Uveal schwannoma in a brown‐eyed dog

An eleven‐year‐old, female spayed Boxer dog was diagnosed with a uveal schwannoma (formerly known as the spindle cell tumor of the blue‐eyed dog or SCTBED) despite having a uniformly brown iris. The patient presented to emergency for ocular discomfort, and the right globe was subsequently enucleated due to glaucoma and submitted for histopathology. Upon histopathologic evaluation, a uveal schwannoma was diagnosed and confirmed with immunohistochemical staining. Complete metastatic evaluation 1 and 6 months after initial presentation did not reveal evidence of metastasis, and the dog remains systemically healthy. This case represents a unique variant of uveal schwannoma and is relevant because although the vast majority of these tumors occur in blue‐eyed dogs, clinicians should not completely rule out this tumor as a differential based on the iris color.     

Description of an ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block technique and the spread of dye in dog cadavers

Objectives

To describe an ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block and determine the distribution after injection of two volumes of methylene blue in dog cadavers.

Scale dependence of felid predation risk: identifying predictors of livestock kills by tiger and leopard in Bhutan

Context

Livestock predation by tiger and leopard in Bhutan is a major threat to the conservation of these felids. Conflict mitigation planning would benefit from an improved understanding of the spatial pattern of livestock kills by the two predators.

Objectives

We aimed to identify the landscape features that predict livestock kills by tiger and leopard throughout Bhutan. Our goals were to: (1) identify the predictors that have the largest influence in determining livestock kills, (2) assess the influence of scale across the different predictors evaluated and identify the scale at which each was most important.

Methods

We used livestock kills obtained from compensation records of tiger (n = 326) and leopard (n = 377) across Bhutan between 2003 and 2012 to run predation risk models with MaxEnt algorithm, using a multi-scale modeling approach (1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 km).

Results

Human-presence (density of settlements and roads) and land-cover (percentage of tree cover and meadow patches) were the main variables contributing to livestock kills by both species. Livestock kills were likely driven by a trade-off between livestock density and predator ecology, and the balance of this trade-off varied with scale. Risk maps revealed different hotspots for tiger and leopard kills, and analysis showed both species preferentially killed equids over other livestock types.

Conclusions

Our results highlight the importance of evaluating scale when investigating the spatial attributes of livestock kills by tiger and leopard. Our findings provide guidance for reducing conflict between humans and large felids throughout the country.

     

Flight performance and wing morphology in the bat Carollia perspicillata: biophysical models and energetics

Studies on functional performance are important to understand the processes responsible for the evolution of diversity. Morphological trait variation within species influences the energetic cost of locomotion and impacts life history traits, with ecological and evolutionary consequences. This study examined wing morphology correlates of flight performance measured by energetic expenditure in the Seba's short-tailed bat, Carollia perspicillata. In the flight experiments, nature caught bats (59 females, 57 males) were allowed to fly for 3 min in a room. After each flight, thermographic images were taken to measure body temperature, and biophysical models were used to calculate sensible heat loss as a measure of energetic expenditure. Wing morphological traits were measured for each individual and associated with heat loss and power required to fly on performance surfaces. Wing morphological traits explained 7–10% of flight energetic cost, and morphologies with the best performance would save the energy equivalent to 9–30% of total daily requirements. The optimal performance areas within the C. perspicillata morphospace were consistent with predicted selection trends from the literature. A trade-off between demands for flight speed and maneuverability was observed. Wing loading and camber presented sexual dimorphism. These morphological differences are likely associated with more economical but less maneuverable flight in females, leading them to fly more often in open areas along the forest edge. Our findings demonstrate how small scale changes in wing morphology can affect life history strategies and fitness.     

