Double-outlet right ventricle in a 10-month-old Friesian filly

A 10-month-old Friesian filly had a presentation that was consistent with chronic left- and right-sided congestive heart failure. Clinical pathology findings included abnormal haematological and biochemical variables, abnormal blood gas values and increased serum concentration of cardiac troponin I. Echocardiography revealed cardiac chamber dilation and dextropositioning of the aorta. Radiography revealed a generally enlarged heart and pulmonary interstitial infiltration. These findings were supported at necropsy and the diagnosis of double-outlet right ventricle was confirmed. The pathological changes and physiological responses subsequent to double-outlet right ventricle have not previously been described in detail in horses. Clinical progression closely resembles that seen in humans, in whom antemortem diagnosis relies on echocardiography. In horses, complex cardiac disease presents a diagnostic challenge to the clinician. Appropriate therapy must be based on an accurate diagnosis.     

Recovery and Cryopreservation of Epididymal Sperm of Plains Bison (Bison bison bison) as a Model for Salvaging the Genetics of Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae)

The objective of this study was to optimize recovery and cryopreservation of epididymal sperm from plains bison, as a model for wood bison. In Phase 1, cauda epididymides were recovered from bison (n = 14) immediately after slaughter, minced and incubated in Sp-TALPH buffer for 3 h at 36°C. The resulting sperm suspensions were cryopreserved in Triladyl^®, using a protocol for bovine semen. In Phase 2, epididymal sperm were cryopreserved in either Triladyl^® or Andromed^®. The mean (±SD) estimated number of sperm recovered was 468 ± 207 × 10⁶. There was an increase (p < 0.05) in the proportion of sperm with normal morphology between initial recovery and after extension (52.4 ± 4.6 vs 69.7 ± 2.4%), with a concurrent decrease (p < 0.05) in the proportion of sperm with distal droplets. Median values for progressively motile sperm in post-thaw samples (60%) were lower (p < 0.05) than that after extension or after chilling (70% for both). The mean percentages of viable sperm and of sperm with an intact acrosome were lower (p < 0.05) for frozen-thawed samples (38.7 ± 2.8 and 85.2 ± 1.1) compared with extended (66.2 ± 2.2 and 92.4 ± 0.9) or chilled (63.7 ± 2.5 and 90.0 ± 1.0) samples. Rates of cleavage, morulae and blastocyst production were not significantly different for chilled (70.9, 38.7 and 8.0%) vs post-thaw sperm (73.0, 46.0 and 6.3%). There was no significant difference between extenders for most sperm characteristics. In conclusion, we developed a functional protocol for the recovery and cryopreservation of epididymal sperm from plains bison, which may have implications for the genetic preservation of wood bison.     

In vitro Maturation of Oocytes from Santa Ines Ewes Subjected to Consecutive Sessions of Follicular Aspiration by Laparoscopy

The success of embryo production in vitro depends upon the use of an efficient oocyte retrieval technique, and the best results have been obtained by laparoscopic aspiration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of consecutive sessions of follicular aspiration on the quantity, quality and in vitro maturation competence of oocytes obtained from ewes subjected to hormonal stimulation. Six Santa Ines ewes underwent nine sessions of follicular aspiration by laparoscopy with a 7‐day interval between sessions, totalling 56 aspirations. After 24 h of culture, oocytes were stained and classified according to the stage of nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation. Oocyte retrieval rate was 61.4 ± 2%, resulting in a total of 249 oocytes. No significant variation was observed between sessions (p > 0.05). The average number of oocytes retrieved from each ewe was 6.4 ± 2 per session and 42 ± 4 in total. No significant difference was observed between the frequencies of the different stages of nuclear maturation: 32.72% mature, 40.74% immature and 26.54% degenerated/indeterminate oocytes; however, a significant difference was observed between the frequencies of the different stages of cytoplasmic maturation: 10.7% mature, 73.25% immature and 16.05% degenerated/indeterminate oocytes. No significant difference was observed in nuclear or cytoplasmic maturation between the weeks of procedure. We conclude that after nine consecutive sessions of follicular aspiration, the quantity and quality of retrieved oocytes remained unchanged as well as the levels of nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation obtained, demonstrating the viability of this technique for repetitive follicular aspirations on the same donor.     

