Effects of alpha2-adrenergic receptor agonists on urine production in horses deprived of food and water

OBJECTIVE: To quantitate the dose- and time-related effects of IV administration of xylazine and detomidine on urine characteristics in horses deprived of feed and water. ANIMALS: 6 horses. PROCEDURE: Feed and water were withheld for 24 hours followed by i.v. administration of saline (0.9% NaCI) solution, xylazine (0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg), or detomidine (0.03 mg/kg). Horses were treated 4 times, each time with a different protocol. Following treatment, urine and blood samples were obtained at 15, 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes. Blood samples were analyzed for PCV and serum concentrations of total plasma solids, sodium, and potassium. Urine samples were analyzed for pH and concentrations of glucose, proteins, sodium, and potassium. RESULTS: Baseline (before treatment) urine flow was 0.30 +/- 0.03 mL/kg/h and did not significantly change after treatment with saline solution and low-dose xylazine but transiently increased by 1 hour after treatment with high-dose xylazine or detomidine. Total urine output at 2 hours following treatment was 312 +/- 101 mL versus 4,845 +/- 272 mL for saline solution and detomidine, respectively. Absolute values of urine concentrations of sodium and potassium also variably increased following xylazine and detomidine administration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Xylazine and detomidine administration in horses deprived of feed and water causes transient increases in urine volume and loss of sodium and potassium. Increase in urine flow is directly related to dose and type of alpha2-adrenergic receptor agonist. Dehydration in horses may be exacerbated by concurrent administration of alpha2-adrenergic receptor agonists.     

Monitoring glyphosate residues in transgenic glyphosate-resistant soybean

The availability of Roundup Ready (RR) varieties of soybean has increased the use of glyphosate for weed control in Argentina. Glyphosate [(N-phosphonomethyl)glycine] is employed for the eradication of previous crop vegetation and for weed control during the soybean growing cycle. Its action is effective, and low environmental impact has been reported so far. No residues have been observed in soil or water, either of glyphosate or its metabolite, AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid). The objective of this work was to monitor glyphosate and AMPA residues in soybean plants and grains in field crops in Santa Fe Province, Argentina. Five sites were monitored in 1997, 1998 and 1999. Individual soybean plants were sampled from emergence to harvest, dried and ground. Analysis consisted in residue extraction with organic solvents and buffers, agitation, centrifugation, clean-up and HPLC with UV detection. In soybean leaves and stems, glyphosate residues ranged from 1.9 to 4.4 mg kg(-1) and from 0.1 to 1.8 mg kg(-1) in grains. Higher concentrations were detected when glyphosate was sprayed several times during the crop cycle, and when treatments approached the flowering stage. AMPA residues were also detected in leaves and in grains, indicating metabolism of the herbicide.     

Ovine toxoplasmosis: Seroconversion during pregnancy and lamb birth rate in Uruguayan sheep flocks

Specific anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies were analyzed by latex agglutination during the 5 months of pregnancy in the serum of sheep from two flocks in the Uruguayan north-west: one flock (79 sheep) kept under an intensive management system and the other (494 sheep) kept under an extensive management system. Titers obtained using the latex test correlated with those obtained by indirect immunofluorescence. Pregnancy was confirmed by laparoscopy in all sheep from the smaller flock and by determination of serum progesterone levels in the seroconverted sheep from the larger flock. The percentage of sheep originally exhibiting significant serum levels of anti-T. gondii anti-bodies (13.9% in the smaller flock and 28.5% in the larger one) as well as the observed levels of seroconversion (22.8% and 7.7%, respectively), indicated a high prevalence of this infection in the north-west of Uruguay. In addition, birth rates of seroconverted sheep in the larger flock were significantly different from those of non-seroconverted animals. These results, although preliminary, suggest that Toxoplasma infection would produce considerable economic losses in extensive ovine production in Uruguay.     

Stock enhancement programme for black sea bream, Acanthopagrus schlegelii (Bleeker), in Hiroshima Bay, Japan: a review

This paper reviews the stock enhancement programme for black sea bream ( Acanthopagrus schlegelii ) in Hiroshima Bay. This bay is one of the biggest production areas for black sea bream in Japan, accounting for about 10% of the total catch of the species in this country in 2004. After intensive fishing pressure caused a drastic decline in the catch of the species in this bay in the 1970s, a stock enhancement programme was conducted in its northern part since 1982 to restore the depleted population. The number of black sea bream juveniles released in 1996 surpassed 9 million, representing the third main species stocked in Japan. Almost 1.4 million of these juveniles were released into Hiroshima Bay. The fast acclimatization of hatchery-reared juveniles released into the bay may have contributed to the recovery of landings in the late 1980s and 1990s. However, this recovery was accompanied by a reduction in the market price of black sea bream. Further studies to assess the effectiveness of the stock enhancement programme as well as the carrying capacity of Hiroshima Bay to maintain the stock of black sea bream at a stable, healthy level are desirable. The necessity of evaluating the secondary effects derived from using a reduced number of breeders as well as finding new markets are suggested.     

Prevalence and risk factors for Trichomonas foetus infection in cattle in northeastern Costa Rica

Two studies (one pilot and one cross-sectional) were conducted in the two main livestock-rearing areas of Costa Rica using an improved method (In-Pouch TF) for the detection of Trichomonas foetus infection in bulls. Herd prevalence rates of 6.7% (6/98) and 15.9% (10/63), and bull prevalence rates of 3.9% (6/153) and 6.2% (14/225) were found in the pilot and cross-sectional studies, respectively. Adjusted prevalences in the cross-sectional study were 18.4% and 7.2% for aarms and bulls, respectively. Breed (Bos taurus) and age (over 4 years) were the main risk factors identified using random-effects logistics regression. The nature of the disease and the high prevalence indicated that trichomoniasis could have a serious economic impact on cattle production in Costa Rica.     

