Reproduction and pre-dispersal survival of Iberian lynx in a subpopulation of the Doñana National Park

Little is known about the reproduction of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) even though it is the most endangered felid in the world. We studied during 9 years several reproductive parameters of the Iberian lynx in one of the subpopulations situated in Doñana National Park (south-western Spain), by means of radio-tracking, direct observations and photo-trapping. The potential breeding subpopulation was usually composed of 3 adult females, which bred 83% of the total possible 29 female-reproductive year. The minimum total number of cubs born during the study was 64 (7.7 ± 0.69 per year). There was no correlation between the number of cubs born or number of breeding females and population size of European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus, the main prey of the lynx). All known births (n = 16) occurred in March except one in April and another in June. Mean litter size was 3.0 ± 0.16 (n = 16, range = 2-4). Sex-ratio (n = 59 cubs) was 1.03:1.00 (females:males). Nevertheless, the commonest picture was a female with 2 cubs older than 3 months. Altogether, at age of 3 months, 75% of cubs survived. Number of lynx alive at 10 months old and before dispersing was 69% and 57%, respectively. Sex did not affect survival for any age. Normally, it was not possible to know the causes of the death of cubs younger than 3 months. Survival at this age was not related with mother, mother age, or rabbit abundance. All females that bred were older than 3 years. The age of last reproduction was 9 years. For 3 females that were tracked during almost their complete reproductive life, the life time reproductive output was between 11 and 19 cubs. Iberian lynx reproductive parameters did not respond to wide changes in prey abundance during the study. Conservation plans considering the extraction of cubs with a low survival probability should be considered by managers, for instance, in translocation campaigns.     

Soil physical properties and soybean (Glycine max, Merrill) root abundance in conventionally- and zero-tilled soils in the humid Pampas of Argentina

In the humid Pampas of Argentina soybean is cultivated in different soil types, which were changed from conventional- to zero tillage systems in the last decade. Little is known about the response of soybean roots to these different soil physical environments. Pasture, and conventionally- and zero-tilled field lots cropped to soybean (R1 and R2 ontogenic stages) were sampled in February–March 2001 in a sandy clay loam and two silty clay loam Mollisols, and in a clayey Vertisol. In the 0–0.05 m layer of conventionally- and zero-tilled lots soil organic carbon represented 53–72% of that in pasture lots, and showed an incipient recovery after 4–11 years of continuous zero tillage. Soil aggregate stability was 10.1–46.8% lower in conventionally-tilled than in pasture lots, and recovered completely in zero-tilled lots. Soil relative compaction ranged 60.8–83.6%, which was below the threshold limit for crop yields (>90%). In change, soil porosity >50 μm ranged 0.91–5.09% soil volume, well below the minimum critical limit for root aeration and elongation (>10%, v/v). The threshold of soil resistance (about 2–3 MPa) was only over passed in an induced plough pan in the conventionally-tilled Bragado soil (5.9 MPa), and in the conventionally- and zero-tilled Ramallo soils (3.7–4.2 MPa, respectively). However, neither the low macroporosity nor the high soil resistances impeded soybean roots growth in any site. According to a fitted polynomial function, root abundance was negatively related to clay content in the subsoil (R² = 0.84, P < 0.001). Soybean roots were only abundant in the subsoil of the sandy clay loam Mollisol, which had <350 g kg⁻¹ clay. Results show that subsoil properties, and not tillage systems, were the primary effect of root growth of soybean.     

Description of a novel ultrasound guided peribulbar block in horses: a cadaveric study

BackgroundStanding surgery in horses combining intravenous sedatives, analgesics and local anaesthesia is becoming more popular. Ultrasound guided (USG) peribulbar nerve block (PB) has been described in dogs and humans for facial and ocular surgery, reducing the risk of complications versus retrobulbar nerve block (RB).ObjectiveTo describe a technique for USG PB in horse cadavers.MethodsLandmarks and PB technique were described in two equine cadaver heads (Phase 1), with computed tomography (CT) imaging confirming contrast location and spread. In Phase 2, ten equine cadaver heads were randomised to two operators naïve to the USG PB, with moderate experience with ultrasonography and conventional “blind” RB. Both techniques were demonstrated once. Subsequently, operators performed five USG PB and five RB each, unassisted. Contrast location and spread were evaluated by CT. Injection site success was defined for USG PB as extraconal contrast, and for RB intraconal contrast.ResultsSuccess was 10/10 for USG PB and 0/10 for RB (p < 0.001). Of the RB injections, eight resulted in extraconal contrast and two in the masseter muscle (p = 0.47).ConclusionsThe USG PB had a high injection site success rate compared with the RB technique; however, we cannot comment on clinical effect. The USG technique was easily learnt, and no potential complications were seen. The USG PB nerve block could have a wide application for use in horses for ocular surgeries (enucleations, eyelid, corneal, cataract surgeries, and ocular analgesia) due to reduced risk of iatrogenic damage. Further clinical studies are needed.     

Dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton benhamiae in a dog

Trichophyton benhamiae was diagnosed in a 9-year-old female dog by histopathological evaluation, fungal culture and confirmation by sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA. Successful therapy was achieved with itraconazole, bathing with miconazole and chlorhexidine shampoo, and topical application of sodium hypochlorite as a rinse.     

Effect of selected phytotoxins from Guanomyces polythrix on the calmodulin-dependent activity of the enzymes cAMP phosphodiesterase and NAD-kinase

The effect of a series of phytotoxins isolated from the fungus Guanomyces polytrix on calmodulin (CaM)-dependent nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide kinase (NADK) and CaM-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) activities was investigated. The results indicated that (2S,3S)-5-hydroxy-6,8-dimethoxy-2,3-dimethyl-4H-2,3-dihydronaphtho[2,3-b]-pyran-4-one, (2S,3S)-5-hydroxy-6,8,10-trimethoxy-2,3-dimethyl-4H-2,3-dihydro-naphtho[2,3-b]-pyran-4-one, (2S,3R)-5-hydroxy-6,8-dimethoxy-2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-naphtho[2,3-b]-pyran-4-one, (2S,3R)-5-hydroxy-6,8,10-trime-thoxy-2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-naphtho[2,3-b]-pyran-4-one, 5-hydro-xy-6,8-dimethoxy-2,3-dimethyl-4H-naphtho[2,3-b]-pyran-4-one, rubrofusarin B, and ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one inhibited the activation of both target enzymes in the presence of CaM. On the other hand, (2S)-5-hydroxy-6,8-dimethoxy-2-methyl-4H-2,3-dihydronaphtho[2,3-b]-pyran-4-one and (2S)-5-hydroxy-6,8,10-trimethoxy-2-methyl-4H-2,3-dihydronaphtho-[2,3-b]-pyran-4-one inhibited the activation of PDE and the basal activity of NADK. Thus, these phytotoxins are CaM inhibitors and may exert their phytotoxic action by inhibiting the CaM-dependent process, although they could also interfere with other cellular metabolic phenomena. This is the first report of the use of the NADK assay to detect or quantify CaM inhibitors, and it could be a valuable tool for studying those CaM isoforms regulating NADK.     

A checklist of the cultivated plants of Cuba

Summary Checklists of cultivated plant species of a geographical area have proven to be a very useful tool for the further exploration and collection in this area and for the compilation of local floras of cultivated plants. They contain valuable information for ethnobotanists, plant breeders as well as for other researchers engaged in cultivated plants. A checklist of the cultivated plant species of Cuba compiled from Cuban literature sources and own field studies is presented. It contains 755 taxa belonging to 740 different species, 414 genera and 103 families. These findings are in striking contrast to the opinions of previous foreign investigators about the poverty of plant genetic resources in Cuba. The alphabetically ordered articles for the taxa contain nomenclatural information (accepted name, synonymy and their literature references), the plant family, Cuban folk names, details of plant uses, additional remarks and references to relevant Cuban literature sources, including reports from own explorations. Three appendices provide indexes by families and genera, by synonyms, and by folk names respectively, which allow to locate the information by different ways. The information given in the checklist is maintained in the Database of the Cultivated Plants of Cuba (DBCPC), a microcomputer-based system. Its main purpose is to produce the list and the indexes mentioned from the same set of data, but it allows also to retrieve the information and to check the data for consistency.

