Five new linkage groups in the canine linkage map

Nineteen further polymorphic loci were typed on the DogMap reference panel. Five new linkage groups were identified. Additionally, five markers were added to earlier defined linkage groups. Three of the new linkage groups contain markers mapped earlier to specific dog chromosomes by physical mapping. These results make a further contribution to the canine genome map and provides more linkage groups physically assigned to known chromosomes.     

Babesia canis: the life cycle and laboratory maintenance in its arthropod and mammalian hosts

The life cycle of Babesia canis in its arthropod and mammalian hosts, based on extensive personal observation, is described and reviewed. The following are dealt with: signs and symptoms of babesiosis in dogs; pathology; collection, maintenance and breeding of the tick intermediate hosts—Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Haemaphysalis leachi; transmission through tick bites; forms of B. canis in tick ova, larvae, nymphs and adults.     

犬传染性肝炎病毒Hexon蛋白Loop1、Loop2基因的克隆与表达

犬传染性肝炎病毒（ICHV）主要的中和抗原表位位于六邻体蛋白Loop1、Loop2上。本次研究参考Genebank发表的基因序列设计引物,提取ICHV基因组DNA,,分别PCR扩增六邻体蛋白（Hexon）的Loop1、Loop2基因片段,用T4酶连接在一起,克隆入原核表达载体pET28a中,测序显示本室保存病毒分离株Loop1与CLL株、RI261株和Toronto A26/61株核苷酸序列同源性分别为100%、100%和83.8%;Loop2与CLL株、RI261株和Toronto A26/61株核苷酸序列同源性分别为88.1%、88.1%和99.3%,推导的氨基酸序列同源性分别为93.6%、93.6%和98.6%。转化BL21工程菌,实现了重组Loop蛋白在大肠杆菌中的高效表达,其表达的重组蛋白以包涵体形式存在,分子量约为36kDa,并且利用镍柱纯化重组蛋白,纯度达95%以上。本实验为建立新的犬传染性肝炎病毒基因工程产品奠定了良好的基础。     

犬腺病毒、犬细小病毒联合PCR方法的建立与应用

根据GenBank报道的犬腺病毒(CAV)和犬细小病毒(CPV)序列,设计两对联合PCR引物,其中一对为CAV-1和CAV-2通用引物,另一对为CPV引物。在建立单项PCR基础上,通过优化Mg^2 离子浓度和循环参数等反应条件建立联合PCR,确定联合PCR条件为：96℃180s,96℃230s,56℃30s,72℃280s,30个循环。联合PCR结果显示：CAV—l扩增片段大小为497bp,CAV-2为l019hp,CPV为719hp;细胞和其它相关病毒对照均无扩增带。上述PCR产物经用限制性内切酶酶切和克隆测序,结果均与相应病毒的应有条带和序列相同。敏感性比较试验结果表明。联合PCR比用细胞培养分离病毒敏感。将联合PCR应用于15份CAV和CPV细胞培养物,5份CAV-1、1份CAV-2和3份CPV人工感染犬病料以及30份临床病料检测,并与电镜负染、HA／HI及病毒分离等方法的结果进行比较,结果显示,联合PCR的检出率和病毒分离结果一致,高于电镜负染和HA／HI试验。以上结果说明：CAV-1／12AV-2和CPV联合PCR不仅具有很好的特异性和敏感性,而且可以在短时间内(2．5h～3h)同时鉴定出上述三种病毒。因此具有良好的实验室诊断和临床应用价值。     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellites from the canine genome

Microsatellite sequences comprising (dC-dA)_n.(dG-dT)_n repeats have been isolated from canine libraries and sequenced. Oligonucleotide primers have been synthesized to the micro-satellite flanking sequences and used in the polymerase chain reaction to amplify those loci from genomic DNA. The degree of polymorphism of each microsatellite was estimated in a set of unrelated dogs. It is concluded that of the 10 loci studied, nine are sufficiently polymorphic to be useful in genetic studies.     

