Role of genetically engineered animals in future food production

Genetically engineered (GE) animals are likely to have an important role in the future in meeting the food demand of a burgeoning global population. There have already been many notable achievements using this technology in livestock, poultry and aquatic species. In particular, the use of RNA interference (RNAi) to produce virus‐resistant animals is a rapidly‐developing area of research. However, despite the promise of this technology, very few GE animals have been commercialised. This review aims to provide information so that veterinarians and animal health scientists are better able to participate in the debate on GE animals.     

Amino acid substitutions in gyrA and parC associated with quinolone resistance in nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella isolates

This study was undertaken to identify and characterize amino acid substitutions in gyrA and parC related with quinolone resistance of 27 nalidixic acid-resistant (Na^R) Salmonella isolates collected in poultry slaughterhouses in Korea. A total of 51 Salmonella isolates were detected from 44.8% (47/105) of the total samples from 15 poultry slaughterhouses examined, among which 27 (52.9%) Na^R isolates were detected while ciprofloxacin (Cip) resistance was not present in the isolates. These 27 Na^R isolates of DNA sequencing revealed that it contained three types of gyrA mutations in only D87 codon. Mutations in the D87 codon resulted in substitutions to G in most of the isolates, but D87Y and D87N exchanges were also detected. Although Cip resistance was absent, reduced susceptibility characterized by mutations in gyrA was apparent among Salmonella isolates from poultry slaughterhouses in Korea.     

Anthelmintic resistance and management of nematode parasites on beef cattle-rearing farms in the North Island of New Zealand

AIM: To provide information on current farmers’ opinions and farming practices thought to be related to anthelmintic resistance, and to test for associations between the presence of anthelmintic resistance and management practices on beef cattle- rearing farms in the North Island of New Zealand.

METHODS: A study using an interview-based questionnaire about management of internal parasites was conducted on 62 beef cattle-rearing farms in the North Island of New Zealand, using case-control analyses to test for associations between management practices and the presence or absence of resistance to ivermectin or albendazole. Resistance was inferred from faecal nematode egg count (FEC) reduction (FECR) tests (FECRTs) when there was <90% reduction in FEC 7-10 days after treatment of calves <12 months of age.

RESULTS: Of the 59 farmers who completed the questionnaire, most (n=40) ranked parasites highly, and at about the same level as quality and quantity of feed, as important production-limiting factors for their enterprises. In contrast, anthelmintic resistance was not perceived to be a problem on 13 farms, and its importance was rated low on 24, moderate on 15, and high on only six farms. Despite all farms having planned parasite control programmes, there was heavy reliance on clinical signs of parasitism to determine frequency of treatments. About one in three farmers with beef breeder cows routinely treated their calves at marking, one in five treated mixed-age cows, and almost half treated rising 2-year-old cows before calving. One in four farmers used anthelmintics on calves on 8–12 occasions in their first year of life. Co-grazing with other species was rare, but follow-on grazing within 3 months after older cattle or sheep was common. On most farms, grazing cattle was restricted to part of the farm, a finding with implications for parasite control and persistence of larvae in refugia. Macrocyclic lactone (ML) anthelmintics or their combinations with other action families were currently, and for the past 5 years, used more frequently than benzimidazoles and levamisole, and benzimidazole-levami- sole combinations. The prevalence of resistance to ivermectin was high (82%) and no plausible model of associations could be constructed from the data. The prevalence of resistance to albendazole was 60%, and the risk of resistance increased as the number of rising 1-year-old cattle present mid-winter increased, and decreased as the number of breeding cows >2 years old present mid-winter increased.

CONCLUSION: It is clear that in practice anthelmintic resistance is a secondary consideration to obtaining productivity advantages from the use of anthelmintics in beef cattle. Farmers’ opinions were divided on many issues and the overall impres- sion was of confused and diverse thinking regarding the principles of the use of anthelmintics. The overall outlook regarding anthelmintic resistance in cattle is bleak unless the need for integrated and long-term research activities is acted upon soon.     

Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates From Captive Reptiles

Pseudomonas aeruginosa represents an opportunistic pathogen for animals and humans that is often associated with high disease morbidity and, at times, mortality. Captive reptiles have been shown to be reservoirs of P. aeruginosa strains that can be sources of exposure to humans that come in contact with these animals. In this study, the prevalence of P. aeruginosa among subclinical captive reptile species and the antimicrobial sensitivity of bacterial isolates were investigated. Sixty-five oral swabs were collected from captive reptiles belonging to 15 different species in which no overt signs of disease were evident. From this group of animals, 46 (70.8%) isolates were identified as P. aeruginosa. All of the P. aeruginosa strains were shown to have a wide range of antibiotic resistance. At present, there is a paucity of data regarding the prevalence of P. aeruginosa in various reptile species; therefore, continued scientific investigations are indicated to determine the significance of P. aeruginosa infection as it relates to captive reptile species.     

