Absence of geographical structure of morphological variation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Juniperus oxycedrus</Emphasis> L. subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">oxycedrus</Emphasis> in the Balkan Peninsula

We examined leaf and mature seed cone variation of Juniperus oxycedrus L. subsp. oxycedrus in 12 natural populations across the species range in the Balkan Peninsula. We measured 10 morphological traits from a minimum of 100 leaves in each of 190 individuals, and two morphological traits from 30–50 seed cones in each of 94 females. High phenotypic variation was found, but no geographical structure or cline across populations was detected for any of the studied traits. Mean values of comparable leaf and cone morphological traits did not differ considerably from values reported elsewhere. Gender dimorphism in leaf morphology was detected, but it was not distributed uniformly throughout the studied area. An ANOVA model with both nested and crossed effects revealed that the largest proportion of the total variation was, as expected, contained within populations, partly as among-tree variation (18–47%, depending on the trait) and partly as within-tree variation (33–77%), which was remarkably high. Gender dimorphism explained only 0–3% of the total variation. Differences among populations (2–23%) were significant for all studied traits except one; however, PCA showed no clear geographical differentiation of the studied populations. This lack of phylogeographical structure may be the consequence of repeatedly occurring colonisation-retreat scenarios and suggests the existence of several small refugial populations scattered over a large part of the Balkan Peninsula in the Pleistocene. Further research including palaeobotanical and molecular genetic studies will be needed to better understand the forces that shaped current variation patterns of J. oxycedrus L. subsp. oxycedrus in the Balkan Peninsula.     

Heifer teats sprayed in the dry period with an iodine teat sanitizer have reduced Streptococcus uberis teat-end contamination and less Streptococcus uberis intra-mammary infections at calving

Heifers managed under pastoral conditions are at risk from Streptococcus uberis mastitis infections at calving. A total of 397 heifers from six farms around New Zealand were enrolled in a study to identify and enumerate S. uberis on teat-ends of heifers in the peri-partum period, and to understand the effect of teat-spraying in the pre-calving period on the prevalence and incidence of S. uberis mastitis post-calving. Heifers were randomly assigned to Control or Sprayed groups. Sprayed heifers were teat-sprayed once, three times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) with a commercial iodine-based teat sanitizer, starting at 3 weeks prior to calving and ending at day of calving. Across three farms, all glands of cows in both groups were sampled at calving to determine S. uberis intra-mammary infection (IMI) prevalence. For all farms, clinical mastitis (CM) cases detected during the week after calving were sampled and submitted for bacteriological analysis. Swabbing of teat-ends of 54 heifers from one farm showed that heifers had a pre-existing S. uberis contamination averaging 610 colony-forming units per swab (cfu/swab), at 3 weeks prior to calving. At calving, teat-end contamination was 560 cfu/swab for Sprayed heifers and 1775 cfu/swab for Control heifers. Two weeks after calving, teat-end contamination was similar between both groups, at 30 cfu/swab. The prevalence of S. uberis IMI was significantly lower in the Sprayed (3.5% glands) vs. the Control (7.4%) heifers in the first week after calving. There was a trend for Sprayed heifers (3.6% heifers) to have a lower incidence of S. uberis CM compared with Control heifers (7.4% heifers). It is concluded that teat-spraying in the dry period is a management option that could contribute to controlling heifer S. uberis mastitis in the transition period.     

Variation among stallions in sperm quality after single layer centrifugation

Although single layer centrifugation (SLC) selects robust spermatozoa from stallion semen, the effect of individual variation has not been studied in detail. The objective of this study was to determine the variation among stallions in the effects of SLC on sperm quality during cooled storage for up to 48 hr. Semen samples from seven stallions (18 ejaculates) were split, with one portion being used for SLC and the other serving as a control (CON). Sperm quality (kinematics, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, membrane integrity (MI) and chromatin integrity) were analysed at 0, 24 and 48 hr using computer-assisted sperm analysis and flow cytometry. Sperm quality was better in SLC than in CON at all timepoints, especially chromatin integrity and MI (p < .0001 for both), and some categories of ROS production (e.g. proportion of live hydrogen peroxide negative spermatozoa, p < .0001), but the degree of improvement varied among stallions and type of ROS (p < .05–p < .0001). Total and progressive motility were also better in SLC samples than in CON at 24 and 48 hr (p < .0001), although the effect on sperm kinematics varied. The interaction of treatment, time and stallion was not significant. In conclusion, sperm quality was better in SLC samples than in CON, although there was considerable individual variation among stallions. The improvement in sperm quality, particularly in chromatin integrity, was clearly beneficial, and therefore the use of this technique would be warranted for all stallion semen samples.     

