Hygiene at winter bird feeders in a southwestern Ontario city

To further understand the source of the epidemic of salmonellosis in some species of birds using bird feeders in southern Ontario in the winter of 1997-1998, 124 bird feeder stations were examined for their state of hygiene and for Salmonella on 5 occasions during the winter of 1999 in a city of 100,000 people in southwestern Ontario. No Salmonella were isolated from feed contaminated with feces recovered from the feeders. Squirrel-proof feeders were significantly less contaminated with feces than were other feeder types (hopper, platform, silo), which did not differ significantly in their hygiene scores. Contamination of squirrel-proof feeders increased significantly through the course of the study, but other feeder types showed no significant change. Hygiene was poorer if feeders were maintained equally by both male and female household members, particularly as they grew older, but no age or gender effect was observed if only one person was largely responsible for maintaining the feeders. We concluded that winter bird feeder stations in a southern Ontario city were not contaminated with Salmonella but that bird feeder stations could be designed better to reduce fecal contamination of feed.     

道塞特、萨福克与阿勒泰羊5月龄杂交公羔肉品质分析

选取5月龄萨福克×阿勒泰(SAF1、SAF2)、道塞特×阿勒泰(DAF1、DAF2)杂交一、二代羔羊与同龄阿勒泰羊(ALT)各3只,对肉品质进行分析。结果表明:5月龄杂交羔羊肉品质得到明显改善,特别是蛋白质、脂肪和氨基酸含量变化尤为明显,且杂交二代优于杂交一代,杂交组合SA优于DA。     

Current distribution of sarcoptic mange in wombats

Objective To determine the distribution and prevalence of sarcoptic mange in wombats, particularly the common wombat ( Vombatus ursinus ).
Design Questionnaire survey in two parts.
Procedure Questionnaires were distributed to biologists, rangers, animal carers and naturalists. Part 1 of the questionnaire aimed to determine the present distribution of sarcoptic mange in wombats (103 responses). Part 2 invited respondents to assess the prevalence of sarcoptic mange in wombats over a 3 month period (four responses). Information on wombats from 66 localities was received. Each locality represented an area of about 2500 km².
Results Mange was observed at 93% of localities surveyed and Sarcoptes scabiei was present in common wombats at 52% of localities. Sarcoptic mange was highly prevalent (22%) in two common wombat populations in Victoria. Anecdotal evidence suggested that mange epizootics are sporadic, cause significant morbidity and mortality and have a substantial effect on local abundance. The respondents did not report sarcoptic mange in either northern hairy-nosed wombats ( Lasiorhinus krefftii ) or southern hairy-nosed wombats ( Lasiorhinus latifrons ).
Conclusions Sarcoptic mange occurs in common wombat populations throughout the range of the common wombat including Tasmania and Flinders Island. While mange epizootics are sporadic, they have the potential to threaten the long-term survival of small, remnant populations.     

New Editor of Tropical Animal Health and Production

Tropical Animal Health and Production -     

Brain stem auditory-evoked responses in the dog

Brain stem auditory-evoked responses (BAER) were recorded from 58 dogs that did not have a known history of hearing problems. The BAER wave forms had an overall mean amplitude approximately 3.0 microV and typically consisted of a series of 4 to 5 vertex-positive peaks (peaks I through V). When acoustic clicks having intensities of 60-dB hearing level (decibels relative to the subjective hearing threshold) were used as stimuli, peak I had a latency of 1.49 +/- 0.13 ms; peak II, 2.32 +/- 0.14 ms; peak III, 3.01 +/- 0.25 ms; peak IV, 4.22 +/- 0.27 ms; and peak V, 5.55 +/- 0.37 ms. Latency values were influenced by a number of nonpathologic factors, including stimulus intensity and the body temperature of the dog. As stimulus intensity was decreased, there was a lengthening of the latency of each peak coupled with a decrease in the overall amplitude of BAER. Decreases in rectal temperature caused a similar lengthening of peak latencies. Age may have an influence on BAER, but under the conditions of the present study, the effect was not significant.