Sexual dimorphism of fast muscle fibre recruitment in farmed Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.)

Commercially farmed Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) were reared at the Aga Marin's facility located on Dønna (Norway) under ambient environmental conditions in duplicate 15 × 15 × 8 m netpens (May 2004 to May 2005). Twenty fish were sampled five times over a twelve month production period during which time the average body weight increased from 1.26 to 2.08 kg (n = 100 fish). Body mass, fork length (L_F), and the number and size distributions of fast muscle fibres were determined in male and female fish. All males matured during the autumn whereas no maturation was observed in females. From the point of maturation females had superior growth performance to males and body mass and the total cross-sectional area of muscle were 1.4-fold (P < 0.05) and 1.3-fold higher (P < 0.01) respectively by May 2005. The total number of fast muscle fibres per trunk cross-section at 0.55 L_F was 24.5% higher in females (7.58 × 10⁵) than males (5.80 × 10⁵) prior to sexual maturation. In females, muscle fibre recruitment slowed with short days and low water temperatures (< 6.5 °C), but had increased to 1.01 × 10⁶ by May 2005 (P < 0.001). In contrast, there was no growth and no increase in muscle fibre number in males following the onset of maturation. The distribution of muscle fibre diameters prior to maturation in males was also significantly different between male and female fish matched for L_F. The results illustrate a sexual dimorphism of muscle fibre recruitment patterns in Atlantic halibut and highlight the adverse affects of sexual maturation in males on muscle growth.     

Physiological and biochemical consequences of electroimobilisation in conscious sheep

An electroimmobilisation device has been developed to facilitate the automated shearing of sheep, but there is little information on its effects on the body. We have studied its effects on the cardiovascular system and on intermediary metabolism in sheep. Electroimmobilisation caused statistically significant increases in mean arterial pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, renal and hepatic and hindquarter glucose and lactate flux, organ and whole body oxygen flux, hindquarter blood flow and core temperature and decreases in arterial and posterior vena cava blood pH, renal and hepatic blood flow and PaCO2. Notably, no change occurred in PaO2. The metabolic changes demonstrated the capacity of sheep to respond to the increased muscular and cardiovascular work induced by electroimmobilisation. Pulmonary function was not compromised during electroimmobilisation as judged from blood gas changes, and the acid/base changes were rapidly reversed after electroimmobilisation. The recovery to control conditions for all perturbations generally took no longer than 30 min, consistent with a rapid and physiologically adequate reversal by the animal's homeostatic mechanisms.     

The Contribution to Nitrogen Deposition and Ozone Formation in South Norway from Atmospheric Emissions Related to the Petroleum Activity in the North Sea

A photochemical puff-trajectory model (Fotoplume) has been applied to simulate emissions, atmospheric transport and chemical transformations of pollutants from offshore oil and gas production in the North Sea. The above model was used in conjunction with the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) regional Lagrangian oxidant model. The Fotoplume and EMEP models were used to evaluate the effects of the atmospheric emissions from the oil and gas exploration activity in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. Deposition of nitrogen and formation of boundary level ozone in Southern Norway due to North Sea emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO_x), carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) have been studied. The petroleum activity in the North Sea is calculated to contribute approximately 20% of the nitrogen deposition in the coastal areas of Norway in 1992. In addition, the models were used to estimate the AOT40 ozone exposure levels. The results indicate that emissions from British and Norwegian oil and gas exploitation sector separately contribute to less than 5% each of the AOT40 values for coniferous forests and meadows. Comparison of model calculations with experimental measurements is quite satisfactory and the models show realistic results for both the nitrogen deposition and AOT40 values.     

An evaluation of field and non-invasive genetic methods to estimate brown bear (Ursus arctos) population size

Estimates of population size and density are essential for successful management and conservation of any species. Although there are a variety of methods available for estimating abundance and density of populations, most studies rely on only one estimator and very few studies have compared and critically evaluated the adequacy and the cost of these methods. We used the brown bear (Ursus arctos) in south-central Sweden to compare the performance of three different methods of estimating population size, including methods based on conventional field data as well as on non-invasive genetic data. The method based on observations of females with cubs underestimated the true population size, as the estimates were below the number of unique genotypes determined from faecal data inside the study area. The best traditional method was based on observations of bears from a helicopter. The genetic method using the closed population MARK estimator, as recommended in a previous study, seemed to perform the best. We conclude that approximately 223 (188-282) bears were present in our 7328 km² study area during 2001 and 2002 and suggest that this hunted brown bear population has been relatively stable for about ten years. The non-invasive genetic method was less expensive than the most reliable traditional field method (a CMR method based on observations of bears from a helicopter), and preferable from an ethical point of view. We recommend that future studies using non-invasive genetic methods based on collected faecal samples should aim at collecting 2.5-3 times the number of faecal samples as the “assumed” number of animals.     

