Ectopic cilium in seven horses

Ectopic cilium was diagnosed by slit-lamp biomicroscopy and treated surgically by transconjunctival excision in seven adult horses. All cases presented with a common history of blepharospasm, ocular discharge and keratitis. Ophthalmic examination revealed a single translucent cilium in the upper eyelid palpebral conjunctiva, emerging approximately 5 mm from the eyelid margin. Corneal ulceration was not observed in any horse. Most horses responded well to transconjunctival surgical excision. There was recurrence of ectopic cilium 6 weeks postoperatively in one horse. Histopathologic examination was performed in two cases and confirmed the diagnosis of ectopic cilium in one horse. This is the first publication of ectopic cilia in horses and emphasizes their importance as etiology for epiphora, blepharospasm and keratitis.     

The use and assessment of ketamine-medetomidine-butorphanol combinations for field anaesthesia in wild European badgers (Meles meles)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of four ketamine-based anaesthetics in badgers using a quantitative anaesthesia assessment technique. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized 'blinded' experimental trial. METHODS: The quality of induction, of anaesthesia (at 5-minute intervals) and of recovery were assessed in 93 badgers, given either one of three ketamine (K)-medetomidine (M)-butorphanol (B) combinations: group A - M K B at 20/40/80 microg kg(-1); group B - M K B at 20/40/60 microg kg(-1); and group C - M K B at 20/60/40 microg kg(-1), or ketamine (K) alone at 2 mg kg(-1) (group D). The assessor was ignorant of the combination administered. Physiological variables (heart and respiratory rates and rectal temperature) were measured at 5-minute intervals during anaesthesia. Gingival mucus membrane colour was also recorded. RESULTS: Induction to anaesthesia was most rapid with ketamine (2 mg kg(-1)) although induction quality did not differ between techniques. Ketamine used alone gave the poorest score for anaesthesia quality. Heart rate (HR) and scores for gingival mucus membrane colour were higher in animals anaesthetized with ketamine alone. Rectal temperature did not differ significantly between the techniques at any time during anaesthesia. Ketamine used alone produced the poorest quality of recovery. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The M-K-B combinations investigated overcame several side effects associated with ketamine anaesthesia, but at the expense of more variable induction times, lower HRs, and poorer mucus membrane coloration.     

Should farmers apply fertilizer according to when their daffodils are in flower? Utilizing a “farmer‐science” approach to understanding the impact of soil temperature on spring N fertilizer application in Wales

Perennial ryegrass starts growing when soil temperatures reach 5.5°C for five consecutive days; applying N fertilizer before this risks environmental losses. To test whether daffodil flowering signified when to apply N fertilizer, farmers volunteered to take part in a citizen science study. The PROSOIL project used a “citizen science”, participatory approach to create farmer‐informed science, aiming to increase awareness of the importance of soil health. In 2014, over 300 farmers completed a “How do you manage your soil” survey. The survey included a question on the use of daffodils (Narcissus spp.) to indicate the best time to apply the first nitrogen fertilizer of the season, based on anecdotal feedback from farmers involved in the PROSOIL project. The survey recorded 7% of farmers based their first fertilizer application on when daffodils flowered. To increase farmer awareness of soil temperatures, we provided them with soil thermometers, held workshops and hosted interactive stands at agricultural events in 2014. In autumn 2014, farmers planted daffodil bulbs of the same variety, across Wales, and monitored soil temperatures. Farmers returned postcards once their daffodils were in flower, noting the soil temperature. An assessment of whether daffodil flowering date could indicate when to apply N fertilizer was made. Overall, in spring 2015, daffodils flowered when soil temperature was 6.4(±0.35)°C, suggesting daffodil flowering date is a more reliable indicator for fertilizer application, than first hypothesized. Findings show a scientific validation of local knowledge, regarding the use of daffodils to indicate the “not‐before” date for the first N fertilizer application.     

Front and back of the house: socio-spatial inequalities in food work

Work on farms and in restaurants is characterized by highly gendered and racialized divisions of labor, low wages, and persistent inequalities. Gender, race, and ethnicity often determine the spaces where people work in the food system. Although some research focuses on gendered divisions of labor in restaurants and on farms, few efforts look more broadly at intersectional inequalities in food work. Our study examines how inequality is perpetuated through restaurant and farm work in the United States and, specifically, how gender and race/ethnicity influence where people work, their tasks and responsibilities, and their work experiences. In describing restaurant work, people in the restaurant industry typically refer to the front and back of the house to distinguish between different working spaces, jobs, and workers. We use this spatial metaphor of front and back of the house to analyze intersectional inequalities of food work in restaurants and on farms. The data derive from conversations with 63 restaurant and farm owners, managers, and workers in California and Pennsylvania. Our findings suggest that gendered and racialized bodies often define who works in the front and back of the “house,” and that owners and workers often naturalize gender and racial divisions of labor in food work. Despite these patterns, we found evidence of attempts to reduce these inequalities on farms and in restaurants.     

The distribution pattern of Halicephalobus gingivalis in a horse is suggestive of a haematogenous spread of the nematode

The majority of Halicephalobus gingivalis-infections in horses have been fatal and are usually not diagnosed before necropsy. Therefore, knowledge about the nematode and the pathogenesis of infection in horses is limited. This has resulted in an on-going discussion about the port of entry and subsequent dissemination of H. gingivalis within the host. The present case of H. gingivalis-infection in a horse was diagnosed ante mortem. Post mortem findings, the distribution pattern of H. gingivalis nematodes in the brain, a high prevalence of inflammation in close relation to blood vessels, and the presence of the nematode in multiple organs with a disseminated pattern of distribution strongly suggested a haematogenous spread of the nematode in the horse.