Influence of ante‐ and peri‐mortem factors on biochemical and physical characteristics of turkey breast muscle

Summary

The course of post‐mortem breakdown of glycogen and ATP in turkey pectoralis major muscle was markedly influenced by several ante‐ and peri‐mortem variables. Application of a proper stunning procedure was highly effective in preventing peri‐ and post‐mortem muscle stress reactions.

The physiological level of glycogen and ATP was not significantly affected by road transportation covering 260 km. Birds which rested for 24 hrs following transportation had lower glycogen and ATP levels at the moment of slaughter than non‐rested birds.

According to the changes in the rate and extent of post‐mortem biochemical reactions, several meat characteristics such as water‐holding capacity, colour, and tenderness were significantly changed.

Furthermore, the results also indicate that turkey breast muscle is susceptible to a PSE‐like condition as described in pork.     

Involvement of spleen components of mature fowl in the primary and secondary humoral antibody response following experimental EDS'76 virus infection

Summary

Cellular changes in spleens of mature fowl in relation to both the primary and secondary humoral antibody response following experimentalEDS'76 virus infection were studied. The influence of splenectomy on humoral antibody response was also examined.

Experimental fowl had been naturally infected with fowl adenovirus (FAV) but did not possess precipitins to these viruses at the time of EDS’ 76 virus infection. Since EDS'76 infection provokes a recall of the group antibody to FAV, this infection simultaneously induces a primary response against EDS’ 76 virus and a secondary response due to the recall of the group antibody to FAV.

HI and precipitating antibodies toEDS'76 virus (primary response) werefirst detected at 6 and 8 days p.i. respectively. Curves of HI, precipating and neutralising antibody titres were biphasic; the first peak (IgM peak) occurred at 10–11 days p.i., the second (IgG peak) at 16–28 days p.i.

Precipitating antibodies to FAV (secondary response) were demonstrated from 4 days p.i. The curve of these antibody titres was also biphasic, with peaks at the same times as in the primary response.

Based on HI and AGP testing of primary and secondary immune response in both splenectomised and non‐splenectomised fowl it is concluded that in the primary response the spleen of the adult fowl is involved significantly in only IgM secretion, while in the secondary response it is likely that bothIgM and IgG are secreted in considerable amounts.

Clusters of lymphoblasts and plasmablasts were observed at 3 days p.i. in the red pulp. It is very likely that antigen‐antibody complexes are formed from that time and circulate bound to the surface of lymphocytes. These antigen‐loaded lymphocytes are ‘picked up’ from the blood stream by

– red pulp macrophages, leading to enhanced formation of lymphoblasts in the red pulp. Great numbers of these cells (which are very probably IgM secreting cells) were present on days 6 and 7 p.i., but were no longer detectable after day 10 p.i.

– macrophages of the macrophagalellipsoidal corona (MEC), leading to significant enlargement of the periellipsoidal lymphoid tissue(PELT) by an increase of the number of lymphocytes observedfrom days 4–12 p.i. The MEC was significantly enlarged from 7–12 days p.i., very likely due to an increased number of macrophages.

Following deposition of antigen in the white pulp, formation of follicles begins. The number of small, intact follicles includingfollicle precursors increasedfrom 6 days p.i. From 15 days p.i. to the end of the experiment both the number and size of follicles increased significantly.

Uptake and processing of antigen by macrophages is probably accompanied by death of some of these cells. This might explain the degenerative changes observed in large mesenchymal cells, probably macrophages, at 3 and 5 days p.i. in the red pulp and at 5 and 6 days especially in the MEC. Splenitis which was present at 3 and 5 days p.i. and oedema observed in and around ellipsoidal cells at 5 days p.i. may be due to mediators released from these degenerative macrophages.

A significantly increased number of follicles with lymphoblasts was seen from 2–15 days p.i. while lymphoblasts and plasmablasts were present in the PELT from 5–15 days p.i., but predominantly at 6 and 7 days p.i. It is likely that disruption of follicles and blast transformation of white pulp lymphoid cells are secondary response events. White pulp lymphoblastsand plasmablastsare probably IgG secreting cells.

