Evaluation of PCR,IEF and ELISA techniques for the detection and identification of potato cyst nematodes from field soil samples in England and Wales

Effective management of potato cyst nematodes (PCNs) requires simple, rapid and accurate identification and quantification of field populations. Soil samples from a survey of 484 fields in potato rotations in England and Wales were used to compare the identification and quantification of PCNs using IEF, PCR, ELISA and bait plant tests. The cyst counts and bait plant test revealed that 64.3% of field samples contained PCNs. Bait plant tests increased the detection rate of PCNs in field samples by 4–6.4%. This means that some infestations are cryptic and would not normally be detected by standard counts. IEF, PCR and ELISA methods distinguished between Globodera rostochiensis and G pallida and were able to register mixed populations; however they were not in full agreement. All methods suggested that G pallida is the dominant species in the field samples tested. The PCR results indicated that 66% of field samples contained pure G pallida, 8% contained pure G rostochiensis and 26% contained mixtures of the two species. Estimates of the relative process times taken per sample in the PCR, IEF and ELISA techniques are given. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

NOCTURNAL ACTIVITY OF BIRDS ON SHRIMP MARICULTURE PONDS

Birds can reduce production of shrimp in mariculture grow-out ponds through predation and competition for feed. This study involved weekly nocturnal enumeration of bird populations and observation of nocturnal avian habits on a series of 0.1 ha experimental ponds at the Texas A&M University Shrimp Mariculture Facility at Corpus Christi, Texas. Observations were conducted hourly from sunset to sunrise during October through December 1980. The rate of predation was evaluated every three hours by comparing the number of feeding attempts to the number of successful prey captures over a known time period. Gulls (Family Laridae) acted primarily as competitors for feed. Active feeding by gulls was restricted to daylight hours, consequently feed loss decreased when the feed was distributed at or after dusk. Major preadatory birds included herons and egrets (F. Ardeidae), migratory ducks (F. Anatidae), and, to a lesser extent, grebes (F. Podicipedidae) and shorebirds (Order Charadriiformes). Bird predation decreased pond production by 75% in some ponds.     

Leptospirosis in dogs: a serologic survey and case series 1996 to 2001

All leptospirosis microscopic agglutination test titers for the Leptospira serovars icterohaemorrhagiae, canicola, grippotyphosa, bratislava, hardjo, and pomona conducted on 1,260 blood samples from dogs at the University of Illinois Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory between March 1996 and March 2001 were evaluated. Low titers (1:100 to 1:400) were predominantly L. icterohaemorrhagiae and L. canicola, which represented the predominant serovars (65.4%) among all positive samples with low titers. L. grippotyphosa was the predominant serovar (72.1%) among samples with clinically significant titers (greater than 1:800). The medical records of 87 dogs with a titer greater than 1:800 that were patients at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Illinois were reviewed. A clinical diagnosis of leptospirosis was made in 15 cases (17.2%) based on the elevated titer, appropriate clinical signs, lack of recent vaccination, and lack of concurrent disease that could explain the clinical signs present. Renal disease was present in 10 of the cases, concurrent renal and hepatic disease in two, and hepatic disease in three. In 12 cases, the predominant serovar was L. grippotyphosa; titers to L. grippotyphosa and L. bratislava were equal in magnitude in three cases.     

Leptospirosis in dogs: a serologic survey and case series 1996 to 2001

All leptospirosis microscopic agglutination test titers for the Leptospira serovars icterohaemorrhagiae, canicola, grippotyphosa, bratislava, hardjo, and pomona conducted on 1,260 blood samples from dogs at the University of Illinois Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory between March 1996 and March 2001 were evaluated. Low titers (1:100 to 1:400) were predominantly L. icterohaemorrhagiae and L. canicola, which represented the predominant serovars (65.4%) among all positive samples with low titers. L. grippotyphosa was the predominant serovar (72.1%) among samples with clinically significant titers (greater than 1:800). The medical records of 87 dogs with a titer greater than 1:800 that were patients at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Illinois were reviewed. A clinical diagnosis of leptospirosis was made in 15 cases (17.2%) based on the elevated titer, appropriate clinical signs, lack of recent vaccination, and lack of concurrent disease that could explain the clinical signs present. Renal disease was present in 10 of the cases, concurrent renal and hepatic disease in two, and hepatic disease in three. In 12 cases, the predominant serovar was L. grippotyphosa; titers to L. grippotyphosa and L. bratislava were equal in magnitude in three cases.     

