Long-Term Study of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in a Swedish Sheep Flock

The infection rate of Toxoplasma gondii was studied during 6 years in a sheep flock in central Sweden. The flock consisted of 165-249 breeding ewes of which 20-35% were lambs less than 1 year old. Most ewes were slaughtered when 5 years old. The sheep were kept indoors from end of September to early May. Lambing took place in March and April. Individual serum samples were collected twice a year, once just before turning the sheep out to pasture in the spring, and again after housing in the autumn. Sera were analysed by ELISA for antibodies to T. gondii. The seroprevalence varied between 10% and 45% during the 6 years of observation. Seroconversion was detected predominantly at the autumn sampling, indicating that in most cases infection was acquired at pasture. Subclinical effects of T. gondii infection on lamb weight, litter size, total litter weight and ewe weight were also studied. Lambs born to chronically infected ewes were lighter at birth than those of uninfected ewes, but this disparity was no longer evident at weaning.     

Genome-Wide Association Study for Wool Production Traits in a Chinese Merino Sheep Population

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) provide a powerful approach for identifying quantitative trait loci without prior knowledge of location or function. To identify loci associated with wool production traits, we performed a genome-wide association study on a total of 765 Chinese Merino sheep (JunKen type) genotyped with 50 K single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In the present study, five wool production traits were examined: fiber diameter, fiber diameter coefficient of variation, fineness dispersion, staple length and crimp. We detected 28 genome-wide significant SNPs for fiber diameter, fiber diameter coefficient of variation, fineness dispersion, and crimp trait in the Chinese Merino sheep. About 43% of the significant SNP markers were located within known or predicted genes, including YWHAZ, KRTCAP3, TSPEAR, PIK3R4, KIF16B, PTPN3, GPRC5A, DDX47, TCF9, TPTE2, EPHA5 and NBEA genes. Our results not only confirm the results of previous reports, but also provide a suite of novel SNP markers and candidate genes associated with wool traits. Our findings will be useful for exploring the genetic control of wool traits in sheep.     

中国美利奴(新疆军垦型)绵羊9个微卫星基因座多态性研究

利用PCR技术和复合电泳银染技术检测中国美利奴(新疆军垦型)绵羊第1号染色体上BM6506,BM1824,BM6438, ILSTS004和OarDB6 等5个基因座和第6号染色体上 BM4621,OarHH55,BM143和OarJMP8 等4个基因座,共9个基因座的基因频率（Pi）、个体鉴别力（DP）、杂合度（H）、多态信息含量（PIC）、和非父排除概率（PE）。结果显示：9个微卫星基因座的基因型分布符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡,绵羊中9个微卫星基因座中BM4621 基因座的DP、H、PIC和PE都为最高。9个微卫星基因座的累积个体鉴别力(CDP)为0.99999,累积非父排除能力(CPE)为0.99915。结果显示9个微卫星基因座适用于中国美利奴(新疆军垦型)绵羊的遗传连锁分析、个体识别和亲权鉴定等研究领域。     

The Merino Rambouillet flock in the National Sheep Fold in France

This study is based on the demographic data of a closed Merino Rambouillet flock (1866–1983) founded between 1786 and 1801. Number of births registered annually has decreased from 270 in 1866 to slightly more than 90 in 1983. The number of effective breeding rams used each year has been decreasing from 19 in 1876 to 9–11 in the last decade. Number of offsprings per ram has been between 13.6 to 17.4. Generation interval on the sire side was between 2.2 and 4.1 yr, and on the dam side between 3.9 and 5.6 yr (during about 50 generations of inbreeding). Genetic analyses of the flock from data in the register using the method of random double ancestor lines, tracing back to the creation of the flock gave a mean coefficient of inbreeding (F) of 0.52 in 1983 over 49 generations. The recurrent method gave estimations in the range of 0.37–0.48. Heterozygosity found in the haemoglobin locus was 41%, 68% in the transferase locus. There was no association between fertility, prolificacy and birth weight, and rate of increase in inbreeding coefficient during the time 1927–1983. Actually, the values of these parameters increased. In the past, slight and unnoticable natural selection was probably sufficient to prevent effects of inbreeding depression resulting from a 1% per generation increase in F. This is a very important model for other sheep breeds because of its unusual 200 years of closed breeding and selection without any noticeable inbreeding depression.     

