Biological control of field infections of nematode parasites of young sheep with Duddingtonia flagrans and effects of spore intake on efficacy

A field study was undertaken to determine the effects of feeding Duddingtonia flagrans to young Merino sheep on pasture. A total of 60 mixed sex lambs 4-5 months old were divided into six even groups on the basis of liveweight. On Monday to Friday, each week for 6 months, three groups were offered barley grains on which D. flagrans had been cultured while the other three groups remained untreated. Every 4 weeks liveweights were recorded and faecal samples collected for nematode egg count estimation. Feeding D. flagrans reduced faecal egg counts and tended to improve liveweight gains, but considerable differences were observed between groups within treatment. These differences are thought to result from variations between the groups in consumption of the treated barley with the "best" consumers showing the greater effects of treatment.     

Effect of subcutaneous vs intramuscular administration of P.G. 600 on estrual and ovulatory responses of prepubertal gilts

The effects of s.c. and i.m. administration of P.G. 600 on estrual and ovulatory responses of prepubertal gilts were investigated. One hundred eighty-four crossbred gilts between 159 and 174 d of age were assigned to receive P.G. 600 s.c. (s.c. P.G. 600) in the flank, P.G. 600 i.m. in the neck (i.m. P.G. 600), or no treatment (control). At the beginning of the study (d 0), animals were selected from a modified, open-front barn, regrouped, relocated to new pens, and exposed once daily to a mature boar to check for estrus. On d 17, ovaries were collected from all gilts and analyzed for the presence of corpora lutea (CL), cystic follicles, and cystic CL. A higher proportion of gilts expressed estrus with s.c. P.G. 600 (76%) than with i.m. P.G. 600 (52%, P < .01) or controls (15%, P < .01). The interval from initiation of treatment on d 0 to estrus was reduced (P < .01) by P.G. 600 (4.6 d) compared to controls (5.9 d), but there was no significant difference between P.G. 600 treatments. Both s.c. P.G. 600 (86%) and i.m. P.G. 600 (77%) induced more gilts to ovulate (P < .01) than controls (18%), but there was no significant difference between P.G. 600 treatments. No significant effect of treatment was detected on number of CL (17.9), number of cystic follicles (1.5), or number of cystic CL (2.1). Proportions of gilts that developed cystic follicles or cystic CL were not influenced by treatment. Results of this study indicated that s.c. administration of P.G. 600 significantly improved the induction of estrus in prepubertal gilts compared to i.m. administration.     

Infection of pigs by Aujeszky's disease virus via the breath of intranasally inoculated pigs

Aujeszky's disease is a worldwide problem in the pig industry. In this experiment, four pigs chosen to act as shedder pigs were intranasally infected with Aujeszky's disease virus. Next, on three consecutive days, eight recipient pigs were exposed to the breath of a pair of shedder pigs via a mask-to-mask module. Except for the virtual absence of CNS signs, shedder pigs expressed clinical signs that were similar to pigs infected naturally or experimentally. Only mild respiratory signs occurred in recipient pigs, but all were infected by aerosols of Aujeszky's disease virus as evidenced by seroconversion. The pig is a much more sensitive indicator of airborne virions than our aerosol collection methods. We conclude that the mild respiratory disease acquired by the aerogenous route in recipient pigs is an easily managed model for studying the transmission of airborne respiratory infections and the immune responses to this type of infection.     

Effectiveness of controlled internal drug release device treatment to alleviate reproductive seasonality in anestrus lactating or dry Barki and Rahmani ewes during non‐breeding season

