Persistence studies with the herbicide sethoxydim in prairie soils

The persistence of [¹⁴C]sethoxydim (2-[1-(ethoxyimino)butyl]-5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexene-1-one) at the 2 μg g^?1 level was studied under laboratory conditions in three soils at 20°C and 85% of their field capacity moistures. Following extraction of the soils with methanol, the herbicide remaining was determined using radiochemical techniques. Loss of radioactivity was more rapid on moist clay loam and sandy loam, where the half-lives were 12 days, than on heavy clay in which the half-life was 26 days. Loss of radioactivity from air-dried soils (15% of field capacity) was negligible with over 94% of the applied activity being recovered after 28 days. The persistence of sethoxydim at a rate of 1 kg ha^?1 was investigated under field conditions using small plots at three prairie locations for 3 successive years. Using an oat-root bioassay procedure, no residues were detected in the 0–10 cm depths of any soils, any year, in September following May treatments.     

Observations on blood coagulation after snakebite in dogs and cats

Blood samples from 13 cases of snakebite, 6 in dogs and 7 in cats, were tested for activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT) and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP). Four cases were tested for fibrinogen concentration. Based on the results of a commercially available ELISA test, 9 cases were caused by tiger snakes (Notechis scutatus) and 1 case by a brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis). Three other cases had clinical signs and increased creatine phosphokinase values which suggested tiger snake envenomation. Although the period post-envenomation varied, results indicated a marked prolongation of the APTT and PT in 5 of 6 dogs. Three of these 5 dogs also had increased FDP values and 3 (of 3 examined) were hypofibrinogenaemic. Clinical manifestations of this coagulopathy were: haematoma formation after venepuncture (3 cases), gingival petechiae (1 case) and hyphaema (1 case). In contrast, there was minimal or no prolongation of the APTT and PT values, and no increase in FDP, in all 7 cats. Furthermore, no cat exhibited clinical signs of a coagulopathy.     

Endoscopically Assisted Annular Ligament Release in Horses

An endoscopically assisted technique for internally dividing the palmar or plantar annular ligament was developed in six cadaver limb specimens and two anesthetized horses. Under arthroscopic view, a slotted cannula was inserted into the digital sheath through a stab wound proximal to the annular ligament and advanced through the fetlock canal superficial to the flexor tendons with the slot oriented toward the fibers of the annular ligament. Division of the annular ligament by 90-degree tipped open and guarded blades was observed and verified by direct arthroscopic view. At necropsy, complete division of the annular ligament without iatrogenic damage to the neurovascular structures was confirmed by dissection. Annular ligament division was performed in seven horses with complex tenosynovitis conditions. Tenoscopic examination and removal of tendon and digital sheath adhesions, masses, and bands was followed by endoscopically assisted annular ligament transection. At follow-up, five horses were sound athletes without recurrent digital sheath problems, one horse had residual lameness, and one horse was still convalescing.     

LYMPHOMA AFFECTING THE URINARY BLADDER IN THREE DOGS AND A CAT

Three dogs and one cat with lymphoma affecting the urinary bladder are reported and the findings on abdominal radiographs and ultrasound are described. Mural lesions representing lymphoma affecting the urinary bladder were identified ultrasonographically in all animals. The most common complications associated with urinary bladder lymphoma were hydronephrosis and hydroureter. In two patients contrast radiography was necessary to detect leakage of urine in the peritoneal and retroperitoneal space. The radiographic and ultrasonographic signs were similar to those reported with other urinary bladder neoplasms; hence urinary bladder lymphoma could not be distinguished from the more common urinary bladder neoplasms, such as transitional cell carcinoma. It is important to include lymphoma in the differential diagnosis of urinary bladder wall thickening and mural mass in dogs and cats.     

