Tuberculosis in wild seals and characterisation of the seal bacillus

SUMMARY Tuberculosis was diagnosed in 3 otariid seals found dead on beaches at 3 locations on the south coast of Western Australian between May 1990 and March 1991. This confirms that tuberculosis is present in the 2 native seals (Neophoca cinerea and Arctocephalus forsteri) in Western Australian waters. Mycobacterium sp isolated from the lungs of 2 of the seals were studied to determine the similarity of the strains to each other, to the strains isolated during 1986 from Australian sea lions and New Zealand fur seals kept in captivity at a marine park near Perth, Western Australia, and to a strain isolated in 1988 from a seal trainer who worked with the infected captive seals for 3 years. After restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) with the endonucleases Bst Ell, Bcl I and Pvu II, one of the wild seal strains appeared to have identical DNA fragment patterns to the strains from the captive seals and the seal trainer. The other wild seal isolate had identical REA profiles using Bst EII and Bcl I, but a minor difference was detected using Pvu II. Differences in these isolates were more clearly seen in restriction fragment length polymorphisms after hybridisation with two DNA probes. The secretory protein MPB70, present in M bovis, was not detected in wild seal isolates using sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting techniques. Analysis of protein and DNA fragment profiles indicated that seal tuberculosis isolates form a unique cluster within the M tuberculosis complex.     

Peritoneo-pericardial diaphragmatic hernia in a Persian cat--a congenital defect]

In this clinical study, a diaphragmatic peritoneo-pericardial hernia in an eight month-old Persian cat is reported. The diagnostic procedure is described, and the clinical symptoms and diagnostic possibilities are discussed.     

Evaluation of Wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Legume Intercropping Under 1:1 and 2:1 Row-replacement Series System

A field experiment was conducted during the winter season of 1992–93 and 1993–94 at Agricultural Experimental Farm, Giridih, Bihar to evaluate the intercropping systems of legumes, gram ( Cicer arietinum L.), pea ( Pisum sativum ) and lentil ( Lens culinaris ) with wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) in 1:1 and 2:1 'row replacement series'. Intercropping systems were assessed on the basis of new indices termed as actual yield loss (AYL) and intercropping advantage (IA). This paper highlights the comparative effectiveness of evaluating the intercropping systems through the existing intercropping indices like LER, RCC, aggressivity. The indices AYL and IA seem to be more appropriate particularly when per plant yield is considered. Intercropping reduced the yield of component crops compared with respective pure stands. Wheat + pea in 1:1 row replacement series gave the highest wheat yield equivalent value (3.02 t ha⁻¹) followed by wheat + lentil (2.91 tha⁻¹). When the actual sown proportion was considered wheat + lentil (1:1) resulted in maximum AYL (+0.610) and IA (+0.279) values. This treatment also gave the maximum monetary advantage (Rs 5985.45 ha⁻¹).     

Salinity Effects on the Growth and Ion Contents of Some Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and Lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.) Varieties

The effect of salinity on seed germination, plant yield parameters, and plant Na, Cl and K concentrations of chickpea and lentil varieties was studied. Results showed that in both crops percentage emergence was significantly reduced by increasing NaCl levels (0–8dSm^?1). From the plant growth studies it was found that differences existed among chickpea and lentil varieties in their response to NaCl application. In chickpea, the variety Mariye showed the comparatively lowest germination percentage and the lowest seedling shoot dry weight in response to salinity and was also among the two varieties which had the lowest relative plant height, shoot and root dry weight and grain yield at maturity. Similarly, variety DZ-10-16-2, which was the second best in germination percentage and the highest in terms of seedling shoot dry weight, also had the highest relative plant height, shoot and root dry weights, and grain yield at maturity. In lentil, however, such relationships were less pronounced. Chloride concentration (mg g^?1) in the plant parts at salt levels other than the control was about 2–5 times that of Na. K concentration in the plants was significantly reduced by increasing NaCl levels. Chickpea was generally more sensitive to NaCl salinity than lentil. While no seeds were produced at salinity levels beyond 2dSm^?1 in chickpea (no seeds were produced at this salt level in the most sensitive variety, Mariye), most lentil varieties could produce some seeds up to the highest level of NaCl application. Overall, varieties R-186 (lentil) and Mariye (chickpea) were the most sensitive of all varieties. On the other hand, lentil variety NEL-2704 and chickpea variety DZ-10-16-2 gave comparatively higher mean relative shoot and root dry weights, and grain yield, thus showing some degree of superiority over the others. The observed variations among the varieties may be useful indications for screening varieties of both crops for salt tolerance.     

Deforestation patterns and their effects on forest patches

Five identifiable patterns of deforestation are recognized - internal, indentation, cropping, fragmentation, and removal - and each has a distinct effect on habitat quality of forest patches in the eastern United States. By overlaying land use maps from 1973 and 1981 for three counties in the State of Maryland (Prince Georges, Anne Arundel, and Wicomico), changes in the interior core area and edge length of individual patches were measured. Forest interior declined by 23.8 km² in Anne Arundel, 16.3 km² in Prince Georges, and 8.4 km² in Wicomico. Within Anne Arundel and Prince Georges Counties, deforestation increased edge length by 52.1 km and 31.2 km, respectively, whereas, within Wicomico, it decreased edge length by 8.7 km. Differences among counties resulted from current land use patterns, percentage of forest cover, and the dominant deforestation pattern.     