Pathological Lesions in Swine at Slaughter: IV. Pathological Lesions in Relation to Rearing System and Herd Size

Data from the meat inspection at a large regional abattoir in Norway was used to study the effect of different production systems and herd size on the occurrence of pathological lesions in pig carcasses. Three production systems were compared: combined production, production strictly in batches and continuous production. Only the former reared its own piglets. The data was collected in the period 1975–1977. The number of herds varied between 87 and 94, and between 26,000 and 30,000 bacon pigs were slaughtered each year. The herds were divided into three different size groups: ≤ 200, 201–400, and > 400 pigs slaughtered annually. Each year was considered separately.The study showed that the highest frequency of sound carcasses occurred in the combined production group. There was no significant difference between the two production groups rearing purchased piglets. Moreover, there was an inverse relationship between the frequency of sound carcasses and herd size, but the positive effect of the small herd was estimated to be less important than that of production system.The distribution of 16 different pathological lesions was also considered. Four lesions (pneumonia — moderate and severe —, pleurisy and scabies) were recorded at significantly different levels in the production systems all three years of recording.Analysis of the effect of herd size also showed that in the cases of moderate pneumonia and pleurisy, the small herds were at an advantage. The other lesions had a rather casual distribution among the groups.The statistical evaluation indicates however, that in cases of significant differences between the tested groups, only 20–40 % of the variation could be “explained” by our model comprizing production systems and herd size groups.     

Pathological Lesions in Swine at Slaughter: V. Pathological Lesions in Relation to Some Environmental Factors in the Herds

The influence of environment on animal health was studied in 40 bacon herds. These herds delivered approx. 11,000 baconers annually to the slaughter-house. The data from the meat inspection was studied in connection with the environmental recordings, and the relationship between 18 lesions and 20 environmental factors were estimated by statistical methods. The data was collected in the period 1975–1977.The influence of environmental factors upon the prevalence of different lesions showed considerable variation. Ten environmental factors were significantly associated with pleurisy and tail lesions (cannibalism). On the other hand none of the environmental factors bore any significant relation to atrophic rhinitis, pericarditis, peritonitis, perihepatitis, polyarthritis, arthritis and claw lesions. Eight environmental factors influenced the proportion of healthy animals.The recorded environmental factors influenced the overall health situation to a varying degree. For example, design of pen walls, insulation of pen floors, occasional use of supplementary feed and free access to drinking water were related to 5–7 lesions, while the nature of the concentrate (meal/pellets) had no significant influence.The study indicated that many details in environment and management could be of importance to the health of bacon pigs. However, statistical analysis also showed that production systems had a considerably stronger influence upon the health situation than any of the “pure” environmental factors – even when these factors were added.     

基于时间序列MODIS EVI数据的森林生长异常监测

利用遥感技术,基于时间序列的MODIS数据对2004—2006年东北三省的林区进行森林生长异常监测。首先利用MODIS数据时间分辨率高的特点,采用Savitzky-Golay滤波函数平滑8天合成的EVI,计算生长季面积和年EVI曲线熵值,两指标联合得到3年间变化量大的像素点,定义为森林生长异常点;然后抽取异常点的时间序列曲线进行分析,并结合森林灾害事件进行比较验证。结果表明:异常点曲线的熵值明显大于正常年,生长季峰值低,并且在生长旺季会出现峰值突然持续下降或双峰等异常现象,这与该区域森林生长异常发生时的植被反射率表征一致,说明用该法对森林生长异常进行监测是基本可行的。     

Possible parachordoma in a dog

Abstract

CASE HISTORY: A 15-mm diameter mass developed in the S/C tissue overlying the right lateral gluteal muscle of a 6½-year-old female Flat-coated Retriever.

PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: Cytological preparations following aspiration of the mass were highly cellular and consisted of a population of large polygonal cells containing single to multiple nuclei, large prominent nucleoli, and intracytoplasmic vacuoles. Histologically, the neoplasm consisted of similar large cells surrounded by thick fibrous connective tissue trabeculae. The large polygonal cells reacted positively with antibodies against vimentin, low- and high-molecular-weight variants of cytokeratin (AE1/AE3), but not with antibodies to desmin or glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP).

DIAGNOSIS: The clinical, gross, histological and immunohistochemical findings are similar to those reported for parachordomas in humans. Neither recurrence nor metastases were noted 18 months after surgical excision of the mass.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This is the first reported case of a possible parachordoma in a dog, a benign tumour with cytological features of malignancy.     

Acute lead intoxication in a pregnant mare

Lead (Pb) intoxication in horses is usually a chronic phenomenon with clinical signs associated with central nervous dysfunction. This report gives details of a case of acute Pb intoxication in a 9-year-old American Saddlebred mare with severe, progressive and ultimately fatal neurological deterioration. During the 4 days of hospitalisation, clinical signs progressed from intermittent headshaking and depression to severe, continuous, uncontrollable manic behaviour. At autopsy, three grey-coloured, hard metal particles were present in the gastrointestinal tract and subsequently found to contain 2614 ppm Pb. Lead concentrations in the brain, liver, stomach and kidney were 29, 4, 6 and 2 ppm wet weight, respectively.     

Effects of starvation,subsequent feeding and photoperiod on flesh quality in farmed cod (Gadus morhua)

The study was designed to investigate the effect of four cycles of 5 weeks starvation followed by 10‐week refeeding compared with daily feeding under either natural photoperiod or continuous light (LL) regime on body composition and flesh quality in Atlantic cod in sea cages, northern Norway. The fish were sampled for body composition and flesh quality parameters at the start of the trial, twice at the end of a 10‐week feeding period and twice at the end of a 5‐week starvation period. There was effect of both feeding and light regime on growth, the two starving groups losing weight during starvation and regaining weight during refeeding, and the group under LL being heavier. But, the mean overall growth did not vary between groups. Starvation/refeeding regime resulted in higher slaughter yield, but no overall effect was seen on hepatosomatic index, water content, water holding capacity (WHC), muscle pH, hardness or flesh colour compared with control groups. Continuous light increased gutted weight and slaughter yield, lowered WHC and depressed maturation compared with fish under natural light regime. Increased growth rate resulted in softer fillets and lower muscle pH.