Showing papers on "Animal mortality published in 2003"

Effects of desert wildfires on desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) and other small vertebrates

Abstract: We report the results of standardized surveys to determine the effects of wildfires on desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) and their habitats in the northeastern Mojave Desert and northeastern Sonoran Desert. Portions of 6 burned areas (118 to 1,750 ha) were examined for signs of mortality of vertebrates. Direct effects of fire in desert habitats included animal mortality and loss of vegetation cover. A range of 0 to 7 tortoises was encountered during surveys, and live tortoises were found on all transects. In addition to desert tortoises, only small (<1 kg) mammals and reptiles (11 taxa) were found dead on the study areas. We hypothesize that indirect effects of fire on desert habitats might result in changes in the composition of diets and loss of vegetation cover, resulting in an increase in predation and loss of protection from temperature extremes. These changes in habitat also might cause changes in vertebrate communities in burned areas.

Morbidity and mortality of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) admitted to the Wildlife Center of Virginia, 1993-2001.

Abstract: The medical records of 48 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and 35 gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) examined at the Wildlife Center of Virginia (Waynesboro, Virginia, USA) from 1993 to 2001 were reviewed. The most common diagnosis in red foxes was orphaned (33%), followed by trauma (27%), undetermined diagnosis (23%), and sarcoptic mange (17%). Trauma (46%) was the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in gray foxes followed by orphaned (23%), undetermined (20%), toxoplasmosis (6%), presumptive canine distemper (3%), and rabies (3%). One gray fox had concurrent toxoplasmosis and presumptive canine distemper (3%). Similar diseases were detected in previous studies at a diagnostic laboratory; however in this study, trauma and orphaned animals were more common than infectious diseases. The lack of diagnostic information on some cases limited the usefulness of this study, and more emphasis should be placed on performing postmortem examinations of wildlife presented to wildlife rehabilitation centers.

A Low Maintenance Approach to Large Carcass Composting

Abstract: In recent years, costs of animal mortality pick-up have increased substantially due to reduction in demand for rendered products. Carcass disposal by burial has been the most common method while incineration of poultry and swine carcasses is also practiced in several states. These methods raise concerns over groundwater contamination at burial sites, and odor, air pollution, and unsuitability of disposing large carcasses by incineration. As the cost of dealing with mortalities and environmental concerns increase, the animal feeding operation’s (AFO) use and/or acceptance of on-farm mortality composting could very easily make it a preferred method of handling livestock losses. This paper presents results of a large- carcass (horse and cow mortalities) composting study using an in-bin, static pile composting system. Bins were created using large hay bales and spent horse bedding was used as a co-composting material. In one case, the carcass compost piles were turned at 3 and 6-month intervals after the start of composting. In the other case, the compost piles were built by placing the carcass above wooden pallets and turning the pile only once in a 6-month period. This was a low maintenance composting system because no pre processing of mortalities (cleaving, grinding etc.) was performed, no extra moisture other than that from the natural precipitation was added to the compost pile, and piles were turned no more than twice during the nine-month trial period. Within a few days after composting began, all piles achieved temperatures above 55 OC and remained at or above this temperature for several days or weeks. Turning piles without the wooden pallets after 3 months of composting resulted in a much greater temperature increase for the larger carcass (cow carcass weighing 909 Kg) than that for the smaller (horse carcass weighing 500 Kg) carcass. After six months of composting with and without the wooden pallets, similar carcass conditions in terms of faint odors and a high degree of large bone biodegradation were observed. After 9 months of composting, the C:N ratios of all compost piles were nearly one half of the horse bedding used as a co-composting material. Pathogenic evaluation of 9-month old carcass compost piles indicated low counts of salmonella and fecal coliform bacteria. The final product was ready to be land applied without the need to screen out large bones as they shattered and disintegrated easily. Based upon these results and observations, it was concluded that an in-bin, low maintenance carcass and horse bedding composting operation for the disposal of cow and horse mortalities can be carried out successfully in temperate climates during seasons of normal precipitation.

Molluscicidal action of the latex of Euphorbia splendens var. hislopii N.E.B. ("Christ's Crown") (Euphorbiaceae) against Lymnaea columella (Say, 1817) (Pulmonata: Lymnaeidae), intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica Linnaeus, 1758 (Trematode: Fasciolidae): 1- test in laboratory.

