Field anaesthesia of leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea)     

Harms CA  Eckert SA  Kubis SA  Campbell M  Levenson DH  Crognale MA 《The Veterinary record》2007,161(1):15-21

Ten nesting leatherback sea turtles on Trinidad were anaesthetised for electroretinogram (ERG) measurements, using ketamine and medetomidine, reversed with atipamezole. They weighed 242 to 324 kg and were given initial doses of 3 to 8 mg/kg ketamine and 30 to 80 microg/kg medetomidine administered into an external jugular vein; six of the turtles received supplementary doses of 2.6 to 3.9 mg/kg ketamine combined with 0 to 39 microg/kg medetomidine. The lower doses were used initially to ensure against overdosage and reduce the chances of residual effects after the turtles returned to the water, but successful ergs called for step-wise dose increases to the required level of anaesthesia. Respiratory rate, heart rate, electrocardiogram, cloacal temperature, and venous blood gases were monitored, and blood was collected for plasma biochemistry. At the end of the erg procedure, atipamezole was administered at 150 to 420 microg/kg (five times the dose of medetomidine), half intramuscularly and half intravascularly. The turtles were monitored and prevented from re-entering the water until their behaviour was normal. No apparent mortalities or serious anaesthetic complications occurred. The observed within-season return nesting rate of the anaesthetised turtles was comparable with that of unanaesthetised turtles.  相似文献   

Evaluation of hematology and serum biochemistry of cold-stunned green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in North Carolina, U.S.A     

Anderson ET  Harms CA  Stringer EM  Cluse WM 《Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine》2011,42(2):247-255

Hypothermia or cold-stunning is a condition in which the body temperature of an animal decreases below normal physiologic range and which has been linked to severe morbidity in sea turtles. Reports have focused on the physiologic changes caused by cold-stunning in Kemp's Ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) and loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), but few have evaluated the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas). This study evaluated hematologic and serum biochemical profiles of cold-stunned green sea turtles in North Carolina, USA. When compared with healthy, free-ranging juvenile green turtles from the same region, cold-stunned turtles exhibited hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia (both total and ionized calcium), hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, hyperphosphatemia, and elevations in uric acid and blood urea nitrogen. These findings contrast with some previously reported changes in cold-stunned Kemp's Ridley and loggerhead sea turtles. These results emphasize the importance of basing therapeutic regimens on biochemical analyses in cold-stunned sea turtles.  相似文献   

Follow-up of mercury levels in fish,human hair and urine in the Madeira and Tapajós basins,Amazon, Brazil     

Malm  O  Guimarães  JRD  Castro  MB  Bastos  WR  Viana  JP  Branches  FJP  Silveira  EG  Pfeiffer  WC 《Water, air, and soil pollution》1997,97(1-2):45-51

Informal economy of gold mining has contaminated some important river basins in Amazon. Follow-up studies on critical compartments showed some areas with high Hg levels in fish as well as in human hair samples. Average Hg in piscivorous fish in the Madeira river itself was 846 ppb (N=284) with a maximum of 3921 ppb. Mercury in fish from non polluted areas in this basin shows high variability, even for single species. A seasonal variation in Hg content was observed, with higher values at the end of the dry season. In the upper Tapajós basin comparable values were found for fish but with a definite decreasing trend downstream. Average value for piscivorous fish in the whole Tapajós basin is 482 ppb (N=122) with a maximum value of 3770 ppb. Hair Hg was higher in fishing villages in the Tapajós (average: 17 ppm; with N=432 and maximum value of 176 ppm) than in the Madeira (average: 9 ppm; N=169; maximum 71 ppm), and data from some areas of the Tapajós suggest a decrease with time. Mercury was much higher in urine of goldshop workers in Santarém (low Tapajós) than in Alta Floresta (high Tapajbs) and show a decreasing trend in both cases, probably related to the significant decline in gold mining activities during the study period (1986–1994).  相似文献   

GnRH in the infundibular stalk-median eminence is related to percentage body fat in carcasses of beef cows.     

R J Rasby  R P Wettemann  P G Harms  K S Lusby  J J Wagner 《Domestic animal endocrinology》1992,9(1):71-76

