Health screening for a translocation of captive-reared tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) to an island refuge

AIMS: To screen tuatara undergoing translocation from a captive crèche to an island refuge for evidence of health and known diseases, and apply basic epidemiological techniques to assess the significance of disease test results.

METHODS: Tuatara (n=353) were physically examined and samples were taken from a random selection (n=30) for estimated white cell counts, screening for haemoparasites, and culture for Salmonella, Yersinia, Aeromonas and Campylobacter spp. Direct faecal smears were carried out on-site, and faecal floats were later performed to assess levels of endoparasitism with helminths and protozoa (n=69). Modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining was used to screen faecal smears, and positive specimens were further screened using an immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) test for Cryptosporidium oocysts.

RESULTS: There was no evidence of external parasites on any of the animals examined and only one animal had a gross abnormality. All estimated white cell counts were in the range 2.8– 17.5 × 10⁹/L. No haemoparasites were observed. There were no enteric pathogens cultured, indicating the intestinal carriage of these bacteria in the tuatara was 9.4%. Of the 69 individual faecal samples examined, 12 (17%) had unidentified coccidial oocysts, 21 (30%) had nematode ova of various kinds, and 12 (17%) had intestinal carriage of motile protozoa consistent with Trichomonas spp and another unidentified organism. Nineteen (28%) tuatara had acid-fast oocysts present; however, IFA staining failed to detect any Cryptosporidium oocysts.

CONCLUSIONS: Our understanding of the diversity of gastrointestinal endoparasites affecting tuatara is inadequate as many of the parasite ova seen could not be identified. This is the first record of tuatara as a host for Trichomonas spp of protozoa in the gastrointestinal tract.     

Improved Ability to Maintain Fitness in Horses During Large Pasture Turnout

The objective was to compare horses' maintenance of fitness during extended periods of no forced exercise with that after stall confinement. Horses were divided into three groups: pasture turnout (P), stalled and exercised (E), or stalled with no exercise (S). Pre- and post-study body fat and bone mineral content were estimated, and horses performed a standardized exercise test (SET). Horses wore global positioning units to estimate distance traveled. The P group traveled a greater distance daily compared with the E and S groups (P < .01). Lateral bone density was greater for the P group after the study (P = .05). Comparing first and second SETs, the P group had lower heart rates at the trot (P < .01) and hand-gallop (P = .028), the E group had lower heart rates at the hand-gallop (P < .01), and the S group had higher 1-minute recovery heart rates (P < .01). Plasma lactate concentrations were higher at the peak of exercise (P < .01) and 10-minute recovery (P = .015) for the S group, whereas the P and E groups had lower rectal temperature at the peak of exercise (P = .029) and 10-minute recovery (P = .031 and P = .041, respectively). These data suggest that the S group lost fitness, whereas the P group remained as fit as the E group. The improvement for the P group compared with the E or S group was greater bone mineral content. Access to pasture appears to help maintain bone strength and exercise fitness ability.     

Incidence of ryegrass staggers in white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) at Auckland Zoo

Abstract

Extract

Most perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) plants in pastures in New Zealand contain a naturally occurring fungal endophyte, Neotyphodium lolii. Endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass produces alkaloids that vary in concentration during the year. Some alkaloids enhance the persistence and productivity of ryegrass pastures by protecting them against insect attack. However, when other alkaloids are consumed they can reduce animal performance and lead to health problems. The alkaloid lolitrem B, for example, causes the neuromuscular disorder ryegrass staggers (Fletcher et al 1999 Fletcher, LR, Sutherland, BL and Fletcher, CG. 1999. “The impact of endophyte on the health and productivity of sheep grazing ryegrass-based pastures”. In Ryegrass endophyte: an essential New Zealand symbiosis Grassland Research and Practice Series Edited by: Woodfield, DR and Matthew, C. Vol. 7, 11–17.  [Google Scholar]). Clinical symptoms of ryegrass staggers in animals range from slight muscular tremors through to staggering and complete collapse. Severely affected animals create management problems and are prone to accidental death. Outbreaks occur sporadically, particularly in summer and autumn and affect sheep, cattle, deer, horses, llamas (Lama glama) and alpaca (Lama pacos). Lolitrem B appears to be a stable compound, which tends to be concentrated in the leaf sheath at the base of the ryegrass plant and in the seed-heads (di Menna et al 1992 di Menna, ME, Mortimer, PH, Prestidge, RA, Hawkes, AD and Sprosen, JM. 1992. Lolitrem B concentrations, counts of Acremo ni um lolii hyphae, and the incidence of ryegrass staggers in lambs on plots of A. lolii-infected perennial ryegrass. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 35: 211–217. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]; Keogh et al 1996 Keogh, RG, Tapper, BA and Fletcher, RH. 1996. Distributions of the fungal endophyte Acremonium lolii, and of the alkaloids lolitrem B and peramine, within perennial ryegrass. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 39: 121–127. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). Hay made from endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass contains large numbers of seed-heads and lolitrem B concentrations can be high, especially if it is made in late summer or autumn and, consequently, animals fed such hay are at risk of developing ryegrass staggers.     

