Effects of 'Agri-SC' soil conditioner on soil structure and erodibility: some further observations

Abstract. In field and laboratory experiments the conditioner‘Agri-SC’has shown improvements in the structure of loamy sand soils in east Shropshire, UK. It resulted in statistically significant decreases in soil bulk density values and increases in soil porosity and aggregate stability. Further experiments are in progress on both loamy sand and silt loam soils.     

Weed management strategies for the control of Rottboellia cochinchinensis in maize in Trinidad

Summary. A weed management strategy for the control of Rottboellia cochinchinensis (Lour.) W.D. Clayton in maize, based on reducing the level of spikelet germination from the seedbank and reducing the intensity of weed-crop interference, was conducted over two seasons. The management practices evaluated included chemical control (atrazine, metolachlor, pendimethalin, EPTC), cultural control (straw mulch), mechanical control (inter-row cultivation) and biological control (living mulch). The results indicated that the various management practices had no effect on the growth and development of the crop but significantly affected the weed. The pendimethalin (1°5 kg a.i. ha⁻¹) and inter-row cultivation (14 and 28 days after planting) treatments gave satisfactory control of the weed in the crop over the duration of the critical period of weed competition. All other treatments were ineffective. All management practices made significant contributions to the weed seedbank, thus ensuring the predominance of the weed.     

Factors affecting the cropping potential of reinstated soils

Abstract. Comparisons of crop production on recently reinstated soil in Northumberland have shown that the reduced yield potential of such soil may not be inevitable. Storage of soil in bunds did not greatly reduce subsequent crop yields, but failure to drain the land did. Provided an effective drainage scheme was installed, arable and grass crops could be grown successfully, responding very well to additions of nitrogen fertilizer and other normal good husbandry practices. To date it seems that neither deep cultivation nor the use of grass leys were as effective in the restoration process as had been expected.     

Laboratory and field observations on anti-tick properties of the plant Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Brig.

A shrubby plant, abundant in east Kenya, Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Brig., was shown to exhibit repellent and acaricidal properties to larvae, nymphs and adult Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Amblyomma variegatum ticks. All stages of ticks avoided the leaves of the plant and a high percentage of the ticks which were continuously exposed to its leaves died; surviving ticks were weak and inactive but regained activity when exposed to fresh air. The effectiveness of the plant's leaves as a repellent and acaricide was most pronounced on nymphs and least pronounced on adults. Field investigations indicated that ticks were not found up to 2-5 m from the plant in areas where the plant was predominant. The potential of using the plant for tick control within an integrated tick management system in the resource-poor farming context in Africa was highlighted.     

Pyrenophora japonica occurring on barley in South Africa

A Pyrenophora teleomorph was recently found on barley stubble in South Africa. Single-ascospore isolates, mated on water agar containing sterile pieces of barley stubble, produced the teleomorph within 12 months of incubation at 15°C in the dark. Based on morphological characteristics and symptom expression on barley plants, the teleomorph is ascribed to P. japonica (anamorph Drechslera tuberosa ). This is the first report describing the occurrence of the teleomorph of D. tuberosa in South Africa.     

Anaplasmosis in Uganda. I. Use of dried blood on filter papers and serum samples for serodiagnosis of anaplasmosis—A comparative study

Summary The suitability of blood collected on filter papers in comparison with corresponding conventional serum samples in the diagnosis of bovine anaplasmosis was studied using the complement fixation test, DOT-ELISA, Western immunoblot and rapid card agglutination test. Dried blood on Whatman filter paper no. 1 was eluted in PBS 0·05% Tween 20 giving an initial dilution of 1∶10. The reactivity of the eluted samples in both DOT-ELISA and Western immunoblotting were similar to those obtained with the corresponding straight serum sample dilutions. Filter paper samples gave lower reactivity in the remaining tests when compared with corresponding serum samples. There was no significant difference in the reactivity between the eluates from filter papers stored at temperatures ranging between 15·5 and 24°C and those kept refrigerated. Storage at 15·5 to 24°C did not significantly affect reactivity for up to six months. Eluates from filter papers stored for six months at 15·5 to 24°C continued to give similar reactivity as those from freshly prepared filter papers in both DOT-ELISA and Western blot, and in the rapid card agglutination test. It is concluded that collecting blood on filter papers is a suitable technique for large scale seroepidemiological studies on anaplasmosis and offers many advantages in developing countries where transport and cold chain facilities are a major constraint.

