Shell thinning and residues of organochlorines and mercury in seabird eggs, Eastern Canada, 1970-76.

Organochlorine and mercury concentrations are reported for 252 eggs of Leach's storm-petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa), double-crested cormorant (Phalarocorax auritus), common eider (Somateria mollissima), common tern (Sterna hirundo), razorbill (Alca torda), common murre (Uria aalge) black guillemot (Cepphus grylle), and Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) from the Bay of Fundy, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the open Atlantic shore of Canada during 1970-76. Concentrations of all organochlorines except DDE and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were low. DDE, PCBs, and mercury residues were highest in cormorant and petrel, intermediated in alcids, and lowest in eider and tern. Temporal and spatial aspects of contamination patterns are discussed. Authors conclude that only in cormorants were DDE residues high enough to cause, through eggshell thinning, local population declines.     

Bacterial meningoencephalitis and ventriculitis due to migrating plant foreign bodies in three dogs

Regional suppurative meningoencephalitis and ventriculitis of variable chronicity was diagnosed in three young dogs residing in Colorado. Grass awns were grossly identified in the right occipital cortex of one dog and in the right lateral ventricle of another. Intralesional plant material was microscopically evident in the dura mater overlying the right occipital cortex of the third dog. One grass awn was identified as a floret of Hordeum jabatum. In each case, aerobic culture of brain tissue identified multiple isolates of bacteria. The dogs presented with clinically variable, rapidly progressive neurologic dysfunction, including tetraplegia, depressed mentation, and episodic extensor rigidity, ataxia, circling, stupor, vocalization, and head-pressing. Encephalitis due to bacteria introduced from migrating plant foreign material is a potential sequela of intranasal, periocular, or pharyngeal foreign bodies.     

Optimizing Prepared Feed Ration for Gonad Production of the Green Sea Urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis

Adult green sea urchins Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis were fed three different quantities (0.25, 0.50, 1.00% body weight/d) of a prepared feed during a 12‐wk experiment to determine the effect of food ration on gonad quantity and quality. A diet of kelp, Laminaria longicruris and/or L. digitata, fed at satiation (3% body weight/d) and urchins taken from the wild at the beginning and end of the experiment served as controls. Urchins fed prepared feed or kelp increased their percent gonad yield significantly over the experimental period. Affer 12 wk, individuals fed the prepared diet at 0.50 or 1.00% body weighffd had significantly higher percent gonad yields (mean ± SEM: 23.5 ± 0.6% and 23.4 ± 0.7%, respectively) than urchins fed at 0.25% body weight/d (18.0 ± 1.0%) or control animals given kelp (18.3 ± 0.8%). There was no significant difference in gonad yield between the 0.50 and 1.00% feeding levels. All feeding treatments had significantly higher percent gonad yields than urchins sampled from the wild at the end of the experiment that had recently spawned (2.8 ± 0.5%). There was no significant difference in gonad taste among urchins fed the prepared diet at 0.25% body weight/d, those given kelp, or those collected from the wild at the end of the experiment (good to very good ratings), but all of these treatments had significantly better tasting gonads than urchins given the prepared feed at 0.50 or 1.00% body weight/d (satisfactory ratings). Gonad taste rating of urchins fed a prepared diet was dependent on ration with greater feed amounts leading to worse tasting gonads (linear regression: r²= 0.68, P < 0.01). Gonad color, texture, and firmness did not differ significantly among any of the feed ration treatments or kelp control. Results suggest that the best ration for prepared feed would be 0.50% body weightld since this would optimize gonad yield while minimizing feed costs. Further research on prepared feeds is required to optimize both gonad color and taste.     

First report of Eimeria leuckarti infection in a horse in New Zealand

The protozoan parasite, Eimeria leuckarti was present in the ileal mucosa of a 7-month-old Thoroughbred filly which was destroyed with acute peritonitis resulting from perforation of the rectum. The parasite was considered to be of no clinical significance and the signs of colic noted prior to the rectal rupture were related to the vascular lesions caused by infection with Delafondia vulgaris.     

