Gerbode type defect and third degree atrioventricular block in association with bacterial endocarditis in a dog

Gerbode type defects are rare left ventricular outflow tract–right atrial communications in people that may be congenital or acquired; they have been reported only once previously in dogs. Acquired forms in humans have been reported secondary to bacterial endocarditis, trauma, and valve replacement surgery, among other causes. We report a case of left ventricular outflow tract to right atrium and right ventricle communications (Gerbode type defect) in association with aortic and tricuspid valve bacterial endocarditis in a geriatric dog. The dog also developed third degree atrioventricular block and had underlying subaortic stenosis. The authors hypothesize that the Gerbode type defect in this case was acquired secondary to invasion and destruction of the membranous interventricular septum due to bacterial endocarditis.     

Effects of cinnamaldehyde, garlic and juniper berry essential oils on rumen fermentation, blood metabolites, growth performance, and carcass characteristics of growing lambs

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of cinnamaldehyde (CDH), garlic (GAR) and juniper berry (JUN) essential oils (200 mg/kg of DM) on performance and carcass characteristics of lambs fed a barley-based concentrate diet ad libitum. For this purpose, 40 ewes' lambs (23.5 ± 1.11 kg initial live weight, LW) were used in a random block design over a 13-week period. Feeding CDH, GAR or JUN did not affect dry matter intake (DMI) but the average daily gain (ADG) of lambs supplemented with CDH and JUN was higher (P = 0.002) as compared to lambs fed GAR or the control diet. Feed conversion (DMI/ADG) was numerically improved when lambs were fed CDH (4.8) and JUN (4.7) compared to those fed GAR (5.2) or the control diet (5.3). There were no effects of feed additives on ruminal pH and concentrations of ammonia and total VFA. Serum concentrations of glycerol and total glycerides were lower and higher (P ≤ 0.03) in lambs fed CDH or JUN respectively, as compared to lambs fed GAR or the control diet. Hot dressed carcass weight was similar among treatments (23.7 ± 0.75 kg; P = 0.18) whereas saleable meat tended (P = 0.13) to increase (+ 9%) in lambs fed CDH and JUN compared to those fed GAR or the control diet. Feeding CDH, GAR or JUN had little effect on the overall fatty acid composition of back fat and liver and only minor effects on meat flavour characteristics.     

Factors influencing farmers' responses to welfare legislation: A case study of gestation sow housing in Flanders (Belgium)

In the light of the EU ban on individual confinement of gestating sows which will have to be fully implemented by 2013, a survey was conducted among a representative sample of Flemish pig producers. The questionnaire was sent by post to 250 farmers in 2003 and 352 farmers in 2005 of which 219 and 296, respectively, provided valid responses via telephone. The percentage of respondents housing (some of) their sows in group was 10.5% in 2003 and 16.2% in 2005. These farmers were more likely to have a successor than farmers housing their sows individually. The most common group housing systems were free access stalls (24%) followed by electronic feeding stations (21%), ad libitum feeding (20%), feeding stalls/troughs (18%), and drop/trickle feeding systems (13%). Interval (4%) and electronic feed dispensers (0%) were very rare in Flanders. The main criteria for having chosen a particular group housing system related to sow health and welfare, investment costs and amount of labour. The relative importance of economic reasons has increased over time. Users were generally rather satisfied with their group housing system. Farmers using group housing for all their sows were more satisfied than farmers using both group and individual housing. Users of ad libitum feeding systems (and feeding stalls/troughs) were more satisfied than users of electronic feeding stations. A minority of respondents was planning to change to group housing within two years time (4.1% in 2003 and 7.4% in 2005). These tended to be young farmers with a large sow herd and 58% reported to opt for free access stalls. The main reason why the remaining respondents were not planning to change to group housing yet is that they will stop farming activities before 2013. This reason was particularly important for older small-scale farmers without a successor. In contrast, the lack of financial resources and security was particularly important for young farmers of a large sow herd with a likely successor. An increasing group of farmers (often without a successor) reported to delay changing to group housing because they consider individual housing more profitable. These results show that, in Flanders, the conversion to group housing is taking place slowly, that the reasons for not converting yet vary according to the farmers' age, the likelihood of a successor and herd size, and that there are differences between operational group housing systems concerning herd size, age of the system, sow management and user satisfaction.     

Parametric distance weighting of landscape influence on streams

We present a parametric model for estimating the areas within watersheds whose land use best predicts indicators of stream ecological condition. We regress a stream response variable on the distance-weighted proportion of watershed area that has a specific land use, such as agriculture. Distance weighting functions model the declining influence of landscape elements as a function of their flowpath distances, first to the stream channel (to-stream distance), and then down the channel to the location at which stream condition was sampled (in-stream distance). Model parameters specify different distance scales over which to-stream and in-stream influences decline. As an example, we predict an index of biotic integrity (IBI) for the fish communities in 50 small streams of the Willamette Basin of Oregon, USA, from distance-weighted proportions of agricultural or urban land use in their watersheds. The weighting functions of best-fitting models (R ² = 0.57) represent landscape influence on IBI as extending upstream tens of kilometers along the stream channel network, while declining nearly to zero beyond a distance of 30 m from the channel. Our example shows how parametric distance weighting can identify the distance scales, and hence the approximate areas within watersheds, for which land use is most strongly associated with a stream response variable. In addition, distance-weighting parameters offer a simple and direct language for comparing the scales of landscape influence on streams across different land uses and stream ecosystem components.     

