Radio Frequency Signals in Jupiter's Atmosphere

During the Galileo probe's descent through Jupiter's atmosphere, under the ionosphere, the lightning and radio emission detector measured radio frequency signals at levels significantly above the probe's electromagnetic noise. The signal strengths at 3 and 15 kilohertz were relatively large at the beginning of the descent, decreased with depth to a pressure level of about 5 bars, and then increased slowly until the end of the mission. The 15-kilohertz signals show arrival direction anisotropies. Measurements of radio frequency wave forms show that the probe passed through an atmospheric region that did not support lightning within at least 100 kilometers and more likely a few thousand kilometers of the descent trajectory. The apparent opacity of the jovian atmosphere increases sharply at pressures greater than about 4 bars.     

The laboratory culture of Dichelobacter nodosus in a footrot eradication program

SUMMARY As part of a program to eradicate virulent footrot from Western Australia, 2745 isolates of Dichelobacter nodosus were isolated from 5263 specimens from 1883 submissions. The virulence of each isolate was assessed using protease thermostability and isoenzyme zymogram. We describe changes to the materials and methods required to handle these specimens and to reduce the interval between submission and report to 8 days.     

Experimental acute yellow-wood (Terminalia oblongata) intoxication in sheep

SUMMARY An aqueous suspension of air-dried, hammer-milled leaf of Terminalla oblongata (yellow-wood) was administered to sheep by gavage, as a single dose of 5 to 20 g (dry weight)/kg body weight. Doses of 15 g/kg, or more, caused depression, Inappetence, abdominal pain and reduced ruminal movements within 24 to 48 h and some sheep also showed dyspnoea, oplsthotonus and champing of the Jaws. Haematology and blood gas and acid-base measurements were unaffected. In sheep given a dose of 12.5 g/kg, or more, plasma osmolality, aspartate aminotransferase activity and potassium and bilirubin concentrations Increased while plasma total protein markedly decreased and plasma sodium concentration and alkaline phosphatase activity remained normal. Most sheep were necropsled 48 h after dosing. The liver showed zonal hepatocellular necrosis, the pattern of which varied with the dose given. No renal lesions were observed, although one sheep given a very high dose became azotaemic and hyperkalaemic. Hydrothorax, hydroperlcardlum and ascltes developed In sheep given doses of 15 or 20 g/kg.     

Detection of Aphanomyces invadans and epizootic ulcerative syndrome in the Murray‐Darling drainage

Epizootic ulcerative syndrome was diagnosed, and the presence of Aphanomyces invadans confirmed, from an outbreak of clinical disease in wild‐caught bony bream (Nematalosa erebi) from the Darling River near Bourke, in New South Wales, Australia, during 2008. This confirms a significant extension of the agent beyond its historical range.     

Prevalence of megabacteria in budgerigar colonies

Objective To measure the prevalence of megabacteria in budgerigar-breeding colonies and to evaluate possible methods to reduce the prevalence.
Design A monitoring study over several years.
Sample population Two budgerigar ( Melopsittacus undulatus ) colonies with over 300 birds each.
Procedure The prevalence of megabacteria in the faeces in two budgerigar breeding colonies, colony 1 and 2, was determined by faecal examination of each bird. Following an initial survey (1990), most of the birds that were scored 2+ or more were culled and a management practice was implemented to discriminate against positive birds. Consecutive yearly surveys (1991, 1992) were conducted on the young birds bred in these colonies. The prevalence of megabacteria in colony 2 was also evaluated in 1994 and 1996 after all the birds were treated with amphotericin B administered in drinking water.
Results The prevalence of megabacteria in the two colonies was significantly (P < 0.001) different. Overall the prevalence of megabacteria adjusted for colony differences was significantly higher (P < 0.025) in males compared to females. Age was not an influencing factor. After the initial survey, the prevalence in the offspring did not significantly (P > 0.05) decrease in the following two annual breeding seasons but by inference it did significantly decrease after amphotericin B treatment.
Conclusion The practice of culling most birds with more megabacteria in faeces and discriminating against positive birds when selecting birds for breeding or culling birds on show quality does not decrease megabacteria prevalence in the offspring. However, a reduction in prevalence does occur with administration of amphotericin B. Birds may have amphotericin B-resistant organisms and these birds need to be identified and culled.     

