Concurrent gastro-oesophageal intussusception,trichobezoar and hiatal hernia in a cat

CASE HISTORY: An adult male Birman cat was evaluated for recurrent, intermittent vomiting or regurgitation, occasionally associated with abdominal discomfort.

CLINICAL FINDINGS AND DIAGNOSIS: Radiographs, including an oesophogram, indicated an oesophageal obstruction. Prior to treatment, the cat's condition deteriorated and it was euthanised at the owner's request. Post-mortem examination revealed a gastro-oesophageal intussusception, a trichobezoar impacted into the intussusceptum, and a dilated oesophageal hiatus consistent with a chronic hiatal hernia.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Gastro-oesophageal intussusception is a rare condition in cats. Its aetiology in relation to a pre-existing hiatal hernia and a trichobezoar is discussed.     

Mid‐gestation pregnancy is not disrupted by a 5‐day gastrointestinal mucosal cytoprotectant oral regimen of misoprostol

Reasons for performing study: To investigate effects of a 5‐day oral misoprostol regimen recommended for use in horses as a gastrointestinal mucosal cytoprotectant during colic on mid‐gestation pregnancies. Objectives: To monitor cervical tone, ultrasonographic characteristics of the uterus, cervix and conceptus, as well as serum progesterone and oestrone sulphate concentrations, and observations of general health, behaviour and comfort of mid‐gestation mares given a 5‐day course of misoprostol or control treatment. Methods: Eleven light horse and pony mares with known breeding dates were administered 5 µg/kg bwt misoprostol orally, twice daily for 5 days. General health and pregnancy status were monitored daily during treatment via general physical examination, as well as palpation and ultrasonography per rectum of the uterus, cervix and conceptus. Jugular serum was obtained during and for 5 days following treatment for assay of progesterone and oestrone sulphate concentrations. Additionally, daily 12 h video samples of the mares were obtained to evaluate behaviour and comfort. Results: All findings, including cervical tone, ultrasonographic characteristics of the uterus, cervix and conceptus, as well as progesterone and oestrone sulphate concentrations, and observations of general health, behaviour and comfort, were similar during misoprostol and control treatment. Conclusions: Treatment of pregnant mares with a gastrointestinal mucosal cytoprotectant regimen of oral misoprostol for 5 days did not disrupt pregnancy, nor adversely affect the general health and comfort of these mares. Additional investigation of treatment at earlier and later stages of gestation, for longer‐term treatment, as well as evaluating neonates for developmental disturbances, would add further information on safety of misoprostol during gestation. Potential relevance: These results provide some assurance of safety of a 5‐day gastrointestinal mucosal cytopretectant regimen of oral misprostol in mid‐gestation pregnant mares.     

Cross-sectional survey of pet ownership,veterinary service utilisation,and pet-related expenditures in New Zealand

ABSTRACT

Aims: To describe the demographics of and predictors for pet ownership, reasons for visiting a veterinarian, and pet-related expenditure in pet owners in New Zealand.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from 18–22 June 2015 using a permission-based panel of New Zealand residents aged ≥18 years. Questions included demographics of respondents, number of pets and reasons for owning or not owning pets, number of visits and reasons for visiting a veterinarian, and pet-related expenditure.

Results: Of the 1,572 respondents who completed the survey, 1,013 (64.4%) owned ≥1 pet. Of these, 443 owned dogs, 696 cats, 32 horses, 103 birds, 55 rabbits, and 159 owned fish. Companionship was the most common reason for getting dogs, cats, and birds; horses were mostly owned as a hobby, rabbits to provide fun for children, and fish as a source of relaxation. The majority of dog, cat, and rabbit owners considered their pets to be family members; horse owners almost equally considered their horses a hobby or a family member. The odds of pet ownership increased for respondents from a rural region, having a higher household income, having children and being female. Overall, 711/1,013 (70.2%) pet-owning respondents had taken ≥1 animal to the veterinarian in the previous year, with the most common reasons being for vaccination or annual check-ups or health issues. Respondents who considered their pets trusted companions, had a higher income, and owned dogs or cats compared with other species, were most likely to have taken their pet to a veterinarian. The greatest pet-related expenditure for all species was food. The median yearly veterinary expenditure was $200–499 by dog owners, $100–199 by cat owners, and <$100 by horse, bird, rabbit, and fish owners. The best source of information for pet-related issues was considered to be veterinarians by 724/1,001 (72.3%) owners, and the internet by 509/1,001 (50.8%) owners.

Conclusions: Among survey respondents, pet ownership was common and pets filled a variety of roles in the household. Pet owners reported spending considerable amounts of money on their pets each year, but some of them may be underutilising veterinary services despite veterinarians being considered as valuable sources of information about pet-related issues.     

Dry‐Milling and Fractionation of Transgenic Maize Seed Tissues with Green Fluorescent Protein as a Tissue Marker

The efficiency of fractionating cereal grains (e.g., dry corn milling) can be evaluated and monitored by quantifying the proportions of seed tissues in each of the recovered fractions. The quantities of individual tissues are typically estimated using indirect methods such as quantifying fiber or ash to indicate pericarp and tip cap contents, and oil to indicate germ content. More direct and reliable methods are possible with tissue‐specific markers. We used two transgenic maize lines, one containing the fluorescent protein green fluorescent protein (GFP) variant S65T expressed in endosperm, and the other containing GFP expressed in germ to determine the fate of each tissue in the dry‐milling fractionation process. The two lines were dry‐milled to produce three fractions (bran‐, endosperm‐, and germ‐rich fractions) and GFP fluorescence was quantified in each fraction to estimate the tissue composition. Using a simplified laboratory dry‐milling procedure and our GFP‐containing grain, we determined that the endosperm‐rich fraction contained 4% germ tissue, the germ‐rich fraction contained 28% germ, 20% endosperm, and 52% nonendosperm and nonembryo tissues, and the bran‐rich fraction contained 44% endosperm, 13% germ, and 43% nonendosperm and nonembryo tissues. GFP‐containing grain can be used to optimize existing fractionation methods and to develop improved processing strategies.     

