An unusual source of lead causing poisoning

Extract

Sir,—I recently added two nine-month-old heifers showing typical symptoms of lead poisoning, but when the usual search for the source was found. On my third visit the owner produced a half-chewed tape measure which he remembered having mislaid the day before the oneset of the illness of the heifers. Although not expecting it to be the source of the lead, I examined it and found a residue of silvery threads after the organic matter had been calcined. These threads, when dissolved in nitric acid and tested with a solution of potassium iodide, gave a heavy precipitate of “golden spangles” of lead iodide. The heifers had chewed about two feet of tape, which apparently contained enough lead cause the very severe symptoms. After three weeks, they are now recovering.     

An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of American canine hepatozoonosis.

American canine hepatozoonosis (ACH), caused by Hepatozoon americanum, is an emerging tick-borne disease of dogs. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that should facilitate diagnosis of infection and study of the epidemiology of ACH has been developed using H. americanum sporozoites as antigen. Efficacy of the new test as a diagnostic tool was compared with that of skeletal muscle biopsy, the current gold standard for confirming H. americanum infection. Results show that the test is sensitive (93%) and specific (96%) and that it is as reliable as histopathologic examination of skeletal muscle for detecting infection. The ELISA would be suitable as a routine laboratory test for diagnosis of ACH.     

Electronic monitoring of mounting behavior in beef cattle on pasture

An automated heatmount detection system was employed to detect estrus for artificial insemination in 57 beef cows. First service conception rate was 84.2% and the pregnancy rate was 89.5% for a 42-day breeding season. Duration of estrus was 9.6 h, sx = 0.5 h and mounting activity was lowest during the dark part of the day.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius colonizing healthy dogs in Saskatoon,Canada

This study reports antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius carried by healthy dogs in Saskatoon, and describes changes in antimicrobial resistance since a 2008 study. One hundred healthy dogs presenting to the wellness service at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine were screened for S. pseudintermedius by culturing rectal and pharyngeal swabs. Staphylococcus pseudintermedius was identified biochemically and antimicrobial minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined by broth microdilution. Methicillin resistance was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of the mecA gene. Of 221 S. pseudintermedius isolates from 78 dogs, 7 were methicillin resistant. No resistance to the fluoroquinolones, nitrofurantoin, tigecycline, vancomycin, quinupristin-dalfopristin, linezolid, or daptomycin was identified. Of the 78 positive dogs, isolates resistant to penicillin were found in 78%, to ampicillin in 61% and to tetracycline in 26%; resistance to oxacillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, trimethoprim + sulfamethoxazole, chloramphenicol, and gentamicin was found in < 10% of dogs. Compared to the 2008 study, the frequency of resistance to all drugs increased, and the frequency of colonization with pan-susceptible isolates decreased from 46% to 30%.     

Origin of postcranial skeletal pneumaticity in dinosaurs

The sauropodomorph Thecodontosaurus caducus and theropod Coelophysis bauri are the earliest known dinosaurs with postcranial skeletal pneumaticity. In both taxa, postcranial pneumatic features are confined to the cervical vertebrae. This distribution of pneumaticity in the skeleton is most consistent with pneumatization by diverticula of cervical air sacs similar to those of birds. Other hypotheses, including pneumatization by diverticula of the lungs, larynx and trachea, or cranial air spaces, are less well‐supported.     

Graph clustering of Piper nigrum L. (black pepper)

A profound degree of morphological variation exists among the cultivars of Piper nigrum cultivated in Kerala State, South India. Fifty one cultivars of this crop species from the State were subjected to graph clustering by the ‘Graph Theory’ model, based on 27 morphological characters, both qualitative and quantitative, aimed at clustering them into groups with an appreciable degree of intracluster discreteness and intercluster distance. The result was presented in a ‘Skyline Plot’. Ten C-clusters were formed at the c-value of 0.46 corresponding to a fairly high moat value. The number of members from different clusters ranged from 3–8. Distribution of various characters among the clusters formed, shows a considerable degree of intracluster similarity (connectedness) and intercluster distance (isolation). The present graph clustering is significant as it provides reliable clues for selecting parental cultivars with fair degree of genetic difference, from clusters exhibiting appreciable isolation, for future intervarietal hybridization programmes in the crop. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.