Household Dynamics of Wildlife Value Orientations

Wildlife value orientations (WVOs) shape attitudes and behavior toward wildlife. Although demographic correlates of WVOs are well established, these relationships are largely unknown among children and within family units. The only previous study addressing these topics used fathers’ perceptions as proxies for family member WVOs. We surveyed North Carolina households (n = 136) to test hypotheses regarding whether individuals can assess household WVOs and what variables shape WVOs within households. Fathers and mothers accurately assessed WVOs of their children. Membership in a household was the most important predictor of an individual’s WVOs (accounting for 37% [ρ = .37] of the variance predicted by the model). Younger age, being female, and lack of participation in hunting were associated with more protectionist WVOs. These results provide the first household level support for divergence between generations from utilitarian toward protectionist WVOs. Our results suggest that household unit may be a critical element to consider in WVO research.     

Control ofFasciola gigantica with triclabendazole in Indonesian cattle

Summary The efficacy of triclabendazole (TCBZ) against natural infections with Fasciola gigantica was evaluated in a field study using 102 Indonesian cattle. The animals were divided into two groups; one received TCBZ at 12 mg/kg orally every eight weeks for one year while the other remained untreated. Relative to controls theFasciola faecal egg count in treated animals was significantly reduced (P<0·01) to almost zero at all observations. There were no differences between the groups in blood values and body mass gain. Plasma glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) levels in treated animals were reduced to within normal values, whereas those in controls remained above normal throughout. Although plasma gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels remained within the normal range in both groups they were consistently higher in control than in treated animals. However, both GLDH and GGT levels in control animals were considerably lower than those reported by others in experimental low-level chronic fasciolosis, which suggests that only mild liver damage was caused by small numbers ofF. gigantica in these animals. In addition to considerations of disease prevalence and economic data from abattoirs, control strategies for fasciolosis in Indonesian cattle require an evaluation of losses due to subclinical disease.

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Resumen Se evaluó en el campo, la eficacia de triclabendazole (TCBZ) contra infecciones naturales conFasciola gigantica, utilizando 102 bovinos indonesios. Los animales se dividieron en dos grupos; uno recibió TCBZ en dosis de 12 mg/kg oralmente cada ocho semanas por un a≈no, mientras que el otro permaneció sin tratamiento. En comparación a los controles, los conteos de huevos de fasciola en los animales tratados se redujeron significativamente (P<0·01), hasta casi cero en todas las observaciones. No hubo diferencias entre los grupos en cuanto a valores sanguineos y ganacia de peso. Los niveles plasmáticos de deshidrogenasa glutámica se redujeron a valores normales en los tratados, mientras que en los controles permanecieron por encima de los valores normales. Aunque los valores plasmáticos de gama glutamil transferasa permanecieron dentro de los valores normales en ambos grupos, éstos fueron consistentemente mayores en los controles que en los tratados. Sin embargo, ambos niveles enzimáticos en los animales controles, fueron considerablemente más bajos que aquellos informados por otros investigadores, en fascioliasis crónica de nivel bajo, lo que sugiere que solamente se produjo un da?o hepático menor en estos animales experimentales. La fascioliasis en Indonesia requiere una evaluación de las pérdidas debido a la enfermedad subclínica.

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Résume L'efficacité du triclabendazole (TCBZ) contre les infestations naturelles àFasciola gigantica a fait l'objet d'une évaluation sur le terrain portant sur 102 bovins ceux-ci ont été divisés en 2 groupes, l'un recevant le TCBZ à la dose de 12 mg/kg par voie orale toutes les 8 semaines pendant un an, l'autre restant non traité, à titre de témoin. En ce qui concerne les contr?les, le nombre d'oeufs deFasciola chez les animaux traitès a baissé de fa?on significative (avecP<0,01, atteignant presque 0 pour toutes les observations). On n'a noté aucune différence entre les deux lots quant aux valeurs hématologiques et au gain corporel global. Les niveaux plasmatiques de la déhydrogénase du glutamate (GLDH) sont descendus chez les animaux traités au dessous des valeurs normales, alors que chez les animaux témoins ils se sont constamment maintenus au dessus. Quoique les taux plasmatiques de la gamma glutamyl-transférase (GGT) soient restés á l'intérieur des variations normales dans les 2 groupes, ils ont été régulièrement plus élevés dans le lot témoin que dans le groupe traité. Cependant les 2 niveaux (GLDH et GGT) chez les animaux témoins ont été considérablement moins élevés que ceux indiqués par d'autres auteurs dans la fasciolose chronique experimentale de faible intensité, ce qui montre queF. gigantica en petit nombre a causé seulement une légére atteinte hépatique chez ces animaux. En complément des considérations relatives à la prévalence de la maladie et aux données économiques recueillies dans les abattoirs, les stratégies de lutte contre la fasciolose bovine en Indonésie passent par une évaluation des pertes consécutives aux aspects subcliniques de la maladie.

     

Variability of neutrophil and pulmonary alveolar macrophage function in swine

Neutrophils and alveolar macrophages are essential defence mechanisms against bacterial infection of the lung. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the variability of a panel of neutrophil and alveolar macrophage function assays in swine, and to determine if the function of these leukocytes differed at various stages of production. Measured neutrophil functions included chemotaxis, phagocytosis, oxidative burst, and degranulation. Phagocytosis and oxidative burst were measured in alveolar macrophages isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Both neutrophil and alveolar macrophage functions were highly variable from day-to-day and between pigs. Individual pigs did not have consistently high or low neutrophil and macrophage responses over time when compared to their cohorts. Older grower-finisher pigs had significantly greater neutrophil oxidative burst responses than younger suckling and weaner pigs (P < 0.001). Similarly, alveolar macrophages from suckling and early weaner pigs less than 40 days of age had significantly lower oxidative burst responses than those from older pigs (P = 0.02). Age-related variation in phagocytosis, chemotaxis, or granule secretion were not detected. These results establish baseline data for individual and age-related variation in swine leukocyte function, and form a basis for further evaluation of the contribution of non-infectious factors to development of the porcine respiratory disease complex.