Fecal steroid analysis for evaluating ovarian function in the greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) and lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis)

Seasonal reproductive-endocrine norms have not been described for the genus Tragelaphus, which consists of seven species of African antelope. Longitudinal patterns of progesterone metabolite excretion were assessed by radioimmunoassays in fecal samples collected noninvasively (three to seven samples per week) from greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros, n = 4) and lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis, n = 4). Progesterone metabolite excretion patterns revealed seasonal estrous cycles in both species, and discrimination of pregnant versus nonpregnant females was achieved in lesser kudu. These data reveal the value of fecal progesterone metabolites for establishing reproductive-endocrine norms in both zoo-maintained and free-living antelopes of the genus Tragelaphus.     

Spotted wing drosophila infestation of California strawberries and raspberries: economic analysis of potential revenue losses and control costs

BACKGROUND: Economic costs of spotted wing drosophila (SWD) include yield and associated revenue losses, labor and material costs for monitoring and management and revenue losses due to the closure of export markets should fruit from SWD‐infested regions be banned by trading partners. This analysis focuses on two types of loss in the California raspberry and strawberry industries: yield losses in the absence of management, and insecticide material costs on a per treatment basis. It computes the cost of a specific management program for raspberries in California's Central Coast region. RESULTS: Insecticide material and application costs per treatment and the cost of the management program are small relative to the yield losses in the absence of management that are observed by growers, researchers and others in initial infestations. CONCLUSION: It is difficult to evaluate precisely the share of pest management program costs due to SWD because insecticides are sometimes used to manage multiple pests, and because labor‐intensive field sanitation efforts to control SWD are recommended practices already. Given these considerations, this analysis finds that the benefits to SWD management well outweigh the costs examined here. Evaluating the efficacy of managing SWD is essential in assessing the risks that SWD poses and the benefits of pest management programs. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Prevalence and Species Distribution of Yeast in Mammary Glands of Dairy Cows in Minnesota

A study of the prevalence of yeast-like fungi in the mammary glands of dairy cattle was conducted in Minnesota. Quarter samples from 6,020 cows were cultured for yeast. Growth of organisms was obtained from 3.2% of the quarter milk samples. The rate of yeast infection for Minnesota dairy cattle in this study was 2.0%.

The majority of the yeast isolated belonged to one of four species of the Candida genus. Candida krusei, Candida parakrusei, Candida guilliermundi, and Candida tropicalis, comprised 89% of the yeasts isolated. All of these species have been reported to cause clinical mastitis (1, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16).

It would appear that yeast-like fungi are of sufficient prevalence in mammary glands that yeast infection would be considered in the differential diagnosis in cases of clinical mastitis.

     

Isotope-edited nuclear magnetic resonance: novel methodologies for investigating metabolism

While the use of NMR and stable isotopes in metabolism studies is hardly new, it is only recently that isotope-edited NMR spectroscopy has been applied in kinetic studies of glyphosate metabolism of soil microbes. NMR can detect multiple species simultaneously and non-destructively, yielding valuable information on structural identification of metabolites. T riple R esonance I sotope ED ited spectroscopy (TRIED), [²H]NMR, and [²H–¹³C] INEPT (I nsensitive N ucleus E nhancement through P olarization T ransfer) are three isotope-edited techniques which have been used in combination to examine the microbial degradation of glyphosate (N-phosphonomethylglycine). Using ¹³C- and ¹⁵N-labeled glyphosate, TRIED can detect multiple metabolites in crude matrices at submicrogram levels, an improvement over earlier techniques where milligrams were needed. It can detect 500 nanograms of ¹³C–¹⁵N-labeled compound in a crude sample (1 : 1400 mass ratio), only a few hours work being required. [²H]NMR and [²H–¹³C]INEPT were also used as complementary techniques to further examine metabolites whose ¹³C–¹⁵N bond has been cleaved. The three-isotope-edited methods produced results consistent with both radioactivity and HPLC analyses. Accordingly, we are able to detect minute levels of metabolites in the presence of complex mixtures, minimizing the costs and time of sample purification. ©1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Improvement of Fertility in Artificially Inseminated Ewes Following Vaginal Treatment with Misoprostol Plus Terbutaline Sulphate