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Resumen Se estudió la efectividad de muestras de sangre colectadas en papel filtro, en comparación con las correspondientes muestras convencionales du suero, en el diagnóstico de anaplasmosis bovina, utilizando fijación de complemento, DOT-ELISA, Western, immunoblot y la prueba rápida de la tarjeta. La sangre seca en papel Whatman N^o 1 fue removida con PBS 0·05% entre 20, dando una dilución inicial de 1∶10. La reactividad de las muestras removidas de papel filtro, en la prueba de DOT-ELISA y Western immunoblotting, fueron similares a la obtenida con la correspondiente muestra de suero. Las muestras de papel filtro reaccionaron menos en las otras pruebas, cuando se compararon con las correspondients muestras du suero. No hubo diferencia significativa en la reactividad entre los lavados del papel filtro guardados a temperaturas entre 15·5 y 24°C y aquellos guardados en refrigeración. El almacenaje entre 15·5 y 24°C, no afectó la reactividad hastas seis meses. Los lavados de papel filtro guardados por seis meses entre 15·5 y 24°C, dieron la misma reactividad como los lavados frescos, en la prueba DOT-ELISA y Western blot, lo mismo que en la prueba de aglutinación rápida de tarjeta. Se concluye, qu la colección de sangre en papel filtro, es una buena técnica para estudios epidemiológicos de cierta magnitud, sobre anaplasmosis, ofreciendo ventajas considerables en paises en desarrollo en donde las cadenas de frío son deficientes.

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Résumé La fiabilité du sang récolté sur papier filtre comparée à celle des prélèvements conventionnels de sérum pour le diagnostic de l'anaplasmose a été étudiée à l'aide des tests suivants: fixation du complément, ELISA, immunoblot de Western, test rapide d'agglutination sur carte. Du sang séché sur papier filtre Whatman N^o 1 a fait l'object d'une élution dans une solution de PBS à 0,05 p. 100 (Tween 20) pour donner une dilution de base au dilution de base au 1∶10. Le réactivité des échantillons, autant avec le test ELISA que l'immunoblot Western, a été identique à celle obtenue par dilution directe de sérums homologue. Les échantillons sur papier filtre ont donné une réactivité plus faible pour les autres tests, comparée à celle des échantillons de sérum semblables. Aucune différence significative n'a été décelée quant à leur réactivité les éluats provenant de papiers filtres stockés à des températures comprises entre 15,5 et 24°C at ceux conservés au réfrigérateur. Le stockage entre 15,5 et 24°C n'a pas non plus affecté la réactivité de fa?on significative; les éluats conservés à partir des papiers filtres, à cette même température durant 6 mois, ont montré des réactions identiques que ceux provenant de papiers filtres fra?chement préparés, à la fois avec le test ELISA, celui de Western Blot et le test d'agglutination rapide sur carte. On peut conclure que la collecte du sang sur papier filtre est une technique adaptée à l'étude épidémiologique de l'anaplasmose à grande échelle. Elle offre de nombreux avantages dans les pays en développement où offre de nombreux avantages dans les pays en développement où les moyens de transports et la cha?ne du froid constituent des contraintes majeures.

