Assessment of co‐blending water treatment residual with dairy manure to reduce phosphorus concentrations in run‐off in Northern Ireland

Losses of phosphorus (P) to water that follow manure applications can be high while water treatment residuals (WTR) have an appreciable capacity to sorb soluble P which is an important risk factor in determining the susceptibility of manure P to run‐off losses. The objective of this study was to assess whether co‐blending WTR with dairy cow manure prior to surface application would reduce P concentrations in run‐off from grassland. An alum‐derived WTR was collected from a water treatment works (WTW), dried and characterized for its phosphorus sorption capacity (PSC) based on oxalate‐extractable Al and Fe. Multipoint P sorption isotherms were used to calculate the Langmuir P sorption maximum (P_max) and equilibrium P concentration (EPC₀). The WTR contained 170 g Al_ox/kg and 2.2 g Fe_ox/kg with a nominal long‐term PSC of 118 g/kg. Following a 6 day incubation of WTR, the Langmuir P_max was 82.6 g/kg and the EPC₀ of 0.13 mg P/L. Laboratory incubations of manure co‐blended with WTR indicated that 144 g WTR/kg dry matter (DM) manure significantly lowered (P < 0.001) manure WSP by 71.5 ± 16.6% after 108 h, but lower WTR mixing rates of 72 and 36 g WTR/kg had no statistical effect on manure WSP. Results from a field experiment using simulated rain on 0.5‐m² grassland plots showed no significant effect on run‐off P 2 days after applying 50 m³/ha of 6% DM manure co‐blended WTR at rates of 150 and 250 g WTR/kg.     

DISC1 and PDE4B are interacting genetic factors in schizophrenia that regulate cAMP signaling

The disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) gene is a candidate susceptibility factor for schizophrenia, but its mechanistic role in the disorder is unknown. Here we report that the gene encoding phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) is disrupted by a balanced translocation in a subject diagnosed with schizophrenia and a relative with chronic psychiatric illness. The PDEs inactivate adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP), a second messenger implicated in learning, memory, and mood. We show that DISC1 interacts with the UCR2 domain of PDE4B and that elevation of cellular cAMP leads to dissociation of PDE4B from DISC1 and an increase in PDE4B activity. We propose a mechanistic model whereby DISC1 sequesters PDE4B in resting cells and releases it in an activated state in response to elevated cAMP.     

The effects of diet on blood glucose, insulin, gastrin and the serum tryptophan: large neutral amino acid ratio in foals

High carbohydrate diets can affect the health and behaviour of foals, but the mechanisms are not always fully understood. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of feeding a starch and sugar (SS), or a fat (oil) and fibre (FF) rich diet to two groups of eight foals. Diets were fed from 4 to 42 weeks of age, alongside ad libitum forage. Faecal pH levels did not differ significantly between groups and endoscopic examination showed that the gastric mucosa was healthy in both groups at 25 and 42 weeks of age. At 40 weeks of age, SS foals had significantly higher total blood glucose and lower total blood gastrin than FF foals during the 6h period following ingestion of their respective diets, but insulin levels did not differ significantly. The ratio between serum tryptophan and other large neutral amino acids showed a trend towards an interaction between diet and sampling time. The results provide preliminary information about the effects of diet on the physiology of young horses.     

猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌和副猪嗜血杆菌的鉴别诊断及血清型鉴定

利用PCR技术、琼脂扩散试验、糖发酵试验和间接血凝试验(IHA)对野外分离到的可疑猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌和副猪嗜血杆菌进行了诊断和血清型鉴定.PCR鉴定分离物HS1580为副猪嗜血杆菌,分离物HS1582为猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌;生化试验表明分离物HS1581和HS1582为猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌;血清型鉴定分离物HS1580不属于被检的14个血清型之列,HS1581为App血清15型,HS1582为App血清7型.试验结果表明,综合使用PCR等技术可快速、准确地对这两种传染性细菌进行鉴别诊断和血清型鉴定.     

