Genetic diversity and population structure of Indian soybean [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Glycine max</Emphasis> (L.) Merr.] revealed by simple sequence repeat markers

Genetic diversity in 90 Indian soybean cultivars was assessed using 45 SSR markers distributed on 20 soybean chromosomes. Forty-five SSR markers generated 232 alleles with an average of five alleles/locus. The observed frequencies of the 232 alleles ranged from 0.01 to 0.94 with an average of 0.19. The polymorphic information content (PIC) value of the SSR markers varied from 0.10 to 0.83 with an average of 0.61 and about 71% markers have a PIC value of >0.5. In this study, 54 rare alleles including 19 genotype specific alleles were also identified. The observed hetrozygosity for SSR markers ranged from 0 to 0.11 with a mean of 0.10. Cluster analysis grouped the 90 soybean cultivars into three major clusters and principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) results were similar to those of the cluster analysis. A combination of eight SSR markers successfully differentiated all 90 soybean cultivars. The population structure analysis distributed the 90 soybean genotypes into two populations with mean alpha (α) value of 0.1873. In AMOVA analysis, proportion of variation within population was high (88%), whereas only 12% occurred among populations. In cluster and structure analyses, most of the genotypes with similar pedigree were grouped together. Soybean cultivars DS228, MACS-13, LSb-1, Hardee, Improved Pelican, and Pusa-24 were the six most genetically distinct cultivars identified. The study reported a moderate genetic diversity in Indian soybean cultivars and findings would be useful to the soybean breeders in selecting genetically distinct parents for a soybean improvement program.     

Mandibular and sublingual sialocoeles in the dog: A retrospective evaluation of 41 cases,using the ventral approach for treatment

AIMS: To review results of the ventral approach for mandibular and sublingual sialoadenectomy for the treatment of sialocoeles associated with the mandibular and sublingual salivary glands in the dog, and to determine rates of recurrence and complication following this procedure.

METHODS: Thirty-nine dogs with 41 sialocoeles that underwent surgical intervention were retrospectively evaluated with respect to signalment, aetiology, location of sialocoeles, duration of clinical signs, treatment prior to referral, post-operative use of antibiotics and drains, complications, and recurrence.

RESULTS: The mean age at the time of surgery was 5.1 (SD 3.8) years, and duration of clinical signs 6.6 (SD 10.6) months. Long-term follow-up was available for 31 dogs; the minimum was 8 months and mean 47.7 (SD 25.8) months post-surgery. There was no recurrence of sialocoeles following the ventral approach for mandibular and sublingual sialoadenectomy. Post- operatively, 6/35 (17%) cases developed a seroma at the surgical site. No breed or sex predisposition was determined. The cause of the sialocoele was unknown in 36/41 (88%) cases.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Excellent clinical results were achieved with a low rate of complications using the ventral approach for mandibular and sublingual siaload- enectomy. The ventral approach is recommended to minimise the risk of recurrence of sialocoeles.     

The Breed and Season Effects on Scrotal Circumference and Semen Characteristics of Hair Sheep Rams Under Tropical Conditions

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the breed and season effects on scrotal circumference (SC) and semen characteristics of 28 mature hair sheep rams kept under tropical conditions. SCs, sperm concentration (SPC) and abnormal sperm were significantly affected by breed effect (p < 0.001). The season effect was significant in SPC (p < 0.0001) while ejaculate volume, mass motility and SPC were affected by breed × season interaction effect (p < 0.001). It can be concluded that the magnitude of the breed and season effects were not sufficient to affect the reproductive capacity of hair sheep rams throughout the year.     

Effectiveness of α-tocopherol and selenium supplements in preventing lupinosis-associated myopathy in sheep

Objective To compare the effectiveness of combined selenium and α-tocopherol acetate treatments in preventing lupinosis-associated myopathy in sheep.
Design Measurement of plasma muscle and liver enzymes, and histopathological examination of muscle and liver in the treatment groups.
Procedure The treatments were: subcutaneous injections of selenomethionine and vitamin E (sc(SeM+E)) , an intraruminal selenium pellet and oral doses of vitamin E and intramuscular injections of selenomethionine combined with either oral doses of vitamin E (imSeM+orE) or intramuscular injections of vitamin E in an oily carrier. Another group received no supplements, while a control group was given selenium pellets on day 0 and fortnightly oral doses of vitamin E from day 0 to 72. To produce lupinosis-associated myopathy, the sheep were fed a diet low in vitamin E and given repeated injections of a crude extract of Diaphorthe toxica. Groups sc(SeM+E) and imSeM+orE were stressed by dosing with protected polyunsaturated fatty acids from day 56 onwards.
Results Lupinosis-associated myopathy was induced in all unsupplemented sheep. In these sheep the storage of Se increased and that of vitamin E decreased. The subcutaneous treatment was highly effective in preventing lupinosis-associated myopathy and also produced the highest vitamin E concentrations in plasma and liver. Supplemental vitamin E was more efficacious than supplemental Se. Concentrations of vitamin E in the livers of sheep given intramuscular vitamin E were higher than expected based on plasma concentrations. Oral doses of vitamin E proved the least effective method of increasing concentrations in liver. Lupinosis did not affect Se concentrations in liver or muscle.
Conclusion The sc(SeM+E) treatment is highly effective in preventing lupinosis-associated myopathy but needs to be further assessed when selenium and vitamin E are both limiting in the diet.     

