Changes in Plasma Concentrations of LH, FSH, Estradiol 17-β and Progesterone During Oestrus in Mithun (Bos frontalis)

The objective of the present study was to establish the changes in plasma concentrations of LH, FSH, estradiol 17-beta (E2) and progesterone (P4), as well as to understand their temporal relationships during oestrus in mithun (Bos frontalis). The experiment was conducted on 11 mithuns during third or fourth postpartum oestrous cycle. Since oestrus onset the jugular vein blood samples were collected every 2 h for 72 and 96 h, respectively from the animals without and with standing heat. The LH, FSH, E2 and P4 concentrations were estimated in plasma. The P4 concentration was fluctuated throughout the oestrus period and the average P4 concentration was found significantly (p<0.05) lower on the day of oestrus onset. The multiple rises in LH and FSH concentrations above the basal level in spike like fashion were observed throughout the oestrus period irrespective of the occurrence of standing heat. A significant (p<0.01) gradual increase in the average daily E2 concentration was observed till day 2 following oestrus onset irrespective of the occurrence of standing heat. A significant (p<0.05) simultaneous increase in LH, FSH and E2 concentrations and a transient increase in P4 concentration at approximately the time of standing heat onset were observed. During investigation a definite temporal coupling between LH and FSH rises was absent throughout the oestrus period. The results suggest that (1) the multiple short-duration low-amplitude LH and FSH surges during oestrus may be crucial for the final maturation of ovulatory follicle and subsequent ovulation in mithun; (2) a differential mechanism for controlling LH and FSH secretions probably exists in mithun.     

The Effects of Phenothiazine vs Methyridine on the Weight Gains and Helminth Burdens of Feed Lot Lambs

The anthelmintic efficiency of methyridine administered subcutaneously was compared with orally administered phenothiazine in a group of feed lot ram lambs. Methyridine caused a greater suppression of total ova counts than did phenothiazine and was particularly superior in regard to Nematodirus and S. Papillosus. Examination of gastrointestinal tracts at the conclusion of the 10 week feeding period indicated that the reduced total ova counts in the methyridine group was for the most part a reflection of reduced numbers of small trichostrongyles of the small intestine.

At the conclusion of the trial there was a 45% increase in the mean liveweight gains of the methyridine treated group over the mean of the phenothiazine treated animals. This difference was statistically significant and amounted to 10 lbs. per animal.

     

Genetic Analysis of Isolates of Botrytis cinerea Sensitive and Resistant to Benzimidazole and Dicarboximide Fungicides

ABSTRACT A total of 56 isolates of B. cinerea collected from ornamental crops from commercial greenhouses were examined by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprint analyses. Isolates were examined as two independent sets of 35 and 36 isolates, with 15 isolates common to both sets. The isolates had four phenotypes: 17 were sensitive to two commonly used fungicides, thiophanate-methyl (a benzimidazole) and vinclozolin (a dicarboximide) (S(T)S(V)); 18 were resistant to both fungicides (R(T)R(V)); 16 were resistant to thiophanate-methyl but sensitive to vinclozolin (R(T)S(V)); and 5 were sensitive to thiophanate-methyl but resistant to vinclozolin (S(T)R(V)). Relationships among the isolates were determined by cluster analyses of mean character differences using the unweighted pair group method using arithmetic average and cladograms were constructed. Isolates were clustered primarily by fungicide-sensitivity phenotype. In one set of greenhouse isolates, 6 of 10 S(T)S(V) isolates clustered together with a bootstrap confidence value of 91%. In the other fingerprint set of greenhouse isolates, 9 of 11 S(T)S(V) isolates clustered together and had a bootstrap confidence value of 98%. Isolates resistant to thiophanate-methyl, vinclozolin, or both fungicides usually were not clustered with other isolates or were clustered with isolates of the same phenotype. To further elucidate these relationships, variant isolates resistant to one or both fungicides were produced on fungicide-amended agar medium from 14 S(T)S(V) greenhouse isolates. These 14 S(T)S(V) parent isolates, 57 resistant variant isolates, and 11 resistant greenhouse isolates were analyzed as three independent RAPD fingerprint sets. Variants selected from eight S(T)S(V) parent isolates were resistant to both thiophanate-methyl and vinclozolin even though parent isolates were exposed to only one of the fungicides. Isolates resistant only to vinclozolin (S(T)R(V)) had fingerprint patterns similar to and clustered with those of parent isolates, while fingerprint patterns of isolates resistant to thiophanate-methyl (i.e., R(T)R(V) or R(T)S(V)), regardless of sensitivity to vinclozolin, clustered differently from both those of S(T)S(V) parent isolates and those of S(T)R(V) isolates derived from the same parent. R(T)R(V) and R(T)S(V) variant isolates derived from the same fungicide-sensitive parents only clustered with other variants having the same phenotype.     