A technique for mapping the spatial distribution of Elymus repots, with estimates of the potential reduction in herbicide usage from patch spraying

The spatial distribution of Elymus repens L. was mapped in five cereal fields during the 1994 season. Weed maps were created using a semi-automated system mounted on a vehicle that travelled up the tramlines, centred on a 12-m-wide spray boom. Two operators detected weeds visually and recorded their presence and density by means of a simple push-button system that recorded data from (2 × 1) m² areas, or cells, across the boom section on a portable computer. The position of the vehicle along the tramline was monitored by integrating output from a wheel sensor. Eight tramlines of one field were mapped three times consecutively, to assess detection and navigational error. Pair-wise comparisons of the three runs gave approximately 85% repeatability on presence/ absence data, 80% on zero/low- or high-density data and 85% on low/high-density data when weeds were definitely present. Simultaneous comparisons of all three runs gave 78%, 69% and 75% respectively. Repeated runs of tramlines up to 550 m long recorded mean differences of approximately 2 m with a maximum error of 14 m (2.5%). The spatial distribution of E. repens within the five fields was visibly patchy, but the size and morphology of patches varied both within and between fields. Thus, the potential reduction in herbicide usage as a result of patch spraying varied with patch morphology and infestation level. The effect of lowering the resolution from six (2 × 1) m² cells to three (4 × 1) m² cells across the 12-m boom width showed little change in potential reduction in herbicide usage.     

Sutured End-to-End and Stapled Side-to-Side Jejunal Anastomoses in the Horse

Hand sutured end-to-end (EE) and stapled side-to-side (SS) small intestinal anastomoses were performed in 10 healthy adult horses. In five SS anastomoses, staple lines on the blind ends of the jejunum were inverted (SSI) and in five they were not (SSNI). Five EE anastomoses were sutured with polydioxanone and five were sutured with polyglyconate. All horses were euthanatized on day 30. Intra-abdominal adhesions were graded (0-4), and stomal areas were calculated from contrast radiographs made with the bowel distended. Histopathology scores for the anastomoses were based on the degree of inflammation (0-3), fibrosis (0-3), and alignment and healing of intestinal layers (0-3). Mean surgery times +/- standard deviations for EE, SSI, and SSNI techniques were 33.9 +/- 5.4, 36.2 +/- 5.6, and 29.6 +/- 5.9 minutes, respectively. Mean and median stomal areas were 9.4 +/- 5.5 and 8.9 cm2 for EE anastomoses and 17.2 +/- 16.5 and 12.1 cm2 for SS anastomoses. Intra-abdominal adhesions developed in three horses, one of which had clinical signs of colic. Mean histopathology scores for EE and SS anastomoses were 4.8 +/- 2.0 (median = 5) and 4.4 +/- 1.8 (median = 4), respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in surgery times, intra-abdominal adhesion scores, stomal areas, or histopathology scores between small intestinal EE and SS anastomoses in these horses.     

Effects of formulation with different adjuvants on foliar uptake of difenzoquat and 2,4-D: model experiments with wild oat and field bean

