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Testing the neutral theory of molecular evolution using genomic data: a comparison of the human and bovine transcriptome.

Despite growing evidence of rapid evolution in protein coding genes, the contribution of positive selection to intra- and interspecific differences in protein coding regions of the genome is unclear. We attempted to see if genes coding for secreted proteins and genes with narrow expression, specifically those preferentially expressed in the mammary gland, have diverged at a faster rate between domestic cattle (Bos taurus) and humans (Homo sapiens) than other genes and whether positive selection is responsible. Using a large data set, we identified groups of genes based on secretion and expression patterns and compared them for the rate of nonsynonymous (dN) and synonymous (dS) substitutions per site and the number of radical (Dr) and conservative (Dc) amino acid substitutions. We found evidence of rapid evolution in genes with narrow expression, especially for those expressed in the liver and mammary gland and for genes coding for secreted proteins. We compared common human polymorphism data with human-cattle divergence and found that genes with high evolutionary rates in human-cattle divergence also had a large number of common human polymorphisms. This argues against positive selection causing rapid divergence in these groups of genes. In most cases dN/dS ratios were lower in human-cattle divergence than in common human polymorphism presumably due to differences in the effectiveness of purifying selection between long-term divergence and short-term polymorphism.

Animals↗

Neural control of predatory aggression in wild and domesticated animals.

The neural mechanisms of predatory aggression in laboratory animals were investigated in a variety of rodents and members of the order Carnivora. Experimental enhancement of brain serotonin (5-HT) blocked killing behavior in rats, mice, mink and silver foxes, indicating that there is a 5-HT inhibiting mechanism of predatory aggression in animals of different species. Suppressed killing behavior, at least in some strains of mice, does not depend for expression on the inhibitory effect of the brain 5-HT system, but is caused by the low tonus of the system activating predatory behavior. Long-term satiation of mink increased the level of 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid in the lateral hypothalamus and amygdala and enhanced the latency of predatory aggression. It is suggested that 5-HT represents a dietary responsive endogenous factor regulating predatory behavior in carnivores. Selection of Norway rats over many generations for tamed behavior towards man (domestication) leads to an increase in level and turnover of 5-HT in the midbrain and hypothalamus, but does not change predatory aggression. Substantially reduced defensive behavior of domesticated rats is thus unconnected with the neural mechanism of predatory aggression.

Aggression↗

Comparative drug depletion in domestic animals and birds.

Decoquinate (Rhone-Poulenc Inc) and Narasin (Eli Lilly and Co) were selected as model drugs for a comparison of metabolism between major (cattle and chickens) and minor (sheep and quail) species. Decoquinate has been studied in all four species. Narasin studies are in progress in chickens and quail. More than 96% of injected 14C-decoquinate (DQ) was eliminated from blood of all species within 1 hr. Disappearance of the remaining 1 to 4% from blood was rapid for all species. Half-times for DQ appearance in excreta were all less than one day. Cumulative excretion of DQ in eggs of chickens and quail was about 1% for both species. Disappearance of DQ from tissues was essentially complete in 14 days. More than 80% of injected 14C-narasin was eliminated from blood within 1/2 hr. Disappearance of the remainder was rapid for both chickens and quail.

Animals↗

Low diversity in the major histocompatibility complex class II DRB1 gene of the Spanish ibex, Capra pyrenaica.

During the last two centuries, the Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica) has shown a significant demographic decline as a result of the progressive destruction of its natural habitat, disease epidemics, and uncontrolled hunting. Partial sequencing of the class II MHC DRB1 gene revealed that the Spanish ibex has remarkably low levels of genetic variation at this locus, with only six different DRB1 alleles and an observed heterozygosity of 0.429-0.579. The rates of nonsynonymous vs synonymous substitutions were significantly different in the peptide-binding region (dN/dS=5.347, P=0.002), a feature that indicates that the DRB1 gene is under positive selection. A phylogenetic analysis of the Spanish ibex and a set of domestic goat DRB1 alleles revealed that the reported sequences represent four major allelic lineages. The limited allelic repertoire of the DRB1 gene in the Spanish ibex is likely the direct result of the recent history of population bottlenecks and marked demographic decline of this species. A genetic survey of 13 microsatellite loci was consistent with this idea. The Spanish ibex subspecies C. p. hispanica and C. p. victoriae consistently showed considerably lower levels of microsatellite heterozygosity (Ho=0.184-0.231) and allelic diversity (mean number of alleles per locus=2-2.4) than those reported in other wild ruminants. This study demonstrates the significance of both natural selection and the demographic history of populations in determining patterns of genetic variation at MHC loci. In addition, our results emphasize the importance of locally adapted populations for the preservation of genetic diversity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cardiovascular histamine receptors in the domestic chicken.

