Nitrogen Fluxes of a Slope Mire in the German Harz Mountains

Nitrogen (N) fluxes of a slope mire in the German Harz Mountains were monitored to study the effect of increased N deposition on the N retention of the mire. In addition, the N content of mire pore water beneath different plant species was analyzed to assess N retention ability of plants. Atmospheric N deposition at the study site was 4.9?±?0.4 g N m^?2 year^?1 averaged for the study period of 2002 and 2003, with forest stand deposition being the largest share. Discharge was the main output pathway of N with a rate of 1.9?±?0.3 g N m^?2 year^?1. The mire showed a high N retention rate of 67%. Short-term N accumulation rate was 3.9 g N m^?2 year^?1. Differences in mire pore water N concentration under different vegetation cover indicate a lower N retention ability for ombrotrophic Sphagnum plants.     

Effects of intracameral injection of preservative-free lidocaine on the anterior segment of the eyes in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of intracameral injection of preservative-free 1% and 2% lidocaine hydrochloride solution on the anterior segment of the eyes in dogs. ANIMALS: 16 adult healthy dogs (8 male and 8 female) judged to be free of ocular disease. PROCEDURE: Dogs were randomly assigned to 2 groups of 8 dogs each. Group 1 dogs received an intracameral injection of 0.10 mL of preservative-free 1% lidocaine solution in the designated eye, and group 2 dogs received 0.10 mL of preservative-free 2% lidocaine solution in the designated eye. After injection, intraocular pressure was measured every 12 hours for 48 hours and then every 24 hours until 168 hours after injection. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy was performed preceding intracameral injection, 8 hours after injection, and then every 24 hours until 168 hours after injection. Ultrasonic pachymetry and specular microscopy were performed preceding intracameral injection and 72 and 168 hours after injection. Corneal thickness and endothelial cell density and morphology were compared with baseline measurements. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in intraocular pressure, corneal thickness, endothelial cell density, and morphologic features in either group, compared with baseline. A significant difference in aqueous flare was found for treated and control eyes 8, 24, and 48 hours after injection, compared with baseline. No significant difference in aqueous flare was found between treated and control eyes within either group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: No adverse ocular effects were detected after intracameral injection of preservative-free 1% or 2% lidocaine solution; thus, its use would be safe for intraocular pain management in dogs.     

Report of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Canine Vaccine Task Force: executive summary and 2003 canine vaccine guidelines and recommendations

The AAHA has undertaken the development of this document in an effort to inform veterinary practitioners, clarify misunderstandings held by veterinarians, and encourage practitioners to recognize that immunization of patients is a medical procedure. As such, it is bound by the same tenets that govern the recommendation of other medical procedures-principally, that it be tailored to the needs of the individual patient. Many diseases we immunize against are ubiquitous. Many are serious and some even life threatening. Some are of limited demographic concern given the exposure risk for each patient. These factors have all been considered in developing the AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines. In the end, each veterinarian must do what he or she determines to be in the best interest of the patient. Vaccination of individual animals produces not only individual immunity but also population or herd immunity. Since we have no readily available and reliable way to determine if each patient has developed an adequate immune response, we encourage the practice philosophy of vaccinating more patients while vaccinating each patient no more than needed.     

Alginate as a new biomaterial for the growth of porcine retinal pigment epithelium

Objective Determine the effect of a 3‐dimensional alginate matrix on the growth and differentiation of cells isolated from porcine retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Procedures Porcine RPE cells were harvested from enucleated eyecups, isolated by differential gravity sedimentation and cultured in either alginate alone (Group 1) or on plastic tissue culture plates followed by alginate (Group 2). Group 1 cells were cultured in alginate to evaluate the efficacy of the matrix as a culture medium. Group 2 cells were initially cultured on plastic to induce dedifferentiation. The cells were then harvested, suspended in alginate beads, and incubated for a second culture period to determine if the induced dedifferentiation was reversible. Results The number of Group 1 cells was significantly greater (P ≤ 0.01) at the end of the culture period. The amount of pigment and cell morphology of Group 1 cells at the end of the culture period was similar to that seen at initial cell isolation. The initial culture of Group 2 cells on plastic showed characteristic features of dedifferentiation marked by the loss of pigment and alterations in microscopic appearance. Secondary culture of dedifferentiated Group 2 cells in alginate beads resulted in a return to pigmentation and characteristic morphology for a majority of the cultured cells. Conclusions Porcine RPE cells can be propagated in alginate culture with a significant increase in cell numbers while maintaining normal morphology. Under the conditions described in the present study, the dedifferentiation of porcine RPE induced by standard in vitro culture methods is reversible.     

