The role of soil factors and leaf protein in the utilization of mopane plants by elephants in northern Botswana

Background  

Mopane (Colophospermum mopane) plants form monotypic woodlands that cover extensive areas in northern Botswana. Mopane is also a principal food item in the diet of elephants. Obtrusive damage to mopane plants as a result of elephant feeding may alter the structure of mopane woodlands. Some mopane woodland areas in northern Botswana are subjected to heavy elephant utilization rates whereas other mopane areas are less affected. However, the underlying reason for the concentrated elephant utilization is unknown.     

Seroprevalence and risk factors for Neospora caninum in sheep in the state Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with infection due to Neospora caninum in serum samples from 488 sheep originating from 63 farms in 63 municipalities distributed across eight of the twelve mesoregions of the state Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. For detection of N. caninum the sheep serum samples were subjected to the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT ≥ 50). To identify the risk factors associated with infection due to N. caninum a questionnaire was filled out for each herd by interviewing, the individual responsible for the herd, demanding information on the general characteristics of the property. Sixty-four sheep sera (13.1%; 95% CI=10.3-16.4) presented IgG-specific anti-N. caninum antibodies with the following titers: 50 (49; 76.6%), 100 (7; 10.9%), 200 (4; 6.2%), 400 (3; 4.7%) and 800 (1; 1.6%). The prevalence of infected sheep per mesoregion ranged from 0 to 28.1%. Out of the 63 farms sampled, 31 (49.2%; 95% CI=36.4-62.1) presented at least one seropositive sheep. No significant association was found between the presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies and the risk factors evaluated on the farms, except for the mesoregion variable (p=0.004; OR=0.429; CI95%=0.182-1.008). These results indicate that there is a need for additional research to define the epidemiological importance of this parasite as a cause of reproductive problems in sheep herds in Minas Gerais.     

Incidence of Viruses Infecting Allium Spp. in Greece

A survey identified viruses infecting garlic, leek and onion crops and wild Allium species in Greece. Virus identification was based on ELISA, immunoelectron microscopy, and occasionally on RT-PCR. Samples of cultivated Allium species were collected from five districts, whereas samples of twenty-seven wild Allium species were also collected from all over Greece. Onion yellow dwarf virus (OYDV) and Leek yellow stripe virus (LYSV) were identified in 98.5% and 83.7% of all samples, respectively, and were found in all regions. Allexiviruses were also detected in all regions and their incidence ranged from 62.5% to 70.5% (depending on region and type of allexivirus). Garlic common latent virus (GCLV) was detected in samples from Arcadia (97.6%) and Evia (18.0%) and in one field in Larissa (23.0%). Shallot latent virus (SLV) was found only in two areas (Evros and Theva) and in fields planted with imported propagative material, from Iran and China. The incidence of virus-like symptoms in leek crops ranged from 10.0% to 90.0% in different regions and fields and all symptomatic plants were found to be infected by LYSV. Onion yellow dwarf virus was only found in seven symptomatic onion samples from southern Greece. Allium ampeloprasum spp. ampeloprasum and Allium flavum, were the only wild Allium species found to be infected with LYSV. Finally Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) was found in A. sphaerocephalon, A. guttatum, A. subhirsutum, and A. neapolitanum.     

S-RNase based S-genotyping of Japanese plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) and its implication on the assortment of cultivar-couples in the orchard

Determination of the genetic compatibility between self-incompatible cultivars is crucial in agriculture. The Rosaceae family carries the S-RNase-mediated gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) system. Each haplotype is conferred by an S-locus. The S-locus contains two highly polymorphic genes, S-RNase and SFB, which are characteristic of each haplotype and therefore these genes are ideal markers for molecular S-genotyping. In this study 43 Japanese plum cultivars grown in Israel were S-genotyped based on their S-RNase gene sequences. Four alleles, S^b, S^c, S^e and S^h are widespread and together are responsible for 87% of the S-haplotypes therefore many of the cultivar combinations are semi-compatible. In Israel semi-compatibility was shown to correlate with low yield. However, two cultivars, ‘Wickson’ S^fS^k and ‘Shiro’ S^fS^g carry rare S-haplotypes and, therefore, are fully compatible with most of the analyzed cultivars.     

Does virginiamycin supplementation affect the metabolism and performance of Nellore bulls grazing under low and high gain rates?