The effects of mepyramine (H1-antagonist) and burimamide (H2-antagonist) were studied on histamine, 2-methylhistamine (a selective H1-agonist), 4-methylhistamine (a selective H2-agonist) and acetylcholine-induced changes in systemic arterial and central venous pressure and respiration in anaesthetized chickens. The result of this study suggested a predominance of H1 and some H2 histamine receptors in the cardiovascular system of domestic fowl where both are mediating systemic hypotension. There also appears to be predominance of H1 receptors mediating venous hypertension and respiratory apnoea to large doses of histamine and 2-methylhistamine. In addition, a possible involvement of H2-receptors in the cardiovascular system of chicken is suggested by the finding that burimamide always blocked mepyramine potentiated secondary pressor response to histamine and its analogues.

Acetylcholine↗

Selected oxidized fragrance terpenes are common contact allergens.

Terpenes are widely used fragrance compounds in fine fragrances, but also in domestic and occupational products. Terpenes oxidize easily due to autoxidation on air exposure. Previous studies have shown that limonene, linalool and caryophyllene are not allergenic themselves but readily form allergenic products on air-exposure. This study aimed to determine the frequency and characteristics of allergic reactions to selected oxidized fragrance terpenes other than limonene. In total 1511 consecutive dermatitis patients in 6 European dermatology centres were patch tested with oxidized fragrance terpenes and some oxidation fractions and compounds. Oxidized linalool and its hydroperoxide fraction were found to be common contact allergens. Of the patients tested, 1.3% showed a positive reaction to oxidized linalool and 1.1% to the hydroperoxide fraction. About 0.5% of the patients reacted to oxidized caryophyllene whereas 1 patient reacted to oxidized myrcene. Of the patients reacting to the oxidized terpenes, 58% had fragrance-related contact allergy and/or a positive history for adverse reaction to fragrances. Autoxidation of fragrance terpenes contributes greatly to fragrance allergy, which emphasizes the need of testing with compounds that patients are actually exposed to and not only with the ingredients originally applied in commercial formulations.

Allergens↗

Domestic and personal accidents. Prevention in the absence of professional supervision.

This paper provides a review of a selection of recent papers, most of which derive from presentations given at the 4th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Control or the 6th International Conference on Product Safety Research, both of which took place in Amsterdam in May 1998. What all the accidents studied in these papers have in common is the absence of professional supervision. Everyone immediately involved in the incident--whether as injured party, unintended cause or informal supervisor is an 'amateur'. It is proposed that the term 'domestic and personal accidents' should be used to describe this group of accidents, the study of which has been neglected in comparison to transport and occupational injuries. It is argued that domestic and personal activities are more heterogeneous than ones with an element of professional supervision and are therefore more difficult to prevent. Nevertheless examples are given of where 'horizontal' approaches to analysis and prevention of these accidents have proved possible.

Accidents, Home↗

Prospects for expanded mohair and cashmere production and processing in the United States of America.

