Sleep in ostrich chicks (Struthio camelus)

It has been reported that adult ostriches displayed the longest episodes of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (up to 5 min) and more REM sleep (24% of the nighttime) than any other bird species. If the mammalian ontogenetic trend exists in the ostrich, then the amounts of REM and the duration of sleep episodes in young ostriches may be greater than those reported in adults. We investigated sleep in 1.5–3.5 month old ostrich chicks. Recordings were conducted during nighttime (20:00–08:00), the main sleep period in ostriches, which are diurnal. The polygrams were scored in 4-s epochs for waking, non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and REM sleep, as in other bird studies. REM sleep in ostrich chicks occurred during both cortical EEG activation and during slow waves, as was described in adult ostriches. The chicks spent 69.3% ± 1.5% of the night in NREM sleep. REM sleep occupied 14.1% ± 1.8% of the night or 16.8% ± 2.0% of nighttime sleep. Episodes of REM sleep lasted on average 10 ± 1 s and ranged between 4 and 40 s. Therefore, the total amount and duration of REM sleep episodes in ostrich chicks were substantially smaller than reported in adult ostriches while the amounts of NREM sleep did not greatly differ. The developmental profile of REM sleep ontogenesis in the ostrich may be remarkably different from what has been reported in all studied mammals and birds.     

云南省横断山区小型兽类的组成及空间分布

目的 了解和阐述我国西南横断山区小型兽类的组成及其空间分布状况.方法 在既往系列区系调查研究的基础上,就云南省西部横断山区北纬21°～29°(计8个纬度梯度带,分别以Ⅰ～Ⅷ表示),海拔100～5000m(分9个海拔梯度带,分别以A～I表示)之间所知分布小型兽类的组成及其空间分布的资料进行综合整理、统计.结果 发现云南省横断山区小型兽类由5目11科58属187种(亚种)组成.小型兽类科、属、种丰富度沿纬度梯度带分布的主要情况是:Ⅰ带9科30属44种;Ⅱ带9科33属57种;Ⅲ带9科38属74种;Ⅳ带9科43属93种;Ⅴ带10科43属101种;Ⅵ带9科39属91种;Ⅶ带11科40属102种;Ⅷ带11科35属67种;种和属丰富度基本呈现随纬度增加逐步增高后降低的分布格局,高峰值主要出现在中纬度高度24°N～27°N区间;它们沿海拔梯度带分布的主要情况是:A带8科28属54种;B带9科41属90种;C带9科37属102种;D带10科41属101种;E带9科35属94种;F带9科33属76种;G带9科29属58种;H带8科15属28种;1带4科属7种,种和属丰富度总体上呈现中间高、两头低的空间分布格局,高峰值主要出现在中海拔高度1500～3000m区间.结论 横断山区小型兽类沿各纬度和海拔梯度的组成和分布情况不同,但总体呈现出以中海拔和中纬度梯度带物种丰富度都相对较高的空间分布特征.     

The Pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus) as new definitive host for Spirometra erinacei (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae)

Spirometra erinacei, Faust, Campbell and Kellogg, 1929, is a pseudophyllidean cestode of the family Diphyllobothriidae. The genus Spirometra is cosmopolitan and these parasites infect carnivores, specially felids and canids. In Argentina, S. erinacei and S. mansonoides have been reported sporadically only in domestic definitive hosts. The Pampas fox, Lycalopex gymnocercus, is the most abundant native carnivore in southern South America, where it inhabits grasslands and open woodlands and areas highly modified by extensive ranching and agricultural activities. This report describes the first finding of S. erinacei infecting Pampas fox, and provides an estimate prevalence of this cestode in rural areas of southern Buenos Aires province, Argentina based on 78 complete Pampas fox intestine samples analysis. This study found a 15.4% of prevalence of S. erinacei in small intestine (adult stage) and a 21.8% in fecal samples (egg stage). In the present work, the first case of S. erinacei in a wild definitive host from Argentina was reported expanding the list of definitive hosts of S. erinacei in South America.     

云南省小型兽类区系与多样性的研究概况

小型兽类由于种类多,分布广,迁移性较小,不同种类的组成及空间分布特征又多与地理环境、气候条件、生态适应性能力和疾病的关系密切,因此对小型兽类区系与多样性的调查研究具有重要意义。云南省地势北高南低,地形和气候环境复杂多样,复杂奇异的自然地理条件孕育了丰富而独特的动植物区系,哺乳动物非常丰富,现已知300多种,其中包括不少稀有种,其数量约为中国已知种数（约642种）的47%。目前,云南省小型兽类已知达6目19科82属201种。现就云南省小型兽类的区系分布、物种多样性及与重要环境因素和疾病关系等方面的研究现状进行介绍,并对今后的发展趋势和面临的挑战进行展望。     

地震后汶川县映秀镇的小型兽类组成及季节动态观察

目的了解四川省汶川县地震后小型兽类的组成和季节动态,为预防地震后鼠害与鼠传疾病暴发提供参考依据。方法于2009年7月（夏）、10月（秋）,2010年1月（冬）、4月（春）采用夹夜法对四川省汶川县映秀镇进行小型兽类调查取样、统计分析。结果调查期间共布放1645夹次,捕获率为4.38%,捕获小兽隶属于2目2科6属9种,分别为四川短尾鼩、黄胸鼠、大足鼠、北社鼠、小家鼠、高山姬鼠、褐家鼠、中华姬鼠和灰麝鼩,优势种为北社鼠和四川短尾鼩;多样性指数、均匀性指数和优势度指数分别为2.574、0.205和0.812;从夏季到春季,小兽密度先上升再降低,物种数、多样性指数、均匀性指数总体降低,优势度指数总体升高,且各指数呈双峰型变化。结论映秀镇在地震后不同季节小型兽类组成不同,应根据各季节优势种和密度变化采取相应防治措施。     

Experimental infection of cattle with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1)

Four calves were experimentally inoculated with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus A/cat/Germany/R606/2006 (H5N1) isolated from a cat in 2006. All calves remained healthy, but several animals shed low amounts of virus, detected by inoculation of nasal swab fluid into embryonated chicken eggs and onto MDCK cells. All calves seroconverted.     

