Anthropogenic Soils of Botanical Gardens: A Review

Eurasian Soil Science - A review of publications on soils of botanical gardens forming in different landscape conditions and approaches to their classification is presented. Transformation of the...     

Possibility of Reducing Soil Allelotoxicity for Grain Crops

Eurasian Soil Science - The results of experiments on possible reduction of soil allelotoxicity level for grain crops are presented. It was found that autoclaving of soils significantly reduces...     

Effect of light source and regimen on growing broilers

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different light sources and light schedules on the growth and quality of commercial broilers. In each experiment 810 broiler chicks were divided into 3 groups, 3 replicates per group. All were reared at 20 lux. Body weight and food consumption were recorded weekly. Experiment 1. Birds were reared under 3 light sources: incandescent light bulb, warm-white fluorescent light tube or warm-white mini-fluorescent light bulb. Experiment 2. Birds were reared on 3 light schedules. 23 h light and 1 h dark (23L: 1D) throughout; an increasing light schedule with initial 23L:1D then 8L: 16D increasing daylight gradually to 16L:8D or an intermittently increasing daylight schedule (16:8P) where light and dark periods were shorter but portioned to achieve the same total hours per day up to 16L:8D. Broilers reared under mini-fluorescent light bulb were heavier than those under fluorescent tubes or incandescent bulbs by 49 d. Until 42 d of age, photoperiod had no effect on growth. However, at 49 d broilers reared under 16:8P and 16L:8D regimens were heavier than those or 23L:1D. At 42 d, female broilers on 23L:1D, were heavier than those on 16L:8D and 16:8P. Mortality was higher in groups on 23L:1D than on 16L:8D on 16:8P. At 49 d incidence of leg condemnation was higher in the 16:8P group. However, skin damage was lower in this group than in those on 23L: 1D and 16L:8D.     

Dietary Supplements of Vitamins E and C and β-Carotene Reduce Oxidative Stress in Cats with Renal Insufficiency

Oxidative stress may contribute to the progression of chronic renal failure. In this study, cats with spontaneous renal insufficiency were fed a dry cat food supplemented with the antioxidants vitamins E and C, and β-carotene for 4 weeks. When compared with healthy cats, cats with renal insufficiency had a tendency to oxidative stress. The antioxidant supplements significantly reduced DNA damage in cats with renal insufficiency as evidenced by reduced serum 8-OHdG and comet assay parameters. Therefore, supplements of vitamins E and C and β-carotene as antioxidants may be beneficial to cats with renal disease. Partial data of this study were presented at the Experimental Biology meeting on 17–21 April, 2004. Washington DC, USA     

Absence of three known benzimidazole resistance mutations in Trichostrongylus tenuis, a nematode parasite of avian hosts

Benzimidazole (BZ) resistance is widespread in nematode parasites of livestock, but very little is known about the levels of BZ resistance in parasites with avian hosts. We investigated BZ resistance in Trichostrongylus tenuis, a nematode parasite of red grouse, Lagopus lagopus scotica. BZ anthelmintics had been in use in this system for up to 15 years, yet existing phenotypic evidence for resistance was inconclusive. We screened 1530 individuals from 14 populations at the principal β-tubulin locus for BZ resistance (isotype 1, residue 200) and 940 of these at two further resistance sites (isotype 1, residue 167; isotype 2, residue 200). No BZ resistant genotypes were found. Alternative mechanisms may be responsible for BZ resistance in this system, or the method and timing of treatments may reduce selection pressure for BZ resistance by creating substantial refugia for susceptible genotypes.     

Clinical study of cats injured and killed in road traffic accidents in Cambridgeshire

Data were collected on the injuries, treatment and outcome of 128 cats involved in road accidents and seen as first-opinion cases in veterinary practices in Cambridgeshire. Sixteen cats were dead on arrival; the mortality rate for the remaining cats was 16 per cent. Half of the cats were aged between seven months and two years, with more males than females affected. Most cats had moderate injuries; strays had more severe injuries than owned cats. Areas of the body most often injured were the extremities, head and neck, pelvis and thorax. Skeletal injuries were present in 67 cats and neurological signs in 29. Diagnostic procedures and medical treatment were necessary for the majority of cats; surgery was required in 51 cases. Most cats were hospitalised for between two and seven days and some required up to one month of treatment. The cost of treatment was less than 400 pounds sterling for 84 per cent of cats.     

Laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy in a cat

Several techniques for castration of cryptorchid cats have been described. In this case report, the use of laparoscopy for castration of a bilateral cryptorchid cat (with testes located in the abdomen) is described. Three trocars were inserted into the abdominal cavity, the testicles were easily identified adjacent to the urinary bladder. Haemostasis of the gubernaculum testis and spermatic cord was achieved with bipolar cauterisation. The testicles were easily removed in approximately 20 min. To the authors' knowledge this is the first report of the use of laparoscopy for the treatment of cryptorchidism in cats.     

Association between endometritis and urocystitis in culled sows

Slaughterhouse sampling and examination of urogenital tracts of 499 sows and gilts culled for reproductive reasons from 21 Hungarian herds were performed over a 6-year period. The aim was to estimate the prevalence of different urogenital tract lesions, and to provide sensitivity and specificity estimates for macroscopic and bacteriological examinations in the diagnosis of urocystitis and endometritis. Furthermore, the association between endometritis and urocystitis was assessed. The prevalence of main lesions of the urogenital tract was similar to that reported in other studies. The 'sensitivity' of macroscopic and bacteriological methods was determined statistically by taking histopathology as the 'Gold Standard'. As a result, the 'sensitivity' of macroscopic methods for the diagnosis of endometritis and urocystitis was < or = 18.1% and 47.9%, respectively, while the 'sensitivity' of bacteriology for the diagnosis of the same conditions was < or = 31.8% and 63.0%, respectively. The presumed positive association between urocystitis and endometritis was confirmed; it was not confounded by parity. Animals affected by urocystitis had a 3.5 times higher odds to simultaneously have endometritis than animals without urocystitis.     

Phenotypic and genetic evaluation of elbow dysplasia in Dutch Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and Bernese Mountain dogs

Canine elbow dysplasia encompasses four developmental diseases: ununited anconeal process, osteochondrosis of the medial part of the humeral condyle, fragmented medial coronoid process (FCP), and incongruity of the elbow joint. Four radiographic views per joint were used to evaluate 2693 Labrador Retrievers (LRs), 1213 Golden Retrievers (GRs), and 974 Bernese Mountain Dogs (BMDs) for the presence of elbow dysplasia between 2002 and 2009 in the Netherlands. The views were also graded for signs of osteoarthritis and sclerosis. FCP was diagnosed most frequently in LRs, GRs and BMDs, with an incidence of 6%, 5%, and 15%, and a heritability of 0.17, 0.24, and 0.06, respectively. Heritabilities were estimated using a sire model and all available ancestors. Sclerosis at the base of the medial coronoid process was the radiographic sign most strongly correlated with FCP (r=0.95, 0.92, and 0.95 in LRs, GRs and BMDs, respectively). The sex of the dog was significantly correlated with the presence of osteoarthritis in LRs, but not in GRs and BMDs. Male LRs were 1.7-fold more frequently, but not more severely, affected by osteoarthritis than female dogs. Age at radiographic examination was significantly associated with osteoarthritis in all three breeds. The heritability estimates in Retrievers were high enough to warrant including FCP findings in the breeding policy, but until the biomechanical and genetic background of elbow dysplasia are better understood, correct phenotyping with a sensitive technique is essential.     

Retrospective study of the prevalence of postanaesthetic hypothermia in cats

A retrospective study of 275 anaesthetic records of cats was undertaken to examine the prevalence of postanaesthetic hypothermia, its clinical predictors and consequences. Temperature was recorded throughout anaesthesia. The temperature reached at the end was classified as hyperthermia (>39.50 °C), normothermia (38.50 to 39.50 °C), slight hypothermia (38.49 to 36.50 °C), moderate hypothermia (36.49 to 34.00 °C) or severe hypothermia (<34.00 °C). Statistical analysis consisted of multiple regression to identify the factors that affect the temperature at the end of the procedure. Before premedication, the mean (sd) temperature was 38.2 (1.0) °C. At 60, 120 and 180 minutes from induction, the temperature was 35.4 (1.4) °C, 35.0 (1.5) °C and 34.6 (1.5) °C, respectively. The prevalence of hypothermia was slight 26.5 per cent (95 per cent CI 21.7 to 32.0 per cent), moderate 60.4 per cent (95 per cent CI 54.5 to 66.0 per cent) and severe 10.5 per cent (95 per cent CI 7.4 to 14.7 per cent). The variables associated with a decrease in the temperature recorded at the end of anaesthesia were the duration of anaesthesia, the reason for anaesthesia (abdominal and orthopaedic surgeries significantly reduced the temperature when compared with minor procedures) and the anaesthetic risk (high-risk cats showed lower temperatures than low-risk cats). The temperature before premedication was associated with an increase in the final temperature.