Hepatic lipidosis: Liver characteristics and acute phase proteins in affected turkeys

The hepatic lipidosis (HL) in fattening turkeys is a disease has been known for a long time, but the cause and pathogenesis is still not clarified. A recent study reported unexplained high levels of iron in liver tissue of fattening turkeys suffering from HL. In this study, the iron status, possible infectious or inflammatory influences in form of an acute phase reaction and the analysis of fatty acid pattern in liver tissue of turkeys affected by HL were examined. Three cases of HL on three different fattening turkey farms were investigated during the outbreak of the disease. Clinically affected and non-affected animals were subjected to a pathological examination, where the diagnosis HL or non-affected was made. In total, 70 birds were examined (40 with HL, 30 without HL) and blood and liver samples were taken. Additionally, samples from 15 slaughtered birds were taken as a further control group. In liver tissue, the iron content and the content of long-chain fatty acids were determined; in blood samples, ferritin and transferrin were measured. The iron content in liver tissue was more than three times higher for animals with HL than among non-affected animals and the control group. The transferrin levels were lowest for animals with HL, highest in the control group and in between for non-affected animals. The fatty acid pattern in liver tissue of affected animals indicated a shift from polyunsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids compared to the control group and the non-affected animals. Overall, the non-affected animals of a flock affected by HL were similar to the healthy animals of the abattoir. The low acute phase protein levels for animals with HL together with high iron contents could indicate a previous malnutrition/starvation period and/or severe liver damage for those animals suffering from HL.     

Chitosan nanoparticles enhance developmental competence of in vitro-matured porcine oocytes

Oxidative stress is inevitable as it is derived from the handling, culturing, inherent metabolic activities and medium supplementation of embryos. This study was performed to investigate the protective effect of chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) on oxidative damage in porcine oocytes. For this purpose, cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) derived from porcine slaughterhouse ovaries were exposed to different concentrations of CNPs (0, 10, 25 and 50 µg/ml) during in vitro maturation (IVM). Oocytes treated with 25 µg/ml CNPs showed significantly higher levels of GSH, along with a significant reduction in ROS levels compared to control, CNPs10 and CNPs50 groups. In parthenogenetic embryo production, the maturation rate was significantly higher in the CNPs25 group than that in the control and all other treated groups. In addition, when compared to the CNPs50 and control groups, CNPs25-treated oocytes showed significantly higher cleavage and blastocyst development rates. The highest concentration of CNPs reduced the total cell number and ratio of ICM: TE cells in parthenogenetic embryos, suggesting that there is a threshold where benefits are lost if exceeded. In cloned embryos, the CNPs25 group, as compared to all other treated groups, showed significantly higher maturation and cleavage rates. Furthermore, the blastocyst development rate in the CNPs25-treated group was significantly higher than that in the CNPs50-treated group, as was the total cell number. Moreover, we found that cloned embryos derived from the CNPs25-treated group showed significantly higher expression levels of Pou5f1, Dppa2, and Ndp52il genes, compared with those of the control and other treated groups. Our results demonstrated that 25 µg/ml CNPs treatment during IVM improves the developmental competence of porcine oocytes by reducing oxidative stress.     

AR regulates porcine immature Sertoli cell growth via binding to RNF4 and miR-124a

Sertoli cells are the only somatic cells in the seminiferous epithelium which directly contact with germ cells. Sertoli cells exhibit polarized alignment at the basal membrane of seminiferous tubules to maintain the microenvironment for growth and development of germ cells, and therefore play a crucial role in spermatogenesis. Androgens exert their action through androgen receptor (AR) and AR signalling in the testis is essential for maintenance of spermatogonial numbers, blood–testis barrier integrity, completion of meiosis, adhesion of spermatids and spermiation. In the present study, we demonstrated that AR gene could promote the proliferation of immature porcine Sertoli cells (ST cells) and the cell cycle procession, and accelerate the transition from G1 phase into S phase in ST cells. Meanwhile, miR-124a could affect the proliferation and cell cycle procession of ST cells by targeting 3′-UTR of AR gene. Furthermore, AR bound to the RNF4 via AR DNA-binding domain (DBD) and we verified that RNF4 was necessary for AR to regulate the growth of ST cells. Above all, this study suggests that AR regulates ST cell growth via binding to RNF4 and miR-124a, which may help us to further understand the function of AR in spermatogenesis.     

