Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of canine pyoderma isolates of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius for biofilm formation

Biofilm-forming ability is increasingly being recognized as an important virulence factor in several Staphylococcus species. This study evaluated the biofilm-forming ability of sixty canine derived clinical isolates of S. pseudintermedius, using three phenotypic methods, microtiter plate test (MtP), Congo red agar method (CRA) and tube adherence test, and the presence and impact of biofilm-associated genes (icaA and icaD). The results showed that icaA and icaD genes were detected concomitantly in 55 (91.7%) of 60 isolates. A majority (88.3%) of the strains screened had matching results by the tube adherence test, MtP and PCR analysis. Better agreement (95%) was found between the PCR-based analysis and the CRA. Results of the icaA and icaD gene PCRs showed good agreement with CRA results, with a kappa of 0.7. Comparing the phenotypic methods, the statistical analysis showed that the agreement among the phenotypical tests using categorical data was generally good. Considering two classes (biofilm producer and biofilm non-producer), the percentage of matching results between the CRA method and the tube adherence test and between the CRA method and the MtP was 93.3%. A concordance of 100% was revealed between the MtP and the tube adherence test. The results indicate a high prevalence of the ica genes within S. pseudintermedius isolates, and their presence is associated with in vitro formation of a biofilm. A combination of phenotypic and genotypic tests is recommended for investigating biofilm formation in S. pseudintermedius.     

Detecting endotoxin activity in bovine serum using an automated testing system

The aim of the present study was to compare the ability of the commercially available portable test system (PTS^TM) to detect endotoxin activity in bovine serum, with that of the traditional LAL-kinetic turbidimetric (KT) and chromogenic (KC) assays. Prior to testing, serum samples, which were obtained from endotoxin-challenged cattle, were diluted 1:20 in endotoxin-free water and heated to 80°C for 10 min. The performance of the PTS^TM was not significantly different from that of the traditional LAL-based assays. The results using PTS^TM correlated with those using KT (r²=0.963, P<0.001) or KC assays (r²=0.982, P<0.001). Based on these findings, the PTS^TM could be applied as a simplified system to assess endotoxin activity in bovine serum.     

Cortisol Concentrations in Well‐Regulated Dogs with Hyperadrenocorticism Treated with Trilostane

Background

There are no clear treatment guidelines for dogs with clinically well‐regulated hyperadrenocorticism in which serum cortisol concentrations before and after an ACTH stimulation test performed 3–6 hours after trilostane administration are < 2.0 μg/dL.

Objective

To determine if serum cortisol concentrations measured before (Pre1) and after (Post1) ACTH stimulation at 3–6 hours after trilostane administration are significantly lower than cortisol concentrations measured before (Pre2) and after (Post2) ACTH stimulation 9–12 hours after trilostane administration, in a specific population of dogs with clinically well‐regulated hyperadrenocorticism and Pre1 and Post1 <2 μg/dL.

Animals

Thirteen client‐owned dogs with clinically well‐regulated hyperadrenocorticism and Pre1 and Post1 serum cortisol concentrations <2.0 μg/dL 3–6 hours after trilostane administration.

Methods

Prospective study. Dogs had a second ACTH stimulation test performed 9–12 hours after trilostane administration, on the same day of the first ACTH stimulation test. Cortisol concentrations before and after ACTH stimulation were compared using a paired t‐test.

Results

Cortisol concentrations before (1.4 ± 0.3 μg/dL) and after the first stimulation (1.5 ± 0.3 μg/dL, mean ± SD) were significantly lower than cortisol concentration before the second stimulation (3.3 ± 1.6 μg/dL, P = .0012 each). Cortisol concentration before the first stimulation was also significantly lower than cortisol concentration after the second stimulation (5.3 ± 2.4 μg/dL, P = .0001).

Conclusions and clinical importance

In dogs with clinically well‐regulated, trilostane‐treated, hyperadrenocorticism, and cortisol concentrations <2 μg/dL before and after the first stimulation, a second ACTH stimulation test performed 9–12 hours after treatment can result in higher cortisol concentrations that could support continued trilostane treatment.     

甘肃陇西黄芩灰霉病病原菌分离鉴定及田间药剂防治

为探明黄芩(Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi)茎基部和根部灰霉病的病原菌,本文于2019—2021年春季对甘肃陇西县采集的黄芩病样进行病原菌的分离培养,运用形态学和内转录间隔区(Internal transcribed spacer, ITS)、甘油醛-3-磷酸脱氢酶(Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase,G3PDH)、热激蛋白60(Heat shock protein 60,HSP60)和RNA聚合酶亚基II(The second largest subunit of the nuclear RNA polymerase enzyme II,RPB2)多基因方法鉴定,采用菌丝生长抑制法进行药剂室内毒力测定和田间药剂防治试验。结果表明：引起黄芩灰霉病的病原菌为灰葡萄孢(Botrytis cinerea),春季发病时表现为地上部分枯死不发芽,靠近地表的根表面呈暗绿色水渍状,随后地下根木质部变软呈黄褐色腐烂,病健交界明显;室内毒力测定表明,97%咯菌腈对灰葡萄孢菌的抑菌作用最强,EC₅₀为0.01...     

带箨冬笋的化学贮藏（1）

利用固体保鲜剂对带箨的毛竹冬笋在常温（１０～１５℃）下进行贮藏试验，在为期５周的贮藏期内，以笋体外观及其营养成分含量的变化为指标，对试验结果应用正交试验方法筛选出了本实验条件下保鲜剂主要成分的最佳组合为２５％Ｎａ２ＳＯ３、３０％ＮａＨＣＯ３、１０％ＣａＯ和４０％大蒜抽出液。试验结果还表明，在贮藏开始的两周内冬笋的失水量可达到其自重的２０％，因此，保鲜措施应以前期保水、后期防霉为重点。