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.     

传染性牛鼻气管炎亚单位疫苗免疫原性的研究

用犊牛睾丸细胞培养传染性牛鼻气管炎病毒（IBRV），反复冻融，差速离心提取病毒，用Triton X-100溶解，超声波处理，制成IBRV TritonX-100亚单位抗原，经SDS－PAGE电泳，其分子量在176kD-53kD之间，其中有6条清晰的蛋白带。该抗原与一定比例的白油－司盘佐剂乳化，接种育成年，经间接ELISA检测，可使接种的育成牛产生高效价的血清抗体（OD492mm=1.57)。2种不同剂量（80mg/头，40mg／头）的IBRV亚单位疫苗接种育成牛，体内抗体效价相差不显著，抗体可在体内持续12周，用IBRV TrionX-100亚单位疫苗2次接种育成牛，其体内抗体效价显著高于用灭活疫苗2次接种育成牛体内的效价。试验结果表明：提取的IBRV多肽制作的亚单位疫苗具有良好的免疫原性，且抗体持续时间较长。     

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.     

利用 HPLC 分析菠萝愈伤组织 DNA 甲基化水平

建立菠萝 DNA 甲基化水平的 HPLC 测定方法，分析菠萝愈伤组织 DNA 甲基化水平变化，为进一步研究菠萝 体细胞无性系变异机理奠定基础。通过对流动相和水解温度等条件的优化，建立菠萝 DNA 甲基化水平的检测方法。结 果表明，分离 C 和 5m-C 的最佳流动相为甲醇∶磷酸二氢钾∶三乙胺为 10∶90∶0.2（V/V），pH 3.0，DNA 的最佳水解 温度为 90 ℃。利用此体系分析菠萝愈伤组织和胚性愈伤组织的 DNA 甲基化变化，结果表明，菠萝愈伤组织在分化过 程中 DNA 总甲基化水平呈动态变化，变化范围为 5.14%~96.86%。此外，胚性愈伤组织甲基化水平低于非胚性愈伤组 织。推测 DNA 甲基化影响菠萝愈伤组织的分化及胚性愈伤组织的形成。     

草果AtNCED基因克隆、表达和植物表达载体构建

9-顺式环氧类胡萝卜素双加氧酶(9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase, NCED)是ABA生物合成的限速酶。诸多研究表明NCED基因表达量的变化与ABA含量显著相关,在种子休眠过程中发挥重要作用。为探究草果AtNCED基因的序列特征和功能,本研究以草果(Amomum tsaoko Crevost et Lemarie)种子转录组为基础,采用RT-PCR技术克隆了一个AtNCED基因。该基因全长2 372 bp,包含一个1 830 bp的开放阅读框(open reading frame, ORF),编码610个氨基酸。生物信息学分析显示,AtNCED基因编码的蛋白在N-末端包含典型的叶绿体转运肽序列,在催化结构域含有4个高度保守的组氨酸残基。AtNCED蛋白与芭蕉科马来西亚蕉同源性较高,与其他单子叶植物处在同一进化分支。实时荧光定量PCR分析结果表明,AtNCED基因表达量随着层积时间的增加逐渐下降,该基因可能正向调控种子休眠,在草果种子休眠诱导与维持中发挥重要作用。进一步地,利用同源重组方法,成功构建了pBI121-AtNCED过表达载体,并转化至农杆菌EHA105。该研究结果为弄清ABA激素信号在种子休眠中的调控作用提供了帮助。     

丹参根干重变化规律研究(英文)

[目的]研究不同移栽日期、密度处理下丹参根干重变化规律,为丹参大田高产栽培管理提供理论依据。[方法]以大田栽培丹参为研究对象,设移栽日期T1(冬栽,2009年11月26日移栽)、T2(春栽Ⅰ,2010年3月9日移栽)、T3(春栽Ⅱ,2010年3月27日移栽)和密度(株距×行距)D1(20cm×25cm)、D2(25cm×25cm)、D3(25cm×30cm)共9个处理,通过定期采集样品测定丹参根干重变化曲线,以归一化的生长度日用曲线拟合软件对其进行拟合。[结果]丹参根干重变化符合Logistic曲线,曲线分析表明丹参根生长分为前慢期、速生期和后慢期3个时期。[结论]丹参移栽后生长度日在1900~2200℃·d之间即9月份根干重进入快速生长期。