Molecular prevalence,risk factors assessment and haemato-biochemical alterations in hepatozoonosis in dogs from Punjab,India

Hepatozoonosis caused by Hepatozoon canis is an important tick-borne disease of dogs in tropical and sub-tropical regions throughout the world. In the present study evaluation of blood samples collected from 225 dogs presented at Small Animal Clinics, GADVASU, Ludhiana, Punjab (India) was done for the presence of H. canis by PCR based assay targeting a portion of 18S rRNA gene. Of the total samples subjected to PCR, an amplicon of 666 bp was detected in 13.78% samples whereas, routine blood smear examination revealed gamonts in 5.78% samples. Furthermore, prevalence of H. canis infection was found to be significantly associated with season, being highest in summer and lowest in winter while other risk factors e.g. age, sex and breed showed non-significant association. In terms of various clinico-pathological parameters, significant drop in haemoglobin, total red blood cell count, packed cell volume and lymphocytes were recorded in positive cases whereas the total white blood cell count was non-significantly increased. The haematological alterations in the positive cases were lymphopenia, anaemia, thrombocytopenia, relative neutrophilia, neutrophilic leucocytosis, eosinophilia, monocytosis and lymphocytosis while the biochemical profile revealed hypoproteinemia and increased levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine (in positive cases) pointing towards renal failure.     

苹小卷叶蛾在6个苹果品种上的发育与繁殖

为探索不同品种苹果对苹小卷叶蛾生长发育和繁殖的影响,在温度(26±1)℃、相对湿度(80±5)%、光周期L∶D=16 h∶8 h的室内条件下,测定了苹小卷叶蛾在小国光、大国光、红玉、祝光、红星和金帅上的发育历期、存活率和产卵量,并组建了其各自的生命周期表。结果显示,苹小卷叶蛾在6个品种上的发育历期差异显著,全世代发育历期以小国光最短(33.95 d),以红玉最长(39.76 d);平均单雌产卵量以红玉最高(107.24粒),小国光次之(85.00粒);而存活率则无显著差异。生命表参数中净生殖率(R0)、内禀增长率(rm)和周限增长率(λ)均以小国光最高,世代平均周期(T)和种群加倍时间(Dt)以小国光最短,表明6种试验品种中小国光是苹小卷叶蛾最适宜的寄主品种。     

In Vitro Evaluation of the Effects of Selected Plants on the Growth of the Mycelial Form of Histoplasma capsulatum Variety farciminosum in Ethiopia

Epizootic lymphangitis is prevalent in equines in Ethiopia, causing remarkable economic and welfare impacts but often neglected. Lack of effective treatment contributed to its continued occurrence, and hence, search for an effective treatment should be considered a priority area to minimize its impacts. Previous ethnobotanical studies have reported that Curcuma longa, Phytolacca dodecandra, and Datura stramonium were used to treat cutaneous fungal infections and reduce their incidence. The treatment effects of these plants against epizootic lymphangitis should be studied. The in vitro growth inhibitory effects of methanol extracts of the root of C. longa, berry of P. dodecandra, and leaf of D. stramonium were evaluated. Histoplasma capsulatum var farciminosum was isolated from clinical cases of epizootic lymphangitis in carthorses in central Ethiopia. The nested polymerase chain reaction was used to confirm the identity of the isolates. Serial twofold dilutions of the extract of berries of P. dodecandra and leaves of D. stramonium were done in sterile water, whereas dilution of the extract of roots of C. longa was done in dimethylsulphoxide. The effects of the plants on the growth of Histoplasma capsulatum var farciminosum were assessed by agar dilution assay. Culture media with no antifungal agent and media containing ketoconazole served as negative and positive control, respectively. The methanol extract of C. longa showed inhibitory effects at concentrations ranging from 0.07 to 5 mg/mL. Similarly, the methanol extract of P. dodecandra showed growth inhibitory effects at concentrations ranging from 0.156 to 5 mg/mL. That is, the growth inhibitory concentration of C. longa was 0.07 mg/mL, whereas that of P. dodecandra was 0.156 mg/mL. In contrast, D. stramonium showed no inhibitory effect. This preliminary observation showed that methanol extracts of C. longa and P. dodecandra showed inhibitory effects on the growth of Histoplasma capsulatum var farciminosum requiring further repeated in vitro evaluation so as to generate adequate evidence, which would justify in vivo trials.     

