First-year growth response of cold-stored,nursery-grown aspen planting stock

This research examined the first year growth characteristics of cold stored and transplanted nursery-produced aspen (Populus tremuloides) seedlings (container and bareroot (BR)) and compared it to the growth of seedlings that had not been transplanted (established from germinants in the field) and therefore had an unrestricted root system (UR). Prior to planting, nursery-produced seedlings were placed in cold storage (−3°C) and root growth potential (RGP) and total non-structural carbohydrate (TNC) root reserves were tested at 0, 10, 75 and after 150 (container) and 190 days (BR) of storage. Both container and BR stock had much lower root to shoot ratios (RSRs) and root carbohydrate reserves compared to UR seedlings after 170 days. During storage, root reserves in container stock declined faster than in the BR and UR seedlings. RGP in all nursery stock was the highest after 75 days of storage, while longer storage resulted in shoot dieback and reduced root growth. After the first growing season, UR seedlings were one tenth the size of the nursery stock; however, in the second growing season they had no stem dieback and grew twice the height and stem diameter. The higher RSRs and root reserves in the UR seedlings was likely caused by early bud set in its first year of growth. This suggests that inducing bud set earlier in the growing regime might allow seedlings to increase root mass and carbohydrate reserves.     

Inhibition of trypsin by condensed tannins and wine

Phenolic compounds are abundant vegetable secondary metabolites in the human diet. The ability of procyanidin oligomers and wine polyphenols to inhibit trypsin activity was studied using a versatile and reliable in vitro method. The hydrolysis of the chromogenic substrate N-benzoyl-d,l-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BApNA) by trypsin was followed by spectrophotometry in the presence and absence of condensed tannins and wine. A clear relationship between the degree of polymerization of procyanidins and enzymatic inhibition was observed. Trypsin activity inhibition was also detected in several types of wine. In general, the inhibition increased with the concentration of phenolic compounds in wines. These results may be relevant when considering these compounds as antinutritional factors, thereby contributing to a reduced absorption of nutrients.     

Porcine circovirus type 2 decreases the infection and replication of attenuated classical swine fever virus in porcine alveolar macrophages

Recently, it has been noted that porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection adversely affects the protective efficacy of Lapinized Philippines Coronel (LPC) vaccine, an attenuated strain of classical swine fever virus (CSFV), in pigs. In order to investigate the possible mechanisms of the PCV2-derived interference, an in vitro model was established to study the interaction of LPC virus (LPCV) and PCV2 in porcine alveolar macrophages (AMs). The results showed that PCV2 reduced the LPCV infection in AMs and the levels of PCV2-derived interference were dose-dependent. The PCV2-derived interference also reduced the replication level of LPCV in AMs. The full-length PCV2 DNA and its fragment DNA C9 CpG-ODN were involved in the reduction of LPCV infection in AMs, whereas UV-inactivated PCV2 was not. In addition, a moderate negative correlation between the LPCV antigen-containing rate and IFN-γ production was observed, and had a dose-dependent trend with the level of PCV2-inoculation. The results of the present study may partially explain how PCV2 infection interferes with the efficacy of LPC vaccine.     

Detection of retinoid receptors in non-neoplastic canine lymph nodes and in lymphoma

This study evaluated the difference in retinoid receptor expression between non-neoplastic lymph nodes and nodal lymphoma in dogs. Retinoid receptor expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 32 canine lymph nodes. The lymph nodes had been previously diagnosed as non-neoplastic (6 normal and 7 hyperplastic lymph nodes) and B- and T-cell lymphoma (19 cases). Immunohistochemistry for retinoic acid receptors and retinoid-X receptors (and their subtypes α, β, and γ) was performed in all cases. In addition, immunohistochemistry for CD3 and CD79a was performed in all lymphoma cases. Non-neoplastic lymphocytes were negative for all retinoid receptors. Retinoic acid receptor-γ was detected in 100% of B-cell lymphoma and 78% of T-cell lymphoma, while retinoid X receptor-γ was positive in 78% of T-cell lymphoma cases. When normal lymph node architecture was still present, a contrast between retinoid-negative benign cells and retinoid-positive malignant cells was clear. Retinoid receptors were expressed in neoplastic, but not in benign lymphocytes, suggesting their value for both diagnosis and treatment of canine lymphoma.     

Evaluation of the effectiveness of Duddingtonia flagrans and Monacrosporium thaumasium in the biological control of gastrointestinal nematodes in female bovines bred in the semiarid region

Brazil has a herd of 212 million cattle and 171 million hectares of pastures that produce approximately 96 % of Brazilian beef. The Brazilian production system enables animal infection by endoparasites, which are considered one of the main obstacles for the development of this industry and are responsible for considerable economic losses. The control of parasitic diseases is performed via the administration of antiparasitic drugs, but they leave residues of the products in the treated animal, affect non-target organisms and select resistant strains of the parasites. The species D. flagrans and M. thaumasium are promising and sustainable alternatives for controlling gastrointestinal helminths of ruminants and other herbivores. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of isolates of these species, formulated in a sodium alginate matrix and administered twice a week, to reduce the number of environmental infective larvae of gastrointestinal nematodes that affect prepubescent zebu females. The treated animals presented fewer eggs and a lower number of infective larvae per gram of faeces (p?<?0.05). The pastures occupied by treated animals showed a statistically significant reduction (p?<?0.05) of the number of L₃ and, furthermore, the genera Cooperia sp., Haemonchus sp., and Oesophagostomum sp. were the most prevalent. The average weight of the animals did not differ statistically (p?>?0.05) among the treated and control groups. The use of sodium alginate pellets as vehicle for delivery of the fungus mycelia D. flagrans (isolate AC001) and M. thaumasium (isolate NF34A) proved effective in controlling trichostrongylids in prepubescent cows bred in the semi-arid region, with an effective reduction in the number of infective larvae in the pastures.     

