Medetomidine/midazolam/ketamine anaesthesia in ferrets: effects on cardiorespiratory parameters and evaluation of plasma drug concentrations

ObjectiveTo evaluate the cardiorespiratory effects and plasma concentrations of medetomidine-midazolam-ketamine (MMK) combinations administered by intramuscular (IM) or subcutaneous (SC) injection in sable ferrets (Mustela putorius furo).Study designProspective randomized experimental study.AnimalsEighteen adult ferrets: weight median 1.19 (range 0.81–1.60) kg.MethodsAnimals were allocated to one of three groups: group IM07 received 20 μg kg^?1 medetomidine, 0.5 mg kg^?1 midazolam and 7 mg kg^?1 ketamine IM; group IM10 20 μg kg^?1 medetomidine, 0.5 mg kg^?1 midazolam and 10 mg kg^?1 ketamine IM; and group SC10 20 μg kg^?1 medetomidine, 0.5 mg kg^?1 midazolam and 10 mg kg^?1 ketamine SC. Following instrumentation, cardiorespiratory parameters and plasma drug concentrations were measured every 5 minutes (T5–T30) for 30 minutes Ferrets were then euthanased. Data were analysed using anova for repeated measures. p < 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsResults are mean ± SD. Induction of anaesthesia (minutes) in IM07 and IM10 [2 (1)] was significantly faster than in SC10 [5 (2)]. All groups demonstrated the following: results given as groups IM07, IM10 and SC10 respectively. Mean arterial blood pressures (mmHg) were initially high [186 (13); 174 (33) and 174 (9) at T5] but decreased steadily. Pulse rates were initially 202 (20), 213 (17) and 207 (33) beats minute^?1, decreasing with time. PaO₂ (mmHg) was low [54.0 (8), 47.7 (10) and 38.5 (1)] at T5, although in groups IM07 and IM10 it increased over time. Plasma concentrations of all drugs were highest at T5 (36, 794 and 8264 nmol L^?1 for medetomidine, midazolam and ketamine, respectively) and decreased thereafter: for both midazolam and ketamine, concentrations in IM07 and IM10 were higher than SC10.Conclusions and clinical relevanceMMK combinations containing either 7 or 10 mg kg^?1 ketamine and given IM are suitable combinations for anaesthetising ferrets, although the observed degree of hypoxaemia indicates that oxygen administration is vital.     

Pulmonary inflammation due to exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage in Thoroughbred colts during race training

This study investigated the putative roles of inflammation and platelet-activating factor (PAF) in exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH). Two-year-old Thoroughbred colts (n=37) were exercised on a racetrack for 5months before commencement of the study. Each colt was then exercised at 15-16m/s over 800-1000m and broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected 24h later. The colts were subsequently divided into two groups on the basis of BALF analysis; an EIPH-positive group (presence of haemosiderophages, n=23) and an EIPH-negative group (absence of haemosiderophages, n=14). BALF from the EIPH-positive group had a significantly higher protein concentration (0.39±0.28 vs. 0.19±0.12mg/mL, P=0.031), higher PAF bioactivity (0.18±0.12 vs. 0.043±0.05 340:380nm ratio, P=0.042) and a higher lipid hydroperoxide concentration compared to the EIPH-negative group. There was also a lower nitrite concentration and reduced production of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide by alveolar macrophages in the EIPH-positive group. There was evidence of pulmonary inflammation and a decreased innate immune response of alveolar macrophages in EIPH-positive colts compared with the EIPH-negative group.     

Effect of endosulfan in female rats growing on low- and high-protein cereal diet

Endosulfan (α,β-1,2,3,4,7,7-hexachlorobicyclo(2,2,1)-heptene-(2)-bis-hydroxymethylene(5,6)sulfite) fed daily 0.5 and 100 ppm in the diet proved significantly toxic to female rats (initial weight 40–50 g) growing on a low-protein (5%) diet as compared to those growing on a high-protein (24%) diet. The toxic symptoms which developed exclusively in low-protein-fed rats included growth retardation, low blood counts, low RNA and protein levels in liver, and high glutathione levels in liver and blood. However, no changes in the activities of liver RNase, blood glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and glutathione reductase were observed. Liver glucose-6-phosphatase activity increased significantly. Endosulfan induced an increased accumulation of perirenal adipose in rats raised both on low- and high-protein diets. Endosulfan elicited cumulative toxic manifestations as evident from the relative degree of toxicity caused by 0.5 ppm and 18 weeks feeding. α-Endosulfan, β-endosulfan, and endosulfan sulfate were recovered from adipose tissue, the recovery being higher in adipose tissue of rats raised on a low-protein diet.     

