Cultural and biochemical characteristics of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis isolated from goats in Norway.

In Norway a variant of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis occurs which causes disease in goats but very seldom in sheep and cattle. Cultural and biochemical characteristics of this variant are investigated by comparing different pre-treatment methods and culture media for primary isolation and by subjecting a number of strains to different enzymatic and biochemical tests. Decontamination of materials with 5% oxalic acid and 0.1% benzalkonium chloride and culture on Dubos, Finleyson’s and Herrold’s medium was tested. The investigations showed that the combination oxalic acid decontamination/Dubos’ medium is most suitable for isolation of the goat-pathogenic variant.The morphology of the colonies was also most easily studied after culture on Dubos’ medium from material pre-treated with oxalic acid. The biochemical tests were found to be poorly suitable for the identification of M. paratuberculosis and for its differentiation from other mycobacteria.Mycobactin dependence for growth seems not to be absolute as a few goat strains produced growth on Dubos’ medium without mycobactin. However, growth was in all cases far better in the presence of mycobactin.     

牛分枝杆菌Mb1230基因的表达纯化及其活性评价

为了探究牛分枝杆菌Mb1230蛋白在牛结核病诊断中的应用价值,本试验利用PCR方法扩增出Mb1230基因,构建重组质粒pET-22b-Mb1230,经IPTG诱导表达后用亲和层析纯化重组蛋白,通过结核菌素皮内变态反应试验(TST试验)、IFN-γ释放试验(IGRA试验)和间接ELISA对重组蛋白的活性进行评价。SDS-PAGE和Western blotting结果显示,重组蛋白大小与理论值相符,且能与鼠抗His的抗体反应有特异性条带;在TST试验、IGRA试验和间接ELISA中也表现出抗原活性。结果表明,重组Mb1230蛋白具有良好的B细胞活性和T细胞活性,在牛结核病诊断中具有应用潜力。     

Supplementation of diets for lactating sows with zinc amino acid complex and gastric nutriment‐intubation of suckling pigs with zinc methionine on mineral status,intestinal morphology and bacterial translocation in lipopolysaccharide‐challenged weaned pigs

Sixty‐four pigs from 16 sows were used to evaluate addition of zinc amino acid complex (ZnAA) to lactating sows and gastric nutriment‐intubation of zinc methionine (ZnMet) to suckling pigs on mineral status, intestinal morphology and bacterial translocation after weaning. Sows were fed a barley‐based diet supplying 120 ppm zinc (Zn; control) or the control diet supplemented with 240 ppm Zn from ZnAA. At birth, day‐10 and day‐21 (weaning) of age, pigs from each litter were nutriment‐intubated with 5 ml of an electrolyte solution without or with 40 mg Zn from ZnMet. At weaning, 24 h prior to the collection of small and large intestinal lymph nodes and sections of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum, the pigs received an intramuscular injection of saline without or with 150 μg/kg body weight of Escherichia coli O26:B6 lipopolysaccharide (LPS). With the exception of a tendency (p = 0.09) for lower serum concentration of copper in pigs at weaning from ZnAA‐supplemented sows, there were no differences (p > 0.1) than for pigs from control‐fed sows for mineral status or intestinal morphology. Nutriment‐intubation of ZnMet increased serum (p = 0.001) and liver (p = 0.003) Zn concentrations, number of goblet cells per 250 μm length of jejunal villous epithelium (p = 0.001) and tended (p = 0.06) to enhance jejunum mucosa thickness. Interactive effects (p < 0.05) for higher jejunal villi height and villi:crypt ratio and increased ileal goblet cell counts were apparent for pigs from ZnAA‐supplemented sows that also received nutriment‐intubation of ZnMet. Challenge with LPS increased (p = 0.05) ileal villous width. Nutriment‐intubation of ZnMet decreased (p = 0.05) anaerobic bacteria colony forming unit counts in the large intestinal mesenteric lymph nodes. In conclusion, nutriment‐intubation of ZnMet increased serum and liver tissue concentrations of Zn and resulted in limited improvement to intestinal morphology of weaned pigs.     

抑制鹿源多药耐药结核菌中药的筛选

为了筛选对鹿源多药耐药结核菌有效的中药耐药抑制剂,通过MABA法检测24种中药的水和乙醇提取物对多药耐药结核菌及标准菌H37Rv的体外抗菌效果,将筛选出的抗菌效果好的黄连醇提物和黄连水提物采用紫外分光光度法进行活性成分含量测定,同时以MABA法与标准品比较体外抗结核菌活性。结果显示,黄连、独活和侧柏叶有明显的抗结核活性,其中黄连水粗提物和乙醇粗提物效果最佳,测得它们活性成分即总生物碱含量分别为22.74%和35.23%,并显示二者与小檗碱的体外抗结核作用相同。     

