Unusual presentations of cowpox infection in cats

Cowpox virus infections are reported typically to cause focal ulcerated, crusted skin lesions, sometimes with mild systemic illness and concurrent oral lesions. Severe systemic illness usually only occurs in young or immunosuppressed individuals. This report describes four cases of cowpox infection in cats which illustrate variations to the usual presentation of the virus. The poxvirus infections were confirmed histopathologically, serologically and by PCR analysis.     

Host Barriers and Responses to Uncinula necator in Developing Grape Berries

ABSTRACT Grape berries are highly susceptible to powdery mildew 1 week after bloom but acquire ontogenic resistance 2 to 3 weeks later. We recently demonstrated that germinating conidia of the grape powdery mildew pathogen (Uncinula necator) cease development before penetration of the cuticle on older resistant berries. The mechanism that halts U. necator at that particular stage was not known. Several previous studies investigated potential host barriers or cell responses to powdery mildew in berries and leaves, but none included observation of the direct effect of these factors on pathogen development. We found that cuticle thickness increased with berry age, but that ingress by the pathogen halted before formation of a visible penetration pore. Cell wall thickness remained unchanged over the first 4 weeks after bloom, the time during which berries progressed from highly susceptible to nearly immune. Autofluorescent polyphenolic compounds accumulated at a higher frequency beneath appressoria on highly susceptible berries than on highly resistant berries; and oxidation of the above phenolics, indicated by cell discoloration, developed at a significantly higher frequency on susceptible berries. Beneath the first-formed appressoria of all germinated conidia, papillae occurred at a significantly higher frequency on 2- to 5-day-old berries than on 30- to 31-day-old fruit. The relatively few papillae observed on older berries were, in most cases (82.8 to 97.3%), found beneath appressoria of conidia that had failed to produce secondary hyphae. This contrasted with the more abundantly produced papillae on younger berries, where only 35.4 to 41.0% were located beneath appressoria of conidia that had failed to produce secondary hyphae. A pathogenesis-related gene (VvPR-1) was much more highly induced in susceptible berries than in resistant berries after inoculation with U. necator. In contrast, a germin-like protein (VvGLP3) was expressed within 16 h of inoculation in resistant, but not in susceptible berries. Our results suggest that several putative barriers to infection, i.e., cuticle and cell wall thickness, antimicrobial phenolics, and two previously described pathogenesis-related proteins, are not principal causes in halting pathogen ingress on ontogenically resistant berries, but rather that infection is halted by one or more of the following: (i) a preformed physical or biochemical barrier near the cuticle surface, or (ii) the rapid synthesis of an antifungal compound in older berries during the first few hours of the infection process.     

Vitamin D-dependent rickets type II in a cat

A cat with clinical signs Indicating rickets was diagnosed as having a defect of vitamin D receptors. Clinical signs had been seen from four months of age. Treatment with calcium supplementation and various forms of vitamin D did not alter plasma calcium levels or reverse skeletal lesions of lateral antebrachial bowing, lumbar spinal lordosis and costochondral beading. Analgesics were effective for relieving skeletal pain during the bone growth phase and were withdrawn when the animal reached skeletal maturity. Therapy for hip osteoarthritis was given from five years of age until the cat was euthanased at nine years of age as a result of refractory hip pain.     

Suspected necrolytic migratory erythema associated with chronic hepatopathy in a cat

A cat presenting with generalised hypotrichosis and crusts on the feet and tail was found to have an unusual chronic hepatopathy. There was also evidence of a chronic small intestinal disease which went undiagnosed. Necrolytic migratory erythema was suspected based on clinical findings and dermatohistopathology, and an association with the chronic hepatopathy was suggested. This is the first report of such an association in a cat. Serum zinc, amino acids and essential fatty acids were analysed, and medical treatment was given with equivocal efficacy.     

Influence of dietary energy intake on prepubertal development of Brahman bulls

Twelve Brahman bulls (paired by sire, weight and age) were assigned randomly and limit fed to gain either .10 to .25 (moderate gain; MG) or .75 to 1.0 (high gain: HG) kg.hd-1.d-1 to examine the effect of dietary energy on onset of puberty. Hip height (HH), scrotal circumference (SC) and serum samples (20 min for 6 h) were obtained at four times (AGE): 0, 56 and 112 d on feed and after appearance of first motile spermatozoa (FS) in the ejaculate of HG bull of the pair. At FS both bulls of a pair were slaughtered, reproductive tissues were collected and in vitro GnRH release from the median eminence (ME) was measured. Increases in BW, HH and SC were greater (P less than .05) in HG bulls. Basal ME GnRH secretion was greater (P less than .05) in HG bulls. Serum LH concentrations were unchanged by energy level (P greater than .10) but increased (P less than .01) with increasing AGE. AGE and energy level increased (P less than .01) basal, mean and total serum testosterone (T) and these two factors acted synergistically (P less than .01). Height and amplitude of T pulses were increased by energy level (P less than .003) and AGE (P less than .002). Testicular T (P less than .08) and development (P less than .05) were increased in HG bulls. Growth hormone peak height and amplitude concentrations following feeding increased with AGE (P less than .06) but were not altered (P greater than .10) by energy level. Serum triglycerides (P less than .03) and BUN (P less than .003) increased with increasing AGE (P greater than .01). These data indicate that dietary energy level influences onset of puberty most directly at the testicular level.     

Wild horse management: An economic perspective

An analysis of the costs associated with the wild horse program suggests a relatively expensive government program. The expenses that are incurred by adoptors also suggests that adopting a wild horse, given the current legal structure, is a relatively expensive proposition. This analysis also suggests that adoptors are generally not able to obtain the type of horses desired. As a result, disposal of adopted horses by adoptors is common. While the adoption program can generally be viewed favorably, several management options are available that could reduce adoption program costs if more was known about the demand for wild horses.     

Fungicidal β-methoxyacrylates: From natural products to novel synthetic agricultural fungicides

The strobilurins and oudemansins are natural β-methoxyacrylates which inhibit mitochondrial respiration and, as a result, have fungicidal activity. A knowledge of the structures (configuration and conformation) and properties of these compounds has allowed the preparation of analogues in which both fungicidal activity and stability have been improved.