Comparison of 3 methods of onychectomy

The frequency of claw regrowth, bony remnants, and complications in cats that underwent forelimb onychectomy using laser, scalpel, or guillotine techniques were evaluated. Eighty-seven client-owned cats were recruited from 27 veterinary clinics in the Canadian Atlantic provinces. At least 1 year after onychectomy the cats underwent a physical examination, gait analysis, and radiographic evaluation by 1 of 2 authors. There was no significant difference in the frequency of claw regrowth among the 3 methods (P = 0.283). Significantly more cats had bony remnants following guillotine onychectomy (P < 0.001). Bony remnants were significantly associated with claw regrowth (P = 0.001). Cats that underwent laser onychectomy had significantly less post-operative complications (P = 0.023). The long-term outcome was not significantly different among the 3 methods. We conclude that leaving remnants of the third phalanx in situ is associated with an increased frequency of claw regrowth. Laser onychectomy may be preferred to reduce the risk of post-operative complications, bony remnants, and claw regrowth.     

Participation of ascorbic acid in the dormancy establishment of poplar lateral branch buds

This work studied the participation of ascorbic acid (AA) in the dormancy establishment of apical buds of poplar (Populus deltoides Bartram ex Marshall cv. Catfish 2) lateral branches. AA content was highest during the active growth period and decreased to the lowest content during bud dormancy. The accumulation of the oxidised form, dehydroascorbate, was similar in either growth or dormant bud stages. The supplementation of buds with AA at the end of the summer delayed bud set. Similarly, the supplementation of buds with gibberellic acid extended the growth period and kept a high AA content in the apoplast. These results suggest that a decrease in the accumulation of reduced AA might be needed for the dormancy establishment in apical buds of poplar lateral branches.     

Influence of provenance,silvicultural regime and tree shape on the quality of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) timber

The aim of this study was to establish the sources of variation in maritime pine wood properties related to appearance and strength, because of the importance of this wood in the sawing industry in Galicia (NW Spain). Ten trees from each of ten plots of the species (i.e., 100 trees) growing in Galicia were felled and sawn to produce the structural planks required for studying the presence of external strength-reducing characteristics. The planks were sampled from the basal logs to 16 m height in the stems, yielding cross sections of target dimensions 100 × 40 mm to 200 × 200 mm. We propose a model in which individual tree height and dominant height are used to predict the knottiness of planks from trees in mature stands. The abundance of externally visible knots on faces and edges of sawn planks is therefore more dependent on the stand location than on the prior silvicultural treatment of the stand.     

Effects of addition of a bird repellent to fish diets on their growth and bioaccumulation

The effects of adding the nonlethal bird repellent methyl anthranilate (MA), at levels of 100 and 1000 mg kg^?1, to fish feed on the bioaccumulation and growth of juvenile (10 g) hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops×M. saxatilis) and juvenile (1 g) African cichlid fish Aulonocara jacobfreibergi were investigated under laboratory conditions. The bird repellent did not have any effect on the fish growth or survival over a period of 6 weeks. MA residues at low levels of 11.2±2.6 μg g^?1 were found in lipophilic tissues (liver) of MA‐fed fish. Control fish, which had no MA added to their diet, had a much lower level of 0.6±0.3 μg g^?1 MA in their liver. Fish muscle was found to contain negligible MA residues, while the outer body surface mucus did not contain any MA. Following a 6‐week depuration period, during which the previously MA‐fed hybrid striped bass were fed a feed to which no MA was added, the levels of MA residues detected were reduced by one order of magnitude.     

A Large‐scale,Rapid Public Health Response to Rabies in an Organ Recipient and the Previously Undiagnosed Organ Donor

This article describes and contrasts the public health response to two human rabies cases: one organ recipient diagnosed within days of symptom onset and the transplant donor who was diagnosed 18 months post‐symptom onset. In response to an organ‐transplant‐related rabies case diagnosed in 2013, organ donor and recipient investigations were conducted by multiple public health agencies. Persons with potential exposure to infectious patient materials were assessed for rabies virus exposure. An exposure investigation was conducted to determine the source of the organ donor's infection. Over 100 persons from more than 20 agencies spent over 2700 h conducting contact investigations in healthcare, military and community settings. The 564 persons assessed include 417 healthcare workers [5.8% recommended for post‐exposure prophylaxis (PEP)], 96 community contacts (15.6% recommended for PEP), 30 autopsy personnel (50% recommended for PEP), and 21 other persons (4.8% recommended for PEP). Donor contacts represented 188 assessed with 20.2% recommended for PEP, compared with 5.6% of 306 recipient contacts recommended for PEP. Human rabies cases result in substantial use of public health and medical resources, especially when diagnosis is delayed. Although rare, clinicians should consider rabies in cases of encephalitis of unexplained aetiology, particularly for cases that may result in organ donation.     

