Streptomyces sp., a cause of fistulous withers in donkeys

Four of 10 donkeys, which showed lesions simulating fistulous withers, were examined clinically with the aim to cultivate and identify the causal agent. Aspiated purulent materials were subjected to bacteriological examination. The causal organisms were recovered in Tryptic Soya agar medium when incubated aerobically at 37 degrees C for up to 5 days. These organisms were found to be actinomycetes-like, Gam positive with stable branching filaments and to form heavy aerial hyphae on colony surface. The isolated organisms ere tentatively identified as Streptomyces sp. on the basis of morphological and cultural characteristics. The initial sequences analysis of the 16S rDNA gene conformed that one of the isolates (SD551) falls within the phylogenetic clade, which encompasses the genus Streptomyces. Studies are underway to further describe the disease and its causal agent. The report represents a good evidence to incriminate Streptomyces in the aetiology of the fistulous withers.     

Effects of clomipramine hydrochloride on heart rate and rhythm in healthy dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of clomipramine hydrochloride on heart rate and rhythm in dogs. ANIMALS: 17 healthy Beagles. PROCEDURES: In experiment 1, 8 dogs received placebo or clomipramine (20 mg/kg of body weight, q 24 h, PO) for 7 days in a 2-way crossover design. In experiment 2, 9 dogs were evaluated for 48 hours before and 24 hours after oral administration of clomipramine (4 or 12 mg/kg) in a 2-way crossover design. Electrocardiogram and heart rate were monitored continuously by use of telemetry. RESULTS: A significant diurnal rhythm in heart rate was detected; minimum values were recorded at night. Administration of 20 mg of clomipramine/kg induced a significant reduction in heart rate, with peak effect achieved approximately 12 hours after dosing. Administration of 4 or 12 mg of clomipramine/kg did not result in significant changes in heart rate. Sinoatrial and second-degree atrioventricular block and ventricular escape beats were observed during periods of slow heart rate in more dogs that received clomipramine (3 to 4 of 8 dogs), compared with dogs that received placebo (1 to 2 of 8 dogs), but this difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Short-term administration of clomipramine induced benign cardiovascular effects in dogs rather than the potentially dangerous arrhythmias or tachycardia reported following administration of tricyclic antidepressants to humans. Precautions regarding cardiovascular effects may not be needed for the use of clomipramine in healthy dogs.     

Effects of formalin on total haemocytes count and histopathological changes in the shrimp Litopenaeus schmitti (Pérez‐Farfante & Kensley 1997)

Formalin is used in shrimp industry to eliminate ectoparasites and as a disinfectant. However, the effect of formalin on shrimp's defense mechanism is unknown. Several biomarkers were used to assess the immune response of juveniles of the shrimp Litopenaeus schmitti exposed to different concentrations of formalin (10, 25 and 50 mg L^?1) during 24 and 48 h. Formalin concentrations of 25 and 50 mg L^?1 produced a significant reduction in the total haemocyte count at both 24 and 48 h. Peroxidase and phenoloxidase activity did not show variations. The total protein concentration in haemolymph of shrimps was not significantly different between experimental groups. Histological analysis showed hyperplasia in the gills of animals exposed at 10 mg L^?1 for 24 h; however, the exposure at 25 and 50 mg L^?1 caused necrosis in gills, hepathopancreas and the antennal gland.     

A PROPOSED RADIOGRAPHIC CLASSIFICATION SCHEME FOR CONGENITAL THORACIC VERTEBRAL MALFORMATIONS IN BRACHYCEPHALIC “SCREW‐TAILED” DOG BREEDS

Congenital vertebral malformations are common in brachycephalic “screw‐tailed” dog breeds such as French bulldogs, English bulldogs, Boston terriers, and pugs. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine whether a radiographic classification scheme developed for use in humans would be feasible for use in these dog breeds. Inclusion criteria were hospital admission between September 2009 and April 2013, neurologic examination findings available, diagnostic quality lateral and ventro‐dorsal digital radiographs of the thoracic vertebral column, and at least one congenital vertebral malformation. Radiographs were retrieved and interpreted by two observers who were unaware of neurologic status. Vertebral malformations were classified based on a classification scheme modified from a previous human study and a consensus of both observers. Twenty‐eight dogs met inclusion criteria (12 with neurologic deficits, 16 with no neurologic deficits). Congenital vertebral malformations affected 85/362 (23.5%) of thoracic vertebrae. Vertebral body formation defects were the most common (butterfly vertebrae 6.6%, ventral wedge‐shaped vertebrae 5.5%, dorsal hemivertebrae 0.8%, and dorso‐lateral hemivertebrae 0.5%). No lateral hemivertebrae or lateral wedge‐shaped vertebrae were identified. The T7 vertebra was the most commonly affected (11/28 dogs), followed by T8 (8/28 dogs) and T12 (8/28 dogs). The number and type of vertebral malformations differed between groups (P = 0.01). Based on MRI, dorsal, and dorso‐lateral hemivertebrae were the cause of spinal cord compression in 5/12 (41.6%) of dogs with neurologic deficits. Findings indicated that a modified human radiographic classification system of vertebral malformations is feasible for use in future studies of brachycephalic “screw‐tailed” dogs.     

