Experimental comparison of aerial larvicides and habitat modification for controlling disease-carrying Aedes vigilax mosquitoes     

de Little SC  Williamson GJ  Bowman DM  Whelan PI  Brook BW  Bradshaw CJ 《Pest management science》2012,68(5):709-717

BACKGROUND: Microbial and insect‐growth‐regulator larvicides dominate current vector control programmes because they reduce larval abundance and are relatively environmentally benign. However, their short persistence makes them expensive, and environmental manipulation of larval habitat might be an alternative control measure. Aedes vigilax is a major vector species in northern Australia. A field experiment was implemented in Darwin, Australia, to test the hypotheses that (1) aerial microbial larvicide application effectively decreases Ae. vigilax larval presence, and therefore adult emergence, and (2) environmental manipulation is an effective alternative control measure. Generalised linear and mixed‐effects modelling and information‐theoretic comparisons were used to test these hypotheses. RESULTS: It is shown that the current aerial larvicide application campaign is effective at suppressing the emergence of Ae. vigilax, whereas vegetation removal is not as effective in this context. In addition, the results indicate that current larval sampling procedures are inadequate for quantifying larval abundance or adult emergence. CONCLUSIONS: This field‐based comparison has shown that the existing larviciding campaign is more effective than a simple environmental management strategy for mosquito control. It has also identified an important knowledge gap in the use of larval sampling to evaluate the effectiveness of vector control strategies. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry  相似文献   

Public health and biosecurity. Adaptations of avian flu virus are a cause for concern     

Berns KI  Casadevall A  Cohen ML  Ehrlich SA  Enquist LW  Fitch JP  Franz DR  Fraser-Liggett CM  Grant CM  Imperiale MJ  Kanabrocki J  Keim PS  Lemon SM  Levy SB  Lumpkin JR  Miller JF  Murch R  Nance ME  Osterholm MT  Relman DA  Roth JA  Vidaver AK 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》2012,335(6069):660-661

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Generation of leaf shape through early patterns of growth and tissue polarity     

Kuchen EE  Fox S  de Reuille PB  Kennaway R  Bensmihen S  Avondo J  Calder GM  Southam P  Robinson S  Bangham A  Coen E 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》2012,335(6072):1092-1096

A major challenge in biology is to understand how buds comprising a few cells can give rise to complex plant and animal appendages like leaves or limbs. We address this problem through a combination of time-lapse imaging, clonal analysis, and computational modeling. We arrive at a model that shows how leaf shape can arise through feedback between early patterns of oriented growth and tissue deformation. Experimental tests through partial leaf ablation support this model and allow reevaluation of previous experimental studies. Our model allows a range of observed leaf shapes to be generated and predicts observed clone patterns in different species. Thus, our experimentally validated model may underlie the development and evolution of diverse organ shapes.  相似文献   

Influence of urban edges on stress in an arboreal mammal: a case study of squirrel gliders in southeast Queensland, Australia     

Grant Brearley  Clive McAlpine  Sarah Bell  Adrian Bradley 《Landscape Ecology》2012,27(10):1407-1419

There is growing recognition that ecological research must expand its focus beyond inference based on pattern-process relationships to the direct measurement of ecological and physiological processes. Physiological assessment is important because vertebrates cope with unpredictable and noxious stimuli by initiating a stress response. However, an over-activation of the acute stress response by numerous novel and potentially stressful anthropogenic pressures, including those associated with urban edges, has the potential to generate chronic stress and a greater susceptibility to disease, reduce fecundity and survivorship. An individual??s physiological response to edge habitats with varying degrees of contrast to the adjacent disturbed urban matrix (e.g. major vs. minor roads), may provide insight into their survival likelihood in fragmented urban landscapes. Although demographic changes in wildlife resulting from urbanization have been documented, only recently have physiological consequences been examined. We addressed this problem using a case study of the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) in the fragmented urban landscape of southeast Queensland, Australia. Hair samples were used to enable a comparison of hair cortisol levels in individual squirrel gliders, providing an indication of potential stress. We applied a linear mixed-effect modeling approach clustered by patch to quantify the influence of site-level habitat factors and relative abundance comparative to edge contrast on hair cortisol levels. We found that edge type had a strong positive effect on hair cortisol levels; but this depended on the availability of abundant nest hollows at a site. We conclude that individual hair cortisol concentration, providing an index of stress, was lowest in interior habitats and highest in edge habitats adjacent to major roads. Furthermore, gliders occupying low edge contrast habitats adjacent to residential areas and minor roads, and containing abundant tree nest hollows, had low-moderate hair cortisol levels. This highlights the potential importance of these habitats for the conservation of arboreal mammals such as the squirrel glider in urban landscapes.  相似文献   

Genetic variation in the 5′UTR of the KRT2.13 gene of sheep     

Grant W. MCKENZIE  Reena ARORA  Jon G. H. HICKFORD 《Animal Science Journal》2012,83(3):194-198