Identification of an immunogenic protein of Actinobacillus seminis that is present in microvesicles

Actinobacillus seminis is a gram-negative bacterium of the Pasteurellaceae family that is involved in ovine epididymitis. Looking for a protein specific to this species, we determined the protein profile of subcellular fractions of A. seminis (American Type Culture Collection number 15768): proteins from the outer membrane (OMPs), inner membrane (IMPs), and cytoplasm (CPs). These profiles provide the first data, to our knowledge, regarding subcellular fractions of A. seminis. In the OMP fraction, we identified a protein with a molecular mass of 75 kDa that proved to be immunogenic and apparently specific for A. seminis. This conclusion was based on the reaction of hyperimmune serum of rabbits inoculated with whole cells of A. seminis that was tested against sonicated complete cells of reference strains and field isolates of Brucella ovis, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Histophilus somni. No protein of these bacteria cross-reacted with the 75-kDa protein of A. seminis. Furthermore, when each type of hyperimmune serum was tested against the sonicated cells and each of the subcellular fractions of A. seminis, it did not recognize the A. seminis 75-kDa protein. We also isolated and identified this protein in microvesicles released to the culture supernatant. The results suggest that the 75-kDa protein could be used to establish a diagnostic test specific for ovine epididymitis caused by A. seminis.     

Antigenic and immunogenic studies on cell culture-derived Babesia canis

Babesia canis antigens derived from cell culture reacted specifically with immune serum from dogs convalescing from babesiosis. The antigens were heterogenous as compared to antigens elaborated in vivo. The major antigenic moiety from cell culture eluted in the first peak of Sephadex G-200 is indicative of a molecular weight around 900 000. In contrast, in vivo-derived antigen coeluted with albumin and hemoglobin suggesting a molecular weight of 67 000. The major antigenic mass is proteinacious and contains disulfide bonds as indicated by thermolability and sensitivity to 2-mercaptoethanol. Both particulate and soluble B. canis antigens were immunogenic, particularly when emulsified in Saponin as an adjuvant. Such antigens conferred a considerable degree of protection in susceptible dogs and it suggested that immunoprophylaxis to B. canis may be feasible.     

Synergistic Interaction Between Tomato chlorosis virus and Tomato spotted wilt virus Results in Breakdown of Resistance in Tomato

ABSTRACT Multiple viral infections frequently are found in single plants of cultivated and wild hosts in nature, with unpredictable pathological consequences. Synergistic reactions were observed in mixed infections in tomato plants doubly infected with the positive-sense and phloem-limited single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) crinivirus Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) and the negative-sense ssRNA tospovirus Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). Synergism in a tomato cultivar susceptible to both viruses resulted in a rapid death of plants. A pronounced enhancement of ToCV accumulation mediated by TSWV co-infection was observed with no evident egress of ToCV from phloem tissues. No consistent alteration of TSWV accumulation was detected. More remarkable was the synergism observed in tomato cultivars which carry the Sw-5 resistance gene, which are resistant to TSWV. Pre-infection with ToCV resulted in susceptibility to TSWV, whereas co-inoculations did not. This suggested that a threshold level or a time lapse is needed for ToCV to interfere or downregulate the defense response in the TSWV-resistant plants.     

Analytical method for assessing potential dermal exposure to captan, using whole body dosimetry, in small vegetable production units in Argentina

An analytical method has been developed that can be used to determine the potential dermal exposure (PDE) of workers to the pesticide captan in small-scale horticultural production units. The methodology is based on the whole body dosimetry technique, using a cotton coverall and cotton gloves as sampling media, with protective clothing worn beneath the cotton media to protect the operator. The quantitative determination of captan was done by gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD), with the analytical method validated by measuring limits of detection and quantification, linear ranges, sample recovery and precision. Special emphasis is placed on factors that affected the stability of captan during chromatographic determination. The data generated for potential dermal exposure are presented separately for mixing/loading and application activities. These data are compared with values obtained with visible tracers using a similar field technique. Margin of safety (MOS) values are also calculated for the agricultural procedures studied.     

Exotic vs. native plant dominance over 20 years of old-field succession on set-aside farmland in Argentina

Exotic plants are major constituents of species pools in modern landscapes. Managing succession for restoration of degraded ecosystems thus requires an understanding of novel trajectories unfolding in mixed, native/exotic plant assemblages. We examined trends in native and exotic species abundance over 20 years of old-field succession on set-aside farmland in the Inland Pampa, Argentina. Changes in plant cover and species richness were annually monitored on adjacent permanent plots established in different years (1978-1989). Both native and exotic species occurred in early, mid and late successional stages, exhibiting similar life-form replacement patterns, from annual forbs, through annual to perennial grasses. Exotic plant richness declined with plot age. Yet, four exotic grasses remained dominant through succession (50-70% cover), with plots initiated in later years showing increased exotic cover. While native perennial grasses occurred from the onset of succession, increasing from 5 to 12 spp/plot, they only showed transient peaks below 30% cover. Cluster analysis of 113 plot-year samples identified alternative community states for early, mid and late successional stages, which were connected by a complex network of interweaving dynamic pathways. Depending on the plot, vegetation dynamics comprised directional temporal trajectories as well as nondirectional pathways, and arrested community states dominated by exotic grasses. Our results illustrate the overwhelming role of exotic species in modern old-field succession, and their potential to hinder recovery of native communities on former agricultural land. Community states with novel, native/exotic plant mixtures could be managed to deliver specific ecosystem services (e.g. forage production, carbon sequestration). However, meeting conservation goals may require active restoration measures, including exotic plant removals and native grass seeding.