Feline pyoderma therapy

Feline pyoderma is a disease entity more prevalent than previously described. Diagnosis is made by finding bacteria in the presence of inflammatory cells or bacterial phagocytosis on routine cytological examination. Diseases leading to secondary bacterial pyoderma include allergic and inflammatory skin diseases, parasitosis, feline chin acne, and others. Lesions of feline pyoderma are variable and include crusted and eroded papules, pustules, furuncles, eroded to ulcerated plaques with variable exudation and crusting, and linear to nodular ulcerative granulomatous lesions. Three cases of feline pyoderma responsive to antimicrobial therapy are discussed: case 1, a 10.5-year-old male neutered domestic short hair with eosinophilic lip ulcer, case 2, a 7-year-old male neutered domestic short hair with multiple cutaneous eosinophilic plaques, and case 3, an 8-month-old male neutered domestic short hair cat with Pseudomonas dermatitis, vasculitis, and panniculitis. Antibiotic selection for treatment of feline pyoderma should be based on cytological examination, and culture and sensitivity in unresponsive cases.     

Reproductive performance of postpartum ewes treated with insulin or progesterone hormones in association with ram effect

The reproductive performance of postpartum Santa Inês (SI) and Morada Nova (MN) ewes treated with insulin or progesterone hormones in association with ram effect was evaluated. Ewes from SI (n = 69) and MN (n = 69) breeds were randomly allocated to three groups of each breed (T1—ram effect only; T2—ram effect + insulin; T3—ram effect + progesterone). Progesterone concentrations (ηg/ml; mean ± SD) before and after introduction of rams (n = 6) were 0.51 ± 0.22 and 3.78 ± 0.68 (T1), 0.65 ± 0.21 and 3.77 ± 0.78 (T2) and 0.52 ± 0.21 and 3.84 ± 0.84 (T3) in SI ewes and 0.74 ± 0.19 and 3.71 ± 0.56 (T1), 0.70 ± 0.21 and 3.79 ± 0.75 (T2) and 0.81 ± 0.14 and 3.87 ± 0.80 (T3) in MN ewes, respectively. Thus, lower progesterone concentrations were found before the introduction of rams (p < .05). After the introduction of rams, preovulatory peaks of LH (ηg/ml) occurred at 28 (T1), 44 (T2) and 48 (T3) hr in SI ewes and at 64 (T1), 40 (T2) and 44 (T3) hr in MN ewes. The mean number of ovulations was similar between groups (p > .05), was 1.3 ± 0.51 (T1), 1.5 ± 0.54 (T2) and 1.6 ± 0.51 (T3) in SI ewes and 1.3 ± 0.51 (T1), 1.6 ± 0.51 (T2) and 1.6 ± 0.51 (T3) in MN ewes. In conclusion, the ram effect alone is effective at inducing and synchronizing oestrus in sheep under postpartum anoestrus, irrespective of hormone treatments.     

Population variation in traits of Deladenus siricidicola that could influence the biocontrol of Sirex noctilio in South Africa

Deladenus siricidicola is the primary biocontrol agent of the invasive woodwasp, Sirex noctilio. The nematode is mass-reared in culture on the S. noctilio symbiotic fungus, A. areolatum, but can also be induced to convert into its infective form in culture. The aim of this study was to explore the level of variation among a collection of D. siricidicola strains to convert into the infective form in culture. In addition, we measured variation in growth of the nematode on a strain of A. areolatum that is commonly used for laboratory rearing. Both traits could influence laboratory rearing and efficiency in the field. The 22 strains from three countries showed significant variation in the frequency of conversion into the infective form in culture. Even genetically uniform strains from South Africa displayed a range of variation in this trait. There was also significant variation in the growth of D. siricidicola on A. areolatum. These results emphasise the importance of considering variation in traits in D. siricidicola that could influence a biological control program. They also provide tools that could be used to screen larger collections of D. siricidicola for variation in traits linked to virulence and reproduction.     

Identification of a maize (Zea mays L.) inbred line adapted to low‐P conditions via analyses of phosphorus utilization,root acidification,and calcium influx

Phosphorus (P) fertilizers are essential for achieving high crop productivity, but declining soil P reserves and cost of fertilizers suggest that improving crop varieties for improved use efficiency of P be important for sustainability. To explore the possibility of selecting crops suitable for low P conditions, two maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines, i.e., W22 and W23 were compared for growth, root morphology, and electrophysiological parameters, under hydroponic conditions with either insoluble P source (LP) or soluble P source (HP) in a factorial completely randomized design. Relative shoot biomass of W23 was significantly (38%) greater than that of W22 with LP, while relative root biomass of the two inbred lines did not differ. With LP, the P stress factor was the lowest (25%) and P dissolution in hydroponic solution was the greatest for W23. Root electrophysiological analysis revealed that W23 had 89% greater H⁺ efflux and 225% greater Ca²⁺ influx than W22 with LP. The distant elongation zone (DEZ) of W23 root was significantly longer and more shoot‐ward than W22 with LP. Thus, W23, having significantly greater relative shoot biomass, lower P stress factor, greater P dissolution, greater H⁺ efflux and Ca²⁺ influx, longer and more shoot‐ward DEZ, was better adapted to low‐P condition compared to W22. In the future, the W23 inbred line can be used for developing low‐P stress resistant varieties to utilize native insoluble soil P efficiently or to produce commercially acceptable yields using lower rates of soluble P fertilizers.