Evaluation of shrub species for sheep grazing in the Strandveld of the Cape West Coast of South Africa

The production of three exotic shrub species, Atriplex nummularia (old man saltbush), A. canescens (four‐winged salt‐bush) and Medicago arborea (tree lucerne) and one indigenous evergreen shrub, Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. pisifera (west coast bitou), was evaluated in the Strandveld of the Cape West Coast in terms of grazing capacity (ssu ha^?1) and average daily gain (ADG) (g ssu^?1 day^?1) using mature Dorper sheep. Medicago arborea died out during the first season. The other three shrubs, however, survived and over a seven‐year period mean grazing capacities of 1.7, 1.6 and 1.0 ssu ha^?1 were obtained, respectively, for C. monilifera, A. nummularia and A. canescens, which is in excess of the area norm of 5 ha ssu^?1 for natural veld. Positive ADGs of 80 and 30 g ssu^?1 day^?1 were obtained on A. nummularia and A. canescens, respectively, but not on C. monilifera (‐180 g ssu^?1 day^?1).     

Cryptococcosis in captive cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus): two cases

Cryptococcus neoformans is a yeast-like organism associated with pulmonary, meningoencephalitic, or systemic disease. This case report documents 2 cases of cryptococcosis with central nervous system involvement in captive cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). In both cases the predominant post mortal lesions were pulmonary cryptococcomas and extensive meningoencephalomyelitis. Both cheetahs tested negative for feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukaemia virus. The organism isolated in Case 2 was classified as Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii, which is mainly associated with disease in immunocompetent hosts.     

Clinical and serological response of wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) to vaccination against canine distemper,canine parvovirus infection and rabies

Wild dogs Lycaon pictuis (n = 8) were vaccinated 4 times against canine distemper (n = 8) (initially with inactivated and subsequently with live attenuated strains of canine distemper) and canine parvovirus infection (n = 8) over a period of 360 days. Four of the wild dogs were also vaccinated 3 times against rabies using a live oral vaccine and 4 with an inactivated parenteral vaccine. Commercially-available canine distemper, canine parvovirus and parenteral rabies vaccines, intended for use in domestic dogs, were used. None of the vaccinated dogs showed any untoward clinical signs. The inactivated canine distemper vaccine did not result in seroconversion whereas the attenuated live vaccine resulted in seroconversion in all wild dogs. Presumably protective concentrations of antibodies to canine distemper virus were present in all wild dogs for at least 451 days. Canine parvovirus haemagglutination inhibition titres were present in all wild dogs prior to the administration of vaccine and protective concentrations persisted for at least 451 days. Vaccination against parvovirus infection resulted in a temporary increase in canine parvovirus haemagglutination inhibition titres in most dogs. Administration of both inactivated parenteral and live oral rabies vaccine initially resulted in seroconversion in 7 of 8 dogs. These titres, however, dropped to very low concentrations within 100 days. Booster administrations resulted in increased antibody concentrations in all dogs. It was concluded that the vaccines were safe to use in healthy subadult wild dogs and that a vaccination protocol in free-ranging wild dogs should at least incorporate booster vaccinations against rabies 3-6 months after the first inoculation.     

Heavy metals in horse blood, serum, and feed in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Pollution is a subject of worldwide concern and discussion and various areas of science are seeking to integrate their knowledge in an attempt to improve understanding of the harmful effects of modern human activities. Thus, the objective of the current study was to assess the potential for using the horse as a bio-indicator of environmental pollution. Blood and serum samples from 120 horses from locations with different degrees of urbanization and industrialization and the feeds used for these animals were analyzed to determine their heavy metal (Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, and Zn) content. The data obtained were compared. The results did not show increases in heavy metal concentration in the blood and serum of the horses with the intensification of urbanization and industrialization around the farms. Only Cd, as determined in the blood of the animals, showed a certain potential for using horses as bio-indicators of environmental pollution. The data for sex, age, and chemical composition of the foodstuffs supplied to the animals were not determinants in explaining the variation in the concentrations of heavy metals observed.     

Asebotin, a dihydrochalcone glucoside from Guibourtia tessmannii.

Asebotin (1), a dihydrochalcone glucoside, was isolated from the stem bark of Guibourtia tessmanni and characterised by means of spectroscopic analysis including 1H-, 13C, MS and 1D Noe difference experiment.     

Exacerbation of Chlamydophila psittaci pathogenicity in turkeys superinfected by Escherichia coli

Both Chlamydophila psittaci and Escherichia coli infections are highly prevalent in Belgian turkeys and therefore they both might contribute to the respiratory disease complex observed in turkeys. C. psittaci can infect turkeys within the first week of age, even in the presence of maternal antibodies. However, the first C. psittaci outbreaks occur mostly at the age of 3 to 6 weeks, the period when also E. coli infections appear on the farms. Therefore, we examined in this study the pathogenicity of an E. coli superinfection on C. psittaci predisposed turkeys. Turkeys were infected with C. psittaci, E. coli or with C. psittaci followed by E. coli. Simulating the impact of an E. coli infection during the acute phase or the latent phase of a C. psittaci infection, turkeys received E. coli at 1 or 5 weeks post C. psittaci infection, respectively. E. coli superinfection during the acute phase of C. psittaci infection increased C. psittaci excretion and stimulated chlamydial replication in the respiratory tract resulting in exacerbated clinical disease. Interestingly, E. coli superinfection during the latent phase of C. psittaci infection induced chlamydial replication, leading to increased C. psittaci-specific antibody titres. In addition, chlamydial predisposition gave higher E. coli excretion compared with turkeys that had only been infected with E. coli. Overall, the present study clearly demonstrates the pathogenic interplay between C. psittaci and E. coli resulting in more severe respiratory disease.     

Securidacaxanthone A, a heptaoxygenated xanthone from Securidaca longepedunculata

From the root bark of Securidaca longepedunculata, a heptaoxygenated xanthone (1) has been isolated as well as two known xanthones (2) and (3) and two salicylic acid derivatives (4) and (5). The structure of 1 has been elucidated from 1H and 13C-NMR spectral data.     

Evolution of magnetic and superconducting fluctuations with doping of high-Tc superconductors

Electronic Raman scattering from high- and low-energy excitations was studied as a function of temperature, extent of hole doping, and energy of the incident photons in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+/-delta superconductors. For underdoped superconductors, short-range antiferromagnetic (AF) correlations were found to persist with hole doping, and doped single holes were found to be incoherent in the AF environment. Above the superconducting (SC) transition temperature Tc, the system exhibited a sharp Raman resonance of B1g symmetry and energy of 75 millielectron-volts and a pseudogap for electron-hole excitations below 75 millielectron-volts, a manifestation of a partially coherent state forming from doped incoherent quasi particles. The occupancy of the coherent state increases with cooling until phase ordering at Tc produces a global SC state.