Splenomegaly was observed at 3, 5 and 6 days after infection and was mainly due to swelling of red pulp macrophages and infiltration of granulocytes in the red pulp. Ellipsoidal and periellipsoidal changes could contribute to the splenomegaly at 5 and 6 days p.i.     

硫酸二乙酯诱变苜蓿愈伤组织抗寒生理的研究

对诱导的苜蓿Medicago sativa愈伤组织进行不同浓度的硫酸二乙酯(DES)诱变处理,确定其半致死浓度,在-7℃低温下进行筛选,以获得抗寒性突变体;进行了相对电导率、游离脯氨酸含量、过氧化物酶的活性等抗寒性生理指标的测定.结果表明,苜蓿愈伤组织经DES处理,DES的半致死浓度为0.3%,愈伤组织的抗寒性增强.     

蜡样芽孢杆菌芽孢萌发及其对常规灭菌方法抵抗力的研究简

芽孢杆菌属细菌在芽孢状态下,对外界环境及理化因素具有高度抵抗力。适宜的温度、湿度及营养条件能促进芽孢萌发,影响其对常规灭菌方法的抵抗力。本试验选取蜡样芽孢杆菌作为研究对象,在适宜培养条件下使其形成芽孢,通过研究萌发后芽孢对温度、H₂O₂及含氯消毒剂等条件的抵抗力,证实了适当的条件（温度37 ℃、湿度40%、pH 7.4、30 min）能有效促进蜡样芽孢杆菌芽孢萌发,致使芽孢对高温（80 ℃、2 h）、H₂O₂（1.5 mol/L、2 h）及含氯消毒剂（有效氯含量约800 mg/L、2 h）等常规灭菌方法抵抗力明显降低,并能被有效杀灭和灭活,相对有效杀灭率分别达98.4%、98.9%及99.1%,有效杀灭率分别为88.3%、88.7%及88.9%,这对进一步研究芽孢杆菌属细菌的杀菌消毒条件具有重要参考意义。     

苗期低温胁迫下烯效唑对红小豆根系抗寒生理及产量的影响

为探讨烯效唑(S3307)在寒地红小豆生长中缓解低温伤害、保护根系的作用,建立红小豆抗冷生产技术体系,达到保产增产的目的,在盆栽条件下,以两个红小豆品种宝清红(耐冷型品种)和天津红(冷敏型品种)为材料,于苗期在人工气候室进行低温(15℃,分别持续1,2,3,4,5d)和叶面喷施20mg·L^-1S3307处理,对红小豆根系抗寒生理指标、产量及不同温度敏感性红小豆品种的S3307响应差异进行测定和分析。结果表明,幼苗期低温导致红小豆根系逆境生理指标发生变化,低温诱导SOD、POD和CAT活性的增强,引起可溶性糖和脯氨酸含量的提高,同时也促使MDA含量上升,最终导致红小豆产量下降。与常温条件相比,喷施清水的宝清红和天津红,低温处理3d时,可溶性糖含量分别提高了59.21%和52.57%;脯氨酸含量分别提高了10.12%和25.39%;SOD、POD和CAT活性分别提高了14.92%和11.01%、5.93%和0.75%、53.33%和13.33%。低温处理5d时,可溶性蛋白含量分别提高了6.27%和3.15%;MDA含量分别显著提高了45.41%和51.08%、产量分别显著下降了19.39%和41.69%。低温条件下,喷施S3307与喷施清水的宝清红和天津红相比较,处理3d时,可溶性糖和脯氨酸含量分别提高了22.01%和0.46%、8.55%和1.40%;SOD活性分别提高了13.45%和24.06%、POD活性分别显著提高了23.60%和15.95%,CAT活性分别提高了4.35%和5.88%。处理5d时,MDA含量分别降低了9.05%和4.37%;产量分别显著提高23.06%和43.88%。综上,S3307通过增加可溶性物质和脯氨酸的含量,提高保护酶活性,降低MDA含量,从而缓解低温伤害,进而降低低温对红小豆造成的产量影响。     

FHC基因的结构与功能及其表达调控的研究进展

铁蛋白为机体内贮存铁的可溶性蛋白,人血清铁蛋白是机体含铁量的间接标记物,用于诊断缺铁性贫血。铁蛋白重链1(FHC)是铁蛋白的一种亚基,在氧化应激、病毒性肝炎、肿瘤细胞、视网膜的保护、少突胶质细胞的成熟、猪蓝耳病等方面具有重要调控作用。本文就FHC基因表达调控及生物学功能进行综述,以期为该基因作为动物抗病育种的遗传标记奠定基础,为免疫治疗、癌症预防与监控等研究提供参考。