Bilateral corneoconjunctival dermoids and nasal choristomas in a calf

A 5-day-old Angus x Hereford calf presented for bilateral haired masses on the eyes and nasolabial planum since birth. The masses were surgically excised from the inferonasal cornea and bulbar conjunctiva of both eyes and the left and right side of the dorsomedial nasolabial planum. Histopathology of the excised tissue confirmed bilateral corneoconjunctival dermoids with ectopic lacrimal glands, and bilateral nasal choristomas and ectopic nasal glandular tissue. Surgery was curative and healing was uneventful. Bilateral ocular dermoids in combination with nasal choristomas and ectopic glandular tissue have not been documented previously in cattle.     

Non-governmental Organizations and Government Agencies Lead in Cultivating Positive Sea Turtle Conservation Attitudes

Considerable research has been conducted analyzing how demographic characteristics influence the public’s attitudes toward wildlife; however, less research of this type has been conducted in locations having long-standing species conservation efforts. Questionnaires were completed by residents living adjacent to such a location, the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge (ACNWR), to investigate which demographics explained residents’ knowledge of, attitudes toward, willingness to act for, and participation in sea turtle conservation. Residents who had a non-governmental organization (NGO) or government agency as their sea turtle information source had stronger positive attitudes toward sea turtles. Residents who possessed strong positive attitudes were more willing to engage in pro–sea turtle conservation behaviors. Overall, this research demonstrated that ACNWR residents’ source of sea turtle information being an NGO or government agency played a significant role in increasing residents’ knowledge of, attitudes toward, willingness to volunteer for, and participation in sea turtle conservation.     

Microbiologic findings in feedlot cattle with acute interstitial pneumonia

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that feedlot cattle with acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP) have bacterial infection of the lung or liver and concurrent bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) infection significantly more often than pen mates without AIP ANIMALS: 39 feedlot cattle with signs consistent with AIP and no history of treatment with antimicrobials and 32 healthy control cattle from the same pens. PROCEDURES: Lung and liver specimens were obtained postmortem for bacterial or mycoplasmal culture and histologic examination; lung tissue was assessed for BRSV infection immunohistochemically. RESULTS: Among affected cattle, 26 had AIP confirmed histologically. Lung tissue from 11 cattle with AIP yielded microbial respiratory tract pathogens on culture; tissues from control animals yielded no microbial growth. In 4 cattle with AIP and 2 control animals, liver abscesses were detected; bacteria were isolated from abscessed tissue in 3 and 1 of those animals, respectively. Immunohistochemically, 9 cattle with AIP and no control animals were BRSV-positive. Histologically, 9 AIP-affected cattle had only acute alveolar damage with exudation, and the other 17 had acute exudation with type II pneumocyte hyperplasia. No lesions of AIP were detected in control animals. Only 4 AIP-affected cattle had bacterial infection of the lung with concurrent BRSV infection. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that microbial respiratory tract pathogens are more common in cattle with AIP than in healthy pen mates. Control of bacterial pneumonia late in the feeding period may reduce the incidence of AIP at feedlots where AIP is a problem.     

高油玉米种植及用于猪日粮的可行性

高油玉米 ( HOC)是高值特种玉米领域发展最快的一个类型。Du Pont是种植高油玉米的主要公司 ,曾给 80多家种子公司提供高油玉米基因 ,其 TOPCross模式是生产商业高油玉米最常用的方法 ,具体是在同一块地中混和“grain parent”和“pollinator”两种玉米 ,利用杂交优势生产高油玉米。本文评价高油玉米种植及用于猪日粮的经济价值 ,同时阐述了高油玉米相对其他脂肪源的价值。1　高油玉米的种植一般情况下 ,高油玉米和普通玉米 ( NC)的种植方法相同。 TOPCross模式依靠父本 ( the polli-nator)向无雄蕊的母本 ( the grain parent)传递花…     

Contribution of biodiversity to ecosystem functioning:a non-equilibrium thermodynamic perspective

Ecosystem stays far from thermodynamic equilibrium. Through the interactions among biotic and abiotic components,and encompassing physical environments,ecosystem forms a dissipative structure that allows it to dissipate energy continuously and thereby remains functional over time. Biotic regulation of energy and material fluxes in and out of the ecosystem allows it to maintain a homeostatic state which corresponds to a self-organized state emerged in a non-equilibrium thermodynamic system. While the associated self-organizational processes approach to homeostatic state,entropy(a measure of irreversibility) degrades and dissipation of energy increases. We propose here that at a homeostatic state of ecosystem,biodiversity which includes both phenotypic and functional diversity,attains optimal values. As long as biodiversity remains within its optimal range,the corresponding homeostatic state is maintained. However,while embedded environmental conditions fluctuate along the gradient of accelerating changes,phenotypic diversity and functional diversity contribute inversely to the associated self-organizing processes. Furthermore,an increase or decrease in biodiversity outside of its optimal range makes the ecosystem vulnerable to transition into a different state.     

Lectins and protease inhibitors as plant defenses against insects

Plants commonly accumulate lectins and proteinaceous protease inhibitors in their various tissues, sometimes in high concentrations. Much evidence suggests that one of the functions of these proteins is to serve as defenses against insects.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASES IN SMALL ANIMALS

Sonographic findings of 18 dogs and four cats with gastrointestinal (GI) diseases were reviewed. Wall thickness, wall layer identification, wall symmetry, extension of the lesion, nature of the GI contents, motility, and regional and/or systemic involvement were recorded for each animal. Ultrasonographic appearance of gastrointestinal neoplasms, gastrointestinal obstruction, ileus, intussusception, inflammatory GI diseases, and congenital disorders are discussed.     

Patterns of mycoplasma shedding in the milk of dairy cows with intramammary mycoplasma infection

OBJECTIVE: To determine patterns of mycoplasma shedding in the milk of dairy cows with intramammary mycoplasma infection. DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial. ANIMALS: 10 Holstein cows with intramammary mycoplasma infection. PROCEDURE: Milk samples were collected from each cow daily for 28 days and plated on mycoplasma agar to evaluate shedding patterns. To determine whether enrichment improved recovery of organisms, some samples were also inoculated in mycoplasma enrichment medium and incubated for 4 days prior to plating. Somatic cell count (SCC) was determined in samples collected weekly. RESULTS: Mycoplasma organisms were not isolated from 81 of 280 (29%) composite milk samples, but > 10(6) colonies/mL were obtained from 151 (54%). Similarly, mycoplasma organisms were not isolated from 433 of 1,008 (43%) quarter milk samples, but > 10(6) colonies/mL were obtained from 392 (39%). For 71 of 104 (68%) samples, mycoplasma organisms were isolated both following direct plating and following enrichment; for 24 of 104 (23%), mycoplasma organisms were isolated only following enrichment; and for 9 of 104 (9%), mycoplasma organisms were isolated only after direct plating. There was a linear correlation between logarithm of the SCC and logarithm of the number of colony-forming units of mycoplasma per milliliter of milk for composite and quarter milk samples. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Shedding of organisms was inconsistent in dairy cows with intramammary mycoplasma infection, increasing the risk of misdiagnosis if multiple milk samples are not tested.