The effect of vaginal administration of misoprostol plus terbutaline sulphate 6 h prior to artificial insemination (AI) upon the site of AI (vaginal or cervical) and fertility was studied using a total of 87 estrous synchronized Serra da Estrela ewes (control n = 42 and treated n = 45). Artificial insemination was performed using refrigerated semen at 54–55 h after sponge removal. Lambing rate (fertility) and prolificacy were compared between control and treated ewes. The effect of the site of semen deposition on fertility was also evaluated. Prolificacy rate was not different between control (1.5) and treated (1.59) ewes. The proportion of cervical AI achieved in control (45.2%) and treated (37.8%) ewes was not significantly different. Overall, fertility was significantly lower in control than in treated ewes (42.9% vs 64.4%; p < 0.04). Fertility following vaginal AI was significantly lower for control for than treated ewes (30.4% vs 60.7%; p < 0.03) but the difference was smaller and not significant for cervical AI (control 57.9% vs 70.6%). It was concluded that vaginal administration of misoprostol plus terbutaline sulphate 6 h prior to artificial insemination did not affect the proportion of cervical inseminations but significantly improved the fertility of treated ewes. Although needing confirmation, it was hypothesized that drugs might have induced local secretory modifications leading to an increase of cervical ability to retain more viable spermatozoa for fertilization.     

Dakota Pearl: An attractive, bright white-skinned, cold-chipping cultivar with tablestock potential

Dakota Pearl (ND2676-10) is a medium-maturing chipping cultivar with uniform, round, bright white-skinned tubers with shallow eyes. Dakota Pearl has the ability to produce commercially acceptable chips following long-term storage at 5.5 C without the need for reconditioning. It yields well under both dryland and irrigated trial conditions in North Dakota. North Central Regional Potato Variety Trial and Snack Food Association Trial results indicate it has wide adaptability. Yield and specific gravity under dryland conditions are similar to Norchip; Dakota Pearl has a low percentage of external defects. Average set is 12 to 14 tubers per hill. Dakota Pearl demonstrates wide consumer appeal as a tablestock cultivar due to attractive tuber appearance and bright-white skin. Sensory evaluation scores for baking, boiling, and microwaving are comparable to those of standard chip cvs Atlantic, NorValley, and Snowden. The specific gravity of Dakota Pearl is similar to cvs Norchip and NorValley, lower than for Atlantic or Snowden. Total glycoalkaloid levels are low, at 1.5 mg/100 g fresh tuber tissue. The North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station released Dakota Pearl on 23 April 1999.     

Effect of the Medium Replacement Interval on the Viability,Growth and In Vitro Maturation of Isolated Caprine and Ovine Pre‐Antral Follicles

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different medium replacement intervals on the viability, antral cavity formation, growth and in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes from caprine and ovine pre‐antral follicles. Pre‐antral ovarian follicles (≥150 μm) were isolated from the ovarian cortex of goats and sheep and were individually cultured for 24 days using two different medium replacement intervals [2 days (T₁) or 6 days (T₂)]. Follicle development was evaluated on the basis of antral cavity formation, increases in follicular diameter and the presence of healthy cumulus oocyte complexes and fully grown oocytes. For caprine species, results showed a higher percentage (p < 0.05) of viable follicles in T₁ than T₂ from day 6 until the end of the culture. In addition, when comparing both treatments after the same culture duration, the rate of antrum formation was significantly higher in T₁ than in T₂ from day 12 onwards. Yet, in ovines, when both treatments were compared on day 24 of the culture, there were more viable follicles in T₂ than in T₁ (p < 0.05). In the caprine species, percentages of fully grown oocytes (≥110 μm) acceptable for IVM after 24 days of culture were significantly higher in normal follicles cultured in T₁ (30.0%) than in T₂ (6.7%; p < 0.05). On the other hand, in ovines, at the end of the culture, the percentage of oocytes destined for IVM was higher in T₂ than in T₁ (23.5% vs 2.9%; p < 0.05). In conclusion, under the same conditions, the frequency of medium replacement significantly affected the in vitro development of caprine and ovine pre‐antral follicles. To improve the efficiency of the culture system, the medium must be replaced every 2 and 6 days for goat and sheep pre‐antral follicles, respectively.     

The effect of the inhibitors of protein and nucleic acid synthesis on the coumarin-induced tuberization and growth of excised axillary shoots of potato sprquts (Solanum tuberosum l.) culturedin vitro

The inhibitors of protein and nucleic acid synthesis; chloramphenicol, para-fluorophenylalanine, actinomycin D, and 5-fluorouracil were evaluated for their effectiveness in inhibiting coumarin-induced tuberization, tuber growth, and the inhibition of.root and shoot growth of excised axillary shoots of potato sprouts culturedin vitro. To date, it has been demonstrated that both kinetin and coumarin readily effect 100 percent tuberization of the shoots culturedin vitro. The results of the present study demonstrate that with the exception of 5-fluorouracil, the inhibitors significantly inhibited the coumarin-induced. tuberization, tuber growth, and root growth whereas in previously published data by Palmer and Smith (6), the inhibitors merely delayed kinetin-induced tuberization. It is suggested that both protein and nucleic acid synthesis are required for the coumarin-induced tuberization processes, and the mode of action of coumarin is distinctly different from that of kinetin.