Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome

55 肯塔基州的母马不育症

DATE=6-7-01
TITLE=SCIENCE REPORT - Mare¹ Reproductive Loss Syndrome²
BYLINE=George Grow

(Start at 59")This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English SCIENCE REPORT. 
Scientists and animal experts have been searching for a killer³ in the American state of Kentucky.  Hundreds of horses on Kentucky farms have suffered failed (1) pregnancies⁴ in the past few weeks.  Many horses one year of age or younger also have died unexpectedly. 
The mysterious killer has had a major effect on the state's economy.  Reports estimate the Kentucky horse industry has lost hundreds of millions of dollars.
Kentucky farms produce some of the world's finest pure breed horses.  They normally produce about ten-thousand (2) thoroughbred foals each year.  That represents about one-third of the country's (3) racehorses.
The University of Kentucky has received reports of more than five-hundred dead foals or failed pregnancies since late April.  Animal experts are calling the problem Mare Reproductive Loss (4) Syndrome.
There have been unexplained horse deaths in Kentucky before.  Many horses had failed pregnancies during the spring of Nineteen-Eighty and Nineteen-Eighty-One.  In those years and this year, Kentucky had lower than normal temperatures in March.  This was followed by higher than normal temperatures in April.
Scientists thought the deaths this year might have resulted from an unknown disease or (5) fungus⁵.  Fungus infections can produce harmful substances, called (6) mycotoxins.  However, most tests showed mycotoxins were not responsible for the problem.  The investigation⁶ also found no evidence of an infectious disease. 
Recently, the scientists began studying a possible link to eastern tent (7) caterpillars⁷.  There have been large numbers of the insects in Kentucky during the past two years.  Tent caterpillars feed on cherry tree leaves.  Some of the affected⁸ horses lived in fields near cherry trees.
Two weeks ago, the investigators⁹ announced progress in their search for the cause of Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome.  They said cyanide poison was to blame for the deaths this year.  The scientists said wild black cherry trees probably produced the (8) cyanide.  They said (9)pregnant horses may have gotten the cyanide by eating the leaves from the cherry trees or the caterpillars. 
The scientists say their (10)observations still must be confirmed.  And they say their findings have not yet met what they call reasonable (11)standards of scientific (12)proof. 
This VOA Special English SCIENCE REPORT was written by George Grow.
This is Steve Ember.

(1) pregnancy [ `pregn[nsi] n.怀孕
(2) thoroughbred [ `WQr[bred] n.受过严格训练的人, 良种动物
(3) racehorse [ `reishR:s] n.赛马
(4) syndrome [ `sindr[Um] n.综合病症
(5) fungus [ `fQNgEs] n.菌类, 蘑菇
(6) mycotoxin [9maik[U`tRksin] n.[药]毒枝菌素
(7) caterpillar [ `kAt[pil[] n.毛虫
(8) cyanide [ `sai[naid] n.[化]氰化物
(9) pregnant [ 5pre^nEnt ]adj.怀孕的
(10) observation [ 7EbzE:5veiFEn ]n.观察报告
(11) standard [ 5stAndEd ]n.标准
(12) proof [ pru:f ]n.证据

 

 

1 mare   

n.母马，母驴

参考例句：

• The mare has just thrown a foal in the stable.那匹母马刚刚在马厩里产下了一只小马驹。
• The mare foundered under the heavy load and collapsed in the road.那母马因负载过重而倒在路上。

2 syndrome   

n.综合病症；并存特性

参考例句：

• The Institute says that an unidentified virus is to blame for the syndrome. 该研究所表示,引起这种综合症的是一种尚未确认的病毒。
• Results indicated that 11 fetuses had Down syndrome. 结果表明有11个胎儿患有唐氏综合征。

3 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

4 pregnancies   

怀孕，妊娠( pregnancy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Since the wartime population needed replenishment, pregnancies were a good sign. 最后一桩倒不失为好现象，战时人口正该补充。
• She's had three pregnancies in four years. 她在四年中怀孕叁次。

5 fungus   

n.真菌，真菌类植物

参考例句：

• Mushrooms are a type of fungus.蘑菇是一种真菌。
• This fungus can just be detected by the unaided eye.这种真菌只用肉眼就能检查出。

6 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

7 caterpillars   

n.毛虫( caterpillar的名词复数 )；履带

参考例句：

• Caterpillars eat the young leaves of this plant. 毛毛虫吃这种植物的嫩叶。
• Caterpillars change into butterflies or moths. 毛虫能变成蝴蝶或蛾子。 来自辞典例句

8 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

9 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》