Rapid clonal multiplication of cauliflower by shake culture

Shake culture has been used to induce cauliflower curd to produce proliferating units from which large numbers of plants can be grown clonally.     

Skin test and gamma interferon enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results in sheep exposed to dead Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis organisms.

Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) diagnostic tests, such as the gamma interferon enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IFN-gamma ELISA) and the Johnin skin test, have the potential to detect animals infected with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) early in the course of the disease. While these CMI tests tend to be relatively specific in noninfected flocks, in MAP-infected flocks, these tests often identify animals that cannot be confirmed infected by any other reference test, including necropsy and culture. The aim of this study was to determine if antigen exposure by inhalation or oral ingestion of killed MAP organisms would cause a detectable CMI response in sheep. Forty-eight lambs 4 months of age were randomly divided into a control group, an orally exposed group (dosed with 1 x 10(10) autoclaved MAP organisms 3 times), and an inhalation-exposed group (dosed once with 1 x 10(5) dead organisms). Lambs were skin tested and/or bled pre-exposure and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 12 months postexposure. No significant difference was seen with either the oral- or inhalation-exposed groups of lambs versus controls with either the IFN-gamma ELISA or the skin test at any time pre- or postexposure. These results suggest that infection/invasion of MAP organisms must occur in order to have a positive skin test or IFN-gamma ELISA beyond the false-positive rate. Simple exposure is not enough to elicit a detectable CMI response.     

Influence of Egg Yolk on the Quality of Cryopreserved Spermatozoa of Common Carp,Cyprinus carpio

Cryopreservation of fish gametes can help in producing quality fish seeds. Success of cryopreservation is evaluated by the post-thaw motility of the spermatozoa. The changes in the seminal plasma during cryopreservation would alter the energy supply for the motility of the spermatozoa, and thus energy supplementation is found to be useful during cryopreservation. Cyprinus carpio spermatozoa were cryopreserved along with egg yolk as a co-cryoprotectant after 1:100 dilution with 0.85% physiological saline as extender and DMSO as cryoprotectant (85:15). The diluents contained egg yolk at three different concentrations, viz., T₁ (5%), T₂ (10%), and T₃ (15%). The diluted milt was equilibrated for 10 min at 5°C and loaded into 0.25 ml straws. The loaded straws were then frozen with LN₂ vapor for 5 min and immersed in liquid nitrogen. Observations were made once in 7 days for 42 days on motility parameters based on which the duration, score, pattern, and percentage were determined. There were significant differences in the motility duration between treatments, and egg yolk at 5% (T₁) concentration was found to support the cryopreserved spermatozoa better than the other concentrations; the difference in motility duration was statistically significant (P > 0.005).     

Evaluation of changes in antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Pasteurella multocida subsp multocida isolates from pigs in Spain in 1987-1988 and 2003-2004

OBJECTIVE: To determine the susceptibility of strains of Pasteurella multocida subsp multocida isolated from lung specimens of pigs with pneumonia to 20 antimicrobials and to evaluate the emergence of resistance to those antimicrobials in Spain during the past 2 decades. SAMPLE POPULATION: 63 isolates recovered from 1987 to 1988 and 132 isolates recovered from 2003 to 2004. PROCEDURE: A broth microdilution method was used to determine minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) range and values for MIC50 and MIC90. Resistance of a strain to an antimicrobial agent was determined by use of the breakpoint value when available. RESULTS: Isolates were generally susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, ceftiofur, gentamicin, apramycin, neomycin, spectinomycin, chlortetracycline, erythromycin, tilmicosin, enrofloxacin, and florfenicol, and most isolates were resistant to clindamycin, tylosin tartrate, and tiamulin regardless of the time period. A substantial increase in resistance to sulfa-chlorpiridazine, sulfadimethoxine, sulfathiazole, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was observed, and a minor increase in resistance to oxytetracycline was also detected. Several multiresistance patterns were observed, most frequently among isolates recovered in the 2003 to 2004 interval. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ceftiofur, florfenicol, and enrofloxacin are recommended for treatment of infections caused by P multocida subsp multocida in Spain. Increased frequency of resistance to oxytetracycline and sulfonamide drugs may be a contraindication for their use.     

LOW-FIELD MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF THE EQUINE TARSUS: NORMAL ANATOMY

The objective of this study was to define the normal gross anatomic appearance of the adult equine tarsus on a low-field magnetic resonance (MR) image. Six radiographically normal, adult, equine tarsal cadavers were utilized. Using a scanner with a 0.064 Tesla magnet, images were acquired in the sagittal, transverse and dorsal planes for T1-weighted and the sagittal plane for T2-weighted imaging sequences. Anatomic structures on the MR images were identified and compared with cryosections of the imaged limbs. Optimal image planes were identified for the evaluation of articular cartilage, subchondral bone, flexor and extensor tendons, tarsal ligaments, and synovial structures. MR images provide a thorough evaluation of the anatomic relationships of the structures of the equine tarsus.     

Comparison of acid–base and electrolyte changes following administration of 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.42 in a saline and a polyionic solution in anaesthetized dogs

Objective

To evaluate the effects of a 6% hydroxyethyl starch (130/0.42) in either a buffered, electrolyte-balanced (HES-BAL) or saline (HES-SAL) carrier solution on electrolyte concentrations and acid–base parameters in healthy anaesthetized dogs.

A pivotal role for glycans at the interface between Trichinella spiralis and its host.

The nematode Trichinella spiralis demonstrates a simple but novel parasitic life-cycle, completing all of its development in intracellular habitats. This feature of the life-cycle has challenged investigators aiming to elucidate mechanisms of parasitism. Investigations of immunity showed a dominant influence of N-glycans in the responses to larval T. spiralis. It has become evident that novel glycans are positioned to play important roles in parasitism, as well as immunity, in infection with this nematode.     

Optimization of a monitoring system for the pine beauty moth, Panolis flammea (Denis & Schiffermüller), using sex attractants

The efficiency of traps baited with synthetic sex attractants, (Z)-9- and (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetates, for Panolis flammea (Denis & Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was tested with respect to trap design, capacity, height, alignment, position and dose of lure. For optimum catches, traps should not be obstructed by vegetation, and can be placed most conveniently in forest rides. The most important features of trap design were a heavy surface coating of sticky retentive material and a large catching area. The efficiency of capture decreased rapidly when 40 or more moths were present on a sticky surface of area 380 cm². Numbers of moths caught increased regularly as the dose of lure increased from 1 μg to 5 mg. Males of Orthosia gothica (L.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) were frequently caught in numbers similar to those of P. flammea in the same traps during the flight period of the latter insect. Increasing the relative quantity of the minor component, (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate, reduced catches of P. flammea, but not always those of O. gothica.