Ultrastructural changes in leaf and needle segments treated with herbicides containing picloram

The herbicide Tordon 50D (picloram+2,4-D) affected the integrity of the nucleus and cell membranes in Pinus radiata needle segments and caused the swelling of internal chloro plast membranes and the eventual disintegration of the chloroplasts. Tordon 22K (picloram) only affected chloro plast structure. Both herbicides had similar adverse effects on cell membranes and chloroplasts of Eucalyptus viminalis.     

Renal abscess in a dog with transient diabetes mellitus

A nine-year-old, intact female dalmatian with diabetes mellitus and a renal abscess is described. The renal abscess was treated surgically by nephrectomy, and the diabetes mellitus resolved with ovariohysterectomy. Abdominal ultrasound and ultrasound-guided aspiration of the abscess were helpful in establishing a diagnosis. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a renal abscess in a dog with diabetes mellitus.     

Selenium, vitamin E and polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations in goat kids with and without nutritional myodegeneration

Mean selenium and vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) concentrations in the liver, myocardium and skeletal muscle of nine goat kids with nutritional myodegeneration (NMD) were significantly lower than those in a group of nine kids dying from other causes. Each of the 18 kids was from a different property in the southern half of the North Island. The polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of the liver, myocardium and skeletal muscle was not significantly different between the two groups, but the overall level of peroxidisable polyunsaturated fatty acids appeared high in both groups. A further 21 kids with confirmed NMD and live 'controls', submitted as routine cases to Palmerston North Animal Health Laboratory, were included with the above 18 kids in a comparison of liver selenium and alpha-tocopherol concentrations. Kids with NMD had liver selenium concentrations ranging from 170-1100 (mean = 380) nmol/kg and alpha-tocopherol from 0.7-11.0 (mean =2.2) micromol/kg. In control kids, the liver selenium concentration ranged from 530-4300 (mean = 1220) nmol/kg and a-tocopherol from 1.7-14.0 (mean = 5.6) pmollkg. Although these ranges overlapped, the results suggest that liver selenium concentrations <500 nmol/kg and alpha-tocopherol concentrations <2.5 micromol/kg should be regarded as deficient. Liver selenium concentrations from 500-1100 nmol/kg and alpha-tocopherol concentrations from 2.5-10 micromol/kg should be considered marginal. Goat kids appear to require more selenium than lambs or calves which may explain the higher prevalence of NMD in kids. In some cases, however, the disease is associated with low alpha-tocopherol suggesting that supplementation with selenium alone may not always be sufficient.     

An outbreak of Newcastle disease in free-living pheasants (Phasianus colchicus).

The epidemiology of an outbreak of Newcastle disease in a population of approximately 12,000 free-living pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) on the island of Faen? in Denmark in 1996 is described. The mortality during the epizootic was 56%. The spread of the disease between 7 groups of pheasants could be demonstrated over an observation period of 3 weeks. A total of 70 avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 (APMV-1) isolates was made from the flock. The intra cerebral pathogenicity indices of the 4 isolates tested were in the range 1.78-1.88. By means of immunoperoxidase monolayer assay with murine monoclonal antibodies and sequence analysis of an RT-PCR amplified segment of the F0 viral protein it was found, that the virus belonged to the highly virulent C1 antigenic group and that the amino acid sequence at the F0 cleavage site corresponded with the sequences of virulent APMV-1 strains. Based on the epidemiological circumstances it is believed that the virus was transmitted to the pheasants by feral birds.     

Effects of farrowing crate floors on health and performance of piglets and sows

Three types of raised perforated floor were compared with floor-level concrete which had perforated flooring at the rear. Piglets on raised perforated floors grew faster (P less than 0.05) to 21 days than pigs on mainly solid floors (205 g/day and 198 g/day, respectively). The mortality in the first 21 days of all pigs born did not differ between raised (18.4 per cent) and mainly solid floors (18.7 per cent) and there were no effects of individual floor types on overall survival or on deaths due to crushing. The incidence of diarrhoea was not significantly less on raised than on solid floors (27 per cent and 34 per cent of litters, respectively) but antibiotic treatment time was shortened (0.9 days and 1.2 days, P less than 0.05). The incidence of splayleg was highest on fibreglass slats. Concrete floors caused most knee abrasions but the incidence of arthritis was unaffected. Approximately twice as many sows on mainly solid floors went off their feed or had a high rectal temperature compared with sows on raised perforated floors. No differences were observed between narrow or A-frame farrowing crates.     

Epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus—An assessment of the likelihood of introduction and establishment in England and Wales

Epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus (EHNV) is an iridovirus that affects perch (Perca fluviatilis) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). It emerged in Australia in the 1980s and has not been discovered elsewhere. It causes a high level of mortality in perch resulting in steep population declines. The main possible routes of introduction of the virus to England and Wales are the importation of infected live fish or carcasses. However, no trade in live susceptible species is permitted under current legislation, and no importation of carcasses currently takes place. The virus is hardy and low levels of challenge can infect perch. Therefore, mechanical transmission through the importation of non-susceptible fish species should be considered as a potential route of introduction and establishment. Carp (Cyprinus carpio) have been imported to the UK from Australia for release into still-water fisheries. A qualitative risk assessment concluded that the likelihood of EHNV introduction and establishment in England and Wales with the importation of a consignment of carp was very low. The level of uncertainty at a number of steps in the risk assessment scenario tree was high, notably the likelihood that carp become contaminated with the virus and whether effective contact (resulting in pathogen transmission) is made between the introduced carp and susceptible species in England and Wales. The virus would only establish when the water temperature is greater than 12 °C. Analysis of 10 years of data from two rivers in south-west England indicated that establishment could occur over a period of at least 14 weeks a year in southern England (when average water temperature exceed 12 °C). Imports of live fish from Australia need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine which, if any, sanitary measures are required to reduce the assessed risk to an acceptable level.     

Surgical reconstruction of chronic coronary band avulsions in three horses

Three adult horses were admitted with chronic coronary band avulsions of 2-, 3-, and 46-month durations, respectively. The hoof had a typical appearance in all 3 horses, with a spur of coronary band and associated horn growing at right angles to the hoof wall. Each horse was anesthetized, and the coronary band was reconstructed. Follow-up evaluation of the 3 horses (12, 15, and 23 months after surgery, respectively), revealed healing of all 3 avulsed coronary bands. Mild roughening of the hoof wall distal to the previous avulsion site was observed.