中国美利奴细毛羊BAC文库的三维PCR筛选

本研究利用中国美利奴细毛羊全基因组BAC文库,构建了可供快速筛选的两级水平的混合池,一级混合池和二级混合池(Primary pools and secondary pools).一级混合池基于每一384-well盘而构建,由盘、行,列三维混合池组成,二级混合池基于整个BAC文库而构建.设计了一种基于PCR技术的快速筛选方法,先筛选二级混合池m再根据结果筛选相应的一级混合池.利用此方法只需一步共66个PCR反应即可从BAC丈库中7.4万个克隆中筛选出1个阳性克隆,或三步100个以内的PCR反应筛选出多个阳性克隆.以绵羊基因组多态性分子标记BF94-1为引物,用一步共66个PCR反应成功筛选到1个阳性克隆373D13.     

Circulation of Coxiella burnetii in a Naturally Infected Flock of Dairy Sheep: Shedding Dynamics,Environmental Contamination,and Genotype Diversity

Q fever is a worldwide zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii. Domestic ruminants are considered to be the main reservoir. Sheep, in particular, may frequently cause outbreaks in humans. Because within-flock circulation data are essential to implementing optimal management strategies, we performed a follow-up study of a naturally infected flock of dairy sheep. We aimed to (i) describe C. burnetii shedding dynamics by sampling vaginal mucus, feces, and milk, (ii) assess circulating strain diversity, and (iii) quantify barn environmental contamination. For 8 months, we sampled vaginal mucus and feces every 3 weeks from aborting and nonaborting ewes (n = 11 and n = 26, respectively); for lactating females, milk was obtained as well. We also sampled vaginal mucus from nine ewe lambs. Dust and air samples were collected every 3 and 6 weeks, respectively. All samples were screened using real-time PCR, and strongly positive samples were further analyzed using quantitative PCR. Vaginal and fecal samples with sufficient bacterial burdens were then genotyped by multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) using 17 markers. C. burnetii burdens were higher in vaginal mucus and feces than in milk, and they peaked in the first 3 weeks postabortion or postpartum. Primiparous females and aborting females tended to shed C. burnetii longer and have higher bacterial burdens than nonaborting and multiparous females. Six genotype clusters were identified; they were independent of abortion status, and within-individual genotype diversity was observed. C. burnetii was also detected in air and dust samples. Further studies should determine whether the within-flock circulation dynamics observed here are generalizable.     

Homeostatic Epithelial Renewal in the Gut Is Required for Dampening a Fatal Systemic Wound Response in Drosophila

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Highlights? Caspase activity is required for gut cell turnover ? Caspase is specifically activated in ECs of midgut after wounding ? Caspase activity in ECs is required for fly survival after wounding ? EC turnover is required for dampening the production of lethal factors after wounding     

Functional Diversification within a Predatory Species Flock

Ecological speciation is well-known from adaptive radiations in cichlid fishes inhabiting lentic ecosystems throughout the African rift valley and Central America. Here, we investigate the ecological and morphological diversification of a recently discovered lotic predatory Neotropical cichlid species flock in subtropical South America. We document morphological and functional diversification using geometric morphometrics, stable C and N isotopes, stomach contents and character evolution. This species flock displays species-specific diets and skull and pharyngeal jaw morphology. Moreover, this lineage appears to have independently evolved away from piscivory multiple times and derived forms are highly specialized morphologically and functionally relative to ancestral states. Ecological speciation played a fundamental role in this radiation and our data reveal novel conditions of ecological speciation including a species flock that evolved: 1) in a piscivorous lineage, 2) under lotic conditions and 3) with pronounced morphological novelties, including hypertrophied lips that appear to have evolved rapidly.     

