Pathology of Brucella ovis infection in red deer stags (Cervus elaphus)     

AL Ridler  DM West  MG Collett 《New Zealand veterinary journal》2013,61(2):146-149

Abstract

AIM: To describe the pathology of the reproductive tract of red deer stags with active Brucella ovis infection and in stags in which B. ovis infection had resolved.

METHODS: Twenty-three red deer stags of varying history were slaughtered and their epididymides and accessory sex glands examined grossly and by histopathology. At the time of slaughter five of the stags had an active B. ovis infection of 24–55 days duration following exposure to infected rams, 10 stags had been experimentally infected with B. ovis by intravenous inoculation 649 days previously and had developed an active infection but the bacterial infection had resolved at least 308 days prior to slaughter, and eight stags had not been exposed to B. ovis at any time.

RESULTS: Of the five stags with an active infection, one had gross enlargement of the epididymides that could be detected by scrotal palpation. Histological lesions in all five stags included mild to severe, predominantly non-suppurative epididymitis, vesiculitis, prostatitis and ampullitis, with neutrophil exudation in associated glandular ducts. Additional lesions in the epididymides were spermatic granulomas and epithelial hyperplasia with intra-epithelial cyst formation. Of the 10 stags in which the bacterial infection had resolved, two had gross enlargement of the epididymides. The histological lesions were similar to those in stags with active infection but were generally milder, with increased periductal scar tissue in the epididymides. The lesions seen in stags resembled those seen in rams with B. ovis infection but they were usually less florid and had fewer plasma cells. No gross abnormalities or histopathological lesions were detected in the non-infected stags.

CONCLUSIONS: Only a small percentage of red deer stags infected with B. ovis develop lesions of epididymitis that can be detected by scrotal palpation. Gross and histological lesions of the genital tract of stags associated with B. ovis infection are similar to the lesions seen in rams. Lesions in stags persist for >300 days after the bacterial infection has resolved.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Brucella ovis infection should be considered when there are gross lesions of epididymitis or histological evidence of inflammation in the epididymides or accessory sex glands of red deer stags. Retrospective diagnosis of B. ovis in stags could be achieved by histological examination of the reproductive organs.  相似文献   

Managing anthelmintic resistance: Is it feasible in New Zealand to delay the emergence of resistance to a new anthelmintic class?     

DM Leathwick  BC Hosking  SA Bisset  CH McKay 《New Zealand veterinary journal》2013,61(4):181-192

The recent registration in New Zealand of the first new class of broad-spectrum anthelmintic, for use against nematode parasites of ruminants, in nearly three decades has raised the possibility that parasite management practices could be improved to minimise the emergence of resistance to the new drug. A review of knowledge pertaining to the selection of anthelmintic resistance in nematode parasites of sheep highlights a number of management practices which could be altered to achieve this.

A number of previously common practices such as whole-flock treatment of adult ewes around lambing, and treatment of lambs as they are moved onto pastures with low parasite contamination have been clearly identified as high risk for selecting resistant parasites. Once high-risk practices have been identified steps can be taken to either eliminate their use or mitigate the associated risk. Much of the focus on the management of resistance around the world is on the retention of susceptible genotypes in refugia. While approaches to retaining unselected parasites are likely to vary around the world, empirical studies indicate that the practice is likely to be effective at slowing the development of resistance. The challenge for farmers and advisors will be to strike a balance between retaining sufficient susceptible para-sites to usefully delay the development of resistance while not unduly compromising animal performance and farm profitability. The merits of combining different classes of anthelmintic in order to slow the development of resistance remains somewhat contentious in some countries. However, the attributes of oral anthelmintics are such that they seem likely to meet most, if not all, of the criteria for combinations to be highly effective at slowing the build-up of resistance in nematode parasites.

It is evident that considerable progress has been made in understanding the factors involved in selecting anthelmintic-resistant nematodes since the last broad-spectrum anthelmintic class was released in the early 1980s. Therefore, it should be possible to manage a new class of anthelmintic in such a way as to significantly extend its effective life. The challenge is likely to be in convincing farmers of the merits of adopting such pro-active strategies.  相似文献   

Trends and management implications of human‐influenced life‐history changes in marine ectotherms          下载免费PDF全文

Asta Audzijonyte  Elizabeth Fulton  Malcolm Haddon  Fay Helidoniotis  Alistair J Hobday  Anna Kuparinen  John Morrongiello  Anthony DM Smith  Judy Upston  Robin S Waples 《Fish and Fisheries》2016,17(4):1005-1028

