Comparative infectivity for axenic and specific-pathogen-free chickens of O2 Escherichia coli strains with or without virulence factors

Adhesion to epithelial respiratory cells, iron acquisition, and production of K1 polysaccharide capsules have been proposed as potential virulence factors of avian Escherichia coli. These factors were studied by inoculating groups of axenic or specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens intratracheally with O2 E. coli strains after previous challenge with a wild strain of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). In all experiments, the association between IBV and an E. coli strain endowed with the three virulence factors previously mentioned resulted in the most severe pathological effects, as measured by mortality, weight gains, lesions, and reisolation of E. coli from internal organs. An E. coli strain devoid of virulence factors was able only to induce mild pathological effects restricted to the respiratory tract when combined with IBV. Both E. coli strains were more invasive in axenic chickens than in SPF chickens. These results confirm the probable involvement of the three factors studied in the pathogenic properties of avian E. coli. This model can be used to assess the role of virulence factors, by comparing pairs of positive and negative isogenic strains.     

Une néphrose toxique chez des veaux traités par un médicament contenant des produits de dégradation des tétracyclines

A toxic nephrosis in calves treated with a drug containing tetracycline degradation products     

Biological features and life table parameters of the mealy plum aphidHyalopterus pruni on different apricot cultivars

Development, survival, reproduction rate, and population growth parameters of the mealy plum aphidHyalopterus pruni (Geoffroy) (Hom.: Aphididae) were evaluated on four different apricot cultivars (Tyrinte, Sakıt, Colomer, and Bebeco) under field conditions in the Van region of Turkey. Experiments were carried out on exterior leaves of trees, 1.5–2 m above the ground. Plexiglas clip-cells (25×6 mm) with the upper side covered by muslin were used in the experiments. The mealy plum aphid performed better on Tyrinte than on the other cultivars tested. The fastest development time (first instar to adult; 9.4 days), highest daily reproduction rate (2.6 offspring/aphid/day), and highest total fecundity (48.1 offspring/aphid) were obtained on Tyrinte. The intrinsic rate of increase — a good indicator of the growth potential of a population — of individuals fed on Tyrinte was significantly greater than that of individuals fed on cvs. Colomer and Bebeco. While mean generation times (T _o ) of populations on different cultivars were close to each other, the net reproductive rate was the highest (29.45 offspring/aphid/generation) on Tyrinte and the population doubling time on Tyrinte was 18.7%, 25.2% and 26.3% faster than those of individuals on other cultivars tested. The results obtained in this study indicated that Tyrinte appeared to be the most susceptible to the mealy plum aphid among the cultivars tested. http://www.phytoparasitica.org. posting Nov. 23, 2004.     

Pregnancy Rates in Repeat-breeder Heifers Following Multiple Artificial Inseminations during Spontaneous Oestrus

Hormonal asynchronies during oestrus, related to the presence of suprabasal plasma-progesterone (P4) concentrations and a delayed ovulation, interfere with the fertility of repeat-breeder heifers (RBH). Since tubal dysfunction can occur in connection with hormonal asynchronies and constrained availability of fertile spermatozoa at the time of ovulation, the present study tested the hypothesis that frequent sperm deposition from onset of oestrus to ovulation may improve pregnancy rates in RBH. Five RBH and five virgin heifers (VH; controls) were repeatedly artificially inseminated (AI) at 6 h intervals from onset of oestrus to spontaneous ovulation. Hormone analyses revealed suprabasal P₄ concentrations and a delay in the occurrence of the luteinising hormone (LH) surge, but a normal cortisol profile in RBH. Compared with controls, RBH presented longer interval from onset of oestrus to ovulation, and therefore, received more AIs. Pregnancy rates in RBH reached control levels (60%; NS), indicating that the hypothesis might be correct. Pregnancy rates in VH were below the expected range, presumably attributed to a deleterious influence of the frequent handling. The study suggests that pregnancy rates can be improved in RBH by frequent AI in relation to spontaneous ovulation. However, this practice of repeated manipulations, while seeming not to show adverse effects, lacks practicality for routine use.     

Effects of protein-energetic supplementation frequency on growth performance and nutritional characteristics of grazing beef cattle

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate reduced supplementation frequencies for grazing beef cattle in rainy season. In experiment 1, evaluating the nutritional parameters, four rumen-cannulated Nellore bulls (BW = 410 kg) were used. In experiment 2, evaluating animal performance, 48 Nellore bulls (BW = 358 kg) were used. The treatments were as follows: mineral supplement (MS) alone and MS plus protein-energy supplement provided 3×, 5× and 7×/week. Supplementation frequency did not affect (<em class="EmphasisTypeItalic ">Pem> > 0.05) intake and digestibility. Average daily gain was greater (<em class="EmphasisTypeItalic ">Pem> < 0.001) to supplementation compared with MS. The supplementation 5×/week resulted in greater weight gain per hectare (9.24) and higher economic returns during the study period (1.64%) compared to other supplementations. Supplementation 5×/week increased animal performance and positively influenced economic returns.     

Is single-step genomic REML with the algorithm for proven and young more computationally efficient when less generations of data are present?

