Behavioural, biochemical, and pathological responses of possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) poisoned with phosphorus paste

AIM: To investigate the behavioural, biochemical and pathological responses of possums following poisoning with phosphorus paste, in order to assess the implications for the welfare of possums. METHODS: After ingestion of phosphorus paste by wild-caught possums (18 high dose, nine low dose, and 12 non-poisoned controls), behavioural observations were made at 15-min intervals for 24 h or until death. Serum biochemistry, and gross and microscopic pathology were assessed at 3-hourly intervals in a further 21 possums. RESULTS: Possums that ingested phosphorus paste developed an abnormal posture (high incidence of crouching after 4-8 h), mild congestion of the gastric mucosa, and elevated levels of creatine kinase (CK) in serum after 3-6 h. Retching was observed in 67% possums, and 44% vomited at least once. Possums were prostrate from about 18 h after eating the poison, and the response to handling, an indicator of consciousness, was lost at about 24 h, followed by death at 25 h. CONCLUSION: The main welfare concern was the possibility of discomfort or pain caused by the congestion of the gastric mucosa, as indicated by the crouched posture adopted by poisoned possums. Retching and vomiting may also have caused pain and distress. The degree of pain or discomfort would depend on the degree of congestion of the gastric mucosa, which was typically mild, and on the duration and severity of retching and vomiting, which were typically short and mild. Possums remained conscious until 1 h before death, implying that they were able to experience pain and distress from the effects of ingestion of phosphorus for almost the entire period of illness, which lasted for approximately one day.     

Ventroaxial luxation of the apex of the corniculate process of the arytenoid cartilage in resting horses during induced swallowing or nasal occlusion

OBJECTIVE: To report ventroaxial luxation of the apex of the left or right corniculate process of the arytenoid cartilage under the contralateral corniculate process during resting endoscopic examination, and morphologic features of the larynx of 1 affected horse. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: Horses (n=8). METHODS: Horses had endoscopic examination as part of a survey of Clydesdale horses (n=7), or investigation of poor performance in Thoroughbred horses (1). One Clydesdale was euthanatized and the larynx examined; 4 cadaver larynges from normal horses were also examined. RESULTS: Ventroaxial luxation of the apex of the left or right corniculate process of the arytenoid cartilage was not detected during quiet breathing but was induced by swallowing or nasal occlusion. Prevalence in Clydesdales was 5.2% (7/133). A Thoroughbred with identical endoscopic appearance of the larynx at rest had progressive ventroaxial luxation of the apex of the arytenoid cartilage during high-speed treadmill endoscopy, associated with abnormal respiratory noise. Necropsy examination of an affected Clydesdale larynx revealed an excessively wide (10 mm) transverse arytenoid ligament that allowed easy separation of the apices of the corniculate processes. In normal cadaver larynges, the apices could not be separated with abaxial traction. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The clinical relevance of this laryngeal observation in resting horses is unclear. Ventroaxial luxation of the corniculate process of the arytenoid cartilage during induced swallowing or nasal occlusion in resting horses or during high-speed treadmill exercise may be caused by an abnormally wide transverse arytenoid ligament.     

Experimental infection of domestic cats (Felis domesticus) with Cytauxzoon manul from Pallas' cats (Otocolobus manul)

In a random, blind study, six domestic cats were assigned to two treatment groups that received either sterile water or dexamethasone by subcutaneous injection prior to intravenous inoculation with Pallas' cat (Otocolobus manul) blood infected with Cytauxzoon manul. A seventh domestic cat served as a control and was inoculated only with sterile water. Cats were monitored for clinical signs consistent with cytauxzoonosis, and periodically screened for hemoparasitemia. All domestic cats (6/6) that received Pallas' cat blood infected with C. manul developed a low but detectible parasitemia by 9 days post-inoculation, yet remained clinically healthy. All domestic cats (7/7) were subsequently challenged with Cytauxzoon felis and developed clinical signs typical of cytauxzoonosis within 5 days post-challenge. Affected animals were euthanized and cytauxzoonosis was confirmed by histopathology. While inoculation of domestic cats with Pallas' cat blood infected with C. manul induced a parasitemia, it did not cause disease or provide protection against challenge with C. felis. Further studies are warranted to determine the potential for interspecies transmission and disease with C. manul.     

Space-geodetic constraints on glacial isostatic adjustment in Fennoscandia

Analysis of Global Positioning System (GPS) data demonstrates that ongoing three-dimensional crustal deformation in Fennoscandia is dominated by glacial isostatic adjustment. Our comparison of these GPS observations with numerical predictions yields an Earth model that satisfies independent geologic constraints and bounds both the average viscosity in the upper mantle (5 x 10(20) to 1 x 10(21) pascal seconds) and the elastic thickness of the lithosphere (90 to 170 kilometers). We combined GPS-derived radial motions with Fennoscandian tide gauge records to estimate a regional sea surface rise of 2.1 +/- 0.3 mm/year. Furthermore, ongoing horizontal tectonic motions greater than approximately 1 mm/year are ruled out on the basis of the GPS-derived three-dimensional crustal velocity field.     

