Experimental infection of normal and immunosuppressed pigs with Pseudomonas pseudomallei

A single dose of 5 x 10(8) bacilli of Pseudomonas pseudomallei by intratracheal injection resulted in acute (21 cases) or chronic (19 cases) melioidosis in 40 of 48 pigs. Fifteen (10 acute and 5 chronic) had been immunosuppressed by cyclophosphamide before inoculation. The major clinical signs were initial fever, marked neutrophilia and, in the acute cases, respiratory distress. There were no signs of the nasal and ocular discharge, paresis or diarrhoea seen in acute cases in south-east Asia. The cyclophosphamide treatment caused a significant decrease in the neutrophil count by 7 d after inoculation in all 15 immunosuppressed pigs, and all were culture positive at necropsy. Eight of the 33 non-treated pigs were culture negative at necropsy. Pigs overcoming the initial phase of infection had more abscess-like nodules that were bacteriologically sterile at necropsy than the pigs with acute cases of melioidosis. P. pseudomallei was isolated predominantly from the spleen, lungs and the injection site. Although only one strain was used in this study, it is likely that Australian strains of P. pseudomallei are not as virulent as the south-east Asian isolates.     

Tracking the long-term decline and recovery of an isolated population

Effects of small population size and reduced genetic variation on the viability of wild animal populations remain controversial. During a 35-year study of a remnant population of greater prairie chickens, population size decreased from 2000 individuals in 1962 to fewer than 50 by 1994. Concurrently, both fitness, as measured by fertility and hatching rates of eggs, and genetic diversity declined significantly. Conservation measures initiated in 1992 with translocations of birds from large, genetically diverse populations restored egg viability. Thus, sufficient genetic resources appear to be critical for maintaining populations of greater prairie chickens.     

Long‐term Effects of Pyrethrin and Cyfluthrin,a Type II Synthetic Pyrethroid,Insecticide Applications on Bull Reproductive Parameters

The objectives of this study were to determine effects of cyfluthrin and pyrethrin spray products, used in combination with cyfluthrin topical and ear tag applications, on bull reproductive parameters over 18 weeks. Angus or Angus x Simmental bulls were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: (i) no exposure to pyrethrins/cyfluthrin (CONT; n = 10), (ii) cyfluthrin ear tag and topical applications (ET; n = 10), or (iii) cyfluthrin ear tag, topical, premise spray and pyrethrin fog spray applications (ET+S; n = 8). Bull body weight was measured every 3 week, and body condition score and scrotal circumference were recorded on weeks 0, 9 and 18. Semen and serum were collected every 3 weeks for sperm evaluation and testosterone measurement, respectively. There was a treatment × week interaction (p < 0.01) for sperm with primary defects; bulls in CONT group had a greater (p = 0.01) percentage of sperm with primary defects than bulls treated with insecticides at week 18. Overall and progressive sperm motility, normal sperm morphology, secondary sperm defects and serum testosterone concentrations changed (p < 0.01) over time in all bulls; however, treatment did not affect (p ≥ 0.13) any of these parameters. There were also no treatment effects (p ≥ 0.08) on bull body weight, body condition score or scrotal circumference. The use of pyrethrin‐ and cyfluthrin‐based insecticides, regardless of application, did not negatively affect reproductive parameters in beef bulls when administered over 18 weeks.     

Persistent hypoglycemia associated with lipid storage myopathy in a paint foal

A 12‐hours‐old Paint filly was examined because of weakness and dull mentation after birth. Despite IV administered dextrose, the foal remained persistently hypoglycemic with increase in serum activity of muscle and liver enzymes. A postmortem diagnosis of lipid myopathy most similar to multiple acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) was confirmed by findings of myofiber lipid accumulation, elevated urine organic acids, and serum free acylcarnitines with respect to control foals. This report details a case of equine neonatal lipid storage myopathy with many biochemical characteristics of MADD. Lipid storage myopathies should be included as a differential diagnosis in foals with persistent weakness and hypoglycemia.     