一株乳源松鼠葡萄球菌ExhC基因的克隆及序列分析

松鼠葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus sciuri,S.sciuri)是引起奶牛乳房炎(Cow Mastitis)的病原菌之一,其主要致病因子是该菌产生的脱皮毒素C(Exfoliative Toxin C,ExhC)。为了深入了解该基因的分子特征,本试验对从乳房炎患牛牛乳中分离的一株松鼠葡萄球菌ExhC基因(Genbank登录号:MT845354)进行了克隆及序列分析。按GenBank收录的ExhC基因设计并合成引物,利用PCR对ExhC基因进行扩增,并对扩增后的ExhC基因进行测序及分析。结果表明,松鼠葡萄球菌ExhC基因的开放阅读框序列长度为837bp,共编码278个氨基酸。通过Blast模块对ExhC基因进行同源性分析,得到5株相似序列,与ExhC基因序列相比同源性均为99.04%。系统进化树图指示该基因与其余五株相似序列属于不同的分支,遗传距离较远。利用TMHMM对松鼠葡萄球菌ExhC基因837bp序列跨膜区进行预测,结果显示ExhC蛋白的第1~277位氨基酸在细胞膜外,5~25位氨基酸所在位置为跨膜区。通过ExhC氨基酸序列分析和ExhC蛋白二级结构、三级结构预测,推断第97位氨基酸插入Asn以及其他位点氨基酸的突变可能会导致松鼠葡萄球菌功能区变化和毒株毒力的相对变化,这将给松鼠葡萄球菌致病机理的研究奠定基础。     

伪狂犬病病毒在NF-κB家族p65基因敲除细胞系的复制规律研究

试验旨在研究伪狂犬病病毒(PRV)在NF-κB家族p65基因敲除细胞系中的复制规律。利用慢病毒介导的CRISPR/Cas9基因定点修饰技术构建猪肺泡巨噬细胞(3D4/21)p65基因稳定敲除细胞系。通过构建p65-sgRNA重组质粒,转染至HEK293T/17细胞,收取慢病毒,感染3D4/21细胞后利用嘌呤霉素筛选获得多克隆细胞系,T7核酸酶检测敲除效率,再通过有限稀释法获得3D4/21-p65^-/-的稳定细胞系。CCK-8试剂盒检测3D4/21细胞中敲除p65基因后对细胞增殖的影响;流式细胞术检测PRV-GFP感染3D4/21及3D4/21-p65^-/-细胞后病毒增殖的差异;实时定量PCR检测PRV感染3D4/21及3D4/21-p65^-/-细胞后PRV gB、TK基因mRNA表达水平及PRV感染细胞诱导的IL-1β和IL-6基因mRNA水平表达的变化;Western blotting检测PRV-QXX感染3D4/21及3D4/21-p65^-/-细胞后PRV gB、gE蛋白的表达;滴度测定检测PRV-QXX感染3D4/21及3D4/21-p65^-/-细胞后子代病毒滴度。结果表明,sgRNA2和sgRNA3的基因编辑效率较高,对其进行克隆化培养进而获得敲除p65基因的稳定表达细胞系;CCK-8试剂盒检测细胞活力表明,p65基因敲除对细胞活力无影响;流式细胞仪检测表明,同一时间点PRV-GFP在3D4/21-p65^-/-中的增殖显著高于对照细胞;实时荧光定量PCR表明在3D4/21细胞中敲除p65基因促进了PRV gB、TK基因的mRNA表达水平,而抑制了IL-1β、IL-6基因的mRNA表达;Western blotting结果表明,在3D4/21细胞中敲除p65基因促进了PRV gB、gE蛋白的表达;滴度测定结果表明,同一时间点PRV-QXX在3D4/21-p65^-/-细胞中子代病毒的复制显著高于对照细胞。以上结果均表明,p65基因敲除可促进PRV在3D4/21细胞中复制。     

伪狂犬病病毒在NF-κB家族p65基因敲除细胞系的复制规律研究

试验旨在研究伪狂犬病病毒（PRV）在NF-κB家族p65基因敲除细胞系中的复制规律。利用慢病毒介导的CRISPR/Cas9基因定点修饰技术构建猪肺泡巨噬细胞（3D4/21）p65基因稳定敲除细胞系。通过构建p65-sgRNA重组质粒,转染至HEK293T/17细胞,收取慢病毒,感染3D4/21细胞后利用嘌呤霉素筛选获得多克隆细胞系,T7核酸酶检测敲除效率,再通过有限稀释法获得3D4/21-p65^-/-的稳定细胞系。CCK-8试剂盒检测3D4/21细胞中敲除p65基因后对细胞增殖的影响;流式细胞术检测PRV-GFP感染3D4/21及3D4/21-p65^-/-细胞后病毒增殖的差异;实时定量PCR检测PRV感染3D4/21及3D4/21-p65^-/-细胞后PRV gB、TK基因mRNA表达水平及PRV感染细胞诱导的IL-1β和IL-6基因mRNA水平表达的变化;Western blotting检测PRV-QXX感染3D4/21及3D4/21-p65^-/-细胞后PRV gB、gE蛋白的表达;滴度测定检测PRV-QXX感染3D4/21及3D4/21-p65^-/-细胞后子代病毒滴度。结果表明,sgRNA2和sgRNA3的基因编辑效率较高,对其进行克隆化培养进而获得敲除p65基因的稳定表达细胞系;CCK-8试剂盒检测细胞活力表明,p65基因敲除对细胞活力无影响;流式细胞仪检测表明,同一时间点PRV-GFP在3D4/21-p65^-/-中的增殖显著高于对照细胞;实时荧光定量PCR表明在3D4/21细胞中敲除p65基因促进了PRV gB、TK基因的mRNA表达水平,而抑制了IL-1β、IL-6基因的mRNA表达;Western blotting结果表明,在3D4/21细胞中敲除p65基因促进了PRV gB、gE蛋白的表达;滴度测定结果表明,同一时间点PRV-QXX在3D4/21-p65^-/-细胞中子代病毒的复制显著高于对照细胞。以上结果均表明,p65基因敲除可促进PRV在3D4/21细胞中复制。     