The effects of feeding selectivity on the estimation of diet composition using the n-alkane technique

Abstract A limitation to using n‐alkanes in plants as faecal markers for estimating diet composition in herbivores is the small number of dietary components that it is possible to determine. One approach to overcoming this is to group species on the basis of their n‐alkane concentrations and to consider these groups as dietary components. Feeding selectivity within a group, however, may change the proportion of a particular species in the group ingested and hence its n‐alkane contribution to the diet ingested. This could potentially affect estimates of the composition of the diet. Simulations (380) of feeding selectivity within a group of herbage species were undertaken to assess the effects of selectivity on estimates of diet composition. The dataset was from a study whose aim was to estimate the proportions of the herbage component, composed of nineteen species, and of four individual browse species in the diet of red deer grazing a montado ecosystem in S. Portugal in the summer. Simulations were undertaken of total avoidance of each species in the group of herbage species, and selection of each species at 0·5, 1·5, 2·0 and 3·0 of its actual proportion within the group. Feeding selectivity had no effect on 0·36 of the outcomes of the simulations. Over 0·90 of the simulations were within ± 0·05 of the values calculated assuming no selection within the group of herbage species. It is concluded that, in the particular case studied, the effect of selection within a group on the estimates of other dietary components was relatively small and that the group of herbage species could be analysed as a single dietary component.     

水稻纹枯病生防菌株的筛选、鉴定及其防治效果

为获得对水稻纹枯病有生防潜力的菌株,从湖北省恩施土家族苗族自治州植物根际土壤中分离获得菌株,筛选对水稻纹枯病菌有拮抗作用的菌株,并测定其发酵液的抑菌活性、抑菌谱及生物学特性;基于形态学特征、生理生化特征及分子生物学特征对其进行分类鉴定,并通过离体叶片、室内盆栽和田间试验进一步评价其生防潜力。结果显示,从根际土壤中共分离获得162株菌株,其中生防菌株E12对水稻纹枯病菌的抑制率最高,达94.93%,且该菌株对常见的12种植物病原菌均有抑制作用,抑制率在59.84%~93.14%之间;生防菌株E12能分泌蛋白酶、嗜铁素和淀粉酶,具有固氮及形成生物被膜的能力;结合形态学特征、生理生化特征及分子生物学特征,将菌株E12鉴定为越南伯克霍尔德氏菌Burkholderia vietnamiensis;生防菌株E12处理离体水稻叶片后,其相对病斑长度较对照显著减小,对水稻纹枯病的室内盆栽和田间防治效果分别为62.51%和67.78%。表明越南伯克霍尔德氏菌E12在防控水稻纹枯病方面有较好的潜力。     

Predicting the growth of lettuce from soil infrared reflectance spectra: the potential for crop management

Precision Agriculture - How well could one predict the growth of a leafy crop from reflectance spectra from the soil and how might a grower manage the crop in the light of those predictions?...     

Intra-uterine transmission of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis in subclinically affected red deer (Cervus elaphus)

AIM: To determine the rate of transmission of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (M. ptb) from hind to fetus in utero, and the risk of transmission from dam to fawn via infected colostrum and milk in subclinically affected red deer hinds.

METHODS: Hinds were sourced from farms in Otago or Southland and selected for the study if they were positive to the immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Paralisa) and exhibited no clinical signs of Johne's disease. The hinds (n=35) were sent to a deer slaughter premises (DSP; n=31) or were killed on-farm (n=4). All post-mortem samples were collected from the fetus first and then from the dam, taking care to avoid cross contamination between samples. Fresh samples (n=185) were collected for culture, and tissue samples (n=72) were collected from 24 hinds and their fetuses for histopathological examination.

RESULTS: A total of 24/35 hinds selected were suitable for inclusion in the study. Eighteen of these pregnant hinds were culture-positive for M. ptb, and 14 of these had culture-positive fetuses, representing a transmission rate of 78% (95% confidence interval (CI) =0.58–0.98) from dam to fetus. Of the 16 mammary glands sampled, 11 (69%) were culture-positive for M. ptb while 12/15 (80%) mammary lymph nodes sampled were also culture-positive.

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a high rate of transmission of M. ptb from dam to fetus in red deer, and a potential risk of transmission to fawns suckling from mothers that are subclinically affected with Johne's disease.     

Thysanoptera infestation on skin and periorbital cellulitis in ostriches (Struthio camelus) aged 14 months

AIM: To report the infestation of Thysanoptera (Limothrips denticornis) on ostriches (Struthio camelus) and to determine their relative density.

METHODS: A farm in Poland was studied on which ostriches aged 14 months were severely infested with L. denticornis (thrips). Thrips were collected and their density on the neck, torso and legs (10 cm²) of 85 ostriches determined at 0600, 1200 and 1800 h, respectively, over 7 days. At the same times, apparent densities of thrips/m² were determined in adjacent grassy areas (120 m²) on a muslin cloth impregnated with permethrin. Thrips were mounted onto slides in Hoyer's medium, for identification.

RESULTS: The apparent density of thrips was greatest at 1200 h, and was greater on the neck than the torso and legs (p=0.03). In adjacent surroundings, densities were also highest at 1200 h (mean 199 (SE 9.3) thrips/m²) and were similar to the maximum densities recorded on the necks of ostriches at that time (mean 205 (SE 6.4) thrips/m²). Ostriches engaged in excessive preening and attempted to scratch their head/neck with their feet. Numerous small, pale red papules were observed on the skin. Observations of periorbital cellulitis, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, watery discharge, inflammation, and sclerotic discolouration were noted in 65 ostriches.

CONCLUSION: Observations were commensurate with L. denticornis infestation.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Infestation may exacerbate stress levels and subsequently lead to a reduction in feed intake and performance. The infestation and subsequent irritation from thrips impacts negatively on the general health of ostriches by damaging skin and irritating eyes.