Alterations in selected serum biochemistry values of free-ranging Bornean leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis borneoensis) captured by box traps

Box-traps for capturing wild cats are widely used by researchers since it is one of the most effective methods for trapping these species. Although they are extensively utilised, the effects on the physiology of trapped felids remain unclear. Researchers frequently make judgements regarding the safety of such capture devices by examination of external injuries but often fail to take into consideration other physiological parameters. To assess the effects of capture events on selected serum biochemistry values of free-ranging Bornean leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis borneoensis) six free-ranging leopard cats (four males, two females) were trapped by using box-traps in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Blood was collected by jugular venipucture after chemical immobilization with a mixture of tiletamine and zolazepam. Blood was analysed for 17 serum biochemistry parameters. The most consistent and significantly higher value found in both sexes was aspartate aminotransferase (AST), followed by high mean value of alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Both mean values exceeded the upper limit of the reference range for captive leopard cats. These results demonstrate that captured leopard cats by box-traps undergo physical exertion and consequently some type of muscle injury/damage. Researchers and wildlife managers should be aware of the physiological response of trapped felids when using box-traps. Devices that facilitate the prompt removal of leopard cats from the traps would be useful for researchers to avoid further damage while live trapping this species.     

Identification of Bphs,an autoimmune disease locus,as histamine receptor H1

Bphs controls Bordetella pertussis toxin (PTX)-induced vasoactive amine sensitization elicited by histamine (VAASH) and has an established role in autoimmunity. We report that congenic mapping links Bphs to the histamine H1 receptor gene (Hrh1/H1R) and that H1R differs at three amino acid residues in VAASH-susceptible and -resistant mice. Hrh1-/- mice are protected from VAASH, which can be restored by genetic complementation with a susceptible Bphs/Hrh1 allele, and experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and autoimmune orchitis due to immune deviation. Thus, natural alleles of Hrh1 control both the autoimmune T cell and vascular responses regulated by histamine after PTX sensitization.     

The HFC/HCFC breakdown product trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and its effects on the symbiosis between Bradyrhizobium japonicum and soybean (Glycine max)

The environmental impact of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) are under intense study due to the resistance of the breakdown product, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), to further degradation. TFA has come under scrutiny due to its rapid and complete partitioning into aqueous phases of the environment, eventually allowing for deposition of TFA into soil via precipitation. Evidence exists that TFA may be toxic to soil microbes and plants, with little or no degradation occurring in soils. Uptake by plants and microorganisms and its similarity to acetate, implies its potential to effect the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing partners Bradyrhizobium japonicum and soybean (Glycine max). A preliminary study was performed in accordance with the Alternative Fluorocarbon Environmental Acceptability Study (AFEAS). Those results are presented here in addition to the findings of further experimentation on the initial interaction of B. japonicum with soybean. We used three levels of TFA (0.67, 6.74 and 67.40 μl TFA kg⁻¹ soil; 0.003, 0.031 and 0.314 μl TFA l⁻¹) for soil and hydroponics conditions and three levels (10, 100 μM and 1 mM) in bacterial culture. The results demonstrate that TFA affects growth of B. japonicum significantly, but does not affect PHB accumulation. Also no F⁻ was found in cultures grown on TFA. Attachment of B. japonicum to soybean roots was enhanced with the lowest level of acetate or TFA and was significantly reduced with 1 mM acetate or TFA. Cultures grown on acetate or acetate with TFA do not attach well, with those grown with 1 mM TFA the least. Both effects may be attributed to pH. Soybean seedlings had significantly retarded development with levels of TFA at or above 6.74 μl TFA kg⁻¹ soil and 0.031 μl TFA l⁻¹ nutrient solution. No nodules formed on those plants treated with these levels of TFA except in the hydroponics trials. Nodule location was not affected regardless of the TFA level. At the lowest level used we found no effects on soybean or symbiotic nitrogen fixation. In some cases, nodulation was enhanced, but nodule weight reduced. Anaerobically isolated bacteroids had normal levels of acetylene reduction activity regardless of the level of TFA used. In summary, soybean is much more sensitive to low levels of TFA than its symbiotic counterpart B. japonicum. No detrimental effects on symbiotic nitrogen fixation in soybean should be expected unless large bioaccumulation of TFA occurs in agricultural areas.     

Determination of albendazole and its major metabolites in the muscle tissues of Atlantic salmon,tilapia, and rainbow trout by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorometric detection

A liquid chromatographic procedure for the determination of albendazole ([5-(propylthio)-1H-benzimidazol-2yl]carbamic acid methyl ester) and its major metabolites, albendazole sulfoxide, albendazole sulfone, and albendazole-2- aminosulfone in rainbow trout, tilapia, and salmon muscle with adhering skin tissue is described. The muscle tissue samples are made alkaline with potassium carbonate and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extracts are further subjected to cleanup by utilizing a number of liquid-liquid extraction steps. After solvent evaporation, the residue is reconstituted in mobile phase and chromatographed. The chromatography is carried out on a reversed phase Luna C(18) column, using acetonitrile/methanol/buffer as a mobile phase and a fluorescence detector. The average recoveries from the fortified muscle tissue of the three fish species for albendazole (25-100 ppb), albendazole sulfoxide (15.5-62 ppb), albendazole sulfone (1-10 ppb), and albendazole-2- aminosulfone (10-100 ppb) were 94, 77, 82, and 67%, respectively. The average CV for each compound was < or =10%. The procedure was validated and then applied to the determination of albendazole and its three major metabolites in the muscle tissue of the three fish species obtained after orally dosing with albendazole.     

