Sorption of phosphate by aluminium and iron(iii)-hydroxy species on mica surfaces

Freshly cleaved mica sheets with aluminium- or iron(III)-hydroxy species on the cationexchange surface were prepared by suitable treatment with AlCl₃ or FeCl₃. These surfaces were considered as model soilk mineral surfaces and their interaction with phosphate studied using techniques previously developed for the study of single planar surfaces.Adsorption isotherms for both the iron(III) and aluminium systems were very similar and could be interpreted as two Freundlich isotherms indicating two different adsorption processes, one operating below a solution concentration of 10^?5 M and thee other above. Results obtained from the continuous monitoring of adsorption indicate that a rearrangement of adsorbed phosphate occurs with time on both the aluminium- and iron(III)hydroxy surfaces. This rearrangement reduces the rate of desorption and could be a cause of phosphate fixation in soils.     

Relationship of blood corticosterone, immunoglobulin and haematological values in young crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) to water temperature, clutch of origin and body weight

Objective To examine whether sub-optimal temperature induced stress and immunosuppression in farmed saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) hatchlings. Design A clinico-pathological study. Animals A total of 140 hatchlings were used. Procedure Body weight and length, plasma corticosterone and immunoglobulin concentrations and total and differential white blood cell counts were measured in 140 hatchlings from five clutches divided between five water temperature treatment groups. Initially all groups were housed at 32°C for 10 weeks, then two groups (L, LC) were changed to low temperature (28°C) and two groups (H, HC) to high temperature (36°C), while one group (C) remained at 32°C. The LC and HC groups were maintained at these temperatures for 10 days, after which the water temperature of both groups was returned to 32°C. Blood samples were collected twice (at 6 and 9 weeks of age) before the initial temperature change, and at 10 days and 4 weeks after the initial temperature change (at 11.5 and 14 weeks of age). Results Except for an increase in plasma corticosterone in the HC group and a decrease in the L group when the temperature change was first introduced, changes in plasma corticosterone were not significant. There were no significant changes in immunoglobulin concentrations. There were, however, significant decreases in the total white cell and lymphocyte counts in the LC group after the temperature was decreased to 28°C, and an increase in these counts after water temperature was returned to 32°C. Clutch of origin had significant effects on body weight and length gains, and there were negative relationships between body weight and corticosterone concentrations and between body weight and immunoglobulin concentrations. Conclusions As haematological changes indicative of stress were not associated with significant changes in serum corticosterone, immunosuppression in young crocodiles may be independent of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortical axis.     

Genital pathology of feral male goats

Genitalia from 1000 feral male goats derived from western Queensland and New South Wales were examined after slaughter at an abattoir and the prevalence of abnormalities determined. Ulcerative balanoposthitis, considered due to caprine herpesvirus infection, was observed in 11 animals (1.1%); acidophilic intranuclear inclusions were found in 7 of these. Other conditions included focal hypoplasia of seminiferous tubules in 2 bucks (0.2%), segmental aplasia of the epididymis (one buck, 0.1%), bulbourethral gland cysts with contained aggregations (33 bucks, 3.3%) and haemangiosarcoma of the bulbourethral gland in one animal. The low prevalence of several conditions such as spermatic granuloma, cryptorchidism, and testicular hypoplasia, was attributed largely to the fact that the bucks examined were horned so that the recognised association between genital abnormalities and polledness did not apply.     

Acanthocephalan infection and sparganosis in a green tree snake (Dendrelaphis punctulata)

Acanthocephalan and spargana parasites were identified within a body wall mass during exploratory surgery in a wild green tree snake. Acanthocephalan parasites have not previously been reported in this species. Surgical excision, the treatment of choice, could not be achieved because of the extensive infiltration of the coelomic cavity.     

Yields of cultured Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas Thunberg improved after one generation of selection

Parental families (G₀) in three lines of Pacific oysters were selected based on live weight and meat yields at harvest. The average live weight yield of progeny (G₁) from crossing G₀-selected lines in seven trials was 9.5% greater than that of nonselected control families and live weight yields were significantly greater (ANOVA, P<0.001) in four out of seven trials. The response to selection was greater if G₁ families were tested at the same site as their parents' selection site rather than at a different site, although this effect was only significant for G₁ families of cohort 5 (P<0.01) but not cohort 7 (P>0.05). A significant genotype×environment interaction affected yields in both cohort 5 and cohort 7 (ANOVA; P<0.001). In addition, correlation between the yields of the same families planted at both intertidal and subtidal sites was positive but weak (cohort 5, r=0.30; cohort 7, r=0.35), indicating that selection for high yield in one environment would likely result in a low correlated response in a different environment. Nonetheless, it was possible to identify six families in cohort 5 and four families in cohort 7 that were among the top 10 families at both sites. Further evaluation of families across a wider range of environments is needed to determine if it is possible to substantially improve yields by selecting “generalist” families that perform well along the whole Pacific coast, or whether it will be necessary to select lines that are suited to particular sites.     

The prevalence of itchmite, Psorergates ovis, among sheep flocks with a history of fleece derangement

An investigation of sheep flocks in the main sheep raising areas of New South Wales showed that the itchmite Psorergates ovis was frequently associated with fleece derangement. In 26 of the 41 flocks examined, P. ovis was the only ectoparasite detected. P. ovis and the sheep body louse Damalinia ovis, were found in 5 flocks. No external parasites were found on sheep examined from the 10 remaining flocks. The type of fleece derangement most frequently recorded was rubbing which in some cases was combined with areas of chewed fleece. Among flocks, there were positive relations between the prevalence of fleece derangement and prevalence of itchmite or scurf and between itchmite count and mean scurf score. Within flocks, itchmite infested sheep or sheep with scurf had higher prevalences of fleece derangement than sheep on which no mites or no scurf were found. Itchmite infested sheep had a higher prevalence of scurf than those with no detectable mite infestation. There were no significant differences in itchmite populations or fleece derangement between untreated flocks and flocks treated with synthetic pyrethroids, organophosphates or arsenic and rotenone.