KRT2.13 is a type II keratin wool intermediate filament (IF) protein. Extensive variation was revealed in the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) of the ovine KRT2.13 gene (KRT2.13) using polymerase chain reaction – single strand conformational polymorphism (PCR‐SSCP) analysis. Nine unique PCR‐SSCP patterns were obtained with individual sheep having either one (homozygous), or a combination of two (heterozygous) of these patterns. Seven of the amplicons that produced the apparently homozygous patterns were successfully sequenced (GenBank FJ217670 – FJ217676), revealing eight single nucleotide insertions, 10 single nucleotide substitutions, a nucleotide deletion and a 16 nucleotide insertion that occurred in only one of the sequences. The seven sequences showed between 85% and 95% homology to the previously identified KRT2.13 sequence (GenBank X72379). This study emphasizes the power of PCR‐SSCP analysis in genotyping, as this extensive variation was found in only 100 sheep, of a variety of breeds. Since variation in the 5′UTR of genes may affect their expression, this genetic variation needs to be further studied to establish its role if any, in influencing gene expression and consequently wool traits.  相似文献   

Epitope-tagged insulin-like growth factor-I expression in muscle     

Reichel CL  Grant AL  Everett RS  Bidwell CA  Gerrard DE 《Domestic animal endocrinology》2000,18(3):337-348

Development of a recombinant insulin like growth factor I (IGF-I) that is distinguishable from its endogenous counterpart would provide a powerful tool for delineating the role of IGF in myogenesis. Therefore, the objective of this study was to create an epitope-tagged IGF-I that retains biological activity and determine whether expression of this construct is possible in muscle tissue following direct DNA injection. Expression vectors were created that encoded porcine IGF-I containing a T7 (11-amino acid) epitope-tag (TIGF). Immunoreactivity of the purified recombinant TIGF was confirmed using monoclonal antibodies. Biological activity was evaluated by examining differentiation of myoblasts cultured with TIGF or transfected with TIGF plasmid DNA. Addition of purified TIGF to myoblast cultures stimulated (P < 0.05) muscle creatine kinase levels similar to insulin (10(-5) M). Likewise, transfection of L6A1 with TIGF DNA hastened (P < 0.01) differentiation compared to control pcDNA-transfected myoblasts. The integrity of the recombinant protein was confirmed using a sandwich-configured enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Finally, recombinant TIGF DNA was injected in porcine muscle and the ability to detect TIGF protein was evaluated. TIGF expression was detected in muscle fibers of injected porcine muscle. These data show that a T7 amino acid tag placed on the amino terminus of the IGF-I protein remains intact during processing and does not interfere with the biological activity of the molecule. Use of this DNA construct is an excellent tool for investigating the role of IGFs in control muscle development and provides a model to investigate other regulators of animal growth.  相似文献   

VERTEBRAL HEART SCORES IN EIGHT DOG BREEDS     

K. Jepsen‐Grant  R.E. Pollard  L.R. Johnson 《Veterinary radiology & ultrasound》2013,54(1):3-8

The vertebral heart score (VHS) measurement is commonly used to provide a more objective measurement of cardiomegaly in canines. However, several studies have shown significant breed variations from the value previously established by Buchanan and Bücheler (9.7 ± 0.5). This study describes VHS measurements in Pug, Pomeranian, Yorkshire Terrier, Dachshund, Bulldog, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, and Boston Terrier dog breeds. Dogs with two or three view thoracic radiographs, no subjective radiographic evidence of cardiomegaly, and no physical examination findings of heart murmurs or gallop rhythms were included in the study. The Pug, Pomeranian, Bulldog, and Boston Terrier groups were found to have a VHS significantly greater than 9.7 ± 0.5 (P < 0.00001, P = 0.0014, P < 0.0001, P < 0.00001, respectively). Body condition score (BCS) was found to have a significant effect on the VHS of Lhasa Apso group. Anomalous vertebrae in the thoracic column were associated with a significant increase in VHS of the Bulldog (P = 0.028) and Boston Terrier (P = 0.0004) groups. Thoracic depth to width ratio did not have a significant effect on VHS.  相似文献   

Possible parachordoma in a dog     

SF Forsyth  KG Thompson  AF French  TR Halsey 《New Zealand veterinary journal》2013,61(5):299-302

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.  相似文献   

Selenium in New Zealand pastures     

A.B. Grant  A.D. Sheppard 《New Zealand veterinary journal》2013,61(8):131-136

In grasses and clovers the highest concentrations of selenium were found in the leaves. The selenium content of different species in spring pastures on the same soil type did not vary widely although the slower growing and more deeply rooting species contained higher levels. The concentration of selenium in a pasture varied with time of the year, the lower levels being usually associated with conditions that stimulated rapid growth of the herbage, although factors other than growth rate were also involved. Lucerne appeared to be unusual in that in some areas it accumulated much higher levels of selenium than was found in other associated species. A very wide variation in levels of selenium in pastures growing on different soils has been observed (3-1500 ng/g).

Selenium-responsive unthriftiness in grazing lambs occurred where the selenium content of spring pastures was <20 ng/g. Pastures containing >30 ng/g were apparently adequate while intermediate levels were probably marginally deficient.  相似文献   

The journal     

C. Drake B.Sc.  A.B. Grant B.Sc. Ph.D.  W.J. Hartley M.R.C.V.S. 《New Zealand veterinary journal》2013,61(1):4-5

Extract

At the Annual General Meeting of the New Zealand Veterinary Association in 1951 a motion was carried “that this meeting recommend that a journal be started, and ask Council to investigate the matter from all aspects, and to report to the next Annual General Meeting.” To implement the wishes of the meeting, Council appointed a subcommittee which reported to the Annual General Meeting of 1952. The report, after dealing with costs and publishable material, recommended as follows:—  相似文献