Symptomatic Capillaria plica infection in a young European cat

An 8-month-old owned European cat showing abdominal pain, fever, distended painful bladder and urinary blockage was presented. Intravenous fluids were immediately administered and, after sedation, a urinary catheter was applied. Blood and urine analysis revealed cystitis and a moderate-to-severe degree of renal failure. About 20 thread-like nematodes, identified as Capillaria plica larvae and fragments of adult stages, were found in the urine sediment. After treatment with an oral formulation of fenbendazole at 25 mg/kg q 12 h for 10 days, urinary signs and bladder worms disappeared. Cases of Capillaria species bladder worms in cats are rarely reported and most infected cats show no clinical signs, presumably because of a low parasite burden. In the present study, feline capillariosis was associated to urethral obstruction, severe difficulties in urination, cystitis and renal failures.     

Water relations and growth of loblolly pine seedlings planted under a shelterwood and in a clear-cut

We investigated the influence of shelterwood conditions on water relations and growth of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings on two harsh sites in eastern Texas. Site I was harvested to provide four overstory density treatments (0, 2.3, 4.6 and 9.2 m(2) of residual basal area per ha). To quantify the effects of overstory competition, trenched and nontrenched subplots, each containing 25 one-year-old seedlings, were established within each overstory treatment plot, and predawn and midday water potentials (Psi(w)), seedling growth and survival were measured during the growing season. Leaf area and seedling biomass partitioning were measured at the end of the growing season. Site II was harvested to provide two overstory density treatments (0 and 6.9 m(2) ha(-1)) and planted with one-year-old loblolly pine seedlings. Seedling Psi(w), stomatal conductance (g(wv)), transpiration flux density (E), leaf area, height and survival were determined. On Site I, seedling Psi(w) increased with increasing overstory basal area, whereas trenching only substantially affected Psi(w) of seedlings in the 9.2 m(2) ha(-1) overstory treatment. Growth was not affected by overstory treatment or trenching. On Site II, Psi(w) and g(wv) were highest during the morning hours and lowest in the afternoon, whereas E peaked in the afternoon. Vapor pressure deficits and photosynthetic photon flux density were major factors in determining g(wv) differences between treatments. On individual days, the presence of an overstory increased Psi(w) and reduced both g(wv) and E. On Site II, leaf area was affected by overstory treatment throughout most of the study. We conclude that the presence of an overstory can have ameliorative effects on harsh sites at the western fringe of the loblolly pine natural range.     

Effect of Salinity on Growth and Survival in Juvenile Opossum Pipefish,Microphis brachyurus,in Culture Conditions

Natural populations of the opossum pipefish, Microphis brachyurus, are affected in Mexico by anthropogenic alteration of their habitat and unregulated fishing as this species is traded as an aquarium fish without formal records as occurs with other syngnathids around the world. M. brachyurus is an estuarine fish adapted to salinity fluctuations. The aim of this study was to examine the effect on growth, condition, and survival of juvenile pipefish cultured for 4 wk at salinities of 0, 8, and 16 g/L. Pipefish were fed enriched Artemia nauplii maintaining a ration rate of 14% body weight per day (dry weight Artemia: wet weight fish). Pipefish cultured at 16 g/L showed lower survival (40%) than those at 0 and 8 g/L (100 and 96%, respectively), while juveniles cultured in 8 and 16 g/L were heavier (0.393 and 0.388 g, respectively), longer (9.9 cm), and grew faster (1.4) than those in 0 g/L (0.294 g, 9.1 cm, and 0.44, respectively). This study is the first to report that a salinity of 16 g/L compromises M. brachyurus culture potential and a salinity of 0 g/L caused poor growth while the optimal salinity for the species appears to be around 8 g/L.