Comparative pathology and pathogenesis of spontaneous and experimentally induced fibropapillomas of green turtles (Chelonia mydas)

Tumor biopsy samples from 25 Floridian and 15 Hawaiian green turtles (Chelonia mydas) with spontaneous green turtle fibropapillomatosis (GTFP) and from 27 captive-reared green turtles with experimentally induced GTFP were examined microscopically to differentiate the histologic features that result from GTFP pathogenesis and those that result from incidental factors that may vary according to geographic region. Common histologic features for spontaneous and experimentally induced tumors included fibroblast proliferation in the superficial dermis, epidermal acanthosis and hyperkeratosis, epidermal basal cell degeneration with dermal-epidermal cleft formation, spinous layer degeneration with intraepidermal vesicle and pustule formation, and ulceration. Visceral tumors, found in eight of 10 (80%) free-ranging turtles with cutaneous disease that were examined after death, had extensive interstitial fibrous proliferation. The presence of spirorchid trematode eggs and associated foreign body granulomas, common secondary findings within spontaneous tumors, varied by geographic location, and these findings were not observed in experimentally induced tumors. Eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions and intranuclear herpesvirus-associated antigen immunoreactivity were found in 18 of 38 (47%) experimentally induced cutaneous tumors and nine of 119 (7.5%) spontaneous tumors from Floridian but not Hawaiian turtles. The possible involvement of GTFP-associated herpesvirus in the pathogenesis of epidermal degenerative changes and GTFP pathogenesis is discussed.     

Effect of protein source and level on growth and performance of the captive freshwater prawn,Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Growth, feed conversion and survival were determined for juvenile Macrobrachium rosenbergii held in tanks under semi-controlled environmental conditions. Feeding trials incorporated water-stable diets at three levels of protein (15, 25 and 35%). The principal protein source combinations consisted either of soybean and tuna meal, or of soybean, tuna and shrimp meal. In a 244-day comparison of these diets, higher protein content produced larger prawns (P < 0.01), but differences between sources were not significant. No significant differences existed between feed conversion ratios (range 1.36–1.72) or percentage survival (range 90.3–93.6%). Trials of several other diets were also conducted, including soybean and Tilapia meal, and copra and Tilapia meal (25% protein level) as principal protein source combinations. After 167 days on these diets, growth was inferior to that obtained with soybean and tuna meal or soybean, tuna and shrimp meal combinations. No significant differences existed between feed conversion ratios or percentages of survival.For the 244 days, a control group of prawns received no formulated diet. Growth and survival in this group during the first 110 days suggested that naturally occurring algae contributed substantially to the prawns' nutrition.Mean prawn length after 244 days on the best diet (35% protein from soybean and tuna meal) was 73 mm, and growth rate was equivalent to that achieved under pilot pond conditions.     

Lack of Correlation Between Papillomaviral DNA in Surgical Margins and Recurrence of Equine Sarcoids

Bovine papillomavirus (BPV) types 1 (BPV-1) and 2 (BPV-2) are causally associated with the development of equine sarcoid tumors. Recurrence rates after surgical excision of sarcoids are estimated to be 30%–40%. We hypothesized that the presence of BPV DNA in histologically tumor-free surgical margins of sarcoids is associated with risk of recurrence, and increased quantity of BPV DNA is associated with increased risk of recurrence. Formalin-fixed sarcoids classified as “completely excised” histologically were obtained from two institutions. A total of 25 tumors were included, eight of which recurred within 1 year of excision. Qualitative and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for detection of BPV-1 and BPV-2 were performed on neoplastic tissue and tumor-free surgical margins in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens following DNA extraction. Bovine papillomavirus-1 was found in all tumor samples and in histologically “clean” margins of 21 samples, whereas BPV-2 was found in only two tumor samples. Although quantitative PCR was more sensitive than qualitative PCR in detecting BPV DNA in surgical margins, there was no significant difference in the presence of BPV-1 or BPV-2 DNA in margins of tumors that recurred versus those that did not recur for either test. Although this study is limited by sample size, our results suggest that PCR analysis of surgical margins for BPV DNA is not a reliable method to predict equine sarcoid recurrence after resection.     

The use of fish meal and soyabean meal as a protein source in the diet of grass carp fry

Diets based on fish meal and soyabean meal were fed to grass carp fry, the average body weight of each individual being 0.4 g. During the 70 days of the experiment, the best results were obtained with a diet containing 40% fish meal, when growth increment, protein efficiency ratio and apparent net protein utilization amounted to 209, 1.26 and 20.3, respectively. There was a deficiency in sulphuric amino acids in both fish meal- and soyabean meal-containing diets, and this was particularly marked in the latter. A significant decrease in available lysine was found in the diets containing soyabean meal. The main reason for the retardation in fish growth and the reduction of protein utilization when soyabean meal content is increased in the diets, seemed to be that the destruction of anti-nutritional factors by the heat processing of the meal was only partial.     

