Cross-reaction of tick salivary antigens in the Boophilus microplus-cattle system

Calves were immunized with Boophilus microplus saliva, filtered through Millipore membranes, in Freund's complete adjuvant. Serum samples were tested by passive hemagglutination against Babesia bigemina, Anaplasma marginale, B. microplus larvae extract, Stomoxys calcitrans extract and B. microplus saliva. After immunization, titers to saliva, larval tick-extract and to S. calcitrans were increased. The challenge with live tick larvae enhanced the formation of antibodies against larva extract, fly extract and tick saliva, which supports the idea that under natural controlled conditions this cross-reactivity could occur.     

Investigating decadal changes in persistent organic pollutants in Scottish grey seal pups

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Leech (Myzobdella lugubris) infestations in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) in Back Bay,Virginia, USA

Back Bay is an oligohaline, coastal bay in southeast Virginia, USA. Since 2004, leeches have been observed in the oral cavities of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) in this body of water. Leeches (Myzobdella lugubris) have previously been documented in the oral cavities of largemouth bass in the Currituck Sound, which is confluent with Back Bay on its southern border. Supplemental stocking of largemouth bass in Back Bay since 2009 has resulted in an increasing population; however, concern exists that leech infestation may be negatively affecting health of larger fish, which are still less abundant than expected. Despite the wide distribution of this leech, there is little available literature regarding its health impacts on hosts. In this study, we examine potential impacts of oral leech infestations on stress markers and haematological parameters of largemouth bass in Back Bay. No significant changes in plasma glucose or cortisol were observed between leech‐infested and uninfested fish, and haematological parameters were not significantly different between the groups. Further, there was no evidence of systemic infections associated with leech infestation.     

Preliminary evidence for biologic activity of toceranib phosphate (Palladia(®)) in solid tumours

The purpose of this study was to provide an initial assessment of the potential biologic activity of toceranib phosphate (Palladia?, Pfizer Animal Health, Madison, NJ, USA) in select solid tumours in dogs. Cases in which toceranib was used to treat dogs with apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma (AGASACA), metastatic osteosarcoma (OSA), thyroid carcinoma, head and neck carcinoma and nasal carcinoma were included. Clinical benefit (CB) was observed in 63/85 (74%) dogs including 28/32 AGASACA [8 partial response (PR), 20 stable disease (SD)], 11/23 OSAs (1 PR and 10 SD), 12/15 thyroid carcinomas (4 PR and 8 SD), 7/8 head and neck carcinomas [1 complete response (CR), 5 PR and 1 SD] and 5/7 (1 CR and 4 SD) nasal carcinomas. For dogs experiencing CB, the median dose of toceranib was 2.8 mg kg(-1) , 36/63 (58.7%) were dosed on a Monday/Wednesday/Friday basis and 47/63 (74.6%) were treated 4 months or longer. Although these data provide preliminary evidence that toceranib exhibits CB in dogs with certain solid tumours, future prospective studies are necessary to define its true activity.     

Gastro-intestinal parasitism of cattle in native pasture grazing system in Guadeloupe (French West Indies).

Gastro-intestinal parasitism of creole cows and calves, Limousin x creole cross calves and Brahman x creole cross calves was recorded during seasons of calving in a native grazing system in Guadeloupe, a wet tropical area. Calvings were pooled during the dry season for two herds and during the rainy season for two other herds. For each calving season, calves of one herd were drenched monthly with anthelmintic. A marked periparturient rise in egg excretion was observed in cows. Coccidial infection was always present in calves, but no clinical signs were observed. The main parasites during the first 2 months of life were Strongyloides papillosus and Toxocara vitulorum. Then, Haemonchus placei, Trichostrongylus spp. and Cooperia spp. were the dominant species encountered. Brahman cross calves were the most heavily infested animals. There was no clear relationship between third stage larvae (L3) population size on pasture and worm burdens in calves, except during the second month of life. Despite medium levels of infestation, parasitism inhibited the growth of creole calves: -10.5 kg of bodyweight at weaning (-59 g day-1 of daily bodyweight gain from birth to weaning). The pathological effects of subclinical parasitism were confirmed by a lower packed cell volume and albuminaemia in parasitized calves than in treated calves.     

