Development and survival of Haemonchus contortus infective larvae derived from sheep faeces under sub-tropical conditions in the Potohar region of Pakistan

Assessment on the development and survival of Haemonchus contortus larvae was made to evaluate the influence of microclimatic variables viz., relative humidity (%), temperature (°C), rainfall (mm) and intensity of sunlight (hrs). Pasture plots in a sub-tropical area, Pakistan were contaminated with H. contortus eggs at the start of every month. The plots were sampled on fortnightly basis after contamination for three consecutive months. The overall pattern indicated the most favorable conditions for survival, development and translation to herbage was during the wet season from July to October and the least favorable was during the dry season from April to June. Peak infective larvae (L₃) recovery was during the 15–45 day interval for each plot and the lowest number was during the 75–90 day interval. Herbage was collected in the morning, afternoon and evening and greatest recovery of L₃ was in the morning time and least in the afternoon. The number of L₃ on pasture was directly related to the pattern of rainfall and relative humidity with a significant (P < 0.05) positive correlation and temperature and intensity of sunshine were negatively correlated (P < 0.05). The results suggest that pastures can remain infective for up to 2 months and become relatively clean by 90 days after contamination. Thus, long pasture rest periods, especially during the high risk wet season, may be a helpful strategy to reduce the infection levels.     

Evaluation of aerobic bacteriologic culture of epidermal collarette specimens in dogs with superficial pyoderma

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a method of aerobic bacteriologic culture of epidermal collarette specimens from dogs with superficial pyoderma and compare results with those for aerobic bacteriologic culture of abdominal skin specimens in healthy dogs. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 22 dogs with epidermal collarettes and 24 healthy dogs. PROCEDURE: Dry sterile cotton swabs were rolled across epidermal collarettes or hairless areas of abdominal skin in healthy dogs and submitted for aerobic bacteriologic culture. Hemolytic colonies of gram-positive-staining cocci were tested for catalase production, and if results were positive, a coagulase test was performed. Colonies with coagulase activity were tested for the ability to ferment mannitol. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on all Staphylococcus spp that were isolated. RESULTS: S. intermedius was isolated from collarettes in 18 of 22 dogs with superficial pyoderma but not from healthy dogs. Estimated sensitivity and specificity of the culture method were 81.8% and 100%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the ability to culture S. intermedius, the number of S. intermedius isolates without resistance to antimicrobials, and the number of S. intermedius isolates resistant to penicillin G when comparing dogs with superficial pyoderma for the first time and dogs with recurrent pyoderma, dogs that did or did not receive concurrent antimicrobials, and dogs with and without underlying allergic disease. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Bacteriologic culture of epidermal collarette specimens was a simple and reliable method for identification of S. intermedius in dogs with superficial pyoderma, regardless of history of pyoderma or current antimicrobial use.     

Investigation into the mode of inheritance of allozyme and random amplified polymorphic DNA markers in tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters)

Feral Australian Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters) (Pisces: Cichlidae) and an interspecific hybrid population (most probably originally derived from crosses of O. mossambicus and O. niloticus stocks) were used as model organisms to study the inheritance patterns of 24 allozyme loci and 31 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) loci in tilapia. Single‐paired matings of parents of known genotype were used to generate families, and 10–15 full‐sib offspring from each mating were used to test for mode of inheritance. The majority of allozyme and RAPD loci tested segregated in a Mendelian fashion. Allozyme markers in general showed co‐dominant inheritance patterns, while RAPD markers conformed to expectations for band presence/absence under a dominant allele model. Although only a small number of families and offspring were used, the results highlight the suitability of allozymes and RAPDs as genetic markers for population analysis in tilapia.     

Lumbosacral intervertebral disk disease in six cats

Medical records of six cats diagnosed with lumbosacral intervertebral disk disease were reviewed. Clinical signs included reluctance to jump, low tail carriage, elimination outside the litter box, reluctance to ambulate, pelvic-limb paresis, urinary incontinence, and constipation. All cats had lumbosacral hyperpathia on palpation. Computed tomography in four cats revealed evidence of extradural spinal cord compression at the seventh lumbar (L(7)) to first sacral (S(1)) vertebral interspace. Compression was confirmed via myelography in three of these four cats, with confirmation in the fourth cat at the time of decompressive laminectomy. Each of the six cats underwent dorsal decompressive laminectomy at the L(7) to S(1) interspace. Postoperative clinical follow-up lasted 3 to 35 months, with most cats having excellent outcomes.     

