Determination of behavioural traits of pure-bred dogs using factor analysis and cluster analysis; a comparison of studies in the USA and UK

The questionnaire survey of Hart and Hart (1985, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 186, 1811-1815) ranked the 56 most popular breeds of dog in the USA on 13 behavioural traits and is compared here with results of a similar survey conducted on the 49 most popular breeds in the UK. Of the 36 breeds in common between the studies, 24 were similar for the traits aggressivity, reactivity and ease of housetraining between the two countries. However, the characteristics of nine breeds (Airedale Terrier, Old English Sheepdog, Welsh Corgi, Irish Setter, Standard Poodle, Beagle, Samoyed, Boxer, Dalmatian) differed markedly between the two countries, and a further three (Chihuahua, Scottish Terrier, Standard Dachshund) showed smaller, but probably meaningful, shifts. These differences should be recognised when giving advice to prospective owners, and when treating unwanted behaviour in these breeds.     

Unmetabolisable polyhalogenated compounds: Implications for mammalian and other vertebrate species

The drug metabolising enzyme endowment of the higher vertebrates has a blind spot. There is no general capacity for dehalogenating polybrominated or polychlorinated aromatic compounds. Exposure to such compounds where metabolic transformation is blocked by the particular isomeric disposition of Cl- or Br-substituents, leads to their persistence and accumulation in the tissues. The attendant health hazards of such accumulation in the tissues for various vertebrate species are now recognised, especially since the localised accidental overexposure of cattle to polybrominated biphenyls in the U.S.A., and of humans to polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxin in Japan and Italy, respectively, changed the outlook even of those not directly affected. These sentinel events served as warnings of the long-term dangers of ambient chemicals that are inadvertently bioconcentrated as the world's ecosystem becomes increasingly contaminated with such synthetic polyhalogenated residues, which unlike the naturally occurring polyiodinated aromatic compounds related to the thyroid hormones, are resistant to biodegradation. The females of the higher vertebrates can more readily reduce their body burdens of the unmetabolisable lipophilic polyhalogenated compounds at the expense of the next generation, by sharing the burden with their progeny via the milk or their clutch of eggs.     

Acute bronchopneumonia associated with Mycobacterium fortuitum infection in a dog

Mycobacterium fortuitum was isolated in a sample of bronchial fluid collected by transtracheal aspiration from a 1-year-old Corgi dog with a productive cough of 10 days' duration and with radiographic and cytological features of acute suppurative bronchopneumonia. The dog responded favourably to intravenous gentamicin and cephalexin for three days and a six week course of oral ciprofloxacin. Saprophytic mycobacterial pneumonia should be considered in cases of severe pulmonary consolidation in young dogs.     

Über die Stoffwechselaktivität von Humusbestandteilen

Zusammenfassung Bei der Einwirkung der Huminstoffe auf die Pflanze wird zwischen einem direkten und einem indirekten Effekt unterschieden. Ein direkter Effekt wird durch die Aufnahme von organischen Substanzen aus dem Humus über die Wurzel durch die Pflanze bewirkt. Als stoffwechselaktive Verbindungen im Boden werden Phenole angesehen, die durch den Abbau des Lignins und mikrobielle Synthese entstehen können.Um derartige Versuche quantitativ durchzuführen, ist es erforderlich, mit markierten Verbindungen zu arbeiten. Es wird über Aufnahme von Bestandteilen der Huminstofffraktionen berichtet. Im Falle von definierten Verbindungen, wie carboxyl-markierten Phenolcarbonsäuren, ist es erforderlich, in sterilem Medium zu arbeiten. Durch die Markierung gelingt es, die Umwandlungen der aufgenommenen Phenolcarbonsäuren in der Pflanze festzustellen. Die Hauptmenge liegt in Form von Glukoseester, Glykosiden bzw. deren Glukoseester vor. Es wird die Frage diskutiert, inwieweit sich Decarboxylierungsprodukte der Phenolcarbonsäuren an den Stoffwechseländerungen beteiligen.Verschiedene Möglichkeiten der Beeinflussung phenolischer Verbindungen auf den pflanzlichen Stoffwechsel werden besprochen. Dabei wird im Falle von aliphatisch substituierten Benzochinonen-1,4 auf Beziehungen zwischen physiologischer Aktivität und Elektronendichteverteilung hingewiesen.

