The intensity of resistance by mature Merino ewes against Haemonchus contortus and Tichostrongylus colubriformis in single-species and combined-species infection

Three-year-old, non-lactating and non-pregnant Merino ewes, raised on pasture under a program of strategic treatment with anthelmintic and found to be extremely resistant to "trickle" infection with Haemonchus contortus, were given single-dose infections with either H. contortus or Trichostrongylus colubriformis or both species together. The purpose was to ascertain the intensity of protective immunity against the 2 parasites in sheep with immunity acquired from a presumably slight exposure to infection. To provide a criterion, some infected ewes were immunosuppressed with corticosteroid, dexamethasone. Untreated ewes were extremely resistant to challenge infection with either 15,000 or 150,000 H. contortus or 15,000 T. colubriformis. Surprisingly, when mixed infection was given, egg counts for H. contortus were significantly elevated compared with infection by that species alone. Antibody to antigens from infective larval and adult H. contortus was measured in serum by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA) during the course of infection. Serum titres against larval antigens were significantly depressed when infections with either H. contortus or T. colubriformis were permitted by immunosuppression with dexamethasone, whereas those against adult antigen were depressed when infection with T. colubriformis was permitted.     

The effects of vitamin a deficiency on oral gustatory behaviour in chicks

1. Two groups of chicks (Gallus domesticus) were fed on a vitamin A‐deficient diet for 24 d. Birds in one group, which acted as a control, were dosed orally with retinyl palmitate in corn oil, whereas the other group (experimental) was given corn oil only throughout the experiment.

2. At regular intervals birds in both groups were stimulated orally with solutions of acetic acid, quinine hydrochloride and sodium chloride and the number of beak and tongue movements counted.

3. By the end of the experiment the vitamin A‐deficient birds showed a significant decrease in their response to the oral stimulants compared with the control birds.     

The effects of duration and concentration of plasma progesterone on the fertility of post-partum cows treated with pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin and intravaginal progesterone

The effects of duration of insertion of progesterone releasing devices (PRIDs) on the concentrations of plasma progesterone (plasma P4) and the relationship of these with fertility were examined respectively in ovariectomised and intact Bos taurus cattle. In experiment 1, ovariectomised cows (n = 14) were treated with PRIDs to produce high and low plasma P4 for 7 or 14 days giving 4 treatment groups designated H7, H14, L7 or L14. Mean plasma P4 in the H14 and L14 groups were 6.6 and 6.0 ng/ml respectively, during the first week and 5.4 and 3.8 ng/ml respectively, during the second. Mean plasma P4 of 6.3 and 4.2 ng/ml were observed in H7 and L7. In experiment 2, suckled cows (n = 171) received the same PRID treatments as cows in experiment 1, plus either 375 or 750 iu pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin, and subsequent calving rates were recorded. These were significantly lower after L7 than the other treatments (12% v 38%, P less than 0.025). These results showed that fertility after oestrus was closely related to plasma P4 observed before oestrus and indicated that treatment with progesterone for as little as 1 week can produce normal fertility providing plasma P4 attain a critical threshold during treatment.     

Temporal and spatial dynamics of insecticide resistance in Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Advances in understanding insecticide resistance in the peach-potato aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), at the genotypic, biochemical and molecular levels have led to rapid and precise methods for the detection of several resistance mechanisms (elevated carboxylesterase, modified acetylcholinesterase or MACE, and knockdown resistance or kdr) in individual insects, and for monitoring their frequencies over space and time. This paper summarises the results of two long-term surveys of resistance dynamics in M persicae in England, based on samples collected directly from field and glasshouse crops or from four 12.2-m suction traps. The study showed marked fluctuations in resistance frequencies that probably reflect the counteracting forces of selection imposed by insecticides for aphids possessing more copies of esterase resistance genes, and selection against these forms when insecticide use is relaxed. There is growing evidence that several different resistance mechanisms in M persicae have associated fitness costs. In the case of esterase and MACE, these costs are apparently strong enough to effect a decline in resistance frequency over winter, and a more prolonged decline over successive cropping seasons when aphid numbers are insufficient to trigger intensive chemical applications. Changes in the overall frequency of resistance genotypes may also be influenced by the predominance of year-round parthenogenesis in M persicae in the UK, leading to non-random associations between mechanisms and selection operating on clonal lineages rather than individual genotypes.     

