Use of computer tomography for imaging of Crassicauda grampicola in a Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus).

A mature male Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) stranded along the coasts of Friuli Venezia Giulia, northeast Italy, in May 2001. Parasitic infection with Crassicauda grampicola is often found in the tympanic bullae and pterygoid sinuses in many of the Risso's dolphins examined from the same area. For this reason, it was decided to perform computed tomography of the head to assess this imaging technique for the diagnosis of crassicaudosis in dolphins. A full postmortem examination confirmed the pathologic findings of the computed tomography scan. This technique can be considered a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of cranial crassicaudosis in live dolphins.     

Cassava dreg as replacement of corn in goat kid diets

The effects of corn replacement by cassava dreg in diets of crossbred goat kids were evaluated. We tested the impacts of 0, 33, 66 and 100% replacement on intake, digestibility, feeding behaviour, performance and carcass characteristics. Thirty-six goat kids, aged between 4 and 5 months and with initial body weights of 17.61 ± 1.98 kg, were used in a completely randomised design. Analysis of regression revealed a negative linear effect on neutral detergent fibre (NDF) intake and a positive linear effect on non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) and hydrocyanic acids (HCN) intake. Cassava dreg use had a positive linear effect on organic matter digestibility and non-fibrous carbohydrates. Based on our results, cassava dreg use did not negatively impact animal performance, feeding behaviour and carcass characteristics, suggesting that it may replace corn up to 100% in the diets of confined goat kids.     

Field evaluation of moxidectin/praziquantel oral gel in horses

The safety and efficacy of 2% moxidectin/12.5% praziquantel oral gel administered at a rate of 0.4 mg moxidectin and 2.5 mg praziquantel/kg was studied in client-owned horses under field use conditions. Four hundred horses (300 treated with moxidectin/praziquantel oral gel and 100 treated with vehicle) were enrolled, feces were collected, and eggs were counted. Investigators as well as horse owners were masked to treatment assignment. No adverse reactions to treatment were observed in any horses. Moxidectin/praziquantel gel reduced Anoplocephala spp by more than 99% and provided a significant (P <.05) reduction (> 98%) in the strongyle egg count of treated horses.     

Extent and Pattern of Genetic Diversity for Morpho-agronomic Traits in Ethiopian Highland Pulse Landraces: I. Field Pea (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pisum sativum</Emphasis> L.)

An experiment was conducted in 2001 at Holetta and Kulumsa, Ethiopia, to study the extent and pattern of genetic diversity in Ethiopian field pea (Pisum sativum L.) landraces. One hundred forty-eight germplasm accessions were grown in an alpha lattice design with 2 replications. Data on 12 traits were collected and analyzed. Differences among the accessions were significant for most of the traits (except number of seeds/ pod) at each location even though differences pooled over location were mostly non-significant. The accessions were grouped into five clusters of different sizes. Accessions from the southern part of the country (Arsi) distributed overall clusters while those from the northern half (North and South Wello, North Gonder and North Shewa) fell into clusters C₁ to C₃. Cumulative effects of a number of characters dictated differentiation of the accessions into clusters. There was no definite relationship between geographic diversity and genetic diversity as overlapping was encountered in clustering pattern among accessions from different parts of the country. Accessions from different regions might have similar genetic background and those from the same origin might also have different genetic background. Therefore, geographic diversity should not necessarily be used as an index of genetic diversity and parental selection should be based on a systematic study of genetic diversity in a specific population. Genetic distances among most of the clusters were significant that crosses between parents selected out of them are expected to generate desirable genetic recombination. Selection should also consider the special advantages of each cluster and each accession within a cluster. Future germplasm collection, conservation and breeding efforts should focus not only on inter-regional diversity but also on intra-regional diversity.     

Extent and Pattern of Genetic Diversity for Morpho-agronomic Traits in Ethiopian Highland Pulse Landraces II. Faba Bean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vicia faba</Emphasis> L.)

