Presentation of postweaning Escherichia coli diarrhea in southern Ontario, prevalence of hemolytic E. coli serogroups involved, and their antimicrobial resistance patterns

Post-weaning Escherichia coli diarrhea (PWECD) in Ontario was investigated using a case-control study involving 50 Ontario nurseries. The clinical signs and the impact on productive parameters were determined by means of a producer survey. The hemolytic E. coli serogroups involved in PWECD (O149:K91:K88) were examined in this study. Based on a polymerase chain reaction test, the hemolytic E. coli from 82% of the case herds were positive for 3 enterotoxins (STa, STb, and LT), those from 12% of the case herds were positive for STb and LT only, and those from one herd (6%) were positive for 3 enterotoxins, as well as for verotoxin and F18 pili. The E. coli involved in disease were resistant to multiple antibiotics. Case farms commonly used a wide variety of antibiotics either in the feed or water, or as injectable drugs. The most common antibiotic used to treat PWECD on the study farms was apramycin, but evidence of resistance to this antibiotic was noted. The PWECD problem was commonly seen within a week of weaning but onset of diarrhea was reported as late as the grower-finisher stage. Growth rate was poorer in case herds and mortality was higher than in control herds, demonstrating that PWECD is an economically important disease in Ontario.     

Effect of concentrate crude protein level on grass silage intake, milk yield and nutrient utilisation by dairy cows in early lactation.

Twenty-one multiparous dairy cows were fed concentrates containing three levels (119, 154 and 191 g/kg DM) of crude protein (CP) during the first ten weeks of lactation. Part of the grain and molassed sugar beat pulp was substituted with 0% (RSM0), 15% (RSM15) or 30% (RSM30) repeseed meal. Wilted grass silage was fed ad libitum after calving. The average response between RSM0 and RSM15 was +1.66 kg milk/d per percentage unit change in concentrate CP content. No further response occurred between RSM15 and RSM30. The positive effect of RSM inclusion was seen throughout the experimental period and was associated with increased plasma non esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and decreased plasma insulin concentration one week after calving, and higher efficiency of metabolisable energy utilisation for milk production. Digestibility of the diet remained unaffected. Milk and plasma urea tended to increase with RSM30 indicating excessive supply of rumen degradable protein. Because of the limited potential of cows to compensate for a deficit in feed protein supply by mobilising tissue protein, a substantial milk yield response can be achieved with a moderate level of protein supplementation during early lactation.     

Application and crop safety parameters for soil fumigants

Metam sodium alone and in combination with 1,3-dichloropropene plus 17% chloropicrin (1,3-D+C-17) were evaluated under polyethylene mulch film as alternatives for methyl bromide in tobacco and tomato transplant production for both efficacy against pests and crop safety. Eight different weed species, 10 genera or species of fungi and several agronomic criteria were evaluated at three different sites. In general both the metam sodium alone and in combination with 1,3-D+C-17 were highly efficacious when compared to methyl bromide. Short polyethylene film retention times and short aeration times resulted in poor stands and poor crop vigor while relatively long polyethylene film retention times and long aeration periods at the same rates typically resulted in high stand counts and vigor. Combination treatments were more phytotoxic to germinating seed of tobacco and tomato. Vigor and stand counts of the seedlings were higher as aeration time increased, suggesting phytotoxic residues dissipate with time. Method of application of metam sodium, either injected with chisels or sprayed onto the soil surface and incorporated with a tractor-powered tiller alone or co- applied with 1,3-D+C-17 chisel injected, did not affect the efficacy of the treatments. Caution regarding phytotoxicity must be exercised when seeding into soil fumigated with metam sodium alone or combined with 1,3-D+C-17. Additional work will be required to establish safety periods required prior to transplanting crops into fumigated soil.     

