In vitro activity of danofloxacin, tylosin and oxytetracycline against mycoplasmas of veterinary importance

The activities of danofloxacin, a novel fluoroquinolone, and two other antimicrobials were determined in vitro against field isolates of seven Mycoplasma species of veterinary importance isolated from cattle, swine and poultry in five European countries. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of danofloxacin, tylosin and oxytetracycline were determined against a total of 68 isolates. Danofloxacin showed excellent activity against isolates of all Mycoplasma species (range 0·008 to 0·5 μg ml⁻¹), but in some isolates there was evidence of reduced sensitivity to tylosin (range 0·008 to 2·0 μg ml⁻¹) and oxytetracycline (range 0·008 to over 16·0 μg ml⁻¹). Danofloxacin was more active than other antimicrobials against, M hyopneumoniae, M dispar and M bovigenitalium, and showed activity similar to that of tylosin against M bovis and M gallisepticum. Tylosin was the most active against M synoviae and M hyosynoviae. Generally, oxytetracycline showed the poorest activity, but was superior to tylosin against M bovigenitalium. A second (final) MIC reading was taken for all isolates 14 or 21 days after the initial reading, and MIC values rose during that time. However, the increase seen in danofloxacin values (typically one to two dilutions) was less than that seen for tylosin and oxytetracycline. It is concluded that danofloxacin is highly active in vitro against all of the Mycoplasma species tested, and thus shows great potential for the treatment of respiratory and other infections caused by Mycoplasma species in cattle, pigs and poultry.     

The activities of amylase and a trypsin‐like protease in the gut contents of germ‐free and conventional chickens

1. Proteolytic and amylase activities were assayed in the gut contents of germ‐free and conventional chickens aged 3 and 14 d.

2. The tendency was for the proteolytic activity to be increased and the amylase activity to be decreased in conventional chicks. These differences were statistically significant in the caecum.

3. All of the additional proteolytic activity detectable in the caecum of conventional chicks was inhibited by soyabean trypsin inhibitor. However, the increased activity was not detectable in the small intestine and was, therefore, not due to pancreatic trypsin.

4. Attempts to demonstrate in vitro bacterial production of a trypsin‐like enzyme were unsuccessful.     

The Effect of Exogenous Applications of Salicylic Acid on Drought Tolerance and Up-Regulation of the Drought Response Regulon of Iraqi Wheat

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Drought is a major limiting factor of wheat production globally. In this research, salicylic acid was used in order to increase drought tolerance in...     

The spread and development of Rhododendron ponticum L. on dunes at Winterton,Norfolk, in comparison with invasion by Hippophaë rhamnoides L. at Saltfleetby,Lincolnshire

A survey was made in 1972, of the status of Rhododendron pronticum L. at Winterton, Norfolk, and aerial photographs were used to assess its spread in recent years. The ecological implications of the continuing presence of this invsive alien shrub on the dunes are discussed. Comparisons with the highly successfull dune shrub Hippophaë rhamnoides L. help put into perspective the present and likely future role of Rhododendron at Winterton. The implications of controls are discussed together with methods by which this may be achieved.     

Forest fragmentation in Loudoun County,Virginia, USA evaluated with multitemporal Landsat imagery

In order to study forest fragmentation in the Virginia, USA Piedmont, a series of Landsat images from 1973, 1987, and 1999 covering a rapidly developing area (Loudoun County) was used to classify forest from non-forest. The classified images were analyzed using a geographic information system (GIS) to determine the spatial and temporal patterns of fragmentation, and to relate these patterns to infrared radiance provided by Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) band 6. The analysis was concentrated on eleven major watersheds of Loudoun County. The relationship between urbanized area per watershed and mean fragment size showed a strong negative decay form (r ²=0.757, p<0.0001). Analysis of four landscape metrics showed increasing fragmentation of forest cover, particularly from 1987 to 1999, as well as an increase in forest edge and shape complexity. Of the landscape metrics used, the perimeter-to-area (P/A) ratio showed the strongest relationship with mean radiance of forest patches. In addition, there was a negative, linear relationship between distance from major roads and band 6 radiance of forested pixels. Overall, the study shows that landscape metrics can convey meaningful information on biophysical changes associated with forest fragmentation at broad scales. These changes suggest that ambient temperature increases associated with urban sprawl may have important, long-term implications for ecophysiological processes.     

Plasma and synovial fluid concentrations of calcium pentosan polysulphate achieved in the horse following intramuscular injection

Results from in vitro studies have indicated that calcium pentosan polysulphate (CaPPS) may be of therapeutic value in osteoarthritis (OA) in the horse. However, no controlled clinical trials using this drug in equine OA have yet been reported. If CaPPS is to be developed for such use, the relationship between the proposed i.m. dose of CaPPS to be used and the concentrations of drug attained in plasma and synovial fluid of the target joint should first be established. An investigation was undertaken to determine these concentrations after a single 2 mg/kg i.m. injection of CaPPS. Blood and synovial fluid samples were taken from 6 healthy, sound horses following i.m. CaPPS administration. Concentrations of CaPPS measured in the synovial fluid were, on the basis of published studies, sufficient to elicit a potential therapeutic effect on synoviocyte metabolism, and possibly also to stimulate proteoglycan synthesis and reduce matrix metalloproteinase activities in articular cartilage. It would therefore seem justified to investigate further the therapeutic effect of CaPPS in OA in the horse.     

In vitro effects of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) on cell-mediated immunity in fish

beta-Hydroxy-beta-methyl butyrate(HMB) has been shown to counteract many of the negative effects of intensive animal production methods and results in increased growth and protection against diseases. In the present study, the effect of HMB on the immunocompetence cell activity in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and carp (Cyprinus carpio) was examined. Pronephric phagocytes and lymphocytes were isolated from the fish and grown in culture medium (RPMI-1640) containing either 0, 0.1, 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 or 100 microg HMB/ml of medium. The effects of HMB on the respiratory burst activity (RBA) stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), the potential killing activity (PKA) and lymphocyte proliferation stimulated by either concanavalin A (Con-A) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were examined. The addition of HMB to the culture medium increased the RBA by up to 84% (p<0.01) over that of cells grown without HMB. Similarly, the PKA of the phagocytes was also increased with HMB addition to the medium by up to 140% (p<0.01) over that of cells grown without HMB. Lymphocyte proliferation stimulated by both ConA and LPS was also increased approximately two-fold (p<0.01) when HMB was added to the culture medium at concentrations between 10 and 100 microg HMB/ml in both rainbow trout and carp. The greatest effects of HMB on RBA and PKA activities were observed at a concentration >50 microg HMB/ml while lymphocyte proliferation was maximally stimulated at 25 microg HMB/ml. In conclusion, the current study shows that HMB could potentially improve immunocompetence cell activity in fish through increased cell proliferation and functionality.