Prevalence of odontoclastic resorptive lesions in a population of clinically healthy cats

The prevalence of odontoclastic resorptive lesions (ORLs) was determined in a clinically healthy cat population (228 cats) using both clinical (oral examination) and radiographic (full-mouth series with intraorally positioned dental film) methods. The overall prevalence rate was 29 per cent (mean age of the cat population 4.9 years). The mandibular third premolars (307, 407) were the most commonly affected tooth and the pattern of ORL development was symmetrical in most cats. The risk of having ORLs was found to increase with increasing age and cats with clinically and radiographically missing teeth were more likely to have the condition. Neutering, gender, age at neutering or mean whole mouth gingivitis index did not affect the prevalence of ORLs.     

Flavonoid constituents of Chorizanthe diffusa with potential cancer chemopreventive activity

An ethyl acetate-soluble extract of Chorizanthe diffusa was found to exhibit significant antioxidant activity, as judged by scavenging stable 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals and inhibition of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA)-induced free radical formation with cultured HL-60 cells. Bioassay-directed fractionation of this extract using the DPPH antioxidant assay as a monitor led to the isolation of five structurally related flavonoids (1-5), including the novel compound 5,8,3',4',5'-pentahydroxy-3, 7-dimethoxyflavone (1). Isolates 1-5 demonstrated varying degrees of antioxidant or antimutagenic activity. Two of the compounds, 5,7,3', 4'-tetrahydroxy-3-methoxyflavone (2) and quercetin (4), were subsequently found to inhibit carcinogen-induced preneoplastic lesions in a mouse mammary organ culture model. Inhibitory activity of this type is known to correlate with cancer chemopreventive effects in full-term models of tumorigenesis.     

Bright Spots, Structure, and Magmatism in Southern Tibet from INDEPTH Seismic Reflection Profiling

INDEPTH seismic reflection profiling shows that the decollement beneath which Indian lithosphere underthrusts the Himalaya extends at least 225 kilometers north of the Himalayan deformation front to a depth of approximately 50 kilometers. Prominent reflections appear at depths of 15 to 18 kilometers near where the decollement reflector apparently terminates. These reflections extend north of the Zangbo suture to the Damxung graben of the Tibet Plateau. Some of these reflections have locally anomalous amplitudes (bright spots) and coincident negative polarities implying that they are produced by fluids in the crust. The presence of geothermal activity and high heat flow in the regions of these reflections and the tectonic setting suggest that the bright spots mark granitic magmas derived by partial melting of the tectonically thickened crust.     

Fecal steroid analysis for evaluating ovarian function in the greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) and lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis)

Seasonal reproductive-endocrine norms have not been described for the genus Tragelaphus, which consists of seven species of African antelope. Longitudinal patterns of progesterone metabolite excretion were assessed by radioimmunoassays in fecal samples collected noninvasively (three to seven samples per week) from greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros, n = 4) and lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis, n = 4). Progesterone metabolite excretion patterns revealed seasonal estrous cycles in both species, and discrimination of pregnant versus nonpregnant females was achieved in lesser kudu. These data reveal the value of fecal progesterone metabolites for establishing reproductive-endocrine norms in both zoo-maintained and free-living antelopes of the genus Tragelaphus.     

Spotted wing drosophila infestation of California strawberries and raspberries: economic analysis of potential revenue losses and control costs

BACKGROUND: Economic costs of spotted wing drosophila (SWD) include yield and associated revenue losses, labor and material costs for monitoring and management and revenue losses due to the closure of export markets should fruit from SWD‐infested regions be banned by trading partners. This analysis focuses on two types of loss in the California raspberry and strawberry industries: yield losses in the absence of management, and insecticide material costs on a per treatment basis. It computes the cost of a specific management program for raspberries in California's Central Coast region. RESULTS: Insecticide material and application costs per treatment and the cost of the management program are small relative to the yield losses in the absence of management that are observed by growers, researchers and others in initial infestations. CONCLUSION: It is difficult to evaluate precisely the share of pest management program costs due to SWD because insecticides are sometimes used to manage multiple pests, and because labor‐intensive field sanitation efforts to control SWD are recommended practices already. Given these considerations, this analysis finds that the benefits to SWD management well outweigh the costs examined here. Evaluating the efficacy of managing SWD is essential in assessing the risks that SWD poses and the benefits of pest management programs. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Prevalence and Species Distribution of Yeast in Mammary Glands of Dairy Cows in Minnesota

A study of the prevalence of yeast-like fungi in the mammary glands of dairy cattle was conducted in Minnesota. Quarter samples from 6,020 cows were cultured for yeast. Growth of organisms was obtained from 3.2% of the quarter milk samples. The rate of yeast infection for Minnesota dairy cattle in this study was 2.0%.

The majority of the yeast isolated belonged to one of four species of the Candida genus. Candida krusei, Candida parakrusei, Candida guilliermundi, and Candida tropicalis, comprised 89% of the yeasts isolated. All of these species have been reported to cause clinical mastitis (1, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16).

It would appear that yeast-like fungi are of sufficient prevalence in mammary glands that yeast infection would be considered in the differential diagnosis in cases of clinical mastitis.