Mohair from Angora goats has been produced in the United States since the introduction of these animals from Turkey in 1849. Cashmere on Texas meat goats was reported in 1973, but domestic interest in commercial production did not occur until the mid-1980s. Since 1982, the average prices of U.S.-produced mohair and cashmere (de-haired) have ranged from $1.81 to $9.48/kg and approximately $55 to $200/kg, respectively. However, return to producers from mohair has been relatively constant, averaging $10.21/kg, due to the federal incentive program. Because this program is scheduled to terminate with final payment in 1996, the future of mohair profitability is questionable. Prospects for expanded mohair and cashmere production and processing in the United States are influenced by numerous interacting factors and potential constraints. These include the prospect that the goat and textile industries may no longer be profitable in the absence of clear government policies. Although selection may have slightly increased fiber production by Angoras (long term) and domestic meat goats (short term), availability of genetic resources may prove to be a constraint to increased fiber production by cashmere goats and improved meat production by both types of goat. Land resources are plentiful unless new government policies prohibit goats from vast tracts of rangeland and forest because of environmental concerns. Future demand is an unknown, but with increasing world population and affluence, prospects for long-term improved demand for luxury fibers seem good. Competition from foreign cashmere growers is expected, whereas, in the short term, mohair production overseas is declining. However, increased processing of cashmere in its country of origin is expected to result in shortages of raw materials for European and U.S. processors. The amount of scouring, worsted, and woolen equipment in the United States is adequate to accommodate major increases in domestic processing of goat fibers. However, the absence of specific processing knowledge and skills may be constraints. Similarly, the absence of acceptable small-scale dehairing equipment for cashmere will limit cashmere processing on a cottage industry scale. Purely practical considerations such as the effects of predation and cost of fencing could become major constraints to expanding the goat fiber industry. Likewise the success (or lack thereof) of industry promotion of fiber and goat meat could be an overriding factor. To emerge from the uncertainty of erratic raw material prices and to better control profitability, domestic goat-fiber producers are encouraged to consider innovative, cooperative, retained ownership business ventures that will permit them to profit-share up to the retail level.

Animal Husbandry↗

Domestic violence victims in a hospital emergency department.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and predictors of domestic violence victims among attenders at the emergency department at Royal Brisbane Hospital in 1991. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study in which randomly selected nursing shifts were used to screen attenders. RESULTS: Of all attenders at the emergency department, 14.1% disclosed a history of domestic violence. Women were more likely than men to disclose domestic violence ("raw" relative risk, 2.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.83-2.91; relative risk adjusted for age and history of child abuse, 4.50; 95% CI, 3.02-6.71). The greatest risks for being an adult victim of domestic violence were being female and having experienced abuse as a child. Most of those who had experienced domestic violence within the last 24 hours (1.1% of attenders) came to the department after-hours when social work staff were unavailable for referral. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence and risk factors have implications for the training of doctors and nurses in domestic violence problems and for the provision of adequate resources to deal with the psychosocial aspects of domestic violence.

Adolescent↗

Histochemistry of complex carbohydrates in the hairy skin of the domestic pig.

The hairy skin from eleven body areas of the domestic pig has been studied by means of a series of selected methods for the detection of complex carbohydrates, including peroxidase-labelled lectin-diaminobenzidine procedures. The results obtained were most distinctive in the areas where the skin accessories were involved. The complex carbohydrates in the epidermis appear to be acidic and neutral glycoproteins containing a small amount of sialic acid residues. The dermal connective tissue fibres revealed positive reactions for neutral and acidic glycoproteins with notable amounts of sialic acid residues, and for proteoglycans. In different parts of the hair follicle, neutral and acidic glycoproteins were also present, most being restricted to the connective tissue sheath and the dermal papilla. In the lower regions of the outer epithelial root sheath the epithelium contained a large amount of glycogen. The sebaceous glands reacted very weakly for neutral and acidic glycoproteins. The apocrine glands exhibited mostly neutral but also acidic glycoproteins in the secretory cells and the lumenal secretion, with substantial amounts of various saccharide residues.

Animals↗

The effects of the visual environment on responses to colour by domestic chicks.

It is well known that development of vision is affected by experience, but there are few studies of environmental effects on colour vision. Natural scenes contain predominantly a restricted range of reflectance spectra, so such effects might be important, perhaps biasing visual mechanisms towards common colours. We investigated how the visual environment affects colour preferences of domestic chicks ( Gallus gallus), by training week-old birds to select small food containers distinguished from an achromatic alternative either by an orange or by a greenish-blue colour. Chicks that had been raised in control conditions, with long-wavelength-dominated reflectance spectra, responded more readily to orange than to blue. This was not due to avoidance of blue, as increasing saturation enhanced the chicks' preference for the same hue. The advantage of orange was, however, reduced or abolished for chicks raised in an environment dominated by blue objects. This indicates that responses to coloured food are affected by experience of non-food objects. If colours of ordinary objects in the environment do influence responses to specialised visual signals this might help explain why biological signals directed at birds are often coloured yellow, orange or red; long-wavelength-dominated spectra being more prevalent than short-wavelength-dominated spectra.

