Transmission of Theileriosis in the Traditional Farming Sector in the Southern Province of Zambia during 1995–1996

The incidence of first contact with the protozoan Theileria parva was determined in three traditional cattle herds in the Southern Province of Zambia in 1995 and 1996. The majority of first contacts occurred during the dry season in June, July and August, at a time of nymphal activity and in the absence of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus adults, indicating that larva to nymph transmission plays a more prominent role than nymph to adult transmission under the prevailing conditions.     

桑尺蠖和丝棉木金星尺蠖的微孢子虫对家蚕病原性和胚种传染性研究

从桑尺蠖（ＨｅｍｅｒｏｐｈｉｌａａｔｒｉｌｉｎｅａｔａＢｕｔｌｅｒ）中分离的微孢子虫（简称桑尺蠖微孢子虫），形态为长卵圆形，大小为３．５～４．１×１．６～１．９μｍ。从丝棉木金星尺蠖（ＣａｌｏｓｐｉｌｏｓｓｕｓｐｅｃｔａＷａｒｒｅｎ）中分离的微孢子虫（简称丝棉木金星尺蠖微孢子虫），形状为卵圆形，大小为３．２～３．７×１．６～２．１μｍ。两种微孢子虫均能感染寄生家蚕的主要组织器官，引起蚕儿发病，但致病力要比家蚕微孢子虫（Ｎｏｓｅｍａｂｏｍｂｙｃｉｓ）弱，且能经卵传染给下一代，其胚种传染率要比家蚕微孢子虫低。     

Blood, Bull Terriers and Babesiosis: further evidence for direct transmission of Babesia gibsoni in dogs

This study reports on the epidemiology of Babesia gibsoni in American Pit Bull Terriers living in a region of western Victoria in southern Australia. Both American Pit Bull Terriers (n = 100) and other dog breeds (n = 51) were screened for B gibsoni using immunofluorescent antibody testing (IFAT) and/or polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). A questionnaire was also completed by each dog owner, ascertaining the husbandry and habits of the dogs sampled. Fourteen dogs were positive for B gibsoni using IFAT and/or PCR-RFLP and all were American Pit Bull Terriers. Dogs that were male and/or had been bitten by or were biters of other American Pit Bull Terriers were more likely to be B gibsoni positive, thus suggesting that blood-to-blood transmission contributes to the spread of this disease between dogs.     

Pigs as an experimental model for systemic Mycobacterium avium infectious disease

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is an opportunistic pathogen in AIDS patients and pigs, and causes dissemination through primary intestinal lesions. However, its pathogenesis is not well understood. In this article, we hypothesize that pigs can provide a suitable experimental model of disseminated MAC disease. We compared the initial route of infection, the characteristics of the pathogenic strains, the immunological status of the hosts, and the histological characteristics. The route of infection and infective strains are similar in AIDS patients and pigs. Pigs can respond to infection by the formation of systemic epithelioid granuloma with sufficient cell-mediated immunity. However, there are differences in immunological status and histological features between AIDS patients and pigs. Therefore, pigs might be used as an appropriate animal model because of their good cell mediated immunity triggered by systemic mycobacterial infection. In conclusion, MAC infections in AIDS patients and pigs show similarities in terms of the initial route of infection and the genetic characteristics of the pathogenic strains.     

Longevity of Mycobacterium bovis in brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) carcasses,and contact rates between possums and carcasses

Abstract

AIM: To determine, for a variety of environmental conditions, how long Mycobacterium bovis might remain viable inside the carcass of a brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) that died of bovine tuberculosis (Tb), and to measure the rate of contact between free-ranging possums and possum carcasses.

METHODS: Lesions of M. bovis were simulated by inoculating excised spleens weighing 0.5–1 g with 0.2 mL liquid culture containing approximately 5 x 10⁷ cfu M. bovis/mL. Simulated lesions were inserted into possum carcasses (n=48) at the peripheral lymph nodes. Carcasses were placed in the field at two sites (a tussock grassland and a podocarp-broadleaved forest site) and in two seasons (summer and winter) for up to 62 days. Survival rates of M. bovis were estimated by sampling the simulated lesions over time, and culturing the recovered lesion to determine if any viable M. bovis bacteria were present.

The time taken for a free-ranging possum to first encounter a dead possum in its home range was estimated by live-trapping possums and fitting them with proximity loggers (n=13). A ‘contact’ was recorded if these possums came within 40–50 cm of proximity loggers fitted to possum carcasses.

RESULTS: There were strong seasonal and site effects in the survival rate of M. bovis in possum carcasses. In the grassland habitat, no viable bacilli were cultured from any carcass after 3 days in summer, whereas in winter all samples were culture-positive for the first 20 days, and some were still positive after 27 days. The survival rates for forest habitat were intermediate between the results for grassland, and there were no culture-positive carcasses after 9 days in summer or 27 days in winter.

In summer, infected carcasses (n=6) were first encountered by possums a mean 1.9 (range 0.4–6.7) days after placement.

