Enhancement of tritium concentrations on uptake by marine biota: experience from UK coastal waters.

Concentrations of tritium in sea water and marine biota as reported over the last approximately 10 years from monitoring programmes carried out by this laboratory under contract to the UK Food Standards Agency are reviewed from three areas: near Cardiff; Sellafield; and Hartlepool. Near Cardiff, enhancement of concentration factors (CFs) above an a priori value of approximately 1 have already been studied, and attributed to compounds containing organically bound tritium in local radioactive waste discharges. Further data for Cardiff up to 2006 are reported in this note. Up to 2001, CFs increased to values of more than approximately 7000 in flounders and approximately 4000 in mussels, but have subsequently reduced; this variability could be due to changes in the organic constitution of compounds discharged. Near Sellafield and Hartlepool, enhancements to the tritium concentration factor are observed but they are relatively small compared with those near Cardiff. Near Sellafield, plaice and mussels appear to have a CF for tritium of approximately 10; in some cases concentrations of tritium in winkles are below detection limits and positively measured values indicate a CF of approximately 3. The variation could be due to mechanisms of uptake by the different organisms. Near Hartlepool there were only a few cases where tritium was positively measured. These data give a value of approximately 5 for the CF in plaice (on the basis of two samples); approximately 15 in winkles (eight samples); and > 45 in mussels (two samples). Any differences between the behaviours at Sellafield and Hartlepool would need to be confirmed by improved measurements. Possible causes are the organic composition of the effluent and differences in environmental behaviour and uptake by organisms near the two sites. These potential causes need further investigation. It is emphasised that results from tritium analyses are heavily method dependent; thus comparison with results from other programmes needs to take this into account. Further, the results for enhancement of CF will also depend on the definition of CF itself.

Temporal assessment of seroconversion in response to inactivated foot-and-mouth disease vaccine in Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx).

Ten male Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) were vaccinated with a commercially available standard aqueous foot-and-mouth-disease vaccine containing aluminium hydroxide as an adjuvant, and their antibody titres against serotypes O and A were measured using solid-phase blocking elisa and the virus neutralisation test. Mean elisa antibody titres greater than 1.45 log(10) were recorded for serotype A, but low elisa titres were recorded for serotype 0; low titres were recorded by VNT for both serotypes.

Susceptibility of fungi isolated from the respiratory tract of falcons to amphotericin B, itraconazole and voriconazole.

The minimum inhibitory concentrations (mics) of fungi isolated from the air sacs of falcons before (group 1), and during antifungal treatment with amphotericin B nebulisation and oral itraconazole or voriconazole (group 2), or with itraconazole alone (group 3) or voriconazole alone (group 4) were determined. Before treatment, 95 per cent of the isolates, including Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus terreus, were susceptible to voriconazole at mics up to 0.38 microg/ml, and all the isolates were susceptible at mics up to 1 microg/ml. Before treatment, 21 per cent of the isolates, including A fumigatus (27.6 per cent), A flavus (16.6 per cent), A niger (100 per cent) and A terreus (23 per cent), were resistant (mic > or =1 microg/ml) to itraconazole; 51 per cent of the isolates, including A fumigatus (31 per cent), A flavus (78 per cent), A niger (14 per cent) and A terreus (77 per cent), had mics of over 1 microg/ml to amphotericin B, and after treatment their mics increased significantly. In contrast, there were no significant differences between the mics of voriconazole and itraconazole for the different Aspergillus species before and during treatment with these antifungal agents.

Assessment of a commercial sandwich ELISA in the diagnosis of aspergillosis in falcons.

A commercial sandwich elisa (Platelia Aspergillus EIA; Bio-Rad) developed for the detection of galactomannan, a major cell wall constituent of Aspergillus species, was tested for its efficacy in the diagnosis of aspergillosis in falcons. Ninety serum samples from 50 aspergillosis-positive falcons and 182 samples from 142 aspergillosis-negative falcons were tested. The sensitivity of the test was only 12 per cent and its specificity was 95 percent. The test was therefore unsatisfactory for detecting galactomannan in the serum samples and cannot be used as a screening test for aspergillosis in falcons.

Understanding and treating depression among cancer patients.

Cancer is a devastating disease. Awareness of this disorder tremendously impacts an individual's life, creating a host of changes to occur. Depression is one concern that many cancer patients experience. It is important to make an accurate and complete assessment of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, a heightened awareness of patients' culture and their perceptions is vital to their assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of depression. In cases of clinical depression, appropriate antidepressants prescribed along with the treatment for cancer are significant for the patient. Palliative counseling for patients and supportive counseling for their family are recommended as part of a treatment plan.

