Use of sex-linked minisatellite fragments to investigate genetic differentiation and migration of North American populations of the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus).

The M13 repeat detects different levels of genetic variation in falcons. First, this minisatellite probe reveals typically highly variant restriction fragments that show no apparent unequal distribution between the sexes. Secondly, the M13 repeat detects sets of fragments that are only present in DNAs from female falcons. The level of polymorphism displayed by the sex-linked fragments is greatly reduced relative to most autosomal minisatellites. In addition, the size of these fragments (in kilobase pairs) is species-specific among Mauritius kestrels (Falco punctatus) and peregrines (Falco peregrinus). Variation observed at one o of the sex-linked fragments in peregrines has proven to be useful in distinguishing a subset of the tundrius subspecies of this endangered raptor. This correlation has enabled a genetic test to be used to examine the representation of tundrius peregrines during mass migration.

Inclusion body disease (herpesvirus infection) of falcons (IBDF).

Inclusion body disease of falcons (IBDF) is caused by a herpesvirus. The clinical course is short, 24 to 72 hours in duration, and is characterized by mild to severe depression and weakness often accompanied by anorexia. The disease is invariably fatal. The virus has a marked affinity for the reticuloendothelial system and hepatocytes,producing focal to diffuse necrosis of infected tissues accompanied by the formation of intranuclear inclusion bodies. The virus is pathogenic for American kestrels (Falco sparverius) and great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) in which typical lesions of IBDF are reproduced. The lesions of IBDF are similar to those produced by some herpesvirus infections in other avian species.

An automated method for measuring Rhesus monkey erythrocyte and plasma cholinesterase.

An automated colorimetric method using the substrate acetylthiocholine was modified to measure red blood cell (RBC) and plasma cholinesterase (ChE) in samples from rhesus monkeys. The kinetic parameters Km and V(max) were calculated for ChE from both sources. Nonenzymatic hydrolysis of acetylthiocholine was uniform and small, and reproducibility of RBC and plasma ChE values was extremely high. Hemolyzing RBC (by freezing, or by using water or a nonionic detergent as diluents) did not affect ChE activity significantly, but hemolysis did increase nonenzymatic activity. The anticoagulants heparin and EDTA had no effect on RBC or plasma ChE measurements.A microdilution technique was devised for RBC ChE measurements using 13 microliters of RBC packed in a standard microhematocrit tube. Reproducibility was quite high, but values using this technique were significantly greater than in duplicate samples assayed using standard techniques. Since plasma ChE activity is much lower than that of RBC, the more efficient extrusion of plasma in RBC samples packed in microhematocrit tubes probably accounted for the higher values. Normal levels of plasma and RBC ChE in adult rhesus monkeys were calculated. There were no significant differences between sexes.

The effects of hyaluronidase on the immobilization of goats by intramuscular succinylcholine chloride.

In this report, the effects of hyaluronidase on the absorption of intramuscular succinylcholine chloride in goats are discussed. Twenty-five mature, mixed-strain dairy goats were immobilized with 0.33 mg/kg of the drug. An additional 25 goats were given corresponding doses to which hyaluronidase (150 NF units per vial of succinylcholine) had been added. The latent period (the time from injection to collapse) is reduced by 25% in goats given the drug-enzyme mixture. It is concluded that hyaluronidase increases the rate of absorption of succinylcholine chloride. However, it produces no significant difference in the duration of paralysis.