Predictive risk mapping of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in Saskatchewan horses

The objective of this study was to develop a model using equine data from geographically limited surveillance locations to predict risk categories for West Nile virus (WNV) infection in horses in all geographic locations across the province of Saskatchewan. The province was divided geographically into low-, medium-, or high-risk categories for WNV, based on available serology information from 923 horses obtained through 4 studies of WNV infection in horse populations in Saskatchewan. Discriminant analysis was used to build models using the observed risk of WNV in horses and geographic division-specific environmental data as well as to predict the risk category for all areas, including those beyond the surveillance zones. High-risk areas were indicated by relatively lower rainfall, higher temperatures, and a lower percentage of area covered in trees, water, and wetland. These conditions were most often identified in the southwest corner of the province. Environmental conditions can be used to identify those areas that are at highest risk for WNV. Public health managers could use prediction maps, which are based on animal or human information and developed from annual early season meteorological information, to guide ongoing decisions about when and where to focus intervention strategies for WNV.     

Lower weight gain and hepatic lipid content in hamsters fed high fat diets supplemented with white rice protein, brown rice protein, soy protein, and their hydrolysates

The physiological effects of the hydrolysates of white rice protein (WRP), brown rice protein (BRP), and soy protein (SP) hydrolyzed by the food grade enzyme, alcalase2.4 L, were compared to the original protein source. Male Syrian Golden hamsters were fed high-fat diets containing either 20% casein (control) or 20% extracted proteins or their hydrolysates as the protein source for 3 weeks. The brown rice protein hydrolysate (BRPH) diet group reduced weight gain 76% compared with the control. Animals fed the BRPH supplemented diet also had lower final body weight, liver weight, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), and liver cholesterol, and higher fecal fat and bile acid excretion than the control. Expression levels of hepatic genes for lipid oxidation, PPARα, ACOX1, and CPT1, were highest for hamsters fed the BRPH supplemented diet. Expression of CYP7A1, the gene regulating bile acid synthesis, was higher in all test groups. Expression of CYP51, a gene coding for an enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis, was highest in the BRPH diet group. The results suggest that BRPH includes unique peptides that reduce weight gain and hepatic cholesterol synthesis.     

Leptospirosis in beef herds from western Canada: serum antibody titers and vaccination practices

One study described the frequency of pre-breeding vaccination for leptospirosis in 205 cow-calf herds from across western Canada and the prevalence of positive Leptospira antibody titers in unvaccinated, weaned calves from 61 of these herds. The percentages of herds vaccinated for leptospirosis were 13.7% in 2001 and 8.4% in 2002. Of 1539 calves examined, 13 (0.8%) had a positive antibody titer for a Leptospira serovar; the most common serovar detected was hardjo. A second study examined the prevalence of positive Leptospira antibody titers during the summer grazing season in 313 vaccinated and 478 unvaccinated cows from 40 cow-calf herds in southern Saskatchewan. Antibody titers for 7 Leptospira serovars were measured during the grazing season. Of the non-vaccinated cows, 9.6% were positive in the spring for serovar pomona, 6.7% for serovar grippotyphosa, and 6.1% for serovar icterohaemorrhagiae; the corresponding percentages for the fall were 5.5%, 3.0%, and 1.3%, respectively. Of 781 vaccinated and unvaccinated cows that were sampled twice, 11.3% of vaccinated cows and 2.3% of unvaccinated cows had increases in Leptospira antibody titers during the grazing season.     

Glucocorticoid-dependent hypoadrenocorticism with thrombocytopenia and neutropenia mimicking sepsis in a Labrador retriever dog

Glucocorticoid-deficient hypoadrenocorticism (GDH) with immune-mediated-neutropenia (IMN) and -thrombocytopenia (IMT) were diagnosed in a 3-year-old Labrador retriever dog. Glucocorticoid-deficient hypoadrenocorticism is rare and diagnostically challenging as clinical signs and laboratory abnormalities are often nonspecific. Immune-mediated cytopenias and other autoimmune disorders, as part of an autoimmune polyglandular syndrome have been reported with hypoadrenocorticism in humans. This is the first reported case of hypoadrenocorticism and bicytopenia in a dog.     