Production of polyclonal antisera against feline immunoglobulin E and its use in an ELISA in cats with experimentally induced asthma

Serum samples from six cats with experimentally induced asthma were used to purify feline IgE using gel filtration and affinity chromatography. The resultant IgE, evaluated for purity by immunoelectrophoresis (IEP) and reactivity by Prausnitz-Kustner (PK) testing, was used to develop polyclonal rabbit anti-feline IgE antisera. Using reverse cutaneous anaphylaxis (RCA), the antisera were determined to be specific for feline IgE. The polyclonal rabbit anti-feline IgE antiserum was then validated in an allergen-specific ELISA. Serum samples from an additional five asthmatic cats sensitized with Bermuda grass allergen (BGA) were evaluated prior to sensitization, after parenteral sensitization, and after aerosol sensitization and challenge. A significant increase in serum BGA-specific IgE was noted over time.     

Use of age and milk production data to improve the ability of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test results to predict Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis fecal culture status.

Cows from 2 California dairies were tested for paratuberculosis at the end of lactation by using fecal culture and a commercially available serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test kit. Individual cow characteristics and production variables were evaluated along with ELISA testing results as predictors of fecal culture status. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, age and a herd-standardized version of 305-day mature equivalent (305 ME) milk production were significant predictors of fecal culture status after adjusting for herd, quarter of the study year, and ELISA sample-to-positive (S/P) ratio. The area under a nonparametric receiver operating characteristic curve was significantly greater for a multivariable model that included age and the level of milk production when compared with a model without these covariates. In conclusion, consideration of cow-level covariates was useful as an aid in predicting Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) fecal culture status. For a given ELISA S/P ratio, older cows and those with lower 305 ME milk production relative to other cows in the herd were significantly more likely to be shedding MAP in their feces at the end of lactation.     

Clinical and anatomical features of lymphosarcoma in 118 cats

Objective To determine patients' characteristics and anatomical distribution of lesions in cats with lymphosarcoma. Design Prospective multi-institutional study of naturally occurring feline lymphosarcoma. Methods Veterinarians in Sydney were provided with free diagnostic laboratory services for suspect cases of feline lym-phosarcoma. Lymphosarcoma was diagnosed based on physical findings, radiographic and/or ultrasonographic images and results of cytological or histopathological examination. When owners were not interested in pursuing an antemortem diagnosis, suspect cases were collected for necropsy. Patients' characteristics and physical findings were recorded. A modified scheme for anatomical classification of lesions was devised including a ‘mixed’ category for cases which involved two or more anatomical forms. Results One hundred and eighteen cases were accrued over an 18 month period. The median age was 120 months and range 5 to 212 months. Age distribution was bimodal, with a small peak for cats less than 24 months, and a normal distribution centred on 97 to 120 months. Eighty cats were domestic crossbreds, 22 were Siamese or Oriental cats (including crosses), 6 were Burmese, 5 were purebred longhairs and the remaining 5 were one of a number of purebred shorthaired breeds. In comparison to 1017 consecutive cases admitted to our hospital for conditions other than lymphosarcoma, Siamese/Oriental cats were over-represented amongst lymphosarcoma cases (P = 0.0006). Male cats were also over-represented, accounting for 72 of 118 cases (P = 0.05). Abdominal lymphosarcoma was the most common anatomical form (43 cats), followed by mixed (39), nodal (20), mediastinal (9) and atypical (involving non-lymphoid organs, 7) forms. When analysed for specific organ involvement, 29 (25%) had mediastinal involvement, 71 (60%) had abdominal involvement including 60 (51%) with involvement of the intestinal tract and/or mesenteric lymph nodes and 36 (31%) with bilateral renal involvement, and 47 (40%) had peripheral lymph node involvement. No case of primary lymphoid leukaemia was identified. A noticeable subgroup of cats younger than 24 months had involvement of the anterior mediastinum with or without concurrent enlargement of cervical or axillary lymph nodes; Siamese/Oriental cats were over-represented in this subgroup. Among cases with nodal involvement, lymph nodes of the head and neck were frequently involved, mandibular nodes most commonly, followed by superficial cervical nodes. In seven cases a solitary node was affected. Conclusions Compared with similar surveys overseas, our cats were older and male cats were over-represented. There was a notable subgroup of young cats with mediastinal involvement. Siamese/Oriental cats were over-represented in this subgroup as well as in the larger population of cats with lymphosarcoma. Compared with overseas surveys, renal involvement, mixed cases and atypical cases (including nasal lymphosarcoma) were more common. A new subcategory of nodal lymphosarcoma, with involvement restricted to node(s) of head and neck, was identified.