AGEING OF HYDROLYSED IRON (III) SOLUTIONS1

Three 0.01m Fe(ClO₄)₃ Solutions of R= 0, 1, and 2, respectively, were studied over a period of 8 months, where R is referred to the HCO₃^?/Fe³⁺ mole ratio in preparation. The R= 0 solution was initially light yellow and clear but rapidly changed to a dense cloudy Suspension after a 9-day induction period. Hydrolysed species rapidly grew from <10 nm to >650 nm. Particles of intermediate size were not observed during the entire period of study. Settleable FeOOH precipi-tate was first observed in 5 weeks with 23 per cent of its iron noted as precipitate at the end of 5 months. The R= 1 and R= 2 Solutions were reddish-brown of low turbidity. Rapid hydrolysis and polymerization were observed immediately after preparation. The hydrolysed species gradually grew in size during ageing and no settleable FeOOH precipitate was observed for at least two years. A hypo-thesis based on Lamb and Jacques's model of Fe³⁺ hydrolysis is proposed to interpret the reactions taking place in these three Solutions. In the R= 0 solution, the initial number of nuclei for condensation is low, whereas the poten-tial supply of Fe(OH)₃ is abundant. In the R= 1 and R= 2 Solutions the number of nuclei initially formed is high, whereas a limited amount of mono-meric Fe(OH)₃ is available for condensation. The initial number of nuclei relative to the concentration of monomeric species is the key factor that governs the appearance and properties of these Solutions.     

Anaesthesia with ketamine/medetomidine in the rabbit: influence of route of administration and the effect of combination with butorphanol

Objective To compare the characteristics of anaesthesia induced with ketamine/medetomidine administered by the subcutaneous and intramuscular routes and to assess the effects of the addition of butorphanol to this combination. Study design Prospective randomised study. Animals Six female New Zealand White rabbits. Methods Rabbits were given one of four combinations of ketamine and medetomidine (K/M) either subcutaneously (SC) or intramuscularly (IM) on four successive occasions with a 7‐day interval between treatments. The dose combinations were; 15/0.25 mg kg^?1 SC; 15/0.25 mg kg^?1 IM; 15/0.5 mg kg^?1 SC, and 15/0.25 mg kg^?1 together with 0.4 mg kg^?1 butorphanol (K/M/B) SC. The effects of anaesthesia on arterial blood gas values and cardiovascular variables were recorded at predetermined time points. Toe and ear pinch reflexes were judged to determine the duration of surgical anaesthesia. Loss of the righting reflex was used to measure the duration of sleep time. Analyses used repeated measures analysis of variance. Results All groups lost the righting reflex and ear pinch response. Three animals in the groups that received K/M alone lost their toe pinch reflex, whereas four lost this reflex when given K/M/B. Time of onset of loss of the righting, toe and ear pinch reflexes did not differ significantly among the groups. The higher dose combination of medetomidine with ketamine and the combination of K/M/B produced a greater duration of loss of the ear pinch response than the lower dose of K/M administered by either route. No significant differences were found among the groups in the duration of loss of the toe pinch reflex. All animals developed a moderate bradycardia (mean heart rate <166 beats minute^?1) and moderate hypoxaemia (mean P_aO₂ < 6.0 kPa). Animals given butorphanol showed the greatest reduction in respiratory rate (31 ± 13 breaths minute^?1, p < 0.05) but this was not reflected in any significant differences in arterial PCO₂, PO₂ or pH among the groups. Conclusions Administration of K/M by the SC route produced equivalent effects in comparison to intramuscular administration. The addition of butorphanol increased the duration of anaesthesia, but produced a slight increase in the degree of respiratory depression. All dose rates resulted in hypoxaemia so oxygen should be administered when these combinations are used in rabbits. Clinical relevance Subcutaneous administration is both technically simpler and may cause less discomfort to the animal than IM injection, and so is preferred. The combination of K/M with butorphanol has relatively minor effects on the depth and duration of anaesthesia, so offers little advantage to the use of K/M alone.     