Residual setup error in the canine intracranial region after megavoltage,kilovoltage, or cone‐beam computed tomographic image guidance for radiation therapy

Sources of residual setup error after image guidance include image localization accuracy, errors associated with image registration, and inability of some treatment couches to correct submillimeter translational errors and/or pitch and roll errors. The purpose of this experimental study was to measure setup error after image‐guided correction of the canine intracranial region, using a four degrees‐of‐freedom couch capable of 1 mm translational moves. Six cadaver dogs were positioned 45 times as for clinical treatment using a vacuum deformable body cushion, a customizable head cushion, a thermoplastic mask and an indexed maxillary plate with a dental mould. The location of five fiducial markers in the skull bones was compared between the reference position and after megavoltage (MV), kilovoltage (kV) and cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT)‐guided correction using orthogonal kV images. The mean three‐dimensional distance vectors (3DDV) after MV, kV and CBCT‐guided correction were 1.7, 1.5 and 2.2 mm, respectively. All values were significantly different (P < .01). The 95th percentiles of the 3DDV after online MV, kV and CBCT‐guided correction were 2.8, 2.6 and 3.6 mm, respectively. Residual setup error in the clinical scenario examined was on the order of millimetres and should be considered when choosing PTV margins for image‐guided radiation therapy of the canine intracranial region.     

YIELD AND MINERAL CONCENTRATIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES OAT CULTIVARS USED FOR FORAGE

A shift in oat (Avena sativa L.) production from grain to forage (hay and grazing) is occurring in the southeastern USA. However, most available cultivars were developed for improved grain production, rather than forage yield. We field tested several standard and new oat releases over 2 years, using repeated clippings to determine forage yield, nutrient uptake, and the potential to match plant nutrients with cattle mineral dietary needs. There were no differences in total annual forage yield among the tested cultivars within years but there was a difference between years. Forage tissue phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca) were sufficient, potassium (K), sulfur (S), and manganese (Mn) were excessive, and iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) were occasionally or frequently deficient to meet daily cattle dietary mineral needs. Sulfur, Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn may be the most challenging to regulate in U.S. Coastal Plain soils at concentrations that satisfy both, oat and cattle nutritional requirements.     

Biodegradabilities and Microbial Activities During Composting of Municipal Solid Waste In Bench-Scale Reactors

In the design of large scale, in-vessel systems, the biodegradability of the waste, the optimal nutritional conditions, and the length of time required to complete the high-rate phase are important. Because composting is a microbial process, the overall levels and activities of microorganisms influence the rate and extent of degradation. In this study, bench-scale reactors were used to determine the biodegradability of municipal solid waste, primarily office trash, and the effects of nutrient supplementation on biodegradability during six weeks of composting. Supplementation with nitrogen, phosphorus, vitamins, and trace minerals did not increase the biodegradability of the waste. Although the levels of specific microbial subpopulations varied, total numbers of microorganisms did not change significantly.     

黄金鲈与伊犁鲈杂交后代在气提泵循环水养殖系统中生长分析

研究通过黄金鲈(Perca flavescens)雌鱼与伊犁鲈(Perca schrenki)雄鱼进行杂交,以期加快鲈鱼的生长速度,推迟其性成熟和提高上市规格.为减少饲养环境条件和人为管理差异造成生长试验误差,研究采用试验鱼同池混养的方法进行生长比较.在气提泵循环水养殖系统中,经690 d的生长比较试验.结果表明:杂交鲈体重增长比黄金鲈快33.91%;杂交鲈的性腺发育被推迟或性腺发育不良;黄金鲈和杂交鲈的成活率分别为87.50%和82.08%,二者在成活率上无显著差异(P=0.29).杂交鲈适宜在高密度循环水养殖条件下生长,杂交优势较为显著,可以取代黄金鲈进行集约化养殖生产.     

Fungal diseases of ferrets.

Although fungal disease in ferrets is uncommon, a few cases have been documented, demonstrating that it should be on the clinician's rule out list, especially if the patient has a long-term illness that is not responding appropriately to antibiotics, as was the clinical presentation in many of these documented cases.