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Eine Liste der kubanischen Kulturpflanzen

Zusammenfassung Listen kultivierter Pflanzenarten eines geografischen Gebietes, sog. Checklists, haben sich als nützliches Werkzeug für die weitere Erkundung und Sammlung pflanzlicher genetischer Ressourcen und für die Erarbeitung lokaler Kulturpflanzenfloren erwiesen. Sie enthalten wertvolle Informationen für Ethnobotaniker, Pflanzenzüchter und andere Wissenschaftler, die sich mit Kulturpflanzen befassen. Es wird eine Liste der kultivierten Pflanzenarten Kubas vorgelegt, die auf der Grundlage kubanischer Literaturquellen und eigener Feldforschungen zusammengestellt wurde. Sie enthält 755 Taxa, die 740 verschiedenen Arten, 414 Gattungen und 103 Familien angehören. Diese Ergebnisse stehen in auffälligem Gegensatz zu den Ansichten früherer ausländischer Forscher über die angebliche Armut Kubas an pflanzlichen genetischen Ressourcen. Die alphabetisch angeordneten Artikel über die einzelnen Taxa enthalten nomenklatorische Angaben (akzeptierter Name, Synonymie und zugehörige Literaturzitate), die Pflanzenfamilie, kubanische Volksnamen, Angaben über die Nutzung der Pflanzen, weitere Bemerkungen und Verweise auf kubanische Literaturquellen, einschließlich Berichte über eigene Sammelreisen. Drei Register gestatten das Aufsuchen relevanter Informationen in der Liste nach Pflanzenfamilien und Gattungen, nach Synonymen bzw. nach Volksnamen. Die in der Liste enthaltene Information wird mit Hilfe der Datenbank der Kulturpflanzen Kubas (DBCPC) verwaltet. Dies ist ein mikrocomputer-gestütztes System für die Erzeugung der Liste und der Register auf der Grundlage ein und desselben Datenbestandes; darüberhinaus gestattet es eine Informationsrecherche und unterstützt die Vereinheitlichung der Daten.

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Identification of grouper (Epinephelus guaza), wreck fish (Polyprion americanus), and Nile perch (Lates niloticus) fillets by polyclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed for the species identification of grouper (Epinephelus guaza), wreck fish (Polyprion americanus), and Nile perch (Lates niloticus) fillets. The assay was performed in two different formats, microtiter plates and immunostick tubes, and uses polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbits against muscle-soluble proteins of grouper (anti-GSP), wreck fish (anti-WSP), and Nile perch (anti-PSP). The antibodies were made species-specific by blocking them with the heterologous soluble muscle proteins. Immunorecognition of polyclonal antibodies adsorbed to their specific fish samples was made with swine antirabbit immunoglobulins conjugated to the enzyme horseradish peroxidase. Subsequent enzymatic conversion of the substrate allowed unequivocal identification of the species studied.     

Isolation and thermal characterization of an acidic isoperoxidase from turnip roots

An acidic peroxidase (pI approximately 2.5) was purified from turnip roots (TAP), and its thermal properties were evaluated. TAP is a monomeric protein having a molecular weight (MW) of 49 kDa and a carbohydrate content accounting for 18% of the MW. The yield of pure TAP was relatively high ( approximately 2 mg/kg of fresh roots), with a specific activity of 1810 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) units/mg at pH 6. The activity increased 4-fold at the optimum pH (4.0) to 7250 ABTS units/mg, higher than that of most peroxidases. TAP was heat stable; heat treatment of 25 min at 60 degrees C resulted in 90% initial activity retention, whereas an activity of 20% was retained after 25 min of heating at 80 degrees C. TAP regained 85% of its original activity within 90 min of incubation at 25 degrees C, following heat treatment at 70 degrees C for 25 min. Thermal inactivation caused noticeable changes in the heme environment as evaluated by circular dichroism and visible spectrophotometry. TAP was rapidly denatured by heating in the presence of 1.0 mM ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether) N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, but the Soret band and activity were fully recovered by adding an excess of Ca(2+). This is further evidence that Ca(2+) plays an important role in the stability of TAP. The high specific activity of TAP, together with its relatively high thermal stability, has high potential for applications in which a thermally stable enzyme is required.     

Economic losses to Iberian swine production from forest fires

Most forestry property in Andalusia is privately held. One of the most important possibilities for economic development of rural areas is the use of pasture lands (dehesa in Spanish). During the spring–summer season, swine grazing takes advantage of grasses between the trees, and during winter (harsher times), they use Quercus tree fruit. Swine production has a direct economic impact on the rural areas' activities. Wildfires are the most significant disturbance in the Mediterranean ecosystems therefore; it is important to study the potential negative impact of wildfires on the swine resource. The public sector is responsible for the application and valuation of policies or activities creating wealth in forest areas while protecting the environment and preventing greater impacts and damages.     

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.