Microvasculature of the Foal Metacarpus

The developing vascular architecture of the metacarpus of the foal was studied by a bone-clearing technique. For this technique Microfil was used to demonstrate the periosteal, cortical and medullary vessel distribution. Superficial and deep periosteal vessels were observed. A stratified arrangement of cortical vessels, derived from medullary vessels was shown. Ascending and descending medullary arteries originated from the nutrient artery and traversed the bone medulla towards the epiphyses. Along their course through the medulla, smaller vessels were given off that ran towards the metaphyses and gave rise to numerous sinusoids. Vessels were observed crossing the growth plate in the distal metacarpus. By using the information obtained from this investigation further studies can be initiated that could determine the periosteal contribution to cortical blood flow as it relates to sequestration of bone.     

Hybridization of Thinopyrum distichum and Secale cereale

An attempt was made to determine whether the salt tolerance genes of Thinopyrum distichum would be expressed in the presence of the rye genomes and if it would be possible to improve and utilize its hybrid with rye as a salt-tolerant fodder crop. Th. distichum florets were pollinated with diploid and tetraploid rye but hybrids were obtained only with tetraploid rye. The F₁ had 28 chromosomes and expressed high levels of salt tolerance. Fertility could not be induced through colchicines treatment but the plants produced some apomictic seeds during the summer months. The F₂ had 20-22 chromosomes and retained two complete or near-complete rye genomes. The F₂ plants responded better to colchicine treatment, however, the doubled hybrids remained male sterile. In summer, one F2 plant produced many apomictic seeds with chromosome numbers ranging from 14 to 16 (primarily rye chromosomes). The mechanism that caused the preferential loss of Thinopyrum chromosomes in each apomictic cycle remains unknown. The F₃ phenotypically resembled rye, had primarily reductional male meioses and produced seemingly functional pollen, but were self-sterile.     

A study of the pharmacokinetics and thromboxane inhibitory activity of a single intramuscular dose of carprofen as a means to establish its potential use as an analgesic drug in white rhinoceros

The alleviation of pain and prevention of suffering are key aspects of animal welfare. Unfortunately, analgesic drugs are not available for all species. White rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum ), representing one of such species, which survive poaching attempts inflicted with severe facial injuries and gunshot wounds, nonetheless require analgesic support. To improve treatment conditions, this study explored the use of carprofen for the treatment of pain and inflammation in white rhinoceros. The pharmacokinetics of 1 mg/kg intramuscular carprofen was evaluated in six healthy white rhinoceros. The half‐life of λ_z and mean residence time was 105.71 ± 15.67 and 155.01 ± 22.46 hr, respectively. The area under the curve and the maximum carprofen concentration were 904.61 ± 110.78 μg ml^?1 hr^?1 and 5.77 ± 0.63 μg/ml, respectively. Plasma TXB ₂ inhibition demonstrated anti‐inflammatory properties and indicated that carprofen may be effective for a minimum of 48 hr in most animals. With its long half‐life further indicating that a single dose could be effective for several days, we suggest that carprofen may be a useful drug for the treatment of white rhinoceros.     

Some fungi, zearalenone and other mycotoxins in chicken rations, stock feedstuffs, lucerne and pasture grasses in the communal farming area of Rhenosterkop in South Africa

Mycotoxins may be present in feeds without any visible signs of mould contamination. There is a need for rapid and accurate measurement of mycotoxins for purposes of continual monitoring and identification of high risk commodities. Samples from commercial chicken feed (maize kernels), cattle feed (lucerne, grass and hay) and milk were analysed for the presence of certain mycotoxins and cultured for fungi. Results of fungal profiles showed that most samples were contaminated by moulds belonging to the genera, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, Mucor, Phoma and Rhizopus. All the chicken feed samples tested contained mycotoxins either below the recommended safe levels for poultry or below the detection limits of the ELISA tests. However, samples of grass contained levels of zearalenone greater than the allowable concentration for dairy and beef cattle (250 ppm), which may be linked to the presence of Fusarium scirpi identified in the fungal profiles. The levels of AFMI were below the detection limits of the ELISA tests, which may be attributed to the low levels of aflatoxins found in the feed (grass) samples. The presence of the fungus in samples analysed is not evidence for the presence of mycotoxins.     

Seasonal variations in the stable carbon isotopic signature of biogenic methane in a coastal sediment

Systematic seasonal variations in the stable carbon isotopic signature of methane gas occur in the anoxic sediments of Cape Lookout Bight, a lagoonal basin on North Carolina's Outer Banks. Values for the carbon isotope ratio (delta 13C) of methane range from -57.3 per mil during summer to -68.5 per mil during winter in gas bubbles with an average methane content of 95%. The variations are hypothesized to result from changes in the pathways of microbial methane production and cycling of key substrates including acetate and hydrogen. The use of stable isotopic signatures to investigate the global methane cycle through mass balance calculations, involving various sediment and soil biogenic sources, appears to require seasonally averaged data from individual sites.     

Influence of halogen salts on the production of the ochratoxins by Aspergillus ochraceus Wilh

The first report of the biological production of bromo ochratoxin B by Aspergillus ochraceus Wilh. is presented as well as a study of the influence of potassium bromide, potassium iodide, potassium fluoride, and potassium chloride on the production of ochratoxin A and ochratoxin B. Potassium fluoride and potassium iodide inhibited the growth of the fungus, whereas potassium chloride substantially stimulated the production of ochratoxin A in shaken solid substrate fermentation on whole wheat or shredded wheat, generally giving a high yield of ochratoxins. Increasing levels of potassium bromide led to a decline in ochratoxin A production and an increase in bromo-ochratoxin B, ochratoxin B, and 4-hydroxy ochratoxin B. Nevertheless, A. ochraceus was much less versatile in the bromo analogues than other fungi, which produce metabolites containing chlorine. Analysis included aminopropyl solid-phase extraction column cleanup followed by quantitative analysis on reversed-phase HPLC using fluorescence detection and employing N-(5-chloro-2-hydroxybenzoyl)phenylalanine as an internal standard.     

Recurrent selection using male sterility and hydroponic tiller culture in pedigree breeding of wheat

A procedure for recurrent selection based on the male sterility gene, Ms3, was implemented. To facilitate the production of large numbers of hybrid progeny, a simple hydroponic system was developed in which male‐sterile tillers cut at the flowering stage can be pollinated and maintained for about 8 weeks‐long enough to produce a large quantity of viable hybrid seeds. The recurrent selection steps were integrated with a pedigree breeding programme employing different selection cycles for male and female plants. F₁ female plants are subjected to a single screening for seedling resistance. In addition to F₁ seedling screening, F₂‐F₄ male families are field‐selected for disease resistance, agrotype and quality in a pedigree programme before being used in crosses.