Using bioacoustic tools to clarify species delimitation within the Blakiston's Fish Owl(Bubo blakistoni)complex

Although Blakiston's Fish Owl(Bubo blakistoni)is widely treated as a single species,marked differences in the structure of pair duets between continental and in...     

Rapid diagnosis of retina and optic nerve abnormalities in canine patients with and without cataracts using chromatic pupil light reflex testing

Objective To develop fast and reliable testing routines for diagnosing retina and optic nerve diseases in canine cataract patients based on chromatic properties of the pupillary light reflex response. Procedures Seventy‐seven canine patients with a history of cataract and decreased vision (43 patients with cataracts and no evidence of retina or optic nerve disease, 21 patients with cataracts and retinal degeneration [RD], 13 patients with cataracts and retinal detachment [RDT]), 11 canine patients with optic neuritis (ON) and 23 healthy dogs were examined using chromatic pupillary light reflex (cPLR) analysis with red and blue light and electroretinography. Results Electroretinography analysis showed statistically significant deficits in a‐ and b‐wave amplitudes in dogs with cataracts and RD, or cataracts and RDT, when compared to dogs with cataracts without evidence of retinal abnormalities. Evaluation of b‐wave amplitudes showed that presence of 78.5‐μV (or lower) amplitudes had high sensitivity of 100% (95% CI: 87.2–100%) and high specificity of 96.7% (95% CI: 88.4–100%) in RD and RDT. Evaluation of cPLR responses using red light showed that presence of the pupil end constriction diameter of 5.5 mm (or higher) had moderately high sensitivity of 76.5% (95% CI: 50.1–93.2%) and high specificity of 100% (95% CI: 91.2–100%) in detecting RD and RDT. Optic neuritis patients had absent cPLR responses, regardless of the visual status. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance Chromatic evaluation of the pupillary light reflex is a rapid and accurate test for diagnosing retina and optic nerve diseases in canine patients.     

Characterization of structure and function of the mouse retina using pattern electroretinography, pupil light reflex, and optical coherence tomography

Objective To perform in vivo analysis of retinal functional and structural parameters in healthy mouse eyes. Animal Studied Adult C57BL/6 male mice (n?=?37). Procedures Retinal function was evaluated using pattern electroretinography (pERG) and the chromatic pupil light reflex (cPLR). Structural properties of the retina and nerve fiber layer (NFL) were evaluated using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Results The average pERG amplitudes were found to be 11.2?±?0.7?μV (P50-N95, mean?±?SEM), with an implicit time for P50-N95 interval of 90.4?±?5.4?ms. Total retinal thickness was 229.5?±?1.7?μm (mean?±?SEM) in the area centralis region. The thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (mean?±?SEM) using a circular peripapillary retinal scan centered on the optic nerve was 46.7?±?0.9?μm (temporal), 46.1?±?0.9?μm (superior), 45.8?±?0.9?μm (nasal), and 48.4?±?1?μm (inferior). The baseline pupil diameter was 2.1?±?0.05?mm in darkness, and 1.1?±?0.05 and 0.56?±?0.03?mm after stimulation with red (630?nm, luminance 200?kcd/m(2) ) or blue (480?nm, luminance 200?kcd/m(2) ) light illumination, respectively. Conclusions Pattern electroretinography, cPLR and SD-OCT analysis are reproducible techniques, which can provide important information about retinal and optic nerve function and structure in mice.     

The Content of As and Heavy Metals in TSP and PM<Subscript>10</Subscript> Near Copper Smelter in Bor,Serbia

The content of As and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cu) in total suspended particulate (TSP) and PM₁₀ at 3 locations (Park, Institute, and Jugopetrol) near the copper smelter in Bor (Serbia) has been analyzed within the period 2004 to 2015 with the aim of investigating the seasonal and spatial changes of those pollutants in the suspended particles. The content of As in TSP and PM₁₀ was over the annual EU limit value at all measuring points during the entire period of observation, while contents of Cd and Pb were periodically above the annual EU limits. There were no statistically significant seasonal changes between mean levels of the observed elements in the cold (October–March) and warm (April–September) periods during the year. A strong and moderate positive correlation was detected between the concentrations of each particular element (except Ni) at all measuring points. Additionally, Cd was the most enriched element followed by Pb, As, and Cu, while Ni was low-enriched. The constant air pollution with As particles, sometimes in concentrations even 20 times higher than the permitted annual value, requires urgent undertaking of concrete actions in order to reduce anthropogenic emission of suspended particles in Bor.     