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of virginiamycin on the metabolism and performance of growing Nellore bulls under low and high gain rates on pasture. In experiment 1, 80 Nellore bulls (age = 12 ± 2 months, body weight = 258 ± 15 kg) were assigned to 16 paddocks in a 2 × 2 randomized block factorial arrangement. In experiment 2, 12 cannulated Nellore bulls were assigned to three 4 × 4 balanced Latin squares. The factors were: (1) mineral salt without or with virginiamycin, and (2) low or high gain rate. No interaction was noted between factors (p > .10). Animals fed virginiamycin had greater average daily gain (14%, p < .01), body weight (11 kg, p = .05), plasma nonesterified fatty acid (20%, p < .01), serum calcium concentration (2.62%, p = .04), and total protozoa (p = .03) and had the same bacterial proportion (p > .27). Animals with a low gain rate had greater serum urea concentration (19.6%, p < .01) and ruminal ammonia nitrogen (62%, p < .01). Thus, virginiamycin increases the performance and changes the metabolism of growing Nellore bulls under low and high gain rates on pasture.     

Scrotal stalk ablation and orchiectomy using electrosurgery in the male sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) and histologic anatomy of the testes and associated scrotal structures

This report describes an alternative surgical technique for performing scrotal ablation and orchiectomy in the adult male sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) using electrosurgery. Eight animals from a local small mammal shelter group that presented for routine surgical castration for population control measures were included in this study. Mean surgical time was 4.37 ± 2.13 seconds. Mean anesthesia time was 12.32 ± 5.63 minutes. Mean recovery time was 8.37 ± 3.68 minutes. Mean total procedure time was 22.24 ± 5.69 minutes. No perioperative complications were reported. All animals appeared to have sufficient pain management with an analgesia and anti-inflammatory protocol using butorphanol and meloxicam. No over grooming and or self-injurious behaviors were reported by the local shelter during both the 24-hour and 14-day recheck examinations. Electrosurgery scrotal ablation and orchiectomy therefore offers an alternate route for the practicing veterinarian to perform safe and efficient castrations in male sugar gliders. Histologically, in the epididymis, 3 of the 8 sugar gliders had evidence of a well-defined region in the head, between the efferent ducts and the remaining epididymis. The lining cells differed morphologically from those constituting the remaining epithelial lining. The presence of eosinophilic vacuoles in the cytoplasm of the cells in this region suggests a secretory activity.     

Authentication of the botanical and geographical origin of honey by front-face fluorescence spectroscopy

Front-face fluorescence spectroscopy, directly applied on honey samples, was used for the authentication of 11 unifloral and polyfloral honey types (n = 371 samples) previously classified using traditional methods such as chemical, pollen, and sensory analysis. Excitation spectra (220-400 nm) were recorded with the emission measured at 420 nm. In addition, emission spectra were recorded between 290 and 500 nm (excitation at 270 nm) as well as between 330 and 550 nm (excitation at 310 nm). A total of four different spectral data sets were considered for data analysis. Chemometric evaluation of the spectra included principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis; the error rates of the discriminant models were calculated by using Bayes' theorem. They ranged from <0.1% (polyfloral and chestnut honeys) to 9.9% (fir honeydew honey) by using single spectral data sets and from <0.1% (metcalfa honeydew, polyfloral, and chestnut honeys) to 7.5% (lime honey) by combining two data sets. This study indicates that front-face fluorescence spectroscopy is a promising technique for the authentication of the botanical origin of honey and may also be useful for the determination of the geographical origin within the same unifloral honey type.     

Potassium iodide capsule treatment of feline sporotrichosis

Sporotrichosis is a mycosis caused by Sporothrix schenckii. The most affected animal is the cat; it has played an important role in the zoonotic transmission of this disease, especially in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, since 1998. In order to evaluate the treatment of feline sporotrichosis with potassium iodide, an observational cohort was conducted in 48 cats with sporotrichosis at Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas, Fiocruz. All cats received potassium iodide capsules, 2.5 mg/kg to 20 mg/kg q24h. The cure rate was 47.9%, treatment failure was 37.5%, treatment abandonment was 10.4% and death was 4.2%. Clinical adverse effects were observed in 52.1% of the cases. Thirteen cats had a mild increase in hepatic transaminase levels during the treatment, six of them presented clinical signs suggestive of hepatotoxicity. Compared to previous studies with itraconazole and iodide in saturated solution, potassium iodide capsules are an alternative for feline sporotrichosis treatment.