Quarantine requirements for the importation of black rhinoceros from Zimbabwe into Australia

SUMMARY The proposal by the Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales to import 10 southern black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) from Zimbabwe as part of an international project for conservation of the species presented the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) with a unique challenge. This importation is, at least in the modern era, the first importation of live herbivores from the African continent. Many of the serious animal diseases in the world are endemic in parts of Africa. Knowledge of which of these diseases infect wild species and may be transmitted from the wild species to domesticated species, is limited. This paper describes the strategies adopted by AQIS to facilitate the importation of rhinoceros while maintaining protection of Australian consumers, rural industries, domestic livestock and fauna against the entry and spread of unwanted pests and diseases.     

Synthesis of immunoglobulin by normal and antigenically stimulated fetal sheep.

The rate of appearance, quantity and immunochemical character of serum immunoglobulins which appear normally during the development of fetal sheep and following the injection of antigens at different stages of gestation have been studied. After 70 days' gestation a percentage of normal fetal sheep synthesise IgM. Although the concentration of IgM in the circulation of these animals was very low, the precentage with IgM increased with fetal age. A few late term fetuses were detected which also had IgG1 in their circulation, although none were detected with IgG2 or IgA. Fetuses injected with antigens before 71 days' gestation only synthesised IgM, while fetuses injected after 79 days' gestation synthesised both IgM and IgG1. Neither IgG2 nor IgA were detected by single-radial immunodiffusion analyses during the first 14 days of primary immune responses to a variety of antigens, although trace amounts of IgG2 were detected late in responses occurring in older fetuses. The immunoglobulins synthesised by antigenically stimulated fetal sheep appeared identical to adult sheep 19S IgM, 7S IgG1 and 7S IgG2 respectively, when analysed by immunoelectrophoresis, isoelectric focusing and G200 Sephadex column chromatography.     

Review: The strobilurin fungicides

The original article to which this Correction refers was published in Pest Management Science 58 (7): 649–662 (2002).Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Fruit and vegetable fiber fermentation by gut microflora from canines

The objective of this study was to assess fermentability by canine gut microflora to include shortchain fatty acid (SCFA) production, organic matter (OM) disappearance, and gas production of vegetable and fruit fiber sources compared to fiber standards (psyllium, citrus pectin, and Solka Floc). Fiber sources included apple pomace, carrot pomace, flaxseed, fruit blend (mixture of peach, almond, nectarine, and plum), grape pomace, pea hulls, pistachio, and tomato pomace. Substrates were fermented in vitro for 4, 12, and 24 h with fecal flora obtained from three healthy dogs. Citrus pectin had the highest OM disappearance, SCFA production, and gas production at all times of fermentation; psyllium was intermediate and Solka Floc was lowest. A wide variation in fermentability was noted among the vegetable and fruit fiber sources. Apple pomace, carrot pomace, and flaxseed had the greatest fermentability as assessed by OM disappearance. Pea hulls and tomato pomace had intermediate OM disappearances, and fruit blend, grape pomace, and pistachio were poorly fermented. Carrot pomace produced the largest amounts of gas and SCFA. Apple pomace produced high concentrations of gas but intermediate concentrations of SCFA. Pea hulls and tomato pomace produced intermediate concentrations of gas and SCFA, whereas flaxseed, fruit blend, grape pomace, and pistachio produced low amounts of these fermentation products. For all substrates collectively, OM disappearance was highly correlated with both gas production (r2 = 0.782 and 0.723 for 12- and 24-h values, respectively) and SCFA production (r2 = 0.737 and 0.738 for 12- and 24-h values, respectively). In general, OM disappearance, gas production, and SCFA production were related to the insoluble:soluble fiber ratio in the samples; as the insoluble:soluble ratio decreased (increased soluble fiber), the OM disappearance, gas production, and SCFA production increased.     

