Twinning in thoroughbred mares in Poland

Of the thoroughbred population bred in Poland from 1952 to 1976, an average of 3.3% twinnings were registered. Of these averages 73% resulted in abortion, 11% in still births, and 16% in the live birth of one or both of the foals. Twins were not any more valuable for racing or breeding than normal. Mares mated in June had a twinning coefficient of 6.6% and those mated from February to May had one from 3.0% to 3.6%. The twinning coefficient was higher for mares which had not lactated during the previous year (6.0%, p 相似文献   

Prevalence of Salmonella in chicken carcasses in Portugal

During 1986-87 57% of 300 chicken carcasses yielded salmonellas where tested by a swabbing method. Serotypes isolated were Salmonella enteritidis (66%), Salm. agona (12%), Salm. newport (6%), Salm. saintpaul (6%), Salm. derby (4%), Salm. typhimurium (3%), Salm. bardo (1%), Salm. ohio (1%) and untypable (2%). The results are compared with those of avian and human salmonellosis registered in Portugal during the same period.     

Prevalence of endoparasites in dog faecal deposits in Jordan.

Of 756 dog faecal deposits collected from the road side and public places in five Jordanian Governorates 466 (61.6%) harboured parasite ova, oocysts and/or larvae. Of these, 67.7%, 26.8%, 4.1% and 1.4% revealed one, two, three and four different types of parasite ova, oocysts or larvae in the same sample, respectively. Examination of the infected samples revealed that 44.1% contained taeniid ova, 19.8% Dipylidium caninum, 19% Toxocara canis, 8% Sarcocystis spp. oocysts, 5% hookworm larvae, 1.5% Diphyllobothrium latum, 0.1% Capillaria spp, and 0.1% Trichuri vulpis eggs.     

Prevalence of Salmonella in chicken carcasses in Portugal

M achado , J. & B ernardo , F. 1990. Prevalence of Salmonella in chicken carcasses in Portugal. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 69 , 477–480.
During 1986–87 57% of 300 chicken carcasses yielded salmonellas where tested by a swabbing method. Serotypes isolated were Salmonella enteritidis (66%), Salm. agona (12%), Salm. newport (6%), Salm. saintpaul (6%), Salm. derby (4%), Salm. typhimu-rium (3%), Salm. bardo (1%), Salm. ohio (1%) and untypable (2%). The results are compared with those of avian and human salmonellosis registered in Portugal during the same period.     

Enzootic toxoplasmosis in sheep in north-central United States

Of 1,564 serum samples from adult ewes from 33 farms in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Kansas, and Nebraska where toxoplasmosis-induced ovine abortions had been diagnosed, 65.5% were found positive for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using the modified agglutination test. Toxoplasma gondii antibody titers of ewes were: less than 64 (34.5%), 64 (14.9%), 256 (22.0%), 1,024 (14.5%), and greater than 4,096 (13.8%). Thus, 28.3% of sheep had high titers (greater than 1,024) indicating recently acquired T. gondii infection. On certain farms, up to 95% of ewes were seropositive. Prevalence of T. gondii antibodies increased with age of the ewe. Of 665 ewes, 53.6% of 1-yr-old ewes were seropositive (titers greater than 64) versus 75% of 5-yr-old ewes. Results indicate that T. gondii infection in sheep in the United States is widespread.     

Health behaviours of school children in northwestern Poland in 2000

The 3568 final class primary school in northwestern Poland were investigated between January and June 2000. The youths fulfilled the questionnaire concerned health behaviour issues. The 56% of school children do not drink milk daily, 68% do not eat raw vegetables, and 35% do not take any food at school. Every second boy and every fourth girl brushes his/her teeth too rarely. 23% of boys and 10% of girls smoke cigarettes. About 30% of boys and 20% of girls declare that it “happens” that they drink alcohol. 15% boys and 8% of girls report that they tried to use at least one of the psychoactive substances. Physical exercises are performed by 28% of boys and 36% of girls and 45% and 28% respectively watch TV four or more hours a day.     