A “standard horse” for use in physiologically based mathematical modelling

Standard data for the horse which can be used in physiologically based mathematical computer modelling are presented. The data includes figures for tissue mass, density and perfusion, obtained by measurement mainly from horses weighing 200 to 300 kg. Other related parameters such as mean transit times and tissue blood volume have been calculated and included in the actual values listed for a 250 kg horse.     

Critical period of weed competition in three vegetable crops in relation to management practices

The critical period of weed competition was determined in three vegetable crops: early cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.), pickling cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.), and field-seeded processing tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum L.). There were significant interactions between weed-removal treatments, year, and row width. Cabbage yields were reduced if plots were not kept weed-free for at least 3 weeks after transplanting or if weeds which emerged with the crop were allowed to remain longer than 4–5 weeks, Cucumber yields were reduced if plots were not kept weed-free for up to 4 weeks after seeding or if plots remained weed-infested longer than 3–4 weeks. Higher crop population densities (narrower row widths) in cabbage and cucumbers resulted in smaller plants, earlier competition from weeds, and therefore a shorter period that the crop could remain weed-infested without suffering reduced yields. Yields of direct-seeded tomatoes were reduced if plots were not kept weed-free for up to 9 weeks after seeding or if weeds which emerged with the crop were allowed to remain longer than 5 weeks. In each crop the timing of the critical period of competition was verified by weed removal only during this interval. There was a true critical period in direct-seeded tomatoes, but not in cabbage or cucumbers where a single weeding was sufficient to prevent yield losses.     

Canine urolithiasis: incidence, chemical composition and outcome of roo cases

In 100 cases of canine urolithiasis the main chemical component was either phosphate (fifty-three), cystine (twenty), oxalate (fourteen) or urate (thirteen). Oxalate and cystine calculi were confined to males, while phosphates predominated in the female. The incidence was higher than average in the Cairn, Dalmatian and Pekingese. The mean age incidence was 5.9 years, and oxalate calculi occurred in an older age group (8.5 years). The incidence of urolithiasis in the patient population was 1.2 per cent. Seventeen animals died within 1 week of admission, generally from uraemia. Few animals were alive 4 years after first admission, but there were few later deaths from, or recurrence, of urolithiasis. Survival rates were similar for each calculus type. The low long-term survival was principally due to other unrelated causes of death. Résumé. Sur 100 cas d'urolithíase caníne, le composant chimique le plus important était soit le phosphate (53), soit la cystine (20), soit l'oxalate (14) ou l'urate (13). Les calculs d'oxalate et de cystine s'observant chez les mâles, alors que ceux composés de phosphate prédominent chez les femelles. La fréquence est plus grande que la moyenne chez les Cairns, les Dalmatiens et les Pékinois. L'âge moyen des sujets atteints est de 5,9 ans, mais les calculs d'oxalate s'observent dans un groupe d'âge plus avancé (8,5 ans). La fréquence d'urolithiase dans la population canine générale était de 1,2%. 17 animaux succombèrent au bout d'une semaine après l'admission, habituellernent par urémie. Quelques animaux étaient vivants 4 ans après la première admission, mais on a noté quelques survies plus longues, la mort survenant par urolithiase; dans d'autres cas, on a noté des rechutes de celle-ci. Les proportions de survie étaient identiques dans tout les groupes chimiques d'urolithiase. Le raccourcissement de la suivie a été essentiellement dû à d'autres causes de mort. Zusammenfassung. In 100 Fällen von Urolithiasis des Hundes war der chemische Haupt-bestandteil entweder Phosphat (53), Cystin (20), Oxalat (14) oder Urat (13). Oxalat- und Cystinkonkremente waren auf männliche Tiere beschränkt, während Phosphate bei den weiblichen Tieren vorherrschten. Die Häufigkeit war bei den Rassen Cairn, Dalmatiner und Pekinese höher. Die mittlere Altershäufigkeit betrug 5,9 Jahre, und Oxalatcalculi traten in einer Gruppe höheren Alters (8,5 Jahre) auf. Die Häufigkeit der Urolithiasis im Patienten-stamm betrug 1,2%. 17 Tiere starben innerhalb 1 Woche nach der Einlieferung, im allgemeinen an Urämie. Nur wenige Tiere waren noch 4 Jahre nach der ersten Beobachtung am Leben, jedoch gab es nur wenig spätere Todesfalle durch Urolithiasis oder durch deren erneutes Auf-treten. Die Überlebenszahlen waren bei jeder Konkrementtype ähnlich. Das geringe langzeitige Überleben war hauptsächlich anderen, damit nicht zusammenhängenden Todesursachen zuzu-schreiben.     

