A synthetic maternal-effect selfish genetic element drives population replacement in Drosophila

One proposed strategy for controlling the transmission of insect-borne pathogens uses a drive mechanism to ensure the rapid spread of transgenes conferring disease refractoriness throughout wild populations. Here, we report the creation of maternal-effect selfish genetic elements in Drosophila that drive population replacement and are resistant to recombination-mediated dissociation of drive and disease refractoriness functions. These selfish elements use microRNA-mediated silencing of a maternally expressed gene essential for embryogenesis, which is coupled with early zygotic expression of a rescuing transgene.     

Potential of Borago officinalis, Sinapis alba L. and Phacelia boratus for Phytoextraction of Cd and Pb from Soil

Heavy metal phytoextraction is a soil remediation technique, which makes use of plants in removing contamination from soil. The plants must thus be tolerant to heavy metals, adaptable to soil and climate characteristics, and able to take up large amounts of heavy metals. Most of the high biomass productive plants such as, maize, oat and sunflower are plants, which do not grow in cold climates or need intensive care. In this study three “weed” plants, Borago officinalis; Sinapis alba L. and Phacelia boratus were investigated for their ability to tolerate and accumulate high amounts of Cd and Pb. Pot experiments were performed with soil containing Cd and Pb at concentrations of up to 180 mg kg^?1 and 2,400 mg kg^?1 respectively. All three plants showed high levels of tolerance. Borago officinalis; and Sinapis alba L. accumulated 109 mg kg^?1 and 123 mg kg^?1 Cd, respectively at the highest Cd spiked soil concentration. Phacelia boratus reached a Cd concentration of 42 mg kg^?1 at a Cd soil concentration of 100 mg kg^?1. In the case of Pb, B. officinalis and S. alba L. displayed Pb concentrations of 25 mg kg^?1 and 29 mg kg^?1, respectively at the highest Pb spiked soil concentration. Although the Pb uptake in P. boratus reached up to 57 mg kg^?1 at a Pb spiked soil concentration of 1,200 mg kg^?1, it is not suitable for phytoextraction because of its too low biomass.     

The dispersal of Culicoides brevitarsis in eastern New South Wales and associations with the occurrences of arbovirus infections in cattle

Distributions of the vector Culicoides brevitarsis Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) (determined from light trap data) and 2 arboviruses (determined from seroconversions in sentinel cattle) were studied in eastern New South Wales in 1993–94. C brevitarsis was recorded progressively from endemic areas on the north coast, to Nowra on the south coast, and westward to Scone, in the Hunter Valley. C brevitarsis also survived through winter at Paterson, in the Hunter Valley. Its apparently focal reappearance in this marginal area had no obvious effect on the broad pattern of its progression or the dispersal of Akabane and bluetongue viruses. These viruses were first recorded from foci near Coffs Harbour, on the mid-north coast. Their first occurrences at different locations were associated with those of C brevitarsis, but not with each other. The viruses were found only within the recorded limits of the vector's distribution. Delays between the initial occurrence of C brevitarsis and first evidence of virus transmissions at locations ranged from 2 to 7 months. The delays decreased away from the points of focus and were negatively associated with the time of initial occurrence of the vector. Seroconversions to the viruses were related to the presence of C brevitarsis. However, the densities of C brevitarsis had no apparent effect on the initial numbers of cattle seroconverting to either virus. The results support the conclusion that the progressions of C brevitarsis and Akabane and bluetongue viruses were the result of gradual movements by the vector.     

Inclusion-body hepatitis in day-old turkeys

Inclusion-body hepatitis was diagnosed in 1-day-old turkeys experiencing above-average mortality. At necropsy, turkeys appeared anemic and had pale yellow livers. Histopathologic examination of affected livers revealed diffuse hepatic degeneration and multifocal necrosis, with approximately 70% of the hepatocytes containing large, basophilic, intranuclear inclusion bodies. An adenovirus was isolated from affected livers and identified as a group I avian adenovirus by indirect immunofluorescence.     

Reproducibility of a commercial in vitro allergen-specific assay for immunoglobulin E in dogs

Samples of serum taken from 42 dogs with clinical signs and histories indicating pruritic skin disease and/or diseases of the ear were tested in a commercial allergen-specific assay for immunoglobulin E. Dogs which had been treated with glucocorticoids and/or antihistamines were not excluded. The samples were separated into two equal aliquots, given different randomised numbers, and analysed in two batches on two separate days. The laboratory was blinded to the identification numbers and the history of each dog, but knew the purpose of the study. The results for 48 allergens were expressed in modified absorbance units (MAU). The overall median MAU was 29. For each allergen the mean difference between the MAU values of the paired duplicates was determined and the difference was compared to zero by a paired t test. The number of means that were not 0 (P<0.05) in each allergen group were: seven of 10 grasses, seven of nine weeds, two of 13 trees, six of 10 fungi, and three of six environmental allergens. A single 2 x 2 table for the 48 allergens was created with MAU > or = 60 defined as 'positive' and < 60 as 'negative'. There were 116 of 188 (62 per cent) pairs that were reproducibly 'positive' and 1756 of 1828 (96 per cent) pairs that were reproducibly 'negative'.     

