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.     

Syringohydromyelia in Cavalier King Charles spaniels

Syringohydromyelia secondary to foramen magnum overcrowding is described in seven Cavalier King Charles spaniels. Clinical signs were consistent with a central spinal cord lesion. The most common signs were persistent scratching at the shoulder region with apparent neck, thoracic limb, or ear pain and thoracic limb lower motor neuron deficits. The diagnosis was made by magnetic resonance imaging. The syringohydromyelia is postulated to be a consequence of an occipital bone malformation resulting in a small caudal fossa and cerebellar herniation. Clinical signs improved but did not completely resolve when the dogs received treatment with corticosteroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.     

An analysis of the persistence and potency of film‐coated seed protectant as influenced by various storage parameters

BACKGROUND: An efficient delivery system for seed‐protectant chemicals is needed in light of several disadvantages of conventional seed treatment methods. This study evaluates the efficacy of film‐coat application in maintaining the persistence and potency of imidacloprid on Lycopersicon esculentum (L.) Mill. seeds after simultaneous storage under ambient and regulated environment in paper and aluminium packages. RESULTS: High‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed 0.135 mg kg^?1 of herbage material to be the threshold value beyond which absolute control was obtained, and with film coating the latter was achieved even with half‐dosage seed treatment, irrespective of the storage condition. The technique provided early protection to the crop and also nullified the deleterious effects of ambient storage on the persistence and potency of the pesticide. CONCLUSION: Film coating enabled superior pesticide dosage as well as higher biological efficacy to be achieved. Hence, in addition to being an ecofriendly alternative, the technique would be a more economically viable option for storage of treated seeds. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of wheat,legume and legume enriched wheat residue and nitrogen application on soil fertility under rice-wheat cropping system

The field experiments were conducted for two crop years of 1997?–?98 and 1998?–?99 at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to study the effect of wheat, legume and legume enriched wheat residue (WR) on soil fertility under the rice-wheat cropping system. A rice-wheat cropping system without incorporation of residue depleted organic C over initial level by 0.061%, kjeldahl-N by 0.012%, available P by 0.7?kg ha^???1 and available K by 36?kg ha^???1, whereas incorporation of Sesbania green manure (SGM), mungbean residue (MBR), SGM?+?WR and MBR?+?WR increased organic C over the initial level by 0.071, 0.100, 0.163 and 0.133%, respectively, kjeldahl-N by 0.001, 0.004, 0.001 and 0.005% respectively, available P by 2.7, 5.0, 8.5 and 3.2?kg ha^???1, respectively and available K by 35, 5, 92 and 12?kg ha^???1, respectively in 2 years. As compared with no residue control, incorporation of WR increased organic C by 0.036?–?0.102%, kjeldahl-N by 0.002?–?0.007% and available K by 23?–?45?kg ha^?1, whereas incorporation of SGM and MBR increased organic C by 0.082?–?0.132 and 0.103?–?0.161%, respectively, kjeldahl-N by 0.009?–?0.023 and 0.005?–?0.013%, respectively and available K by 5?–?71 and 4?–?45?kg ha^???1, respectively. Incorporation of WR with SGM and MBR was more effective and increased organic C by 0.121?–?0.224 and 0.125?–?0.194%, respectively, kjeldahl-N by 0.005?–?0.029 and 0.010?–?0.021%, respectively and available K content by 23?–?128 and 11?–?116?kg ha^???1. Nitrogen application to rice also increased organic C, kjeldahl-N, available P and available K content in soil and also increased effects of crop residues. Crop residues had no significant effect on available P content in soil. Incorporation of WR with SGM and MBR with adequate fertilizer-N is, thus, recommended for building up organic C, kjeldahl-N and available K content in soil.     

Interaction between ascorbic acid and follicle-stimulating hormone maintains follicular viability after long-term in vitro culture of caprine preantral follicles

This study evaluates the effects of ascorbic acid and its interaction with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) on the morphology, activation, and in vitro growth of caprine preantral follicles. Ovarian fragments were cultured for 1, 7, or 14 d in minimum essential medium (MEM) containing ascorbic acid (50 or 100 μg/mL), FSH (50 ng/mL), or both of these substances. Ovarian tissue that was either fresh (control) or cultured for 1, 7, or 14 d was processed for histological and ultrastructural evaluation. The results showed that after 14 d of culture, medium supplemented with 50 μg/mL of ascorbic acid alone or combined with FSH showed higher rates of follicular survival compared with MEM. After 7 d of culture, FSH, ascorbic acid at 50 μg/mL with or without FSH, and ascorbic acid at 100 μg/mL increased the percentage of follicular activation compared to fresh control. In addition, FSH alone significantly increased the percentage of growing follicles after 14 d. The combination of 50 μg/mL of ascorbic acid and FSH promoted a significant increase in oocyte and follicular diameter after 7 d of culture. Ultrastructural and fluorescent analysis confirmed the integrity of follicles cultured with 50 μg/mL of ascorbic acid and FSH after 14 d. In conclusion, the combination of 50 μg/mL of ascorbic acid and FSH maintained follicular integrity and promoted follicular activation and growth after long-term in vitro culture of caprine preantral follicles.     

A real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of Mycoplasma agalactiae

AIM: To develop a real-time PCR for the detection of Mycoplasma agalactiae, using PCR primers targeting the ma-mp81 gene. METHODS: A group of 15 M. agalactiae isolates, 21 other Mycoplasma spp. isolates and 21 other bacterial isolates was used in evaluation of the assay. RESULTS: All M. agalactiae isolates were detected by the assay and none of the non-target isolates was amplified. The analytical detection limit of the assay was 10 fg of purified genomic DNA and 104 cfu/ml milk inoculated with M. agalactiae. When applied to goat-milk samples collected from three herds free of M. agalactiae infection, the assay had a specificity of 100%. CONCLUSIONS: The assay would be useful in a diagnostic laboratory, providing specific, sensitive and rapid detection of M. agalactiae.     

Volatiles from the 1994 Eruptions of Rabaul: Understanding Large Caldera Systems

The 1994 eruption of Rabaul, in Papua New Guinea, involved a small plinian eruption at Vulcan and a vulcanian eruption on the opposite side of the caldera at Tavurvur. Vulcan's ash leachates indicate seawater interaction that is consistent with earlier observations of low sulfur dioxide emissions and the presence of ice crystals in the initial plinian eruption cloud. In contrast, Tavurvur ash leachates indicate no seawater interaction, and later sulfur dioxide emissions remained high despite low-level eruptive activity. Silicic melt inclusions indicate that the andesitic melt contained about 2 weight percent water and negligible carbon dioxide. Mafic melt inclusions in Tavurvur ash have water and carbon dioxide contents that vary systematically over the course of the eruption. The mafic melt inclusions suggest that a mafic dike intruded from below the silicic chamber and provide further evidence that mafic intrusions drive caldera unrest.     

Expanded repeat in canine epilepsy

Epilepsy afflicts 1% of humans and 5% of dogs. We report a canine epilepsy mutation and evidence for the existence of repeat-expansion disease outside humans. A canid-specific unstable dodecamer repeat in the Epm2b (Nhlrc1) gene recurrently expands, causing a fatal epilepsy and contributing to the high incidence of canine epilepsy. Tracing the repeat origins revealed two successive events, starting 50 million years ago, unique to canid evolution. A genetic test, presented here, will allow carrier and presymptomatic diagnosis and disease eradication. Clinicopathologic characterization establishes affected animals as a model for Lafora disease, the most severe teenage-onset human epilepsy.