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.     

Retrospective assessment of tolerability and efficacy of zoledronate in the palliative treatment of cancer-bearing dogs

Zoledronate is a bisphosphonate frequently used for the treatment of hypercalcaemia of malignancy and tumour-associated bone pain in dogs, however, there is a paucity of information regarding its use in veterinary medicine. The aim of this retrospective study was to report the tolerability of zoledronate in the palliative treatment of cancer-bearing dogs and secondarily to to assess the efficacy of zoledronate for the treatment of hypercalcaemia of malignancy. Thirty-seven dogs (22 with tumour-associated bone pain and 15 with hypercalcaemia of malignancy) that received 114 zoledronate infusions were included. Tolerability was assessed by the absence of post-zoledronate hypocalcaemia or other adverse events as defined by Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group-Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events criteria. Efficacy was assessed by comparison of available ionized calcium levels before and after zoledronate administration in hypercalcaemic dogs. In 79% of zoledronate infusions, no adverse events were reported. The majority of adverse events which occurred in the other 21% of infusions could be attributed to concurrent chemotherapy or the underlying neoplastic disease. There was a small but significant increase in creatinine following treatment with zoledronate, however, none of the dogs developed clinically significant renal disease. In eight hypercalcaemic dogs with available ionized calcium following zoledronate administration, ionized calcium decreased rapidly within 7 days following treatment with zoledronate. Zoledronate is well-tolerated with few recorded adverse events, however, monitoring of serum creatinine is advised. Zoledronate seems to be effective in the treatment of hypercalcaemia of malignancy.     

新疆生产建设兵团第八师农田残膜含量及在土壤中分布情况

在新疆生产建设兵团第八师农田进行了残膜样品采集,并对不同采样深度下不同面积的农田残膜含量及数量进行统计分析,获取了土壤中残膜的分布情况,旨在为残膜回收机械的设计以及残膜回收策略的制定提供参考。      

水生植被对洪泽湖湖滨湿地水环境净化效果及影响因素分析(英文)

[目的]分析研究洪泽湖湖滨地区植物群落对湿地水环境的净化效果,为该区生态修复提供参考依据。[方法]以洪泽湖湿地国家级自然保护区典型湖滨带为研究对象,通过对该区的水草区和无草区环境特征进行野外调查,并结合室内试验,测定湖泊湿地水体的营养盐(N和P)、化学需氧量(COD)及透明度(SD)含量的变化,定量分析水生植被在生长过程中对湖泊湿地生态系统中水环境的净化效果,并对其可能存在的影响因素进行探讨。[结果]水生植被对洪泽湖湿地水环境中TN、TP、COD、Chla的去除作用及对SD含量变化有较明显的影响。水生植物之间的竞争可以抑制藻类的生长,减轻水体的富营养化情况。[结论]该试验为研究洪泽湖湖滨带生态修复及增强其自净能力提供理论依据。     

放牧补饲对肉用犊牛生长发育与经济效益的影响

[目的]研究在放牧补饲条件下不同品种肉牛的早期生长发育与经济效益。[方法]选择3月龄断奶新褐杂牛(新疆褐牛与本地牛)、安杂牛(安格斯与本地牛)、荷斯坦牛、土种牛31头,按品种分组开展夏草场放牧补饲试验。[结果]安杂牛、荷斯坦牛、新褐杂牛和土种牛补饲日增重分别为0.51、0.55、0.56、0.25 kg/d,安杂牛、荷斯坦牛、新褐杂牛的日增重与土种牛相比差异极显著(P0.01)。新褐杂牛、荷斯坦牛、安杂牛的放牧补饲效果较土种牛好,新褐杂牛、荷斯坦牛、安杂牛和土种牛的投入产出比分别为1∶2.32、1∶2.29、1∶2.12和1∶1.02,放牧补饲经济效益明显。[结论]早期断奶对后期放牧补饲肉牛的生长发育具有促进作用。     

Oceanographic investigation of the American Samoa albacore (Thunnus alalunga) habitat and longline fishing grounds

