Variations in Seroprevalence and Host Factors for Bovine Anaplasmosis in Illinois

Hungerford, L.L. and Smith, R.D., 1997. Variations in seroprevalence and host factors for bovine anaplasmosis in Illinois. Veterinary Research Communications, 21 (1), 9-18.The modified card agglutination test (MCAT) was used to detect antibodies to Anaplasma marginale in 4994 samples collected from market cattle through the Brucellosis Eradication Program in Illinois. The MCAT reactor rate in the sample was 6.4%. The statewide prevalence estimate increased to between 7.1% and 10.7% when corrected for sampling distribution and test sensitivity and specificity. While the sample reactor rate measures the proportion of infected cattle moving through the market system and into new herds, consideration of the sampling proportions and test characteristics is important when estimating the overall prevalence. Cows were found to be at decreased risk relative to male cattle in lower-prevalence areas, but the risk was similar in higher-prevalence areas. In both higher- and lower-prevalence areas, the risk for seropositivity increased from 1 year of age onwards, but the rate of increase with age was greater in the higher-prevalence areas. Calves, however, had higher seroprevalence levels than 1-2-year-old animals. The risk was highest for Angus and Angus-Hereford cross cattle, while dairy cattle showed a decreased risk in the whole sample, but not when the analyses were stratified by prevalence level. There was a higher concentration of dairy cattle in areas with lower prevalence levels.     

适用于乳酸菌分类鉴定的分子生物学技术

介绍了几种适用于乳酸茵分类鉴定的分子生物学方法及其原理、优缺点和研究现状.     

First record of autochthonous canine ehrlichiosis caused by Ehrlichia canis in Romania

This case study describes the first genetically confirmed and clinically manifested autochthonous Ehrlichia canis infection in a 9‐year‐old female mixed‐breed dog from Romania. Health screening of the dog included clinical examination, evaluation of stained peripheral blood smear and hematologic variables, as well as serologic testing and molecular analysis. Clinical signs included fever, apathy, dehydration, pale mucous membranes, and weakness. The microscopic examination of the blood smear and immunologic assays for Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and E canis antibodies, and for Dirofilaria immitis antigen yielded negative results. Hematologic abnormalities included moderate nonregenerative anemia, leucopenia with neutropenia, and moderate thrombocytopenia. The biochemical abnormalities identified were hypoalbuminemia, and mildly increased serum enzyme activities of AST and ALT. In addition, increased urea and creatinine levels associated with low urine specific gravity and proteinuria were also present. Nested PCR amplification of the partial E canis 16S rRNA gene demonstrated the presence of this rickettsial pathogen in the dog's blood, which subsequently was confirmed through sequencing based on the 100% homology with GenBank deposited E canis isolates. After specific treatment with doxycycline (10 mg/kg, orally, SID) for one month, the proteinuria, and hematologic and serum biochemical abnormalities with the exception of mild azotemia resolved. This report supports the geographical expansion of canine ehrlichiosis caused by E canis in nonendemic regions of Europe.     

Advance on Foot-and-mouth Disease Virus

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an acute,febrile and highly contagious animal disease caused by foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV),and has been recognized as the most important constraint to international trade in animals and animal products.An outstanding feature for FMDV infection is that the FMDV infected animals may remain as a carrier state,some of the animals exposed to FMDV may have a long term asymptomatic infection.This article will review the advance of FMDV in the following aspects,epidemiology,etiology and pathogenesis.     

Chronic progressive lymphoedema in draught horses

The objective of this review was to summarise and evaluate the current state of knowledge about chronic progressive lymphoedema in draught horses. Clinical signs of this multifactorial disorder are mainly restricted to the lower limbs, comprising progressively deteriorating skin, swelling and deformation. Although typical lesions were first reported at the beginning of the 20th century, chronic progressive lymphoedema was recognised as a specific syndrome only in 2003, and since then research has driven forward. Despite the high prevalence in some breeds and the serious economic impact, the pathogenesis is not fully understood, and the available treatment options remain symptomatic and noncurative. There is a need to improve diagnostic techniques and to develop selection tools.     

Evaluation of Ewe Performance in 795 Selected Sheep Flocks in South-Eastern Norway

A study of ewe performance was undertaken in 795 sheep flocks based on data from the Norwegian Sheep Recording System. Herd level data included in the annual report for 1998 were used as the basis for the study. Average flock size was 75.3 ewes. The material was considered as representative of the better and more motivated sheep farmers in the mountain valley regions in south-eastern Norway. The average number of lambs born per ewe, inclusive (and exclusive) of barren ewes, was 1.89 (2.02), and of autumn lambs (those surviving from birth in the spring to autumn) 1.60 (1.66). The average autumn weight of the lambs corrected to 145 days of age was 42.4 kg, giving an overall performance of 67.9 kg lambs live weight per ewe. When including artificially reared lambs, overall performance was 70.4 kg per ewe. Artificial rearing of lambs, mostly triplets which had been removed from the ewe, was practised on 395 of the farms. In the 74 flocks with a rate of artificial rearing of more than 10% of all lambs, overall performance per ewe was 13.3 kg higher than in flocks with no artificial rearing. Total lamb mortality from birth to autumn recording, including stillborn lambs, was 12.44%. Mortality had a skewed distribution, some flocks having very high mortality figures. The arithmetic means (and medians) for mortality were as follows: 2.75 (2.29)% stillbirths, 2.93 (2.30)% died during the indoor feeding period, 0.88 (0.00)% at spring pasture, and 6.16 (4.40)% at summer pasture. In regression models using Proc Genmod in SAS^®, it was found that average number of autumn lambs per ewe was negatively associated with the rate of barren ewes, late lambing date (flock average day in year when lambing took place), and total lamb mortality. The corrected autumn weight of the lambs was positively associated with the average number of lambs born per ewe and non-fertility rate, and negatively associated with flock size and total lamb mortality. The Dala breed had a positive effect on number of autumn lambs per ewe, and Spæl breed a negative effect on corrected autumn live weight of the lambs.     

