Monthly prevalence (in 1986) of antibody titers against equine monocytic ehrlichiosis in apparently healthy horses in Illinois

The seroprevalence and seasonal trend of antibody titers against equine monocytic ehrlichiosis (Potomac horse fever) were determined in apparently healthy horses in selected areas of Illinois in 1986. Sera from 1,367 horses (6 months to 29 years old) were evaluated for the presence of antibodies against Ehrlichia risticii with indirect immunofluorescence. The majority (88%) of the horses were Thoroughbred or Standardbred racehorses. The number of horses with antibodies against E risticii was 229/1,367 (16.75%). The titers in these horses ranged from 1:10 to 1:640. As the year progressed, the number of seropositive horses (titers greater than or equal to 1:10) and the magnitude of the titers increased significantly, both reaching a maximum in July and August, respectively (P less than 0.05). A relationship between seropositivity and gender was not detected. In the year prior to sampling, 56.8% of the seropositive horses had not been ill, whereas 0.8% had diarrhea, an episode of acute abdominal pain, or laminitis. It was concluded that a large number of horses in Illinois are exposed to E risticii, that maximal exposure occurs in July, and that the most common form of the disease in Illinois is not associated with clinical signs.     

Isolation of a ranavirus from a gecko (Uroplatus fimbriatus).

A virus was isolated from the liver and stomach of a leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus fimbriatus) with granulomatous lesions on the tongue and hepatitis. The virus was identified as an iridovirus on the basis of morphology by electron microscopy, restriction endonuclease assay, and sequencing of a large portion of the major capsid protein gene. Comparative analysis revealed that this isolate is related to frog virus 3, the type species of the genus Ranavirus.     

Establishment success in a forest biodiversity and ecosystem functioning experiment in subtropical China (BEF-China)

Experimental forest plantations to study biodiversity–ecosystem functioning (BEF) relationships have recently been established in different regions of the world, but subtropical biomes have not been covered so far. Here, we report about the initial survivorship of 26 tree species in the first such experiment in subtropical China. In the context of the joint Sino–German–Swiss Research Unit “BEF-China,” 271 experimental forest plots were established using 24 naturally occurring tree species and two native commercial conifers. Based on the survival inventories carried out in November 2009 and June 2010, the overall survival rate was 87 % after the first 14 months. Generalized mixed-effects models showed that survival rates of seedlings were significantly affected by species richness, the species’ leaf habit (deciduous or evergreen), species identity, planting date, and altitude. In the first survey, seedling establishment success decreased with increasing richness levels, a tendency that disappeared in the second survey after replanting. Though evergreen species performed less well than deciduous species with establishment rates of 84 versus 93 % in the second survey, their planting success exceeded the general expectation for subtropical broad-leaved evergreen species. These results have important implications for establishing mixed-species plantations for diversity conservation and improvement of ecosystem functioning in the Chinese subtropics and elsewhere. Additional costs associated with mixed-species plantations as compared to conventional plantations also demonstrate the potential of upscaling BEF experiments to large-scale afforestation projects.     

Quantification of circulating tumour cells over time in dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma

Enumeration of circulating tumour cells (CTC) has shown promise for prognostication and guidance of therapeutic decisions in human cancers. The objective of this study was to enumerate CTC over time in dogs with naturally occurring osteosarcoma (OSA), and to determine correlation with patient outcome. Twenty-six dogs with OSA and no evidence of metastatic disease at the time of amputation were enrolled. Dogs were assessed for lung metastases and CTC prior to and following amputation, and at each chemotherapy visit. Twenty-one dogs completed the study. Nineteen dogs were euthanized and two were alive and free of metastases. Overall survival time ranged from 88 to 1058 days (median survival time (MST) 374 days). Increased serum alkaline phosphatase activity, advanced age, and higher body weight were significantly associated with lower MST. Dogs with OSA had a mean of 356 (0 to 4443) CTC/10⁶ leukocytes. In 12 of 15 dogs that developed radiographic evidence of metastasis, a pre-metastatic CTC spike was retrospectively detectable on average 36.5 (1–100 days) days prior to metastasis and was associated with significantly shorter MST (301 ± 64 vs. 626 ± 55 days; p = .0107). In a multivariable analysis, dogs with a CTC spike were 10× more likely to die compared with those without. These results suggest that a spike in CTC frequency precedes detection of metastasis in dogs with OSA and is associated with shorter survival. More frequent enumeration of CTC in a larger cohort of dogs with OSA may be warranted.     

Molecular diagnosis of equid summer sores

Equine cutaneous habronemosis, also known as "summer sores", is a parasitic infection caused by larvae of Habronema microstoma and Habronema muscae (Nematoda, Spirurida) released by dung-inhabiting fly vectors on abraded skin, skin wounds or muco-cutaneous transition sites. Larvae induce a local inflammatory reaction characterised by itching, granulomatous, ulcerated and, often non-healing, lesions. The diagnosis of summer sores may be unreliable mainly because of the limits of clinical and microscopic examination. The applicability of a semi-nested PCR assay developed for the diagnosis of gastric habronemosis has been herein demonstrated for the detection of the cutaneous infection. The potential applicability of this diagnostic tool may have for clinical and epidemiological studies of cutaneous habronemosis in equids is discussed.     