Temperature and daylength influences on the growth and germination of sweet basil and oregano

Oregano and sweet basil were grown in phytotron cabinets at 18/12°, 24/12° and 30/12°C (day/night) in either 10-or 16-h photoperiods. Only temperature had a positive influence on plant height in both species. The fresh yield was significantly influenced by temperature and daylength in all the three harvests examined for both species. The correlation between these results and field behaviour in different regions is discussed. The optimum temperature for the germination of oregano was a day/night regime of 24/19°C; sweet basil was less sensitive and germinated well at temperature regimes between 18/13° and 30/25°C.     

Effects of zinc sulfate concentration and feeding frequency on ruminal protozoal numbers, fermentation patterns and amino acid passage in steers

Effects of zinc sulfate (0 vs 1,142 ppm supplemental zinc from zinc sulfate) and feeding frequency (1 x vs 12x daily) on ruminal protozoa numbers, fermentation patterns and amino acid passage were investigated using four ruminally and abomasally cannulated mature Jersey steers in a 4 x 4 Latin square experiment. Steers (530 kg) were fed a 50:50 roughage:concentrate diet at 1.5 times their NEm requirement. Experimental periods were 14 d in duration; ruminal, abomasal and fecal samples were collected at 6-h intervals during the last 3 d of each period. Protozoa numbers tended to be lowest (1.82 x 10(6)/ml) in steers fed zinc 1 x and tended to be highest (3.83 x 10(6)/ml) in steers fed zinc 12 x daily (P less than .10). Frequent feeding decreased ruminal pH .24 units and increased total VFA 20.7%, ammonia 22.7% and ruminal digestion of dietary amino acids (AA) 61.6% (P less than .05). Zinc supplementation decreased ruminal digestion of dietary AA 35.8% (P less than .05) and the abomasal passage of bacterial OM and AA 21.2% (P less than .05) and increased ruminal output of amino acids as a percentage of intake 15.1% (P less than .05). Although it increased escape of dietary AA, zinc sulfate decreased postruminal passage of bacterial AA and resulted in a net negative effect on total postruminal AA passage as a percentage of intake. The effects of zinc on ruminal AA digestion may be more closely related to an interaction of zinc with dietary CP rather than to an effect of Zn on ruminal microbial populations.     

Bread-Making Quality Indices in Triticum aestivum Progenies. Implications in Breeding for Better Bread Wheat

Bread-making quality indices (dough strength and dough mixing stability) in relation to flour protein content, glutenin/gliadin ratio, and high-molecular-weight (HMW) subunits of glutenin have been investigated in Triticum aestivum progenies during a three year agronomic trial. Dough strength (W) proved to be a fairly stable characteristic, slightly but positively correlated with flour protein content. High could be associated with a high glutenin/gliadin ratio as well as with the presence of specific HMW. subunits of glutenin, while high protein content tended to favour a balanced dough tenacity-extensibility ratio (P/L = 0.4—0.6). Satisfactory values of dough-mixing stability were frequently observed in association with good expression of W showing that the two quality traits may coexist without much difficulty in the same genotype. From the plant breeding standpoint the data suggest feasible to obtain high dough strength by concentrating in a genotype the HMW subunits of glutenin known to have a beneficial effect on W. However, very high W may present unfavourable P/L ratios. This possibility is enhanced when the flour has a low protein content which often occurs in high yielding genotypes.     

