Colour-Doppler sonography of the musculophrenic vein in cows

The goal of the present study was to examine the musculophrenic vein of 29 healthy Swiss Braunvieh cows using colour-Doppler sonography to determine vessel morphology and diameter, and blood flow velocity. The hair over the reticular region was clipped, and the left musculophrenic vein was examined before and 10 min after sedation using 0.03 mg/kg xylazine. The musculophrenic vein appeared as a vessel with a diameter of 0.5–1.1 cm located in the diaphragmatic musculature. The spectral display was a broad band structure with a wave-like shape. The Doppler measurement point was 1.5–2.7 cm from the body surface. The diameter of the vein and the blood flow velocity did not differ significantly before and after sedation. Before sedation, the mean diameter (±SD) of the musculophrenic vein was 0.7 (0.2) cm, the maximum blood flow velocity 90.2 (38.6) cm/s, the mean blood flow velocity 60.4 (22.3) cm/s and the minimum blood flow velocity 41.4 (24.2) cm/s. There were significant correlations (r = 0.45–0.90) between blood flow velocity before and after sedation and between minimum, maximum and mean blood flow velocities.     

Clinical evaluation of pimecrolimus eye drops for treatment of canine keratoconjunctivitis sicca: a comparison with cyclosporine A

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of pimecrolimus oil-based eye drops in alleviating the clinical signs of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) in dogs and to compare the efficacy with that of cyclosporine A (CsA) ointment. An open-label, multicenter study enrolling 44 dogs previously untreated with CsA was conducted. Dogs were randomly assigned to a treatment group and medicated twice daily for 8 weeks. After that time the mean increase (+/-SEM) in the Schirmer tear test was 9.2+/-1.6 mm/min in the pimecrolimus group and 5.8+/-1.1 mm/min in the CsA group (P=0.085). The improvement in clinical signs of inflammation in eyes treated with pimecrolimus was significantly greater than in eyes treated with CsA (P=0.02). The results show that 1% pimecrolimus oily eye drops are as safe as and more effective than CsA ointment in controlling KCS in dogs.     

Feline leukaemia. ABCD guidelines on prevention and management

OverviewFeline leukaemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus that may induce depression of the immune system, anaemia and/or lymphoma. Over the past 25 years, the prevalence of FeLV infection has decreased considerably, thanks both to reliable tests for the identification of viraemic carriers and to effective vaccines.InfectionTransmission between cats occurs mainly through friendly contacts, but also through biting. In large groups of non-vaccinated cats, around 30–40% will develop persistent viraemia, 30–40% show transient viraemia and 20–30% seroconvert. Young kittens are especially susceptible to FeLV infection.Disease signsThe most common signs of persistent FeLV viraemia are immune suppression, anaemia and lymphoma. Less common signs are immune-mediated disease, chronic enteritis, reproductive disorders and peripheral neuropathies. Most persistently viraemic cats die within 2–3 years.DiagnosisIn low-prevalence areas there may be a risk of false-positive results; a doubtful positive test result in a healthy cat should therefore be confirmed, preferably by PCR for provirus. Asymptomatic FeLV-positive cats should be retested.Disease managementSupportive therapy and good nursing care are required. Secondary infections should be treated promptly. Cats infected with FeLV should remain indoors. Vaccination against common pathogens should be maintained. Inactivated vaccines are recommended. The virus does not survive for long outside the host.Vaccination recommendationsAll cats with an uncertain FeLV status should be tested prior to vaccination. All healthy cats at potential risk of exposure should be vaccinated against FeLV. Kittens should be vaccinated at 8–9 weeks of age, with a second vaccination at 12 weeks, followed by a booster 1 year later. The ABCD suggests that, in cats older than 3–4 years of age, a booster every 2–3 years suffices, in view of the significantly lower susceptibility of older cats.     