基于高通量测序技术挖掘分子遗传标记及其在蛋鸡生产中的精准应用

高通量测序技术是研究物种复杂生物性状遗传机制的基础,随着高通量测序技术的不断优化提升,一些与生物表型性状密切相关的基因组变异被精准地挖掘出来,其中包括单核苷酸多态位点(SNP)、小片段的插入或缺失(Indel)、拷贝数变异(CNV)以及结构变异(SV)为代表的分子标记。与传统遗传标记相比较,分子遗传标记具有多态性高、遍布整个基因组、检测手段简单快捷以及成本低廉的特点。通过检测覆盖全基因组范围内的分子标记,利用基因组水平的遗传信息对个体或群体遗传资源进行评估,能够缩短世代间隔、提高选种的准确性,进而在短期内取得较大的遗传进展。作者从高通量测序技术挖掘分子遗传标记角度入手,综述了三代测序技术发展历程和应用领域以及三代分子遗传标记检测技术在蛋鸡种业创新中的应用,并详细阐述了高通量测序技术与分子遗传标记相结合在蛋鸡群体遗传多样性及进化分类、群体遗传图谱的构建和功能基因定位、数量性状形成的遗传机制解析和质量性状形成的遗传机制解析等4个方面的精准应用,以期为蛋鸡基因组选择进入实质应用阶段提供科学依据和指导。     

基于NRC模型下不同程度热处理豆渣的营养价值与分子结构功能团特征的相关关系

本试验旨在研究基于NRC模型下不同程度热处理豆渣的营养价值与分子结构功能团特征的相关关系。利用烘箱对豆渣进行不同温度(100、115、130℃)下不同时间(2、4、6 h)的热处理,采用NRC(2001)模型预测不同程度热处理豆渣的代谢蛋白质产量、可消化养分含量和能值,同时利用傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)技术分析不同程度热处理豆渣的分子结构功能团特征,并分析它们之间的相关关系。结果表明:1)随着温度的升高以及加热时间的延长,豆渣的代谢蛋白质产量、可消化养分含量和能值呈现出降低的趋势。2)温度和时间对豆渣的分子结构功能团存在显著的互作效应(P<0.05)。3)酰胺Ⅰ带与结构性碳水化合物峰面积比值(AmideⅠ_STCHO)和酰胺Ⅰ带与总碳水化合物峰面积比值(AmideⅠ_CHO)可以共同作为预测因子估测瘤胃可降解蛋白质(R^2=0.35,P<0.05)、过瘤胃蛋白质(R^2=0.35,P<0.05)、小肠可吸收过瘤胃蛋白质(R^2=0.33,P<0.05)和瘤胃可降解蛋白质可合成菌体蛋白质(R^2=0.35,P<0.05)含量。综上所述,不同程度热处理豆渣的分子结构功能团与其代谢蛋白质产量、可消化养分含量和能值之间存在相关关系,初步证明可以利用分子结构功能团对热处理豆渣的营养价值进行快速分析和估测。     

Epidemiological Studies on Gastrointestinal Parasitic Infections of Lambs in the Coastal Savanna Regions of Ghana

The types of gastrointestinal parasites (Eimeria and helminths) encountered by 70 lambs and the seasonal pattern of both Eimeria and strongylate infections in these lambs in the derived Coastal Savanna were followed for three years. Eimeria oocysts and helminth eggs were detected in the faeces of lambs at the same time, indicating the concurrence of both Eimeria and helminth infections. Eimeria oocysts were first seen in the lambs 20 days after birth (DAB) and the level of oocyst output increased by the fourth week. Eimeria species identified in the lambs were E. parva, E. pallida, E. faurei, E. ahsata, E. bakuensis, E. intricata, E. granulosa, E. ovinoidalis and, occasionally, E. marsica. E. ovinoidalis, the most pathogenic species, dominated the oocyst output during the early part of the life of the lambs. Strongyloides papillosus eggs appeared at 46 DAB, preceding strongylate nematode eggs, which were seen at 57 DAB and those of Moniezia at 69 DAB. The pattern of Eimeria oocyst output paralleled that of the worm egg output, and high oocyst and strongylate worm egg counts corresponded with the period of high rainfall during the study period. Although oocyst and worm egg output fluctuated, high Eimeria oocyst counts were seen again in the lambs when they were 1 and 2 years old. Haemonchus species formed 71% of the infective larvae revealed by larval culture.