Assessing climate change adaptations for community-scale water resources using a low-frequency weather generator

Paddy and Water Environment - Water adaptation strategies are necessary for decreasing climate change impacts on local societies. This study models a community water supply system as a distributed...     

Competence of Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus as vector of Dirofilaria immitis after blood meal with different microfilarial density

Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus were fed canine blood with different microfilarial density of Dirofilaria immitis ranging from 2500 to 25,000 mff/ml. Larval development in these two mosquito species did not differ significantly. Although C. quinquefasciatus ingested more microfilariae, the number of larvae which developed in A. albopictus was invariably greater than in C. quinquefasciatus. Mortality of the engorged A. albopictus was significantly greater than that of C. quinquefasciatus, and higher microfilarial density raised the mortality in both species. The vector efficiency index of A. albopictus was greater than C. quinquefasciatus at all microfilarial densities, but its survival time was much reduced. Thus, dogs with low microfilarial density are implicated as the main source for the transmission of D. immitis from dogs to mosquitoes.     

Dormancy induction in container-grown Abies seedlings: Effects of environmental cues and seedling age

Twelve-week-old container-grown seedlings of noble fir (Abies procera Rehd.) and Shasta red fir (A. magnifica A. Murr. var. shastensis Lemm.), both high-elevation species, were grown under controlled environments in a study of induction of terminal-bud dormancy. Eight treatment combinations of long (15 h) or short (11 h) photoperiods, warm (25°/20°C) or cool (18°/12°C) thermoperiods, and dry (–1.2 MPa) or wet (–0.6 MPa) moisture regimes were imposed upon seedlings for 12 weeks. Treatment factors significantly affecting the induction of dormancy in terminal buds of seedlings were identified over time. The results suggest that seedlings responded dynamically to dormancy cues. The warm/dry and cool/wet combinations induced dormancy in the first 2 weeks in noble fir and in the first week in Shasta red fir. Short-day/warm and long-day/cool combinations enhanced dormancy induction in weeks 3 to 4 in noble fir and in weeks 1 to 7 in Shasta red fir. Short days and cool thermoperiods independently hastened dormancy induction in noble fir in weeks 5 through 12.     

Effects of Dual Microalgal Species Biofilms on New Zealand Black-Footed Abalone (Hailotis iris) Larval/Post-Larval Processes

Dual microalgal species biofilms with distinct amino acid characteristics were tested for their effects on abalone (Haliotis iris) initial attachment, metamorphosis, settlement, and survival. Nine microalgal species, isolated from around Auckland, New Zealand, were grown in the laboratory, and used to produce nine dual microalgal species biofilms. Abalone larvae were exposed to the different biofilm treatments and controls (no biofilms) for seven (attachment and metamorphosis) and 14 (settlement and survival) days. The larvae performed significantly better in the dual microalgal biofilms compared to controls, and some biofilms resulted in better attachment, metamorphosis, settlement, and survival than others. For example, the best-performing biofilms almost always contained cyanobacteria (Oscillatoria cf. erythrata, Anacystis cf. aeruginosa, and Schizothrix cf. calcicola), which are attributed with better nutritional values. However, the amino acid profiles did not produce a clear pattern with regard to their effects on the four larval processes. Instead, total amino acid (TAA) content was positively correlated with percentage of attachment and metamorphosis. Greater TAA contents are likely to reflect greater amounts of extra-cellular polymers within the biofilms, which are suggested to improve larval performance.     

Antagonistic effects of yohimbine in pigs anaesthetised with tiletamine/zolazepam and xylazine

Twelve healthy two-month-old Landrace x Yorkshire pigs of both sexes were randomly assigned to receive either tiletamine and xylazine (zx) or zolazepam and xylazine followed 20 minutes later by yohimbine (zxy). The pigs' scores for immobilisation and analgesia, and their rectal temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, pO(2), pCO(2), alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, glucose and total plasma proteins were determined before and five, 25, 45, 65 and 85 minutes after the administration of the tiletamine/zolazepam and xylazine. The mean total scores for immobilisation and analgesia of the zxy pigs were significantly lower than those of the zx pigs after 85 minutes. The mean rectal temperatures of the zxy pigs were significantly lower than those of zx pigs after 25, 45 and 65 minutes. The mean respiratory rates of the zx pigs were significantly lower than those of zxy pigs after five minutes. The mean pCO(2) of the zxy pigs were significantly lower than those of zx pigs five minutes after the administration of yohimbine. The mean glucose concentration of the zxy pigs were significantly lower than those of zx pigs after 65 and 85 minutes. The mean concentration total protein of the zxy pigs were significantly lower than those of zx pigs throughout the period of anaesthesia. Both groups became laterally recumbent within three minutes. When recovering from anaesthesia, the pigs treated with yohimbine took significantly less time to achieve sternal recumbency (mean [sd] 52.2 [8.9] v 76.2 [20.6] minutes) and less time to be able to stand (mean [sd] 77.0 [9.8] v 98.7 [15.8] minutes), and walk (mean [sd] 81.3 [11.3] v 110.8 [18.6] minutes).     

