Occurrence of mycotoxins in feed ingredients and complete feeds obtained from the Beijing region of China

Background：The current study was carried out to provide a reference for the control of mycotoxin contamination in feed ingredients and complete feeds for swine.Methods：A total of 55 feed ingredients,including 14 corn,13 wheat bran,11 soybean meal and 17 dried distillers grains with solubles（DDGS） as well as 76 complete swine feeds including 7 creep feeds,14 starter feeds,14 grower feeds,18 grower-finisher feeds,10 gestating sow feeds,and 13 lactating sow feeds were randomly collected from15 swine farms located in the Beijing region of China from July to August 2011.Immunoaffinity clean-up,using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography（HPLC） in combination with UV or Fluorescence Detection,was used for quantitative analysis of aflatoxin B,（AFB,）,deoxynivalenol（DON）,zearalenone（ZEA） and ochratoxin A（OTA） in the ingredients and complete feeds.Results：DON and ZEA were the most prevalent mycotoxins found.DON was detected at percentages of 93,92,54,100 and 97%with a mean level of 1.01,0.44,0.05,1.36 and 0.65 ppm in the samples of corn,wheat bran,soybean meal,DDGS and complete feeds,respectively.The detected percentages of ZEA were 100,100,54,100 and 100 with mean levels of 109.1,14.9,9.2,882.7 and 58.9 ppb in the same samples.In the wheat bran and soybean meal samples,the content of all four mycotoxins were below the maximum limits set by Chinese regulations while the percentage of samples that exceeded regulatory limits were 7,57 and 7%for corn,and 7,14 and 3%for the complete feeds for AFB,,DON and OTA respectively.DDGS showed the most serious mycotoxin contamination and the percentage of samples that exceeded regulatory limits were 6,88 and 41%,for AFB,,DON and ZEA,respectively.Conclusions：This paper is the first to present data on the natural occurrence of AFB,,DON,ZEA and OTA in ingredients and complete feeds obtained from swine farms in China＇s Beijing region.The data shows that feed ingredients and complete swine feeds obtained from these farms are most often contaminated with DON followed by contamination with AFB,and ZEA.

The Correlation between Polydactyly Phenotype and Product Quality of Beijing Fatty Chickens

[ Objective] This study aimed to investigate differences in product quality among Beijing fatty chickens with different polydactyly phenotypes. Based on the comparative analysis of production performance, egg quality and muscle quality characteristics, the correlation between polydactyly phenotype and product quali- ty of Beijing fatty chickens was analyzed, aiming at providing the reference for development and utilization of product quality and breeding of Beijing fatty chickens. [ Method] Egg laying/meat dual-purpose type Beijing fatty chickens were selected and divided into three groups （bilateral four-toed, unilateral five-toed and bilat- eral five-toed） with four replications, 60 chickens per replications, 240 chickens per group. The production performance （weight, laying rate and egg weight）, egg quality （Haugh unit） and muscle quality （pH, water-holding capacity, Warner-Bratzler shear force, TPA, nucleotide metabolites） characteristics of Beijing fatty chickens were determined. [ Result] The weight of 120-d-old and 240-d-old bilateral five-toed Beijing fatty chickens was slightly higher than that of bilateral fourtoed and unilateral five-toed Beijing fatty chickens, with no significant difference （P 〉0.05） ; egg weight of 160-d-old bilateral five-toed Beijing fatty chickens was significantly higher than that of bilateral four-toed and unilateral five-toed individuals （ P 〈 0.05 ）. Water-holding capacity of leg muscles of bilateral five-toed Bei- jing fatty chickens was significantly superior to that of unilateral five-toed and bilateral four-toed individuals （P 〈0.05 ）. The hardness, gumminess and chewiness of leg muscles of bilateral five-toed Beijing fatty chickens were significantly lower than that of unilateral five-toed and bilateral four-toed individuals （ P 〈 0.05 ）, but the coherence and elasticity were remarkably higher compared with unilateral five-toed and bilateral four-toed individuals （ P 〈 0.05 ）. Warner-Bratzler shear force of leg muscles of bilateral five-toed Beijing fatty chickens was significantly higher than that of other individuals （ P 〈 0.05 ）. There was no significant difference in flavor substances among Beijing fatty chickens with different polydactyly phenotypes （P 〉0.05）. [ Conclusion] At early stage, the weight and egg weight of fivetoed Beijing fatty chickens were slightly superior to that of four-toed individuals. In addition, Beijing fatty chickens with different polydactyly phenotypes displayed excellent muscle quality. Overall, leg muscle quality of Beijing fatty chickens exhibited a greater correlation with polydactyly phenotype than chest muscle quality.

Novel human H7N9 influenza virus in China

Outbreaks of H7N9 avian influenza in humans in 5 provinces and 2 municipalities of China have reawakened concern that avian influenza viruses may again cross species barriers to infect the human population and thereby initiate a new influenza pandemic.Evolutionary analysis shows that human H7N9 influenza viruses originated from the H9N2,H7N3 and H11N9 avian viruses,and that it is as a novel reassortment influenza virus.This ar­ticle reviews current knowledge on 11 subtypes of influenza A virus from human which can cause human infec­tions.