Cohort‐specific variation in juvenile coho salmon habitat use

In this study, we examined summer and fall freshwater rearing habitat use by juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in the quickly urbanising Big Lake drainage in south‐central Alaska. Habitat use was assessed by regressing fish count data against habitat survey information across thirty study sites using generalised linear mixed models. Habitat associations were examined by age‐0 and age‐1+ cohorts separately, providing an opportunity to compare habitat use across different juvenile coho salmon life stages during freshwater rearing. Regression results indicated that the age‐0 cohorts were strongly associated with shallow, wide stream reaches with in‐stream vegetation, whereas age‐1+ cohorts were associated with deeper stream reaches. Furthermore, associations between fork length and habitat characteristics suggest cohort‐specific habitat use patterns are distinct from those attributable to fish size. Habitat use information generated from this study is being used to guide optimal fish passage restoration planning in the Big Lake drainage. Evidence for habitat use partitioning by age cohort during freshwater juvenile rearing indicates that pooling age cohorts into a single “juvenile” stage for the purposes of watershed management may mask important habitat use dynamics.     

Effects of dietary molybdenum on nematode and host during Haemonchus contortus infection in lambs.

The addition of molybdenum (0.05 mmol kg-1 dry-matter) to the diet of lambs given a trickle infection of Haemonchus contortus larvae (500 third stage larvae d-1 over six weeks) reduced mean faecal egg counts (epg) from 3952 to 2312 +/- 402 by 32 days (P less than 0.02) and greatly reduced the mean number of worms recovered from the abomasum 14 days after infection ceased (907 compared with 4167: P less than 0.01). Infection reduced haemoglobin concentrations less in lambs given molybdenum although the difference was small relative to the reduction in worm burden. Lambs not given molybdenum had low intraepithelial mast cell counts in the abomasal mucosa and less abomasal hypertrophy than expected from abomasal parasitism. Molybdenum did not consistently reduce the copper status of the host or the parasite. Previous exposure to molybdenum greatly reduced protein but not proteinase activity in, or secreted by, adult worms cultured for eight hours. It is suggested that molybdenum either increased the inflammatory response which preceded worm rejection or that it indirectly enhanced that reaction by reducing the effectiveness of copper-dependent, anti-inflammatory enzymes in the gastrointestinal mucosa.     

THE EFFECT OF A COMBINATION OF MEDETOMIDINE-BUTORPHANOL AND MEDETOMIDINE, BUTORPHANOL, ATROPINE ON GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE IN DOGS

The effects of intramuscularly administered medetomidine and butorphanol (MB), and medetomidine, butorphanol, atropine (MBA) on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were determined in six dogs as measured by 99m-Tc-labeled diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (99mTc-DTPA) nuclear scintigraphy. Direct systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures and heart rate were measured at regular time intervals before, during, and after GFR calculations. The mean GFR measurement following MB was significantly greater (4.44 ml/min/kg) than following MBA (3.82 ml/min/kg) or saline treatment (3.41 ml/min/kg). There was no significant difference between the mean GFR measurements following MBA injection and following saline injection. Diastolic and mean arterial pressures following MBA injection were significantly higher than the values recorded after either MB or saline alone. Heart rate following MB administration was significantly lower than that recorded for dogs receiving MBA or saline alone. The results of this study indicate that the administration of medetomidine in combination with butorphanol significantly increases total GFR in healthy dogs, while the administration of the combination of medetomidine, butorphanol, and atropine does not.     

Postanesthetic Pulmonary Edema In an Arab Stallion

A six-year-old arabian stallion was admitted to The Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital for evaluation and repair of a comminuted fracture of the second phalanx. The horse developed impaired arterial oxygenation during surgey and pulmonary edema post-operatively. We postulate that impaired arterial oxygenation resulted from atelectasis of the dependent lung during annesthesia, and the pulmonary edema occurred following re-expansion of the atelectatic of the initiating cause of the edema, removal of excess lung water from the alveoli, and restoration of normal arterial oxygenation. The horse was fully recovered within 12 hours of initiation of clinical signs of respiratory compromise. The horse was fully recovered within 12 hours of initiation of clinical signs of respiratory compromise. This report describes re-expansion pulmonary edema due to reperfusion injury in a horse, treatment of the condition, and a possible explanation of the pathogenesis of this pulmonary pathology.     