Evidence is accumulating that many marine ectotherms are undergoing rapid changes in their life‐history characteristics. These changes have been variously attributed to fisheries‐induced evolution, inhibited adult growth rate due to oxygen limitation at higher temperatures, and plastic responses to density dependence or changes in ocean productivity. Here, we review the diverse underlying mechanisms by which plastic and evolutionary responses to climate change and fisheries are likely to produce similar life‐history trends in harvested marine ectotherms, leading to faster life‐histories with earlier maturation and smaller adult size‐at‐age. While mechanistically understanding these growth and maturation changes may be difficult, it is becoming clear that changing life‐histories will lead to modified population dynamics, productivity and natural mortality of the affected species. We discuss how the observed and expected life‐history changes could affect the assumptions and uncertainty within single and multispecies models currently used in marine ecosystem management, highlighting that models which allow for dynamic life‐history traits often report significantly different estimates of stock biomass. Given that both climate‐ and harvest‐induced life‐history changes are likely to intensify and possibly amplify each other, there is an urgent need to adequately assess the implications of faster life‐histories for marine ecosystem management. This is especially true for data‐poor stocks, where growth and maturation are not regularly assessed. Targeted monitoring can be used to inform responsive management, but for improved sustainability outcomes, a precautionary approach to management that is robust to life‐history trends is advised.  相似文献   

Demographics,farm and reproductive management strategies used in Australian automatic milking systems compared with regionally proximal conventional milking systems          下载免费PDF全文

DM Keeper  KL Kerrisk  JK House  SC Garcia  P Thomson 《Australian veterinary journal》2017,95(9):325-332

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Camera-trapping and seed-labelling reveals widespread granivory and scatter-hoarding of nuts by rodents in the Fynbos Biome     

Joseph DM White  Gary N Bronner  Jeremy J Midgley 《African Zoology》2017,52(1):31-41

Many plant–animal interactions can be challenging to directly observe, due to species being small, cryptic and/or nocturnal. Previous research on seed predation and dispersal by rodents in the Fynbos Biome of South Africa has relied on indirect evidence, as methods for directly monitoring rodent–seed interactions were not available. The aims of the study were to determine which resident small mammals scatter-hoard nuts and the geographic, seasonal and taxonomic extent of scatter-hoarding in the Fynbos Biome. We used camera traps focused on seed stations at eight sites in the Fynbos Biome to determine the responses of small mammals to tagged nut-like fruits (nuts) of seven endemic plant species belonging to the Proteaceae (n = 3), Rosaceae (n = 2), Restionaceae (n = 1) and Cupressaceae (n = 1), as well as commercial sunflower seeds. We found Acomys subspinosus and Gerbilliscus paeba scatter-hoarded nuts, which they typically carried and buried individually. Rhabdomys pumilio and Micaelamys namaquensis only consumed nuts. Leucadendron pubescens and L. loranthifolium are added to the list of known plant species that are scatter-hoarded by rodents. Nuts of Cliffortia cuneata and C. phillipsii, and the critically endangered Widdringtonia cedarbergensis, were consumed but not dispersed by small mammals, whereas nuts of Ceratocaryum argenteum were neither consumed nor scatter-hoarded by rodents (within its native range). Gerbilliscus paeba and A. subspinosus scatter-hoarded nuts aseasonally, outside of seed-fall periods. Scatter-hoarding was widespread throughout the Fynbos Biome, although it was highly localised across and within sampled sites. The absence of scatter-hoarding rodents at sites with rodent-dispersed plants remains an important aspect for future investigation.  相似文献   

High Periconceptional Protein Intake Modifies Uterine and Embryonic Relationships Increasing Early Pregnancy Losses and Embryo Growth Retardation in Sheep     

CA Meza‐Herrera  TT Ross  DM Hallford  DE Hawkins  A Gonzalez‐Bulnes 《Reproduction in domestic animals》2010,45(4):723-728

The effects of supplemented protein level (PL) during the periconceptional period and their interaction with body condition were evaluated in sheep. Multiparous Rambouillet ewes (n = 12) received two PL of rumen undegradable protein (UIP) during a 30‐day pre‐mating and 15‐day post‐mating period: low [LPL, 24% crude protein (CP), 14 g UIP and 36 g/CP animal/day] and high [HPL, 44% CP, 30 g UIP and 50 g/CP animal/day]. While ovulation rate (OR) did not differ between treatments (1.6 ± 0.5, mean ± SEM), a lower fertility rate, a decreased embryo number and a reduced uterine pH (UpH) was observed in the HPL group (p < 0.05), irrespective of BC. Luteal tissue weight, volume and progesterone secretion did not differ among treatments. Sheep with lower UpH also had lower conceptus weight (Cwt; p < 0.05, r = 0.65) and conceptuses with lower mass tended to secrete less INF‐τ and IGF‐1, and the correspondent endometrial explants had a higher basal PGF_2α release. Current study indicates that high protein diets during the periconceptional period in sheep modify uterine and embryonic relationships, increasing early pregnancy losses and inducing embryo growth retardation. Surviving embryos were affected by weight reductions, which could compromise later foetal growth and birth weight. Results evidence the key role of a balanced diet in reproductive success and indicate that the quality and nutrient composition of the maternal diet are essential for an adequate establishment of pregnancy, having paramount effects on the interplay of the embryo and the uterus.  相似文献   

