Prolonged activated prothromboplastin time and breed specific variation in haemostatic analytes in healthy adult Bernese Mountain dogs

Coagulation tests are often performed in dogs suspected of haemostatic dysfunction and are interpreted according to validated laboratory reference intervals (RIs). Breed specific RIs for haematological and biochemical analytes have previously been identified in Bernese Mountain dogs, but it remains to be determined if breed specific RIs are necessary for haemostasis tests. Activated prothromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), selected coagulation factors, D-dimers, fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor and thromboelastography (TEG) were analyzed in healthy Bernese Mountain dogs using the CLSI model. Three analytes (aPTT, TEG [MA] and TEG [G]) were different according to the CLSI model. For aPTT the new RI was markedly different (0-100s). Whereas the new intervals for TEG (MA) and TEG (G) may be due to breed related biological variation, the cause of the prolonged RI for aPTT is at present uncertain.     

Propagation temperature,PPFD, auxin treatment,cutting size and cutting position affect root formation,axillary bud growth and shoot development in miniature rose (Rosa hybrida L.) plants and alter homogeneity

Summary

Rooting and growth responses of miniature rose cuttings were investigated in an experiment in which four propagation temperatures, two photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFDs) with five auxin (IBA) concentrations, cutting sizes and cutting positions, were combined factorially in a response-surface design. Most prominently, temperature, cutting size and auxin and their interactions, influenced root and shoot growth. A propagation temperature of 24.6°C, and IBA concentrations between 10^–3 and 10^–1M, depending on temperature, were optimal for root formation. Root formation in extra short cuttings was delayed at low IBA concentrations. Regarding root formation, IBA could substitute for increased temperature as well as for increased cutting size. Onset of axillary bud growth was fastest at 24.6°C, and delayed in extra short cuttings. Application of IBA at 10^–4 to 10^–3M was optimal for axillary bud growth. By increasing the IBA concentration both time to flowering and plant height increased at 24.6°C. In cuttings from higher positions on stock plants, axillary shoots enhanced their growth to flowering, became shorter, and weighed less, suggesting occurrence of positional effects (topophysis). The growth rate increased with increasing IBA concentration, as well as from medial to low positioned cuttings. Increasing propagation PPFD from 46 to 72 µmol m^–2s^–1 did not affect the parameters. Time to axillary bud growth and time to first flower were related to time-to-visible root. Fast formation of roots apparently resulted in fast axillary bud growth. In time-to-visible root and axillary bud growth, the smallest variation between plants was found at optimal ranges for temperature, IBA concentration and cutting size, and further factors optimal for root formation and axillary bud growth provided the most synchronized plant development.     

Inhibition of the Carpobrotus edulis methanol extract on the growth of phagocytosed multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

The Carpobrotus edulis methanol extract, inactive against the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or the multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, does inhibit the growth of these two bacteria once they are phagocytosed by monocyte derived human macrophages.     

Serum amyloid A isoforms in serum and synovial fluid from spontaneously diseased dogs with joint diseases or other conditions

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a major acute phase protein in dogs. However, knowledge of qualitative properties of canine SAA and extent of its synthesis in extrahepatic tissues is limited. The aim of the study was to investigate expression of different SAA isoforms in serum and synovial fluid in samples obtained from dogs (n=16) suffering from different inflammatory or non-inflammatory conditions, which were either related or unrelated to joints. Expression of SAA isoforms was visualized by denaturing isoelectric focusing and Western blotting. Serum amyloid A was present in serum from all dogs with systemic inflammatory activity, and up to four major isoforms with apparent isoelectric points between 6.1 and 7.9 were identified. In synovial fluid from inflamed joints one or more highly alkaline SAA isoforms (with apparent isoelectric points above 9.3) were identified, with data suggesting local production of these isoforms in the canine inflamed joint.     

Changes in Vertisol properties as affected by organic amendments application rates

There is considerable global interest in using recycled organic materials because of perceived benefits to soil health and environment. However, information on the effects of organic waste products and their optimal application rates on the quality of heavy clay soils such as Vertisols is sparse. An incubation experiment was therefore conducted using five organic amendments at various rates to identify their optimal application rates, which could improve the quality of the Vertisol. Cotton gin trash, cattle manure, biosolids (dry weight basis 7.5–120 t/ha), chicken manure (dry weight basis 2.25–36 t/ha) and a liquefied vermicast (60–960 L/ha, volumetric basis) changed the soil chemical, physical and microbiological properties compared with a control where no amendments were applied, viz. higher light fraction of organic matter, nutrient content (N and P) and soil microbial activity. Higher application of chicken manure resulted in an increase in dry‐sieved mean weight diameter. Increasing rates of cattle manure increased exchangeable Na concentration and ESP. Although vermicast itself did not contribute a significant amount of N into the soil, when applied at higher rates (60–960 L/ha), its application resulted in increased concentration of NO₃‐N in soil by amounts ranging from 43 to 429%. Optimal application rates for cattle manure and cotton gin trash were 30 t/ha, whereas for biosolids and chicken manure, the optimum rate was 60–18 t/ha, respectively.     

