Evolving subduction zones in the Western United States, as interpreted from igneous rocks

Variations in the ratio of K(2)O to SiO(2) in andesitic rocks suggest early and middle Cenozoic subduction beneath the western United States along two subparallel imbricate zones dipping about 20 degrees eastward. The western zone emerged at the continental margin, but the eastern zone was entirely beneath the continental plate. Mesozoic subduction apparently occurred along a single steeper zone.     

Polygonal Fracture and Fold Systems in the Salt Crust, Great Salt Lake Desert, Utah

Small folds and fractures (thrusts) up to 50 feet apart that have produced polygonal patterns in the Bonneville salt crust, western Utah, are believed to be caused by the annual expansion of the salt crust due to the growth of salt crystals within the salt layer plus the effect of increased summer temperature. It is suggested that these strain systems are caused by positive (compressional) isotropic planar stresses developed within the salt layers of the salt crust.     

Investigation on fungicide residues in greenhouse-grown strawberries

Maximum residue limits (MRL's) for different agricultural food products in Norway are harmonized with EU standards. In field-grown strawberries in Norway, tolylfluanid has a 7 day quarantine from last application to harvest, while other approved fungicides have 14 days quarantine. Greenhouse production of strawberries is newly introduced to the country. Residue levels in strawberries of the cultivar Korona grown in a commercial greenhouse were investigated 4, 7, and 14 days after application of eight different fungicides at rates recommended by the manufacturers and at half rates. Iprodione, tolylfluanid, and vinclozolin were tested in two experiments, while chinomethionat, chlorothalonil, imazalil, penconazole, and triadimefon were tested once. For chinomethionat, imazalil, iprodione, penconazole, and vinclozolin, the residue levels were below MRL 2 weeks after application. Application of triadimefon in normal rate gave residues below MRL 14 days after application. However, its metabolite, triadimenol, was above MRL at the same time. Tolylfluanid gave very high residue levels, and except from half concentration in the second experiment, all other residue levels were above MRL. Seven days after application, residues in both experiments were approximately 3 times higher than MRL when normal rate of tolylfluanid was applied. For chlorothalonil at the recommended rate, the residue level was above MRL at any sampling time, while half rate gave residues below MRL 14 days after treatment. In view of the present results, tolylfluanid, chlorothalonil, and triadimefon will need longer time from last application to harvest and/or reduced application rates in greenhouse-grown compared to field-grown strawberries. In addition or as an alternative, recommended rates could be lowered.     

Prevalence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a cohort of British Shorthair cats in Denmark

Background: Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has been described previously in British Shorthair cats (BSH), but until now, no reports have been published describing the prevalence of the disease within this breed. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of HCM in a large cohort of BSH and to evaluate the effect of sex, weight, and increasing age as potential risk factors for this disease. Animals: Three hundred and twenty‐nine BSH presented for routine HCM screening during a 4‐year period. Methods: Prospective cross‐sectional study in which all cats were screened for HCM by conventional echocardiography. Results: A total of 329 cats were examined, 214 females and 115 males, with a median age of 2.3 years (range, 0.8–14.1). Twenty‐eight cats (8.5%) were classified as HCM‐positive, 14 (4.3%) as equivocal, 282 (85.7%) as HCM‐negative, and 5 (2.1%) were diagnosed with other cardiac diseases. The median age for diagnosis of HCM was 2.7 years (range, 0.9–14.1). Male cats had a significantly higher occurrence of HCM (20.4%) compared with the females (2.1%) corresponding to an odds ratio of 7.89 (95 % CI, 2.54–28.08) for males versus females adjusted for age and weight (P < .001). Conclusion: The BSH in our cohort had a high prevalence of HCM, often of early onset and with a significant male sex predisposition. We strongly recommend echocardiographic screening in this breed, especially cats used for breeding.     

Prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis infection in feral pigs in the Northern Territory

SUMMARY The prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis infection in populations of feral pigs from five areas in the Northern Territory was examined. In total 790 pigs were necropsied and positive cultures of M bovis were obtained from two pigs (0.25%) and a mycobacterial granuloma was found in one pig. The observed prevalence of M bovis infection in feral pigs is significantly less (x²= 139.8, df = 1, P < 0.001) than the results of a comparable survey conducted during the early 1970s before the implementation of the Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication Campaign. The prevalence of all types of macroscopic lesions resembling tuberculosis was significantly (x²= 338.7, df = 1, P < 0.001) less than the earlier survey. The results are further support for the hypothesis that in the Northern Territory feral pigs are an end-host for M bovis infection, and that the previous high prevalence of M bovis recorded in feral pigs in the 1970s was caused by the close association between these animals and large populations of M bovis-infected buffalo and cattle.     

Economic losses from an episode of zinc toxicosis on a California veal calf operation using a zinc sulfate-supplemented milk replacer

An episode of zinc toxicosis in 95 veal calves caused $29,602 in losses to the producer ($315/affected calf), most of them direct, out-of-pocket losses. Increased calf mortality and increased veterinary service costs accounted for a majority (70%) of the losses. Reduction of losses may have been accomplished by removing the source and increasing the roughage content in the diet, or by shipping the animals for immediate slaughter. Given the magnitude of the financial loss, especially those associated with calf mortality, it was concluded that producers should refrain from using large amounts of mineral supplements unless a deficiency has been diagnosed.     

Potential impact of an introduction of foot-and-mouth disease into the California State Fair

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the potential spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) if infected livestock had been exhibited at the 2005 California State Fair. DESIGN: Epidemic model. ANIMALS: Dairy cattle, dairy goats, and pygmy goats exhibited between August 24 and August 28 by 195 exhibitors. PROCEDURES: 2 stochastic models were used to simulate epidemics of FMD that might originate from 1, 3, 5, 7, or 10 index cases at the state fair. Data obtained from state fair exhibitors were used to determine the spatial distribution and types of herds to which livestock visiting the state fair returned. RESULTS: Mean estimated numbers of latently infected animals on day 5 were 12.3 and 75.9, respectively, when it was assumed that there were 1 and 10 index cases. Regardless of the number of index cases, mean estimated numbers of subclinically infected and clinically infected animals were low throughout the 5-day study period. Mean estimated duration of the resulting epidemic ranged from 111 to 155 days, mean number of infected premises ranged from 33 to 244, and mean probability that at least 1 animal that became infected with FMD would subsequently leave the state ranged from 28% to 96% as the number of index cases increased from 1 to 10, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that following introduction of FMD at the California State Fair, infection would likely go undetected until after animals left the fair and that the subsequent outbreak would spread rapidly.     

Survey of the prevalence of Salmonella species on commercial laying farms in the United Kingdom

A survey of salmonella infection on 454 commercial layer flock holdings in the uk was carried out between October 2004 and September 2005. Fifty-four (11.7 per cent, 95 per cent confidence interval 9.3 to 14.0 per cent) were salmonella positive. The most common serovar identified was Salmonella Enteritidis at a prevalence of 5.8 per cent, and 70 per cent of these isolates were phage types 4, 6, 7 and 35. Salmonella Typhimurium was the second most prevalent serovar, found in 1.8 per cent of the farms. Of the three other serovars given top priority by the eu because of their public health significance, Salmonella Virchow and Salmonella Infantis were each isolated from one holding, but Salmonella Hadar was not isolated from any of the holdings. Analysis of antimicrobial resistance patterns revealed that over 76 per cent of the isolates were sensitive to all of the 16 drugs tested, and all the isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, ceftazidime, apramycin, amikacin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, neomycin and cefotaxime.