Serological survey of Toxoplasma gondii in captive nonhuman primates in zoos in Spain

Toxoplasma gondii is a widely distributed zoonotic protozoan parasite, which can affect most warm-blooded species. Some species of non-human primates (NHPs) are highly susceptible to T. gondii infection. The aim of the study was to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with T. gondii infection in NHPs housed in zoos in Spain. Sera from 189 NHPs belonging to 33 species were collected in eight zoos. Additionally, 10 of the 189 animals were longitudinally sampled. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected in 48 NHPs (25.4%; confidence interval of 95% (CI_95%): 19.2–31.6) using a modified agglutination test (MAT; cut-off = 25). Seropositive animals had titers of 25 (6.3%), 50 (8.3%), 100 (8.3%) and ≥500 (68.8%). Seropositivity was detected in 15 of the 33 species (45.5%). Of the 10 NHPs sampled more than once, two animals (one Barbary macaque [Macaca sylvanus] and one common chimpanzee [Pan toglodytes]) seroconverted along the study period, while one seropositive chimpanzee increased antibody titers over time. The Hominidae family (OR = 5.9; CI_95%: 2.7–12.8) and sex (females) (OR = 2.1; CI_95%: 1.1–4.1) were risk factors potentially associated with seropositivity to T. gondii. Our results evince a widespread circulation of T. gondii in NHPs in zoos in Spain, which may be of conservation concern. Control measures should be implemented to minimize the risk of exposure of these species to T. gondii.     

Anthropogenically disturbed potentially toxic elements in roadside topsoils of a suburban region of Bishkek,Central Asia

The ecological environment in Central Asia is vulnerable to pressure from human activity due to the physical geography and climatic fragility of this region. A set of indicators suitable for the future assessment of this pressure needs to be proposed. Thirty‐six topsoil samples (0–5 cm) were collected from roadsides in a suburban region of Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic in Central Asia, and a risk assessment of anthropogenically disturbed potentially toxic elements (PTEs) was systematically conducted with classic statistical methods. The results of detrended correspondence analysis and principal component analysis clearly showed that topsoil samples with high contents of PTEs (Pb, Zn and Cu) were strongly affected by traffic within a distance threshold of 200 m and that anthropogenic effects decreased significantly with increasing distance from the highway. The enrichment factor and anthropogenic contribution for Pb were the highest among the three PTEs, with average values of 2.0% and 47.4%, respectively, suggesting enrichment. However, the results of the human health risk assessment also indicated that noncarcinogenic risks did not occur for any of the anthropogenic PTEs. The reported method provides a new systematic pathway to reveal anthropogenic influences on the geochemical composition of soil. The conclusions of this work will be highly valuable as important guidelines for agriculture, and the results of the PTE contents will provide a scientific basis for soil collection in future studies.     

利用自制骨炭除氟剂处理农村高氟地下水研究

在不同实验条件下将家畜骨制成骨炭除氟剂,通过除氟效果的比较筛选出最佳除氟剂制备方法。利用所制得的骨炭进行除氟静态吸附实验,研究了骨炭对氟的吸附效果以及温度、pH和地下水中常见阴阳离子等不同影响因素对骨炭除氟效果的影响。实验结果表明温度对骨炭除氟效果影响不大;低pH条件有利于骨炭对氟的去除;地下水常见阴阳离子中,Ca2＋和Mg2＋对骨炭除氟有一定的促进作用,而阴离子则起到不同程度的抑制作用。除氟后的骨炭可以利用NaOH浸泡方法进行再生,经三次再生后其吸附容量仍可达原来的94.3%,说明骨炭除氟剂具有良好的再生能力且可反复用于水中除氟。     