泰山月观峰和索道站冲沟生态治理探讨

为保护自然生态，对泰山月观峰和索道站冲沟采取了生态治理措施，取得了良好的效果，恢复了泰山自然景现，达到了保护生态环境的目的。     

Influence of rootstock on the susceptibility of sweet cherry scions to bacterial canker, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pvs morsprunorum and syringae

In a field trial to determine whether the rootstock influenced the susceptibility of cherry cultivars to bacterial canker three cultivars (Napoleon, Roundel and JI 14039), each grafted on two rootstocks (F 12/1 and Colt), were subjected to natural infectionand to inoculation with three bacterial canker pathogens (Pseudomonas syringae pv. morsprunorum races 1 and 2 and P. syringae pv. syringae). Inoculations were made through leaf scars and through wounds. The high susceptibility of Napoleon and high resistance of JI 14039 were confirmed. Napoleon was more susceptible to inoculation through branches when on F12/1 than when on Colt but the reverse was true for leaf scar inoculations. JI14039 was more susceptible to race 1 inoculated through leaf scars when grown on F12/1 than when on Colt. No rootstock/scion interaction was detected with Roundel.
The complexity of the relationships between the pseudomonad pathogens and their cherry hosts is briefly discussed.     

Differences in Wheat Cultivar Response to N Supply. I: Differences in Grain Yield Formation

Two-year field trials with winter wheat cultivars Batis and Toronto were conducted in Southern Bavaria, Germany, to investigate the possible causes of cultivar differences in response to N supply varying in total amount and time of application. Cultivar-related differences in grain yields were observed in treatments with low and medium N supply. High doses of N supply resulted in grain yield adjustment or grain yield advantage for cv. Toronto. The results of this study revealed a consistent, genotypic pattern in response to N fertilization in spite of strong seasonal effects. Systematic modifications in canopy growth rates in response to N supply were of particular relevance and a main factor for differences in tillering intensity resulting in modified stand densities. In the present study, cultivar differences in spike development and interactions with N supply related more to abortion than to initiation processes for number of spikelets and number of flowers per spikelet. High grain density (grains per m²) of cv. Toronto was evident during reproduction stages even under conditions of medium N supply. However, decreased growth rates during the later part of grain filling in combination with low 1000 grain weight, which was barely modified by N fertilization, allowed only partial utilization of this potential. It is assumed that sink limitations were of particular relevance for grain yield development in cv. Toronto, while cv. Batis combined a less intense response to N supply with more stability in the development of grain yield components.     

Reproductive emergencies.

The emergency clinician is frequently called on to manage problems relating to the female reproductive tract. Because owners sel-dom have the medical knowledge needed to differentiate normal from abnormal reproductive behaviors, they frequently look to the emergency veterinarian for guidance and information during and after parturition. For this reason, it is essential that the veterinarian have a good understanding of the normal reproductive cycle as well as the common emergencies that may occur. This article reviews the events surrounding normal parturition in the dog and cat and the reproductive emergencies seen most commonly in practice.     

Morphological characterization of the interaction between Diplocarpon rosae and various rose species

Blackspot, caused by Diplocarpon rosae , is the most severe and ubiquitous disease of garden roses, but information is lacking about genotype-specific forms of resistance and susceptibility of the host. Macro- and microscopic analyses of 34 rose genotypes with a defined monoconidial culture black spot inoculum identified susceptible and resistant rose genotypes and further genotype-specific subdivisions, indicating the presence of partial forms of resistance and different resistance mechanisms. In total, eight interaction types were characterized, five representing compatible (types 1–5) and three representing incompatible interactions (types 6–8). The incompatible interactions were characterized by the lack of any visible fungal structures beneath the cuticle (type 8), single-cell necroses (type 7) or necroses of larger cell clusters (type 6), the latter two types with penetration hyphae and haustoria in epidermal cells.     

Effect of surfactants on weight gain in mice

A study was conducted to determine if four surfactants can induce increased weight gain in the mouse. Basic-H, Triton X-100, Amway All Purpose Adjuvant and X-77 were put in water and fed to various groups of ICR 21 day old female mice for a period of 43 days. All the mice were clinically normal throughout the study period. Pathological examination of a random sample of the mice revealed no gross pathological changes. Similarly, histopathological examination of the lungs, livers and intestines did not reveal any visible lesions. Basic-H and Amway surfactants induced weight gain, though not significantly, better at 0.1% (V/V) concentration while X-77 and Triton X-100 induced weight gain better at 0.4% (V/V) concentration. Overall results show that none of the surfactants tested induced significant weight gain.