     

A device for determining the sorptivity of soil aggregates

A device that infiltrated water over a small circular surface area having a radius ranging between 1.45 mm and 2.5 mm was used to measure the sorptivity of initially air-dry aggregates of size greater than 20 mm. The small infiltration area caused the water uptake to be dominated by capillarity that allowed the use of a simple formula to obtain the sorptivity from the steady-state flow rate that occurred very early after the start of imbibition. The results of measurements of sorptivity made on a fine sand agreed with those obtained from measurements on one-dimensional water infiltration into columns of the sand. Sorptivity measurements on stabilized aggregates of a clay soil and on air-dried field aggregates of a clay soil were easily made. The simplicity and rapidity of the method allowed measurements to be conveniently replicated.     

Onchocerca gutturosa and Onchocerca lienalis in cattle: variation in length of microfilariae by site of recovery

Dermal microfilariae recovered from specimens obtained from umbilical and cervical sites of cattle infected with adult Onchocerca gutturosa alone or with adults of O gutturosa and O lienalis were measured and compared with uterine microfilariae obtained directly from gravid female worms of each species. Uterine microfilariae of O gutturosa were longer than dermal microfilariae obtained from cattle harboring only adults of O gutturosa. Dermal microfilariae were recovered from umbilical and cervical sites in these cattle. Those found at the cervical site had lengths equal to or greater than lengths of microfilariae recovered from the umbilical site. There was a significant (P less than 0.0001) shift in length across populations of microfilariae of O gutturosa from various sites in its bovine host, with a progressive decrease in length between microfilariae recovered from the worm's uterus, microfilariae from the cervical dermis, and microfilariae from the umbilical dermis, respectively. A similar direct comparison was not possible for microfilariae of O lienalis, because none of the cattle was infected with only adult worms of this species. In an indirect comparison, microfilariae of O lienalis were identified at the umbilicus, but their presence in the cervical region could not be determined unequivocally because of confounding of microfilariae length by concurrent infection with O gutturosa. Uterine microfilariae from O lienalis were longer than uterine microfilariae of O gutturosa, although a degree of overlap in the range of measurements existed between species.     

Chemotherapy of T b brucei infection: Use of DFMO, diminazene aceturate, alone and in combination

The therapeutic activity of diminazene aceturate, difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and a combination of the two agents was investigated in experimental Trypanosoma brucei brucei infections in mongrel dogs. The criteria used in the assessment of the trypanocidal effect of these compounds included the examination of the blood for the parasite, as well as clinical and haematological changes at intervals following treatment. Diminazene aceturate (7 mg/kg intramuscularly), DFMO (300 mg/kg/day orally in three divided doses for six days) and the combination of diminazene aceturate (7 mg/kg intramuscularly) and DFMO (300 mg/kg/day orally for six days) produced an intermittent aparasitemia in the dogs. Relapse infection occurred in all the three groups, but the period of aparasitemia produced by the combination of the agents was longest. The packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and red cell count values decreased after the dogs were inoculated with the parasite. The values improved slightly following the treatments with the agents or their combination. The total white blood cell counts in the infected dogs indicated leucocytosis, but this improved with drug treatment.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE, ULTRASOUND AND HISTOPATHOLOGIC CORRELATION OF ACUTE AND HEALING EQUINE TENDON INJURIES

Ultrasonography and MRI have become valuable tools for imaging of tendon injuries. The current study examines the histopathologic basis for the imaging abnormalities. Five injured equine forelimbs and two normal contralateral limbs were studied with high resolution real time ultrasound and MRI. Histologic sections were made and correlated with the diagnostic images. All lesions were readily seen by both modalities. Lesions characterized by hemorrhage, edma, and cellular infiltration were sonolucent on ultrasound and bright on MRI images. MRI returned to normal as fibrogenesis ensued. Ultrasound images remained abnormal until fibrillar reallgnment occured with completion of the healing process. High resolution real time ultrasound and MRI both accurately reflect the tissue abnormalities in acute tendon injuries. The injured horse does appear to be an effective model for correlative imaging studies of tendon injuries.