日本百脉根LjbHLH34基因克隆及耐旱功能鉴定

干旱是影响植物生长发育的重要环境因素。本研究分析了日本百脉根抗旱相关基因LjbHLH34的耐旱功能，初步解析其响应干旱胁迫的分子机制，以期为百脉根抗旱分子育种提供理论基础。本研究克隆得到的LjbHLH34基因大小为711 bp、编码236个氨基酸，属bHLH转录因子家族成员。系统进化树分析显示，LjbHLH34蛋白与拟南芥bHLHⅣ亚家族中AtbHLH34和AtbHLH104亲缘关系较近。实时荧光定量分析表明LjbHLH34在日本百脉根的根中表达量最高，叶中次之，茎中最少，暗示其在日本百脉根多个组织中发挥作用；同时LjbHLH34基因也受聚乙二醇(PEG)和脱落酸(ABA)诱导表达。在酵母中检测发现LjbHLH34具有转录激活活性；亚细胞定位试验表明LjbHLH34蛋白定位于细胞核中。将LjbHLH34基因转入拟南芥获得过表达株系。在200 mmol·L^-1甘露醇胁迫下，LjbHLH34转基因拟南芥的根长明显长于野生型。干旱处理后，野生型拟南芥比转基因拟南芥萎蔫程度更加明显，而转基因株系的相对含水量和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性显著高于野生型，丙二醛(MDA)积累...     

不同基础培养基对漏斗形马勃菌丝体生长的影响

[目的]研究漏斗形马勃在7种不同基础培养基上的生长情况。[方法]采用7种基础培养基进行试验,通过液体和固体培养,以菌丝体生物量及菌落直径为指标,确定漏斗形马勃的最佳基础培养基。[结果]最适合漏斗形马勃生长的基础培养基配方为玉米渣4%、蛋白胨0.3%、蔗糖2%、KH2PO41%、Mg SO40.05%。在28℃和摇床转速150 r/min条件下,液体培养5 d后的菌丝体干重为16.56 g/L。在28℃固体培养7 d,菌丝体鲜重和干重分别为16.47和2.27 g/L,菌落直径为4.49 cm。[结论]该研究为漏斗形马勃培养条件的进一步优化奠定了基础。     

不同施肥模式对‘企黑’墨兰生长影响研究

[目的]筛选盆栽墨兰适宜的施肥模式.[方法]根据墨兰体内氮、磷和钾含量的特点,结合目前生产者对墨兰进行施肥的主要模式及相关的文献资料,设计出8种施肥模式对‘企黑’墨兰进行生长的比较试验,测定26个形态和生理指标.[结果]不同施肥模式对墨兰生长的21个指标都存在显著性影响.[结论]综合各生长指标来看,对‘企黑’墨兰生长最优的施肥模式是:4、7和10月每袋各施1次N-P2O5-K2O=14-14-14的缓释肥8 g,同时在4～9月每半个月每袋淋施1次800倍液的N-P2O5-K2O=30-10-10水溶肥150 ml,在10～12月每半个月每袋淋施1次800倍液的N-P2O5-K2O=15-5-30水溶肥150 ml.     

云南瑞丽市滑坡影响因素的统计与分析

云南瑞丽市地质灾害类型有滑坡、崩塌、泥石流和不稳定斜坡等,其中以滑坡为主、共109个.影响滑坡的因素分为自然因素、诱发因素.自然因素指滑坡的坡度、滑体岩性、滑床岩性等在自然地质条件下形成的属性.诱发因素是指引发滑坡发生的因素,主要是降雨、地震、坡脚侵蚀、坡脚开挖等影响因素.自然因素统计表明,4～14°发育的滑坡较少,15 ～40°发育的滑坡较多;滑体岩性为含砾粉土和粉质粘土;滑床岩性以片麻岩、含砾粉土、泥岩为主,砂砾粉土次之,碎石土、粉质粘土、砂岩较少.诱发因素以降雨为主,坡脚侵蚀、地震、坡脚开挖次之.最后结合影响因素给出相关的分析.