Nasopharyngeal cryptococcosis

Naturally occurring cryptococcosis in five cats, a dog and a koala is described. Involvement of the nasopharynx was documented in all patients, and nasopharyngeal mass lesions accounted for the major presenting complaints in four. Signs referable to nasopharyngeal disease included snoring, stertor, inspiratory dyspnoea and aerophagia. Diagnoses were made by caudal rhinoscopy using a retroverted flexible endoscope, vigorous orthograde flushing with saline, or at necropsy. Concurrent cryptococcal rhinitis was present in all cases, although involvement appeared limited to the caudal nasal cavity in most cases. Typical signs of nasal cavity disease, such as sneezing and nasal discharge, were often absent. Treatment of nasopharyngeal cryptococcosis should include physical dislodgement or debulking of lesion(s) to provide immediate alleviation of upper airway obstruction, followed by systemic antifungal therapy to eliminate residual infection from the nasal cavity. Infections caused by Cryptococcus neoformans var gattii accounted for a disproportionately large number of these cases.     

Stereodependent bioactivation of R(+)-ethyl S-propyl methylphosphonothioate: Is the S-oxide the active metabolite?

R(+)-Ethyl S-propyl methylphosphonothioate is bioactivated both in vivo and when perfused through isolated liver to give a product which is much more active as an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase than the parent compound. The bioactivation does not occur in hepatectomised animals. Acetylcholinesterase inhibited by the active metabolite is not reactivated by pyridine-2-aldoxime methanesulphonate (P2S), whereas enzyme inhibited by the parent compound and its S(?) enantiomer is reactivatable. Attempts to identify the active metabolite were unsuccessful and experiments to explore its stability were inconclusive. Extensive in vitro studies of the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by the enantiomers of ethyl S-propyl methylphosphonothioate and ethyl S-diisopropylaminoethyl methylphosphonothioates and subsequent reactivation of the enzyme by P2S showed that (a) there are large differences between the rates of inhibition of the R and S enantiomers of both compounds, (b) reactivation profiles are critically dependent on reaction conditions, and (c) the reactivation profiles of the R and S enantiomers of the former compound are indistinguishable under all conditions whereas differences are observed under some conditions for the latter pair of enantiomers. The results are discussed in terms of the possibility that the S-oxide of R(+)-ethyl S-propyl methylphosphonothioate is the active metabolite and it is concluded that this is unlikely.     

Amoebic meningoencephalitis caused by Balamuthia mandrillaris in an orang utan

Objective
To describe a case of meningoencephalitis caused by Balamuthia mandrillaris in an orang utan.
Design
A pathological case report.
Animal
A 20 years old male orang utan (Pongo pygmaeus).
Procedure
The disease process was investigated by clinical pathology, necropsy, histopathology and immunofluorescence labelling.
Results
The orang utan developed sudden onset of depression, lethargy, inappetence and apparent head pain. The condition was considered to be related to a 2 year history of upper and lower respiratory disease, and the animal was placed on antibiotics after extensive testing. By the seventh day the animal had become ataxic and disoriented and a brain abscess was suspected. He died on the ninth day of illness. At necropsy, and subsequent sectioning, the brain showed multiple circular, soft, white to grey brown areas of varying size, the largest being in the left temporal (3.5 cm diameter) and right occipital (2.5 cm diameter) regions of the cerebrum. Histological examination of these regions revealed many amoebic trophozoites and occasional cysts associated with areas of haemorrhage and inflammatory necrosis. The trophozoites were packed in perivascular spaces and their nuclei often contained two or more prominent nucleoli. Immunofluorescent labelling of histological sections suggested that the agent was B mandrillaris.
Clinical implications
This report provides further evidence that B mandrillaris , a free living amoeba, can act as a pathogen in animals as well as people, and cause fatal meningoencephalitis. Along with Naegleria and Acanthamoeba spp, B mandrillaris should be considered amongst the causes of acute onset meningoencephalitis in animals.     

Genetical control of alkaloid production in Lupinus mutabilis and the effect of a mutant allele Mutal isolated following chemical mutagenesis

Summary A new mutant allele, described here as mutal, which reduces the alkaloid content in dry matter of lupinus mutabilis has been identified following seed treatment with ethyl methane sulphanate. The allele, when homozygous, reduces the alkaloid content from levels of > 2.0 per cent found in seed dry matter of existing populations to 0.2–0.3 per cent and produces plants with vegetative and seed tissues that are organoleptically sweet. Component alkaloids in plants homozygous for mutal differ in respect of the percentage composition of sparteine and of lupanine, as well as possibly of oxa-sparteine and 4-hydroxylupanine, but none is eliminated in genotypes homozygous for the mutant allele. Alkaloid concentration, in so far as not under the control of mutal, has low heritability but lines were isolated following two generations of successive selection which possessed reduced alkaloid levels. These were interpreted to have arisen as a result of recombination of alleles affecting reduction in alkaloid level at several loci. the mutant, mutal, has been established in a pure breeding line which represents a crucial additional step in the evolution of Lupinus mutabilis towards full status as a crop plant.     

Variation in digestibility in nine populations of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and its genetic basis

Summary Thirty five individuals from each of nine perennial ryegrass populations were sampled from set-stocked and zero-grazed swards and from an old permanent pasture. The swards were 6, 18, 30 months and 11 years old when sampled. The permanent pasture was at least 40 years old.Dry matter digestibility (DMD) and organic matter digestibility (OMD) were determined for green leaf material harvested 4 days after ear emergence. Significant differences were found between the populations, but genotypic differences were found only for OMD. The largest proportion of the total variation was due to differences between blocks. In the zero-grazed populations, DMD and OMD declined significantly with increasing sward age. This was not found for the set-stocked swards. Two sets of pair crosses, from which mid-parent, progeny regressions could be determined, were carried out.The regressions of offspring on mid-parent for set-stocked and zero-grazed swards were used to assess the presence of additive genetic variation and to estimate narrow sense heritability of DMD. The coefficients of correlation, 0.122 and 0.226 respectively, were non-significant, indicating an absence of additive genetic variation.     

