Carry-over of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. between sequential and adjacent poultry flocks

Nineteen flocks of four poultry species were monitored at a veterinary field station to investigate the distribution and spread of Campylobacter genotypes between sequential and adjacent flocks. Caecal and liver samples were obtained at frequent intervals from birds of all flocks and examined for Campylobacter. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis was performed to genotype Campylobacter isolates. Of the 1643 caecal and liver samples investigated, 452 (27.5%) caecal samples and 11 (0.7%) liver samples contained Campylobacter. Of the caecal isolates 76.3% were identified as Campylobacter jejuni and 23.7% were identified as Campylobacter coli. Poultry flocks were largely colonized by more than one AFLP type and an intense exchange of Campylobacter genotypes between different poultry flocks occurred. These findings indicate that multiple genotypes can constitute the Campylobacter population within single poultry flocks, hinting to different sources of exposure and/or genetic drifts within the Campylobacter population. Nevertheless, in most flocks single Campylobacter genotypes predominated. Some strains superseded others resulting in colonization by successive Campylobacter genotypes during the observation period. In conclusion, the data demonstrate that the large genetic diversity of Campylobacter must be considered in epidemiological evaluations and microbial risk assessments of Campylobacter in poultry.     

Necrotizing hepatitis associated with a reo-like virus infection in a parrot

A young African grey parrot was presented for necropsy following a 3-to-4-day illness consisting of lethargy, anorexia, and diarrhea. A disseminated necrotizing hepatopathy was evident upon histologic examination of the liver. Aggregates of approximately 70-nm-diameter viral particles having morphology consistent with the family Reoviridae were demonstrated by thin-section and negative-staining electron microscopy.     

Fell Pony syndrome in a pony in North America

A 5-week-old Fell Pony colt was examined for fever, lethargy, and anemia. The colt had been lethargic for 1 week before examination, had continued to nurse, had a temperature of 104°F (40°C), and was treated with ceftiofur (5 mg/kg IM q12h). Approximately 36 hours before examination, the colt developed watery diarrhea. Blood work performed by the referring veterinarian on the day of admission revealed a PCV of 10%.     

Hydrothermal Assessment of Temporal Variability in Seedbed Microclimate

The microclimatic requirements for successful seedling establishment are much more restrictive than those required for adult plant survival. The purpose of the current study was to use hydrothermal germination models and a soil energy and water flux model to evaluate intra- and interannual variability in seedbed microclimate relative to potential germination response of six perennial grasses and cheatgrass. We used a 44-yr weather record to parameterize a seedbed microclimate model for estimation of hourly temperature and moisture at seeding depth for a sandy loam soil type at the Orchard Field Test Site in southwestern Ada County, Idaho. Hydrothermal germination response was measured in the laboratory for two seed lots of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.), four seed lots of bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata [Pursh] Löve), three seed lots of bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides [Raf] Swezey), and one seed lot each of Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda J. Presl.), big squirreltail (Elymus multisetus [J.G. Smith] M.E. Jones), thickspike wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus [Scribn. And J.G. Smith] Gould) and Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis Elmer). Germination response models were developed to estimate potential germination rate for 13 subpopulations of each seed lot for every hour of the 44-yr simulation. Seedbed microclimate was assessed seasonally and for each day, month, and year, and germination rate-sum estimates integrated for a numerical index of relative site favorability for germination for each time period. The rate-sum favorability index showed a consistent pattern among seed lots for different years, and provides a relatively sensitive indicator of annual and seasonal variability in seedbed microclimate. This index could be used with field data to define minimum weather thresholds for successful establishment of alternative plant materials, in conjunction with weather forecast models for making restoration and fire-rehabilitation management decisions in the fall season, for evaluation of potential climate-change impacts on plant community trajectories, and in optimization schemes for selecting among alternative restoration/rehabilitation management scenarios.     

