System for quasi‐continuous simultaneous measurement of oxygen diffusion rate and redox potential in soil

Oxygen diffusion rate (ODR) and redox potential (E_H) are quantitative indices representing oxygen availability and redox status in soils, which is valuable information for better understanding causes and effects of soil aeration. Because these indices are spatially and temporally highly variable, continuous measurements and adequate numbers of repetitions are essential for accurate in situ monitoring. Here, we present a new, fully automated recording system for in situ measurements where ODR and E_H are measured at the same platinum electrode. The conflict between electrode polarization for ODR and the resulting biased E_H readings is solved by reducing the polarization time and introducing a recovery interval between two consecutive measurement cycles. The shorter polarization time ensures accurate E_H readings. It also results in moderately overestimated ODR readings, but this can be corrected before data analysis. The recovery interval restricts temporal resolution of the E_H‐ODR data pairs to 8 h. We illustrate the use of the system with measurements in a field experiment in Zürich, Switzerland. ODR curves at different depths ran roughly parallel to the corresponding curves of O₂ concentration in soil air but ODR was much more sensitive to precipitation. Low ODR was a necessary but not a sufficient condition for declining E_H. E_H ran parallel to O₂ concentration in soil air rather than to ODR. The fully automated system allows for time series of replicate measurements in multifactorial field studies with reasonable labor requirements. It may be particularly suitable for studies examining the effects of soil tillage, compaction, and irrigation, where structure‐related soil properties such as porosity, gas permeability, and soil aeration play a dominant role.     

Comparative proteomic analysis of mushroom cell wall proteins among the different developmental stages of Pleurotus tuber-regium

Cell wall proteins (CWPs) play a vital role in the development of the different morphological stages including mycelium, fruiting body, and sclerotium in mushrooms which are important human food sources. Using fractionation by detergents and reducing agents, mushroom cell wall fractions from the different developmental stages of Pleurotus tuber-regium (PTR) were prepared. Using one-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with LC-MS, there were 103, 91, and 48 noncovalently linked CWPs identified in the cell wall fractions of the PTR mycelium, fruiting body, and sclerotium, respectively. Comparing the CWPs in these cell wall fractions, 19 of them were in common, among which 17 belonged to the functional categories of translation, ribosomal structure, and biogenesis. This is the first study to provide important biochemical insights into the different developmental stages of PTR mediated by CWPs, and the identified CWPs helped to explain the morphological changes of PTR mushrooms during cultivation.     

Systemic and secretory antibody responses to sequential bovine respiratory syncytial virus infections in vaccinated and nonvaccinated calves

To investigate the influence of humoral immunity on the severity of disease caused by infection with bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), an experimentally induced infection study was performed on vaccinated and nonvaccinated calves. Fifteen weanling calves were allotted to 3 groups: 1 group of 6 calves was exposed to 2 live virus aerosols, 35 days apart; another group of 6 calves was vaccinated prior to the same aerosol exposures; and the remaining 3 calves served as controls. Clinical signs of infection were converted to a numerical score for evaluating disease severity. For 14 days after each virus exposure, BRSV-specific IgG and IgM concentrations in serum and BRSV-specific IgA concentration in nasopharyngeal exudate and lung lavage fluid were measured by ELISA. Serum BRSV-specific IgG and IgM and secretory BRSV-specific IgA concentrations did not correlate with disease sign expression. There was a strong correlation between viral isolation and disease scores. Vaccination prior to virus exposure appeared to have little or no effect on severity of the disease, but it did appear to affect disease persistence. Findings indicate that the immunoglobulins evaluated may be primarily protective in nature and do not contribute to disease severity.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for detecting antibody to Rickettsia australis in sera of various animal species

New endemic areas of spotted fever-like rickettsial disease have been found in south-eastern Australia (Gippsland, Victoria and Flinders Island, Tasmania). The rickettsia responsible is currently unknown although it may be Rickettsia australis. To investigate serological evidence of rickettsial exposure in various wild animal species, a competitive ELISA was developed which detected antibodies to R. australis. It was based on inhibition of an indirect ELISA detecting antibody to R. australis in guinea pig sera. Pre- and post-infection sera from 2 dogs, 2 rabbits, 5 mice and 6 rats, experimentally infected with R. australis, were tested by competitive ELISA. The results showed that all pre-infection sera were negative and all post-infection sera positive for antibody to R. australis. To test the utility of the competitive ELISA for detecting natural rickettsial infection in non-laboratory animals, 51 dog sera, negative for rickettsial antibody by immunofluorescence (IF) and 20 IF positive dog sera (collected from various locations on the east coast of Australia) were tested. Compared to the IF test the competitive ELISA was 90% sensitive and 96% specific. This new test has potential for detecting antibody to R. australis in the sera of different wild animal species.     

Fecal steroid analysis for evaluating ovarian function in the greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) and lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis)

Seasonal reproductive-endocrine norms have not been described for the genus Tragelaphus, which consists of seven species of African antelope. Longitudinal patterns of progesterone metabolite excretion were assessed by radioimmunoassays in fecal samples collected noninvasively (three to seven samples per week) from greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros, n = 4) and lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis, n = 4). Progesterone metabolite excretion patterns revealed seasonal estrous cycles in both species, and discrimination of pregnant versus nonpregnant females was achieved in lesser kudu. These data reveal the value of fecal progesterone metabolites for establishing reproductive-endocrine norms in both zoo-maintained and free-living antelopes of the genus Tragelaphus.     

Diagnosis of deafness in a horse by brainstem auditory evoked potential

Deafness was confirmed in a blue-eyed, 3-year-old, overo paint horse by brainstem auditory evoked potential. Congenital inherited deafness associated with lack of facial pigmentation was suspected. Assessment of hearing should be considered, especially in paint horses, at the time of pre-purchase examination. Brainstem auditory evoked potential assessment is well tolerated and accurate.