Allometric Scaling in the Earliest Archaeopteryx lithographica

Archaeopteryx is almost universally considered a primitive bird. Debate persists, however, about the taxonomic assignment of the six skeletal fossils. Allometric scaling of osteological data shows that all specimens are consistent with a single growth series. The absence of certain bone fusions suggests that no specimen is full-grown. Allometric patterns, as compared to growth gradients of other dinosaurs, extant ectotherms, and extant endotherms, suggest that Archaeopteryx was likely a homeothermic endotherm with rapid growth and precocial abilities for running and flying. Multivariate allometric models offer a significant potential for interpreting ontogenetic patterns and phylogenetic trends in the fossil record.     

Modeling recent bark stripping by red deer (Cervus elaphus) in South Belgium coniferous stands

? Context

Over the past few decades, the impact of large herbivorous ungulates on forest vegetation has been clearly highlighted. Among those impacts, bark stripping of coniferous trees is one of the most damaging. Bark stripping leads to rot development, inducing serious loss of timber value.

? Aims

The present study aimed firstly at evidencing the factors explaining the variations observed in fresh bark peeling rate for spruce and Douglas-fir in southern Belgium and secondly at identifying the key factors to consider when setting up a deer management plan.

? Method

Fresh bark peeling rate was recorded with a systematic sampling survey from 2004 to 2007. The covered territory was then divided into 63 distinct hunting zones of area ranging from 1,000 to 25,000 ha. About 5,000 plots were monitored annually. Each zone was characterized with a large number of explanatory variables. The explanatory variables were integrated firstly into fixed linear models using a stepwise procedure, and then into a mixed model.

? Results

The significant variables included in the model (R ²?=?44 %) are (by decreasing order of importance) red deer densities, proportion of coniferous stands and agricultural areas, snow cover, distance to urban habitats, and species diversity in the understory.

? Conclusion

The models revealed the impacts of several factors on bark peeling: deer density, deer-carrying capacity of the territory, landscape structure, and severity of winter conditions. The adjusted model allowed subtracting the impact of winter conditions in order to produce a relevant indicator for hunting management. In addition, the model was used to assess the sensitivity of a forested area to bark peeling based on its environmental characteristics.     

Western immunoblot analysis for distinguishing vaccination and infection status with Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) in dogs.

Serodiagnosis of Lyme borreliosis in dogs is complicated by the use of commercially available Lyme disease vaccines that may cross-react with certain diagnostic assays. Western immunoblotting may be used to distinguish between dogs naturally exposed and those vaccinated against Borrelia burgdorferi. Because current vaccines are not 100% efficacious and dogs may be vaccinated after natural exposure, certain dogs may show serum antibody responses against both natural and vaccine exposure (dual status). In this study, samples from 17 nonexposed, 17 B. burgdorferi-bacterin vaccinated, 13 naturally exposed, and 8 dual-status dogs were tested by western immunoblot to determine if dual-status dogs could be reliably differentiated from naturally infected or vaccinated dogs. Reaction to outer surface protein A antigen of B. burgdorferi (31 kD) was a consistent marker for vaccination, appearing in all samples from vaccinate and dual-status dogs and in no samples from single-status naturally exposed dogs. Antibodies to 4 bands, at 80, 39, 29, and 28 kD, were present in all naturally infected and dual-status dogs. No samples from vaccinated or nonexposed dogs were reactive to all 4 of these bands simultaneously. Thus, vaccine and natural exposure produce differing antibody responses, whereas dual-status dogs produced the full antibody response of both types of exposure.