云南咖啡锈菌小种鉴定

为明确云南咖啡锈菌小种类型,采用国际通用的 19 个咖啡锈菌生理小种鉴定寄主,利用人工接种鉴定的方法,对采自云南咖啡主产区 12 县（市）的 51 份咖啡锈菌进行鉴定,鉴定出 9 个小种,分别为 VIII（v2,3,5）、XXXIII（v5,7 or v5,7,9）、XXXIV（v2,5,7 or v2,5,7,9）、XXXVII（v2,5,6,7,9）、XLI（v2,5,8）、XLII（v2,5,7,8 or v2,5,7,8,9）、New race（v2,5,6,7）、New race（v1,2,5,7 or v1,2,5,7,9）、New race（v1,5,7 or v1,5,7,9）,这 9 个小种均为国内首次鉴定,其中小种 XXXIII、XXXIV、New race（v2,5,6,7）、New race（v1,5,7 or v1,5,7,9）、New race（v1,2,5,7 or v1,2,5,7,9）、XLI 和 XLII 均侵染 Catimor7963,小种 XXXVII 侵染 CatimorT5175。     

Phytochemical diversity in tubers of potato cultivars and landraces using a GC-MS metabolomics approach

Phytochemical diversity with respect to a range of polar (including amino acids, organic acids, sugars, and sugar alcohols) and nonpolar (including fatty acids, alkanols, and sterols) metabolites was examined within tubers from a total of 29 genetically diverse potato cultivars and Chilean landraces using a metabolomics approach by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. From principal component analysis of the polar and nonpolar metabolite data there was insufficient variation to differentiate the majority of cultivars and landraces. Analysis of all polar metabolite profiles revealed separation of two cultivars (Glenna and Morag) from the other cultivars and landraces and a separate cluster of one landrace line, largely due to higher levels of sugars. Pentland Javelin was distinct in containing high levels of many amino acids. The two Solanum tuberosum group phureja cultivars (Inca Sun and Mayan Gold) were not particularly similar and were not separated from the S. tuberosum group tuberosum cultivars. Analysis of the nonpolar metabolite data revealed partial separation of two landrace lines and, on the basis of some minor fatty acids, Mayan Gold was distinct. The differences in metabolite profiles are considered in terms of the taxonomy and breeding history of the cultivars and possible influences from other factors such as developmental stage of the tuber. With a view to exploring biosynthetic links between metabolites, a pairwise correlation analysis was performed on all metabolites. The significance of high correlations between many amino acids and between several nonpolar metabolites is discussed.     

Rapid assessment of the value of forest income for people in Central Africa

Reliable data on the contribution of forests to the livelihoods of households in the Congo Basin are not always readily available to governments and decision-makers. This paper assesses the value of forest resources on livelihoods in Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Central Africa Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Data were collected using the Forest Poverty Linkages Toolkit, between 2012 and 2014 on stratified samples of 616 Bantu and indigenous people’s households in 15 villages. The study reveals that forest resources account for 48% to 63% of the total revenue of rural households. In Bantu households, estimates of the gross income from the forest per capita/day range from $US 0.18 to $US 1.3. This value is about double that received by indigenous people except in Congo. Non-cash income is about twice as high as cash income. On average, cash income reaches only about 23% of the World Bank $1.25 a day income level for chronic poverty. However, non-cash income - about twice as high as cash income – mitigates these profound poverty levels to some extent. The paper concludes by considering the importance of the findings for policy-making in Central Africa and the Congo Basin, and more widely. It is suggested that much more data of this kind is need to shape appropriate approaches to sustainable forest management, with a better understanding of the economic security and the livelihood resilience of the chronic poor increasingly kept in mind.     

Determination of optimal feeding rates for juvenile lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) fed a formulated dry diet

Two 3‐week growth trials were performed to determine the optimum feeding rate of juvenile lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) fed with a semi‐purified dry diet (protein, 440 g; lipid, 130 g/kg) at different feeding rates: 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 g/kg body weight per day (BW/.d‐1), for 36 g‐sized fish; and 2.5, 5, 10, 20, and 30 g/kg BW/.d‐1, for 80 g sized fish. Feeding rates significantly influenced growth performances, feed conversion ratio, wholebody lipid and moisture contents, energy and protein retention, and fasted blood glucose levels (p < 0.05). The ratio of total C/total N measured in whole fish was positively correlated to the feeding rates and the lipid contents of whole fish. Suboptimal feeding significantly depressed growth performance and protein synthesis based on the measurement of RNA/DNA ratio in white muscle. Based on polynomial regression models, an optimal feeding rate to support the maximum growth, protein and energy retention was 34.5, 22 and 27.3 g/kg BW/.d‐1, respectively, for fish sized at 36–72 g; and 29.0, 16.9 and 19.9 g/kg BW/.d‐1, respectively for fish sized at 80–140 g. Results of this study will benefit future research to develop practical feeds to replace frozen live feed and feed management for lake sturgeon.