Mitigating the anti-nutritional effect of polyphenols on in vitro digestibility and fermentation characteristics of browse species in north western Ethiopia

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Browse species are important sources of forage for livestock in Ethiopia, especially during the dry season, when the quality and quantity of green herbage is...     

Climatic controls of a keystone understory species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sasamorpha borealis</Emphasis>, and an impact assessment of climate change in Japan

Introduction   

The aims of this study were to identify the climatic conditions controlling the distribution of Sasamorpha borealis and to assess the impact of climate change on the species in Japan.     

First report of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrus psorosis virus</Emphasis> in Japan

Citrus psorosis virus (CPsV) was detected from citrus trees for the first time in Japan. The diagnosis was confirmed by molecular, serological, and biological indexing. RT-PCR detected CPsV from two citrus trees among ca. 200 tested. Both trees were variety Shiranui of [Citrus unshiu Marc. × C. sinensis (L.) Osb.] × C. reticulata Blanco, and neither had the bark scaling symptom typical of CPsV. The CPsV isolate could be genetically related to those from Spain, Italy, Florida, and California.     

Annual variation of natural 15N abundance in tea leaves and its practicality as an organic tea indicator

To obtain basic knowledge about the relationship between the application of organic fertilizers and the δ15N values of leaves of organically grown tea plants, annual variations in the δ15N values of the tea leaves were investigated. Although variations did not immediately arise after the application of organic fertilizers, differences in the δ15N values between organic and conventional cultivations appeared basically after three years from the beginning of the organic cultivation except when an organic fertilizer with a low δ15N value was applied, and the variation depended on the δ15N values of the fertilizers. In addition, the effectiveness of the δ15N values as a practical indicator of organic teas was examined. The tea leaves collected from organic farms did not always have higher δ15N values than the commercially available nonorganic teas. This result demonstrates that it is not easy to discriminate organic teas from nonorganic teas simply by their δ15N values.     

Inheritance of the Robertsonian translocation (1/21) in the Holstein-Friesian cattle. I. Chromosome analysis

A new type of Robertsonian translocation (1/21) was found in Holstein-Friesian breed, and transmitted through the three generations, namely from the bull to 6 out of 11 daughters and 4 out of 7 grand-daughters/sons. Although the father of the bull was not available for cytogenetical studies, it was ascertained that 5 half-sibs of the bull had a normal karyotype. By C-banded karyotypes, the 9 translocation carriers within the three generations had a dicentric centromere in the translocated chromosome. It seems that no morphological effects have been noted to be associated with the translocation in all cases.     

Heterotopic implantation of a porcine bioprosthetic heart valve in a dog with aortic valve endocarditis

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 5-year-old male German Shepherd Dog was evaluated because of a 5-month history of progressive lethargy, weight loss, and heart failure. CLINICAL FINDINGS: On physical examination, bounding femoral pulses and systolic and diastolic murmurs were detected. Echocardiography revealed severe aortic valve insufficiency (AVI) and a large vegetative lesion on the aortic valve consistent with aortic valve endocarditis. The AVI velocity profile half-time was 130 milliseconds; the calculated peak systolic pressure gradient across the aortic valve was 64 mm Hg. Left ventricular diameter during diastole was 63.6 mm (predicted range, 40.2 to 42 mm) and during systole was 42.9 mm (predicted range, 25.4 to 27 mm). Systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures were 120, 43, and 65 mm Hg, respectively. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: To palliate severe AVI, the descending aorta was occluded (duration, 16.75 minutes) and heterotopic implantation of a porcine bioprosthetic heart valve in that vessel was performed. After surgery, systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures were 115, 30, and 61 mm Hg, respectively, in the forelimb and 110, 62, and 77 mm Hg, respectively, in the hind limb. Within 6 months, the AVI velocity profile half-time had increased to 210 milliseconds, indicating diminished severity of AVI. After 24 months, the dog was able to engage in vigorous exercise; no pulmonary edema had developed since surgery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Heterotopic bioprosthetic heart valve implantation into the descending aorta during brief aortic occlusion appears feasible in dogs and may provide substantial palliation for dogs with severe AVI.