Comparison of two laparoscopic treatments for experimentally induced abdominal adhesions in pony foals

OBJECTIVE: To compare laparoscopic dissection with-laparoscopic dissection combined with abdominal instillation of ferric hyaluronate gel for the treatment of experimentally induced adhesions in pony foals. ANIMALS: 12 healthy pony foals. PROCEDURE: A serosal abrasion method was used to create adhesions at 4 sites on the jejunum (day 0). At day 7 laparoscopy was performed and the adhesions observed in each foal were recorded. In group-1 foals (n = 6), the adhesions were separated laparoscopically (treatment 1). In group-2 foals (n = 6), 300 mL of 0.5% ferric hyaluronate gel was infused into the abdomen after the adhesions were separated laparoscopically (treatment 2). At day 24, terminal laparoscopy was performed and the adhesions observed were recorded. Total number of adhesions within each group was compared between day 7 and 24. Data were analyzed to determine whether an association existed between the number of adhesions on day 24 and treatment type. RESULTS: At day 24, the number of adhesions was significantly decreased within each group, compared with the number of adhesions at day 7 (group-1 foals, 10 vs 22 adhesions; group-2 foals, 3 vs 20 adhesions). Treatment 1 was associated with a significantly higher number of adhesions at day 24, compared with treatment 2 (odds ratio, 4.54; 95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 23.02). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Abdominal instillation of 0.5% ferric hyaluronate gel after laparoscopic dissection was a more effective technique than laparoscopic dissection alone to treat experimentally induced adhesions in pony foals. Laparoscopic adhesiolysis following abdominal surgery in foals is a safe and effective technique.     

Seasonal variation of phosphatase activity in woodland soils

Seasonal variation of phosphatase activity in 0–5 cm soils from 1.6 m² plots in 48 English Lake District woodlands has been studied. Six per cent or 21% of the total variation in phosphatase activity at the assay temperature of 13°C was seasonal if activity was expressed respectively as phenol liberated g^?1 soil or cm^?3 soil. No seasonal pattern of activity at 13°C was detectable within individual plots due to high within-plot spatial variation. By averaging the results of all 48 plots, a seasonal pattern was identified but this did not resemble the seasonal pattern of soil available P content. Two, possibly three, peaks of activity occurred during the year, one in summer, a second after leaf-fall in autumn and possibly a minor peak in spring. The highest activity occurred in mid-winter.When adjusted to field temperature, 19 or 37% of the total variation in phosphatase activity, expressed respectively in terms of g^?1 soil or cm^?3 soil, was seasonal. The same three peaks of activity were still apparent, but their relative heights were altered, with maximum activity occurring in summer. After adjustment to field temperature, the seasonal pattern could be detected in many of the individual plots, if activity was expressed in terms of cm^?3 soil, and reflected the seasonal pattern of soil available P.Soil phosphatase data should be expressed in terms of activity per unit soil volume and adjusted to field temperatures, if the biological significance of the seasonal variation in activity is to be appreciated.     

Evaluation of laparoscopic adhesiolysis for the treatment of experimentally induced adhesions in pony foals

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of laparoscopic adhesiolysis in the treatment of experimentally induced adhesions in foals. ANIMALS: 8 healthy pony foals. PROCEDURE: Celiotomy was performed and adhesions created at the jejunoileal junction and at sites 0.5 and 1 m proximal to this junction, using a serosal abrasion method. Ten days after celiotomy, exploratory laparoscopy was performed. Laparoscopic adhesiolysis was performed in the treatment group only (4 foals, randomly selected). Thirty days after the exploratory laparoscopy, a final laparoscopic examination was performed, and the foals were euthanatized. The number and characteristics of abdominal adhesions were recorded during laparoscopy 10 and 30 days after celiotomy and during necropsy. RESULTS: At 30 days after celiotomy, the number of adhesions in the control group was significantly higher than the number in the treatment group. In the control group, all adhesions observed during the exploratory laparoscopy were still evident at the final laparoscopy and necropsy. In the treatment group, adhesions did not form again after separation. During final laparoscopy and necropsy, a focal adhesion between the omentum and site of the initial laparoscope portal was observed in 5 of 8 foals. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The serosal abrasion model is useful for studying abdominal adhesions in foals. Laparoscopic adhesiolysis was an effective technique to break down experimentally induced adhesions in the early maturation stage of formation in pony foals. Studies are required to investigate prevention of de novo adhesions at the laparoscope portal sites.     

Changes in red cell volume distribution frequency after acute blood loss in goats (Capra hircus)

Red blood cell volume distribution frequency, red cell counts, packed cell volumes and reticulocyte counts were monitored during recovery from severe haemorrhagic anaemia in goats. During the first three weeks after haemorrhage there was a small transient reticulocyte response and the cells produced were significantly larger than normal. These large cells persisted in the circulation as a distinct subpopulation of macrocytes, so that the rate of red cell production during this phase could be measured. The findings suggest that red cell volume distribution measurement is a useful method for retrospective diagnosis of severe haemorrhage and for monitoring recovery. The technique also provided a means of assessing erythropoietic activity in a species in which the reticulocyte response to red cell loss is minimal.