Disease and mortality among great bustards (Otis tarda) at Whipsnade Wild Animal Park, 1989 to 1999.

Between 1989 and 1999, 351 clinical examinations and six postmortem examinations were made on the six great bustards (Otis tarda) maintained at the Whipsnade Wild Animal Park. Soft tissue-related traumatic injuries accounted for 35 per cent of all the clinical findings, musculoskeletal disorders accounted for 26 per cent, and lameness was one of the main reasons for a veterinary examination. Poor condition accounted for 30 per cent of the clinical findings and was associated with periods of cold wet weather during the winter and spring; the affected birds were isolated and provided with nutritional support. Haemosiderosis and haemochromatosis were observed in four of the five birds from which samples were taken for histopathology.

Incorporation of organic tritium (3H) by marine organisms and sediment in the severn estuary/Bristol channel (UK).

Discharges of tritium (3H) into the Severn estuary/Bristol Channel (UK) arise from the authorized release of wastes from nuclear power plants at Hinkley Point and Berkley/Oldbury and from the Nycomed-Amersham radiochemical plant, via the sewer system, at Cardiff. The wastes from the nuclear power plants probably consist almost entirely of 3H2O, whereas those from the radiochemical plant also include uncharacterized 3H labelled organic compounds. The total 3H concentrations in demersal fish and other benthic organisms in the vicinity of the Cardiff Eastern sewer outfall are significantly elevated compared to those observed around other UK nuclear establishments. Concentrations in filtered seawater were approximately 10 Bq kg(-1) whilst levels in surface sediment, seaweed (Fucus vesiculosis) and mussels (Mytilus edulis)/flounder (Platichthys flesus) were in the order of 6 x 10(2), 2 x 10(3), and 10(5) Bq kg(-1) (dry weight), respectively. Almost all the 3H found in sediment and biota were organically bound tritium (OBT). The high concentration in these materials, relative to that in seawater, is due to the presence of bioavailable organic 3H labelled compounds in the radiochemical waste. It is suggested that bioaccumulation of 3H by benthic organisms and demersal fish occurs primarily via a pathway of physico-chemical sorption/bacterial transformation of dissolved 3H labelled organic compounds into particulate organic matter, and subsequent transfer up a web of sediment dwelling microbes and meiofauna. Variations in 3H accumulation between individual organisms have been interpreted in terms of their different feeding behaviour. Relatively low concentrations were observed in the herbivorous winkle (Littorina littorea) and the pelagic Sprat (Spratus spratus) compared with other benthic organisms and demersal fish. The elevated 3H concentrations in seafood, due to bioaccumulation of OBT, have low radiological significance even for the local critical group of seafood consumers.

Bacterial flora of the conjunctiva and nasal cavity in normal and diseased captive bustards.

A survey was carried out to describe the normal aerobic bacterial flora of the conjunctiva and nasal cavity of captive houbara bustards (Chlamydotis undulata), kori bustards (Ardeotis kori), and white-bellied bustards (Eupodotis senegalensis) maintained at the National Avian Research Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. A total of 58 samples were examined from the nasal cavity and 55 samples from the conjunctiva of healthy bustards. There was no bacterial growth in 45% of conjunctival samples. Bacteria isolated from the conjunctiva of healthy birds included Micrococcus spp., Staphylococcus auricularis, Staphylococcus xylosus, Staphylococcus capitis, Staphylococcus warneri, Bacillus spp., and Enterobacter amigenus. Bacteria isolated from the nasal cavity of healthy birds included Bacillus spp., Micrococcus spp., S. auricularis, S. xylosus, Staphylococcus simulans, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus hyicus, Staphylococcus cohnii, Staphylococcus sciuri, Aerococcus spp., and Providencia rettgeri. These findings were compared with bacterial isolates from bustards with clinical signs of ocular or upper respiratory tract diseases. Mycoplasma spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas stutzeri, Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Aeromonas hydrophila, and Staphylococcus aureus were the pathogenic bacteria isolated from the conjunctiva of 34.3% bustards with ocular discharges. Mycoplasma spp., P. aeruginosa, Pseudomonas spp., P. mirabilis, E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and S. aureus were the pathogenic bacteria isolated from the nasal cavity of 74% bustards with upper respiratory tract diseases.

Ventricular septal defect in a houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii).

