Primary conjunctival mast cell tumor in a Labrador Retriever

A 4-year-old, intact male Labrador Retriever with a rapidly progressive conjunctival mass was evaluated. Ocular examination showed a 2-cm elongated mass arising from the superior bulbar conjunctiva of the left eye. The mass resulted in distortion of the palpebral fissure and contacted the superior aspect of the cornea without modifying its structure; no adhesion to the sclera was detected. The superior palpebral conjunctiva was unaffected, and the remaining ocular examination was normal. The initial diagnostic work-up included CBC, serum biochemical analysis, urinalysis, and fine needle biopsy of the mass. A poorly differentiated mast cell tumor was diagnosed by cytology. Immunocytochemistry was performed to evaluate Ki-67 proliferation index, and 54/1000 tumoral nuclei showed a dark red staining. After a complete clinical staging, the mass was excised and identified histologically as a grade-II mast cell tumor. An adjuvant treatment with prednisone and vinblastine was instituted because of the limited excisional margins. No evidence of local recurrence or metastasis has been apparent during the 29-month follow-up period. This report contributes to the current literature pertaining to canine conjunctival mast cell tumors; unfortunately, the paucity of case reports and the absence of large studies regarding this tumor make conclusions regarding its biologic behavior impossible.     

Sexual communication and related behaviours in Tephritidae: current knowledge and potential applications for Integrated Pest Management

Tephritidae are an enormous threat to fruit and vegetable production throughout the world, causing both quantitative and qualitative losses. Investigating mating sequences could help to unravel mate choice dynamics, adding useful information to improve behaviour-based control strategies. We review current knowledge about sexual communication and related behaviours in Tephritidae, with a focus on six key agricultural pests: Anastrepha ludens, Bactrocera cucurbitae, Bactrocera dorsalis, Bactrocera oleae, Ceratitis capitata and Rhagoletis pomonella. We examine features and the role of male–male combat in lekking sites, cues affecting mating dynamics, and some fitness-promoting female behaviours that occur at oviposition sites [the use of oviposition marking pheromones (OMPs) and female–female fights for single oviposition sites]. We outline future perspectives and potential contributions of knowledge about sexual communication to Integrated Pest Management programs for tephritid pests. Sexually selected traits are frequently good indicators of male fitness and knowledge of sexual selection processes may contribute to the improvement of the sterile insect technique (SIT), to select genotypes with high reproductive success and to promote sexually selected phenotypes through mass-rearing optimization. Furthermore, males’ exposure to parapheromones, such as phenyl propanoids (PPs), ginger root oil and trimedlure can enhance the mating success of sterile flies used in SIT programs. PPs are also a powerful tool to improve reduced-risk monitoring dispensers and the male annihilation technique, with low side effects on non-target insects. Lastly, we outline the possibility to sensitise or train mass-reared parasitoids on OMPs during the pre-release phase, in order to improve their post-release performance in the field.     

Demographic variation and habitat specialization of tree species in a diverse tropical forest of Cameroon

Background： Many tree species in tropical forests have distributions tracking local ridge-slope-valley topography. Previous work in a 50-ha plot in Korup National Park, Cameroon, demonstrated that 272 species, or 63% of those tested, were significantly associated with topography. Methods： We used two censuses of 329,000 trees ≥1 cm dbh to examine demographic variation at this site that would account for those observed habitat preferences. We tested two predictions. First, within a given topographic habitat, species specializing on that habitat （＇residents＇） should outperform species that are specialists of other habitats （＇foreigners＇）. Second, across different topographic habitats, species should perform best in the habitat on which they specialize （＇home＇） compared to other habitats （＇away＇）. Species＇ performance was estimated using growth and mortality rates. Results： In hierarchical models with species identity as a random effect, we found no evidence of a demographic advantage to resident species. Indeed, growth rates were most often higher for foreign species. Similarly, comparisons of species on their home vs. away habitats revealed no sign of a performance advantage on the home habitat. Conclusions＂ We reject the hypothesis that species distributions along a ridge-valley catena at Korup are caused by species differences in trees _〉1 cm dbh. Since there must be a demographic cause for habitat specialization, we offer three alternatives. First, the demographic advantage specialists have at home occurs at the reproductive or seedling stage, in sizes smaller than we census in the forest plot. Second, species may have higher performance on their preferred habitat when density is low, but when population builds up, there are negative density-dependent feedbacks that reduce performance. Third, demographic filtering may be produced by extreme environmental conditions that we did not observe during the census interval.     

The role of historical dolphin takes and habitat degradation in shaping the present status of northern Adriatic cetaceans

• 1. Nine cetacean species have been reliably reported to occur in the shallow northern Adriatic Sea since the 17th century. However, only two species were considered regular there until the 1970s: the short‐beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).
• 2. Short‐beaked common dolphins have progressively disappeared from the northern Adriatic and are now rare in the region. The systematic culling campaigns and other takes that occurred between the second half of the 18th century and the 1960s, and habitat degradation in subsequent years are the most likely causes of their decline.
• 3. Today, common bottlenose dolphins are the only regular component of the northern Adriatic cetacean fauna; however, they now occur at low densities, and their fragmented groups are facing significant anthropogenic threats.
• 4. The future of northern Adriatic dolphins will depend on precautionary action to prevent further decline and on intensified research effort aimed at identifying the most effective mitigation strategies.

Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental co-culture of low food-chain organisms, Sabella spallanzanii (Polychaeta, Sabellidae) and Cladophora prolifera (Chlorophyta, Cladophorales), in Porto Cesareo area (Mediterranean Sea)

The filter feeder polychaete Sabella spallanzanii (Gmelin) was co‐cultured with the green seaweed Cladophora prolifera (Roth.) Kunz, in an off‐shore experimental system. Both species have previously been experimented as bioremediator organisms for waste treatment deriving from aquaculture farms and can have a high economic value as a byproduct of polyculture. The present experiment has been conducted in an area 2 miles off the coast of Porto Cesareo (Ionian sea, Southern Italy). The growth was followed in some modules anchored to the bottom at two different depths (15 and 25 m depth). The results indicate differences among replicates located at different depths. Both organisms show a faster growth at the shallower levels. Within this level, polychaetes reached a mean biomass of 860±74 mg dw (average±SE) per worm, 30 times larger than that of the starting point, after a standstill in the first period, probably due to the manipulation activities. The major growth has been recorded during the winter. Algae have shown an increase of 34 g ww month⁻¹ (average±SE) in the shallower levels vs. only 11 g ww month⁻¹ (average±SE) in the deeper levels. The RGR calculated after 60 days was 115% in the shallower levels vs. about 60% in the deeper ones. A considerable decrease in growth rate was observed during the last period; this was probably due to the presence of increasing fouling community on the rearing cages surely affecting the light intensity.     

Common dolphins in the Gulf of Corinth are Critically Endangered

1. Regional populations (“subpopulations”) of globally abundant species can be exposed to human impacts that threaten their viability. Given the value of cetacean subpopulations as evolutionary significant units, keystone and umbrella species, it is important to assess their conservation status separately and propose area-specific conservation measures.
2. We used a threat assessment process and applied IUCN Red List criteria to a regional population of common dolphins Delphinus delphis in the semi-enclosed Gulf of Corinth, Greece. We compiled subpopulation-specific information about abundance and trends, estimated the geographic range of the subpopulation (area of occupancy and extent of occurrence), and calculated the probability of extinction through stochastic modelling.
3. The subpopulation qualified as Endangered according to criteria A (population size reduction over three generations) and B (geographic range), and as Critically Endangered under criteria C (population size and decline) and D (very small or restricted population). The probability of extinction was estimated to be ≥50% in three generations, qualifying the subpopulation as Critically Endangered under criterion E (quantitative analysis). We concluded that the subpopulation should be classified as Critically Endangered.
4. Considering the high extinction risk faced by common dolphins in the Gulf of Corinth, we recommend that: (a) immediate action is taken to mitigate anthropogenic activities known or suspected to have a negative impact on cetaceans in the area (particularly commercial fishing); and (b) a marine protected area is established in the Gulf of Corinth as a management tool for enforcing conservation action and facilitating the recovery of common dolphins.

     

Effect of expanded feed with high fish oil content on growth and fatty acid composition of rainbow trout

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were fed three different diets for 110 days — a basal dry diet with 8.4% oil content (BD8), a basal dry diet with 11.1%; oil content (BD11) a nd an expanded diet with 20.7% oil content (ED) — to investigate the influence of high fish oil exp anded diet on fatty acid composition of muscle, and to evaluate nutritional properties of edible tissue. I n fact, the experimental diets were also different in their component fatty acids, with an in creasing content of 3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (3 HUFA) from BD8 to ED. As regards biomet rics data, the condition factor and the coefficient of fatness were higher in fish fed ED in com parison with groups BD8 and BD11 (p < 0.05 ED vs. BD8). On the other hand, hepatosomatic index in group ED was markedly lower than those in groups BD8 and BD11 (p < 0.05 ED vs. BD8 and E D vs. BD11). This could be explained by the lower amount of crude protein in ED or it may indicate an excess amount of essential fatty acids (EFA) in ED. As regards fatty acid composition of fish m uscle, there were only slight differences in fatty acid composition of the edible tissue of fish wh en compared with the differences in fatty acid composition of the diets. The increased amount of fish oil in ED had a positive influence on the final weight of fish (p < 0.05 ED vs. BD8 and ED vs. BD11), but did not affect proportionately the percentage of 3 HUFA (20:53, 22:53, 22:63) and therefore the derived indices of lipid quality: so it appears possible to partially substitute fish oil in the diet with other lipid as a source of dietary fat.     

Hardwiring the brain: endocannabinoids shape neuronal connectivity

The roles of endocannabinoid signaling during central nervous system development are unknown. We report that CB(1) cannabinoid receptors (CB(1)Rs) are enriched in the axonal growth cones of gamma-aminobutyric acid-containing (GABAergic) interneurons in the rodent cortex during late gestation. Endocannabinoids trigger CB(1)R internalization and elimination from filopodia and induce chemorepulsion and collapse of axonal growth cones of these GABAergic interneurons by activating RhoA. Similarly, endocannabinoids diminish the galvanotropism of Xenopus laevis spinal neurons. These findings, together with the impaired target selection of cortical GABAergic interneurons lacking CB(1)Rs, identify endocannabinoids as axon guidance cues and demonstrate that endocannabinoid signaling regulates synaptogenesis and target selection in vivo.     

A new monomeric α-amylase inhibitor from the tetraploid emmer wheat is mostly active against stored product pests

Journal of Pest Science - The tetraploid domesticated emmer wheat, Triticum turgidum L. subsp. dicoccon, expresses α-amylase protein inhibitors of varying sizes and assemblies, i.e. dimers and...