The son-killer microbe Arsenophonus nasoniae is a widespread associate of the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis in Europe

Heritable microbes that exhibit reproductive parasitism are common in insects. One class of these are the male-killing bacteria, which are found in a broad range of insect hosts. Commonly, our knowledge of the incidence of these microbes is based on one or a few sampling sites, and the degree and causes of spatial variation are unclear. In this paper, we examine the incidence of the son-killer microbe Arsenophonus nasoniae across European populations of its wasp host, Nasonia vitripennis. In preliminary work, we noticed two female N. vitripennis producing highly female biased sex ratios in a field study from the Netherlands and Germany. When tested, the brood from Germany was revealed to be infected with A. nasoniae. We then completed a broad survey in 2012, in which fly pupal hosts of N. vitripennis were collected from vacated birds' nests from four European populations, N. vitripennis wasps allowed to emerge and then tested for A. nasoniae presence through PCR assay. We then developed a new screening methodology based on direct PCR assays of fly pupae and applied this to ethanol-preserved material collected from great tit (Parus major) nests in Portugal. These data show A. nasoniae is found widely in European N. vitripennis, being present in Germany, the UK, Finland, Switzerland and Portugal. Samples varied in the frequency with which they carry A. nasoniae, from being rare to being present in 50% of the pupae parasitised by N. vitripennis. Direct screening of ethanol-preserved fly pupae was an effective method for revealing both wasp and A. nasoniae infection, and will facilitate sample transport across national boundaries. Future research should examine the causes of variation in frequency, in particular testing the hypothesis that N. vitripennis superparasitism rates drive the variation in A. nasoniae frequency through providing opportunities for infectious transmission.

Noninvasive In-Situ Measurement of Blood Lactate Using Microwave Sensors

GOAL

This paper reports a novel electromagnetic sensor technique for real-time noninvasive monitoring of blood lactate in human subjects.

METHODS

The technique was demonstrated on 34 participants who undertook a cycling regime, with rest period before and after, to produce a rising and falling lactate response curve. Sensors attached to the arm and legs of participants gathered spectral data, blood samples were measured using a Lactate Pro V2; temperature and heart rate data was also collected.

RESULTS

Pointwise mutual information and neural networks are used to produce a predictive model. The model shows a good correlation between the standard invasive and novel noninvasive electromagnetic wave based blood lactate measurements, with an error of 13.4% in the range of 0-12 mmol/L.

CONCLUSION

The work demonstrates that electromagnetic wave sensors are capable of determining blood lactate level without the need for invasive blood sampling.

SIGNIFICANCE

Measurement of blood metabolites, such as blood lactate, in real-time and noninvasively in hospital environments will reduce the risk of infection, increase the frequency of measurement and ensure timely intervention only when necessary. In sports, such tools will enhance training of athletes, and enable more effecting training regimes to be prescribed.

Sepsis and multiorgan failure following TVT procedure

Tension-free vaginal tape (TVT), is a commonly performed, low risk procedure for treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Severe complications are rare, but can be potentially life threatening. We present a case of 66 year old patient who sustained bladder perforation at the time of TVT procedure and subsequently developed sepsis rapidly leading to multi-organ failure and triggering sequence of serious complications. During her inpatient stay she required ITU admission, emergency laparotomy, TVT mesh removal, bowel resection due to ischemic colitis and anticoagulation for pulmonary embolism. Despite of clinical picture of sepsis her microbiology tests were almost consistently negative. This case emphasise importance of awareness and quick recognition of TVT related complications. Patient ultimately survived and recovered thanks to timely and coordinated management by the multidisciplinary team of doctors.

Interstitial laser photocoagulation for uterine myomas

Thirty myomas in 24 symptomatic patients who refused conventional surgery were treated by interstitial laser photocoagulation, monitored by laparoscopy. The procedure was well tolerated. Magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound scanning documented shrinkage in 23 lesions (those lesions >6 cm in diameter responded poorly), with clinical benefit in 13 patients.

Psychosocial characteristics of physically abused children and adolescents

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between physical abuse and selected psychosocial measures in a community-based probability sample of children and adolescents.

METHOD

A sample of 9- through 17-year-olds (N = 665) and their caretakers in New York State and Puerto Rico were interviewed in the Methods for the Epidemiology of Child and Adolescent Mental Disorders (MECA) Study. Assessments included the Columbia Impairment Scale, the Instrumental and Social Competence Scale, the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, and questions regarding physical abuse. Regression analyses were conducted controlling for family income, family psychiatric history, perinatal problems, physical health, and sexual abuse.

RESULTS

A history of physical abuse was reported in 172 (25.9%) of the sample. It was significantly associated with global impairment, poor social competence, major depression, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, agoraphobia, overanxious disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder but not with suicidality, school grades, or receptive language ability.

CONCLUSION

A community probability sample of children and adolescents demonstrated significant associations between physical abuse and psychopathology, after controlling for potential confounders. This supports comprehensive screening for psychopathology among physically abused children and for physical abuse among those with psychopathology. Interventions aimed at improving social competence may be indicated.

