Seroprevalence of feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus infection among cats in North America and risk factors for seropositivity

OBJECTIVE: To determine seroprevalence of FeLV and FIV infection among cats in North America and risk factors for seropositivity. DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional survey. ANIMALS: 18,038 cats tested at 345 veterinary clinics (n=9,970) and 145 animal shelters (8,068) between August and November 2004. PROCEDURE: Cats were tested with a point-of-care ELISA for FeLV antigen and FIV antibody. A multivariable random effects logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors significantly associated with seropositivity while accounting for clinic-to-clinic (or shelter) variability. RESULTS: 409 (2.3%) cats were seropositive for FeLV antigen, and 446 (2.5%) cats were seropositive for FIV antibody; 58 (0.3%) cats were seropositive for infection with both viruses. Multivariable analysis indicated that age, sex, health status, and cat lifestyle and source were significantly associated with risk of seropositivity, with adults more likely to be seropositive than juveniles (adjusted odds ratios [ORs], 2.5 and 2.05 for FeLV and FIV seropositivity, respectively), sexually intact adult males more likely to be seropositive than sexually intact adult females (adjusted ORs, 2.4 and 4.66), and outdoor cats that were sick at the time of testing more likely to be seropositive than healthy indoor cats (adjusted ORs, 8.89 and 11.3). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that certain characteristics, such as age, sex, health status, and lifestyle, are associated with risk of FeLV and FIV seropositivity among cats in North America. However, cats in all categories were found to be at risk for infection, and current guidelines to test all cats at the time of acquisition and again during illness should be followed.     

Laboratory studies on the leaching of aldicarb through a tropical soil from Belize,Central America

Studies in temperate regions indicate that the carbamate insecticide aldicarb and its metabolites leach readily through agricultural soils into groundwater. However, little is known about the fate of this nematicide in tropical regions, where its leaching potential may be even greater because of high annual rainfall and the acidic nature and low organic content of many tropical soils. Examination of the leaching behaviour of aldicarb and its metabolites in columns containing soil from Belize, Central America, indicated that total carbamate residues (TCR) could rapidly reach concentrations > 15 mg L^?1 in porewater 1 m below the soil surface within 70 days of application. These values are well in excess of the US EPA Health Advisory level of 0.01 mg L^?1. TCR retention within a given depth interval in the soil columns relative to incoming TCR flux was greatest between 0 and 0.1 m, reflecting high organic matter contents in the upper soil. Retention below 0.1 m was relatively consistent with depth, while differences in relative retention between columns were due to a greater duration of leaching for the second column. Aldicarb was rapidly oxidized to aldicarb sulfoxide and aldicarb sulfone in these soils. The high concentration and mobility of TCR in this acidic soil is attributed to the transformation of the parent compound to the sulfoxide metabolite, which has a lower degradation rate and organic carbon partioning coefficient than aldicarb.     

湖南省麦迪卡药石农业应用效果综述

湖南省麦迪卡药石(MEDCAL STONE)资源丰富,质量优良,具有富硅、富钾、富微量元素和离子轻稀土的特点,具有很强的吸附性能,可溶出多种有益矿物质,增加水中氧的含量,调节水的pH值,生物活性强,对防治疾病具有重要作用。经过近20 a的研究,农业上应用在作物施肥、药膳食疗等方面,均有极好的社会、经济效益。同时,产地水土、森林、人文资源特好,生态景观优美,不但是天然的无公害农业基地,也是发展休闲农业、旅游农业的"风水宝地"。     

A long-snouted predatory dinosaur from africa and the evolution of spinosaurids

Fossils discovered in Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) rocks in the Tenere Desert of central Niger provide new information about spinosaurids, a peculiar group of piscivorous theropod dinosaurs. The remains, which represent a new genus and species, reveal the extreme elongation and transverse compression of the spinosaurid snout. The postcranial bones include blade-shaped vertebral spines that form a low sail over the hips. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the enlarged thumb claw and robust forelimb evolved during the Jurassic, before the elongated snout and other fish-eating adaptations in the skull. The close phylogenetic relationship between the new African spinosaurid and Baryonyx from Europe provides evidence of dispersal across the Tethys seaway during the Early Cretaceous.     

A comparison of two combinations of xylazine-ketamine administered intramuscularly to alpacas and of reversal with tolazoline

ObjectiveTo evaluate the anesthetic and cardiorespiratory effects of two doses of intramuscular (IM) xylazine/ketamine in alpacas, and to determine if tolazoline would reduce the anesthetic recovery time.Study designProspective randomized crossover study.AnimalsSix castrated male alpacas.MethodsEach alpaca received a low dose (LD) (0.8 mg kg⁻¹ xylazine and 8 mg kg⁻¹ ketamine IM) and high dose (HD) (1.2 mg kg⁻¹ xylazine and 12 mg kg⁻¹ ketamine IM) with a minimum of one week between trials. Time to sedation, duration of lateral recumbency and analgesia, pulse rate, respiratory rate, hemoglobin oxygen saturation, arterial blood pressure, blood-gases, and the electrocardiogram were monitored and recorded during anesthesia. With each treatment three alpacas were randomly selected to receive tolazoline (2 mg kg⁻¹ IM) after 30 minutes of lateral recumbency.ResultsOnset of sedation, lateral recumbency and analgesia was rapid with both treatments. The HD was able to provide ≥30 minutes of anesthesia in five of six alpacas. The LD provided ≥30 minutes of anesthesia in three of six alpacas. Respiratory depression and hypoxemia occurred with the HD treatment during the first 10 minutes of lateral recumbency: two animals were severely hypoxemic and received nasal oxygen for 5 minutes. Heart rate decreased, but there were no significant changes in arterial blood pressure. Tolazoline significantly shortened the duration of recumbency with the HD.ConclusionsThe HD provided more consistent clinical effects in alpacas than the LD. Intramuscular tolazoline shortened the duration of lateral recumbency in alpacas anesthetized with the HD combination.Clinical relevanceBoth doses of the combination were effective in providing restraint in alpacas and the duration of restraint was dose dependent. Supplemental oxygen should be available if using the HD and IM administration of tolazoline will shorten the recovery time.     

Innovation and gendered negotiations: Insights from six small‐scale fishing communities

There has so far been limited investigation into gender in relation to innovation in fisheries. Therefore, this study investigates how gender relations shape the capacity and motivation of different individuals in fishing communities to innovate. We compare six fishing communities in Cambodia, the Philippines and the Solomon Islands. Our findings suggest that gendered negotiations mediate the capacity to innovate but that wider structural constraints are important constraints for both men and women. Our findings show that men's and women's capacity to innovate is strongly mediated by the behaviour of their marriage partner. Consequently, we argue that gender research from a social relational perspective has an important contribution to make in understanding poor fishing communities where new ways of doing things or new technologies are being promoted.     

Capricious bioinvasions versus uncoordinated management strategies: how the most unlikely invaders can prosper under the current UK legislation framework

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