Changes in light intensity can influence age at sexual maturity in domestic pullets

1. Shaver White and ISA Brown pullets were reared to 140 d in groups of 8 in cages on a 10-h photoperiod of incandescent light and maintained at an illuminance of 3 or 25 lux, or transferred from 3 to 25 lux or from 25 to 3 lux at 63 or 112 d of age. 2. There was no significant difference in sexual maturity, measured as eggs per 100 bird.d at 139 and 140 d, for ISA Brown maintained on 3 or 25 lux, but Shaver White pullets exposed to constant 3 lux matured significantly later than those maintained on 25 lux. 3. In Shaver Whites, sexual maturity was significantly delayed by an increase from 3 to 25 lux at 63 and 112 d, and advanced by a decrease from 25 to 3 lux at 112 d. Sexual maturity of ISA Browns was not significantly affected by a change in illuminance at 63 or 112 d, though responses were in the same direction as for Shaver Whites. 4. In both breeds, total feed consumed to 112 d was higher for birds on 3 lux than 25 lux, but lower between 112 d and 140 d when birds on 25 lux underwent rapid sexual development. In both breeds, body weight at 63 d was higher for birds exposed to 3 lux than 25 lux, but body weight gain thereafter was similar for the two light intensities. 5. In both breeds, plasma luteinising hormone (LH) concentration at 63 and 112 d was lower in birds maintained on 3 lux than 25 lux. At 63 and 112 d, transfers from 25 to 3 lux depressed, whereas transfers from 3 to 25 lux at 63 d, but not at 112 d, increased plasma LH. 6. Advances or delays in sexual maturity induced by changes in illuminance were not correlated with differences in feed intake, body weight gain, or with changes in plasma LH. 7. One possible explanation for the inverse relationship between the direction of change in illuminance at 63 and 112 d in pullets exposed to a 10-h photoperiod and the age at which they became sexually mature is that changes in light intensity and/or spectral composition affect the entrainment of the circadian rhythm of photoinducibility, to effect a phase shift in the photoinducible phase and/or the responsiveness of phototransduction pathways.     

Design and validation of a RT‐qPCR procedure for diagnosis and quantification of most types of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus using a single pair of degenerated primers

Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) is an important virus which affects the salmonid aquaculture industry worldwide; therefore, it is important to develop rapid and reliable methods of diagnosis to detect the disease at early stages. Nowadays, RT‐qPCR is replacing other methods because it provides additional information on the viral load, which is important to have a better understanding of the virus replication level and of the stage of the infection and its risk level. The main problem stems from the high diversity of this virus, which can compromise the reliability of the diagnosis. In this study, we have designed an RT‐qPCR procedure for diagnosis and quantification of IPNV based on a single pair of primers targeted to segment B. The procedure has been validated, in vitro and in vivo, testing two different types of standards against seven reference strains and 23 field isolates from different types. The procedure is reliable for the detection of any type, with a detection limit of 31 TCID₅₀ mL^?1, 50 pfu mL^?1 or 66 RNA copies mL^?1, depending on the standard. All the standard curves showed high reliability (R² > 0.95). The results support the high reliability of this new procedure for the diagnosis and quantification of IPNV.     

The prevalence and economic significance of Fasciola gigantica and Stilesia hepatica in slaughtered animals in the semi-arid coastal Kenya

Fasciola gigantica and Stilesia hepatica constrain ruminant productivity. The prevalence and economic losses caused by F. gigantica and S. hepatica in the ruminant production systems of Taveta division of Kenya were estimated in a retrospective appraisal of the slaughter records on the total number of animals slaughtered and livers condemned over the period 1989 to 2004. Only liver condemnations based on infestation by F. gigantica and S. hepatica were considered for purposes of this study. Liver condemnation rates differed significantly between bovines, caprines and ovines (p≤ 0.05) for F. gigantica (26%, 6.6% and 5.2%, respectively) and for S. hepatica (0.4%, 22% and 28%, respectively). The total loss through condemnation of both F. gigantica and S. hepatica infested livers was 4 408 272 KES (Kenyan shillings) (US$ 72 272). The proportion of loss in bovines, caprines and ovines, was 76%, 17% and 7%, respectively. Fasciolosis contributed 3 505 410 KES (79.5%) and S. hepatica infestation 903 210 KES (20.5%) to the total losses due to liver condemnations. The authors feel strongly that there is a need for more work on the two parasites using live animals to determine the prevalence in animals of various ages, species and breeds and the economics of disease control at farm level.