Mini-cutting technique for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Khaya anthotheca</Emphasis>: selection of suitable IBA concentration and nutrient solution for its vegetative propagation

Khaya anthotheca is a hardwood species from Africa and recently introduced to Brazil. This species yields high-quality wood for diverse applications, but little has been done toward an effective propagation method for large-scale production in nurseries. We evaluated the effects of different concentrations of macro and micronutrients (i.e., 100, 50 and 25% of the concentration of a referenced solution) combined with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) at 0 and 2 g L^?1 on the survival rate of mini-stumps and the survival and adventitious rooting of K. anthotheca mini-cuttings. The mini-stumps were grown from a source of seeds imported from Ghana, West Africa. The mini-stumps survived at a high rate (97%). Consistently high shoot yields were obtained from the mini-stumps (average of 1.8 per mini-stump). High survival percentage of mini-cuttings and adventitious rooting were observed when solutions with 100 and 50% of the nutrients concentration were combined with 2 g L^?1 IBA. Histological sections analyzed through optical microscopy indicated the tissues from mini-cutting stems were juvenile, which might have stimulated adventitious rooting. These results have important implications for further work aimed at establishing propagation strategies for K. anthotheca, which are of prime importance for assisting breeding programs of this species.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Arcobacter</Emphasis> spp. in fecal samples from Brazilian farmed caimans (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Caiman yacare</Emphasis>, Daudin 1802)

The aim of this study was to perform the identification and molecular characterization of Arcobacter cryaerophilus and Arcobacter butzleri isolated from caiman (Caiman yacare), kept at a production farm, in Brazil. Forty fecal samples were analyzed. After isolation and identification, 21/40 strains of A. butzleri and 19/40 strains of A. cryaerophilus were subjected to PCR for potential virulence gene detection. The results of the PCR showed 38/40 strains positive for the cadF, cj1349, ciaB, and tlyA genes, 39/40 strains positive for the pldA gene, and 40/40 strains positive for the mviN gene. None of the strains presented the irgA gene. Hemagglutinin (hecA gene) and hemolysin (hecB) genes were detected in 21/40 and 16/40 strains, respectively. The SE-AFLP showed a great genetic diversity, but some clonally groups were disseminated in various tanks. These data reveal that the strains presented the same virulence traits described from Arcobacter isolated from food-borne disease in humans.     

Preparation and phytotoxicity of novel kaurane diterpene amides with potential use as herbicides

Novel kaurane ditepene monoamides were synthesized in good yields directly from kaurenoic ( 1) and grandiflorenic ( 2) acids and unprotected symmetrical diamines, using a modified protocol for monoacylation. Amides from 1 and 2 and monoamines were also obtained and tested against seed germination and growth of radicle and shoot of Lactuca sativa (lettuce), at 10 (-3), 10 (-5), and 10 (-7) M. Amides from symmetrical diamines showed significant inhibitory activity at higher concentrations.     

Comparative efficiency of chemical compounds for in vitro and in vivo activity against Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, the causal agent of tomato bacterial canker

Bacterial canker of tomato caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis produces considerable economic losses in many countries because effective control measures are lacking. The extent to which bactericides control this disease effectively is low and has not yet been well documented for Southern European conditions. In this study the bactericidal effect of several products on this pathogen was assessed in vitro and in vivo in tomato plants under greenhouse conditions. Seven antibacterial substances (bronopol, copper sulphate, kasugamycin, oxolinic acid, oxytetracycline, streptomycin and 8-hydroxy-quinoline), three commercial formulates (Antibak RZ, an oligoelements mixture containing copper plus zinc; Orthopol, a potassium soap; and Param, a resistance inductor) and combinations thereof were tested. In vitro assessment showed that minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antibacterial substances was between 4–8 μg ml⁻¹, except for copper sulphate with a MIC value of 150 μg ml⁻¹ and kasugamycin, which was not active at 500 μg ml⁻¹. MIC values of commercial formulates ranged between 5 and 40 μl ml⁻¹. Furthermore, combinations of 8-hydroxy-quinoline+copper sulphate, 8-hydroxy-quinoline+Antibak RZ, streptomycin+Antibak RZ and streptomycin+Orthopol showed a synergistic effect at sub-inhibitory concentrations. Treatments containing copper sulphate greatly reduced disease symptoms on plants sprayed with the bacteria, whereas streptomycin was less effective. In two independent trials, the percentage of leaves showing symptoms was significantly lower (2.4% and 11.9%) after treatment with copper sulphate combined with 8-hydroxy-quinoline at half-dose, than in inoculated controls (75.1% and 59.6%). These results were better than copper sulphate alone. However, plants inoculated by pricking rapidly developed systemic infection, which no product managed to control significantly, although several treatments did reduce symptoms. We conclude that copper sulphate combined with 8-hydroxy-quinoline may be useful in controlling external symptoms of this disease in greenhouses, and is environmentally friendly, reducing the amount of copper applied to crops.