Fiber digestibility by the orangutan (Pongo abelii): in vitro and in vivo.

Limited nutritional information exists on diets of free-ranging orangutans, Pongo abelii and P. pygmaeus. Although they are classified as frugivores, the chemical composition of their diet and their gastrointestinal anatomy suggest that they rely on fiber fermentation for a substantial portion of energy. However, the extent to which they can ferment fiber is not known. Continuous culture systems, inoculated with orangutan fecal bacteria, were established to determine the fiber-digesting capacity of orangutan hindgut microflora. The cultures received one of four treatments: soybean hulls, ground corncobs, corn starch, or no food. Neither dry matter nor neutral detergent fiber digestibilities differed significantly among treatments. However, neutral detergent fiber digestibilities were high for both the soybean hull (88.4%) and ground corncob (86.1%) treatments, indicating that the microflora had a strong fibrolytic capability. To determine whether the same fiber-degrading capacity occurred in vivo, two adult orangutans and one juvenile were fed four gel-matrix diets containing soybean hulls, ground corncobs, or ground primate biscuits. Neutral detergent fiber concentrations (dry matter basis) of the gel matrices were 52.9% with soybean hulls, 46.8% and 63.7% with ground corncobs, and 31.3% with ground primate biscuits. A fifth diet consisted of primate biscuits with 27.3% neutral detergent fiber (dry matter basis) and was considered the baseline diet. Neutral detergent fiber digestibility (74.5%) was greatest (P < 0.05) for the soybean hull gel diet and least (57.5% and 45.0%, respectively; P < 0.05) for the 63.7% neutral detergent fiber (dry matter basis) corncob gel diet and the baseline primate biscuit diet. Total volatile fatty acid concentrations in orangutan feces were not significantly different among diets; however, molar proportions of acetic, propionic, and butyric acid differed (P < 0.05) among diets. The results from both studies indicated that orangutans are capable of extensive fiber fermentation.     

Effects of carprofen on renal function and results of serum biochemical and hematologic analyses in anesthetized dogs that had low blood pressure during anesthesia

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of IV administered carprofen on indices of renal function and results of serum biochemical and hematologic analyses in dogs anesthetized with acepromazine-thiopentone-isoflurane that had low blood pressure during anesthesia. ANIMALS: 6 healthy Beagles. PROCEDURE: A randomized crossover study was conducted, using the following treatments: saline (0.9% NaCl solution)-saline, saline-carprofen, and carprofen-saline. Saline (0.08 ml/kg) and carprofen (4 mg/kg) were administered IV. The first treatment was administered 30 minutes before induction of anesthesia and immediately before administration of acepromazine (0.1 mg/kg, IM). Anesthesia was induced with thiopentone (25 mg/ml, IV) and maintained with inspired isoflurane (2% in oxygen). The second treatment was administered 30 minutes after onset of inhalation anesthesia. Blood gases, circulation, and ventilation were monitored. Renal function was assessed by glomerular filtration rate (GFR), using scintigraphy, serum biochemical analyses, and urinalysis. Hematologic analysis was performed. Statistical analysis was conducted, using ANOVA or Friedman ANOVA. RESULTS: Values did not differ significantly among the 3 treatments. For all treatments, sedation and anesthesia caused changes in results of serum biochemical and hematologic analyses, a decrease in mean arterial blood pressure to 65 mm Hg, an increase of 115 pmol/L in angiotensin II concentration, and an increase of 100 seconds in time required to reach maximum activity counts during scintigraphy. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Carprofen administered IV before or during anesthesia did not cause detectable significant adverse effects on renal function or results of serum biochemical and hematologic analyses in healthy Beagles with low blood pressure during anesthesia.     

Measures preventing BSE-contamination during the slaughter of cattle

SRM-regulations and the prohibition of pithing have removed major risks of spreading BSE-infection. Traditional slaughter technology, especially captive bolt stunning, head handling and carcass splitting nevertheless still provide non-negligible risks for contamination with the BSE-agent if present in cattle, and should therefore be replaced by safer techniques. However, alternative methods like electrical stunning or removal of the spinal cord prior to splitting the carcass cannot yet be considered a reliable and practical option. Surface contamination could be prevented altogether by abandoning the practice of carcass splitting and by removing the vertebral column while still connected to the head, although this would result in disadvantages for post mortem inspection.     

Characterization of the in vitro adhesion of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae to swine alveolar epithelial cells

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae biovar 1 serotypes 2, 5a, 9 and 10 strains were tested for their ability to adhere to alveolar epithelial cells in culture. For the serotypes 5a, 9 and 10 strains, optimal adherence was observed after growth of bacterial cells in a NAD-restricted medium (0.001% NAD). This condition was also associated with the expression of a 55 kDa outer membrane protein (OMP) and of fimbriae. For the serotype 2 strain, adherence and expression of fimbriae and a 55 kDa OMP was less influenced by the growth conditions. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the 55 kDa OMP had no homology with any known sequence, suggesting that it is an as yet unknown protein. Adherence capabilities were significantly reduced following treatment of the bacteria with proteolytic enzymes or heat. These findings suggest that proteins are involved in adhesion. The hydrophobic bond-breaking agent tetramethylurea was unable to inhibit the adherence of A. pleuropneumoniae to alveolar epithelial cells. Treatment of the bacteria with sodium metaperiodate resulted in lower adhesion scores for the serotypes 2 and 9 strains but the inhibition of adhesion was clearly lower than after treatment with proteolytic enzymes. This indicates that, besides proteins, carbohydrates might also be involved in adhesion of A. pleuropneumoniae to alveolar epithelial cells. The finding that inhibition of adhesion was very high when bacteria were treated with a combination of sodium metaperiodate and pronase also suggests that more than one adhesin is involved.     

