Serum and Plasma Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Levels in Various Cat Populations

Introduction:  Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the most important mediators of angiogenesis. Elevated levels within tumors, and in serum, plasma, and tumor effusion have been correlated with the development of metastatic disease, recurrence, and poor prognosis in many tumors in humans. Canine VEGF has been sequenced as homologous with the human form, and elevated serum and plasma VEGF have been found in dogs with hemangiosarcoma. Feline VEGF has also been sequenced, and shares homology with the human and canine forms.
Materials and Methods:  Stored serum and plasma samples from normal cats, cats with various neoplasms, and cats with non‐neoplastic disease were evaluated with a commercial ELISA kit (R&D Systems, Minneapolis MN). Samples were run in duplicate, and a standard curve was performed for each plate. The data were analyzed for differences between populations, and between serum and plasma levels in the same patient to determine the optimal sample for evaluating VEGF in cats.
Results:  In seven apparently healthy cats mean plasma VEGF was 95.6 pg/mL. In non‐neoplastic disease (7 cases), mean plasma VEGF was 117.3 pg/mL and mean serum VEGF level was 219.7 pg/mL. In ten tumor‐bearing patients mean plasma VEGF was 247.1 pg/mL, and mean serum VEGF was 322.3 pg/mL. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference between mean serum and plasma VEGF concentrations within each group or between groups (p > 0.05).
Discussion:  Serum and plasma VEGF levels could not be used to distinguish between healthy cats and cats with neoplastic or non‐neoplastic disease.     

A leakiness index for assessing landscape function using remote sensing

The cover, number, size, shape, spatial arrangement and orientation of vegetation patches are attributes that have been used to indicate how well landscapes function to retain, not ‘leak’, vital system resources such as rainwater and soil. We derived and tested a directional leakiness index (DLI) for this resource retention function. We used simulated landscape maps where resource flows over map surfaces were directional and where landscape patch attributes were known. Although DLI was most strongly related to patch cover, it also logically related to patch number, size, shape, arrangement and orientation. If the direction of resource flow is multi-directional, a variant of DLI, the multi-directional leakiness index (MDLI) can be used. The utility of DLI and MDLI was demonstrated by applying these indices to three Australian savanna landscapes differing in their remotely sensed vegetation patch attributes. These leakiness indices clearly positioned these three landscapes along a function-dysfunction continuum, where dysfunctional landscapes are leaky (poorly retain resources). This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

SSR-based genetic linkage analysis of resistance to crown rust (Puccinia coronata f. sp. lolii) in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)

Crown rust (caused by Puccinia coronata f. sp. lolii) is a serious foliar disease of the pasture and turfgrass perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). Previous genetic studies have detected both qualitative and quantitative resistance mechanisms, and interpretation of the genetic system is complicated by variation within the sexually reproducing pathogen. Resistant and susceptible parental genotypes of ryegrass were identified using a composite urediniospore population collected from three geographically distinct locations. A two-way pseudo-testcross mapping population was obtained as the F₁ progeny of the pair-cross between ryegrass parental genotypes Vedette₆ and Victorian₉. Both parents showed intermediate resistance against a pathogen population collected in a single geographical zone (Hamilton, Victoria), but in the F₁ population, significant variation for a range of resistance-associated characters was detected. Statistical analysis of phenotypic data suggested a major gene effect, hence bulked segregant analysis with map-assigned simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers was used to scan the genome. A marker showing strong association with resistance was assigned to linkage group (LG) 2 of perennial ryegrass. Analysis of 11 LG2 SSR markers defined an interval between loci xlpssrh03f03 and xlpssrk02e02 as containing the gene or genes (LpPc1) conferring crown rust resistance. Resistance gene determinants were inherited from both parents, with up to 80% of the total phenotypic variation explained by markers segregating from Vedette₆ and up to 26% of the variation explained by markers segregating from Victorian₉. The two contributions together resulted in an additive increase in effect, with fully resistant individuals requiring determinants from both parents. A conserved syntenic relationship was observed with linkage group B of Avena strigosa, which is the location of a cluster of resistance genes to the oat form of crown rust. The implications of this study for marker-assisted selection of disease resistance in perennial ryegrass are discussed.     

