Localization of uridine monophosphate synthase (UMPS) gene to river buffalo chromosomes by FISH

Uridine monophosphate synthase plays an important role in pyrimidine synthesis, converting orotic acid to uridine 5 monophosphate. In cattle,UMPS deficiency is inherited as a monogenic autosomal recessive trait. While heterozygous carriers are phenotypically normal, homozygotes are lethalin utero (Shankset al. 1992).UMPS has been mapped to human chromosome 3q13 (Qumsiyehet al. 1989), sheep chromosome 1q (Burkinet al. 1993) and cattle chromosome 1q31 (Ryanet al. 1994). In the present study we used a cattle genomic probe to localizeUMPS to river buffalo chromosomes by fluorescencein situ hybridization.     

水牛附睾精子品质初步观察

试验采取屠宰水牛附睾头体尾三段精液作为实验材料,与冷冻精液的解冻材料对照,对精子活力、密度、顶体完整率、原生质滴带有率等指标进行品质鉴定。试验组中附睾头体尾的精子活力分别为0.1、0.3和0.8,附睾尾与冻精0.7相比无显著性差异(P>0.05);精子密度与冻精相比差异不显著(P>0.05);顶体完整率分别为88.64%、87.78%和86.43%,与冻精的92.5%没有显著的差异(P>0.05);原生质滴带有率分别是42.49%、40.93%、30.37%,而冻精是3.13%,两者差异极显著(P<0.01)。结果表明采自附睾尾的精液精子密度大、活力好、顶体完整率接近正常,但是1/3的精子带有原生质滴,极显著的高于冻精组。     

Serological and phylogenetic characterization of foot and mouth disease viruses from Uganda during cross‐sectional surveillance study in cattle between 2014 and 2017

Here, we report the results of a cross‐sectional study designed to monitor the circulation and genetic diversity of foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) in Uganda between 2014 and 2017. In this study, 13,614 sera and 2,068 oral‐pharyngeal fluid samples were collected from cattle and analysed to determine FMDV seroprevalence, circulating serotypes and their phylogenetic relationships. Circulation of FMDV was evidenced by the detection of antibodies against non‐structural proteins of FMDV or viral isolations in all districts sampled in Uganda. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of FMDV serotypes A, O, SAT 1 and SAT 2. FMDVs belonging to serotype O, isolated from 21 districts, were the most prevalent and were classified into six lineages within two East African topotypes, namely EA‐1 and EA‐2. Serotype A viruses belonging to the Africa G‐I topotype were isolated from two districts. SAT 1 viruses grouped within topotypes I and IV and SAT 2 viruses within topotypes VII, IV and X were isolated from six and four districts respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of SAT 1 and SAT 2 sequences from cattle clustered with historical sequences from African buffalo, indicating possible interspecies transmission at the wildlife‐livestock interface. In some cases, Uganda viruses also shared similarities to viral strains recovered from other regions in East Africa. This 3‐year study period provides knowledge about the geographical distribution of FMDV serotypes isolated in Uganda and insights into the genetic diversity of the multiple serotypes circulating in the country. Knowledge of circulating FMDV viruses will assist in antigenic matching studies to devise improved FMDV control strategies with vaccination and vaccine strain selection for Uganda.     

日本血吸虫(中国大陆株)基因工程疫苗的研究

本文报道应用PCR技术或RT－PCR技术从日本血吸虫成虫cDNA文库或成虫mRNA中扩增到Sj28GST、C－Sjparamyosin、H-Sj23、Sj14、Sj22．6和Sj．TPI6个编码日本血吸虫中国大陆株抗原的基因，并把它们克隆入适合载体中，在大肠杆菌系统和蚕核型多角体病毒（BmNPV）系统中进行表达．免疫学检测证明这6种基因重组抗原都具有较好的抗原性。我们进一步应用4种比较成熟的基因重组抗原Sj26GST、Sj28GST、C－Sj．paramyosin和H－Sj23进行3批绵羊试验和1批黄、水牛田间试验，评估这几种重组抗原在绵羊和黄、水牛中的免疫保护效果，rSj26GST和rSj28GST分别获得62．1％和50.4％－68.5％的显著保护；n－paramyosin获得42.9％－55．3％、r－C－paramyosin获得44．2％－47．1％的显著保护，r－H－Sj23为51．2％－66．1％的显著保护．各组免疫后的粪便虫卵数和组织虫卵数也有不同程度的减少．用r－C－Sjparamyosin、r－Sj28GST和r－H－Sj23免疫典、水牛在血吸虫重疫区田间试验的结果表明，减虫率水牛高于黄牛，显示上述试验的3种日本血吸虫重组分子抗原有希望成为家畜日本血吸虫病的候选疫苗抗原．     

Description of Events Where African Buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) Strayed from the Endemic Foot‐and‐Mouth Disease Zone in South Africa, 1998–2008

African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) are reservoir hosts of Southern African Territories (SAT) foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) virus strains. In South Africa, infected buffaloes are found in the FMD‐infected zone comprising the Kruger National Park (KNP) and its adjoining reserves. When these buffaloes stray into livestock areas, they pose a risk of FMD transmission to livestock. We assessed 645 records of stray buffalo events (3124 animals) from the FMD infected zone during 1998–2008 for (i) their temporal distribution, (ii) group size, (iii) age and gender composition, (iv) distance from the infected zone fence and (v) outcome reported for each event. A maximum entropy model was developed to evaluate spatial predictors of stray buffalo events and assess current disease control zones. Out of all buffaloes recorded straying, 38.5% escaped from the FMD infected zone during 2000/2001, following floods that caused extensive damage to wildlife fences. Escape patterns were not apparently influenced by season. The median size of stray groups was a single animal (IQR [1–2]). Adult animals predominated, comprising 90.4% (620/686) of the animals for which age was recorded. Of the 315 events with accurate spatial information, 204 (64.8%) were recorded within 1 km from the FMD infected zone. During late winter/spring (June–October), stray buffaloes were found significantly closer to the FMD infected zone (median = 0.3 km, IQR [0.1–0.6]). Less than 13% (40/315) of stray groups reached the FMD protection zone without vaccination, posing a higher risk of spreading FMD to these more susceptible livestock. Model outputs suggest that distance from the FMD infected zone, urban areas and permanent water sources contributed almost 85% to the spatial probability of stray buffalo events. Areas with a high probability for stray buffalo events were well covered by current disease control zones, although FMD risk mitigation could be improved by expanding the vaccination zone in certain areas.     