Dietary fat supplementation effects on in vitro nutrient disappearance and in vivo nutrient intake and total tract digestibility by horses

Addition of fat to the diet of the equine is a popular method of increasing energy density of the diet while reducing feed intake. Reducing feed intake is of interest to race horse trainers because additional feed is seen as additional weight and, therefore, a hindrance to performance. Limited information is available regarding the interactions of fat with other dietary components, particularly fiber, in the equine digestive system. The effect of dietary fat on in vitro nutrient disappearance in equine cecal fluid was studied in Exp. 1 using a split-plot design within a 2 x 2 Latin square. Two ponies were fed alfalfa (ALF) alone or alfalfa plus 100 g/d corn oil. Five substrates were used to determine in vitro DM disappearance, OM disappearance, NDF disappearance, and total dietary fiber (TDF) disappearance. The substrates included: ALF, tall fescue (TF), red clover (RC), soybean hulls (SBH), and rolled oats (RO). Fat supplementation did not affect in vitro DM, OM, or NDF disappearance. Addition of fat to the diet increased (P < 0.05) the disappearance of NDF in RO. Among substrates, in vitro DM and OM disappearance were highest (P < 0.05) for RO, followed by SBH, ALF, RC, and TF. In vitro NDF and TDF disappearance were highest (P < 0.05) for SBH, followed by RO, ALF, RC, and TF. In Exp. 2, the effects of varying levels of fat on nutrient intake and total tract digestibility were examined using a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Four mature mares were fed a 60% forage-40% concentrate diet containing different concentrations of fat: 0% supplemental fat control (C); 5% supplemental corn oil (5% CO); 10% supplemental corn oil (10% CO); or 15% supplemental corn oil (15% CO). Treatment did not affect intake of the concentrate portion of the diet or CP, gross energy, or NDF intake. Mares consuming the C diet had the highest (P < 0.05) intake of alfalfa cubes, DM, and OM, followed by those on the 10, 5, and 15% CO treatments, respectively. Treatment did not affect nutrient digestibility. Mares consuming the 15% CO diet had the highest (P < 0.05) fat digestibility, whereas those consuming C had the lowest fat digestibility. Fat in the form of CO generally had little effect on in vitro and in vivo nutrient digestibilities in horses.     

Effects of a return chewing gum/packaging material mixture on in situ disappearance and on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, and ruminal characteristics of growing steers

In situ and in vivo digestibility experiments were conducted to determine the acceptability, digestibility, and safety of a return chewing gum/packaging (G/P) material mixture when fed to steers. In the in situ experiment, both ruminal and intestinal disappearances were measured. Two ruminally and duodenally cannulated steers, which were given free access to alfalfa hay (AH), were used in this study. Duplicate Dacron bags containing the G/P were incubated in the rumen for 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. After ruminal incubation, the 12-, 24-, and 48-h bags were placed in the duodenum and collected in the feces to determine intestinal disappearance. In situ ruminal DM disappearance was greater than 70% for all substrates tested at 0 h, indicating high solubility of the substrates in water, and began to reach a plateau after 12 h of incubation. Intestinal in situ disappearance was not different (P>.25) from zero. In the digestion trial, four ruminally cannulated steers (337+/-21.3 kg BW; mean +/- SD) were used in a 4x4 Latin square design with the following treatments: 0) 50% corn (C), 50% AH; 10) 45% C, 45% AH, 10% G/P; 20) 40% C, 40% AH, 20% G/P; 30) 35% C, 35% AH, 30% G/P. Steers fed G/P-containing diets had greater (P<.01) DMI than the control steers. Increasing the G/P resulted in a linear (P<.05) increase in DMI. Apparent DM digestibility tended to be higher (P<.10) for the G/P-containing diets than for the control. A quadratic effect (P<.05) on digestible DMI was observed, with greater (P<.01) digestible DMI values for G/P-containing diets (4.8 vs. 5.8 kg/d). Digestible organic matter and total nonstructural carbohydrate intakes followed trends similar to those of DM. Apparent aluminum digestibility of G/P-containing diets was not different (P>.13) from zero. The level of G/P in the diet had no effect (P>.2) on total VFA concentration or ruminal pH. There was a linear decrease (P<.01) in the molar percentage of isobutyrate and isovalerate in addition to a linear increase (P<.01) in butyrate and valerate with increasing levels of G/P. There was a quadratic effect (P<.01) on molar proportions of acetate and propionate and on the acetate:propionate ratio. Results of both experiments suggest that G/P may be fed to safely replace up to 30% of corn-alfalfa hay diets for growing steers with advantages in improving DMI and digestibility.     