Efficient computing techniques allow the estimation of variance components for virtually any traditional dataset. When genomic information is available, variance components can be estimated using genomic REML (GREML). If only a portion of the animals have genotypes, single-step GREML (ssGREML) is the method of choice. The genomic relationship matrix (G) used in both cases is dense, limiting computations depending on the number of genotyped animals. The algorithm for proven and young (APY) can be used to create a sparse inverse of G (e="false">GAPYext>~ext>ext>-ext>1e>) with close to linear memory and computing requirements. In ssGREML, the inverse of the realized relationship matrix (H⁻¹) also includes the inverse of the pedigree relationship matrix, which can be dense with a long pedigree, but sparser with short. The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether costs of ssGREML can be reduced using APY with truncated pedigree and phenotypes. We also investigated the impact of truncation on variance components estimation when different numbers of core animals are used in APY. Simulations included 150K animals from 10 generations, with selection. Phenotypes (h² = 0.3) were available for all animals in generations 1–9. A total of 30K animals in generations 8 and 9, and 15K validation animals in generation 10 were genotyped for 52,890 SNP. Average information REML and ssGREML with G⁻¹ and e="false">GAPYext>~ext>ext>-ext>1e> using 1K, 5K, 9K, and 14K core animals were compared. Variance components are impacted when the core group in APY represents the number of eigenvalues explaining a small fraction of the total variation in G. The most time-consuming operation was the inversion of G, with more than 50% of the total time. Next, numerical factorization consumed nearly 30% of the total computing time. On average, a 7% decrease in the computing time for ordering was observed by removing each generation of data. APY can be successfully applied to create the inverse of the genomic relationship matrix used in ssGREML for estimating variance components. To ensure reliable variance component estimation, it is important to use a core size that corresponds to the number of largest eigenvalues explaining around 98% of total variation in G. When APY is used, pedigrees can be truncated to increase the sparsity of H and slightly reduce computing time for ordering and symbolic factorization, with no impact on the estimates.     

Die Einführung der Arsenverstäubung vom Flugzeug aus in die Praxis der Forstschädlingsbekämpfung

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

基于HYDRUS对稻田不同阶段土壤水分的模拟与分析

为探寻稻田不同阶段土壤水分状况下的差异性,基于重庆丘陵区紫色土常规轮作水稻土壤水分的连续监测数据,利用HYDRUS-1D模型对稻田淹水、排水落干和收获后3个不同干湿阶段(阶段Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ)的土壤水力参数和土壤含水量开展验证模拟分析.研究表明：(1)根据R²与RMSE的误差分析结果,HYDRUS可以实现对不同阶段稻田土壤水分变化的有效模拟.(2)根据土壤水量平衡分析,阶段Ⅰ的稻田土壤水分以水分补充的形式为主;阶段Ⅱ和Ⅲ的土壤水分以水分损失为主,底层渗漏量分别占总水分损失量的52%和95%.(3)根据HYDRUS的模拟结果,降雨直接影响土壤上下边界流的变化;阶段Ⅱ的实际作物蒸腾量和实际地表蒸发量低于阶段Ⅰ的,阶段Ⅲ稻田土壤的地表实际蒸发量与日照时数的关系更密切.     

桃树不同生长型及其研究进展

生长型是桃树重要的树体特征,是控制树体大小的遗传因素,与栽培关系密切。综合有关文献介绍了桃树的紧凑型、半矮化型、矮化型、柱型、直立型、短枝型、垂枝型等生长型资源及不同生长型在遗传、形态特征、生理、栽培等方面的研究进展。紧凑型受单位点显性基因控制,树体开张,分枝角度大,萌芽率及成枝力均高,光透过率较低;半矮化型树体介于普通型和紧凑型之间;矮化型为单基因隐性性状,节间极短,树体矮小,叶片密度大,光透过率低;柱型枝条分枝角度小,冠幅小,叶面积指数大;直立型介于柱型和普通型之间;短枝型能形成较多的短果枝,并以短果枝结果为主;垂枝型枝条披散下垂,枝条弯曲。不同生长型之间在氮素、干物质分配和内源激素水平上也存在一定的差异。紧凑型、矮化型由于树冠密度大,光透过率低而在应用上受到限制,直立型和柱型因适应了高密度栽培而更受人们的重视。针对目前存在的生长型分类与命名问题,作者认为应首先考虑节间长度,其次为萌芽率、成枝力等,然后考虑的是枝条的分枝角度。     

应用PCR技术检测鹅细小病毒

根据鹅细小病毒GPVH1株结构蛋白VP1与VP3编码基因非重叠核苷酸序列设计了一对引物GPR1 /GPR2 ,用这对引物对感染器官内的GPR和接种鹅胚增殖的GPV进行PCR扩增 ,其结果引物GRP1 /GPR2能特异性地扩增GPVVP1 VP3区段核苷酸序列 ,扩增出与设计核苷酸片段大小相符的 0 6kb的序列 ,而对照的鹅副粘病毒cDNA及鸭瘟病毒 (DPR)DNA对照组均出现阴性结果。