Immunization of pups with maternally derived antibodies to canine parvovirus (CPV) using a modified-live variant (CPV-2b)

The results of vaccination trials carried out on pups with maternally derived antibodies (MDA) to canine parvovirus (CPV), using a modified-live CPV-2b variant vaccine (29-97/40 strain), are reported. The vaccine was able to overcome the obstacle of MDA, and to elicit protective immunity in 100% of the pups whose antibody titres were 1:10-1:40, 83% of the pups with titres of 1:80, 57% of the pups with titres of 1:160, and even in 60% of the pups with antibody titres of 1:320.     

Functional Morphology of the Zona Pellucida

The zona pellucida (ZP) is an extracellular matrix surrounding the oocyte and the early embryo that exerts several important functions during fertilization and early embryonic development. The ZP of most mammalian species is composed of three major glycoproteins that show considerable heterogeneity due to extensive post-translational modifications. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the ZP reveals three to four glycoproteins which have been nominated ZPI. ZP2, ZP3 and ZP4. As cloning and characterization of the ZP genes of a variety of mammalian species including domestic animals show a high homology, three classes of ZP genes, ZPA, ZPB and ZPC can be discerned. The corresponding proteins were named ZPA, ZPB and ZPC. Whereas in the mouse ZPB is the primary sperm receptor. the situation is more complicated in other species. For instance, in the pig ZPA has been shown to possess receptor activity. Interaction between gametes during fertilization is at least in part regulated by carbohydrate moieties of the ZP and carbohydrate-binding proteins of the sperm surface. In domestic animals zona proteins are expressed in both the oocyte and granulosa cells in a stage-specific pattern and may play a role in granulosa cell differentiation. The role of ZP glycoproteins in immunocontraception is briefly discussed.     

Growth performance of the early life stages of broad‐nosed pipefish,Syngnathus typhle (L.) fed different live or frozen diets

This work tested the effect of using different live and frozen feed on the growth performance of Syngnathus typhle. It was divided into two experiments. In Experiment I Artemia and Atlantic ditch shrimp (Palaemonetes varians) larvae were used as live diets, whilst in Experiment II frozen mysids Mesopodopsis slabberi and frozen P. varians were used. At the end of the first experiment juvenile pipefish grew significantly more when fed P. varians (P < 0.05) with an overall Weight Gain (WG) of 914.8 ± 79.3% bw day^?1, compared to Artemia fed fish (WG = 683.2 ± 14.7%). Both mean Specific Growth Rate (SGR) and survival were similar between dietary treatments and did not vary significantly (P > 0.05). In Experiment II juveniles were weaned with frozen diets but no significant differences were found between the two tested diets in all parameters tested. Final WG was 516.5 ± 63.3% and 566 ± 17.6%, and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) was 30 ± 1.5% and 28.2 ± 1.2% for animals fed P. varians and M. slabberi respectively. Results indicate that P. varians is an adequate diet to use during initial stages of the S. typhle life cycle and should be considered as a frozen diet for subsequent life stages of this species as an alternative to currently known natural diets.     

Effects of temperature, density and early weaning on the survival and growth of Atlantic ditch shrimp Palaemonetes varians larvae

This investigation examined the effects of temperature, density and early weaning on the survival and growth of Palaemonetes varians larvae. Survival of larvae raised at 17.5 °C was not significantly different (average + standard deviation) (94 ± 5%) from the survival of those raised at 19.5 °C (95 ± 5%) and at 21.5 °C (94 ± 4%). However, the duration of the larval stage was significantly longer for shrimp reared at 17.5 °C (17.3 ± 0.8 days) compared with shrimp reared at 19.5 °C (14.3 ± 0.7 days) and at 21.5 °C (11.3 ± 0.6 days). No significant differences ( P >0.05) were found in the survival rate, final weight and length of larvae reared at the densities of 5, 10, 20 and 50 larvae L⁻¹. The survival of P. varians larvae fed solely on Artemia was significantly higher ( P <0.05) than larvae weaned with an artificial practical diet from Zoea II stage (94 ± 4% and 82 ± 1%, respectively, for Artemia and artificial diet-fed larvae), but no significant differences ( P >0.05) were observed in the final larval weight or length between these two treatments. The survival and growth of the larvae fed with the practical diet tested is a promising step ahead in the development of the culture of this species as it eliminates both the need for Artemia throughout all larval stages, and the need for more expensive artificial diets.     

