Gross and histopathologic diagnoses from North Atlantic right whale Eubalaena glacialis mortalities between 2003 and 2018

Seventy mortalities of North Atlantic right whales Eubalaena glacialis (NARW) were documented between 2003 and 2018 from Florida, USA, to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada. These included 29 adults, 14 juveniles, 10 calves, and 17 of unknown age class. Females represented 65.5% (19/29) of known-sex adults. Fourteen cases had photos only; 56 carcasses received external examinations, 44 of which were also necropsied. Cause of death was determined in 43 cases, of which 38 (88.4%) were due to anthropogenic trauma: 22 (57.9%) from entanglement, and 16 (42.1%) from vessel strike. Gross and histopathologic lesions associated with entanglement were often severe and included deep lacerations caused by constricting line wraps around the flippers, flukes, and head/mouth; baleen plate mutilation; chronic extensive bone lesions from impinging line, and traumatic scoliosis resulting in compromised mobility in a calf. Chronically entangled whales were often in poor body condition and had increased cyamid burden, reflecting compromised health. Vessel strike blunt force injuries included skull and vertebral fractures, blubber and muscle contusions, and large blood clots. Propeller-induced wounds often caused extensive damage to blubber, muscle, viscera, and bone. Overall prevalence of NARW entanglement mortalities increased from 21% (1970-2002) to 51% during this study period. This demonstrates that despite mitigation efforts, entanglements and vessel strikes continue to inflict profound physical trauma and suffering on individual NARWs. These cumulative mortalities are also unsustainable at the population level, so urgent and aggressive intervention is needed to end anthropogenic mortality in this critically endangered species.

The microbiological quality of washing-up water and the environment in domestic and commercial kitchens

AIMS

To determine the microbiological quality of washing-up water and the environment in domestic and commercial kitchens.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Chicken meals were prepared by people without food safety training in their own kitchen (n = 52) or by trained staff in a commercial kitchen (n = 10). Study participants then washed-up, cleaned the kitchen and completed a food hygiene questionnaire. The temperature and microbiological quality of the washing-up water, and the presence of pathogens in dishcloths, tea towels and other kitchen samples was determined. Of the raw chickens used in meal preparation, 96 and 13% were naturally contaminated with Campylobacter or Salmonella spp., respectively. In domestic kitchens, two of 45 sponges, dishcloths or scourers and one of 32 hand- or tea towels were contaminated with Campylobacter after washing-up and cleaning but none of the tap or sink swabs yielded pathogens. The mean washing-up water temperature in the domestic kitchens was 40.7 degrees C, whereas in the commercial kitchen it was 44.7 degrees C (P = 0.04). Study participants who used hotter water (>/=40 degrees C) had lower levels of bacteria in their washing-up water. The aerobic plate counts of the washing-up water samples in domestic homes were usually between 105 and 106 CFU ml-1 but those associated with the commercial kitchen were consistently lower (P = 0.01). Despite this, Campylobacter was detected in one of 10 washing-up water samples from the commercial kitchen but in none of the samples from domestic kitchens.

CONCLUSIONS

Pathogenic microorganisms can be recovered relatively frequently from the kitchen environment.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY

By identifying factors that affect the number of microorganisms in washing-up water and the kitchen environment, evidence-based recommendations on implementing domestic food hygiene can be made.

Use of immediate postoperative mastectomy prostheses

From materials readily available in the operating room, a temporary breast prosthesis can be fashioned for use in the immediate postoperative period. These materials yield a prosthesis with good shape and form, filling a brassiere cup and providing the general pressure needed on skin flaps in the immediate postoperative period. Psychologically, filling the absent breast cup helps patients adjust to their new body image and eliminates the shock of gross asymmetry.

Release of avian pancreatic polypeptide by various intraluminal contents in the stomach, duodenum, or ileum of turkeys

Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) has been shown to be released postprandially in several species. In this study we tested the efficacy of an amino acid solution (905 mOsM), 0.1 N HCl (300 mOsM), 905 mOsM NaCl, 300 mOsM glucose, corn oil, and balloon distention within the stomach, duodenum, or ileum in stimulating release of avian PP (APP) in turkeys. Although they differ in osmolarity, and are thus difficult to compare, amino acids appeared to be the best stimulant and HCl the next best. The stomach was the site in which nutrients were most likely to stimulate APP release. There was no significant difference between the responsiveness of the the ileum and duodenum. A control experiment in which blood was drawn but no intraluminal treatments were administered indicated that handling and bleeding caused depression of normal fasting plasma [APP].