The effects of cooling and vitrification of embryos from mares treated with equine follicle-stimulating hormone on pregnancy rates after nonsurgical transfer

Equine embryos can remain viable for 12 to 24 hours when cooled and stored at 5°C.¹ Cryopreservation of embryos would allow for long-term preservation of genetic material and more efficient management of embryo recipients. This study compared pregnancy rates after transfer of equine embryos vitrified within 1 hour of collection or cooled for 12 to 19 hours before vitrification. Mares (N = 40) were superovulated using equine follicle-stimulating hormone (eFSH). Embryos were recovered 6.5 days after ovulation or 8 days after human chorionic gonadotropin. Forty morulae or early blastocysts with a grade of 1 to 2 and <300 mm in diameter were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: Group 1 (n = 20), washed 4 times in a commercial holding medium and then vitrified; Group 2 (n = 20), washed 3 times and then stored in the same holding medium at 5°C to 8°C in a passive cooling device for 12 to 19 hours before being vitrified. To thaw, embryos were warmed by holding the straw in air at room temperature for 10 seconds and then submerged in a water bath (20°C to 22°C) for an additional 10 seconds. The contents of the straw were transferred directly into a recipient that had ovulated 4 to 6 days previously. There were no differences (P > .05) in embryo diameter, grade, or morphology score between treatment groups before vitrification. Pregnancy rates (day 16) were not different (P > .05) between embryos vitrified immediately after collection (15 of 20; 75%) and embryos cooled for 12 to 19 hours before vitrification (13 of 20; 65%). Based on these results, small equine embryos (<300 mm) can be stored at 5°C to 8°C for 12 to 19 hours before vitrification without a significant loss of viability.     

A Combination Chemotherapy Protocol (VELCAP-L) for Dogs with Lymphoma

Ninety-eight dogs with lymphoma treated with a 5-drug combination chemotherapy regimen (vincristine, L-asparaginase. cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, prednisone [VELCAP-L]) were evaluated for pretreatment characteristics predictive for response and remission duration. The complete remission rate was 69%, with a median remission duration of 55 weeks. Dogs with advanced stage of disease, constitutional signs, dogs that were older, and dogs that were dyspneic were less likely to achieve remission. Once in remission, small dogs and dogs without pretreatment thrombocytopenia were likely to have longer remission duration. Toxicoses were frequent, but rarely fatal, and no predictitive factors were found for a dog developing toxicoses. VELCAP-L is an effective treatment for dogs in stage I-III lymphoma, particularly in young, small animals.     

THE DURAL TAIL SIGN IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF MENINGIOMAS

In humans the dural tail is a sign seen on contrast enhanced T1 weighted magnetic resonance images. This finding is considered specific for meningioma. The purpose of this study was to determine how often the dural tail occurs in cats and dogs and whether it is a specific sign for meningiomas in these species. MR examinations for eighteen dogs and four cats with proven diagnoses were reviewed. Diagnoses included ten meningiomas (seven dogs and three cats), three gliomas, two pituitary tumors, single examples of two other tumor types and five patients with mass lesions due to inflammatory disease. Contrast enhanced T1 weighted images were evaluated independently by three of the authors for the presence of a dural tail, without knowledge of the diagnoses. The results were compared to the diagnosis for each patient and the performance of individual reviewers compared. When their results were averaged, the reviewers reported the presence of a dural tail in 6 of 10 (60%) meningiomas, although detection varied between observers from 40% to 80%. Each reviewer had one false positive result, two reported a dural tail with a chromophobe adenocarcinoma and one with a toxoplasma meningoencephalitis. When a dural tail is seen an associated mass is most likely a meningioma. It is uncertain whether the dural tail represents neoplastic infiltration beyond the margins of the meningioma. This should be considered when planning treatment.     

Evidence for the presence of nematode-derived acetylcholinesterase in sheep infected with Trichostrongylus colubriformis

The distribution of acetylcholinesterase isoenzymes in the ovine intestinal nematode Trichostrongylus colubriformis was compared with that in chronically infected and worm-free lambs. Total acetylcholinesterase activity in homogenates of adult T colubriformis was resolved into five isoenzyme peaks following gel electrophoresis and specific esterase staining. Two isoenzymes with electrophoretic mobilities similar to those present in adult worm homogenates were detected in mucosal homogenates and plasma extracts from all of six sheep chronically infected with T colubriformis, but not in similar preparations from two uninfected animals.     