Wide range of Chlamydiales types detected in native Australian mammals

The Chlamydiales are a unique order of intracellular bacterial pathogens that cause significant disease of birds and animals, including humans. The recent development of a Chlamydiales-specific 16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay has enabled the identification of Chlamydiales DNA from an increasing range of hosts and environmental sources. Whereas the Australian marsupial, the koala, has previously been shown to harbour several Chlamydiales types, no other Australian marsupials have been analysed. We therefore used a 16S rDNA PCR assay combined with direct sequencing to determine the presence and genotype of Chlamydiales in five wild Australian mammals (gliders, possums, bilbies, bandicoots, potoroos). We detected eight previously observed Chlamydiales genotypes as well as 10 new Chlamydiales sequences from these five Australian mammals. In addition to PCR analysis we used antigen specific staining and in vitro culture in HEp-2 cell monolayers to confirm some of the identifications. A strong association between ocular PCR positivity and the presence of clinical disease (conjunctivitis, proliferation of the eyelid) was observed in two of the species studied, gliders and bandicoots, whereas little clinical disease was observed in the other animals studied. These findings provide further evidence that novel Chlamydiales infections occur in a wide range of hosts and that, in some of these, the chlamydial infections may contribute to clinical disease.     

Tachydyspnea in an infant chimpanzee

Reports on intensive care and invasive treatments of primates are scarce. Generally, there is little knowledge and experience in regard to resuscitation, cardiac support and ventilation support especially in small infants of primate species. We therefore report on our experience with respect to the successful treatment of a former small-for-date chimpanzee infant with severe cardiorespiratory distress due to pneumonia inflicted by an unknown infective agent. Treatment was primarily with analgosedation, oxygen application and dobutamine infusions. Cooperation of neonatologists and veterinarians is recommended for treatment of young primates.     

Evaluation of relationships between pretreatment patient variables and duration of isolation for radioiodine-treated hyperthyroid cats

OBJECTIVE: To determine relationships between commonly measured pretreatment variables and duration of isolation for unrestricted dismissal after oral administration of iodine 131 (131I) for treatment of hyperthyroidism in cats. ANIMALS: 149 hyperthyroid cats treated with 131I. PROCEDURE: A dose of 131I (2.9 to 6.04 mCi [1.07 to 2.23 x 10(8) Bq]) was administered orally to all cats after hyperthyroidism was confirmed by evaluation of serum total thyroxine (T4) concentrations. Forward stepwise regression analysis was used to determine whether pretreatment total T4 concentration, serum creatinine concentration, body weight, age, 131I dose, or concurrent administration of cardiac medication (specifically excluding thyroid suppression drugs) could be used as pretreatment predictors of duration of isolation in a clinical setting. Gamma radiation emission rate at dismissal was < 2.0 mR/h at skin surface over the thyroid region. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD duration of isolation was 16.67 +/- 4.42 days (95% confidence interval, 9.2 to 24.1 days). The regression equation for duration of isolation calculated on the basis of dose of 131I (duration of isolation [days] = 3.2 + [2.66 X mCi - 131I dose]) yielded a regression line with a 95% confidence interval of +/- 3.3 days; only 15% of the variation was explained. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A pretreatment estimate for duration of isolation could be determined only from an equation based on the orally administered dose of 131I. These findings suggest that administration of the lowest efficacious dose possible is the dominant factor in reduction of duration of isolation for cats treated with 131I.     

Heterosis in body weight related to growth performance of parental lines of Japanese quail and to heterosis in lay

1. Three outbred lines of Japanese quail and their reciprocal crosses were used. The lines differed in mature body weight or in the shape of the growth curve. Growth was described by body weight (BW) at 0, 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 48, 56, 63 and 70 d of age and expressed by the parameters of Richards' function. Dickerson's model was used to estimate direct genetic, maternal genetic and direct heterotic effects. 2. The magnitude of BW heterosis was not constant during postnatal growth, it showed a different curvilinear age-trend for each hybrid combination. 3. The age-trend of BW heterosis resulted from the change of the shape of the growth curve. 4. The age-trend of BW heterosis and its maximum magnitude were associated with differences in the growth pattern of parental lines. 5. The heterosis at the inflection point was accompanied by heterosis in egg number.