The effect of topical tripeptide-copper complex on healing of ischemic open wounds

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of topical glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine tripeptide-copper complex (TCC; Iamin 2% Gel; Procyte Corporation, Redmond, WA) on healing in ischemic open wounds. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. METHODS: Rats were divided into 3 groups: topical TCC, topical TCC vehicle (hydroxypropyl-methylcellulose), and no treatment (control). Six-mm-diameter, full-thickness wounds were created within an ischemic bipedicle skin flap on the dorsum of each rat. Each day, for 13 days, wound margins were traced, and the TCC and TCC vehicle groups were treated topically. Tracings were scanned, and wound perimeter and area were calculated. On days 6, 10, and 13, selected wounds were biopsied and analyzed for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 2 and 9. RESULTS: A significant decrease in wound area was seen in the TCC group, but not the vehicle group, when compared with the control group on days 3 to 5, 6 to 9, and 11 to 13 and when TCC was compared with TCC vehicle on days 3 and 9. On day 13, initial wound area had decreased by 64.5% in the TCC group, 45.6% in the vehicle group, and 28.2% in the control group. On days 6, 10, and 13, TCC-treated wounds contained significantly lower concentrations of TNF-alpha and MMP-2 and MMP-9 than control wounds. CONCLUSION: Topical TCC resulted in accelerated wound healing in ischemic open wounds. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Topical TCC is an effective stimulant of healing of ischemic open wounds in rats and may have an application for the treatment of chronic wounds in other species. Clinical evaluation of topical TCC is warranted.     

Transdermal absorption of a liposome-encapsulated formulation of lidocaine following topical administration in cats

OBJECTIVE: To determine plasma disposition after dermal application of a liposome-encapsulated formulation of lidocaine in cats. ANIMALS: 6 healthy adult cats with a mean (+/- SD) body weight of 4.1 +/- 0.44 kg. PROCEDURE: CBC determination and biochemical analysis of blood samples were performed for all cats. Cats were anesthetized by use of isoflurane, and catheters were placed IV in a central vein. The next day, blood samples were obtained from the catheters before and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 24 hours after applying a 4% liposome-encapsulated lidocaine cream (15 mg/kg) to a clipped area over the cephalic vein. Plasma concentrations of lidocaine were analyzed with a high-performance liquid chromatography assay. Results-Two cats had minimal transdermal absorption of lidocaine, with lidocaine concentrations below the sensitivity of the assay at all but 1 or 2 time points. In the other 4 cats, the median maximum plasma concentration was 149.5 ng/ml, the median time to maximum plasma concentration was 2 hours, and the median area under the concentration versus time curve from zero to infinity was 1014.5 ng.h/ml. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Maximum plasma concentrations of lidocaine remained substantially below toxic plasma concentrations for cats. On the basis of these data, topical administration of a liposome-encapsulated lidocaine formulation at a dose of 15 mg/kg appears to be safe for use in healthy adult cats.     

Comparison of hematologic and biochemical values for blood samples obtained via jugular venipuncture and via vascular access ports in cats

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether hematologic and serum biochemical values for blood samples obtained from cats via vascular access ports (VAP) are comparable to those for samples obtained by direct venipuncture. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 14 healthy cats. PROCEDURE: A VAP was surgically implanted in a jugular vein in each cat. Blood samples were obtained from the VAP and by direct venipuncture of the contralateral jugular vein 10 weeks after VAP placement. Results of hematologic and serum biochemical analyses were compared by use of a paired t-test. The Pvalue to reject the null hypothesis was adjusted to account for multiple comparisons by using the Bonferroni procedure in which the nominal P-to-reject value is divided by the number of comparisons (0.05/24 = 0.002). RESULTS: Paired samples (VAP and venipuncture) obtained 10 weeks after VAP placement were evaluated for each cat. Of the 24 measured analytes, only potassium, total protein, and albumin concentrations differed significantly (P< 0.001 for all 3) between VAP and venipuncture samples. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that samples obtained from VAP are suitable for routine hematologic monitoring of feline cancer patients. Sample hemolysis may account for a slight increase in potassium, total protein, and albumin concentrations obtained from VAP samples. However, the values of variables most critical for monitoring of patients receiving chemotherapy (ie, mature neutrophil and platelet counts) are comparable. If proper techniques are used, VAP may be used for administration of chemotherapy as well as for blood collection in cats undergoing cancer treatment.