Immunocytochemical Localization of Aromatase in The Ovary of Superovulated Cattle,Pigs and Sheep

Laurincik, J., L. Kolodzieyski, V. Elias, P. Hyttel, Y. Osawa, A. Sirotkin: Immunocytochemical localization of aromatase in the ovary of superovulated cattle, pigs and sheep. Acta vet. scand. 1994, 35, 185-191.–The localization of aromatase, an enzyme converting androgens to estrogen, in the ovaries of superovulated cattle, pigs and sheep was studied immunocytochemically in the preovulatory and postovulatory period using anti-human placental aromatase cytochrome P-450 antiserum. Immunostaining for aromatase was detected in the granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles of all species studied. Theca interna cells were stained in preovulatory follicles in the pig but not in cattle and sheep. Interstitial gland cells, cumulus cells and oocytes were unstained in all species. In cattle and pig the corpora lutea were unstained whereas they displayed staining in the sheep. Preantral and small antral follicles were unstained during both the preovulatory and postovulatory period in all species.It is concluded that granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles are the main residence for aromatase activity in superovulated cattle, pig and sheep, whereas the activity of theca interna and corpora lutea is species specific.     

Factors affecting red-winged blackbird response to methiocarb,an avian repellent

Two physiological responses (heart rate and respiration rate) and a behavioral response (keypecking rate) were measured to determine whether or not bait from and/or gastrointestinal content would influence the efficacy of an avian repellent on red-winged blackbirds. Methiocarb was administered under four conditions (i.e., cracked corn or pellet baits and food deprivation or nondeprivation). Results show that both physiological and behavioral responses to methiocarb are much more pronounced when it is administered in pellet form to food-deprived birds. These findings help explain some inconsistencies in results of field evaluations of methiocarb and illustrate the significance of formulation and the timing of treatment application as important factors in development of bird damage control agents and techniques.     

Effect of diet and tylosin on chronic diarrhea in beagles

Seven beagles in a colony of dogs had chronic diarrhea for at least 30 days. The dogs were subsequently treated with tylosin 20 mg/kg BW q24h PO for 10 days. During the treatment period, the feces became firmer but remained loose. When the treatment was discontinued, the diarrhea reappeared in 3 weeks. The feces remained abnormally loose in all dogs treated with metronidazole, trimethoprim-sulfadiazine, or doxycycline and prednisone. The diet was then changed for 10 days from a highly digestible moist pet food to a dry food developed for normal adult dogs. The feces again became firmer, although still loose in some dogs. The period was then extended to 3 month, but the fecal consistency continued to fluctuate from ideal to diarrhea. The dogs were treated a 2nd time with tylosin 20 mg/kg BW q24h PO for 10 days. The feces then became significantly firmer and remained so throughout a 3-month follow-up. We conclude that the combination of diet and tylosin was more effective than either agent alone in control of chronic diarrhea.     

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in pastoral camels (Camelus dromedarius) in the Butana plains, mid-Eastern Sudan.

A total of 482 serum samples from pastoral camels in the Butana plains, mid-Eastern Sudan, were tested for Toxoplasma antibodies by the latex agglutination test (LAT). Sixty-seven percent of the camels were seroreactive. The prevalence rate of seroreactivity increased significantly with age (P less than 0.01) and was highest among camels aged over 7 years (74.2%). The prevalence rate of seropositivity decreased proportionally with the level of serum dilution. At dilutions of 1:32 and above, the prevalence rate was 25.9%. There were no sex-linked differences in seroreactivity. This study suggests widespread infection with Toxoplasma gondii among pastoral camels, a finding that warrants a closer look into the possible ways infection is acquired by camels in their arid environment, its economic impact, as well as its public health significance, especially among the nomads who consume cameline milk and liver raw.     

Kinetic enzymatic determination of glycerol in wine and beer using a sequential injection system with spectrophotometric detection

A sequential injection system for the automatic determination of glycerol in wine and beer was developed. The method is based on the rate of formation of NADH from the reaction of glycerol and NAD+ catalyzed by the enzyme glycerol dehydrogenase in solution. The determination of glycerol was performed between 0.3 and 3.0 mmol L(-1) (0.028 and 0.276 g L(-1)), and good repeatability was attained (rsd < 3.6%, n = 5) for all samples tested. The determination rate was 54 h(-1), the reagent consumption was only 0.75 micromol of NAD+ and 5.4 ng of enzyme per assay, and the waste production was 2.12 mL per assay. Results obtained for samples were in agreement with those obtained with the batch enzymatic method.     

