Surgical management of a malacic corneal ulcer in a greater one-horned Asian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) using a free island tarsoconjunctival graft

A greater one-horned Asian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) presented for presumed ocular trauma to the left eye, with secondary bacterial infection, resulting in severe and progressive corneal ulceration. Following a poor response to medical therapy, the animal was anesthetized for further examination, and a bulbar conjunctival pedicle graft performed. This graft failed by 48-h postsurgery as a result of self-trauma. The animal was re-anesthetized, and a free island tarsoconjunctival graft performed. This second procedure was successful, resulting in globe preservation, cosmesis, and functional vision in the affected eye.     

Prevalence of mange among West African Dwarf sheep and goats and associated haematological and biochemical parameters

This study was carried out to assess the prevalence of mange in sheep and goats in five local government areas (LGAs) of Ogun State in South Western Nigeria. A total of 4,973 sheep and 7,902 goats of West African Dwarf breeds were sampled of which only 4 (0.08%) of sheep and 42 (0.53%) of goats were confirmed positive for mange infestation. In all the LGAs sampled, Odeda LGA had the highest concentration of sheep (39%) and goats (51%) while Abeokuta South had the least percentage of sheep (1%) and goats (1%). All the mange-infested cases in sheep were recorded in just one LGA (Ewekoro) which constituted 0.24% of the population within the location. For goats, three out of five LGAs namely: Obafemi Owode, Ewekoro and Abeokuta North had prevalence of 1.46%, 0.53% and 0.72% respectively. There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference between non-infested and infested animals in terms of packed cell volume (31.79 ± 0.87% vs. 31.41 ± 1.13%), haemoglobin (10.51 ± 0.21 g/100 ml vs. 10.28 ± 0.37 g/100 ml) and red blood cells (8.71 ± 0.29 × 10(12)/l vs. 9.40 ± 0.37 × 10(12)/l). The infested group however showed significantly (P < 0.01) higher white blood cells count (7.60 ± 0.22 × 10(9)/l) than the non-infested animals (6.81 ± 0.17 × 10(9)/l). Neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil and monocyte as well as chloride were not significantly affected by the health status of the animals. There existed significant (P < 0.01) difference between non-infested and infested animals in terms of total protein (5.42 ± 0.16 vs. 4.75 ± 0.20 g/dl), sodium (137.98 ± 1.53 vs. 128.92 ± 1.92 mEq/l) and potassium (4.04 ± 0.14 vs. 3.46 ± 0.18 mEq/l). It can be concluded from this study that the prevalence of mange mite infestation varied with location and was generally low or absent in some of the LGAs considered. Goats were particularly more susceptible to mange infestation than sheep. More concerted effort is needed to control mange in order to avoid spread since it is a contagious disease.     

Density and Organic Matter Influence on Egg‐laying and Hatching of Branchiura sowerbyi (Oligochaeta)

This study aimed to assess the combined effects of density of adults of Branchiura sowerbyi and the source of organic matter on the production of eggs and young species. The experimental units used were 250‐mL beakers with 100 mL of fine sand (0.074–0.210 mm) and 150 mL of chlorine‐free water with constant aeration at the temperature 25 C. The experiment was conducted based on a two‐factor model with six treatments and three repetitions, applied in a completely random design. The densities 5 individuals/38.5cm² (D5; 1298/m²) and 8 individuals/38.5cm² (D8; 2078/m²) were assessed with commercial fish feed (FF), commercial poultry feed (PF), and turkey manure (TM) as sources of organic matter. A total of 1223 cocoons and 2138 eggs were produced, with average hatching of 40.0 ± 15.1%. The highest number of cocoons and eggs was found with the use of PF, D8 having produced the highest number of cocoons and eggs. The hatching rate was not influenced by the source of organic matter or density and no influence was registered from the density of adults on the survival. The PF provided the highest growth of adults, and generally the use of TM provided the worst performance.     

