Effect of storage on some constituents of camel serum

SUMMARY Effects of storage at room temperature (23–25°C) and refrigeration (4–5°C) on various biochemical constituents of camel serum were investigated. Albumin, globulin, calcium, phosphorus, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (AP) and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) did not change over 9 days when stored at 4–5°C. At 4–5°C, creatinine, iron and glucose in camel sera remained stable for 6 days; total protein for 7 days; and blood urea nitrogen for 8 days. Decreased activities in creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were apparent after 1, 6 and 7 days, respectively. At room temperature, total protein, albumin, globulin, calcium and phosphorus were stable throughout the 9 days. Changes in glucose and iron occurred after 3 days. Stability at room temperature for LDH was 1 day; AST, 3 days; GGT and ALT, 6 days; and AP, 8 days. CK activity had already declined by 4 hours and by 9 days, only 34% activity remained.     

耕作方式对岩溶区甘蔗地土壤优先流特征的影响

岩溶区特殊的岩性地质条件,使土壤优先流现象广泛发生。以广西岩溶区内的典型农地甘蔗地作为研究对象,利用野外染色示踪技术和图像解析方法,分别对传统耕作(CT)和粉垄耕作(SRT)方式下的田间土壤优先流特征进行分析,揭示耕作方式对岩溶区甘蔗地土壤优先流的发生及其空间发展变化的影响。结果表明:①在相同外部供水条件下,传统耕作甘蔗地优先流运动分化程度相对较高,多呈指状形式,且平均湿润锋下渗深度为43.19 cm,显著大于粉垄耕作(P0.05),而粉垄耕作甘蔗地优先流以横向运动形式为主,表现为团块状湿润锋形式;②粉垄耕作甘蔗地土壤优先流发生时间显著滞后于传统耕作(P0.05),是其1.67倍;③随土壤深度的增加,两种耕作方式下的甘蔗地土壤优先流发育程度总体呈现先增加后降低的变化趋势,但粉垄耕作甘蔗地优先流比(70.72%)和长度指数(527.12%)均显著小于传统耕作甘蔗地(P0.05),且在土壤空间中对应的染色形态变异系数(1.19)是传统耕作的1.38倍,优先流发育程度显著低于传统耕作甘蔗地。粉垄耕作与传统耕作方式相比,在一定程度上降低了田间土壤优先流现象,改善了田间土层中的水肥状况。     

Allelopathic potential of wild onion (Asphodelus tenuifolius) on the germination and seedling growth of chickpea (Cicer arietinum)

Water extracts obtained from the roots, shoots, and fruits of mature wild onion ( Asphodelus tenuifolius ) plants and soil taken from an A. tenuifolius field were used to determine their allelopathic effects on the germination and seedling growth of chickpea ( Cicer arietinum ) in the laboratory. The roots, shoots, and fruits of A. tenuifolius were soaked individually in water in a ratio of 1:20 (w/v) for 24 h to prepare the extracts. Distilled water was used as the control. The germinated seeds were taken out from the Petri dishes and counted every day for 12 days. The seeds of chickpea were also sown in sand and in each of the controlled, normal soil and the soil taken from the A. tenuifolius -infested field in Petri dishes to record the length and weight of the roots and shoots 18 days after sowing. The mean germination time reached the maximum amount for the stem and fruit extracts. The fruit extract caused the most reduction in the germination index and the germination percentage of chickpea. The different wild onion organ extracts significantly reduced the root and shoot length and biomass of the chickpea seedlings compared with the distilled water. The fruit extract of wild onion proved to be the most detrimental to the root length, shoot length, and dry weight of the chickpea seedlings. The soil beneath the A. tenuifolius plants significantly reduced the emergence, root length, shoot length, shoot dry weight, and seedling dry weight but increased the root dry weight of the chickpea seedlings. It is suggested that A. tenuifolius releases phytotoxic compound(s).     

Epididymis Ligation: A Minimally Invasive Technique for Preparation of Teaser Rams

Objective— To describe a minimally invasive technique for preparation of teaser rams by needle-assisted ligation through the tail of the epididymis.
Study Design— Experimental study.
Animals— Mature rams (n=6), estrus-induced ewes (2).
Methods— After local anesthesia, epididymis ligation was achieved by restraining the testis distally within the scrotal sac and passing suture through a hypodermic needle inserted between tail of epididymis and distal pole of testis, caudomedial to craniolateral through the scrotum. The needle was removed leaving the suture in place and the testis pushed up dorsally, then the needle was reinserted through the original holes and the suture passed back through the needle, which was withdrawn. This resulted in the suture forming a complete loop around the epididymis. The suture ends were tied ligating the epididymis. Semen was evaluated pre- and postligation. Testes were removed after 30 days for gross and histologic examination.
Results— Epididymis ligation was accomplished without postoperative complications. Three weeks after the epididymis ligation, no motile and live spermatozoa were found in ejaculates. From 5 to 28 days after epididymis ligation, attraction to ewes and libido was unchanged and similar to 14 days before ligation.
Conclusions— This novel minimally invasive technique is a simple, alternative method for preparation of teaser rams.
Clinical Relevance— This method is simply performed, without skin wounds, and minimal postoperative care is needed. The technique should be readily adaptable to other species.     