Agronomic evaluation of seedlings from crosses between the main Spanish olive cultivar ‘Picual’ and two wild olive trees

Summary

Until recently, olive breeding programmes have been based exclusively on cultivated olive germplasm (Olea europaea subsp. europaea var. europaea), in contrast to breeding in other fruit crops where the use of wild relatives has been widely reported. In this study, ten agronomic traits were evaluated in two progenies derived from controlled crosses between the Spanish olive cultivar ‘Picual’ (female) and two wild (O. europaea subsp. europaea var. sylvestris) genotypes (males). The results of this evaluation were compared with the progenies of crosses between ‘Picual’ (female) and the three cultivars, ‘Sikitita’, ‘Meski’, and ‘Zaity’ (male). The two ‘Picual’ × wild genotype progenies had the highest mean values for vigour traits (i.e., tree height and trunk diameter). Progenies from both ‘Picual’ × wild genotype crossess also showed the highest percentages of trees (53.8% and 37.5%) with a short juvenile period, compared to the progenies from crosses between ‘Picual’ and each of the three cultivars ‘Sikitita’, ‘Meski’, and ‘Zaity’ (0%, 5%, and 3.6%, respectively). Significant differences were also observed between progenies in fruit traits as well as in oil contents and fruit weights. Progenies from both crosses with wild olive showed lower values for the fruit traits evaluated than the cultivated olive progenies. However, significant improvements were achieved compared to fruit traits in the wild parents. The implications of these results for the future use of wild germplasm in olive breeding programmes are discussed.     

Metabolic characteristics of early life history stages of native marble trout (Salmo marmoratus) and introduced brown trout (Salmo trutta) and their hybrids in the Soča River

Metabolic potential and respiration rate have been measured in the early life stages of native marble trout Salmo marmoratus (MT), introduced brown trout Salmo trutta (BT) and their hybrids (MH = female of MT × male of BT and BH = female of BT × male of MT) to examine the differences in their metabolic characteristics. Metabolic potential and respiration rate were lowest in each developmental stage in MT, followed by MH, BT and BH. The ratio between metabolic potential and respiration rate (ETS/R) in larvae was also lowest for MT (1.0) and MH (1.1), followed by BT (1.4) and BH (1.6), indicating more intensive exploitation of metabolic potential for actual respiration in MT (100%) and MH (~90%) than in BT (~70%) and BH (~60%). Lower ETS/R means a disadvantage in the case of enhanced metabolic activity due to insufficient enzyme machinery needed for energy production. Thus, potential and actual metabolic activity and ETS/R ratio could account for the different competitive abilities among pure trout species and their hybrids in a particular environment. This is the first report on biochemical and physiological differences between pure MT and their hybrids. The combination of metabolic and respiration rate measurements appears to be a useful tool for estimating the metabolic properties in the early developmental stages of fish.     

Prevalence and genotypes of Giardia duodenalis in dairy and beef cattle in farms around Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Prevalence of Giardia duodenalis in dairy and beef cattle on farms around Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (Canada) was determined by analyzing feces using direct immunofluorescence antibody microscopy. Genotypes were determined by 16S-rRNA sequencing. Fecal samples (n = 892) were collected from adult cattle in dairy tie-stall, dairy free-stall, and beef herds (10 herds each), and from calves (n = 183) from 11 dairy farms. Prevalence rates were 38% and 51% in cows and calves, respectively. Giardia duodenalis was present in all dairy herds, in 9/10 beef herds and in calves from 10/11 herds examined. Prevalence rates were 40% and 41% for cows in tie- and free-stall herds, respectively, and 27% for beef cows. Zoonotic Assemblage A was found in 12.2% of calves concomitantly infected with Assemblage E. All successfully sequenced samples (114/128) from cows corresponded to Assemblage E. Giardia duodenalis is highly prevalent in cattle herds in Prince Edward Island and Assemblage A in calves is a potential public health concern.