Effects of diet on clinical signs of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of dietary modification on clinical signs of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) in dogs. DESIGN: Blinded randomized crossover study. ANIMALS: 21 dogs with EPI. PROCEDURE: Dogs were fed the diet they received at home for 2 weeks. Thereafter, they received 3 special diets (a high-fat diet, a high-fiber diet, and a highly digestible low-residue diet) for 3 weeks each. Owners scored dogs daily for the last 2 weeks of each 3-week period for severity of 6 clinical signs including appetite, defecation frequency, consistency of feces, borborygmus, flatulence, and coprophagia. An EPI index was calculated for each dog by adding the daily scores for each clinical sign. RESULTS: Significant differences in daily EPI indices among diets were observed in 20 dogs. The original diet appeared to be the most suitable in 8 dogs, whereas the high-fat diet was most suitable in 5 dogs, the high-fiber diet was most suitable in 4 dogs, and the low-residue diet was most suitable in 2 dogs. In 1 dog, the lowest EPI index score was the same during the original diet and the high-fat diet feeding periods. One dog did not complete the feeding period for the high-fiber diet. Differences in mean EPI indices among diets were not significant. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that responses to different diets varied among individual dogs. Because responses to the feeding regimens were unpredictable, it is suggested that feeding regimens be individually formulated for dogs with EPI.     

Clinical signs and clinicopathologic abnormalities in dogs with clinical spirocercosis: 39 cases (1996-2004)

OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical signs and clinicopathologic abnormalities in dogs with naturally occurring clinical spirocercosis. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 39 dogs with spirocercosis. PROCEDURES: Medical records were reviewed, and information on signalment, residence (rural vs urban), owner complaints, physical examination findings, clinicopathologic abnormalities, radiographic and endoscopic findings, and concurrent systemic diseases was recorded. RESULTS: Hellenic hounds and mixed-breed dogs were overrepresented, compared with a group of 117 control dogs without spirocercosis that were examined because of gastrointestinal tract disease, and mean body weight of dogs with spirocercosis was significantly higher than mean body weight of control dogs. Odynophagia (34 [87%]), regurgitation (24 [62%]), and excessive salivation (14 [36%]) were the most common clinical findings. The most common radiographic abnormalities were a mass in the caudodorsal aspect of the mediastinum (15/35 [43%]) and spondylitis of the caudal thoracic vertebrae (10 [29%]). Parasitic nodules were seen during esophagoscopy in all 39 dogs. Normocytic, normochromic, nonregenerative anemia; neutrophilic leukocytosis; hyperproteinemia; and high alkaline phosphatase activity were significantly more common in dogs with spirocercosis than in a control group of 56 healthy dogs. Concurrent systemic diseases, mainly leishmaniosis, dirofilariosis, and monocytic ehrlichiosis, were documented in 14 (36%) dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that clinical spirocercosis occurs more often in young-adult, large-breed dogs. Nonregenerative anemia, neutrophilic leukocytosis, hyperproteinemia, and high alkaline phosphatase activity may be useful clinicopathologic indicators of this disease.     

气温对贵州油桐物候期变化的影响

为贵州生态环境的变化及监测等提供参考,分析了贵州岑巩、江口、黎平3个农业气象台站1983-2005年的气温对油桐物候期变化的影响。结果表明:油桐物候的早晚存在明显的地域性差异;气温与春季物候期总体上呈显著负相关,即气温越高物候期越早;气温与秋季物候期呈显著正相关,即气温越高物候期越迟。春季物候期平均每10a提早2～10d,秋季物候期平均每10a延后2～7d。     

高效液相色谱-荧光检测畜禽粪污中四种氟喹诺酮类抗生素残留

为了建立高效液相色谱-荧光测定畜禽粪污中氧氟沙星、诺氟沙星、环丙沙星、恩诺沙星残留的分析方法,将畜禽粪便样品经乙腈超声提取,再经正己烷液-液萃取,并经氮吹浓缩,乙腈与水混合溶解残渣,过微孔滤膜,采用高效液相色谱-荧光检测,以0.01 mol/L四丁基溴化胺(pH 3.0)/乙腈(94/6,V/V)为流动相,于激发波长280 nm、发射波长480 nm处进行检测。结果表明,畜禽粪污样品中4种喹诺酮类抗生素的平均回收率为77.8%～98.2%,相对标准偏差为3.5%～7.2%,检测限为0.005～0.010μg/kg。该方法简便、快速,可满足畜禽粪污中4种喹诺酮类兽药残留量的同时检测。     

柑橘吹绵蚧的发生规律及防治技术

连续4年(2007～2010年)对柑橘吹绵蚧(Icerya purchasi Citri)的发生规律进行调查,并进行药剂防治试验。结果表明,吹绵蚧暴发的主要原因是管理粗放和病虫害防治不力;防治柑橘吹绵蚧应结合该虫的发生情况,采用综合防治技术。