Use of progesterone in microspheres for maintenance of pregnancy in mares.

Administration of progesterone in poly(d-,l-lactide) microspheres was used to maintain pregnancy in mares after luteolysis was induced by treatment with prostaglandin F2 alpha at day 14 of pregnancy. Mares were given vehicle only (control, n = 6) or 0.75 g (n = 7), 1.5 g (n = 8), or 2.25 g (n = 5) of microencapsulated progesterone at days 12 and 22 of pregnancy. Serum progesterone concentrations were determined daily, and pregnancy was evaluated by transrectal ultrasonography on alternate days. Significantly (P less than 0.05) more mares given 1.5 or 2.25 g of progesterone (6 of 8 and 4 of 5 mares, respectively), but not those given 0.75 g (3 of 7 mares), maintained pregnancy through day 32, compared with control mares (0 of 6). Progesterone concentrations decreased significantly (P less than 0.025) in all groups after administration of prostaglandin F2 alpha at day 14, and significant (P less than 0.05) effects of time and treatment on progesterone concentrations were found between days 12 and 22, and 22 and 32. Although treatment with 1.5-g and 2.25-g doses of microencapsulated progesterone improved maintenance of pregnancy, compared with that of vehicle-treated controls, administration of 2.25 g of microencapsulated progesterone appeared to be most efficacious in maintenance of pregnancy during the study interval.     

Selective measurement of lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triglyceride lipase in heparinized plasma from horses.

Affinity chromatography on heparin sepharose was used to identify 2 lipolytic enzymes in heparinized plasma from horses. One enzyme was typical of hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL), because it was resistant to inactivation by high concentrations of NaCl, and it did not require the addition of serum for activity. The other enzyme was identified as lipoprotein lipase (LPL), because of its inactivation at NaCl concentrations in excess of 0.2M, and its dependency on addition of serum as a source of apolipoprotein C-II activator. The enzymes were purified by 347-(HTGL) and 442- (LPL) fold, with yields of 54 and 58%, respectively. The partially purified enzymes were used to design incubation conditions that gave optimal activities for each enzyme in vitro. A selective assay was then developed for direct measurement of LPL and HTGL activities in heparinized plasma from horses. Analysis of HTGL took advantage of the almost complete inactivation of LPL when serum cofactor was excluded from the assay at the NaCl concentration that gave optimal HTGL activity. Prior incubation of heparinized plasma with sodium dodecyl sulfate to inhibit HTGL was necessary for measurement of LPL, because HTGL retained 67% of its activity at the NaCl concentration required for optimal LPL activity. Activity of each enzyme was measured in heparinized plasma from 12 Shetland ponies. The mean activity +/- SD for LPL was 3.22 +/- 1.04 mumol of fatty acids/ml of heparinized plasma/h (mumol of FA/ml/h. The mean activity for HTGL was 4.9 +/- 1.56 mumol of FA/ml/h. The performance of the assay was assessed by replicate analysis of pools of each enzyme with high and low activities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Quarantine requirements for the importation of black rhinoceros from Zimbabwe into Australia

SUMMARY The proposal by the Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales to import 10 southern black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) from Zimbabwe as part of an international project for conservation of the species presented the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) with a unique challenge. This importation is, at least in the modern era, the first importation of live herbivores from the African continent. Many of the serious animal diseases in the world are endemic in parts of Africa. Knowledge of which of these diseases infect wild species and may be transmitted from the wild species to domesticated species, is limited. This paper describes the strategies adopted by AQIS to facilitate the importation of rhinoceros while maintaining protection of Australian consumers, rural industries, domestic livestock and fauna against the entry and spread of unwanted pests and diseases.     

USE OF ULTRASOUND-GUIDED FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY AND AUTOMATED CORE BIOPSY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASES IN SMALL ANIMALS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy and core biopsy in the diagnosis of infiltrative gastrointestinal diseases. Six dogs and seven cats with clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease underwent ultrasonography and intestinal lesions were identified. One or more ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy and/or core biopsy procedures were performed in each patient. Each patient also underwent one of the following additional procedures for comparison of results: 1) surgery (n=4), 2) endoscopy (n=2), 3) post mortem exam (n=3), and, 4) for lymphoma diagnosed with ultrasound-guided procedures, response to chemotherapy (n=4). Correct diagnoses were obtained in nine of the 13 patients, incorrect diagnoses in two of the 13 patients, and inconclusive diagnoses in two of the thirteen patients. Of the 16 total ultrasound-guided procedures performed, ten were confirmed as correct, three as incorrect, and three were non-diagnostic. Intestinal lesions with bowel wall thickness greater than 2.0 cm had a higher percentage of correct diagnoses than lesions of lesser wall thickness. Gastric lesions had a higher percentage of correct diagnoses than small and large intestinal lesions. Malignant lesions had a higher percentage of correct diagnoses than benign lesions. There were no complications. Ultrasound-guided gastrointestinal fine-needle aspiration biopsy and core biopsy appears to be a safe, accurate, and rapid procedure for use in the diagnosis of infiltrative gastrointestinal disease.     