Characteristics of Foot‐and‐Mouth Disease Viral Strains Circulating at the Wildlife/livestock Interface of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area

Foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) inflicts severe economic losses within infected countries and is arguably the most important trade‐restricting livestock disease in the world. In southern Africa, infected African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) are the major reservoir of the South African Territories (SAT) types of the virus. With the progressive expansion of transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs), the risk of FMD outbreaks is expected to increase due to a higher probability of buffalo/livestock contacts. To investigate the dynamics of FMD within and around the Great Limpopo TFCA (GLTFCA), 5 herds of buffaloes were sampled in June 2010 to characterize circulating viruses in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Three SAT‐2 and three SAT‐3 viral strains were isolated in both countries, including one that was genetically linked with a recent SAT‐2 outbreak in Mozambique in 2011. In addition, two groups of unvaccinated cattle (n = 192) were serologically monitored for 1 year at the wildlife/livestock interface of Gonarezhou National Park (GNP) in Zimbabwe between April 2009 and January 2010, using the liquid‐phase blocking ELISA (LPBE) and a test for antibodies directed against non‐structural proteins (NSP). Neither clinical signs nor vaccination of cattle were reported during the study, yet a high proportion of the monitored cattle showed antibody responses against SAT‐3 and SAT‐1. Antibodies against NSP were also detected in 10% of the monitored cattle. The results of this study suggest that cattle grazing in areas adjacent to the GLTFCA can be infected by buffalo or other infected livestock and that cattle trade movements can act as efficient disseminators of FMD viruses to areas several hundred kilometres from the virus source. Current methods of surveillance of FMD at the GLTFCA interface seem insufficient to control for FMD emergence and dissemination and require urgent reassessment and regional coordination.     

Vaccination with recombinant paramyosin in Montanide ISA206 protects against Schistosoma japonicum infection in water buffalo

BackgroundSchistosomiasis japonica is a zoonosis and presents significant public health problems in China and the Philippines. Vaccines targeting domestic animals constitute attractive control measures.MethodsWe conducted three vaccine trials to evaluate the protective efficacy of recombinant full-length paramyosin (rSj97) in water buffalo. Animals were immunized with 3 doses of rSj97 adjuvanted with ISA206 at 250 μg/dose or 500 μg/dose at 4 wk intervals before challenge with 1000 Schistosoma japonicum cercariae. The primary outcome was worm burden assessed by portal perfusion 8–10 weeks post challenge. Safety measures included weight, temperature, body condition score, hemogram and routine assays for hepatic and renal function.ResultsThe three-dose regimen was well tolerated in all three trials. In the first trial, vaccinated buffalo had 51.5% lower worm burden post challenge compared to controls. In the second trial, buffalo immunized with 500 μg/dose of rSj97 had 57.8% lower worm burden compared to controls (p = 0.026). A similar but not significant reduction (60.9%) was observed with animals administered with 250ug rSj97/dose. In the third trial, buffalo immunized with a 500 μg/dose of rSj97 had 57.8% lower worm burden compared to controls (p = 0.014).ConclusionsThese findings indicated that rSj97 is a safe and promising vaccine candidate for schistosomiasis japonica in water buffalo.     

Isolation of bacteria in semen and evaluation of antibiotics in extender for cryopreservation of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bull spermatozoa

This study was designed to investigate the occurrence of bacterial species in water buffalo semen at the time of collection/processing and to assess the efficacy of some selected antibiotics (GTLS; gentamycin, tylosin and linco‐spectin or SP; streptomycin and penicillin) in cryodiluent on bacterial control and quality including in vivo fertility of buffalo spermatozoa. For this purpose, four experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, a total of 11 bacterial species were isolated from buffalo ejaculates. In experiment 2, total aerobic bacterial counts at post dilution and thawing were lower (P < 0.05) in GTLS than in SP or control. The majority of the bacterial isolates from ejaculates were more susceptible to GTLS than SP. In experiment 3, sperm acrosome integrity was higher (P < 0.05) in GTLS and SP compared to control. In experiment 4, the in vivo fertility results for GTLS were higher (P < 0.05) than that for SP. In conclusion, a number of bacterial species were isolated from the bubaline semen, which requires an efficient control before its use in artificial insemination program. The GTLS combination of antibiotics may be incorporated into a freezing extender/protocol without compromising the post‐thaw quality and in vivo fertility of buffalo bull spermatozoa.     

吡喹酮肌肉注射制剂治疗实验感染家兔和牛日本血吸虫病

本文报道吡喹酮肌肉注射制剂治疗实验感染家兔、水牛血吸虫病的杀虫效果、血药浓度和组织病理学变化的结果.10%肌注剂15和25mg/kg治疗水牛血吸虫病的减雌率均为100%,减虫率为59.2%及81.9%.制剂无副作用,使用方便.血药浓度测定30mg/kg肌注组注射后0.5h达1297μg/ml,是同剂量口服组的3.7倍,是15mg/kg肌注组的3倍.并就肌注剂杀灭雌虫的意义及作用机制进行了讨论.