Effect of prostaglandin F2alpha on ovarian, adrenal, and pituitary hormones and on luteal blood flow in mares

The effect of a single injection of prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF) during mid-diestrus on systemic concentrations of progesterone, LH, FSH, estradiol, and cortisol and on blood flow to the corpus luteum was studied in 10 controls and 10 PGF-treated mares. Blood flow was assessed by estimating the percentage of corpus luteum with color-Doppler signals of blood flow during real-time scanning of the entire structure and by the diameter of the vascular pedicle near its attachment to the ovary. Treatment was done 8 days after ovulation and 0 h was immediately before the treatment. Examinations and collection of blood samples were done at 0 h, every 5 min until 1h, and then at 1.5, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h. The concentrations of estradiol did not change, but progesterone, LH, FSH, and cortisol increased significantly within 5 min. Concentrations of LH and FSH in the PGF group remained elevated until a temporarily lower concentration at 8 or 4h, respectively, rebounded to 12h, and then slowly decreased. Cortisol remained elevated, until a decrease between 1 and 4h. Progesterone in the PGF group increased significantly until 10 min after 0 h and then decreased by 40 min to below the concentrations in controls. Within the PGF group, progesterone decreased significantly by 45 min to below the concentrations at 0 h. The values for each of the two indicators of blood flow did not differ significantly between the PGF and control groups until a decrease at 24h in the PGF group. Results did not support the hypothesis that the immediate transient post-PGF increase in progesterone was associated with an increase in luteal blood flow. Luteolysis, as indicated by decreasing progesterone, began well before the beginning of a decrease in luteal blood flow.     

猪链球菌2型分泌性核酸酶A(SsnA)活性检测及其基因序列的克隆与测序分析

对8株猪链球菌2型重庆分离株的核酸酶A全基因进行克隆测序,结果表明该基因长度为3 126 bp,与Gen-Bank发表的唯一的该基因的序列相比,核苷酸同源性高于98%,推导的氨基酸同源性高于94%。根据核酸酶A基因的测序结果建立扩增片段长度为301 bp的PCR检测方法,并用甲苯胺蓝DNA酶琼脂对猪链球菌分泌性核酸酶A的活性进行检测。检测了从病猪内脏分离的猪链球菌致病株35株,33株核酸酶A基因PCR检测阳性(阳性比例为94.3%),其中有24株分泌活性检测为阳性(阳性比例68.6%);正常猪扁桃体分离株14株,PCR检测为阳性的10株(阳性比例71.4%),其中有核酸酶A分泌活性为8株(阳性比例57.1%),检测菌株中有2型猪链球菌44株,38株扩增出核酸酶A基因的片段PCR检测阳性并且分泌活性为阳性的有32株,猪链球菌1型、7型、9型、13型、1/2型各1株,均能扩增出核酸酶A基因的片段,但只有13型猪链球菌有核酸酶A分泌活性。对猪链球菌在不同生长时期核酸酶活性的检测显示,猪链球菌在培养4、8、16、32、48 h均有核酸酶A的分泌,并且C a2 和M g2 为分泌性核酸酶A的活性必需因子。     

猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒SDZP P126株GP2基因序列分析及其对病毒增殖的影响

旨在研究1株连续传代的猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV) SDZP P126 GP2基因的变异情况,以及GP2对病毒增殖的影响。构建GP2基因全长真核载体pEGFP-N1-GP2,利用生物学软件对GP2基因进行核苷酸和氨基酸的同源性分析,并将重组质粒pEGFP-N1-GP2转染到Marc-145细胞上,接毒后检测对病毒增殖的影响。通过GP2基因核苷酸和氨基酸的同源性分析,发现9个碱基的突变,这9个碱基的突变导致了5个氨基酸的突变。其中氨基酸序列中的第10位由亮氨酸突变为苯丙氨酸,这一突变在多株致弱毒株中存在,在Marc-145细胞转染重组质粒pEGFP-N1-GP2对病毒的增殖无显著影响。初步推断SDZP P126 GP2基因的突变对病毒在Marc-145细胞上增殖没有影响。     

Experimental infection with Mycobacterium avium, serotype 2, in pigs. 1. Intravenous inoculations

A porcine strain of Mycobacterium avium, Serotype 2, was used for intravenous inoculation of pigs in doses 5, 1, 10⁻¹, 10⁻² and 10⁻³ mg (1 mg = 78 × 10⁶ viable units), 2 pigs per dose.Dose 5 mg proved fatal for both of the inoculated pigs, which were killed in extremis 64 and 69 days, respectively, after inoculation. Dose 1 mg caused clinical disease in 1 of 2 pigs, but was not lethal. Post mortem, the clinically affected pigs showed a generalized granulomatous tuberculosis. The other pig given 1 mg and the pigs given smaller doses, showed no clinical signs, and lesions and presence of acid-fasts were mostly limited to the lymph nodes of the lung, liver and digestive tract.All the pigs showed delayed hypersensitivity to avian PPD tuberculin (1000 t.u.) and some of them cross-reacted with human PPD tuberculin (1000 t.u.). The clinically affected pigs gave a very weak response to tuberculin, the others a strong response.The smallest dose capable of establishing an infection and producing tuberculous lesions was not determined, but seems to be less than 10⁻³ mg (78000 viable organisms).     