Abstract: The latex action of Euphorbia splendens var. hislopii (Christ's Crown) against snails Lymnaea columella, intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica, derived from irrigation ditches of the Station of Pisciculture at Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, was studied in the laboratory. Lab bioassays, using aqueous solutions of the latex, varying between 0.1 and 10 mg/l, have proven molluscicidal activity of the product collected on the same day the tests were performed, during the four seasons of the year, finding the following lethal concentrations (LC90): 1.51 mg/l in the spring; 0.55 mg/l in the summer; 0.74 mg/l in the fall and 0.93 mg/l in winter, after 24 h exposure of the snails, showing significant differences among the seasons of the year (ANOVA test, F = 11.01, G.L.= 3/33, p < 0.05), as well as among the concentrations (ANOVA test, F = 27.38, G.L.= 11/33, p < 0.05). In the summer, mortality reached 100% from concentration at 0.6 mg/l, the same during fall and in winter as of 1 mg/l, while in spring it only reached 100% mortality as of 2 mg/l. Mortality in the controls was low, reaching 5% in the summer and winter and 10% in the fall and spring. None of the samples died. During the assay, with an aqueous solution of the latex at a concentration of 5 mg/l, in order to check the time of duration of the product effect, in the laboratory, it was observed that the molluscicidal activity remained stable up to the 15th day after the beginning of the test with 100% mortality of L. columella, gradually losing its effect until the 23rd day, when we no longer observed animal mortality. In the control group, there was a random daily variation in mortality rate ranging 0-50% after 48 h of observation for 30 days.

High-rate Vennicomposting Systems for Recycling Paper Waste

Abstract: Composted paper waste was vermicomposted with Eudrilus eugeniae Kinberg in reactors with higher earthworm densities (62.5-162.5 animals rl) than used in conventional vermireactors (7 animals rl). Continuous operation of such 'high-rate' vermireactors for significantly long periods (7 months) resulted in consistently high vermicast output (7281 %) of the feed being turned to vermicasts in reactors of different earthworm densities with very little animal mortality «4.4%). The earthworms consistently gained weight and produced offsprings in all the reactors, throughout the experiment. These findings establish the sustainability of highrate vermireactors fed on paper waste.

Stimulation of mouse resistance to bacterial infection with muramyl dipeptide glycoside.

Abstract: We studied the capacity of 9 new muramyl dipeptide glycosides to stimulate mouse resistance to experimental sepsis induced by intraperitoneal injection of salmonella typhimurium culture. Preventive intraperitoneal injections of muramyl dipeptide β-glycosides better improved survival of infected animals compared to the original (unmodified) muramyl dipeptide and muramyl dipeptide α-glycosides. The most effective drug muramyl dipeptide β-heptylglycoside injected during sepsis development also reduced animal mortality, decreased bacterial contamination of the viscera, and increased phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages in infected animals.

Probiotic additive and the production method thereof

Abstract: The invention relates to bioengineering and agriculture and can be used for producing compound feed containing probiotics for farm animals, poultry and fish breeding stock. The inventive probiotic additive is produced by mixing a bacterial biomass of Basillus subtilis B-2250 and/ or Basillus licheniformis B-2252 with auxiliary substances such as a sorbent-carrier and high-absorbency filler. The sorbent carrier is embodied in the form of A hydrophilic aerosils and AM hydrophobic aerosils, the high-absorbency filler is embodied in the form of KB-4P-2 and KU-2-8 tChs cationic resins at a given component ratio in terms of dry substance. The dry microcapsulated probiotic additive is produced by means of a capillary-sorption drying of a component mixture as far as a moisture content in a finished product ranges from 8 to 25 %. Said invention makes it possible to produce the microcapsulated probiotic additive which contains probiotic, is easy for use and consumption and preserves stabilised properties at all production stages. Said probiotic additive Subtilis dry microcapsulated improves food conversion and general state of animals, increases gain in weight and prevents animal mortality.

