Feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus.

Ophthalmic manifestations of FeLV or FIV infection can occur in all ocular tissues and may be manifestations of direct viral effects or secondary to viral-related malignant transformation. Additionally, the manifestations of common feline ophthalmic pathogens may be more severe and poorly responsive to therapy because of the immunosuppressive effects of FeLV or FIV infection. Prompt diagnosis of underlying viral infection in cats with ophthalmic disease is paramount for accurate diagnosis and prognosis and is required for appropriate therapeutic decision making.     

An analysis of the persistence and potency of film‐coated seed protectant as influenced by various storage parameters

BACKGROUND: An efficient delivery system for seed‐protectant chemicals is needed in light of several disadvantages of conventional seed treatment methods. This study evaluates the efficacy of film‐coat application in maintaining the persistence and potency of imidacloprid on Lycopersicon esculentum (L.) Mill. seeds after simultaneous storage under ambient and regulated environment in paper and aluminium packages. RESULTS: High‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed 0.135 mg kg^?1 of herbage material to be the threshold value beyond which absolute control was obtained, and with film coating the latter was achieved even with half‐dosage seed treatment, irrespective of the storage condition. The technique provided early protection to the crop and also nullified the deleterious effects of ambient storage on the persistence and potency of the pesticide. CONCLUSION: Film coating enabled superior pesticide dosage as well as higher biological efficacy to be achieved. Hence, in addition to being an ecofriendly alternative, the technique would be a more economically viable option for storage of treated seeds. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

IMAGING OF A SPINAL NEPHROBLASTOMA IN A DOG

An 8-month-old German Shepherd dog was presented for investigation of pelvic limb gait abnormality. Neurolocalization indicated a T3-L3 spinal cord lesion. The myelographic appearance was of an intramedullary lesion at T9/10, but upon subsequent magnetic resonance imaging it was determined that the mass was extramedullary. A diagnosis of nephroblastoma was made on histological examination. The imaging features of this rare tumor and the differentiation of intradural-extramedullary and intramedullary masses are discussed.     

Efficacy of the tris-salt of 2 [(methoxycarbonylamino)-[2-nitro-5-(n-propylthio) phenylimimo] methylamino] ethane sulfonic acid against inhibited larvae of Ostertagia ostertagi

The tris-salt of 2-[(methoxy-carbonylamino) - [2-nitro-5-(n-propylthio) phenylimimo] methylamino] ethane sulfonic acid (MCA) was evaluated against naturally acquired gastrointestinal parasitism in cattle during spring in Louisiana to determine efficacy of the compound against inhibited early 4th-stage larvae (EL4) of Ostertagia ostertagi. Forty-three crossbred yearling beef heifers were grazed together on contaminated pastures between Mar 1 and Apr 18, 1984. On April 17, 3 of the 43 heifers were slaughtered. Analysis of worm population characteristics in the 3 cattle indicated sufficient numbers of O ostertagi EL4 and other worm genera and species in these cattle to pursue a valid evaluation of the anthelmintic efficacy of MCA. The remaining 40 heifers were removed from pasture on April 18. On April 24, they were allotted into 4 treatment groups (10/group) based on an equal distribution of body weights and on whether they were spring- or autumn-born cattle. On April 25, the cattle were treated as follows: group 1, nontreated controls; group 2, treated with MCA at 7.5 mg/kg of body weight by oral drench; group 3, treated with MCA at 15.0 mg/kg by oral drench; and group 4, treated with MCA at 20.0 mg/kg by oral drench. The cattle were then confined in drylot pens until May 7. Similar numbers of cattle from each group were killed over a 3-day period from May 8 to May 10 (13 to 15 days after treatment). Mean numbers of O ostertagi recovered from nontreated controls were: adults, 8,279; developing 4th-stage larvae, 2,806; and inhibited EL4, 12,070.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Potential direct and indirect effects of climate change on a shallow natural lake fish assemblage

Much uncertainty exists around how fish communities in shallow lakes will respond to climate change. In this study, we modelled the effects of increased water temperatures on consumption and growth rates of two piscivores (northern pike [Esox lucius] and largemouth bass [Micropterus salmoides]) and examined relative effects of consumption by these predators on two prey species (bluegill [Lepomis macrochirus] and yellow perch [Perca flavescens]). Bioenergetics models were used to simulate the effects of climate change on growth and food consumption using predicted 2040 and 2060 temperatures in a shallow Nebraska Sandhill lake, USA. The patterns and magnitude of daily and cumulative consumption during the growing season (April–October) were generally similar between the two predators. However, growth of northern pike was always reduced (?3 to ?45% change) compared to largemouth bass that experienced subtle changes (4 to ?6% change) in weight by the end of the growing season. Assuming similar population size structure and numbers of predators in 2040–2060, future consumption of bluegill and yellow perch by northern pike and largemouth bass will likely increase (range: 3–24%), necessitating greater prey biomass to meet future energy demands. The timing of increased predator consumption will likely shift towards spring and fall (compared to summer), when prey species may not be available in the quantities required. Our findings suggest that increased water temperatures may affect species at the edge of their native range (i.e. northern pike) and a potential mismatch between predator and prey could exist.