Mature Hereford cows (n = 28) were used to determine the effect of percentage body fat on secretion of LH and content of GnRH in the infundibular stalk-median eminence (ISME). Cows were fed to maintain, lose, or gain weight to achieve body condition scores (BCS; 1 = emaciated; 9 = obese) of 3 to 7. Then cows were fed to maintain weight and body condition. Before slaughter, estrus was synchronized using two injections of prostaglandin F2 alpha(PGF) 11 d apart. Five d after the second PGF injection, cows were given 100 micrograms of GnRH (im) and serum samples were obtained. LH was quantified using RIA. The anterior pituitary and ISME were obtained within 45 min of death. Anterior pituitary weight and LH concentration, total GnRH in the ISME, total carcass fat, and percentage carcass fat were determined. BCS of cows at the time of slaughter influenced percentage carcass fat (P less than .001), total GnRH in the ISME (P less than .02), and maximum LH after GnRH treatment (P less than .09), but did not influence pituitary weight or concentration of LH in the pituitary. Content of GnRH in the ISME averaged 76 +/- 12, 32 +/- 14, 27 +/- 13, and 24 +/- 13 ng for cows with BCS of 3, 5, 6, and 7, respectively. BCS was correlated (P less than .001) with percentage carcass fat (r = .94) and total fat in the carcass (r = .92). Total GnRH in the ISME was negatively correlated (P less than .005) with BCS (r = -.54), percentage carcass fat (r = -.55), and total carcass fat (r = -.49).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)  相似文献   

TECHNETIUM-99M AND IODINE-131 THYROID SCINTIGRAPHY IN NORMAL AND RADIOTHYROIDECTOMIZED COCKATIELS (NYMPHICUS HOLLANDICUS)     

Craig A.  Harms  DVM  James J.  Hoskinson  DVM  David S.  Bruyette  DVM  James W.  Carpenter  MS  DVM  Johna K.  Veatch  DVM  PhD 《Veterinary radiology & ultrasound》1994,35(6):473-478

Thyroid scintigraphy using sodium ^99mTechnetium pertechnetate (⁹⁹TcO₄-) was performed in normal and radiothyroidectomized cockatiels ( Nymphicus hollandicus ). ¹³¹I scintigraphy was performed in the course of ablating the thyroid glands. The thyroid glands in normal birds were clearly visualized, but were not individually resolvable. Thyroid glands were not visualized in thyroid-ablated birds. With ^99mTcO₄ scans, thyroid (or other region of interest)/body count density ratios were used for comparisons of normal and thyroid-ablated birds. Normal ^99mTcO₄- thyroid/body ratios (mean +/− SD) for the dorsal and lateral views were 1.83 +/− 0.31 and 1.70 +/− 0.34 respectively. Pertechnetate thyroid/body count density ratios decreased (to 0.93 -/−0.14 and 0.88 +/− 0.12 for dorsal and lateral views respectively) after thyroid ablation, while crop/body ratios increased. ^99mTcO₄- thyroid scintigraphy, therefore, was capable of detecting hypofunctional thyroid abnormalities in ¹³¹I radiothyroidectomized cockatiels.  相似文献   

Aortic atherosclerosis in nonlaying hens with fatty liver syndrome     

C F Simpson  R H Harms 《Avian diseases》1983,27(3):652-659

Ten laying hens with low plasma cholesterol levels and no signs of fatty liver syndrome were examined at necropsy. Liver coloration and deposition of body fat were not abnormal in such hens. Eleven nonlaying hens had signs of fatty liver syndrome. They were out of production for 1 to 3 months and had elevate plasma cholesterol levels. At necropsy, such hens had yellow livers, heavy deposits of body fat, and several involuted egg yolks, which were dark yellow. Intimal plaques were observed by light microscopy in the abdominal aortas of hens with low plasma cholesterol levels; the plaques contained little or no lipid and were composed of three or four rows of modified smooth-muscle cells. Aortic intimal plaques of hens with high plasma cholesterol levels were composed of 16 to 18 rows of modified smooth-muscle cells when examined by light microscopy. The plaques contained intracellular and extracellular lipid, indicating aortic atherosclerosis. Electron-microscopic observations of the abdominal aortas of both groups of hens were similar to light-microscopic observations, except that lipid, including cholesterol clefts, was seen both intracellularly and extracellularly in the thickened tunica intima of hens with high plasma cholesterol values. Thus, the presence of aortic atherosclerosis was confirmed by electron microscopy. It is suggested that the endogenous hypercholesterolemia and cessation of egg production, characteristic of severe fatty liver syndrome, originated from the reabsorption of involuted egg yolks and that such reabsorption caused the development of aortic atherosclerosis and deposition of excess body fat.  相似文献   

Comparison of the biopotencies of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide for broiler chicks     

N Ruiz  R H Harms 《British poultry science》1988,29(3):491-498

1. Two experiments were conducted with 1056 1-d-old Cobb x Cobb feather-sexed broiler chicks, to determine the relative nicotinic acid biopotencies of nicotinic acid (NA) and nicotinamide (NAm). 2. Two methods were used: the slope-ratio technique and the broken-line model. 3. In experiment 1, using the slope-ratio technique, NAm was 0.82 as active as NA in promoting growth to 21 d of age. In experiment 2 NAm was 0.96 as bipotent as NA. 4. Applying the broken-line model to the body weight data at 21 d of age for both NA and NAm in experiment 1, it was found that NAm had approximately 0.82 NA activity. The same analysis applied to the data of experiment 2 indicated that the biopotency of NAm was 1.09. 5. A t-test of the slope-ratio values obtained in both experiments indicated that the average (0.89) was not significantly different from 1.0. 6. It was concluded that the relative biopotencies of NA and NAm in broiler chicks fed a maize-soyabean meal diet were similar.  相似文献   

Influence of hormonal extracts on hens producing eggs with non-calcified or partially calcified shells and factors associated with this condition.     