Effects of area and isolation of woodland patches on herbaceous plant species richness across Great Britain

Richness of Ancient Woodland Indicator plant species was analysed in 308 woodland patches that were surveyed during the Countryside Survey of Great Britain carried out in 1998. The Countryside Survey recorded vegetation plots and landscape structure in 569 stratified 1 km sample squares and developed a remotely-sensed land cover map of the UK. Using these datasets, we tested the hypothesis that Ancient Woodland Indicator species richness in woodland fragments was limited by patch area, shape and spatial isolation and that woodland patches located in the lowland region of Great Britain would respond differently than those in the upland region. The variation in Ancient Woodland Indicator species richness in the British lowlands (n = 218) was mainly explained by patch area and two measures of connectivity, the length of hedgerows and lines of trees in the 1 km square and the area of woodland within 500 m of the vegetation plot. By contrast, variation in Ancient Woodland Indicator species richness in the British uplands (n = 90) was related to Ellenberg scores of the vegetation communities sampled – a surrogate for habitat quality – and no significant effect of spatial structure was detected. It therefore appears that the degree of fragmentation of woodland in the British lowlands limits the distribution of Ancient Woodland Indicator species, while in the uplands, failed colonisation is a matter of habitat quality rather than a result of landscape structure.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Bilateral phacofragmentation in a New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri).

Ophthalmic examination under anesthesia of a 5-yr-old, captive, male New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) with reduced visual capacity revealed bilateral cataracts. Surgical extraction of the lenses was performed by phacofragmentation. Preoperative mydriasis was unsuccessful using common topical mydriatic agents. Intraoperative intracameral epinephrine 1:10,000 produced minimal pupillary dilation, but excellent dilation was achieved with intracameral epinephrine at 1:1,000. Postoperative uveitis was controlled with oral prednisolone. Postoperative complications included generalized corneal edema persisting for approximately 1 wk and corneal ulceration caused by the lateral canthotomy sutures. Vision was restored in both eyes.     

Spontaneous neoplasms of lagomorphs.

Many of the same neoplastic processes reported in companion animal medicine have been documented in lagomorphs. With only a few reports in the literature regarding rabbits and hares, the behavior of many of these tumors cannot be predicted. Further, based on limited current knowledge, the practitioner is left to make decisions for diagnostics and therapeutics in these cases based upon current recommendations for companion animals with adjustments for lagomorph physiology. We hope that this review of lagomorph neoplasia will inform the general practitioner of the occurrence of these tumors, promote further documentation and research of these processes in rabbits, and encourage the practitioner of rabbit medicine along with rabbit owners to consult with veterinary oncologists regarding neoplastic processes in rabbits rather than just giving a guarded prognosis.     

Abdominal fat necrosis in a pygmy goat associated with fescue toxicosis.

Abdominal fat necrosis was diagnosed in an 11-year-old female pygmy goat with a 10-day history of lethargy, anorexia, and progressive abdominal distension. Gross necropsy findings revealed multiple firm, dark yellow, nodular masses of fat throughout the abdominal cavity, which compressed several abdominal organs including the rumen, small intestine, spiral colon, and gall bladder. Histologically, multiple to coalescing adipocyte necrosis, saponification, and infiltration with variable numbers of macrophages, lymphocytes, and plasma cells was observed. Fat necrosis in this case was attributed to tall fescue toxicity based on the presence of high levels of endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum)-infected fescue identified in the goat's pasture. This is the first known report of abdominal fat necrosis in a goat and demonstrates the fat necrosis syndrome of fescue toxicosis in ruminants.     

Feline arterial thromboembolism: an update.

ATE remains a devastating complication of cardiac disease. Despite some improvements in our understanding of the underlying causes and clinical features of this disease, short-term management remains a challenge, and mortality is high. Long-term mortality is primarily attributable to the severe underlying cardiac disease. Many questions remain to be answered regarding the ideal management approach for feline ATE. The authors' preferred diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for these difficult patients are detailed in Box. 1.     

Evolution of equine infection control programs.

The science of control of infectious diseases in hospitals was born in 1847 when Semmelweis, a physician, ordered his medical students to scrub their hands in chlorinated lime water between patients and demonstrated that this simple procedure resulted ina dramatic decline in patient morbidity and mortality. In the late nineteenth century came huge breakthroughs in the understanding that microorganisms cause many disorders, and methods to eliminate and control these microorganisms were attempted. By 1910, sterile instruments, gowns, masks, and gloves had become standard for surgical procedures in large university human hospitals, and isolation of human and veterinary patients with contagious diseases became standard. With the advent of vaccines, many epidemic viral diseases could be controlled, and antimicrobial drugs allowed many previously devastating bacterial diseases to be treated effectively. Before long, however, bacterial resistance became an important issue and remains so today, particularly for Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus in horses. Vaccination has decreased the number of animals susceptible to equine influenza and equine herpesvirus 1, yet these contagious diseases still pose a serious issue in large equine veterinary hospitals. The development of equine isolation facilities and improved methods of barn cleaning; mandatory application of procedures, such as handwashing or use of disinfectant hand wipes, to prevent the spread of infectious diseases; and monitoring of antimicrobial resistance and use of restricted antimicrobial drugs were driven by recognition and necessity and have given rise to current equine infection control programs.     

Minerals in Animal and Human Nutrition (2003), 2nd edn

Tropical Animal Health and Production -