Cerebrospinal angiostrongyliasis in five captive tamarins (Sanguinus spp)

Four cotton-top tamarins ( Sanguinus oedipus oedipus ) and one emperor tamarin ( S imperator subgrisescens ) housed in a zoo became depressed, anorexic, paraparetic and eventually paralysed. The animals died within 5 days to 18 months of the appearance of clinical signs. Histological examination showed nonsuppurative and eosinophilic meningoencephalitis, and metastrongyle nematode larvae were found within subarachnoid spaces of all animals and within the spinal cord of one. Intact larvae with features consistent with Angiostrongylus cantonensis were recovered from the brain of one animal. This parasite is the classical cause of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in many parts of the world and the diagnosis can be strongly suspected on clinical grounds. In endemic areas like south-east Queensland, protection of captive animals against infection with A cantonensisi s a difficult balance between providing a stimulating, natural setting and eliminating potentially infectious definitive, intermediate and paratenic hosts… This is the first report of cerebrospinal angiostrongyliasis in tamarins and nonhuman primates in Australia.     

Comparison of Different Glycerol and Egg Yolk Concentrations Added to Tris‐based Extender for the Collared Peccaries (Tayassu tajacu) Semen Freezing

This study aimed to evaluate various concentrations of egg yolk (5, 10, or 20%) in combination with different concentrations of glycerol (3% or 6%) added to a Tris‐based extender on the post‐thaw characteristics of sperm obtained from Tayassu tajacu. For this purpose, semen from 10 sexually male mature collared peccaries was collected by electroejaculation and evaluated for sperm motility, vigour, viability, morphology and functional membrane integrity. The ejaculates were initially extended in Tris‐fructose plus egg yolk (5%, 10% or 20%). After cooling, the semen was added to Tris‐egg yolk plus glycerol (6% or 12%), resulting in a final concentration of 3% or 6% glycerol of the extender. Straws were frozen using liquid nitrogen and thawed in a water bath at 37°C for 30 s. The frozen–thawed semen was evaluated as reported for fresh semen. After thawing, a significant decrease was verified for sperm motility and vigour, for all the samples in comparison with fresh semen. However, no differences were evidenced among treatments for any sperm characteristics evaluated (p > 0.05), except for the combination between 10% egg yolk and 6% glycerol, which provided the worst preservation of functional membrane integrity (p < 0.05). The interactions between higher concentrations of egg yolk (20%) and glycerol (6%) and also between lower concentrations of the same substances (5% egg yolk and 3% glycerol) added to the Tris‐based extender negatively affected the preservation of the normal sperm morphology after thawing (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the use of Tris‐based extender added to 10% or 20% egg yolk plus 3% glycerol is recommended for effective sperm cryopreservation in collared peccaries.     

Digestibilities of the protein in various foods as determinedin vitro by an immobilized digestive enzyme assay (IDEA)

The digestibility of the protein in various foods or food components was analyzed using an immobilized digestive enzyme assay (IDEA) system. The assay consists of two bioreactors, one containing pepsin and the other containing trypsin, chymotrypsin and intestinal mucosa peptidases. The fraction of the peptide bonds hydrolyzed during an extent of hydrolysis assay was correlated with independentin vivo determinations of the digestibilities. A correlation coefficient of 0.80 was obtained. The derived linear regression equation can be used to predict digestibility. The method is sensitive to structural modification of protein, as for example, those caused by effects of heat treatment.Paper No. 11032 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, NC 27695-7601. The use of trade names does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Research Service of the products.     

A comparison of two intramuscular doses of xylazine–ketamine combination and tolazoline reversal in llamas

The anesthetic and cardiorespiratory effects of a low dose (LD, 0.4 mg kg^?1 xylazine and 4 mg kg^?1 ketamine) and a high dose (HD, 0.8 mg kg^?1 xylazine and 8 mg kg^?1 ketamine) of IM xylazine–ketamine combination were compared in a randomized cross‐over study using six castrated male llamas. Three llamas in each dosage group (LDT, HDT) were assigned to receive IM tolazoline (2 mg kg^?1) after 30 minutes of recumbency. All IM injections were given in the semitendinosus or semimembranosus muscles. Pulse, respiratory rate, and indirect arterial blood pressure were recorded every 10 minutes, and hemoglobin oxygen saturation was recorded every 5 minutes during lateral recumbency. Samples for arterial blood gas analysis were collected 5 minutes following recumbency and every 30 minutes thereafter. Base‐to‐apex ECG was monitored continuously. Analgesia was evaluated every 5 minutes by both a 30 minutes skin pinch and a needle prick of the toe. Most llamas breathed room air throughout anesthesia. Two llamas that developed severe hypoxemia (SpO₂ < 75%) received 5 minutes of nasal oxygen insufflation, but were maintained on room air for the rest of the anesthetic period. anova for repeated measures and Tukey's test were used to analyze cardiorespiratory data. Fischer's exact test was used to compare the ability of each to provide >30 minutes of lateral recumbency and analgesia. A p‐value < 0.05 was considered significant. Both dosages provided reasonably rapid induction following injection (LD: 10.8 ± 6.3 minutes; HD: 5.0 ± 1.1 minutes; p = 0.07). Duration of lateral recumbency and analgesia were 34.7 ± 6.7 and 27.3 ± 4.6 minutes, respectively, in the LDT llamas. None of the three remaining LD llamas remained in lateral recumbency for longer than 12 minutes. Duration of lateral recumbency and analgesia were 87.3 ± 18.5 and 67.7 ± 16.0 minutes, respectively, for the HD llamas that did not receive tolazoline. The HDT llamas were recumbent for a significantly shorter time (43.3 ± 0.6 minutes; p = 0.05). The ability to provide >30 minutes of recumbency and analgesia was better in the HD group (6/6) than in the LD group (2/6) (p = 0.03). No differences between dosages were seen in pulse rate, respiratory rate, or arterial pressures. No ECG abnormalities were seen. Transient hypoxemia was seen in the first 10 minutes of lateral recumbency in the HD group by both hemoglobin oxygen saturation (84 ± 9.5%) and by blood gas PaO₂ (44.5 ± 5.8 mm Hg). It was concluded that the HD provided more consistent results than the LD, but induced transient hypoxemia. Tolazoline shortened the recovery time in llamas receiving the HD.     

Integrated pest management in western flower thrips: past,present and future

Western flower thrips (WFT) is one of the most economically important pest insects of many crops worldwide. Recent EU legislation has caused a dramatic shift in pest management strategies, pushing for tactics that are less reliable on chemicals. The development of alternative strategies is therefore an issue of increasing urgency. This paper reviews the main control tactics in integrated pest management (IPM) of WFT, with the focus on biological control and host plant resistance as areas of major progress. Knowledge gaps are identified and innovative approaches emphasised, highlighting the advances in ‘omics’ technologies. Successful programmes are most likely generated when preventive and therapeutic strategies with mutually beneficial, cost‐effective and environmentally sound foundations are incorporated. © 2017 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.