Material in the middle ear of dogs having magnetic resonance imaging for investigation of neurologic signs

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and potential significance of finding material in the middle ear of dogs having magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Of 466 MR studies reviewed, an increased signal was identified in the tympanic bulla in 32 (7%) dogs. Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Cocker spaniels, Bulldogs, and Boxers were over-represented compared to the population of dogs having MR imaging. Five (16%) dogs had definite otitis media and one (3%) had a meningioma invading the middle ear. Of the remaining dogs, 13 (41%) had possible otitis media and 13 (41%) had neurologic conditions apparently unrelated to otitis media. The most common appearance of material in the middle ear was isointense in T1-weighted images and hyperintense in T2-weighted images. There was no apparent correlation between the signal characteristics of the material and the diagnosis. Enhanced signal after gadolinium administration was observed affecting the lining of the bulla in dogs with otitis media and in dogs with unrelated neurologic conditions. In dogs without clinical signs of otitis media, finding an increased signal in the middle ear during MR imaging may reflect subclinical otitis media or fluid accumulation unrelated to inflammation. Brachycephalic dogs may be predisposed to this condition.     

松嫩平原优势种羊草与其主要伴生种芦苇空间分布格局分析

芦苇是松嫩草地优势种羊草的主要伴生种,两者常常形成物种组成比较单一的混生群落或者与其他物种组成羊草 杂类草群落.选择羊草 芦苇混生群落,羊草群落和芦苇群落的交错区进行羊草、芦苇单物种格局分析.结果表明,1)混生群落和交错区中,羊草和芦苇均是以集聚分布的形式存在;2)羊草在混生群落中的格局强度小于交错区中的格局强度,芦苇在2种类型群落中的格局强度没有显著差异;3)除了考虑物种的生物学特性以外,混生群落种内、种间竞争也是影响羊草集聚分布和格局强度的主要因素,交错区中,环境异质性和种间竞争是影响集聚分布和格局强度的重要因子;4)芦苇在混生群落和交错区中格局强度没有明显差异,由此可以判定芦苇的空间分布格局形成主要受植物本身生物学特性的影响.     

绿洲膜下滴灌调亏对马铃薯土壤环境及产量的影响

为测定膜下滴灌调亏马铃薯全生育期内不同调亏水平土壤养分、土壤水热动态、生长动态、产量效应和水分利用效率,于2016年在河西荒漠绿洲灌区民乐县益民灌溉试验站开展了马铃薯不同生育阶段水分调亏灌溉的试验研究,结果表明,马铃薯膜下滴灌调亏土壤水热变化均匀且利用率高,有利于马铃薯对土壤养分的充分吸收和利用;土壤养分是土壤肥力的核心,是植物在生长发育过程中不可或缺的重要因素,膜下滴灌调亏栽培能有效减少土壤速效养分的流失,并提高马铃薯对土壤速效养分的利用效率;不同生育阶段马铃薯耗水量受水分调亏程度影响较大,其耗水量随调亏程度增大而显著减少(P0.05),水分调亏处理马铃薯全生育期总耗水量均低于全生育期充分灌水CK处理。块茎形成期轻度水分亏缺马铃薯水分利用效率、灌溉水利用效率、生物量均达到最大,较全生育期充分灌水显著提高29.04%,35.61%。因此,块茎形成期轻度水分亏缺灌溉方式能使马铃薯根区土壤始终保持湿润状态,有效减少渗漏损失和植株间无效蒸发损失,改善土壤水、肥和热量状况,有利于提高作物水分利用效率,且不显著降低马铃薯最终产量。     

有机培肥与耕作方式对稻麦轮作土壤团聚体和有机碳组分的影响

为了明确不同外源有机物和耕作方式对土壤地力培育的影响,以水稻-小麦轮作系统为对象,通过2个年度(2016—2018年)大田试验研究了外源有机物(秸秆和有机肥)和耕作方式及其交互作用[稻麦秸秆还田配合旋耕(SR),稻麦秸秆还田配合翻耕(SP),秸秆不还田、增施有机肥配合旋耕(MR),秸秆不还田、增施有机肥配合翻耕(MP),秸秆不还田、不施用有机肥、旋耕深度15 cm(CKR)]对土壤团聚体和有机碳组成的短期影响。结果表明:SR处理能够降低水稻季土壤容重并增加总孔隙度。相比CKR,小麦季SR处理显著增加0.05mm水稳性团聚体含量,增加量为7.2%。此外,外源有机物和耕作对土壤有机碳活性组分具有显著影响。其中,易氧化有机碳(EOC)主要受耕作与有机物交互作用影响,酸水解有机碳(LPIc和LPII_c)主要受耕作措施的影响, SR处理的土壤EOC和LPI_c含量比CKR提高0.3～2.6 g·kg~(-1)。颗粒有机碳(POC)主要受外源有机物的影响,并且秸秆还田处理POC平均含量高于增施有机肥处理,增加量为0.75g·kg~(-1)。短期内,外源有机物和耕作及其交互作用对稳定性有机碳(黑碳和矿物结合态有机碳)的影响较小。综上,秸秆还田配合旋耕有助于提高土壤水稳性团聚体和活性有机碳的含量(EOC、LPI_c和POC)。