Severe soft tissue infections in dogs: 47 cases (1996–2006)

Objective– To describe the patient population, microbiological findings, treatment and outcome in dogs with severe soft tissue infections (SSTIs) and to compare survivors to nonsurvivors. Design– Retrospective study. Animals– Forty‐seven dogs with confirmed soft tissue infections originating from the SC tissues, muscle or fascia. Interventions– None. Measurements and Main Results– Physical and clinicopathologic data on presentation, microbiological and histopathological findings, antimicrobial treatment and outcome. Dogs with SSTIs were predominantly large breed dogs with a median body weight of 35.6 kg. Incidence of pre‐existing conditions (immunomodulating diseases, blunt trauma, injections, clean surgical procedures) that could have contributed to development of SSTIs was 34%. Abnormal physical examination and diagnostic parameters on presentation included increased body temperature (median temperature 39.5 °C [103.1 °F]) and low arterial blood pressure (median systolic blood pressure 103.5 mm Hg). While Streptococcus species were the most commonly isolated bacteria, the incidence of polymicrobial infections differed between antemortem (38.7%) and postmortem (57.1%) cultures. The overall survival rate was 46.8%. Survivors had a higher body weight and higher respiratory rate on presentation than nonsurvivors. Nonsurvivors had a significantly lower WBC count and higher lactate, BUN, aspartate aminotransferase, and bilirubin concentrations. Histopathologic examination of tissue specimens showed that the degree of necrosis was higher in survivors compared with nonsurvivors. Conclusions– SSTIs in dogs are serious conditions associated with high mortality, significant inflammatory changes, and cardiovascular compromise. A number of conditions, including those that compromise skin integrity and immunomodulating diseases have been identified in our patient population and could have contributed to development of SSTIs. Polymicrobial infections occurred in many cases, necessitating broad‐spectrum antimicrobial coverage.     

Presence of chlorogenic acid during in vitro maturation protects porcine oocytes from the negative effects of heat stress

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is known to protect oocytes from oxidative stress. Here we investigated the effects of CGA on porcine oocyte maturation under heat stress and subsequent embryonic development after parthenogenetic activation. For in vitro maturation (IVM) at 41.0°C (hyperthermic condition), supplementation of the maturation medium with 50 μM CGA significantly improved the percentage of matured oocytes and reduced the rate of apoptosis relative to oocytes matured without CGA (p < .05). CGA treatment of oocytes during IVM under hyperthermia tended to increase (p < .1) percentage of blastocyst formation after parthenogenesis and significantly increased (p < .05) the total cell number per blastocyst relative to oocytes matured without CGA. For IVM at 38.5°C (isothermic condition), CGA significantly improved the rate of blastocyst development compared with oocytes matured without CGA (p < .05), but did not affect oocyte maturation, apoptosis rate or the number of cells per embryo. Omission of all antioxidants from the IVM medium significantly reduced the rate of oocyte maturation, but the rate was restored upon addition of CGA. These results demonstrate that CGA is a potent antioxidant that protects porcine oocytes from the negative effects of heat stress, thus reducing the frequency of apoptosis and improving the quality of embryos.     

Non-Host Volatiles Disrupt the Response of the Stenographer Bark Beetle, Ips sexdentatus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), to Pheromone-Baited traps and Maritime Pine Logs

Non-host volatiles (NHV) were tested on antennae of Ips sexdentatus with coupled gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD). Significant antennal responses were found to aggregation pheromone components, ipsdienol and amitinol, an attraction inhibitor, verbenone, and non-host bark volatiles extracted from Betula pendula, including trans-conophthorin (tC) and alcohols. The tC, a blend of three green leaf alcohols (C6-alcohols), and a blend of two bark alcohols (C8-alcohols) were tested in combination for their ability to disrupt the attraction of the stenographer bark beetle to pheromone-baited traps, unbaited and pheromone-baited maritime pine logs. The strongest disruptive effect resulted from the addition of the tC combined with the blends of NHV alcohols at high release rate, achieving an 83% reduction in trap catches, 89% reduction of attacks on unbaited pine logs, and 60% on baited logs. It is proposed that the two types of NHV have an additive effect, tC playing a major role in pheromone disruption while the alcohols would interrupt host specific signals. The results suggest that I. sexdentatus uses both bark and green leaf volatiles from non-host tree species in the host selection process. These NHV are promising disruptants, which could be used to prevent stenographer bark beetle attacks on log piles or standing trees in forest. A mixture of conifers and broad-leaved species would also disturb olfactory guided host selection supporting the assumption that more diverse forests are less prone to pest insect outbreaks.     

Philometroides africanus sp. n. (Nematoda: Philometridae), a new tissue parasite of the African pike Hepsetus odoe (Pisces) in Botswana.

A new species of philometrid nematode, Philometroides africanus sp. n., is described from female specimens found encapsulated in gill arches and inner surface of gill covers of the African pike, Hepsetus odoe (Bloch), an endemic freshwater fish in Africa, from the Okavango River and Delta in Botswana. This new nematode is characterised mainly by a markedly small and plump body of gravid females (body length 6-9 mm), a separate anterior oesophageal bulb, a conspicuously small oesophageal gland, presence of four pairs of very small submedian cephalic papillae, and absence of any caudal processes. The prevalence of P. africanus in African pike of the Okavango Delta was 29%, with the intensity 1-8 (mean 3) encapsulated nematodes per fish. The genus Margolisianum Blaylock et Overstreet, 1999 is considered a junior synonym of Philometroides Yamaguti, 1935 and, consequently, its type species is transferred to the latter as Philometroides bulbosus (Blaylock et Overstreet, 1999) comb. n.     