高山美利奴羊INHA基因多态性生物信息学分析及与产羔数关联分析

本研究旨在研究高山美利奴羊INHA基因外显子多态性及其与产羔数的相关性。本实验通过比对高山美利奴羊全基因组测序结果中不同个体INHA外显子,分析高山美利奴羊INHA基因的单核苷酸多态性,应用生物信息学软件分析高山美利奴羊INHA基因突变前后不同等位基因的m RNA二级结构、蛋白质的二级结构及三级结构。通过上述分析,将引起高山美利奴羊INHA编码氨基酸变化的位点作为该基因的特异性候选位点,通过直接测序法分析高山美利奴羊特异性候选位点INHA基因多态性,并分析其与产羔数的相关性。结果发现,高山美利奴羊INHA基因外显子区域存在3个SNPs,分别为T206A (Met→Lys)、T387A(Thr→Thr)、G900A (Pro→Pro);INHA基因3个SNPS都改变了RNA的最小自由能以及二级结构,错义突变T206A (Met→Lys)引起蛋白质二级结构和三级结构的改变;高山美利奴羊INHA基因T206A突变表现出3种基因型分别命名为TT、TA、AA,基因型与产羔数关联分析发现TT、TA基因型个体的产羔数极显著高于TT基因型个体(p<0.01)。本研究初步表明INHA基因是影响高山美利奴羊产羔数的一个主效基因。     

Flock structure in red junglefowl

The associations between individuals in a free-living population of red junglefowl are visualised in a cluster analysis. The flock structure is shown for the population when females are with and without chicks, and the differences described. Various kinds of groupings are present, from solitary individuals to mixed-sex flocks. The strongest associations maintaining flock cohesion are shown to be female-female pairings and it is these which break down when the females produce their chicks.     

Factors influencing lamb survival in a high fecundity Booroola Merino x South Australian Merino flock

The effects of year of lambing, age of ewe and litter size on lamb survival and birthweight, and the effects of ewe mating weight and pregnancy wastage (ovulation rate minus litter size) on birthweight were examined in Booroola Merino x South Australian Merino ewes. Year of lambing, litter size and their interaction were significant (P<0.001) sources of variation for lamb survival. When birthweight was included as a linear and quadratic covariate for lamb survival, year of lambing and litter size and their interaction remained as statistically significant sources of variation. Year of lambing, litter size and pregnancy wastage contributed significantly (P<0.05) to variation in birthweight. Ewe liveweight at mating was not an important source of variation (P>0.05). Birthweight was significantly (P<0.05) reduced with an increase in pregnancy wastage. Improvement of birthweight of multiple birth lambs has some potential for increasing lamb survival. Other factors influencing lamb survival (year of lambing, litter size, pregnancy wastage) require further study so that strategies for reducing lamb loss in high fecundity Merino flocks can be developed.     

中国美利奴羊H-FABP基因多态性及其与部分肉质性状的相关性

利用聚合酶链式反应-单链构象多态（PCR-SSCP）技术检测中国美利奴羊（Ovis aries var. Merino）心型脂肪酸结合蛋白基因（H-FABP）外显子2的单核苷酸多态性（SNPs）和遗传多态性,分析其与肌内脂肪（IMF）含量、肌纤维直径和肌纤维密度的相互关系,为该品种绵羊的分子标记辅助选择提供理论依据。结果显示,H-FABP基因外显子2有AA、AB和BB 3种基因型,AA型和BB型在778位均发生了C缺失,939位均发生了A→G转换,BB型还在789位发生了T→C转换,该突变导致所编码氨基酸发生了缬氨酸→丙氨酸的替换;BB型为IMF的优势基因型,与AB型相比差异显著（P<0.05）,与AA型相比差异极显著（P<0.01）;BB型对肌纤维直径存在负相关。结果提示,中国美利奴羊H-FABP基因外显子2具有多态性,该基因可能是中国美利奴羊肉质性状的主效基因,或者与控制肉质性状的主效基因相连锁。     

Preliminary Investigations on Intradiscal Pressures during Daily Activities: An In Vivo Study Using the Merino Sheep

Purpose

Currently, no studies exist, which attest the suitability of the ovine intervertebral disc as a biomechanical in vivo model for preclinical tests of new therapeutic strategies of the human disc. By measuring the intradiscal pressure in vivo, the current study attempts to characterize an essential biomechanical parameter to provide a more comprehensive physiological understanding of the ovine intervertebral disc.

