Hyperglycaemia but not hyperlipidaemia decreases serum amylase and increases neutrophils in the exocrine pancreas of cats

The goal of the study was to determine whether hyperglycaemia or hyperlipidaemia causes pancreatitis in cats and to assess the effect of excess serum glucose and lipids on amylase and lipase activity. Ten-day hyperglycaemic and hyperlipidaemic clamps were carried out in five and six healthy cats, respectively. Ten healthy cats received saline and served as controls. The activity of amylase was below the normal range in 4 of 5 hyperglycaemic cats by day 10. The activity of lipase did not vary in any of the cats. Samples of exocrine pancreas were normal on histological examination, but the number of tissue neutrophils was increased in hyperglycaemic cats (P < 0.05). In a retrospective study 14 of 40 (35%) cats with naturally occurring diabetes mellitus had amylase activities below the reference range at the time of admission. Amylase activities normalised within 1 week of insulin therapy and subsequent glycaemic control. Lipase activity was increased in 26 of 40 (65%) diabetic cats and remained elevated despite glycaemic control. In conclusion, hyperglycaemia, but not hyperlipidaemia, increases pancreatic neutrophils in cats. However, because the histological morphology of the exocrine pancreas was normal, hyperglycaemia may play only a minor role in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis. Low amylase activities in diabetic cats may reflect an imbalance in glucose metabolism rather than pancreatitis.     

Transoral approach for mandibular and sublingual sialoadenectomy in a cat

Sialocele is an uncommon condition in cats. The treatment of choice for sublingual sialocele is excision of the ipsilateral mandibular and sublingual salivary gland/duct complex. Lateral and ventral cervical approaches have been described for mandibular-sublingual sialoadenectomy; however, the transoral approach, described here, has never been reported in cats. Ranula in the present case was likely caused by an inadvertent trauma of the sublingual duct during resection of a sublingual lesion performed by the referring veterinarian. The definitive surgery consisted of mass removal and sialoadenectomy through a unique oral approach. The surgery was effective without complications encountered after 6 months of follow-up.Key clinical message:This article reports a novel, transoral approach, for mandibular and sublingual sialoadenectomy in the cat. This approach decreases the surgical time and prevents recurrence of the mucocele.     

Tetrodotoxins (TTXs) and Vibrio alginolyticus in Mussels from Central Adriatic Sea (Italy): Are They Closely Related?

Tetrodotoxins (TTXs), potent neurotoxins, have become an increasing concern in Europe in recent decades, especially because of their presence in mollusks. The European Food Safety Authority published a Scientific Opinion setting a recommended threshold for TTX in mollusks of 44 µg equivalent kg⁻¹ and calling all member states to contribute to an effort to gather data in order to produce a more exhaustive risk assessment. The objective of this work was to assess TTX levels in wild and farmed mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) harvested in 2018–2019 along the coastal area of the Marche region in the Central Adriatic Sea (Italy). The presence of Vibrio spp. carrying the non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) and polyketide synthase (PKS) genes, which are suspected to be involved in TTX biosynthesis, was also investigated. Out of 158 mussel samples analyzed by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS), 11 (7%) contained the toxins at detectable levels (8–26 µg kg⁻¹) and 3 (2%) contained levels above the EFSA safety threshold (61–76 µg kg⁻¹). Contaminated mussels were all harvested from natural beds in spring or summer. Of the 2019 samples, 70% of them contained V. alginolyticus strains with the NRPS and/or PKS genes. None of the strains containing NRPS and/or PKS genes showed detectable levels of TTXs. TTXs in mussels are not yet a threat in the Marche region nor in Europe, but further investigations are surely needed.     

Effects of dietary administration of two Patagonian probiotics on the zoeae I from the swimming crab Ovalipes trimaculatus

In this study, we analyzed the effects of supplying two alternative Patagonian-autochthonous probiotic strains of Bacillus sp. and Lactococcus sp. or no probiotic at all (control treatment) on the survival, stage duration, molting success to the next larval instar, and speed of vertical displacement of the zoeae I of the southern surf crab Ovalipes trimaculatus, also considering two alternative methods for their administration: (i) direct inoculation into the rearing seawater or (ii) bio-encapsulation in Artemia persimilis nauplii. Both probiotic strains were effectively bio-encapsulated by the nauplii at high CFU x naupli^?1. Probiotic inoculation in the rearing seawater improved the performance of the zoeae over the control treatment and also outperformed bio-encapsulation. Bio-encapsulation in Artemia nauplii resulted in lower survival and molting success to zoeae II compared to the control treatment. No significant differences were observed between the mean effects of either one of the two probiotics. Overall, our results show that the direct inoculation of any of both probiotics into rearing seawater improves the larval culture of the portunid crab.

