Evaluation of the Abbott LCx Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Assay for Direct Detection of Mycobacterium Bovis in Bovine Tissue Samples

The commercial LCx amplification assay, usually employed to detect the Myocobacterium tuberculosis complex in respiratory specimens, was evaluated by comparing the results it gave with those obtained using Löwenstein-Jensen solid medium and pathological findings on 55 lymph nodes from cattle with positive and 10 lymph nodes from cattle with negative skin tests for tuberculosis. Fifty-three cultures (51 and 2, respectively) were positive for M. bovis, while the results for the LCx assay and the histological method were positive in 48 (45, 3) and 24 (20, 4) samples, respectively. None of the samples from cattle from certified tuberculosis-free herds were positive by any of the procedures. The results obtained with the LCx assay, compared with the culture procedure, regarded as the gold standard among the diagnostic techniques, gave a specificity of 91.6% and sensitivity of 90.5%. Although the sensitivity of LCx was suboptimal, DNA of M. bovis was detected in 81.8% of the skin test-positive animals. Amplification techniques could provide a rapid and reasonably reliable tool for detecting bovine tuberculosis.     

Genotyping of Mycobacterium bovis by geographic location within Mexico

The spacer oligonucleotide typing (spoligotyping) method was used to differentiate 62 Mycobacterium bovis isolates obtained from tissues with macroscopic lesions typical of tuberculosis in dairy cattle from different regions of Mexico. Our purpose was to see if a strain from one region was genetically different from those of other regions (with the long-term aim of doing molecular trace back of isolates obtained in the laboratory). Results from the genetic analysis indicate that M. bovis isolates cannot be grouped by geographic location due to a wide range of genetic types involved in dairy cattle infections. Isolates even from the same herd showed different spoligotypes but some isolates from different region had similar genetic patterns. Genetic typing without epidemiologic information does not seem to be a plausible method to trace back animals to source of origin to detect and eliminate sources of infection.     

Seasonal changes in digestibility, passage rate and rumen fermentation of alfalfa hay in sika deer (Cervus nippon) under restricted feeding

To investigate seasonal variations in the digestive functions of sika deer, five female sika deer were provided with an amount of alfalfa hay cubes equivalent to voluntary food intake during winter. We measured the rate at which the food passed through the digestive tract, digestibility and rumen fermentation during the summer (August), autumn (November), winter (February) and spring (May). Total mean retention time in the digestive tract during summer and autumn was numerically longer than that in winter and spring, but the difference did not reach significance. Organic matter and fiber were less digestible in summer and autumn than in winter and spring (P < 0.05), whereas the digestibility of the dry matter tended to vary with the seasons (P < 0.1). Ruminal pH values seasonally changed (P < 0.01), and were the lowest in autumn. The concentration of ruminal ammonia‐nitrogen differed significantly among the seasons (P < 0.05), increasing in winter and decreasing during spring and summer. The numbers of protozoa changed significantly among the seasons (P < 0.05), being higher in autumn than in winter and spring, and intermediate in summer. The concentration of total volatile fatty acids was not seasonally affected, but the molar percentages of propionic acid and butyric acid significantly changed according to season (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), and the ratio of acetic to propionic acid tended to change with the seasons (P < 0.1). The results of this study suggested that the digestive functions in sika deer, fed a commercial diet at a restricted level, differed notably among the seasons and these variations might partially be due to environmental effects.     

Determination of nucleotide sequence of SRY gene in sika deer (Cervus nippon)

The aim of the present study was to determine the whole nucleotide sequence of the open reading frame of the sex‐determining region Y (SRY‐ORF) in wild sika deer. The SRY gene of wild sika deer was obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with DNA from blood samples. The whole nucleotide sequence of the SRY‐ORF in wild sika deer consisted of 687 bp and encoded 229 deduced amino acids. In comparison with the bovine SRY gene, the percentage of nucleotide sequence homology was 91.0% in the overall ORF, and those of the N‐terminal, high mobility group (HMG) box, and C‐terminal regions within ORF were 88.9%, 96.2% and 87.9%, respectively. The nucleotide sequences of sika deer SRY‐ORF characterized in the present study can be used for phylogenetic analysis or sexing in wild sika deer.     

黑麂血液生理生化指标的测定

首次检测了黑麂血液常规和生理生化等23项指标,并与鹿科梅花鹿做了比较。测定结果显示,黑麂的红细胞、血小板、血红蛋白、红细胞比容高于梅花鹿指标,而白细胞、红细胞体积、红细胞平均血红蛋白浓度、平均血红蛋白量、红细胞体积分布宽度指标低于梅花鹿指标。黑麂白细胞分类结果显示,白细胞和单核细胞约占90%;嗜酸性粒细胞和嗜碱性粒细胞所占百分比各占约2%。黑麂血清生化指标测定结果显示,总胆固醇和血糖两项指标高于梅花鹿的指标;甘油三酯(TG)及极低密度脂蛋白(VLDI-C)含量显著高于梅花鹿。检测结果反映了黑麂的机体生理机能,是进行疾病临床诊断和治疗的依据。     

