Hepatomas in Atlantic tomcod Microgadus tomcod (Walbaum) collected in the Hudson River estuary in New York

Abstract. Incidental observations of Atlantic tomcod during routine laboratory processing revealed that a portion of the adult population collected during the 1977–78 spawning season had enlarged livers containing dark coloured tumours and other abnormalities. Of the total of 264 livers collected between 16 January and 27 February 1978 and grossly examined for prevalence of abnormalities, 25% appeared to contain neoplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinoma. One liver contained a massive tumour (7 × 12 mm) that involved approximately 60% of the liver. The exact causes of the high prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma are unknown but poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are suspected of having a possible role. The Hudson River is known to contain elevated concentrations of PCBs. Twelve tomcod livers from the 1977–78 spawning population representing both normal and hepatoma conditions contained concentrations of PCBs ranging from 10–9 to 98–2 ppm (mean of 37–5 ppm).     

Conservation assessment of British limestone pavements based on floristic criteria

The total British area of limestone pavement is very small, yet this scarce resource is being destroyed to supply decorative stone. Its scientific interest is both geological and botanical. Exploiting an exhaustive survey, a weighted index was developed for assessing the conservation value of limestone pavements based on their deep grike floras. Using weighted indices, 27 sites in Cumbria, Gwynedd, Lancashire, North Yorkshire and Skye were identified as important for the conservation of limestone pavement floras.     

Antigen competition: antigens compete for a cell occurring with limited frequency

Experimentally altered ability of transferred spleen cells to generate hemolytic plaque-forming cells provided evidence that antigens compete for a type of multipotential cell that contributes to the formation of immunologically competent units. De'ay of exposure of transferred spleen cells to antigen provided results which suggest that different types of cells interact to form competent, antigen-reactive units even in the absence of antigen.     

Factors affecting the variability in cracked and dirty eggs and egg production profitability on an integrated poultry operation

1. A number of factors causing variability in the percentages of cracked, and dirty eggs and weekly standard margin (WSM) of returns from eggs over production costs were examined on an integrated commercial poultry plant in Scotland.

2. As the bird aged, the percentage of cracked eggs increased (P <0.01) and the percentage of grade A eggs and WSM decreased (P <0.01). Cracks in dirty eggs (10.1%) were more than double those in all eggs laid (4.9%).

3. Seasonal effects on percentage cracked eggs and percentage grade A eggs were one‐third the magnitude of those due to age but were significant (P <0.05).

4. Variability in percentage cracked eggs, dirty eggs and WSM accounted for by the factors measured, were 72, 64 and 92% respectively.

5. The variability in WSM was significantly affected by percentage lay, food consumption and age but not by percentage cracked eggs, originally dirty and grade A eggs.

6. Flock management and climate inside the laying house each increased the amount of variability accounted for in the percentage cracked eggs and dirty eggs by at least 10%.     

Preliminary evaluation of diagnostic tests using horses experimentally infected with trypanosoma evansi

Seven surra negative horses were intravenously inoculated with 3 x 10(6)Trypanosoma evansi parasites derived from a camel. One horse was maintained as an uninfected negative control. Three antigen and three antibody detection tests were evaluated for diagnosis of infection in horses. The microhaematocrit centrifugation test (MHCT) was the most sensitive, first detecting parasites between one and three days (x 2.4) post infection (p.i.). The antigen (ag)-ELISA detected antigen between three and ten days (x 6.6) p.i. The latex agglutination test (LAT) first gave positive results on day 3 (x 3.0) p.i. Following the treatment of horses with trypanocidal drugs, the MCHT and the mouse inoculation test (MIT) became negative. Antigen levels using LAT declined and reached pre-infection levels in five out of six horses during the period of observation (92-279 days). Antigen levels using the ag-ELISA declined as well but did not reach pre-infection levels in any of the six horses.Three antibody detection techniques, ab-ELISA, card agglutination test (CATT), and immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) detected antibodies in the blood of all seven infected horses but not in the uninfected control. However, the ab-ELISA did not discriminate clearly between sera from infected and uninfected horses because unacceptably high ELISA background readings were detected in 15% of the surra negative horses shipped to the UAE from the UK. The ELISA antibody increased above pre-infection levels in the six horses experimentally infected, but not in one horse. In this horse the ELISA antibody level exceeded the cut-off level only after the reoccurrence of the T. evansi infection. The IFAT detected antibodies 15.7 days p.i. in all infected horses.     

Review of morphological and behavioural differences between reared and wild individuals: Implications for sea-ranching of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua L., and European lobster, Homarus gammarus L.

Abstract The main question which must be raised when planning to enhance natural populations through sea ranching is whether reared organisms are fit for a life in the wild, or more specifically, whether there are differences between reared and naturally resident individuals. The causes and effects of these differences are reviewed, and results from the Norwegian enhancement programme, which compared reared and wild individuals of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua L., and European lobster, Homarus gammarus L., are discussed with emphasis on morphological and behavioural differences. It was concluded that exposure to an artificial rearing environment during ontogeny can affect both the phenotype and the behaviour of the reared individuals, and thereby, their potential for survival after release into the wild as well. Suggestions are made as to how to diminish observed differences, and thereby, improve the survival potential.     

The molecular basis of the sparse fur mouse mutation

The ornithine transcarbamylase-deficient sparse fur mouse is an excellent model to study the most common human urea cycle disorder. The mutation has been well characterized by both biochemical and enzymological methods, but its exact nature has not been revealed. A single base substitution in the complementary DNA for ornithine transcarbamylase from the sparse fur mouse has been identified by means of a combination of two recently described techniques for rapid mutational analysis. This strategy is simpler than conventional complementary DNA library construction, screening, and sequencing, which has often been used to find a new mutation. The ornithine transcarbamylase gene in the sparse fur mouse contains a C to A transversion that alters a histidine residue to an asparagine residue at amino acid 117.     

Carbon flux and growth in mature deciduous forest trees exposed to elevated CO2

Whether rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations will cause forests to grow faster and store more carbon is an open question. Using free air CO2 release in combination with a canopy crane, we found an immediate and sustained enhancement of carbon flux through 35-meter-tall temperate forest trees when exposed to elevated CO2. However, there was no overall stimulation in stem growth and leaf litter production after 4 years. Photosynthetic capacity was not reduced, leaf chemistry changes were minor, and tree species differed in their responses. Although growing vigorously, these trees did not accrete more biomass carbon in stems in response to elevated CO2, thus challenging projections of growth responses derived from tests with smaller trees.