Echinococcus granulosus in the Northern Territory,Australia: hydatid disease reported in beef cattle from the region

Hydatid disease in beef cattle has been reported to be widespread throughout Australia, but cattle bred and raised in the Northern Territory were previously believed to be free of the disease. Between 2010 and 2016, 1061 cattle from the Northern Territory were slaughtered at a New South Wales abattoir and inspected for hydatid disease. The proportion of cattle reported infected with hydatid disease was 3.5%. Individual cattle identification numbers indicated that the cattle included in the study had most likely remained within the Northern Territory from birth until immediately prior to slaughter, so were assumed to have become infected within the region. We suspect that the sylvatic cycle of Echinococcus granulosus transmission could be responsible for infection of cattle in this region.     

Challenge and Opportunity in Improving Fertilizer-nitrogen Use Efficiency of Irrigated Rice in China

Today, about 30% of world nitrogen (N) fertilizer is consumed by China. Rice crops in China consume about 37% of the total N fertilizer used for rice production in the world. Average rate of N application for rice production in China is high and fertilizer-N use efficiency is low compared with other major rice growing countries. Research progresses have been made internationally and domestically on the application method, fertilizer-N sources, computer-based decision support systems, and real-time N management in order to reduce N losses and increase fertilizer-N use efficiency. In addition to continuous increase in N rate and lack of adoption of new knowledge and technology in N management by farmers, we hypothesize that high indigenous soil N supply, adoption of hybrid and super rice cultivars, improper timing of N application, and practice of mid-season drainage could be the causes for the low fertilizer-N use efficiency in China. Future research work on improving fertilizer-N use efficiency of rice crop in China should focus more on improving cultivar‘s N responsiveness, optimizing the timing and rate of N application based on crop N status, and achieving optimal soil N supply capacity.     

Influence of the Forest Canopy on Total and Methyl Mercury Deposition in the Boreal Forest

Atmospheric mercury deposition by wet and dry processes contributes mercury to terrestrial and aquatic systems. Factors influencing the amount of mercury deposited to boreal forests were identified in this study. Throughfall and open canopy precipitation samples were collected in 2005 and 2006 using passive precipitation collectors from pristine sites located across the Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota, USA. Samples were collected approximately every 2 weeks and analyzed for total (THg) and methyl mercury (MeHg). Forest canopy type and density were the primary influences on THg and MeHg deposition. Highest THg and MeHg concentrations were measured beneath conifer canopies (THg mean?=?19.02 ng L^?1; MeHg mean?=?0.28 ng L^?1) followed by deciduous throughfall (THg mean?=?12.53 ng L^?1; MeHg mean?=?0.19 ng L^?1) then open precipitation (THg mean?=?8.19 ng L^?1; MeHg mean?=?0.12 ng L^?1). The greater efficiency of conifers at scavenging THg and MeHg from the atmosphere may increase the risk of mercury related water quality issues in conifer-dominated systems.     

First record of the impact of the parasitism of Cecidochares connexa (Diptera: Tephritidae) by a solitary larval ectoparasitoid in West Africa: Cause for concern?

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Cecidochares connexa is currently the only effective biological control agent of Chromolaena odorata an invasive weed in West Africa. Recently, an...     

Epidemiologic observations on feline immunodeficiency virus and Toxoplasma gondii coinfection in cats in Baltimore, Md

Five hundred eighty-five serum samples obtained between 1980 and 1981 from a diverse population of cats were tested by use of an indirect immunoperoxidase assay for antibodies to feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Results of 14 of the samples were positive (prevalence, 2.4%). The FIV-positive cats were markedly older than the overall population and frequently were coinfected (57%) with Toxoplasma gondii. The Toxoplasma titers of the FIV-positive cats were significantly (P less than 0.03) higher than those of the FIV-negative cats. The FIV-positive cats were not coinfected with FeLV. Our findings suggested that FIV-associated immunosuppression may be a factor in active Toxoplasma infection in adult cats.     

