Concurrent nephrosplenic entrapment and acquired inguinal herniation of the jejunum in a Standardbred stallion

A stallion presenting for surgical correction of an acquired inguinal hernia was also diagnosed with a nephrosplenic entrapment (NSE) intraoperatively. Surgical intervention resulted in a successful outcome. To date, these conditions have not been reported to occur simultaneously.     

Evaluation of 2 sources of Angus cattle under South Florida subtropical conditions

The objective of this study was to compare performance and aspects of adaptability attributes of cattle from a Florida Angus bloodline (local source from a mostly closed herd for over 50 yr) to cattle that are representative of modern Angus bloodlines (outside source) in US subtropical conditions. Embryos from both sources were transferred to Brahman-crossbred cows in South Florida, and calves (n=82) were born in 3 yr. Before weaning, summer tympanic temperatures were recorded hourly for 3 d in each year. Heifers were placed with fertile bulls until diagnosed pregnant. Traits relative to sexual maturation of bulls were recorded at 1- or 2-mo intervals until approximately 17 mo of age. Calves from outside sources had greater hip height at weaning than calves from the local source (P<0.001; 108.8 ± 0.62 and 104.7 ± 0.68 cm, respectively). Local-source calves (n=37) had greater (P=0.03) exit velocity (2.7 ± 0.3 m/s) than outside-source (n=45) calves (2.0 ± 0.29 m/s), which may be indicative of more nervous or temperamental disposition. However, no source differences were detected for other assessments of disposition (chute or pen score, P>0.8). Few source differences for minimum, maximum, or range of daily tympanic (inner ear) temperatures were detected. At 17 mo of age, outside-source heifers were heavier (P = 0.05) and had greater (P<0.001) hip height than Angus heifers from the local source. Heifers from the outside source were younger (P<0.001) at the time of their first conception (454 ± 17.5 d) than heifers from the local source (550 ± 16.9 d). Outside-source heifers also had greater (P<0.02) pregnancy and calving rates (0.7 ± 0.119 and 0.62 ± 0.125, respectively) from exposure to bulls within a year from weaning than the heifers from the local source (0.29 ± 0.089 and 0.19 ± 0.077, respectively). Bulls from the outside source were heavier (P=0.05) at 320 d of age than local-source bulls. From 14 through 17 mo of age, outside-source bulls had greater (P≤0.05) scrotal circumference and tended (P≤0.15) to be heavier than local-source bulls. There appeared to be no performance or adaptation advantages for the local-source Angus through 17 mo of age. The large source difference for age at first conception in heifers merits additional attention and comparison with cow lifetime production performance for the 2 sources.     

Brucellosis associated with stillbirth in a bottlenose dolphin in Australia

A captive adult female bottlenose dolphin presented with stillbirth. The placenta appeared oedematous. No other gross lesions were evident in the placenta or the stillborn calf. Histopathology revealed mild multifocal placentitis and foetal encephalitis. Brucella sp. was isolated from lung, liver, spleen and kidney. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated this organism to be most similar to Brucella ceti sequence type (ST) 27. Brucella sp. DNA was detected in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded placenta and brain by real-time PCR using primers targeting the IS711 gene. Immunohistochemical staining revealed Brucella sp. antigen in placental inflammation. This is the first report of isolation of Brucella sp. from a marine mammal in the Southern Hemisphere and the first report of marine Brucella-associated disease in Australia.     

Insecticides for control of potato tuberworm and green peach aphid on potatoes in California

Six insecticides were evaluated in a replicated field experiment at Gonzales, California, for control of the potato tuberworm,Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), and the green peach aphid,Myzus persicae (Sulzer). Azodrin^®, methomyl, Stauffer N 4543 (O-isobutyl ethylphosphonodithioate S-ester with N-(mercaptomethyl) phthalimide) and azinphosmethyl were applied as foliage sprays by ground sprayer at 2-week intervals. The systemic insecticides, aldicarb (Temik^®) and carbofuran (Furadan^®) formulated as 10% granules, were applied to the soil as side dress treatments on the same day that the spray treatments were begun. Aldicarb granules were also applied topically so that the granules fell on the young plants and on the soil surface. Azinphosmethyl, Stauffer N 4543, Azodrin^® and methomyl effectively controlled the tuberworm larvae in the foliage but effective control of tuberworms in the harvested tubers occurred only where azinphosmethyl, methomyl and Stauffer N 4543 were used. The granule applications of carbofuran and aldicarb were totally ineffective in controlling the potato tuberworm. Effective green peach aphid control was obtained with Azodrin^® spray and the two granular aldicarb treatments. The side dressed application of aldicarb appeared to provide better green peach aphid control than did the soil surface application.     

Disease threats to sheep associated with intensification of pastoral farming

Sheep farming in New Zealand is based on an outdoor grazing system with various systems of grazing management utilised depending on the type of farm and the time of year. In the current grazing systems, periods of high stocking density, sometimes combined with poor husbandry, contribute to infectious diseases such as abortion and salmonellosis.

Intensification such as housing or intensive stocking of ewes for lambing, or feedlot systems, are unlikely to become common in sheep production in New Zealand. However, should these be utilised on individual farms there is likely to be in an increase in diseases such as coccidiosis, bacterial diseases of lambs, cryptosporidiosis and mastitis. In any management system involving high stocking densities, careful husbandry is essential to minimise the transmission of infectious diseases.     