西南岩溶区粉垄耕作和免耕方式下甘蔗地土壤优先流特征

以西南岩溶区的典型农地甘蔗地为研究对象,采用野外染色示踪技术,利用形态学解析手段,并结合土壤水分分层评价方法,对粉垄耕作和免耕方式下甘蔗地土壤优先流特征进行研究。结果表明:在相同外部供水条件下,粉垄耕作甘蔗地水分下渗湿润锋迹线较免耕甘蔗地平缓,呈均匀整体形式下渗,平均下渗深度是免耕甘蔗地的0.95倍,其优先流染色形态相对于免耕甘蔗地的枝状分化状态,多以零散团块状分化形式为主;在相同外部条件下,免耕甘蔗地最先发生优先流现象,优先流的发生速度是粉垄耕作甘蔗地的1.45倍,平均优先流比达88.61%,大于粉垄耕作甘蔗地(82.89%),二者之间差异显著(P0.05);沿土壤深度的增加,优先流在粉垄耕作甘蔗地土壤空间中的发展变化程度表现为"次活跃—活跃—次活跃—相对稳定—次活跃",而免耕甘蔗地表现为"次活跃—活跃—次活跃—相对稳定",免耕甘蔗地的优先流空间发展变化程度较高,主要发生在5—35cm土层范围内,相比粉垄耕作甘蔗地10—30cm土层深。粉垄耕作方式与免耕方式相比,降低了岩溶区甘蔗地土壤优先流的发生与发展,在一定程度上提高了土壤的保肥蓄水能力。     

Serological detection of Edwardsiella ictaluri Hawke lipopolysaccharide antibody in serum of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus Rafinesque

Abstract. Bacterial agglutination, passive haemagglutination, complement-dependent passive haemolysis, indirect immunofluorescence, agar gel immunodiffusion and agglutination with fractions of immunized fish serum were compared for detecting humoral antibody to the lipopolysacchande (LPS) of Edwardsiella icialuri Hawke in channel catfish. Bacterial agglutination titres averaged 1: 672; passive haemagglutination titres averaged 1: 1152; and complement-dependent haemolysis titres averaged 1: 2360. Serum from non-vaccinated fish ranged from 0 to 1:32. Indirect fluorescence and immunodiffusion demonstrated positive reactions to the LPS antibody. Fractionation of immune sera produced three fractions, one of which strongly haemagglutinated E. ictaluri but the other two did not. All six serological techniques were sensitive to E. ictaluri LPS antibody.     

Surgical Repair and Management of Congenital Intestinal Atresia in 68 Calves

Objective— To determine outcome and survival rate after surgical treatment of intestinal atresia, gender predilection, and effect of rectal palpation on the cause of atresia coli in calves.
Study Design— Prospective clinical study.
Animals— Newborn calves (n=68).
Methods— Data collected were husbandry system, anamneses, physical examination findings, surgical treatments, and postoperative results. Calves with atresia ani, and with atresia coli et recti had anal reconstruction and right flank colostomy, respectively. In midflank colostomized calves, the inner muscular layers were dissected to form a valve-like stoma.
Results— Of 68 calves with intestinal atresia, 37 were treated surgically. Anal reconstruction was performed in 21 calves with atresia ani with a long-term survival rate of at least 6 months with good condition. Colostomy was performed in 14 calves with atresia coli and 1 with atresia coli et recti; survival rate was 73%. The case morbidity rate for intestinal atresia was 13.8% and for atresia coli, 5.7% in the hospital population. No gender predilection for occurrence of atresia ani and atresia coli was identified. Palpation per rectum for early pregnancy diagnosis did not predispose to atresia coli.
Conclusion— Surgical treatment of atresia ani through circular anal skin removal has a good prognosis for survival. Colostomy is not an acceptable treatment from the calf's perspective because of the resulting poor condition but the high survival rate is important to allow continued milk production of the dam.
Clinical Relevance— Early diagnosis, supportive treatment, and surgical correction are important in management of atresia coli.