Simultaneous resistance to two or more broad-spectrum anthelmintics by gastrointestinal nematode parasites of sheep and goats

The detection, by means of faecal egg count reduction tests and larval cultures, of two cases of multiple anthelmintic resistance in goats and two in sheep, is reported. The former cases appeared to involve resistance to all three broad-spectrum drench groups (benzimidazole, levamisole, ivermectin) by mainly Ostertugia spp., the latter resistance to two of them (benzimidazole, levamisole) bv Trichostrondus spp. (New Zealand Veterinary Journal 38, 114–117, 1990)     

Canine wobbler syndrome: A study of the Dobermann pinscher in New Zealand

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of wobbler disease within a Dobermann pinscher population from three geographical locations in New Zealand. The study population consisted of 138 adults (aged 1–13 years) and 32 puppies (aged 6 weeks to 11 months). Data collected for each dog included age, sex, geographic location, if a choker chain was used or not and, in adults, the following body measurements: dimensions of head length, head circumference, width between shoulders, neck length, height at withers and withers to rump length. In addition, lateral radiographs were taken of the caudal cervical vertebrae of each dog and the radiological abnormalities associated with wobbler disease scored, so that each dog could be assigned to one of three radiological groupings. Based upon a neurological examination, each animal was also placed into one of three neurological groupings. The relationship between radiological and neurological groupings and the independent variables was initially compared using a univariate and subsequently a multivariate analysis.

It was found that 48.8% of the dogs investigated had some abnormal radiological sign associated with wobbler disease, and 32.0% of them showed neurological signs. Dogs with radiological signs of the disease were 5.56 times more likely to have neurological signs. Statistical analysis of the data indicated that more severe radiological and neurological abnormalities occurred in the older dogs. In addition, dogs located in Hawke's Bay region had less chance of showing radiological changes than dogs from the other two regions, Hamilton and Wellington. Twelve of the 32 puppies were examined for radiological and neurological changes over the first year of their life. No abnormalities were detected in puppies under 12 weeks of age, but 28% (n=9) of the 32 puppies over 3 months of age did show some radiological changes. Only 9%(n=3) of puppies showed any neurological signs. Although several pedigree lines were investigated, the lineage data were incomplete, and therefore there was no conclusive evidence that wobbler disease was an inherited trait.

This study showed that, although the radiological signs of wobbler disease were present throughout a wide age range, the associated neurological changes tended to appear at a later age. In both instances, the severity of these changes increased with age.     

Infectious keratoconjunctivitis in goats

AIMS: To compare two methods of applying rubber rings to the pedicles of yearling stags to induce analgesia in the antler prior to removal. To compare the application of a rubber ring with that of a lignocaine ring block of the antler pedicle on the efficacy and time course of the analgesia produced in yearling stags.

METHODS: Rubber rings were applied to the pedicles of 36 yearling stags that required velvet antler removal. The standard method, a doubled-over ring expanded and lowered down from the distal end of the antler and released midway down the pedicle, was compared with a cable-tie method on the other pedicle, where a ring was pulled around the pedicle by an electrical cable tie threaded through the ring. Brief electrical stimulation (train-of-four mode) was applied proximal and distal to the ring before, and at regular intervals for 1 hour after, application of the ring to a level that produced an auriculopalpebral reflex response.

In a second experiment, each pair of antlers per yearling stag (n=36) was allocated to one of three pairs of treatments, viz no treatment (control) and the cable-tie method as described above, control and local anaesthesia (a ring block of 2 ml 2% lignocaine per cm pedicle circumference), or the cable-tie method and local anaesthesia. Electrical stimulation (tetanic mode) was applied to each antler approximately 25 mm distal to the pedicle/antler junction before, and at intervals up to 1 hour after, application of treatments at a level required to produce a head/neck avoidance behavioural response.

In a third experiment, the two electrical stimulation protocols used above were directly compared by measuring the response of stags (n=8) to one protocol on each pedicle/antler prior to, and at intervals for 1 hour after, application of a rubber ring. At the end of each treatment in all three experiments, analgesia of the antler was established as a nil behavioural response of the stag to a saw cut to the antler (the ‘nick test’).

RESULTS: For both methods of application of a ring the minimum electrical stimulation required distal to the ring to elicit a reflex response increased from around 16 to 55 mA by 60 minutes. In contrast, the electrical stimulation required proximal to the ring remained low (~17.0 mA) throughout. No stag subjected to either of the methods of application responded to the nick test 60 minutes after application of the ring.

