Effects of a whole-body spandex garment on rectal temperature and oxygen consumption in healthy dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a full-body spandex garment would alter rectal temperatures of healthy dogs at rest in cool and warm environments. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 10 healthy dogs. PROCEDURES: Each dog was evaluated at a low (20 degrees to 25 degrees C [68 degrees to 77 degrees F]) or high (30 degrees to 35 degrees C [86 degrees to 95 degrees F]) ambient temperature while wearing or not wearing a commercially available whole-body spandex garment designed for dogs. Oxygen consumption was measured by placing dogs in a flow-through indirect calorimeter for 90 to 120 minutes. Rectal temperature was measured before dogs were placed in the calorimeter and after they were removed. RESULTS: Rectal temperature increased significantly more at the higher ambient temperature than at the lower temperature and when dogs were not wearing the garment than when they were wearing it. The specific rate of oxygen consumption was significantly higher at the lower ambient temperature than at the higher temperature. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that wearing a snug spandex body garment does not increase the possibility that dogs will overheat while in moderate ambient temperatures. Instead, wearing such a garment may enable dogs to better maintain body temperature during moderate heat loading. These results suggest that such garments might be used for purposes such as wound or suture protection without causing dogs to overheat.     

Computed tomographic osteoabsorptiometry of the elbow joint in clinically normal dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate subchondral bone density patterns in elbow joints of clinically normal dogs by use of computed tomographic (CT) osteoabsorptiometry. SAMPLE POPULATION: 20 cadaver forelimbs from 10 clinically normal dogs. PROCEDURE: Each elbow joint was imaged in parasagittal and transverse planes of 1.5-mm thickness. Slice data were converted to dipotassium phosphate equivalent density (PPED) values. Sagittal, parasagittal, and transverse medial coronoid process topographic maps were constructed. Defined zones were created for each of the 3 CT planes, and confluence and peak PPED values were determined. RESULTS: The lowest PPED value was 340 mg/ml (articular and subchondral confluence), and the highest was 1780 mg/ml (peak subchondral density). Detectable effects of joint laterality were not found in the confluence or peak PPED measurements or in the peak-to-confluence PPED ratio for all 3 CT planes. Significant differences were found among zones in all 3 planes for confluence and peak PPED measurements and between sagittal and transverse planes for peak-to-confluence PPED ratios. Subjectively, the pattern of density distribution among dogs was fairly consistent for the sagittal and parasagittal slices. Three specific patterns of density distribution were apparent on the transverse topographic maps of the medial coronoid process that corresponded to conformational differences. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The use of CT osteoabsorptiometry provides a repeatable technique that can be used to noninvasively examine bone density and the effects of stress acting on joints in vivo. Variability in density values for any of the CT planes was not identified among clinically normal dogs.     

Interfertility of Two Mating Populations in the Gibberella Fujikuroi Species Complex

Gibberella fujikuroi and Gibberella intermedia(mating populations ‘C’ and ‘D’ of the G. fujikuroi species complex) can be distinguished by differences in the spectrum of mycotoxins produced, the lack of sexual cross-fertility and diagnostic differences in their DNA sequences. Some isolates from these two biological species, however, can interbreed and complete meiosis to produce viable progeny. Analysis of marker segregation amongst such hybrid progeny can be used to estimate the degree of genomic rearrangement and genetic incompatibility that has accumulated since these sibling species diverged. Recombinant progeny were isolated from crosses of the standard tester strains for these two species and from crosses between these standard testers and a field isolate (KSU X-10626) that was cross-fertile with tester strains of both species. Progeny in all of the crosses segregated for amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs). Segregation of AFLP loci deviated from 1:1 for two thirds of the loci amongst the progeny of the cross between the ‘C’ and ‘D’ mating population tester strains, but <20% of the polymorphic loci in the cross of either tester with KSU X-10626 showed such distortion. It was concluded that G. intermedia and G. fujikuroi are sufficiently interfertile to belong to the same biological species, but that changing the nomenclature to reflect this interfertility requires more evidence for the natural occurrence of a continuum in fertility than is presently available.     

