Cyclic hematopoiesis in a mixed-breed dog: case report and brief review

An 8-wk-old, male, mixed-breed puppy was adopted from a rescue organization. From the time of adoption, the puppy suffered episodes of illness affecting various organ systems, which resolved with supportive therapy but relapsed once medical therapy was discontinued. Review of the hematologic data revealed cyclic fluctuations in circulating blood cells. Cyclicity was most prominent in neutrophils, with recurrent severe neutropenia. Neutropenic episodes lasted 5–6 d, with regular cycles of 11–14 d between nadir neutrophil counts. Genetic testing determined that the patient was homozygous mutant for the frameshift mutation in the adaptor protein complex 3 β-subunit (AP3B1) gene, originally identified in gray collies with cyclic hematopoiesis (CH). Pedigree information was not available, but the patient’s features were phenotypically distinct from those of collies. We describe here a case of the AP3B1 mutation in a mixed-breed dog that did not resemble a collie, undescribed previously, to our knowledge. Our findings indicate that the AP3B1 mutation and CH are present within the general canine population and are not restricted to collies.     

Growth and nutrition of Holcus lanatus in bauxite residue amended with combinations of spent mushroom compost and gypsum

Bauxite residues are very slow to naturally vegetate due to nutrient deficiency and high sodicity. In order to test the effectiveness of amendments at promoting revegetation, bauxite residue was amended with varying rates of compost to increase fertility (0, 60, 80 and 120 t ha⁻¹) and gypsum to reduce sodicity (0, 40 and 90 t ha⁻¹). Amended residue was sown with Holcus lanatus, a perennial grass. Following a 1‐year growth period, substrate properties, plant performance and plant nutrient uptake were assessed. Compost application substantially increased substrate N, P, K and Mn concentrations, while gypsum application greatly reduced sodicity and improved nutrient uptake for Mn and P. Compost amendment was essential for sustainable plant growth. Foliar deficiencies in N, P and Mg may persist with lower compost application rates, requiring the addition of supplemental fertiliser for healthy plant growth. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.