The American Samoa fishing ground is a dynamic region with strong mesoscale eddy activity and temporal variability on scales of <1 week. Seasonal and interannual variability in eddy activity, induced by baroclinic instability that is fueled by horizontal shear between the eastward‐flowing South Equatorial Counter Current (SECC) and the westward‐flowing South Equatorial Current (SEC), seems to play an important role in the performance of the longline fishery for albacore. Mesoscale eddy variability in the American Samoa Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) peaks from March to April, when the kinetic energy of the SECC is at its strongest. Longline albacore catch tends to be highest at the eddy edges, while albacore catch per effort (CPUE) shows intra‐annual variability with high CPUE that lags the periods of peak eddy activity by about 2 months. When CPUE is highest, the values are distributed toward the northern half of the EEZ, the region affected most by the SECC. Further indication of the possible importance of the SECC for longline performance is the significant drop in eddy variability in 2004 when compared with that observed in 2003 – resulting from a weak SECC – which was accompanied by a substantial drop in albacore CPUE rates and a lack of northward intensification of CPUE. From an ecosystem perspective, evidence to support higher micronekton biomass in the upper 200 m at eddy boundaries is inconclusive. Albacore's vertical distribution seems to be governed by the presence of prey. Albacore spend most of their time between 150 and 250 m, away from the deep daytime and shallow nighttime sonic scattering layers, at depths coinciding with those of small local maxima in micronekton biomass whose backscattering properties are consistent with those of albacore's preferred prey. Settling depths of longline sets during periods of decreased eddy activity correspond to those most occupied by albacore, possibly contributing to the lower CPUE by reducing catchability through rendering bait less attractive to albacore in the presence of prey.     

Effects of the synthetic selectin inhibitor TBC1269 on tissue damage during acute Mannheimia haemolytica-induced pneumonia in neonatal calves

OBJECTIVE: To determine effects of the selectin inhibitor TBC1269 on neutrophil-mediated pulmonary damage during acute Mannheimia haemolytica-induced pneumonia in newborn calves. ANIMALS: Eighteen 1- to 3-day-old colostrum-deprived calves. PROCEDURE: Mannheimia haemolytica or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution was inoculated in both cranial lung lobes of 12 and 6 calves, respectively. Calves were euthanatized 2 (saline, n = 3; M haemolytica, n = 4) or 6 hours (saline, n = 3; M haemolytica, n = 8) after inoculation. Four M haemolytica-inoculated calves euthanatized at 6 hours also received TBC1269 (25 mg/kg, IV) 30 minutes before and 2 hours after inoculation. Conjugated diene (CD) concentrations, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, and apoptotic cell counts were determined in lung specimens collected during necropsy. RESULTS: Conjugated diene concentrations were significantly increased in all M haemolytica-inoculated groups, compared with saline-inoculated groups. Calves treated with TBC1269 had decreased concentrations of CD, compared with untreated calves, although the difference was not significant. Number of apoptotic neutrophils and macrophages increased significantly inTBC1269-treated calves, compared with untreated calves. Inducible nitric oxide synthase was expressed by epithelial cells and leukocytes. However, iNOS was less abundant in airway epithelial cells associated with inflammatory exudates. Degree of iNOS expression was similar between TBC1269-treated and untreated calves. CONCLUSIONS: Mannheimia haemolytica infection in neonatal calves resulted in pulmonary tissue damage and decreased epithelial cell iNOS expression. The selectin inhibitor TCB1269 altered, but did not completely inhibit, neutrophil-mediated pulmonary damage.     

Partial characterization of the hemagglutinin of Alcaligenes faecalis

The hemagglutinin of Alcaligenes faecalis was partially characterized. Hemagglutination (HA) was blocked by enzymes inactivating proteins, by heat, and by antisera but not by sugar-blocking substances. Pili were not determined to be a factor in HA activity. There was no connection between virulence and HA activity.     

The effects of danofloxacin and tilmicosin on neutrophil function and lung consolidation in beef heifer calves with induced Pasteurella (Mannheimia) haemolytica pneumonia

Pneumonia caused by Pasteurella (Mannheimia) haemolytica was induced in weaned beef heifer calves, approximately 6 months of age. Calves were treated at 20 h after challenge with therapeutic doses of danofloxacin or tilmicosin. Peripheral blood neutrophils were collected at 3, 24 and 48 h after treatment. The ex vivo effects on neutrophil function, neutrophil apoptosis, and hematological parameters were examined, as was the effect on percentage lung consolidation. Neutrophil function assays included random migration under agarose, cytochrome C reduction, iodination, Staphylococcus aureus ingestion, chemotaxis, and antibody-dependent and antibody-independent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Apoptosis was determined using a cell death detection kit. Killing was performed at 72 h after treatment. Statistical comparisons were made among the three groups of challenged-treated animals: saline, danofloxacin, and tilmicosin. Comparisons were also made between nonchallenged nontreated animals (NCH) and challenged saline-treated animals. There were no significant differences for any of the neutrophil function assays or neutrophil apoptosis among the challenged-treated groups. This suggests that danofloxacin and tilmicosin have no clinically significant effects on neutrophil function or apoptosis. There were also no significant differences in percentage lung consolidation among the challenged-treated groups. Significant differences were found between the NCH calves and the challenged saline-treated calves in several neutrophil assays, which were attributed to effects of P. haemolytica infection.