The specificity of the single cervical intradermal tuberculosis test in a population of Tasmanian fallow deer putatively free of bovine tuberculosis

The single cervical intradermal tuberculin test was used on 34 farmed fallow deer in Tasmania, to determine the specificity of this test when increases in skin thickness of 1 and 2 mm were used as arbitrary significant responses. This was to assess the response that could be expected if this test was used in monitoring or export testing programs of deer in Tasmania. Tasmania is free from bovine tuberculosis, thus providing a unique opportunity to undertake such a study. All deer were slaughtered following testing, and thoroughly inspected post-mortem. Deer that reacted to the skin test had lymph nodes cultured for the presence of Mycobacteria sp. With the reactor response set at 1 mm or more, 25 out of 34 deer tested did not react to the skin test, giving a specificity of 73.5% (95% CI 57.5–89.5%). With the reactor response set at 2 mm or greater, the specificity of the test was 100%.

One lymph node each from two reactors contained mycobacteria identified as Mycoplasma avium and Mycoplasma scrofulaceum. This trial indicates that despite being free of bovine tuberculosis for 20 years, Tasmania also experiences the same difficulties as other countries in the use of the single cervical skin test for certifying deer free from bovine tuberculosis.     

Prevalence and risk factors for medical events following exercise at Australian Greyhound race meetings

Aim

A prospective, observational study to determine the prevalence of post‐exercise conditions at Australian Greyhound race meetings and to assess association with race performance and other environmental, race‐ and dog‐related factors was undertaken.

Methods

A total of 4020 starters were observed (2813 Greyhounds, 1009 trainers, 536 races, 52 race meets, 48 race dates and 11 race tracks) following a race. The presence of diaphragmatic flutter (DF), ataxia, seizure, collapse or sudden death was recorded. Risk factors were screened by univariable logistic regression prior to multivariable backward stepwise model building.

Results

In this study, 962 starters (n = 768 dogs) had DF (23.9%), 16 starters were ataxic (0.4%) and there were no observed cases of collapse, seizure or sudden death. Race track location, increasing race distance, race grade based on increasing 1st place prize value, lower (earlier) race number at the meeting, age, a previous observation of DF at the last start, females, colour (white) and better finishing position were all associated with an increased risk of a Greyhound being observed with DF. However, when logistic regression assessing the random effect of dog was performed, the presence of previous DF was not significant. In this cohort, DF was common following strenuous exercise in Greyhounds and on its own does not appear to result in reduced performance or distress to the animal.

Conclusion

The incidence of ataxia was low and collapse, seizure and sudden death were not observed. However, even though uncommon, ataxia has welfare concerns for racing Greyhounds that warrants further investigation.     

Regeneration dynamics in remnant Tsuga canadensis stands in the northern Lake States: Potential direct and indirect effects of herbivory

We examined the effects of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) herbivory and microsite limitation on Tsuga canadensis regeneration in 39 randomly selected remnant T. canadensis stands in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Deer of the region migrate to and congregate in T. canadensis stands in winter resulting in strong seasonal habitat use patterns. In each study stand, we quantified vegetation, microsite availability, and deer use (via pellet counts). While some stands contained high densities of T. canadensis regeneration (stems < 4.0 cm dbh), we found complete T. canadensis regeneration failures in 6 out of 39 stands. Additionally, 17 and 22 stands respectively, had complete failures in the small and large sapling categories. General linear models suggested that deer use was the primary limiting factor in the small sapling size class, even at relatively low levels of deer use. T. canadensis seedling density was positively associated with the availability of high-decay coarse woody debris and negatively associated with basal area of Acer saccharum in the overstory. This latter association may be due, at least in part, to negative effects of broadleaf litter on T. canadensis establishment and a general trend toward increasing Acer abundance in the regeneration layer. Our results suggest that differential tolerance to browsing (Tsuga vs. Acer) in conjunction with reduced germination substrate availability may set up a scenario where successful T. canadensis establishments is more limited by legacy and indirect than direct effects given contemporary levels of deer use.