Bluetongue serotype 8 vaccine coverage in northern and south-eastern England in 2008

A postal survey of all registered cattle and sheep farmers in East Anglia was carried out from July 2008 to determine bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV-8) vaccine uptake in the region. The vaccine was available to farmers in this region from May 2008. The survey was repeated in Cumbria and Northumberland at the beginning of 2009. In these regions, the vaccine was not available until September 1, 2008. Holding-level vaccine uptake was estimated to be 85 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval [CI] 83 to 87 per cent, n=1623) in East Anglia and 36 per cent (95 per cent CI 32 to 40 per cent, n=633) in northern England. A telephone follow-up of non-responders reduced these estimates to 79 and 29 per cent in East Anglia and northern England, respectively. In both regions, vaccine coverage was higher in sheep than in cattle, with 92 per cent of sheep in East Anglia having been vaccinated. The proportion of holdings that had applied the vaccine or were intending to apply the vaccine in 2009 in the northern region was 51 per cent (95 per cent CI 47 to 54 per cent, n=664), with a further 37 per cent undecided at the time of response.     

Earth-Based Radio Tracking of the Galileo Probe for Jupiter Wind Estimation

Although the Galileo probe was designed to communicate only to the orbiter, the probe radio signal was detected at two Earth-based radio observatories where the signal was a billion times weaker. The measured signal frequency was used to derive a vertical profile of the jovian zonal wind speed. Due to the mission geometry, the Earth-based wind estimates are less sensitive to descent trajectory errors than estimates based on probe-orbiter Doppler measurements. The two estimates of wind profiles agree qualitatively; both show high wind speeds at all depths sampled.     

猪舍内气流变化的模拟研究

圈养动物舍内的气流变化对于室内的污染物扩散起到非常关键的作用,采用基于有限容积方法的计算流体动力学(CFD)软件对建于奥胡斯大学农业工程研究所空气物理实验室中的1:12.5猪舍模型内的气流进行了稳态和三维模拟。将模拟的气流速度与室内一个参考点的实际测试速度进行了对比,同时分析了气流入口不同紊流动能及扩散率取值对室内测试参考点气流速度模拟值的影响。结果表明,模拟值与测试值的相对误差在0.4%～11.4%之间。     

Tail docking in dogs: A sample of attitudes of veterinarians and dog breeders in Queensland

One hundred veterinarians and 100 breeders of traditionally docked dogs from Queensland were surveyed by telephone to determine their attitudes towards tail docking. Eighty-four percent of the breeders surveyed were in favour of docking, whereas 83% of veterinarians were opposed to the practice. Most pups were docked between 1 and 3 days of age. All veterinarians surgically amputated the tail, whereas 16% of breeders applied rubber bands to the tail. Seventy-six percent of the veterinarians, but only 18% of the breeders believed that docking caused significant to severe pain. No veterinarians, but 25% of the dog breeders believed that docking was painless. Although recent changes to the Queensland Canine Control Council's rulings allow dogs with intact tails to be shown in traditionally docked classes, the requirement of breed standard was cited as the major reason for tail docking by both breeders and veterinarians.     

Evaluation of propofol and medetomidine-ketamine for short-term immobilization of Gulf of Mexico sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus de soti).

Parenteral anesthetic protocols for short-term immobilization were evaluated in twenty 4-yr-old Gulf of Mexico sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus de soti). An initial dose-response trial determined the efficacy of either propofol (3.5-7.5 mg/kg. i.v.) or combinations of medetomidine (0.03-0.07 mg/kg, i.m.)-ketamine (3-7 mg/kg, i.m.). A subsequent study evaluated the physiologic effects of propofol (6.5 mg/kg, i.v.)-induced anesthesia and anesthesia induced with a medetomidine (0.06 mg/kg, i.m.)-ketamine (6 mg/kg i.m.) combination. The effects of medetomidine were reversed at 30 min with atipamezole (0.30 mg/kg, i.m.). Both drug protocols provided adequate short-term immobilization for minor diagnostic procedures. Sturgeon receiving propofol were in a light plane of anesthesia within 5 min after drug administration, whereas only 30% of the medetomidine-ketamine group reached a light plane of anesthesia in the same time period. Both propofol and medetomidine-ketamine resulted in mild bradycardia and apparent respiratory depression, with propofol producing more profound effects. At the dosages used in this study, both propofol and the medetomidine-ketamine combination effectively induced a light plane of anesthesia. Induction times were shorter in the propofol group.     

Near‐Infrared Spectroscopic Evaluation of Single‐Kernel Deoxynivalenol Accumulation and Fusarium Head Blight Resistance Components in Wheat

Fusarium head blight (FHB) symptoms, single‐kernel deoxynivalenol (DON) levels, and distribution of DON levels among kernels in response to artificial FHB inoculation were investigated in three selected wheat cultivars that had different reported levels of FHB resistance. DON levels were estimated with near‐infrared spectroscopy. The percentages of DON‐containing spikelets per spike of 15.2, 49.7, and 89.1% were significantly different among point‐inoculated spikes of Everest, Karl 92, and Overley, respectively. The percentage of visually Fusarium‐damaged kernels in point‐inoculated Karl 92 and Overley spikes was significantly higher than for Everest. However, the DON‐containing spikelets per spike and visually Fusarium‐damaged kernels values for spray‐inoculated spikes were not significantly different among the three cultivars. In spray‐inoculated spikes, DON levels in kernels ranged from 0 to 291.3 ppm, whereas the variation of DON levels in spikelet positions was random. In contrast, DON levels in spikelets below the inoculated spikelet in point‐inoculated spikes showed marked differences among the three cultivars. Overley had the highest DON accumulation in kernels. This near‐infrared spectroscopy method may be used as a novel way to evaluate wheat cultivars for FHB resistance to toxin accumulation. Other resistance components such as resistance to pathogen infection and resistance to pathogen spread may also be evaluated.     

Kejimkujik Park — One in a family of integrated watershed studies

The Canadian federal research program related to the Long-Range Transport of Airborne Pollutants included integrated studies to be carried out in selected watersheds. These watersheds were selected through consideration of the then existing studies as well as the need to provide information on the range of ecosystems susceptible to acidification in Canada. The biogeochemical characteristics of the site selected in the highly sensitive region of Nova Scotia, the Kejimkujik National Park, are presented in comparison with other integrated study sites in North America and in Europe. It is shown that the Kejimkujik site represents a system that is dominated by very dilute but highly organic waters not included in other studies.     

Efficacy and safety of ivermectin applied topically to cattle under field conditions in Australia

Fifteen controlled field trials were conducted to evaluate the efficacy against gastrointestinal nematodes and safety of ivermectin when applied topically to cattle in Australia. Three hundred and fifty-one cattle received ivermectin, and 88 were untreated controls. The trials were conducted in 3 States and included a variety of cattle breeds and environmental conditions. Faecal samples were collected before treatment and 11 to 14 days after treatment for nematode egg counts. Data from these trials show that under Australian conditions, ivermectin applied along the mid line of the back from the withers to the sacral region at a dose rate of 500 mcg/kg body weight, effectively controlled gastrointestinal nematode infections, and did not produce unacceptable adverse reactions in the animals.