Effects of ammoniation of tall fescue on phenolic composition, feed intake, site and extent of nutrient digestion and ruminal dilution rates of steers

Tall fescue hay (H) supplemented with corn and urea (HU) or corn gluten meal (HCGM) and ammoniated tall fescue hay supplemented with corn (AH) or corn gluten meal (AHCGM) were fed to steers in two 4 X 4 Latin-square trials. Diets were fed to four Angus-Hereford steers (550 kg) at equal intakes in trial 1 and to four Hereford steers (350 kg) at ad libitum intakes in trial 2. Ammoniation reduced cell wall concentrations of p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid by 48 and 67%, respectively. Concentrations of other phenolics were also reduced. Apparent total tract digestibilities of vanillin, p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid were lower (P less than .05, .001 and .01, respectively) when nontreated hay was fed in trial 1, but were not different between hay types in trial 2. In trial 1, greater negative intestinal digestibilities of p-coumaric acid (P less than .001) and vanillin (P less than .05) occurred for steers fed HU and HCGM vs AH and AHCGM diets. Digestibilities of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were greater (P less than .001) for steers fed ammoniated hay diets in both trials and greater (P less than .05) for HCGM vs HU in trial 1. More than 96% of the NDF and ADF digested by steers in trial 1 was digested in the stomach. Intakes of digestible NDF and ADF, but not indigestible NDF or ADF, were higher (P less than .001) for steers fed AH and AHCGM in trial 2. In situ dry matter disappearance rate of ammoniated hay was greater (P less than .05) than that of nontreated hay, but rate of cotton thread disappearance from bags suspended in the rumen of steers fed the various diets was similar among treatments. In both trials, feeding ammoniated hay resulted in higher (P less than .05) ruminal concentrations of acetate and higher (P less than 0.05) acetate:propionate ratios. Ruminal liquid dilution rates were lower (P less than .05) for steers fed AH and AHCGM in trial 1, but were not different in trial 2. Ruminal dry matter concentration and solids dilution rate were not affected by diet in either trial. The results are interpreted to indicate that increased intake of ammoniated hay is a result of increased rate and extent of fiber digestion.     

Nutrient digestibilities,microbial populations,and protein catabolites as affected by fructan supplementation of dog diets

Fructans are fermentable carbohydrates and include short-chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS), inulin, and hydrolyzed inulin (oligofructose, OF). Two studies with dogs were designed to examine the effects of low concentrations of fructans on nutrient digestibilities, fecal microbial populations, and endproducts of protein fermentation, and fecal characteristics. In Exp. 1, 11 adult male beagles were fed corn-based, kibbled diets supplemented with or without OF to provide 1.9 +/- 0.6 g/d. Dietary inclusion of OF decreased (P < 0.05) nutrient digestibilities, but did not affect fecal characteristics. Increasing OF concentration tended (P < 0.06) to linearly decrease fecal ammonia concentrations, but not those of branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA), amines, indole, or phenols. Fecal concentrations of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and butyrate tended to be higher in OF-supplemented dogs (P < 0.10), as was the ratio of bifidobacteria to total anaerobes (P = 0.15). In Exp. 2, ileally cannulated adult female hounds were fed a meat-based kibbled diet and were assigned to four scFOS treatments (0, 1, 2, or 3 g/d) in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Ileal nutrient digestibilities tended to increase (P < 0.15) with increasing concentrations of scFOS. On a DMI basis, fecal output tended to decrease linearly (P < 0.10) in response to increasing scFOS supplementation, whereas fecal score tended to exhibit a quadratic response (P = 0.12). In general, fecal concentrations of SCFA, BCFA, ammonia, phenols, and indoles were not altered by supplemental scFOS. Supplementation of scFOS increased fecal concentrations of total aerobes (P < 0.05) and decreased concentrations of Clostridium perfringens (P < 0.05). From these data, it seems that low levels of supplemental fructans have divergent effects on nutrient digestibility and fermentative endproducts, but do not adversely affect nutrient digestibility or fecal characteristics and may improve colonic microbial ecology in dogs.     

