UV-B radiation increases paraquat tolerance of two broad-leaved and two grass weeds in relation to changes in herbicide absorption and photosynthesis

Depletion of the protective ozone layer in the atmosphere leads to increasing UV‐B radiation on the earth's surface with potential effects on the response of plants to different stresses. Abutilon theophrasti, Amaranthus retroflexus, Digitaria sanguinalis and Chloris virgata are common weeds encountered in most arable fields in China. The effectiveness of herbicides used in controlling these weeds needs to be evaluated with increased UV‐B radiation. Seedlings of these four weeds were therefore grown under ambient and elevated UV‐B radiation to compare the efficacy of paraquat, a commonly used contact herbicide. Irrespective of species sensitivity to radiation, the elevated UV‐B radiation decreased the effectiveness of paraquat. Net photosynthesis rate was adversely affected except for D. sanguinalis, while the chlorophyll content was significantly reduced in A. retroflexus and C. virgata. UV‐B treatment increased the leaf surface wax and decreased the absorption of ¹⁴C‐paraquat in A. theophrasti, D. sanguinalis and C. virgata. These results suggest that the response of weeds to paraquat or the use of the herbicide may be affected by increased UV‐B radiation, to the extent that larger doses may be required to achieve desired effects. This may have damaging consequences for the environment.     

Determination of carcinoembryonic antigen and cancer antigen (CA 15‐3) in bitches with tumours on mammary gland: preliminary report

The aim of this work was to determine levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cancer antigen (CA 15‐3) in the blood serum of 45 bitches. A modified procedure was used to determine the CEA and CA 15‐3 markers with the human kits using the radioimmunoassay method. Samples collected from extirpated tumour of mammary glands were histologically processed and classified as per WHO guidelines. The average age of animals with tumour was 10.00 ± 2.2 years; for healthy bitches average age was 4.2 ± 3.2 years. Values of CEA and CA 15‐3 were considered positive, if they exceeded 0.23 ng mL^?1 and 7 IU mL^?1, respectively. Average levels of CEA in the tumour group were 0.25 ± 0.06 versus 0.20 ± 0.03 in healthy bitches (P = 0.0001). The average CA 15‐3 value in bitches with tumour was 8.58 ± 1.27 versus 5.14 ± 1.34 in healthy animals (P < 0.0001).     

Viruses associated with feline respiratory disease in Dunedin

Extract

In Dunedin, feline respiratory infections with a high morbidity, but a low mortality except in very young animals, commonly occur in epizootics and appear to be enzootic between these outbreaks. The affected animals develop a serous ocular discharge which later becomes mucoid, and a mucoid nasal discharge associated with sneezing especially after handling. While these signs of infection are present, the animals are anorexic and listless. The disease may last for two weeks or more and sometimes affected cats develop a chronic snuffle lasting for months despite treatment. The disease is usually referred to as “snuffles”, although it is probably identical with the syndrome called “rhinotracheitis”. In the summer time, it commonly occurs in boarding establishments where large numbers of pets collected from a wide area are left by summer vacationers. In breeding catteries, infections occur most often in the spring and especially at the time of the first warm weather. Young kittens about 5 to 10 days old are usually affected but kittens which escape infection at this stage not infrequently develop symptoms at about 6 weeks of age.     

In vitro effect of levamisole on the cell viability,phagocytosis and respiratory burst of Barbel chub (Squaliobarbus curriculus) macrophages

The present study was to determine in vitro effect of levamisole on the immune functions of Barbel chub (Squaliobarbus curriculus), head–kidney‐derived (HKM), spleen‐derived (SM) and peripheral blood monocyte‐derived macrophage (PBM). Macrophages were incubated with levamisole 10³, 10¹, 10⁻¹ and 10⁻³ ng mL⁻¹ to assay the cell viability, respiratory burst and phagocytosis. The results showed that macrophages treated with levamisole 10⁻³ ng mL⁻¹ gave a maximum respiratory burst response, whereas levamisole 10³ ng mL⁻¹ had no effect. Phagocytosis activity of the macrophages treated with levamisole enhanced significantly when compared to control, maximum response being at 10⁻³ ng mL⁻¹. While using the methylthiazoletetrazolium method to measure the cell activity for 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 h, there was no significant role on proliferation and the cell viability began to decline after 24 h. In conclusion, levamisole is a potent enhancer of Barbel chub macrophage activity with low concentration.     