Gastric dilation and air sacculitis in farmed chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum)

A syndrome affecting cultured chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), characterized by distended abdomens, gastric dilation, air sacculitis (GDAS), increased feed conversion rates and increased mortality has been recognized in New Zealand. Affected fish were most obvious in sea cages but were also present in fresh water. Mortality rates associated with this condition were highest in late summer and approached 6% per month. A dilated and flaccid stomach, without visible rugal folds containing copious oil, watery fluid or undigested feed was typical. Gastric mucosal ulceration or inflammation were not present. The air sacculitis consisted of a thickened, dilated bladder with a mixed mucosal inflammatory infiltrate and a luminal exudate associated with large numbers of morphologically diverse bacteria. Gastric dilation or air sacculitis occurred alone or together in the same fish. In a group of 20 subclinically affected fish with or without gastric dilation, there were no significant differences in weight, length, serum osmolality, sodium, total protein or packed cell volume. Twenty-three severely affected fish had significantly ( P  < 0.05) higher serum osmolality but similar sodium and total protein to that of clinically normal fish.     

Manipulations of Shrimp Embryos: A Viable Technique for the Removal of the Hatching Envelope

The hatching envelope elevated around the spawned eggs of penaeoidean eggs presents a formidable barrier for manipulation of the embryo. By spawning eggs into seawater containing 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole and subsequently passing the eggs through Nitex screening approximately 45 min after spawning, the hatching envelope can be effectively removed with little or no damage to the embryos. The time and extent to which the envelope is removed can be varied. Embryos treated in this manner continue to develop and the method provides a new technique with which investigators can gain access to the surface of the egg or embryo.     

Factors (type,colour, density,and shape) determining the removal of marine plastic debris by seabirds from the South Pacific Ocean: Is there a pattern?

1. While floating near the sea surface plastic debris interacts with a number of external factors, including many different organisms. Seabirds have the most extensive documented history of interactions with plastics, through ingestion, entanglement, and nest construction.
2. In the present study, eight seabird species from the South Pacific Ocean were used as a proxy to determine potential patterns of removal of marine plastic debris, and three hypotheses were tested in relation to their feeding habits and nesting areas.
3. Plastics from abiotic compartments (Chilean continental coast, South Pacific Gyre, and Rapa Nui beaches) and biotic compartments (surface-feeding seabirds, diving seabirds, and nesting areas) were compared, according to their type, colour, shape, and density.
4. Continental beaches had a relatively wide range of colours and shapes, with many non-buoyant plastics. Samples from the South Pacific Gyre (SPG) and Rapa Nui (Easter Island) beaches comprised mainly hard, rounded, buoyant, and white/grey plastics.
5. These results indicate that the composition of floating plastics from terrestrial sources changes during transport with oceanic currents, reducing the proportion of prey-like plastics present in the subtropical gyres.
6. The stomach contents of surface-feeding and diving seabirds were dominated by hard, white/grey, and round plastic items, similar to plastics from the SPG, suggesting non-selective (accidental or secondary) ingestion.
7. Nesting areas had a more variable composition of brightly coloured plastics, suggesting a pattern of selective removal of plastics by seabirds, probably from oceanic sources.
8. The present study reveals extensive interactions of seabirds with plastics on a broader scale, which is highly relevant given that the impacts of plastics on seabirds are increasing worldwide, compromising their efficient conservation.

     

Amino acid profile of the quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) using near infrared spectroscopy and chemometric techniques

The high content of amino acids of the quinoa, especially essential amino acids (higher than other cereals) makes a food increasingly demanded by consumers. A total of twelve amino acids (arginine, cystine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine and valine) were analyzed in quinoa samples from Chile by near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) with direct application to the samples of a remote fiber-optic reflectance probe. The calibration results using modified partial least squares (MPLS) regression satisfactorily allowed the determination of the concentrations of this amino acid group with high multiple correlation coefficients (RSQ = 0.97–0.71) and low standard prediction errors (SEPC = 0.07–0.20). The prediction capacity (RPD) for the arginine, the cystine, the isoleucine, the lysine, the serine, the threonine, the tryptophan, the tyrosine and the valine ranged between 2.6 and 5.2, for the rest of amino acids were higher to 1.8, indicating that the NIRS equations obtained were applicable to unknown samples. It has confirmed that NIRS technology is a method that may be useful to replace the traditional methods for routine analysis of some amino acids.     

Leaf physiology and morphology of Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh., Castanea mollissima Blume,and three backcross breeding generations planted in the southern Appalachians,USA

Backcross breeding programs have been used to transfer disease resistance and other traits from one forest tree species to another in order to meet restoration objectives. Evaluating the field performance of such material is critical for determining the success of breeding programs. In eastern North America, The American Chestnut Foundation has a backcross breeding program that uses Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima Blume) to introduce resistance of the fungal pathogen chestnut blight [Cryphonectria parasitica (Murr.) Barr.] to the native American chestnut [Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh.]. We compared physiological and morphological characteristics among seedlings of American chestnut, Chinese chestnut, and BC₁F₃, BC₂F₃, and BC₃F₃ hybrid chestnuts during their fourth growing season after field-planting. American chestnut and the BC₃F₃ breeding generation displayed photosynthetic light-response curves that were similar to each other but different from Chinese chestnut. Rates of photosynthesis were higher for American chestnut and the BC₃F₃ breeding generation when compared to Chinese chestnut for light levels ≥800 μmol m^?2 s^?1 photosynthetic photon flux density and for maximum photosynthetic capacity. Leaf morphology variables were not different between American chestnut and any of the breeding generations, but leaf area (on a per leaf basis) of Chinese chestnut was lower than that of any other chestnut type. Our results suggest that backcross breeding can be used to transfer desirable traits for restoration of native species threatened by non-native pathogens.