Beach Litter Sourcing in the Bristol Channel and Wales,U.K.

Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis werecarried out on beach litter found primarily along theBristol Channel, U.K., together with beaches located aroundthe Principality of Wales. Both techniques indicated threebeach survey sites as outliers, with distinctive beachlitter profiles. PCA distinguished between riverine, sewagerelated, fishing and shipping sourced items, but did notproduce a coherent grouping for beach user litter. This wasattributed to a difference in modes of transport. Beachesfrom mid and north Wales, which had small litter amounts,were not differentiated from the central grouping. Thewestern edge of the Channel was more heavily influenced byshipping and fishing inputs than was the eastern portion.Cluster analysis showed a discrete group of beaches locatedmainly on the southern side of the Bristol Channel.     

An assessment of the value of plant growth regulators and herbicides for crops grown for the processed food industries

The use of growth regulators to induce specific modifications in the growth of crops produced for processing is discussed. Increases in yield may be obtained by some treatments but more important effects on uniformity, quality, ease of harvesting and short-term storage may also be achieved. The results of experiments on stem extension of calabrese, chemical stopping and defoliation of Brussels sprouts, root/shoot ratio modification of root crops and short-term storage of green vegetables are presented. It is concluded that although so far, few commercial applications have been discovered, the requirements for growth regulation justify the search for new, more reliable synthetic growth regulators by improving screening tests and more efficient field trials. The use of herbicides on crops grown for processing is also discussed briefly and it is concluded that the prime requirement is for more efficient post-emergence herbicides.     

Drug disposition and dosage determination of once daily administration of gentamicin sulfate in horses after abdominal surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pharmacokinetics of once daily i.v. administration of gentamicin sulfate to adult horses that had abdominal surgery. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 28 adult horses that underwent abdominal surgery for colic. PROCEDURE: 14 horses were treated with each dosage of gentamicin (i.e., 6.6 or 4 mg/kg, i.v., q 24 h) and blood samples were collected for pharmacokinetic analysis. Plasma gentamicin concentrations were measured by use of a fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Pharmacokinetic analysis measured the elimination half-life, volume of distribution, and gentamicin total systemic clearance. Treatment outcome, CBC, and serum creatinine concentrations were recorded. RESULTS: 1 horse in the high-dosage group died. All other horses successfully recovered, and did not develop bacterial infection or have evidence of drug toxicosis resulting in renal injury. Mean pharmacokinetic variables for gentamicin administration at a high or low dosage (i.e., 6.6 or 4 mg/kg, i.v., q 24 h) were half-life of 1.47 and 1.61 hours, volume of distribution of 0.17 and 0.17 L/kg, and systemic clearance of 1.27 and 1.2 ml/kg/min, respectively. Mean serum creatinine concentration was 1.74 and 1.71 for the high and low dosages, respectively, and serum creatinine concentration was not correlated with gentamicin clearance. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Gentamicin administration at a dosage of 4 mg/kg, i.v., every 24 hours, will result in plasma concentrations that are adequate against susceptible bacteria with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of < or = 2.0 micrograms/ml. Gentamicin administration at a calculated dosage of 6.8 mg/kg, i.v., every 24 hours will result in optimum plasma concentrations against susceptible bacteria with a MIC of < or = 4.0 micrograms/ml.     

Mammomonogamus auris infection in the middle ear of a domestic cat in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, USA

A 2-year-old female domestic shorthair cat on the island of Saipan was presented to a local veterinarian for headshaking. Otoscopic examination showed mild erythema of the right tympanic membrane, but was otherwise unremarkable. Headshaking resolved with topical gentamicin/betamethasone/clotrimazole therapy; however, erythema persisted. Further otoscopy revealed movement of the erythematous region, which was in fact the red-colored strongylid nematode, Mammomonogamus auris, residing within the middle ear. Myringotomy and a saline flush were performed under heavy sedation. A silastic tube was inserted into the incision and the worms were retrieved by applying negative pressure. Follow-up treatment included topical thiabendazole/dexamethasone/neomycin ointment as well as selamectin. Mammomonogamus auris has previously been documented only three times, once each in China, Sri Lanka and Japan. This is the first report of M auris in cats from Saipan.     