Xylazine causes transient dose-related hyperglycemia and increased urine volumes in mares

Xylazine given IV at doses of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/kg to mares caused a significant (P less than 0.05) dose-related increase in serum glucose concentration and urine volume. Serum glucose concentrations as much as 150 mg/dl were recorded in mares after they were given the largest xylazine dose. The greatest urine volume, similar to changes in peak glucose concentration, always occurred during the first hour after dosing with xylazine and averaged 1.82, 3.93, and 5.68 ml/kg/hour after the 0.5-, 1.0-, and 1.5-mg/kg doses, respectively, were given. Urine osmolality and specific gravity were significantly (P less than 0.05) inversely related to urine volume. Although serum glucose concentrations were significantly increased above those measured after IV injection of saline solution, significant glucosuria was not detected.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE AND CLINICAL FINDINGS IN 14 DOGS WITH GALLBLADDER MUCOCELE

Fourteen dogs with enlarged gallbladders and immobile stellate or finely striated bile patterns on ultrasound are described. Smaller breeds and older dogs were overrepresented, with 4/14 Cocker Spaniels. Most dogs presented for nonspecific clinical signs such as vomiting, anorexia and lethargy. Abdominal pain, icterus and hyperthermia were the most common findings on physical examination. All dogs except one had serum elevation of total bilirubin and/or alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and gamma glutamyl transferase. All dogs were diagnosed with a gallbladder mucocele upon histologic and/or macroscopic evaluation. Ultrasonographically, mucoceles are characterized by the appearance of the stellate or finely striated bile patterns and differ from biliary sludge by the absence of gravity dependent bile movement. On ultrasound, gallbladder wall thickness and wall appearance were variable and nonspecific. The cystic or common bile duct were normal sized in 5 dogs although all 5 had evidence of biliary obstruction at surgery or necropsy. Loss of gallbladder wall integrity and/or gallbladder rupture were present in 50% of the dogs, all located in the fundus. Gallbladder wall discontinuity on ultrasound indicated rupture whereas neither bile patterns predicted the likelihood of gallbladder rupture. Pericholecystic hyperechoic fat or fluid were suggestive of but not diagnostic for a gallbladder rupture. Cholecystectomy appears to be an appropriate treatment for mucoceles, if not to treat a gallbladder rupture, at least in most dogs to prevent it since gallbladder wall necrosis was identified by histology in 9 of 10 dogs. Mucosal hyperplasia was present in all gallbladders examined histologically. Positive aerobic bacterial culture was obtained from bile in 6 of 9 dogs. Cholecystitis was diagnosed histologically in 5 dogs and 4 dogs had signs of gallbladder infection solely upon bacterial bile culture. Gallbladder infection was not present with all the mucoceles suggesting that biliary stasis and mucosal hyperplasia may be the primary factors involved in mucocele formation. Based on the results of our study, we suggest two alternate courses of action in the presence of a distended gallbladder with an immobile ultrasonographic stellate or finely striated bile pattern: a cholecystectomy when clinical or biochemical signs of hepatobiliary disease are present or a medical treatment (antibiotics and choleretics) and patient monitoring by follow-up ultrasound examinations when the patient does not have clinical or biochemical abnormalities. An aerobic bile culture should be obtained in all patients, by ultrasound-guided fine needle aspirate or at surgery.     

Advances in Reproductive Science for Wild Carnivore Conservation

Knowledge about reproduction is critical for predicting the viability of wildlife populations in nature and for managing breeding programmes in captivity. Intensive species-based studies are the priority, because reproductive mechanisms are extraordinarily diverse, even within the same taxonomic family. Carnivores deserve more attention as such species are highly vulnerable to environmental change and human persecution. The present review provides contemporary illustrations of how reproductive science is contributing to understand unique reproductive mechanisms that are both of fundamental and applied interest. In the case of the endangered African wild dog ( Lycaon pictus ) free-living in South Africa, non-invasive faecal corticosteroid assessments have yielded new insights about the impact of animal relocation and reintroduction on adaptive responses, reproductive fitness and survival. For the maned wolf ( Chrysocyon brachyurus ), advances have been made in characterizing and comparing reproductive traits in free-ranging vs captive individuals. For the cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus ), recent studies have focused on the cryosensitivity of sperm and the ability to develop a field-friendly sperm cryo-method. The by-product has been a large-scale frozen repository of sperm from wild-caught cheetahs useful for infusing new genes into ex situ populations. Finally, rigorous, multi-disciplinary and cross-institutional reproductive studies of the black-footed ferret ( Mustela nigripes ), including the use of artificial insemination, have contributed to the remarkable recovery and restoration of this species, once on the brink of extinction. In summary, advances in reproductive science are not necessarily related to 'assisted breeding'. However, understanding the unique ways of carnivore reproduction greatly contributes to species management and conservation.