Cinnamamide,an avian repellent,reduces woodpigeon damage to oilseed rape

Woodpigeons Columba palumbus cause significant damage to oilseed rape Brassica napus. (Cruciferae) in Britain, especially between January and March. The potential of cinnamamide, a non-lethal chemical repellent, to protect growing oilseed rape from woodpigeon damage was assessed in 20×20 m plots laid out in a 9-ha field frequented by >500 woodpigeons. Despite a low initial loading of cinnamamide and low persistence of the compound after spraying, the inner leaves of treated plants received less damage than the inner leaves of untreated plants (P<0·05). This was reflected later in the trial in a decline in damage to the outer leaves of treated plants (P<0·05). No signs of phytotoxicity were seen on treated leaves during the trial. Cinnamamide did not completely protect the rape, and some plants in treated plots received considerable damage. This was probably due to the compound's poor persistence on the leaf and because it was applied late in the growing season (late February) when birds had already made inroads into the crop. © 1998 SCI.     

Effects of storage times and temperatures on T3, T4, LH, prolactin, insulin, cortisol and progesterone concentrations in blood samples from cows

Little is known about stability of hormones in blood samples stored under various conditions. This study was conducted to examine stability of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, insulin, cortisol and progesterone in blood and serum samples. Experiment 1 was designed to determine if concentrations of these hormones were affected by exposure to cellular elements of anticoagulated and coagulated blood when stored at 4 C and room temperature (22 to 26 C). Jugular venous blood was collected from six diestrous Holstein cows into evacuated bottles containing sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), heparin or no anticoagulant. Subsamples of EDTA-treated and heparinized blood were stored .25, .5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 24 and 72 h at 4 C or room temperature. Subsamples of blood without anticoagulant were stored in polypropylene tubes (clot tubes) or serum separator tubes for 1, 2, 4, 8, 24 ad 72 h. Mean concentrations of T3, T4, LH, prolactin and cortisol did not change in plasma or serum from either of the four types of samples stored at 4 C or room temperature for 72 h. The mean insulin concentration decreased 18% by 72 h in serum from serum separator tubes stored at room temperature. At 4 C, mean progesterone concentrations decreased 55% by 24 h and 73% by 72 h in plasma from EDTA-treated blood; 41% by 72 h in serum from clot tubes, and 26% by 24 h and 36% by 72 h in serum from serum separator tubes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ectopic cilium in seven horses

Ectopic cilium was diagnosed by slit-lamp biomicroscopy and treated surgically by transconjunctival excision in seven adult horses. All cases presented with a common history of blepharospasm, ocular discharge and keratitis. Ophthalmic examination revealed a single translucent cilium in the upper eyelid palpebral conjunctiva, emerging approximately 5 mm from the eyelid margin. Corneal ulceration was not observed in any horse. Most horses responded well to transconjunctival surgical excision. There was recurrence of ectopic cilium 6 weeks postoperatively in one horse. Histopathologic examination was performed in two cases and confirmed the diagnosis of ectopic cilium in one horse. This is the first publication of ectopic cilia in horses and emphasizes their importance as etiology for epiphora, blepharospasm and keratitis.