Fecal pH and Microbial Populations in Thoroughbred Horses During Transition from Pasture to Concentrate Feeding

Abrupt dietary transitions and feeding of rapidly fermentable diets are common practices in the horse industry and have been associated with digestive and metabolic disorders that can impair the performance of horses. The present study investigated the effect of dietary transition from pasture grazing to confinement with concentrate feeding, and back, on fecal pH and bacterial populations of Streptococcus spp and Lactobacillus spp. Six Thoroughbred fillies, previously grazing perennial ryegrass and white clover-based pasture, were housed in individual stalls and fed an increasing ratio of concentrate to conserved forages for 13 days (days 1-13), followed by an abrupt transition back to only pasture-grazing for 3 days (days 14-16). The concentrate was initially offered at 0.83 kg dry matter (DM)/d and increased to 5 kg DM/d, whereas ensiled alfalfa was initially offered at 0.61 kg DM/d, increasing to 1.22 kg DM/d. Meadow hay was initially offered at 6.73 kg DM/d, decreasing to 1.6 kg DM/d. Fecal specimens were collected daily for determination of pH, and every 2 days for quantitative analysis of Streptococcus spp and Lactobacillus spp. Mean fecal pH increased significantly from pasture baseline values (pH 6.18) during the initial confinement and supplementation on day 1 (6.37), day 2 (6.52), day 3 (6.58), and day 4 (6.43) (standard error of mean [SEM]: 0.056; P < .001). By day 5, mean fecal pH values had decreased to, and remained at, baseline values until the horses returned to pasture, when another increase occurred at day 15 (6.45). Fecal colony forming units (cfu) of Streptococcus spp and Lactobacillus spp increased linearly (r = 0.94; P < .001) from 6.0 and 6.1 log₁₀ cfu/g on day -4, to 7.8 log₁₀ cfu/g on day 14 (SEM: 0.2 P < .001), respectively. Fecal cfu decreased on return to a pasture-only diet (P < .001). In this study, the increment of bacterial populations was associated with a relatively stable fecal pH and highlights the difficulty in identifying the effects of dietary transition on the equine hindgut health, without microbial culture.     

Transient Fanconi syndrome in Quarter horses

Two Quarter horses with weight loss had glucosuria, euglycemia, and a mild metabolic acidosis suggesting a proximal renal tubular defect. Further testing revealed transient generalized aminoaciduria, lactic aciduria, and glucosuria, indicating Fanconi syndrome. Both horses recovered with supportive therapy. This is the first report of acquired Fanconi syndrome in horses.     

Combining ability analysis of earliness and yield of potato (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum tuberosum</Emphasis> L.) genotypes in Uganda

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a major food and cash crop mainly grown by small-scale farmers in the highland regions of Uganda. Changing global weather patterns require varieties that are able to grow within the short rainfall cycles and yield optimally under the prevailing conditions. The objectives of this study were to estimate the combining ability effects for early maturity, yield and yield related traits in potato. Eighteen F¹ families generated from two sets of 12 parents using a North Carolina Design II were evaluated for days to 50% flowering, leaf senescence, yield and yield related traits in two different locations. Both additive and non-additive genetic effects influenced the expression of traits. However, additive genetic effects were predominant over the non-additive for most of the traits. The GCA/SCA ratios were 0.68 and 0.78 for days to 50% flowering and average tuber weight. Broad sense heritability estimates were 0.70 for total tuber weight and 0.78 for days to 50% flowering. The predominance of additive genetic effects imply that, genetic gains can be achieved through different selection methods and traits transferred to the respective progenies. Parents Rwangume, 396,038.107, 395,011.2, NKRK19.17, 393,077.54, Kimuri, and 392,657.8 had desirable GCA effects for the number of days to flowering and yield related traits. Families of Rwangume?×?NKRK19.17, 393,077.54?×?395,011.2, 396,038.107?×?Rwangume and 396,038.107?×?395,011.2 had desirable SCA effects for yield and number of days to 50% flowering. The selected parents and families will be subjected to further clonal evaluation and selection.     

Environmental influences on Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) catch per unit effort in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence

The Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) population in the western Atlantic supports substantial commercial and recreational fisheries. Despite quota establishment and management under the auspices of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, only small increases in population growth have been estimated. In contrast to other western bluefin tuna fisheries indices, contemporary estimates of catch per unit effort (CPUE) in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence have increased rapidly and are at record highs. This area is characterized by the Cold Intermediate Layer (CIL) that is defined by waters <3°C and located at depths of 30–40 m in September. We investigated the influence of several in situ environmental variables on the bluefin tuna fishery CPUE using delta‐lognormal modelling and relatively extensive and consistent oceanographic survey data, as well as dockside monitoring and mandatory logbook data associated with the fishery. Although there is considerable spatial and temporal variation of water mass characteristics, the amount of available habitat in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (assuming a > 3°C thermal ambit) for bluefin tuna has been increasing. The percentage of the water column occupied by the CIL was a significant environmental variable in the standardization of CPUE estimates. There was also a negative relationship between the spatial extents of the CIL and the fishery. Properties of the CIL account for variation in the bluefin tuna CPUE and may be a factor in determining the amount of available feeding habitat for bluefin tuna in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.