Viability assessment of spermatozoa in large falcons (Falco spp.) using various staining protocols

Viability assessment is an important part of semen analysis, and various live/dead staining protocols have been used in semen of avian species. Results of live/dead count differed between dyes, staining protocols and bird species, impeding comparability between studies and requiring species-specific comparisons of viability stains. In raptor semen, similar comparisons are absent. Thus, the aim of the present study was to compare eight conventional viability stains. Eosin blue 2% [EB], eosin blue 2% with the addition of 3% sodium citrate [EB2], eosin blue–nigrosin 5% [EBN5], eosin yellow–nigrosin 5% [EYN5], eosin yellow–nigrosin 10% [EYN10], eosin blue–aniline blue [EBA], eosin yellow–aniline blue [EYA] and bromophenol blue–nigrosin [BBN] were evaluated in comparison with the fluorescence stain SYBR^® Green–propidium iodide [SYBR-PI] in spermatozoa of falcons. The comparison was performed using conventional light microscopy which is applicable in breeding centres, veterinary practices and field studies. Additionally, live/dead stains were correlated to motility values of the same samples to validate sperm viability. Light microscopy using EB and using SYBR-PI enabled an effective and clear differentiation between alive and dead spermatozoa of falcons. Motility values correlated significantly and strongly with EB only (r = .629; p < .001), but not with any other stain used in the study. Therefore, our results suggest EB as the most suitable stain for viability assessment in the semen of large falcons.     

Ulysses radio and plasma wave observations at high southern heliographic latitudes

Ulysses spacecraft radio and plasma wave observations indicate that some variations in the intensity and occurrence rate of electric and magnetic wave events are functions of heliographic latitude, distance from the sun, and phase of the solar cycle. At high heliographic latitudes, solartype Ill radio emissions did not descend to the local plasma frequency, in contrast to the emission frequencies of some bursts observed in the ecliptic. Short-duration bursts of electrostatic and electromagnetic waves were often found in association with depressions in magnetic field amplitude, known as magnetic holes. Extensive wave activity observed in magnetic clouds may exist because of unusually large electron-ion temperature ratios. The lower number of intense in situ wave events at high latitudes was likely due to the decreased variability of the high- latitude solar wind.     

The ovarian regulation of ovulation in teleost fish

Ovulation is the release of a mature oocyte from its follicle wall enclosure in the ovary. This process requires the separation of the oocyte from the granulosa layer, the rupture of the follicle wall and the active expulsion of the oocyte through the rupture site. Results of experiments on various vertebrates, including fish, have shown that the control of these processes may involve the cooperative action of a number of ovarian regulators including proteases, protease inhibitors, progestational steroids, eicosanoids, catecholamines and vasoactive peptides. We have used two teleost models, the brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and the yellow perch (Perca flavescens) to study the mechanism and control of ovulation in fish. Using subtractive cDNA cloning, a family of ovarian and ovulation specific mRNAs (TOPs = trout ovulatory proteins) was isolated from the brook trout ovary. These mRNAs have not previously been observed in the ovary of any vertebrate species; however, the proteins they code for have significant sequence homology to a group of mammalian protease inhibitors called antileukoproteinases. These inhibitors have been isolated from several mammalian mucosal tissues and their function may be to protect the mucosal lining from nonspecific degradation by proteases released from infiltrating leukocytes. The ovarian proteins encoded by the TOP mRNAs have now been characterized by Western blotting using antibodies derived against recombinant TOPs. Given the similarity of TOPs to antileukoproteinases, one function of TOPs may be to regulate proteolysis at the time of ovulation. In yellow perch, the maturational steroid, 17,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20-PG), stimulates both germinal vesicle breakdown and ovulation in vitro. The stimulation of ovulation can be blocked by indomethacin, a prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase inhibitor. Thus, it appears that 17,20-PG acts through the production of an eicosanoid that is most likely a primary prostaglandin. This hypothesis is further supported by the observations that (1) a direct correlation exists between indomethacin levels that block ovulation and those that block primary prostaglandin synthesis in the ovary; (2) ovulation can be restored in indomethacin-blocked incubates with primary prostaglandins; (3) PGF levels increase at the time of ovulation in incubations of yellow perch follicles stimulated with 17,20-PG; and (4) the stimulation of PGF by steroids in the ovary is specific for 17,20-PG. Finally, 17,20-PG-stimulated ovulation and follicular prostaglandin synthesis requires the close interaction of extrafollicular tissue and other follicle wall layers.     

The year-round distribution and habitat preferences of Campbell albatross (Thalassarche impavida)

1. The use of miniaturized electronic tracking devices has illuminated our understanding of seabird distributions and habitat use, and how anthropogenic threats interact with seabirds in both space and time. To determine the year-round distribution of adult Campbell albatross (Thalassarche impavida), a single-island endemic, breeding only at Campbell Island in New Zealand's subantarctic, a total of 68 year-long location data sets were acquired from light-based geolocation data-logging tags deployed on breeding birds in 2009 and 2010.
2. During the incubation and chick-guard phases of the breeding season, birds used cool (<10°C) waters over the Campbell Plateau, but also ranged over deeper, shelf-break and oceanic waters (4,000–5,500 m) beyond the Plateau. Later in the breeding season, during post-guard chick-rearing, Campbell albatrosses exploited generally deep waters (4,000–5,000 m) beyond the Campbell Plateau.
3. During the non-breeding period, adults tended to move northwards into warmer (approximately 15°C) waters and occupied areas beyond western Australia in the west to offshore from Chile in the east. Overall, about 30% of adults spent some of their non-breeding period in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, substantially expanding the previously reported range for this species.
4. One bird, that failed in its breeding attempt in October 2009, departed Campbell Island and circumnavigated the southern oceans before being recaptured back at Campbell Island in October 2010. This is the first example of an annually-breeding albatross species completing a circumnavigation between breeding attempts.
5. Overlap with fishing effort, using data from the Global Fishing Watch database, was assessed on a monthly and seasonal basis. Generally, levels of overlap between Campbell albatross and fishing effort were relatively low during the breeding season but were approximately 60% higher during the non-breeding period, underlining the need for international initiatives to safeguard this species.