Improving management for higher reproduction accelerates genetic improvement in closed herd of swine

The present study compared responses to selection at different conception rates and litter sizes at weaning in a simulated closed herd in a swine breeding program. The base population consisted of 10 males and 50 females, and 10 generations of selection was practiced by using individual phenotype or best linear unbiased prediction of breeding values for a trait with heritability (h²) of either 0.2 or 0.5. The probability of conception in a single mating was assumed to be 0.8, 0.9 or 1.0. Litter size at weaning was sampled randomly from a normal distribution with mean 8, 10 or 12 and variance 8.1225. Genetic response increased by approximately 6% for h² = 0.2 and approximately 5% for h² = 0.5 at generation 10 when conception rate was increased from 0.8 to 1.0. However, litter size at weaning did not affect response to selection. In conclusion, improving conception rate by environmental management increases genetic response indirectly in a breeding program of a closed swine herd.     

体外试验中不同粗精比对山羊瘤胃细菌氨态氮利用效率的影响

利用体外发酵法研究了4种粗精比(10∶0、8∶2、6∶4和4∶6)底物对山羊瘤胃细菌产量、15NH3-N利用效率的影响。结果表明:混合培养液的pH值与氨态氮浓度在8h内急剧下降,而后至24h呈缓慢下降;经24h培养的细菌产量在8∶2、6∶4和4∶6组中差异不显著(P>0.05),但都极显著地高于10∶0组(P<0.01);细菌体15N丰度以8∶2及4∶6组较高,显著高于10∶0和6∶4组(P<0.05);细菌体15N富集量以8∶2组最高,底物547.43μg15N中有120.44μg被细菌体富集,显著高于10∶0组(P<0.05),但6∶4、4∶6组与10∶0组间差异均不显著(P>0.05)。细菌赖氨酸的相对百分组成随精饲料比例的增加而显著增加,胱氨酸在粗饲料组(10∶0)显著高于其它组,但各精饲料添加组间差异不显著,组氨酸以8∶2组为最高,显著高于10∶0组,但与其它精饲料添加组间差异不显著(P>0.05)。     

A perspective on the measurement of time in plant disease epidemiology

The growth and development of plant pathogens and their hosts generally respond strongly to the temperature of their environment. However, most studies of plant pathology record pathogen/host measurements against physical time (e.g. hours or days) rather than thermal time (e.g. degree-days or degree-hours). This confounds the comparison of epidemiological measurements across experiments and limits the value of the scientific literature.     

几种缓释肥的氮释放特性以及对草坪草生长的影响

实验室内采用水浸泡法对尿素、3种缓效肥和山西省农业科学院土壤肥料研究所研制(自研草坪肥)的缓效肥的初期溶出率和微分溶出率进行了测定.其中尿素的初期溶出率为22.75%,超出了国际上公认的缓/控释肥的初期溶出率小于15%的指标,而微分溶出率为0.22%,也小于国际上公认的缓/控释肥的微分溶出率(0.25%～2.5%)指标.其他几种缓释肥的初期溶出率为8.73%～14.42%,微分溶出率为0.30%～2.11%,符合国际上公认的缓/控释肥的初期溶出率和微分溶出率指标.田间试验比较和研究了尿素、3种缓效肥和山西省农业科学院土壤肥料研究所研制的缓效肥对草坪草的干草产量和养分含量的影响,尿素和包衣尿素处理的草坪草的生长量前期较高,后期产草量较低,呈马鞍型.其他处理的草坪草干草产量则比较平缓,肥料的氮释放特性与草坪草生长趋势相同.不同肥料处理对草坪草的中量、微量元素含量有一定的影响.     

荷斯坦奶牛隐性乳房炎与乳用特征的相关性分析

随机抽取荷斯坦奶牛 472头 (1～ 11胎 )进行奶牛隐性乳房炎的检测 ,乳用特征性状 (楞角性、尻宽、尻角度、后肢侧视、蹄角度 )的线性评定 ,以及隐性乳房炎与乳用特征的相关性分析。结果表明 :奶牛隐性乳房炎的乳区阳性率与楞角性、尻宽、尻角度、后肢侧视、蹄角度的相关系数分别为 0 1171、0 10 3 0、0 0 681、0 0 180、-0 12 65 ,其中与楞角性、尻宽分别达到显著水平 (P <0 0 5 )的正相关 ,与蹄角度达极显著 (P <0 0 1)的负相关。奶牛阳性率与楞角性、尻宽、尻角度、后肢侧视、蹄角度的相关系数分别为 0 0 967、0 0 5 61、0 0 2 82、0 0 12 7和 -0 0 670 ,其中除与楞角性为显著水平 (P <0 0 5 )的正相关 (0 0 967)外 ,其余均不显著 (P >0 0 5 )。     

鸭流感病毒4/2004-H6N2亚型毒株的血凝素基因全序列克隆与分析

2004初从正常鸭群中分离到一株鸭源禽流感病毒，命名为A／Duck／HN／4／2004(H6N2)。经对血凝素基因(HA)序列分析发现HA基因全长为1744bp，共编码566个氨基酸，在裂解位点仅含一个碱性氨基酸-精氨酸(R)，符合LPAIV的标准。将所得基因序列与已发表的同一亚型参考序列分析表明，与H6亚型流感HA基因同源性为89．2％-97．1％，经分子遗传演化分析表明本次分离株与香港分离株A／Duck／Hong Kong／3600／99(H6N2)、A／Duck／Hong Kong／3600／99(H6N2)最近。     

