Hydroxycinnamoylmalic acids and their methyl esters from pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) fruit peel

Two novel caffeoylmalic acid methyl esters, 2-O-(trans-caffeoyl)malic acid 1-methyl ester (6) and 2-O-(trans-caffeoyl)malic acid 4-methyl ester (7), were isolated from pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai cv. Chuhwangbae) fruit peels. In addition, 5 known hydroxycinnamoylmalic acids and their methyl esters were identified: 2-O-(trans-coumaroyl)malic acid (1), 2-O-(cis-coumaroyl)malic acid (2), 2-O-(cis-coumaroyl)malic acid 1-methyl ester (3), 2-O-(trans-coumaroyl)malic acid 1-methyl ester (4), and 2-O-(trans-caffeoyl)malic acid (phaselic acid, 5). The chemical structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic data from ESI MS and NMR. Of all the isolated compounds, five hydroxycinnamoylmalic acids and their methyl esters (2-4, 6, 7) were identified in the pear for the first time.     

Efficacy of imidocarb diproprionate and primaquine phosphate in the prevention of tick-borne disease in imported hereford heifers in South Korea

Summary This paper describes the build-up of tick-borne blood parasites in a group of Hereford heifers imported from New Zealand to the island of Jeju Do, South Korea. All became infected withTheileria sergenti and half withBabesia bigemina. An attempt was made to contain the 2 parasites by treatment with either primaquine phosphate or imidocarb diproprionate. Both drugs had some prophylactic activity againstT. sergenti for at least 26 days and imidocarb diproprionate eliminatedB. bigemina. SinceT. sergenti infections built up subsequently in the animals it is suggested that repeated prophylaxis combined with regular acaricide treatment of imported cattle is necessary to keep piroplasmosis under control.

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Eficacia Del Dipropionata De Imidocarb Y Del Fostato De Primaquine En La Prevencion De Enfermedades Producidas Por Hematozoarios En Terneras Hereford Importadas, En Corea Del Sur

Resumen El trabajo describe la infectación progresiva con hematozoarios de un grupo de terneras Hereford importadas por Corea del Sur de Nueva Zelandia. Todas se infectaron conTheileria sergenti y la mitad conBabesia bigemina. Los animales se trataron con fosfato de primaquine o con dipropionato de imidocarb. Ambas drogas tuvieron actividad profiláctica contraT. sergenti durante 26 días y el imidocarb eliminóB. bigemina. Debido a que los animales se reinfectaron nuevamente conT. sergenti, se sugiere un régimen profiláctico continuado, combinándolo con baños garrapaticidas en ganado importado para controlar la piroplasmosis.

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Efficacite Du Diproprionate D'imidocarbamide Et Du Phosphate De Primaquine Dans La Prevention De Maladies Transmises Par Les Tiques A Des Genisses Hereford Importees En Coree Du Sud

Résumé Cet article décrit le développement d'affections parasitaires sanguines transmises par les tiques dans un groupe de génisses importées de Nouvelle-Zélande en Corée du Sud. Tous les animaux ont été infectés parTheileria sergenti et la moitié parBabesia bigemina. Un essai a été fait pour contrôler ces deux parasites par des traitements avec du phosphate de primaquine ou du diproprionate d'imidocarbamide. Les deux produits ont eu une certaine activité pendant au moins 26 jours contreT. sergenti et l'imidocarbamide a éliminéBabesia bigemina. Les infections àTheileria sergenti ayant continué, il est suggéré qu'un régime répété de prophylaxie combiné avec un traitement acaricide des animaux importés est nécessire pour lutter efficacement contre les piroplasmoses.

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Seconded by the ODA to the Animal Health Laboratory, Jeju City, Republic of Korea.     

Effects of dietary arginine supplementation during gestation and lactation on the performance of lactating primiparous sows and nursing piglets

