Long-term vegetation change (>20 years) in the plains habitat on the Goegap Nature Reserve,Succulent Karoo,South Africa§

Because vegetation change in arid ecosystems is slow, long-term data are essential to gain an understanding of how the vegetation responds to short-term, inter-annual variation in rainfall; long-term cyclic rainfall patterns; and grazing pressure. The point intercept method was conducted annually over a period of more than 20 years at five transects in the plains habitat on the Goegap Nature Reserve in the Northern Cape, South Africa. Vegetation change was assessed in terms of vegetation cover, species composition, species abundance, growth form composition, range condition and plant diversity. Non-metric multidimensional scaling was used to illustrate the trajectories in floristic data and to determine the strength of the correlations with rainfall and grazing variables. The effects of the high grazing pressure on the plains were apparent in the overall decrease in total plant cover and reductions in the cover of grazing-sensitive species over the monitored period. Diversity parameters, of especially the annual component, were strongly related to rainfall. A directional change, which supports the equilibrium concept, was evident in changes in perennial species composition over time. The annual component, however, showed no directional change, but displayed eventdriven, non-equilibrium dynamics by fluctuating in reaction to the timing and quantity of rainfall.     

Report of the 3rd Havemeyer workshop on allergic diseases of the Horse, Hólar, Iceland, June 2007

Allergic diseases occur in most mammals, although some species such as humans, dogs and horses seem to be more prone to develop allergies than others. In horses, insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH), an allergic dermatitis caused by bites of midges, and recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), a hyperreactivity to stable born dust and allergens, are the two most prevalent allergic diseases. Allergic diseases involve the interaction of three major factors: (i) genetic constitution, (ii) exposure to allergens, and (iii) a dysregulation of the immune response determined by (i) and (ii). However, other environmental factors such as infectious diseases, contact with endotoxin and degree of infestation with endoparasites have been shown to influence the prevalence of allergic diseases in humans. How these factors may impact upon allergic disease in the horse is unknown at this time. The 3rd workshop on Allergic Diseases of the Horse, with major sponsorship from the Havemeyer Foundation, was held in Hólar, Iceland, in June 2007 and focussed on immunological and genetic aspects of IBH and RAO. This particular venue was chosen because of the prevalence of IBH in exported Icelandic horses. The incidence of IBH is significantly different between Icelandic horses born in Europe or North America and those born in Iceland and exported as adults. Although the genetic factors and allergens are the same, exported adult horses show a greater incidence of IBH. This suggests that environmental or epigenetic factors may contribute to this response. This report summarizes the present state of knowledge and summarizes important issues discussed at the workshop.     

Study on the Nutritional-ecologic Environment of Fe,Cu,Mn,Zn and Se in Yili Summer Pasture of Xinjiang (Ⅰ)

This experiment objective was to study the Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Se five kinds of trace element contents, distribution characteristics and mutual relations in the soil-grass-water (stream) in Yili pastoral area of Xinjiang, to evaluate the trace elements nutritional-ecologic environment of Yili summer pasture in Xinjiang.At the altitudinal belt of 1400 to 2999 m of the summer pasture of the Karajon grassland (South slope) and Tangbula grassland (North slope) of Yili, Xinjiang, the samples of soil (n=75), herbage (n=75), stream water (n=75) were collected according to the altitude, to determine their contents of Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn and Se for evaluating the nutritional-ecologic environment of trace elements of Yili summer pasture.The results showed that the contents of Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn in the soil of summer pasture on average were 15 418.4, 32.6, 474.5 and 115.8 mg/kg, respectively;And 446.0, 7.8, 85.7 and 41.9 mg/kg, respectively in forage;The correlation (R²) of the contents of Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn between soil and forage were 0.43, 0.82, 0.47 and 0.72, respectively;The changes of Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn contents in the soil and forage were not significantly related with the altitude.There were no the 4 elements mentioned above in river streams, there was no Se in the soil and forage, and there was infinitesimal of Se in the river streams.It was concluded that in Yili summer pasture there were excessive Fe, suitable Zn and Mn, insufficient Cu, and more insufficient Se.     

The Impact of Demographic,Social, and Environmental Factors on the Development of Steroid‐Responsive Meningitis‐Arteritis (SRMA) in the United Kingdom

Background

Steroid‐responsive meningitis‐arteritis (SRMA) is an inflammatory disease of dogs that is suspected to be immune‐mediated. The development of other immune‐mediated diseases has been linked to vaccinations, time of the year, geographic location, sex, neuter status, and breed.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To identify if the development of SRMA is associated with time of year, vaccination, geographic location, sex, neuter status, and breed.

Animals

Sixty SRMA cases and 180 controls, all ≤24 months of age and matched for year of presentation, from a referral hospital population in the United Kingdom.

Methods

Retrospective case‐control study with unconditional logistic regression analysis.

Results

Beagles (P = .001), Border Collies (P = .001), Boxers (P = .032), Jack Russell Terriers (P = .001), Weimaraners (P = .048), and Whippets (P < .001) had significantly greater odds of developing SRMA in this population of dogs. Vaccination, time of year, geographic category, sex, and neuter status did not increase the odds of developing SRMA.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Only breed increased the odds of developing SRMA. It would be prudent to investigate the genetics of the identified breeds to help elucidate the etiopathogenesis of SRMA.     

The state of the ecosystem on Anticosti Island, Québec

The state of the ecosystem of Anticosti Island, Québec, was studied by veterinary students (n = 17) and faculty (n = 4) in the summer of 1999. The field of ecosystem health is an integrative science requiring the expertise of professionals in several disciplines, including socioeconomic, ecological, biophysical, human health, and animal health (1).     