The effect of early spring grazing and dairy cow grazing intensity on particulate phosphorus losses in surface run‐off

A four‐treatment (UG‐UG, UG‐G, LG‐G and HG‐G) experiment (involving sixteen plots: 3·0 × 7·0 m) examined the effect of early spring grazing intensity on particulate phosphorus (PP) losses in surface run‐off. Ten dairy cows fitted with manure collection ‘bags’ grazed during two short‐term grazing events, Grazing‐1 (23 February) and Grazing‐2 (6 April). During Grazing‐1, two treatments remained ungrazed (UG‐), while treatments LG‐ and HG‐ were lightly grazed and heavily grazed respectively. At Grazing‐2, three treatments were grazed to a similar intensity (‐G), while one remained ungrazed (‐UG). Run‐off was generated at two and 16 days after Grazing‐1 and Grazing‐2 using rainfall simulators (40 mm h^?1) and analysed for a range of P fractions. Grazing had no effect on either dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) concentrations or dissolved unreactive P concentrations (mean, 0·15 and 0·16 mg L^?1 respectively) in run‐off. However, PP concentrations increased (P < 0·05) following Grazing‐1 (0·39, 0·53 and 0·72 mg L^?1 with UG‐, LG‐ and HG‐ respectively, Day‐2 Rainfall event), with these effects still evident following Grazing‐2, especially with HG‐G (3·25 mg L^?1). The risk of PP loss in run‐off can be substantially reduced by removing cows from pastures before significant damage to the soil takes place.     

Eye infections due to Listeria monocytogenes in three cows and one horse.

A retrospective study was conducted to determine case histories, microbiological characteristics, and molecular subtypes associated with Listeria monocytogenes infections of the eye in large animals. For selected cases, environmental L. monocytogenes contamination patterns on case farms were also evaluated to probe for potential sources and spread of listerial eye infections. Records of 170 L. monocytogenes isolates from animal infections were reviewed to determine the fraction of isolates associated with eye infections (conjunctivitis, keratitis, and uveitis) of animals and to gather information on the clinical history of these cases. Overall, 4 of 170 Listeria monocytogenes isolates were associated with eye infections; 3 of these had occurred in cows and 1 in a horse. Molecular subtyping (by EcoRI ribotying) showed that 4 different L. monocytogenes subtypes were isolated from these 4 cases; the same ribotypes had previously been found among invasive animal listeriosis infections. Although a variety of L. monocytogenes subtypes were isolated from environmental sources, on 1 farm, the same ribotype associated with the eye infection was also isolated from a fecal sample of a healthy animal and from a soil sample. The data reported in this study further suggest that L. monocytogenes can be a cause of eye infections in several animal species. Listerial eye infections do not seem to require specific pathogen-related virulence characteristics but rather seem to be a function of environmental or host factors, such as direct exposure of the eyes of susceptible animals to high numbers of the pathogen. Although listerial eye infections are rarely diagnosed because of its ubiquitous nature, L. monocytogenes may have to be considered more commonly as a causative agent of eye infections in ruminants and horses.     

Characterisation of organic phosphorus in overland flow from grassland plots using 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Grazing animals are known to change the characteristics of agricultural grasslands as a source of and pathway for phosphorus (P) loss to water. Previous work, using physico-chemical analysis of the overland flow revealed that the presence of grazing animals increased the overall quantity of P being lost, in particular the unreactive and particulate P fractions. The aim of this study was to characterise the organic P (Po) fraction in overland flow from grazed and non-grazed grassland small plots using phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (³¹P NMR) spectroscopy to give greater insight into P loss to water under simulated rainfall. The effect of the grazing animal was most pronounced in the dissolved unreactive P (DUP) and particulate unreactive P (PUP) fractions measured in overland flow from the grazed plots, over four times higher than from the non-grazed plots. Five distinct classes of P compounds were detected in the ³¹P NMR spectra, inorganic orthophosphate (δ = 6.83 ppm), orthophosphate monoesters (δ = 4.95–5.69 ppm), orthophosphate diesters (δ = 1.89 ppm), phosphonates (δ = 19.38 ppm), and pyrophosphates (δ = −3.26 ppm). Distinct signals at 5.69, 5.37, 5.10, and 4.95 ppm in the overland flow extracts from the plots indicated significant concentrations of myo -inositol hexakisphosphate in the orthophosphate monoester region. Orthophosphate diesters (assigned to phospholipids) and phosphonates were also only detected in overland flow collected from the grazed plot. These results indicate that normal grazing management practices may not only affect the concentrations of Po but also the forms of Po being transferred from grassland systems to water.     

