Complete atrioventricular block secondary to cardiac lymphoma in a dog

Third degree atrioventricular (AV) block was observed in a patient with a roughly spherical mass measuring approximately 1 × 1 × 1 cm, visible in the basilar portion of the interventricular septum on 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic examination. The patient had a brief history of lethargy and episodic collapse, and the owner elected to euthanize the dog after the mass lesion was discovered. Necropsy revealed multiple masses within the interventricular septum, ventricular free walls and atrial myocardium. The final diagnosis was large cell (T-cell) lymphosarcoma.     

Evaluation of flow cytometric and automated methods for detection of activated platelets in dogs with inflammatory disease

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate platelet surface-associated P-selectin, mean platelet component concentration (MPC), mean platelet component distribution width (MPCDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet distribution width (PDW) for detection of activated platelets in dogs with septic and nonseptic inflammatory disease. ANIMALS: 20 healthy dogs and 20 dogs with septic and nonseptic inflammatory disease. Procedures-Platelet surface-associated P-selectin (expressed as the median fluorescence intensity [MFI] of the platelet population), MPC, MPCDW, MPV, and PDW were determined in 20 healthy adult dogs, and reference ranges were calculated. These parameters were also determined in 11 dogs with nonseptic and 9 dogs with septic inflammatory disease and evaluated to determine which parameters were useful for detection of activated platelets. Results-12 dogs with inflammatory disease had P-selectin greater than the upper limit of the reference range, whereas 16 dogs with inflammatory disease had MPC lower than the lower limit of the reference range. All dogs in which P-selectin was greater than the upper limit of the reference range had MPC lower than the lower limit of the reference range. The correlation coefficient for P-selectin and MPC was 0.62. Differences in the MPCDW, MPV, and PDW in most dogs with inflammatory disease (compared with healthy dogs) were found; however, the correlation coefficients for P-selectin and MPCDW, MPV, and PDW were low. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Platelet surface-associated P-selectin and MPC appeared to be useful to detect activated platelets in most dogs with septic and nonseptic inflammatory disease.     

Anthrax vaccine associated deaths in miniature horses

During a widespread anthrax outbreak in Canada, miniature horses were vaccinated using a live spore anthrax vaccine. Several of these horses died from an apparent immune-mediated vasculitis temporally associated with this vaccination. During the course of the outbreak, other miniature horses from different regions with a similar vaccination history, clinical signs, and necropsy findings were found.     

Concentration of 17α-Methyltestosterone in HormoneTreated Feed: Effects of Analytical Technique, Fabrication, and Storage Temperature

Feed treated with 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) is used to manipulate the gender of early tilapia fry. In the USA, hormone-treated feed is used by selected producers under an Investigational New Animal Drug (INAD) program. While monitoring the fabrication and on-farm use of this treated feed, concerns were raised about the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analytical procedure for detecting MT in feeds, the incorporation of MT in feeds during fabrication, and effects of storage temperature on MT concentration. A series of experiments demonstrated that the analytical procedure for detecting MT in feeds lacked high precision, and, on average, biased results low. MT was uniformly mixed with feed by spraying an MT-alcohol solution on feed while it was blended in an industrial ribbon mixer. Alcohol volumes ranging from 15 mL/kg to 150 mL/kg were equally effective at dispersing MT in feed. The concentrations of MT in feeds consistently declined over time if the storage temperatures were 25 C or higher. Freezing preserved the MT in feed, and the refrigeration of feed fabricated to contain 60 mg MT/kg maintained acceptable MT concentrations during 6 mo of storage.     

Examining Human Perception of Elephants and Large Trees for Insights Into Conservation of an African Savanna Ecosystem

African elephants (Loxodonta africana) and large trees have ecological and human value, but elephant impact on large trees may influence conservation strategies. We used a self-administered questionnaire to examine perceptions of elephants, large trees, and elephant management endeavors among tourists and residents in the Associated Private Nature Reserves, South Africa to inform management approaches. The questionnaire included photographs of different elephant types and of vegetation with varying degrees of elephant-impact. Respondents reported high attractiveness rankings for all elephant types, but they scored non-impacted trees higher than photos of trees with visible elephant impact. Results also revealed a significant positive correlation between elephant types known to cause high tree impact and attractiveness of non-impacted trees. Residents favored more intrusive elephant management methods, with environmental manipulation representing the most supported and balanced option for both interest groups. Respondents advocated management that focuses on ecosystem functioning more so than elephant population control.     

