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.     

Comparison of cardiopulmonary responses during sedation with epidural and local anesthesia for laparoscopic-assisted jejunostomy feeding tube placement with cardiopulmonary responses during general anesthesia for laparoscopic-assisted or open surgical jejunostomy feeding tube placement in healthy dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of laparoscopic-assisted jejunostomy feeding tube (J-tube) placement in healthy dogs under sedation with epidural and local anesthesia and compare cardiopulmonary responses during this epidural anesthetic protocol with cardiopulmonary responses during general anesthesia for laparoscopic-assisted or open surgical J-tube placement. ANIMALS: 15 healthy mixed-breed dogs. PROCEDURES: Dogs were randomly assigned to receive open surgical J-tube placement under general anesthesia (n = 5 dogs; group 1), laparoscopic-assisted J-tube placement under general anesthesia (5; group 2), or laparoscopic-assisted J-tube placement under sedation with epidural and local anesthesia (5; group 3). Cardiopulmonary responses were measured at baseline (time 0), every 5 minutes during the procedure (times 5 to 30 minutes), and after the procedure (after desufflation [groups 2 and 3] or at the start of abdominal closure [group 1]). Stroke volume, cardiac index, and O(2) delivery were calculated. RESULTS: All group 3 dogs tolerated laparoscopic-assisted J-tube placement under sedation with epidural and local anesthesia. Comparison of cardiovascular parameters revealed a significantly higher cardiac index, mean arterial pressure, and O(2) delivery in group 3 dogs, compared with group 1 and 2 dogs. Minimal differences in hemodynamic parameters were found between groups undergoing laparoscopic-assisted and open surgical J-tube placement under general anesthesia (ie, groups 1 and 2); these differences were not considered to be clinically important in healthy research dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Sedation with epidural and local anesthesia provided satisfactory conditions for laparoscopic-assisted J-tube placement in healthy dogs; this anesthetic protocol caused less cardiopulmonary depression than general anesthesia and may represent a better choice for J-tube placement in critically ill patients.     

Evaluation of the Penman-Monteith model for estimating soybean evapotranspiration

The Penman-Monteith model with a variable surface canopy resistance (r_cv) was evaluated to estimate hourly and daily crop evapotranspiration (ET_c) over a soybean canopy for different soil water status and atmospheric conditions. The hourly values of r_cv were computed as a function of environmental variables (air temperature, vapor pressure deficit, net radiation) and a normalized soil water factor (F), which varies between 0 (wilting point, _WP) and 1 (field capacity, _FC). The performance of the Penman-Monteith model (ET_PM) was evaluated using hourly and daily values of ET_c obtained from the combined aerodynamic method (ET_R). On an hourly basis, the overall standard error of estimate (SEE) and the absolute relative error (ARE) were 0.06 mm h^–1 (41 W m^–2) and 4.2%, respectively. On a daily basis, the SEE was 0.47 mm day^–1 and the ARE was 2.5%. The largest disagreements between ET_PM and ET_R were observed, on the hourly scale, under the combined influence of windy and dry atmospheric conditions. However, this did not affect daily estimates, since nighttime underestimations cancelled out daytime overestimations. Thus, daily performances of the Penman-Monteith model were good under soil water contents ranging from 0.31 to 0.2 (_FC and _WP being 0.33 and 0.17, respectively) and LAI ranging from 0.3 to 4.0. For this validation period, calculated values of r_cv and F ranged between 44 s m^–1 and 551 s m^–1 and between 0.19 and 0.88, respectively.Communicated by R. Evans     

我国西部地区水电开发问题探讨

水能资源是我国西部地区的优势资源，由于历史和政策的原因，开发利用程度相对较低，资源优势没有形成产业优势。在分析西部水能资源分布特点和开发现状的基础上，结合西部大开发和西电东送战略，提出目前水电产业存在的市场、政策和资金方面问题，探讨了加快西部水电开发的对策和建议。     

Use of pericardial patch graft reconstruction of the right atrium for treatment of hemangiosarcoma in a dog

Atrial mass resection is possible in a limited number of dogs with hemangiosarcoma in which only the right atrial appendage or atrial free wall is involved, A pericardial patch graft can be used to reconstruct the right atrium after resection of large atrial tumors. Tumor-free margins can be obtained by use of this technique.