Leptospira interrogans at the Human–Wildlife Interface in Northern Botswana: A Newly Identified Public Health Threat

Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonosis in the world. In northern Botswana, humans live in close proximity to a diversity of wildlife and peridomestic rodents and may be exposed to a variety of zoonotic pathogens. Little is known regarding the occurrence and epidemiology of L. interrogans in Africa despite the recognized global importance of this zoonotic disease and the threat it poses to public health. In Botswana, banded mongooses (Mungos mungo) live in close proximity to humans across protected and unprotected landscapes and may be a useful sentinel species for assessing the occurrence of zoonotic organisms, such as L. interrogans. We utilized PCR to screen banded mongoose kidneys for leptospiral DNA and identified 41.5% prevalence of renal carriage of L. interrogans (exact binomial 95% CI 27.7–56.7%, n = 41). Renal carriage was also detected in one Selous' mongoose (Paracynictis selousi). This is the first published confirmation of carriage of L. interrogans in either species. This is also the first report of L. interrogans occurrence in northern Botswana and the only report of this organism in a wildlife host in the country. Pathogenic Leptospira are usually transmitted indirectly to humans through soil or water contaminated with infected urine. Other avenues, such as direct contact between humans and wildlife, as well as consumption of mongooses and other wildlife as bushmeat, may pose additional exposure risk and must be considered in public health management of this newly identified zoonotic disease threat. There is a critical need to characterize host species involvement and pathogen transmission dynamics, including human–wildlife interactions that may increase human exposure potential and infection risk. We recommend that public health strategy be modified to include sensitization of medical practitioners to the presence of L. interrogans in the region, the potential for human infection, and implementation of clinical screening. This study illustrates the need for increased focus on neglected zoonotic diseases as they present an important threat to public health.     

草地生态系统安全及其评价研究

探讨了草地生态安全及其评价的概念与内涵,认为草地生态系统安全判断与度量准则应该是草地生态系统健康、草地生态系统服务功能及生态风险与管理的科学统一。同时尝试提出了草地生态系统安全评价的"健康-服务功能-风险与管理(health-service-risk and management,HSRM)"模型,构建了HSRM评价模型的指标体系,提出草地生态安全评价中草地生态安全度计算公式和安全状态分级标准。     

Small mammal diversity and density on the Bokkeveld escarpment,South Africa – implications for conservation and livestock predation

A preliminary investigation of the diversity and density of small mammals in four structurally distinct habitat types in an actively-utilized farming landscape was carried out. We sought to understand how diversity and density are influenced by landscape structure, habitat structure and management decisions. Farmers in the area believe small mammals provide a service as an alternative food source, other than sheep, for predators. We assessed the validity of this reported ecosystem service. A total of 10 species and 219 individuals were recorded during this survey of 3600 trap-nights, with a total trap success rate of 6.1%. Significantly more individuals were caught during the winter than in summer. Vegetation transformation had a negative impact on small mammal diversity. Density, diversity and distribution were correlated with vegetation and landscape structural diversity. Management decisions that reduce vegetation structure and cover will have a negative impact on small mammal density and diversity. Ensuring the conservation of small mammals may have the benefit of providing an alternative food source to predators, a valuable ecosystem service to farmers.     

草地生态系统服务功能及其价值评估方法研究

草地不仅是畜牧业的生产基地,而且是生态安全屏障保护和牧民生活与草原文化传承的基础,具有生态、生产和生活功能。然而,草地日益退化导致的生态经济问题越来越突出,评价草地生态系统服务功能的经济价值,对于制定合理的草地保护与经济开发决策具有重要意义。目前国内外广泛采用的Costanza等提出的生态系统服务价值评估方法没能充分体现出草地生态系统本质特征。因此,本研究以草地生态系统的“三生功能”为基础,综合考虑草地的地域和空间的异质性以及区域经济发展水平的差异性,选择水源涵养、侵蚀控制、废物处理、滞留沙尘、生物多样性保护、养分循环、固定CO₂、释放O₂、消减SO₂、畜牧生产、文化传承和休闲旅游12项贡献率较高的功能指标,应用生态经济学原理,建立了适宜于草地生态系统服务功能经济价值的评价体系和方法,并以藏北高寒草地为例,对该方法进行了评估验证。     

我国农业可持续发展面临的生态环境问题及对策

对我国农业可持续发展中所面临的水土流失、荒漠化、水资源短缺、自然灾害频繁发生等生态问题,化肥污染、农药污染、畜禽养殖污染、农膜污染等面源污染问题以及乡镇工业污染和农村生活污染等问题进行了简要论述;并针对存在的问题,提出了发展绿色农业产业、加强农村环境立法、加强脆弱生态系统的保护管理等几点对策和建议。     

纳米技术在农业工程中的应用

分析了纳米技术在环境保护、种植业、食品工业、畜牧养殖业等领域的应用现状,指出了将纳米技术应用于我国农业工程领域的切入点。研究发现,应用领域主要集中在对传统材料的超微化、新型功能材料的跨学科应用、本学科与纳米技术的结合;纳米技术适合我国农业工程的发展,具有广阔的应用前景。     

初析农业信息资源的整合及模式

随着农业信息化的推进,农业信息网站迅速发展起来。但是问题突出,主要是各农业网站以及各级政府涉农部门的信息是一个个信息孤岛,信息资源无法共享且重复建设,信息的有效性和时效性差。为此,以黑龙江省农业信息化建设为背景,提出了加强农业信息资源整合的必要性及其模式,从而推进农业信息化“最后一公里”的建设。     

电子鼻技术在食品检测中的应用

随着嗅觉传感器技术的不断发展,电子鼻技术得到了广泛的研究与应用。电子鼻由气敏传感器阵列、信号处理子系统和模式识别子系统等3种功能器件组成。为此,阐述了电子鼻技术的结构组成,介绍了其在食品新鲜度检测、果蔬成熟度评价及饮料与酒类识别等轻工业中的应用现状与发展趋势,并指出了这些新技术实现过程中所需要解决的问题。