Infectivity of resting spores of Massospora cicadina (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae), an entomopathogenic fungus of periodical cicadas (Magicicada spp.) (Homoptera: Cicadidae).

Massospora cicadina Peck is a fungal pathogen of 13- and 17-year periodical cicadas (Magicicada spp.). In northwest Arkansas, during the spring 1998 emergence of the 13-year periodical cicada, Magicicada tredecassini (Brood XIX), <1% of emerging cicadas were infected with the conidial stage of M. cicadina, similar to data collected from the same population in 1985. However, in northwest Arkansas plots treated with M. cicadina resting spores collected from infected 17-year Magicicada septendecim cicadas (Brood IV) in 1997 from southern Iowa, 10 months prior to the 1998 emergence in Arkansas, conidial stage infections of M. cicadina in 13-year Arkansas M. tredecassini cicadas increased significantly to 10.6% (7.9% in males and 2.6% in females). These data suggest that M. cicadina resting spores do not require a dormancy of 13 or 17 years between cicada emergences. Instead M. cicadina resting spores appear to be capable of germinating and infecting periodical cicadas after less than 1 year. In addition, M. cicadina resting spores derived from one species (17-year M. septendecim cicadas) were infective for a second species (13-year M. tredecassini cicadas). A mean of 1.4 x 10(6)(SE = 1.8 x 10(5)) mature resting spores were produced per infected male M. septendecim.

Extended lung preservation with platelet-activating factor-antagonist TCV-309 in combination with prostaglandin E1.

BACKGROUND: Ischemia-reperfusion injury is one of the major problems in organ transplantation. The role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in the pathophysiology of ischemia-reperfusion injury and the protective effect of a novel phospholipid PAF analog (TCV-309) alone and combined with prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) is investigated in an extended (20 hours) ex vivo lung preservation. METHODS: Forty-two swine were divided into three groups. Group A was the control. In groups B and C, the effect of PAF was blocked with TCV-309 administered 1 hour before cross-clamping for donor and recipient. Group C received PGE1 50 micrograms bolus in the donor pulmonary plegia, and the recipients received a 50 micrograms bolus plus 0.003 microgram/kg/min infusion at the time of implantation. Donor lungs were perfused with cold modified Collins solution and maintained in hypothermic storage (4 degrees C) for 20 hours. Hemodynamics, lung mechanics, gas exchange, and biochemistry were assessed before transplantation (donor) and at 30 minutes and 24 hours after reperfusion (recipient). At 24 hours after reperfusion, the histopathologic condition of transplanted lungs was evaluated. RESULTS: Radioimmunoassay demonstrated a significant (p < 0.001) increase in the production of PAF and TXB2 in transplanted lungs at 24 hours after transplantation for group A only. Hemodynamics, gas-exchange parameters, and lung compliance were significantly (p < 0.05) better after transplantation for groups B and C. Wet lung weight was significantly less (p < 0.05) for group C. Semiquantitative morphometric analysis demonstrated the highest degree of damage for group A compared with groups B and C. A strong correlation (r2 = 70) between lung weight and histologic injury scores was observed among groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that PAF is responsible in part for the deleterious effects of ischemia and reperfusion, that PAF-antagonist TCV-309 protects lungs from extended (20 hours) ischemic injury, and that PGE1 seems to have an additional beneficial effect.

Effect of limestone reactivity and percent on production by dairy cows in early lactation.