Feeding ecology and morphology of the upper canines in bears (carnivora: Ursidae)

The morphology and mechanical strength of the upper canines in all eight extant species of ursids is analyzed, and the findings are discussed in relation to feeding ecology. Ursids have proportionally smaller canines than other large carnivores with a specialized feeding ecology, such as large felids, and the upper canine morphology is both canid‐like and felid‐like. The giant panda is the most divergent species, and its short, blunt, and cone‐like canines appear well adapted for tearing into bamboo. The almost equally herbivorous spectacled bear has a less derived canine morphology. The large canines of the sun bear are divergent from other ursine ursids, and may be an adaptation for tearing open tree trunks in search of insects. Discriminant Analysis is successful in separating ursid species on the basis of canine morphology, but the canines of ursine ursids, and also of the spectacled bear, show greater resemblance among the species than the marked differences in feeding ecology would suggest. This could be in part due to a short evolutionary history, and in part due to canines not having been subjected to much evolutionary selection as has been the case among other large carnivores, such as large felids. Ursids are probably evolutionarily and ecologically successful due to physical size and strength rather than a derived craniodental anatomy. J. Morphol., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

表达犬细小病毒VP2蛋白重组犬2型腺病毒的构建及鉴定

对CAV-2的E3区的Ssp I片段进行缺失构建了E3区缺失载体pVAXΔE3,然后将CPV VP2表达盒连接到pVAXΔE3的E3区缺失处,构建了CPV VP2表达盒的转移载体pΔECPV-VP2,用SalI NruI分别对pPoly2-CAV2和pΔECPV-VP2进行双酶切,分别进行琼脂糖凝胶电泳回收目的片段,将含CPV VP2表达盒的SalI NruI片段定向克隆入pPoly2-CAV-2载体,获得了含CPV VP2表达盒重组CAV-2基因组的质粒pCAV-2/CPV-VP2。用AscI ClaI对pCAV-2/CPV-VP2进行双酶切,释放CAV-2/CPV-VP2重组基因组,将CAV-2/CPV-VP2基因组与去除SalI NruI片段的CAV-2基因组的两个片段混合,利用脂质体介导共转染DK细胞,出现病变,获得重组病毒CAV-2/CPV。并且,从形态学、基因组水平、目的基因的转录及重组病毒的生长特征等方面进行了鉴定。结果证明,CAV-2/CPV具有典型的CAV-2形态特征,CAV-2/CPV在繁殖的过程中没有对CPV VP2表达盒片段进行缺失或重排,并且能够转录CPV VP2的mRNA。CAV-2/CPV的繁殖速度比野生型CAV-2的繁殖速度慢。     

Purification and sequence determination of canine relaxin

Relaxin immunological activity has been observed in the plasma of pregnant bitches, and preliminary studies in our laboratory indicated that the highest relaxin concentrations were found in placentas. Therefore, canine placentas were collected at term and also from spay and relaxin was purified by methods developed for equine relaxin. Tissue was prepared by homogenization and purification on a C₁₈ column. The preparation was further purified by stepwise elution ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration, and gradient elution ion-exchange chromatography. One predominant peak in relaxin immunoactivity was collected. Canine relaxin was found to be larger than either porcine or equine relaxin as determined by SDS-PAGE. It migrated faster under reducing conditions, indicating a subunit structure. Purified canine relaxin was used for tracer and standard in a canine radioimmunoassay (RIA) using an antiporcine relaxin antibody. Concentrations of relaxin immunoactivity using the canine assay were up to 300-fold higher in placental preparations than those measured in the porcine relaxin assay. Sequence analysis of canine relaxin revealed a structure similar to other relaxins in the presence and placement of cystine residues.     

Validation of DNA test for hip dysplasia failed in Danish Labrador Retrievers

Canine hip dysplasia is characterized by poor hip joint conformation and laxity. The disease is a complex trait influenced by both genetics and environment. Diagnosis and quantification of hip dysplasia are performed by radiographic examination of the hip joint and the diagnosis is used for making breeding decisions in many breeds. A prognostic genetic test (the Dysgen test) based on seven associated SNPs has been developed in a study based on Spanish Labrador Retrievers. In our study this test has been evaluated in 39 Danish Labrador Retrievers with known radiographic hip score: 14 with hip dysplasia (grade D or E) and 25 without hip dysplasia (grade A or B). There was no significant correlation between the Dysgen test results and the radiographic hip status (P = 0.3203) in these dogs, indicating that Dysgen test results obtained for Danish Labrador Retrievers have no prognostic value.     

