An unusual case of inclusion body hepatitis in a cockerel

This report describes inclusion body hepatitis in a 12-week-old leghorn-type cockerel. The cockerel had come from a specific-pathogen-free flock and was reared in a positive-pressure isolator until 6 weeks old. Grossly, the cockerel was jaundiced, and the liver was swollen and had small white foci throughout. Histologically, there were foci of hepatic necrosis and basophilic inclusion bodies in the nuclei of numerous hepatocytes. A fowl adenovirus, isolated from the liver, was found to belong to serotype 2/12. The bursa of Fabricius had some degenerative changes, but these were not consistent with infectious bursal disease, nor was there evidence of seroconversion to infectious bursal disease virus in the remaining chickens.     

A comparison of predictions made by three simulation models of foot-and-mouth disease

AIMS: To describe results of a relative validation exercise using the three simulation models of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in use by the quadrilateral countries (QUADS; Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and United States of America; USA).

METHODS: A hypothetical population of farms was constructed and, following the introduction of an FMD-like disease into a single farm, spread of disease was simulated using each of the three FMD simulation models used by the QUADS countries. A series of 11 scenarios was developed to systematically evaluate the key processes of disease transmission and control used by each of the three models. The predicted number of infected units and the size of predicted outbreak areas for each scenario and each model were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Agreement among the three models in terms of geographical areas predicted to become infected were quantified using Fleiss' Kappa statistic.

RESULTS: Although there were statistically significant differences in model outputs in terms of the numbers of units predicted to become infected, the temporal onset of infection throughout the simulation period, and the spatial distribution of infected units, these differences were generally small and would have resulted in the same (or similar) management decisions being adopted in each case.

CONCLUSIONS: Agreement among the three models in terms of the numbers of premises predicted to become infected, the temporal onset of infection throughout the simulation period, and the spatial distribution of infected premises provides evidence that each of the model developers are consistent in their approach to simulating the spread of disease throughout a population of susceptible individuals. This consistency implies that the assumptions taken by each development team are appropriate, which in turn serves to increase end-user confidence in model predictions.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Relative validation is one of a number of steps that can be undertaken to increase end-user confidence in predictions made by infectious disease models.     

Hydrogen radicals, nitrogen radicals, and the production of O3 in the upper troposphere

The concentrations of the hydrogen radicals OH and HO2 in the middle and upper troposphere were measured simultaneously with those of NO, O3, CO, H2O, CH4, non-methane hydrocarbons, and with the ultraviolet and visible radiation field. The data allow a direct examination of the processes that produce O3 in this region of the atmosphere. Comparison of the measured concentrations of OH and HO2 with calculations based on their production from water vapor, ozone, and methane demonstrate that these sources are insufficient to explain the observed radical concentrations in the upper troposphere. The photolysis of carbonyl and peroxide compounds transported to this region from the lower troposphere may provide the source of HOx required to sustain the measured abundances of these radical species. The mechanism by which NO affects the production of O3 is also illustrated by the measurements. In the upper tropospheric air masses sampled, the production rate for ozone (determined from the measured concentrations of HO2 and NO) is calculated to be about 1 part per billion by volume each day. This production rate is faster than previously thought and implies that anthropogenic activities that add NO to the upper troposphere, such as biomass burning and aviation, will lead to production of more O3 than expected.     

Estimating stand water use of large mountain ash trees and validation of the sap flow measurement technique

Mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans F.J. Muell.) forest catchments exhibit a strong relationship between stand age and runoff, attributed inter alia to differences in tree water use. However, the tree water use component of the mountain ash forest water balance is poorly quantified. We have used the sap flow technique to obtain estimates of daily water use in large mountain ash trees. First, the sap flow technique was validated by means of an in situ cut tree experiment. Close agreement was obtained between the sap flow estimate of water use and the actual uptake of water by the tree from a reservoir. Second, we compared the variability in sap velocity between a symmetric and an asymmetric tree by using multiple sap flow loggers. In the symmetric tree, velocity was fairly uniform throughout the xylem during the day, indicating that accurate sap flow estimates can be obtained with a minimal number of sampling points. However, large variations in sap velocity were observed in the asymmetric tree, indicating that much larger sampling sizes are required in asymmetric stems for an accurate determination of mean sap velocity. Finally, we compared two procedures for scaling individual tree sap flow estimates to the stand level based on stem diameter and leaf area index measurements. The first procedure was based on a regression between stem diameter and tree water use, developed on a small sample of trees and applied to a stand-level census of stem diameter values. Inputs to the second procedure were tree water use and leaf area of a single tree and the leaf area index of the stand. The two procedures yielded similar results; however, the first procedure was more robust but it required more sampling effort than the second procedure.     

Does genomics empower resource-poor farmers? Some critical questions and experiences

This article explores the possible impact of genomics on the relationship between resource-poor farmers and ‘formal’ agricultural research. It notes that regions of low-resource agriculture serve as reservoirs of genetic diversity and then outlines some ways in which advances in genomics are enabling agricultural researchers to make increased use of this kind of genetic material. The adoption of genomics-based tools by agricultural research programmes will, it suggests, increase the benefits they can obtain from initiatives that elicit germplasm selected by farmers. The interactions between these two processes are examined in two distinct (and contrasting) contexts: maize in China and rice in Vietnam. Both of these case studies confirm that indigenous genetic resources take on greater significance to research systems that are equipped with genomics-based tools. The paper concludes that the ability of resource-poor farmers to demand the provision of research services relevant to their situation may increase as the resources that they control take on greater value to agricultural research.     

Experimental factors affecting mortality following inoculation of chickens with avian nephritis virus (G-4260).

Groups of approximately 20 one-day-old chickens were inoculated with G-4260, the reference strain of avian nephritis virus (ANV), or saline. Based on mortality rates from severe nephritis in comparable experiments, light Sussex chickens generally were more susceptible than Rhode Island red (RIR) chickens. Mortality was greater in those given broiler starter than those given other feeds, and was greater when light Sussex chickens were given broiler starter feed and cold-stressed at 15 +/- 1 C for 2 hr daily during the first week rather than brooded normally. Inoculation with G-4260 either orally or by intraperitoneal injection produced similar results in RIR chickens. Thirty-three inoculated chickens died of severe nephritis between 4 and 12 days postinoculation, and 24 (73%) of them had visceral urate deposits. Inoculated inbred white leghorn Line 15 chickens with maternal antibody to ANV were brooded normally and given broiler feed: they were susceptible to infection as evidenced by subsequent histological lesions in the kidneys and serology, but mortality was not a feature. There were no deaths from nephritis in inoculated non-inbred white leghorn chickens free of maternal antibody to ANV that were given broiler feed and brooded normally. These results have implications in standardizing experimental conditions for the study of mortality induced by G-4260 and similar viruses.