Cutaneous sterile pyogranuloma/granuloma syndrome in a dog

A case of canine cutaneous sterile pyogranuloma/granuloma syndrome (SPGS) with generalized asymmetrical alopecia and plaques is described. Results from histopathologic examination were suggestive of SPGS and failed to demonstrate any etiological agent. A systematic approach on how to definitively rule out infectious skin diseases is discussed.     

Cat and dog ownership and management patterns in central Italy

Three hundred and ninety-seven randomly selected households were interviewed by telephone to determine the numbers and management of owned cats and dogs in the Teramo Province of Italy. The households were selected using stratified random sampling for each municipality; municipalities were combined into coastal, central hills and mountain regions for analysis. The interviews were completed during May and June of 2004 with a response rate of 74% (397/536). Forty-six percent of households (n=181) owned pets; 15% of all households (n=60) owned cats and 33% (n=130) owned dogs. Twenty-seven of these households (7%) owned both cats and dogs. Data were provided on 91 cats evenly divided between males and females. The median age was 3 years (range 0.2-10 years). Forty-one percent of cats (36/87) entered the household as strays. Nearly half lived entirely outside. Seventy percent (62/88) had visited a veterinarian at least once; 43% (39/91) were sterilized. About 1/3 had had a litter and all litters were considered accidental rather than planned. Age, indoor/outdoor status, veterinarian visit and region were all associated with sterilization. Age, confined to a yard, veterinary visit and region were associated with allowing the cat to roam freely. Data were provided on 182 dogs. Sixty-two percent (113/181) were male, with a median age of 4 years (range newborn to 17 years) and 40% (72/181) were purebred. Almost half were acquired as a gift. Sixty-two percent (112/180) were kept entirely outside despite the fact that 82% (147/180) were considered companions rather than working dogs. Almost all of the dogs had been to a veterinarian at least once; only 20% (n=29) were sterilized. Male dogs were significantly less likely to be sterilized than females. Almost half the dogs had had at least one litter. Seventy-six percent (137/180) of dogs knew some basic commands. Sex, source and training to sit/stay/come were significantly associated with whether the dog was sterilized. Dog size, confinement to a yard, trained to leash walk, veterinary visit and region were predictors of roaming freely. Source and trained to leash walk were associated with dog registration. For cats and dogs, education about sterilization seemed to be critically important. For dogs, factors relating to training, which may reflect the strength of the human-animal bond, were also important.     

The effect of local anaesthesia on anaesthetic requirements for feline ovariectomy

A dose of supplementary ketamine was used to evaluate the anaesthetic sparing effect of adding local anaesthesia to general anaesthesia in cats undergoing ovariectomy. Fifty-six healthy cats were randomly assigned to receive lidocaine 2% (group L) as skin infiltration (1 mg kg(-1)), topical application (splash block) on both the ovaries (2 mg kg(-1), each) and on abdominal muscular layers (1 mg kg(-1)), or an equal volume of NaCl 0.9% at the same sites (group S). Anaesthesia was induced with a mixture of 20 microg kg(-1) medetomidine and 5 mg kg(-1) ketamine administered intramuscularly. Rectal temperature, ECG, heart rate and respiratory rate were measured continuously. Ketamine supplemental boli (1 mg kg(-1), intravenously) were administered in response to movements during surgery. Local lidocaine significantly reduced the need for supplementary ketamine. All animals were returned to their owners without complications. With this protocol, local anaesthetics reduced the need for injectable anaesthetic during feline ovariectomy.     