CONCLUSIONS: Possum carcasses were contacted by free-ranging possums within the period that viable M. bovis were shown to survive in a carcass. The risk of such infection is likely to be most significant in winter or in areas with microhabitats where the survival of M. bovis is high. However, the generally low survival rate of M. bovis in possum carcasses and the low frequency of possum-to-carcass contacts indicate this route of transmission alone could not maintain Tb in a possum population.     

Life cycle of Eimeria procera in experimentally infected grey partridges (Perdix perdix)

We examined exogenous and endogenous development of Eimeria procera in experimentally infected grey partridges (Perdix perdix). Our examination included data on morphology, localization, duration of schizogony and gametogony and morphology of sporulated oocysts. The endogenous stages of E. procera developed in large numbers within the epithelial cells of caecal crypts. The asexual development comprised three generations of schizonts. The first fully developed macrogametes and microgamonts were observed on Day 5 post-infection (p.i.) in histologic section. The patent period began on Day 6 p.i. and ended on Day 11 p.i. with peak production of oocysts on Days 7 and 8. Long oval oocysts of E. procera measured 25.78–28.13 μm in length and 14.06–15.24 μm in width, sporulation time ranged from 18 to 24 h at 25°C and from 36 to 48 h at 20°C.     

内蒙古典型草原大型土壤动物群落动态及其在放牧下的变化

本文研究在定量化实验牧压下内蒙古典型草原区大型土壤动物群落动脉及其对牧压变化的反应。结果表明,在４－８只羊／ｈｍ＾２放牧强度下土壤动物多样性,均匀性相对较其他放牧区高。在过牧区,土壤动物生物量,密度虽无明显降低,但优势类群单一化,群落稳定性差。土壤动物密度,生物量,群落多样性,均匀性,种类丰富度与放牧强度的提高呈负相关,但随着放牧强度的提高,上述变化不呈线性下降。     

带幅设计对玉米/苜蓿间作群体光环境特征及光能利用效率的影响北大核心CSCD

探究间作带幅设计对玉米/苜蓿间作群体光环境特征、产量及光能利用效率(LUE)的影响,提出黄土高原旱作条件下玉米/苜蓿间作群体最佳带幅比例。研究设置了玉米单作(SM)、紫花苜蓿单作(SA)以及玉米/紫花苜蓿1∶2(I_(12))、2∶2(I_(22))和2∶4(I_(24))间作5种种植模式,并采用田间试验和数学模拟相结合的方法,分别测定了玉米和苜蓿的干物质产量及作物冠层光合有效辐射(PAR)等指标;建立了考虑光线入射角度和群体冠层结构几何关系的玉米/苜蓿间作群体辐射传输模型,并用实测值对其进行了验证。试验结果表明,在2018年,单作处理的苜蓿干物质产量显著高于间作处理(P<0.05),而在2019年各间作处理苜蓿的干物质分别比单作高197.8、180.3和197.0 g·m^(-2);处理I_(12)、I_(22)和I_(24)两年总的玉米生物量比SM处理高12.1%、0.9%和23.9%。所有间作处理的土地当量比在2019年均大于1.0,表现出间作优势。辐射传输模型可准确模拟玉米/苜蓿间作群体冠层底部的光合有效辐射,间作群体光合有效辐射模拟值与实测值的平均绝对误差和均方根误差分别为59.0和66.6μmol·m^(-2)·s^(-1)。除玉米和苜蓿生育前期及玉米收获后,不同间作处理苜蓿群体冠层上方的PAR均低于单作苜蓿。2018和2019年I_(12)、I_(22)和I_(24)间作处理玉米的光能利用效率分别比单作处理高52.5%、9.3%、51.7%和28.5%、9.6%、21.0%,而间作苜蓿的LUE仅在2019年显著高于单作19.2%、32.4%和20.9%(P<0.05)。因此,合理的玉米/苜蓿间作带幅搭配可改善苜蓿的光照环境,提高其光能利用效率,尤其是玉米/紫花苜蓿2∶4间作群体光能利用效率和产量优势显著,建议在具有类似气候的地区推广种植。     

Caprine besnoitiosis: an emerging threat and its relationship to some other infections of ungulates by Besnoitia species

Caprine besnoitiosis, caused by the cyst-forming protozoal apicomplexan Besnoitia caprae appears to be endemic in Kenya, Nigeria and Iran, but has yet to be detected in other parts of the world. The infection causes an important parasitic disease of goats in affected developing countries. Bovine besnoitiosis, is a widespread disease of cattle in Africa, Asia (but not Iran) and southern Europe. Recent epidemiological data confirm that the incidence and geographical range of bovine besnoitiosis in Europe is increasing, which is why growing attention has been given to the condition during the past decade. This paper reviews pertinent information on the biology, epidemiology, pathology, clinical signs, diagnosis and control of caprine besnoitiosis, together with its similarities to, and differences from, bovine besnoitiosis. The serious economic consequences of besnoitiosis on goat breeding and local meat and hide industries is also considered.