Canine transmissible venereal tumour: a review

Canine transmissible venereal tumour (CTVT) is a contagious venereal tumour of dogs, commonly observed in dogs that are in close contact with one another, or in stray and wild dogs that exhibit unrestrained sexual activity. CTVT represents a unique, naturally transmissible, contagious tumour, where the mutated tumour cell itself is the causative agent and perpetuates as a parasitic allograft in the host. Clinical history, signalment and cytological features are often obvious for establishing a diagnosis though biopsy and histological examination may be needed in atypical cases. Most cases are curable with three intravenous injections of vincristine sulphate at weekly intervals. The role of stray and wild dogs makes the disease difficult to control and necessitates sustained animal birth control in stray dogs along with prompt therapy of the affected dogs. This review captures the manifold developments in different areas embracing this fascinating tumour, including its biology, diagnosis and therapeutic alternatives.     

Diagnosing feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection in FIV-vaccinated and FIV-unvaccinated cats using saliva

We recently showed that two immunochromatography point-of-care FIV antibody test kits (Witness FeLV/FIV and Anigen Rapid FIV/FeLV) were able to correctly assign FIV infection status, irrespective of FIV vaccination history, using whole blood as the diagnostic specimen. A third FIV antibody test kit, SNAP FIV/FeLV Combo (an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]), was unable to differentiate antibodies produced in response to FIV vaccination from those incited by FIV infection. The aim of this study was to determine if saliva is a suitable diagnostic specimen using the same well characterized feline cohort. FIV infection status of these cats had been determined previously using a combination of serology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and virus isolation. This final assignment was then compared to results obtained using saliva as the diagnostic specimen utilizing the same three point-of-care FIV antibody test kits and commercially available PCR assay (FIV RealPCR). In a population of cats where one third (117/356; 33%) were FIV-vaccinated, both immunochromatography test kits accurately diagnosed FIV infection using saliva via a centrifugation method, irrespective of FIV vaccination history. For FIV diagnosis using saliva, the specificity of Anigen Rapid FIV/FeLV and Witness FeLV/FIV was 100%, while the sensitivity of these kits was 96% and 92% respectively. SNAP FIV/FeLV Combo had a specificity of 98% and sensitivity of 44%, while FIV RealPCR testing had a specificity of 100% and sensitivity of 72% using saliva. A revised direct method of saliva testing was trialed on a subset of FIV-infected cats (n = 14), resulting in 14, 7 and 0 FIV positive results using Anigen Rapid FIV/FeLV, Witness FeLV/FIV and SNAP FIV/FeLV Combo, respectively. These results demonstrate that saliva can be used to diagnose FIV infection, irrespective of FIV vaccination history, using either a centrifugation method (Anigen Rapid FIV/FeLV and Witness FeLV/FIV) or a direct method (Anigen Rapid FIV/FeLV). Collection of a saliva specimen therefore provides an acceptable alternative to venipuncture (i) in fractious cats where saliva may be easier to obtain than whole blood, (ii) in settings when a veterinarian or trained technician is unavailable to collect blood and (iii) in shelters where FIV testing is undertaken prior to adoption but additional blood testing is not required.     

Laboratory tests for diagnosing and monitoring canine leishmaniasis

Although several reviews on canine leishmaniasis have been published, none thoroughly described clinicopathologic abnormalities and their clinical usefulness. The aim of this review was to provide information concerning current diagnostic tests relevant for clinical pathologists and from a practical perspective. Specifically, in canine leishmaniasis, nonregenerative normocytic normochromic anemia, thrombocytopenia, or leukogram changes may be present. Clinical chemistry and urinalysis may indicate renal dysfunction (azotemia, decreased urine specific gravity, proteinuria) and an inflammatory/immune response (increased acute phase proteins [APP] or α₂‐ and/or γ‐globulins). Although a potential gammopathy is usually polyclonal, it may also appear oligo‐ or monoclonal, especially in dogs coinfected by other vector‐borne pathogens. When lesions are accessible to fine‐needle aspiration (lymphoadenomegaly, nodular lesions, joint swelling), cytology is strongly advised, as the presence of Leishmania amastigotes in a pattern of pyogranulomatous inflammation or lymphoplasmacytic hyperplasia is diagnostic. If the cytologic pattern is inconclusive, the parasite should be identified by histology/immunohistochemistry or PCR on surgical biopsies. Alternatively, cytology and PCR may be performed on bone marrow samples where amastigotes, along with erythroid hypoplasia, myeloid hyperplasia, plasmacytosis, or secondary dysmyelopoiesis can be observed. Dogs with overt leishmaniasis generally have high antibody titers, while low titers predominate in immunologically resistant infected dogs or in exposed dogs with no parasite confirmation. Quantitative serology is recommended in clinically suspect dogs as high‐titer antibodies titers may confirm the clinical diagnosis. In confirmed and treated dogs, renal function and inflammatory/immune response variables should be periodically monitored.     

