Conserving indigenous crayfish: stock assessment and habitat requirements in the threatened Austropotamobius italicus

• 1. As part of the Austropotamobius pallipes species complex, the crayfish Austropotamobius italicus is a species of community interest whose preservation requires the designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) (Annex II, EU Habitats Directive). This study aimed at (1) assessing the conservation status of this threatened indigenous species by stock assessment in central Italy and (2) identifying some aspects of its elective habitat.
• 2. Surveys were conducted in nine streams harbouring A. italicus (streams WI) and in 10 streams where crayfish populations became extinct at least 5 years before the study (streams WO).
• 3. The results confirmed that A. italicus is a K‐selected species, with a relatively slow growth rate (males: 0.34; females: 0.37) and a long life expectancy (males: 8.2 years; females: 7.8 years). The extant populations are healthy, showing balanced sex‐ratios and well structured age‐class compositions. Mortality is mainly due to fishing, which is illegal in Tuscany.
• 4. Principal Components Analyses showed that the streams WI and WO differ in the abundance of allochthonous plant detritus but not in the taxonomic composition of their macroinvertebrate communities. Age classes were found to be spatially segregated, juveniles mainly using cobbles as substrates and adults seemingly avoiding them.
• 5. The loss of the pristine riverine landscape seems to have been responsible, together with illegal fishing, for the local extinction of the species. As a consequence, retaining, enhancing, and restoring the habitat and its complexity are required for the preservation of A. italicus.
• 6. The designation of SACs might help in this endeavour if accompanied by programmes aimed at publicizing the need for conservation of this species. Unfortunately, crayfish‐focused projects supported by LIFE in Italy since 1992 (4%) and the SACs involved (1.4%) have been relatively few, despite the poor conservation status of this species and its well recognized ecological role.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Antifouling Activity Evaluation of Analogs of Bromosphaerol,a Brominated Diterpene Isolated from the Red Alga Sphaerococcus coronopifolius

Marine biofouling is an epibiotic biological process that affects almost any kind of submerged surface, causing globally significant economic problems mainly for the shipping industry and aquaculture companies, and its prevention so far has been associated with adverse environmental effects for non-target organisms. Previously, we have identified bromosphaerol (1), a brominated diterpene isolated from the red alga Sphaerococcus coronopifolius, as a promising agent with significant antifouling activity, exerting strong anti-settlement activity against larvae of Amphibalanus (Balanus) amphitrite and very low toxicity. The significant antifouling activity and low toxicity of bromosphaerol (1) motivated us to explore its chemistry, aiming to optimize its antifouling potential through the preparation of a number of analogs. Following different synthetic routes, we successfully synthesized 15 structural analogs (2–16) of bromosphaerol (1), decorated with different functional groups. The anti-settlement activity (EC₅₀) and the degree of toxicity (LC₅₀) of the bromosphaerol derivatives were evaluated using cyprids and nauplii of the cirriped crustacean A. amphitrite as a model organism. Derivatives 2, 4, and 6–16 showed diverse levels of antifouling activity. Among them, compounds 9 and 13 can be considered as well-performing antifoulants, exerting their activity through a non-toxic mechanism.     

Genome-wide in silico analysis of SOD genes in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Superoxide dismutases (SODs) are a group of enzymes that play essential roles in catalyzing the dismutation of superoxide radicals to protect cells from...     

Changes in thyroid hormone levels in eggs and larvae and in iodide uptake by eggs of coho and chinook salmon,Oncorhynchus kisutsch andO. tschawytscha

Developmental profiles of thyroxin (T₄), triiodothyronine (T₃) and radioactive iodide uptake were established for eggs and T₄ and T₃ profiles were established for larvae (whole-body, yolk-only and body-only) of coho and chinook salmon. T₄ and T₃ were consistently present in all samples. In eggs, hormone levels remained fairly constant in all cohorst for at least the first three weeks of incubation, but then fluctuated in both directions in some sample groups. Large increases in T₄ (from 9 ng/g to 245 ng/g) were seen in 1985 chinook eggs 28 days after fertilization. Radioactive iodide uptake (which was used as a possible indicator of thyroxinogenesis) increased at least 10-fold in both 1986 coho and chinook eggs from 23–30 days after fertilization. T₄ (62 ng/g) and T₃ (393 ng/g) were found in the bodies of 28-day-old 1986 chinook embryos. In whole larvae, hormone levels varied depending upon the cohort studied. In general, initial body-only concentrations of both T₄ and T₃ decreased as body weight increased, but before yolksac resorption was completed, both thyroid hormone content and concentration increased (except for chinook T₃). T₄ and T₃ content in larval yolk stayed constant as yolksac size decreased, resulting in increased thyroid hormone concentration in the yolksac. All of these data suggest that the initial source of thyroid hormones in coho and chinook salmon eggs is maternal, but that by approximately 3–4 weeks after fertilization, the developing embryos begin to produce their own thyroid hormones. After hatching, increases in tissue T₄ and T₃ concentration coupled with constant T₄ and T₃ content in diminishing yolksacs suggest that larvae also produce their own thyroid hormones; yolksac content then may reflect both the original maternal hormones and the larva-producted hormones.     