D A Roland  D R Sloan  R H Harms 《British poultry science》1975,16(5):423-429

1. Daily injection of hypothalameal extract (HE) and adenohypophyseal extract (AE) into hens aged 56 or 67 weeks for 14 d did not significantly influence the production of shell-less (SL) or ultra-thin-shell (UTS) eggs. 2. The injection of HE significantly increased hard-shell (HS) egg production in the younger hens. 3. Neither AE nor HE affected egg weight, serum calcium, gain in body weight or food consumption. 4. In a third experiment hens selected for poor egg production laid at a rate of 58% of which 36% were SL, 29% UTS and 35% HS eggs. Whereas the production rate of the good layers was 65% of which 1-4% were SL and 1-4% were UTS eggs. 5. Specific gravity of HS eggs, serum calcium, weight of ovary, oviduct, or adenohypophysis did not differ between good and poor layers. 6. Since SL and UTS eggs are easily overlooked the decrease in egg production with age may be as great as indicated by normal production records; the problem may be concerned more with the mechanism of shell formation.  相似文献   

Beet-vinasse (condensed molasses solubles) as an ingredient in diets for cattle and pigs - nutritive value and limitations     

Stemme K  Gerdes B  Harms A  Kamphues J 《Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition》2005,89(3-6):179-183

Sugar beet vinasse, originating as the condensed molasses residue from yeast production, was fed to bulls and pigs to determine the feed value. It contained, per kg dry matter (DM content 66.8%), 293 g crude protein, 305 g N-free extract (therefrom 34.4 g total sugar), and 395 g crude ash. The experiment was carried out with three fattening bulls (German Holstein) and four adult pigs (Gottingen Minipig). In bulls, two balance trials lasting 20 days each (10 days adaptation; 10 days collection) were conducted in which subsequently a basal ration without and with vinasse (14% in DM) was fed. In pigs, the experiment consisted of three 12-day balance trials with the final 5 days as collection period. In the first trial, pigs received a basal diet without vinasse and in the following, a mixed diet with 16 and 43% vinasse (in DM) respectively. Digestibilities of components in vinasse in bulls were: organic matter 73.5%, crude protein 72.6%, and N-free extract 52.3%. In bulls, no influence on faeces quality could be detected while feeding 14% vinasse in DM. While feeding 16% vinasse in DM to pigs, the digestibility of organic matter amounted to 72.3% (crude protein 71.8%; NfE 74.6%). Feeding higher amounts of vinasse (43% in DM) in the diet of pigs, digestibilities were reduced (organic matter: 61.6%), which might be a result of a reduced retention time of the chyme as a result of an osmotically driven diarrhoea because of unexpectedly high sulphate (136 g/kg DM) content in the vinasse. It is concluded that because of organic matter digestibility >70% for cattle and pigs, the use of vinasse in these species in small proportions is reasonable.  相似文献   

Clomipramine and selegiline: do they influence impulse control?     

Bert B  Harms S  Langen B  Fink H 《Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics》2006,29(1):41-47

Anxiety disorders in dogs are often accompanied by loss of impulse control and can result in inappropriate behaviour such as destructiveness, excessive barking and aggression. The reduction of these undesirable actions is the focus of behaviour therapy. Clomipramine and selegiline have been approved for the treatment of separation anxiety in dogs, but there are anecdotal reports that they produce inconsistent therapeutic effect. Hence, the aim of this study was to verify the efficacy of clomipramine and selegiline for regulating impulse control by using a rat model based on the delay of reward procedure. The principle is that the animal has to decide between an immediate small food reward, normally preferred by impulsive animals, and a delayed large food reward. In this study, acute effects of clomipramine (0.3-10.0 mg/kg), selegiline (0.3-3.0 mg/kg), and diazepam (1.0-3.0 mg/kg) on the impulsive behaviour of two breeding lines of rats with different anxiety-related behaviour were investigated. Neither clomipramine nor selegiline had an effect on impulse control in either breeding line. However, motor activity was decreased by clomipramine and increased by selegiline. Diazepam led to an increase in impulsive behaviour of one rat line concomitant with an increase in motor activity. The results of this rat model for studying impulsive behaviour suggest that a single administration of selegiline and clomipramine has no influence on impulsive behaviour.  相似文献