Gold-induced immune thrombocytopenia in the dog

In two seven-year studies with gold compounds in dogs of both sexes, thrombocytopenia was observed after 45 to 72 months of dosing in three of 14 and two of 14 dogs in high-dose groups that received 2.4 to 3.6 mg/kg of auranofin per day orally or 0.5 to 2.0 mg/kg of gold sodium thiomalate intramuscularly once every three days, respectively. An immune basis for the disorder was suggested by the apparent consumptive nature of the thrombocytopenia (increased bone marrow megakaryocytes and large peripheral blood platelets), the response to corticosteroid therapy and the demonstration of increased platelet-associated immunoglobulin. The latter was demonstrated with a solid phase radioimmunoassay and by electron microscopy using a staphylococcal protein A-colloidal gold conjugate. Platelet-associated immunoglobulin decreased as the platelet counts rose, and in one dog monitored over periods of steroid-induced remissions and subsequent relapses, the amount of platelet-associated immunoglobulin G correlated inversely with the platelet count (r = 0.82). These findings suggest that the long-term administration of gold compounds in dogs is associated with a dose-dependent incidence of thrombocytopenia, which is immune-mediated and similar to that associated with parenteral chrysotherapy in man. The application of tests for platelet-associated immunoglobulin to canine patients with immune thrombocytopenia should be useful in the diagnosis of the disorder in clinical practice.     

Effects of different rearing and feeding methods on meat quality and antioxidative properties in Chinese Yellow male broilers

1. This study examined responses of male broilers during a 42-d production cycle to two different rearing and feeding methods. 2. A total of 400 Chinese Yellow male broilers were allotted randomly at 21 d into two groups; the control was a typical indoor commercial rearing method and the treatment had outdoor access with scattered feeding (OS). Each group had 5 replicates with 40 birds per replicate. 3. Growth performance was similar for both groups from 21 to 63 d of age. OS birds had significantly lower abdominal fat percentage, meat shear force, drip loss, breast meat colour b* value and significantly higher pH value compared with the controls. OS birds had significantly lower muscle fibre diameter and greater muscle fibre density. Serum glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities were significantly higher and the contents of cholesterol, lactic acid, glycogen and malondialdehyde of breast muscle were significantly lower in OS birds than controls. 4. The results suggest that the OS feeding method had no negative effects on performance (weight, gain, feed conversion rate, carcase traits) compared with controls, and appeared to be beneficial for meat quality indices and oxidative stability.     

Technical note: Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the determination of florfenicol and thiamphenicol in swine feed

One polyclonal antibody against florfenicol and thiamphenicol was produced and a competitive ELISA was developed for the detection of florfenicol and thiamphenicol in swine feed. The ELISA gave a 50% inhibiting concentration of 1.02 ng/mL for florfenicol. For swine feed fortified with 0.05 to 3.0 mg/kg, the interassay recoveries of florfenicol and thiamphenicol ranged from 86.4 to 118.6%, whereas intraassay recoveries of both drug ranged from 90.1 to 126.5% with less than 15% CV. Results obtained from HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry indicated this ELISA procedure could be used as a convenient method for rapid screening of florfenicol and thiamphenicol in swine feed.     

Diagnostic radiology of pet and wild birds: a review. I. Radiographic techniques and radiographs of healthy birds.

By the radiographic examination of pet and wild birds, veterinary clinicians may relatively easily obtain additional information that can be used routinely in their everyday diagnostic and therapeutic work. The first part of the present review summarizes the basic technical conditions of radiological examinations, analyses the radiographic features of healthy birds, and describes the procedure and radiological indications of contrast radiography.