A ventricular septal defect was found in a juvenile captive-bred houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata) that died suddenly. The case history indicated that the bird had a retarded growth and maturation rate. Gross pathology demonstrated massive internal hemorrhage, an enlarged heart with an interventricular septal defect, one shrunken liver lobe, and hypoplastic kidneys. Histologically, the liver was characterized by fatty degeneration, and there was hydropic degeneration of the cardiac muscle fibers. We suggest that the occurrence of this defect led to cardiac insufficiency, which resulted in sudden death caused by hemorrhage from the liver.

Measurement of TIMP-3 expression and Bruch's membrane thickness in human macula.

An increase or accumulation in tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP-3) protein in Bruch's membrane with ageing in normal eyes, and in age related macular degeneration (AMD) has been previously demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the expression of TIMP-3 mRNA increases with age, and to define any relationship between altered expression and Bruch's membrane thickness. Normal eyes were obtained from 30 donors (age range 15-90 years). Full-thickness 8 mm macular punches centred on the fovea were taken to allow removal of the chorioretinal complex, for subsequent nucleic acid extraction. Samples were normalized for RNA degradation using beta-actin reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A competitive RT-PCR was then used to allow measurement of TIMP-3 gene expression in each sample. The tissue adjacent to that used for nucleic acid extraction was processed histologically to allow determination of Bruch's membrane thickness. Bruch's membrane thickness was found to increase with age (P < 0.01), but TIMP-3 expression, as measured by competitive RT-PCR, was not significantly increased with age (P = 0.19). An inverse correlation was noted between TIMP-3 expression and Bruch's membrane thickness after controlling for age (P = 0.032). The results of this study suggest that TIMP-3 expression does not alter significantly with age. Therefore, accumulation of the TIMP-3 protein must occur by a mechanism other than increased expression. TIMP-3 protein levels may still prove to contribute to events associated with ageing in the macula, such as matrix remodelling in Bruch's membrane. Further studies are required to elucidate the precise interactions and turnover of the TIMP-3 protein, and resulting changes in the control of matrix metalloproteinase activity in the ageing macula.

Radiographic analysis of the growth rate of long bones in bustards.

A serial radiographic study was conducted on seven houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii), 10 rufous-crested bustard (Eupodotis ruficrista), four white-bellied bustard (Eupodotis senegalensis) and eight kori bustard (Ardeotis kori) chicks to determine the growth rate of long bones and to establish radiographic standards for assessing skeletal maturity. The growth rates of the tarsometatarsus and tibiotarsus in the bustard species investigated were similar to those in domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus) and some long-legged avian species. Maturation of long bones occurred earlier in houbara bustards compared with rufous-crested, white-bellied and kori bustards.

Peptidergic hormones and neuropeptides, and aminergic neurotransmitters of the pancreatic islets of the Houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata).

Immunoreactivity to insulin (Ins), somatostatin (Som), glucagon (Glu) and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) was found in 70%, 22%, 15% and 11% respectively of Houbara pancreatic endocrine islet cells. Whilst Ins occurred centrally and SOM was observed both in peripherally and centrally located islets, the other hormones were localised in peripheral islet cells; Som was also observed in neuronal cell bodies and nerve fibres. In addition, the islet cells contained substance P (SP) (65%) in the centre and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) (2%) at the periphery. Immunoreactivity to choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), VIP and galanin (Gal) occurred in the walls of blood vessels located mainly at the periphery of islets. Occasionally, VIP and Gal immunoreactive varicose nerve terminals and ChAT immunoreactive cell bodies were also observed in the centre of islets. SP neuronal cell bodies were not observed but prominent SP immunoreactive varicose terminals were discernible in capillary walls within the islets. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) immunoreactive neurons were detected in neuronal cell bodies located mainly peripherally. Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) immunoreactivity occurred in neuronal cell bodies and nerve fibres mainly at the periphery and also in centrally located islet endocrine cells. Immunoreactivity to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was similar in distribution to that of ChAT. In comparison with other avian species, the islets of the dorsal pancreatic lobe of the bustard contain all the peptidergic hormones normally present in the islets of other avian species, but are not segregated into dark A and light B cells. Many of the insulin containing cells also contained SP. The islets also contained several neuropeptides which are probably involved in their regulation.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in kori bustards (Ardeotis kori).

Pseudomonas aeruginosa associated upper respiratory tract infections occurred in a flock of 19 juvenile kori bustards. Morbidity was 32% and all birds recovered after parenteral treatment with combinations of enrofloxacin, gentamicin and piperacillin, although gentamicin toxicity was suspected in one bird. A marked haemoresponse occurred 3-10 days after the onset of clinical signs and included leukocytosis, heterophilia, monocytosis and thrombocytosis. Predisposing factors to infection included recent translocation, changes to flock size, extreme temperatures and age.