term foals.

Hypothesis

Premature foals are more markedly hypothyroxinemic than expected for their severity of illness alone.

Animals

Twenty clinically normal term foals; 28 sick, hospitalized term foals; 24 sick, hospitalized premature foals.

Methods

Thyroid hormones (TH) and thyrotropin (TSH) were measured, both at rest and in response to thyrotropin‐releasing hormone (TRH), in the 3 groups of foals. Clinical and clinicopathologic data were recorded.

Results

Normal foals had high TH at birth, which decreased over the first month into the normal reference range for adult horses. TSH was within the normal adult reference range soon after birth, and did not change over time. At 24–36 hours of age, triiodothyronine (T3) was significantly lower in both premature and term hospitalized foals compared to normal foals; premature foals were not different from term hospitalized foals. Thyroxine (T4) was not different between normal and term hospitalized foals, but was significantly lower than in premature foals of both of these groups. TSH was not different among the 3 groups. TRH stimulation tests identified significant differences in T4 among all 3 groups of foals, whereas T3 was similar in premature and term hospitalized foals and different from normal foals. TSH response to TRH was significantly higher in premature foals compared to normal foals.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

The hypothalamic‐pituitary‐thyroid axis is different in foals compared to adult horses. Sick foals exhibit nonthyroidal illness syndrome. Premature foals are more markedly hypothyroxinemic than can be accounted for by their severity of illness alone.     

Effect of dietary canola oil on long‐chain omega‐3 fatty acid content in broiler hearts

Young and healthy broilers are susceptible to sudden death syndrome (SDS), which is caused by cardiac arrhythmia. The long‐chain ‘fish‐type’ omega‐3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have cardioprotective anti‐arrhythmic effects in animals and humans. Raising the cardiac level of EPA and DHA in chickens may protect against SDS. However, fish oil as a source of EPA and DHA in poultry feed is costly and introduces undesirable properties to the meat. Whilst omega‐3 vegetable oils, such as canola oil, are cheaper and do not have a strong odour, they contain the short‐chain fatty acid α‐linolenic acid, which requires conversion to EPA and DHA after ingestion. We investigated the capacity for dietary canola oil to elevate cardiac EPA and DHA in broilers. Broilers were fed with diets containing either 3% canola oil or tallow, which is currently used in some commercial feeds. Upon completion of a 42 day feeding trial, canola oil significantly increased EPA and EPA + DHA in heart phospholipids relative to tallow. The elevation in cardiac EPA and EPA + DHA may provide anti‐arrhythmic effects and protect against SDS in poultry. This proof‐of‐concept biochemical study suggests that a larger study to assess the clinical outcome of SDS may be warranted.     

一起猪高致病性蓝耳病和Ⅱ型圆环病毒病混合多重细菌感染的实验室诊断

2014年4月,四川省某猪场出现高发病率和死亡率疫情,根据临床症状和流行病学特点无法确诊病因。随后笔者无菌采集典型病死猪的脾脏、肝脏、肺脏、淋巴结、扁桃体、腹腔积液、胸腔积液等病料进行实验室诊断,最后确诊该猪场的发病原因为猪II型圆环病毒(PCV-2)、猪高致病性蓝耳病病毒、猪大肠杆菌、猪金黄色葡萄球菌和猪链球菌混合感染所致。     

Pig-major acute phase protein and haptoglobin serum concentrations correlate with PCV2 viremia and the clinical course of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome

The aim of the present longitudinal study was to assess the evolution of two acute phase proteins (APPs), pig-major acute phase protein (pig-MAP) and haptoglobin (HPT), in serum from pigs that developed postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in comparison to healthy and wasted non-PMWS affected pigs. In addition, evidence of infection with other pathogens and its relation with variations in APPs concentrations was also assessed. Fourteen independent batches of 100–154 pigs were monitored from birth to PMWS outbreak occurrence in 11 PMWS affected farms. Pigs displaying PMWS-like signs and age-matched healthy controls were euthanized during the clinical outbreak. PMWS was diagnosed according to internationally accepted criteria and pigs were classified as: (i) PMWS cases, (ii) wasted non-PMWS cases and (iii) healthy pigs. At the moment of PMWS occurrence, pig-MAP and HPT concentration in PMWS affected pigs were higher than in healthy ones (p < 0.0001). No differences in APPs serum concentrations between subclinically PCV2-infected pigs and healthy non-PCV2-infected pigs (based on quantitative PCR on serum results) were detected. Results showed a significant correlation between PCV2 loads and both pig-MAP (R = 0.487–0.602, p < 0.0001) and HPT (R = 0.326–0.550, p < 0.05–0.0001) concentrations in serum of PMWS affected pigs, indicating that the acute phase response in PMWS affected pigs occurred concomitantly to PCV2 viremia. No other pathogen, apart from PCV2, was consistently related with variations in APPs concentrations. A ROC analysis, made to determine the capacity of discrimination of both APPs between PMWS affected and non-affected pigs, showed higher sensitivity and specificity values using pig-MAP compared to HPT. These results suggest that pig-MAP might be a better indicator of PMWS status than HPT. Moreover, the fact that APR occurred some weeks before the start of clinical signs suggests that APPs could provide valuable prognostic information for PMWS development.