Performance of acclimatized European horses in a modified One Star (*) Three-Day Event in heat and humidity

The physiological and biochemical responses of previously acclimatized European three-day event horses to competition in hot humid conditions were investigated. Four Thoroughbred (TB) and four non-Thoroughbred (NTB) horses were flown from Europe to Georgia (USA), underwent a three-week period of acclimatization, and then took part in a modified FEI One star Three-Day Event. The speed and endurance test was modified in an attempt to compensate for the environmental conditions to reduce thermal stress; these alterations included reduction of Phase A, a 10 min cooling stop on Phase C and extension of the 10 min box to 12 min to permit a test to be performed in order to obtain a cardiac recovery index (CRI). Non-Thoroughbred horses were significantly heavier than Thoroughbred horses (591 ± 31 versus 522 ± 17 kg; P<0.02). There were no significant differences in any other characteristics between TB and NTB and only minor differences in variables measured or recorded at rest or during competition. Final competition placings of TB were not significantly different from NTB. None of the horses suffered any heat-related condition at any time before, during or following the field trial. All horses returned to Europe and no medical consequences were reported to occur subsequently in relation acclimatization or competition.     

Influence of Progesterone Withdrawal on Pregnancy-Related Parameters During Post-Implantation Early Pregnancy Loss

Pharmacologically-induced luteolysis or treatment with an antiprogestin in early post-implantation pregnancy in dogs results in asynchronous death and resorption of conceptuses, indicating variable rates of response of individual conceptuses towards progesterone deficiency. This variability also seems to occur in bitches showing pregnancy failure in response to spontaneous luteal deficiency. In a total of 10 beagle pregnancies (two consecutive pregnancies of five bitches), abortifacient treatments beginning on day 24 after ovulation (ov) involved either administration of a progestin antagonist (total of six pregnancies, in three bitches) or a luteolytic regimen of prostaglandin F_2α-analogue together with a dopamine agonist (total of four pregnancies, in two bitches). The outcomes were evaluated in relation to four control pregnancies in two bitches by assay of serum progesterone, prolactin and relaxin at selected time points or within selected time periods, by ultrasound of conceptuses including measurement of uterine blood flow, and parameters of the blood fibrinolytic system including plasma fibrinogen and plasminogen. The process of embryonic death and conceptus resorption was variable in onset and duration both in bitches that received the progesterone antagonist aglepristone (AGLE) and in those under the luteolytic treatment (cloprostenol combined with cabergoline). Pregnancy termination (death of all embryos or foetuses, respectively) occurred as early as day 29 and as late as day 41 after ov in AGLE-treated bitches, and not earlier than day 37 after ov in luteolytic-treatment bitches. Impending embryonic death was not predicted by changes in relaxin concentration, parameters of the fibrinolytic system, or in the perfusion of small uteroplacental vessels.     

Factors controlling the removal of sulfate and acidity from the waters of an acidified lake

Although Lake Anna, an impoundment in Central Virginia, receives acid mine drainage (AMD) from Contrary Creek, the effects of the AMD pollution on the lake are less severe than expected. Previous work at Lake Anna has shown that bacterial sulfate reduction in the lake sediments plays an important role in the recovery of the lake from the AMD inputs. Sulfate removal rates were measured in sediment microcosms under a variety of experimental conditions to determine the factors controlling the rate of sulfate and acidity removal from the lake water. Sulfate removal rates were not significantly different over the short term (3 weeks) in summer sediment microcosms incubated at 6 vs 26 °C. Winter sediment microcosms showed no significant sulfate removal during the 18 day experiment when incubated at either 6 or 28 °C. Thus there is a strong seasonal temperature effect in Lake Anna sediments but no significant short term effect. Simulated AMD, with and without Fe, was added to sediment microcosms collected from an unpolluted part of the lake. The microcosms with Fe had significantly higher rates of sulfate removal indicating that Fe plays an important role in transporting sulfate to the sediment and/or in preventing oxidation of the reduced sulfide. After 27 days, from 54 to 96% of the added sulfate in the simulated AMD was recovered as FeS or S⁰ in the top 4 cm of sediment. In a separate experiment, ³⁵S-SO _inf4 ^sup2? was found to attach to precipitating Fe oxyhydroxides (1.5 to 4.7 mol SO _inf4 ^sup2? mol^?1 Fe precipitate) upon mixing Contrary Creek (AMD) and Lake Anna waters. Results of this study suggest that sulfate removal may be more rapid in metal rich AMD systems thans in metal poor systems characteristic of those which receive acidic deposition.