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.     

蛋白质组学研究技术及其在果树学中的应用

蛋白质组研究是当今生命科学发展的一个新的增长点,它能阐明基因组所表达的真正执行生命活动的全 部蛋白质的表达规律和生物功能。简要介绍了蛋白质组学产生的科学背景、研究方法和研究内容。蛋白质组学研究 方法主要有双向聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(2D-PAGE)、质谱(Mass-spectrometric)技术、蛋白质芯片(Protein chips)技术、酵母 双杂交系统(Yeast two-hybrid system)、双向高效柱层析和生物信息学等。其应用的范围包括植物群体遗传学、在个体 水平上植物对生物和非生物环境的适应机制、植物的发育和组织器官的分化过程,以及不同亚细胞结构在生理生态 过程中的作用等诸多方面。同时展望了植物蛋白质组学研究前景以及蛋白质组学技术在果树学中的应用前景。     

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.     

松嫩平原优势种羊草与其主要伴生种芦苇空间分布格局分析

芦苇是松嫩草地优势种羊草的主要伴生种,两者常常形成物种组成比较单一的混生群落或者与其他物种组成羊草 杂类草群落.选择羊草 芦苇混生群落,羊草群落和芦苇群落的交错区进行羊草、芦苇单物种格局分析.结果表明,1)混生群落和交错区中,羊草和芦苇均是以集聚分布的形式存在;2)羊草在混生群落中的格局强度小于交错区中的格局强度,芦苇在2种类型群落中的格局强度没有显著差异;3)除了考虑物种的生物学特性以外,混生群落种内、种间竞争也是影响羊草集聚分布和格局强度的主要因素,交错区中,环境异质性和种间竞争是影响集聚分布和格局强度的重要因子;4)芦苇在混生群落和交错区中格局强度没有明显差异,由此可以判定芦苇的空间分布格局形成主要受植物本身生物学特性的影响.     

日粮维生素E水平对后备种母鸡生长发育的影响

研究日粮维生素E对后备种母鸡体形、肌肉和生殖器官生长发育的影响。发现日粮维生素E水平对20周龄后备种母鸡的体重、体重均匀度、胸骨长度、胫长度、屠宰率、半净膛率、全净膛率、胸肌率、腿肌率、翅重率、腹脂率、冠高度和卵巢重量没有显著影响(P>0 05 ), 但高剂量维生素E日粮显著增加输卵管的长度和重量(P<0 05)。结果表明日粮高维生素E水平(180mg/kg) 可加速20周龄后备种母鸡输卵管的生长发育。     

广东省湛江市2004-2013年麻疹流行病学特征及消除麻疹措施的分析

目的分析广东省湛江市2004-2013年麻疹流行病学特征及预防控制措施,为消除麻疹采取针对性措施提供依据。方法对麻疹发病及采取的预防控制措施进行描述性流行病学分析。结果收集该市2004-2013年麻疹发病共3 552例,发病率为0.06~15.34/10万,2006、2008年曾出现2次麻疹流行高峰,发病率分别为10.72/10万、15.34/10万,2008~2010年采取麻疹查漏补种、强化免疫等控制措施,2011年报告发病率降至0.06/10万,但2013年再次出现流行高峰,报告发病率达13.22/10万。总体仍呈以小年龄组人群发病为主,<15岁病例占总病例数的88.18%,以0岁组发病率最高。结论麻疹常规免疫接种率和首针及时接种率偏低,是麻疹高发的主要原因;提高适龄儿童麻疹接种率,落实入托入学查验预防接种证工作,控制医院内感染,适时开展含麻疹成分疫苗补充免疫工作,是控制、消除麻疹的有效手段。     

遮荫对10种地被植物光合特性的影响

为了探讨地被植物在不同遮荫条件下的适应性,本研究以10种地被植物为材料,对其在不同光照条件下的生长状态、日平均净光合速率、表观量子效率及光补偿点进行分析.结果表明:遮荫水平对10种植物的光合有很大影响,10种植物能忍受的遮荫程度不同.对旋覆花、甘野菊、大叶铁线莲、青杞、委陵菜来说,全光比较合适；对蛇莓、匍枝毛茛、匍枝委...     

补播羊草和黄花苜蓿对退化草甸植物群落特征的影响

呼伦贝尔草原区是我国北方重要的生态屏障,近年来不合理的利用方式导致该地区退化草地面积不断扩大,为了探究牧草补播时间及补播比例对呼伦贝尔退化草甸草原植物群落特征的影响,为该地区退化草地修复提供依据。本研究以羊草（Leymus chinensis（Trin.） Tzvel.）和黄花苜蓿（Medicago falcata L.）为试验材料,采用双因素随机区组试验设计,通过测定幼苗数、高度、生物量等群落指标,并综合评价补播效果,结果表明：夏播羊草和黄花苜蓿幼苗数量显著高于春播和秋播（P<0.05）,夏播和秋播植物群落总生物量呈增加趋势,春播则呈减少趋势;补播措施提高了退化草地植物群落Shannon-Weiner指数、Simpson指数和Pielou指数,豆科和禾本科植物重要值呈增加趋势,其他科植物呈下降趋势。呼伦贝尔地区夏季补播羊草和黄花苜蓿以1∶3补播效果较好,而春播由于恢复时间短,需进一步观察。