Local Control of Microdomain Orientation in Diblock Copolymer Thin Films with Electric Fields

Local control of the domain orientation in diblock copolymer thin films can be obtained by the application of electric fields on micrometer-length scales. Thin films of an asymmetric polystyrene-polymethylmethacrylate diblock copolymer, with cylindrical polymethylmethacrylate microdomains, were spin-coated onto substrates previously patterned with planar electrodes. The substrates, 100-nanometer-thick silicon nitride membranes, allow direct observation of the electrodes and the copolymer domain structure by transmission electron microscopy. The cylinders aligned parallel to the electric field lines for fields exceeding 30 kilovolts per centimeter, after annealing at 250°C in an inert atmosphere for 24 hours. This technique could find application in nanostructure fabrication.     

Corneal invasion by hemangiosarcoma in a horse

A 15-year-old gray Arabian gelding presented for evaluation of a lateral limbal mass extending across approximately 30% of the cornea. Grossly, the raised mass appeared nonpigmented, smooth, and irregular in shape, with an area of central necrosis and serosanguinous discharge. The mass was removed via lamellar keratectomy and histopathologic evaluation revealed features characteristic of hemangiosarcoma (HSA), including irregular vascular channels lined by a plump spindle cell population. Immunohistochemistry results showed that the neoplastic cells lining the vascular channels present diffuse and strong cytoplasmic reaction with von Willebrand Factor and the perivascular spindle cells exhibit moderate cytoplasmic reaction for smooth muscle actin. A lack of cytokeratin staining definitively excluded a diagnosis of atypical squamous cell carcinoma. Smooth muscle actin staining of the perivascular cells adjacent to the neoplastic endothelial cells is not a feature commonly described in HSA and has not been reported in previous cases of equine HSA. The horse remained in good health 21 months postkeratectomy and has exceeded the survival time of previously documented equine ocular HSA cases where more extreme surgical excision was performed.     

Synchronized Terrestrial-Atmospheric Deglacial Records Around the North Atlantic

On the basis of synchronization of three carbon-14 (14C)-dated lacustrine sequences from Sweden with tree ring and ice core records, the absolute age of the Younger Dryas-Preboreal climatic shift was determined to be 11,450 to 11,390 +/- 80 years before the present. A 150-year-long cooling in the early Preboreal, associated with rising Delta14C values, is evident in all records and indicates an ocean ventilation change. This cooling is similar to earlier deglacial coolings, and box-model calculations suggest that they all may have been the result of increased freshwater forcing that inhibited the strength of the North Atlantic heat conveyor, although the Younger Dryas may have begun as an anomalous meltwater event.     

Conservation management of common dolphins: Lessons learned from the North-East Atlantic

1. The short-beaked common dolphin is one of the most numerous cetacean species in the North-East Atlantic and plays a key functional role within the ecosystem as a top predator. However, in 2013, its conservation status for the European Marine Atlantic, under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive, was assessed as ‘Unfavourable-Inadequate’. Of key concern for this species is fishery bycatch, with pollution also being an issue. There are, however, major knowledge gaps concerning the extent of the effects of such pressures on the species.
2. Implementation of national observer bycatch programmes and bycatch mitigation measures under EC Regulation 812/2004 has been important. The responsibility for this is currently being transferred to the EU fisheries Data Collection Framework and Technical Measures Framework, the potential advantages and disadvantages of which are discussed. Collection of data and samples through national stranding schemes in some countries has enabled assessments of life-history parameters, dietary requirements, and the effects of stressors such as pollutants.
3. Nevertheless, in order to improve the conservation status of the North-East Atlantic population, a number of key actions are still required. These include the implementation of a species action plan, finalization of a management framework procedure for bycatch, and coordination between member states of monitoring programmes. It is important that there is monitoring of the state of the common dolphin population in the North-East Atlantic management unit through regular surveys spanning the range of the management unit, as well as continued assessment of the independent and interactive effects of multiple stressors. Above all, conservation status would be improved through application and enforcement of existing legislation in European waters.
4. This paper provides a summary of the current state of our knowledge of common dolphins in the North-East Atlantic along with recommendations for conservation management that may also be relevant to the species in the Mediterranean Sea.