Morphological variability of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and brown trout Salmo trutta in different river environments

Abstract – The morphologies of sympatric juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar parr and brown trout Salmo trutta parr were compared between Irish rivers with contrasting hydraulic environments – a high‐gradient and a low‐gradient tributary from the River Barrow catchment, south‐east Ireland and a high‐gradient river from the Burrishoole catchment, west of Ireland. The two catchments differ markedly in mean annual precipitation (849.0 mm year^?1 and 1370.3 mm year^?1 for the Barrow and Burrishoole catchments, respectively). Parr of both species demonstrated morphological variation between and within catchments. Changes in metrics such as pectoral fin length, body depth and body length between and within catchments suggest that hydraulic forces were a major determinant of morphological variation. Both species from the Burrishoole catchment had relatively larger pectoral fins, longer heads, larger eyes and shallower bodies than conspecifics from the Barrow catchment. In rivers subject to frequent rainfall‐driven high discharges, such as those in the Burrishoole catchment, a more fusiform body and head shape coupled with larger pectoral fins may reduce the energetic cost of maintaining position in the water column, as well as increase stability and manoeuvrability. The larger eyes in both parr species in the Burrishoole catchment could further be a response to the lower visibility of the more turbid and peat‐stained waters or to the reduced prey availability. The results of this study demonstrate that local adaptation to flow conditions can yield morphologically distinct populations and that multiple species can exhibit parallel phenotypic responses to changing environmental conditions.     

Properties and functions of proton pumps in higher plants

The properties of the major H⁺-pumps in higher plant cells are described: these are the H⁺-ATPase of the plasma membrane and the H⁺-ATPase and the H⁺-pyrophosphatase of the tonoplast. They are distinguished by their structure, mechanism of action, kinetic properties, and location within the cell. The uses and value of isolated and purified membrane vesicles in transport studies are discussed. A particular example is given by the use of plasma membrane vesicles, purified by phase partition, to study proton/ sucrose co-transport in Ricinus cotyledons. Current evidence for the interference with these pumps by growth regulators, toxins and xenobiotics is outlined.     

The physical and chemical properties of the herbicide cinmethylin (SD 95481)

Cinmethylin (SD 95481), is a novel herbicide developed for the selective pre-emergence control of many annual grass weeds in a wide range of temperate and tropical crops. Representing new herbicide chemistry, cinmethylin is in the cineole family. Cinmethylin is a mobile colourless liquid with a boiling point of 313°C under an inert atmosphere at atmospheric pressure. It has a density of 1015 kg m^?3 and a viscosity of 70–90 mPa s, both at 20°C. It is miscible in all proportions with most organic solvents but has a low solubility, 63 mg litre^?1, in water. It has a vapour pressure of 10.2 mPa (20°C) and the vapour pressure/temperature relationship is given by log_e P(Pa)=28.9–9816/T (K). The n-octanol/water partition coefficient is 6850 and soil organic matter/water sorption coefficient (K_om) ranges between 165 and 235 over the three types of soil used in these studies. Cinmethylin is stable in water over the pH range 3–11. Solutions of cinmethylin in water or solvents are reasonably stable to sunlight, though thin films on a quartz surface photooxidise mainly to an ester within 24 h. This rate can be reduced by the addition of photostabilisers or by sorption onto soil surfaces. In an inert atmosphere cinmethylin is stable to high temperatures, though, in air, oxidation occurs at temperatures above 100°C to give the same product as by photodecay.     

Ocular and encephalic toxoplasmosis in canaries

In this report we describe the lesions produced by the protozoal organism, Toxoplasma gondii, in the eyes and brain of the common yellow canary (Serinus canaria). Nine of 15 birds in a flock were affected with blindness, which developed over a 3-mo span, and two birds developed torticollis. Microscopic alterations within the eye consisted of a nonsuppurative chorioretinitis with large numbers of macrophages that contained the tachyzoite form of T. gondii in the subretinal space, and aggregates of tachyzoites were found in the nerve fiber layer of the retina with and without necrosis. Tissue cysts with bradyzoites were scattered throughout the meninges and neuropil of the cerebrum and cerebellum. Both forms were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy in the eye and brain. Frozen brain samples reacted with T. gondii-specific cat sera in indirect fluorescent antibody tests. The source of infection was hypothesized to be from a stray cat the owner kept that had access to some of the bird feed. Treatment (trimethoprim 0.08 g/ml H2O and sulfadiazine 0.04 g/ml in water for 2 wk) was instituted by the referring veterinarian on the remaining birds. A second treatment regime was given for 3 wk. The owner of the canaries did not return for further treatment.     

