Hyperlipemia and Ketonuria in an Alpaca and a Llama

An alpaca and a llama in late stages of gestation were evaluated for lethargy, anorexia, and recumbency. Both camelids had cloudy, white, turbid serum, elevated serum triglyceride (1564, 5658 mg/dL, respectively) and cholesterol (158, 297 mg/dL, respectively) concentrations, and ketonuria. Signs of fetal stress were evident ultrasonographically in the alpaca, and a live cria was delivered by Cesarean section performed under general anesthesia. The alpaca developed severe metabolic acidosis, hepatic lipidosis, and acute renal failure secondary to renal lipidosis and died 36 hours after admission despite medical therapy. Histopathology revealed renal and hepatic lipidosis and neutrophilic pancreatitis. The cria died 72 hours after birth. The llama responded to IV electrolyte, dextrose, and regular crystalline insulin therapy. The pregnancy was maintained, and the llama was discharged from the hospital 20 days after admission. Two months after discharge, the llama gave birth to a live, 5 kg cria. Findings of hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, elevated sorbitol dehydrogenase activity, metabolic acidosis, azotemia, and ketonuria occurred in these two camelids. Based on this report, camelids appear to be similar to both horses and cattle in their response to severe energy imbalances in late gestation.     

Ollulanus tricuspis in domestic cats - prevalence and methods of post-mortem diagnosis

Ollulanus tricuspus is a parasite of the stomach of domestic cats and other animals, with a worldwide distribution. It can sometimes cause severe gastritis. Fifty-five cat stomachs were examined for O.tricuspis using three techniques. O.tricuspis was found in seven stomachs (13%) from adult cats; the number of parasites recovered from individual cats ranged from 9 to 119 (mean 54). The prevalence was higher than that previously recorded in New Zealand. Repeated dilution and sedimentation of the stomach contents and mucosal washings was found to be the most reliable detection method, being positive in all of the detected infections. Pepsin/HCI digestion of the stomach mucosa detected only 71% and punch sampling of the mucosa only 29% of these infections. This contrasts with an overseas study indicating that, in heavily infected cats, these techniques are similar in sensitivity. No macroscopic lesions were seen in the stomachs of infected cats.     

Blood coagulation parameters in clinically normal intensively farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus) and fallow deer (Dama dama)

Reference ranges for five parameters of blood coagulation were established in clinically normal farmed fallow deer (Dama dama) and red deer (Cervus elaphus). Storage of plasma at -15 degrees C resulted in small increases in activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) for both species, and in the one stage prothrombin time (OSPT) of fallow deer, between days 1 and 30. These times were then stable between days 30 and 60. The fibrinogen levels of fallow deer plasma showed a small apparent increase over 60 days. These storage artefacts were not of sufficient magnitude to preclude the use of such plasma for diagnostic purposes although they could limit its use in research. Levels of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) were not affected by storage at -15 degrees C. Rabbit brain thromboplastin appeared adequate for OSPT determination in both species. The activated clotting time (ACT) is recommended as a field test for screening the intrinsic and common pathways of blood coagulation in deer.     

High‐level of resistance to spinosad,emamectin benzoate and carbosulfan in populations of Thrips tabaci collected in Israel

BACKGROUND: The onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman, is a major pest of several crop plants in the genus Allium, such as onions, garlic and chives. In Israel, these crops are grown in open fields and in protected housing. This thrips is usually controlled by the application of chemical insecticides. In recent years, spinosad, emamectin benzoate and carbosulfan have been the major insecticides used for the control of the onion thrips. In the last 4 years, growers of chives and green onion from several regions of Israel have reported a significant decrease in the efficacy of insecticides used to control the onion thrips. RESULTS: The susceptibility of 14 populations of the onion thrips, collected mainly from chives between the years 2007 and 2011, to spinosad, emamectin benzoate and carbosulfan was tested using a laboratory bioassay. The majority of the populations showed significant levels of resistance to at least one of the insecticides. LC₅₀ values calculated for two of the studied populations showed that the resistance factor for spinosad compared with the susceptible population is 21 393, for carbosulfan 54 and for emamectin benzoate 36. Only two populations, collected from organic farms, were susceptible to the insecticides tested. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of a high resistance level to spinosad, the major insecticide used to control the onion thrips. Resistance cases to spinosad were associated with failures to control the pest. Populations resistant to spinosad also had partial or complete resistance to other insecticides used for controlling the onion thrips. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