Rickettsia lusitaniae sp. nov. isolated from the soft tick Ornithodoros erraticus (Acarina: Argasidae)

In this study a novel Rickettsia from the spotted fever group, isolated from Ornithodoros erraticus soft ticks collected from pigpens in the south of Portugal, is described. After initial screening revealed Rickettsia-positive ticks, isolation attempts were then performed. Successful isolates were achieved by shell-vial technique using Vero E6 cells at 28 °C. Molecular characterization of the isolate was performed based on analysis of five rickettsial genes gltA, ompA, ompB, sca1 and htr with their subsequent concatenation along with other rickettsial species resulting in a clustering of the new isolate with Rickettsia felis and Rickettsia hoogstraalii. The degree of nucleotide sequence similarity with other rickettsiae fulfills the criteria for classification of our isolate as a novel species. The name Rickettsia lusitaniae sp. nov. (= CEVDI PoTiRo) is proposed for this new species found in O. erraticus.     

Chemical and microbiological parameters for the characterisation of the stability and maturity of pruning waste compost

Composting of pruning waste, leaves and grass clippings was monitored by different parameters. A windrow composting pile, having the dimensions 2.5 m (height) x 30 m (length) was establish. The maturation of pruning waste compost was accompanied by a decline in NH₄ ⁺-N concentration, water soluble C (WSC) and an increase in NO₃ ^–-N content. Both organic matter (OM) content and total N (TN) losses during composting followed a first-order kinetic equation. These results were in agreement with the microbiological activity measured either by the CO₂ respiration or dehydrogenase (DH-ase) activity during the process. Statistically significant correlations were found between DH-ase activity, easily biodegradable organic C forms, NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^–-N concentrations and organic matter content and N losses. For this reason, DH-ase activity and the CO₂ evolution could be used as good indicators of pruning waste compost maturity. In contrast, humification parameters data from the organic matter fractionation did not agree with the initially expected values and did not contribute to the assessment of compost maturity. Neither the cation exchange capacity nor the germination index showed a clear tendency during the composting time, suggesting that these parameters are not suitable for evaluating the dynamics of the process.     

Influence of tillage system on denitrification in maize-cropped soils

Denitrification losses show an irregular pattern through the year, often being caused by climatic conditions and management practices. The objectives of the present work were to quantify denitrification losses and to determine the influence of tillage system on the factors that control denitrification in fertilized soils. The modal profile of the soil was an Vertic Argiudoll, clay loam texture, located in Buenos Aires province, Argentina. The treatments were: (a) fertilized, (b) incorporated fertilization and (c) without fertilization for both no tillage and conventional tillage systems. Chambers were placed in the field to measure denitrification. In this clayish soil the estimated mean values of accumulated denitrification during the crop cycle (90 days) were 0.190kgNha^–1 for conventional tillage and 0.350kgNha^–1 for no tillage. In treatments with no tillage, losses by denitrification were approximately twice those of conventional tillage. These differences were also evidenced by the number of microorganisms, which were significantly higher (P<>;5%) for no tillage on all dates, except for at flowering. The increase at flowering coincided with the period of highest rainfall and consequently the highest water contents in the soil. The highest denitrification losses, except for sowing, were measured when soil moisture content was more than 30% (v/v). Denitrification increased in conjunction with an increase in the availability of carbon that is consumed by the heterotrophic microorganisms (including the denitrifiers). Received: 30 July 1996