Prevalence of Mycoplasma agassizii and Chelonian herpesvirus in captive tortoises (Testudo sp.) in the United Kingdom.

During the months of April to August in 1999 and 2002, oral swabs were collected from 146 tortoises (Testudo sp.) in private collections in the United Kingdom and tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of Mycoplasma agassizii and Chelonian herpesvirus (ChHV). The presence of M. agassizii was confirmed by restriction digestion of the PCR product. A 307-bp fragment of the ChHV UL5 homologue gene was sequenced and found to show most similarity to equine herpesvirus type 1. A prevalence of 15.8 and 8.2% was found for M. agassizii and ChHV, respectively. Comparison of the carriage of both M. agassizii and ChHV in different species of tortoises correlated the presence of M. agassizii with Testudo horsfieldii and ChHV with Testudo marginata and Testudo graeca iberia. An association of ChHV with stomatitis was also found. Mixed infections with both agents were detected. The findings further demonstrate this pathogen-tortoise association and the cross transmission of these infections if different tortoise species are housed together.     

Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of Ehrlichia canis strains in dogs with clinical monocytic ehrlichiosis

The purpose of this study was to characterize, at the molecular level, the Ehrlichia canis strains involved in naturally occurring canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) in Greece, and to investigate if any sequence diversity exists between the 16S rRNA genes of those involved in the mild non-myelosuppressive or the severe myelosuppressive form of CME. To this end, amplification of the ehrlichial 16S rRNA gene was attempted by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays in bone marrow (BM) aspirates from 20 dogs tentatively diagnosed as having non-myelosuppressive (n=10, group A) or myelosuppressive (n=10, group B) CME. PCR assay using E. canis-specific primers revealed that 15 BM samples, including all group A and 5 group B dogs, were positive. Using universal PCR primers, a nearly full-length 16S rRNA gene could be amplified from 13 BM samples, including 9 group A and 4 group B dogs. The 16S rDNA analysis based on secondary structure revealed that all sequences of the Greek strains were identical to each other and indicated 100% identity among some American (Venezuelan and Brazilian), European (Greek), Middle Eastern (Turkish) and Asiatic (Thailand) strains. The results of this study suggest that the E. canis strains involved in the non-myelosuppressive and myelosuppressive forms of CME in Greece share an identical 16S rRNA genotype.     

Comparison of the results of abdominal ultrasonography and exploratory laparotomy in the dog and cat

Results of preoperative ultrasonography and exploratory laparotomy were reviewed retrospectively in a series of 100 small animals to assess the agreement between ultrasonographic and surgical findings and to identify abdominal lesions likely to be missed by ultrasonography. Good agreement occurred between ultrasound reports and surgical reports in 64% of the animals, which supported the use of ultrasonography in potential surgical candidates. A major discrepancy was observed between the ultrasound report and surgical findings in 25% of the animals. Of the various types of pathology encountered in the study, gastrointestinal ulceration or perforation was the most likely lesion to be missed by ultrasonography.     

Nitrogen nutrition,leaf resistance,and leaf photosynthetic rate of the rice plant

The evidence that indicates a close association between nitrogen nutrition and the Photosynthetic rate of single rice leaves (Table 1) shows that the photosynthetic rate is related to the nitrogen content on a dry weight basis or on a leaf area basis, Photosynthesis of single leaves can be analyzed in terms of a series of diffusion resistances, i.e., stomatal, mesophyll, and carboxylation (1, 3, 6). Nitrogen nutrition may affect either one of these or more than two at the same time. Nitrogen nutrition affects mainly the mesophyll resistance, and the stomatal resistance to a lesser extent, in cotton, beans, and maize (10) while it affects both the stomatal and mesophyll resistance in sugar beet (8).     

一种确定林业发展项目的有效工具(英文)

在云南省绿春县的有些村庄,由砍柴造成的森林破坏是造成环境退化的主要原因。在黑河流域的上游,不断加剧的水土流失和河床抬升对下游上百万的人们构成威胁。尽管人们对森林破坏和土地的可持续利用、社区可持续发展之间的关系不是不了解,但当生存压力存在的时候就会忽略由此造成的对未来的影响。对于村民来说,他们已经意识到了他们的生存状况,并讨论解决的有效途径,而不是单纯等待外界的援助和干预。问题的关键是如何将这些变化和影响以一种直观和形象的方式向村民解释,并且让包括文盲在内的所有人都能理解。从这方面考虑,图形的东西比文字和数字分析更有优势。本文采用MIGIS(移动交互式地理信息系统的英文缩写,它包括两部分的内容,即PLA-参与式学习和行动和GIS-地理信息系统)在云南省绿春县哈尼族村寨来协助进行村民自发的造林规划。图6表1参16。