Varying responses of northeastern North American amphibians to the chytrid pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

Chytridiomycosis, caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is widespread among amphibians in northeastern North America. It is unknown, however, whether Bd has the potential to cause extensive amphibian mortalities in northeastern North America as have occurred elsewhere. In the laboratory, we exposed seven common northeastern North American amphibian species to Bd to assess the likelihood of population-level effects from the disease. We exposed larval wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) and postmetamorphic frogs of six other species to two different strains of Bd, a northeastern strain (JEL404) and a strain that caused die-offs of amphibians in Panama (JEL423), under ideal in vitro growth conditions for Bd. Exposed American toads (Anaxyrus americanus) all died; thus, this species may be the most likely to die from Bd-caused disease in the wild. Both Bd strains were associated with mortalities of wood frogs, although half the metamorphs survived. The Bd strain from Panama killed metamorphic green frogs (L. clamitans), whereas the northeastern strain did not, which means novel strains of Bd may lead to death even when local strains may not. No mortality was observed in four species (bullfrogs [L. catesbeianus], northern leopard frogs [L. pipiens], spring peepers [Pseudacris crucifer], and blue-spotted salamanders [Ambystoma laterale]) and in some individuals of green frogs and wood frogs that we exposed. This finding suggests these six species may be Bd vectors. Our results show that systematic exposures of amphibian species to Bd in the laboratory may be a good first step in the identification of species susceptible to Bd-caused declines and in directing regional conservation efforts aimed at susceptible species.     

Prospective spatial prediction of infectious disease: experience of New York State (USA) with West Nile Virus and proposed directions for improved surveillance

Infectious disease surveillance has become an international top priority due to the perceived risk of bioterrorism. This is driving the improvement of real-time geo-spatial surveillance systems for monitoring disease indicators, which is expected to have many benefits beyond detecting a bioterror event. West Nile Virus surveillance in New York State (USA) is highlighted as a working system that uses dead American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) to prospectively indicate viral activity prior to human onset. A cross-disciplinary review is then presented to argue that this system, and infectious disease surveillance in general, can be improved by complementing spatial cluster detection of an outcome variable with predictive “risk mapping” that incorporates spatiotemporal data on the environment, climate and human population through the flexible class of generalized linear mixed models.

An integrated modelling approach to assess the risk of wind-borne spread of foot-and-mouth disease virus from infected premises

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious disease of livestock that has serious consequences on livestock production and trade. In Australia, preparedness and planning includes the development of decision-support tools that would assist priority setting and resource management in the event of an incursion. In this paper we describe an integrated modelling approach using geographic information system (GIS) technology to assess the risk of wind-borne spread of FMD virus. The approach involves linking an intra-farm virus production model, a wind transport and dispersal model, and an exposure-risk model to identify and rank farms at risk of wind-borne infection of FMD. This will assist authorities by enabling resources for activities like surveillance and vaccination to be allocated on the basis of risk.     

Spatiotemporal distribution of arsineic species of oysters (Crassostrea gigas) in the coastal area of southwestern Taiwan

This study investigated total arsenic (As) and As species contents of oysters (Crassostrea gigas) in different production areas, seasons and sea locations on the southwestern coast of Taiwan. Analytical results indicate that contents of total As, arsenite, arsenate, dimethylarsinic acid, monomethylarsonic acid and arsenobetaine in oysters are 9.90 ± 3.68, 0.091 ± 0.104, 0.033 ± 0.038, 0.529 ± 0.284, 0.037 ± 0.046 and 3.94 ± 1.33 mg/g (dry wt), respectively. A ratio of inorganic As concentrations to total As concentrations is 1.26%. Total As contents of oysters cultured in the outer sea are statistically significantly lower than those of oysters cultured in the inner sea. The total As contents of oysters is the highest in Putai, where the blackfoot disease prevails. The low As contents in oysters is attributed to the low temperature in winter, which slows the metabolism of oysters. A maximum value is 33.37 μg/g (dry) in Putai in spring, because a considerable amount of aquacultural waste water with high As contents is discharged into adjacent drainage channels and rivers there during that season.     