维生素C有助于克服黄曲霉素中毒

笔者在以前在《国际家禽》杂志中发表的一篇文章中阐述了赖氨酸在免疫系统中的重要作用 ,但在 1 998年召开于以色列的第十届欧洲家禽会议之前 ,未见任何关于维生素C有助于解决霉菌毒素中毒问题的报告。现在 ,许多研究人员和农民都在认真地探索这个问题。笔者坚信 ,在日粮中添加一定水平的维生素C ,再加上适当水平的氨基酸 ,是克服黄曲霉毒素中毒的有效方法。维生素C可阻断黄曲霉毒素B1的环氧化作用从而阻止其转化为活性形式的毒性物质。     

A new modified live equine influenza virus vaccine: phenotypic stability, restricted spread and efficacy against heterologous virus challenge.

Flu Avert IN vaccine is a new, live attenuated virus vaccine for equine influenza. We tested this vaccine in vivo to ascertain 1) its safety and stability when subjected to serial horse to horse passage, 2) whether it spread spontaneously from horse to horse and 3) its ability to protect against heterologous equine influenza challenge viruses of epidemiological relevance. For the stability study, the vaccine was administered to 5 ponies. Nasal swabs were collected and pooled fluids administered directly to 4 successive groups of na?ve ponies by intranasal inoculation. Viruses isolated from the last group retained the vaccine's full attenuation phenotype, with no reversion to the wild-type virus phenotype or production of clinical influenza disease. The vaccine virus spread spontaneously to only 1 of 13 nonvaccinated horses/ponies when these were comingled with 39 vaccinates in the same field. For the heterologous protection study, a challenge model system was utilised in which vaccinated or na?ve control horses and ponies were exposed to the challenge virus by inhalation of virus-containing aerosols. Challenge viruses included influenza A/equine-2/Kentucky/98, a recent representative of the 'American' lineage of equine-2 influenza viruses; and A/equine-2/Saskatoon/90, representative of the 'Eurasian' lineage. Clinical signs among challenged animals were recorded daily using a standardised scoring protocol. With both challenge viruses, control animals reliably contracted clinical signs of influenza, whereas vaccinated animals were reliably protected from clinical disease. These results demonstrate that Flu Avert IN vaccine is safe and phenotypically stable, has low spontaneous transmissibility and is effective in protecting horses against challenge viruses representative of those in circulation worldwide.     

Ratio of Nutrient and Minerals to Defensive Compounds Indicative of Plant Quality and Tolerance to Herbivory in Pear Trees

The phenolic ester 3-0-trans-p-coumaroyltormentic acid and the volatile compounds (E,E)-α-farnesene and methyl salicylate have been identified previously in pear tree cultivars ‘Bartlett,’ ‘NY10355,’ and ‘Conference.’ Here, using the same dried extract of leaf samples, the contents of total protein, chlorophyll, and the minerals calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sodium (Na), carbon (C), and nitrogen (N) were determined. Differences between pear cultivars were found with regard to their absolute content in Ca, K, chlorophyll, and total protein, and to carbon/nitrogen values in uninfested leaves compared with leaves infested by Cacopsylla pyricola (Foester) and C. pyri L. (Homoptera, Psyllidae) on partially and completely infested trees. The ratio of nutrients and minerals to the constitutive and Cacopsylla-induced phenolic and two volatiles reflects a diminution of the leaf quality as food for Cacopsylla nymphs in infested leaves of all cultivars. In uninfested leaves, the magnitude of this ratio in partially infested trees of cv. ‘Conference’ with local response, together with Ca ion content and chlorophyll loss, point to classification of this cultivar as tolerant to herbivory.