Feline rabies. ABCD guidelines on prevention and management

OverviewRabies virus belongs to the genus Lyssavirus, together with European bat lyssaviruses 1 and 2. In clinical practice, rabies virus is easily inactivated by detergent-based disinfectants.InfectionRabid animals are the only source of infection. Virus is shed in the saliva some days before the onset of clinical signs and transmitted through a bite or a scratch to the skin or mucous membranes. The average incubation period in cats is 2 months, but may vary from 2 weeks to several months, or even years.Disease signsAny unexplained aggressive behaviour or sudden behavioural change in cats must be considered suspicious. Two disease manifestations have been identified in cats: the furious and the dumb form. Death occurs after a clinical course of 1–10 days.DiagnosisA definitive rabies diagnosis is obtained by post-mortem laboratory investigation. However, serological tests are used for post-vaccinal control, especially in the context of international movements.Disease managementPost-exposure vaccination of cats depends on the national public health regulations, and is forbidden in many countries.Vaccination recommendationsA single rabies vaccination induces a long-lasting immunity. Kittens should be vaccinated at 12–16 weeks of age to avoid interference from maternally derived antibodies and revaccinated 1 year later. Although some vaccines protect against virulent rabies virus challenge for 3 years or more, national or local legislation may call for annual boosters.     

Relationship between soil microbial biomass determined by SIR and PLFA analysis in floodplain soils

Purpose  

Although the challenge of linking pedology and hydrology has been identified recently, the microbial diversity in floodplain soils has been studied little in comparison to terrestrial soils. In terrestrial soils, the relationship between soil microbial biomass (SMB) determined by substrate-induced respiration (SIR) and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) was examined in several studies. Floodplain soils reveal substantially different properties; they are exposed to drastic changes in water regime from flooded to dry conditions. The relation between SMB determined by SIR and PLFA has, up to the present, not been adequately proved in floodplain soils. Thus, this study was conducted to elucidate the relationship between SMB determined with both methods in a set of floodplain soils of eleven study sites from three study areas along the Elbe River (Germany).     

Priming: it’s all the world to induced disease resistance

After infection by a necrotising pathogen, colonisation of the roots with certain beneficial microbes, or after treatment with various chemicals, many plants establish a unique physiological situation that is called the ‘primed’ state of the plant. In the primed condition, plants are able to ‘recall’ the previous infection, root colonisation or chemical treatment. As a consequence, primed plants respond more rapidly and/or effectively when re-exposed to biotic or abiotic stress, a feature that is frequently associated with enhanced disease resistance. Though priming has been known as a component of induced resistance for a long time, most progress in the understanding of the phenomenon has been made over the past few years. Here we summarize the current knowledge of priming and its relevance for plant protection in the field.     

First report on Bursaphelenchus sexdentati (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) in Israel

This is the first report and characterization of Bursaphelenchus sexdentati and the first official report of the presence of the genus Bursaphelenchus in Israel. This species was isolated from Orthotomicus erosus (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) found on Pinus halepensis in the Judean foothills in Israel. Nematodes collected from insect galleries were reared on fungal cultures and identified based on morphological diagnostic characters for the genus Bursaphelenchus. Sequencing analyses of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region, small subunit (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) of ribosomal DNA confirmed the identification of this nematode species collected from wood and directly from the insect body.     

Identifying high yielding stable winter wheat genotypes for irrigated environments in Central and West Asia

Improved winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars are needed for the diverse environments in Central and West Asia to improve rural livelihoods. This study was conducted to determine the performance of elite winter wheat breeding lines developed by the International Winter Wheat Improvement Program (IWWIP), to analyze their stability across diverse environments, and to identify superior genotypes that could be valuable for winter wheat improvement or varietal release. One hundred and one advanced winter wheat breeding lines and four check cultivars were tested over a 5-year period (2004–2008). Grain yield and agronomic traits were analyzed. Stability and genotypic superiority for grain yield were determined using genotype and genotype × environment (GGE) biplot analysis. The experimental genotypes showed high levels of grain yield in each year, with mean values ranging from 3.9 to 6.7 t ha⁻¹. A set of 25 experimental genotypes was identified. These were either equal or superior to the best check based on their high mean yield and stability across environments as assessed by the GGE biplot analysis. The more stable high yielding genotypes were ID800994.W/Falke, Agri/Nac//Attila, ID800994W/Vee//F900K/3/Pony/Opata, AU//YT542/N10B/3/II8260/4/JI/Hys/5/Yunnat Esskiy/6/KS82W409/Spn and F130-L-1-12/MV12. The superior genotypes also had acceptable maturity, plant height and 1,000-kernel weight. Among the superior lines, Agri/Nac//Attila and Shark/F4105W2.1 have already been proposed for release in Kyrgyzstan and Georgia, respectively. The findings provide information on wide adaptation of the internationally important winter wheat genotypes, and demonstrate that the IWWIP program is enriching the germplasm base in the region with superior winter wheat genotypes to the benefit of national and international winter wheat improvement programs.