氨基酸络合铁对生长猪生长性能及有关指标的影响

为了比较评估氨基酸络合铁对生长猪生长性能、铁表观消化率、肤色和血液指标的影响,试验选择70日龄初始体重(27.34±2.55)kg的杜×长×大生长猪108头,分为6个处理,每个处理6个重复,每个重复3头猪。试验用玉米-豆粕型基础日粮。在基础日粮中添加100 mg/kg无机铁(一水硫酸亚铁)构成对照组。在对照组基础上分别添加40、80、120、160 mg/kg氨基酸络合铁构成4个试验组,在对照组基础上添加160 mg/kg无机铁(一水硫酸亚铁)构成正对照组,试验期5周。结果表明:试验0~2周、3~5周及全期,随着日粮中氨基酸铁添加量由40 mg/kg增加到160 mg/kg,生长猪日增重和饲料转化效率均得到改善,并呈极显著的线性关系(P<0.01)。与无机铁日粮组相比,添加160 mg/kg氨基酸络合铁试验组极显著地改善了平均日增重(P<0.01)和饲料转化效率(P<0.05);试验第14天和第35天,随着日粮中氨基酸络合铁添加水平的增加,生长猪对日粮中铁元素的表观消化率均呈显著的线性增加关系(P<0.05),添加160 mg/kg氨基酸络合铁试验组铁元素的表观消化率极显著高于对照组和正对照组(P<0.01);试验第14天和第35天,随着日粮中氨基酸络合铁添加水平的提高,红细胞压积、血红蛋白浓度、血清铁和血清铁与总铁结合力之比都呈显著的线性增加关系(P<0.05),并高于无机铁日粮组(P<0.01),而血清总铁结合力呈显著的线性降低关系(P<0.05);在试验期末,160 mg/kg氨基酸络合铁日粮组显著改善生长猪的肤色状况(P<0.05)。与添加硫酸亚铁相比,在生长猪日粮中添加氨基酸铁络合物可提高生长猪的生长性能和铁表观消化率,改善皮肤红度及血液生化指标。     

Antigen-nonspecific macrophage factors modulating the antibody response in vitro

Antibody response to an antigen involves the co-operation between three types of cells: macrophages, T cells and B cells. The cognate interactions between these cells play a fundamental role in the expression of a specific antibody response, but the last is modulated by antigen-nonspecific soluble factors produced either by macrophages or by T cells. Macrophages elaborate a spectrum of molecules modulating the function of lymphoid cells; among them are IL1 and prostaglandins of the E series, which are respectively enhancer and inhibitor of the antibody response in vitro. These molecules alter T cell and B cell activities through different mechanisms involving activation or inhibition of IL2 production, or alteration of cells surface antigens. However, the cellular events following the fixation of soluble factor on its receptors are not known.     

Different isolates from Leishmania braziliensis complex induce distinct histopathological features in a murine model of infection

The aim of this study was to evaluate the histopathological features in tissues of mice infected by human isolates (I, II, and III) or the reference M2903 strain of Leishmania braziliensis complex. BALB/c and C57Bl/6 mice were infected in the hind footpad with 10⁶ stationary-phase promastigotes of L. braziliensis complex. The evolution of lesions was observed for 10 weeks and the animals were then euthanized and liver, spleen and popliteal lymph nodes were collected. Tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and analyzed by immunohistochemistry assay. Increased thickness of infected footpads was observed in all animals, lesions were nodular and non-ulcerated. Mice infected with isolate I presented inflammatory infiltrates consisting predominantly of mononuclear cells in all tissues examined, and also a great number of megakaryocytes, compared with other isolates. Infection with isolate II led to an infected footpad enlargement not seen in other isolates. In addition, mononuclear infiltrates in the liver and hemosiderin in spleen were noted. Conversely, mice infected with either isolate III or M2903 strain only showed an increased number of megakaryocytes in spleen. All tissues examined had detectable amastigote forms of Leishmania by immunohistochemistry in all groups. Taking together, our results showed an unforeseen behavior of different isolates of L. braziliensis complex that led to diverse pathological findings.     

Mange in pigs: A survey

Extract

Mange in pigs caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis is reported to be common in New Zealand, but, to the writer's knowledge, no investigation has been made of the number of infested farms in any area.     

Unilateral uterine torsion secondary to an inflammatory endometrial polyp in the bitch

A 9-year-old bitch was presented because of lethargy and abdominal distension. Abdominal ultrasound revealed an enlarged, fluid-filled uterus and associated mass. Subsequent exploratory laparotomy revealed unilateral uterine torsion involving the mass. Recovery following ovariohysterectomy was uneventful and the histopathological diagnosis was of a benign endometrial inflammatory polyp. Reports of uterine torsion in the English-language literature are reviewed to identify factors associated with the incidence of uterine torsion. The aetiology of the cystic endometrial hyperplasia/pyometra complex and its possible role in the development of inflammatory polypoid lesions in the bitch is also discussed.