Effect of amitrole and 2,4-D applied preplant and pre-emergence in soybean (Glycine max)

There is limited information on the effect of amitrole and 2,4-D ester applied preplant and pre-emergence in soybean (G lycine max L.) in Ontario, Canada. Six field trials were conducted over a 2 year period (2004 to 2005) at three Ontario locations to evaluate the response of soybean to amitrole or 2,4-D ester applied at 14 days preplant (DPP), 7 DPP, 1 day after planting (DAP), and 7 DAP. The application of amitrole resulted in as much as 5.8, 3.9, 1.7, and 1% visible crop injury in soybean at 7, 14, 28, and 56 days after emergence (DAE), respectively. There was no visible injury in soybean with any amitrole treatment at 56 DAE, except for amitrole applied at 7 DAP, which caused 1% visible injury in soybean at 2310 g ha⁻¹. The application of the 2,4-D ester caused ≤8.3, 9.7, 4.6, and 1.3% visible injury in soybean at 7, 14, 28, and 56 DAE, respectively. The visible injury decreased over time. There was no visible injury in soybean with any of the 2,4-D ester treatments at 56 DAE, except for the 2,4-D ester treatment applied at 7 DAP, which caused 1% visible injury at 1155 g ha⁻¹ and 1.3% visible injury at 2310 g ha⁻¹. Soybean generally responded similarly to amitrole and 2,4-D ester when applied at 14 and 7 DPP; however, soybean was more tolerant to amitrole compared to 2,4-D ester when applied at 1 or 7 DAP. The application of amitrole and 2,4-D ester resulted in no biomass or yield reduction in soybean compared to the weed-free, untreated control at all doses and application timings evaluated. Soybean is tolerant to the preplant and pre-emergence application of amitrole or 2,4-D ester at the doses evaluated.     

Large‐scale coherence in New England lobster (Homarus americanus), settlement and associations with regional atmospheric conditions

Time series of American lobster (Homarus americanus) postlarval settlement from southern New England to Atlantic Canada exhibit many common features, and a cluster analysis indicates a block of regions extending from Massachusetts to Maine that have coherent interannual variations. The spatial scale of this block suggests that variability in settlement is related to large‐scale, rather than local, processes. We examined the association between settlement at six reference regions and monthly mean atmospheric conditions (temperature, geopotential height, westerly and southerly wind components, and wind curl) from the North American Regional Reanalysis. We first extracted the dominant modes of variability in monthly averaged geopotential height, temperature, and wind curl. The leading mode from September, which represents high geopotential height, warm temperatures, and negative wind curl throughout the study area, was strongly correlated with settlement at most of the regions. The third mode from August, which represents enhanced southwesterly winds, was correlated with settlement in Rhode Island. Correlations between local atmospheric conditions and lobster settlement confirm the principal component results. Settlement was correlated to varying degrees with geopotential height (positive), temperature (positive) and wind curl (negative) with lobster settlement at the northern sites, with temperature being a stronger indicator in the north and curl a stronger indicator in the south. Rhode Island settlement was strongly correlated with August westerly winds. The correlation between settlement and atmospheric conditions could improve our understanding of stock‐recruit relationships for lobster populations and provides one mechanism for how climate change could impact lobsters.     

The Bacteria Isolated from the Skin of 20 Horses at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital

The objective of this study was to isolate bacteria on the skin of the proximal to distal equine limb to guide the practitioner in the selection of prophylactic antimicrobial protocols. This prospective study involved 20 client-owned horses that were admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital for routine elective surgery. Each horse spent between 12 and 36 hours at our hospital before sampling. Samples were collected from the skin of the left mid-thorax and the dorsal aspect of nine joints on the left side of each horse: front and hind coffin and fetlock joints, carpi, elbows, shoulders, hocks, and stifles. Samples were cultured aerobically and speciated when possible. When evaluating bacterial composition by location, a 40% difference was considered clinically significant. When comparing proximal sites above the fetlock to distal sites, the odds of isolating gram-positive bacteria were 1.23 times (P = .0124) higher at proximal sites; the odds of isolating coliform bacteria were 1.32 times (P = .023) higher at distal sites; and the odds of isolating a common septic arthritis pathogen were 1.16 times (P = .018) higher at distal sites. Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus was not isolated in this study. All comparisons between sites and between the proximal and distal limb were <40%, and thus were not considered clinically significant. No coagulase-positive Staphylococcus was isolated from any of the 200 sites in this study, suggesting that iatrogenic infections by that organism may not be because of preexisting flora. These data suggest that antibiotic prophylaxis targeting preexisting normal flora should be similar regardless of the area of interest on the limb.     

Osteomyelitis and Osteonecrosis after Intraosseous Perfusion with Gentamicin

Objective: To describe and discuss previously unreported complications associated with intraosseous perfusion with gentamicin in horses. Study Design: Case report. Animals: Ten‐year‐old Warmblood gelding. Methods: Intraosseous perfusion with gentamicin into the proximal phalanx (P1) was used as part of the treatment regimen for distal interphalangeal joint and navicular bursa synovial sepsis. Although the sepsis responded favorably complications developed at the perfusion site, including persistent osteomyelitis, progressive osteonecrosis, and ultimately pathologic fracture of P1. Results: The progression of the clinical signs and findings at necropsy are suggestive of a toxic osteonecrosis secondary to intraosseous perfusion. Conclusions: Further work is needed to investigate the effects of high dose gentamicin on equine mesenchymal cells that may be achieved during intraosseous perfusion. Clinical Relevance: Lower doses of perfusate within the medullary canal of P1 or alternative perfusion sites should be considered.     

Feline Degenerative Joint Disease

Objective: To critically review and collate published information on feline degenerative joint disease (DJD) and identify areas in which information is lacking.
Study Design: Critical literature review.
Methods: Literature search through Pub Med, Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau Abstracts published in the English Language, or translated into English (January 1940–August 2008).
Results: Although there are no prospective studies, the prevalence of radiographic DJD appears to be high and can be associated with clinical signs of decreased mobility. There appears to be a mismatch between radiographic and clinical examination findings (pain response). There is little information on the cause of DJD in different joints. There are no fully validated subjective or objective assessment systems for the measurement of chronic DJD-associated pain in the cat. Development of a feline model of chronic DJD-associated pain may speed the development and evaluation of candidate pain-alleviating compounds and treatments.
Conclusions: The high prevalence of feline DJD and lack of information about it, suggests further investigation is needed.
Clinical Relevance: Feline DJD occurs with high frequency, and yet there is little to guide the clinician on prevention or treatment.