[Group differences in responses of Pseudois naynaur to human disturbance in Helan Mountain, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region].

Wild animals respond differently to nonconsumptive human activity and such variation depends on multiple factors. We explored the behaviors of Pseudois naynaur and recorded the distance of their responses in Suyu Kou National Forest Park, Helan Mountain, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. We categorized their behavioural responses as no response, vigilance and flight and recorded the response initiation distance. We compared distances according to disturbance source, group size, group type and sex. Our results showed that Pseudois naynaur showed stronger responses to humans than vehicles. The distance at which the subject of the group was vigilant in small group (group size less than three) was significantly more than that of larger groups (group size more than three). The flight initiation distance in small groups (less than five) was significantly more than bigger groups. The distance of no response behavior did not vary between all male, female or mixed groups. The distance of vigilance behavior when the subject of the group first encountered the disturbance in male groups was significantly greater for female and mix groups, flight initiation distance in female groups was greater than that of mixed groups. In the mixed group, no significant variation on sex was found among all three types of behaviors.

[Study on the application and evaluation of methods for gene and antigen detection in plague surveillance program].

OBJECTIVE: To apply and evaluate new methods regarding specific gene and antigen detection in plague surveillance program. METHODS: 1798 samples from natural foci of plague were tested, using internal quality control multiple-polymerase chain reaction, F1 antigen marked by immuno chromatographic assay and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Culture of Yersinia pestis and reverse indirect hemagglutination assay were used as reference diagnostic methods. RESULTS: The overall positive rate of culture on Yersinia pestis together with gene and antigen detection was 7.34%, showing an 16.81% increase when comparing to 6.28% using Yersinia pestis culture method alone. The rate of coincidence was 97.13%. CONCLUSION: The new standard being used for specific gene and antigen detection could increase the positive rate of diagnosis on plague.

[Use of variable-number tandem repeats to examine genetic diversity of Bacillus anthracis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the genotyping of Bacillus anthracis based on multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeats(VNTR) in the B. anthracis genome. METHODS: We selected 13 VNTR loci (which cited from published articles) to study 88 strains of B. anthracis isolated from China. The methods used were: (1) Selecting the primers which were at both ends of the tandem repeat locus; (2) Amplifying the sequence of the locus by PCR; (3)cDetecting the PCR products by agarose gel and polyacrylamide electrophoresis; (4)Analyzing the PCR products and computing the molecular weight by analysis software of gel images;(5) Double-checking with sequencing results; (6)Reckoning the repeat numbers and study the VNTRs loci characters. RESULTS: (1) We used multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) to characterize 88 B. anthracis isolates from diverse geographic locations which were divided into 45 MLVA genotypes and 3 groups through cluster analysis. The genotypes was relative to restricted geographical region. It seemed clear that the multiple isolates from the same anthrax outbreak frequently having identical genotypes. (2)Results from VNTR analysis showed that A16R vaccine strain isolated from China was having the nature of representativeness in the country. CONCLUSION: Analysis showed that the VNTR patterns was an appropriate study method for B. anthracis genetic diversity from different geographical areas and different time. Isolates from the same anthrax outbreak had identical