Succession of fruitbodies of sheathing mycorrhizal fungi associated with Betula pendula

Observations extended to the twelfth after season after planting Betula pendula into a brown earth confirmed that the production of fruitbodies by associated sheathing mycorrhizal fungi followed distinctive patterns in time and space. The temporal sequence progressed Hebeloma crustuliniforme (4th year) → Lactarius pubescens → Hebeloma fragilipes → Cortinarius sp. and Russula ‘grisea’ (12th year). Whereas the radius of the ‘ring’ of L. pubescens fruitbodies was 58 cm in the 7th year, it was 182 cm in the 12th year — an annual rate of increase of 24.8 cm year^?1, exceeding those, when measurable, of H. crustuliniforme (15.3 cm year^?1), Cortinarius sp. (7.0) and R. ‘grisea’ (17.0).     

Association of Campylobacter jejuni with enteritis in dogs and cats

Campylobacter jejuni was recovered from 59 of 505 (11.7 per cent) dogs with diarrhoea as compared with only two of 122 (1.6 per cent) dogs without diarrhoea. However, there was no significant difference between campylobacter isolations from 142 cats with and without diarrhoea. C jejuni infections were commonly associated with chronic diarrhoea in both species and appropriate therapy abolished clinical signs and excretion of the organism in faeces in most cases. C jejuni may be responsible for some forms of enteritis in dogs and cats and is a zoonosis in which the companion animal may be the vector.     

Interactions of management and animal performance in a swine feedlot

The factors of feed efficiency, growth rate, carcass trim at slaughter, amount of antibiotic treatment, and death rate were compared among groups of pigs fed ("finished") in an open-front feedlot in Kansas. The factor having the greatest influence on performance was the month of entry of the pigs into the feedlot. Carcass trim at slaughter was greater in groups wherein each pig was given more than 4 ml of antibiotic than in groups wherein less than 4 ml of antibiotic was given to each pig. Death rates of pigs that remained in the feedlot longer than 150 days were nearly twice those of pigs that had been sent to slaughter before 150 days.     

Three‐dimensional T1‐weighted gradient echo is a suitable alternative to two‐dimensional T1‐weighted spin echo for imaging the canine brain

Volumetric imaging (VOL), a three‐dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique, has been described in the literature for evaluation of the human brain. It offers several advantages over conventional two‐dimensional (2D) spin echo (SE), allowing rapid, whole‐brain, isotropic imaging with submillimeter voxels. This retrospective, observational study compares the use of 2D T1‐weighted SE (T1W SE), with T1W VOL, for the evaluation of dogs with clinical signs of intracranial disease. Brain MRI images from 160 dogs who had T1W SE and T1W VOL sequences acquired pre‐ and postcontrast, were reviewed for presence and characteristics of intracranial lesions. Twenty‐nine of 160 patients were found to have intracranial lesions, all visible on both sequences. Significantly better grey‐white matter (GWM) differentiation was identified with T1W VOL (P < .001), with fair agreement between the two sequences (weighted κ = 0.35). Excluding a mild reduction in lesion intensity in three dogs precontrast on the T1W VOL images compared to T1W SE, and meningeal enhancement noted on the T1W VOL images in one dog, not identified on T1W SE, there was otherwise complete agreement between the two sequences. The T1W VOL sequence provided equivalent lesion evaluation and significantly improved GWM differentiation. Images acquired were of comparable diagnostic quality to those produced using a conventional T1W SE technique, for assessment of lesion appearance, number, location, mass effect, and postcontrast enhancement. T1W VOL, therefore, provides a suitable alternative T1W sequence for canine brain evaluation and can facilitate a reduction in total image acquisition time.     