Dietary galactooligosaccharides affect ileal and total-tract nutrient digestibility, ileal and fecal bacterial concentrations, and ileal fermentative characteristics of growing pigs

The objective of this study was to evaluate dietary galactooligosaccharide (Gal OS) addition on swine nutrient digestibility, ileal and fecal bacterial populations, and ileal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, and to determine their impact on ileal fermentative characteristics in vitro. Twelve T-cannulated pigs (BW = 25 kg) were fed a diet free of Gal OS for 21 d. On d 22, ileal digesta samples were collected for an in vitro fermentation experiment (Exp. 1). Substrates included: raffinose/stachyose combination (R + S), soy solubles (SS), and transgalactooligosaccharides (TOS). Also included were the non-OS components of SS and TOS. Nine pigs (three donors per treatment) served as ileal effluent donors. Each substrate was fermented in vitro for 6 h, and pH and SCFA and gas production were determined. Pigs then were allotted to three treatments: a Gal OS-free control diet and the control diet with either 3.5% added Gal OS from SS or TOS. Diets, feces, and digesta samples collected weekly for 6 wk on d 6 (feces) and 7 (digesta) were analyzed for DM, OM, CP, and chromic oxide concentrations. Feces and ileal digesta were analyzed for bifidobacteria and lactobacilli populations. Ileal digesta samples were analyzed for SCFA. On d 64, a second in vitro fermentation experiment (Exp. 2) was conducted using ileal effluent from three pigs per treatment and the same substrates used in Exp. 1. In vivo results showed that ileal and total tract DM and OM digestion were decreased (P < 0.05) by addition of both SS and TOS to the diet. Ileal and total-tract N digestibilities were decreased (P < 0.05) by dietary addition of SS. Fecal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli were increased (P < 0.05) by addition of SS and TOS to the diet. Ileal propionate and butyrate concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) for pigs fed diets containing both sources of Gal OS. In vitro results showed that fermentation data were not affected by donor animal adaptation to treatment. For both in vitro experiments, gas and SCFA production were higher (P < 0.05) for R + S than for SS or TOS. Fermentation of R + S resulted in a higher pH (P < 0.05) than did SS or TOS. Fermentation of non-OS components of SS and TOS resulted in more (P < 0.05) gas and SCFA production, and pH values that did not differ (P > 0.05) compared to SS and TOS. The Gal OS used in this study were prebiotics, increasing beneficial bacteria in vivo and SCFA concentrations both in vivo and in vitro.     

Exploring Patterns of Exotic Earthworm Distribution in a Temperate Hardwood Forest in South-Central New York, USA

Exotic earthworms invading forests in Canada and northeastern United States that were naturally devoid of large detritivores cause major changes in ecosystem function. To assess their long-term impacts, studies are needed to elucidate the factors that control the patterns of earthworm invasion at the landscape level. We analyzed the distribution patterns of exotic earthworms in a northern hardwood forest in south-central New York (USA), as explained by landscape variables thought to be important in determining earthworm distribution. Forest type, slope angle, elevation, and the distance to agricultural clearings and wet refugia were significant predictors of earthworm presence, whereas local wetness index and the distance to streams and roads were not. Forest type and distance to agricultural clearings were the two most significant predictors. Our data suggest that areas close to agricultural clearings, dominated by mixed hardwoods, and located towards valley bottoms or on gentle slopes are very likely to support communities of exotic earthworms. Steeper slopes, areas dominated by American beech or eastern hemlock, and locations in the core of extensive forest landscapes have lower probabilities of invasion by exotic earthworms. When applied to a nearby area, our statistical model correctly predicted earthworm presence for 67% of 377 sampling points. Most of the mistakes were incorrect predictions of earthworm absence, suggesting that our statistical model slightly underestimated earthworm presence, possibly because of the pervasive influence of active agricultural fields adjacent to the test site.