Functional islet cell tumour in the dog

A 7½-year-old male Pointer had episodes of disorientation, ataxia and collapse due to persistent hypoglycaemia. A solitary islet cell tumour was removed surgically from the tail of the pancreas. Hyperglycaemia and glycosuria persisted for 6 days after pancreatic resection but thereafter recovery was uneventful and blood glucose levels were in the normal range 3 months later. The literature on the clinical aspects of canine islet cell tumours is summarized.
Résumé. Un pointer, mâle, âgé de 7 ans ½ avait des épisodes de désorientation, d'ataxie et de collapsus dûs à une hyperglycémie persistante. On a fait l'ablation d'une tumeur solitaire des îlots de Langerhans de la queue du pancréas. L'hyperglycémie et la glycosurie ont persisté pendant 6 jours après resection pancréatique, mais après cela, la guérison s'était déroulée sans incidents et les taux de glycémie étaient de nature normale 3 mois plus tard. On a fait le résumé des exposés sur les aspects cliniques des tumeurs des îlots de Langerhans chez le clien.
Zusammenfassung. Ein 7½ Jahr alter Pointer hatte Episoden von Disorientierheit, Ataxie und Kollaps, die einer anhaltenden Hyperglykämie zuzuschreiben waren. Ein einzelner Langerhansschen Inselzellentumor wurde chirurgisch von der Cauda pancreatis entfernt. Hyperglykämie und Glykosurie hielten für 6 Tage nach pankreatischer Resektion an, aber danach war die Genesung ohne besondere Ereignisse und Blutzuckerspiegel waren 3 Monate später im normalen Bereich. Die Literatur über klinische Aspekte von Hunde-Inselzellen Tumore wurde zusammengefasst.     

Factors affecting threshold levels and seed production of jimsonweed (Datura stramonium L.) in soyabeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)

