Prevalence and Genetic Characterizations of Enterocytozoon Bieneusi in Captive Red Pandas (Ailurus Fulgens) In Sichuan Province, Southwestern China

Background: Enterocytozoon bieneusi (E. bieneusi) can infect a broad range of animals, and also the major pathogen for human microsporidiosis. The risk of zoonosis is uncertain because of limited research on red pandas. In addition, the semi-free range breeding enables the red panda direct contact with tourists. It is essential to investigate the prevalence and genotypes and to evaluate the safety of this breeding mode. Methods: Based on nested PCR, 198 fecal specimens were sampled from 6 zoos in Sichuan province from July 2020 to December 2020, to identify positive samples by amplifying the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal RNA with specific primers. The correlation analysis of infection rate was carried out between different breeding modes (captive and semi-free-range). To cluster the identified genotypes with related genotypes to deduce zoonotically potential by phylogenetic analysis. In addition, Multilocus genotypes (MLGs) in ITS-positive samples were performed using the Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) tool.Results: The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) results showed that 12.1% (24/198) samples were positive for E.bieneusi. The infection rates varied from 0% to 18.0% in different zoos and were significantly different in different breeding methods (χ2=5.442, P=0.0197). Genotypes D, SC02, and SCR1(novel) were clustered in zoonotic group 1, while genotype PL2 is clustered in group 2-like with uncertain risk by phylogenetic analysis. Furthermore, 3 distinct multilocus genotyping were formed in ITS-positive isolates.Conclusions: These results revealed the circulating of E. bieneusi in zoo red pandas, indicating that red pandas may be a source of human microsporidiosis and that semi-free range breeding mode as a risk factor increased the E. bieneusi infection rate and potential cross-species transmission.

Microbiome Analysis Reveals Microecological Balance in the Emerging Rice–Crayfish Integrated Breeding Mode

The interaction between the microbial communities in aquatic animals and those in the ambient environment is important for both healthy aquatic animals and the ecological balance of aquatic environment. Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), with their high commercial value, have become the highest-yield freshwater shrimp in China. The traditional cultivation in ponds (i.e., monoculture, MC) and emerging cultivation in rice co-culture fields (i.e., rice–crayfish co-culture, RC) are the two main breeding modes for crayfish, and the integrated RC is considered to be a successful rice-livestock integration practice in eco-agricultural systems. This study explored the ecological interactions between the microbial communities in crayfish intestine and the ambient environment, which have not been fully described to date. The bacterial communities in crayfish intestine, the surrounding water, and sediment in the two main crayfish breeding modes were analyzed with MiSeq sequencing and genetic networks. In total, 53 phyla and 1,206 genera were identified, among which Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Tenericutes, Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi, Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria, RsaHF231, and Nitrospirae were the dominant phyla. The microbiota composition significantly differed between the water, sediment, and crayfish intestine, while it did not between the two breeding modes. We also generated a co-occurrence correlation network based on the high-confidence interactions with Spearman correlation ρ ≥ 0.75. In the genera co-correlation network, 95 nodes and 1,158 edges were identified, indicating significant genera interactions between crayfish intestine and the environment. Furthermore, the genera clustered into three modules, based on the different environments. Additionally, Candidatus_Bacilloplasma, g_norank_f_Steroidobacteraceae, Dinghuibacter, Hydrogenophaga, Methyloparacoccus, and Defluviicoccus had the highest betweenness centrality and might be important in the interaction between crayfish and the ambient environment. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of the characteristics of the microbiota in crayfish and their surrounding environment. Moreover, our findings provide insights into the microecological balance in crayfish eco-agricultural systems and theoretical reference for the development of such systems.

Milk productivity of cows of different ages under the conditions of the dairy complex «Ryzhovo»

When production of milk in industrial volumes it is necessary to monitor all processes aff ecting its quantity and quality: animal feeding, breeding, mode and method of milking, herd reproduction, labour organization in the dairy complex, creating favorable conditions for cows that correspond to physiological characteristics. The dairy industry continues to impose higher and higher demands on milk, so in addition to improving the milk productivity of cows, we must not forget about the quality of the product. The issues of milk yield of cows, fat and protein, yield of milk fat and protein, somatic cells in milk of cows of Black-and-White breed for a number of lactations in terms of the dairy complex “Ryzhovo” have been considered in the article. It has been noted be researches that in the 1st and 2nd lactations milk yield of animals was 10 621 and 10 553 kg, respectively. The highest productivity of the cows has reached in the 3rd and 4th lactations 11 365 and 11 655 kg, respectively, after which, in the 5th lactation there was a decrease in milk yield to 10 592 kg. When considering fat content for diff erent lactations, positive dynamics up to the 4th lactation inclusive has been revealed. Thus, the fat content in milk for the 1st lactation was 3,61 %, for 2nd – 3,68 %, for 3rd – 3,93 % and 4th – 4,00 %. In the 5th lactation fat content decreased to 3,78 %. It has been found when calculating the yield of milk fat in experimental cows for lactation that up to the 4th lactation inclusive the indicator increases: for the 1st lactation received 383 kg of milk fat, 2nd – 388 kg, 3rd – 447 kg, 4th – 466 kg, and for the 5th lactation, the decrease in the index to 400 kg. At the same time the yield of milk fat for the 5th lactation exceeds the 1st and 2nd. The protein content in the milk of cows of diff erent ages during the fi rst four lactations increases from 3,18 to 3,43 %. Then, in the 5th lactation there is the decrease in protein content to 3,35 %, however, this fi gure is second only to the highest the 4th lactation. It has been established that before the 3rd lactation the number of somatic cells in milk increases, then in the 4th lactation this indicator decreases (151,25 thousand/cm3 ) and in the 5th lactation reaches a maximum (242,27 thousand/cm3).