高海拔地区鸡胚发育关键因素研究

对藏鸡(T)、饲养在北京的藏鸡(TB)、矮小隐性白(D)、农大小型蛋鸡商品代种蛋(M)、寿光鸡(S)、藏鸡×矮小隐性白(TD)、藏鸡×寿光鸡(TS)7组种蛋在西藏林芝进行孵化研究,通过阶段死亡率、出雏率、失水率数据分析了影响高海拔地区胚胎发育的关键因素。结果表明胚胎本身的高原生活力是鸡蛋高海拔孵化主要因素,其次是蛋壳传导力。     

Retrospective Evaluation of the Effect of Heart Rate on Survival in Dogs with Atrial Fibrillation

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) usually is associated with a rapid ventricular rate. The optimal heart rate (HR) during AF is unknown.

Hypothesis/Objectives

Heart rate affects survival in dogs with chronic AF.

Animals

Forty‐six dogs with AF and 24‐hour ambulatory recordings were evaluated.

Methods

Retrospective study. Holter‐derived HR variables were analyzed as follows: mean HR (meanHR, 24‐hour average), minimum HR (minHR, 1‐minute average), maximum HR (maxHR, 1‐minute average). Survival times were recorded from the time of presumed adequate rate control. The primary endpoint was all‐cause mortality. Cox proportional hazards analysis identified variables independently associated with survival; Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis estimated the median survival time of dogs with meanHR <125 bpm versus ≥125 bpm.

Results

All 46 dogs had structural heart disease; 31 of 46 had congestive heart failure (CHF), 44 of 46 received antiarrhythmic drugs. Of 15 dogs with cardiac death, 14 had CHF. Median time to all‐cause death was 524 days (Interquartile range (IQR), 76–1,037 days). MeanHR was 125 bpm (range, 62–203 bpm), minHR was 82 bpm (range, 37–163 bpm), maxHR was 217 bpm (range, 126–307 bpm). These were significantly correlated with all‐cause and cardiac‐related mortality. For every 10 bpm increase in meanHR, the risk of all‐cause mortality increased by 35% (hazard ratio, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.17–1.55; P < 0.001). Median survival time of dogs with meanHR<125 bpm (n = 23) was significantly longer (1,037 days; range, 524‐open) than meanHR ≥125 bpm (n = 23; 105 days; range, 67–267 days; P = 0.0012). Mean HR was independently associated with all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality (P < 0.003).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Holter‐derived meanHR affects survival in dogs with AF. Dogs with meanHR <125 bpm lived longer than those with meanHR ≥ 125 bpm.     

Echocardiographic Estimates of Right Ventricular Systolic Function in Dogs with Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease

Background

Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction independently predicts outcomes in human myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). There is limited information regarding RV systolic function in dogs with MMVD.

Hypothesis

Right ventricular systolic function differs among stages of disease, decreasing in decompensated MMVD.

Animals

Thirty‐sixclient‐owned dogs with MMVD not receiving oral cardiovascular medications.

Methods

Prospective clinical study. Dogs were categorized according to disease severity as ACVIM Stage B1, B2, or C. Seven echocardiographic indices of RV systolic function were measured. Groups were compared by 1‐way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test. Frequencies of cases with cardiac remodeling falling outside previously established reference intervals were compared using Fisher's exact test. Intra‐ and interobserver measurement variability was calculated for each RV function index.

Results

The indices TAPSE (P = 0.029), RV St_L (P = 0.012), and RV StR_L (P = 0.041) were significantly different between groups. A greater proportion of B2 dogs (7 of 12) had TAPSE values above reference intervals compared with B1 (2 of 12) or C (2 of 12) dogs (P = 0.027). Measurement variability of TAPSE, RV S', and RV St_G was clinically acceptable.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Right ventricular systolic function differs between stages of MMVD, increasing in stage B2, and declining in stage C. The prognostic importance of RV function indices, particularly TAPSE, might be worth evaluating in dogs with MMVD.     

一株鸭源禽流感病毒（H9N2）全基因序列分析及其排毒规律的研究

为研究一株鸭源H9N2亚型禽流感病毒(JN1株)全基因组的分子特征和遗传进化情况以及感染雏鸭后的排毒规律,对其生物学特性、全基因组序列以及遗传进化进行了分析,通过点眼滴鼻方式感染3周龄健康雏鸭,利用建立的实时荧光定量PCR(RT-PCR)检测鸭的排毒规律,并测定血清抗体效价。JNI株的鸡胚半数感染量为10~(-7.54)/0.2mL,鸡胚最小致死量的平均死亡时间为72h,静脉致病指数为0.266,抗原相关系数为0.47。系统发育分析表明,JN1株的HA与CK/HK/G9/97和DK/HK/Y280/97在同一分支上,NA、M、NP、PA、PB1、PB2基因与SH/F/98同源性较高,NS基因则与H5N1亚型禽流感病毒进化关系较近。HA的裂解位点为PSRSSR↓GL,存在6个潜在糖基化位点,在234位的氨基酸残基为L,NA基因颈部存在缺失。雏鸭在感染该病毒后,饮食正常,精神良好,3~17d均有排毒,咽拭子和泄殖腔棉拭子排毒规律基本一致,分别在第3天和第13天出现排毒高峰。该H9N2亚型禽流感病毒属欧亚大陆分支,为低致病性禽流感,病毒可通过呼吸道和泄殖腔向外界排毒,排毒时间较长。