Acoustic tomography in relation to 2D ultrasonic velocity and hardness mappings

Acoustic tomography is an emerging nondestructive testing (NDT) technology for tree decay detection in both urban community and production forest. Many field studies have been conducted to assess the applicability and reliability of the technique in such applications. Although investigations into urban trees showed great success using acoustic tomography to detect moderate to severe internal decay within the trunk, detection of early stage of decay using such technology still constitutes a challenge. This study was aimed to evaluate the capability of acoustic tomography by determining the relationships between acoustic tomograms and two-dimensional mappings of ultrasonic properties and end-hardness of the trunk cross sections. A freshly cut black cherry (Prunus serotina) log was used to simulate a tree trunk and tested in the laboratory. Time-of-flight (TOF) acoustic tomography measurements were conducted at three different heights (10, 30, and 50?cm). A disk was then cut from each height and subjected to ultrasonic and mechanical evaluations. The results indicated that the acoustic shadows in the tomograms revealed internal structural defects that were at the same locations and in similar magnitudes as the wood property mappings of the disks. However, no good correlations were found between apparent acoustic velocity of the tomograms and the measured ultrasonic velocity and end-hardness of small cubic samples. This analysis indicates that TOF acoustic tomography lacks the sensitivity to low-velocity features of decayed areas and thus has limited capability in detecting early stages of decay in trees.     

Intra-plant variation in cyanogenesis and the continuum of foliar plant defense traits in the rainforest tree Ryparosa kurrangii (Achariaceae)

At the intra-plant level, temporal and spatial variations in plant defense traits can be influenced by resource requirements, defensive priorities and storage opportunities. Across a leaf age gradient, cyanogenic glycoside concentrations in the rainforest understory tree Ryparosa kurrangii B.L. Webber were higher in young expanding leaves than in mature leaves (2.58 and 1.38 mg g(-1), respectively). Moreover, cyanogens, as an effective chemical defense against generalist herbivores, contributed to a defense continuum protecting foliar tissue during leaf development. Chemical (cyanogens and phenolic compounds) and phenological (delayed greening) defense traits protected young leaves, whereas mature leaves were largely protected by physical defense mechanisms (lamina toughness; explained primarily by leaf mass per area). Cyanogen concentration was considerably higher in floral tissue than in foliar tissue and decreased in floral tissue during development. Across contrasting tropical seasons, foliar cyanogenic concentration varied significantly, being highest in the late wet season and lowest during the pre-wet season, the latter coinciding with fruiting and leaf flushing. Cyanogens in R. kurrangii appear to be differentially allocated in a way that maximizes plant fitness but may also act as a store of reduced nitrogen that is remobilized during flowering and leaf flushing.     

Date of pruning of Guazuma ulmifolia during the rainy season affects the availability, productivity and nutritional quality of forage during the dry season

Guazuma ulmifolia was experimentally pruned to determine when pruning should begin during the rainy season in order to extend the production of green tree-forage during the dry season. Three prunings (P-1, P-2, and P-3) were performed (5 weeks apart) during the rainy season (August, September, and October) and four forage harvests (C-a, C-b, C-c, and C-d) (3 weeks apart) took place during the dry season (February, March, and April). Over 2 years, forage biomass production was evaluated as total biomass (g dry matter tree^?1), biomass of the morphological components (leaves, stems, and dead matter), and nutritional quality (crude protein, fiber, lignin, and digestibility). Date of pruning affected the production of total biomass (P = 0.001) with the earliest pruning (P-1) yielding the greatest forage quantity, while stems (P = 0.022) and dead matter (P = 0.032) varied due to a year by pruning interaction. Total biomass, leaves, stems, and dead matter varied by the interaction between forage harvest and year for all four variables (P < 0.037). In both years, the largest forage harvest occurred in C-b (P < 0.05), leaf production was highest in C-a and C-b (P < 0.001), stem production was greatest in C-b (P = 0.013) and dead matter was highest in C-b and C-d (P = 0.002). Leaf crude protein ranged between 10 and 19 %, and the interaction of pruning by forage harvest by year was significant (P = 0.035). Digestibility, neutral and acid detergent fiber and lignin differed significantly because of the interaction between forage harvest and year (P < 0.005), with February showing the lowest values for fiber and the highest digestibility. The best time to prune G. ulmifolia is in August so that the young trees will produce more total biomass with a higher crude protein content. The most suitable moment for forage harvest is in February when the trees have more leaves with greater digestibility and less fiber.