Acute Reactions in Dogs Treated with Doxorubicin: Increased Frequency with the Use of a Generic Formulation

During a 4-month period, 34 dogs with tumors received a total of 60 doses of a single generic formulation of doxorubicin; 13 acute drug reactions were observed in these 34 dogs, and no acute reactions were observed after replacing the product with the proprietary brand. These reactions were characterized by one or more of the following signs: pruritus; head-shaking; urticaria; erythema of the pinnal, axillary, or inguinal regions; vocalization; vomiting; hyperemic or pale mucous membranes; high heart rate; and high respiratory rate. We propose that a component unique to generic doxorubicin was responsible for the unusually high number of acute drug reactions observed.     

Factors influencing stump sprouting by pondcypress (Taxodium distichum var. nutans (Ait.) Sweet)

Sprouting can be an important mechanism of regeneration in harvested cypress (Taxodium sp.) wetlands; however, limited information exists on factors influencing sprouting. We examined the influence of harvesting practices, tree size, and site conditions on stump sprouting in eight pondcypress (Taxodium distichum var. nutans (Ait.) Sweet) wetlands in Florida, USA. Stumps were cut at three heights: 20 cm below high water level, at high water, and 40 cm above high water. Half of each site was harvested using a sawhead feller and the other half using shearhead. We monitored sprouting for 2 years post-harvest. Stump height affected first year sprouting, but the effect disappeared during year 2. Felling equipment did not affect sprouting; however, the shearhead caused greater stump damage. Sprouting declined with increasing parent tree size; percentage of stumps with sprouts after 2 years was 68% for trees 10–14 cm dbh and 28% for trees 20–24 cm dbh. Stump sprouting ranged among sites from 23 to 54% after 2 years. Results indicate that sprouting may be an important, but inadequate, form of regeneration. At sites with short hydroperiods, dense understories, and/or predominance of trees greater than 20 cm dbh, reduced sprouting may occur, and planting seedlings may be beneficial.     

The effect of Armillaria attack on the nutrient status of Inland Douglas-fir

Nutrient status, sapwood basal area (SBA) and sapwood to heartwood basal area (S/H) were measured on second growth Pseudotsuga menztesn trees in western Montana. Armillaria-infected trees had significantly lower S/H ratios, growth, and foliar N and S concentrations than noninfected trees. Our results indicate a general influence of Armillaria infection on nutrient content and physiological status of P. menziesü trees. However, these measurements are not a reliable method to determine the extent of infection.     

Decomposition of needle/leaf litter from Scots pine, black cherry, common oak and European beech at a conurbation forest site

Litter decomposition was studied for 2 years in a mixed forest serving as a water protection area (Rhine-Neckar conurbation, SW Germany). Two experiments differing in initial dry weight equivalent in litterbags were set up: one to compare decomposition of European beech leaves (Fagus sylvatica) with common oak leaves (Quercus robur), and the other comparing decomposition of Scots pine needles (Pinus sylvestris) with black cherry leaves (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), respectively. Mass losses were greater for oak litter than for beech (75.0 versus 34.6%), and for cherry litter than for pine (94.6 versus 68.3%). In both experiments, a strong initial loss of soluble compounds occurred. The changes in litter N and P concentrations and the decrease in C-to-N ratio coincided with changes in residual mass. However, neither tannin and phenolic concentrations nor NMR could explain the pronounced variation in mass loss after 2 years. Differences in litter palatability and toughness, nutrient contents and other organic compounds may be responsible for the considerable differences in residual mass between litter types. The fast decay of black cherry leaves appears to play a major role in the present humus dynamics at the studied site. Since black cherry has a high N demand, which is mainly met by root uptake from the forest floor, this species is crucial for internal N cycling at this conurbation forest site. These effects together may significantly contribute to prevent nitrate leaching from the forest ecosystem which is subject to a continuous N deposition on an elevated level.     

Integrating traditional and local ecological knowledge into forest biodiversity conservation in the Pacific Northwest

The potential for traditional and local ecological knowledge to contribute to biodiversity conservation has been widely recognized, but the actual application of this knowledge to biodiversity conservation is not easy. This paper synthesizes literature about traditional and local ecological knowledge and forest management in the Pacific Northwest to evaluate what is needed to accomplish this goal. We address three topics: (1) views and values people have relating to biodiversity; (2) the resource use and management practices of local forest users, and their effects on biodiversity; (3) models for integrating traditional and local ecological knowledge into biodiversity conservation on public and private lands. We focus on the ecological knowledge of forest users belonging to three groups who inhabit the region: American Indians, family forest owners, and commercial nontimber forest product harvesters.