Molecular findings of disseminated histoplasmosis in two captive snow leopards (Uncia uncia)

This paper reports two cases of disseminated histoplasmosis in captive snow leopards (Uncia uncia). Histoplasmosis was diagnosed based on histopathology, immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy, and molecular findings.     

Antimicrobial activity of Diospyros anisandra

Leaves, root and stem bark of Diospyros anisandra were screened against two strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, one resistant and one susceptible to antibiotics, using the microplate Alamar blue assay test. The lypophylic fractions of the root and bark showed significant inhibitory activity against both strains, with the hexane fraction of the bark showing the strongest activity (MIC 6.25 microg/ml) against the resistant strain and a significant antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The bioassay-guided purification of the bioactive hexane fraction resulted in the isolation and identification of the naphthoquinone plumbagin as one of the metabolites responsible for the biological activity.     

A comparison of 4 iron supplementation protocols to protect suckling piglets from anemia

Pigs are routinely supplemented with iron during the suckling period to prevent anemia, but recent studies have shown that despite iron treatment many fast-growing pigs are iron deficient at weaning. The objective of this study was to determine if oral iron supplementation provided free-choice from a week of age until weaning could prevent iron deficiency. Results showed that the industry standard treatment of a single iron injection at 4 days of age did not always prevent iron deficiency at weaning, indicating the need to provide additional iron to fast-growing suckling pigs either orally or by a second injection. It appears that providing piglets daily access to iron-enriched peat moss or injecting a second 200-mg dose of iron intramuscularly are both effective in meeting the piglets iron requirements during the suckling period.     

The extraction of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins from grapes to wine during fermentative maceration is affected by the enological technique

The effect of three enological techniques (low temperature prefermentative maceration, must freezing with dry ice, and the use of a maceration enzyme) on the extraction of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins from must to wine during fermentative maceration was studied to determine the extent to which these compounds are extracted and to assess the changes on their qualitative composition due to enological technique applied. The results showed that the dry ice treatment led to wines with high color intensity and high anthocyanin content, the maximum rate of extraction being observed the first 6 days of fermentative maceration. Regarding the effect of the different techniques on the quantitative and qualitative composition of proanthocyanidins, only the dry ice treatment seemed to favor the extraction of high molecular weight skin proanthocyanidins. The low temperature prefermentative maceration treatment led to the highest concentration of proanthocyanidins at the moment of pressing; however, this treatment, contrary to expectations, led to wines with the highest content of seed-derived proanthocyanidins. The use of the maceration enzyme also increased the concentration of proanthocyanidins during all of the fermentative process, as compared to a control wine, although the increase was not only due to skin proanthocyanidins but also seed proanthocyanidins. We have demonstrated in this study that maceration enzymes also facilitate seed phenolic extraction.     

Preoperative ketoprofen administration to piglets undergoing castration does not affect subsequent growth performance

The purpose of this study was to determine if treatment of pigs with ketoprofen (3 mg/kg body weight) before castration at 7 days of age would affect subsequent growth during the suckling period. Piglets from 301 litters were treated with ketoprofen or a placebo and weighed at castration and at weaning. There was no difference in growth rate between the 2 groups of pigs.     

Skin and abdominal fascia melanization in broiler chickens

Increased trimming and consequent carcass downgrade was experienced in a broiler flock. Condemned birds had gray to black pigmentation of the subcutaneous tissue and fat of the abdomen, and bluish pigmentation of the shanks. Histopathology revealed accumulation of melanin in these tissues. No significant bacteria were isolated. Accumulation of melanin in the skin and fascia is because of the cumulative and interactive effects of several genes. Additionally, pigmentation of abdominal fat has a high correlation with accumulation of melanin in the skin of the shanks. Although melanization of the skin and abdominal fascia is not harmful to people, it may cause severe economic losses to the producer.     

Trace metal pollution in freshwater sediments of the world’s largest mercury mining district: sources,spatial distribution,and environmental implications

Purpose

The Almadén mining district has suffered long-term extraction activity, and this has left significant areas of decommissioned mining liabilities. Nowadays, the uncontrolled runoff and related erosion and transport of trace metal-enriched soils and sediments affect the whole freshwater ecosystem. The goal of this study was to distinguish geogenic from mining-related sources of trace metals in freshwater sediments, to understand their dispersion in the watershed, and, finally, to evaluate the potential environmental implications for future corrective plans.

Materials and methods

Freshwater surface sediment samples were collected from ten points along the main streams of the watershed (nine inside the mining district and one control point outside the district). Sediments were air dried and analyzed by different standard methods for pH, total major and trace element concentrations, total organic carbon, and grain size. In addition to the determination of the enrichment factor, a multi-statistical approach was applied involving discriminant analysis, Student’s t test, and Mann-Whitney U analysis.

Results and discussion

Sediments inside the district contained high levels of major and trace elements with respect to the control point. The predominance of fine fractions in these sediment samples appears to be one of the most important factors that affects trace metal concentrations. Among the trace elements, not only Hg but also As, Pb, and Zn are discriminative geochemical markers, thus allowing the identification of the different mining sources and their individual or combined impact throughout the district. Furthermore, the high enrichment factors obtained for As, Hg, Pb, and Zn with respect to the local background values highlight the persistent and severe impact from the decommissioned mines on the freshwater surficial sediments and their potential geoavailable risk for aquatic organisms.

Conclusions

The geochemistry of freshwater sediments alone demonstrates that different contamination sources are recognizable within the mining district and these can be related to the specific decommissioned mines. In addition, the discrete sources can be clearly distinguished on the basis of the statistical analysis of the geochemical data. Despite the closure of the mines, stream sediments are still the main repository of trace metals within the district, and they are therefore a potential threat to the freshwater ecosystem.

     

Histomoniasis in the bursa of fabricius of chickens

Histomoniasis was diagnosed in a flock of 6-wk-old commercial chickens. Clinical signs included depression, stilted gait, inappetence, and a slight increase in mortality. At necropsy, there were pale-yellow to dark-gray circular and depressed necrotic lesions in the liver. The ceca were enlarged and impacted with caseous cores. Cecal worms were not observed either at necropsy or on histopathology. Histomonads were demonstrated microscopically within the bursa of Fabricius in addition to the liver, ceca, and spleen. This is the first report of the presence of histomonads in the bursa of Fabricius in commercial chickens.     

Focal transmural necrotic tracheitis in commercial meat turkeys

This report describes an unusual presentation of severe focal necrotic tracheitis in a flock of 8-wk-old commercial turkeys. The flock was kept on a range that is located near a cotton field. The cotton field had been chemically defoliated 2 wk before the birds were submitted for necropsy. At necropsy, most of the birds had a 1-cm, yellow-white constricture in the upper third of the trachea at which the lumen was partially occluded by necrotic tissue. Microscopically, there was severe, transmural necrosis with an accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the tracheal lumen and numerous bacteria within the necrotic debris, mucosa, and lamina propria. Mixed bacteria were isolated from the trachea. No viruses were detected. Neither abnormal heavy metal concentrations in the liver nor paraquat in the respiratory tract were detected. The exact cause of this severe, necrotic tracheitis was not determined. Based on the clinical history and laboratory findings, it was concluded that a combination of a toxic irritant, possibly an aerosolized cotton defoliant, and bacterial infections were likely the cause of this lesion.