Challenges and opportunities for smallholder livestock production in post-conflict South Kivu, eastern DR Congo

A survey on smallholder livestock production with emphasis on monogastric animals was conducted in 20 villages of seven so-called 'groupements' of South Kivu province in DR Congo, situated along a north to south-west axis with the town of Bukavu in the center. This land adjacent to Lake Kivu is located at elevations ranging around 900- 1900 m asl, experiencing tropical highland climate. A diagnostic survey helped to rapidly obtain in-depth knowledge of constraints and opportunities in this environment. Correspondence analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to investigate the association of production constraints with particular livestock species and to understand the factors that govern the number of livestock that people owned (converted to tropical livestock units [TLU]), respectively. Responses of 112 informants demonstrated that livestock is an integral part of the region's mixed farming systems. Low livestock numbers per household at present reflect the poverty as a consequence of recent violent conflicts. Currently, farmers focus on small livestock, like poultry, swine, cavies (i.e., Guinea pigs) and rabbits. Families keep livestock to accumulate household reserves that are strongly invested in children's education. Major issues of animal husbandry were related to animal diseases and lack of feed resources, particularly in the dry season. Lack of feed or forages were unrelated to a particular livestock species. Livestock holdings depended on animal diversity, location, land size available and respondents' education level. The potential introduction of improved forages is challenged by their dry-season tolerance, compatibility with cropping on small farms; and people's readiness to cultivate forages.     

Canine acute leukaemia: 50 cases (1989–2014)

Acute leukaemia (AL) is a bone marrow malignancy of hematopoietic progenitors that historically is poorly responsive to treatment. With the widespread adoption of dose‐intense chemotherapy, more human patients attain long‐term survivals, but whether comparable progress has been made in canine AL is unknown. To investigate this question, medical records from three academic veterinary hospitals were reviewed. Fifty dogs met the criteria for AL, having excess circulating or marrow blasts, a major cytopenia(s), and no substantial lymphadenopathy. Thirty‐six dogs received cytotoxic chemotherapy; 23 achieved a complete or partial response for a median of 56 days (range, 9–218). With failure or relapse, 14 dogs were rescued. Median survival with treatment was poor at 55 days (range, 1–300). Untreated (n = 6) and palliatively‐treated (n = 8) dogs lived a median of 7.5 days. Most dogs developed chemoresistance within weeks of initiating treatment, and consequently, survival times for AL remain disappointingly short.     

Birds as major predators of fishes in the East Kleinemonde Estuary

This study provides a quantitative account of fish predation by piscivorous birds in the temporarily open/closed East Kleinemonde Estuary and represents the first global attempt to simultaneously relate such consumption to production by a fish community in the same estuary. Cormorants and herons were the dominant predators and seasonal variations in the avifaunal community composition were noted. Based on comprehensive counts over three years, the piscivorous bird population was estimated to have consumed a maximum of 4 414?kg of fish in 1994, 2 400?kg in 1995/96 and 2 960?kg in 2004/05. In 1995/96 fish production in the East Kleinemonde Estuary (55.89?g m^?2 a^?1) was estimated at 9 780?kg and maximum bird predation amounted to 25% of annual fish production within the system over the same period, assuming that all birds counted on the estuary foraged there and that the diet of these birds comprised only fish. The above 1995/96 figures, together with an estimate of fish predation by the dominant piscivorous fish Lichia amia of 696?kg suggests that birds are probably the single most important natural predator of fishes within this estuary. An unusual mass invasion by marine Cape Cormorants Phalacrocorax capensis during July 1994 was responsible for large-scale predation of fish (2 155?kg) and resulted in the population of estuary-associated marine fishes declining from approximately 63 300 to about 18 600 individuals during the 1994 closed phase. Given that little or no marine fish recruitment was possible while the estuary mouth was closed, piscivorous birds are likely to have a higher predatory impact on populations of juvenile marine fishes in small temporarily closed estuaries than in larger permanently open systems.     

Effect of grazing intensity and soil characteristics on soil organic carbon and nitrogen stocks in a temperate long-term grassland

The effects of different grazing pressures (GPs) on soil properties are not sufficiently understood. The objectives were to analyse the effects of three different extensive GPs on stocks of soil organic C and total N, soil microbial biomass C, basal respiration and mineral N in three different soil depths of a long-term pasture in Central Germany (FORBIOBEN field trial). No significant (p ≤ 0.05) effects of GP on weighted stocks of soil organic C, total N, soil microbial biomass C, mineral N and basal respiration rate were observed, suggesting that the C and N cycles are coupled in the three grazing treatments. Oxalate soluble Fe contents explained a marked part of the variation of soil organic C (multiple linear regression: R² = 0.64) and total N contents (R² = 0.64) in the soils, whereas almost all of the variability of soil microbial biomass C contents and basal respiration was explained by soil organic C contents. Overall, variabilities of soil organic C and N contents were largely explained by oxalate soluble Fe contents, whereas grazing intensity did not affect the C and N dynamics.     

