A comparison of two intramuscular doses of xylazine–ketamine combination and tolazoline reversal in llamas

The anesthetic and cardiorespiratory effects of a low dose (LD, 0.4 mg kg^?1 xylazine and 4 mg kg^?1 ketamine) and a high dose (HD, 0.8 mg kg^?1 xylazine and 8 mg kg^?1 ketamine) of IM xylazine–ketamine combination were compared in a randomized cross‐over study using six castrated male llamas. Three llamas in each dosage group (LDT, HDT) were assigned to receive IM tolazoline (2 mg kg^?1) after 30 minutes of recumbency. All IM injections were given in the semitendinosus or semimembranosus muscles. Pulse, respiratory rate, and indirect arterial blood pressure were recorded every 10 minutes, and hemoglobin oxygen saturation was recorded every 5 minutes during lateral recumbency. Samples for arterial blood gas analysis were collected 5 minutes following recumbency and every 30 minutes thereafter. Base‐to‐apex ECG was monitored continuously. Analgesia was evaluated every 5 minutes by both a 30 minutes skin pinch and a needle prick of the toe. Most llamas breathed room air throughout anesthesia. Two llamas that developed severe hypoxemia (SpO₂ < 75%) received 5 minutes of nasal oxygen insufflation, but were maintained on room air for the rest of the anesthetic period. anova for repeated measures and Tukey's test were used to analyze cardiorespiratory data. Fischer's exact test was used to compare the ability of each to provide >30 minutes of lateral recumbency and analgesia. A p‐value < 0.05 was considered significant. Both dosages provided reasonably rapid induction following injection (LD: 10.8 ± 6.3 minutes; HD: 5.0 ± 1.1 minutes; p = 0.07). Duration of lateral recumbency and analgesia were 34.7 ± 6.7 and 27.3 ± 4.6 minutes, respectively, in the LDT llamas. None of the three remaining LD llamas remained in lateral recumbency for longer than 12 minutes. Duration of lateral recumbency and analgesia were 87.3 ± 18.5 and 67.7 ± 16.0 minutes, respectively, for the HD llamas that did not receive tolazoline. The HDT llamas were recumbent for a significantly shorter time (43.3 ± 0.6 minutes; p = 0.05). The ability to provide >30 minutes of recumbency and analgesia was better in the HD group (6/6) than in the LD group (2/6) (p = 0.03). No differences between dosages were seen in pulse rate, respiratory rate, or arterial pressures. No ECG abnormalities were seen. Transient hypoxemia was seen in the first 10 minutes of lateral recumbency in the HD group by both hemoglobin oxygen saturation (84 ± 9.5%) and by blood gas PaO₂ (44.5 ± 5.8 mm Hg). It was concluded that the HD provided more consistent results than the LD, but induced transient hypoxemia. Tolazoline shortened the recovery time in llamas receiving the HD.     

Potential biocontrol of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa and Bipolaris sorokiniana on the phylloplane of Poa pratensis with strains of Pseudomonas spp.

Four Pseudomonas strains were evaluated for their ability to control Sclerotinia homoeocarpa and Bipolaris sorokiniana on the phylloplane of Poa pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass). The strains evaluated were Pseudomonas fluorescens (PSD-4, PSD-5, PSD-6) and Pseudomonas lindbergii (PSD-42). All evaluations were conducted on the upper epidermis of intact attached leaves of Poa pratensis and antagonism was measured as the ability of strains of Pseudomonas to prevent chlorophyll loss from leaves inoculated with either S. homoeocarpa or B. sorokiniana. All strains prevented infection and loss of chlorophyll following inoculation with S. homoeocarpa. Only P. lindbergii (PSD-42) was antagonistic to B. sorokiniana. None of the P. fluorescens strains controlled disease induced by B. sorokiniana.     

Cerebrospinal angiostrongyliasis in five captive tamarins (Sanguinus spp)

Four cotton-top tamarins ( Sanguinus oedipus oedipus ) and one emperor tamarin ( S imperator subgrisescens ) housed in a zoo became depressed, anorexic, paraparetic and eventually paralysed. The animals died within 5 days to 18 months of the appearance of clinical signs. Histological examination showed nonsuppurative and eosinophilic meningoencephalitis, and metastrongyle nematode larvae were found within subarachnoid spaces of all animals and within the spinal cord of one. Intact larvae with features consistent with Angiostrongylus cantonensis were recovered from the brain of one animal. This parasite is the classical cause of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in many parts of the world and the diagnosis can be strongly suspected on clinical grounds. In endemic areas like south-east Queensland, protection of captive animals against infection with A cantonensisi s a difficult balance between providing a stimulating, natural setting and eliminating potentially infectious definitive, intermediate and paratenic hosts… This is the first report of cerebrospinal angiostrongyliasis in tamarins and nonhuman primates in Australia.     

BIOLOG法测定土壤微生物群的一些局限性

Reduction of Cr(VI)to Cr(Ⅲ）were studied in a fresh wheat rhizosphere soil(Kuroboku,high humicandosol) pretreated with a basal fertilizer consisting of (NH4)2SO4,P2O5 and KH2PO4 and with K2Cr2O7 by using a rhizobox system.It was found that rhizosphere exerted a positive effect on Cr(VI) reduction.Part of the reason was the decrwease of pH in the rhizosphere due to application of (NH4)2SO4,implying that application of physiologically acid fertilizers would reduce Cr(VI) toxicity to plants.