犬CTLA-4胞外区的分子克隆、表达和对犬细小病毒VP2的免疫佐剂作用

[目的]探索犬细胞毒性T细胞相关抗原-4(cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4,CTLA-4)胞外区作为免疫佐剂的可行性.[方法]根据已发表序列设计引物,用RT-PCR扩增CTLA-4胞外区编码序列,用PCR扩增犬细小病毒(canine parvovirus,CPV)VP2蛋白主要抗原表位基因片段VP2S,将VP2S克隆入含和不含CTLA-4胞外区基因片段的原核表达质粒pQE-31;用获得的重组质粒pQE-CTLA-4-VP2S和pQE-VP2S转化大肠杆菌,并进行诱导表达;用相同剂量的重组蛋白VP2S和CTLA-4-VP2S免疫小鼠.用间接ELISA和血凝抑制试验比较两个免疫组的抗体水平.[结果]经过30次循环PCR扩增后,琼脂糖凝胶电泳显示预期大小的扩增产物;序列测定结果显示,克隆的毕格犬CTLA-4胞外区与已发表序列的核苷酸同源性为99.2%,氨基酸序列同源性为98.4%,结合B7分子的六肽基序(MYPPPY)无变化:VP2S与已发表CPV VP2的核苷酸序列同源性为99%,氨基酸序列同源性为98.6%:经IPTG诱导后,两种重组大肠杆菌表达预期的29kDa VP2S和42kDaCTLA-4-VP2S重组蛋白,两者均能被CPV抗血清识别;间接ELISA和血凝抑制试验结果显示,CTLA-4-VP2S免疫组的抗体产生时间为初免后第2周,抗体高峰期为初免后第4周,而VP2S免疫组的抗体产生时间为初免后第4周,抗体高峰期为初免后第5周,两个试验组高峰期ELISA抗体效价和血凝抑制抗体效价分别相差100倍和10倍.[结论]犬CTLA-4胞外区可作为分子佐剂促进CPV VP2蛋白抗体的产生.     

Identification, isolation and characterization of canine minisatellite sequences

A Charomid ordered-array library containing a 2–16 Kb size fraction of MbeoI-digested canine genomic DNA has been screened with the Jeffreys multilocus probes, 33-6 and 33-15, to identify and isolate canine minisatellite sequences. Of the 48 positive clones identified, 7 were found to contain polymorphic mini-satellites with heterozygosities in the range 20–88%. The majority of the remainder were either monomorphic or dimorphic in the animals tested. Analysis of intrabreed variation in Bedlington Terriers using two polymorphic minisatellites has shown that a significant reduction occurs in the number of alleles seen compared to an agglomerated population sample, correlating with the high level of inbreeding within this breed. Flanking DNA sequence and partial repeat sequence is presented for the most polymorphic minisatellite thus far identified, cCfaMP5. The variable region in this mini-satellite is similar to human minisatellites which show a distinct purine or pyrimidine strand bias.     

Seven new linkage groups assigned to the DogMap reference families

Twenty microsatellite markers have been typed on to the DogMap reference families, of which 18 were found to be polymorphic. One marker has been assigned to an existing linkage group and nine others have formed seven new linkage groups with previously typed markers. Only one of the new groups could be ordered.     

The growth of nonlymphoid thymic components in vitro: Age-related differences during development

Summary An explant culture procedure has been developed that makes it possible to measure the relative growth capacity of the epithelial and mesenchymal cells of the canine thymus gland. Standardized growth conditions were obtained by size-grading thymic fragments and counting to allow uniform fragment density during culture. After 6 d in culture, outgrowth from the fragments formed colonies that could be classified into epithelial, mixed, or spindle cell type. Uniform fragment size and number in each flask allowed calculation of the total plating efficiency, relative distribution of colony types, and mean colony diameters for thymic fragments collected from fetuses (50 d of gestation), neonates (0 d postpartum), and juveniles (70 d postpartum). Data show age-related changes in the proliferative capacity of the cells in all three colony types. The most significant difference was seen in the epithelium, which showed a 30% reduction in mean colony diameter over the 2 wk between fetal and neonatal ages and a 23% reduction over the postnatal period of 70 d. Significant reductions were seen in the other colony types as well. Because the severity of the effect of many injurious agents is proportional to the rate of growth of the target cells, these data suggest that the thymus gland of the fetus may be more sensitive to physical or chemical injury than is the neonate or adult. Funding was provided by grants NCI CA36456, NCI T15CA09408, NIEHS ES07152 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and by USDA Animal Health and Disease Program (PL 95-113).     