     

Narrow lenses for capturing the complexity of fisheries: A topic analysis of fisheries science from 1990 to 2016

Despite increased fisheries science output and publication outlets, the global crisis in fisheries management is as present as ever. Since a narrow research focus may be a contributing factor to this failure, this study uncovers topics in fisheries research and their trends over time. This interdisciplinary research evaluates whether science is diversifying fisheries research topics in an attempt to capture the complexity of the fisheries system, or whether it is multiplying research on similar topics, attempting to achieve an in‐depth, but possibly marginal, understanding of a few selected components of this system. By utilizing latent Dirichlet allocation as a generative probabilistic topic model, we analyse a unique dataset consisting of 46,582 full‐text articles published in the last 26 years in 21 specialized scientific fisheries journals. Among the 25 topics uncovered by the model, only one (Fisheries management) refers to the human dimension of fisheries understood as socio‐ecological complex adaptive systems. The most prevalent topics in our dataset directly relating to fisheries refer to Fisheries management, Stock assessment, and Fishing gear, with Fisheries management attracting the most interest. We propose directions for future research focus that most likely could contribute to providing useful advice for successful management of fisheries.     

Antibacterial triterpenes from the threatened wood-decay fungus Fomitopsis rosea

From a biologically active extract from the fungus Fomitopsis rosea, two new lanostane triterpenes were isolated, 3α-(3′-butylcarboxyacetoxy)oxepanoquercinic acid C 1 and 3α-hydroxy-24-methylene-23-oxolanost-8-en-26-carboxylic acid 2, along with three known triterpenes, 3–5, and the epidioxy sterol derivative 6. The structures of the compounds were elucidated based on their spectral properties. All triterpenes demonstrated antibacterial activity against S. aureus but possessed no antiradical activity against DPPH radicals.     

Genetic and Virulence Diversity in Verticillium dahliae Populations Infecting Artichoke in Eastern-Central Spain

ABSTRACT Severe Verticillium dahliae attacks have occurred in artichoke crops in the Comunidad Valenciana region of eastern-central Spain since the late 1990s. Knowledge of genetic and virulence diversity in the pathogen population is a key factor for the management of the disease through disease risk assessment as well as development and use of resistant cultivars. V. dahliae isolates from artichoke (109 isolates) and cotton (three isolates) in that region were characterized by vegetative compatibility grouping (VCG), and specific polymerase chain reaction assays using three sets of primer pairs that differentiate the cotton-defoliating (D) and -nondefoliating (ND) V. dahliae pathotypes. In all, 35 and 39 V. dahliae isolates representative of the identified VCGs and geographic origins were tested for virulence to artichoke cvs. Nun 6374 and Nun 9444, and cotton cv. Acala SJ-2, respectively. Four VCGs were identified among 107 artichoke isolates, and 2 isolates were heterokaryon self-incompatible: VCG1A (one isolate), VCG2A (31 isolates), VCG2B (72 isolates), and VCG4B (three isolates). The three cotton isolates were VCG1A. Isolates in VCG2B were distributed across the region and were the most prevalent isolates in the northern part. Conversely, 83.9% of isolates in VCG2A were recovered from the southern part of the region. Two subgroups of isolates were identified in VCG2B based on heterokaryon compatibility with either international or local tester isolates, which further showed diversity in the amplification of 334- and 824-bp DNA fragments which are markers of the D and ND pathotypes, respectively. Virulence of isolates to artichoke and cotton correlated with VCG but the pattern of correlation varied with the host. VCG1A isolates from artichoke and cotton induced defoliation in cotton but not in artichoke. Collectively, isolates of VCG2B and VCG4B were the most virulent and isolates of VCG1A or HSI were the least virulent to artichoke; but isolates of VCG1A were more virulent to cotton than those of any other VCG. Also, molecular subgrouping in VCG2B determined by amplification of the 334- and 824-bp markers correlated with virulence of isolates to the two hosts tested.