Quarantine requirements for the importation of black rhinoceros from Zimbabwe into Australia

SUMMARY The proposal by the Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales to import 10 southern black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) from Zimbabwe as part of an international project for conservation of the species presented the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) with a unique challenge. This importation is, at least in the modern era, the first importation of live herbivores from the African continent. Many of the serious animal diseases in the world are endemic in parts of Africa. Knowledge of which of these diseases infect wild species and may be transmitted from the wild species to domesticated species, is limited. This paper describes the strategies adopted by AQIS to facilitate the importation of rhinoceros while maintaining protection of Australian consumers, rural industries, domestic livestock and fauna against the entry and spread of unwanted pests and diseases.     

USE OF ULTRASOUND-GUIDED FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY AND AUTOMATED CORE BIOPSY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASES IN SMALL ANIMALS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy and core biopsy in the diagnosis of infiltrative gastrointestinal diseases. Six dogs and seven cats with clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease underwent ultrasonography and intestinal lesions were identified. One or more ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy and/or core biopsy procedures were performed in each patient. Each patient also underwent one of the following additional procedures for comparison of results: 1) surgery (n=4), 2) endoscopy (n=2), 3) post mortem exam (n=3), and, 4) for lymphoma diagnosed with ultrasound-guided procedures, response to chemotherapy (n=4). Correct diagnoses were obtained in nine of the 13 patients, incorrect diagnoses in two of the 13 patients, and inconclusive diagnoses in two of the thirteen patients. Of the 16 total ultrasound-guided procedures performed, ten were confirmed as correct, three as incorrect, and three were non-diagnostic. Intestinal lesions with bowel wall thickness greater than 2.0 cm had a higher percentage of correct diagnoses than lesions of lesser wall thickness. Gastric lesions had a higher percentage of correct diagnoses than small and large intestinal lesions. Malignant lesions had a higher percentage of correct diagnoses than benign lesions. There were no complications. Ultrasound-guided gastrointestinal fine-needle aspiration biopsy and core biopsy appears to be a safe, accurate, and rapid procedure for use in the diagnosis of infiltrative gastrointestinal disease.     

Material in the middle ear of dogs having magnetic resonance imaging for investigation of neurologic signs

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and potential significance of finding material in the middle ear of dogs having magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Of 466 MR studies reviewed, an increased signal was identified in the tympanic bulla in 32 (7%) dogs. Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Cocker spaniels, Bulldogs, and Boxers were over-represented compared to the population of dogs having MR imaging. Five (16%) dogs had definite otitis media and one (3%) had a meningioma invading the middle ear. Of the remaining dogs, 13 (41%) had possible otitis media and 13 (41%) had neurologic conditions apparently unrelated to otitis media. The most common appearance of material in the middle ear was isointense in T1-weighted images and hyperintense in T2-weighted images. There was no apparent correlation between the signal characteristics of the material and the diagnosis. Enhanced signal after gadolinium administration was observed affecting the lining of the bulla in dogs with otitis media and in dogs with unrelated neurologic conditions. In dogs without clinical signs of otitis media, finding an increased signal in the middle ear during MR imaging may reflect subclinical otitis media or fluid accumulation unrelated to inflammation. Brachycephalic dogs may be predisposed to this condition.     

纳他霉素处理对火龙果贮藏品质的影响

研究不同浓度的纳他霉素对火龙果采后贮藏保鲜效果的影响。以火龙果为试验材料,研究不同浓度(0、400、800、1200 mg/L)纳他霉素对火龙果贮藏期生理、营养指标及果实表面微生物菌落情况的影响。结果表明:与对照相比,不同浓度的纳他霉素处理均可显著降低火龙果呼吸强度,抑制腐烂指数、鳞片黄化率、质量损失率、丙二醛含量的增加,延缓鳞片叶绿素、可溶性固形物、可滴定酸、维生素C含量的降低,提高果实SOD、POD、CAT等抗氧化相关酶活性,在贮藏末期时仍能保持较低的细菌菌落总数、酵母菌和霉菌总数。综合认为,纳他霉素处理可以明显延缓火龙果果实衰老,有效保持果实的贮藏品质,其中以800 mg/L纳他霉素处理效果最佳。     

绿洲膜下滴灌调亏对马铃薯土壤环境及产量的影响

为测定膜下滴灌调亏马铃薯全生育期内不同调亏水平土壤养分、土壤水热动态、生长动态、产量效应和水分利用效率,于2016年在河西荒漠绿洲灌区民乐县益民灌溉试验站开展了马铃薯不同生育阶段水分调亏灌溉的试验研究,结果表明,马铃薯膜下滴灌调亏土壤水热变化均匀且利用率高,有利于马铃薯对土壤养分的充分吸收和利用;土壤养分是土壤肥力的核心,是植物在生长发育过程中不可或缺的重要因素,膜下滴灌调亏栽培能有效减少土壤速效养分的流失,并提高马铃薯对土壤速效养分的利用效率;不同生育阶段马铃薯耗水量受水分调亏程度影响较大,其耗水量随调亏程度增大而显著减少(P0.05),水分调亏处理马铃薯全生育期总耗水量均低于全生育期充分灌水CK处理。块茎形成期轻度水分亏缺马铃薯水分利用效率、灌溉水利用效率、生物量均达到最大,较全生育期充分灌水显著提高29.04%,35.61%。因此,块茎形成期轻度水分亏缺灌溉方式能使马铃薯根区土壤始终保持湿润状态,有效减少渗漏损失和植株间无效蒸发损失,改善土壤水、肥和热量状况,有利于提高作物水分利用效率,且不显著降低马铃薯最终产量。     