A simplified protocol for molecular identification of Eimeria species in field samples

This study aimed to find a fast, sensitive and efficient protocol for molecular identification of chicken Eimeria spp. in field samples. Various methods for each of the three steps of the protocol were evaluated: oocyst wall rupturing methods, DNA extraction methods, and identification of species-specific DNA sequences by PCR. We then compared and evaluated five complete protocols. Three series of oocyst suspensions of known number of oocysts from Eimeria mitis, Eimeria praecox, Eimeria maxima and Eimeria tenella were prepared and ground using glass beads or mini-pestle. DNA was extracted from ruptured oocysts using commercial systems (GeneReleaser, Qiagen Stoolkit and Prepman) or phenol-chloroform DNA extraction, followed by identification of species-specific ITS-1 sequences by optimised single species PCR assays. The Stoolkit and Prepman protocols showed insufficient repeatability, and the former was also expensive and relatively time-consuming. In contrast, both the GeneReleaser protocol and phenol-chloroform protocols were robust and sensitive, detecting less than 0.4 oocysts of each species per PCR. Finally, we evaluated our new protocol on 68 coccidia positive field samples. Our data suggests that rupturing the oocysts by mini-pestle grinding, preparing the DNA with GeneReleaser, followed by optimised single species PCR assays, makes a robust and sensitive procedure for identifying chicken Eimeria species in field samples. Importantly, it also provides minimal hands-on-time in the pre-PCR process, lower contamination risk and no handling of toxic chemicals.     

Environmental Fate of Trifluralin,Procymidone, and Chlorpyrifos in Small Horticultural Production Units in Argentina

A mesocosm experiment was established to evaluate the effect of two organic wastes: fermented sugar beet residue (SBR) and urban waste compost on the stimulation of plant growth, phytoaccumulation of heavy metals (HM) and soil biological quality and their possible use in phytostabilization tasks with native (Piptatherum miliaceum, Retama sphaerocarpa, Bituminaria bituminosa, Coronilla juncea and Anthyllis cytisoides) and non-native (Lolium perenne) plants in a heavy metal-contaminated semiarid soil. Except R. sphaerocarpa, SBR increased the contents of shoot N, P and K and shoot biomass of all plants. The percentage of mycorrhizal colonization was not affected by the organic amendments. The highest increase in dehydrogenase and β-glucosidase activities was recorded in SBR-amended P. miliaceum. SBR decreased toxic levels of HM in shoot of P. miliaceum, mainly decreasing Fe and Pb uptake to plants. This study pointed out that the SBR was the most effective amendment for enhancing the plant performance and for improving soil quality. The combination of SBR and P. miliaceum can be regarded the most effective strategy for being employed in phytostabilization projects of this contaminated site.     

Efficiency of mannose-binding plant lectins in controlling a homopteran insect,the red cotton bug

Yield losses of different crops due to the attack of various classes of insects are a worldwide problem. Sucking type homopteran pests causing damage to many crop species are not controlled by commonly known insecticidal proteins, namely, Bacillus thuringiensis delta-endotoxin (Bt). This study describes the purification of mannose-binding lectins from three different monocotyledonous plants (Allium sativum, Colocasia esculenta, and Diffenbachia sequina) and their effects on a homopteran insect, the red cotton bug. All of them had a detrimental effect on the growth and development of the insect, where A. sativum bulb lectin showed the highest mortality of all, in particular. The same bulb lectin not only affected the growth and fecundity of the insect but also imparted drastic changes in the color, weight, and size, even on the second generation of the insects which have been reared on artificial diet supplemented with a sublethal dose of the lectin. Thus, this finding opens up a possibility of using this lectin as an important component in crop management.     