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About the activity of humus constituents on metabolism

It is differentiated between a direct and indirect effect, when humic substances influence plant growth. A direct effect occurs by the uptake of humus by the roots of plants. Phenols are mentioned as physiologically active substances in soil. These are formed by degradation of lignin or microbial synthesis.For quantitative investigations it is necessary to use labeled compounds. The uptake of constituents of fractions of humic substances in the case of defined compounds, such as carboxyl-labeled phenol carboxylic acids it is necessary to work in sterile medium. The alterations of the absorbed phenol carboxylic acids in the plants can be followed by labelling. The main part is transformed to glucose esters, glycosides or their glucose esters. The possibility is discussed, how far the decarboxylation products cause the alterations of the metabolism.The different influence of phenolic compounds on plant metabolism is discussed. In this connection some relations are mentioned between physiological activity of aliphatic substituted benzoquinones—1,4 and electron density distribution.

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Resume Il faut distinguer, dans l'action des substances humiques sur les plantes, un effet direct et un effet indirect.L'effet direct est constitué par le passage des substances de l'humus par les racines dans la plante. Les substances actives dans le sol sont des phénols, qui peuvent prendre naissance au cours de la dégradation de la lignin, ou au cours de synthèses bactériennes.Pour réaliser des expériences quantitatives, il est nécessaire de travailler avec des substances marquées. Notre mémoire porte sur la pénétration de constituants des fractions des humines. Dans le cas de substances définies, comme les acides phénoliques marqués sur les carboxyles, il convient d'opérer en milieu stérile. Le marquage permet de suivre les transformations des acides phénoliques dans la plante. La majeure partie se trouve sous forme d'esters du glucose, ou de glucosides, ou de leurs esters du glucose. Nous discutons dans quelle mesure les produits de décarboxylation des acides phénolcarboniques prennent part aux modifications du métabolisme.Diverses possibilités d'action des composés phénoliques sur le métabolisme végétal sont évoquées. Dans le cas des benzoquinones 1–4 à substituants aliphatiques, les rapports entre activité physiologique et répartition de la densité électronique sont indiqués.

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Vortrag, gehalten auf der Tagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Qualitätsforschung (Pflanzliche Nahrungsmittel) e.V. (DGQ) am 8.4.1970 in Geisenheim/Rhg.

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Kennworte für Dokumentation: Benzochinon-1,4, carboxylmarkierte Phenolcarbonsäure, Humus, Lignin, mikrobiell synthetisierte Phenole, Pflanzenstoffwechsel, Phenolglykoside.     

Pubertal development of male African catfish,Clarias gariepinus. In vitro steroidogenesis by testis and interrenal tissue and plasma levels of sexual steroids

In fish, sex steroids initiate and/or accelerate the maturation of the brain-pituitary-gonad axis. In order to obtain information on the steroid milieu during the pubertal development of male African catfish, we have monitored the conversion of [³H]-pregnenolone and [³H]-androstenedione by testis and [³H]-pregnenolone by interrenal tissue fragmentsin vitro. Pubertal development occurs between two and six months of age. Testicular development proceeds through four main stages that are characterised histologically by the presence of spermatogonia (stage I), spermatogonia and spermatocytes (stage II), spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids (stage III), and all germ cells including spermatozoa (stage IV). 11β-Hydroxyandrostenedione and cortisol were the main products of testes and interrenal tissue, respectively, in all stages of the pubertal development; a change in the steroidogenic pattern was not observed during this period. The interrenal tissue displayed no significant conversion of [³H]-pregnenolone to 11-oxygenated androgens. Blood plasma was analyzed for the presence of five androgens; testosterone, 11β-hydroxytestosterone, 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione, androstenetrione, and 11-ketotestosterone. 11-Ketotestosterone was the quantitatively dominating androgen in the circulation at all stages of development, which was more pronounced in stages III and IV. The obvious differences between thein vitro andin vivo results, namely 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione being the main testicular productvs. 11-ketotestosterone dominating in the blood, may indicate that 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione is converted to 11-ketotestosterone at extratesticular sites.     

Protein markers of Marteilia sydneyi infection in Sydney rock oysters, Saccostrea glomerata

Marteilia sydneyi is the causative agent of QX disease in Sydney rock oyster, Saccostrea glomerata . It is responsible for disease outbreaks among oysters that occur during summer and can result in up to 95% mortality. QX disease has significantly decreased S. glomerata production in some areas of Australia's eastern seaboard over the past 30 years. Marteilia sydneyi sporulates in the digestive gland of oysters leading to complete disorganization of the infected tissues. The current study used proteomics to identify potential molecular markers of sporulating M. sydneyi infection during a field trial undertaken in the Georges River, Sydney, between December 2006 and May 2007. Early stages of M. sydneyi infection were detected by polymerase chain reaction, whilst cytological examination was used to identify sporulating M. sydneyi in the gut. Protein expression in oyster haemolymph was assessed during the M. sydneyi infection period by two dimensional electrophoresis. Proteome maps identified significant differences in the expression of four proteins in oysters with sporulating M. sydneyi infections.