Physiologic races ofFusarium oxysporum f.sp.melonis in the southeastern anatolia region of turkey and varietal reactions to races of the pathogen

Thirty-four isolates ofFusarium oxysporum f.sp.melonis (F.o.m.) obtained from 205 fields in melon-producing areas in the southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey were identified on the basis of colony morphology and pathogenicity by the root dip method. In this region the mean prevalence of wilt disease was 88.1% and the mean incidence of disease was 47.5%. Physiologic races 0, 1, 2, and 1,2 of the pathogen were determined by their reactions on differential melon cultivars ‘Charentais T,’ ‘Isoblon’, ‘Isovac’ and ‘Margot’ in the greenhouse. Race 1,2, representating 58.8% (20/34) of all isolates, was widely distributed. Of the other pathogenic isolates, eight were identified as race 0, five as race 1, and one as race 2. This is the first report of physiologic races ofF.o.m. in Turkey. Of 44 melon cultivars tested in the greenhouse for resistance toF.o.m. races, 36 were found to be moderately resistant to race 0, 17 were susceptible to race 1,2, 34.1% were highly resistant to race 1, and 52.2% had moderate resistance to race 2. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 16, 2002.     

Evidence for the involvement of arabinoxylan and xylanases in refrigerated dough syruping

The relationship between syruping in refrigerated doughs upon prolonged storage and different aspects of arabinoxylan (AX) hydrolysis was investigated using Triticum aestivum xylanase inhibitor (TAXI) and different xylanases in the dough formula. Dough characteristics were evaluated with strong emphasis on the AX population and its fate as a function of storage time. Selective reduction of part of the flour endogenous xylanase activity in dough by added TAXI reduced dough syruping after 12 and 20 days of storage by 50%, providing straightforward evidence for the involvement of xylanases and, thus, AX in the syruping phenomenon. Addition of xylanases with different inhibitor sensitivities [an inhibition-sensitive Bacillus subtilis xylanase (XBS(i)) as well as a noninhibited mutant (XBS(ni)) thereof] to dough confirmed the importance of xylanases in dough syruping, on one hand, and the power of wheat flour TAXI to constitute a significant barrier against xylanase-mediated dough syruping, on the other hand. Use of xylanases with different substrate selectivities [an Aspergillus aculeatusxylanase (XAA) versus XBS(ni)] showed degradation of water-extractable AX (WE-AX) and solubilized AX to low molecular weight molecules rather than the conversion of water-unextractable AX (WU-AX) to high molecular weight water extractable components to be the main factor influencing dough syruping.     

Zur Repellentwirkung von Königskerzen auf Hausmäuse

Zusammenfassung Nach einer Mitteilung aus dem Ende des 18. Jahrhunderts sollen sich in Blüte stehende Pflanzen vonVerbascum thapsus als Mittel zur Vertreibung vonMus musculus undRattus norvegicus eignen. Eine Nachprüfung dieser Empfehlung mitV. thapsus, lychnitis undthapsiforme anMus verlief negativ.

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Summary At the end of the eighteenth centuryGoeze reports about the action ofVerbascum thapsus as a repellent againstMus musculus andRattus norvegicus. A revision of this information withV. thapsus, lychnitis andthapsiforme andMus musculus as test animals does not confirm his findings.

     

Diversity of Epidemic Populations of Gibberella zeae from Small Quadrats in Kansas and North Dakota

