Experimental production of bovine respiratory tract disease with bovine viral diarrhea virus

Five 6-month-old calves were inoculated with bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus (n = 3) or Pasteurella haemolytica (n = 2) endobronchially with a fiberoptic bronchoscope. Five additional calves were inoculated sequentially with BVD virus followed by P haemolytica at a 5-day interval. Blood samples were collected daily from the calves for bacterial isolation. Clinical signs of respiratory tract disease in calves were recorded daily. If the calves survived, they were killed for necropsy 3 or 4 days after inoculation with P haemolytica (or 8 days after inoculation with BVD virus). The extent and nature of pulmonary lesions in the calves were determined, and the lower portion of the respiratory tract (lungs and trachea) was examined for both these organisms. The 3 calves, inoculated with BVD virus only, developed mild clinical signs mainly manifested as fever, nasal discharge, and occasional cough. Approximately 2% to 7% of the total lung capacity of these calves was pneumonic. Mild clinical signs and localized lesions involving about 15% of the lung volume developed in the 2 calves exposed to P haemolytica only. However, severe fibrinopurulent bronchopneumonia and pleuritis involving 40% to 75% of lung volume developed in the 5 calves inoculated sequentially with BVD virus and P haemolytica. The possible role BVD virus may have in bovine respiratory tract disease is discussed.     

24-h sheltering behaviour of individually kept horses during Swedish summer weather

Background

Provision of shelter for horses kept on summer pasture is rarely considered in welfare guidelines, perhaps because the benefits of shelter in warm conditions are poorly documented scientifically. For cattle, shade is a valued resource during summer and can mitigate the adverse effects of warm weather on well-being and performance. We found in a previous study that horses utilized shelters frequently in summer. A shelter with a roof and closed on three sides (shelter A) was preferred and can reduce insect pressure whereas a shelter with roof and open on three sides was not utilized. However, shelter A restricts the all-round view of a horse, which may be important for horses as flight animals. Therefore, we studied whether a shelter with roof, where only the upper half of the rear wall was closed (shelter B), would be utilized while maintaining insect protection properties and satisfying the horses’ sense for security. A third shelter was offered with walls but no roof (shelter C) to evaluate whether the roof itself is an important feature from the horse’s perspective. Eight Warmblood horses were tested each for 2 days, kept individually for 24 h in two paddocks with access to shelters A and B, or shelters A and C, respectively. Shelter use was recorded continuously during the night (1800–2400 h, 0200–0600 h) and the following day (0900–1600 h), and insect defensive behaviour (e.g., tail swish) in instantaneous scan samples at 5-min intervals during daytime.

Results

Seven horses used both shelters A and B, but when given the choice between shelters A and C, shelter C was scarcely visited. There was no difference in duration of shelter use between night (105.8 ± 53.6 min) and day (100.8 ± 53.8, P = 0.829). Daytime shelter use had a significant effect on insect defensive behaviours (P = 0.027). The probability of performing these behaviours was lowest when horses used shelter A compared to being outside (P = 0.038).

Conclusions

Horses only utilized shelters with a roof whilst a shelter with roof and closed on three sides had the best potential to lower insect disturbance during daytime in summer.     

Improving Phosphorus Use Efficiency Through Potato Rhizosphere Modification and Extension

Phosphorus (P) fertilization is essential for societal sustainability. However, plant P uptake is inefficient due to poor soil P solubility, especially for the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plant due to its relatively poor rooting efficiency. Phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) can be increased with rhizosphere modifications such as: (1) raising the bulk pH of acid soils, (2) placement of fertilizer in the rhizosphere by broadcast incorporation and/or, especially, as a concentrated band, (3) use of slow and controlled release P fertilizers, (4) use of organic acids to increase P solubility in alkaline soils, (5) use of an acid polymer, and (6) extending the effective rhizosphere zone via any practice that fosters root growth, such as through promotion of mycorrhizal development. Alone or in combination, these techniques offer an opportunity to increase PUE.     

Rickettsia-like Bacterium Associated with Pierce's Disease of Grapes

A pleomorphic bacterium was observed by electron microscopy in grape plants infected with Pierce's disease. The organism was located in xylem tissue, and its occurrence was closely associated with symptoms of Pierce's disease. The bacterium resembled a rickettsia in morphology, in its failure to grow on cell-free media, and in its sensitivity to tetracycline antibiotics.     

N-beta-Alanyldopamine: Major Role in Insect Cuticle Tanning

N-beta-Alanyldopamine is the major tyrosine metabolite in the hemolymph and cuticle during pupal tanning in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta L. Its concentration in hemolymph increases over 800-fold above larval levels by the start of tanning and decreases as the pupal cuticle darkens and hardens. It is a major catechol in species representing several insect orders and is the preferred substrate for pupal cuticular o-diphenol oxidase. In insects, N-beta-alanyldopamine appears to be the main precursor for tanning chemicals at certain developmental stages.     

