Describing the growth and molt of modern domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) primary wing feathers

The use of feathers as noninvasive physiological measurements of biomarkers in poultry research is expanding. Feather molting patterns and growth rates, however, are not well described in domestic poultry. These parameters could influence the measurement of these biomarkers. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe the juvenile primary feather molting patterns and feather growth rates for domestic turkeys. The 10 primary wing feathers of 48 female turkeys were measured weekly from week 1 (0 d of age) to week 20. Feathers were manually measured, and the presence or absence of each primary feather was recorded weekly. Generalized linear mixed models were used to investigate if feather growth differed between the primary feathers. The molting of the juvenile primary feathers followed a typical descending pattern starting with P1 (5 wk of age), while P9 and P10 had not molted by the end of the study (20 wk of age). The average feather growth rate was 2.4 cm/wk, although there was a significant difference between the 10 primary feathers (P < 0.0001, 2.1 to 2.8 cm/wk). Over time, feather growth followed a pattern where the growth rate reaches a peak and then declines until the feather is molted. The results of this study provide a critical update of patterns of molting and feather growth in primary wing feathers of modern turkeys. This can have implications for the interpretation of physiological biomarkers, such as the longitudinal deposition of corticosterone, in the feathers of domestic turkeys.     

The cytologic and histologic diagnosis of ureteral fibroepithelial polyp in a dog

A 6-year-old, intact male, brindled, 30-Lb English Bulldog presented to the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital with a recurrent history of hematuria, periuria, and lethargy that responded temporarily to antibiotic therapy. The work-up included a complete blood count, serum biochemical profile, complete urinalysis, diagnostic imaging (abdominal radiographs and ultrasound with contrast urography), and exploratory laparotomy. The diagnostic imaging findings and subsequent exploratory revealed a unilateral, intraluminal, right-sided, 3-cm ureteral mass extending from the proximal ureter into the renal pelvis. Subsequently, a unilateral right-sided ureteronephrectomy followed by biopsy with cytopathology/cytology (impression smears) and histopathology of the ureteral mass was performed. The cytopathologic interpretation was benign mesenchymal proliferation with mildly atypical urothelial cells. The association of this mass with vascular tissue and a benign nuclear appearance on cytology is similar to reports of fibroepithelial polyps (FEPs) and myxomatous tumors. Histopathology diagnosed the mass as an FEP. Cytopathology proved useful in the presumptive diagnosis of this benign urothelial polyp. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report using cytopathology to depict and characterize FEPs in veterinary and human medical literature.     

Effects of salinity and alkalinity on pansy and impatiens in three different growing media

The quality of irrigation water used for greenhouse crop production can strongly influence plant growth. However, the effect on plant growth is probably a combination of water quality and the type of growing media used. To determine the effect of saline and alkaline irrigation water on plant growth and nutrition, pansy and impatiens were grown in peat, peat:pine bark, and pine bark media under standard greenhouse conditions. Salinity treatments of 0, 100 and OmgL^‐1 NaCl: CaCl₂ and alkalinity treatments of 0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg L^‐1 NaHCO₃ were applied at every irrigation. Salinity levels at 100 mg L^‐1 and greater caused necrosis of leaf edges, upward curling of leaves, and reduced flower number for pansy. Treatment symptoms for impatiens were reduced growth, general chlorosis, and reduced flower number. These treatment symptoms increased in severity for plants grown in pine bark. Alkalinity levels at 200 mg L^‐1 and greater caused decreased flower number, necrosis of leaf edges, and downward cupping of leaves of pansy. Treatments symptoms of impatiens were general chlorosis, water‐soaked appearance of leaves and leaf abscission. Elemental concentrations of sodium (Na⁺), chloride (Cl), calcium (Ca⁺⁺), magnesium (Mg⁺⁺), and potassium (K⁺) varied in media solution and tissue with symptom and treatment.     

Evaluation of Controlled-Release Fertilizers for Northeast Florida Chip Potato Production

ABSTRACT

Controlled-release fertilizers (CRF) were compared with ammonium nitrate (AN) in a potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production study at the University of Florida farm in Hastings, FL, in 2002. Treatments were no nitrogen (No-N), AN, and nine CRFs at 146 kg ha^?1 N and 225 kg ha^?1 N. CRF7 (146 kg ha^?1 N) resulted in highest total and marketable yields at 33.7 MT ha^?1 and 29.4 MT ha^?1, respectively. Tubers from the AN (225 kg ha^?1 N) and CRF9 (225 kg ha^?1 N) treatments had the highest specific gravity at 1.073. Nitrogen removal efficiency was highest in plants in CRF1 (43.0%) and CRF7 (47.3%) plots. Both were significantly higher than AN-treated plants. At 39 days after planting, NO₃-N and NH₄-N concentrations in lysimeter water samples were significantly higher in AN treatments. Leaf tissue N concentrations were sufficient throughout the growing season in all treatments except No-N.     

