Milker''s nodules: isolation of a poxvirus from a human case

A virus of the pox group was isolated from a lesion on a patient with milker's nodules by use of tissue cultures of bovine cells. The virus shows marked biologic and serologic differences from vaccinia virus, and it is presumably the etiologic agent of the milker's nodule syndrome.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHY OF INTESTINAL MAST CELL TUMORS IN THE CAT

The sonographic features of intestinal mast cell tumors (MCT) were reviewed in 14 cats. The mean age was 13.4 ± 2.5 years. There were 16 focal intestinal tumors and one diffuse submucosal infiltrate. The most common pattern was focal, hypoechoic wall thickening that was noncircumferential and eccentric (9/16 tumors) or circumferential, asymmetric, and eccentric (5/16 tumors). Nine of the cats had lesions in the jejunum or duodenum, four were at the ileocecocolic junction, and one cat had a colonic mass. Six MCTs had altered but not loss of wall layering, and the most commonly affected layer on ultrasound examination was the muscularis propria. Nine cats had enlarged abdominal lymph nodes, and seven were due to metastatic disease. Metastatic disease was not routinely detected by ultrasound in the liver (1/4 cats) or the spleen (0/3 cats). Concurrent small cell (T cell) lymphoma was present in four of 14 cats (29%).     

COMPARATIVE POPLITEAL AND MESENTERIC COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY LYMPHANGIOGRAPHY OF THE CANINE THORACIC DUCT

Thoracic duct computed tomography (CT) lymphangiograms were performed on seven clinically normal dogs. The appearance of the thoracic duct system was compared following administration of contrast medium through a mesenteric lymphatic vessel vs. ultrasound guided percutaneous injection into a popliteal lymph node using helical and sequential CT acquisition modes. The number of visible thoracic duct branches and the largest thoracic duct branch cross‐sectional area and mean Hounsfield units (HU) were determined from thoracic vertebra 9 to lumbar vertebra 1. Procedural time and patient discomfort were also assessed. Popliteal administration produced a successful thoracic duct lymphangiogram in eight of 11 dogs (73%) after two attempts, while mesenteric administration was successful in eight of 10 dogs (80%) after a single attempt. Popliteal lymphography required 46% of the time and was associated with less patient discomfort than mesenteric lymphangiography. The number of thoracic duct branches seen was not significantly different for either administration technique (P=0.256) or CT acquisition mode (P=0.417). However, the cross‐sectional area and mean HU of the largest thoracic duct branch were greater with mesenteric administration (P<0.001), and helical image acquisition (P<0.001). The thoracic duct branch number, size, and location were highly variable between dogs. Percutaneous popliteal lymphography appears to be an acceptable alternative to mesenteric lymphangiography for the detection of thoracic duct branches in the dog when using either helical or sequential CT acquisition modes.     

COMPARISON OF RADIOGRAPHY AND ULTRASONOGRAPHY FOR DIAGNOSING SMALL‐INTESTINAL MECHANICAL OBSTRUCTION IN VOMITING DOGS

A cross‐sectional study was performed on acutely vomiting dogs to compare the accuracy of radiography and ultrasonography for the diagnosis of small‐intestinal mechanical obstruction and to describe several radiographic and ultrasonographic signs to identify their contribution to the final diagnosis. The sample population consisted of 82 adult dogs and small‐intestinal obstruction by foreign body was confirmed in 27/82 (33%) dogs by surgery or necropsy. Radiography produced a definitive result (obstructed or not obstructed) in 58/82 (70%) of dogs; ultrasonography produced a definitive result in 80/82 (97%) of dogs. On radiographs, a diagnosis of obstruction was based on detection of segmental small‐intestinal dilatation, plication, or detection of a foreign body. Approximately 30% (8/27) of obstructed dogs did not have radiographic signs of segmental small‐intestinal dilatation, of which 50% (4/8) were due to linear foreign bodies. The ultrasonographic diagnosis of small‐intestinal obstruction was based on detection of an obstructive lesion, sonographic signs of plication or segmental, small‐intestinal dilatation. The ultrasonographic presence or absence of moderate‐to‐severe intestinal diameter enlargement (due to lumen dilatation) of the jejunum (>1.5 cm) was a useful discriminatory finding and, when present, should prompt a thorough search for a cause of small‐intestinal obstruction. In conclusion, both abdominal radiography and abdominal ultrasonography are accurate for diagnosing small‐intestinal obstruction in vomiting dogs and either may be used depending on availability and examiner choice. Abdominal ultrasonography had greater accuracy, fewer equivocal results and provided greater diagnostic confidence compared with radiography.     