Treatment factors influencing the use of recombinant platelet-derived growth factor (Regranex) for head and lateral line erosion syndrome in ocean surgeonfish (Acanthurus bahianus)

The clinical efficacy of becaplermin (Regranex, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc., Raritan, New Jersey 08869) on head and lateral line erosion syndrome (HLLES) in ocean surgeonfish (Acanthurus bahianus) was examined in a two-part study to determine suitable application frequencies of the drug and the effects of the environment on outcome of treatments. In the first part of the study, 12 ocean surgeonfish with prior HLLES were equally divided into three treatment groups, varying in application frequency of becaplermin: 1) one application, 2) three applications every 3 wk, and 3) no applications. After 9 wk, it was determined through photograph and computer analysis that fish treated with becaplermin did heal significantly more than the fish that were not treated. No significant difference was found when comparing the two treatment regimes; therefore, a one-time treatment of becaplermin was just as effective as the three-time application, reducing cost of the treatment, staff labor, and stress to the animals. In the second part of the study, the effect of the water environment on HLLES development was documented before and after a one-time treatment of becaplermin. When fish were treated and placed into a system known to cause HLLES, the becaplermin treatment had no effect on reducing the HLLES progression, whereas treated fish that were placed into a system that did not cause HLLES showed a significant decrease in erosion after the treatment. Therefore, treating fish being placed into a HLLES-causing system serves no beneficial purpose to healing HLLES.     

Evaluation of Factors Influencing the Generation of Ammonia in Different Bedding Materials Used for Horse Keeping

Bedding material is an important factor in determining stable air quality in terms of ammonia formation. The objective of this study was to analyze different bedding materials used for horse stables under standardized conditions, to determine which material is best suited for improving the climate of a stable. The particular concern was a reduction in gaseous ammonia concentrations. Therefore, the following materials were examined: wheat straw, wood shavings, hemp shives, linen shives, wheat straw pellets, and paper cuttings. Twelve containers were constructed in an environmentally controlled room, and the same material was placed into two containers, with the amount of material used being determined by its carbon content. A defined ratio of horse manure/urine mixture was added daily to each container over a period of 14 days. The concentrations of gaseous ammonia, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and water vapor were measured continuously above the bedding within the containers. Means of gaseous ammonia were found to be 178.0 mg/m³ for wheat straw, 155.2 mg/m³ for wood shavings, 144.6 mg/m³ for hemp, 133.7 mg/m³ for linen, 60.3 mg/m³ for straw pellets, and 162.6 mg/m³ for paper cuttings. In conclusion, the results of this study have shown that straw pellets are suitable for horse stables, not only to improve air quality but also, first and foremost, in relation to ammonia binding and ammonia transformation within the bedding material, respectively. However, straw pellets may also have disadvantages. The high substrate temperatures that were measured in straw pellets could favor the growth of pathologic germs that can adversely affect animals' health.     

Incidence, pathology and prevention of keel bone deformities in the laying hen

1. As a baseline study of the nature and incidence of keel deformities in laying hens, keel condition was examined in three different strains of hen from a total of 4 different caged environments (two commercial farms and two experimental farms). Incidence of keel deformity on farms in end of lay hens ranged from 2.6 to 16.7%. Only 0.8% of younger 15-week-old pullets had deformed keels. 2. Incidence of keel deformities was unchanged in 100 birds sampled from a free-range system compared to conventional caged siblings at the same farm. 3. Keel condition was also examined in 5 selected generations of a study involving the use of a body-weight-restricted selection index for skeletal improvement. Divergent selection for skeletal characteristics decreased incidence of keel deformity and improved radiographic density (RD) in high bone index (BI) hens compared to low BI hens in all selected generations. Male high BI keels were also improved compared to low BI. Shear strength measured in normal keels in generation 6 (G6) of the genetic study was improved in high BI hens compared to low BI hens. For all hens in the genetic study, those with normal keels had stronger tibiotarsus and humerus breaking strengths than hens with deformed keels. 4. Histopathology of keels representative of different deformities showed the presence of fracture callus material and new bone in all cases. This establishes that deformities are a result of trauma and are not developmental in origin. 5. Ash contents of keels, tibiae and humeri showed no differences between hens with normal and deformed keels. There were no differences in indicators of collagen cross-linkage in other bones between hens with normal keels and those with deformed keels. 6. It is concluded that lack of bone mass is the underlying cause of keel fracture and deformity in laying hens, rather than qualitative changes in bone, and that genetic selection can improve keel quality and prevent deformity.