Clinical pharmacology of methadone in dogs

ObjectiveTo investigate the pharmacokinetics and effects of methadone on behaviour and plasma concentrations of cortisol and vasopressin in healthy dogs.Study designRandomized, cross-over, experimental trial.AnimalsNine adult dogs (beagle and beagle cross breeds), four males and five females.MethodsMethadone hydrochloride, 0.4 mg kg^?1, was administered intravenously (IV) and subcutaneously (SC) with a crossover design. Drug and hormone analyses in plasma were performed using Liquid Chromatography–Electrospray Ionization–Tandem Mass Spectrometry and radioimmunoassay respectively. Behavioural data were collected using a standardized protocol.ResultsAfter IV administration, the plasma concentration of methadone at 10 minutes was 82.1 ± 9.2 ng mL^?1 (mean ± SD), the terminal half-life was 3.9 ± 1.0 hours, the volume of distribution 9.2 ± 3.3 L kg^?1 and plasma clearance 27.9 ± 7.6 mL minute^?1 kg^?1. After SC administration, time to maximal plasma concentration was 1.26 ± 1.04 hours and maximal plasma concentration of methadone was 23.9 ± 14.4 ng mL^?1, the terminal half-life was 10.7 ± 4.3 hours and bioavailability was 79 ± 22%. Concentrations of both cortisol and vasopressin were increased for an hour following IV methadone. The observed behavioural effects of methadone were decreased licking and swallowing and an increase in whining after SC administration. The latter finding is notable as it can be misinterpreted as pain when methadone is used as an analgesic.Conclusion and clinical relevanceWhen methadone was administered by the SC route, the half-life was longer, but the individual variation in plasma concentrations was greater compared with IV administration. Increased frequency of whining occurred after administration of methadone and may be a drug effect and not a sign of pain. Cortisol and vasopressin concentrations in plasma may not be suitable for evaluating analgesia after methadone treatment.     

Search of environmental descriptors to explain the variability of the bacterial diversity from maize rhizospheres across a regional scale

The regional scale variability of the bacterial community inhabiting the rhizosphere was studied with soil collected from maize fields located in the Santo Domingo Valley (SDV; Baja California Sur, Mexico), a semi-arid agricultural ecosystem of approximately 200 km². The bacterial community structure was visualized by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) profiles of PCR-amplified partial 16S rRNA genes of directly extracted rhizosphere soil DNA. SSCP profiles of different SDV sites and an external field site in Germany were evaluated for their similarities and the contributing bacteria were characterized by DNA sequence analyses. SSCP profiles from each site were significantly different from the others, as revealed by permutation of pairwise similarities (P < 0.05). In comparison to the German site, SSCP profiles from SDV were more similar to each other despite contrasting soil salinity levels. Correspondence analysis revealed that among SDV sites, salinity levels, soil organic carbon and calcium (Ca²⁺) were most influential on the bacterial community structure. Depending on the phylogenetic group analyzed (Bacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Pseudomonas), the importance of these soil variables varied. Interestingly, the East–West direction also revealed an effect, suggesting that future explorations of bacterial diversity patterns should also consider landscape topography in search of explaining patterns of bacterial diversity in soils.     

The European College of Veterinary Pathologists (ECVP): the professional body for European veterinary pathologists

The European College of Veterinary Pathologists (ECVP) was established in 1995 with the aim of advancing veterinary pathology and promoting high standards within the specialty in Europe. The ECVP is one of 21 European colleges recognized by the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation (EBVS), which represents a quality-assurance system for European veterinary specialists. Until the ECVP was founded, there was no unified European system recognizing the specialty of pathology, and many European countries followed their own qualification systems, which varied in form and standard. The ECVP provides an annual certifying examination, the passing of which is required to gain membership (diplomate status) in the college. This qualification is now accepted on equal terms by the well-established American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP). In line with EBVS requirements, the ECVP has also established a standard continuing professional development (CPD) and re-registration system for its membership. Furthermore, it has promoted and unified European post-graduate training in veterinary pathology by setting up requirements for residency training programs and making registration and monitoring of these programs by the ECVP a prerequisite for approval of an institution as a training facility. The concurrent establishment, together with the European Society of Veterinary Pathology, of an annual summer school that trains residents for the certifying examination has further fostered European post-graduate training. Within 10 years, the ECVP has succeeded in establishing common standards and a unified approach to veterinary pathology throughout Europe. This article describes the evolution and organization of the ECVP.