梅花鹿精子冷冻前后形态和超微结构的研究

采用光学显微镜和电子显微镜对冷冻前后的梅花鹿精子的形态和超显微结构进行了观察。结果表明：梅花鹿精子全长６１．６±２．７０μｍ,其中头长７．１９±０．４７μｍ,中段长１２．０８±０．７５μｍ。线粒体的螺旋数是６３．６８±４．６６旋,中段线粒体每个螺旋约由３～５个线粒体组成。梅花鹿精子超微结构有３个特点：一是头部的厚度为牛、羊、猪精子的１／２;二是在中环处的质膜未见反折现象,并且主段与中段的联接是以套管式镶嵌;三是末段以９＋２结构变成２０根（１２＋７＋１）单丝管形式排列。冷冻处理可使梅花鹿精子顶体膨胀,顶体内容物丢失,顶体内发生空泡,顶体外膜自身囊泡化,线粒体发生断裂和丢失,末段纤维束因质膜丢失而分散成扫帚状。冷冻后的梅花鹿精子畸形率极显著增高（Ｐ＜０．０１）,冷冻解冻是致使梅花鹿精子顶体完整率和活力降低的主要原因。     

三种鹿血清乳酸脱氢酶同功酶的电泳研究

采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳法对26头白唇鹿、41头马鹿和11头梅花鹿的血清乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）同功酶谱及其多态性进行了研究。结果发现：三种鹿的LDH都有LDH1、LDH2、LDH3和LDH5四种同功酶;LDH3同功酶具有1～3条亚带,LDH5具有显现酶活性和不显现酶活性两种表型而呈现多态性;白唇鹿的LDH同功酶酶谱及其多态性有较明显的种的特征。     

抑制鹿源多药耐药结核菌中药的筛选

为了筛选对鹿源多药耐药结核菌有效的中药耐药抑制剂,通过MABA法检测24种中药的水和乙醇提取物对多药耐药结核菌及标准菌H37Rv的体外抗菌效果,将筛选出的抗菌效果好的黄连醇提物和黄连水提物采用紫外分光光度法进行活性成分含量测定,同时以MABA法与标准品比较体外抗结核菌活性。结果显示,黄连、独活和侧柏叶有明显的抗结核活性,其中黄连水粗提物和乙醇粗提物效果最佳,测得它们活性成分即总生物碱含量分别为22.74%和35.23%,并显示二者与小檗碱的体外抗结核作用相同。     

应用异烟肼复合剂治疗奶牛结核病的试验研究

对一群经两次检疫均为结核菌素阳性并经临床学、病理解剖学和细菌学证实为结核杆菌感染奶牛，随机选择２０头奶，每日按２５ｍｇ／ｋｇ体重投与异烟肼复合剂，连服６０日，接着再按上述剂量每隔一天给药一次连服６０次。结果感染牛在治疗后的７０天转阴率为５０％；治疗后１６５天转阴率为８０．１％；未经治疗的７头对照牛仍呈阳性。     

Red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) management in the dehesa system in Central Extremadura,Spain

In this paper we report the results of a study on the suitability of the dehesa (Mediterranean woodlands) as habitat of red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) in a closed country estate of about 4300 ha total surface situated in the San Pedro Mountain, in Central Extremadura, Spain. We have described the deer management with respect to habitat, exploitation mode, deer feeding, population control and production of goods and services. It is concluded that the dehesa system is a rich natural resource that preserves and improves the degraded environment.

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Resumen En el presente trabajo se estudia la dehesa como hábitat del ciervo (Cervus elaphus hispanicus). Se ha tomado como referencia una finca cerrada de 4300 ha de ST situada en la Sierra de San Pedro, en Extremadura, España. Se describen los sistemas de gestión actuales del ciervo en cuanto a hábitat, modo de explotación, alimentación, control de población y producción de bienes y servicios. Concluyendo con la necesidad de fomentar este tipo de explotaciones cinegéticas de dehesa que ayudan a conservar y potenciar el medio ambiente en zonas despobladas y deprimidas

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Abbreviations CS collected surface - DMFCU deedmixed feed cattle units - Fi final inventory - FS fertilized surface - Ii Initial inventory - K Potassium - N Nitrogen - NBF number of breeding females - NBFIi number of breeding females of initial inventory - NBFR number of breeding females released - NBM number of breeding males - NBMIi number of breeding males of initial inventory - NBMR number of breeding males released - NCCR number of captive calves released - NCFi number of calves of final inventory - NCR number of calves released - NFR number of female renovation - NYMR number of young males released - NYFR number of young females released - P phosphorus - PP permanent Pastures - pts pesetas - QS Quercus stalks - RDED resources directly eaten by deer - SPOM selected hunted down poor quality males - SS sowed surface - TN total needs of deer - TNR total number released - UAS useable agrarian surface - WB wooded brush - WQS wooded Quercus surface - WS wooded surface