Bisdioxycalamenene: A Bis-Sesquiterpene from the Soft Coral Rhytisma fulvum fulvum

A dichloromethane extract of the soft coral Rhytisma fulvum fulvum collected in Madagascar afforded a novel compound possessing an unprecedented pentacyclic skeleton, bisdioxycalamenene (1), as well as seven known sesquiterpenes. The structures of the compounds were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR techniques, as well as high-resolution mass spectrometry. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined using X-ray diffraction analysis and anomalous dispersion effects. The structure elucidation and a possible biogenesis of the compound are discussed.     

Comparison of three enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for serologic diagnosis of contagious agalactia in sheep.

Serologic diagnosis of ovine contagious agalactia (Mycoplasma agalactiae) with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) developed by Agence Fran?aise de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments (AFSSA) may produce a few false-positive (FP) and false-negative (FN) results. When the prevalence of disease is low, these erroneous results may generate problems for eradication schemes. To prevent this, 2 commercial ELISAs were compared with the AFSSA ELISA. Flocks of known status were selected and classified into 4 categories: true positive (TP), FP, true negative (TN), and FN; 20 sheep per flock were submitted for blood sampling. A flock was considered positive when at least 1 out of 20 sera was positive or 2 sera were doubtful. In the flock, the diagnostic sensitivity of the 3 kits was very good (100%), and the diagnostic specificity showed an improvement from 46% (AFSSA test) to 88% and 92% (commercial tests). Considering individual animals, very few positive ewes were detected within TN or FP flocks; the proportion of positive ewes varied greatly from one kit to another (48% to 82%) within TP flocks. The kinetics of antibody response in sheep experimentally infected with various field strains of M. agalactiae were quite similar with all 3 ELISAs. The agreement between the 3 tests, assessed using the kappa value, varied from moderate to good (respective values of 0.56, 0.61, and 0.86). The 2 commercial ELISAs showed better performances, probably because of a superior analytical sensitivity, and are a good alternative for the serodiagnosis of contagious agalactia in sheep.     

Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis in Rambouillet Sheep: Characterization of the Clinical Disease

A chronic progressive, neurodegenerative disease has been identified in 4 closely related flocks of purebred Rambouillet sheep. Blindness, circling, proprioceptive deficits, reduced cognition, and poor body condition are the main clinical signs. Prominent lesions include markedly decreased cerebral size and weight, enlarged cerebral ventricles, and intraneuronal accumulations of autofluorescent pigment. Affected sheep usually die between 1 and 2 years of age. The clinical signs and postmortem findings are consistent with neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis.     

Shell gland adenosine triphosphatase in hens producing strong and weak egg shells

1. Two groups of 4 hens at the end of their first production cycle were classified as producers of strong egg shells (greater than 70 mg/cm2) and weak egg shells (less than 60 mg/cm2) on the basis of shell surface density. 2. Shell gland mucosa was homogenised and fractionated into nuclear, mitochondrial, microsomal and supernatant fractions, and ATPase activity determined. 3. ATPase activity in the total homogenate was significantly greater for hens producing strong shells (SES) than for hens producing weak shells (WES). 4. ATPase activities detected in the nuclear fraction, mitochondria and microsomes were significantly greater for SES than for WES birds.     

What explains tourists’ support for snow leopard conservation in the Annapurna Conservation Area,Nepal?

Wildlife tourism is increasingly important for the conservation of threatened species such as snow leopards. However, what tourists know or value about snow leopards, and to what extent they support the conservation of this species, has received limited empirical attention. This paper investigates tourist knowledge about snow leopards, beliefs and values toward the species, and support for its conservation in the Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal. Survey data were collected from 406 foreign tourists between March and May 2014. Although knowledge about snow leopards varied among respondents, there was widespread support for their conservation. Knowledge about snow leopards was best explained by education level and environmental organization membership. Improved knowledge about the species, and a variety of intrinsic conservation values, were found to increase tourist support for snow leopard conservation. These results provide important insights to help tailor tourism initiatives to support the conservation of snow leopards.