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of hormonal treatments on ovarian activity and reproductive performance in Barki and Rahmani ewes during non‐breeding season. Forty‐eight multiparous ewes, 24 Barki and 24 Rahmani ewes were divided into two groups, 12 lactating and 12 dry ewes for each breed. Controlled internal drug release (CIDR) device was inserted in all ewes for 14 days in conjunction with intramuscular 500 IU equine chronic gonadotrophin (eCG) at day of CIDR removal. Data were analysed using PROC MIXED of SAS for repeated measures. Breed, physiological status and days were used as fixed effects and individual ewes as random effects. Barki ewes recorded higher (p < .05) total number of follicles, number of large follicles, serum estradiol concentration and estradiol: progesterone (E₂:P₄) ratio compared to Rahmani ewes. Lactating ewes recorded higher (p < .05) number of small follicles and lower concentration of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) compared to dry ewes. Number and diameter of large follicles recorded the highest (p < .05) values accompanied with disappearance of corpora lutea at day of mating. Serum progesterone concentration recorded lower (p < .05) value at day of mating and the highest (p < .05) value at day 35 after mating. CIDR‐eCG protocol induced 100% oestrous behaviour in both breeds, but Rahmani ewes recorded longer (p < .05) oestrous duration compared to Barki. Conception failure was higher (p < .05) in Barki compared to Rahmani ewes. In conclusion, CIDR‐eCG protocol was more potent in improving ovarian activity in Barki compared to Rahmani ewes, but this protocol seems to induce hormonal imbalance in Barki ewes that resulted in increasing conception failure compared to Rahmani ewes.     

Impacts of climate change on irrigated potato production in a humid climate

The impacts of climate change on the irrigation water requirements and yield of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) grown in England have been assessed, by combining the downscaled outputs from an ensemble of general circulation models (GCM) with a potato crop growth model. The SUBSTOR-Potato model (embedded within the DSSAT program) was used to simulate the baseline and future irrigation needs (mm) and yield (t ha⁻¹) for selected emissions scenario (SRES A1FI and B1) for the 2050s, including CO₂ fertilisation effects. The simulated baseline yields were validated against independent experimental and field data using four reference sites. Probabilistic distribution functions and histograms were derived to assess GCM modelling uncertainty on future irrigation needs. Assuming crop husbandry factors are unchanged, farm yields would show only marginal increases (3-6%) due to climate change owing to limitations in nitrogen availability. In contrast, future potential yields, without restrictions in water or fertiliser, are expected to increase by 13-16%. Future average irrigation needs, assuming unconstrained water availability, are predicted to increase by 14-30%, depending on emissions scenario. The present ‘design’ capacity for irrigation infrastructure would fail to meet future peak irrigation needs in nearly 50% of years. Adaptation options for growers to cope with these impacts are discussed.     

新疆天然甜型葡萄酒原料种植区划研究

运用层次分析法和模糊数学综合评判方法,根据石河子、昌吉、吐鲁番等8个地区的无霜期、温度、积温和降水因素,建立了数学模型,并对新疆天然甜型葡萄酒原料种植区域进行了区划研究.结果表明:吐鲁番的综合评价最高,其次为和田,评价值分别为0.97和0.91,属非常适宜种植区;哈密和喀什的评价值分别为0.81和0.87,属适宜种植区;库尔勒的为0.71,属次适宜种植区,而石河子、昌吉和霍城的评价值均小于0.59,属不适宜种植区.     

含氮、磷、钾吸水保水剂的合成与性能研究

采用自由基聚合法,以过硫酸钾为引发剂,磷酸酯淀粉与丙烯酸钠和丙烯酸钾进行接枝共聚,合成了含磷、钾的高吸水树脂;磷酸酯淀粉与低中和度的丙烯酸接枝共聚合成的高吸水树脂用氨水浸泡,自然凉干得到含氮、磷、钾的高吸水树脂,详细考察了丙烯酸的中和度对吸水保水剂吸液性能的影响。通过实验得到了合成该吸水保水剂的适宜条件。     

Malignant transformation of a giant congenital pigmented nevus (hamartoma) in a dog

A male Golden Retriever was born with a large area of abnormal skin and hair on the distal pelvic limb. A tumour arose from the proximal margin of this area at 5 years of age. Histopathological examination of the abnormal area of skin revealed an area in which follicles were surrounded by nodular accumulations of densely packed round to spindle-shaped cells with fine granular intracytoplasmic melanin. Similar cells were present within the subcutaneous fat, and clusters of densely pigmented melanocytes were scattered within the basal epidermis, follicular epithelium, and dermis. A diagnosis of giant congenital pigmented nevus (hamartoma) was made. The tumour from the proximal end of this area was composed of densely packed, moderately pleomorphic, poorly differentiated and pigmented, spindle-shaped to epithelioid melanocytes, and was diagnosed as malignant melanoma. Metastasis of the malignant melanoma to the stifle and inguinal regions occurred within 6 months. To date, the authors are unaware of prior reports of a canine giant congenital pigmented nevus (hamartoma) with transformation to a malignant melanoma.