Influence of Low Light Irradiance on Grain Filling in Rice (Oryza saliva L.) cultivars

Time course of grain filling pattern in two rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars, grown under normal and low light intensities, was studied. The number of spikelets, partially filled grains and high density grains were monitored at a 5 day interval during grain filling period from uniform panicles tagged at anthesis. The low light tolerant cultivar Swarnaprabha had more high density grains and less partially filled grains throughout the grain filling period and at harvest compared to cultivar Ratna under both normal and low light intensities. Further, the opening of spikelets in two flushes in Swarnaprabha seemed to result in a more efficient resource allocation and hence better yield as compared to Ratna, in which the opening of spikelets was in a single flush on day 10.     

Comparison of sesame cake and cottonseed as supplementary sources of protein to weaned N'Dama bull calves in The Gambia

Summary The potential for increased productivity of N'Dama cattle in response to small supplementary inputs of proteinaceous by-products has been shown to be substantial under village husbandry conditions in The Gambia. Young N'Dama bulls were used to compare sesame cake with cottonseed as sources of supplementary protein during the wet and early dry seasons of 1987. They were fed 0, 40, 80 or 160 g crude protein/day in these forms for four months. Supplementation significantly increased growth rate from 169 g/d in controls to means of 272 and 271 g/d for those given sesame cake and cottonseed respectively; there were no significant differences among the supplemented groups. During the four months of the dry season immediately after supplementation ceased all previously supplemented groups grew significantly more rapidly than the controls (at leastP<0·05), indicating a substantial carry over effect of the supplements. Over this period the mean gain of the groups previously given sesame cake exceeded that of those that had received cottonseed (217 cf. 158 g/d;P<0·01). The economic benefits of these responses were substantial.

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Comparacion de torta de sesamo y de semilla de algodon como fuente suplementaria de proteina para terneros destetos N'Dama en Gambia

Resumen Se ha demonstrado el potencial para incrementar la productividad del ganado N'Dama, como resquesta a peque?as cantidades de insumos suplementarios de proteína, bajo condiciones de villorrio en Gambia. Se utilizaron terneros destetos N'Dama par comparar la torta de sésamo y de semilla de algodón como fuente de proteína suplementaria durate la estaicón lluviosa y principio de la seca del a?o 1987. Se les dió a los animales 0, 40, 80 o 160 g de proteína cruda/día en éstas formas durante cuatro meses. La suplementación incrementó significativamente la tasa de crecimiento, de 169 g/día en controles a 272 y 271 g/día en aquellos que recibieron torta de sésamo y de algodón respectivamente; no hubo diferenca estadística entre los grupos suplementados. Durate los cuatro meses de la estación seca inmediatamente después de que la suplementación fue suspendida, todos los grupos que habían sido suplementados crecieron sgnificativamente más rápido que los controls (P<0·05), indicando un efecto compensatorio en los suplementados. Durante ese período la media de crecimento de los grupos que recibieron torta de sésamo excedió a aquella de los que habían recibido torta de algodón (217 cf. 158 g/d;P<0·01). Los beneficios económicos de estos resultados fueron substanciales.

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Comparaison entre le tourteau de sesame et la graine de coton comme sources complementaires de proteines pour les taurillons N'Dama sevres en Gambie

Résumé Le potentiel de réponse à de petites quantités supplémentaires de sous-produits proteiniques pour accroitre la productivité de bétail N'Dama, s'est révélé manifeste, dans les conditions d'élevage villageois en Gambie. De jeunes taureaux N'Dama ont été utilisés pour comparer le tourteau de sésame et la graine de coton en tant que source de complémentation protéinique pendant la saison sèche et le début de la saison humide au cours de l'année 1987. Ils ont re?u respectivement 0, 40, 80 ou 160 g de proteines brutes par jour sus ces deux formes pendat quatre mois. Cette supplémentation a accru de fa?on significative le taux de croissance, de 169 g/jour pour les témoins jusqu'à des moyennes de 272 et 271g/jour respectivement pour ceux qui ont re?u du tourteau de sésame et de la graine de coton. Quant aux groupes complémentés, il n'ont révélé aucune différence significative. Pendat les quatre mois de la saison sèche et immédiatement après l'arrêt de la supplémentation, tous les lots ayant fait précédemment l'objet d'une distribution complémentaire ont eu une croissance significativement plus rapide que les animaux témoins, du moins pourP<0,05, ce qui indique un effet important de report des suppléments. Durant cette période, le gain moyen des lots qui ont re?u le tourteau de sésame a dépassé celui des lots auxquels on a donné de la graine de coton, soit 217 g/jour contre 158 g/jour pourP<0,01. Les profits économiques de ces réponses ont été appréciables.