Use of formalin and copper to control ichthyophthiriosis in the Australian freshwater fish silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus Mitchell)

Infestations of the protozoan parasite, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, cause the serious disease ichthyophthiriosis in freshwater fish throughout the world. Formalin is a recommended treatment for ichthyophthiriosis in the Australian fish silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus Mitchell), but the disease is difficult to control in ponds, particularly at low water temperatures. Experiments were carried out to develop an improved treatment regime for formalin and to evaluate copper as a therapeutant. Silver perch fingerlings infested with I. multifiliis were stocked into 55 L aquaria at temperatures of 14.8–17.6 °C and alkalinities of 70–110 mg L^?1. Formalin (34–38% formaldehyde) or copper (24.5% copper sulphate) were added to the aquaria and then monitored and readjusted to nominal concentrations daily. A concentration of 30 mg L^?1 formalin controlled ichthyophthiriosis, but fish treated with 20 mg L^?1 remained infested with theronts and trophonts on day 17; survival at both concentrations was 100%. A concentration of 10 mg L^?1 formalin did not control ichthyophthiriosis and all fish were dead from the infestation by day 17. Fish treated with 0.1 or 0.2 mg L^?1 copper were free of theronts and trophonts by days 17 and 14, respectively, and survival was 100%. Survival at 0.05 mg L^?1 copper was 100%, but fish remained infested. At 0.25 mg L^?1 copper, survival was 82.5% and there were no theronts or trophonts on gill and skin tissues of fingerlings by day 14. There was total mortality of fish treated with 0.5 or 1.0 mg L^?1 copper suggesting these concentrations are toxic to silver perch. All fish in infested‐control treatments died. In earthen ponds containing silver perch, 0.2 mg L^?1 copper was depleted to below 0.1 mg L^?1 within 24 h, and concentrations of 25–38 mg L^?1 formalin were depleted to below 15 mg L^?1 within 48 h. Treatment regimes involving daily applications of formalin or copper controlled ichthyophthiriosis in silver perch in earthen ponds at costs of $US466.37 and $US65.58 hectare^?1 day^?1 respectively. This study has developed a new formalin‐treatment regime for the control of ichthyophthiriosis, and demonstrated that copper sulphate is a potential therapeutant for this serious disease of silver perch.     

A landscape vulnerability framework for identifying integrated conservation and adaptation pathways to climate change: the case of Madagascar’s spiny forest

Context

Integrated conservation decision-making frameworks that help to design or adjust practices that are cognisant of environmental change and adaptation are urgently needed.

Objective

We demonstrate how a landscape vulnerability framework combining sensitivity, adaptive capacity, and exposure to climate change framed along two main axes of concern can help to identify potential strategies for conservation and adaptation decision-making, using a landscape in Madagascar’s spiny forest as a case-study.

Methods

To apply such a vulnerability landscape assessment, we inferred the sensitivity of habitats using temporal and spatial botanical data-sets, including the use of fossil pollen data and vegetation surveys. For understanding adaptive capacity, we analysed existing spatial maps (reflecting anthropogenic stressors) showing the degree of habitat connectivity, matrix quality and protected area coverage for the different habitats in the landscape. Lastly, for understanding exposures, we used climate change predictions in Madagascar, together with a digital elevation model.

Results

The fossil pollen data showed how sensitive arid-adapted species were to past climate changes, especially the conditions between 1000 and 500 cal yr BP. The spatial analysis then helped locate habitats on the two-dimensional axes of concern integrating sensitivity, adaptive capacity and climate change exposure. By identifying resistant, resilient, susceptible, and sensitive habitats to climate change in the landscape under study, we identify very different approaches to integrate conservation and adaptation strategies in contrasting habitats.

Conclusion

This framework, illustrated through a case study, provides easy guidance for identifying potential integrated conservation and adaptation strategies, taking into account aspects of climate vulnerability and conservation capacity.

     

美国在乳业设专项研究以防食品恐怖主义袭击

美国联邦国土安全部拨款150万美元给美国国家乳品工业局、肯塔基大学、路易斯维尔大学和肯塔基西部大学，共同开发一个旨在保证奶的安全的监控系统，重点放在奶从奶牛场到乳品加工厂的运输过程，因为这被认为是国际恐怖主义袭击最有可能发生的阶段。该项目的目标是为肯塔基乳品工业创建一个标准模型，进而供全国使用。     

Scopolamine in racing horses: Trace identifications associated with dietary or environmental exposure