Evaluation of Physicochemical Methods for Treatment of Cu, Pb, Sb, and Zn in Canadian Small Arm Firing Ranges Backstop Soils

This paper presents the results of physicochemical treatment on Pb-, Cu-, Sb-, and Zn-contaminated Canadian small arm firing range (SAFR) backstop soils in order to evaluate the potential of such methods for remediation of SAFR backstop soils. Remediation target for the treatment assays was to attain the Québec Department of Environment commercial C criterion or more realistically, to reach the soil burial D criterion. Two treatment lines (TL) were evaluated. TL-1, consisting of jig and Wilfley table (WT) treatments on the 0.5–3 mm and 53–500 μm soil size fractions (SF), respectively, and chemical leaching on the <53 μm SF and TL-2, consisting of jig on the 1–4 mm SF, spiral, and WT treatments on 250 μm–1 mm SF, and Kelsey jig assays on the <250 μm SF. For both TL, the untreated SF (>3 mm for TL-1; >4 mm for TL-2), and the gravimetric separation concentrates could be sent for recycling in smelter facilities. Results showed that the finer SF (<53 μm SF for TL-1; <250 μm SF for TL-2) were very difficult to treat. Even with metal removed mass proportions up to 78% for Pb, concentrations were still very high after chemical leaching; and the Kelsey jig showed deceiving metal removed mass proportions (up to 47% for Pb). In both TL, the jig and the WT showed Pb removed mass proportions up to 98% and treated mass proportions up to 77% in their respective SF. Whole process efficiencies in the cleaned soils showed that TL-1 led to the remediation of up to 65% of the initial total soil, and TL-2, 36%. TL-1 and TL-2 results showed that the WT effectively treated soils of 53 μm–1 mm SF, and the jig, soils of the 1–4 mm SF. Our study shows that gravimetric concentration techniques are very promising for the treatment of SAFR backstop soils, and further research has to be done in order to treat the SF lower than 53 μm.     

Sorption of pesticides in tropical and temperate soils from Australia and the Philippines

The sorption behavior of diuron, imidacloprid, and thiacloprid was investigated using 22 soils collected in triplicate from temperate environments in Australia and tropical environments in Australia and the Philippines. Within the temperate environment in Australia, the soils were selected from a range of land uses. The average KOC values (L/kg) for imidacloprid were 326, 322, and 336; for thiacloprid, the values were 915, 743, and 842; and for diuron, the values were 579, 536, and 618 for the Ord (tropical), Mt. Lofty (temperate), and Philippines (tropical) soils, respectively. For all soils, the sorption coefficients decreased in the following order: thiacloprid > diuron > imidacloprid. There were no significant differences in sorption behavior between the tropical soils from the Philippines and the temperate soils from Australia. Sorption was also not significantly related with soil characteristics, namely, organic carbon (OC) content, clay content, and pH, for any of the three chemicals studied. When the data were sorted into separate land uses, the sorption of all three chemicals was highly correlated (P < 0.001) with OC for the rice soils from the Philippines. Sorption coefficients for all three chemicals were highly correlated with OC in temperate, native soils only when one extreme value was removed. The relationships between sorption of all three chemicals and OC in temperate, pasture soils were best described by a polynomial. Sorption coefficients for imidacloprid and thiacloprid determined in the temperate pasture soils remained fairly consistent as the OC content increased from 3.3 to 5.3%, indicating that, although the total OC in the pasture soils was increasing, the component of OC involved with sorption of these two compounds may have been remaining constant. This study demonstrated that the origin of the soils (i.e., temperate vs tropical) had no significant effect on the sorption behavior, but in some cases, land use significantly affected the sorption behavior of the three pesticides studied. The impact of land use on the nature of soil OC will be further investigated by NMR analysis.