Survival of the first stage larva of the metastrongyloid nematode Elaphostrongylus rangiferi under various conditions of temperature and humidity

First-stage larvae of E. rangiferi kept in water at 50°C died within 80 minutes, while at 6° the last larvae died between day 180 and 210. The time it took to reach 1_x= 0.5 (half of the larvae dead) at various temperatures between 6° and 50° was well described by the exponential function y = 614.6e^−0.15x, giving a value of 615 days to reach 1_x= 0.5 at 0°C. There was no clear decrease in the survival of larvae frozen at −20° in faeces and in water, and at −80° in faeces after 360 days. When subjected to repealed freezing and thawing, all larvae died within 77 days. When kept in air at RH = 20% and 22°C, all larvae died within 11 days, while when frozen (−20°C) in air at RH approx. 0%, 1_x stayed at approx. 0.5 from day 5 to day 16.     

Abdominal angiostrongyliasis in rodent experimental infection: evidence for systemic circulation of first stage larvae

Eggs of Angiostrongylus costaricensis embrionate and hatch in the course of their migration in the intestinal wall, and first stage larvae (L1) are released in feces. Aiming to investigate the possible systemic circulation of L1, we inoculated mice and, four weeks later, examined their peritoneal cavities and several organs for the presence of L1. A total of 65 larvae were found in extra-intestinal organs (kidney, heart, spleen, liver, lungs). No larvae were found in blood or in the peritoneal cavity. 320 and 578 L1 were found in intestinal wall and intestinal contents, respectively. The experiment was repeated and it confirmed that the metastrongylid larvae found in several organs were larval stages of A. costaricensis. Ten Oligoryzomis sp. rodents, a natural host for A. costaricensis, were also infected and in three animals L1 could be recovered from several organs as well as from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in one of them. These data indicate that systemic circulation and bronchial elimination of L1 may represent an alternative route for release of L1 of A. costaricensis into the environment for transmission to the intermediate host.     

Survival activity and penetration of the first stage larvae of Camallanus oxycephalus Ward and Magath, 1916

The survival, activity and the ability to penetrate the gut wall of the intermediate host were studied for the first stage larvae of Camallanus oxycephalus. Survival was affected by temperature and salinity. The penetration efficiency decreased in a logarithmic relationship with larval age and was more rapid at 25°C than at 20°C. Larval activity rates decreased in a linear relationship with age. Activity was shown to be the most important factor in penetration of the copepod gut wall. These processes were compared with Ancylostoma and Haemonchus larvae. A fundamental difference is believed to exist in the decline of activity rates between Camallanus and Ancylostoma and Haemonchus. This difference is related to the life cycles of the three nematodes.     

Migratory behaviour and desiccation tolerance of protostrongylid nematode first-stage larvae

Migration of first-stage larvae (L1) from faeces to soil is a crucial stage in the life-history of protostrongylids transmitted via land snails. Migration of Muellerius cf. capillaris and a Cystocaulus sp. L1 from fresh Nubian ibex (Capra ibex nubiana) faeces (48–50% water content, W.C.) to substrate soils (at 100% r.h., 26°C) was measured experimentally using dry (3 ± 1% W.C.), wet (31 ± 0.43% W.C.) and flooded (48.4 ± 2.45% W.C.) soils. The highest migration rates (90.4 ± 1.6% migration) in both species occurred on flooded soils when the faecal pellet W.C. reached 90%. The next highest migration rates (43.2 ± 3.6% migration, at 60% faecal W.C.) were on the wet soils and no migration occurred on dry soil or dry-substrate papers. Migration rates did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between species. Active Theba pisana were not infected by M. cf. capillaris L1 on dry infested soils, but were infected following rehydration of the same soils. By day 10, L1 of M. cf. capillaris demonstrated lower survival rates in water and in 97% and 76% r.h. (74.5%, 15.2% and 1.9%, respectively) than the Cystocaulus sp. (97.5%, 43.8%, 43.3%) and Protostrongylus sp. (97.9%, 43.2%, 23.8%, P < 0.05). All three nematodes had a remarkably high survival rate (> 99% overall survival, by day 10) when exposed directly to 0% r.h. at 23°C, Results demonstrate the ability of L1 to survive extreme desiccation through anhydrobiosis. Migration of L1 from facces to soil can take place only during rains which coincide, with peak activity of land snails in desert habitat.     