Canine size, shape, and bending strength in primates and carnivores

Anthropoid primates are well known for their highly sexually dimorphic canine teeth, with males possessing canines that are up to 400% taller than those of females. Primate canine dimorphism has been extensively documented, with a consensus that large male primate canines serve as weapons for intrasexual competition, and some evidence that large female canines in some species may likewise function as weapons. However, apart from speculation that very tall male canines may be relatively weak and that seed predators have strong canines, the functional significance of primate canine shape has not been explored. Because carnivore canine shape and size are associated with killing style, this group provides a useful comparative baseline for primates. We evaluate primate maxillary canine tooth size, shape and relative bending strength against body size, skull size, and behavioral and demographic measures of male competition and sexual selection, and compare them to those of carnivores. We demonstrate that, relative to skull length and body mass, primate male canines are on average as large as or larger than those of similar sized carnivores. The range of primate female canine sizes embraces that of carnivores. Male and female primate canines are generally as strong as or stronger than those of carnivores. Although we find that seed-eating primates have relatively strong canines, we find no clear relationship between male primate canine strength and demographic or behavioral estimates of male competition or sexual selection, in spite of a strong relationship between these measures and canine crown height. This suggests either that most primate canines are selected to be very strong regardless of variation in behavior, or that primate canine shape is inherently strong enough to accommodate changes in crown height without compromising canine function.     

Relationship between canine mucosal and serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations: serum IgA does not assess duodenal secretory IgA

A double-sandwich enzyme immunoassay method was developed for determination of serum immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) and mucosal secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in duodenal brush samples obtained via endoscopy and the relationship between enteric mucosal sIgA, salivary sIgA and S-IgA in dogs was examined. Twenty healthy dogs underwent routine endoscopy. A brush sample from the duodenal mucosa was obtained and washed in PBS, with a serum sample being taken concurrently. A saliva sample was collected from twelve of these dogs. S-IgA and sIgA with total protein concentrations in the duodenal washings and saliva samples were determined. A significant negative correlation (r = -0.64, P = 0.0059) was found between duodenal sIgA/protein ratios and S-IgA concentrations. Saliva sIgA/protein ratios did not correlate with sIgA/protein ratios of duodenal samples. The method described here allows for direct assessment of duodenal IgA; therefore indirect measures based on serum IgA or salivary IgA can be avoided. In addition, these indirect measures appear to be poor indicators of duodenal sIgA competence in dogs.     

犬瘟热病毒RT-LAMP检测方法的建立和初步应用

目的利用环介导等温扩增（LAMP）技术建立一种检测犬瘟热病毒感染的新方法。方法根据GenBank中NP基因序列,设计4条LAMP特异性引物,对反应条件、特异性、可视化效果和应用效果进行研究。结果在60℃等温的条件下、1 h内可完成RT-LAMP扩增过程;特异性和可视效果良好;对63份临床标本进行检测,阳性检出率为71.4%（45/63）,检出率高于RT-PCR的63.5%（40/63）。结论建立的RT-LAMP检测方法,显示了较高的特异性和敏感性,而且兼具高效、快捷、可视化的优势,为临床检测犬瘟热病毒感染提供了一种快速简便的新途径。     

A comparison of three packaging techniques using two extenders for the cryopreservation of canine semen

The progressive motility of frozen-thawed canine semen was used as a criterion to compare methods of semen cryopreservation. Twenty-one ejaculates from 7 dogs were frozen in 2 extenders, Tris-citrate (TC) and BES-lactose (BL), in each of 3 packaging techniques (pellets, 0.5-ml, and 2.5-ml straws). Duplicate samples were frozen on dry ice (pellets) or in liquid nitrogen vapor (straws). Least squares means for the percentage of post-thaw progressive motility (PTPM) were greater for TC (33.2 ± 1.7) than for BL (20.9 ± 1.7; P<0.0001). Freezing in pellets (PTPM = 34 ± 2.3) resulted in greater PTPM than freezing in either 0.5-ml (24.7 ± 1.6) or 2.5-ml (22.1 ± 2.3) straws (P<0.001). The percentage of PTPM of spermatozoa frozen in TC pellets was greater than that in TC 2.5-ml straws or in BL in any packaging method (P<0.05). The percentage of PTPM of spermatozoa from semen extended in BL was greater in pellets than in 0.5 or 2.5-ml straws (P<0.05).