Evaluation of 2 cement techniques for augmentation of stripped 1.5 mm screw sites in the distal metaphysis of feline radii

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of 2 cement augmentation techniques on pullout strength of 1.5 mm screws placed in stripped 1.5 mm screw sites in the distal metaphysis of feline radii. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Feline radii (21 pairs). METHODS: Treatment groups (n=4) were allocated according to a Latin square design to 4 sites in each pair of radii. Positive and negative controls were a 1.5 mm screw and a screw of the same diameter in a previously stripped screw hole, respectively. Treatment groups were a 1.5 mm screw implanted in a previously stripped screw hole after injection of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or a bioresorbable calcium phosphate cement (CPC, Norian skeletal repair system (SRS)). The ultimate pullout strength was compared between groups. RESULTS: The mean (+/-SEM) pullout strength of screws augmented with either bone cement was less than that of the positive control group and greater than that of the negative control. Injection of CPC or PMMA before screw implantation increased the pullout strength of the negative control by 86.8+/-22.9% and 104.1+/-32.1%, respectively. Holding power of the positive control screws differed from these 2 groups, and was 274.8+/-39.17% higher than that of the negative control. CONCLUSION: Injection of CPC or PMMA increases but does not restore the holding power of stripped 1.5 mm diameter screws. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The use of CPC (Norian SRS) augmentation of stripped 1.5 mm diameter screws warrants clinical investigation as it combines biomechanical results similar to PMMA with osteoconduction and resorbability.     

Short-term survival after surgery for epiploic foramen entrapment compared with other strangulating diseases of the small intestine in horses

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Epiploic foramen entrapment (EFE) is one of the more common causes of colic in horses, but recent reports suggest a poor prognosis after surgical treatment. HYPOTHESIS: That EFE has a good prognosis compared with other small intestinal strangulating lesions. METHODS: Surgical findings, surgical procedures and short-term outcome were recorded for 157 horses that underwent surgery for strangulating lesions of the small intestine at the University of Illinois from 1994 to 2003. Horses were assigned to 3 groups for comparison; those with EFE, strangulation by lipoma and miscellaneous strangulating lesions. A logistic regression model and Monte Carlo tests of the binomial proportions were used to examine survival rates. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to determine differences in usage of surgical treatments. Measurements of length and viability indices were analysed using a one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's HSD test, and viability scores were analysed using an exact Kruskal-Wallis test. Significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Horses with EFE were significantly more likely to be discharged (95%) than those with the other conditions (P < 0.05). The proportion of horses with ileal involvement was greater in horses with EFE than in the other 2 groups (P < 0.05), although this did not affect outcome. The distributions of viability grades for EFE and lipoma differed significantly (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis for horses that had surgery at this hospital for EFE was better than for those with the other conditions, although the greater proportion of horses with EFE with ileal involvement could influence outcome. Therefore, surgeons must consider ways of improving jejunocaecostomy and determining when bowel is viable, the latter to avoid jejunocaecostomy.     

Hematologic Toxicosis Associated with Doxorubicin Administration in Cats

The hematologic toxicity of doxorubicin, 30 mg/m2 body surface area (BSA) every 21 days to a cumulative dose of 300 mg/m2, was evaluated in six cats. Complete blood and platelet counts were performed daily during the first treatment cycle. They were monitored before treatment for all remaining cycles, and at the average neutrophil nadir (day 8) starting with cycle 4. Significant poikilocytosis developed after the first treatment and remained throughout the study, although anemia did not occur. No other red blood cell abnormalities were seen. Platelet counts remained within the reference range throughout the first treatment cycle, but mild thrombocytopenia (88,000-288,000/uL) was found in 11.3% of subsequent complete blood counts (CBCs). Thrombocytosis was seen in 30.9% of CBCs. Neutropenia did not occur during the first treatment cycle although neutrophil counts did decrease, with the nadir occurring between days 8 and 11. All neutrophil counts returned to pretreatment values by day 14. Neutropenia was documented after 14 of 46 (30.4%) doxorubicin treatments, and was associated with fever in 5 cats (10.9%). All fevers responded to oral antibiotic therapy. Neutropenia that lasted more than 14 days developed in two cats, necessitating dosage reduction to 25 mg/m2 BSA. At the dose used in this study, doxorubicin administration was associated with acceptable hematologic toxicosis in most cats.     

Serum haptoglobin concentration as an indicator of weight gain in pigs.

Serum haptoglobin concentration was investigated as an indicator of weight gain in commercially-reared pigs. The serum haptoglobin concentrations and weights of 40 pigs were monitored on a weekly basis, from weaning to 13 weeks of age. All data were ranked based on the week 13 weights, and divided into high, middle and low weight gain groups. By the fourth week of the study, when the pigs were seven weeks old, serum haptoglobin concentrations could be used to differentiate pigs that would have a high weight gain at the end of the study from those which would have a low weight gain.