Skin pustules and nodules caused by Actinomyces viscosus in a horse

A 12-year-old Arabian stallion was evaluated for a refractory skin problem of 2 years' duration. Skin nodules and pustules, which would rupture, had developed over the right lumbar muscles. Anaerobic culturing from the pustules yielded Actinomyces viscosus, and histologic examination of biopsy specimens revealed globular eosinophilic structures. Concomitant treatment with isoniazid (8 mg/kg of body weight, q 24 h for 8 weeks), trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (30 mg/kg, q 24 h for 8 weeks), and sodium iodide solution (66 mg/kg, every 1, 2, or 4 weeks, for 32 weeks) resolved the condition.     

Oregon subduction zone: venting, fauna, and carbonates

Transects of the submersible Alvin across rock outcrops in the Oregon subduction zone have furnished information on the structural and stratigraphic framework of this accretionary complex. Communities of clams and tube worms, and authigenic carbonate mineral precipitates, are associated with venting sites of cool fluids located on a fault-bend anticline at a water depth of 2036 meters. The distribution of animals and carbonates suggests up-dip migration of fluids from both shallow and deep sources along permeable strata or fault zones within these clastic deposits. Methane is enriched in the water column over one vent site, and carbonate minerals and animal tissues are highly enriched in carbon-12. The animals use methane as an energy and food source in symbiosis with microorganisms. Oxidized methane is also the carbon source for the authigenic carbonates that cement the sediments of the accretionary complex. The animal communities and carbonates observed in the Oregon subduction zone occur in strata as old as 2.0 million years and provide criteria for identifying other localities where modern and ancient accreted deposits have vented methane, hydrocarbons, and other nutrient-bearing fluids.     

Quantification and partial characterization of the residual protein in fully and partially refined commercial soybean oils

A method has been developed to determine residual protein in refined oils, a potential trigger of allergic reactions. High-pH bicarbonate or borate buffers were found to be the most effective extractants, residual oil protein comprising a mixture of proteins of M(r) 6000-100000. Extracted protein could be quantified with superior precision using 3-(4-carboxybenzoyl)quinolone-2-carboxaldehyde (CBQCA). Residual protein content determined in a set of oils using the borate extraction-CBQCA assay was positively correlated with contents determined using a bicarbonate-total amino acid analysis method. Oil refining substantially reduced the oil protein content determined by the borate-CBQCA assay with neutralized/refined, bleached, and deodorized (fully refined) oils containing 62-265 ng/g oil, whereas crude un-degummed oils contained 86000-87900 ng/g of protein. These analyses and published data on cumulative threshold doses for soybean suggest that even the most sensitive individuals would need to consume at least 50 g of highly refined oil to experience subjective symptoms.     

Nutrients in wastewater from a phosphate fertilizer manufacturing plant stored for irrigation

Summary Wastewater from a fertilizer manufacturing plant in southern Idaho was pumped into a storage impoundment during the winter months and stored for irrigating and fertilizing agricultural crops the next summer. Analyses of water samples from the impoundment taken monthly showed the following mean annual nutrient concentrations: Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) 94, NH ₄ ⁺ -N 61, NO ₃ ^– -N 8, total P 17, ortho P 15, and K 17 mg/L. The impoundment surface area averaged 10.5 ha with a maximum pond volume during the year of 362,000 m³. Accumulated nutrients in the impounded wastewater available for irrigating and fertilizing agricultural crops at the beginning of the growing season was TKN 30.2, NH ₄ ⁺ -N 23.2, NO₃-N 4.3, total P 9.7, and K 6.2 metric tons. Nitrification in the pond was minimal. Redox potentials were between 480 and 500 mv at all depths and locations measured in the pond in the summer and denitrification was minimal. The redox potential indicated that the water was near oxygen saturation.     

Field evaluation of tylosin premix in layers previously vaccinated with a live Mycoplasma gallisepticum vaccine

Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection results in numerous clinical signs including a reduction in egg production in laying chickens. Attempts to prevent mycoplasmosis have included vaccination with both killed and attenuated live M. gallisepticum strains. Live vaccines provide reduction in clinical signs and have been shown to replace indigenous strains when used in a consistent program for several placements. Antibiotic therapy is another option for controlling losses associated with mycoplasmosis. Therapeutic antibiotics with activity against mycoplasma approved for use in poultry include tetracyclines and tylosin. These drugs also are approved for feed efficiency when administered in the feed at levels below the therapeutic index for mycoplasma. The data presented here suggest that birds vaccinated with the live 6/85 strain of M. gallisepticum and then fed tylosin, at the approved level for feed efficiency, exhibit a serologic vaccine response similar to that of unmedicated birds but show improved feed efficiency.     

Reconciling sustainability,economic efficiency and equity in fisheries: the one that got away?

Concern about the global state of fisheries and fish resources has highlighted the three primary considerations in fisheries management: sustainable utilisation, economic efficiency and equity in access to resources. We appear to be failing in pursuit of all three goals. Living marine resources are particularly threatened by overfishing, leading to many of the world’s fish stocks being heavily, fully or over exploited. Similarly, the economic diagnosis is that costs of fishing exceeded the value of the world’s catch by about US$ 40 billion at the beginning of the decade. Statistics on equity are less available, but the necessary spread of limited access to fisheries frequently has the greatest impact on the small scale, traditional fisher. This paper considers the reasons underlying the general failure of fisheries management and the solutions that are being proposed. Factors contributing to the problems include high biological uncertainty, conflict between the constraint of sustainability and social and economic priorities, poorly defined objectives, and institutional failures related to access rights and participation in management by the users. These issues point to the real complexity of fisheries management. It is argued that this complexity can be abused by all interest groups to avoid responsibility and to suit their own objectives. It is suggested that there are eight simple principles controlling fisheries management that are generally well‐understood and, if properly considered in fisheries management systems, would lead to improved performances. Responsible management will, however, only be effective if there is a genuine desire to achieve the objectives. Fishing capacity, frequently reflecting dependency of users on fisheries resources, is commonly in excess of the sustainable production of the resources. Excess dependency can preclude the political will to consider alternative strategies and only once it has been overcome, probably requiring solutions borrowed from outside fisheries, is effective management likely to be considered seriously. Thereafter, responsible management requires setting unambiguous objectives and management measures in co‐operation with users and other interest groups. The agreed strategy must be included in legislation to ensure transparency and accountability and to constrain decision‐makers. The performance of the strategy must be monitored and revised as necessary.