Plant and animal endemism in the eastern Andean slope: challenges to conservation

Background

The Andes-Amazon basin of Peru and Bolivia is one of the most data-poor, biologically rich, and rapidly changing areas of the world. Conservation scientists agree that this area hosts extremely high endemism, perhaps the highest in the world, yet we know little about the geographic distributions of these species and ecosystems within country boundaries. To address this need, we have developed conservation data on endemic biodiversity (~800 species of birds, mammals, amphibians, and plants) and terrestrial ecological systems (~90; groups of vegetation communities resulting from the action of ecological processes, substrates, and/or environmental gradients) with which we conduct a fine scale conservation prioritization across the Amazon watershed of Peru and Bolivia. We modelled the geographic distributions of 435 endemic plants and all 347 endemic vertebrate species, from existing museum and herbaria specimens at a regional conservation practitioner's scale (1:250,000-1:1,000,000), based on the best available tools and geographic data. We mapped ecological systems, endemic species concentrations, and irreplaceable areas with respect to national level protected areas.

Results

We found that sizes of endemic species distributions ranged widely (< 20 km² to > 200,000 km²) across the study area. Bird and mammal endemic species richness was greatest within a narrow 2500-3000 m elevation band along the length of the Andes Mountains. Endemic amphibian richness was highest at 1000-1500 m elevation and concentrated in the southern half of the study area. Geographical distribution of plant endemism was highly taxon-dependent. Irreplaceable areas, defined as locations with the highest number of species with narrow ranges, overlapped slightly with areas of high endemism, yet generally exhibited unique patterns across the study area by species group. We found that many endemic species and ecological systems are lacking national-level protection; a third of endemic species have distributions completely outside of national protected areas. Protected areas cover only 20% of areas of high endemism and 20% of irreplaceable areas. Almost 40% of the 91 ecological systems are in serious need of protection (= < 2% of their ranges protected).

Conclusions

We identify for the first time, areas of high endemic species concentrations and high irreplaceability that have only been roughly indicated in the past at the continental scale. We conclude that new complementary protected areas are needed to safeguard these endemics and ecosystems. An expansion in protected areas will be challenged by geographically isolated micro-endemics, varied endemic patterns among taxa, increasing deforestation, resource extraction, and changes in climate. Relying on pre-existing collections, publically accessible datasets and tools, this working framework is exportable to other regions plagued by incomplete conservation data.     

B型副鸡嗜血杆菌的分离鉴定

从辽宁某公司鸡场疑似鸡传染性鼻炎的病鸡眶下窦分离到一株副鸡嗜血杆菌，用Page程序和Kume程序对其进行血清型鉴定，确认为B型副鸡嗜血杆菌，这是首次在我国分离到B型副鸡嗜血杆菌。     

Clinical findings, lesions, and viral antigen distribution in great gray owls (Strix nebulosa) and barred owls (Strix varia) with spontaneous West Nile virus infection

West Nile Virus (WNV) infection manifests itself clinically a nd pathologically differently in various species of birds. The clinicopathologic findings and WNV antigen tissue distribution of six great gray owls (Strix nebulosa) and two barred owls (Strix varia) with WNV infection are described in this report. Great gray owls usually live in northern Canada, whereas the phylogenetically related barred owls are native to the midwestern and eastern United States and southern Canada. Naturally acquired WNV infection caused death essentially without previous signs of disease in the six great gray owls during a mortality event. Lesions of WNV infection we re dominated by hepatic and splenic necrosis, with evidence o f disseminatedintravascular coagulation in the great gray owls. WNV antigen was widely distributed in th e organs of the great gray owls and appeared totarget endothelial cells, macrophages, and hepatocytes. The barred owls represented two sporadic cases. They had neurologic disease with mental dullness that led to euthanasia. These birds had mild to moderate lymphoplasmacytic encephalitis with glial nodules and lymphoplasmacytic pectenitis. WNV antigen was sparse in barred owls and only present in a few brain neurons and renaltubular epithelial cells. The cause of the different manifestations of WNV disease in these fairly closely related owl species is uncertain.