Detection of potentially novel paramyxovirus and coronavirus viral RNA in bats and rats in the Mekong Delta region of southern Viet Nam

Bats and rodents are being increasingly recognized as reservoirs of emerging zoonotic viruses. Various studies have investigated bat viruses in tropical regions, but to date there are no data regarding viruses with zoonotic potential that circulate in bat and rat populations in Viet Nam. To address this paucity of data, we sampled three bat farms and three wet markets trading in rat meat in the Mekong Delta region of southern Viet Nam. Faecal and urine samples were screened for the presence of RNA from paramyxoviruses, coronaviruses and filoviruses. Paramyxovirus RNA was detected in 4 of 248 (1%) and 11 of 222 (4.9%) bat faecal and urine samples, respectively. Coronavirus RNA was detected in 55 of 248 (22%) of bat faecal samples; filovirus RNA was not detected in any of the bat samples. Further, coronavirus RNA was detected in 12 of 270 (4.4%) of rat faecal samples; all samples tested negative for paramyxovirus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the bat paramyxoviruses and bat and rat coronaviruses were related to viruses circulating in bat and rodent populations globally, but showed no cross‐species mixing of viruses between bat and rat populations within Viet Nam. Our study shows that potentially novel variants of paramyxoviruses and coronaviruses commonly circulate in bat and rat populations in Viet Nam. Further characterization of the viruses and additional human and animal surveillance is required to evaluate the likelihood of viral spillover and to assess whether these viruses pose a risk to human health.     

Molecular Responses to Cadmium in Roots of Pisum Sativum L.

Molecular responses to Cd were studied in roots of three pea genotypes (cv. Frisson, VIR4788, VIR7128) growing in a polluted substrate. Root and shoot fresh biomass was decreased by Cd pollution in all genotypes. Gene expression profiling after one weeks' exposure to Cd revealed that genes encoding stress-related proteins (heat-shock protein, pI206, chitinase, chalcone isomerase), a metallothionein, γ -glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutathione reductase were up-regulated in the pea genotypes. A glutathione synthetase gene was activated only in VIR4788 but a homoglutathione synthetase gene was unaffected by Cd, and concomitantly glutathione/homoglutathione accumulation in plant roots did not change with Cd stress. However, the overall concentration of thiol groups, which indicate the presence of phytochelatins and/or homophytochelatins, increased more than 2-fold.     

Safety and immunogenicity of BPV-1 L1 virus-like particles in a dose-escalation vaccination trial in horses

Reasons for performing study: Infection with bovine papillomaviruses types 1 and 2 (BPV‐1, BPV‐2) can lead to the development of therapy‐resistant skin tumours termed sarcoids and possibly other skin diseases in equids. Although sarcoids seriously compromise the welfare of affected animals and cause considerable economic losses, no prophylactic vaccine is available to prevent this common disease. In several animal species and man, immunisation with papillomavirus‐like particles (VLP) has been shown to protect efficiently from papillomaviral infection. Hypothesis: BPV‐1 L1 VLPs may constitute a safe and highly immunogenic vaccine candidate for protection of horses against BPV‐1/‐2‐induced disease. Methods: Three groups of 4 horses each received 50, 100 or 150 µg of BPV‐1 L1 VLPs, respectively, on Days 0, 28 and 168. Three control horses received adjuvant only. Horses were monitored on a daily basis for one week after each immunisation and then in 2 week intervals. Sera were collected immediately before, 2 weeks after each vaccination and one and 2 years after the final boost and analysed by pseudovirion neutralisation assay. Results: None of the horses showed adverse reactions upon vaccination apart from mild and transient swelling in 2 individuals. Irrespective of the VLP dose, all VLP‐immunised horses had developed a BPV‐1‐neutralising antibody titre of ≥1600 plaque forming units (pfu)/ml 2 weeks after the third vaccination. Eight of 10 trial horses still available for follow‐up had neutralising antibody titres ≥1600 pfu/ml one year and ≥800 pfu/ml 2 years after the last immunisation. Conclusion: Intramuscular BPV‐1 L1 VLP vaccination in horses is safe and results in a long‐lasting antibody response against BPV‐1. Neutralisation titres were induced at levels that correlate with protection in experimental animals and man. Potential relevance: BPV‐1 L1 VLPs constitute a promising vaccine candidate for prevention of BPV‐1/‐2‐induced disease in equids.     

The EPPO prioritization process for invasive alien plants

Although invasive alien plants are gaining increased attention within EPPO countries, there is no existing widely agreed method to identify those alien plants that are considered invasive and represent the highest priority for pest risk analysis. In the framework of the ad hoc Panel on Invasive Alien Species, EPPO proposes a prioritization process for invasive alien plants designed (i) to produce a list of invasive alien plants that are established or could potentially establish in the EPPO region and (ii) to determine which of these have the highest priority for an EPPO pest risk analysis. The process consists of compiling available information on alien plants according to pre‐determined criteria, and can be run at the EPPO region level, or at a country or local area level. These criteria examine whether the species is alien in the area under study, and whether it is established or not. The criteria used primarily rely on observations in the EPPO region but, if the species is not established, the invasive behaviour of the species in other countries should be investigated, as well as the suitability of the ecoclimatic conditions in the area under consideration. The spread potential, the potential negative impacts on native species, habitats and ecosystems, as well as on agriculture, horticulture or forestry are considered. If the species qualifies as an invasive alien plant of major concern through this first set of questions, the process then investigates the efficiency of international measures (to be justified through a pest risk analysis) to prevent the entry and spread of the species. The second set of questions are designed to determine whether the species is internationally traded or enters new countries through international pathways for which the risk of introduction is superior to natural spread, and whether the species still has a significant suitable area for further spread. If used by several EPPO countries, this prioritization process represents an opportunity to provide consistent country lists of invasive alien plant species, as well as a tool for dialogue and exchange of information.