Methods

Intradiscal pressure (IDP) was measured for 24 hours within the discs L2-L3 and L4-L5 via a piezo-resistive pressure sensor in one merino sheep. The data were divided into an activity and a recovery phase and the corresponding average pressures for both phases were determined. Additionally, IDPs for different static and dynamic activities were analyzed and juxtaposed to human data published previously. After sacrificing the sheep, the forces corresponding to the measured IDPs were examined ex vivo in an axial compression test.

Results

The temporal patterns of IDP where pressure decreased during activity and increased during rest were comparable between humans and sheep. However, large differences were observed for different dynamic activities such as standing up or walking. Here, IDPs averaged 3.73 MPa and 1.60 MPa respectively, approximately two to four times higher in the ovine disc compared to human. These IDPs correspond to lower ex vivo derived axial compressive forces for the ovine disc in comparison to the human disc. For activity and rest, average ovine forces were 130 N and 58 N, compared to human forces of 400-600 N and 100 N, respectively.

Conclusions

In vivo IDPs were found to be higher in the ovine than in the human disc. In contrast, axial forces derived ex vivo were markedly lower in comparison to humans. Both should be considered in future preclinical tests of intradiscal therapies using the sheep. The techniques used in the current study may serve as a protocol for measuring IDP in a variety of large animal models.     

Sheep blood polymorphism and genetic divergence between French Rambouillet and Spanish Merino: role of genetic drift

Rambouillet sheep originating from Spanish Merino have been maintained in France as a small and closed flock since their importation. After 190 years of independent evolution, the flock has markedly differentiated from its Spanish parental population. The observed differences between them were characterized by the fixation in Rambouillet of the Mb and F30 alleles, which occurred in Spanish Merino with frequencies of 0.90 and 0.80 respectively (at two distinct blood group loci M and F30) and by the absence in Rambouillet of other alleles or phenogroups (at the Tf and the A, B, C blood group loci) which were observed in Spanish Merino with frequencies ranging from 0.10 to 0.28. On the basis of their phenotypic distributions at 11 blood polymorphic loci, the two populations differed significantly from each other (total chi 2 values = 352.62, 23 df, P less than 0.001). By comparing the observed magnitude of gene frequency differences between Rambouillet and Spanish Merino with the estimate of inbreeding coefficient for Rambouillet obtained from pedigrees, it appeared that the observed genetic differences could be attributed to the evolutionary change due to random drift in the small and closed flock of Rambouillet.     

中国美利奴羊MHC-DRB1 exon2单倍型构建及与布鲁氏菌病易感性关联分析

为研究中国美利奴羊MHC-DRB1基因exon2单倍型与布鲁氏菌易感性的关联性,本实验采用PCR直接测序法对40例布鲁氏菌血清检测阳性和阴性个体MHC-DRB1 exon2的单核苷酸多态性(SNPs)进行检测,而后运用SHEsis在线软件对筛选的SNPs构建单倍型并进行单倍型关联分析.结果显示,在270 bp的序列内共检测到41个SNPs,经Hardy-Weinberg平衡检测筛选出符合条件的SNPs有29个,连锁不平衡发现9个连锁不平衡域,而且每个block中的SNPs两两之间存在强连锁不平衡.单倍型分析显示,由于连锁不平衡存在,仅构建9种单倍型,其中只有Hap8和Hap9两种单倍型在病例-对照组中比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05).