Presentation of postweaning Escherichia coli diarrhea in southern Ontario, prevalence of hemolytic E. coli serogroups involved, and their antimicrobial resistance patterns

Post-weaning Escherichia coli diarrhea (PWECD) in Ontario was investigated using a case-control study involving 50 Ontario nurseries. The clinical signs and the impact on productive parameters were determined by means of a producer survey. The hemolytic E. coli serogroups involved in PWECD (O149:K91:K88) were examined in this study. Based on a polymerase chain reaction test, the hemolytic E. coli from 82% of the case herds were positive for 3 enterotoxins (STa, STb, and LT), those from 12% of the case herds were positive for STb and LT only, and those from one herd (6%) were positive for 3 enterotoxins, as well as for verotoxin and F18 pili. The E. coli involved in disease were resistant to multiple antibiotics. Case farms commonly used a wide variety of antibiotics either in the feed or water, or as injectable drugs. The most common antibiotic used to treat PWECD on the study farms was apramycin, but evidence of resistance to this antibiotic was noted. The PWECD problem was commonly seen within a week of weaning but onset of diarrhea was reported as late as the grower-finisher stage. Growth rate was poorer in case herds and mortality was higher than in control herds, demonstrating that PWECD is an economically important disease in Ontario.     

Transmutation and functional representation of heterogeneous landscapes

Models of local small-scale ecological processes can be used to describe related processes at larger spatial scales if the influences of increased scale and heterogeneity are carefully considered. In this paper we consider the changes in the functional representation of an ecological process that can occur as one moves from a local small-scale model to a model of the aggregate expression of that process for a larger spatial extent. We call these changes spatial transmutation. We specifically examine landscape heterogeneity as a cause of transmutation. Spatial transmutation as a consequence of landscape heterogeneity is a source of error in the prediction of aggregate landscape behavior from smaller scale models. However, we also demonstrate a procedure for taking advantage of spatial transmutation to develop appropriately scaled landscape functions. First a mathematical function describing the process of interest as a local function of local variables is defined. The spatial heterogeneity of the local variables is described by their statistical distribution in the landscape. The aggregate landscape expression of the local process is then predicted by calculating the expected value of the local function, explicitly integrating landscape heterogeneity. Monte Carlo simulation is used to repeat the local-to-landscape extrapolation for a variety of landscape patterns. Finally, the extrapolated landscape results are regressed on landscape variables to define response functions that explain a useful fraction of the total variation in landscape behavior. The response functions are hypotheses about the functional representation of the local process at the larger spatial scale.     

Influence of age,sex, capture technique,and restraint on hematologic measurements and serum chemistries of wild California sea otters

Hematologic and/or serum chemical analyses were done on a total of 27 non-tranquilized adult and juvenile wild sea otters, 66 tranquilized adult and juvenile wild sea otters, and 26 wild sea otter pups. The median and inner 90 percentile range were determined for the adult, juvenile, and pup groups and for the following subgroups: adult male versus adult female, juvenile male versus juvenile female, pup male versus pup female, captured with dip net versus captured with Wilson trap, and tranquilized adults and juveniles versus non-tranquilized adults and juveniles. When values for adults were compared to values for juveniles and pups, hematocrits, red blood cell counts, and hemoglobin levels were significantly lower in pups. This is consistent with documented findings in other species. White cell counts were also somewhat lower in younger animals. Among the subgroups, significantly higher hemoglobin levels, white cell counts and neutrophil counts were found in adult females than in adult males. This is in direct contrast to what is seen in other mammalian species and warrants further documentation. Method of capture and tranquilization did not appear to influence either hematologic or serum biochemical determinations from a clinical perspective.     

‘Plantibodies’: a flexible approach to design resistance against pathogens

Engineering resistance against various diseases and pests is hampered by the lack of suitable genes. To overcome this problem we started a research program aimed at obtaining resistance by transfecting plants with genes encoding monoclonal antibodies against pathogen specific proteins. The idea is that monoclonal antibodies will inhibit the biological activity of molecules that are essential for the pathogenesis. Potato cyst nematodes are chosen as a model and it is thought that monoclonal antibodies are able to block the function of the saliva proteins of this parasite. These proteins are, among others, responsible for the induction of multinucleate transfer cells upon which the nematode feeds. It is well documented that the ability of antibodies to bind molecules is sufficient to inactivate the function of an antigen and in view of the potential of animals to synthesize antibodies to almost any molecular structure, this strategy should be feasible for a wide range of diseases and pests.Antibodies have several desirable features with regard to protein engineering. The antibody (IgG) is a Y-shaped molecule, in which the domains forming the tips of the arms bind to antigen and those forming the stem are responsible for triggering effector functions (Fc fragments) that eliminate the antigen from the animal. Domains carrying the antigen-binding loops (Fv and Fab fragments) can be used separately from the Fc fragments without loss of affinity. The antigen-binding domains can also be endowed with new properties by fusing them to toxins or enzymes. Antibody engineering is also facilitated by the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). A systematic comparison of the nucleotide sequence of more than 100 antibodies revealed that not only the 3′-ends, but also the 5′-ends of the antibody genes are relatively conserved. We were able to design a small set of primers with restriction sites for forced cloning, which allowed the amplification of genes encoding antibodies specific for the saliva proteins ofGlobodera rostochiensis. Complete heavy and light chain genes as well as single chain Fv fragments (scFv), in which the variable parts of the light (V_L) and heavy chain (V_H) are linked by a peptide, will be transferred to potato plants. A major challenge will be to establish a correct expression of the antibody genes with regard to three dimensional folding, assembly and intracellular location.     