Influence of undegraded intake protein on reproductive performance of primiparous beef heifers maintained on stockpiled fescue pasture

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of pre- and postpartum undegraded intake protein (UIP) supplementation on body condition score (BCS), BW, calf weight, milk production, serum IGF-I concentrations, and postpartum interval in primiparous beef heifers (n = 44). Heifers were maintained on endophyte-free stockpiled tall fescue (11.7% CP, 38% ADF) and individually fed supplement daily beginning 60 d prepartum. Pre- and postpartum supplements provided 19.3% CP, 83.4% TDN (UIP); 14.1% CP, 84.1% TDN (Control); 21.5% CP, 81.5% TDN (UIP); and 14.6% CP, 81.4% TDN (Control); respectively. Blood meal (146 g/d) was the source of UIP. Six heifers were removed from the study due to calf loss unrelated to treatment; therefore, postpartum measurements are based on 19 animals per treatment. Statistical analyses using ANOVA and a split-plot design revealed no effects of treatment (P > 0.2) on BCS, BW, calf weight, milk production, or postpartum interval. There tended to be a treatment x time interaction on BCS (P < 0.09) with UIP heifers having higher BCS than Control at wk 5, 7, and 9 postpartum. There was a treatment x time interaction on serum IGF-I (P < 0.06) during the first 35 d postpartum. In UIP heifers, serum IGF-I was greater at calving compared with Control heifers (117.5 vs 92.4 ng/mL, respectively); however, these differences were not related to changes in BCS or BW. Although serum IGF-I concentrations were increased at calving in heifers receiving UIP, there were no treatment effects on postpartum interval (P > 0.7). During the first 30 d postpartum, IGF-I differed (P < 0.01) among heifers with postpartum intervals defined as short, < 50 d (128.9 ng/mL); medium, 51 to 65 d (115.2 ng/mL); and long, 66 to 130 d (52.9 ng/mL). When analyzed as a regression, a 1 ng/mL increase in IGF-I (UIP and Control heifers) at calving (P < 0.05) and throughout the postpartum period (P < 0.01) corresponded to a decrease in postpartum interval of 0.13 d. Based on the results of this study, the inclusion of UIP in diets for primiparous heifers and its effects on postpartum interval warrant further evaluation.     

Soluble scute proteins of healthy and ill desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii)

OBJECTIVES: To characterize protein composition of shell scute of desert tortoises and to determine whether detectable differences could be used to identify healthy tortoises from tortoises with certain illnesses. ANIMALS: 20 desert tortoises. PROCEDURES: Complete postmortem examinations were performed on all tortoises. Plastron scute proteins were solubilized, scute proteins were separated by use of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and proteins were analyzed, using densitometry. Two-dimensional immobilized pH gradient-PAGE (2D IPG-PAGE) and immunoblot analysis, using polyclonal antisera to chicken-feather beta keratin and to alligator-scale beta keratin, were conducted on representative samples. The 14-kd proteins were analyzed for amino acid composition. RESULTS: The SDS-PAGE and densitometry revealed 7 distinct bands, each with a mean relative protein concentration of > 1 %, ranging from 8 to 47 kd, and a major protein component of approximately 14 kd that constituted up to 75% of the scute protein. The 2D IPG-PAGE revealed additional distinct 62- and 68-kd protein bands. On immunoblot analysis, the 14-, 32-, and 45-kd proteins reacted with both antisera. The 14-kd proteins had an amino acid composition similar to that of chicken beta keratins. There was a substantial difference in the percentage of the major 14-kd proteins from scute of ill tortoises with normal appearing shells, compared with 14-kd proteins of healthy tortoises. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The major protein components of shell scute of desert tortoises have amino acid composition and antigenic features of beta keratins. Scute protein composition may be altered in tortoises with certain systemic illnesses.     

Jugular venous emboli of brain tissue induced in sheep by the use of captive bolt guns

Emboli of central nervous tissue were detected in the jugular venous blood of two of 15 sheep stunned with a conventional cartridge-operated captive bolt gun and in two of 15 sheep stunned with a pneumatically activated gun. No emboli were detected in arterial blood from these sheep or in venous blood from sheep stunned electrically. Emboli from an animal with BSE could transmit the disease to people.     

Adrenal teratoma in four domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo)

Teratomas are histologically complex neoplasms that are composed of structures derived from multiple germ cell layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm). These neoplasms are uncommon in domestic animals and are usually found in the gonads. This paper describes teratomas of the adrenal gland in four domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). Three of four of the neoplasms contained tissues from ectodermal, mesodermal, and endodermal germ cell layers; two of four contained rudimentary teeth. In one case, malignant epithelial cells had metastasized to local lymph nodes. Teratomas, although uncommon, should be included in the differential diagnosis for adrenal neoplasms in domestic ferrets.