Effects of ovine corticotropin-releasing factor and vasopressin on plasma beta-endorphin, cortisol and behavior after minor surgery in sheep

The evidence for an analgesic effect arising from increased peripheral concentrations of beta-endorphin (beta-EP) in various animal species is controversial, and has not been fully evaluated in the sheep. To stimulate beta-EP release, ovine corticotropin-releasing factor (oCRF) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) were injected intravenously (iv) into a group of 12 out of 24 sheep, 15 min prior to minor surgery on all sheep. This brought about significant increases (P less than 0.01) in plasma beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and cortisol concentrations, relative to the non-injected control sheep, 15-30 min after injection. Ultrafiltration indicated that less than 30% of the released beta-EP immunoreactivity was present as higher molecular weight forms (mol. wt greater than 10,000) and that the majority (about 75%) of the beta-EP was probably bound to plasma proteins. By 75 min after injection there was no significant difference in plasma beta-EP or cortisol concentrations between the two groups of sheep. Consistent with previous observations the sheep showed a characteristic aversive behavior to the human handler following surgery, lasting several days. This behavior appeared to be unaffected by a pre-operative increase in peripheral plasma beta-EP, and may indicate that this increase in beta-EP was not sufficiently analgesic to block the cognitive response to the operation, or long-lasting enough to prevent the perception of post-operative soreness.

Effect of myiasis and acute restraint stress on plasma levels of immunoreactive beta-endorphin, adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) and cortisol in the sheep

Cutaneous myiasis in sheep arising from the activity of Lucilia cuprina larvae can result in significant physiological changes in susceptible animals. The stress imposed on the pituitary-adrenal axis of the sheep in response to myiasis and acute restraint is the subject of this investigation. Merino wethers were exposed to handling restraint, and blood sampling, during examination for blowfly strike; where necessary, they were treated for cutaneous myiasis. Significant changes in the plasma concentrations of immunoreactive beta-endorphin (beta-EP), ACTH and cortisol were found in sheep with extensive myiasis, as compared with unstruck sheep or those with only localized myiasis. In five susceptible sheep with extensive cutaneous myiasis, mean plasma levels of beta-EP, ACTH and cortisol were 307 +/- 71 pg ml-1, 953 +/- 58 pg ml-1 and 232 +/- 46 nmol l-1 respectively, compared with 818 +/- 89 pg ml-1, 641 +/- 41 pg ml-1 and 107 +/- 17 nmol l-1 in six unstruck sheep handled similarly. Whereas significant increases in plasma ACTH and cortisol can result from pituitary-adrenal responses to acute emotional or surgical stress, and are usually accompanied by a concomitant release of beta-EP from the pituitary, the present findings indicate a marked reduction in beta-EP levels and a significant increase in ACTH and cortisol in sheep following blowfly strike and acute handling restraint. This result suggests that cutaneous myiasis in susceptible sheep can alter the pituitary-adrenal response to acute restraint stress, and this could occur either by an alteration of precursor processing in the pituitary or by the selective release of ACTH.

Stress responses in lambs docked and castrated surgically or by the application of rubber rings

A comparative study has been made in lambs 3 to 6 weeks of age of the behavioural responses and changes in plasma immunoreactive beta-endorphin (ir beta-endorphin) and cortisol after docking or docking plus castration by the application of rubber rings or by surgery. The use of rubber rings on lambs at this age was characterised by very agitated behaviour indicative of considerable distress for a period of up to 1 h. In contrast, surgery was accompanied by some post-operative shock exhibited by reduced exploratory and social behaviour, at least in the lambs exposed to docking plus castration. In the latter group there were highly significant increases in both plasma ir beta-endorphin and cortisol concentrations that may be consistent with the induction of stress-induced analgesia. We conclude that surgery caused less distress than the rubber rings, and is therefore preferable for docking and castration of lambs 3 to 6 weeks of age.

Stress-induced Changes in Plasma Concentrations of Immunoreactive ß-Endorphin and Cortisol in Response to Routine Surgical Procedures in Lambs

Following four different surgical procedures in lambs 3-5 weeks old, plasma immunoreactive {3- endorphin ({3-EP) and cortisol were assayed at 15 min and 24 h as determinants of post-operative stress. A threefold increase in mean plasma {3-EP levels occurred 15 min after tail docking, and a maximal eight- to tenfold increase occurred in response to castration and/or mulesing with tail docking. Significant increments in mean plasma cortisol levels followed these surgical procedures with the maximal response 15 min after mulesing plus castration with tail docking. The physiologically active 'free' cortisol in plasma represents about 25% of the cortisol, as measured, and the two are highly correlated. At 24 h, {3-EP levels in all. treated groups were similar to controls, although a small elevation in cortisol levels was still present in the lambs subjected to mulesing. Ultrafiltration of plasma extracts showed that peak {3-EP levels contained about 40% immunoreactivity from low molecular weight species (mol. wt the most potent analgesic endorphin, 10% {3-EP l- 27 , and 15% a-N-acetyl-{3-EP. Increased {3-EPI-31 levels may modulate post-operative pain in lambs.