饲养方式对异色瓢虫幼虫生存的影响

在实验室条件下,用不同饲养器具和隔离物来饲养异色瓢虫并对其幼虫生长发育进行了比较。结果表明：低龄幼虫饲养器具以密闭型为好,可减少水分的蒸发;高龄幼虫的饲养器具以透气型为好,有利于幼虫后期的生长发育。饲养密度以每盒（16cm&#215;12cm&#215;6cm）30头为宜。饲养阻隔物以纸扇为佳,可促进高龄幼虫化蛹,缩短幼虫的发育历期。     

Effect of air temperature and humidity on ingestive behaviour of sheep

Thirty-two Polwarth ewes, of ages up to 1 year, were observed in a climatic chamber (24 to 45° C) for eight periods of 5 h each. The observations were made through a window in the chamber wall. All animals were observed four times, then shorn and observed four times again. The animals were given weighed quantities of water and feed consisting of commercial concentrate plus Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) hay. The water and feed remaining after 5 h of observation were weighed. The following traits were analysed: time eating hay (TEH), time eating concentrate (TEC), time drinking water (TDW), weight of hay eaten (WHE), weight of concentrate eaten (WCE), volume of ingested water (VIW), ruminating time standing up (RTS), ruminating time lying down (RTL), idling time standing up (ITS), and idling time lying down (ITL). Shearing had a significant effect for all traits except ITS. Shearing resulted in higher values for all traits except for ITS and ITL. Ingestion of hay (TEH and WHE) decreased with increased air temperature and humidity, while the ingestion of concentrate (TEC) and WHE) and water (TDW and VIW) increased. Rumination decreased with increased air temperature and humidity, and was higher in shorn than in unshorn sheep.     

Temperature and humidity affecting development, survival and weight loss of the pupal stage of Drosophila melanogaster, and the influence of alternating temperature on the larvae

1. 1. The mean durations of development in the pupae of Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen) and their survival were measured at combinations of six constant temperatures (15, 20, 22.5, 25, 27.5 and 30°C) and up to 11 levels of relative humidity. The thermal survival range for the pupae is between 15 and 30°C, and the humidity viable range is between 60 and 100% RH.

2. 2. The percentage water loss of the pupae was measured at six constant temperatures and four levels of relative humidity. There was a rapid increase in the percentage of water lost during the first 24 h exposure at all tested conditions. However, pupae reared at 100% RH at each constant temperature, sustained the lowest water loss. The percentage water loss increased as temperature increased, as humidity decreased and also with time.

3. 3. The duration of larval development studied at six constant temperatures (15, 20, 22.5, 25, 27.5 and 30°C) was inversely related to temperature. A wide range of alternating temperature regimes had a small, though statistically significant, accelerative effect on larval developmental time. Thus, the present results may be used as a basis for modelling development under changing temperatures, with the assumption that the developmental rate is nearly identical to that from a series of constant temperatures.

     

水热环境对黑眶蟾蜍幼体存活的影响

禁食后在9种水热条件下,观测了不同温湿度对黑眶蟾蜍(Bufo melanostictus Schneider)幼体存活时间和动用体内贮能情况的影响。黑眶蟾蜍幼体在24℃浅水环境中存活时间长达22d。在高温和干燥条件下幼体的存活时间最短,32℃干燥环境中幼体存活时间不到1d。不同温湿度环境下幼体体内含脂量有显著差异。在高温和干燥环境中幼体存活时间短,动用贮能少,其体内脂肪含量和总能量动用少于其它温湿度环境中的幼体。结果表明,黑眶蟾蜍幼体适宜生活在24℃浅水和湿润环境中,觅食不足并非影响其幼体存活时间的主要因子,而高温和干燥是影响其幼体存活时间的关键因子。     

Infectivity and development of the gamma-irradiated first stage larvae of Angiostrongylus cantonensis

Effects of gamma-ray irradiation on the first-stage larvae of Angiostrongylus cantonensis were studied. There was a significant reduction in the infectivity of the 10,000 R-irradiated larvae to intermediate host snails compared to other groups. In the final host infection, both the worm populations and worm body length of irradiated groups differed markedly from those of the non-irradiated control.     

Survival of sheep x goat hybrid inner cell masses after injection into ovine embryos

Modified blastocyst injection techniques were used to inject immunosurgically isolated sheep x goat hybrid inner cell masses (ICM) into ovine blastocysts, with subsequent transfer of composite embryos to ovine recipients. Hybrid embryos were collected from does artificially inseminated with Barbados ram semen. A total of 13 live and 2 aborted offspring resulted from the 34 composite embryos transferred to recipient ewes (38% embryo survival). Of the 15 offspring, 4 exhibited phenotypic hybridism and 2 (13%) of these were determined to be hybrid mean value of -sheep chimeras by karyotype, serum protein and isoenzyme analyses, and fiber identification. Each of the 4 was produced by an injection procedure that involved damage of the ovine host ICM. One additional offspring was unusual in appearance, but the presence of hybrid cells was not proven. Similarly, caprine ICM were immunosurgically isolated and injected into ovine blastocysts that were then transferred to ovine recipients. Of the 13 composite embryos transferred, 12 offspring were produced (92% embryo survival). Eleven were overt goat mean value of -sheep chimeras and, of these, 7 were also blood chimeras. The hybrid ICM was shown to be capable of contributing to normal embryonic and fetal development after injection into an ovine blastocyst but may be less likely to be incorporated with the ovine host ICM than is the caprine ICM.     