Animals↗

The Chinese medicines market: moving towards a market system?

This paper presents a review of the Chinese pharmaceutical policy in order to analyse the forms of effective market competition introduced or not in the system. Registration, pricing and trade are three areas showing the limits on competition. The government limits the duration of the registration procedure to three years, which leaves some opportunities for challengers to market similar products afterwards. The pricing system in place is a maximum price ceiling. The price structure reveals a net difference of treatment between foreign products and domestic products. With respect to trading policy, the government applies a selective licensing policy for exports and imposes variable custom taxes on a product-by-product basis on imports. At a micro level, the Chinese market has instant market conditions with fair trade where manufacturers, importers and distributors can meet. Different cost-sharing experiments between the state, the working units and the patients also introduce more sensitivity to prices from the consumer. Such a duality between the limits imposed on competition by public policy tools and the experiments or market conditions in place at the level of the organisations underlines the ambiguity of the move towards a market economy in the Chinese pharmaceutical market.

China↗

Quality and freezing qualities of first and second ejaculates collected from endangered Gulf Coast Native rams.

The Gulf Coast Native sheep, or Louisiana Native sheep, is an endangered previously feral domestic sheep population of European origin that has been under natural selection pressure for reproductive survival in their transplanted range while roaming in the southern Gulf Coast Region of the United States. This sheep population has an increased natural resistance to internal parasites, breeds year-around and has a greater percentage of live lambs as compared with other breeds of sheep raised in similar environments. To preserve the genetic diversity of this important feral sheep population, semen was collected by electro-ejaculation and subjected to cryopreservation for subsequent storage in a genome resource bank. Unrelated rams (n=5) were collected 3 days-a-week, allowing at least 2 days of rest between collections. Two ejaculates were obtained from each ram per collection day, with the second collection conducted 10min after the first ejaculation. Semen was processed using the standard Salamon cryopreservation procedure in a Tris-yolk-glycerol extender, frozen in 0.5ml plastic straws using liquid nitrogen (LN(2)) vapor and stored in LN(2). Each ejaculate was evaluated for volume, sperm concentration/ml (x10(9)/ml), number of spermatozoa/ejaculate (x10(9)), sperm progressive motility (%) for pre-cooled semen, cooled semen and semen after thawing. For the five rams, each semen variable for the first ejaculate was compared with that of the second ejaculate collected 10min later. The mean semen volume, sperm concentration and number of spermatozoa per ejaculate obtained from the first ejaculate were significantly greater (P< or =0.01) than those of the second ejaculate (comparisons being 1.62 and 1.06; 3.2 and 1.5; 5.4 and 1.8, respectively). Overall, the mean motility of pre-cooled (22 degrees Celsius), cooled (5 degrees Celsius) and frozen (-196 degrees Celsius) post-thawed spermatozoa was less (P< or =0.01) in the first ejaculate (71.5, 64.8 and 34.1%, respectively) compared with that of the second ejaculate (75, 72.4 and 44.1%, respectively). Conversely, no differences were detected in loss in the percent progressive motility of sperm from cooled sperm to post-thaw sperm from the first and second ejaculates. In summary, our findings suggest sperm collected during the second ejaculate 10min after the first ejaculate of rams survives thawing with a greater rate of progressive motility than that of the first ejaculate. The ability to collect two consecutive ejaculates in a short period by electro-ejaculation could be valuable for gamete resource banking and preserving genetic diversity of the Gulf Coast Native sheep.

Animals↗

Host diversity and biological characteristics of the Trichinella genotypes and their effect on transmission.