A 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized block design was used to determine the effects of dietary Arg supplementation during gestation and lactation on the lactation performance of 38 first-parity sows. At 30 d of gestation, pregnant gilts were allotted based on BW to 1 of 2 diets supplemented with 1% L-Arg.HCl or 1.7% L-Ala (isonitrogenous control). After farrowing, sows were further allotted based on BW within previous gestation treatment groups to 1 of 2 lactation diets supplemented with 1% L-Arg.HCl or 1.7% L-Ala (isonitrogenous control). All gestation diets contained 3.1 Mcal/kg and 12.2% CP (as is) and were fed 2 kg/d in 2 equally sized meals, whereas all lactation diets contained 3.2 Mcal/kg and 18.6% CP (as is) and were fed ad libitum. Litter size was standardized to 10 piglets by cross-fostering within 24 h postfarrowing. On a weekly basis, BW and backfat (BF) thickness of sows, as well as piglet BW were measured, and blood and milk samples were obtained from the sows. Number of days from weaning to estrus and ADFI were also recorded. There were no differences in BW, BF thickness, ADFI, or days until return to estrus among treatment groups. There was no effect of the gestation diet or a gestation x lactation diet interaction on any parameter measured. On d 7 of lactation, plasma concentrations of Arg and insulin in sows, as well as concentrations of most AA in milk, were greater (P < 0.05) in response to Arg supplementation during lactation compared with the control. Weight gain of piglets from sows fed the Arg-supplemented diet during lactation was greater between d 0 and 7 (P < 0.01) and between d 0 and 21 (P < 0.05) of lactation compared with piglets from sows fed the control diet. Collectively, results from this study indicate the potential beneficial effects of dietary Arg supplementation in improving the lactation performance of first-parity sows.     

Surveillance for highly pathogenic avian influenza in migratory shorebirds at the terminus of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway

AIM: To determine if migratory birds arriving in New Zealand in the Southern Hemisphere spring of 2004 were infected with the highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) virus, H5N1.

METHODS: Cloacal and faecal samples were collected from migratory red knots following their arrival in New Zealand in October 2004. Two species of resident sympatric birds, wrybill and mallard duck, were sampled prior to, and following, the arrival of migratory birds.

RESULTS: No AI viruses were isolated from migratory or resident shorebirds. Non-pathogenic AI viruses were isolated from six resident mallard ducks, comprising the endemic subtypes H4 (n=2), H7 (non-pathogenic), H10, and H11 (n=2).

CONCLUSIONS: Highly pathogenic AI H5N1 virus was not detected in migratory shorebirds or sympatric water birds in the Firth of Thames, New Zealand, in 2004-2005, despite the possible proximity of migratory birds to outbreaks of the disease in East Asia in 2004.     

Duration of action and hemodynamic properties of mivacurium chloride in dogs anesthetized with halothane.

OBJECTIVE: To describe onset and duration of neuromuscular blockade induced by mivacurium chloride and its associated hemodynamic effects at 3 dosages in healthy dogs. ANIMALS: 7 Labrador Retrievers. PROCEDURE: Anesthesia was induced with thiopental and maintained with halothane in oxygen, and dogs were mechanically ventilated to end-tidal P(CO)2 between 35 and 40 mm Hg. Core temperature, end-tidal P(CO)2, and halothane concentration were kept constant throughout the experiment. Neuromuscular function was assessed by evaluation of the train-of-four response to a supramaximal electrical stimulus of 2 Hz applied to the ulnar nerve every 10 seconds. Blood for determination of plasma cholinesterase activity was obtained prior to administration of mivacurium, a bolus of which was administered IV, using a randomized Latin-square design for dosages of 0.01, 0.02, and 0.05 mg/kg of body weight. RESULTS: All dogs had typical plasma cholinesterase activity. After administration of mivacurium, differences were not evident between groups in heart rate, systolic, mean, or diastolic blood pressure, change at any time in heart rate, systolic, mean, or diastolic blood pressure, or pH. Interval from onset to 100% neuromuscular blockade was 3.92+/-1.70, 2.42+/-0.53, and 1.63+/-0.25 minutes at dosages of 0.01, 0.02, and 0.05 mg/kg, respectively. Duration of measurable neuromuscular blockade was 33.72+/-12.73, 65.38+/-12.82, and 151.0+/-38.50 minutes, respectively. Time of onset and duration of effect differed significantly among dosages. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Mivacurium provides good hemodynamic stability at the dosages tested. In dogs, this drug has a rapid onset and long duration of effect.     

Subject-based problem-based learning in the veterinary science course at the University of Queensland

Objective
To assess students' perceptions of subject-based problem-based learning in the fourth year of the veterinary science course at the University of Queensland.
Design
A questionnaire-based study.
Procedure
Subject-based problem-based learning was introduced into parts of two fourth year subjects in a 5-year veterinary science course. The problem-based learning exercise used modified clinical cases and was computer-assisted. Students worked in groups of two to four, and small group discussion sessions were tutorless. Lectures were replaced by large group discussion and feedback sessions, led by the teacher, with approximately 85 students.
Results
There was a significant increase in the percentage of students who strongly agreed that they had better understanding of the subject, and had learned to apply principles from this class in new situations. The only consistent criticism by students was directed at the extra time required compared to traditional lecture-based subjects.
Conclusion
Students' perceptions of the learning outcome were very favourable for problem-based learning when compared to the lecture-based subject.