Parasites of Chamois in New Zealand

Abstract Sir, - Andrews'((2)) checklist of helminth parasites of wild ruminants in New Zealand recorded the presence of 10 species of gastrointestinal nematodes in chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra L.) from "Central South Island". In October 1978 we examined 28 freshly-shot chamois cadavers from the Harper-Avoca watershed in the headwaters of the Rakaia River. Six of the nematode species reported by Andrews were found again; viz. Ostertagia ostertagi, O. circumcincta, O. trifurcata, Nematodirus filicollis, Oesophagostomum venulosum and Trichuris ovis. The 4 species found by Andrews that were not recovered by us from the animals we examined were: Trichostrongylus axei, T. vitrinus, Spiculotragia spiculoptera and S. asymmetrica. On the other hand we found 4 helminths not encountered by Andrews: 3 nematodes: Nematodirus spathiger (Railliet, 1896), N. abnormalis (May, 1920), and Chabertia ovina (Fabricius, 1794), and 7 specimens of the cestode Moniezia expansa (Rud., 1805). Nematodirus spathiger was the most commonly encountered Nematodirus species, but generally the numbers of all 3 species encountered were low as might be expected in a sample of adult and almost year-old animals. It is probable that most of the adults had acquired some measure of immunity((3)), and the most susceptible group, the kids, would not be born until late November. Because peptic digestion was not used to recover juveniles from the intestinal submucosa, only small numbers of adults were obtained.     

Effect of prostagladin F2 alpha on the bovine fetal ruminal wall in vitro

Strips of rumen wall from bovine fetuses were incubated in an organ bath with prostaglandin F₂ alpha (0.13 to 33.76 g/ml). The highest reactivity with a submaximal dose (17.03 g/ml) was observed in the period between 3.0 and 7.9 months of fetal age. A smaller response, but higher than in 1.0 to 2.9 months old fetuses, was observed in the 8.0 to 8.9 months fetuses. The period of the highest reactivity to prostaglandin F₂ alpha coincides with the age of onset of papillary morphogenesis and the period of highest reactivity to autonomic and putative transmitter drugs.     

Cogeneration of electric energy and nitric oxide

A solid electrolyte fuel cell operating on ammonia fuel has been constructed and tested. The yield of nitric oxide can exceed 60 percent with simultaneous electric energy production. Two dimensionless numbers have been identified which govern the product selectivity and power output of this fuel cell. The cell appears to be a promising candidate for nitric acid and electric energy cogeneration.