A standardised terminology of the embryonic envelopes and associated developmental stages of tapeworms (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda)

Over the past 40 years, much has been published on the ultrastructure and cellular development of embryonic structures in a wide range of cestodes. However, the literature contains many discrepancies in both terminology and interpretations because of the facts that these organisms are phylogenetically diverse within their respective orders and families, the habitats that affect embryonic envelope structure are diverse, and the work has been done in various laboratories around the world. This review and synthesis was initiated by a working group of biologists from around the world convened at the Fifth International Workshop on Cestode Systematics and Phylogeny in Ceské Budejovice, at the Institute of Parasitology of the Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. It brings together the data from published work and establishes a uniform terminology and interpretation based on the data as they are presented. A consensus was reached for standardised definitions of the oncosphere, hexacanth, coracidium, embryonic envelopes, outer envelope, inner envelope, embryophore, vitelline capsule, shell, and outer coat. All of these are defined as components of the embryo or its vitellocyte-derived or uterine-derived coatings.     

Onychectomy and its alternatives in the feline patient

Onychectomy and its alternatives are often sought by owners to provide permanent alleviation of scratching behaviors in cats. These alternatives include behavioral modification, nail caps, and deep digital flexor tendonectomy. Although surgical options are commonly performed, they are controversial and have potential complications. Our role as veterinarians is to educate clients to allow them to make the best decision for themselves and their pets. The purpose of this article is to provide an objective review of the positive and negative aspects of onychectomy, describe and discuss alternatives to onychectomy, and review the specific surgical techniques.     

Influences of Follicular Size on Parthenogenetic Activation and in Vitro Heat Shock on the Cytoskeleton in Cattle Oocytes

The availability of cow ovaries from the slaughterhouse has been very limited in Taiwan. To maximize the use of cow ovaries for research purposes, whole ovary dissection was performed and the developmental competence of the oocytes derived from different sizes of follicles was assessed by the rates of in vitro maturation (IVM) and parthenogenetic activation of the oocytes in Experiment 1 (Exp 1). Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) derived from small (1-2 mm) and large (3-8 mm) follicles were subjected to standard IVM culture for 24 h. Mature oocytes were selected and then parthenogenetically activated using A23187 (5 microm, 5 min) or thimerosal (200 microm, 10 min) alone or combined with 6-dimethylaminopurine (2.5 mm and 3.5 h, respectively). Activation rates of the oocytes, neither from the large nor small follicles, were affected by different activation treatments (single or combined stimuli). Whereas maturation rates for the oocytes from large follicles were superior to those from small follicles in both the single (59% vs 45%) and combined treatments (76% vs 40%; p < 0.05). To understand how prolonged heat shock (HS) influences cytoskeletal configurations of mature bovine oocytes, in Experiment 2 (Exp 2), matured oocytes derived from large follicles were randomly allocated to different durations of HS treatments at 41.5 degrees C for 0 (C0h, control, n = 12), 1 (HS1h, n = 28), 2 (HS2h, n = 31), and 4 h (HS4h, n = 30). An additional control group was cultured for 4 h without HS (38.5 degrees C, 4 h, n = 35). Alterations in nuclear structures, microtubules (MTs), and microfilaments (MFs) of the oocytes were examined. Abnormalities in the chromosomes, spindle MTs and the percentages of oocytes with cytoplasmic MTs increased with time of HS treatment. The intensity of the MF distribution in the HS oocytes was also altered. Significant changes in the cytoskeleton after HS may be associated with the reduced development under hyperthermia and, perhaps, with the low pregnancy rates of the animals during hot seasons.     

Flavonoid composition in frost-resistant Rhododendron cultivars grown in Poland

A relationship was found between flavonoid concentration in rhododendron (Rhododendron L.) leaves and their frost resistance. The flavonoid content in various taxons of rhododendrons bred in Poland was compared with the extent of injury caused by the action of sub-zero temperatures. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to analyze flavonoids and their glycosides. The results suggest that flavonoid concentrations in rhododendron tissues can be a measure of their resistance to low temperatures and can be used as a criterion in breeding.     

Successful Low Dose Insemination of Flow Cytometrically Sorted Ram Spermatozoa in Sheep

The fertility of ram spermatozoa that had undergone flow cytometric sorting (MoFlo SX) and cryopreservation was assessed after low-dose insemination of synchronized Merino ewes. Oestrus was synchronized with progestagen-impregnated pessaries, PMSG and GnRH treatment. Ewes (n = 360) were inseminated with 1 x 10(6), 5 x 10(6) or 15 x 10(6) motile sorted frozen-thawed (S(1), S(5), or S(15) respectively) or non-sorted frozen-thawed (C(1), C(5) or C(15) respectively) spermatozoa from three rams. An additional group of ewes were inseminated with 50 x 10(6) motile non-sorted frozen-thawed spermatozoa (C(50)) to provide a commercial dose control. The percentage of ewes lambing after insemination was similar for C(50) (24/38, 63.2%), C(15) (37/54, 68.5%), S(15) (38/57, 66.7%), S(5) (37/56, 66.1%) and S(1) (32/52, 61.5%) groups (p > 0.05), but lower for C(5) (19/48, 39.6%) and C(1) (19/55, 34.5%) treatments (p < 0.05). This study demonstrates sorted ram spermatozoa are equally fertile to non-sorted spermatozoa even when inseminated at 2% of the dose. Furthermore, at very low artificial insemination doses (1 or 5 million motile) the fertility of sorted ram spermatozoa is superior to non-sorted spermatozoa inseminated in equal numbers. These results have significance for the future commercialization of sex-preselection technology in sheep as a reduction in the minimum effective sperm number will allow a corresponding decrease in the associated cost per dose.     

Is pH increasing in the noncalcareous topsoils of France under agricultural management? A statistical framework to overcome the limitations of a soil test database

Soil pH is one of the most common and important measurements used to assess soil quality and manage soil fertility. Soil acidification is a slow process that can have large consequences. Therefore, it is important to detect soil changes early. Using a French soil test database, we show that the soil pH increased in 36% of arable soils monitored from 1996 to 2010, which suggests that soils became less acidic across the country. Conversely, decreases in pH were rarely detected. To perform this assessment, we used a statistical framework to analyse 488 717 soil test results from the French national soil test database. We excluded calcareous soils due to their relatively stable pH. Two periods were analysed: 1996 to 2000 (period 1) and 2006 to 2010 (period 2). Then, we performed nonparametric Mann–Whitney U tests following a resampling step to account for the noncontrolled selection of spatial and temporal localization in the observations. Our statistical framework smoothed the effects of some limitations of the database related to the variable number of samples collected during both periods and uncertainties in sampling locations. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of using this type of database and a relevant statistical framework to detect long‐term changes in soil properties.