A field experiment was conducted in 2001 at Holetta and Kulumsa, Ethiopia, to study genetic diversity in Ethiopian faba bean (Vicia faba L.) landraces. One hundred sixty random germplasm accessions were grown in an alpha lattice design with two replications. Data on 12 traits were collected and analyzed. Significant differences were observed among the accessions for most of the traits (except number of pods/podding nodes) at each location even though differences pooled over location were mostly non-significant. Cluster analysis distinguished seven diversity classes of different sizes. Accessions from the northern half of the country (North and South Wello, North Gonder and North Shewa) were closely related while those from the southern part of the country (Arsi) were highly diverse. Cumulative effects of a number of characters dictated differentiation of the accessions into clusters. Some overlapping were encountered between accessions from the northern and those from the southern parts of the country. The study revealed that accessions from different regions might have similar genetic background and those from the same origin might also have different genetic background. Therefore, geographic diversity should not necessarily be used as an index of genetic diversity and parental selection should be based on a systematic study of genetic diversity in a specific population. Genetic distances between most of the clusters were significant that crosses between parents selected out of them are expected to generate desirable progenies. Future germplasm collection, conservation and utilization strategies should put more focus not only on inter-regional diversity in the country as a whole but also on intra-regional diversity in Arsi.     

Class II aminoacyl transfer RNA synthetases: crystal structure of yeast aspartyl-tRNA synthetase complexed with tRNA(Asp)

The crystal structure of the binary complex tRNA(Asp)-aspartyl tRNA synthetase from yeast was solved with the use of multiple isomorphous replacement to 3 angstrom resolution. The dimeric synthetase, a member of class II aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (aaRS's) exhibits the characteristic signature motifs conserved in eight aaRS's. These three sequence motifs are contained in the catalytic site domain, built around an antiparallel beta sheet, and flanked by three alpha helices that form the pocket in which adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and the CCA end of tRNA bind. The tRNA(Asp) molecule approaches the synthetase from the variable loop side. The two major contact areas are with the acceptor end and the anticodon stem and loop. In both sites the protein interacts with the tRNA from the major groove side. The correlation between aaRS class II and the initial site of aminoacylation at 3'-OH can be explained by the structure. The molecular association leads to the following features: (i) the backbone of the GCCA single-stranded portion of the acceptor end exhibits a regular helical conformation; (ii) the loop between residues 320 and 342 in motif 2 interacts with the acceptor stem in the major groove and is in contact with the discriminator base G and the first base pair UA; and (iii) the anticodon loop undergoes a large conformational change in order to bind the protein. The conformation of the tRNA molecule in the complex is dictated more by the interaction with the protein than by its own sequence.     

Comprehensive authentication of (E)-alpha(beta)-ionone from raspberries, using constant flow MDGC-C/P-IRMS and enantio-MDGC-MS

A new coupling system of GC-GC, connected via a Multi Column Switching Device MCS2 for measuring isotope ratios, is introduced. By means of several standard substances the precise and accurate measurement of isotopic values is proved. First applications concerning the authentication of raspberry aroma compounds are established. Consequently, the combination of constant flow multidimensional gas chromatography-combustion/pyrolysis-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (MDGC-C/P-IRMS) is applied to the authenticity assessment of (E)-alpha(beta)-ionone from six different raspberry cultivars. Furthermore, 12 commercially available raspberry products and samples of (E)-alpha(beta)-ionone, some declared to be natural, are investigated. delta(2)Eta(V)(-)(SMOW) and delta(13)C(V)(-)(PDB) values of (E)-alpha(beta)-ionone are determined, and characteristic authenticity ranges were concluded from raspberries by correlation of both delta(2)Eta(V)(-)(SMOW) and delta(13)C( V)(-)(PDB) values. The results are correlated with the determination of enantiomeric purities of (E)-alpha-ionone, using stir bar sorptive extraction enantio-multidimensional gas chromatography mass spectrometry (SBSE-enantio-MDGC-MS).     

Die Termitenherde in Venetien (Italien)

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