ABSTRACT Gibberella zeae (anamorph Fusarium graminearum) causes Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat and barley and has been responsible for several billion dollars of losses in the United States since the early 1990s. We isolated G. zeae from the top, middle, and bottom positions of wheat spikes collected from 0.25-m(2) quadrats during severe FHB epidemics in a single Kansas (KS) field (1993) and in a single North Dakota (ND) field (1994). Three amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) primer pairs were used to resolve 94 polymorphic loci from 253 isolates. Members of a subset of 26 isolates also were tested for vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs). Both methods indicated high levels of genotypic variability and identified the same sets of isolates as probable clones. The mean number of AFLP multilocus haplotypes per head was approximately 1.8 in each population, but this value probably underestimates the true mean due to the small number of samples taken from each head. Isolates with the same AFLP haplotype often were recovered from different positions in a single head, but only rarely were such apparently clonal isolates recovered from more than one head within a quadrat, a pattern that is consistent with a genetically diverse initial inoculum and limited secondary spread. The KS and ND samples had no common AFLP haplotypes. All G. zeae isolates had high AFLP fingerprint similarity (>70%, unweighted pair group method with arithmetic means similarity) to reference isolates of G. zeae lineage 7. The genetic identity between the KS and ND populations was >99% and the estimated effective migration rate was high (Nm approximately 70). Tests for linkage disequilibrium provide little evidence for nonrandom associations between loci. Our results suggest that these populations are parts of a single, panmictic population that experiences frequent recombination. Our results also suggest that a variety of population sampling designs may be satisfactory for assessing diversity in this fungus.     

Aquatic dissipation of the herbicide triclopyr in Lake Minnetonka,Minnesota

A study of the aquatic fate of the triethylamine salt of triclopyr (3,5,6‐trichloro‐2‐pyridinyloxyacetic acid) was conducted in three bays of Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota. Triclopyr is under review by the US Environmental Protection Agency as a selective aquatic herbicide. The primary purpose of this study was to determine dissipation rates of the parent active ingredient, triclopyr, and its major metabolites, 3,5,6‐trichloropyridinol (TCP) and 3,5,6‐trichloro‐2‐methoxypyridine (TMP) in selected matrices including water, sediment, plants, finfish and shellfish. Two 6.5‐ha plots dominated by the weedy species Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L) were treated with triclopyr‐triethylammonum at a rate of 2.5 mg AE liter⁻¹ (2.5 ppm) on 21–23 June 1994. A third 6.5‐ha plot was established as an untreated reference. Water and sediment samples were collected from within the plots and at selected locations up to 1600 m outside of the plots through six weeks post‐treatment for chemical residue analysis. In addition, residue samples were collected from the target and non‐target plants and other non‐target matrices, including game and rough fish, clams and crayfish. All test animals were sequestered in cages located in the center of each plot and samples were collected through four weeks post‐treatment. Half‐lives for dissipation of triclopyr and TCP in water ranged from 3.7 to 4.7 days and from 4.2 to 7.9 days, respectively, with trace amounts of TMP found. Peak triclopyr sediment values ranged from 257 to 335 ng gram⁻¹, with a mean half‐life of 5.4 days, while peak TCP sediment levels ranged from 27 to 65 ng gram⁻¹ (mean half−life = 11.0 days). Trace levels of TMP were detected at one treatment site at one sampling event. Triclopyr and TCP accumulated and cleared from animal tissues proportionately to concentrations in the water (triclopyr dissipation half‐lives <11 days, TCP < 14 days). TMP levels were two to three times higher than those of the other compounds, particularly in visceral tissue. In all cases, residues of these compounds were higher in the inedible portions of the animals, and were usually higher in bottom‐feeding fish species. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of Oral Administration of Specific Antibodies to Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

A new product called oralized fish serum concentrate (OFSC) was evaluated for a possible effect against various bacterial pathogens in rainbow trout. The OFSC produced from immune trout sera was found to contain fully functional antibodies and complement component C3. The antibodies detected in the serum concentrate were specific to Vibrio anguillarum (O1 and O2) and Aeromonas salmonicida , which had been used for vaccination of the fish prior to serum collection. The functionality of the specific antibodies in OFSC was not reduced after 6 wk storage at -20 C, 5 C, and 20 C. The serum was mixed with commercial trout feed and used for feeding rainbow trout fry (first feed period). After oral delivery of OFSC to rainbow trout for 1 mo, samples of gut content and gut tissue contained functional antibodies. In gutted fish no functional antibodies were found. This suggests that antibodies from OFSC are unable to be transferred across the gut wall in a functional state. Oral administration of OFSC did not increase survival of rainbow trout in an immersion challenge with Vibrio anguillarum .