猪圆环病毒2型灭活疫苗中病毒抗原含量实时荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立

依据GenBank公布的猪圆环病毒2型Cap基因序列,在保守区域设计特异性引物和TaqMan探针,优化反应体系,建立评价猪圆环病毒2型灭活疫苗中病毒含量的实时荧光定量PCR检测方法,对方法的特异性、敏感性和重复性进行试验,并验证灭活剂用量和灭活时间对检测结果的影响。结果显示：该方法只对猪圆环病毒2型基因有特异性扩增,其他3种对照病毒基因的扩增结果均为阴性;检测灵敏度达到10^2.0 TCID₅₀/mL,比普通PCR方法高100倍;方法的重复性好,对同一样品进行10次检测,变异系数为2.28%;不同灭活剂用量和灭活时间对结果的影响较小,不会因各厂家使用的灭活剂用量和灭活时间不同,影响疫苗对比实验的公平性。该研究成功建立了一种评价猪圆环病毒2型灭活疫苗中病毒含量的实时荧光定量PCR检测方法,用于猪圆环病毒2型灭活疫苗样品中病毒抗原含量的定量,其结果可以反映不同猪圆环病毒2型灭活疫苗样品中抗原含量差异,为研究猪圆环病毒2型灭活疫苗病毒抗原含量评估方法提供了新的思路。     

2019—2020年新疆部分地区猪PCV2的抗体水平检测及分析

为了解2019—2020年新疆地区猪圆环病毒病2型（PCV2）抗体水平及其消长规律,本试验采用间接酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）方法对475份血清中PCV2免疫抗体水平进行检测和分析。结果显示,PCV2抗体平均阳性率为69.68%（331/475）,未达到国家规定标准（70%）。S/P的平均值为1.56。不同类别猪群抗体平均阳性率在42.50%~86.67%之间,有一定的差异。在调查的5个规模化养殖场中,仅有2个场PCV2免疫抗体阳性率达到国家标准。各场应根据抗体检测结果,进一步对现有的免疫程序进行调整和完整,确保各猪群健康。     

猪丹毒和猪肺疫混合感染综合诊治

疫病一直是生猪养殖中影响猪群健康的重要因素,受到疾病影响的猪群会给养殖户带来巨大的经济损失,严重阻碍养殖业的发展。该文将简要概述猪丹毒和猪肺疫的病理状况,分析猪丹毒和猪肺疫混合感染的发病特征和临床症状,并研究综合诊治猪丹毒和猪肺疫混合感染的方法,降低猪丹毒和猪肺疫混合感染对生猪养殖的影响。     

Establishment and Application of a Multiplex RT-PCR Assay for Detection of PEDV,TGEV and PRoV

In this study,a multiplex RT-PCR assay was established to differentially detect porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV),porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) and porcine rotavirus (PRoV) after optimization of the reaction conditions.Three pairs of primers PEDV-N,TGEV-M and PRoV-VP6 were designed for specifically amplifying PEDV N gene,TGEV M gene and PRoV VP6 gene,respectively.The assay could specifically amplify PEDV,TGEV and PRoV,but not classical swine fever virus (CSFV),porcine foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV),pseudorabies virus (PRV),porcine parvovirus (PPV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2).The detection limits of PEDV,TGEV and PRoV standard recombinant plasmids were 1.41×10³,1.41×10² and 1.41×10³ copies/μL,respectively.The repeated reaction under the same conditions obtained uniform results.The assay was used to detect a total number of 190 clinical samples,of which 42 (22.11%) samples were positive for PEDV,58 (30.53%) samples for TGEV and 34 (17.89%) samples for PRoV,and there were mixed infection among these viruses.The results indicated that this multiplex RT-PCR assay had the advantages of sensitivity,specificity and repeatability and provided a useful tool for differential detection and epidemiological investigation of PEDV,TGEV and PRoV.