GM1 gangliosidosis in Portuguese water dogs: pathologic and biochemical findings

Three Portuguese water dog siblings, all females aged 5 to 7 months, were killed following a brief period of neurologic disease. Tissues were processed for light and electron microscopy and for biochemical analyses. All pups had membranous cytoplasmic inclusions in neurons throughout the brain and spinal cord. Cytoplasmic vacuoles were present in cells of many organs outside the nervous system. GM1 ganglioside in brain was markedly elevated in all three dogs, and beta-galactosidase activity was less than 10% of control values. These findings are similar to those in GM1 gangliosidosis of man and animals although the number of organs and tissues containing vacuolated cells is greater.     

An outbreak of diarrhoea in hoggets associated with infection by Yersinia enterocolitica

An outbreak of diarrhoea in a flock of 450 Romney hoggets was investigated. The flock was receiving suboptimal pasture allowance on an intensive 4-day controlled grazing rotation. Approximately 30% were affected with a foul-smelling diarrhoea and four died. Yersinia enterocolitica was isolated from small and large intestines of three affected sheep. Organisms consistent in appearance with Yersinia spp. were demonstrated in suppurative foci in the lamina propria of the small and large intestines. Affected animals were removed from the mob and appeared to respond clinically to tetracycline therapy. The outbreak lasted about two weeks.     

Systemic granulomatous disease and sialometaplasia in a dog with Bartonella infection

Systemic granulomatous disease involving the spleen, heart, lymph nodes, omentum, liver, kidney, lung, mediastinum, and salivary glands developed in an 8-year-old Rottweiler. The dog also had sialometaplasia of both submandibular salivary glands. Bartonella henselae and B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii DNA was amplified from the salivary gland by polymerase chain reaction analysis. Bartonellae may be the cause of this systemic disease, but to the authors' knowledge, involvement of omentum, mediastinum, and salivary glands has not previously been reported in association with Bartonella infection. Bartonellae should be considered potential causes of sialometaplasia.     

Development of allometric leaf area models for intensively managed black walnut (Juglans nigra L.)

? Introduction

Intensive plantation management of high-value hardwoods, such as black walnut (Juglans nigra L.), is focused on maximizing both stem form and growth at the stand and tree level. While significant research has focused on genetic improvement in black walnut, little is known about the production ecology of this species in plantation settings.

? Objectives

The aim of this study is to assess the applicability of nondestructive projected leaf area (PLA) estimation based on the pipe model theory in three single-aged J. nigra plantations representing discrete age classes ranging from 3 to 27?years of age.

? Results

Branch-level PLA was modeled as a function of branch basal cross-sectional area (R ²?=?0.875). Six nondestructive tree-level PLA models were assessed, with four models yielding R ²?>?0.90. Tree-level models performed well across age classes, with model fits comparable to previous studies in coniferous species.

? Conclusion

This study demonstrates that allometric approaches to modeling leaf area distribution in hardwoods are feasible, but future efforts may need to use different sampling approaches and/or quantify variables that have not been significant in conifers. This study represents an important first step into more quantitative analysis of production ecology of deciduous species in the CHFR of the USA.