Shrews as reservoir hosts of borna disease virus

Borna disease virus (BDV) is the causative agent of severe T-cell-mediated meningoencephalitis in horses, sheep, and other animal species in central Europe. Here we report the first unequivocal detection of a BDV reservoir species, the bicolored white-toothed shrew, Crocidura leucodon, in an area in Switzerland with endemic Borna disease.     

西安市首次发现北小麝携带汉坦病毒核酸

目的检测北小麝鼩感染汉坦病毒情况,探索汉坦病毒与媒介生物之间的相互关系,为进一步研究HFRS提供基础依据。方法在西安市HFRS疫区捕获鼩鼱类动物鉴定种类,提取其肺组织病毒RNA进行检测。结果 2010年8月11日在疫区范围的西安市长安区斗门镇五星村(北纬34°11'42.49,东经108°47'46.21)捕获到北小麝鼩,在其体内检测到汉坦病毒核酸。结论西安市HFRS疫区食虫目动物北小麝鼩携带汉坦病毒核酸,其可能已经成为病毒的传播宿主。     

Acute toxicity assessment of industrial effluents with a microplate-based Hydra attenuata assay

The acute toxicity potential of ten industrial plants located in Toyama Prefecture (Japan) was appraised with a microplate-based assay developed with the freshwater cnidarian Hydra attenuata. Three measurement end points (LC₅₀, EC₅₀, and TC or “threshold concentration”) were determined based on specific morphological changes displayed by Hydra under conditions of progressive intoxication. Four effluents were shown to be lethal toward Hydra while eight induced sublethal toxicity responses, LC₅₀s varied from 18.8 to > 100% v/v, while EC₅₀s ranged from 15 to > 100% v/v. Similarly, lethal and sublethal TCs ranged from 17.7 to > 100% v/v and from 8.8 to > 100% v/v, respectively. Statistical analyses performed on all toxicity data for the ten effluents confirmed that the sublethal end points (EC₅₀s and sublethal TCs), previously unreported to assess complex wastewaters, proved to be more sensitive than the lethal end points (LC₅₀s and lethal TCs). This was also reflected by lethality to sublethality ratios, which ranged from 1 to 2.6 (LC₅₀/EC₅₀ comparisons) and from 1.1 to 5.4 (LC₅₀/TC comparisons) within a 96 h exposure period. Similar statistical analyses undertaken on 24, 48, 72, and 96 h toxicity data failed to show any significant time-related differences, thereby suggesting that an exposure time as short as 24 h would not diminish test sensitivity. Since Hydra displayed an apparent increase in sensitivity toward a few effluents with time of exposure, however, we would nevertheless recommend a 96 h time frame for this microtest. A correlation was also observed between conductivity and Hydra responses, highlighting a possible link to the presence of toxic metal ions. Based on our study, this simple and cost-effective microassay appears valuable as a (sub)lethal toxicity screening tool for effluents. Additional studies are planned with chemicals and other environmental matrices to better circumscribe its scope of usefulness. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Environ Toxicol Water Qual 12: 53–60, 1997     

贵州省鼠体内锥虫的报道

对贵州省9县市捕获的341只鼠体和62只麝鼩的血中锥虫进行了首次报道,阳性率为6.2％,感染率室内高于野外,据其形态观察及各项量度测量,暂定名为路氏锥虫Trypanosoma lewisi。     

Borna disease outbreak with high mortality in an alpaca herd in a previously unreported endemic area in Germany

Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV‐1) is the causative agent of Borna disease, an often fatal neurologic condition of domestic mammals, including New World camelids, in endemic areas in Central Europe. Recently, BoDV‐1 gained further attention by the confirmation of fatal zoonotic infections in humans. Although Borna disease and BoDV‐1 have been described already over the past decades, comprehensive reports of Borna disease outbreaks in domestic animals employing state‐of‐the‐art diagnostic methods are missing. Here, we report a series of BoDV‐1 infections in a herd of 27 alpacas (Vicugna pacos) in the federal state of Brandenburg, Germany, which resulted in eleven fatalities (41%) within ten months. Clinical courses ranged from sudden death without previous clinical signs to acute or chronic neurologic disease with death occurring after up to six months. All animals that underwent necropsy exhibited a non‐suppurative encephalitis. In addition, six apparently healthy seropositive individuals were identified within the herd, suggesting subclinical BoDV‐1 infections. In infected animals, BoDV‐1 RNA and antigen were mainly restricted to the central nervous system and the eye, and sporadically detectable in large peripheral nerves and neuronal structures in other tissues. Pest control measures on the farm resulted in the collection of a BoDV‐1‐positive bicoloured white‐toothed shrew (Crocidura leucodon), while all other trapped small mammals were negative. A phylogeographic analysis of BoDV‐1 sequences from the alpacas, the shrew and BoDV‐1‐positive equine cases from the same region in Brandenburg revealed a previously unreported endemic area of BoDV‐1 cluster 4 in North‐Western Brandenburg. In conclusion, alpacas appear to be highly susceptible to BoDV‐1 infection and display a highly variable clinical picture ranging from peracute death to subclinical forms. In addition to horses and sheep, they can serve as sensitive sentinels used for the identification of endemic areas.     

On the development of the shoulder girdle in Crocidura russula (Soricidae) and other placental mammals: evolutionary and functional aspects

The development of the shoulder girdle was studied in embryonic stages and a neonate of Crocidura russula using histological sections and 3-D reconstructions. Neonatal stages of Suncus etruscus and Mesocricetus auratus, both altricial placentals, were also studied. The earliest stage of C russula, in which the scapula is still partially blastematous, has already a supraspinous fossa. The dorsal portion of the scapular spine does not develop from the anterior margin of the scapula. Its mode of development varies among the placentals studied to date. In some it is completely appositional bone, in others it consists of bone formed mostly by endochondral ossification of a dorsal cartilaginous process stemming from the acromium. During development the supraspinatus muscle increases in size in proportion to the infraspinatus muscle and the humeral head increases in size in relation to the glenoid fossa. Placentals have secondary cartilage in the sternal and acromial ends of the clavicle, a derived feature absent in Marsupialia. Even the most altricial placentals have a more developed shoulder girdle at birth than any newborn marsupial studied to date.     

长尾大麝的生态学特性与防制

目的 :研究苏北地区长尾大麝的生态学特性及其控制措施。方法 :1987～ 1992年选择 2hm2 旱作田一块 ,每月中旬用 2号鼠夹采用夹夜法 ,捕获个体按作物地段记载 ,按性别体测、解剖。结果 :年度平均密度4.98% ,为我地农田小兽优势种群 ,4月、11月出现两个密度高峰 ,在田间活动趋向食料和隐蔽条件好的作物区。 3～ 9月为雌兽怀孕繁殖期 ,平均胎仔数为 5 .5 1± 1.3只 ,预计寿命 1～ 1.5年。该兽为杂食性动物 ,取食何种食料与当时田间食源有关。以夜间活动为主 ,耐低温 ,会游泳 ,攀缘力差 ,洞中基本不储粮。采取农业和化学防制可以控制其数量。结论 :我地是长尾大麝的适生地区 ,该兽害大于益 ,是需要控制的对象 ,应采取标本兼治 ,防灭并举的综合措施 ,春播前或 11月初用毒饵诱杀 ,对保苗和控病效果好     

上海口岸动物宿主携带汉坦病毒及其体表寄生虫监测

目的监测上海口岸汉坦病毒在鼠形动物宿主中的携带情况和相关的体外寄生虫种类。方法2008-2009年每季度对上海市周边的崇明、金山、乍浦等口岸鼠形动物宿主调查1次。通过鼠笼、鼠夹诱捕鼠类,检测其血液和肺组织标本的汉坦病毒。采用ELISA检测血清HFRS．IgG抗体,IgM捕捉ELISA法（MacELISA）检测HFRS—IgM抗体,直接免疫荧光法检测鼠肺组织肾综合征出血热（HFRS）抗原,并通过RT．PCR检测汉坦病毒基因并分型。结果共捕获鼠形动物232只,其中啮齿目4属4种,食虫目2属2种,还有鸟类3种,体外寄生虫有革螨4属4种,蚤2属2种,吸虱1属1种;用各种检测方法未从血清和肺组织样本中检出汉坦病毒。结论上海口岸鼠形动物样本中未分离到汉坦病毒,所捕获的动物其体外寄生昆虫和螨的数量偏少,大麝鼢为上海口岸优势小动物之一,发现黑线姬鼠体表有耶厉螨淮河亚种。