Wildlife use and interactions with structures constructed to minimize vehicle collisions and animal mortality along state road 46, lake county, florida

Abstract: The Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus) is listed as a threatened species by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and is considered an umbrella species. State Road 46 in Lake County Florida has one of the highest concentrations of black bear roadkills in the state. A box culvert underpass and associated wildlife fencing was constructed in 1994 to facilitate the effectiveness of the underpass and determine how different species of wildlife are affected by the fencing. The study included the collection of roadkill data, monitoring wildlife tracks adjacent to the wildlife fence and monitoring wildlife utilization of the underpass structure with a motion-sensing camera. The fieldwork was conducted for two years. The roadkill data clearly indicates that the fencing is reducing the number of roadkills within the fence limits, especially for mammals. The fence endpoints did not appear to be significant hotspots for wildlife roadkill. The tracking surveys revealed that the distance traveled along the fenceline differed for each wildlife species. The distance traveled by black bear were the shortest of all species monitored. This implies that they remember the locations of the underpass or that they are influenced by the landscape manipulation - forest areas funneling them to the underpass entrance. The underpass camera captured ten species of animals utilizing the underpass. The data reveal that more bears used the underpass in the summer of 2003 compared with the summer of 2002. A total of ten species of wildlife have been photodocumented in 672 photos over the study period.

Carbon dioxide and temperature change due to ventilation failure

Abstract: Ventilation was interrupted in a 2000-head nursery building, and air temperature and carbon dioxide levels were measured. Tests were conducted in two rooms, one with 6.8 kg (15 lbs.) pigs and the other with 22.7 kg (50 lbs.) pigs. In the room with the 22.7 kg (50 lbs.) pigs, two tests were conducted, one without any ventilation on and the second with only mixing fans on. In the test with the 6.8 kg (15 lbs.) pigs and no ventilation running, carbon dioxide would be expected to affect the pigs within 150 minutes. Temperature would never reach a critical level. With the 22.7 kg (50 lbs.) pigs and no ventilation running, the critical time would be about 60 minutes because of temperature. Carbon dioxide would affect the pigs within 95 minutes. With the mixing fans on, the critical time for the same animals would be 75 minutes for temperature and 115 minutes for carbon dioxide. These tests may help predict animal mortality and assist in designing backup systems for confinement ventilation.

Health risk assessment at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center industrial wastewater treatment facility

Abstract: During production and maintenance operations at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center (OC-ALC), industrial wastewater streams are generated which contain organic compounds (primarily phenol and methylene chloride). These streams result from both direct and indirect contact with organic compounds via chemical depainting operations, chemical cleaning processes, and electroplating operations. Organic materials in the combined wastewater are treated at the on-site industrial wastewater treatment facility (IWTF) with unit processes including open surface basins. Some of these treatment processes result in the release of semi-volatile and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the wastewater to the ambient air. Because emitted VOCs can create potential health risks for treatment facility workers and the general public in the immediate surrounding areas, Tinker AFB is required to quantify (and report) VOCs released into the atmosphere. Such regulatory reporting can encompass identifying VOC emission sources, estimating emissions from the IWTF, quantifying ambient air concentrations surrounding the facility via dispersion modeling, and evaluating computer-generated numerical concentration estimates with respect to discontinuous field data and an open-path optical remote monitoring system. The focus of this paper is to identify and quantify health risks associated with phenol and methylene chloride releases surrounding the IWTF. The risk assessment will include calculation of an equivalent human dose (based on animal mortality studies), the maximum risk for individuals in the general population, excess number of cases of cancer, the average excess number of cases of cancer generated per year, and loss of life expectancy for the general population. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Research pays off: ecopassage reduces roadkills: barrier and underpass in florida preserve animal lives

Abstract: In 1996, the Florida Department of Transportation investigated constructing an ecopassage--a wildlife barrier and underpass system--to reduce the high rates of animal mortality in Paynes Prairie, a biodiverse Florida State Preserve with two major highways crossing prime habitat. A 1.8-mile (2.9-km) ecopassage was constructed and a two-phase study investigated pre- and post-construction highway-related animal mortality and animal movement. The research has confirmed the need for--and proved the general effectiveness of--the Paynes Prairie ecopassage. Further details are provided in this article.