Scopolamine (l-hyoscine) identifications, often in small-number clusters, have been reported worldwide in performance horses over the last 30 years. Scopolamine is an Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) class 3, penalty class B, substance with potential to affect performance. As such, scopolamine identification(s) in race or performance horses can result in significant penalties for the connections of the horse(s). Reviewed here is the worldwide distribution of scopolamine containing plants (primarily Datura spp.), with estimates of their potential toxicity to horses through dietary and/or environmental exposure. Also reviewed are the basic pharmacology of scopolamine and its precursor, urinary concentrations following feedstuff exposure, and the probable pharmacological/forensic significance of such findings.Based on an overview of the world literature on scopolamine, the expected characteristics of inadvertent environmental exposure are also presented with a view to making clear the potential of scopolamine identifications, with or without atropine, as a direct and expected outcome of both the worldwide distribution of scopolamine-containing plants and the sensitivity of modern equine drug testing. It is of particular interest that only 2/30 reported post-event equine identifications of scopolamine have been associated with atropine, suggesting that failure to identify atropine is not a biomarker of pharmaceutical administration of scopolamine. Available quantitative information associated with scopolamine identifications is consistent with the 75 ng/mL regulatory threshold for scopolamine currently used in Louisiana racing in the USA and the 30 ng/mL reporting threshold in effect in European racing.     

Spatial Industrial Dynamics in Sweden: Urban Growth Industries

In this paper two basic theories within spatial industrial dynamics—the filtering-down theory and the spatial product cycle theory—are used to explain processes of spatial decentralization and centralization of economic activities. In particular, a case is made for the idea that employment decentralization should be expected not only for growing and maturing manufacturing industries but also for growing and maturing service industries. Based upon this theoretical framework the empirical part of the paper analysis the spatial behavior during the period 1980 to 1993 of the employment in a group of 19 industries in Sweden—the so-called urban growth industries—with an expected high potential for employment decentralization. Most of the industries exhibited the expected pattern of employment decentralization with the larger medium-sized regions as the main winners. A shift-share analysis shows that the overall magnitudes of the competitive shift components are rather small and that, hence, Sweden during the period 1980–1993 did not experience a drastic change in the spatial distribution of its urban growth industries.     

Fine Structure of the Retinal Photoreceptors of the Domestic Cat (Felis catus)

The morphology of the retinal photoreceptors of the domestic cat (Felis catus) has been investigated by light and electron microscopy. In this species the photoreceptors can be readily differentiated and adequately described by the classical terminology of rods and cones, with rods being the more numerous. Rods are long slender cells with inner and outer segments of much the same diameter. Cones are shorter cells with a conical outer segment that tapers distally and an inner segment which is wider than the outer segment. Both rods and cones are highly polarized and compartmentalized cells and consist of an outer segment, a connecting cilium, an inner segment, a nuclear region and a synaptic process leading to an expanded synaptic ending. Morphological similarities and differences are noted between the rods and cones for the various regions of these cells.     

Fine Structure of the Pecten Oculi of the Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

The pecten oculi of the red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) has been examined by light and electron microscopy. In this species the pecten is very large and of the pleated type. It consists of 17-18 accordion folds which are joined apically by a heavily pigmented bridge of tissue which holds the pecten in a fan-like shape, widest at its base. It is situated over the optic nerve head and extends into the vitreous. Within each fold are numerous capillaries, larger supply and drainage vessels and melanocytes. The capillaries are specialized and display extensive microfolds on both the luminal and abluminal borders. The endothelial cell bodies are thin with most organelles present in a paranuclear location. The capillaries are surrounded by thick fibrillar basal laminae which are probably structurally important and which often enclose pericytes. The melanocytes which are most plentiful in the bridge region and peripherally in the pecten, form an incomplete sheath around the capillaries and other blood vessels. These melanocytes are also felt to be fulfilling a structural role within the pecten. The morphology of the pecten of the red-tailed hawk is indicative of a heavy involvement in the transport of materials to the avascular avian retina.     

Apparent ELISA detection times for albuterol after administration with the torpex equine inhaler device

Single doses of one, three, and six actuations (120 micro g albuterol/actuation) and multiple daily doses (six actuations per dose four times daily) for 5 days of aerosol albuterol sulfate were sequentially administered to each of six horses using an equine inhaler device (Torpex, 3M Animal Care Products, St. Paul, MN [corrected] and Boehringer Ingleheim Vetmedica, Inc., St. Joseph, MO [corrected]). A 2-week washout period was allowed between each dose. ELISA testing revealed no evidence of albuterol in urine at 24 hours after any single-dose administration. Results indicated that 48 hours or longer should be allowed for albuterol to be cleared from urine after single doses. When given at the maximum recommended rate of six actuations per dose four times a day for 5 days, urine samples tested by ELISA showed no evidence of albuterol at 48 hours after the final dose. Testing of nasal swabs by ELISA demonstrated the presence of albuterol for 8 hours after each single dose, and some horses might have detectable levels of albuterol in nasal swabs for several days following administration of multiple doses. As a guideline for withdrawal time, 72 hours or longer should be allowed after administration of aerosol albuterol sulfate to horses before participation in equestrian competitions that are regulated for detection of certain performance-enhancing substances. However, these recommendations were based on a small sample of horses and the specific ELISA test used and interpreted as described. Factors specific to individual horses may influence these detection times.