Serological survey of the incidence of Hypoderma bovis in cattle in 1988

Sera from 74,502 cattle from 3087 farms in England and Wales were tested for the presence of antibodies against Hypoderma bovis in the spring of 1988. Twenty-nine positive sera were identified on 18 premises and these animals were treated; an examination of 6030 sera taken from 108 neighbouring herds identified another 17 seropositive animals on 10 farms in Devon, Cornwall, Lancashire, Shropshire and Powys, indicating that these counties still harbour populations of warble fly.     

Geographical cline of DNA variation within the F intersterility group of Heterobasidion annosum in Italy

Eighty-six Heterobasidion annosum isolates, mainly belonging to the F intersterility group and obtained from 32 different geographical localities in Italy, were subjected to genetic analysis by the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The similarity between F and S groups was higher than that between F and P. In UPGMA Cluster Analysis, the F isolates originating from the same locality usually grouped in the same cluster. The isolates also showed a tendency to group at the level of larger geographical areas. Within the F group, isolates from the south of the Italian peninsula showed the highest genetic variation and northern isolates from the Alpine regions showed the lowest. This indicates a gradual cline along the peninsula. The genetic variability in the Italian F group is discussed in relation to the past and present distribution of the host species in Italy and Europe.     

Comparison of cardiopulmonary responses during sedation with epidural and local anesthesia for laparoscopic-assisted jejunostomy feeding tube placement with cardiopulmonary responses during general anesthesia for laparoscopic-assisted or open surgical jejunostomy feeding tube placement in healthy dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of laparoscopic-assisted jejunostomy feeding tube (J-tube) placement in healthy dogs under sedation with epidural and local anesthesia and compare cardiopulmonary responses during this epidural anesthetic protocol with cardiopulmonary responses during general anesthesia for laparoscopic-assisted or open surgical J-tube placement. ANIMALS: 15 healthy mixed-breed dogs. PROCEDURES: Dogs were randomly assigned to receive open surgical J-tube placement under general anesthesia (n = 5 dogs; group 1), laparoscopic-assisted J-tube placement under general anesthesia (5; group 2), or laparoscopic-assisted J-tube placement under sedation with epidural and local anesthesia (5; group 3). Cardiopulmonary responses were measured at baseline (time 0), every 5 minutes during the procedure (times 5 to 30 minutes), and after the procedure (after desufflation [groups 2 and 3] or at the start of abdominal closure [group 1]). Stroke volume, cardiac index, and O(2) delivery were calculated. RESULTS: All group 3 dogs tolerated laparoscopic-assisted J-tube placement under sedation with epidural and local anesthesia. Comparison of cardiovascular parameters revealed a significantly higher cardiac index, mean arterial pressure, and O(2) delivery in group 3 dogs, compared with group 1 and 2 dogs. Minimal differences in hemodynamic parameters were found between groups undergoing laparoscopic-assisted and open surgical J-tube placement under general anesthesia (ie, groups 1 and 2); these differences were not considered to be clinically important in healthy research dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Sedation with epidural and local anesthesia provided satisfactory conditions for laparoscopic-assisted J-tube placement in healthy dogs; this anesthetic protocol caused less cardiopulmonary depression than general anesthesia and may represent a better choice for J-tube placement in critically ill patients.     

Comparison of lipid content and Fatty Acid composition in the edible meat of wild and cultured freshwater and marine fish and shrimps from china

The lipid content and fatty acid composition in the edible meat of twenty-nine species of wild and cultured freshwater and marine fish and shrimps were investigated. Both the lipid content and fatty acid composition of the species were specified due to their unique food habits and trophic levels. Most of the marine fish demonstrated higher lipid content than the freshwater fish, whereas shrimps had the lowest lipid content. All the marine fish and shrimps had much higher total n-3 PUFA than n-6 PUFA, while most of the freshwater fish and shrimps demonstrated much lower total n-3 PUFA than n-6 PUFA. This may be the biggest difference in fatty acid composition between marine and freshwater species. The cultured freshwater fish demonstrated higher percentages of total PUFA, total n-3 PUFA, and EPA + DHA than the wild freshwater fish. Two freshwater fish, including bighead carp and silver carp, are comparable to the marine fish as sources of n-3 PUFA.     