The host spectra and biological diversity of the Trichinella genotypes are reviewed. While all genotypes appear to reproduce equally well in carnivore hosts, their infectivity and persistence in omnivores and herbivores show remarkable differences. Most of the genotypes found in wildlife have low infectivity for pigs and some persist only for a few weeks; in herbivores this tendency is even more profound, but malnourished, environmentally stressed, or otherwise immuno-suppressed hosts are likely to be more susceptible to Trichinella genotypes that would otherwise cause no, or only low level infection in that particular host species. In the domestic habitat (e.g. domestic pig farms), Trichinella spiralis is found almost exclusively, but in the sylvatic habitat the other Trichinella genotypes have found individual ecological niches. Thus, when environmental stress is limited in the domestic habitat, the high reproductive capacity of T. spiralis has a selective advantage, but in nature, the tolerance of other (sylvatic) genotypes to high and low temperatures and decomposition of host tissue might be more important. Parasite distribution according to muscle appear to be independent of the genotype of Trichinella and predilection sites are primarily determined by host species and secondarily by the age and level of infection. The biological diversity of the Trichinella genotypes should definitely be considered when planning experimental studies, as the uniform high infectivity of all genotypes in carnivores probably make them more suited for comparative studies than rodents.

Animals↗

Emerging antibiotic resistance in Salmonella typhimurium in Norway.

The antimicrobial resistance of 809 Salmonella Typhimurium isolates collected from humans in Norway between 1975 and 1998 was studied. The material was subdivided into domestic and foreign isolates according to whether the patient had recently travelled abroad or not. In imported isolates the largest increase in resistance was in 1996 when 35% of the isolates were multi-resistant. The first multi-resistant isolate acquired in Norway appeared in 1994, but already in 1998 23% of the isolates domestically acquired were multi-resistant, and a majority were S. Typhimurium DT104. We found no ciprofloxacin resistance in domestically acquired isolates. Amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis was performed on selected multi-resistant isolates. The method discriminated well between different multi-resistant isolates, but not between DT104 isolates. Resistant and multi-resistant S. Typhimurium were until 1998 essentially recovered from patients who had travelled abroad, but multi-resistant isolates, mainly DT104, are now also being transmitted within the country.

Disease Outbreaks↗

Emission factors for carbonaceous particles and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from residential coal combustion in China.

Emission factors of carbonaceous particles, including black carbon (BC) and organic carbon (OC), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined for five coals, which ranged in maturity from sub-bituminous to anthracite. They were burned in the form of honeycomb briquettes in a residential coalstove, one of the most common fuel/stove combinations in China. Smoke samples were taken through dilution sampling equipment, with a high volume sampler that could simultaneously collect emissions in both particulate and gaseous phases, and a cascade impactor that could segregate particles into six fractions. Particulate BC and OC were analyzed by a thermal-optical method, and PAHs in emissions of both phases were analyzed by GC-MS. Burning of bituminous coals produced the highest emission factors of particulate matter (12.91 g/kg), BC (0.28 g/kg), OC (7.82 g/kg), and 20 PAHs (210.6 mg/kg) on the basis of burned dry ash-free (daf) coal, while the anthracite honeycomb-briquette was the cleanest household coal fuel. The size-segregated results show that more than 94% of the particles were submicron, and calculated mass median aerodynamic diameters (MMAD) of all particles were under 0.3 microm. Based on the coal consumption in the residential sector of China, 290.24 Gg (gigagrams) of particulate matter, 5.36 Gg of BC, 170.33 Gg of OC, and 4.72 Gg of 20 PAHs mass were emitted annually from household honeycomb-briquette burning during 2000. Anthracite coal should be selected preferentially and more advanced burning conditions should be applied in domestic combustion, from the viewpoint of both climate change and adverse health effects.

Air Pollutants↗

Feline pyoderma therapy.

Feline pyoderma is a disease entity more prevalent than previously described. Diagnosis is made by finding bacteria in the presence of inflammatory cells or bacterial phagocytosis on routine cytological examination. Diseases leading to secondary bacterial pyoderma include allergic and inflammatory skin diseases, parasitosis, feline chin acne, and others. Lesions of feline pyoderma are variable and include crusted and eroded papules, pustules, furuncles, eroded to ulcerated plaques with variable exudation and crusting, and linear to nodular ulcerative granulomatous lesions. Three cases of feline pyoderma responsive to antimicrobial therapy are discussed: case 1, a 10.5-year-old male neutered domestic short hair with eosinophilic lip ulcer, case 2, a 7-year-old male neutered domestic short hair with multiple cutaneous eosinophilic plaques, and case 3, an 8-month-old male neutered domestic short hair cat with Pseudomonas dermatitis, vasculitis, and panniculitis. Antibiotic selection for treatment of feline pyoderma should be based on cytological examination, and culture and sensitivity in unresponsive cases.

Animals↗