Uptake of ferritin and Bordetella avium in bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue of turkeys

The uptake of macromolecular and particulate materials in bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) in turkeys was examined using transmission electron microscopy. Tracer materials used were live and ultraviolet-killed (UV-killed) Bordetella avium and ferritin. Suspensions of bacteria and ferritin were instilled via intratracheal catheterization and allowed to remain in contact with the respiratory surfaces for 0, 10, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min. Ferritin and B. avium were taken up by both ciliated and non-ciliated cells of the epithelium overlying BALT (BALT epithelium). Ferritin was found in organelles associated with endocytosis (i.e. apical vesicles, endosomes, cytoplasmic vacuoles) and was apparently transported across epithelial cells, since it was also found in intercellular spaces. Bacteria were found in vacuoles within BALT epithelial cells, but not free in intercellular spaces. Some macrophages in BALT epithelium also contained bacteria. No differences were observed between uptake of live and UV-killed bacteria. We conclude that both ciliated and non-ciliated cells of BALT epithelium in turkeys are able to take up macromolecular and particulate materials. Bacteria are also accessible to intraepithelial macrophages, although whether they are taken up directly from the bronchial surface or whether they pass through epithelial cells first could not be determined. This evidence suggests that antigens, including respiratory pathogens, could gain access to cells of the avian immune system by transepithelial passage in BALT.     

Use of thraustochytrid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Schizochytrium</Emphasis> sp. as source of lipid and fatty acid in a formulated diet for abalone <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haliotis asinina</Emphasis> (Linnaeus) juveniles

The effects of using thraustochytrid Schizochytrium sp. as source of lipid and fatty acids in a formulated diet on growth, survival, body composition, and salinity tolerance of juvenile donkey’s ear abalone, Haliotis asinina, were investigated. Treatments consisted of diets either containing a 1:1 ratio of cod liver oil (CLO) and soybean oil (SBO) (Diet 1) or thraustochytrid (Diet 2) as source of lipid and fatty acids at 2 % level. Natural diet Gracilariopsis heteroclada (Diet 3) served as the control. No significant difference in growth was observed in abalone fed Diet 3 (SGR: 5.3 % BW day^?1; DISL: 265 μm day^?1) and Diet 2 (SGR: 5.2 % BW day^?1; DISL: 255 μm day^?1). Survival ranged from 78 to 85 % for all treatments and was not significantly different from each other. A 96-h salinity stress test showed highest survival of 84 % in abalone fed Diet 2 compared with those fed diets 1 and 3 (42 %). The high growth rate of abalone fed Diet 2 and high tolerance to low salinity could be attributed to its high DHA content (8.9 %), which resulted to its high DHA/EPA ratio of 10.5 %. These fatty acids play a significant role in abalone nutrition. The fatty acid profile of abalone meat is a reflective of the fatty acid profile of the oil sources in the diet. The present study suggests that the use of Schizochytrium oil in lieu of CLO and SBO can support good growth of abalone which is comparable with abalone fed the natural seaweeds diet.     

Sinapate dehydrodimers and sinapate-ferulate heterodimers in cereal dietary fiber

Two 8-8-coupled sinapic acid dehydrodimers and at least three sinapate-ferulate heterodimers have been identified as saponification products from different insoluble and soluble cereal grain dietary fibers. The two 8-8-disinapates were authenticated by comparison of their GC retention times and mass spectra with authentic dehydrodimers synthesized from methyl or ethyl sinapate using two different single-electron metal oxidant systems. The highest amounts (481 microg/g) were found in wild rice insoluble dietary fiber. Model reactions showed that it is unlikely that the dehydrodisinapates detected are artifacts formed from free sinapic acid during the saponification procedure. The dehydrodisinapates presumably derive from radical coupling of sinapate-polymer esters in the cell wall; the radical coupling origin is further confirmed by finding 8-8 and 8-5 (and possibly 8-O-4) sinapate-ferulate cross-products. Sinapates therefore appear to have an analogous role to ferulates in cross-linking polysaccharides in cereal grains and presumably grass cell walls in general.     