Evaluation of Nebraska Waxy Sorghum Hybrids for Ethanol Production

To evaluate the ethanol production performance of waxy sorghum hybrids and the effects of location and harvest year on ethanol yield, samples of four waxy sorghum hybrids collected from two Nebraska locations (Mead and Lincoln) in both 2009 and 2010 were tested for ethanol production in a dry‐grind process. No significant difference (P = 0.216) in starch contents was observed among the four hybrids, but starch contents of the hybrids were significantly affected by growth location (P = 0.0001) and harvest year (P = 0.0258). Location, hybrid, and harvest year all had significant effects on ethanol fermentation efficiency in the dry‐grind process. Lincoln sorghum samples showed higher (P = 0.022) ethanol fermentation efficiency (90.4%) than did Mead sorghum samples (90.0%). Sorghums harvested in 2010 had higher (P < 0.001) ethanol fermentation efficiency (91.1%) than those harvested in 2009 (89.3%). The 2009 sorghum flours had more amylose‐lipid complexes than the 2010 samples did, and amylose‐lipid complexes as previously reported had adverse effects on ethanol fermentation. Residual starch contents in distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) were significantly affected by hybrid and harvest year (P < 0.0001), but we observed no difference in protein content in DDGS from the four hybrids.     

Survey of potato spindle tuber viroid in seed potato growing areas of the United States

Fourteen United States (U.S.) seed potato certification agencies surveyed all U.S. seed potato growing areas for presence of the potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd). The survey included general surveillance, which involved searching for the occurrence of PSTVd in state seed potato certification records from 1990 through 2000, and a field survey, which involved testing selected crops for PSTVd infection by nucleic acid dot blot hybridization during 1999 through 2001. No PSTVd incident was documented in any of the state certification records, nor was PSTVd detected in the field surveys. All U.S. seed-growing areas were determined to be free of PSTVd. It is concluded that PSTVd has been eradicated and freedom from potato spindle tuber viroid has been successfully maintained in all of the seed potato growing areas in the United States.     

Digestibility of protein and starch from sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is linked to biochemical and structural features of grain endosperm

Although a principal source of energy and protein for millions of the world's poorest people, the nutritional value of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is diminished because of low digestibility of grain protein and starch. To address this problem, we analyzed the properties of two sorghum lines that have a common pedigree but differ in digestibility. Consistent with results based on a ruminal fluid assay, the protein and starch of one line (KS48) was more thoroughly digested than that of the other (KS51) using in vitro assays based on pepsin and α-amylase. The indigestibility of KS51 relative to KS48 was shown to be due to (i) a greater abundance of disulfide-bonded proteins; (ii) presence in KS51 of non-waxy starch and the accompanying granule-bound starch synthase; and (iii) the differing nature of the protein matrix and its interaction with starch. The current findings suggest that each of these factors should be considered in efforts to enhance the nutritional value of sorghum grain.     

Detection of antibiotic residues and association of cefquinome residues with the occurrence of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria in waste milk samples from dairy farms in England and Wales in 2011

Waste milk samples from 103 farms in England and Wales were examined for the presence of β-lactam antibiotics and ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Approximately 10 months after the initial sampling, further waste milk, environmental and faecal samples from farms shown to be positive for CTX-M Escherichia coli were investigated further. Isolates with an ESBL phenotype were tested by PCR for the presence of bla_CTX-M, bla_OXA, bla_SHV and bla_TEM genes. Isolates positive for bla_CTX-M were sequenced to determine CTX-M type. Representative isolates were further examined by PFGE, plasmid replicon typing and serotyping. Of particular interest, 21.4% of waste milk samples contained residues of the cephalosporin cefquinome, which was significantly associated with CTX-M bacteria. Such bacteria occurred in 5.8% of the waste milk samples (including 3.9% CTX-M E. coli). CTX-M types identified were 1, 14, 14b and 15, but none of the E. coli were serotype O25, the serotype of the human pandemic strain.     

DETERMINATION OF TIME OF ONSET AND LOCATION OF EARLY SKELETAL LESIONS IN YOUNG DOGS EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED WITH HEPATOZOON AMERICANUM USING BONE SCINTIGRAPHY

Canine hepatozoonosis caused by Hepatozoon americanum has periosteal proliferation on long bones, pelvis, vertebrae, and skull. The pathogenesis of the periosteal proliferation is unknown but may be similar to hypertrophic osteopathy. Objectives were to determine the time frame for onset of bone lesions, to characterize spatial distribution of early bone lesions, and to describe the scintigraphic appearance of bone lesions in six immature dogs infected with 400 H. americanum oocysts on day 0. 99mTc-MDP bone scintigraphy was performed before and after infection. The onset bone lesions noted using scintigraphy was before day 35/36 in three dogs, day 46 in one dog, day 53 in one dog, and between days 46 and 67 in one dog. Early bone lesions primarily occur proximal to the carpus/tarsus and on the axial skeleton. Bone lesions were diffuse, bilaterally symmetric, homogenous, high intensity regions of radiopharmaceutical uptake.