Wheat embryogenesis and haploid production in wheat × maize hybrids

Summary Embryogenesis was analyzed in wheat × maize hybrids using paraffin sectioning. Embryogenesis in wheat × maize hybrids is different from that in self-pollinated wheat plants. Development of the embryo is not accompanied by the formation of an endosperm. The endosperm nuclei remain free in the cytoplasm, fail to advance into the cellular stage, and degenerate at a later time. The antipodal cells quickly degenerate in the fertilized ovaries of wheat × maize hybrids similar to self-pollinated ovaries. The antipodal cells remain normal in unpollinated ovaries. The pre-embryo will abort if it is allowed to develop on the plant, because of a nutritional shortage in the absence of an endosperm. Therefore, embryo rescue is necessary for haploid production from a wheat × maize hybrids. Haploid polyembryos were obtained from spikelet culture of wheat × maize hybrids. The formation of polyembryos is due to the cleavage of the pre-embryo and the effect of 2,4-D. The frequency of haploid embryo production and plant regeneration is affected significantly by maize genotypes, but not by wheat genotypes. The concentration of 2,4-D affects only the size of the embryo.     

Biological effects of El Niño on the Galápagos penguin

Long-term monitoring of physical and biological parameters is essential for understanding the effects of El Niño on bird populations, particularly for small or declining populations. We examined the biological effects of El Niño activity from 1965 to 2004 using instrumental sea-surface temperatures from the Galápagos Islands and 20 years of census counts of the Galápagos penguin. Between 1965 and 2004, nine El Niño events were recorded of which two were strong and seven were weak. The two strong El Niño events of 1982-1983 and 1997-1998 were followed by crashes of 77% and 65% of the penguin population, respectively. The evidence suggests that the increased frequency of weak El Niño events limits population recovery. The 2004 penguin population is estimated to be at less than 50% of that prior to the strong 1982-1983 El Niño event. We discuss the biological effects of increased El Niño intensity and frequency within the context of a 6000-year record of El Niño influence and in the light of increasing anthropogenic threats operating after 1535, when the Archipelago was discovered by Europeans.     

A correlation study of vehicle-generated air pollutants

The concentrations of Pb, CO, CH₄ and total hydrocarbons have been measured at a roadside site and at the exit of a multistorey car park. Average concentrations over short periods (10 to 25 min) have been calculated for each pollutant and possible correlations between these average levels of the different pollutants investigated. Significant correlations were found at only one site and the conclusion was drawn that it is only under exceptional conditions that correlations in levels exist over these extremely short averaging periods.     

Relationship between intensity of phosphatase activity and physico-chemical properties in woodland soils

The relationships between intensity of phosphatase activity and soil properties at two depths in some Lake District woodland soils have been examined. Significant relationships were found with soil organic matter, moisture, clay + silt, total nitrogen, isotopically-exchangeable phosphorus, extractable magnesium contents and soil pH. When data from all soils, both 0–5 and 10–15 cm depths, were pooled 66% of the total variation in intensity of phosphatase activity could be accounted for by these soil properties.However, covariance analysis showed that regressions between intensity of phosphatase activity and soil properties differed with soil depth, soil type, season, vegetation type and underlying rock type. When the effects of these interactions were taken into account, up to 99% of the variation in the intensity of phosphatase activity could be accounted for. The relative importance of these interactive factors appeared to be rock type = vegetation type > soil type = season > soil depth.The effects of the soil properties and the interacting factors on the intensity of phosphatase activity in these woodland soils are discussed.     

Magnesium deficiency in Douglas-fir and Grand fir growing on a sandy outwash soil amended with sewage sludge

Soil and plant samples were collected from chlorotic plantations of Grand fir (Abies grandis) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) in Winter, 1989. The soils had been amended in 1981 with an average of 300 dry Mg ha^?1 of municipal sewage sludge. The sludge amendment resulted in an N application rate of approximately 8000 kg ha^?1. Foliage analysis indicated a severe Mg deficiency (0.25 g kg^?1 in sludge-treated vs. 0.93 g kg^?1 in untreated area) might be the cause of chlorosis. No other nutrient showed concentrations in the deficient or toxic ranges. Trace metal levels in foliage were elevated significantly for Ni, Cd and Cr in sludge-treated sites, but not toxic levels. Soil samples taken to a depth of 1.4 m indicated the potential for soil acidification (up to 0.9 pH unit) in soil surface horizons. In addition, exchangeable Ca, Mg and K may have been depleted in surface horizons. Exchangeable Al and Fe were greater in the surface of sludge-treated sites. These observations and the loss of much of the nitrogen added during the sludge amendment indicated that nitrification and cation leaching was likely the mechanism for acidification and depletion of exchangeable cations. Fertilization of the plantation with MgSO₄ or dolomitic limestone was carried out in Spring 1990. New foliage collected in June, 1990 was non-chlorotic and significantly higher in Mg concentration than unfertilized foliage (1.1. vs. 0.7 g kg^?1, respectively). Results of this study indicate that it is important to assess the potential for initiating a nutrient deficiency due to secondary effects of sludge application in forest systems.