Uptake of veterinary medicines from soils into plants

Medicines play an important role in the treatment and prevention of disease. Whereas the side effects on human and animal health resulting directly from treatment have been widely documented, only recently have the occurrence and fate of medicines in the environment and the potential consequences for human health been recognized as an issue warranting consideration. Medicines have been shown to be released to soils and to persist in the environment. This study was performed to investigate the potential for a range of veterinary medicines to be taken up from soil by plants used for human consumption and to assess the potential significance of this exposure route in terms of human health. Soil analyses indicated that, for selected substances, measurable residues of these are likely to occur in soils for at least 5 months following application of manure containing these compounds. Experimental studies on the uptake of veterinary medicines into carrot roots (tubers) and lettuce leaves showed that only florfenicol, levamisole, and trimethoprim were taken up by lettuces, whereas diazinon, enrofloxacin, florfenicol, and trimethoprim were detected in carrot roots. Measured concentrations in plant material were used to model potential adult human exposure to these compounds. Although exposure concentrations were appreciable in a few instances, accounting for approximately 10% of the acceptable daily intake values (ADI), all were lower than the ADI values, indicating that, at least for compounds with properties similar to those considered here, there is little evidence of an appreciable risk. This exposure route may, however, be important when veterinary medicines have a very low ADI, at which they elicit subtle effects over prolonged periods, or when exposure is occurring via a number of routes at once. Although degradation products (produced in the soil or the plant) were not measured, it is possible for some substances that these could increase the risks to consumers.     

Performance,milk fatty acid composition and behaviour of high-yielding Holstein dairy cows given a limited grazing period

The effects of a limited grazing period on the performance, behaviour and milk composition of high-yielding dairy cows were examined. A total of 56 Holstein cows yielding 44.7 ± 0.42 kg/day were allocated to one of four treatments in one of two, 4-week periods. Treatments were as follows: control (C)—cows housed and offered TMR ad libitum; early grazing (EG)—cows grazed for 6 hr after morning milking then housed; delayed grazing (DG)—cows returned to housing for 1 hr after morning milking followed by grazing for 6 hr, then housed; restricted TMR (RT)—cows grazed for 6 hr after morning milking, then housed and fed TMR at 75% of ad libitum. Intake of TMR was highest in cows receiving C, intermediate in EG and DG, and lowest in RT at 26.9, 23.6, 24.7 and 20.3 kg DM/day respectively. Pasture intake was similar in cows receiving EG or DG, but was higher in RT at 2.4, 2.0 and 3.5 kg DM/day respectively. Milk yield was similar between cows receiving C, EG or DG, but lowest in RT at 45.7, 44.2, 44.9 and 41.7 kg/cow, respectively, while milk fat content of C18:3 n-3 was increased by grazing. Cows in C spent more than 55 min/day longer lying and had three additional lying bouts/day, while lying bouts were shorter than for cows receiving EG, RT or DG. It is concluded that high-yielding cows can be grazed for 6 hr/day with little impact on performance, provided TMR is available ad libitum when housed.     

甜菜SSR反应体系优化及重要农艺性状分子标记

[目的]为选育优质甜菜新品种,利用SSR法筛选与高糖、高产、耐盐相关的分子标注.[方法]研究对甜菜SSR-PCR反应体系进行优化,并利用SSR分子标记方法和分离群体分组分析法(Bulked SegregateAnalysis,BSA)对具有高糖/低糖、低产/高产、耐盐/不耐盐三种重要农艺性状的甜菜亲本和F2代植株进行分析.[结果]研究建立了适宜甜菜的SSR-PCR反应体系为:20μL反应体系中含l×Buffer、2.0 mmol/LMg2+、1.5 uTaq DNA聚合酶、0.20 mmol/L dNTP、1.5 μmol/L引物、60 ng DNA模板.依据优化体系,对不同农艺性状的甜菜亲本与F2代进行SSR-PCR扩增分析,高糖性状获得了200和100 bp两条与高糖性状连锁的标记,250和230 bp两条与高产性状连锁的标记,550、250和100 bp三条与耐盐性状紧密连锁的分子标记.[结论]研究获得的7条特异条带是与甜菜重要农艺性状连锁的分子标记,将为甜菜的育种工作提供重要的理论基础.