Artificial Insemination of Gilts with 1.5 Billion Sperms Stored in Different Periods Associated with Different Pre-ovulatory Intervals

This study evaluated the reproductive performance of gilts inseminated at three intervals before ovulation (0-12, 13-23, 24-30 h) with sperm doses (SD) stored for 0-48 and 96-120 h. A total of 218 PIC Camborough 22 gilts were inseminated once with SD of 1.5 x 10(9) sperms. Pregnant gilts (n = 166) were slaughtered 30.8 +/- 3.7 days after artificial insemination. The number of corpora lutea (CL) and total embryos (TE) was counted. Pregnancy rates (PR) were analysed by chi-square test. TE and embryonic survival (ES), obtained as the ratio between viable embryos and CL, were analysed by GLM procedure (SAS) and mean values were compared by Tukey's test. Pregnancy rate was similar among artificial insemination-ovulation (AIOV) intervals when semen was stored for 0-48 h. However, the lowest PR was observed in the 24-30 h AIOV interval with storage time (ST) of 96-120 h (p < 0.05). There was a significant effect of the interaction between ST and AIOV (p < 0.05) on TE and ES variables. Total embryos and ES did not differ (p > 0.05) among AIOV intervals in ST of 0-48 h. However, gilts inseminated at 24-30 h AIOV interval with ST of 96-120 h showed a reduction of 6.7 embryos (p < 0.05) compared with gilts in the same interval inseminated with semen stored for 0-48 h. ES for the 24-30 h AIOV interval and ST of 96-120 h was lower than that observed in the other groups (p < 0.05).     

Aortic rupture causing cardiac tamponade in a 24‐day‐old Friesian colt with concurrent colonic Chlamydiosis and Balantidiasis

A 24‐day‐old Friesian colt died suddenly and a physical examination the morning the foal died showed no abnormalities and serum IgG levels >8.0 g/l. Necropsy examination revealed haemopericardium and a 2 cm transverse tear at the root of the aorta. The foal was also found to have Chlamydophila spp. in the epithelium and Balantidium coli on the mucosal surface of the large colon. An aortic rupture is a novel finding in a foal, colonic Chlamydiosis has not been previously reported in horses and Balantidium coli has not been reported in equids in North America.     

Pseudocyst of the spermatic cord of a gelding.

Clinical, echographic, and histopathological features of an unusual enlarging scrotal mass in a 5-year-old gelding are described. Echography of the scrotal mass in this case provided valuable information concerning the nature of the tissue present, and assisted in narrowing the differential diagnosis.     

A Fluted Point from the Uptar Site, Northeastern Siberia

Lanceolate bifacial points, including one fluted specimen, have been collected from beneath an early Holocene tephra at the Uptar site, northeastern Siberia. Thus, the technology associated with the well-known Paleoindian tradition was not confined to the Americas. The Uptar collection does not compare readily with other Beringian complexes and demonstrates that there is greater diversity in the archaeological record of northeastern Siberia than traditional colonization models imply.     

Amoebic meningoencephalitis caused by Balamuthia mandrillaris in an orang utan

Objective
To describe a case of meningoencephalitis caused by Balamuthia mandrillaris in an orang utan.
Design
A pathological case report.
Animal
A 20 years old male orang utan (Pongo pygmaeus).
Procedure
The disease process was investigated by clinical pathology, necropsy, histopathology and immunofluorescence labelling.
Results
The orang utan developed sudden onset of depression, lethargy, inappetence and apparent head pain. The condition was considered to be related to a 2 year history of upper and lower respiratory disease, and the animal was placed on antibiotics after extensive testing. By the seventh day the animal had become ataxic and disoriented and a brain abscess was suspected. He died on the ninth day of illness. At necropsy, and subsequent sectioning, the brain showed multiple circular, soft, white to grey brown areas of varying size, the largest being in the left temporal (3.5 cm diameter) and right occipital (2.5 cm diameter) regions of the cerebrum. Histological examination of these regions revealed many amoebic trophozoites and occasional cysts associated with areas of haemorrhage and inflammatory necrosis. The trophozoites were packed in perivascular spaces and their nuclei often contained two or more prominent nucleoli. Immunofluorescent labelling of histological sections suggested that the agent was B mandrillaris.
Clinical implications
This report provides further evidence that B mandrillaris , a free living amoeba, can act as a pathogen in animals as well as people, and cause fatal meningoencephalitis. Along with Naegleria and Acanthamoeba spp, B mandrillaris should be considered amongst the causes of acute onset meningoencephalitis in animals.     

Epiphyte communities in Mediterranean fragmented forests: importance of the fragment size and the surrounding matrix

Context

Mediterranean forests have been fragmented intensively over time, thereby yielding small and isolated forest remnants. They host a rich variety of epiphytes, which may be affected by landscape structure. Previous studies have analyzed the influence of habitat quality on these epiphytic communities, but there is little knowledge of the effects of other fragment features.

Objectives

We evaluated the impacts of forest loss and fragmentation on epiphytic communities (lichens and bryophytes) at plot and fragment scales after controlling the variation in forest structure and management.

Methods

We considered 40 fragments of dense oak forests in a human-modified landscape. We quantified their spatial attributes (size and shape), the quality of the surrounding matrix and the forest stand structure. We modeled community traits, and the presence and abundance of species at fragment and plot scales.

Results

Fragment size, shape, and the quality of the surrounding matrix were key factors that affected epiphytic richness and diversity. Larger and more regularly shaped fragments hosted the richest and most diverse communities, possibly offering a larger core area and thus favoring the entry of typical forest species. A high-contrast matrix was only favorable in small fragments, probably allowing the arrival of propagules. The species-level response was highly variable.

Conclusions

Landscape structure provides powerful explanations of the richness and diversity losses among epiphytes. Forest management should ensure the retention of the largest possible continuous forests. The management strategy of the matrix will depend on the conservation goal, since we observed different effects related with quality and fragment size.