Frequency-dependent noradrenergic modulation of long-term potentiation in the hippocampus

Norepinephrine, briefly superfused during high-frequency stimulation of the mossy fibers in the rat hippocampal slice in vitro, produced a reversible increase in the magnitude, duration, and probability of induction of long-term synaptic potentiation in the CA3 subfield. Similar results were obtained with isoproterenol, whereas propranolol or timolol reversibly blocked long-term potentiation. Norepinephrine had little apparent effect on responses obtained during low-frequency stimulation of the mossy fibers. These data suggest that norepinephrine can mediate long-lasting, frequency-dependent modulation of synaptic transmission in the mammalian brain. Furthermore, the results suggest a plausible mechanism for some of the known associative interactions between synaptic inputs to hippocampal neurons.     

A comparison, under controlled environmental conditions, of a Lolium multiflorum selection bred for high dry-matter content and non-structural carbohydrate concentration with a commercial cultivar

Abstract The nutritional value of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) selection 121, bred for a high dry‐matter content and a high concentration of total non‐structural carbohydrate (TNC), was compared with that of Westerwolds ryegrass (L. multiflorum ssp. Westerwoldicum) cv. Midmar in a controlled environment. The concentration of neutral‐detergent fibre (NDF), acid‐detergent fibre (ADF), acid‐detergent lignin (ADL), nitrogenous compounds, minerals and in vitro digestibility were investigated as characteristics of nutritive value. The anatomical features of selection 121 and the Midmar cultivar were studied to determine possible structural differences. Thirty pots each of selection 121 and Midmar containing four plants per pot were arranged in a randomized block design in a controlled environment chamber. There were two temperature regimes during the study, the first being a warm regime (30 °C/20 °C) for 7 weeks followed by a cold regime(20 °C/7 °C) of a further 7 weeks. In the warm regime, the dry‐matter (DM) content and the TNC concentration of selection 121 were 0·17 and 0·16 higher, respectively, than Midmar. The NDF concentration was significantly (P < 0·01) higher in Midmar than in selection 121. When grown under warm conditions, Midmar had significantly (P < 0·001) higher concentrations of Mg, K, Na and Mn than selection 121. In the cold regime, the DM content and TNC concentration of selection 121 were 0·25 and 0·22 higher, respectively, than Midmar. No significant differences in the anti‐quality factors investigated were found between the two ryegrasses. In the cold regime, Midmar had significantly (P < 0·001 and P < 0·01) higher Ca, Mg, K, Na, Zn, Mn and P concentrations than selection 121. The results from this controlled environment study suggest that selection 121 is superior to Midmar in terms of the quality characteristics DM and TNC, and that these characteristics are not positively linked to anti‐quality factors associated with forage species.     

Promoting microbial immobilization of soil nitrogen during restoration of abandoned agricultural fields by organic additions

Application of organic materials to soils to enhance N immobilization into microbial biomass, thereby reducing inorganic N concentrations, was studied as a management option to accelerate the reestablishment of the native vegetation on abandoned arable fields on sandy soils the Kiskunság National Park, Hungary. Sucrose and sawdust were used at three different topographic sites over 4 years. N availability and extractable inorganic N concentrations were significantly reduced in all sites. Soil microbial biomass C and microbial biomass N increased significantly following C additions, but the microbial C to microbial N ratio remained unaffected. It is concluded that the combined application of the rapidly utilized C source (sucrose) promoted N immobilization, whereas the addition of the slowly utilized C source (sawdust) maintained the elevated microbial biomass C and microbial biomass N in the field.     

PHOSPHORUS AND MANGANESE INTERACTIONS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ZINC IN CHELATOR-BUFFERED SOLUTION GROWN RUSSET BURBANK POTATO

Manganese (Mn)- and zinc (Zn)-driven antagonistic interactions with high available phosphorus (P) can result in negative impacts on potato cropping systems. Two chelator-buffered hydroponic experiments were conducted with Russet Burbank potato to elucidate P and Mn relationships and associated interactions with Zn. In both experiments, a P concentration decline in new shoots, old shoots, and roots resulted as solution Mn changed from deficient to sufficient followed by a P concentration rise as solution Mn changed to excessive concentrations. New and old shoot Zn concentrations generally increased with augmented solution Mn in the variable Mn experiment, but no significant changes were found in root Zn contents. Available Mn was observed to control plant P concentrations and to influence Zn uptake and translocation; thus, Mn has considerable impact on uptake and distribution of P and Zn and on P-Zn interactions in potato.