Proximal tibial epiphysiodesis to reduce tibial plateau slope in young dogs with cranial cruciate ligament deficient stifle

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of proximal tibial epiphysiodesis to reduce the tibial plateau slope in young dogs with cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) deficient stifles. Of the 14 treated dogs, eight had a bilateral injury, for a total of 22 joints. After physical and radiographical examination and measurement of tibial plateau slope, all of the dogs underwent surgery. Insertion of the screw was placed in the most proximal part of the tibial plateau, in its medio-lateral centre, aiming to the tibial shaft and using a K wire predriven as a guide; correct position of the screw was confirmed with intraoperative fluoroscopy or radiography. In all of the dogs the tibial slope was decreased at the time of physis fusion and the degree of change depended on the age and the breed of the dog at the time of surgery. The minimum change was 4 degrees and the maximum was 24 degrees. There was a statistically significant difference between tibial slope measured before surgery compared to tibial slope measured at the last follow-up visit after surgery. This study shows that the partial proximal tibial fusion in dogs with ACL injuries was effective in reducing the tibial slope during the residual growing time to such an extent to stabilize the joint, provided that the surgery had been carried out when there was still residual growing potential. The technique appeared to be mini-invasive and malalignment complications could be avoided by correct and precise insertion of the screw.     

Diversity of the calabash tree (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Crescentia cujete</Emphasis> L.) in Colombia

Germplasm of the calabash tree (Crescentia cujete L.) was collected in five major regions of Colombia, i.e. the Andes, Caribbean, Amazon, Orinoco, and Pacific regions. Collecting this multipurpose tree was guided by the indigenous knowledge of farmers and artisans in each region. Large variation in fruit shapes and sizes was found, of which some forms were typical for certain regions. Overall 56 accessions were collected and roughly classified into 22 types by eight fruit shapes and eight sizes. Molecular markers (Amplified fragment length polymorphisms) were applied to leaf tip tissue originating from vegetatively propagated plants in order to assess the diversity available in the germplasm collected as well as to detect patterns of geographical or morphological similarity. One accession each of C. alata H.B.&K. and C. amazonica Ducke were used as outgroups. Overall, genetic diversity was high (mean Nei and Li’s coefficient of 0.43). No relations could be established between either geographical provenance or fruit morphology and patterns of genetic diversity. Concerning the outgroups, the C. amazonica accession appeared to be a distinct species. The C. alata accession, however, did not seem to be sufficiently distinct from C. cujete to merit species status. The latter material may in fact be a hybrid or serve to challenge the validity of interspecific organization of the genus Crescentia.

上海富朗特动物保健有限公司专栏——维生素营养(五)维生素缺乏导致家禽的神经性疾病

维生素是不同于脂肪、碳水化合物和蛋白质的有机化合物,以极微的含量自然存在于大多数食物中,以满足正常的生理功能.它们在家禽营养上的重要性被其缺乏时所出现的各种缺乏症所证实.它们扮演了有机体内的一系列角色,如抗氧化分子、基因转录调节器、神经递质和核酸的生物合成、细胞分裂驱动器、器官发育和胚胎形成,所有这些都可促进正常的神经功能.在家禽营养中,一种或多种维生素的缺乏会导致神经系统疾病,如周围神经病变、瘫痪、共济失调、反射消失、脑病、角弓反张、运动失调和抽搐.     

Experimental infection with a Leptospira hardjo strain isolated from cattle of the eastern plains of Colombia

The infectivity and pathogenicity of a strain of Leptospira hardjo isolated from the eastern plains of Colombia were evaluated. Ten pregnant heifers were artificially inoculated and monitored during 10 months. During the trial, isolation of leptospires was attempted and antibodies were detected by the microscopic agglutination test. Leptospires were recovered from the urine of six of the inoculated animals up to 6 months after infection. Eight of ten calves born from the inoculated heifers were born weak, and one of them died 12 h after parturition. Three of the weak calves had generalized jaundice of the internal surfaces. Half of the cows developed metritis and had a retained placenta. Serological reactions were seen against serotypes other than L. hardjo. A chronic infection was apparently established in the inoculated heifers with leptospiruria resulting in reinfection of the animals and a secondary rise in antibody levels.     

