A comparison of five clones of virus-free Netted Gem potato from British Columbia and Idaho

Virus-free clones were developed from meristem tips of five selections of Netted Gem (Russet Burbank) potato which had been grown separately for at least 40 years. During three years of comparative trials, plant and tuber characteristics of the five clones were identical. There were no significant differences in total yield. Differences in marketable yield and, tuber set were few and inconsistent.     

Serum Cardiac Troponin I Concentrations in Cattle with Cardiac and Noncardiac Disorders

Background: Making a clinical diagnosis of pericarditis in cattle is difficult and additional diagnostic tests are needed to evaluate cattle with suspected pericarditis. Serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations are increased in cattle with pericarditis, but the utility of measuring serum cTnI concentrations in cattle with suspected pericarditis in cattle remains unclear.
Objectives: To determine if serum cTnI concentrations in cattle can be used to differentiate pericarditis from other cardiac disorders and noncardiac thoracic diseases.
Animals: Seventy-seven clinically diseased cattle and 19 healthy control cattle.
Methods: Serum cTnI concentrations were measured using an Immunlite Troponin I immunometric chemiluminescent assay in consecutive cases of postmortem-confirmed pericarditis (n = 18), endocarditis (n = 15), chronic suppurative pneumonia (n = 13), congenital heart disease (n = 10), reticulitis (n = 3), mediastinal abscess (n = 7), thymic lymphoma (n = 6), and caudal vena cava thrombosis (n = 5). Serum cTnI concentrations were measured in 19 healthy cattle.
Results: Although serum cTnI concentrations were significantly higher in cattle with pericarditis compared with healthy cattle, they were not significantly different from concentrations in cattle with endocarditis, congenital cardiac disease, mediastinal abscess, reticulitis, caudal vena cava thrombosis, or chronic suppurative pneumonia.
Conclusions: Serum cTnI cannot be used to distinguish cattle with pericarditis from cattle with other primary cardiac diseases. In addition, serum cTnI concentrations cannot distinguish between cattle with primary cardiac diseases and those with other noncardiac, intrathoracic disorders.     

A Non‐Reciprocal Autosomal Translocation 64,XX,t(4;10)(q21;p15) in an Arabian Mare with Repeated Early Embryonic Loss

Balanced autosomal translocations are a known cause for repeated early embryonic loss (REEL) in horses. In most cases, carriers of such translocations are phenotypically normal, but the chromosomal aberration negatively affects gametogenesis giving rise to both genetically balanced and unbalanced gametes. The latter, if involved in fertilization, result in REEL, whereas gametes with the balanced form of translocation will pass the defect into next generation. Therefore, in order to reduce the incidence of REEL, identification of translocation carriers is critical. Here, we report about a phenotypically normal 3‐year‐old Arabian mare that had repeated resorption of conceptuses prior to day 45 of gestation and was diagnosed with REEL. Conventional and molecular cytogenetic analyses revealed that the mare had normal chromosome number 64,XX but carried a non‐mosaic and non‐reciprocal autosomal translocation t(4;10)(q21;p15). This is a novel translocation described in horses with REEL and the first such report in Arabians. Previous cases of REEL due to autosomal translocations have exclusively involved Thoroughbreds. The findings underscore the importance of routine cytogenetic screening of breeding animals.