Presentation,clinical pathological and post‐mortem findings in three related Scottish terriers with ligneous membranitis

Ligneous conjunctivitis and gingivitis were diagnosed in three related Scottish terrier dogs presented for investigation of severe conjunctivitis and respiratory signs. Hypoplasminogenaemia was confirmed in one of the three affected dogs. Supportive treatment was not effective, and the dogs died or were euthanased because of the disease. Post‐mortem analysis of two of the dogs revealed multiple abnormalities including severe proliferative fibrinous lesions affecting the conjunctiva, gingiva, trachea, larynx and epicardium and multiple fibrous adhesions throughout the thoracic and abdominal cavities. One dog had internal hydrocephalus and lacked a cerebellar vermis. Ligneous membranitis was confirmed on histopathology. This is a rare condition in dogs but an important differential diagnosis for severe conjunctivitis and gingivitis.     

Effects of a topical anaesthetic formulation and systemic carprofen, given singly or in combination, on the cortisol and behavioural responses of Merino lambs to castration

Objective   To determine the effectiveness of a topical anaesthetic formulation (Tri-Solfen) with or without the administration of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (carprofen) on the pain and distress response associated with ring or surgical castration of ram lambs.
Procedures   Merino ram lambs (n = 78) were allocated to 10 treatment groups: 4 groups of knife-castrated lambs and 4 groups of ring-castrated lambs received carprofen (4 mg/kg SC) and Tri-Solfen; 2 control groups (sham) received carprofen at 0 or 4 mg/kg SC. Measurements included plasma cortisol and haptoglobin concentrations, haematology, and behaviour, including posture.
Results   Knife-castrated lambs had higher peak cortisol and integrated cortisol responses for the first 6 h after treatment and greater concentration s of circulating acute phase proteins than ring-castrated lambs, both of which were significantly different from the sham controls. Tri-Solfen applied to the knife castration wound significantly reduced both the peak plasma cortisol concentration and the integrated cortisol response for the first 6 h and improved lying behaviour in the first 12 h. Carprofen reduced the cortisol response to knife castration at 30 min, but elevated the cortisol responses at 24 and 48 h. Carprofen nearly halved the number of acute pain behaviours associated with ring castration. There were no significant additive or synergistic effects from combining the analgesic treatments. Tri-Solfen applied to the tail wound provided no detectible benefits during ring castration + tail docking.
Conclusions   The physiological and behavioural responses suggest that ring castration has less impact on the lamb than knife castration. The specific analgesic treatments can provide modest amelioration of the pain and discomfort associated with castration. Alternative doses or application methods may enhance their efficacy.     

The effects of stock crate design and stocking density on environmental conditions for lambs on road transport vehicles

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of variations in stock crate design (especially ventilation) and stocking density on road transport vehicles for reducing the risk of environmental stress for lambs during long-haul transport in hot weather. METHODS: In Experiment 1, lambs were transported on vehicles fitted with either a newer-design aluminium crate comprising a three-deck truck and four-deck trailer, or an older-design, more open, steel crate of a three-deck truck and three-deck trailer. In Experiment 2, lambs were transported on newer-design vehicles at either standard stocking density (0.20 m2 per 35 kg lamb) or at a 20% lower density (0.26 m2 per 35 kg lamb). In each experiment, each journey was replicated twice and consisted of travel periods and stationary periods designed to emulate conditions associated with an inter-island ferry crossing. Air ammonia concentrations and temperature and humidity were monitored within six pens on each vehicle, and the temperature-humidity index (THI) was calculated. RESULTS: Ammonia concentrations were variable and generally 50 ppm, and did not vary significantly with treatment. The THI increased when the vehicles were stationary, especially under conditions designed to emulate an enclosed ferry deck. The ambient temperature during Experiment 1 was moderate (up to 21 degrees C), and THI was slightly lower in the older-design crate. High ambient temperatures (up to 33 degrees C) were present during Experiment 2, and THI was significantly lower at the lower stock density. During a 3-h stationary period, the peak THI at standard stocking density was 91.0, compared with 84.9 for the low density treatment (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: For standard road transport vehicles used for long-haul transport of lambs, lowered loading density may be of considerable benefit in alleviating conditions that increase the risk of lamb deaths during inter-island transport on hot days.     