Evaluation of intravenous administration of meloxicam for perioperative pain management following stifle joint surgery in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To compare preoperative administration of meloxicam and butorphanol to perioperative administration of butorphanol alone for control of postoperative signs of pain in dogs. ANIMALS: 40 client-owned dogs scheduled for surgical repair of a cranial cruciate ligament rupture. PROCEDURE: Group-1 dogs received butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg, IV) and meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg, IV) just prior to surgery. Group-2 dogs received butorphanol just prior to surgery (0.2 mg/kg, IV) and at incision closure (0.1 mg/kg, IV). Pain assessment began 1 to 2 hours before surgery and from extubation until 24 hours after surgery by obtaining the following measurements: the visual analog scale (VAS) score, cumulative pain score (CPS), adjusted cumulative pain score, modified cumulative pain score, and the adjusted modified cumulative pain score (AMCPS). Serum cortisol concentration was measured between 12 to 24 and between 1 to 2 hours prior to surgery, and at 30 minutes, and 1, 2, 4, 8, 18, and 24 hours after extubation. RESULTS: No significant differences between treatment groups were observed in CPS or VAS score. At 8, 9, 10, and 11 hours after extubation, meloxicam-butorphanol-treated dogs had a significantly lower AMCPS, compared with butorphanol-alone-treated dogs. Total serum cortisol concentration (area under the curve) during the measurement period was significantly lower in meloxicam-butorphanol-treated dogs, compared with butorphanol-alone treated dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Preoperative single dose administration of meloxicam-butorphanol is equivalent to or slightly better than the administration of 2 perioperative doses of butorphanol for the control of postoperative signs of pain in dogs.     

Genetics of colour traits in common vetch (Vicia sativa L.)

Five parents of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) having orange/beige cotyledon colour, brown/white testa colour, purple/green seedling colour and purple/white flower colour were crossed as a full diallele set. The inheritance patterns of cotyledon, testa or seed coat colour, flower and seedling colour, were studied by analyzing their F₁, F₂, BC₁ and BC₂ generations. The segregation pattern in F₂, BC₁ and BC₂, showed that cotyledon colour was governed by a single gene with incomplete dominance and it is proposed that cotyledon colour is controlled by two allelic genes, which have been designated Ct₁ and Ct₂. Testa colour was governed by a single gene with the brown allele dominant and the recessive allele white. This gene has been given the symbol H. Two complementary genes governed both flower and seedling colours. These flower and seedling colour genes are pleiotropic and the two genes have been given the symbols S and F.     

Sheep as vectors for branched broomrape (Orobanche ramosa subsp. mutelii [F.W. Schultz] Cout.) seed dispersal

Sheep can be vectors for the long‐distance dispersal of weeds when seed becomes attached and retained in wool or survives the gastrointestinal tract. This study aimed to determine an appropriate quarantine period for sheep that minimized the risk of the long‐distance dispersal of the seeds of branched broomrape (Orobanche ramosa L. subsp. mutelii [F.W. Shultz] Cout.), a parasitic weed. Experiments with penned sheep found that the seeds that were placed on the soil surface adhered to the wool on the thigh and belly of the sheep, with most of the seeds attaching to the feet. Most of the seeds that were applied to the belly and thigh wool detached within 2 days, although a small proportion was present after 7 days. The seeds that were introduced to the digestive tract via drenching had a peak voidance 2 days later and no seed was detected on Day 8. It is suggested that a 7 day quarantine period for sheep would be sufficient in order to reduce the risk of the internal transport of seed to acceptable levels, but a small risk of the external transport of seed on the fleece remains.