Population structure of Carapa guianensis in two forest types in the southwestern Brazilian Amazon

Carapa guianensis Aublet. is a tropical tree with strong multiple-use characteristics, and is valued for both the high quality oil extracted from its seeds and as a timber resource. This study compares the population structure of this economically important rainforest tree in two contrasting forest types: occasionally inundated and terra firme forests. Main study objectives were (a) to assess the density, spatial distribution, and size class structure of C. guianensis in these two forest types and (b) to use patterns of abundance, distribution and demographic structure to help infer key demographic stages or ecological variables that merit special focus for management. Four 400 m × 400 m plots, two in each forest type, were established to determine distribution and density patterns of C. guianensis ≥10 cm diameter at breast height (dbh) at the landscape level, and 32 10 m × 10 m subplots were randomly nested within each of the larger plots to measure individuals <10 cm dbh. Larger individuals (≥10 cm dbh) were found at higher densities in occasionally inundated forest than in terra firme forest: 25.7 trees ha⁻¹ and 14.6 trees ha⁻¹, respectively. Mean density of C. guianensis individuals <10 cm dbh was also higher in occasionally inundated forests, but variation of regeneration density among the subplots was high. Spatial distribution methods revealed a tendency toward clumping in both forest types, and both had similar size class structures, suggesting that both environments are suitable for C. guianensis. This new finding illustrates the potential for C. guianensis management in terra firme forests. High densities and clumped distributions in both forest types are also indices favorable for sustainable species management. Finally, several ecological variables (tree density and reproductive potential) were sufficiently different between terra firme and occasionally inundated forests to recommend stratification by forest type when conducting further studies on key ecological and management variables of C. guianensis.     

Dissection and analysis of quantitative disease resistance in tetraploid potato

The theory of linkage and QTL analysis in autotetraploids is summarised. Applications are presented to the analysis of quantitative disease resistance in the European cultivated potato, Solanum tuberosum subsp. tuberosum. The implications are discussed for practical potato breeding, practical QTL analysis and theory. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Detection of donor effects in a rye introgression population with genome‐wide prediction

Introgression populations are developed to make genetic resources for breeding purposes available. In the case that the number of donor segments exceeds the number of lines, genome‐wide prediction (GWP) methods are suggested as promising for the analysis of such populations. Our objectives were to characterize a rye introgression population with the Rye5K SNP assay and to apply a GWP model with a modification of the restricted maximum likelihood procedure that yields heteroscedastic variances to detect significant donor effects. The introgression lines (ILs) carried on average 4.6 donor segments with a mean length of 27 cM and represented 94% of the donor genome. Two donor effects were detected that significantly increased thousand‐kernel weight. We found four donor effects for protein, total pentosan and starch content that can improve baking quality. Three donor effects for protein content were observed for improving feeding purposes and one donor effect for starch content to improve ethanol production. The effects were localized to small genomic regions. Consequently, these ILs can improve rye breeding by directly employing them in breeding programmes for variety development.     

Hypocalcemia following surgical treatment of metastatic anal sac adenocarcinoma in a dog

A 9 yr old neutered male mixed-breed dog was presented for an anal sac apocrine gland adenocarcinoma with regional nodal metastases. At presentation, ionized calcium was 1.91 mmol/L (NOVA Stat reference range, 1.1-1.3 mmol/L). Surgical excision of the primary tumor and metastatic lymph nodes was performed. Following surgery, symptomatic hypocalcemia was noted. Repeated ionized calcium measurements confirmed hypocalcemia, and hypercalcemia of malignancy panels suggested parathyroid gland suppression as the cause. The calcium normalized with parenteral calcium administration, but calcium later became elevated with tumor recurrence and an increase in the parathormone-related peptide. Disrupted calcium homeostasis is a potential complication following the treatment of long-standing humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.     