The effects of soyabean Glycine max (L.) Merr. row width, date of planting and year on threshold levels of jimsonweed (Datura stramonium L.) and on jimsonweed seed production were examined over 3 years. Natural infestations of jimsonweed were employed and densities were determined at 3 weeks after planting and also at soyabean harvest. Date of planting affected emergence of both soyabean and jimsonweed seedlings, whereas row width affected weed seedling mortality. Percentage soyabean yield losses attributable to jimsonweed, over all treatments, were greater in the 2 years with above-average rainfall than in the one dry year. Slopes of regression equations and estimates of threshold densities varied significantly among years and between initial and final density counts. The number of jimsonweed seed capsules produced per plant and the number of seeds per capsule declined with jimsonweed density, but the mean number of seeds produced per m² remained fairly constant over a wide density range. Jimsonweed seed production did not decline significantly until well below the threshold densities determined for soyabean yields. Les facteurs du seuil de nuisibilité et de la production de graines chez Datura stramonium L. dans les cultures de soja (Glycine max. (L.) Merr.) L'influence de l'écartement des rangs de soja, Glycine max (L) Merr., de la date de semis, et de l'année, sur le seuil de nuisibilité et la production de graines chez le Datura stramonium L., a étéétudiée durant 3 années. Les études ont été effectuées sur des infestations naturelles de datura, dont les densités ont été déterminées 3 semaines après le semis ainsi qu'à la récolte. La date du semis influence à la fois la levée du soja et celle du datura, alors que l'écartement des rangs influe sur la mortalité des graines de l'adventice. Dans tous les traitements, les pertes de rendement attribuables au datura ont été plus importantes durant les 2 années où les précipitations on été supérieures à la moyenne que durant une année sèche. Les pentes des équations de régression et les estimations de seuils de nuisibilité variaient d'une manière significative selon les années et entre les comptages initiaux et finaux. Le nombre de capsules par plane et le nombre de graines par capsule diminuaient avec la densité des datura, mais le nombre moyen de graines produites par m² est resté assez constant dans une large gamme de densité. La production de graines de datura n'a décliné significativement que pour une densité de plantes située bien en dessous du seuil de nuisibilitéà l'égard des rendements du soja. Faktoren, welche die Schädigungsschwelle und Samenproduktion von Stechapfel (Datura Stramonium L.) in Sojabohnen (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) beeinflussen Während drei Jahren wurde in Sojabohnen der Einfluss von Reihendistanz und Saatzeitpunkt auf die Schädigungsschwelle und Samenproduktion von Stechapfel (Datura stramonium L.) untersucht. Diese Studie basierte auf den natürlichen Stechapfelpopulationen; die Zählungen der Populationsdichten erfolgten drei Wochen nach der Sojasaat und bei der Ernte. Der Saattermin beeinflusste das Auflaufen der Sojabohnen und der Stechapfelsämlinge, während die Reihendistanz die Mortalität der Unkrautsämlinge veränderte. Die Steigung der Regressionsgeraden und die Schätzungen der schädigenden Populationsdichte variierten signifikant in den einzelnen Jahren und zwischen der ersten und letzten Zählung. Die Anzahl der von den Stechapfelindividuen produzierten Samenkapseln pro Pflanze und Samenmenge pro Kapsel nahm mit zunehmender Populationsdichte ab; die pro m² gebildete Samenzahl blieb jedoch über einen weiten Bereich verschiedener Populationsdichten relativ konstant. Die von der Stechapfelpopulation produzierte Samenmenge nahm bis weit unter die für die Sojabohen schädigende Populationsschwelle nicht signifikant ab.     

Screening and degradation characteristics of a tylosin-degrading strain

Antibiotics residues have been accumulating in the environment day by day due to overuse of antibiotics. Recalcitrant antibiotic residues, such as tylosin(TYL), can cause serious environmental problems, which makes it important to eliminate TYL from the environment. It is important to eliminate TYL from the environment. In this study, a strain was isolated and purified from fermentation by-product that came from a TYL production factory. The TYL degrading strain was identified by its morphology, physiological and biochemical reactions and sequencing the PCR-amplified fragments of its 16 S r DNAcoding genes. The temperature, shaking speed, initial TYL concentration, p H and inoculum sizes were investigated under simulated conditions by using single factor tests. The results showed that TYL2, a high efficient strain was isolated and was identified as Brevibacillus borstelensis. The degradation rate of TYL by this strain could reach to 75% with an initial concentration of 25 mg L~(–1) within 7 days under conditions of 7% B. borstelensis(v/v, 2×108 CFU m L~(–1)) at p H 7.0 and at 35°C. It is interesting that this strain has a very strong ability to degrade the TYL in natural sewage with the degradation rate of 65% within 7 days. This result could be helpful for the degradation of TYL and provide guidance for the degradation of other antibiotics.