Serum Profiles of Pregnancy-Associated Glycoprotein, Oestrone Sulphate and Progesterone During Gestation and Some Factors Influencing the Profiles in Ethiopian Borana and Crossbred Cattle

This study presents serum concentrations of pregnancy‐associated glycoprotein (PAG), oestrone sulphate (E1‐S) and progesterone (P4), and the effects of some dam and foetus‐related factors on these profiles during gestation in Borana and crossbred cattle. The PAG concentrations at 4th week post‐conception ranged from 1.5–5.5 and 2.1–4.7 ng/ml in Borana (n = 6) and crossbred (n = 8) cattle, respectively. The mean PAG concentrations increased progressively from 4th to 33rd week of gestation (from 3.3–173 ng/ml for Borana and 4.2–240 ng/ml for crossbred cattle) and reached peak around calving. Breed, parity status, dam body weight, foetal sex and foetal birth weight significantly influenced the PAG concentrations. After delivery, the PAG concentrations declined steadily to 5.7 ng/ml in Borana (n = 7) and 3.9 ng/ml in crossbred (n = 6) cattle 10 weeks post‐partum. The serum E1‐S concentrations at 17th week of pregnancy ranged from 0.3–2.6 and 0.9–5.7 ng/ml in Borana (n = 8) and crossbred (n = 9) cattle, respectively. The mean E1‐S concentrations increased progressively from 17th to 33rd week of gestation (from 1.1–4.6 ng/ml for Borana and 2.7–10.8 ng/ml for crossbred). Breed, parity status, dam body weight and foetal sex significantly influenced E1‐S concentrations. The P4 concentrations at 4th week of pregnancy ranged from 3.2–5.1 and 1.7–8.9 ng/ml in Borana (n = 6) and crossbred (n = 8) cattle, respectively. The P4 level remained elevated throughout pregnancy. This study indicated that the serum PAG and P4 concentrations at 4th and E1‐S approximately 17th week of pregnancy were above the cut‐off value for pregnancy test and the hormonal profiles observed were comparable to the previous reports. Furthermore, the PAG and E1‐S profiles were considerably influenced by factors such as breed, weight and parity status of the dam, and foetal sex and foetal birth weight (only PAG).     

Correlation of five radioimmunoassay systems for measurement of bovine plasma pregnancy-associated glycoprotein concentrations at early pregnancy period

The measurement of serum or plasma PAG concentrations is currently used as a specific method for pregnancy diagnosis in cattle. In this study, the correlation between five radioimmunoassay systems (RIA-497, RIA-706, RIA-780, RIA-809 and RIA–Pool) developed for measurement of PAG concentrations in ruminant species was investigated in plasma from pregnant Friesian Holstein females. Plasma PAG concentrations (ng/mL) measured by different RIA systems were significantly correlated between them ( 0.81; P < 0.001). PAG concentrations increased significantly from Day 21 (n = 27) to 30 (n = 37) after AI by use of all PAG–RIA systems. From Day 30 to 80 after AI, lower PAG concentrations were observed when using the homologous system RIA-497. The addition of several proteinase inhibitors changed neither the non specific binding nor the B₀ binding to the tracer. Our results suggest that all tested PAG–RIA (RIA-497, RIA-706, RIA-780, RIA-809 and RIA–Pool) are highly correlated and can be useful to follow PAG concentrations in samples collected during the first trimester of gestation.     

Metabolic changes associated with anaesthesia and cherry poisoning in a pony

Observations  A case of a pony with severe cyanide intoxication as a result of cherry ingestion is presented. General anaesthesia was performed for colic surgery. Severe metabolic lactate acidosis in combination with a high arterial oxygen partial pressure and clinically good peripheral perfusion parameters were the remarkable signs during anaesthesia. Severe hypothermia was obvious during recovery. Ten hours post-surgery the pony was euthanized as a result of neurological signs. The diagnosis of cyanide intoxication was made post-mortem.
Conclusion  Cherry ingestion can lead to lethal cyanide intoxication in horses indicated by severe nonhypoxic lactic acidosis during anaesthesia.     

Eucalyptus occidentalis plantlets are naturally infected by pathogenic Agrobacterium tumefaciens

In the Sidi M’djahed nursery (Algeria), over 60,000 eucalyptus (Eucalyptus occidentalis) plantlets exhibited tumour-like growths localized at the crown of the plants that resembled crown galls caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Bacteria colonizing the galls were isolated and purified. Most (22 out of 24) of the isolates had cultural and biochemical characteristics similar to those of strains of the biovar 1 of A. tumefaciens. Twenty out of 22 Agrobacterium isolates induced tumour formation on various test plants. In PCR experiments, DNA extracted from these virulent strains yielded an amplification signal corresponding to a 247-bp fragment located within the virulence region of nopaline type Ti plasmid. Consistent with this, the opine nopaline was detected in the tumours induced on test plants – but not on eucalyptus plants. Nopaline was degraded by the 20 pathogenic isolates that were also sensitive to agrocin 84, indicating the presence of a nopaline-type pTi in these strains. The chromosomal region encoding the 16S rRNA was analyzed in a sub-population of the pathogenic agrobacterial isolates. The analyzed strains were found to belong to the ribogroup of the reference strain B6. Interestingly, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus cladocalyx grown in the same nursery and in the same soil substrate developed no galls.     

