Fatal epizootic equine herpesvirus 1 infections in new and unnatural hosts

In a zoological collection, four black bears (Ursus americanus) died from neurological disease within six months. Independently in a geographically different zoo, two Thomson's gazelles (Eudorcas thomsoni) and 18 guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus f. dom.) suffered from neurological disorders. In addition, guinea pigs showed abortions and stillbirths. All affected animals displayed a non suppurative meningoencephalitis with intranuclear inclusion bodies. Immunohistology demonstrated equine herpes virus antigen and ultrastructurally herpes viral particles were detected. Virus isolation and molecular analysis identified neurotropic equine herpesvirus (EHV) 1 strains in both epizootics. There is serological evidence of a possible virus transmission from other equids to the affected animals. Cross-species transmission of EHV-1 should be considered in the management of captive wild equids and ungulates, particularly with respect to fatal disease in irreplaceable species.     

The effect of axial strain on crystalline cellulose in Norway spruce

The effect of strain on dry, clear Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) wood was studied by tensile testing along the cell axis and by in situ X-ray diffraction measurements. The mean microfibril angle (MFA) was initially 3–12 degrees and did not decrease due to strain. Based on the positions of the reflections 200 and 004 of crystalline cellulose, cellulose chains elongated and the distance between the hydrogen bonded sheets of chains decreased due to the strain. The elongation of the unit cell parallel to the cellulose chains was twice as high in juvenile wood as in mature wood. The (X-ray) Poisson ratio ν _ca for crystalline cellulose in Norway spruce was calculated from the deformation of the unit cell. The average ν _ca of earlywood was 0.28 ± 0.10 in juvenile wood and 0.38 ± 0.23 in mature wood. In latewood, the average ν _ca was 0.48 ± 0.10 in juvenile wood and 0.82 ± 0.11 in mature wood. The average ν _ca values were not directly correlated to the crystallite dimensions or to the mean MFA in juvenile and mature earlywood and latewood. The results show that the amorphous matrix has a definite effect on the deformation of cellulose crystallites.     

How low can you go? Physical production mechanism of elephant infrasonic vocalizations

Elephants can communicate using sounds below the range of human hearing ("infrasounds" below 20 hertz). It is commonly speculated that these vocalizations are produced in the larynx, either by neurally controlled muscle twitching (as in cat purring) or by flow-induced self-sustained vibrations of the vocal folds (as in human speech and song). We used direct high-speed video observations of an excised elephant larynx to demonstrate flow-induced self-sustained vocal fold vibration in the absence of any neural signals, thus excluding the need for any "purring" mechanism. The observed physical principles of voice production apply to a wide variety of mammals, extending across a remarkably large range of fundamental frequencies and body sizes, spanning more than five orders of magnitude.     

Doppler sonography of the medial arterial blood supply to the coxofemoral joints of 36 medium to large breed dogs and its relationship with radiographic signs of joint disease

The medial arterial supply to 68 of the 72 coxofemoral joints of 36 medium to large breed dogs was examined ultrasonographically. The medial circumflex femoral artery and three branches were identified; the artery and its transverse branch were identified in all 68 joints, and the deep branch was identified in 61 joints, and the ascending branch was identified in 63. However, the acetabular and obturator branches were not identified. The pulsatility index, the mean velocity and the peak systolic velocity of the medial circumflex femoral artery were determined and associated with a radiographic score of degenerative coxofemoral joint disease and a lath distraction index (LDI). In joints with a LDI greater than 0.35, the pulsatility index was significantly lower (P=0.023) and its mean velocity was higher (P=0.005). However, no significant associations were observed in individual dogs when the measurements in both joints were taken into account.     

Root turnover and root necromass accumulation of Norway spruce (Picea abies) are affected by soil acidity

Fine root distribution and turnover were investigated in ca. 40-year-old pure Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) stands in Germany, growing on four sites that differed in soil acidity (Eberg?tzen < Barbis < Fichtelgebirge = Harz). The density of fine root biomass and necromass in different soil horizons differed among the sites. At one of the most acidic sites (Harz), fine root density in the humus layer was more than twice that at the least acidic site (Eberg?tzen). At the two most acidic sites, Fichtelgebirge and Harz, the ratio of biomass to necromass was significantly lower than at Eberg?tzen and Barbis, particularly in the subsoil layer. In each stand, clear vertical gradients in fine root length density and root tip density were observed. Most of the roots and the root tips were in the humus layer and in the first mineral soil horizon (0-10 cm). There was a significantly different decrease in specific root length (cm gDM (-1)) and specific root tip density (root tips gDM (-1)) in the more acidified stands Fichtelgebirge and Harz compared with Eberg?tzen and Barbis. Fine root production estimated by ingrowth cores and a net method was approximately twice as high in the more acidic stands Fichtelgebirge and Harz compared with Eberg?tzen and Barbis. Rates of living fine root biomass turnover were higher at the Fichtelgebirge and Harz sites than at the Eberg?tzen site. Rates of necromass turnover were similar at all sites. The results suggest that the accumulation of necromass was not due to a slower disappearance at the more acid sites, but to earlier root death. Roots contributed 46% to root + needle litter and 32% to root + total aboveground litter at the Harz site in 1997.     

