Co-occurrence of papillomas related to Equus caballus papillomavirus type 2 and cutaneous habronemiasis

The present report describes a case of cutaneous papillomatosis related to equine papillomavirus type 2 (EcPV2) with concomitant cutaneous habronemiasis. A 2-year-old female Pura Raza Española horse was referred for a dermatological evaluation because of the onset of cutaneous multifocal, nodular lesions on the face characterised by a warty and partially ulcerated overlying epidermis. Multiple biopsies were taken from these lesions, and cutaneous viral papillomas with a concomitant severe focal eosinophilic dermatitis with intralesional Habronematidae nematode larvae were diagnosed. Immunohistochemistry revealed papillomaviral capsid protein L1 in the epidermal proliferative lesion, confirming the presence of a productive infection. Rt-qPCR confirmed the presence of EcPV type 2. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of EcPV2-related papillomas with concurrent habronemiasis.     

Genetic variation of extractives in the wood of trembling aspen

Summary Thirteen clones of Populus tremuloides (Michx.) from central Alberta, Canada, were sampled to determine variation patterns within and among clones for benzene-alcoholwater extractives. Significant differences among clones were present; however, the broadsense heritability for extractive content was low (0.13). Extractive content was highest near the pith and decreased outward. Genetic and phenotypic correlations between rate of growth (ring widths) and extractive content indicated that faster growing clones or trees tend to exhibit less benzene-alcohol-water extractives.The authors would like to thank the Forest Development Research Trust of the Alberta Department of Energy and Natural Resources, and Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC A 1281, NSERC-SPF 00291) for financial support     

The effect of treeshelter height on the early growth of sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.)

Sessile oak 1+1 transplants were grown for 4 years in a weed-freeenvironment at 1 x 1 m spacing on a fertile sheltered site.Four experiment treatments were imposed: control with no treeshelterand treeshelters of heights 0.6 m, 1.2 m and 1.8 m. Treatmentshad no significant effect on tree survival. Taller sheltersproduced taller, lower diameter trees of increasingly low dryroot weight. The root:shoot ratio was 0.675 in control treesbut declined to 0.291 in 1.8-m shelters. Trees from 0.6-rn and1.2-m shelters (mean heights 152 m and 206 m respectively) supportedthemselves unaided after removal of the stake and treeshelter.The trees from 1.8-m shelters of mean height 234 cm at age fourcollapsed completely when support was removed.     

Change in forest structure in the boreal montane ecosystem of Mount Mitchell,North Carolina1

Surveys were undertaken on Mt. Mitchell, N. C. (USA) from Spring 1984 through 1987 to determine the extent and rate of decline and mortality of red spruce and Fraser fir ecosystems. Data indicate that regardless of cause and effect mechanisms the physical structure and integrity of the boreal montane forest has greatly deteriorated over the past 4 years. Along ridges, and particularly on west facing aspects greater than 80% of all mature stands are dead. No definitive conclusions can be made concerning etiological agents; however, current hypotheses include biotic factors, climatic abberations, and/or the acute or chronic stress from anthropogenic pollutants.     

New prenylflavans from Cyperus conglomeratus

In addition to luteolin and its 7-methyl ether, the CH2Cl2-MeOH (1:1) extract of Cyperus conglomeratus afforded two new prenylflavans identified as 7,3'-dihydroxy-5,5'-dimethoxy-8-prenylflavan and 5,7,3'-trihydroxy-5'-methoxy-8-prenylflavan. The structures were established by CIMS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, H-H COSY, HMQC, HMBC and DEPT analysis.     

Zur Wirkung einiger Chemosterilantien auf die Biologie der RaubmilbeAmblyseius gossipi (El-Badry)

The effect of two chemosterilant materials 5-fluoroorotic acid (FA) and 5-fluorouracil (FU) was studied on the predatory mite,Amblyseius gossipi (El-Badry) in the laboratory. Percentages of mortality for adult females ranged from 6.00 to 41.30% (FA) and from 3.00 to 28.70% (FU). Results showed that the number of eggs layed/female and egg hatchability of the mite were decreased when the two chemosterilants were used comparing with control, while liefe cycle and longivity were slightly decreased for both males and females.     

Laccase isoenzyme patterns of European Armillaria species from culture filtrates and infected woody plant tissues

Polyacrylamide isoelectric focusing with specific staining for laccase activity was used to characterize laccase from European Armillaria species (Armillaria ostoyae, Armillaria mellea, Armillaria gallica, Armillaria cepistipes). The enzyme was extracted from culture media either supplemented, or not, with pine sawdust, and also from Pinus pinaster naturally infected by A. ostoyae, or artificially inoculated with A. mellea and A. ostoyae. Some differences in banding patterns were found for Armillana isolates according to the species and the culture media, but a common band at pI = 3.4 was found in all the extracts tested, independently of their origin (culture filtrate or wood).     

Quality of timber products from Norway spruce

Summary In a previous paper in this series it was concluded that the warp (twist, crook and bow) of structural timber products is of utmost importance for end-user satisfaction. In this paper, a study of the spatial variation of warp of fast-grown Norway spruce is presented. The material, 372 studs (45 × 70 × 2900 mm²), was cut from different radial and longitudinal positions in trees from two stands.The results indicated that twist and crook were at maximum near the pith. However, twist decreased much more rapidly with the distance from pith compared with crook. Crook associated with core studs was larger in the butt log than in the top log, while twist and bow in core studs appeared not to vary longitudinally. Heartwood formation in the butt log juvenile core did not diminish warp propensity. Twist was rather well correlated to the distance between pith and centroid of cross section. The ratio of grain angle to pith distance was the best parameter to predict twist. Presence of compression wood increased bow and crook significantly, while ring width, density and knot area ratio did not substantially contribute to explain warp variation.A moisture content change from 18% to 12% decreased the overall acceptability, expressed by stud grade yield, from 76% to 43%. Thus, timber products should be delivered at a moisture level close to the one expected in the finalized building in order to avoid excessive warp after delivery.The authors gratefully acknowledge the support from EEC Forest programme, Contract No MA2B-0024, from NUTEK project No 9100554 and from Södra Timber AB     

Subcutaneous administration of paclitaxel in dogs with cancer: A preliminary study

Intravenous paclitaxel has been underused in dogs due to severe and acute hypersensitivity reactions. Subcutaneous (SC) administration of paclitaxel and its safety are unknown. In this preliminary study, SC administration of paclitaxel was evaluated for hypersensitivity reactions and toxicity in 21 dogs with advanced cancer. Dogs received 1 to 5 paclitaxel doses, ranging from 85 to 170 mg/m², SC every 14 or 21 days. A total of 40 paclitaxel doses were administered and none of the 21 dogs developed systemic or acute local hypersensitivity reactions. Severe skin lesions at the injection site developed in 2 dogs after the 4th injection at the same location. Grade 4 neutropenia was observed in 50% of the dogs 5 days after the first treatment at 115 mg/m² (n = 14). Two animals developed Grade 5 diarrhea and died likely due to hemodynamic failure or sepsis. Paclitaxel can be administered SC in dogs with no hypersensitivity reaction.