Efficacy of a live attenuated vaccine in classical swine fever virus postnatally persistently infected pigs

Classical swine fever (CSF) causes major losses in pig farming, with various degrees of disease severity. Efficient live attenuated vaccines against classical swine fever virus (CSFV) are used routinely in endemic countries. However, despite intensive vaccination programs in these areas for more than 20 years, CSF has not been eradicated. Molecular epidemiology studies in these regions suggests that the virus circulating in the field has evolved under the positive selection pressure exerted by the immune response to the vaccine, leading to new attenuated viral variants. Recent work by our group demonstrated that a high proportion of persistently infected piglets can be generated by early postnatal infection with low and moderately virulent CSFV strains. Here, we studied the immune response to a hog cholera lapinised virus vaccine (HCLV), C-strain, in six-week-old persistently infected pigs following post-natal infection. CSFV-negative pigs were vaccinated as controls. The humoral and interferon gamma responses as well as the CSFV RNA loads were monitored for 21 days post-vaccination. No vaccine viral RNA was detected in the serum samples and tonsils from CSFV postnatally persistently infected pigs for 21 days post-vaccination. Furthermore, no E2-specific antibody response or neutralising antibody titres were shown in CSFV persistently infected vaccinated animals. Likewise, no of IFN-gamma producing cell response against CSFV or PHA was observed. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the absence of a response to vaccination in CSFV persistently infected pigs.     

Bericht über eine Reise in Kolumbien 1988 zur Sammlung pflanzlicher genetischer Ressourcen

Zusammenfassung Eine Reise zur Sammlung pflanzlicher genetischer Ressourcen und zum Studium der Unkräuter wurde 1988 in Kolumbien durchgeführt. Es war möglich, beide Zielstellungen gut zu verbinden und interessante Ergebnisse hinsichtlich von Kulturpflanze-Unkraut-Aspekten zu erreichen. 112 Proben von Kulturpflanzen und ihren wildwachsenden Verwandten wurden für die Gaterslebener Genbank gesammelt. Zahlreiche Muster von Unkräutern und Wildpflanzen ergänzen die bestehenden Sammlungen des Leipziger Herbariums. Die Generosion ist in der Umgebung von Bogotá schon weit fortgeschritten, aber in entfernteren Regionen können noch Landsorten verschiedener Kulturpflanzenarten gesammelt werden, besonders in den südlichen Landesteilen. Diese Tendenz der in südlicher Richtung zunehmenden Variabilität wurde durch Aufsammlungen aus Peru bestätigt. Hier konnten 40 Muster zahlreicher Kulturpflanzenarten mit hoher Variabilität innerhalb der Fruchtarten gesammelt werden. Besonders erwähnenswert ist eine Form vonVicia faba mit eigenartiger Samenmusterung, über die bisher noch nicht berichtet wurde.

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Report on a mission in colombia 1988 for the collection of plant genetic resources

Summary A mission for the collection of plant genetic resources and for the study of weeds was carried out in Colombia, 1988. It was possible to combine both purposes and to reach interesting results concerning crop-weed-aspects. 112 samples of cultivated plants and their wild relatives were collected for the Gatersleben gene bank. Several accessions of weeds and wild plants could be included into the Leipzig herbarium. Genetic erosion has progressed in the surroundings of Bogotá, but at more distant sites land-races of several crops can still be collected, especially in the southern parts of the country. This tendency of increasing variability to the southern direction was confirmed by collections in Pern. The 40 accessions collected here displayed a high variation in the number of plants under cultivation and within the crops. Worth mentioning is a form ofVicia faba with seed colour patterns which have not been reported, so far.

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1988 . -

- 1988 . . — . 112 . . , , , . . 40 . Vicia faba . .

     

An AFLP diversity study of the genus Passiflora focusing on subgenus Tacsonia

DNA variation was studied at the intra- andinterspecific levels within the genus Passiflora, with particular emphasis on the subgenusTacsonia and its relationship with the subgenusPassiflora. AFLP fingerprints were generated for35 accessions from 21 species, 14 of which belong to subgenusTacsonia, and four to subgenusPassiflora. The morphologically intermediateP. manicata (subgenusManicata) was also included, as wereP. trinervia (subgenusPsylanthus) and P.alnifolia (subgenus Decaloba). The two latter were used as outgroup species. Twoprimer combinations generated 34–80 scorable fragments pergenotype for a total of 260 fragments. Polymorphism analyses spannedthe levels from individual genotype to section. SubgenusTacsonia presented wide genetic variability atboth intra- and interspecific levels, particularly within wildspecies. The classification based on these markers generally agreeswell with current taxonomic definitions of common species, but lesswith definitions of sections. A geographical component was evident inthe intraspecific variation of P.mixta, P.tripartita var. mollissimaand P. tarminiana, withwider variation in Ecuador and Peru than in Colombia and Venezuela.These same three species, plus P.cumbalensis, formed adjacent clusters, showingcloser affinity with each other than with the other species ofsubgenus Tacsonia. As expected, P. manicata clustered at anintermediate position between subgenera Tacsoniaand Passiflora.