Evaluation of the urinary Cortisol: creatinine ratio in the diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism in dogs

The diagnostic accuracy of the urinary cortisol:creatinine ratio (CCR), with the cortisol being measured by ELISA, was evaluated by subjecting data from 18 dogs with and 20 dogs without hyperadrenocorticism to recelver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The area under the ROC curve (W 0–93, SE_w 0–044) was much higher than 045, indicating that the CCR did distinguish between dogs with and without hyperadrenocorticism.A cutoff value of about 60 × 10^-6 was assoclated with the highest sensitivity (1.0)and speciflcity (0–85). At the disease prevalence rate of the present study (0 47), the positive and negative predictive values were 0–87 and 1.0, respectively. These numbers indicate that canine hyperadrenocorticism may be safely excluded when the CCR Is below 60 × 10^-6 but that a test of higher specificlty (eg, the ACTH stimulation test) should be used to confirm the diagnosis of canine hyperadrenocorticism when the CCR Is above 60 × 10^-6.     

Overberg Research Projects. XI. First stage larval reduction test to assess anthelmintic efficacy ante mortem in sheep.

Two field trials, one with suckling Merino ewe lambs and the other with yearling Dohne Merino rams, are described. In these the anthelmintic efficacy of febantel (a benzimidazole), ivermectin, levamisole and morantel are compared, using the 1st stage larval reduction test. The mean natural log (+1 for zero values) of the post treatment larval counts of the treated groups was compared with that of the untreated controls and the percentage reduction used to assess anthelmintic efficacy. Febantel was only 87.4% effective against Teladorsagia in suckling lambs but the other anthelmintics were more than 99% effective against this genus. Efficacy against Haemonchus and Trichostrongylus ranged from 93.2%-100% for all 4 compounds. In the rams all compounds were 100% effective against Trichostrongylus, with the exception of morantel which was only 87.5% effective. None of the compounds were effective against Teladorsagia, particularly morantel, animals treated with which having more larvae than the controls. The interpretation of anthelmintic efficacy; the advantages of the first stage larval reduction test, compared with the faecal egg count reduction test; and the importance of incubating cultures at 30 degrees C for 24 h, in order to harvest first stage larvae, are discussed.     

Sensitivity and specificity of different methods for the isolation of Salmonella from pigs.

Three different selective enrichment media, Rappaport-Vassiliadis broth (RV), selenite broth (SB) and Müller-Kauffmann tetrathionate broth (MKTB), in combination with plating on modified brilliant green agar (BGA), were compared for the isolation of Salmonella from samples of pig feces. These conventional methods were also compared with a new ELISA kit in conjunction with RV and SB enrichment. Of the conventional methods, enrichment in RV had a higher sensitivity and selectivity than SB and MKTB. Recovery of S. typhimurium from MKTB was significantly poorer than recovery of other serotypes. The combination of RV enrichment and ELISA was as good as the conventional method involving RV enrichment, with a similar high sensitivity and specificity.     

Pharmacologic management in veterinary behavioral medicine.

As our knowledge expands, behavioral pharmacology plays an increasingly important role in behavioral medicine. Drugs traditionally categorized as anxiolytics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and hormones may be used to help manage a range of animal behavioral problems. Knowledge of how these agents act in the body and interact with other agents is imperative for safe and efficacious use.     

Somatic embryogenesis from floral tissue of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

The aim of this study was to examine the embryogenic potential of floral material of the cassava cultivar MCOL 1505. Macerated immature inflorescences were found to be highly embryogenic, with almost 78% of the explants producing somatic embryos. Somatic embryos were also produced from whole male florets and half florets although at much lower rates. No regeneration was obtained from anther, microspore or floret wall tissue. Somatic embryos derived from immature inflorescences were regenerated via organogenesis and the plants derived from this process were assessed in terms of phenotype and ploidy level. If haploid plants could be produced by this method, this would have significant implications in assisting traditional cassava breeding, as this would allow homozygosity to be reached more rapidly. In a crop such as cassava, which is highly heterozygous in nature, the use of haploids in a breeding programme could considerably shorten the time taken to produce new desirable cultivars. This is the first report on plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis from floral tissue of cassava. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The effect of lupins as compared with peas and oats on the yield of the subsequent winter barley crop