Dose-response decrease in plasma tryptophan and in brain tryptophan and serotonin after tryptophan-free amino acid mixtures in rats

Rats fasted 15 hours were treated p.o. with increasing amounts (660 and 1320 mg/kg body weight) of a mixture containing a fixed proportion of seven essential amino acids (L-phenylalanine 13.6%, L-leucine 6.0%, L-isoleucine 12.1%, L-methionine 12.1%, L-lysine 30.3%, L-threonine 10.6%, L-valine 15.2%) and lacking tryptophan. The mixtures produced a dose-response decrease of free (by 34% after the lower dose and by 58% after the higher dose of the mixture) and total (by 10 and 31%) plasma tryptophan and of brain tryptophan (by 38 and 65%), serotonin (by 17 and 41%) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (by 21 and 49%). The mechanisms of these changes are discussed.     

Incidence of pathogenic bacteria in raw milk in Ireland.

Raw milk from 70 farms was sampled over 13 months for salmonellas, listerias, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and mastitic streptococci; total bacterial counts (TBC), coliforms and somatic cells were also counted. TBC < or = 30,000/ml were obtained in 63% of samples. High count milks were found mainly during the winter months: 13% of samples had > 10(4) mastitis pathogens/ml of milk. The mean somatic cell count varied from 4.0 x 10(5) to 8.0 x 10(5)/ml throughout the year with highest counts during the late lactation period. Coliforms were present in all samples, but 65-71% of samples had < 100 coliforms/ml. Up to 60% of supplies had < or = 10 E. coli/ml. One of the 589 samples tested (0.1%) was positive for salmonellas. Yersinia enterocolitica and Y. enterocolitica-like organisms were isolated from 39% of samples with up to 68% of samples positive at some sampling periods. A total of 222 strains of yersinias were isolated; Y. enterocolitica (59%) was the most common strain followed by Y. fredriksenii (35%), Y. kristensenii (1.0%), Y. intermedia (4.5%) and Y. aldovae (0.5%). Listerias were isolated from 8.3% of samples tested; 4.9% were Listeria monocytogenes and 3.4% were L. innocua. There was a significant rise in the isolation rate between December and April from a base line of 0-5% during the spring and summer to 35-37% during the winter months while the cows were indoors. Of 66 silage samples tested from the farms involved in the survey 9% of samples were positive for listerias; 3% of these were L. monocytogenes and 6% were L. innocua.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Phospholipids in Mediterranean cephalopods

Polar lipids of the cephalopods Eledone moschata, Sepia officinalis and Todarodes sagittatus mantle, represent 50.5%, 66.1% and 74.2% of wet tissue respectively. On the other hand the polar lipids of these three species of cephalopods constitute of 80.8%, 94.8% and 93.7% of phospholipids, respectively. The main phospholipids identified were phosphatidylcholine (52.2, 51.3 and 58.4% of total phospholipids respectively in the above mentioned species), phosphatidylethanolamine (18.1, 19.7 and 23.9%), sphingomyelin (10.7, 15.2 and 6.7%), lyso-phosphatidylcholine (3.1, 3.8 and 1.8%) and the unusual lipid ceramide aminoethylphosphonic acid (15.9, 10 and 9.2%). The 56.8% of phosphatidylcholine in Eledone moschata, the 46% in Sepia officinalis and the 74.1% in Todarodes sagittatus refer to the structure of 1,2-diacyl-glycerocholine and the remaining percentage refer to the structure of 1-o-alkyl-2-acyl-glycerocholine or 1-o-alkyl-1-enyl-2-acyl-glycerocholine. The 87.2% of phosphatidylethanolamine in Eledone moschata, the 81% in Sepia officinalis and the 90.7% in Todarodes sagittatus refer to the structure of 1,2-diacyl-glyceroethanolamine and the remaining percentage refer to the structure of 1-o-alkyl-2-acyl-glyceroethanolamine or 1-o-alkyl-1-enyl-2-acyl-glyceroethanolamine. The major saturated fatty acids in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were C16:0 (30.3-67.5% and 23.2-54.5%) and C18:0 (3.6-17% and 15.4-28%), respectively, while the major unsaturated fatty acids in these lipids were C18:1n-9, n-7 (1.0-7.3% and 5.3-10.5%), C20:5n-3 (1.5-9.8% and 4,5-15.8%) and C22:6n-3 (12.5-42.0% and 7.0-11.3%), respectively.     