Voluntary responses and limits of tolerance to pressure reduction and swimbladder expansion in farmed Atlantic cod

Atlantic cod and other teleosts with closed swimbladders have slow gas resorption rates and are therefore vulnerable to sudden pressure reductions that lead to swimbladder expansion and possible loss of behavioural control. This problem is of particular relevance to fish farmers, who require safe protocols for lifting of cages containing cod that account for swimbladder expansion. To recommend a limit for pressure reduction, we experimentally determined the maximum pressure reduction, relative to neutral buoyancy pressure, free-swimming farmed cod would expose themselves to. Classical reward conditioning was used to motivate cod that were neutrally buoyant at 2?C3.3 ATM (10?C23 m depth) to respond to a sound signal by swimming rapidly upwards to a feeding station positioned at 1.5 ATM (5 m depth). Sixteen cod were implanted with data storage tags (DSTs) that registered their ambient pressure throughout the experiment. The DST data showed that cod voluntarily stopped rapid ascents before they reached the feeding station at an average maximum pressure reduction of about 41% relative to their neutral buoyancy pressure. This was equivalent to a 70% swimbladder expansion relative to neutral volume. During the experiment, cod seldom remained above their neutral buoyancy depths, except when feeding, indicating a behavioural aversion to positive buoyancy. To avoid the loss of buoyancy control in cod, we conclude that single lifting events of sea-cages, which forces swimbladder expansion, should never exceed a 70% expansion of the swimbladder above the pre-existing neutral buoyancy volume.     

Phosphorus forms as affected by abandoned anthills (Formica polyctena Förster) in forest soils: sequential extraction and liquid-state 31P-NMR spectroscopy

Ants are known to concentrate phosphorus (P) inside their nests via collection of food and litter. To elucidate the possible effects on long-term availability of soil P, five anthills abandoned by Red wood ant (Formica polyctena Förster) > 5—20 years ago were characterized for soil P forms in a temperate Danish deciduous forest. Sequentially extracted P fractions and liquid-state ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra were obtained on surface samples (0—10 cm) from abandoned anthills and adjacent topsoil; in addition one representative soil profile in an abandoned anthill was investigated. The results show that different inorganic and all organic P fractions were enriched by a factor of 2.0—3.3 inside anthills relative to the surrounding soil. The soil underneath the abandoned anthill had higher P contents until 50-cm depth. Phosphorus composition was less affected by former anthill construction. Only the younger anthills revealed a preferential accumulation of labile organic P forms such as Na-HCO₃ extractable P or diester P. The accumulation of the stable and moderate labile P forms, however, persisted for ≥ 20 years after abandonment. We concluded that former ant activity enhanced long-term P availability of soil due to high local P inputs, whereas changes of the P form distribution lasted 5—10 years after nest abandonment.     

The enhancement of cod stocks

Atlantic cod have been a primary target for marine stock enhancement since the 1880s. In the early part of this period, hatched larvae were released in Norway, the USA and Canada. The last larval releases were conducted in Norway in 1971, and a century of cod larvae releases were halted without any clear evidence of benefit. Since the early 1980s, the focus has been on production of larger, more viable juvenile cod. Emphasis has been given to the design of tag–release programmes involving large-scale releases and ecosystem analysis in selected ecosystems. Most of this research has been carried out in Norway, where more than one million tagged juvenile cod have been released. Smaller stocking experiments have also been performed in Denmark, Sweden, the Faroe Islands and the USA.
This paper reviews the major findings from these programmes. We include summaries and evaluations of rearing techniques for juvenile cod, methods of tagging and recapture, experimental fishing, migration, mortality and growth rates in the different habitats, genetic analysis, and ecosystem studies that have tried to describe the variation in the cod carrying capacity of selected release areas.
Despite relatively large variation in environmental conditions, in cod production and in fishing mortality along the Norwegian coast, results indicate that, under the conditions experienced during the 1980s and 1990s, releases of juvenile cod did not significantly increase cod production and catches. The biological limitations and future prospects of Atlantic cod stock enhancement are addressed.     

Surgical management of rectal prolapse in an Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis).

An acute rectal mucosal prolapse in a 26-yr-old Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) was repaired surgically by mucosal resection. Two days postoperatively, suture line dehiscence accompanied by substantial hemorrhage was managed by ligation and hemostasis during a second immobilization. Medical management with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and diuretics reduced the mucosal edema and prevented recurrence of the prolapse. A combination of butorphanol and detomidine provided excellent reversible chemical restraint for this animal.