Influence of litter size on metabolic status and reproductive axis in primiparous sows

This study on primiparous sows was designed to 1) determine the impact of nursing a large litter on LH secretion and follicular development, and 2) investigate the metabolic adaptations by which milk yield increases with litter size. At farrowing, crossbred, primiparous sows were assigned to 1 of 3 experimental groups differing in litter size and feed allowance. Sows with 13 or 14 piglets (13AL, n = 7) were fed ad libitum. Sows with 7 piglets were fed ad libitum (7AL, n = 6) or were feed-restricted (7R, n = 8). The restriction was based on the estimated energy deficiency for the 13AL sows. On d 9 +/- 1 of lactation, a jugular catheter was surgically implanted. Serial blood samplings and glucose tolerance tests were performed in mid- and late lactation. Sows were slaughtered 3 d after weaning, and ovarian characteristics were recorded. During lactation, the 7AL sows lost no or little body reserves, and their estimated energy balance was near zero. The 13AL and 7R sows exhibited similar negative energy balances and similar losses of backfat and estimated lipid content. Litter growth rate was greater (P < 0.05) in the 13AL than in the 7AL and 7R groups. After weaning, the volume of the largest 14 follicles was smaller (P < 0.05) in sows nursing 13 or 14 piglets than in sows with 7 piglets. Plasma concentrations of LH and LH pulse frequency did not differ between groups (P > 0.1). The longer glucose half-life on d 16 than on d 27 of lactation (22.5 vs. 18.8 min; P < 0.05) indicated a lower glucose tolerance in mid- than in late lactation. The area under the insulin curve was greater in the 7AL than in the 13AL sows (P = 0.08) and intermediate in the 7R group, with no differences in glucose profiles. This led to the suggestion that the 7AL sows were more resistant to insulin than the 13AL sows. In all groups of sows, follicular development after weaning was correlated with LH secretion in midlactation. Active follicular development was associated with prolonged secretion of insulin in response to glucose challenge. Our results show that besides litter size, a sow's metabolic status in lactation influences follicular maturation after weaning and also indicate that the metabolic adaptations by which primiparous sows nursing large litters increase litter growth rate and body reserve mobilization do not involve an accentuated peripheral insulin resistance.     

Inheritance of Resistance to Pseudomonas solanacearum E. F. Smith in Tetraploid Potato

Inheritance of bacterial wilt resistance in tetraploid potato was investigated in segregating progenies of parent clones with resistance derived from different specific sources and different types of adaptation. A race 1 and a race 3 isolate of Pseudomonas solanacearum were used to test the resistance under warm temperatures. Results obtained indicated partial dominance of resistance. Significant general and specific combining abilities showed that both additive and non-additive gene actions are important in conditioning resistance expression. There was evidence that epistasis is an important component of the non-additive gene action in the inheritance of resistance. Other aspects of the resistance and implications for breeding are discussed.     

Implications of global and regional patterns of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 clades for risk management

This paper analyses the publicly available data on the distribution and evolution of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 clades, whilst acknowledging the biases resulting from the non-random selection of isolates for gene sequencing. The data indicate molecular heterogeneity in the global distribution of HPAIV H5N1, in particular in different parts of East and Southeast Asia. Analysis of the temporal pattern of haemagglutinin clade data shows a progression from clade 0 (the ‘dominant’ clade between 1996 and 2002) to clade 1 (2003–2005) and then to clade 2.3.4 (2005 onwards). This process continuously produces variants, depending on the frequency of virus multiplication in the host population, which is influenced by geographical variation in poultry density, poultry production systems and also HPAI risk management measures such as vaccination. Increased multilateral collaboration needs to focus on developing enhanced disease surveillance and control targeted at evolutionary ‘hotspots’.     

Fungal isolation and identification in 21 cases of guttural pouch mycosis in horses (1998-2002)

This aetiological study of guttural pouch mycosis (GPM) in the horse was based on the retrospective study of 21 horses brought into the National Veterinary School of Lyon (France) between 1998 and 2002. Biopsies were taken from the lesions caused by GPM during endoscopic examination. In 87% of the cases, direct examination gave positive results, whereas 43% of the cultures were found to be negative. The main fungi observed were Aspergillus fumigatus (in three cases), A. versicolor (in two cases, together with other fungi), and A. nidulans and A. niger (one case each). In six cases, the Aspergillus species could not be identified. In two cases, cleistothecia and/or Hulle cells were observed. In three cases, fungi other than Aspergillus were seen, mixed or not with Aspergillus. These results underline the importance of Aspergillus fumigatus in the development of GPM in horses.