Incidence of pathogenic bacteria in raw milk in Ireland

Raw milk from 70 farms was sampled over 13 months for salmonellas, listerias, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and mastitic streptococci; total bacterial counts (TBC), coliforms and somatic cells were also counted. TBC ≤30000/ml were obtained in 63% of samples. High count milks were found mainly during the winter months: 13% of samples had > 10⁴ mastitis pathogens/ml of milk. The mean somatic cell count varied from 4.0 × 10⁵ to 8.0 × 10⁵/ml throughout the year with highest counts during the late lactation period. Coliforms were present in all samples, but 65–71% of samples had < 100 coliforms/ml. Up to 60% of supplies had ≤10 E. coli /ml. One of the 589 samples tested (0.1%) was positive for salmonellas. Yersinia enterocolitica and Y. enterocolitica -like organisms were isolated from 39% of samples with up to 68% of samples positive at some sampling periods. A total of 222 strains of yersinias were isolated; Y. enterocolitica (59%) was the most common strain followed by Y. fredriksenii (35%), Y. kristensenii (1.0%), Y. intermedia (4.5%) and Y. aldovae (0.5%). Listerias were isolated from 8.3% of samples tested; 4.9% were Listeria monocytogenes and 3.4% were L. innocua. There was a significant rise in the isolation rate between December and April from a base line of 0–5% during the spring and summer to 35–37% during the winter months while the cows were indoors. Of 66 silage samples tested from the farms involved in the survey 9% of samples were positive for listerias; 3% of these were L. monocytogenes and 6% were L. innocua. Only half of the farms feeding contaminated silage produced milk containing listerias.     

Gustatory contrast in rats

Six groups of rats were presented with alternating 45-sec accessperiods to two tubes containing sucrose solutions. On some daysone group experienced a disparity in solution concentration(16% vs. 2%, 16% vs. 4%, 16% vs. 8%, and 16% vs. 12%) and onother days received the same concentration solution in bothtubes (16%, 12%, 8%, 4%, or 2%). Each of the remaining fivegroups received only one concentration solution in both tubesthroughout the experiment (16%, 12%, 8%, 4%, or 2%). Lick ratesto the different concentration solutions obtained under comparisonconditions were found to be exaggerated relative to those obtainedunder non-comparison conditions (contrast). Regression analysesperformed on the log lick ratios to the various concentrationsplotted as a function of the log ratios of the concentrationsavailable, revealed a good fit to a power function with an exponent(slope) within the range of those found in human judgments ofrelative sweetness. The slopes obtained from the regressionanalyses were a) steeper under comparison than under non-comparisoncondition and b) increased as number of within-session comparisonsincreased. The results are discussed in terms of a sensoryperceptualinterpretation of contrast effects.     

Echinococcosis in Iraq: prevalence of Echinococcus granulosus in stray dogs in Arbil Province

Of 67 dogs examined in 11 localities in Arbil Province, northern Iraq, 53 (79.1%) were found infected with Echinococcus granulosus. The infection rates in the 11 localities ranged from 66.7% to 100%. Infections were light (1-200 worms) in 37.7% of infected dogs, medium (201-1,000 worms) in 20.8% and heavy (over 1,000 worms) in 41.5%. The heaviest burden was detected in 13 dogs, in which 3,000 to 8,000 worms each were counted. Infection rates were slightly higher in male dogs (81.1%) than in bitches (76.7%).     