Post-vaccinal distemper encephalitis in two Border Collie cross littermates

Abstract

CASE HISTORY: One 4.5-month-old male Border Collie cross presented with aggression and seizures in October 2006. A 16-month-old, female, spayed Border Collie cross presented with hypersalivation and a dropped jaw and rapidly became stuporous in September 2007. The dogs were littermates and developed acute neurological signs 5 and 27 days, respectively, after vaccination with different modified live vaccines containing canine distemper virus.

HISTOPATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: Sections of brain in both dogs showed evidence of encephalitis mainly centred on the grey matter of brainstem nuclei, where there was extensive and intense parenchymal and perivascular infiltration of histiocytes and lymphocytes. Intra-nuclear and intra-cytoplasmic inclusions typical of distemper were plentiful and there was abundant labelling for canine distemper virus using immunohistochemistry.

DIAGNOSIS: Post-vaccinal canine distemper.

CLINCIAL RELEVANCE: Post-vaccinal canine distemper has mainly been attributed to virulent vaccine virus, but it may also occur in dogs whose immunologic nature makes them susceptible to disease induced by a modified-live vaccine virus that is safe and protective for most dogs.     

Giardia infection in budgerigars

Budgerigars ( Melopsittacus undulatus ) from two different breeding colonies were found to have Giardia infection. Light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and in-vitro and in-vivo studies confirmed the species was G psittaci . Chicks were clinically affected and showed signs of retarded growth, dehydration and diarrhoea. The faeces of adult birds treated with metronidazole in drinking water were negative for Giardia 5 days after treatment. Megabacteria were also found in adult birds but were not treated. This study extends the known host range for Giardia in Australia to include budgerigars.     

Investigation of the effect of Equivac® HeV Hendra virus vaccination on Thoroughbred racing performance

Objective

To evaluate the effect of Equivac® HeV Hendra virus vaccine on Thoroughbred racing performance.

Design

Retrospective pre‐post intervention study.

Methods

Thoroughbreds with at least one start at one of six major south‐eastern Queensland race tracks between 1 July 2012 and 31 December 2016 and with starts in the 3‐month periods before and after Hendra virus vaccinations were identified. Piecewise linear mixed models compared the trends in ‘Timeform rating’ and ‘margin to winner’ before and after initial Hendra virus vaccination. Generalised linear mixed models similarly compared the odds of ‘winning’, ‘placing’ (1st–3rd) and ‘winning any prize money’. Timeform rating trends were also compared before and after the second and subsequent vaccinations.

Results

Analysis of data from 4208 race starts by 755 horses revealed no significant difference in performance in the 3 months before versus 3 months after initial Hendra vaccination for Timeform rating (P = 0.32), ‘Margin to winner’ (P = 0.45), prize money won (P = 0.25), wins (P = 0.64) or placings (P = 0.77). Further analysis for Timeform rating for 7844 race starts by 928 horses failed to identify any significant change in Timeform rating trends before versus after the second and subsequent vaccinations (P = 0.16) or any evidence of a cumulative effect for the number of vaccines received (P = 0.22).

Conclusion

No evidence of an effect of Hendra virus vaccination on racing performance was found. The findings allow owners, trainers, industry regulators and animal health authorities to make informed decisions about vaccination.     

缓释氮肥与尿素配施对高原机插籼稻产量与生长特性的影响

为了明确高原地区机插籼稻缓释氮肥与尿素配施的最佳比例,以川谷优7329为材料,在施氮量为150kg/hm~2和105 kg/hm~2水平下,研究了4种缓释氮肥与尿素配施比例(10∶0,7∶3,5∶5,3∶7)对机插籼稻产量与生长特性的影响。结果表明,不同施氮量间水稻产量差异不显著,缓释氮肥与尿素配施水稻产量由高到低为5∶510∶07∶33∶7。在相同比例下增加施氮量可以增加机插籼稻抽穗期高效叶片的长度,提高茎蘖数和抽穗期叶面积指数,但降低了氮肥农学利用效率和粒叶比。尿素所占比例越高成穗率越低,5∶5的处理水稻表观输出率和氮肥农学利用效率最高。高原地区机插籼稻最佳氮肥施用量为105 kg/hm~2,缓释氮肥与普通尿素配施比例为5∶5。