Use of 64Copper Measurements to Diagnose Canine Copper Toxicosis

Inherited canine copper toxicosis is a serious problem in Bedlington terriers and West Highland White terriers, and may also be a problem in other less-studied breeds. Affected dogs become ill at midlife with progressive and ultimately fatal liver disease. Treatments for removal of copper and prevention of copper accumulation are available, but are most effective if begun before the dog becomes ill. Until recently diagnosis has not been available until the dog is 1 year of age, and then only by an invasive liver biopsy with determination of liver copper concentration. The authors studied the use of 64copper for early diagnosis of canine copper toxicosis. Two procedures were evaluated. The first involved measuring the concentration of 64copper in blood 24 hours after oral administration of the radioisotope. At this time, 64copper was associated primarily with ceruloplasmin secreted into the blood by the liver. This procedure is useful in the diagnosis of the human counterpart, Wilson's disease. However, the authors found it to be nondiscriminatory between affected and unaffected dogs. In contrast, the second procedure, which involved measuring 64copper excreted in stool during 48 hours after an intravenous dose of radioisotope, yielded results that differentiated most affected and unaffected dogs.     

Feline leukemia virus detection by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissue from cats with lymphosarcoma.

The prevalence of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) antigen and DNA was assessed in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissues from 70 cats with lymphosarcoma (LSA). Tissue sections were tested for FeLV gp70 antigen using avidinbiotin complex (ABC) immunohistochemistry (IHC); DNA was extracted and purified from the same tissue blocks for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of a 166 base pair region of the FeLV long terminal repeat (LTR). Results were related to antemortem FeLV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serum p27 antigen, anatomic site of LSA, and patient age. Viral DNA was detected by PCR in 80% of cases and viral antigen by IHC in 57% of cases. Seventeen cases were PCR-positive and IHC-negative; one case was PCR-negative and IHC-positive. Clinical records included FeLV ELISA results for 30 of 70 cats. All 19 ELISA-positive cats were positive by PCR and IHC; of the 11 ELISA-negative cats that were negative by IHC, seven were positive by PCR. When evaluated according to anatomic site, FeLV DNA and antigen were detected less frequently in intestinal LSAs than in multicentric and mediastinal tumors. Lymphosarcoma tissues from cats < 7 yr were several fold more likely to be positive for FeLV antigen by IHC than were tumors from cats > or = 7 yr. However, there was no significant difference in PCR detection of FeLV provirus between LSAs from cats < 7 yr and those > or = 7 yr.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Artificial Spawning of Tilapia Eggs1

A stripspawning methodology was evaluated for tilapia (oreochromid) species. This technique achieved an average hatching success of 68.6 ± 3.6% (N= 31). Female fecundity and spawning frequency were dependant on both genetical and husbandry factors. Egg yields for Oreochromis niloticus, O. mossambicus, and O. niloticus±O. mossambicus hybrids averaged 4.54, 10.86 and 10.36 eggs/g female/spawn, respectively. Female broodstock that were adapted to an intensive spawning regime exhibited a significant increase in fecundity. Additionally, egg survival was not affected by hydration for up to 15 minutes prior to fertilization. Results suggest that the strip spawning of tilapia species may be an efficient method of providing viable gametes for hatchery purposes.     

Corneal diseases of rabbits.

Corneal diseases are common in domestic rabbits. It is important to carefully evaluate the cornea and the entire eye when rabbit present with clinical signs such as squinting, tearing, or conjunctival hyperemia. Complete ophthalmic examination and general physical examination should be performed on all rabbits with corneal disease. Important diagnostic testing include culture and sensitivity, cytology, and fluorescein staining. Breed predispositions do not occur for most corneal problems, although some diseases are selected genetically in research rabbits. Corneal disease can be a primary condition or can occur secondary to other ocular or systemic disease.