Candidaemia in cancer patients and in children in a neonatal intensive care unit

The species most frequently found in the group of neonates wasC. parapsilosis, its incidence reaching 48%. Other yeasts isolated from blood wereC. albicans (41%),C. tropicalis (7%),C. krusei andC. pseudotropicalis (2% each). Six yeast species (C. albicans 44%,C. parapsilosis 28%,C. tropicalis 11%,C. krusei 8%,C. guilliermondii 6%,C. lusitaniae 3%) were detected in cancer patients. The presence of an intravenous catheter as a possible risk in the development of candidaemia was identified in all neonates and in 69% of cancer patients.C. krusei candidaemia was associated with prophylactic fluconazole therapy.     

Hydatidosis in camels (Camelus dromedarius) and their potential role in the epidemiology of Echinococcus granulosus in Iran

Hydatid cysts were recovered from 35.2% (233/661) of camels (Camelus dromedarius) slaughtered in five different regions of Iran. The degree of prevalence between males (34.4%) and females (36.6%) was not statistically significant. The highest rate of infection (59.3%) was found in the Isfahan region (in the central part of Iran) while the lowest (25.7%) was found in Kerman province. The organ distribution of cysts was 49.4% in lungs alone, 30.0% in both liver and lungs, 14.6% in liver only and 6.0% in other organs. Therefore, the lungs were the predominant sites of the hydatid cyst. The range in the number of cysts was 1-48 in infected animals. The majority of the camels had 1-5 cysts, with 21.9%, 11.6% and 5.6% of infected camels having 6-10, 11-20 and 21 or more cysts respectively. There was a direct relationship between the rate and intensity of infection and host age. The fertility rate of lung cysts (69.7%) was higher than that of liver cysts (58.7%) and other organs (50.0%) whilst the viability rate of protoscoleces of liver fertile cysts (80.3%) was significantly higher than that of lung cysts (55.8%) and other organs (57.1%). The role of camels in the epidemiology of Echinococcus granulosus in Iran is discussed.     

我国不同产地红车轴草异黄酮含量的测定

本文通过HPLC法首次对产于我国11省的红车轴草中7种主要异黄酮单体含量进行了测定,结果表明,7种异黄酮总量变化范围为0.105%~1.725%。7种异黄酮单体含量随产地变化较显著,德鸢尾素、红车轴草素、毛蕊异黄酮、芒柄花素、大豆黄素、染料木素和鸡豆黄素A的含量变化范围分别为:0~0.189%、0~0.066%、0.020%~0.076%、0.004%~0.948%、0~0.089%、0.020%~0.073%和0~0.424%。     

Effects of vitrification medium composition on the survival of bovine in vitro produced embryos, following in straw-dilution, in vitro and in vivo following transfer

This study examined the effects of adding a macromolecule, polyvinylpyrrolidone (10% PVP) and a sugar (0.3 M trehalose) to vitrification solutions (VS) containing either one (40% ethylene glycol [EG], two (25% EG+25% DMSO) or three (20% EG+20% DMSO+10% 1, 3-butanediol [BD]) permeable cryoprotectants on the survival and hatching of IVP bovine embryos, following vitrification, warming and in-straw cryoprotectant dilution. Grade 1 and 2 compact morulae and blastocysts were selected on Day 7 (Day 0=IVF) of culture in SOFaaBSA and equilibrated for 10 min at room temperature in 10% EG. Following exposure, for up to 1 min at 4 degrees C, to one of the above VS (with or without PVP+trehalose), the embryos were loaded into straws and immersed in liquid nitrogen. Following warming and in-straw cryoprotectant dilution, the embryos were cultured for 48 h to assess hatching. There was no effect of VS on the survival of embryos after 24 h, however fewer compact morulae than blastocysts survived after 24 h (24% vs. 75%; P<0.001) or hatched after 48 h (15% vs. 59%; P<0.001). When blastocysts only were considered, an interaction between VS and additional PVP+trehalose was also observed (P<0.01). Hatching was reduced when they were added to 25% EG+25% DMSO (70% vs. 45%) but was not affected for either 40% EG (44 and 49%) or to 20% EG+20% DMSO+10% BD (72 and 72%). Pregnancy rates (Day 90 ultrasound) of recipients that were transferred either two non-vitrified or two vitrified (20% EG+20% DMSO+10% BD) blastocysts, did not differ (3/6 [50%] and 11/20 [55%]). However, significantly (P<0.02) fewer recipients that received compact morulae maintained pregnancy to Day 90 although this was not affected by vitrification (fresh vs. vitrified; 1/5 [20%] vs. 3/18 [17]). These data demonstrate that a VS comprising three cryoprotectants, rather than one, enables more embryos to hatch during post-thaw culture and that the survival, following direct transfer of these vitrified embryos, is not different to non-vitrified embryos.     