Genetic variation in partial resistance to leaf rust in winter wheat: disease progress,foliage senescence and yield reduction

Relations between leaf rust progress, foliage senescence and yield reduction were studied for seven winter wheat genotypes, differing in their partial resistance to leaf rust. Leaf rust accelerated leaf and ear senescence. Photosynthesis measurements showed, however, that the photosynthetic capacity of the remaining green surface was not affected. Differences between genotypes in yield reduction were largely explained by differences in leaf senescence and, therefore, in cumulative light interception (r=0.83) and crop photosynthesis. Reduction in cumulative light interception was closely related to the area under the disease-progress-curve (r=0.85), which was also closely associated with yield reduction (r=0.88). However, the time taken to reach a 50% reduction of green leaf area and the pustule density on 1 July (i.e. halfway through the epidemic) were just as good predictors of yield reduction as cumulative light interception and area under disease-progress-curve, suggesting that the former are useful criteria in the selection for partial resistance to leaf rust.Samenvatting De relatie stussen de epidemiologie van bruine roest, bladveroudering en oprengstderving werden bestudeerd bij zeven wintertarwegenotypen die verschilden in partiële resistentie tegen bruine roest. Bruine roest versnelde de veroudering van blad en aar. Fotosynthesemetingen wezen echter uit dat de fotosynthesecapaciteit van het resterende groene oppervlak niet werd beïnvloed. Verschillen tussen de genotypen in opbrengstderving werden voornamelijk veroorzaakt door verschillen in bladveroudering en daarmee in cumulatieve lichtinterceptie (r=0.83) en gewasfotosynthese. De reductie in cumulatieve lichtinterceptie was nauw gerelateerd aan de cumulatieve ziektedruk (in puistdagen) (r=0.85), welke ook nauw was geassocieerd met de opbrengstderving (r=0.88). De opbrengstreductie werd echter even goed voorspeld door de tijdsduur tot 50% reductie van het groene bladoppervlak en de puistdichtheid halverwege de epidemie als door cumulatieve lichtinterceptie en cumulatieve ziektedruk, waardoor beide eerste criteria gebruikt kunnen worden in de selectie voor partiële resistentie tegen bruine roest.     

Spreading of spray mixtures on leaf surfaces: II. cohesive interaction parameters as predictors of spreading and the effect of molar volume and roughness on spreading

Partial cohesive interaction parameters as predictors of the spreading of spray mixtures were investigated. Multiple linear regression of the inverse of the area of spread, 1/A, for leaf surfaces on the partial cohesive interaction parameters of pure liquids gave a good fit (r² > 0–90) on virtually all tested surfaces. The coefficients obtained from the regression analysis could be used to describe the spreading properties of each surface uniquely. Regression of 1/Afor an unknown liquid on the coefficients of known surfaces could, conversely, be used to obtain the cohesive interaction parameters of the unknown liquid. A linear relationship was observed between the calculated energy of adsorption and the inverse of the area of spread. An increase in molar volume caused a decrease in the slope of the regression line and an increase in roughness caused a similar, but more pronounced, decrease.     

A structure model and growth mechanism for multishell carbon nanotubes

A model that postulates a mixture of scroll-shaped and concentric, cylindrical graphene sheets is proposed to explain the microstructure of graphite multishell nanotubes grown by arc discharge. The model is consistent with the observed occurrence of a relatively small number of different chiral angles within the same tubule. The model explains clustering in a natural way and is consistent with the observation of asymmetric (0002) lattice fringe patterns and with the occurrence of singular fringe spacings larger than c/2 (c is the c parameter of graphite) in such patterns. Anisotropic thermal contraction accounts for the 2 to 3 percent increase in the c parameter of nanotubes, compared with bulk graphite, but is too small to explain the singular fringe spacings. The model also explains the formation of multishell closure domes. Nucleation is attributed to the initial formation of a fullerene "dome."     

Congenital bilateral aplasia of the metacarpophalangeal joints in a foal

A 2‐day‐old Warmblood filly was presented for examination of an angular limb deformity of the left front limb and an upright conformation of both metacarpophalangeal joints. Radiological examination revealed bilateral absence of the metacarpophalangeal joint space with fusion of the third metacarpal bone and first phalanx (synostosis). No treatment was undertaken. The filly was readmitted to the clinic 10 weeks later for bilateral front limb lameness. On radiological examination, the synostosis of the front metacarpophalangeal joints was still present. Physitis of the distal growth plate of the right third metacarpal bone and proximal growth plate of the right proximal phalanx, and an avulsion fracture of the palmaromedial and proximal aspect of the left middle phalanx, with a cystic like lesion on the medial aspect of distal first phalanx and proximal middle phalanx were diagnosed. Given the poor prognosis, the foal was subjected to euthanasia. Post mortem examination confirmed the absence of the metacarpophalangeal joint space with a trabecular bony union between the third metacarpal bone and the first phalanx. A rudimentary joint capsule was present at the level of the absent joints as well as a small zone of articular cartilage, which invaginated over a short distance into the dorsal trabecular bone on the right front limb. On the medial aspect of the left proximal interphalangeal joint, a focal defect of articular cartilage with exposure of subchondral bone was observed. This is the first case report of a foal born with congenital aplasia of both metacarpophalangeal joints. Congenital malformations should be considered as differential diagnosis in lame foals or foals born with angular or flexural limb deformities.