New high yielding early maturing cultivars of lupins have been introduced in north-west Europe as grain protein crops in crop rotations. This paper reports on a comparative study of lupins with peas and oats, and of their effect on yield of subsequent winter barley crops. These crops were given five levels of N under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions on sand and loam. Under rain fed conditions the grain yield of pea, oat and lupin varied between 24–36, 34–53 and 18–37 hkg DM ha⁻¹, respectively. Supplemental irrigation raised grain yield of oat to 50–60 hkg DM ha⁻¹, while grain yield in pea was not affected and grain yield in lupin in most cases decreased due to gray mould attack and excessive vegetative growth in the indeterminate lupin variety. Under rain fed conditions, the grain nitrogen content of pea, oat and lupin varied between 137–172, 61–80 and 189–226 kg N ha⁻¹, respectively, and was significantly higher in lupin as compared with pea. On sandy soil, similar low-root densities were found for pea, oat and lupin below 30 cm depth. On sand, at final harvest the residual soil-N of lupin and pea, as measured in a subsequent winter barley crop not supplied with N fertilizer, was 15 and 8–10 kg N ha⁻¹ higher than in winter barley following oat, respectively. The nature of the probably more N-root residues of lupin is discussed. On loam, the residual N of lupin and pea was similar, 18–27 kg N ha⁻¹. On sand, under rain fed conditions preceding lupin and pea as compared with oat, increased the barley grain yield at zero N-application 77 and 49%, respectively; the effect of lupin was significantly higher than that of pea until the highest N-level 120 kg N-application ha⁻¹. On loam under rain fed conditions preceding lupin and pea increased the barley grain yield at zero N-application by 36 and 62%, respectively, as compared with oat; at N-application>60 kg N ha⁻¹ the grain yield was similar after all three crops. For both soil types the same level of effect was found under irrigated conditions. Conclusions: Supplemental irrigation might result in lower grain yield in lupin due to gray mould attack and excessive growth if indeterminate lupin varieties are used. Grain nitrogen yield of lupin is significantly higher than that of pea. On sand, the effect of lupin on the subsequent winter barley grain yield is significantly higher than that of pea, probably due to greater N-root nitrogen residues. On loam, lupin and pea have similar effects on the subsequent winter barley crop.     

Analysis of Competitive Ability among Clones of the Palisade Grass, Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. Ex. A. Rich.) Stapf.

Four clones of palisade grass, Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. Ex. A. Rich.) Stapf., were studied in a diallel competition trial to investigate their competitive relationship in clonal mixtures. Clone X associate interactions were observed for plant height, number of tillers per plant and dry matter yield per plant. Both general and specific competitive abilities were observed for tiller number and dry matter yield. Clone X associate interaction for plant height was mainly due to the specific competitive ability of individual combinations. The most competitive clone observed was CIAT 6387. Competitive abilities of local clones were low compared to the imported clones. Local clones (RU 127 and RU 139) yielded more than imported clones (CIAT 6387 and PI 292185) under low competitive stresses. General and specific competitive abilities should be taken into consideration when mixing clones of palisade grass.     

Conservation costs: Nature‐based tourism as development at Cuc Phuong National Park,Vietnam

Abstract: Local communities are frequently displaced from areas selected for environmental protection. Development of nature‐based tourism, believed to be more environmentally benign than traditional agricultural systems, has been encouraged by governments and national park managers in the hope of providing alternative livelihoods for local people. This paper examines the extent to which indigenous peoples resettled from within one Vietnamese national park have engaged with the nascent tourism industry, thereby providing a perspective on the success of their resettlement, through the eyes of those communities affected. The perspectives of resettled peoples are contrasted with those of villagers who have continued to reside within the national park, using traditional means of survival, along with new initiatives designed to supplement their livelihoods and to reduce their dependence on national park resources for survival. Resettled villagers are unable to survive on agricultural activity alone, tourism has done little to provide an alternate livelihood and the park environment is still threatened by the use of park resources by resettled communities in their struggle to survive.     

Chromosomal structural changes in Capsicum annuum L. and C. chinense Jacq.

Summary Wide hybridizations between M. arvensis and Brassica amphidiploid species (B. napus and B. juncea) were carried out in order to incorporate desirable traits of M. arvensis into Brassica crops. Crossing barriers between them were present without the use of in vitro techniques. F₁ hybrids have been produced through ovary culture, when M. arvensis were used as a female parent. Higher hybrid embryo productivity (3.07 embryos per pollination) was obtained in the cross of M. arvensis x B. napus than in that of M. arvensis x B. juncea (0.79 embryos). The hybridity was confirmed by morphology, cytology, isozyme and Southern analyses. The first backcrossing progenies and open pollinated ones were produced.