Evaluation of bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and bovine herpesvirus (BHV) specific antibody responses between heterologous and homologous prime-boost vaccinated western Canadian beef calves

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is an economically important cause of morbidity and mortality in beef calves. Control of BRD is most often addressed through “homologous” vaccination utilizing the same injectable modified-live viral (MLV) vaccine for both priming and boosting. Heterologous prime-boosting uses different routes and antigenic forms for priming and boosting. Three vaccine protocols were compared: an injectable (IJ) MLV (IJ-MLV) group (IJ-MLV priming at ~48 days and boosted with IJ-MLV at weaning), intranasal (IN) MLV (IN-MLV) group (intranasal priming with MLV at ~24 hours, boosted twice with an IJ-MLV), and intranasal killed viral (IN-KV) group (primed with an IN-MLV at ~24 hours, boosted twice with an IJ-KV). Serum antibody concentrations determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were compared and the IN-KV group had significantly higher BRSV-specific antibody concentrations after boosting compared with the 2 homologous groups. No differences in BHV-specific antibody concentrations were observed between any of the groups.     

Long-term effects of prescribed fire on mixed conifer forest structure in the Sierra Nevada, California

The capacity of prescribed fire to restore forest conditions is often judged by changes in forest structure within a few years following burning. However, prescribed fire might have longer-term effects on forest structure, potentially changing treatment assessments. We examined annual changes in forest structure in five 1 ha old-growth plots immediately before prescribed fire and up to eight years after fire at Sequoia National Park, California. Fire-induced declines in stem density (67% average decrease at eight years post-fire) were nonlinear, taking up to eight years to reach a presumed asymptote. Declines in live stem biomass were also nonlinear, but smaller in magnitude (32% average decrease at eight years post-fire) as most large trees survived the fires. The preferential survival of large trees following fire resulted in significant shifts in stem diameter distributions. Mortality rates remained significantly above background rates up to six years after the fires. Prescribed fire did not have a large influence on the representation of dominant species. Fire-caused mortality appeared to be spatially random, and therefore did not generally alter heterogeneous tree spatial patterns. Our results suggest that prescribed fire can bring about substantial changes to forest structure in old-growth mixed conifer forests in the Sierra Nevada, but that long-term observations are needed to fully describe some measures of fire effects.     

Canopy and hydraulic conductance in young, mature and old Douglas-fir trees

We tested for reductions in water transport with increasing tree size, a key component in determining whether gas exchange and growth are hydraulically limited in tall trees. During the summers of 1998 and 1999, we measured water transport with Granier-type, constant-heat sap flow probes, vapor pressure deficit, and leaf and soil water potentials in overstory Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco trees in three stands differing in size and age (15, 32 and 60 m in height and about 20, 40 and 450 years in age, respectively) in a P. menziesii-dominated forest in the Pacific Northwest, USA. A total of 24 trees were equipped with sap flow sensors--six 60-m trees, nine 32-m trees and nine 15-m trees. Based on the sap flow measurements and leaf area information estimated from leaf area-sapwood area relationships, we estimated crown-averaged stomatal conductance (GS) and leaf-specific hydraulic conductance (KL). We tested the hypothesis that GS and KL vary inversely with tree height (15 > 32 > 60 m). Analysis of variance of GS ranked as 15 = 60 > 32 m during the early summer and 15 > 60 > 32 m during late season drought. Over the growing season, mean daily GS (+/- SE) was 29.2 +/- 4.4, 24.0 +/- 6.8 and 17.7 +/- 7.2 mmol m-2 s-1 for the 15-, 60- and 32-m trees, respectively. The value of K(L) differed among tree heights only during late season drought and ranked 15 > 32 = 60 m. A hydraulic mass balance suggests that greater sapwood conductivity in 60-m trees compared with 32- and 15-m trees is a likely cause for the departure of the above rankings from those predicted by height and leaf-to-sapwood area ratio.     

Enhancement of conditioned arterial pressure responses in cats after brainstem lesions

Cats were classically conditioned after the baroreceptor reflexes were abolished by bilateral placement of electrolytic lesions in the nucleus tractus solitarii. The conditioned increases in arterial pressure were more than five times larger than the responses obtained in similarly trained controls. This finding suggests that the baroreceptor reflexes actively inhibit conditioned increases of arterial pressure.