The electrical stimulation required to produce a behavioural response increased very rapidly in stags treated with local anaesthetic and at a slower rate in those treated with the cabletie method but showed no significant increase in control stags. After 4 and 30 minutes, for local anaesthesia and the cable-tie method, respectively, 95% of stags were not responding to 80 mA. A significantly greater proportion of stags with antlers treated with local anaesthetic and the cable-tie method did not respond to the nick test than controls, and there was no significant difference in the frequency of the response between stags with treated antlers.

The minimum current required to produce a response proximal to a rubber ring was slightly higher on average for train-of-four electrical stimulus (mean 18.1 (SD 2.6) mA) than for the tetanic mode (mean 11.9 (SD 2.5) mA). The increase in minimum current required to produce the respective response to stimulation distal to the ring was similar for both methods, although the maximum predicted value (67.4 mA) was lower for train-of-four than for the tetanic mode (84.5 mA). No stag responded to the nick test =60 minutes after application of the ring.

CONCLUSIONS: The cable-tie method was no different from the standard method as a procedure for producing analgesia in the antlers of yearling stags and should be accepted as an appropriate procedure for applying analgesic rings to yearling stags. The analgesia produced in the antlers of yearling stags by rubber rings applied by the cable-tie method to the pedicle was similar to that of a lignocaine ring block, but the time course for the development of analgesia was markedly different. Given that a lignocaine ring block is accepted as an adequate method of pain relief for antler removal, the application of rubber rings followed by a period of =30 minutes after application can be advocated as a viable alternative for pain relief.     

粉煤灰场复垦地肥力状况及对土壤理化性质的影响

选择安徽省淮南市上窑镇粉煤灰处置场覆土复垦地为研究区域,测定覆土厚度和土壤剖面各层的容重、pH、含水量、有机质等理化性质,土壤总氮、有效磷、速效钾等养分含量,以及冬小麦抽穗期的生物量,研究粉煤灰处置场复垦土壤理化性质及其与土壤养分的相关性,不同覆土厚度复垦地冬小麦生长的差异性.结果表明,粉煤灰场复垦地土壤总氮含量约0.90 g/kg,有效磷和速效钾含量分别为12～76 mg/kg、114～135 mg/kg,土壤肥力与作物生长状况和自然农业土壤相比差异不显著;除复垦土壤厚度、容重、含水量对有效磷含量影响显著外,其余土壤养分与土壤理化性质和表土厚度的相关性不强.     

粉煤灰中有价元素的回收利用研究

分析了粉煤灰的理化性质及危害,比较了国内外处理粉煤灰的不同方法,对以粉煤灰为原料回收铝、硅、铁等有价元素的原理及工艺进行了综述,并评述了粉煤灰综合利用的前景.     

负载TiO2/WO3粉煤灰分子筛表征及对水中高浓度活性红X-3b光催化性能

用水热合成法将热电固废粉煤灰制备成分子筛F,将其作为材料基板,用浸渍法分别负载TiO_2/WO_3,制成粉煤灰分子筛光催化剂Ti/F、W/F、W&Ti/F。通过SEM-EDS、XRD和BET对4种材料作表征,研究催化剂光催化去除水中高浓度活性红X-3b效果及反应动力学特性。结果表明,F中含Ti不含W,Ti主要以金红石型TiO_2单晶存在。与F相比,Ti/F新增TiO_2晶型为钛锐型TiO_2,Ti以锐钛型和金红石型混晶存在;F负载WO_3改变表面结构,平均孔径增加,活性红吸附率增加,W取代F中金红石型Ti明显降低Ti含量;W&Ti/F的Ti、W双负载(0.5:0.5)使Ti和W负载量分别高于Ti/F和W/F,但锐钛型和金红石型混晶TiO_2量明显低于Ti/F,光催化活性低于Ti/F。Ti/F、W/F、W&Ti/F、F均对水中高浓度活性红X-3b具有光催化活性。催化活性成分主要为锐钛型和金红石型TiO_2。Ti/F光催化效果最好;在最优条件下,紫外光照630 min,2 000 mg·L~(-1)活性红X-3b去除率为95.74%;其次为F,93.83%;W&Ti/F和W/F去除率分别为87.78%和87.60%。光催化反应20℃下符合一级动力学反应,40℃下符合二级动力学反应。Ti/F和F分子筛对2 000 mg·L~(-1)活性红X-3b具有高光催化活性,使光催化处理活性红X-3b浓度范围显著提高。     

Fungal colonization patterns in necrotic rootstocks and stem bases of dieback‐affected Fraxinus excelsior L.