The effect of different adjuvants on the foliar uptake of difenzoquat methyl sulfate and sodium 2,4-D was studied in wild oat and field bean plants growing under controlled environmental conditions. The ¹⁴C-herbicides were applied to leaves as c. 0–2-μl droplets, usually containing 0.5 g 1^?1 active ingredient, plus adjuvants in the range 0.05–5 g 1^?1. The addition of non-ionic polyoxyethylene surfactants to solutions of both herbicides could induce considerable foliar uptake. Aliphatic C₁₃C₁₃ alcohol surfactants generally improved uptake more than nonylphenol surfactants when used at equivalent concentrations and ethylene oxide (EO) contents. The surfactant threshold for enhancement of difenzoquat uptake in wild oat was very low (0.05 g 1^?1), whilst that in field bean was much higher (>0.5 g 1^?1). For 2,4-D, surfactants at >0–5 g 1^?1 were needed to produce substantial increases in its uptake into both species. Although surfactants of low EO content (5–6) were less efficient at promoting difenzoquat uptake than those of higher EO content (10–20), particularly in wild oat, there was little dependence on surfactant EO content for enhancement of 2,4-D uptake. Adjuvants with humectant properties also promoted penetration of difenzoquat, but less so than alcohol or nonylphenol surfactants. For formulations of both ¹⁴C-herbicides translocation was directly related to the quantity of radiolabel that had penetrated the leaf tissue. Effets de la formulation avec différents adjuvants sur l'absorption foliaire du difenzoquat et du 2,4-D: modeles experimentaux sur la folle avoine et le haricot L'influence de differents adjuvants sur l'absorption foliaire du difenzoquat methyl sulfate et du 2,4 D sodium a eétéétudiée chez la folle avoine et le haricot, cultivés sous des conditions environnementales contrôlées. Les herbicides marquees au ¹⁴C ont ete appliquées aux feuilles sous forme de gouttelettes de 0,2 μl contenant 0,5 g 1^?1 de matière active, avec en plus des adjuvants de 0,05 à 5 g ^?1. L'adjonction de surfactants polyoxyethylénes non ioniques aux solutions des deux herbicides pourrait induire un absorption foliaire importante. Les surfactants d'alcools aliphatiques C₁₃/C₁₅ ont généralement augmenté la pénétration mieux que les surfactants de type nonylphénol utilises à une concentration équivalente et que les oxydes d'éthylènes (EO). Le seuil de surfactant pour l'amélioration de l'absorption de difenzoquat sur folle avoine était très bas (0,05 g 1^?1) tandis que sur haricot, il était beaucoup plus éievé (> 0,5 g 1^?1). Pour le 2,4 D, des surfactants à une dose de >0,5 g 1^?1 sont nécessaires pour produire une amelioration de son absorption chez les deux espéces. Bien que les surfactants à faible teneur en EO (5–6) fussent moins efficace pour favoriser l'absorption du difenzoquat que ceux a forte teneur (10–20), spécialement pour la folle avoine, il y avait une petite dépendance sur la teneur en EO pour l'amélioration de l'absorption du 2,4 D. Les adjuvants avec des propriétés d'humectation ont favorisé la pénétration du difenzoquat, mais moins que les surfactants alcool ou nonylphenol. Pour les formulations des deux herbicides marqués au ¹⁴C, le transport était directement reliéà la quantité de molécule marquée ayant pénétrée dans le tissu foliaire. Wirkung verschiedener Netzmittel auf die Blattaufnahme von Difenzoquat und 2,4-D am Beispiel von Flug-Hafer und Ackerbohne Der Einfluß verschiedener Zusatzstoffe auf die Blattaufnahme von Difenzoquat und 2,4-D-Na- Salz wurde an Flug-Hafer- und Ackerbohnen-Pflanzen unter kontroUierten Bedingungen untersucht. Die ¹⁴C-Herbizide wurden auf die Blatter mit etwa 0,2 μl großen Tröpfchen einer Lösung mit 0,5 g 1^?1 AS und 0,05 bis 5 g 1^?1 des Zusatzstoffs ausgebracht. Durch Zugabe von nichtionischen Polyoxyethylen-Netzmittein zu den Lösungen der beiden Herbizide konnte die Blattaufnahme erheblich gesteigert werden. Aliphatische C₁₃C₁₅-Alkohol-Netzmittel förderten die Aufnahme mehr als Nonylphenol-Netzmittel, wenn sie mit equivalenten Konzentrationen und Ethylenoxid-(EO)Gehalten ausgebracht wurden. Die Schwelle für die Steigerung der Difenzoquat-Aufnahme durch Netzmittel lag bei Flug-Hafer sehr niedrig (0,05 g 1^?1), bei der Ackerbohne vielhöher (>0,5 g 1^?1). Bei 2,4-D wurden bei beiden Arten zur deutlichen Förderung der Aufnahme Netzmittelkonzentrationen von >0,5 g 1^?1 benötigt. Obwohl Netzmittel mit niedrigem EO-Gehalt (5–6) die Difenzoquat-Aufnahme weniger förderten als solche mit höherem Gehalt (10–20). besonders bei Flug-Hafer, ergab sich für die Förderung der 2,4-D-Aufnahme kaum eine Abhängigkeit vom EO-Gehalt des Netzmittels. Additive mit feuchtigkeitshaltenden Eigenschaften förderten auch die Aufnahme von Difenzoquat, aber weniger als alkoholische oder nonylphenolische Netzmittel. Die Translokation der Mischungen der beiden ¹⁴C-Herbizide stand in direktem Verhäitnis zur Radioaktivitätsmenge, die in das Blattgewebe aufgenommen wurde.