Fertility Results of Artificial Inseminations Performed with Liquid Boar Semen Stored in X-CellTM vs BTS Extender

The objective of the present field study was to compare the fertility results for boar semen diluted in X-cell stored up to 4-5 days before artificial insemination (AI) with semen diluted in Beltsville thawing solution (BTS) used for AI following 2-3 days of storage (where the first day being the collection day). A total number of 2601 double inseminations in Norwegian herds were included in this two-trial study. All the boars used in the study were mature cross-bred Norwegian Landrace x Duroc (LD), which were routinely used for AI in Norway. The inseminated gilts and sows were Norwegian Landrace x Yorkshire (LY). The AI doses contained 2.5 billion spermatozoa, and consisted of a mixture of semen from three, occasionally four, boars (i.e. heterospermic semen). Fertility was measured in terms of the likelihood of farrowing and subsequent litter size. The fertility of the semen in both of the extenders was satisfactory and no significant differences were found either in semen stored 4-5 days in X-cell compared with 2-3 days in BTS or in semen stored 2-3 days in X-cell compared with 2-3 days in BTS. The storage capability findings for the long-term extender X-cell could significantly simplify the practical issues of semen production and the distribution of AI doses containing 2.5 billion spermatozoa. However, in pig production systems where all semen is used within 2-3 days, the short-term extender BTS is as good as the more expensive extender X-cell.     

EFFICACY OF ALBENDAZOLE AGAINST FASCIOLA HEPATICA IN SHEEP

In series of 4 trials dose rates of 3.8, 4.75 and 7.5 mg/kg of albendazole were given to sheep either as a single or repeat dose such as may be given under field conditions. Efficacy against 6-to 7-week-old Fasciola hepatica ranged from 16.0% to 43.6%. Efficacy against mature 12- to 17-week-old fluke ranged from 74.4% to 94.5%.     

内蒙古阿拉善荒漠啮齿动物群落结构及其多样性研究

对内蒙古阿拉善荒漠区啮齿动物群落结构和多样性进行了研究。依据样地种多度(捕获率)聚类方法,并结合生境中地带性植被类型的综合特征,该荒漠区啮齿动物可划分为6个地带性群落。Ⅰ.小毛足鼠(Phodopus roborovskii)+三趾跳鼠(Dipus sagitta)+子午沙鼠(Meriones meridianus)群落。Ⅱ.长尾仓鼠(Cricetulus longicaudatus)+大林姬鼠(Apodemus speciosus)群落。Ⅲ.五趾跳鼠(Allactaga sibirica)+子午沙鼠(Meriones meridianus)+三趾跳鼠(Dipus sagitta)群落。Ⅳ.三趾跳鼠(Dipus sagitta)+小毛足鼠(Phodopus roborovskii)+子午沙鼠(Meriones meridianus)群落。Ⅴ.长耳跳鼠(Euchoreutes naso)+五趾跳鼠(Allactaga sibirica)群落。Ⅵ.子午沙鼠(Meriones meridianus)+黑线仓鼠(Cricetulus barabensis)群落。其中群落Ⅲ多样性指数最高,为2.0557;群落I与群落IV的相似性系数最大,为0.5147;群落Ⅲ具有代表性。该荒漠区啮齿类数量与生境中的土壤水分、土壤基质呈显著正相关;与建群植物种数呈显著负相关;而与生境的海拔高度相关性极低。     

Unilateral intraocular mastocytosis and anterior uveitis in a dog with subcutaneous mast cell tumors

A 9‐year‐old male castrated Scottish terrier was referred to the Radiation Oncology Service at the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for palliative radiation therapy of an incompletely excised, recurrent subcutaneous mast cell tumor (MCT) located over the right scapula, and surgical removal of a perianal MCT. Three weeks after initial presentation and prior to the fifth radiation treatment, the patient was presented with cloudiness of the left eye of 3–7 days duration. Ophthalmic consultation revealed 3+ aqueous flare with a dependent, swirling component filling approximately one‐third of the anterior chamber. Aqueocentesis was performed under general anesthesia. Cytology revealed mast cells with highly atypical morphology and considered most consistent with neoplasia. The patient died 7 months after pathologic diagnosis of MCT on the right shoulder and 2 months after the cytologic diagnosis of malignant mast cells in the left anterior chamber. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of intraocular involvement in a mammal with MCTs, described here as intraocular mastocytosis.     

Local selection and latitudinal variation in a marine predator-prey interaction

Although pairs of species often interact over broad geographic ranges, few studies have explored how interactions vary across these large spatial scales. Surveys along 1500 kilometers of the Pacific coast of North America documented marked variation in the frequency of predation by the snail Nucella canaliculata on the intertidal mussel Mytilus californianus. Laboratory rearing experiments suggest that regional differences in drilling behavior have a genetic basis, and mitochondrial sequence variation confirms that gene flow is low among these snail populations. Marine communities separated by hundreds of kilometers may have intrinsically different dynamics, with interactions shaped by restricted gene flow and spatially varying selection.     

Plasma homovanillic acid concentration and the severity of schizophrenic illness

Concentrations of plasma homovanillic acid before treatment were highly correlated with global severity of illness in schizophrenic patients, both before and after treatment. In contrast, a fixed dose of haloperidol did not affect those concentrations. Thus, in patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, plasma homovanillic acid may reflect the severity of illness, but not be influenced by short-term pharmacological perturbations by neuroleptics.     

Marking to weaning production aspects of lambs provided with NSAID analgesia compared with lambs receiving no analgesia at the time of elastrator ring marking

The provision of analgesia at the time of marking has been adopted by the Australian sheep industry, but data on production benefits are lacking. In the current study, alternate lambs were provided with either meloxicam (non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug [NSAID], n = 781) or no analgesia (NONE, n = 822) at the time of ring castration and tail docking. Six distinct management groups of lambs were studied. Lambs were weighed immediately before marking and then again at weaning. There was no significant effect of treatment on average daily gain between marking and weaning in cross‐bred lambs. In Merino lambs, average daily gain was 5 g/day lower (P < 0.005) in lambs receiving NSAID, but this may not be biologically significant. Lamb losses were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the NSAID group (1.1%) than in the NONE group (2.7%). This observation is worth validating in larger studies, particularly considering that lamb mortality is a significant cost to production and welfare concern.