Australia antigen: distribution during Cohn ethanol fractionation of human plasma

When plasma containing a hepatitis-associated antigen (Au/SH) is fractionated, the antigen is localized in fractions III and IV with none in fraction II and only small amounts in fractions I and V. The amount of antigen found in each of these fractions is probably not predictive of clinical infectivity of Cohn ethanol fractions from normnal pooled plasna.     

New evidence for the antiquity of man in North America deduced from aspartic acid racemization

Ages of several Californzia Paleo-Indlian skeletons have been deduced from the extent of aspartic acid racemization. These dates suggest that man was present in North America at least 50,000 years before the present.     

Lithium-drifted germanium detectors: applications to neutron-activation analysis

Lithium-drifted germanium detectors for high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy reduce the need for wet chemistry in neutron-activation analysis. Problems in fields as diverse as geochemistry and the history of 15th-century printing have proved susceptible to this analytic technique.     

Connections of the nurse shark's telencephalon

The extrinsic connections of the telencephalon of the nurse shark are very largely crossed and in this respect differ from those identified in all other vertebrate species so far examined. Studies with Nauta and Fink-Heimer methods have revealed telencephalic projections to the contralateral thalamus and optic tectum as well as to ipsilateral brainstem and rostral spinal cord.     

Operant control of eye movements during human vigilance

Eye movements were used as a criterion of observing responses in a vigilance task. Time on watch and signal rates similarly affected both eye-movement rates and percentage of detections. Observing rate may account for detection data, and may be a more stable measure of vigilance than detection rate is, especially when very few signals occur.     

Legitimization of Regulatory Norms: Waterfowl Hunter Acceptance of Changing Duck Bag Limits

Few studies have examined response to regulatory change over time, or addressed hunter attitudes about changes in hunting bag limits. This article explores Minnesota waterfowl hunters’ attitudes about duck bag limits, examining attitudes about two state duck bag limits that were initially more restrictive than the maximum set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), but then increased to match federal limits. Results are from four mail surveys that examined attitudes about bag limits over time. Following two bag limit increases, a greater proportion of hunters rated the new bag limit “too high” and a smaller proportion rated it “too low.” Several years following the first bag limit increase, the proportion of hunters who indicated that the limit was “too high” had declined, suggesting hunter acceptance of the new regulation. Results suggest that waterfowl bag limits may represent legal norms that influence hunter attitudes and gain legitimacy over time.     

Mycotic dermatitis with digital gangrene and osteomyelitis,and protozoal intestinal parasitism in Marlborough green geckos (Naultinus manukanus)

CASE HISTORY: Thirty adult Marlborough green geckos (Naultinus manukanus) were collected from Stephens Island and held over winter, prior to their translocation. Five adult geckos developed skin lesions after husbandry changes affected the humidity of their enclosures. Two geckos underwent ecdysis and recovered. One animal died and two others progressively worsened and were presented for treatment.

CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: The geckos were in poor body condition and had multiple black powdery lesions and solitary raised white nodules on their skin. Both geckos died despite topical and supportive treatment. Histopathology showed the skin nodules contained branching non-septate hyphae infiltrating necrotic epidermal tissue, and associated dermal inflammation. There was necrosis of several digits and mycotic osteomyelitis. Mucor ramosissimus was cultured from skin biopsies from each animal. Large numbers of motile protozoa, resembling Trichomonas, and another unidentifiable, were recovered from fresh faecal smears, and Nyctotherus sp protozoa were present in the lumen of the intestine of one animal post mortem.

DIAGNOSIS: Mycotic dermatitis with digital gangrene and osteomyelitis due to Mucor ramosissimus, and enteric protozoal parasitism with Trichomonas sp and Nyctotherus sp.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The clinical course and pathological findings of mycotic dermatitis in two Marlborough green geckos involved in a wildlife translocation in New Zealand are reported, and also the first record of the Marlborough green gecko as a host for the enteric protozoa Trichomonas sp and Nyctotherus sp.     

Detection of Mycoplasma conjunctivae in sheep affected with conjunctivitis and infectious keratoconjunctivitis

AIM: To determine the aetiolog y of a recurring and severe form of infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC) in sheep.

METHODS: Five sheep flocks that had experienced a severe form of IKC were examined. Clinical history, conjunctival swabs and blood samples were collected from affected animals. Culture for bacteria, and also specifically for Mycoplasma and Chlamydophila spp, and detection of Mycoplasma conjunctivae DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were attempted. Serum samples were tested for antibodies to M. agalactiae, M. capricolum, M. conjunctivae and Chlamydophila spp.

RESULTS: Mycoplasma conjunctivae DNA was detected using PCR in 3/5 flocks, and in all flocks antibodies to M. conjunctivae were detected in sera. A pure growth of Branhamella ovis was cultured from conjunctival swabs from a small proportion of sheep in two flocks. No other pathogens were detected.

CONCLUSIONS: This investigation demonstrated that M. conjunctivae was a primary pathogen causing severe IKC in sheep, and is the first report of detection of this organism in sheep in New Zealand. Introduction of clinically normal carrier sheep appeared to have caused the outbreaks.