小麦内生有害细菌的定殖研究

 Minor Pathogens(微病原菌)作为植物病理学的又一概念,在最近的三十年中已为植物病理学家和研究人员普遍认可。其分布的广泛性和种群数量的优势引起人们日益强烈的关注,其在植株体内的活动更是人们想要了解的,为此我们利用悉生小麦通过透射电镜对其定殖转移进行了探索性的研究。     

栽培措施对藏药波棱瓜种子产量品质形成的影响

为研究不同栽培措施对藏药波棱瓜种子品质和产量的影响。设置不同催芽方法、不同播期、不同密度、不同施肥方案进行小区对比试验,分别以种子千粒重、单株产量、单位面积产量为指标对比分析。结果表明,ABT6号生根粉(GGR6)200mg·L^-1溶液和青霉素200mg·L^-1溶液浸种催芽可显著提高种子出苗率、种子千粒重及产量;5月播期的种子千粒重最高,6月播期的单位面积产量最高;EM益生菌肥和追施磷肥可显著提高种子千粒重和单位面积产量;不同措施所产波棱瓜子的检验均符合部颁藏药材标准。筛选出的催芽方法、播期、施肥方案对波棱瓜的人工栽培和种子生产有重要指导意义。     

2种植物生长调节剂对四季玫瑰嫩枝生根作用的研究

在四季玫瑰嫩枝扦插育苗试验中,用ABT1^#生根粉和吲哚丁酸(IBA)不同浓度溶液处理。结果表明：植物生长调节剂ABT11^#和IBA对四季玫瑰扦插生根都有很大的促进作用,生根率比对照可提高20％～60％,在设计的几种处理中生根率效果最好的为IBA200mg／L、300mg／L、100mg／L,生根率分别为91．0％、90％、88．2％;其次为ABT11^#生根粉200mg／L,生根率为88．3％。植物生长调节剂不同浓度处理对插穗生根的质量均有显著的影响。     

Clinical trial of efficacy of ivermectin pour‐on against gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes in silvopasturing horses

The aim of this study was to assess, by a clinical trial, the efficacy of an ivermectin‐based pour‐on treatment against gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes in naturally infected horses using 2 groups of mature indigenous Pura Raza Galega grazing mares. Faecal and blood samples were collected individually over a 21 week period. Faeces were analysed by the coprological flotation, sedimentation and migration techniques. Changes in circulating blood cells were monitored over the study period. The administration of the ivermectin suppressed the eggelimination of ascarids and pinworms throughout the study and no strongyle‐eggs were observed in the treatment group between the 3rd and 10th weeks. The numbers of red cells increased significantly after the anthelmintic therapy, and a statistical reduction in circulating leucocytes was recorded. No side effects were observed. The pour‐on ivermectin formulation was highly successful against gastrointestinal nematodes and appears to be a useful therapeutic routine for large groups of horses.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHY OF THE NORMAL FELINE PANCREAS AND ASSOCIATED ANATOMIC LANDMARKS: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF 20 CATS

The sonographic appearance of the feline pancreas and associated anatomic landmarks including the pancreatic duct, duodenum, duodenal papilla, portal vein, and gastric lymph node were evaluated in 20 healthy, awake cats. The pancreas appeared nearly isoechoic to surrounding mesenteric tissues, isoechoic to slightly hyperechoic to adjacent liver lobes, and hypoechoic to the spleen. The mean thickness measurements for the right pancreatic lobe, body, and left pancreatic lobe were 4.5 mm (range 2.8-5.9), 6.6 mm (range 4.7-9.5), and 5.4 mm (range 3.4-9.0), respectively. The pancreatic duct was consistently visualized in the left pancreatic lobe and had a mean thickness of 0.8 mm (range 0.5-1.3). It could be differentiated from the pancreatic vessel, by its central location, and the duct's lack of Doppler flow signal. The duodenum was used as a landmark to identify the right lobe of the pancreas. The mean duodenal wall thickness measurement was 2.8 mm (range 2.1-3.8) in sagittal section, and 3.0 mm (range 2.2-4.4) in transverse section. The duodenal papilla was identified in 4 of 20 cats. It ranged in size from 2.9 to 5.5 mm in width, and had a maximum height of 4.0 mm in transverse section. The portal vein was used as a consistent anatomic landmark for identification of the left lobe and body of the pancreas. The mean diameter of the portal vein at the level where the pancreatic body joins the left pancreatic lobe was 4.3 mm (range 2.7-5.9) when viewed in sagittal section, and 4.5 mm (range 3.6-6.1) in transverse section. The gastric lymph node was identified cranial and ventromedial to the pyloroduodenal angle in 6 of 20 cats. It had an asymmetrical shape with a larger caudal pole in five of the six cats. The largest dimensions of the gastric lymph node were 10 mm in length, and 6 mm in width for the larger caudal pole, and 5.1 mm in width for the smaller cranial pole.