Tuberculosis in wild seals and characterisation of the seal bacillus

SUMMARY Tuberculosis was diagnosed in 3 otariid seals found dead on beaches at 3 locations on the south coast of Western Australian between May 1990 and March 1991. This confirms that tuberculosis is present in the 2 native seals (Neophoca cinerea and Arctocephalus forsteri) in Western Australian waters. Mycobacterium sp isolated from the lungs of 2 of the seals were studied to determine the similarity of the strains to each other, to the strains isolated during 1986 from Australian sea lions and New Zealand fur seals kept in captivity at a marine park near Perth, Western Australia, and to a strain isolated in 1988 from a seal trainer who worked with the infected captive seals for 3 years. After restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) with the endonucleases Bst Ell, Bcl I and Pvu II, one of the wild seal strains appeared to have identical DNA fragment patterns to the strains from the captive seals and the seal trainer. The other wild seal isolate had identical REA profiles using Bst EII and Bcl I, but a minor difference was detected using Pvu II. Differences in these isolates were more clearly seen in restriction fragment length polymorphisms after hybridisation with two DNA probes. The secretory protein MPB70, present in M bovis, was not detected in wild seal isolates using sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting techniques. Analysis of protein and DNA fragment profiles indicated that seal tuberculosis isolates form a unique cluster within the M tuberculosis complex.     

A Comparison of Injectable Anesthetic Combinations in Horses

Six combinations of injectable anesthetic agents were administered to six adult horses in a Latin square design. The drug combinations were xylazine-ketamine, xylazine-butorphanol-ketamine, xylazine-tiletamine-zolazepam, xylazine-butorphanol-tiletamine-zolazepam, detomidine-ketamine, and detomidine-butorphanol-ketamine. Measured variables were heart rate, respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure, arterial pH (pHa), PaCO2, PaO2, recumbency time, and number of attempts necessary to stand. Quality of induction and recovery, muscle relaxation, and response to stimulus were evaluated subjectively. The horses required significantly more attempts to stand after administration of xylazine-tiletamine-zolazepam, xylazine-butorphanol-tiletamine-zolazepam, and detomidine-ketamine than after xylazine-ketamine, xylazine-butorphanol-ketamine, or detomidine-butorphanol-ketamine. Mean recumbency times varied from 23.0 minutes with xylazine-ketamine to 41.3 minutes with xylazine-butorphanol-tiletamine-zolazepam. There were significant differences in mean heart rates at minute 15, mean respiratory rates at minutes 5, 10 and 15, and mean systolic blood pressures at minute 10 of anesthesia. There were no significant differences in pHa, PaCO2 or PaO2.     

ADSORPTION AND DESORPTION OF SIMAZINE BY SOME ROTHAMSTED SOILS

Summary. The adsorption of simazine from, and subsequent desorption into, 0–01 M calcium chloride solution was investigated using twenty-three Rothamsted soil samples from sites differing greatly in cropping history and manurial treatment. Organic carbon content was the only factor related to the ability of the soils to sorb simazine; this accounted for 90% or more of the variation between soils Equilibrium was attained during adsorption in from fewer than 2 to more than 24 hr. Equilibrium during desorption was only occasionally attained within 24 hr. Differences between theoretically predicted and measured concentrations of simazine in solution following desorption were least for soils that attained equilibrium fastest during adsorption. Differences in adsorption and desorption kinetics between soils could not be related to soil pH, organic carbon content or cropping and manuring history. Comparisons of unlimed and limed soils suggested that no simnazine was lost by acid hydrolysis during the experiments.
Adsorption et désorption de la simazine par quelques sols de Rothamsted     

The influence of temperature and photoperiod on growth and development of Parthenium hysterophorus L.

Germination, growth and flowering were investigated in Parthenium hysterophoms (Asteraceae), a species introduced to Australia and at present occurring as a weed in central Queensland. Combinations of day/night temperature regimes from 15/4 to 36/31 and day length of 10, 13 and 16 h in controlled conditions were examined to find the effects of any environmental restraints to growth and development. Results showed that individuals are able to germinate, grow and flower over a wide range of temperatures and photoperiods and established plants can survive at least one mild frost of — 2. We conclude that the potential distribution of P. hyslerophorus in Australia is much wider than at present. Future distribution of the species may be limited seasonally by the inability of seed to germinate in soils of low water potential and by the inability of seedlings to establish and grow at low light intensities.     

A survey of northern Victorian dairy farmers to investigate dairy calf management: colostrum feeding and management

Objectives

To describe colostrum management practices carried out in northern Victorian dairy herds and to identify weaknesses in these areas that may affect calf health and welfare by comparing the results with the current industry recommendations

Methods

A questionnaire to obtain information about colostrum management and calf‐rearing practices was sent to commercial dairy farming clients of Rochester Veterinary Practice between June and September 2013. The questionnaire consisted of a general herd overview and colostrum harvesting practices.

Results

The response rate was 39% (58/150). Many dairy producers were not meeting the current industry recommendations in the following areas: (1) time of removal calf from the dam, (2) relying on calf suckling colostrum from the dam to achieve adequate passive transfer, (3) failing to supplement calves with colostrum, (4) feeding inadequate volumes of colostrum, (5) delayed colostrum harvesting, (6) pooling of colostrum, (7) failing to objectively assess colostrum quality or relying on visual assessment and (8) storing colostrum for a prolonged periods of time at ambient temperatures.

Conclusion

The results from this survey highlight the need for greater awareness of industry standards for colostrum management and feeding hygiene.

     

Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction: current understanding and recommendations from the Australian and New Zealand Equine Endocrine Group

The purpose of this article is to provide a review of the current knowledge and opinions about the epidemiology, clinical findings (including sequelae), diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, particularly in the Australian context. This information and the recommendations provided will assist practitioners in making informed decisions regarding the diagnosis and management of this disorder.     

Forecasting the national incidence of sugar-beet powdery mildew from weather data in Britain

In a national survey of the incidence of powdery mildew (Erysiphe betae) in sugar beet in Britain, between 1980 and 1989, in which between 335 and 717 fields were inspected at the end of August each year, the average crop area infected ranged from 2% in 1986 to 68% in 1989. The effect of various climatic factors that might be expected to influence powdery mildew development over this period was examined, using meteorological records from Broom's Barn Experimental Station, Using simple linear regression analyses, a significant association was found between disease incidence and both air temperature and rainfall incidence in the period April-August, However, air temperature and frost incidence in some winter months were also closely associated with the incidence of powdery mildew in the following crop.
Combinations of these variables were examined in stepwise multiple-regression analyses, The model of best fit, incorporating winter frost incidence with summer temperature and rainfall incidence, accounted for 95% of the variation. Model validation procedures demonstrated the superiority of this model over those involving single variables. Nevertheless, for forecasting purposes, the best correlation was found between the crop area infected at the end of August each year and the number of days with a ground frost in the preceding February and March. This single climatic variable accounted for 82% of the variation and its potential use to forecast powdery mildew incidence in the national sugar-beet crop is discussed.