Do habitat models accurately predict the depth distribution of pelagic fishes?

Habitat models are used to correct estimates of fish abundance derived from pelagic longline fishing gear. They combine information on hook depth with the species’ preferences for ambient environmental conditions to adjust the gear's catchability. We compare depth distributions of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) catch predicted by a habitat model with distributions derived from data collected by observers on longliners in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Our analyses show that the habitat model does not accurately predict the depth distribution of bigeye tuna; its predictions are worse than those from models that assume no effect of depth on catches. Statistical models provided superior fits to the observed depth distribution. The poor performance of the habitat model is probably due to (1) problems in estimating hook depth, (2) fine‐scale variations in environmental conditions, (3) incomplete knowledge of habitat preferences and (4) differences between the distribution of bigeye tuna and their vulnerability to longline gear.     

Relationships between temperature and landing patterns in the southern Labrador and eastern Newfoundland inshore cod fishery

The temporal pattern of cod landings in the inshore trap fishery off the east coast of Newfoundland and Labrador is examined in this study. Unlike previous studies which have been broad scale or of a localized nature, this analysis looks at variations within fishing seasons and among fishing areas in trap landings. A significant relationship between water temperature and the weekly pattern is demonstrated. Significant spatial patterns in weekly landings are described and related to longshore differences in the seasonal variation in temperature.     

Interrelationships Between Apoptosis and Fertility in Bull Sperm

Male fertility, the ability of sperm to fertilize and activate the egg and support early embryogenesis, is vital for mammalian reproduction. Despite producing adequate numbers of sperm with normal motility and morphology, some males suffer from low fertility whose molecular mechanisms are not known. The objective was to determine apoptosis in sperm from high and low fertility bulls and its relationship with male fertility. DNA damage, phosphatidylserine (PS) translocation, and expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins (BAX and BCL-2) in the sperm were determined using TUNEL, Annexin V, and immunoblotting approaches, respectively. Amounts of apoptotic spermatozoa were 2.86 (± 1.31) and 3.00 (± 0.96) in high and low fertility bulls, respectively (P=0.548), and were not correlated with fertility. There was a negative correlation between early necrotic spermatozoa and viable spermatozoa (r = –0.99, P<0.0001). Fertility scores were correlated with live spermatozoa detected by eosin-nigrosin test and necrotic spermatozoa determined via flow cytometry (r = –0.49, P<0.006 and r = –0.266, P<0.0113, respectively). BAX level was higher in low fertile group than high fertile group; however, this difference was not statistically significant due to the variations of bull samples (Bull 1–3 vs. Bull 4–5) in low fertile group (P<0.283). BCL-2 was not detectable in any of the sperm samples. The results shed light onto molecular and cellular underpinnings of male fertility.     

Effects of biological soil crusts and drought on emergence and survival of a Patagonian perennial grass in the Monte of Argentina

Biological soil crusts are widely distributed in arid and semiarid regions. They have an important eco- logical role, especially by modifying physical and chemical properties of soils. Biological crusts may also modify seed germination and seedling establishment. The effects vary widely according to the type of crust and the vas- cular plant species. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of moss-dominated biological soil crusts on the emergence, biomass and survival of Poa ligularis Nees ex Steud. under different irrigation regimes. We col- lected seeds of P. ligularis and biological soil crusts composed of two species of mosses： Syntrichia princeps （De Not.） Mitt and Ceratodon purpureus （Hedw.） Brid. from an area in the Monte of Argentina. The result showed that seedling emergence of P. ligularis was higher in treatments with bare soil than in soil covered by crusts, and also in those with watering to field capacity. Mean emergence time was higher in treatments with bare soil and watering to field capacity. Seedling biomass also showed significant differences between treatments. These results suggest that biological soil crusts dominated by mosses do not promote P. ligularis emergence, although they would not affect its survival.