印度北部西瓦里克山区的重要草种—龙须草

作者从事龙须草研究30余年,研究结果表明龙须草具有良好的水土保持特性和极高的经济利用价值。①一般特性:龙须草广泛分布于印度北部(喜玛拉雅山脚)海拔300～500m 层段,属该地本生资源。用于造纸始于1870年,现年均造纸用草量80万吨。它能在各种类型土壤及各种地形地貌上生长良好。可与西瓦里克山脉的许多经济林木套作。②生物学与栽培学习性:龙须草一年两次结籽,但以四五月籽生活力强,种耔繁殖有直播与育苗两种,也可分蔸繁殖。田间定植密度以4万蔸/hm~2为宜,株行距50cm×50cm,田间除草仅需定植当年两次,次年一次即可,每公倾施 N、P_2O_5各40kg 可增产9.42t,比对照增加40%。③生态学意义:强大的根承与茂密的地上部分既固着土壤又保蓄雨水,即使在陡峭山坡地也能有效地减少水土漉失。在缓坡地农田每隔30m 种植一条1m 宽的龙须草有助于坡自然形成相对平整的梯田,土壤面积的损失可由龙须草得到补偿。在田埂上种植有利于加固田埂.防洪水冲垮。④经济学意义:龙须草纤维素含量54.52%,适于制做高级书写纸与印刷纸,制浆收获率40%;用于制绳、编织使许多山民以此为生,成绳率80%,为山村剩余劳力提供了大量的就业机会。总之,其无与伦比的生态、经济价值使它在北部西瓦里克地区具有十分突出的地位,对此我们应给予充分重视。     

新型的矮小型鸡

矮小型鸡(Dwarf)与正常鸡相比,它有许多优点。为更好地对矮小型鸡进行选择和管理,应加深对矮小化基因(Dwarf gene)的认识。 1949年Hutt描述了一种能引起动物矮小化的基因(dw),它与过去记录的矮小化基因不同,不影响生产性能,并且呈伴性隐性遗传。表型为矮小型的(同型)雄性的两条性染色体上都带有矮小化基因,矮小型公鸡与正常母鸡交配便产生矮小型母鸡;但若矮小型母鸡再与同型正常公鸡交配,后代为正常鸡,不过后代公鸡都带有矮小化基因。     

Dyserythropoeisis, sideroblasts/siderocytes and hemoglobin crystallization in a dog

Dyserythropoiesis characterized by enhanced intramedullary destruction, pathologic sideroblasts and siderocytes, and hemoglobin crystallization was detected in a female Cocker Spaniel presented for poor exercise tolerance. Examination of peripheral blood revealed intraerythrocytic crystals, granulation of erythrocytes, nucleated erythroid cells, reticulocytosis and marked variation in erythrocyte morphology in the absence of anemia. Bone marrow examination revealed sideroblasts, a low M:E ratio and evidence of enhanced intramedullary destruction of erythroid cells. Electron microscopy of peripheral blood and bone marrow confirmed pathologic mitochondrial iron accumulation in erythroid cells and the presence of intraerythrocytic hemoglobin crystals. A cause for the hematologic changes was not identified. After the animal became clinically normal, siderocytes disappeared from peripheral blood but intraerythrocytic crystals and reticulocytosis persisted.     

Levels of selenium in blood and tissues associated with some selenium deficiency diseases in New Zealand sheep

Whole bloods from weaned lambs with severe selenium responsive unthriftiness usually contain <5 ng Se/ml. Mildly or moderately affected lambs have blood levels of 5-10 ng/ml. Selenium responsive infertility in ewes appears to be associated with whole blood selenium levels below 10 ng/ml.     

Formalin and footrot in sheep

Changes in formalin concentration were measured over time in uncontaminated solutions and solutions heavily contaminated by mud, faeces, wool or straw. Shallow plastic trays containing 1.11 of a 9% aqueous solution of formalin were exposed for 6 days (trial 1) or 8 days (trial 2) to windy autumn weather. Evaporation of solution volumes was high (47-73%). Concentration generally increased over time: by 13-31% in trial 1 and by 61-162% in trial 2. These figures represent actual increases in percentage formalin of up to 3.0% in trial 1 and up to 7.6% in trial 2. Exposure to mud, sheep faeces or wool did not affect the increase in concentration but there was no increase in the presence of straw. As exposure to excessively concentrated formalin solutions produces hyperaemia, cracking of interdigital skin and lameness in sheep it is recommended that footbath solutions should be diluted to 2-S%, prepared on the day of use and discarded daily whether contaminated or not. Addition of formalin or water to existing solutions of unknown strength should be avoided.     

Failure of orally administered zinc to prevent experimentally induced footrot in sheep

Two groups of adult Merino sheep, initially grazed on pasture, were dosed daily with zinc sulphate (1 mg Zn/kg LW) or zinc oxide (15 mg Zn/kg LW) for six and seven weeks, respectively. On the 18th day, both groups were transferred to indoor pens together with unmedicated control sheep, and five days later the feet of all animals were infected artificially with a virulent strain of Bacteroides nodosus. By the fourth week after challenge, 85% or more of the feet challenged had developed advanced footrot, and no significant differences in the incidence and severity of lesions between dosed and un-dosed groups were recorded. Plasma zinc concentrations, monitored throughout the experiment, remained at similar levels in sheep receiving the lower dose rate and in the controls. At the higher dose rate, plasma zinc levels increased till Day 23, but thereafter declined to values comparable to those of undosed animals. At post mortem, no evidence of zinc toxicosis was found, and only the kidneys of sheep receiving the higher dosage showed a significant accumulation of zinc compared with the controls.     

Prevalence of antibodies to equine viruses in the Netherlands

Summary The prevalence of antibodies to various viruses was investigated in a series of serum samples collected from horses in the Netherlands between 1963 and 1966 and from 1972 onwards. Neutralizing antibodies to equine rhinopneumonitis virus, equine arteritis virus and to equine rhinovirus types 1 and 2 were detected in respectively 76%, 14%, 66% and 59% of the equine serum samples tested. The observed incidence of serum samples positive to equine adenovirus in the complement fixation test was 39%. Precipitating antibodies to equine infectious anaemia virus were detected only in serum samples from two horses imported from abroad. Haemagglutination inhibiting antibodies to Myxovirus influenzae A / equi-1, M. Influenzae A / equi-2, and Reovirus types 1, 2, and 3 were present in respectively 82%, 50%, 10%, 33% and 3.6% of the serum samples tested. The most frequently observed incidence of antibodies to the various equine respiratory viruses occurred in the groups of horses having repeatedly contact with other horses.