The Effects of Breed,Neonatal Age and Pregnancy on the Plasma Copper Status of Goats in Oman

There is a history of copper deficiency in grazing Omani livestock and the copper status of three economically important goat breeds, Jabal Akhdar (JA), Batina (B) and Dhofari (D) were therefore compared in October/November (cool season) and June (dry season) in a penned flock given a plentiful dietary supply of copper. In the cool season, 62 lactating does (5 JA, 12 B and 33 D), their 0–5-day-old kids (17 JA, 19 B and 22 D) and 25 dry does (17 JA, 5 B and 3 D) were blood sampled. In the dry season, the does sampled were either barren (15 JA, 16 B and 13 D) or pregnant (9 JA, 13 B and 33 D). The samples were analysed for total copper (TCu) and trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-soluble copper (TCA-sol Cu). There were no effects of breed on TCu or TCA-sol Cu in the cool season, the overall means being 0.75 (SE 0.049) and 0.59 (SE 0.052) mg/L. The mean TCu was low in kids at birth (0.59 mg/L) but had increased to 0.86 mg/L by 4 days of age (p<0.001); breed differences were found (p<0.002), the pooled values for JA, B and D being 0.77, 0.59 and 0.68 (SE 0.033–0.044) mg/L, respectively. By the dry season, the mean TCu had risen in barren does to 0.96 (0.045) mg/L but not in pregnant does (0.76 (0.047) mg/L; p<0.002) and breed differences had emerged, the mean for D being 20% lower than those for JA and B (p<0.05). The highest TCu values were found in the 7-month-old kids in June (1.17 (0.039) mg/L) but the breeds did not then differ. Some effects on TCA solubility were found but were considered unreliable. Breed effects may have been diminished by the generous supply of copper and early stage of lactation studied.     

Site adaptations of Acanthogyrus (Acanthosentis) tilapiae: Observations through light and scanning electron microscopy

Acanthogyrus (Acanthosentis) tilapiae parasites were collected from the intestines of 300 fish belonging to three tilapia species sourced at the River Nile, Giza, Egypt. The proboscis of the parasite was characterized by three rows of hooks that curved towards the posterior of the body. The first row is supported by unmodified hooks. The parasite tegument has a series of alternative folds and a large number of pores. Sensory ganglia are located on the surface of the proboscis and body. Acanthogyrus (Acanthosentis) tilapiae provokes an aggressive host response indicated by hyperplasia of the intestinal goblet cells and focal eosinophil infiltrations. This acanthocephalan parasite shows a highly modified adaptation to its site of host infection.     

Growth, Survival and Feed Conversion Rates of Sea Bream (Sparus aurata) Cultured in Earthen Brackish Water Ponds Fed Different Feed Types

Sparus aurata were cultured during an 8-month period in brackish water (salinity about 25 ppt) in an extensive culture system comprising eight earthen ponds, each with a water surface of 2.1 ha. Initial mean wet weight of fish in all ponds varied from 13.6 ± 1.9 to 19.2 ± 2.6 g/fish. The eight ponds were randomly allocated one of four experimental treatments (two ponds/treatment). In the first treatment, ponds were fertilized monthly with 100 kg urea and 50 kg triple super phosphate. The other treatments (2–4) were fed a locally produced tilapia pellet feed containing 25% crude protein made using different processes. Fish in the second treatment were fed tilapia feed pelleted by compressing machine, whereas in treatments 3 and 4 the pellets were produced by extruder machine (Wenger). Pellets in treatment 3 were floating and in the fourth were semi-sinking. Fish were fed pellets twice daily at 6% of their biomass. The mean final body weight for each treatment respectively was 104.6, 118.9, 156.8 and 158 g. Specific growth rate (SGR) of 0.8, 0.79, 0.99 and 0.95%/day, were obtained in ponds using only inorganic fertilizer, compressed sinking pellets, extruded floating pellets and extruded semi-sinking pellets, respectively. Feed conversion ratios (FCR) for treatments with the extruded tilapia pellets were 2.2 and 2.6 g feed/g gain, which were significantly (P < 0.05) better than treatments with compressed pellets (3.2 g feed/g gain). Production/ha/year were 1389, 1358, 945 and 682 kg fish for the groups fed with extruded floating, extruded semi-sinking, compressed and natural food, respectively. Under the present experimental circumstances, Sparus aurata fed extruded floating tilapia pellets (25% crude protein and 2,600 kcal/g), showed the best productive performance.     

Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox) toxicity in four goats

CASE HISTORY: A one-year-old female goat presented with acute onset of recumbency, seizures and vocalisation approximately 5 hours after being given access to branch trimmings from a neighbour's garden. The plant from which the pruned branches came was subsequently identified as wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox). Three other goats kept in the same paddock displayed similar clinical signs over a period of 4 hours following the initial presentation.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: All four goats were ataxic, displayed tetanic seizures and were in lateral recumbency; they had dilated pupils and were hyperaesthetic, with elevated heart and respiratory rates. After symptomatic treatment, including sedation with diazepam, one of the three goats continued to deteriorate and was subjected to euthanasia. The remaining three goats recovered over 1–14 days with nursing care and physiotherapy.

DIAGNOSIS: Toxicity due to ingestion of wintersweet, which contains the alkaloid calycanthine.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Calycanthine is a central nervous system toxin, causing convulsions. Wintersweet shrubs are present in many New Zealand gardens. Practitioners should be aware that the seeds and flowers, and possibly the leaves, of this plant are highly toxic with signs of toxicity including ataxia, hyperaesthesia and seizures.     

涂膜处理对新疆石榴贮藏品质及生理的影响

[目的]研究涂膜处理对采后石榴品质和生理的影响,筛选适合石榴贮藏保鲜的涂膜剂,为石榴贮藏提供理论依据及方法.[方法]以皮亚曼石榴和大籽甜石榴为试验材料,采用高分子化合物对石榴进行涂膜处理,贮藏于冷库中,研究涂膜处理对石榴失重率、腐烂率、可溶性固形物、电导率、呼吸强度及乙烯释放的影响.[结果]涂膜处理显著降低石榴贮藏过程中的腐烂率,抑制果实失重及细胞膜渗透率的增加;涂膜处理果实可滴定酸含量显著高于对照,可溶性糖与可溶性固形物含量无显著差异;涂膜处理抑制石榴乙烯的产生速率,对呼吸强度无显著影响.[结论]涂膜处理降低石榴腐烂率,抑制水分蒸发,保持果实品质.     

Studies with permethrin against bodylice in Egypt

Approximately 350 people, the inhabitants of two villages in the Fayum district of Egypt, were individually dusted with 50 g of powder containing 2.5 or 5.0 g permethrin kg^?1. The inhabitants of a third village were left untreated as a control. Before treatment, approximately two-thirds of the population of all three villages were infested with bodylice. Fourteen days after treatment, the permethrin dust at the lower strength reduced the infestation by 98.8% and at the higher strength by 100%. The dust containing 5 g permethrin kg^?1 maintained a high level of residual control (80.5%) for at least 91 days. The other gave a lower level of control at this time. Urine samples, taken from subjects in each of the treated villages before and after dusting, were analysed for permethrin metabolites. Results indicated that the maximum amount of permethrin absorbed, orally, through the skin, or by inhalation, was 39 μg kg^?1 body weight, 24 h after treatment. No residue was found 30 days and 60 days after treatment. It was concluded that there was a very substantial safety margin when permethrin dusts were used on man for bodylice control.     

基于区间多阶段随机规划模型的灌区多水源优化配置

灌区多水源灌溉系统中存在许多不确定性因素,随着系统环境的变化及不确定性因素的影响,导致其配水过程具有动态特征。针对灌区多水源灌溉系统的配水特点,该文建立基于区间多阶段随机规划的灌区多水源优化配置模型。同时,考虑灌溉水对作物产量的影响,引入水分敏感指数权重系数,并以黑龙江省和平灌区水稻不同生育阶段灌溉水资源优化配置进行实例研究。结果表明,在不同来水情境下,管理者可根据各个生育阶段水分敏感指数权重系数,判断作物不同生育阶段的需水敏感程度,当来水情境的来水量多时,会产生余水量,可调配给下一生育阶段;当来水情境的来水量少时,管理者可在减少灌溉水量与增加外调水之间进行权衡,并根据需水关键期与需水非关键期做出决策,使水资源在作物生育阶段间及作物生育阶段内进行分配,实现灌区多水源灌溉系统的动态配水。该模型的应用在确保作物产量的同时,使灌溉水资源在作物各个生育阶段进行合理配置,有效地避免了水资源浪费,对提高灌溉水利用效率、保证水资源的可持续利用具有重要意义。     

Human psittacosis associated with commercial processing of turkeys.

Between May 1 and Aug 1, 1974, 114 of approximately 1,000 employees in 7 turkey processing plants in Texas (5), Missouri (1), and Nebraska (1) had an illness compatible with psittacosis. The illness was characterized by fever, severe headache, and pneumonia. Treatment with tetracycline was effective in most cases. Psittacosis was confirmed in 41 (36%) of the cases by a fourfold change in complement-fixation titer to the Chlamydia group antigen. Investigations implicated several turkey flocks from Texas as the source of the disease. Control measured, including screening turkey flocks before slaughter and assuring treatment of infected birds, were instituted by a special task force of state and federal veterinarians.