云南玉龙雪山自然保护区小型兽类群落系统聚类分析与区系研究

1998年10月－1999年6月,对云南丽江玉龙雪山自然保护区五种森林植被带采用夹日法进行小型兽类的垂直分布调查,共获小兽5目8科17属27种,共1530只;中对各小兽群落结构、物种丰富度、物种多样性,均匀度和生态优势进行了测定和比较,认为群落稳定性最高是针阔叶混交林,而最低是农耕区。通过采用系统聚类和极点排序分析方法 对各植被带小兽类进行数值分类,明确了该山系两大动物区系的分界线和各垂直带小兽分布的区系范畴;研究认为,海线的温凉性针阔叶混交林小兽群落特征、区系特点进行了分析和讨论。     

Multiple Strains of Coxiella burnetii are Present in the Environment of St. Paul Island,Alaska

In 2010, Coxiella burnetii was identified at a high prevalence in the placentas of Northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) collected at a single rookery on St. Paul Island Alaska; an area of the United States where the agent was not known to be present. As contamination was hypothesized as a potential cause of false positives, but nothing was known about environmental C. burnetii in the region, an environmental survey was conducted to look for the prevalence and distribution of the organism on the island. While environmental prevalence was low, two strains of the organism were identified using PCR targeting the COM1 and IS1111 genes. The two strains are consistent with the organism that has been increasingly identified in marine mammals as well as a strain type more commonly found in terrestrial environments and associated with disease in humans and terrestrial animals. Further work is needed to elucidate information regarding the ecology of this organism in this region, particularly in association with the coastal environment.     

Comparative distributions of dopamine D-1 and D-2 receptors in the cerebral cortex of rats, cats, and monkeys

The distributions and laminar densities of cerebral cortical dopamine D-1 and D-2 receptors were studied in rats, cats, and monkeys. Distributions were determined by using alternate, adjacent tissue sections processed for D-1 and D-2 receptor subtypes and compared to an adjacent, nearly adjacent, or similar sections stained for Nissl substance. [3H]-SCH 23390 and [3H]-spiroperidol (in the presence of 100 nM mianserin) were used to label the D-1 and D-2 receptors, respectively. The regional distribution and laminar density of dopamine receptors were determined by in vitro quantitative autoradiography and video densitometry of selected isocortical and peri-allocortical regions. Granular (prefrontal, primary somatosensory, and primary visual), agranular (primary motor and anterior cingulate), and limbic (entorhinal and perirhinal) cortices were examined. Where possible, homologous areas among the species were compared. The D-1 receptor was present in all regions and laminae of the cerebral cortex of rats, cats, and monkeys. The regional densities for the D-1 receptor were higher in the cat and monkey than in the rat. The rat D-1 receptor displayed a relatively homogeneous laminar pattern in most regions except that the deeper laminae (V and VI) contained more receptors than the superficial layers. The cats and monkeys, however, had distinctly heterogeneous laminar patterns in all regions of cortex that varied from one region to another and were quite different from that seen in the rat. The cats and monkeys had highest densities of the D-1 receptor in layers I and II and lowest densities in layers III and IV, whereas layers V and VI were intermediate. The density of D-1 receptors was greater than the density of D-2 receptors in all regions and laminae of cerebral cortex of the cat and monkey and greater in most regions and laminae of the rat cerebral cortex. The D-2 receptor was also distributed in all regions of the cerebral cortex of rats, cats, and monkeys. The D-2 receptor was very homogeneous in its regional distribution and laminar pattern compared to the D-1 receptor in all 3 species. The D-2 receptor was denser in the superficial layers (I and II) of the cortex than in the deeper layers in the rats, but more homogeneous in the different laminae of the cat and monkey cerebral cortex. The rat cortical D-2 receptor exceeded the D-1 receptor in restricted laminae of selective regions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Parvalbumin,calbindin D-28k,and calretinin immunoreactivity in the ascending auditory pathway of horseshoe bats

In the subcortical auditory system of Rhinolophus rouxi, antibodies directed against the calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin, calbindin D-28k, and calretinin yield partly overlapping and partly complementary labeling patterns which are described in detail for each nucleus. The most general features of the labeling patterns are that: (1) Parvalbumin is a potent marker for large and heterogenous populations of cells and puncta (presumed axon terminals) throughout the auditory pathway. (2) Immunostaining with the monoclonal calbindin-antiserum was typically absent or sparse in most auditory brainstem centers, but prominent in auditory nerve fibers and in cells of the medial geniculate body (MGB). (3) Calretinin label is abundant but more restricted to subsets of auditory nuclei or subpopulations of cells than parvalbumin. (4) Calcium-binding proteins are useful markers to define particular subregions or cell types in auditory nuclei: for example, (i) different labeling patterns are obtained within the nuclei of the lateral lemniscus and adjacent tegmental zones; (ii) in the inferior colliculus both calbindin- and calretinin-antisera yield similar regional specific staining patterns, but label different cell types; (iii) subregions of the medial geniculate body have characteristic profiles of calcium-binding proteins; and (iv) analyses of different nuclei showed that there is no simple common denominator for cells characterized by the expression of particular calcium-binding proteins, nor does labeling correspond in a straightforward way with specific functional systems. (5) there are profound differences between the calbindin labeling patterns seen in Rhinolophus and those in other mammals.