Ending overfishing while catching more fish          下载免费PDF全文

Shijie Zhou  Anthony DM Smith  E Eric Knudsen 《Fish and Fisheries》2015,16(4):716-722

The world's seas and oceans are a vital source of animal protein from fishing and a major contributor to global food security. It has been argued that global wild‐catch production has reached its limit, and there is concern that many species are overfished. Concerns are also mounting about the state of marine ecosystems and the ecological impacts of fishing on them, with increasing efforts to protect marine biodiversity. Fisheries appear to be at an impasse – demand for seafood is rising but so is concern about the impacts of fishing. However, through a simple analysis, we show that global exploitation rates are well below long‐term sustainable levels at a whole ecosystem level. The oceans can support considerably higher sustainable catch than currently harvested. Overfishing has happened but only to a small fraction of species as a result of intensive and selective fishing. Shifting fishing effort away from highly targeted stocks towards currently underutilized species would reduce pressure on overfished species, result in fewer adverse ecosystem effects of fishing and increase overall fisheries production. This shift requires significant changes to our views about seafood, particularly in the developed world. We suggest ways in which this paradigm shift could happen and the range of expertise that would be required to achieve higher global yields with less ecological impact.  相似文献   

Bosonic stimulation in the formation of a bose-einstein condensate     

H Miesner  DM Stamper-Kurn  MR Andrews  DS Durfee  S Inouye  W Ketterle 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》1998,279(5353):1005-1007

The formation of a Bose-Einstein condensate of a dilute atomic gas has been studied in situ with a nondestructive, time-resolved imaging technique. Sodium atoms were evaporatively cooled close to the onset of Bose-Einstein condensation and then suddenly quenched to below the transition temperature. The subsequent equilibration and condensate formation showed a slow onset distinctly different from simple relaxation. This behavior provided evidence for the process of bosonic stimulation, or coherent matter-wave amplification, crucial to the concept of an atom laser.  相似文献   

Estimating stock depletion level from patterns of catch history          下载免费PDF全文

Shijie Zhou  André E Punt  Yimin Ye  Nick Ellis  Cathy M Dichmont  Malcolm Haddon  David C Smith  Anthony DM Smith 《Fish and Fisheries》2017,18(4):742-751

The degree to which a stock is depleted is one of the most important quantities in fisheries management because it is used to quantify the success of management and to inform management responses. However, stock depletion is extremely difficult to estimate, particularly with limited data. Using the RAM Legacy database, we developed a boosted regression tree (BRT) model to correlate depletion with a range of predictors calculated from catch data, making the model usable for many fisheries worldwide. The most important predictors were found to be catch trends obtained from linear regressions of scaled catch on time, including regression coefficients for the whole catch time series, the subseries before and after the maximum catch, and in recent years. Eight predictors explain about 80% of variation in depletion. There is a correlation of .5 between measured levels of depletion and the predictions of the BRT model. Predictions are less biased when the stock is fished down below half of the carrying capacity. The BRT model outperforms comparable existing catch‐based depletion estimators and could be used to provide priors for depletion for data‐poor stock assessment methods, or used more directly to provide estimates of the probability that depletion is below a given threshold value.  相似文献   

Infestation in the dog by the paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus — 5. Treatment     

JE ILKIW†  DM TURNER 《Australian veterinary journal》1988,65(8):236-238

In this study the value of drugs administered with hyperimmune serum in the treatment of advanced disease produced by Ixodes holocyclus was compared under controlled conditions. All control dogs died rapidly whereas one dog survived and 3 dogs died after receiving hyperimmune serum alone. When promethazine hydrochloride was administered with hyperimmune serum 2 dogs recovered rapidly while the remaining 2 died. Administration of dexamethasone and hyperimmune serum allowed 3 dogs to survive while administration of phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride in conjunction with hyperimmune serum allowed rapid recovery of all 4 dogs. Phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride, an alpha-adrenergic blocking drug, was chosen because of its potential to attenuate the arterial hypertension previously reported (Ilkiw et al 1988). The survival of all dogs together with the rapid return to normality indicated that this drug was beneficial in the treatment of dogs with advanced signs of tick paralysis.  相似文献