Infectivity of Echinococcus granulosus protoscolices under different conditions of temperature and humidity

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of different temperatures and humidities on the infectivity of Echinococcus granulosus protoscolices. Eighteen dogs (6 groups, n = 3 each) were fed with offal mince harbouring approximately 20,000 protoscolices of E. granulosus of different viabilities. Dogs were infected with E. granulosus protoscolices of: (1) 5% viability at -10 degrees C and 50% relative humidity (RH); (2) 30% viability at 0 degrees C and 60% RH; (3) 20% viability at +10 degrees C and 65% RH; (4) 15% viability at +30 degrees C and 75% RH; (5) 11% viability at +40 degrees C and 80% RH; (6) 68% viability (control group). Dogs in each group were necropsied at 29-49 days post-infection. Mean intensities of E. granulosus recovered from dogs were 256.7 +/- 60.3 in the second group; 32.7 +/- 7.1 in the third group; 40.3 +/- 15.5 in the fourth group and 1533 +/- 513 in the control group. However, no parasites were recovered from the first and fifth groups. Results obtained in the present study show that larval stages could be infective for 1 to 4 weeks during spring, autumn or winter months when maximal temperatures are approximately 0-10 degrees C. In conclusion, cold-storage depots in slaughterhouses and abattoirs where sheep carcasses might be discarded should be kept at -20 degrees C for 2-3 days, dogs should be properly controlled and adequate control programmes must be established in areas where the disease is endemic.     

山羊、绵羊MT-Ⅳ分子特性研究

金属硫蛋白(MTs)是一类低分子量、金属和半胱氨酸含量高的细胞质蛋白, 哺乳动物的MTs包括MT-I、MT-II、MT-Ⅲ和MT-IV 4种亚型, 其中MT-IV只在磷状复层扁平上皮细胞中表达, 相关研究报道较少。本研究根据GenBank已公布的动物MT-IV基因序列, 设计出扩增山羊和绵羊MT-IV基因的特异性PCR引物MT-IVSP1和MT-IVSP2, 利用RT-PCR的方法, 分别从山羊和绵羊的瘤胃组织mRNA中, 克隆出山羊和绵羊的MT-IV基因编码区序列(均为189 bp), 序列登录GenBank, 获得序列号EF470251和EF624067。通过序列分析, 表明山羊和绵羊两个物种MT-IV基因编码区全编码均为189 bp、编码62个氨基酸, 其中绵羊的MT-IV含有20个半胱氨酸, 而山羊第61位保守的半胱氨酸被色氨酸所代替。两个物种的MT-IV均不含芳香族氨基酸, 含有MTs特有的C-X-C、C-X-X-C、C-C-X-C-C结构, 无明显的跨膜结构域, 无信号肽, 是一种细胞质蛋白。二级结构分析表明两个物种的MT-IV二级结构大多数为无规则卷曲结构, 分别在第7~9和第49~51氨基酸残基性存在折叠结构, 不存在螺旋结构。三级结构预测结果表明两个物种MT-IV的三级结构由a和b两个结构域组成, 其中β结构域相同, a结构域山羊少一个半胱氨酸残基, 其结构与绵间存在明显差异, 这一差异可能对山羊MT-IV的生理功能产生一定影响, 有必要深入研究。     

高温高湿条件下意大利黑麦草青贮技术研究

研究以水田冬闲期栽培的意大利黑麦草(Lolium multiflorum)为材料,结合常规的青贮方法进行了小规模控制实验,试验设计了隔水(将青贮过程中产生的渗出液排出)和不隔水,以及不同添加物的青贮处理.青贮结束后,对青贮黑麦草的品质和营养价值进行评定,探讨不同处理对黑麦草青贮的作用效果,以及南方高温高湿条件下青贮黑麦草的合理方法和最佳条件.结果发现,对黑麦草进行隔水添加乳酸的青贮处理从感观评定、pH值和营养成分的分析结果来看,都在一定程度上优于其他处理,由此可以认为隔水添加乳酸的处理相对实现了较稳定和较优质的青贮.     

Relative humidity preference and survival of starved Formosan subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) at various temperature and relative humidity conditions

Foraging groups of Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki were tested for their relative humidity (RH) preference in a humidity gradient arena in the laboratory at a constant temperature of 26°C. Five RH levels (9%, 33%, 53%, 75%, and 98%) were maintained in the test arena comprising of a series of closed containers by using dry silica gel, saturated salt solutions, or distilled water alone. Termites gradually aggregated to the highest RH chamber in the arena. After 1 h, a significantly greater percentage of termites (≈46%) aggregated to the highest RH chamber (98%) than to the lower RH chambers (≤75%). After 12 h, > 97% of the termites aggregated to the 98% RH chamber. In survival tests, where termites were exposed to 15 combinatorial treatments of five RH levels (9%, 33%, 53%, 75%, and 98%) and three temperatures (20°C, 28°C, and 36°C) for a week, the survival was significantly influenced by RH, temperature, and their interaction. A significantly higher mortality was observed on termites exposed to ≤75% RH chambers than to 98% RH chamber at the three temperatures and significantly lower survival was found at 36°C than at 28°C or 20°C. The combination of temperature and RH plays an important role in the survival of C. formosanus.