Validation of ultrasonography in detecting structural disease of the urogenital tract of the koala,Phascolarctos cinereus

A retrospective review of case records of ultrasonography and necropsy outcomes of 62 koalas was used to investigate the accuracy of ultrasonography in assessing koala urogenital tract structural disease at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital. The results showed high concordance, supporting ultrasonography as an effective tool for evaluating structural disease of the koala urogenital tract, most commonly seen with chlamydiosis. The study also illustrates the advances benefiting animal welfare that can be made by wildlife carer groups through using a scientific, evidence‐based approach.     

Neural angiostrongylosis in three captive rufous bettongs (Aepyprymnus rufescens)

Neurological disease attributed to migration of the rat lungworm ( Angiostrongylus cantonensis ), is described in three captive rufous bettongs ( Aepyprymnus rufescens ). Clinical signs, including ascending paralysis and multifocal neurological deficits, were similar to those seen in other species. Histologically, the severity of meningoencephalomyelitis ranged from mild to moderate. In one animal cerebrospinal fluid contained a high percentage of eosinophils but peripheral blood cell counts were within normal limits. Treatment with dexamethasone, diazepam and vitamin E was unsuccessful. The prognosis for bettongs with this disease is poor. The susceptibility of this species to this disease has implications for enclosure design.     

Removal of Plant Pathogen Propagules from Irrigation Runoff using Slow Filtration Systems: Quantifying Physical and Biological Components

A novel high-capacity phosphate removal adsorbent of graphene nanosheets (GNS) supported lanthanum hydroxide (LaOH) is prepared. The phosphate adsorption performance for GNS-LaOH is examined by a batch adsorption method from aqueous solutions. The Freundlich and Langmuir models are used to simulate the sorption equilibrium, which reveal that the Langmuir model has a better correlation with the experimental data. The maximum adsorption capacity is calculated to be 41.96 mg/g. The kinetic data from the adsorption of phosphate is suggested as the pseudo-second-order model, and the multi-linearity adsorption process is observed in the intraparticle diffusion model, indicating that a chemisorption process is dominant in the adsorption of phosphate. The phosphate adsorption mechanism is explored by analyzing the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and the relationship between the adsorption amount and the pH value of phosphate solution. Ligand exchange and electrostatic and Lewis acid–base interactions are determined to be three main factors for phosphate adsorption.     

Acceptance by stoats (Mustela erminea) of 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate) in small-volume baits and its effect on behaviour and time to death

AIMS: To assess whether stoats (Mustela erminea) would eat small baits containing 0.1% sodium monofluoroacetate (1080); whether they would die from it; how long it would take to kill them; and to document the behaviour of 1080-intoxicated stoats.

METHODS: Stoats were offered 1-g baits of two semi-fluid formulations containing 0.1% 1080, presented in open dishes, and their subsequent behaviour was monitored by video and direct observation. Muscle samples from stoats that died were analysed for 1080 residues.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference between two types of bait with regard to acceptance, mortality, and time to death, and behavioural effects were similar; consequently, results from the two types of bait were combined. Twelve of 14 stoats offered the baits ate them voluntarily, and a 13th licked bait off its fur; all 13 died between 1 h 15 min and 4 h 7 min (mean 2 h 38 min) later. At first (range 29 min — 2 h 7 min, mean 1 h 1 min), their behaviour appeared to be normal. Ataxia and hyperactivity were the first behavioural signs of poisoning, and lasted 2 min — 1 h 40 min (mean 26 min). This was followed by recumbency with convulsions and rapid breathing (range 16 min to 2 h, mean 58 min), then recumbency with limited activity and progressively shallow breathing prior to death (range 1–51 min, mean 33 min). Stoats became non-responsive to a light being turned on, or to touch once recumbency became sustained.

Residues of 1080 were found in muscle tissue of all 13 dead stoats, at concentrations ranging from 0.075 μg/g in a 287-g male that died 4 h 7 min after eating only 0.74 g of bait, to 2.5 μg/g in a 254-g female that died 2 h 42 min after taking a whole 1-g bait.

CONCLUSION: Stoats will voluntarily take small (1-g) baits containing a lethal dose of 1080 at 0.1%, and die from it comparatively rapidly for a mammalian carnivore.     

全基因组范围内分析玉米磷转运体家族基因

磷转运体在磷吸收和转运过程中具有重要功能,目前对玉米磷转运体研究相对较少。从全基因组范围内鉴定玉米磷转运体并分析其特性,包括：染色体分布、系统进化发育、基因与蛋白结构、保守序列构成、相关顺式作用元件和表达模式。通过分析,发现40个玉米磷转运体,这40个玉米磷转运体分布于除第9染色体外的其他9条染色体,可以细分成4个类群,ClustersⅠ、Ⅳ基因结构和蛋白结构相对保守。进一步分析发现这40个玉米磷转运体中的14个保守序列和启动子区域20个顺式作用元件。并且分析了ClusterⅠ中13个成员在玉米不同发育时期不同组织中的表达情况,发现各基因表达方式不同,具有组织特异性或发育时期特异性。该结果可为进一步分析玉米磷转运体功能和调控机制、提高玉米磷利用效率提供信息。