Fishing gear effects and ecology of the sea whip (Halipteris willemoesi (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Pennatulacea)) in British Columbia,Canada: preliminary observations

• 1. We conducted a preliminary study of the effects of a shrimp beam trawl and prawn traps on sea whips (Halipteris willemoesi (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Pennatulacea)) at two bays on Clio Channel, south central coast of British Columbia, Canada. Video and grabs surveys were conducted to estimate abundance and make observations on sea whips and their habitat.
• 2. No adult sea whips were caught in six beam trawls. In 600 prawn (Pandalus platyceros) trap sets at Turnour Bay, 30 sea whips were found entangled in the gear and of these 50% of the colonies were damaged. The length of broken sea whips ranged from 0.09 to 1.03 m. At Turnour Bay, the density of adults observed in video surveys ranged from 7.1 to 14.3 m^?2. Juvenile density in grab samples ranged from 53 to 123 m^?2 and a few adults were also caught. The lengths of intact adult sea whips caught in traps and grabs ranged from 0.20 to 1.98 m and juveniles from 0.3 to 0.7 cm.
• 3. Fewer adult sea whips (<0.1 m^?2) were seen in Bones Bay, where sediments were muddier (grain size <0.25 mm: 84.6 to 97.2%) relative to Turnour Bay (grain size <0.25 mm: 71.4 to 85.9%). Bottom water characteristics at the two bays were similar. Seasonal temperature range was 7.5–8.4°C, salinity 30.63–31.49 psu, and dissolved oxygen 2.76–5.97 mg L^?1. Differences in sediment characteristics and food availability may have been a factor influencing differences in abundance of sea whips between the two bays.
• 4. Further data are needed to investigate the effects of trawling and trapping on sea whips, as sample sizes were small in the present study and only two gear types were evaluated. Studies of effects of otter trawling and heavier traps, such as those used for Dungeness crab (Cancer magister), are warranted.

Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Clinical response of ovarian cysts in dairy cows after PRID treatment

We investigated the therapeutic effects of a progesterone releasing intravaginal device (PRID) on cystic ovarian disease (COD) and reproduction performance of cows. The possible influence of PRID on metabolic and/or health status was also examined. A total of 40 Holstein-Friesian cattle, with ovarian cystic structures, > or =2.5 cm in diameter, persisting for more than 7-14 days, without a corpus luteum (CL) were used for the study. PRID or placebos were inserted into the vagina for 12 days. Five animals lost the intravaginal device before removal and one was culled. Based on plasma progesterone concentration on the day of treatment, 20 (17 PRID and 3 placebos) of the remaining 34 cows had follicular cysts (progesterone < or =1 ng/ml) and 14 (10 PRID and 4 placebos) had luteal cysts (progesterone >1 ng/m l). Fourteen (82%) of the PRID-treated follicular cystic cows responded with formation of a CL within 14 days after treatment, and an overall conception rate of 53.8%. Likewise, 70% of the treated luteal cystic cows responded with CL formation and 71.4% conception rate. No significant differences were observed in hematocrit (Ht), white blood cell count and serum levels of glucose, blood urea nitrogen, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase, between the day of PRID insertion and removal, in animals with follicular and luteal cysts. PRID treatment resulted in ovulation 2-4 days later and formation of a CL in cows that recovered.     

Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) epidemiology in Norway

A case-control study is reported of 57 holdings (holdings in which salmon are raised in sea-water) with infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) and 61 holdings without ISA, together with a follow-up study of the control holdings, during 1988–1990. Generally the identified risk factors implied poor biosecurity since passive transmission (proximity to other ISA holdings) and active transmission (management practices which increased exposure to foreign biological material) were found to be major risk factors. The findings indicated that ISA was spread by infected live salmon or infected biological material i.e. animal waste or discharge from normal operations and slaughter. The findings also indicated that decreased host resistance could be important, but these results could be also be explained by a misclassification bias. Moreover, the findings indicate that a prompt eradication policy and improved biosecurity would be important means of controlling ISA.     

Primary epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma in a horse.

A 17-year-old Quarterhorse gelding with a clinical diagnosis of protein-losing enteropathy was submitted for necropsy following a 4-5-month duration of weight loss, decreased appetite, and hypoproteinemia. Gross findings included multiple 1-2-cm diameter ulcers on the luminal surfaces of the duodenum and ileum. Histologic examination revealed individual large, round cells infiltrating much of the mucosal epithelium of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon in addition to multifocal areas of ulceration. Similar round cells infiltrated Brunner's glands and expanded the submucosa beneath the foci of ulceration. Immunohistochemical staining indicated the round cell population was of T-lymphocyte origin. Several features of this equine neoplasm bear similarities to enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma in humans.