From Hiking Through Farmland to Farming in a Leisure Landscape: Changing Social Perceptions of the European Landscape

The idea that landscape has been created by human activities on a biophysical basis allows for clear cause–effect reasoning. However, landscape planning and management practice learns that it is impossible to neglect the social perception of landscape, i.e. the ways people think about nature and landscape. It is the result of social research and human sciences of the last decade that a differentiation in views of nature and landscape can be identified in the different groups of social actors in the landscape. Case studies from France and the Netherlands show a marked change in values attributed to nature and landscape in the end of the last century. Social demand for landscape is growing and a shift from a functional image of nature and landscape to a more hedonistic image like the Arcadian and wilderness images has taken place. Comparing the Netherlands with France and rural with urban inhabitants, the influence of urbanisation is evident in this process. It is further shown that images of nature vary considerably between for example farmers, urban residents, hunters and conservationists. The way people perceive landscape seems determined by their functional ties with the landscape and the social praxis in which they encounter the landscape. It is concluded that the concept of landscape is nearer to the lifeworld of people than the abstract notions of nature and biodiversity. This implies a big challenge both for national and international landscape policies and for local landscape management initiatives to be developed, taking into due consideration both the material and immaterial nature of landscape.     

Pregnancy‐Associated Glycoprotein Secretion in North Moroccan Goats

The plasma profile of pregnancy‐associated glycoprotein (PAG) and its relationship with fetal number were studied in 14 North Moroccan goats using a semi‐heterologous radioimmunoassay (RIA). Peripheral blood was collected every day during the first month of pregnancy, afterward the blood samples were collected trice a week. The PAG were first detected at day 20 of pregnancy, their levels increase to week 8 of gestation then decrease slightly until parturition. Statistical differences between goats carrying one or two foetuses are observed from week 5 of pregnancy until parturition. Factorial Discriminant Analysis provides mathematical models for the discrimination between the litter size using the PAG level and the week of pregnancy. Using only one blood sample per week, high sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy (74%, 88% and 81%) were obtained using these models. It is concluded that the PAG RIA is an effective tool for early diagnosis of pregnancy and for discrimination between the litter sizes in North Moroccan goats.     

Comparison of efficacy and safety of paste formulations of firocoxib and phenylbutazone in horses with naturally occurring osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE: To compare efficacy and safety of paste formulations of firocoxib and phenylbutazone in horses with naturally occurring osteoarthritis. DESIGN: Randomized controlled clinical trial. ANIMALS: 253 client-owned horses with naturally occurring osteoarthritis. PROCEDURES: Horses were treated with firocoxib (0.1 mg/kg [0.045 mg/lb], PO, q 24 h) or phenylbutazone (4.4 mg/kg [2 mg/lb], PO, q 24 h) for 14 days. Physical examinations and lameness evaluations were performed prior to treatment and after 7 and 14 days. Clinical improvement was defined as a reduction of at least 1 lameness grade or a combined reduction of at least 3 points in scores for pain during manipulation or palpation, joint swelling, joint circumference, and range of motion. RESULTS: Proportion of horses clinically improved on day 14 for the firocoxib group (104/123 [84.6%]) was not significantly different from the proportion for the phenylbutazone group (103/119 [86.6%]). Proportion of horses that were improved on day 14 was significantly greater for horses treated with firocoxib than for horses treated with phenylbutazone with regard to score for pain on manipulation or palpation (P = 0.028), joint circumference score (P = 0.026), and range of motion score (P = 0.012), but not for overall lameness score or joint swelling score. No direct treatment-related adverse effects were detected during the study. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that overall clinical efficacy of a paste formulation of firocoxib in horses with naturally occurring osteoarthritis was comparable to efficacy of a paste formulation of phenylbutazone.     

Orientation of bovine CTL responses towards PIM, an antibody-inducing surface molecule of Theileria parva, by DNA subunit immunization

East Coast fever, an acute lymphoproliferative disease of cattle, is caused by the apicomplexan parasite Theileria parva. Protective immunity is mediated by CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes directed against schizont-infected cells. The polymorphic immunodominant molecule, although an antibody-inducing surface molecule of the schizont, has been hypothesized to play a role in protective immunity. In order to evaluate the immunogenicity of PIM for inducing CTL, cattle were immunized with PIM in isolation from other T. parva antigens, forcing the presentation of PIM-derived epitopes on the MHC class I molecules. Although parasite-specific cytotoxicity was induced in both vaccinated animals, their immune response was clearly different. One animal generated MHC-restricted parasite-specific CTL against PIM while the other calf exhibited a strong PIM-specific proliferative response but non-MHC-restricted parasite-specific cytotoxicity. Only calf 1 survived a lethal sporozoite challenge. This DNA immunization technique with an antigen in isolation of CTL-immunodominant antigens might open possibilities for directing CTL responses against predefined antigens, such as strain cross-reacting CTL antigens.     

Increases in heat-induced tree mortality could drive reductions of biomass resources in Canada’s managed boreal forest

Landscape Ecology - The Canadian boreal forest provides valuable ecosystem services that are regionally and globally significant. Despite its importance, the future of the Canadian boreal forest is...