Length–mass allometries in amphibians

Body mass is rarely recorded in amphibians, and other body measurements (e.g. snout to vent length, SVL) are generally collected instead. However, length measurements, when used as proxies of body mass in comparative analyses, are problematic if different taxa and morphotypes are included. We developed allometric relationships to derive body mass from SVL measurements. We fitted phylogenetic generalized least square models for frogs (Anura) and salamanders (Caudata) and for several families separately. We tested whether allometric relationships differed between species with different habitat preferences and between morphs in salamanders. Models were fitted with SVL–mass measurements for 88 frog and 42 salamander species. We assessed the predictive performance of the models by cross‐validation. Overall, the models showed high explained variance and low forecasting errors. Models differed among semi‐aquatic, terrestrial and arboreal frogs, and between paedomorphic and non‐paedomorphic salamanders. Body mass estimates derived from our models allow for comparability of studies on multiple taxa and can be used for testing theories built upon evolutionary and ecological processes which are directly related to body mass.     

Downy mildew resistance evaluation in 28 grapevine hybrids promising for breeding programs in Trentino region (Italy)

Downy mildew is a major grapevine disease caused by the biotrophic oomycete, Plasmopara viticola. Numerous disease resistance studies of diverse Vitis germplasm have been previously carried out to identify downy mildew resistance sources; however, ratings were mainly reported using leaf disc in vitro testing and foliage field assessment, or upon leaf and cluster field evaluations. In the current study, 28 grapevine hybrid cultivars were screened using leaf disc bioassay, for disease resistance characterization of both existing and wild-collected materials. 16 hybrids were identified as highly resistant or resistant, and will serve as relevant resistance donors in future pre-breeding and breeding programs. All grapevine hybrids were evaluated for foliar and cluster downy mildew resistance in an untreated field trial over three successive years. This study showed that the leaf disc bioassay provided some information on the resistance level of the genotypes under scrutiny, but it was a weak predictor of their resistance level under field conditions on leaves and even more on bunches. These findings are relevant to future applications in both traditional and marker-assisted breeding programs which promote sustainable viticulture.     

Guava (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Psidium guajava L</Emphasis>. cv. Red Suprema) Crude Extract Protect Human Dermal Fibroblasts against Cytotoxic Damage Mediated by Oxidative Stress

We analyzed guava fruits (Psidium guajava L. cv. Red Suprema) from Cuba to determine their chemical composition, total antioxidant capacity, as well as their protective effect against oxidative damage using an in vitro model of human dermal fibroblasts. The guava fruit is a natural source of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, vitamin C, folates and beta carotenes with proven health benefits. Human dermal fibroblasts were pre-incubated with different concentrations of guava crude extract and then subjected to oxidative stress using the AAPH stressor. The number of apoptotic and dead cells, as well as the markers of oxidative damage such as lipid and protein oxidation significantly decreased when cells were pre-incubated with guava crude extract and then exposed to the stressor. The activity of antioxidant enzymes also improved when cells were pre-incubated with guava crude extract in comparison to cells subjected to stress without prior pre-incubation with the guava extract. The results obtained in this study highlight the health benefits of guava regarding oxidative stress, proving it to be an important source of bioactive compounds associated with important biological properties.     

Toward forest ‘‘sprawl':monitoring and planning a changing landscape for urban sustainability

The present study analyzes the structure and dynamics of the forest landscape in a peri-urban area(Rome, Italy) during the city's expansion from 1949 to2008 using landscape metrics and change detection analysis of digital maps of the area(1500 km2). While urban settlements increased continuously from 6.5 to 27.5 % of the study area, woodlands changed less clearly, with a moderate increase(from 11.2 to 11.9 % of the total area)and a higher fragmentation as a consequence of Rome's expansion. The structure of forest landscape changed along the urban-to-rural gradient with patch size increasing with the distance to the inner city in 1949 and substantial landscape homogeneity in 2008. The indicators proposed in this study inform dedicated measures for conserving forest and maintaining landscape diversity. Measures adopted in Rome's forestation plan to counteract woodlandffragmentation were analyzed and discussed. Based on the complex landscape dynamics found for Rome, an integrated multiscale planning approach targeting forest conservation is considered a key contribution to urban sustainability.     

Weak effects of habitat type on susceptibility to invasive freshwater species: an Italian case study

相似文献