Magnetic resonance imaging of a brain abscess in a 10-month-old filly

The purpose of this paper was to correlate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of a mature brain abscess in a horse with histopathologic alterations of brain tissue. Eight months after the onset of clinical signs, MRI of the brain of a 10-month-old filly was performed. A large space-occupying lesion in the right cerebral hemisphere was identified. This space-occupying lesion was delineated by a thick and well-defined capsule that was isointense to brain parenchyma on the T1-weighted images and with a markedly hypointense on the T2-weighted images. The identification of such a capsule is highly diagnostic of a mature brain abscess. The lesion seen on MR images was confirmed at necropsy where a large abscess of the right hemisphere was observed. Streptococcus zooepidemicus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated from the abscess. Based on histopathologic examination, the signal characteristics of the capsule on T1-weighted and T2-weighted images were found to be due to the presence of numerous hemosiderin-laden macrophages. These results are in agreement with previous studies on human patients. This report confirms the value of MRI in the diagnosis of equine brain diseases.     

The potential for the Rapid Screening of Potato Cultivars (Solanum tuberosum) for Resistance to Powdery Scab (Spongospora subterranea) using a Laboratory Bioassay

Powdery scab of potato, once established in a field, is difficult to control because of the longevity of the resting spores (cystosori) of the causal organism, Spongospora subterranea f.sp. subterranea. Host resistance is likely to be the most efficient in a long-term control strategy for preventing build-up of field inoculum and spread of the disease. Resistance screening of potato cultivars is mostly done in laborious field trials where disease development is likely to be unpredictable. A bioassay with potato tissue cultured plantlets and cystosori as inoculum is described and was tested for its potential to screen potato cultivars at an early stage for their relative susceptibility to powdery scab by comparing the lab results with field data. With cystosori inoculum of Swiss origin, the laboratory test showed clear differences between the potato cultivars in the severity of zoosporangial root infection which correlated better with ranked tuber infection data, compared to root galling. There are apparent differences in the relative trends in susceptibility between roots and tubers of five selected cultivars when using naturally infested soil instead of prepared cystosori as inoculum in the lab bioassay. Furthermore, differences in the severity of zoosporangial root infection of two selected cultivars were found when cystosori from different countries where used as inoculum. A possible host genotype × pathogen interaction is discussed. The bioassay has the potential to screen and select for resistant material at an early breeding stage thus making field trials not unnecessary but more economical. It will allow the use of a standard set of pathogen collections and facilitate testing for inoculum virulence in infested soils.     

植物化感作用影响因素的再认识

土壤养分、酶、微生物、本底特性,根茬还田、水分、植物根系、种植体系和种植模式与化感作用的互作关系,表明这些因子可通过对土壤养分有效性、微生物种群结构、土壤酶活性和化感物质浓度的影响而对化感作用产生直接或间接影响,这些可为通过化感作用途径构建高效农田生态系统提供新的思路.     

春季休牧对草原和家畜生产力的影响

从4月上旬到6月下旬,在内蒙古锡林郭勒典型草原,进行春季休牧试验,对休牧和非休牧的草原进行生产力监测.结果表明:春季休牧可以有效地保护草原生态环境,经过两个月休牧后,草原植被状况明显改善;休牧期间采用低投入维持性饲养,可以显著降低饲养成本.并对休牧措施的生态效益、生产实践可行性和经济合理性进行综合讨论和评价.     

优质肉鸡繁育体系的效益评估

近十多年来，我国优质肉鸡的生产方兴未艾，许多育种公司和科研院所不断推出新品系。为充分发挥新品系的遗传潜力，探求优质肉鸡最佳的繁育生产模式具有重要意义。由于不同的品系及其杂种后代在不同的性状上各有优缺点，很难用生产性能进行直接比较，而适合用育种规划的方法通过经济学指标进行评价。系统分析通过把生产系统抽象概念化并用数学手段模型化的方法，     

现代集约化肉羊业主要关键技术研究与应用

专门化肉用种羊选定、引进后，通过适应性研究，在较大规模养羊业生产实践中。对现代集约化肉羊业的主要关键技术进行研究、完善和创新，组装集成并应用于生产。技术研究应用结果既为市场提供了大批专门化肉用种羊和优质安全的杂种肉羊，取得了高水平的研究成果及显著的经济效益和社会效益．又为我国目前正在迅速发展的集约化肉羊业提供了可靠的技术支持和理想的生产模式：从适宜的专门化肉羊品种到运用高效母羊快速扩繁技术．建立和完善有效的肉羊杂交利用体系，普遍应用种羊鲜、冻精生产大批肉用杂种羔羊，种植高产优质饲草及其科学加工调制和利用．建立严格兽医防疫制度．实行放牧 补饲或全舍饲的精细管理和集约化育肥，至生产优质、安全、标准肉羊，获得显著的经济效益和社会效益。     

