The effect of dietary protein on the pathophysiology of acute ovine haemonchosis

An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of dietary protein on the pathophysiology iof acute haemonchosis in Finn Dorset/Dorset horn lambs.

Erythrokinetic and metabolic studies using ⁵¹Cr-red cells, ⁵⁹Fe-trasferrin and ¹²⁵I-albumine and digestive efficiency and nitrogen balance measurements wer conducted between 19 and 39 days after infection. Identical radioisotopic and nutritional studies were conducted later on pair-fed control lambs.

The results demonstrated that lambs on a law protein diet (88 g crude protein (CP) kg⁻¹ dry matter (DM)) were less able to withstand the pathyphysiological consequences of infection with 350 Haemonchus contortus larvae kg⁻¹ body weight than lambs given a high protein (170 g CP kg⁻¹ DM) diet, despite similar worm budens.

Erythrokinetic studies indicated that abomasal blood loss was similar in both groups of infected lambs, and circulating red cell volumes were reduced and plasma volumes were expanded to a similar degree in both groups. The majority of infected lambs in both dietary groups responded equally well to the gastric haemorrhage by increasing the rate of red cell production and their absorption of dietary iron was greater than in the control lambs. Albumin catabolism was increased in both groups of infected lambs, particularly in those given the low protein diet.

Within each dietary group there were no differences in the digestibilities of the various proximate fractions of the experimental diets and no differences in the urinary of faecal nitrogen losses between infected lambs and their pair-fed control. However, loss of appetive was a major feature of the disease, particularly in the lambs given the low protein diet and this feature appeared to be crucial in determining the ability of the infected sheep to withstand the pathophysiological effects of the parasite.     

DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY ARTIFACTS

Radiographic artifacts may mimic a clinical feature, impair image quality, or obscure abnormalities. With the development of digital radiography (DR), a new set of artifacts is introduced. Regardless of the technology, the classic technical errors that occur with film screen radiography still occur using DR. Artifacts created using computed radiography, DR, and incorrect image processing are discussed. Methods for correction of the artifacts are presented.     

Socio-economic status of boreal communities in Canada

The boreal forest region contains nearly 20 per cent of theworld's forest resources. Canada contains 30 per cent of theworld's boreal forest and the future of Canada's boreal regionhas been the subject of spirited debate, with some advocatingmore extensive and intensive harvest, while others argue forincreased protection. Since the boreal region lags behind Canadaas a whole on most indicators of socio-economic status, argumentsfor expanded harvest and for increased protection invoke theneed to sustain human communities. To provide context for thesediscussions, we use Census of Canada data to examine the relationshipbetween forest dependence and socio-economic status in the borealregion, and whether this relationship has changed over time.Controlling for other forms of economic development and place-specificcharacteristics, we find mixed results of forest dependenceon socio-economic status. The forest industry plays a relativelysmall role in direct employment and labour income. Forest dependenceis associated with increased income (especially in the lumberand pulp sectors), but relatively unstable employment. Examiningthe trend data, the forest industry appeared to have the greatestpositive impact on socio-economic status in 1996, with a subsequentdecline in 2001. Results signal a need for multi-faceted policydevelopment associated with intensive management zones for industrialexpansion and additional protected areas to support, in part,the maintenance of traditional activities such as trapping andfishing.     

Effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents on plasma protein concentration of ponies

The recent findings of oral phenylbutazone administration causing a protein-losing gastroenteropathy in ponies are described. Similar investigations in ponies using either meclofenamic acid or naproxen at the therapeutic dose for two weeks followed by a further week of treatment at twice this dose rate were carried out. Neither drug produced any adverse clinical signs. Although a decrease in total plasma protein occurred with meclofenamic acid, this was not associated with a protein-losing gastroenteropathy.