European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) trees currently face the major threat of ash dieback caused by an invasive fungus, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. Collar rots in F. excelsior have been increasingly associated with infections by this pathogen. However, the aetiology of the collar rots is still unclear and remains heavily debated. In contrast to most studies of this kind, entire rootstocks of four diseased ash trees were dug out to examine necrotic tissues in these rootstocks and stem bases in detail and to sample necrotic wood for fungal isolation. With the aid of morphological and molecular identification techniques, five to twelve fungal taxa were detected per tree. Members of the Nectriaceae family and Botryosphaeria stevensii, the causal agent of stem and branch cankers on many tree species, were frequently isolated from outer xylem. In contrast, H. fraxineus was the dominating species in interior wood layers. Microsatellite genotyping of 77 H. fraxineus isolates helped to identify up to six different genotypes per tree. The role of H. fraxineus and other isolated fungi in the aetiology of ash collar rots are discussed.     

Pathogenicity of fungi associated with ash dieback symptoms of one‐year‐old Fraxinus excelsior in Montenegro

In addition to Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, two fungi identified as Diaporthe eres aff. and Fusarium sambucinum aff. were also isolated from necrotic bark lesions on declining one‐year‐old Fraxinus excelsior in a forest stand in Montenegro. To examine their involvement in ash decline, a pathogenicity test was performed using under bark inoculations on one‐year‐old Fraxinus excelsior. Hymenoscyphus fraxineus was included as comparison. All three fungal species proved highly pathogenic towards one‐year‐old seedlings although lesion sizes differed significantly between the different species. Hymenoscyphus fraxineus was most aggressive, followed by F. sambucinum aff., while D. eres aff. caused the smallest lesions. This study demonstrates for the first time the ability of isolates in the D. eres and F. sambucinum species complexes to cause decline on one‐year‐old common ash seedlings.     

粉煤灰条形柱在水土保持坡改梯工程中的推广应用

通过对粉煤灰条形柱的特点分析,探讨粉煤灰条形柱在坡改梯工程中的应用.认为粉煤灰条形柱的应用缓解了大竹县条石紧缺矛盾,减少了对环境的污染,提高坡改梯埂坎的安砌质量和科技含量,减少劳动强度,降低工程造价,减少水土流失,美化周边环境,应扩大粉煤灰条形柱的应用范围.     

Effect of freezing and thawing processes on some physical properties of saline–sodic soils mixed with sewage sludge or fly ash

Dispersion of saline–sodic soils was rather difficult to leach. Therefore, negative effects of freeze–thaw on soil physical properties should be reduced by inexpensive and practical methods. This study investigates the effect of freeze–thaw cycles (3, 6, and 9) on wet aggregate stability, bulk density, and permeability coefficient in three soils with different electrical conductivity and exchangeable sodium percentage levels (soil I: 5.30 dS m⁻¹, 47.51%; soil II: 42.80 dS m⁻¹, 55.45%; soil III: 36.30 dS m⁻¹, 59.34%) which consist of different proportions of sewage sludge and fly ash by volume (10%, 20%, and 30%). The experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions using disturbed and non-cropped soil samples mixed with sewage sludge and fly ash. Soils mixed with sewage sludge produced higher aggregate stability and permeability coefficients and lower bulk density values as compared to the soils mixed with fly ash. Sewage sludge added with a rate of 30% eliminated the negative effects of freeze–thaw processes on wet aggregate stability. Freeze–thaw processes did not affect the bulk density of the soils II and III, which were mixed with sewage sludge. However, fly ash addition decreased the bulk density of these soils very significantly after nine freeze–thaw cycles. Addition of sewage sludge or fly ash with rates of 20% and 30% significantly increased the permeability coefficients in soil I after nine freeze–thaw cycles. Results indicated that addition of sewage sludge and/or fly ash to saline–sodic soils could be alternative way for reducing negative effects of freezing–thawing on soil wet aggregate stability, bulk density, and permeability coefficient.