Prospects for improving potato crop protection against aphid vectors

Conventional ways to control aphid vectors on potato crops rely essentially on cultural and chemical methods. The extensive use of insecticides, too often applied regardless of real needs and consequences, has resulted in more and more failures in both controlling aphids and virus spread. This paper stresses the need to introduce more rationale in the operation of existing methods by improving the efficiency of some of them like forecasting systems, to assess the potential of others like fertilization and semiochemicals and to put most efforts on resistant cultivars so that integrated pest management can be operated in the near future.     

The metabolism of R-20458 [(E)-6,7-epoxy-1-(4-ethylphenoxy)-3,7-dimethyl-2-octene] in rat hepatocyte suspensions

The metabolism of R-20458 [(E)-6,7-epoxy-1-(4-ethylphenoxy)-3,7-dimethyl-2-octene] by rat hepatocytes has been analyzed and compared with that of juvenile hormone I [methyl-(E,E)-cis-10,11-epoxy-7-ethyl-3,11-dimethyl-2,6-tridecadienoate] under identical conditions. The metabolism of R-20458 is characterized by the predominance of NADPH-dependent cytochrome P-450 and epoxide hydrolase reactions; whereas, JH I is metabolized mainly by carboxylesterase, epoxide hydrolase, and glutathione S-transferases. The metabolites of R-20458 have been shown to correspond to (E)-6,7-epoxy-1-(4-hydroxyethylphenoxy)-3,7-dimethyl-2-octene; (E)-6,7-epoxy-1-(4-acetylphenoxy)-3,7-dimethyl-2-octene; (E)-6,7-dihydroxy-1-(4-ethylphenoxy)-3,7-dimethyl-2-octene; and, (E)-6,7-dihydroxy-1-(4-acetylphenoxy)-3,7-dimethyl-2-octene. The production of the α-hydroxyethyl, p-acetylphenoxy, and acetylphenoxy-6,7-diol metabolites is markedly inhibited by SKF 525-A. No dramatic effects are produced by diethylmaleate and 1,2-epoxy-3,3,3-trichloropropane.     

Quinone accumulation in S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate-treated wheat

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv Holley) was grown for 15 days in sand into which S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate (EPTC) (0, 15.6, 31.25, 62.5, or 125.0 μg/kg) had been incorporated. Growth was decreased more by EPTC under high light intensity (270 μein/m²/sec) than under low light (20 μein/m²/sec) intensity. Wheat grown in the dark did not respond to EPTC at these concentrations. In high light intensity, plastoquinone-9, plastohydroquinone-9, α-tocopheroquinone, and α-tocopherol contents (nanomoles per gram fresh weight) increased as EPTC concentration increased. Similar but less marked results occurred at the low light intensity. Plastohydroquinone-9/plastoquinone and α-tocopherol/α-tocopheroquinone ratios increased at both light intensities as EPTC concentration increased. This indicated an EPTC-induced inhibition of plastohydroquinone and α-tocopherol epoxidation. Chlorophyll a and b and total carotenoid contents increased as EPTC concentration increased in plants grown at high light intensities. Changes in the membrane electron carriers contents per unit of chlorophyll or carotenoid (micrograms per milligram of pigment) occurred. As a tentative hypothesis, it is suggested that transmembrane electron transport systems were inhibited, but growth in size (fresh weight per pot) was inhibited more than was synthesis of the various pigments and quinones. Thus, a separation of growth and metabolic response to EPTC was demonstrated.     

Comparative enzyme activities and cytochrome P-450 levels of some rat tissues with respect to their metabolism of several pesticides

Cytochrome P-450, A- and B-esterase, amidase, and glutathione S-aryl transferase were assayed in the postmitochondrial centrifugal fraction, microsomes, and supernatant of rat liver, lungs, kidneys, and testes. Liver microsomes contained the highest P-450 levels and A-esterase activity. B-esterase activity was more generally distributed and higher in the microsomal tissue fractions. Microsomal amidase activity was highest in rat lung and lowest in the liver (per mg protein). Glutathione S-aryl transferase activity was highest in the liver. The in vitro metabolism of carbaryl, phosphamidon, and chlorotoluron by the various centrifugal fractions revealed many differences. Carbaryl metabolism was greater in the liver microsomal fractions than in any other preparation. 1-Naphthol was the major metabolite in all tissue fractions. Although very little metabolism of phosphamidon occurred in the rat, metabolism in the rat liver postmitochondrial fraction was slightly higher with respect to the production of metabolites than in the supernatant and microsomes combined. Chlorotoluron was not metabolized by any of the tissue fractions of the rat. At least a low level of activity toward some compounds was observed in all tissues, but this study confirmed that the liver was the most active metabolizing tissue as well as having the highest levels of enzymatic activity usually associated with pesticide metabolism.     

Geriatric heart diseases in dogs.

A discussion of the diagnosis and therapy of heart disease in an aged pet does not differ significantly from that in a pet of any age. Mitral regurgitation constitutes by far the most important geriatric heart disease, and the selection of drugs to treat heart disease of aging pets is based on identification of specific pathologic features (eg, atrial fibrillation, left atrial enlargement) for which each aspect of treatment (eg, diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, spironolactone) is specific.