Mouse melanoma cell exosomes promote expression of Rac1 protein in fibroblasts

AIM To investigate the effect of exosomes secreted by mouse melanoma cells on the expression of Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) protein in fibroblasts. METHODS Ultracentrifugation was adopted to separete exosomes secreted by mouse melanoma B16-F10 cells. The morphological structure of exosomes was observed by negative-staining electron microscopy. The size distribution of exosomes was determined by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). The exosomal markers, tumor susceptibility gene 101 (Tsg101) and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (Tyrp2), were identified by Western blot. Laser confocal microscopy was used to observe the process that mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) took in exosomes during co-culture. Immunocytochemical staining and Western blot were used to detect the expression of Rac1 protein in MEF. RESULTS B16-F10 cell exosomes showed a typical tea tray-like structure, with a size range of 141~255 nm, and expressed protein markers Tsg101 and Tyrp2. The results of laser confocal microscopy showed that compared with co-culture at 0 h, a small number of exosomes appeared in the MEF at 12 h, and a large number of exosomes accumulated in the MEF after co-cultured for 24 and 36 h. Western blot analysis showed that compared with co-culture at 0 h, the expression of Rac1 protein in the MEF was significantly increased at 24 h and 36 h of co-culture (P<0.01). The results of immunocytochemical staining showed that compared with co-culture at 0 h, the positive expression level of Rac1 in the MEF cells was significantly increased at 12 h, 24 h and 36 h of co-culture (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION Intake of exosomes secreted by mouse melanoma cells promotes the expression of Rac1 protein in fibroblasts.     

冬春温度变化对小麦温敏雄性不育系BNS的育性转换影响

BNS是一个主体受温度控制的新型小麦雄性不育系,表现为花粉发育在低温下(8℃)不育,高温下(12℃)可育。BNS不育性稳定,但年份间常有波动,一些年份自交结实率上升显著。为了弄清楚BNS育性波动的原因,连续3a观察不同播期的BNS穗分化过程,分析连续6a调查的BNS自交结实率与对应年份的冬春温度变化,结果发现,冬季和春季温度的改变显著影响BNS的自交结实率。一般规律是,暖冬年份自交结实率低,寒冬较高,暖春年份自交结实率高,寒春较低。该现象的形成主要是BNS冬季生长发育速度所致,暖冬年份BNS冬季仍保持生长,到春季时完成温度敏感期前的发育,较早进入温度敏感期,此时的春季温度较低,因此BNS不育;然而在寒冬年份,BNS停止生长,春季需生长一定时间才进入温度敏感期,进入时气温已较高,因此诱导育性转换,自交结实率增高。BNS冬季生长发育速度在穗分化观察中得到验证。该机理解释了不同年份BNS自交结实率的波动,并根据冬春温度可预测BNS的育性转换。     

造林密度对新疆杨人工林生长发育和光合特性的影响

【目的】探索河西绿洲区新疆杨适宜种植密度,为新疆杨人工林的集约栽培提供科学依据.【方法】以新疆杨(Populus alba L.var.pyramidalis Bge.)为研究对象,研究3种造林密度(株距×行距分别为2m×3m、3m×4m、4m×5m)对新疆杨生长发育及光合特性的影响.【结果】不同造林密度间新疆杨人工林单株材积、胸径、树高均存在显著差异,并随林龄增加差异更加明显.4m×5m配置新疆杨人工林的胸径、单株材积大于其他两种密度,同时具有较高的光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、气孔导度(Gs)和较低的胞间CO_2浓度(C_i).相关分析表明,日均Pn、Tr与胸径、树高、单株材积呈显著正相关,Gs仅与树高呈显著正相关,C_i与各生长指标均呈负相关.【结论】株距×行距为4m×5m配置是河西新疆杨种植的最佳密度.     

自发气调包装对蜂糖李采后生理及贮藏品质的影响

以蜂糖李为试验材料,采后通过4种不同的自发气调包装处理(PE40、PE30、PE20和微孔),对蜂糖李采后生理和贮藏期品质进行定期测定,研究不同的自发气调包装对蜂糖李采后生理及贮藏期品质的影响。通过对呼吸强度、乙烯释放率、总酚含量、PPO活性、贮藏期的微环境气体成分、果实硬度、可溶性固形物、可滴定酸、褐变指数、腐烂指数、含水率等指标的分析,发现自发气调包装袋的保鲜效果依次为PE40>PE30>PE20>微孔。在0℃条件下,采后用PE40自发气调包装处理对蜂糖李保鲜效果最好。     

黄河鲤嗜水气单胞菌的分离、毒力及用药分析

自发病黄河鲤4种组织中分离致病菌,结合形态学和16SrDNA序列分析,发现分离到的细菌属气单胞菌属。回归感染试验发现,患病鱼体出现鳃盖等多处组织出血且伴随肠炎等症状,表明引起黄河鲤发病的致病菌为嗜水气单胞菌,命名为HNAh01。半致死密度测定发现,嗜水气单胞菌HNAh01的半致死密度为1.38×10~7 cfu/mL。药敏结果表明,该致病性嗜水气单胞菌是典型的多重耐药嗜水气单胞菌,但对恩诺沙星极为敏感。因此,选择恩诺沙星对分离菌株进行体外药效学和用药分析试验。药效学试验表明,恩诺沙星对嗜水气单胞菌HNAh01的最小抑菌质量浓度为1.56ng/mL,最小杀菌质量浓度为3.12ng/mL,防耐药突变质量浓度为12.5ng/mL,耐药选择窗的范围为1.56~12.5ng/mL。用药分析结果显示,黄河鲤口服剂量为10mg/kg时对嗜水气单胞菌HNAh01的相对保护率达83%。本文研究为嗜水气单胞菌的防治提供了理论基础与实践依据。