Spontaneous lesions detected in the beagles used in toxicity studies

Four hundred and twenty beagles 1 to 4 years of age were examined for spontaneous pathological changes. In the liver were seen fine granular gallstones (87.5%), granulomas (59.9%), intranuclear hyaline inclusions (52.6%), lipofuscin deposition (50%) and eosinophilic inclusions (3.7%) in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes and parenchymal necrosis at the base of the ligaments (7.3%). Intranuclear hyaline inclusions and lipofuscin deposition were more frequently seen in dogs after being subjected to tests for more than 13 weeks. Besides, hyperplasia of follicular epithelial cells of the thyroid gland (46.3%), Gandy-Gamna like bodies of the splenic capsule (43.1%), small cysts in the anterior lobe of the hypophysis (35.1%) and prostatitis (13,7%) were observed. Lesions due to migration of Toxocara canis larvae were detected in the liver, kidney, lung and other organs from 33.1% of cases examined.     

Barr body frequency in esophageal cancer in Indian women

In a retrospective study, Barr body frequency was analyzed in 50 consecutive cases of esophageal cancer in females. The majority (95%) of the tumors had less than 20% Barr body frequency (of which 80% showed less than 10%), while normal controls showed 30% to 45% Barr body frequency. The mechanism(s) involved in lowering the frequency is not known at present.     

Nosocomial Candidemia in a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia

Demographic information, risk factors, therapy, and outcome for all patients who had candidemia at King Fahad teaching hospital Al-khobar, between January 1995 and January 2000 were retrospectively reviewed. Thirty-two candidemic patients were identified. Candida parapsilosis was the most frequently isolated species (44%), followed by Candida tropicalis (25%), Candida albicans (19%), Candida krusei (6%), Candida glabrat a (3%), and Candida guilliermondi (3%). Risk factors included recent broad-spectrum antibiotics use (100%), ICU residency (71%), central venous catheters (66%), recent surgery (56%), total parenteral nutrition (43%), and immunosuppressive therapy (31%). Fluconazole was used before the onset of candidemia in only two patients. The overall mortality rate was 44%. Eight (25%) episodes of candidemia were not diagnosed and treated before the patient's demise. In view of the high mortality rate associated with hematogenous candidiasis, and lack of sensitive and specific laboratory tests necessary for the premortem diagnosis of infection, empirical antifungal therapy is recommended for high-risk patients. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The use of live apes in research in the twenty-first century

A literature-based survey was conducted on the use of live apes in research between 2000 and 2003. The 599 studies identified and considered were grouped according to area of research, taxonomy and geographic location of the work. The results suggested that behaviour/cognition, conservation and various applications related to virology (most notably, hepatitis and HIV) were the most frequent areas of research. Of the studies, 73% were classified as non-invasive, whereas 27% were classified as invasive. Among the invasive studies, 39% were scored as of mild severity, and 61% were scored as of moderate/substantial severity. Pan species were involved in 65% of the studies, Gorilla species in 15%, Pongo species in 12%, and Hylobates species in 8%. Most of the invasive research was conducted in the USA (60%). The majority of the non-invasive research was conducted in the USA (31%), Japan (13%), or in the animals natural habitats in Africa (35%) and Asia (8%).