Freeze-resistant Trichinella (Trichinella nativa) Established on the Scandinavian Peninsula

Until the 1970’s, Trichinella spiralis (Owen 1835) was considered the only species within the genus Trichinella. Then T. pseudospiralis (Garkavi 1972) was classified as a separate species on the basis of morphological and biological features. The remaining morphologically homogenous “T. spiralis-group” has been split into 4 different species (or subspecies) on the basis of their biological and biochemical characteristics; T. nativa (Britov & Boev 1972), T. nelsoni (Britov & Boev 1972), T. spiralis sensu stricto and T. britovi (Pozio et al. 1992).     

Sarcocystis Infection in Sheep from South-Western Norway

The occurrence of Sarcocystis infection and pathological changes were recorded in samples of the heart, diaphragm, and oesophagus from 198 healthy sheep representing 3 different age groups, obtained from an abattoir.The infection rate of S. gigantea (syn. S. tenella) was 18.2 %, and the distribution within groups was: ewes 30.0 %, yearlings 11.6 %, lambs nil. The infection rate of S. tenella (syn. S. ovicanis) was 65.1 %, and the corresponding distribution was: ewes 83.5 %, yearlings 74.4 %, and lambs 25.0 %. A third type of Sarcocystis sp. displaying thick wall was found in 3 samples.Focal interstitial infiltrates of mononuclear cells were demonstrated in 47.9 % of the hearts, in 19.6 % of the diaphragms and in 31.3 % of the oesophagi. The occurrence of Sarcocystis and the focal interstitial mononuclear cell infiltrates were positively correlated (P < 0.0001). Morphologically identical sporocysts typical of S. tenella were produced by dogs and foxes fed naturally infected sheep tissues. A cat fed S. gigantea macrocysts produced sporocysts characteristic for the species.Sarcocystis; pathology; life cycle; final hosts; sheep.     

Airborne Pollution in Five Drainage Basins in Eastern Finnmark, Norway: an Evaluation of Overbank Sediments as Sampling Medium for Environmental Studies and Geochemical Mapping

To study whether airborne pollution can be detected in overbank sediments, samples collected from five overbank sediment profiles in eastern Finnmark, Norway, at 1 cm depth intervals, were subjected to chemical analysis and ²¹⁰Pb dating. The studied drainage basins constitute parts of an area polluted by emissions from two Ni-Cu smelters in Russia. In the most polluted catchment area, the surface sample showed a 5-fold higher Ni concentration and a 3-fold higher Cu concentration than the pre-industrial sediments at depth. The increases started at the same time as the smelters. Slight Ni increases were also detected in the neighbouring drainage basin, while no significant concentration change was seen in drainage basins previously shown to be only weakly influenced by the smelter emissions. In the most polluted drainage basin, the increase in Ni accumulation rate did not equal the airborne deposition rate. Selective surface erosion of fine grained particles with adhering airborne Ni has probably caused excess Ni accumulation in both overbank and lake sediments. On the contrary, opening of minerogenic point sources may dilute the pollutant concentrations in the drainage sediments. Thus, dating of the sediment profiles is necessary to determine the airborne pollutant accumulation rates. However, dating is not necessary to map the resultant concentration increase, that may show the increased exposure of humans and biota in contact with the sediments.     

The influence of salinity on the morphological development of yolk sac larvae of Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus (L.)

The effects of incubation salinity on survival and morphological development of yolk sac larvae of Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus (L.), were studied at two salinities, 35.5%o and 32.3%o. Yolk sac larvae incubated at 35.5%o developed early tail deformities before 50 day-degrees (9 days post-hatch), and necrosis, oedema and calculus in the urinary bladder at about 150 day-degrees (28 days post-hatch). However, the incidence and severity of mouth deformity was not influenced by salinity. The cumulative mortality up to first feeding was 17% when the larvae were incubated at 3 5.5%o compared to 7% at 32.3%o. A broad variation between the different larval groups was noted in the extent of injuries induced by the higher salinity. Therefore, salinity must be considered as a critical environmental parameter for the yolk sac larvae of Atlantic halibut in aquaculture.     

Effect of temperature variation during grain filling on wheat gluten resistance

The objective was to investigate effects of natural variation in temperature during grain filling on wheat (Triticum aestivum L) gluten quality. Seventeen field trials with four different varieties were conducted during the years 2005–2008. Temperature records were obtained from automatic weather stations located near the field trial sites. The period from heading to yellow ripeness was divided into 20 sub-phases of equal thermal time units, and a last sub-phase comprising the seven days after yellow ripeness. Partial Least Squares Regression was used to relate the temperature records of the different sub-phases to gluten quality analysed by the Kieffer Extensibility test and the SDS sedimentation test.     

Pathogenicity for chickens of a paramyxovirus type 1, isolated from racing pigeons in Sweden

Strains of paramyxovirus type 1 (PMV-1) have been isolated from diseased racing pigeons in Sweden. One of these isolates was selected for studies of the pathogenicity and contagiousness in chickens.The same isolate was previously found to have a high intravenous pathogenicity index (IVPI) in 6 weeks old chickens.In three experiments it was found that the PMV-1 isolate was very pathogenic for 1 week old chickens but not pathogenic for 120 day old pullets inoculated intranasally and ocularly.Symptoms in the young chickens were similar to those seen in the neurotropic form of Newcastle disease. The mortality was high and the incubation period 5–11 days.The disease easily spread to young chickens kept in contact with diseased birds.The microscopic examination revealed an interstitial nonpurulent pneumonia and a nonpurulent encephalitis in the young chickens. In the pullets the only finding was a mild encephalitis.PMV-1 was recovered from all young chickens but not from the pullets.Both the chickens and the inoculated pullets developed antibodies to PMV-1.     

Effects of Cryopreservation on Morphology and Viability of Sperm and Larvae of Atlantic Cod,Gadus morhua L.

The effects of cryopreservation on the viability, morphology and capability of spermatozoa in Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua L., were studied. The sperm was cryopreserved in straws using Hanks' balanced salt solution, hens' egg yolks and glycerol in the vapor of liquid nitrogen. Straws of cryopreserved sperm were stored in liquid nitrogen and thawed in seawater (35 C) for 8 sec before use. The motility of cryopreserved sperm was low (range 8–19%) compared to motility before freezing (range 69–76%). The fertilization rate (range 94–95%) in control groups using fresh sperm was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in test groups (range 48–72%). In cryopreserved sperm, a relatively high percentage (range 82–93%) of the spermatozoa had changes in morphology. Many spermatozoa had no mitochondria; when mitochondria were present, the observed number varied from one and five in cryopreserved spermatozoa, and from two and seven in noncryopreserved spermatozoa. In groups where cryopreserved sperm was used, the hatching rate was lower (range 18–38%) than in control groups (range 41–63%), indicating higher mortality during embryonic development. Paternal effects on progeny performance were noted in the proportion of abnormalities but no negative effects were identified in newly hatched larvae produced using cryopreserved sperm.     

Gastrointestinal stromal tumour and hypoglycemia in a Fjord pony: Case report

Background

Neoplasia may cause hypoglycemia in different species including the horse, but hypoglycemia has not previously been reported in the horse associated with gastrointestinal stromal tumours.

Case presentation

A case of a gastrointestinal stromal tumour in a Fjord pony with severe recurrent hypoglycemia is presented. The mechanism causing the hypoglycemia was not established.

Conclusion

This case indicates that a gastrointestinal stromal tumour may cause hypoglycemia also in the horse.