Western Equine Encephalitis in Saskatchewan Reptiles and Amphibians, 1961-1963

Western equine encephalitis (WEE) antibodies were found in blood samples from garter snakes and leopard frogs collected in Saskatchewan but WEE virus was not recovered from any of the specimens. Evidence of natural WEE infection in snakes was found in 8 different localities while in frogs in two only. Experimentally, garter snakes were readily infected and developed a high, relatively sustained viremia without signs of disease. After experimental exposure, viremia persisted regularly for 10 to 12 days, while the longest observed duration of viremia was 30 days. Anamnestic responses were elicited in snakes as a result of second inoculations of virus after the antibody levels from first exposures had fallen. Newborn snakes were observed to be more sensitive to infection than adults. The possibility of virus and antibody transmission from infected pregnant garter snakes to their offspring was investigated. Snakes and frogs were both susceptible to infection by the oral route. Two bull snakes collected at Steveville, Alberta, were found to have antibody for St. Louis Encephalitis virus.

Isolation of Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (Wee) Virus From Mosquitoes In Saskatchewan, 1962

Saskatchewan, in the summer of 1962, was the scene of an extensive outbreak of western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) in horses. The results of mosquito survey work showed Culiseta inornata and Culex tarsalis respectively to be the two most abundant mosquito species during midsummer. These species are those reported to be most commonly associated with outbreaks of WEE. Five hundred and sixty-four pools of mosquitoes were examined for the presence of WEE virus. Six pools, three of C. tarsalis and one each of C. inornata, Aedes flavescens and Aedes dorsalis, yielded WEE virus. Positive mosquitoes were from St. Walburg (C. inornata), Saskatoon (C. tarsalis - two, A. dorsalis - one), Outlook (C. tarsalis) and Kisbey (A. flavescens).

THE EFFECT OF MOLDY WHEAT ON GROWTH, LIVABILITY AND THE INCIDENCE OF MYCOTIC INFECTION IN TURKEY POULTS

Four experiments are reported in which six moldy wheats were incorporated into the rations of turkey poults for a 6-week period.In only one of these did moldy wheat, used as the sole source of cereal grain in the starter, significantly (P < 0.05) lower body weights below those of the control rations.Assays of 40 samples of moldy wheats showed that only two (5 per cent) carried Aspergillus fumigatus, whereas Candida albicans was not found on any of them.Mortality was low in all experiments and could not be attributed to the dietary treatments.Pathological examination of 5 birds from each replicate (600 birds in all) showed that 58 carried minor lesions which were suspected of being mycotic. Isolates from these, which were incubated at 39 to 41 °C., produced some mold growth, but only one bird produced growth of A. fumigatus. None produced growth of C. albicans.

Immunization and Parenteral Chemotherapy for the Control of Cattle Grubs Hypoderma Lineatum

Immunization with two types of warble larvae antigens A and B, the latter treated with tannic acid, and injections of dimethoate, an organic phosphate, were tried for the control of prehypodermic larvae of Hypoderma lineatum De Vill., and H. bovis L., in range calves. In test groups of 20 calves, given intramuscularly, antigen A had no effect, but combined treatment with antigens A and B reduced the number of H. bovis L., larvae by 81 per cent (P<.001), and proved as effective as dimethoate subcutaneously or intramuscularly. H. lineatum De Vill., did not respond to any treatment. Antigen B and dimethoate were free from harmful effects on the host, but antigen A caused anaphylaxis and irritation at the site of injection.

EFFECT OF ESTRADIOL AND TESTOSTERONE INJECTIONS AND THYROIDECTOMY ON WOOL GROWTH IN SHEARLING SHEEP

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of relatively high doses of estradiol and testosterone, with and without thyroidectomy, on clean wool production and certain endocrine glands of shearling sheep. The administration of 5 milligrams of estradiol intramuscularly at biweekly intervals to sheep with thyroids caused a reduction in the average weight of clean wool (p <.05) and fibre length (p <.01). This treatment produced increases (p <.01) in thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal weights. The administration of estradiol to thyroidectomized ewes reduced the weight of clean wool (p < 05) when compared with the thyroidectomized controls but no such response was observed in wethers. Testosterone administered at levels of 175 milligrams bi-weekly produced no effect on weights of clean wool, in ewes or wethers, but when it was administered to thyroidectomized animals average fibre lengths were decreased (p <.05).

Silica Urolithiasis In Beef Cattle : 3. Chemical and Physical Composition of the Uroliths

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Silica Urolithiasis In Beef Cattle: I. Observation On Its Occurrence

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Incoordination (Cerebellar Ataxia) Among Lambs From Ewes Fed Peavine Silage

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Contagious Ecthyma in Rocky Mountain Sheep

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Studies of Swine Erysipelas. I. Literature Review and Survey of Erysipelothrix Rhusiopathiae Infection in Canada

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Veterinary Service District in Saskatchewan

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