Prohexadione‐Ca induces resistance to fireblight and other diseases1

Prohexadione‐Ca is primarily used for the control of shoot growth in pome and other fruit trees. During its development, treated apple and pear trees were found to be significantly less affected by fireblight (Erwinia amylovora) and other pathogens, although prohexadione‐Ca is inactive as a bactericide or fungicide. Prohexadione is a structural mimic of 2‐oxoglutaric acid, and the distinct dioxygenases involved in gibberellin biosynthesis that require this compound as a cosubstrate are blocked. As a result, less growth‐active gibberellins are formed and treated plants remain compact. 2‐Oxoglutaric acid‐dependent dioxygenases are also involved in flavonoid metabolism. In shoots of apples and pears, prohexadione‐Ca causes considerable changes in the formation of flavonoids and their phenolic precursors by inhibiting flavanone 3‐hydroxylase. Convincing evidence is available that prohexadione‐Ca triggers pathogen resistance primarily by inducing the formation of 3‐deoxyflavonoids, in particular luteoforol, with phytoalexin‐like properties. Morphoregulatory effects caused by prohexadione‐Ca are only of secondary relevance. The simultaneous control of excessive shoot growth and shoot infections by fireblight is seen as a major advantage of using prohexadione‐Ca in pome fruit trees.     

Efficacy of a continuous, multiagent chemotherapeutic protocol versus a short-term single-agent protocol in dogs with lymphoma

OBJECTIVE: To compare response rates and remission and survival times in dogs with lymphoma treated with a continuous, multiagent, doxorubicin-based chemotherapeutic protocol or with a short-term single-agent protocol incorporating doxorubicin. DESIGN: Nonrandomized controlled clinical trial. ANIMALS: 114 dogs with lymphoma. PROCEDURES: Dogs were treated with a chemotherapeutic protocol consisting of L-asparaginase, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, methotrexate, and prednisolone (n=87) or doxorubicin alone (27). RESULTS: 63 of 86 (73%) dogs treated with the multiagent protocol (data on response was unavailable for 1 dog) and 14 of 27 (52%) dogs treated with the single-agent protocol had a complete remission. Dogs with lymphoma classified as substage相似文献   

Enzootic otitis in a herd of calves

Following an outbreak of enzootic bronchopneumonia, 15 out of 19 calves of one herd were affected by uni- or bilateral otitis media. The animals (aged four days to nine weeks) were housed in individual boxes. Type and distribution of concurrent diseases as well as the symptoms indicative of otitis are listed in two tables; two other tables give the results of the bacteriological examinations of aural and nasal swabs taken before and during treatment. In order to cure otitis media, systemic as well as simultaneous local treatments are necessary. The application of oily suspensions of antibiotics into the auditory canal cannot be recommended. Twelve of the 15 sick calves recovered.     

Influence of the dietary ratio between sulphur containing amino acids and lysine on performance of growing-finishing pigs fed diets with various lysine concentrations.

This study was conducted to determine the optimal ratio between sulphur containing amino acids and lysine in diets for growing-finishing pigs. Therefore, a total of five trials was carried out in which growing-finishing pigs (live weight range between 53 and 105 kg) were fed diets with various concentrations of lysine (0.62, 0.70 and 0.78%) and various ratios between sulphur containing amino acids to lysine. The diets contained 12.9 MJ ME per kg and 13.5% CP; the ratio between sulphur containing amino acids to lysine was adjusted by individual supplementation of the diets with DL-methionine. Increasing dietary levels of lysine from 0.62 to 0.78% continuously increased daily body weight gains and improved feed conversion efficiency as well as carcass characteristics. There was no significant interaction between the dietary lysine supply and the ratio between sulphur containing amino acids to lysine on animal performance parameters. This means that the effect of the ratio of sulphur containing amino acids to lysine was similar for various dietary lysine concentrations. The optimum ratio between sulphur containing amino acids to lysine according to quadratic regression analysis was 0.60, for both, growth and feed conversion. Reducing the ratio between sulphur containing amino acids to lysine from 0.59 to 0.53 and 0.47 reduced body weight by 3 and 12%, resp., and elevated the feed conversion ratio by 2 and 12%, resp. An increase of the ratio between sulphur containing amino acids to lysine from 0.59 to 0.65 failed to increase the animal performance. In contrast to animal performance parameters, optimum carcass characteristics (eye muscle area, fat area above eye muscle, meat-fat ratio and lean percentage) were achieved already at a ratio of sulphur containing amino acids to lysine of 0.53.