Interactions between different media and follicle‐stimulating hormone supplementation on in vitro culture of preantral follicles enclosed in ovarian tissue derived from collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu Linneaus, 1758)

The aim was to verify the effect of follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) supplementation to α‐MEM+ or TCM199+ media on the in vitro development of ovarian preantral follicles (PFs) derived from collared peccaries. Ovaries (n = 5 pairs) were collected and divided into fragments destined to control group (non‐cultured) or treatments that were cultured for 7 days. The PFs morphology, growth and activation were evaluated by classical histology. The immunohistochemistry markers Ag‐NOR and PCNA were used for nuclear proliferation analysis, and the picrosirius red labelling was used for ovarian extracellular matrix (ECM) evaluation. After 7‐day culture, only the TCM199+ treatment maintained the proportion of intact PFs similar to day 1 (63.2%), but no differences were found among treatments (p > .05). In addition, a significant increase in the growing follicles proportion was verified for all the treatments, indicating follicular activation (p > .05). By the Ag‐NOR analysis, only the TCM199+/FSH maintained the nuclear proliferation similar to the first day (p > .05). The picrosirius red staining revealed that the ECM remained intact in all the treatments (p > .05). We suggest the use of TCM199+ medium supplemented of FSH for the in vitro development of peccaries PFs under 7‐day culturing conditions.     

Myasthénie grave chez un jeune chien

Myasthenia gravis in a young dog     

A retrospective study of 29 cases of otitis media/interna in dairy calves

Epidemiological data, clinical findings, laboratory data, medical imaging, and outcomes were reviewed in 29 dairy calves with otitis media/interna. Age at admission ranged from 1 to 24 wk. The majority of calves were referred during winter. Clinical signs included drooping ear, ptosis, head tilt, abnormal nystagmus, strabismus, dysphagia, regurgitation, stiff neck, opisthotonos, facial hyperesthesia, and purulent aural discharge. Intranasal endoscopic examination of 5 animals revealed nasopharyngeal collapse in 4. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was abnormal in all of 7 cases. Mycoplasma bovis was cultured from all but 1 case with external ear or tympanic bullae samples (n = 12), and Mycoplasma arginini was cultured from the remaining ear sample. Radiographs of the tympanic bullae were performed in 24 calves, tomodensitometry (CT) in 3 calves and ultrasound in 4 calves. According to medical imaging techniques or necropsy, 69% of the cases were classified as chronic. Mean duration of treatment was 23.3 d. The rate of clinical recovery was 75%.     

Carabid species responses to hybrid poplar plantations in floodplains in France

Hybrid poplar plantations have become an important component of forest and agricultural landscapes in alluvial floodplains since poplars are among the fastest-growing trees in temperate regions. However, these habitats are thought to decrease biodiversity, including ground beetle diversity, as compared to other traditional land-uses such as grasslands and semi-natural forests. To evaluate the impacts of poplar plantations on carabid diversity, we tested whether carabid assemblages are more affected by land-use type than by canopy cover type in three alluvial floodplains in North-Eastern France. We stratified our 63-plot sampling design according to four habitat types based on land-use and plantation age. Non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed a successional gradient in species composition related to canopy cover progressing from grasslands through young, then adult poplar plantations, to semi-natural forests. Species-level response models showed that many carabid species distinguished the open habitats (grasslands and young poplar plantations) from the closed ones (adult poplar plantations and semi-natural forests). Only a few species preferred one of the traditional land-uses such as grasslands or semi-natural forests. Based on our data, the deleterious effect of poplar plantations on the conservation of ground beetles may not be as high as expected.     

Effect of method of irrigation on the total glycoalkaloid and nitrate-nitrogen content of Rosa potatoes

The effect of two irrigation methods, microjet mist and impact sprinkler, on the total glycoalkaloid (TGA) and nitrate-nitrogen (NO_3?N) content ofSolanum tuberosum L. cv. Rosa was investigated. Potatoes irrigated by microjet mist were significantly higher in TGA and lower in NO_3?N content than control potatoes receiving no irrigation. The impact sprinkler method produced potatoes significantly higher in NO_3?N than controls. The TGA content of potatoes irrigated by the sprinkler method was not significantly different from controls. Mist-irrigated potatoes were higher in TGA and lower in NO_3?N content than sprinkler-irrigated potatoes.     

Pathophysiology of excessive iron storage in mynah birds

Hepatic iron overload was diagnosed in young and adult Rothschild's mynah birds. By light microscopic evaluation, it was determined that there was progressive accumulation of iron pigment with age in the hepatocytes. The Kupffer's cells of the liver, the reticuloendothelial cells of the spleen, and the phagocytic cells in the small intestine were negative for Prussian blue (iron) pigments. These observations suggested that diet had only a minor influence on the iron distribution in the mynah birds. This was confirmed by comparing iron distribution in the liver and spleen of mynah birds with that in other exotic birds receiving the same diet as the mynah birds. The syndrome of excessive iron overload in the mynah birds shared most of the important histopathologic characteristics with idiopathic (hereditary) hemochromatosis in human beings.     

Entéropathie, avec perte de protéines, secondaire à une lymphangiectasie intestinale, chez trois chiens

Protein-losing enteropathy secondary to intestinal lymphangiectasia in three dogs

Three cases of protein-losing enteropathy secondary to intestinal lymphangiectasia in the dog are presented.

In the three cases, common clinical findings were nonresponsive diarrhea and weight loss. Subcutaneous edema was observed in case 1. Polyphagia and polydipsia were evident in cases 2 and 3.

Serum examinations revealed low values of protein with a normal albumin/globulin ratio. There was histopathological evidence of dilatation of lacteals, as well as plasma cell and lymphocyte infiltration in the small intestine.

In the three cases, a corticotherapy was instituted and gave good results.

     

Uptake of PCBs by potatoes grown on sludge-amended soils

Katahdin potatoes were grown on soil treated with anaerobically digested sewage sludge to determine the level of PGBs absorbed. The sewage sludge treated soil contained 1.52±0.71µg/g PCB. Potato plant leaves and tuber pulp contained less than the detectable level (<0.007µg/g) of PCB. Potato peels contained 0.04µg/g PCB which is less than the FDA tolerance limit. From these data it appears unlikely that potatoes grown in PCB-contaminated soil will absorb sufficient quantities of PCBs to pose a significant health risk, especially if the potatoes are peeled prior to eating.     

Is generalisation of uneven-aged management in mountain forests the key to improve biodiversity conservation within forest landscape mosaics?

Context

Uneven-aged management systems based on selection silviculture have become popular in European mountain forests and progressively replace other silvicultural practices. In time, this trend could lead to a homogenisation of the forest mosaic with consequences on structural indices recognised as beneficial to forest biodiversity.

Aims

This study was conducted to investigate the potential effects of a generalisation of the selection silvicultural system on structural diversity in the forest landscape with consequences for forest biodiversity conservation.

Methods

We compared four structural indices (tree species richness, diameter heterogeneity, deadwood volume and basal area of mature trees) in five different stand types typical of the northern French Alps, using forest plot data in the Vercors mountain range. Through virtual landscape simulations, we then calculated predicted mean proportions of stand types under two different conservation strategies: (i) maximising mean index values at the landscape level and (ii) maximising the number of plots in the landscape with index values above given thresholds.

Results

Multi-staged forests did not maximise all indices, the best solution being to combine the five stand types in uneven proportions to improve biodiversity conservation.

Conclusion

The expansion of selection silviculture in European heterogeneous forest landscapes could enhance biodiversity conservation if other stand types with complementary structural characteristics are maintained.