施用竹炭对卷心菜叶绿素含量和荧光参数的影响

为探究人工施用竹炭对卷心菜叶绿素含量和荧光参数的影响,进而明确卷心菜的最适竹炭有机肥施用量,在田间试验条件下设置了无碳(CK)、中碳(MC)和高碳(SC)3个处理,对卷心菜莲座期和结球期的叶绿素含量及荧光参数进行测量研究.结果表明:(1)结球期的卷心菜叶绿素含量极显著高于莲座期(p0.01),且随着竹炭量的增加,两个时期的叶绿素含量变化趋势一致,从高到低依次为:MC,CK,SC.(2)结球期的卷心菜初始最小荧光Fo、初始最大荧光Fm、PSⅡ的最大光化学效率Fv/Fm,PSⅡ的潜在活性Fv/Fo、非光化学猝灭系数qN均低于莲座期,而PSⅡ实际光化学效率ΦPSⅡ、光化学猝灭系数qP高于莲座期,且随着竹炭量的增加,两个时期的这些参数均表现出一致的变化趋势,Fo和qN均呈"V"型变化,而Fm,Fv/Fm,Fv/Fo,ΦPSⅡ和qP均呈现倒"V"趋势,但对ΦPSⅡ和qP没有显著影响(p0.05).说明结球期的卷心菜光合作用高于莲座期;当竹炭量由CK增加到MC,有利于提高叶片叶绿素含量,增强光能利用率,减少植株热耗散,提高植株光合作用;但随着竹炭量进一步增加到SC,卷心菜叶片叶绿素含量降低,光能利用率减弱,热耗散增加,光合作用受到抑制,即中炭(MC)处理条件下,此卷心菜长势最优,表明中炭是该卷心菜生长的最适竹炭有机肥施用量.     

Treatment of contaminated radial fracture in Sprague-Dawley rats by application of a degradable polymer releasing gentamicin

Fracture-related infections remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. We aimed to establish a simple contaminated radial osteotomy model to assess the efficacy of a biodegradable polymer poly(sebacic-co-ricinoleic acid) [p(SA-RA)] containing 20% w/w gentamicin. A unilateral transverse osteotomy was induced in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, followed by application of Staphylococcus aureus suspension over the fracture. After successfully establishing the contaminated open fracture model, we treated the rats either systemically (intraperitoneal cefuroxime), locally with p(SA-RA) containing gentamicin, or both. Control groups included non-contaminated group and contaminated groups that were either untreated or treated with the polymer alone. After 4 weeks, the bones were subjected to micro-CT scanning and microbiological and histopathology evaluations. Micro-CT analysis revealed similar changes in the group subjected to both local and systemic treatment as in the non-contaminated control group. Lack of detectable bacterial growth was noted in most animals of the group subjected to both local and systemic treatment, and all samples were negative for S. aureus. Histopathological evaluation revealed that all treatment modalities containing antibiotics were highly effective in reducing infection and promoting callus repair, resulting in early bone healing. While p(SA-RA) containing gentamicin treatment showed better results than cefuroxime, the combination of local and systemic treatment displayed the highest therapeutic potential in this model.     

PG99S智能型喷灌机的调试及维护

在蔬菜、花卉的工厂化育苗生产中,准确控制肥水的浓度和喷洒的均匀性显得尤为重要,而喷灌设备作为智能型连栋育苗温室的主要浇灌设备,被广泛应用于现代化育苗温室中。该设备自动作业,水量控制精准。本文就PG99S型智能喷灌机介绍其调试方法和故障维修。