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.     

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     

Thirty years of change and the future of Alaskan fisheries: Shifts in fishing participation and diversification in response to environmental,regulatory and economic pressures

Heterogeneity in human responses and decision‐making can contribute to the resilience of social–ecological systems in the face of environmental, political and economic pressures. In fishery systems worldwide, the ability of harvesters to maintain a diverse portfolio of fishing strategies is important for building adaptive capacity. We used a case‐study approach to examine the complexity of factors that inhibit or promote diversification in fisheries of Alaska, one of the major fishing regions of the world. Through a combination of harvest records and literature review, we explored shifts in participation and portfolio diversity in Alaskan fisheries over three decades. The four case‐studies examined the responses of fishers, fleets and communities to multiple, intersecting pressures, including biological declines, market and price dynamics, fishery privatization and the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. These cases illustrate how stressors acting at multiple scales can encourage or constrain opportunities for diversification, and that these opportunities may be spread inequitably across participants. Overall, we found evidence for reduced participation and increasing specialization in Alaskan commercial fisheries. While numerous factors explain these trends, policies like individual quota systems and the increasing cost of entry into fisheries are forcing consolidation at local to regional scales. A portfolio approach to managing fisheries that reduces barriers to diversification and includes broad representation of resource users and communities in management may help to maintain opportunity and choice for fishers.     

Hemophilia A in three unrelated cats

Factor VIII deficiency, consistent with hemophilia A, was detected in 3 unrelated male domestic short-haired cats. Clinical history of each case differed and illustrated the spectrum of clinical manifestations of this disease in cats. Clinical expression of feline hemophilia A was similar to that of man and other animals, in which the degree of factor VIII deficiency tends to determine the severity and frequency of bleeding. All 3 cats had severe protracted bleeding after minor surgical procedures. Hemorrhage was eventually controlled in each case by transfusions of fresh whole blood.     

Epidemiological investigations of an outbreak of intestinal atresia in two Israeli dairy herds

An epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of intestinal atresia in Israeli Holstein-Friesian newborn calves showed a linkage with rectal palpation for early pregnancy diagnosis, performed less than 42 days after insemination. The odds of an exposed calf, i.e., one born to a dam that was diagnosed by early palpation as having intestinal atresia were 119.7 times higher than one born in normal control herds (95% CI; 7.4-1946.3). A total of 682 calves-at-risk was recorded from mid-1998 to mid-2000 and a total of 47 calves (6.9%) were born with intestinal atresia during this period. Two forms of intestinal atresia were recognized at post-mortem: atresia coli and atresia ilei.     

Influence of diet on the shedding of Candida glabrata by experimentally infected preweaned calves

The influence of three diets, comprising dam's milk (DM) from the same farm, commercial milk replacer with (CMRL) or without 3.2% lactose (CMR), on the duration and intensity of Candida glabrata shedding in the faeces of preweaned calves following experimental oral infection was examined. Shedding of other potential enteric pathogens was also monitored. The duration and intensity of C. glabrata shedding in DM-fed calves were reduced significantly compared with the calves fed the two diets based on milk replacers. Consequently, feeding calves with DM might disrupt the infective cycle, resulting in the yeast's elimination from a farm. In the CMR and CMRL groups, the periods of intensive shedding of C. glabrata and rotavirus overlapped but no diarrhoea was associated with the shedding of either microorganism. There was no evidence that lactose diminished colonization in vivo.     

Concurrent West Nile virus and mycobacterium avium infection in a black-necked swan (Cygnus melanocoryphus).

An adult male black-necked swan (Cygnus melanocoryphus) was evaluated for a routine physical examination and West Nile virus vaccination. Nine days later, the swan was hospitalized for weakness, dehydration, tremors, and leukocytosis. Gradual clinical improvement was seen over a 2-wk course of supportive care. However, the animal became acutely weak and was found dead. Histopathology revealed severe granulomatous pneumonia and air sacculitis with dissemination to the liver, spleen, intestine, and coelom. Mycobacterial infection was confirmed by identification of acid-fast bacilli within tissue sections and by polymerase chain reaction. Concurrent West Nile virus infection was identified in sections of brain by using immunohistochemistry.     

Mechanism of action and effects of repartitioning substances for swine fattening

The effect of an application of pST- and beta-agonists on the fattening-capacity and carcass-composition of the pig is evaluated by means of data available in literature. American stress-resistant cross-bred pigs show a stronger reaction on pST in their fattening-capacity than European breeds. Obviously, this has derived from genetic differences. Feed-utilization, meat-gain, and reduction of lipid content in the case of European breeds are, nevertheless, subject to a pronounced improvement through pST and beta-agonists. Further positive aspects are the decrease of the N-excretion in urine and no, resp. only minor influence on the quality of meat. A negative aspect of the meat with regard to consumers' acceptance is the fact that the mentioned substances belong to the group of hormones.     

Monitoring distances travelled by horses using GPS tracking collars

Objective The aims of this work were to (1) develop a low-cost equine movement tracking collar based on readily available components, (2) conduct preliminary studies assessing the effects of both paddock size and internal fence design on the movements of domestic horses, with and without foals at foot, and (3) describe distances moved by mares and their foals. Additional monitoring of free-ranging feral horses was conducted to allow preliminary comparisons with the movement of confined domestic horses. Procedures A lightweight global positioning system (GPS) data logger modified from a personal/vehicle tracker and mounted on a collar was used to monitor the movement of domestic horses in a range of paddock sizes and internal fence designs for 6.5-day periods. Results In the paddocks used (0.8–16 ha), groups of domestic horses exhibited a logarithmic response in mean daily distance travelled as a function of increasing paddock size, tending asymptotically towards approximately 7.5 km/day. The distance moved by newborn foals was similar to their dams, with total distance travelled also dependent on paddock size. Without altering available paddock area, paddock design, with the exception of a spiral design, did not significantly affect mean daily distance travelled. Feral horses (17.9 km/day) travelled substantially greater mean daily distances than domestic horses (7.2 km/day in 16-ha paddock), even when allowing for larger paddock size. Conclusions Horses kept in stables or small yards and paddocks are quite sedentary in comparison with their feral relatives. For a given paddock area, most designs did not significantly affect mean daily distance travelled.