A new species of Anomaloglossus (Anura: Aromobatidae) of the stepheni group with the redescription of A. baeobatrachus (Boistel and de Massary, 1999), and an amended definition of A. leopardus Ouboter and Jairam, 2012

Anomaloglossus is a species-rich genus of frogs endemic to the Guiana Shield that still harbors several unnamed species. Within the A. stepheni species group (which includes four valid nominal species), A. baeobatrachus has an uncertain taxonomic status, notably because the holotype was an unvouchered specimen depicted in a popular journal. Another member of this group, A. leopardus, was only superficially described, lacking information on the sex of specimens in the type series and on advertisement call. Therefore, these two taxa need clarifications in order to allow the description of the extant undescribed species. In this paper, we redescribe A. baeobatrachus based on newly collected material from the species type locality and provide information about its reproductive ecology. We also provide an amended definition of A. leopardus using newly collected material from its type locality. These two species form a clade along with a third species from the Eastern Guiana Shield, which is also described herein. The reproductive biology of A. baeobatrachus and A. stepheni is very similar. Both species have endotrophic and nidicolous tadpoles, despite being distantly related, suggesting independent evolution of this breeding mode. The new species and A. leopardus, on the other hand, have exotrophic tadpoles.

Livestock in rural piedmont regions of Algeria

A livestock survey conducted during 2013/2015 as part of a CRSTRA project in 4 villages situated at North east Biskra and south Batna in Algeria. These regions are located at elevation ranging around 250-831m asl, experiencing arid and semi-arid Mediterranean climate. Respondents of 86 families demonstrated that livestock is an integral part of the region?s mixed farming systems. Low livestock numbers per most households at present reflect the self-consumption breeding mode adapted in these regions. Currently, farmers focus on four main livestock types; goat, sheep, chicken and bee keeping in two regions, it is the case of Beni Souik and Branis , while Maafa includes beyond these types, turkey and pigeon whereas Ain Zaatout includes duck and swine beside the previous livestock types. In the same context; goat ranked first in the four regions, goat and sheep secondly then goat and poultry with goat combined to sheep and poultry in third place. Thus; most families use a combination of grazing, agriculture sub-products and industrial products for the nutrition of their livestock. Families keep livestock as source of milk, butter, wool or hair, leather and other products that are strongly used as nutritional, weaving supply or stocking covering resources for the family members or friends and in some cases for sell to seekers of animal products of indigenous territory origins. Most families use these products for family and friend consumption while a minority sell some of them on local markets.

Reproduction and metamorphosis in theMyristicaSwamp tree frog,Mercurana myristicapalustris(Anura: Rhacophoridae)

The reproductive biology of theMyristicaSwamp tree frog (Mercurana myristicapalustris), a monotypic rhacophorid frog endemic to the foothills of the Western Ghats mountains of India, has remained unknown since the description of the genus and species. We monitored individuals from parental generation amplexus to the completion of offspring generation tadpole metamorphosis. Surprisingly, our observations revealed that this species exhibits many previously unknown characteristics, including the first ever record of the female, and a diverse call repertoire, consisting of five different call types (the functions of which remain incompletely known). We were also able to determine that reproductive activity peaked during the late pre-monsoon season, that males engaged in intraspecific aggressive encounters to occupy and to defend desirable territories, and that oviposition took place in terrestrial nests made by females. Embryonic development in the unattended nest was followed by tadpole development, which concluded within 40 days. The specific breeding mode employed byMercurana, which restricts its range to the endangeredMyristicaswamp ecosystem, likely renders it susceptible to multiple threats, which should be considered jointly in future conservation planning.

Reproductive performance and numerical productivity of Ouled Djllal ewes

In order to measure the reproductive performances and numerical productivity of Ouled Djellal ewes, and to determine the influence of non-geneticfactors onthese parameters, a database wasestablished, by monitoring 2710 ewes, belonging to 12 farms, representative of two dominant modes of reproduction in the Chlef region. Body condition scores (BCS) of groups ofewes put in reproduction were carried out to compare the performances under breedingconditions. Thestudy showed a fertility and prolificacy of 91.04% and 115.35% in the breeding mode of lambing per year in spring, against 59.35% and 103% in the traditionalsystem with lambingspread over the year (the ram is permanently present in the herd). The body condition and body reserves of the ewes varied according to the lambing season and the farmsmanagement (feed system). The interaction between the body condition of the ewes at mating and their reproduction performances was evident. Indeed, as BCS at mating increased, fertility, prolificityand productivity improved. The ewes with BCS at mating higher than or equalto3 produced the best performance, whereasthe ewes with BCS lower than 3, were less fertile, less prolific and less productive. On average the productivity of Ouled Djellal ewes was 105.03% and 61.10%, respectively,in the first and second mode of reproduction. The main sources of variation as well as their interactions, were highlighted in this study.

Application Effect of Aquaculture IOT System

The aquaculture IOT system consists of the water quality monitoring stations which are based on a wireless sensor network (WSN), meteorological station, water quality control station, on-site and remote monitoring center and the central cloud processing platform. If we apply this system effectively, we can modify the existing breeding mode at the cost of mass energy use and gain direct economic benefits. We got relative initial data from the field research in Yixing of Jiangsu province, and compared different aquaculture situation between farmers who used the system and who didn’t in 2011 through the parallel comparison method. We draw the conclusion that this system is helpful to save labor cost 1768.62 yuan/ha, increase river crab production 88.72 kg/ha and improve river crab sales revenue by 15.51%.