Effects of Restored Stream Buffers on Water Quality in Non-tidal Streams in the Choptank River Basin

Restoration of riparian buffers is an important component of nutrient reduction strategies in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. In 1998, Maryland adopted a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), which provides financial incentives to take agricultural land out of production to plant streamside vegetation. Between 1998 and 2005, 1–30% of streamside vegetation (average?=?11%), was restored to forest or managed grass in 15 agriculturally dominated sub-basins in the Choptank River basin, a tributary of Chesapeake Bay. Pre-existing forested buffers represented 10–48% of the streamside (average?=?33%), for a total of 12–61% buffered streamsides (average?=?44%). Using multi-year water quality data collected before and after CREP implementation (1986, 2003–2006), we were unable to detect significant effects of CREP on baseflow nutrient concentrations based on the area of restored buffer, the percentage of restored streamside, or the percentage of total riparian buffer in the sub-basins (p?>?0.05). Although CREP increased the average buffered streamside from 33% in the 1990s to 44% by 2005, N and P concentrations have not changed or have increased in some streams over the last 20 years. Reductions may not have occurred for the following reasons: (1) buffer age, width, and connectivity (gaps) between buffers are also important to nutrient reductions; (2) agricultural nutrient inputs may have increased during this period; and (3) riparian buffer restoration was not extensive enough by 2005 to have measurable affects on the stream water quality in these sub-basins. Significant effects of CREP may yet be resolved as the current CREP buffers mature; however, water quality data through 2006 in the Choptank basin do not yet show any significant effects.     

Multifactorial resistance to transpermethrin in field-collected strains of the tobacco budworm Heliothis virescens F.

The penetration, degradation and excretion of [³H]transpermethrin were examined in susceptible and field-collected pyrethroid-resistant strains of the tobacco budworm Heliothis virescens. No consistent differences in labelled materials excreted or recovered in cuticle rinses were found between the resistant (R) and susceptible (S) larvae. Considerably lower levels of the parent compound were present internally in R compared with S larvae after 24h (P <0.01), clearly identifying a metabolic resistance mechanism in Meloland and Westmorland larvae. Moderate levels of absorbed permethrin accompanied by an absence of poisoning symptoms were observed in certain individuals of both R strains, suggesting a second resistance mechanism. Neurobioassays of R larvae showed a consistently lower sensitivity of the neuromuscular system to pyrethroids when compared with the S larvae, thus confirming the indication from metabolic studies of the additional (site-insensitive) mechanism. Toxicity values suggest a cross-resistance to other pyrethroids.     

Necrotizing hepatitis associated with a reo-like virus infection in a parrot

A young African grey parrot was presented for necropsy following a 3-to-4-day illness consisting of lethargy, anorexia, and diarrhea. A disseminated necrotizing hepatopathy was evident upon histologic examination of the liver. Aggregates of approximately 70-nm-diameter viral particles having morphology consistent with the family Reoviridae were demonstrated by thin-section and negative-staining electron microscopy.     

Use of staggered panels in sampling designs to increase the efficiency of estimating the number of incident cases of diseases in food animal populations

Sampling herds in staggered panels is proposed as a way to increase the precision of estimates of the number of incident cases of diseases in food animal populations. A components of variance model is offered as a parsimonious alternative to the somewhat intractable model underlying staggered-panel sampling. Evaluation of these methods using California National Animal Health Monitoring System data showed a gain in efficiency with staggered panel for seven of the eight diseases studied with little loss in efficiency for the eighth condition. The components of variance model was able to predict the gain in efficiency.     

Comparison of a modified Edward-type medium and a modified SP4-type medium for primary isolation of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) from chickens vaccinated with the F strain of MG

The efficacy of two media, an Edward-type medium (EPJ) and a modified SP4-type medium (SP4-PS), were compared for primary isolation of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) from commercial layer chickens (n = 58) vaccinated with the live F strain of MG. Three groups of chickens that differed in the interval after vaccinal exposure to the F strain (32, 41, and 102 weeks) were studied at necropsy. Mycoplasma isolation was attempted from the trachea, sinus, and cloaca using lavage and swab techniques but was successful only from the trachea and sinus. MG was isolated from 39 (8.4%) of 463 culture attempts from 58 tracheal inocula and 58 sinus inocula. Isolation of MG was successful more frequently using EPJ medium than SP4-PS medium, and isolation occurred more often from the sinus than from the trachea. Of the 58 chickens studied, 19 (33%) were shown by culture to be infected with MG. Isolation was successful only from 32- and 41-week post-vaccination exposure groups. However, all chickens studied were serologically positive for MG antibody by rapid-plate agglutination and hemagglutination-inhibition assays.     

HIGH-RESOLUTION PARATHYROID SONOGRAPHY

The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic utility of parathyroid ultrasonography to differentiate causes of hypercalcemia in dogs. We analyzed qualitative and quantitative ultrasound imaging findings and clinical pathology data from 33 dogs that underwent parathyroid ultrasound examination as part of the diagnostic evaluation for hypercalcemia. Diagnoses of the diseases causing hypercalcemia included parathyroid carcinoma (n = S), parathyroid adenoma (n = 15), parathyroid adenomatous hyperplasia (n = 6), chronic renal insufficiency (n = 3), and hypercalcemia of malignancy (n = 4). All parathyroid lesions were round or oval and hypoechoic compared with surrounding thyroid parenchyma. Adenomatous and adenocarcinomatous glands were 4 mm or larger in longest linear measurement on US examination and were statistically significantly larger than hyperplastic glands. (p < 0.001) Linear measurements of parathyroid glands acquired at the time of ultrasound examination correlated well with direct siz determination after surgical excision. (r²= 0.9, p < 0.0001) Parathyroid lesions <4 mm are highly suspicious for parathyroid adenoma or carcinoma, while US lesions <4 mm most likely represent primary adenomatous hyperplasia or secondary parathyroid hyperplasia. Parathyroid size estimation from ultrasound examination is an accurate predictor of true size.     

Improved Utilization of Pond Carrying Capacity by Increasing Initial Stocking Rates and Subsequent Stock Division1

Fingerling channel catfish Ictaturus punctarus were stocked into eight 0.04-ha ponds at 12,500 fishlha (treatment 1) and 50,000 fish/ha (treatment 2) with four ponds per treatment. At the end of of phase I (59 d) 50% of the fish were removed from each of the ponds in treatment 2 and divided equally into two ponds, forming treatment 3 (eight ponds at a density of 12,500 fish/ha). The remaining fish in treatment 2 (25,000 fish/ha) were maintained in the original ponds until the end of phase II (36 d). At this time, the fish were removed and equally divided at a density of 12,500 fish/ha into separate ponds. These ponds were continued to be denoted as treatment 2. All fish were grown for a total of 188 d. Production characteristics between treatments were compared at phases and at the end of the 188 d. There was no significant difference in feed conversion ratios due to treatment. The individual weights of the fish were higher in treatment I, but the difference occurred only in phase I. Size variabilities in treatments 2 and 3 were also higher than in treatment 1, which may cause a decrease in the percentage of marketable fish. Although there were some adverse effects due to the initial high stocking densities, overall pond production was higher in treatments 2 and 3. Treatment 2 had a daily net production of 49.9 ± 3.43 kg/ha and treatment 3 had 44.6 ± 3.81 kg/ha per d, compared to treatment 1 with only 32.4 ± 1.06 kg/ha per d (mean ± SD).