Comparison of modeling approaches to quantify residue architecture effects on soil temperature and water

RZ-SHAW is a hybrid model, comprised of modules from the Simultaneous Heat and Water (SHAW) model integrated into the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) that allows more detailed simulation of different residue types and architectures that affect heat and water transfer at the soil surface. RZ-SHAW allows different methods of surface energy flux evaluation to be used: (1) the SHAW module, where evapotranspiration (ET) and soil heat flux are computed in concert with a detailed surface energy balance; (2) the Shuttleworth–Wallace (S–W) module for ET in which soil surface temperature is assumed equal air temperature; and (3) the PENFLUX module, which uses a Penman transformation for a soil slab under incomplete residue cover. The objective of this study was to compare the predictive accuracy of the three RZ-SHAW modules to simulate effects of residue architecture on net radiation, soil temperature, and water dynamics near the soil surface. The model was tested in Akron, Colorado in a wheat residue-covered (both standing and flat) no-till (NT) plot, and a reduced till (RT) plot where wheat residue was incorporated into the soil. Temperature difference between the soil surface and ambient air frequently exceeded 17 °C under RT and NT conditions, invalidating the isothermal assumption employed in the S–W module. The S–W module overestimated net radiation (R_n) by an average of 69 Wm⁻² and underestimated the 3-cm soil temperature (T_s3) by 2.7 °C for the RT plot, attributed to consequences of the isothermal assumption. Both SHAW and PENFLUX modules overestimated midday T_s3 for RT conditions but underestimated T_s3 for NT conditions. Better performances of the SHAW and PENFLUX surface energy evaluations are to be expected as both approaches are more detailed and consider a more discretized domain than the S–W module. PENFLUX simulated net radiation slightly better than the SHAW module for both plots, while T_s3 was simulated the best by SHAW, with a mean bias error of +0.1 °C for NT and +2.7 °C for RT. Simulation results for soil water content in the surface 30 cm (θ_v30) were mixed. The NT conditions were simulated best by SHAW, with mean bias error for θ_v30 within 0.006 m³ m⁻³; RT conditions were simulated best by the PENFLUX module, which was within 0.010 m³ m⁻³.     

Lachgas(N2O)-Freisetzung durch Streptomyces nitrosporeus in einem sandigen Lehmboden in Abhängigkeit von pO2, pH und Angebot an leicht mineralisierbarem Kohlenstoff

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) release by Streptomyces nitrosporeus in a sandy loam soil as affected by pO₂, pH and amount of easily decomposable organic carbon In model experiments under defined conditions (80%WHC, 300 μg nitrate-N g^?1 dry soil, 30°C) the effect of pO₂, pH and addition of easily decomposable organic matter on nitrous oxide production by Streptomyces nitrosporeus DSM 40023 from a sterilized sandy loam soil was studied. This streptomycete reduces nitrate to N₂O but not to N₂. The strain was inoculated into a sterilized sandy loam soil (pH 6), enriched with nitrate and incubated at approximately 20 and 10% (v/v) O₂ for 26 days. In another series of experiments the pH was increased with NaOH-solution up to pH 7 or the soil was enriched with pulverized leaves (1%) to increase mineralization activity and the demand for electron acceptors. In the headspace the concentration of O₂, CO₂ and N₂O was analysed by GC. The soil concentration of NO₃^?, NO₂^? and NH₄⁺ was measured as well as the pH value. The population density was determined by the plate count method. At a decreased oxygen concentration of about 2.5% (v/v) in the headspace, S. nitrosporeus increased the release of N₂O. In the experiments with an initial oxygen concentration of approximately 20% (v/v) this threshold of about 2.5% /(v/v) O₂ was hardly reached and consequently only little N₂O was produced. Apparently, S. nitrosporeus uses O₂ in preference to nitrate, which is characteristical of nitrate respiration. A pH increase from pH 6 to 7 reduced the lag phase significantly and increased the rate of oxygen consumption, CO₂ release and N₂O production. Maximum nitrous oxide production was reached after 13 days. The result indicated that streptomycetes like S. nitrosporeus may use nitrate alternativly to O₂ to maintain energy conservation (ATP synthesis) with the release of N₂O. So far, nothing is known about the role of streptomycetes in contributing to N₂O production in natural soils.     

Entwicklung der Niederschlags-Deposition von Schwermetallen in West-Deutschland. 1. Blei und Cadmium

Development of heavy-metal deposition by precipitation in West Germany. 1. Lead and cadmium Between 1984 and 1993 the deposition of Pb and Cd with bulk precipitation was measured on 25 open field sites in 4 German federal states. The absolute amount of Pb and Cd deposition varies according to field sites and annual precipitation. In all studied areas, however, Pb deposition via bulk precipitation decreased significantly during the observation period. Considering all research areas under study, the average Pb deposition with bulk precipitation fell from 142 g ha^?1 in 1984 to 31 g ha^?1 in 1993 (r = ?0.934***). This decrease in Pb deposition correlates with the prognosticated decline in Pb emissions that occurred in Germany during the same time period owing to the introduction of unleaded motor fuels in 1984. Average Cd deposition on all research stations fell from 3.4 g ha^?1 in 1984 to 2.0 g ha^?1 in 1993 (r = ?0.900***). However, in contrast to Pb, the reduction of Cd deposition was significant only at 11 of 25 research stations. The reduction in Cd deposition with precipitation is substantially lower than the reduction in Cd emissions prognosticated.     

Protection of Groundwater from Migration of Infiltrates from a Chromic Waste Storage Site and Methods of Treating these Infiltrates

This work presents the results ofinvestigations to develop and implement methods toeffectively collect and purify infiltrates from heaps,situated in the region of Alwernia near Cracow, wheremore than 3 million tonnes of waste material resultingfrom the production of chromium compounds have beenstored. It describes a system for the protection ofgroundwater from these infiltrates which contain 50–400 g m^-3 Cr⁶⁺, as well as the effectivenessof cheap and simple chemical methods to purify thesechromic wastewaters. The infiltrate collection systemand the most effective method to decrease theconcentration of Cr⁶⁺ to a level below 0.1 ppm,as required by Polish and European Union regulations,were implemented in the Alwernia Chemical Works S.A.in the years 1998–1999.