Seventy-two Holstein cows (16 first lactation) were assigned to four treatments: A) normal-grind limestone (800 to 1000 mu) added to provide .77% calcium (total ration dry basis); B) fine-grind limestone (less than 150 mu) at .77% calcium; C) normal-grind at 1.15% calcium; and D) fine-grind limestone at 1.15% calcium. Cows fed diets containing .77% calcium had higher percent milk fat and fat yield than those fed 1.15% calcium diets, and cows fed fine-grind limestone had greater percent fat and fat yield than those fed normal-grind limestone. Four percent fat-corrected milk was higher for cows fed .77% calcium diets. Trends were similar for heifers in first lactation. Dry matter intake was higher for cows fed .77% calcium diets, and nutrient efficiency for milk synthesis favored cows fed fine-grind 1.15% calcium. Fecal pH was higher during wk 4 on treatment for cows fed high calcium diets; however, 8 wk were not different. Fecal starch and calcium and phosphorus in plasma were not different between treatments: however, heifers fed fine-grind 1.15% calcium showed a decrease of fecal starch with time.

Effects of various forage feeding programs during dry period on body condition and subsequent lactation health, production, and reproduction.

During 3 yr, 289 Holstein cows prior to being dried off were assigned randomly to one of three diets: all long hay, 50% hay and 50% corn silage, and limit-fed corn silage plus 1.1 kg liquid protein supplement added per cow per day. Body weights, condition scores, and calving difficulties were recorded. Calf weights were recorded at birth. All cows were distributed across eight postpartum experiments. Body condition was similar for all cows at termination of dry period. Cows fed limited corn silage plus liquid supplement gave birth to heavier calves and had greater calving difficulty. Diet for dry period had little effect on health in the subsequent lactation. Cows fed long hay while dry consumed more dry matter, produced more milk with lower milk fat percent, and were not different for 4% fat-corrected milk compared to cows fed the other two diets in dry period. Days open were greater for cows fed long hay while dry. In general, as long as the ration is nutritionally balanced and fed in amounts to achieve or maintain adequate body condition, forage programs ranging from all hay to all corn silage can be fed successfully during the dry period.

Influence of buffering early lactation rations with sodium bicarbonate and magnesium oxide and subsequent withdrawal or addition effects.

Eighty animals (16 first lactation) were assigned alternately at calving to one of four treatments: A) corn silage, B) corn silage + 1.5% sodium bicarbonate and .5% magnesium oxide in the grain mix, C) 50% hay crop silage and 50% corn silage, and D) 50% hay crop silage and corn silage plus 1.5% sodium bicarbonate and .5% magnesium oxide. All rations contained 50% forage and 50% concentrate (dry) fed as a total mixed ration. During the first 8 wk of lactation no differences were detected in mean performance or in weekly patterns for forage programs alone or buffer treatments alone on average daily intake of dry matter, body weight loss, milk yield, or composition. Addition of buffers to hay crop silage and corn silage rations resulted in a milk yield profile with a smaller increase beyond wk 3 postpartum. Cows fed all corn silage rations yielded more milk on the average than cows on hay crop silage and corn silage, regardless of buffer treatments. From wk 9 through 12 of lactation, buffers either were added or withdrawn. Addition or withdrawal of buffers did not alter significantly patterns of milk yield or composition.

A powerful, yet easy to use, computerized analysis of competitive protein binding and radioimmunoassay data.

A computerized method has been developed and tested for the automatic computation of data obtained from competitive radio-binding assays, that is easily used by computer and non-computer oriented individuals. The program requires a series of only eleven parameter lines coded from the assay protocol, followed by the data exactly as it is produced from a standard sample counter. From the set of parameters the program is able to find standard curves at scattered locations through an assay, check their "log dose-logit response" least squares linear regression equations statistically for homogeneity of slopes and elevations, pool the standard curves and check the pooled least squares linear regression equation statistically for linearity and non-linearity. The results of the pooled standard curve is presented graphically and in tabular form. Using the linear equation for the pooled standard curves, the concentration for each unknown sample is predicted with its corresponding 95% confidence interval and presented in a table of unknowns. Also provided in the table of unknowns is a mean and standard error of the mean for all biological replicates, including footnote flags to warn the user when an unknown concentration: (i) is outside the 0-100% bound range; (ii) is estimated from a range outside that covered by the standards; or (iii) was estimated from the unusable tail regions of the standard curve.