CYSTIC ENDOMETRIAL HYPERPLASIA AND BACTERIAL ENDOMETRITIS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INTRAUTERINE FOREIGN BODY IN A GUINEA PIG WITH OVARIAN CYSTIC DISEASE

A 3-year-old, 920 g intact female guinea pig presented with a 4-month history of nonpruritic hair loss on the ventral abdomen. The physical examination revealed flank and ventral abdominal alopecia, mucoid vulvar discharge, and abdominal distension. Bilateral rounded masses just caudal to the kidneys and structures consistent with enlarged uterine horns were detected on abdominal palpation. Abdominal ultrasound revealed bilateral ovarian cysts, thickened uterine horns, and multiple circular hypoechoic and anechoic structures in the uterine wall. The patient underwent ovariohysterectomy. Gross examination of the uterus revealed a piece of hay in the left uterine horn. A final diagnosis was hormonally active ovarian follicular cysts, cystic endometrial hyperplasia, and purulent bacterial endometritis caused by Escherichia coli, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Arthrobacter spp. Cystic endometrial hyperplasia is infrequently reported in guinea pigs, and this report describes an associated bacterial endometritis and uterine foreign body with concurrent ovarian cysts.     

Effect of food on the pharmacokinetics of oral cefuroxime axetil in dogs

Cefuroxime axetil pharmacokinetic profile was investigated in 12 Beagle dogs after single intravenous and oral administration of tablets or suspension at a dose of 20 mg/kg, under both fasting and fed conditions. A three-period, three-treatment crossover study (IV, PO under fasting and fed condition) was applied. Blood samples were withdrawn at predetermined times over a 12-hr period. Cefuroxime plasma concentrations were determined by HPLC. Data were analyzed by compartmental analysis. No statistically significant differences were observed between formulations and feeding conditions on PK parameters. Independently of the feeding condition, absorption of cefuroxime axetil after tablet administration was low and erratic. The drug has been quantified in plasma in 3 out of 6 and 5 out of 6 dogs in the fasted and fed groups. For this formulation, the bioavailability (F), peak plasma concentration (C_max), and area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) of cefuroxime axetil were significantly enhanced (p < .05) by the concomitant ingestion of food (32.97 ± 13.47–14.08 ± 7.79%, 6.30 ± 2.62–2.74 ± 0.66 µg/ml, and 15.75 ± 3.98–7.82 ± 2.76 µg.hr/ml for F, C_max, and AUC in fed and fasted dogs, respectively), while for cefuroxime axetil suspension, feeding conditions affected only the rate of absorption, as reflected by the significantly shorter absorption half-life (T_½(a)) and time to peak concentration (T_max) (0.55 ± 0.27–1.15 ± 0.19 hr and 1.21 ± 0.22–1.70 ± 0.30 for T_½(a) and T_max in fed and fasted dogs, respectively). For cefuroxime axetil tablets, T > MIC (≤1 µg/ml) was <2 hr in fasted and ≈4 hr in fed animals, and for cefuroxime axetil suspension, T > MIC (≤1 µg/ml) was ≈5 hr and for T >MIC (≤4 µg/ml) was ≈2.5 hr for fasted and fed dogs, respectively. Cefuroxime axetil as a suspension formulation seems to be a better option than tablets. However, its short permanence in plasma could reduce its clinical usefulness in dogs.     

Effect of an estrogen antagonist (tamoxifen) on cloprostenol-induced luteolysis in heifers

Experiments were conducted to determine the role of estrogens on endogenous PGF2 alpha secretion and luteolysis following injection of cloprostenol in heifers. In Exp. 1, eight luteal-phase heifers were used to evaluate tamoxifen (T) as an estrogen antagonist. Heifers received T (35 mg i.v.) or ethanol:saline vehicle (ES) every 4 h for 44 h. All received cloprostenol (500 micrograms i.m.) immediately after the start of T or ES, and received estradiol-17 beta (500 micrograms i.m.) 12 h later. Each ES heifer had a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) within 48 h of estradiol injection, whereas T-treated heifers did not. Estrus was observed in three ES-treated heifers, but not in T-treated heifers. In Exp. 2, 10 heifers received T (35 mg i.v.) or ES every 4 h for 64 h beginning on d 15 postestrus. Cloprostenol (500 micrograms i.m.) was injected 16 h after the start of treatment. Concentrations of LH were similar (P greater than .05) in both groups. In ES heifers, concentrations of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGFM) increased; in T-treated heifers, PGFM remained at pre-cloprostenol levels. Luteolysis was induced in all heifers. Progesterone (P4) decreased to less than or equal to 1 ng/ml at similar (P greater than .05) rates in ES-treated and T-treated heifers. Mean concentration of P4 288 h post-cloprostenol was greater (P less than .05) in ES-treated than in T-treated heifers. Three ES-treated heifers, but no T-treated heifers, were in standing estrus. We conclude that T effectively antagonizes estrogen in cattle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Evaluation of EDTA hematology tubes for collection of blood samples for tests of secondary hemostasis in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of EDTA tubes for collection of blood samples for assays of secondary hemostasis in dogs. ANIMALS: 108 dogs of various ages, breeds, and sexes (19 healthy and 89 with abnormalities of secondary hemostasis). PROCEDURES: Blood samples were collected via cephalic venipuncture and transferred to sodium citrate tubes and EDTA tubes. Plasma was harvested from each type of tube for assays of concentrations of fibrinogen and D-dimer as well as prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and antithrombin activity. Intra-assay and interassay precision and correlation coefficients for all hemostatic tests were calculated for each type of plasma sample. The effect of storage conditions on assay results for the 2 types of plasma samples was also evaluated. RESULTS: Results of hemostatic tests were highly correlated between citrated and EDTA-treated plasma samples. Intra-assay imprecision for all hemostatic tests with the exception of D-dimer concentration was < 10% for both citrated and EDTA-treated plasma samples; interassay imprecision was higher for EDTA-treated versus citrated plasma samples. Storage of plasma samples for 1 hour did not result in significantly different assay results for either type of plasma sample, but storage for 2 hours significantly affected values for EDTA-treated plasma samples. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity of hemostatic tests that use EDTA-treated plasma samples is required, EDTA may be a suitable alternative to sodium citrate as an anticoagulant for use in hemostatic testing in conditions in which tests could be performed within 1 hour after sample collection.