The use of European river lamprey as bait by the UK coarse predator angling community

Recreational fishing is a commonplace leisure activity within the developed world but can generate tension when activities conflict with conservation agendas. A potential conflict arises over the use of European river lamprey, Lampetra fluviatilis (L.), a protected species, by UK coarse (freshwater non-salmonid) predator anglers. This study used geographically stratified interviews with 69 predator anglers to explore attitudes towards the use of lamprey as bait, their conservation status and knowledge of biosecurity regulations. Most participants used lamprey as bait to some degree and agreed that, if threatened by exploitation, a ban on their use as angling bait should be implemented. Ordinal regression analysis indicated the presence of a subset of anglers who value lamprey as bait more than others and may oppose conservation efforts. The benefits of the potential establishment of bait certification schemes are also considered.     

Does acidification lead to impairments on oxidative status and survival of orange clownfish Amphiprion percula juveniles?

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry - The nitrification process in recirculating aquaculture systems can reduce water pH. Fish can also be exposed to water acidification during transport, an important...     

Vapour intrusion from the vadose zone—seven algorithms compared

Background, aim and scope  

Vapours of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emanating from contaminated soils may move through the unsaturated zone to the subsurface. VOC in the subsurface can be transported to the indoor air by convective air movement through openings in the foundation and basement. Once they have entered the building, they may cause adverse human health effects. Screening-level algorithms have been developed, which predict indoor air concentrations as a result of soil (vadose zone) contamination. The present study evaluates seven currently used screening-level algorithms, predicting vapour intrusion into buildings as a result of vadose zone contamination, regarding the accuracy of their predictions and their usefulness for screening purpose. Screening aims at identifying contaminated soils that should be further investigated as to the need of remediation and/or the presence of an intolerable human health risk. To be useful in this respect, screening-level algorithms should be sufficiently conservative so that they produce very few false-negative predictions but they should not be overly conservative because they might have insufficient discriminatory power.     

Aggressiveness and Competitive Fitness of Phytophthora infestans Isolates Collected from Potato and Tomato in France

ABSTRACT To test the hypothesis that host-related differences in the genotypic composition of populations of the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans can be explained by differential pathogenicity, the aggressiveness of isolates of the pathogen collected in France from potato and tomato was measured on detached leaflets of potato (cv. Bintje) and tomato (cv. Marmande). A preliminary trial with four isolates (two each from potato and tomato) showed that lesion appearance and development were similar for each isolate in detached leaflets and in whole plant tests in growth cabinets. Isolates collected from tomato were more pathogenic to tomato than isolates collected from potato. This was particularly the case for isolates belonging to the A2 mating type. Isolates originating from potato had a higher infection efficiency and a higher sporulation capacity on this host, but they induced lesions that generally spread more slowly than those caused by isolates from tomato. Extensive variation for components of aggressiveness on potato, and to a lesser extent on tomato, was observed in collections of isolates from each of the two hosts. Competition experiments between one potato isolate and one tomato isolate in field plots of the susceptible potato cv. Bintje clearly demonstrated the higher competitive fitness of the potato isolate on its host of origin. Therefore, differential pathogenicity to potato and tomato certainly contributes to the differentiation between P. infestans populations present on potato and tomato in France; however, additional factors, possibly related to survival ability or random genetic drift, are probably also involved and may explain the persistence of weakly pathogenic isolates in these populations.     

Modeling of take-all epidemics to evaluate the efficacy of a new seed-treatment fungicide on wheat

ABSTRACT Take-all, caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici, is a damaging disease of wheat that remains difficult to control. The efficacy of an experimental fungicide, applied as a seed treatment, was evaluated in five naturally infested field experiments conducted during three cropping seasons. Plants were sampled and assessed for take-all incidence and severity at different growth stages. Nonlinear models expressing disease variables as a function of degree-days were fitted to the observed data. The incidence equation involved two parameters reflecting the importance of primary and secondary infection cycles. The earliness of infection was identified as an important variable to interpret the effects of the fungicide. In an early epidemic, the fungicide significantly reduced take-all incidence during all or most of the cropping season, whereas in late epidemics, it provided only moderate reductions of incidence. The seed treatment reduced incidence by delaying the primary infection cycle. The fungicide significantly reduced severity during the whole epidemic. It appeared more efficient in limiting root-to-root spread than in slowing down the extension of necrosis on diseased roots.     

Treatment of lesions of osteomyelitis in the hind flippers of six grey seals (Halichoerus grypus)

Six rescued grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) pups had traumatic injuries to their hind flippers; three had osteomyelitis without fractures, one had a single fracture and associated osteomyelitis, and two had multiple compound fractures and large open wounds. The medical and surgical methods used to treat these lesions are described. A proprietary waterproof covering appeared to be a better method for dressing the wounds than conventional bandaging.     

Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin following intravenous administration to greater rheas: a preliminary study

The pharmacokinetic behaviour of enrofloxacin (ENR) and its active metabolite ciprofloxacin (CIP) were determined in six greater rheas following a single intravenous (i.v.) dose of 15 mg/kg bw. Plasma concentrations of ENR and CIP were simultaneously determined by a HPLC/u.v. method. Following i.v. administration, the plasma drug concentrations were best fitted by an open two-compartment model with a rapid distribution phase. The high volume of distribution (V(ss)=5.01 L/Kg) suggests good tissue penetration. ENR presents a high clearance (3.95 L/kg h) explaining the low AUC values (3.57 mg h/L) and a short permanence (t(1/2beta)=2.66 h and MRT=1.23 h). Ciprofloxacin comprised 14% of the total fluoroquinolone (ENR+CIP).     

Sero-epidemiological survey for toxoplasmosis in wild New World monkeys (Cebus spp.; Alouatta caraya) at the Paraná river basin, Paraná State, Brazil

In this study, we captured 60 wild New World monkeys (Cebus spp.; Alouatta caraya) at the Paraná river basin, Paraná State, Brazil, and modified agglutination test (MAT) was performed to evaluate anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. Prevalence was 30.2% (13/43) in Cebus spp. (capuchin monkeys) and 17.6% (3/17) for A. caraya (black and golden howler monkeys). MAT showed antibody titers of 16 (15/16) and 64 (1/16). Herein, we have observed an odds ratio (OR)=4.67 (1.060.05). The present work is the first report on serum occurrence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in wild capuchin monkeys and in wild black and golden howler monkeys.     

P-73 Evaluation of the practicality and efficacy of cryotherapy in feline cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Facial dermatitis in cats is a poorly understood clinical problem observed in Persian and Himalayan cats. This report describes three cases of idiopathic facial dermatitis in the Persian cat controlled with cyclosporine. The syndrome was observed in a 5-year-old intact female, a 1.5-year-old intact male, and a 3-year-old neutered male Persian cat. The lesions developed over 2 years, 2 months and 18 months, respectively. Cutaneous lesions were mainly localized to the face. A black patchy waxy exudate matted the hair, especially on the chin. Mild crusts and black exudate were also noted on the vulvar folds in one case and on the ventral aspect of the neck in another case. Erythematous, ceruminous otitis was observed in one case. The histopathological findings were exactly the same for all three cases and compatible with idiopathic facial dermatitis of the Persian cat, or eventually an allergic reaction. All cases were managed with cyclosporine (Neoral^® 6–7 mg/kg/day). Lesions were completely controlled after 4–6 weeks. During a 6-month follow-up for two cases, the lesions seemed to be more resistant to therapy. For these two cats, secondary infections with cocci and Malassezia occasionally occurred. No adverse reactions were observed in our three treated cats.
Funding: Self-funded.