Serum chloramphenicol levels and the intramuscular bioavailability of several parenteral formulations of chloramphenicol in ruminants

Summary

Serum chloramphenicol concentrations were determined by microbiological and chemical assay methods in cows, ewes, and goats treated parenterally with seven different veterinary parenteral chloramphenicol products, including the water soluble sodium succinate ester of chloramphenicol and solutions of 20%, 25% and 50% of chloramphenicol base in various organic solvents. Serum drug concentrations were analyzed for the effect of product formulation differences, dosage, whether the drug was administered i.m. at a single body site or to two sites, and the method of assay, on the absorption from the injection site, peak drug levels, and the persistence in serum of effective concentrations of the drug i.e. 5 to 10 ug / ml. Although differences were observed among the 6 products containing chloramphenicol base in respect to absorption rate and peak serum drug levels, and although these differences significantly influenced the persistence of microbiologically‐active serum drug concentrations at the level of ≥ 10 μg / ml, they did not at the level of ≥ 5 μg / ml.

In the animal species examined, injections given at 2 sites appeared to influence the duration of predetermined serum drug levels more than the differences among the products in respect of the absorption and elimination rates from serum, the peak serum concentrations, and the dose. The shapes of the concentration‐to‐time curves in cows and ewes injected with the same dose of a given product were essentially the same, but they were different in goats. Serum chloramphenicol concentrations measured chemically after treatment with chloramphenicol base were 20% to 46% higher than those measured microbiologically.

For 60 minutes after the sodium succinate ester had been administered i.v. and i.m. to ewes, the chemically determined chloramphenicol levels were more than twice as high as the respective concentrations determined by microbiological assay, but thereafter, the magnitude of those differences was not greater than observed after treatment with chloramphenicol base.

Intramuscular bioavailability of the products containing chloramphenicol base injected at 2 sites was rather poor (51% to 80.5%ofthe dose) and even lower values were calculated after injection at a single site.

Results are briefly discussed of the effect of dosage form on the persistence of microbiologically effective serum drug levels. A dose of at least 50 mg / kg to be administered i.m. at two sites are essential prerequisits for chloramphenicol therapy in ruminants.     

猪链球菌2型四川分离株毒力基因的检测及其序列分析

根据猪链球菌2型的MRP、EPF和SLY基因设计合成了四对引物,对我们分离鉴定的2005四川分离株进行毒力因子检测,并对阳性产物测序比较。结果以分离株为模板,获得了与预期结果一致的867bp(MRP)、572bp(EF)的2个片段,以及SLY的长度为1502bp目的片段(外引物)和1443bp的目的片段(内引物)。说明分离株SSsc0501为MRP+EF+SLY+,属于具有3种主要毒力因子的强毒株。经对PCR阳性产物测序及序列分析,结果其与P1/7株的核苷酸序列完全一致,与1933株的同源性达99.7%,仅在128位、217位、744位、1380位、1386位的5个核苷酸发生突变。在氨基酸水平上SSsc0501株与1933株的同源性达99.6%,有2个氨基酸发生替代。     

猪链球菌2型溶血素B细胞表位预测

目的预测猪链球菌2型(SS2)溶血素(SLY)B细胞表位。方法以DNAstar分析为主,综合分析二级结构、亲水性、表面可及性及抗原性指数,辅以吴玉章氨基酸抗原指数计算方法进行SS2溶血素B细胞表位预测。结果推测最有可能的B细胞表位位于溶血素N端第74～85、231～244区域位。结论应用多参数预测SS2溶血素的特征,为表位疫苗的研制奠定了基础。     

Quantifying Pinyon-Juniper Reduction within North America's Sagebrush Ecosystem

One of the primary conservation threats surrounding sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems in the Intermountain West of the United States is the expansion and infilling of pinyon pine (Pinus edulis, P. monophylla) and juniper (Juniperus spp.) woodlands. Woodland expansion into sagebrush ecosystems has demonstrated impacts on sagebrush-associated flora and fauna, particularly the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). These impacts have prompted government agencies, land managers, and landowners to ramp up pinyon-juniper removal efforts to maintain and restore sagebrush ecosystems. Accurately quantifying and analyzing management activities over time across broad spatial extents still poses a major challenge. Such information is vital to broad-scale planning and coordination of management efforts. To address this problem and aid future management planning, we applied a remote sensing change detection approach to map reductions in pinyon-juniper cover across the sage-grouse range and developed a method for rapidly updating maps of canopy cover. We found total conifer reduction over the past several yr (2011−2013 to 2015−2017) amounted to 1.6% of the area supporting tree cover within our study area, which is likely just keeping pace with estimates of expansion. Two-thirds of conifer reduction was attributed to active management (1.04% of the treed area) while wildfire accounted for one-third of all estimated conifer reduction in the region (0.56% of the treed area). Our results also illustrate the breadth of this management effort—crossing ownership, agency, and state boundaries. We conclude by identifying some key priorities that should be considered in future conifer management efforts based on our comprehensive assessment.