Oral examination results in rescued ferrets: clinical findings

Ferrets have increased in popularity as pets, and a growing number are seen in companion animal practice. Domestic ferrets are commonly used as animal models for research of human oral conditions. The present study evaluated the prevalence of oral pathology in rescued ferrets which - to the authors' knowledge - has not yet been described in the scientific literature. Conscious oral examination was performed on 63 ferrets, of which 49 underwent general anesthesia for further examination. The most common clinical findings included malocclusion of mandibular second incisor teeth (95.2%); extrusion of canine teeth (93.7%); and abrasion and attrition of teeth (76.2%). Tooth fractures were exclusively associated with canine teeth and found in 31.7% of ferrets. Pulp exposure was confirmed in 60.0% of fractured teeth. The normal gingival sulcus depth measured < 0.5-mm in 87.8% of anesthetized ferrets. Clinical evidence of periodontal disease was present in 65.3% of anesthetized ferrets (gingivitis or probing depths > 0.5-mm), however advanced periodontal disease (i.e. periodontal pockets > 2-mm or stage 3 furcation exposure) was not found upon clinical examination. There was no evidence of tooth resorption, dental caries, stomatitis, or oral tumors in the examined group of ferrets.     

Cryptococcosis: update and emergence of Cryptococcus gattii

Cryptococcosis is a fungal disease that occurs throughout the world. Recent reclassification of Cryptococcus species along with a change in the distribution pattern has prompted reevaluation of the organism and the diseases caused by this pathogen. This review highlights the emergence of Cryptococcus gattii as a primary pathogen in North America and summarizes our current understanding of the disease in mammals and birds.     

Recombinant S3Pvac-phage anticysticercosis vaccine: Simultaneous protection against cysticercosis and hydatid disease in rural pigs

This paper provides macroscopic and histological evidence on the statistically significant protective effects of S3Pvac-phage vaccination against porcine cysticercosis and hydatidosis. The study included 391 rustically bred pigs (187 vaccinated and 204 controls). Vaccination significantly reduced the prevalence of cysticercosis by 61.7%. Vaccination also significantly reduced by 56.1% the prevalence of hydatidosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus in pigs. The presence of the vaccine epitopes in both cestodes is probably involved in the cross-protection observed. Increased inflammation was found in 5% of cysticerci recovered from controls, versus 24% from vaccinated pigs (P<0.01). Hydatid cysts were non-inflammatory in either group. Vaccination was effective to prevent one single disease, but it failed to prevent the simultaneous infections with both parasites in a same pig. The widening of the S3Pvac-phage vaccine protective repertoire to include hydatidosis is a convenient feature that should reduce the prevalence of two frequent zoonoses that affect rustic porcine breading with a single action. Thus, the costs of two different vaccination programs would be reduced to a single one with significant reduction in both zoonoses.     

Swine influenza surveillance in East and Southeast Asia: a systematic review

East and Southeast Asia are important pig- and poultry-producing areas, where the majority of production takes place on small-scale farms with low biosecurity levels. This systematic review synthesizes data on swine influenza virology, serology and epidemiology in East and Southeast Asia. A total of 77 research articles, literature reviews and conference papers were selected and analyzed from 510 references retrieved from PubMed and ISI Web of KnowledgeSM. The number of published articles increased in the last 3 years, which may be attributed to improvement in monitoring and/or a better promotion of surveillance data. Nevertheless, large inequalities in surveillance and research among countries are underlined. Virological results represent the largest part of published data, while the serological and epidemiological features of swine influenza in East and Southeast Asia remain poorly described. The literature shows that there have been several emergences of swine influenza in the region, and also considerable evidence of multiple introductions of North American and avian-like European strains. Furthermore, several avian-origin strains are isolated from pigs, including H5 and H9 subtypes. However, their low seroprevalence in swine also shows that pigs remain poorly infected by these subtypes. We conclude that sero-epidemioligical investigations have been neglected, and that they may help to improve virological surveillance. Inter- and intra-continental surveillance of gene flows will benefit the region. Greater investment is needed in swine influenza surveillance, to improve our knowledge of circulating strains as well as the epidemiology and disease burden in the region.