Apoptosis in the Antral Follicles of Swamp Buffalo and Cattle Ovary: TUNEL and Caspase-3 Histochemistry

The present study was carried out to investigate the pattern of apoptosis in the healthy antral and atretic follicles of Philippine swamp buffaloes (BU) in comparison with Holstein-Friesian (HF) cows. Paraffin sections of healthy follicles and various stages of atretic follicles were stained using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated biotinylated deoxyuridine triphosphates (dUTP) nick end-labelling (TUNEL) method to detect DNA fragmentation and cleaved caspase-3 antibody to detect cells committed to undergo apoptosis. Five equidistant areas of a follicle were counted for the presence of TUNEL- and caspase-3-positive cells. Healthy follicles of BU and HF contained no TUNEL-positive cells in the granulosa and theca layer but showed some caspase-3 positivity. The granulosa layer of advanced atretic follicles showed a significantly higher frequency of caspase-3 positivity than the healthy and early atretic follicles in both breeds. The frequency of caspase-3-positive cells of BU was significantly higher than HF in the granulosa layer of healthy, early atretic and advanced atretic follicles. In the theca interna layer, BU and HF showed a significantly lower and higher frequency of TUNEL-positive cells in the late atretic follicles compared with advanced atretic follicle, respectively. However, the frequency of caspase-3-positive cells of both BU and HF in the late atretic follicles was significantly higher than the advanced atretic follicles in the theca interna layer. These results indicate that caspase-3 and DNA fragmentation is involved in the buffalo ovarian apoptotic process.     

Similarity of synthetic peptide from human tumor to parathyroid hormone in vivo and in vitro

One mechanism considered responsible for the hypercalcemia that frequently accompanies malignancy is secretion by the tumor of a circulating factor that alters calcium metabolism. The structure of a tumor-secreted peptide was recently determined and found to be partially homologous to parathyroid hormone (PTH). The amino-terminal 1-34 region of the factor was synthesized and evaluated biologically. In vivo it produced hypercalcemia, acted on bone and kidney, and stimulated 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 formation. In vitro it interacted with PTH receptors and, in some systems, was more potent than PTH. These studies support a long-standing hypothesis regarding pathogenesis of malignancy-associated hypercalcemia.     

The composite genome of the legume symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti

The scarcity of usable nitrogen frequently limits plant growth. A tight metabolic association with rhizobial bacteria allows legumes to obtain nitrogen compounds by bacterial reduction of dinitrogen (N2) to ammonium (NH4+). We present here the annotated DNA sequence of the alpha-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, the symbiont of alfalfa. The tripartite 6.7-megabase (Mb) genome comprises a 3.65-Mb chromosome, and 1.35-Mb pSymA and 1.68-Mb pSymB megaplasmids. Genome sequence analysis indicates that all three elements contribute, in varying degrees, to symbiosis and reveals how this genome may have emerged during evolution. The genome sequence will be useful in understanding the dynamics of interkingdom associations and of life in soil environments.     

Determination of Moisture Deficit and Heat Stress Tolerance in Corn Using Physiological Measurements and a Low‐Cost Microcontroller‐Based Monitoring System

In the southern United States, corn production encounters moisture deficit coupled with high‐temperature stress, particularly during the reproductive stage of the plant. In evaluating plants for environmental stress tolerance, it is important to monitor changes in their physical environment under natural conditions, especially when there are multiple stress factors, and integrate this information with their physiological responses. A low‐cost microcontroller‐based monitoring system was developed to automate measurement of canopy, soil and air temperatures, and soil moisture status in field plots. The purpose of this study was to examine how this system, in combination with physiological measurements, could assist in detecting differences among corn genotypes in response to moisture deficit and heat stress. Three commercial hybrids and two inbred germplasm lines were grown in the field under irrigated and non‐irrigated conditions. Leaf water potential, photosynthetic pigments, cell membrane thermostability (CMT) and maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) were determined on these genotypes under field and greenhouse conditions. Variations observed in air and soil temperatures, and soil moisture in plots of the individual corn genotypes helped explain their differences in canopy temperature (CT), and these variations were reflected in the physiological responses. One of the commercial hybrids, having the lowest CT and the highest CMT, was the most tolerant among the genotypes under moisture deficit and heat stress conditions. These results demonstrated that the low‐cost microcontroller‐based monitoring system, in combination with physiological measurements, was effective in evaluating corn genotypes for drought and heat stress tolerance.     

A note on the amino acid composition of the Turkey

1. The amino acid composition of the whole body protein of 28‐ and 56‐d‐old turkeys is reported.

2. There were some differences between the two ages; these could largely be reconciled by considering the likely differences in the proportion of feather protein.

3. The results were compared with similar values for the chicken and goose; overall there is a striking similarity, both in absolute concentrations and relative proportions of amino acids.