Arthrodesis of the equine proximal interphalangeal joint: a biomechanical comparison of three 4.5-mm and two 5.5-mm cortical screws

OBJECTIVE--To compare the biomechanical characteristics and mode of failure of 2 parallel-screw techniques for proximal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis in horses. STUDY DESIGN--Randomized block design, blocking for horse (1-5), method of screw fixation (three 4.5-mm vs two 5.5-mm), side (left limb vs right limb), and end (front limb vs hind limb). Constructs were loaded to failure in 3-point bending in a dorsal-to-palmar (plantar) direction. SAMPLE POPULATION--Twenty limbs (10 limb pairs) from 5 equine cadavers. METHODS--A combined aiming device was used to facilitate consistent screw placement. Three parallel 4.5-mm cortical screws were placed in lag fashion in 1 limb of a pair, and 2 parallel 5.5-mm cortical screws were placed in lag fashion in the contralateral limb. Arthrodesis constructs were tested in 3-point bending in a dorsal-to-palmar (plantar) direction using a materials-testing machine. Loading rate was 19 mm/s. Maximal bending moment at failure and composite stiffness were obtained from bending moment-angular deformation curves. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and chi(2) analysis. RESULTS--There were no significant differences in bending moment (P >.05, power = 0.8 @ delta = 19%) or composite stiffness (P >.05, power = 0.8 @ delta = 19%) between the 2 fixation techniques. Higher maximal bending moment was found in front limbs than hind limbs, and front limbs with two 5.5-mm screws than hind limbs with two 5.5-mm screws. In all cases, constructs completely failed. A greater number of 4.5-mm cortical screws failed than 5.5-mm cortical screws. CONCLUSIONS-In pastern arthrodesis constructs loaded in 3-point bending, end (front limb vs hind limb) affected maximal bending moment at failure of constructs. There was no significant effect of horse, treatment, or side on maximal bending moment or stiffness. Two 5.5-mm cortical screws should provide a surgically simpler pastern arthrodesis than three 4.5-mm cortical screws while maintaining similar biomechanical characteristics. CLINICAL RELEVANCE--Three 4.5-mm screws or two 5.5-mm screws will provide similar biomechanical characteristics in bending when performing equine pastern arthrodesis.     

Residues of tetrachlorvinphos and its breakdown products on treated crops. I.—Method development

Procedures are described for the analysis of crops for residues of tetrachlorvinphos (Gardona, trans-isomer of dimethyl 1-(2′,4′,5′-trichlorophenyl)-2-chloroyinyl phosphate) insecticide together with methods for the analysis for residues of its isomer and its conjugated and non-conjugated breakdown products. Suitable procedures for the extraction are described together with procedures for the cleanup of the extracts by partition or column chromatography and final analysis down to 0·01 ppm or less by gas-liquid chromatography with electron capture detection.     

Movement of dieldrin through soils: II.—In sloping troughs and soil columns

A glass-lined trough was divided into six compartments by vertical transverse partitions and filled with soil to a height of 5 cm above the top of each partition. The base of the box and the surface of the soil sloped forwards one end with a gradient of 1 in 3·7. Dieldrin was applied (22 kg active ingredient/ha) to the soil surface in the uppermost compartment and the movement of dieldrin into leachate and down the slope was followed for 17 weeks. During this time 19·5 cm of rain fell. Less than 0·02% of the dieldrin appeared in the leachate and 99% of this was collected during the first 9 weeks, mainly from the uppermost compartment. Very little dieldrin moved down the slope and it was not detected in the leachate from compartments other than the treated one during 9–17 weeks after treatment. In other experiments, 3 cylinders were filled respectively with sandy loam, heavy clay loam and peat which were transferred from the field as intact cores. Three other cylinders were filled with soils of the same types but broken up. Approximately 2% of the dieldrin leached through one column but usually it was much less than 0·1%. The largest amounts of dieldrin were leached down columns of heavy clay loam, intermediate amounts down columns of peat, and least through sandy loam. Ten times as much dieldrin leached down the columns of intact soil as through those with broken soil. The results indicate that the movement of dieldrin from treated soil into water systems by leaching is limited and is unlikely to be a major pathway for the contamination of water.     

Determination of residues of the molluscicide trifenmorph and its breakdown product triphenylcarbinol: I.—Method

A procedure has been developed for the analysis of crops and soils for residues of trifenmorph (N-trityl-morpholine) molluscicide and its breakdown product triphenylcarbinol (TPC). Samples were extracted with 20% by vol. acetone in petroleum ether and the efficiency of the extraction was established using radiochemical techniques. The extracts were subjected to column chromatography on basic alumina columns to separate trifenmorph from the TPC. The residues were converted to trichloroethyl ether derivatives followed by clean-up by column chromatography on silica gel and analysis of down to 0·02 ng by gas-liquid chromatography. Blank values were generally 0·01–0·02 ppm, recoveries were on average about 80% and were limited to this value by the yield of the etherification reaction. The storage stability of the residues at —10°c was satisfactory.     

