Variability in the performance of juvenile Chinook salmon is explained primarily by when and where they resided in estuarine habitats

Estuarine habitats provide rearing opportunities for the juvenile life stage of anadromous fishes. Because survival is positively correlated with juvenile performance, these estuarine habitats play an important role in population abundance and productivity. To provide information for the recovery of several depressed stocks of Chinook salmon in the Columbia River Basin, we sought to identify the factors that explain variability in performance. Using otolith‐derived estimates of juvenile somatic growth rate as an index of recent performance, we observed a negative nonlinear relationship between growth rate and day of year, and a decreasing and increasing trend of growth rate over the 8 years of this study and distance from the river mouth respectively. Using a generalised linear modelling approach, we found that variability in juvenile somatic growth rate was best explained by where and when individuals were collected, their body size, contaminant loads, stock of origin, and whether a fish was hatchery produced or unmarked. Lastly, we argue that a considerable improvement to the growth rate of juveniles in estuarine habitats is physiologically possible. The results of this 8‐year study provide a baseline of the performance of juvenile Chinook salmon to evaluate habitat restoration programs and to compare against future anthropogenic conditions.     

Diagnosis of mastitis for therapy decisions.

Identifying specific groups of mastitis pathogens by their growth on selective agars can help identify the pathogens that are present in mastitic milk samples. This article addresses issues that are essential in making good use of diagnostic procedures to improve udder health on dairies.     

Assessment of the socio-economic impacts associated with the arrival of apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) in Mwea irrigation scheme,Kenya

Background

In Kenya, rice (Oryza sativa L.) is mainly produced under irrigation by small-scale farmers. Mwea irrigation scheme (MIS) in Kirinyaga County accounts for 80–88% of rice production. Here, rice is the main source of livelihood and a source of revenue generation for the county. However, a recently established invasive freshwater snail, Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck) (family: Ampullariidae), a species of apple snail, presents a serious threat to rice production.

Results

Household surveys, focus group discussions and key informant interviews highlight apple snail as a serious problem in MIS. Households that observed at least a moderate level of infestation (>20% of cultivated area) experienced significant reductions in rice yield (~14%) and net rice income (~60%). Farmers reported increased use of chemical pesticides for management of apple snail. In addition, the cost of hired labor for physical removal of egg masses and snails is resulting in substantial negative effects on net income. Farmer age, area of land owned, responsibility for decision-making, receipt of extension advice, training, and membership of a farmer organization, were all statistically significant variables to explain farmers awareness of the need for area-wide apple snail management.

Conclusion

Strategies to limit the spread of apple snail are urgently needed. A Multi-Institutional Technical Team (MITT) has been established to spearhead management efforts and consolidate advice to farmers on how to manage apple snail. However, without action to mitigate spread, the consequences could be disastrous for rice production and food security in Kenya, and for other rice growing regions across Africa. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Binding of ciprofloxacin labelled with technetium Tc 99m versus 99mTc-pertechnetate to a live and killed equine isolate of Escherichia coli

This paper describes a simple methodology for evaluating the bacterial binding of ciprofloxacin labelled with technetium Tc 99m. Using this methodology, the binding of 99mTc-ciprofloxacin by live Escherichia coli was compared with the binding of 99mTc-ciprofloxacin by killed E. coli and the binding of 99mTc-pertechnetate (99mTcO4-) by live E. coli. The antimicrobial effect of 99mTc-ciprofloxacin on E. coli was evaluated. Four groups were defined: live E. coli with 99mTc-ciprofloxacin, live E. coli with 99mTcO4 , killed E. coli with 99mTc-ciprofloxacin, and killed E. coli with 99mTcO4-. After 0, 2, and 4 h of incubation of 1 x 10(8) colony-forming units of E. coli suspended in 5 mL of sterile distilled water with 1.85 MBq of 99mTc-ciprofloxacin or 99mTcO4, 1 mL from each sample was centrifuged. The radioactivity of the bacterial pellet and that of the supernatant were measured separately, and the percentage of sample radioactivity attributable to bacterial binding was calculated. Of the 99mTc-ciprofloxacin, 3.6% to 5.9% was bound to live or killed E. coli; only 0.1% to 0.2% of the 99mTcO4- was bound to live E. coli (P < 0.0001). No significant difference in 99mTc-ciprofloxacin binding was found between live and killed E. coli (P = 0.887). An antimicrobial effect on E. coli was seen with 99mTc-ciprofloxacin: colony counts were reduced after 4 h. The small amount of 99mTc-ciprofloxacin binding and the lack of difference in binding between live and killed E. coli may limit the utility of this methodology in evaluating the presence of E. coli infection.     

Enzymeimmunoassay of oestrone sulphate concentrations in faeces for non-invasive pregnancy determination in mares

AIM: To determine the suitability of measuring faecal oestrone sulphate (OS) by enzymeimmunoassay as a means of determining pregnancy status in mares bred under New Zealand conditions. METHODS: An antibody-coated microtitre plate-based enzymeimmunoassay was used to determine the concentration of OS in faecal and plasma samples obtained from pregnant and non-pregnant mares. RESULTS: In non-pregnant mares, the mean faecal OS concentration was 34 ng/g, and the value three standard deviations above this was 80 ng/g. None of 427 faecal samples collected from 116 non-pregnant mares over a l-year period had an OS concentration >80 ng/g. Only five samples from three mares had an OS concentration >65 ng/g, the value two standard deviations above the mean non-pregnant value. Analysis of faecal OS concentrations in 532 faecal samples collected from 39 pregnant mares showed that as pregnancy progressed, an increasing proportion of faecal samples had OS concentrations >80 ng/g. None of the mares 150 days or more pregnant had faecal OS concentrations <50 ng/g, and 204/220 samples obtained from these mares had faecal OS concentrations >80 ng/g. Following foaling or foetal death, elevated faecal OS concentrations returned quickly to non-pregnant levels. The mean +/- s.e.m. plasma level of OS in five mares bled daily throughout one oestrous cycle was 1.7 +/- 0.2 ng/ml. Sixty-eight blood samples from pregnant mares bled up to five times between 92 days after mating and foaling all had plasma OS concentrations >30 ng/ml, with 64/68 being >50 ng/ml. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that measuring faecal OS concentrations by enzymeimmunoassay offers a convenient, accurate, non-invasive means of determining pregnancy status in mares from 150 days after mating onwards. Mares with faecal OS concentrations <50 ng/g can be considered not pregnant, while mares with faecal OS concentrations >80 ng/g can be considered pregnant. Those few mares returning a faecal OS concentration between 50 and 80 ng/g should be retested to obtain a conclusive result. Measuring plasma OS concentrations allows pregnancy status to be determined earlier (from 100 days after mating). Moreover, the discrimination between non-pregnant and pregnant levels is greater for OS in plasma than in faeces. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Measurement of OS concentrations in faeces provides an alternative and non-invasive means of determining pregnancy status in mares from 150 days after mating.