稻粉虱的发生及其化学防治药剂筛选

稻粉虱Aleurocybotus indicus David et Subramaniam, 属半翅目粉虱科, 以刺吸式口器为害水稻叶片而导致产量损失, 是我国闽?赣?浙等稻区的一种偶发性水稻害虫, 近20多年已鲜有报道, 但2019年-2021年在中国水稻研究所富阳试验农场稻田暴发?本文描述了稻粉虱的为害症状和形态特征, 并配以原色照片; 克隆得到了稻粉虱线粒体DNA COⅠ基因片段, 发现其与烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci序列一致性最高(85.80%); 田间调查表明, 富阳试验农场及周边稻田稻粉虱均有不同程度的发生, 但前者发生量明显较高(每个分蘖最高可达251头), 推测可能与农场温室内的稻粉虱越冬虫源有关; 利用稻苗浸渍法评估了不同作用机制的7种杀虫剂对稻粉虱的毒力, 发现双丙环虫酯?氯虫苯甲酰胺?氟啶虫胺腈?氟啶虫酰胺和溴氰虫酰胺对稻粉虱成虫均有较好的杀虫活性, 其中前4种药剂推荐中剂量处理后72 h的校正死亡率均可达100%, 其LC50分别为3.028?3.769?6.405 mg/L和7.894 mg/L?本研究可为我国稻粉虱的识别诊断和化学防治提供重要依据?     

Nutrient addition and disturbance effects on the community composition and assembly in a desert steppe北大核心CSCD

The effects of short-term nutrient additions (NPKμ, 10 g·m- 2) and disturbances on the species diversity, functional traits, soil properties, and community assembly mechanisms of the herbaceous community in the Urat desert steppe were examined. A mixed linear model, principal component analysis, and null model methods were utilized and both disturbance and interaction treatments were found to significantly reduce species richness and β diversity. Short-term nutrient additions significantly reduced soil pH but increased soil electrical conductivity. Six functional traits of the dominant species (i.e. Stipa glareosa, Peganum harmala, Salsola collina, Corispermum mongolicum) and six community-weighted mean significant changes under the disturbance and nutrient addition treatments were identified. The disturbance and nutrient additions promoted the transformation of the dominant species in the community from conservative strategies to acquisitive strategies. The results of the two null models revealed that community assembly under the control tended to be a stochastic process, while the disturbance and interaction treatments tended to be deterministic processes, and that of the nutrient addition treatments tended to be weaker deterministic processes. Plant communities in the desert steppe responded and adapted to the nutrient additions and disturbances through changes in the dominant species and their crucial functional traits. © 2023 Chinese Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.     

