Clinical and pathological findings of Babesia infection in dogs

The clinical and pathological findings of Babesia infection in 32 dogs in northern Australia are presented. Eleven different breed types were represented from 6 localities in north Queensland and one locality in northern Western Australia. Twenty three (72%) were males. Babesia-infected dogs were grouped by the degree of haematological disturbance and clinical severity: Acute babesiosis (25/32), all pups with severe haemolytic anaemia; subclinical carriers (5/32) with non-specific malaise, characterised haematologically by a normal erythrogram but marked leucopenia; chronic anaemia, observed in 2 adult dogs. Pups were azotaemic (serum urea greater than 6.6 mmol/l) and had elevated serum bilirubin levels (20.8 to 48.5 mmol/l). Total serum protein was usually within the normal range. Pups that died were also hypoglycaemic and severely hyperkalaemic (K+ greater than 10 mmol/l). Low parasitaemias in routine blood smears complicated diagnosis but smears made from ear or toe capillaries, or after haematocrit concentration, greatly enhanced finding parasitised cells. At necropsy, pallor and jaundice were the most consistent observations. Haemoglobinuric nephrosis, an active reticulo-endothelial system and capillaries packed with large numbers of infected erythrocytes were the main histopathological findings. A combination of imidocarb dipropionate at 5 mg/kg body weight, given intramuscularly, with fluid therapy and blood transfusion was the most successful treatment.     

Plasma observations near jupiter: initial results from voyager 1

Extensive measurements of low-energy positive ions and electrons were made throughout the Jupiter encounter of Voyager 1. The bow shock and magneto-pause were crossed several times at distances consistent with variations in the upstream solar wind pressure measured on Voyager 2. During the inbound pass, the number density increased by six orders of magnitude between the innermost magnetopause crossing at approximately 47 Jupiter radii and near closest approach at approximately 5 Jupiter radii; the plasma flow during this period was predominately in the direction of corotation. Marked increases in number density were observed twice per planetary rotation, near the magnetic equator. Jupiterward of the Io plasma torus, a cold, corotating plasma was observed and the energylcharge spectra show well-resolved, heavy-ion peaks at mass-to-charge ratios A/Z* = 8, 16, 32, and 64.     

Island biology and ecosystem functioning in epiphytic soil communities

Although island attributes such as size and accessibility to colonizing organisms can influence community structure, the consequences of these for ecosystem functioning are little understood. A study of the suspended soils of spatially discrete epiphytes or treetop "islands" in the canopies of New Zealand rainforest trees revealed that different components of the decomposer community responded either positively or negatively to island size, as well as to the tree species that the islands occurred in. This in turn led to important differences between islands in the rates of ecosystem processes driven by the decomposer biota. This system serves as a model for better understanding how attributes of both real and habitat islands may affect key ecosystem functions through determining the community structure of organisms that drive these functions.     

Variation in soil nematode diversity under pasture with soil and year

Nematode populations of seven soils with grazed pasture were sampled monthly for 12–36 months and two of the soils received irrigation; a total of 46 nematode genera were identified from the 13 site-years. Diversity, evenness, richness and similarity of the faunae were assessed. Diversity was not related to pasture productivity and evenness was negatively correlated with the abundance (16–44%) of the dominant genus. Genera present were 21–35, but varied from 21 to 27 in one soil during 3 yr. In this group of soils under pasture Czekanowski's similarity coefficient showed replicated sampling within a soil generally yielded nematode faunae more similar to each other than to faunae in other soils, while analysis of variance showed genera to be more influenced by site than month.     

Testate amoebae as predators of nematodes

Testacea were observed ingesting nematodes in the litter horizons of native forests in New Zealand. Nematodes were most commonly attacked from the tail end but some specimens were attacked at mid-body. Nematodes with damaged tails were recovered in greatest numbers from the highest, wettest site sampled. Nebela (Apodera) vas (Certes, 1989) and Difflugia sp. (possibly lanceolata Penard, 1890) were the predators; both species were redescribed using light and scanning electron microscopy and morphometry. Most damaged nematodes were Ironus sp. but Clarkus, Tobrilus, Iotonchus, Cobbonchus, Dorylaimus and Plectus were also attacked. Literature on testacean feeding strategies was reviewed briefly.     

Response of the fauna of a grassland soil to doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration

The effects of elevated CO₂ on rhizosphere processes, including the response of soil faunal populations and community structure, have so far received little attention. We report on significant responses in the soil fauna of ryegrass/white clover swards to both increasing CO₂ from 350 to 750 μl · l^–1 and, to a period of 60 days when some of the turves were subject to drought, in a controlled climate growth room experiment. The nematodes which increased were predominantly Enoplia, including dorylaimids, alaimids and trichodorids. This accords with both the doubling of Alaimus under elevated CO₂ conditions reported in a similar experiment and with the common association of Enoplia with less disturbed habitats. The most marked decrease was in the bacterial-feeding Rhabditis (Secernentea). The increase in omnivorous and predacious nematodes may have been responsible for the decrease in populations of bacterial-feeding nematodes. However, in contrast to their standing crops, the turnover rate of bacterial-feeding nematodes and soil microbial biomass probably increased as a result of increased grazing by these omnivorous and predacious nematodes. Increases in earthworm and enchytraeid populations were related to increased below-ground productivity reported for the same trial. Received: 30 September 1996