ALUMINUM TOXICITY IN CORN PLANTS CULTIVATED WITH LOW AND HIGH IONIC STRENGTH NUTRIENT SOLUTIONS

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the phytotoxic effect of aluminum (Al) in corn plants in nutrient solution under high ionic strength (0.0094 uM) and low ionic strength (0.00001 uM). Regarding the low ionic strengths, nutrient solution was added daily until the end of the experimental period. The findings showed that the pH of the nutrient solution reduced with the increase in Al concentration, under both high and low ionic strengths solutions. Electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution increased with Al concentrations only in the solution with low ionic strength, demonstrating that the plant was more sensible to the element toxicity, thus reducing its growth and absorption of nutrients. The production of the total dry mass of corn was affected by the increase of Al concentration in the solution only under low ionic strengths, which reinforces the greater activity and absorption of the element under such condition.     

Editorial

No abstract available for this article.     

Cracks in bread crust cause longer crispness retention

Crispness is among the most important factors that the consumer uses to assess the quality of crispy bread. However, this quality attribute is rapidly lost after baking. It is known that crispness retention can be increased more than eight times by enhancing the water vapor permeability of the crust. Current methods to achieve this, i.e., puncturing the bread before baking, require an extra process step. We hypothesize that cracks that appear spontaneously on the crust surface after baking can also enhance water vapor permeability and therefore improve crispness retention. We were able to confirm this hypothesis by preparing composite breads containing the same crumb but different crusts, with crust recipes of varying starch/protein ratios. Crusts systems that were generally high in gelatinized starch content and poor in evenly distributed gluten were more prone to crack after the whole process of part-baking, freezing, and baking off. These cracks led to an increased water vapor permeability of the crust and an eight times longer instrumental crispness retention compared to standard bread. In this paper we also discuss possible causes for crack formation in the crust. We hypothesize that effective cracks are caused by thermal shock in materials with a low ability to dissipate energy.     

Latitudinal variability in the seroprevalence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in non-migrant and Arctic migratory geese

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular coccidian parasite found worldwide and is known to infect virtually all warm-blooded animals. It requires a cat (family Felidae) to complete its full life cycle. Despite the absence of wild felids on the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, T. gondii has been found in resident predators such as the arctic fox and polar bear. It has therefore been suggested that T. gondii may enter this ecosystem via migratory birds. The objective of this study was to identify locations where goose populations may become infected with T. gondii, and to investigate the dynamics of T. gondii specific antibodies. Single blood samples of both adults and juveniles were collected from selected goose species (Anser anser, A. brachyrhynchus, Branta canadensis, B. leucopsis) at Arctic brood-rearing areas in Russia and on Svalbard, and temperate wintering grounds in the Netherlands and Denmark (migratory populations) as well as temperate brood-rearing grounds (the Netherlands, non-migratory populations). A modified agglutination test was used on serum, for detection of antibodies against T. gondii. Occasional repeated annual sampling of individual adults was performed to determine the antibody dynamics. Adults were found seropositive at all locations (Arctic and temperate, brood-rearing and wintering grounds) with low seroprevalence in brood-rearing birds on temperate grounds. As no juvenile geese were found seropositive at any brood-rearing location, but nine month old geese were found seropositive during spring migration we conclude that geese, irrespective of species and migration, encounter T. gondii infection in wintering areas. In re-sampled birds on Svalbard significant seroreversion was observed, with 42% of seropositive adults showing no detectable antibodies after 12 months, while the proportion of seroconversion was only 3%. Modelled variation of seroprevalence with field data on antibody longevity and parasite transmission suggests seroprevalence of a population within a range of 5.2–19.9%, in line with measured values. The high occurrence of seroreversion compared to the low occurrence of seroconversion hampers analysis of species- or site-specific patterns, but explains the absence of an increase in seroprevalence with age and the observed variation in antibody titre. These findings imply that even though infection rate is low, adults introduce T. gondii to the high Arctic ecosystem following infection in temperate regions.