Effects of suckling on oestradiol benzoate induced LH release in post-partum, ovariectomised cows

Twelve suckling and 12 non-lactating post-partum cows were treated with a progesterone-releasing pessary for 7 or 14 d followed by an injection of 500 micrograms oestradiol benzoate (ODB) 24 h after pessary removal or no injection. Suckling had no significant effect on plasma progesterone concentrations (plasma P4) or plasma luteinising hormone concentrations (plasma LH) during pessary insertion. After pessary removal plasma LH rose in response to ODB. The extent of the rise was similar in suckling and non-lactating cows treated with progesterone for 14 d but was significantly lower in non-lactating than suckling cows (P less than 0.025) treated for 7 d. These findings indicate that suckling increases the responsiveness of plasma LH in post-partum cows following progesterone and oestrogen treatment compared to non-lactating cows and that extended treatment with progesterone can remove this difference.     

Carbon sequestration in the trees, products and soils of forest plantations: an analysis using UK examples

A carbon-flow model for managed forest plantations was used to estimate carbon storage in UK plantations differing in Yield Class (growth rate), thinning regime and species characteristics. Time-averaged, total carbon storage (at equilibrium) was generally in the range 40-80 Mg C ha(-1) in trees, 15-25 Mg C ha(-1) in above- and belowground litter, 70-90 Mg C ha(-1) in soil organic matter and 20-40 Mg C ha(-1) in wood products (assuming product lifetime equalled rotation length). The rate of carbon storage during the first rotation in most plantations was in the range 2-5 Mg C ha(-1) year(-1).A sensitivity analysis revealed the following processes to be both uncertain and critical: the fraction of total woody biomass in branches and roots; litter and soil organic matter decomposition rates; and rates of fine root turnover. Other variables, including the time to canopy closure and the possibility of accelerated decomposition after harvest, were less critical. The lifetime of wood products was not critical to total carbon storage because wood products formed only a modest fraction of the total.The average increase in total carbon storage in the tree-soil-product system per unit increase in Yield Class (m(3) ha(-1) year(-1)) for unthinned Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr. plantations was 5.6 Mg C ha(-1). Increasing the Yield Class from 6 to 24 m(3) ha(-1) year(-1) increased the rate of carbon storage in the first rotation from 2.5 to 5.6 Mg C ha(-1) year(-1) in unthinned plantations. Thinning reduced total carbon storage in P. sitchensis plantations by about 15%, and is likely to reduce carbon storage in all plantation types.If the objective is to store carbon rapidly in the short term and achieve high carbon storage in the long term, Populus plantations growing on fertile land (2.7 m spacing, 26-year rotations, Yield Class 12) were the best option examined. If the objective is to achieve high carbon storage in the medium term (50 years) without regard to the initial rate of storage, then plantations of conifers of any species with above-average Yield Classes would suffice. In the long term (100 years), broadleaved plantations of oak and beech store as much carbon as conifer plantations. Mini-rotations (10 years) do not achieve a high carbon storage.     

Animal health monitoring and surveillance in Switzerland

Switzerland has traditionally used a passive disease reporting system for all notifiable diseases. This type of system is not suitable for the documentation of very low prevalences (freedom from disease), sub-clinical cases and non-notifiable diseases. In order to meet the high international standards for animal health surveillance and to fulfil the general need for sound animal health data, Switzerland has evaluated the feasibility of modern monitoring and surveillance concepts. In general, the principle of active surveillance has been acquired and is now being applied whenever possible. In this paper, several examples of Swiss surveillance systems are presented and discussed. They include systematic testing of random population samples, carcase screening at abattoirs and sentinel herd monitoring.