Glyphosate injury on Cyperus esculent us leaves and basal bulbs: histological study

The effect of glyphosate on leaves and basal bulbs of yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.) plants was studied. Treatment with glyphosate did not affect leaf anatomy, although light necrotic spots were seen on the veins. In contrast, basal bulb organization was greatly affected with large necrotic zones and disorganization in the vascular cylinder due to herbicide accumulation. Depletion or disappearance of vacuolar phenols was observed in bulbs of plants treated with the highest doses of glyphosate. The most remarkable effect of glyphosate was the appearance of one layer of sclerenchymatic cells between root and rhizome primordia and the cortical tissues which could play an important role in the inhibition of rhizome and root emergence by the herbicide.     

The dispersal of Culicoides brevitarsis in eastern New South Wales and associations with the occurrences of arbovirus infections in cattle

Distributions of the vector Culicoides brevitarsis Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) (determined from light trap data) and 2 arboviruses (determined from seroconversions in sentinel cattle) were studied in eastern New South Wales in 1993–94. C brevitarsis was recorded progressively from endemic areas on the north coast, to Nowra on the south coast, and westward to Scone, in the Hunter Valley. C brevitarsis also survived through winter at Paterson, in the Hunter Valley. Its apparently focal reappearance in this marginal area had no obvious effect on the broad pattern of its progression or the dispersal of Akabane and bluetongue viruses. These viruses were first recorded from foci near Coffs Harbour, on the mid-north coast. Their first occurrences at different locations were associated with those of C brevitarsis, but not with each other. The viruses were found only within the recorded limits of the vector's distribution. Delays between the initial occurrence of C brevitarsis and first evidence of virus transmissions at locations ranged from 2 to 7 months. The delays decreased away from the points of focus and were negatively associated with the time of initial occurrence of the vector. Seroconversions to the viruses were related to the presence of C brevitarsis. However, the densities of C brevitarsis had no apparent effect on the initial numbers of cattle seroconverting to either virus. The results support the conclusion that the progressions of C brevitarsis and Akabane and bluetongue viruses were the result of gradual movements by the vector.     

Systemic mucormycosis in a hooded seal (Cystophora cristata)

A 4-yr-old male captive hooded seal (Cystophora cristata), previously diagnosed as hypothyroid, died after a 3-wk period of lethargy and inappetance despite treatment that included intramuscular administration of antibiotics and multivitamins. Gross pathologic findings included extensive muscle necrosis over the left flank, an underlying necrotic iliac lymph node, two necrotic pulmonary masses and a necrotic bronchial lymph node. Routine cultures yielded a number of bacterial isolates and a heavy pure fungal growth from the necrotic iliac lymph node; wet preparations of which revealed sporangiophores typical of Mucor sp. Histopathology of necrotic muscle, pulmonary lesions and bronchial and iliac lymph nodes revealed necrosis with a marked pyogranulomatous and eosinophilic inflammatory cell infiltrate and fungal hyphae consistent with a Zygomycete species. This is believed to be the first report of systemic mucormycosis in a pinniped likely to have originated from an injection site reaction.     

Effects of maternal undernutrition during early pregnancy on growth, muscle cellularity, fiber type and carcass composition in lambs

Seventy-two Rambouillet ewes were fed one of two different levels of energy and protein during gestation to determine the effects of maternal undernutrition on growth and development in their offspring. Levels of energy and protein for the two groups of ewes were: 70% of National Research Council (NRC) requirements 30 d prior to breeding and the first 100 d of gestation and then alfalfa hay fed at 70% of the average consumed by group 2, and 100% of NRC requirements 30 d prior to breeding and throughout gestation. Dissection data from the leg and muscle characteristics were recorded for each lamb. Neither dissected muscle and fat percentages nor proximate analyses of dissected muscles was influenced by ewe undernutrition during early pregnancy. However, the reduced conception rate, increased embryonic/fetal mortality, decreased birth weights and increased lamb mortality resulted in a severe reduction in kilograms of lamb per ewe bred. Feeding ewes 70% of NRC requirements during gestation resulted in lambs with heavier semitendinosus muscle weights, larger muscle fiber diameters and shorter sarcomere lengths than in lambs from adequately fed ewes. No influence of ewe diet, birth type or sex was observed for proportions of muscle fiber type (beta R, alpha R or alpha W). Therefore, low level feeding of ewes during early gestation had no detrimental effects on the carcass or muscle fiber characteristics of their lambs at slaughter.     

Spin-dependent WIMP limits from a bubble chamber

Bubble chambers were the dominant technology used for particle detection in accelerator experiments for several decades, eventually falling into disuse with the advent of other techniques. We report here on a new application for these devices. We operated an ultraclean, room-temperature bubble chamber containing 1.5 kilograms of superheated CF3I, a target maximally sensitive to spin-dependent and -independent weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) couplings. An extreme intrinsic insensitivity to the backgrounds that commonly limit direct searches for dark matter was measured in this device under operating conditions leading to the detection of low-energy nuclear recoils like those expected from WIMPs. Improved limits on the spin-dependent WIMP-proton scattering cross section were extracted during our experiments, excluding this type of coupling as a possible explanation for a recent claim of particle dark-matter detection.