Economic returns of disease-affected extensive shrimp farming in southwest Bangladesh

One hundred and two brackish water shrimp farms in Shyamnagar Upazila of Satkhira District, Bangladesh, were surveyed to study their costs and returns. Key data were collected, using a questionnaire survey from January to August 2002. Profitability of operations was affected by fluctuating yields and prices due to diseases, and generated economic risk. The average total cost of production per hectare was 63,437.57 Bangladeshi taka (tk) (US$1,084.40/ha). The farmers achieved a variable yield of black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon), ranging from 7.48 kg/ha to 455.03 kg/ha, with a mean yield of 146.39 kg/ha, through multi-stock and multi-harvest methods. The gross and net incomes per hectare were tk49,999.87 (US$854.69) and tk40,307.04 (US$689.01), respectively. Of the total biomass, 44% came from P. monodon, while the rest (23% and 33%) came from other shrimp and finfish respectively. The return to total cost of P. monodon was a negative profit (tk0.78).     

Induction of hepatic microsomal enzymes in chickens effected by various persistent foreign materials]

Changes in the levels of microsomal proteins, in the activity of microsomal aniline hydroxylase, and in the effectivity of Thiopental were studied in chickens given the Czechoslovak-produced type of polychlorinated biphenyls - Delor 103. The increased activity of aniline hydroxylase and the decrease of Thiopental sleeping time in chickens exposed to the action of Delor 103 indicate that this preparation is able to induce liver microsomal enzymes in doses as low as 5 mg per kg of feed. The induction of liver microsomal enzymes appears to be an important factor, able to exercise a direct influence on the biotransformation of various biologically important substances in the organism of chickens.     

Prevalence of bacterial species in cats with clinical signs of lower urinary tract disease: recognition of Staphylococcus felis as a possible feline urinary tract pathogen

This study investigated the prevalence of bacterial pathogens of the urinary tract in Australian cats. Urine was collected by cystocentesis and subjected to urinalysis, bacterial culture and susceptibility testing. A total of 126 isolates were obtained from 107 culture-positive cats. Escherichia coli was most commonly isolated (37.3% of isolates) with the majority of isolates showing susceptibility to the 14 antimicrobials tested. Just over a quarter of isolates (27.0%) were Enterococcus faecalis, which showed resistance to cephalosporins and clindamycin. Staphylococcus felis, a previously unreported feline urinary tract pathogen which was susceptible to all antimicrobial agents tested, comprised 19.8% of the isolates. S. felis was significantly associated with urine that had a higher specific gravity (p=0.011) and pH (p=0.006) and was more likely to contain crystals (p=0.002) than urine from which other bacterial species were isolated. This is the first published study that associates the isolation of S. felis with clinical signs of lower urinary tract disease in cats.     

Clinical efficacy and palatability of pradofloxacin 2.5% oral suspension for the treatment of bacterial lower urinary tract infections in cats

BACKGROUND: Pradofloxacin is a 3rd generation veterinary fluoroquinolone designed to restrict the emergence of antimicrobial resistance during therapy. HYPOTHESIS: Pradofloxacin 2.5% oral suspension is a safe, efficacious, and palatable treatment for bacterial urinary tract infections (UTI) in cats. ANIMALS: Seventy-eight cats presented with lower urinary tract signs and were positive on bacterial culture of urine. METHODS: Cats were allocated into 3 treatment groups depending on bacterial susceptibility results: pradofloxacin (n = 27), doxycycline (n = 23), or amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (n = 28). All antimicrobials were presented in palatable liquid form. Posttreatment urine specimens were collected after completion of the course of treatment and submitted for bacterial culture and sensitivity. Owners were questioned before and after treatment about their experiences with administering oral medication to their cats. RESULTS: Posttreatment urine culture was negative in all cats in the pradofloxacin group, but there were 3 treatment failures in each of the other groups. Owners' perceptions of the difficulty of administering oral medication to their cats was more positive posttreatment than pretreatment (P = .001; P < .001). There was no difference in palatability among the treatment groups (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: We conclude that pradofloxacin 2.5% oral suspension is a highly effective and safe antimicrobial treatment for bacterial lower urinary tract infection in cats, and that the palatable formulation optimizes owner compliance. These findings make pradofloxacin a useful addition to the veterinary formulary.     

中文版阔叶材胶合板标准面市

2004年10月25日,美国弗吉尼亚州亚历山大(ALEXANDRIA,Va)消息。国际木制品协会(International Wood Products Association,IWPA)发布公告,其制订的通用工业标准,《IHPA Grade等级进口阔叶材胶合板采购标准》最近翻译出版了中文版(繁体)。