Further identification of races of Cladosporium fulvum (Fulvia fulva) on tomato originating from the Netherlands France and Poland

Races ofCladosporium fulvum, which can overcome the resistance of the genes Cf₂, Cf₄, Cf₅, Cf₈, Cf₉ and Cf₁₁ have appeared in the Netherlands, France and Poland. Known isolates from the Netherlands and France and three new isolates from Poland have been investigated for the presence of virulence genes using a set of genotypes carrying resistance genes Cf₂ to Cf₁₁.Several Dutch isolates of races, earlier designated as 2.4, 2.4.5 and 2.4.5.9, were found to break down the resistance gene Cf₁₁. These races must therefore be designated as 2.4.11, 2.4.5.11 and 2.4.5.9.11 respectively. In the new Polish isolates virulence genes, overcoming the resistance genes Cf₂, Cf₄, Cf₈, Cf₉ and Cf₁₁ were found. Since all races able to grow on genotypes with Cf₄, could also grow on genotypes carrying Cf₈, it was impossible to discriminate between the genes Cf₄ and Cf₈. These Polish isolates were designated as races 4.11, 2.4.11 and 2.4.9.11. The consequences of the occurrence of these races for tomato breeding are discussed.Samenvatting Fysio's vanCladosporium fulvum, die de resistentie-genen Cf₂, Cf₄, Cf₅, Cf₈, Cf₉ en Cf₁₁ kunnen doorbreken, zijn in Nederland, Frankrijk en Polen opgetreden. Met behulp van een groep genotypen, die de resistentie genen Cf₂ tot en met Cf₁₁ dragen, zijn Nederlandse, Franse en enkele nieuwe Poolse isolaten onderzocht op de aanwezigheid van virulentiegenen. Enkele Nederlandse isolaten, eerder aangeduid met 2.4, 2.4.5. en 2.4.5.9, bleken het resistentie-gen Cf₁₁ te kunnen doorbreken. Deze moeten daarom aangeduid worden als respectievelijk 2.4.11, 2.4.5.11 en 2.4.5.9.11. In de nieuwe Poolse isolaten werd virulentie gevonden voor Cf₂, Cf₄, Cf₈, Cf₉ en Cf₁₁. Alle fysio's die op genotypen met Cf₄ konden groeien, groeiden ook op genotypen met Cf₈. Daarom kon geen ondersheid gemaakt worden tussen Cf₄ en Cf₈. De Poolse isolaten behoren tot de fysio's 4.11, 2.4.11 en 2.4.9.11. De gevolgen van het voorkomen van deze fysio's voor de tomateveredeling worden besproken.     

An unusual form of canine babesiosis

An Akita Inu, living in Belgium, was presented with unusual clinical manifestations of acute babesiosis that included neurological signs and pancytopenia. Diagnosis was made by identifying Babesia canis in the blood smear. Neurological signs resolved after treatment with imidocarb diproprionate. Normalization of hematological abnormalities was gradual over 5 months.     

Nutrient availability of composted and noncomposted residues in a Patagonian Xeric Mollisol

 The main objectives of this study were to determine: (1) the agronomic value of composted and noncomposted residues originated in the Andean-Patagonian region (APR), and (2) whether aerobic incubations provide a reliable index of nutrient availability to estimate application rates. A Xeric Mollisol of the transitional zone between the APR and the Patagonian steppe, amended with composted and noncomposted residues, was employed in laboratory incubations without plants and in a 5-month greenhouse trial with ryegrass. Noncomposted residues were biosolids and fish wastes (FW) collected under farming cages. Composts were obtained from fish offal and biosolids mixed with sawdust, woodshavings and yard trimmings. A commercial compost was also included. In laboratory incubations at similar rates of application (10 g kg^–1), net N mineralization (N_min) was about two-fold higher with the noncomposted (17–23%) than with the composted residues (0–12%) and P release was very high with the FW. Ryegrass yields were closely related to the total Kjeldahl N and mineralized N of the organic residues and weakly related to their P contents (total or extractable). Yields were increased even in the case of composts which exhibited very low values of N_min (and slight N immobilization) during laboratory incubation, suggesting that the presence of plants enhanced N_min at rates of 10–20 g kg^–1. Soil residual extractable P after ryegrass removal was high for fish-derived amendments and the commercial product, suggesting a potential risk of P pollution when these are applied according to N requirements. Aerobic incubations provided a relatively good index with which to assess adequate rates of application. Received: 17 July 1999