Efficacy of abamectin against natural infections of gastrointestinal nematodes and lungworm of cattle with special emphasis on inhibited, early fourth stage larvae of Ostertagia ostertagi.

The anthelmintic efficacy of abamectin (avermectin B1) was evaluated against gastrointestinal nematodes, including Ostertagia ostertagi inhibited larvae and lungworm, in yearling crossbred beef heifers during late spring. The calves were grazed on contaminated pasture for 10 weeks and then held under conditions free of nematode infection for 3 weeks prior to allotment and treatment on 5 June. Thirteen calves were randomly assigned to two groups of six by restricted randomization on body weights; the extra lightest calf was assigned to the non-treated control group. Group 1 calves were treated with abamectin at 200 micrograms kg-1 body weight by s.c. injection and Group 2 calves were not treated; all were killed at 14 days after treatment. Ostertagia ostertagi was present in all controls; arithmetic mean numbers of adults, developing fourth stage larvae (L4) and inhibited EL4 were 7683, 605 and 36,102, respectively. Other nematode genera present in controls in sufficient numbers for the experiment were Haemonchus placei adults, Trichostrongylus axei adults, Cooperia spp. adults, Oesophagostomum radiatum adults, Bunostomum phlebotomum adults, Dictyocaulus viviparus adults and E5 (immature adults). Abamectin was highly effective (consistently greater than 99% efficacy and P less than 0.05) in removing all nematodes present in treated calves as represented in non-treated controls, including the primary target of Ostertagia ostertagi inhibited EL4. The lowest efficacy was 93.8%, against D. viviparus E5.     

Survival of Leptosphaeria maculans in soil on residues of Brassica napus in South Australia

The survival of Leptosphaeria maculans , which causes phoma stem canker (blackleg), on oilseed rape residues ( Brassica napus ) in South Australia was investigated. Using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for L. maculans DNA, the pathogen was mainly detected in the upper 5 cm of the soil profile, including residues on the soil surface. As the size of organic matter particles in the soil decreased, so did the quantity of L. maculans detected in them. To obtain representative data for a field, at least 30 subsamples needed to be collected over the 0·81 ha area studied. In a survey of 49 commercial fields in South Australia, most L. maculans was detected in fields 1 year after oilseed rape had been grown, with less detected after 2 years and negligible amounts 3 years or more after cropping. The diagnostic DNA-based assay for L. maculans reduced the time and cost of studying L. maculans survival in soil and increased the sensitivity and accuracy of results compared with estimates of propagule number of colony-forming units on a semiselective medium.     

Cotton-root distribution as a function of trickle irrigation emitter depth

Summary The objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum cv GSA 71) root system under four depths of trickle irrigation emitter. Cotton was grown on an Amarillo fine sandy loam (fine loamy, mixed thermic Aridic Paleustalf) at Lubbock, Texas. Trickle irrigation was applied at the surface (0), 0.15, 0.3, or 0.45 m depths in amounts calculated using daily pan evaporation, crop coefficient, and crop development stage. Effects of depth of trickle irrigation were evaluated by measuring the cotton root-length density in 0.15 m increments to the 0.90 m depth at distances of 0, 0.25, and 0.5 m perpendicular to the cotton rows. The root-length distributions were not significantly (0.05%) different in the top 0.15 m when the surface irrigated treatment was compared with the 0.45 m irrigation depth treatment. Root-length densities for the 0.15 and 0.3 m treatments were not significantly different from one another nor were they different from treatments within the evaluated zones (0 to 0.3 m or 0.15 to 0.45 m). Root-length density within the 0.3 to 0.6 m zone, was not significantly different for the 0.45 m treatment compared with the surface irrigation treatment. Root-length density in the 0.6 to 0.9 m zone was not significantly different for any treatment. Emitter depth of trickle irrigation did not significantly influence the depth or distribution of cotton-root development.     

Assessment of corneal thickness,intraocular pressure,optical corneal diameter,and axial globe dimensions in Miniature Horses

OBJECTIVE: To determine corneal thickness, intraocular pressure (IOP), and horizontal and vertical corneal diameter (HCD and VCD) and to obtain axial measurements of the anterior chamber depth (ACD), crystalline lens thickness (CLT), vitreous chamber depth (VtCD), and axial globe length (AGL) in eyes of Miniature Horses. ANIMALS: 41 healthy Miniature Horses. PROCEDURE: Ocular component measurements were obtained via ultrasonic pachymetry, applanation tonometry, ultrasound, and by use of a Jameson caliper. RESULTS: Mean IOP and corneal thickness for all eyes were 26.0 mm Hg and 785.6 microm, respectively. There was no correlation of age with IOP or corneal thickness and no difference in these variables between right and left eyes or between females and males. Mean HCD andVCD were 25.8 and 19.4 mm, respectively; although there were no differences between sexes or between right and left eyes, there was positive correlation of optical corneal diameters with increasing age. Mean ACD, CLT, VtCD, and AGL were smaller in Miniature Horses (5.6, 10.0, 18.1, and 33.7 mm, respectively), compared with values for full-sized horses; there was no difference in these variables between sexes or between right and left eyes in Miniature Horses, but they were correlated with increasing age. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In Miniature Horses, corneal thickness and IOP are similar to values reported for full-sized horses and do not increase with advancing age. Vertical corneal diameter, HCD, and AGL increase until 5, 7, and 2 years of age, respectively.     

Diagnosis and management of hepatic copper accumulation in a Skye terrier

A one-year-old, neutered female Skye terrier presented with anorexia, vomiting, seizures and ascites. Portal venography demonstrated the presence of multiple acquired portosystemic shunts. Hepatic biopsy confirmed the presence of copper accumulation and fibrosis. Treatment included ursodeoxycholic acid therapy, colchicine and oral zinc. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case report detailing successful management of Skye terrier hepatopathy.     

Accelerated chilling of carcasses to improve pork quality

Our objectives were to determine the optimal accelerated chill time immediately postmortem necessary to improve the quality of pork muscle and to decrease the incidence of pale, soft, and exudative pork. Carcasses from 81 market hogs were cooled either by conventional chill (CC) at 2 degrees C or by accelerated chill (AC) at -32 degrees C for 60, 90, 120, or 150 min, and then placed into a 2 degrees C cooler for the remainder of the 24-h chill period. Loin muscle pH was higher (P < 0.05) for the carcasses that were accelerated chilled longer than 60 min. Although loin visual color, texture, and firmness scores increased (P < 0.05) with AC time, no improvements were noted beyond 60 min. Color, pH, texture, firmness, and CIE L*a*b* values of fresh ham muscles were not (P > 0.05) affected by AC. In addition, AC did not (P > 0.05) affect purge, drip, or thaw loss of fresh products, sensory scores of loins or processed hams (except initial juiciness; P < 0.05), water-holding capacity of processed hams, or processing characteristics of hams. Cooking loss and Warner-Bratzler shear values for hams and loins were not (P > 0.05) affected by AC. Accelerated chilling caused loins to be darker (lower L* value; P < 0.05) and to have lower (P < 0.05) b* values (less yellow) than CC loins. Accelerated chilling increased water-holding capacity in fresh hams, bound water being the greatest (P < 0.05) in the 120- and 150-min AC groups. These results demonstrate that improvements in pork loin quality can be made using freezer-accelerated chilling for carcasses.