22~42日龄黄羽肉鸡饲粮苏氨酸需要量研究

【目的】通过研究饲粮苏氨酸水平对22~42日龄黄羽肉鸡生长性能、胴体品质和免疫功能的影响,确定其苏氨酸需要量。【方法】试验选用22日龄快大型岭南黄羽肉鸡1 600只,根据体重相同的原则分为5个组,每组8个重复,每个重复40只肉鸡（公母各半）。采用玉米-花生粕型基础饲粮,5个处理组试验鸡分别饲喂含0.60%（基础饲粮）、0.67%、0.74%、0.81%和0.88%苏氨酸饲粮,试验期为21 d。试验结束后,每个重复选取2只鸡屠宰采样,测定屠宰性能、免疫器官指数和血清生化指标。【结果】饲粮苏氨酸水平显著影响黄羽肉公鸡、母鸡的体重、平均日增重和料重比（P<0.05）。对于母鸡,0.88%苏氨酸水平组平均日增重最高;0.81%苏氨酸水平组平均日采食量最高。对于公鸡,0.81%苏氨酸水平组平均日增重最高;0.81%苏氨酸水平组平均日采食量最高。饲粮苏氨酸水平与黄羽肉公鸡平均日增重、平均日采食量以及公、母鸡料重比呈显著的二次线性相关（P<0.05）;根据平均日增重和平均日采食量回归方程得出黄羽肉公鸡饲粮苏氨酸最适水平分别为0.81%和0.83%;根据料重比回归方程得出黄羽肉母鸡和公鸡饲粮苏氨酸最适水平分别为0.83%和0.86%。饲粮苏氨酸水平对黄羽肉公鸡、母鸡的全净膛率、半净膛率、腿肌率、胸肌率均无显著影响（P>0.05）;对黄羽肉公鸡全净膛率和腹脂率均有显著影响,其中0.81%苏氨酸组全净膛率显著高于0.60%和0.74%苏氨酸组,0.88%苏氨酸组腹脂率显著低于0.60%和0.67%苏氨酸组（P<0.05）。饲粮苏氨酸水平显著影响黄羽肉母鸡法氏囊指数和胸腺指数,其中0.60%苏氨酸组法氏囊指数显著低于0.81%苏氨酸组,0.81%和0.88%苏氨酸组胸腺指数显著高于0.60%苏氨酸组（P<0.05）;对肝脏指数、脾脏指数无显著影响（P>0.05）。饲粮苏氨酸水平对黄羽肉母鸡血清中甘油三酯、胰岛素含量有显著影响,其中0.60%苏氨酸水平组血清中胰岛素含量最低,0.88%苏氨酸水平组血清中甘油三酯含量最低,显著低于0.60%苏氨酸组（P<0.05）;苏氨酸水平对黄羽肉公鸡甘油三酯含量有显著影响,其中0.88%苏氨酸水平组血清中甘油三酯含量最低,显著低于0.60%和0.67%苏氨酸组（P<0.05）。【结论】饲粮中添加适量苏氨酸可以提高黄羽肉鸡生长性能、胴体品质,促进免疫器官发育。以生长性能为主要判定指标,确定22~42日龄黄羽肉母鸡饲粮最适苏氨酸水平为0.83%,黄羽肉公鸡最适苏氨酸水平为0.81%。     

饲粮添加过瘤胃半胱氨酸对育成期梅花鹿生长性能、营养物质表观消化率和血清生化指标的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮添加过瘤胃半胱氨酸对育成期梅花鹿生长性能、营养物质表观消化率和血清生化指标的影响。采用单因素随机区组试验设计,将12头7月龄雄性梅花鹿仔鹿分为4组(每组3个重复,每个重复1只),组间体重差异不显著。对照组(Ⅰ组)饲喂基础饲粮,试验组分别饲喂额外添加1.25(Ⅱ组)、2.50(Ⅲ组)和5.00 g·kg^-1(Ⅳ组)过瘤胃半胱氨酸(有效成分51.70%)的试验饲粮。试验预饲期15 d,正试期112 d。结果表明,1)与Ⅰ组相比,添加过瘤胃半胱氨酸Ⅲ组总增重和平均日增重显著提高(P<0.05),Ⅲ组料重比显著降低(P<0.05);2)与Ⅰ组相比,添加过瘤胃半胱氨酸各组粗蛋白质、钙和磷表观消化率显著提高(P<0.05),Ⅲ组干物质和有机物表观消化率显著提高(P<0.05);3)与Ⅰ组相比,添加过瘤胃半胱氨酸Ⅱ组和Ⅲ组甘氨酸表观消化率显著提高(P<0.05),各组半胱氨酸、蛋氨酸、丝氨酸、赖氨酸、苏氨酸、缬氨酸、异亮氨酸、亮氨酸、精氨酸、苯丙氨酸、组氨酸、天冬氨酸、酪氨酸、谷氨酸、丙氨酸和脯氨酸表观消化率显著提高(P<0...