学龄儿童呼吸系统疾病、症状影响因素研究

用非条件 Logistic回归分析方法研究空气污染对学龄儿童呼吸系统疾病、症状的影响。结果表明 ,控制年龄、性别、父亲和母亲受教育水平、住房结构、家庭烹饪燃料、厨房抽风设备、被动吸烟等因素 ,污染区儿童因呼吸系统疾病住院、患支气管炎和出现喘息症状的危险性分别是相对清洁区的 1 .6、1 .5和 1 .2倍 ;不感冒咳嗽或不感冒咳痰的发生与室外空气污染水平的关系均不明显 ;家庭烹饪使用不洁燃料、厨房通风不良、被动吸烟使喘息症状的发生机会增加 (尤其是厨房的通风状况不良 )     

环境污染物致非酒精性脂肪肝研究进展

非酒精性脂肪肝(non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, NAFLD)已成为目前全球患病人数最多的慢性肝病,除了遗传和高热量饮食等因素外,环境污染也是致NAFLD的重要因素。本文综述了NAFLD的发生机制,并从通过核受体通路影响肝脏脂质代谢、促进线粒体功能障碍、诱导肝脏炎症等方面总结了环境污染物致NAFLD发生发展的作用机制,探讨了早期发育阶段环境污染暴露对增加机体患NAFLD风险的可能性,并展望了未来相关领域的研究方向,以期为环境污染致慢性肝病的分子机制和健康风险研究提供理论支撑与参考。     

VA菌根菌与植物的抗病性

VA菌根菌（VAM菌）与植物土传病害的关系受到广泛的研究。本文从VAM菌对植物抗病性的影响及其可能性机理和相应的农业管理措施等方面进行了介绍和评述,同时提出问题和展望,并强调该方面的研究在可持续发展农业中的重要性。     

Environmental Se–Mo–B Deficiency and its Possible Effects in Jiantou Keshan Disease Area in Shaanxi Province, China

Keshan disease (KD) occurs in a wide geographic belt stretching from the Heilongjiang Province in northeastern China to Yunnan Province in southwestern China, including Huangling County, Shaanxi Province. In order to research relationships between eco-environmental geochemistry and KD pertaining to Se, Mo, B, Zn, Mn, and Cu, this investigation was conducted in the Jiantou KD area in Huangling County, one of the areas in China where the incidence of KD is highest. Environmental samples (rock, soil, plant and childrens hair) were collected from the area. Se in plants is low, ranging from 0.03 to 0.06 µg Se g^–1 in corn, potato and soybean. Se contents in childrens hair are normal or reach the limitation of dangerous level. This study reports 0.18 µg Se g^–1, B <40 µg g^–1, and Mo <1.0 µg g^–1 in aeolian soil, 0.14–0.38 µg Mo g^–1 and 3–8 µg B g^–1 in corn and potato (daily staple food for local human beings in the area). The Jiantou KD area is one where the elements Se, Mo and B are deficient. It is proposed that the deficiency of elements Se, Mo and B may be involved in the pathogenicity of KD with respect to the eco-environmental system because Se, Mo and B are essential micronutrients for plants and human beings. It seems that there is no significant relationship between the Zn–Mn–K–Pb–Ba associations and KD.     

Using Population Viability Criteria to Assess Strategies to Minimize Disease Threats for an Endangered Carnivore

Outbreaks of infectious disease represent serious threats to the viability of many vertebrate populations, but few studies have included quantitative evaluations of alternative approaches to the management of disease. The most prevalent management approach is monitoring for and rapid response to an epizootic. An alternative is vaccination of a subset of the free‐living population (i.e., a “vaccinated core”) such that some individuals are partially or fully immune in the event of an epizootic. We developed a simulation model describing epizootic dynamics, which we then embedded in a demographic simulation to assess these alternative approaches to managing rabies epizootics in the island fox (Urocyon littoralis), a species composed of only 6 small populations on the California Channel Islands. Although the monitor and respond approach was superior to the vaccinated‐core approach for some transmission models and parameter values, this type of reactive management did not protect the population from rabies under many disease‐transmission assumptions. In contrast, a logistically feasible program of prophylactic vaccination for part of the wild population yielded low extinction probabilities across all likely disease‐transmission scenarios, even with recurrent disease introductions. Our use of a single metric of successful management—probability of extreme endangerment (i.e., quasi extinction)—to compare very different management approaches allowed an objective assessment of alternative strategies for controlling the threats posed by infectious disease outbreaks. Utilización de Criterios de Viabilidad Poblacional para Evaluar Estrategias para Minimizar Amenazas de Enfermedades para un Carnívoro en Peligro