Hyperthermia and disturbances of prenatal development

Pregnant guinea pigs at all stages of gestation were exposed for 1 hr daily on 1, 2 , 4 or 8 days to temperatures of 42–43°C. ‘High doses’ of heat stress resulted in maternal death; progressively smaller doses caused foetal death, abortion, foetal malformations or no effect. The commonest foetal abnormalities were micrencephaly, hypoplasia of digits, umbilical hernia, club-foot and arthrogryposis. Proliferating neuroblasts were especially susceptible to heat between days 20 and 23. Résumé. Des cobayes enceintes à tous les stades de la gestation ont été exposées pour une heure par jour pendant 1, 2 , 4 ou 8 jours à des températures de 42–43° C. De ‘hautes doses’ de temps de chaleur ont eu pour résultat la mort de la mère; des doses progressivement plus petites ont causé la mort du f?tus, l'avortement, la malformation du f?tus ou n'ont eu aucun effet. Les anomalies f?tales les plus fréquentes étaient la microcéphalie, l'hypoplasie des doigts, l'hernie ombilicale. le pied bot et l'arthrogrypose. Des neuroblastes proliflres étaient particulièrement sensibles à la chaleur entre les 20ième à 23ième jours. Zusammenfassung. Trächtige Meerschweinchen in allen Stadien der Trächtigkeit wurden 1, 2 , 4 oder 8 Tage eine Stunde täglich Temperaturen von 42–43° C ausgesezt. ‘Hohe Dosen’ der Wärmebelastung führten zum Tode des Muttertiers; zunehmend kleinere Dosen führten zum Tod des Fetus, zur Fehlgeburt, zu fetalen Missbildungen oder sie blieben wirkungslos. Die häufigsten fetalen Anomalien waren Mikrenzephalie, Hypoplasie de Zehen, Nabelbrüche, Klumpfuss und Arthrogryposis. Proliferierende Neuroblasten waren besonders vom 20. bis 23. Tag empfindlich gegen Wärme.     

Isolates of Verticillium dahliae Pathogenic to Crucifers Are of at Least Three Distinct Molecular Types

ABSTRACT Diverse isolates of the soilborne wilt fungi Verticillium dahliae and V. albo-atrum were studied to understand the nature and origins of those infecting cruciferous hosts. All isolates from cruciferous crops produced microsclerotia, and the majority produced long conidia with a high nuclear DNA content; these isolates were divided into two groups by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. One group could be subdivided by other criteria such as rRNA sequences and mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Two crucifer isolates were short spored and had a low nuclear DNA content. The results are consistent with the crucifer isolates being interspecific hybrids. The long-spored isolates are best regarded as amphihaploids (or allodiploids) with the AFLP groups probably each representing separate interspecific hybridization events. The short-spored crucifer isolates appear to be derived from interspecific hybrids and are here called 'secondary haploids'. Molecular evidence suggests that one parent in the crosses was similar to V. dahliae. The other parent of the amphihaploids seems to have been more similar to V. albo-atrum than to V. dahliae, but was distinct from all isolates of either species so far studied. The implications for the taxonomy of crucifer isolates are discussed and the use of the name V. longisporum, proposed elsewhere for just some of these isolates, is discouraged.     

Development of an indirect ELISA for the detection of serum antibodies to Aspergillus fumigatus in captive penguins

Aspergillosis is a significant cause of mortality in captive penguins (Sphenisciformes). An indirect ELISA for the detection of Aspergillus fumigatus-specific immunoglobulin in penguins was developed and standardised by making use of a family-specific antiserum (anti-Aptenodyptes patagonica patagonicus). The results were calculated quantitatively as ELISA units, derived by polynomial regression analysis, and semi-quantitatively as end titres. Serum samples from 61 captive penguins were tested with the assay, and the results were compared with those obtained by counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE). The ELISA results correlated with the CIE results only when end titres were reported (R(s) = -0.676, P < 0.002). Fifty-seven of the penguins (93 per cent) were seropositive, but the detection of immunoglobulin did not correlate with clinical disease. At Whipsnade Wild Animal Park, Humboldt's penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) demonstrated higher seropositivity than king penguins (Aptenodyptes patagonicapatagonicus) (P = 0.022), but Humboldt's penguins at Fota Wildlife Park had a significantly higher seropositivity than Humboldt's penguins at Whipsnade (P = 0.035).