四个紫花苜蓿品种种子萌发期耐盐性研究

在实验室内模拟的盐分条件下,用不同浓度的Na Cl盐溶液对4个紫花苜蓿品种(中苜1号、中苜3号、中草3号和陇东苜蓿)种子萌发期进行盐胁迫处理。结果表明:低浓度(0.2%和0.4%)的盐溶液对苜蓿的发芽率和幼苗苗高抑制作用不显著,对幼根具有一定的刺激作用。0.8%和1.0%的Na Cl溶液处理下发芽率、0.6%的Na Cl溶液处理下的幼苗苗高和幼根生长量可以作为苜蓿种子萌发期耐盐性鉴定指标。对四个紫花苜蓿品种的发芽率、幼苗苗高、幼根生长量、耐盐半致死浓度四个指标进行综合分析,结果表明:中苜1号耐盐性最强,其次是中苜3号和中草3号,陇东苜蓿最弱。     

铅胁迫对金丝草生长及生理生化的影响

采用土培方法,探究不同梯度铅胁迫(0、1000、2000和3000 mg·kg^-1)对金丝草生长形态、体内抗氧化系统和渗透调节物质的影响。结果表明:低浓度(1000 mg·kg^-1)处理会诱导金丝草叶片过氧化物酶(POD)活性、可溶性蛋白(SP)含量和根系抗超氧阴离子自由基活力(ASAFR)、可溶性糖(SS)及脯氨酸(Pro)含量增加,使得金丝草植株总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)处于较高水平,促进了金丝草株高、叶长和生物量的增加。随胁迫浓度增加,高浓度(2000~3000 mg·kg^-1)处理下,金丝草叶片和根系丙二醛(MDA)含量迅速增加,株高、叶长、叶面积和生物量下降,生长受到抑制。但金丝草通过增强叶片和根系POD、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性来抵御过氧化作用,提高可溶性蛋白和可溶性糖含量维持细胞正常运作,增加根系生物量占比来加强根系发育,一定程度适应了高浓度铅胁迫。综上表明,金丝草主要通过叶片和根系不同抗氧化酶差异化响应、提高渗透调节物质含量,提升金丝草植株总抗氧化能力等途径来提高Pb耐性,对Pb污染矿区植物修复有较大潜力。     

盐胁迫对菘蓝幼苗生长和抗性生理的影响

以“定蓝1号”为试验材料,采用不同浓度NaCl溶液(0,30,60,90,120和150 mmol·L^-1)对菘蓝幼苗进行处理,胁迫14 d后测定了其生长指标、生物量积累、叶片相对含水量、根系活力、根质膜透性、渗透调节物质含量以及抗氧化酶活性等指标,分析不同程度盐胁迫对菘蓝幼苗生长和抗性生理的影响。结果表明:NaCl胁迫对菘蓝幼苗株高和根长都有抑制作用,对根和叶的物质积累也有显著影响,并随浓度的递增呈降低的趋势;菘蓝幼苗叶片相对含水量和根系活力均随NaCl浓度的增加呈现下降趋势,而根质膜透性、叶片脯氨酸含量则呈升高趋势;丙二醛(MDA)含量、组织自动氧化速率(RAD)、过氧化物酶(POD)活性和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性都随NaCl浓度的增加呈先升高后降低的趋势。但当NaCl浓度低于90 mmol·L^-1时,菘蓝幼苗的生长没有受到盐胁迫的明显抑制,根系活力降低不明显,脯氨酸、丙二醛含量和保护酶活性也未显著升高,说明菘蓝幼苗对低浓度盐环境具有一定的耐受性。     

Improved milk production through PG–PL system by provision of in‐house shelter management in lactating Murrah buffaloes during winter season

Comprehensive information on the role of β‐casein and plasminogen–plasmin (PG–PL) system in milk secretion of Murrah buffaloes during winter season is lacking, although effects of cold stress can be ameliorated to an extent by altering microclimate at farm level. Hence, this study was aimed to determine the changes in productivity along with PG–PL system of milk, plasma hormones and metabolites of buffaloes during winter (December–January) season under two different management systems. Average minimum temperature and wind chill index during this season were 7.02 and 12.74 °C respectively. Buffaloes were divided in two groups of six animals each: control and treatment, where treatment group animals were placed in‐house with floor bedding of paddy straw and the control group animals in loose housing system without straw bedding. Physiological responses were recorded, and milk and blood samples were collected at weekly intervals for six‐week experimental period. Under in‐house management system, buffaloes experienced better comfort by alleviating environmental stress as their physiological responses such as respiration rate and pulse rate were significantly reduced (p < 0.01) as compared to the control, which subsequently resulted higher milk yield by 9.92% (p < 0.05). Analysis of milk samples revealed higher concentration of plasminogen (10.6 vs. 8.05 μg/ml; p < 0.01) and β‐casein (p < 0.05), and lower plasmin level (0.299 vs. 0.321 μg/ml; p < 0.05) in buffaloes under treatment group. It was also found that plasma cortisol, glucose and non‐esterified fatty acids levels were higher (p < 0.01) in control group as compared to the treatment animals by 13.6%, 8.14% and 12.6% respectively. However, milk composition, growth hormone, epinephrine and norepinephrine level in plasma were similar in both the groups. Hence, it may be concluded that provision of in‐house shelter management with floor bedding of paddy straw during winter was effective to minimize environmental stress and improved milk production through manipulation of PG–PL system in buffaloes.