Biomass and Defoliation Tolerance of 12 Populations of Pseudoroegneria spicata at Two Densities

Pseudoroegneria spicata(Pursh.) A. Löve is an important native grass of the rangelands of the Intermountain West, USA and is widely used in this region for restoration applications. High grazing preference, together with high grazing sensitivity, has reduced the abundance of this species, indicating the need for the development of grazing-tolerant plant materials. While a genotype may be defoliation tolerant at low density, e.g., in an experimental setting, an effective grazing-tolerant genotype must also display this trait at higher densities resembling those found in natural and restoration settings. We compared 12 restoration plant materials for response to spring-defoliation at high (25 plants · m^?2) and low (8 plants · m^?2) plant densities in a field experiment. Two consecutive years of spring-defoliation reduced shoot biomass 19% compared to the nonspring-defoliated control, and this reduction was similar for the two densities examined. Two populations, P-3 and Acc:238, were able to compensate for shoot biomass after 2 yr of spring-defoliation, while the remaining 10 populations undercompensated, as is commonly reported for cool-season grasses in arid and semiarid regions. While the association between control and spring-defoliated shoot biomass was marginally positive (R² = 0.26; P < 0.10), we found a stronger negative association (R² = 0.36; P < 0.05) between spring-defoliation tolerance and control shoot-biomass production. This suggests a possible trade-off between growth and defoliation tolerance (calculated as percentage of control biomass) among populations. Of the four commercially available plant materials in our study, the more recent prevariety germplasm, P-7, exhibited higher control shoot biomass and higher spring-defoliation tolerance than the older cultivars, Whitmar and Goldar. Anatone germplasm was intermediate but not statistically different from these other plant materials for these two traits.     

The influence of gender and group membership on food safety: the case of meat sellers in Bodija market, Ibadan, Nigeria

We describe a study to assess the bacteriological quality and safety of meat in Bodija market in Ibadan and to investigate the influence of gender and group membership on food safety. Mixed methods were used to gather information on meat safety and related socioeconomic factors. These methods included a participatory urban appraisal, focus group discussions with eight butchers' associations, in depth discussions with six key informants, a questionnaire study of 269 meat sellers and a cross-sectional survey of meat quality (200 samples from ten associations). We found that slaughter, processing and sale of beef meat take place under unhygienic conditions. The activities involve both men and women, with some task differentiation by gender. Meat sold by association members is of unacceptable quality. However, some groups have consistently better quality meat and this is positively correlated with the proportion of women members. Women also have significantly better food safety practice than men, though there was no significant difference in their knowledge of and attitude towards food safety. Most meat sellers (85?%) reported being ill in the last 2?weeks and 47?% reported experiencing gastrointestinal illness. Eating beef, eating chicken, eating offal, consuming one's own products and belonging to a group with poor quality of meat were all strong and significant predictors of self-reported gastrointestinal illness. We include that gender and group membership influence meat quality and self-reported gastrointestinal illness and that butchers' associations are promising entry points for interventions to improve food safety.     

Magnetic resonance imaging features of feline intracranial neoplasia: retrospective analysis of 46 cats

The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of feline brain tumors and to determine whether these characteristics can be used to accurately predict the histologic diagnosis. MRI scans of 46 cats with histologically confirmed brain tumors were reviewed, including 33 meningiomas, 6 lymphomas, 4 gliomas, 2 olfactory neuroblastomas, and 1 pituitary tumor. MRI features including axial origin, shape, location, signal intensity, contrast enhancement, peritumoral edema, and mass effect were reviewed and characterized for each tumor type. Tumor shape, axial origin, contrast enhancement, and degree of peritumoral edema aided in the identification of tumor type. Meningiomas were always extra-axial and were most often ovoid with marked contrast enhancement and mild peritumoral edema. Gliomas were always intra-axial with ring enhancement and generally caused more peritumoral edema than other tumors. The brain tumor was detected on MRI in 45 (98%) cats. Two blinded independent reviewers correctly identified 82% of all of the tumor types on the basis of MRI appearance alone. Thus, MRI is an excellent diagnostic tool for the detection of brain tumors in cats, and it provides important information to aid in the diagnosis of tumor type.