Effects of 2 training methods on stress-related behaviors of the dog (Canis familiaris) and on the dog–owner relationship

Instrumental learning plays an important role in dog–human interactions. The recent demand for pet dog training has resulted in the development of various training methods. The present exploratory study aims to compare the effects of 2 training methods on both the behavioral welfare of the dog and the dog–owner relationship: the first method is based on positive reinforcement (appearance of an appetitive stimulus), whereas the second method is based on negative reinforcement (disappearance of an aversive stimulus). The study compared behaviors linked to signs of stress and attentive behaviors toward the owner in 2 dog training schools, which used different methods. Walking on-leash activity and obeying the “sit” command were studied. The results show that dogs from the school using a negative reinforcement–based method demonstrated lowered body postures and signals of stress, whereas dogs from the school using a positive reinforcement–based method showed increased attentiveness toward their owner. However, neither method affected avoidance behaviors. This exploratory study reveals the differential effects of the 2 training methods on dogs' behaviors; it suggests that training methods based on positive reinforcement are less stressful and potentially better for their welfare.     

A Survey of the Literature (1995–1999) on the Kinetics of Drugs in Camels (Camelus dromedarius)

Recent publications dealing mainly with the kinetics of antiparasitic and antibacterial agents, NSAIDs, and other drugs in camels are briefly reviewed. The kinetic data for most of these drugs indicated that they have longer absorption and elimination half-lives and slower systemic clearance in the camel compared to other animals. This corroborates earlier reports that suggested that the activities of drug-metabolizing enzymes and the capacity to biotransform and eliminate xenobiotics is lower in camels than in other ruminants. There is a clear need to establish basic kinetic data for the camel in order to avoid extrapolation of drug dosage regimens and withdrawal times from data for other animals, as this may result in irrational use of drugs in camels.     

Comparison the effects of 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine and zebularine on the in vitro development,blastocyst quality,methylation pattern and conception rate on handmade cloned buffalo embryos

In this study we treated the handmade cloned (HMC) buffalo embryos with the DNA methylation inhibitors; 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (AzadC) or Zebularine individually after post-fusion and during in vitro culture till eighth day. The blastocysts production rate significantly improved (p < .01) after treating embryos independently with 5 nM AzadC and 5 nM zebularine compared with 2 and 10 nM AzadC or zebularine groups, respectively. The highest cleavage rates were obtained for 5 nM treatment of AzadC and zebularine compared with other treatments and untreated control group. Quality of blastocysts were evaluated using total cell number (TCN) and the ratio of number of inner cell mass (ICM) cells/total cell number (ICM/TCN). Zebularine treatments (2/5/10 nM) significantly improved both TCN and ICM/TCN ratio compared with AzadC treatments (2/5/10 nM); however, control group TCN and ICM/TCN ratio was found lower. The methylation percentage of pDS4.1 and B. bubalis satellite DNA were comparatively more attenuated with 5 nM zebularine than 5 nM AzadC treatment. The increased in vitro development rates of the treated embryos were correlated with the decreased level of DNA methylation and the improved blastocyst quality. Following transfer of 5 nM zebularine treated embryos to 6 recipients, 4 were found to be pregnant, though the pregnancies were not carried to full term.     

Seasonal dynamics of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on horses in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Natural tick infestations were assessed every 14 days on horses over a 2-year period. Amblyomma cajennense adult ticks were counted individually, without detachment from the horses. Larvae and nymphs of A. cajennense were collected using a rubber scraper that scratched engorged immature ticks from the host. Adult females of Anocentor nitens larger than 4mm length were counted on the horses. Blood samples were also obtained from the horses every 14 days and macroclimatic data were obtained for the study period. Infestations of A. cajennense demonstrated distinct peaks of activity for each of the three parasitic stages over each 12-month period, showing a 1-year generation pattern. Larvae predominated from April to July and nymphs from June to October. Adults predominated from October to March with a greater number of adult males than females. Although other studies on seasonal dynamics in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais were performed with the free-living stages of A. cajennense on pastures, the present study in the state of S?o Paulo, performed with the parasitic stages of A. cajennense on horses, showed similar results to those observed in other states. Infestations by A. nitens demonstrated distinct peaks of activity of adult females (>4 mm), suggesting different tick generations during the year. Infestation with A. nitens was much higher in the first year than the second year which may have been related to horse nutritional status and stocking rate. Although several climatic variables showed statistical significant correlation (r) with tick counts, the determination coefficients (R(2)) were always lower than 0.40, suggesting that any single significant variable (i.e. mean temperature) would not explain the tick distribution pattern over the year. The highest peaks of A. nitens females (>4 mm) were significantly associated with decrease in horse packed cell volumes (R(2)=0.603). The ears and the perineum, tail and groin region accounted for around 70% of all A. nitens females counted on the horses.     

A comparison of jump performances of the dog flea, Ctenocephalides canis (Curtis, 1826) and the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché, 1835)

Jump performances of Ctenocephalides canis and Ctenocephalides felis felis have been measured and compared on unfed young imagos. The mean length of the C. felis felis jump was 19.9+/-9.1cm; minimum jump was 2cm, and the maximum was one 48cm. The C. canis jump was significantly longer (30.4+/-9.1cm; from 3 to 50cm). For height jump evaluation, grey plastic cylindric tubes measuring 9cm in diameter were used. Their height was increasing from 1 to 30cm by 1cm. Groups of 10 fleas of the same species were deposited on the base of the tube. The number of fleas which succeeded in jumping above the tube was recorded. The mean height jump carried out by 50% of fleas was calculated after linearisation of the curves: it was 15.5 and 13.2cm for C. canis and C. felis, respectively. The highest jump was 25 for C. canis and 17cm for C. felis.