In vitro metabolism of EPN and EPNO in susceptible and resistant strains of house flies

EPN is twice as toxic as EPNO to house flies from both the Diazinon-resistant strain and the susceptible strain. EPN and EPNO are also eight times more toxic to the susceptible than the resistant strain. This is due to the ability of the resistant strain to metabolize these compounds to a greater extent. Metabolism by the glutathione S-transferases present in the 100,000g supernatant is more extensive than that by the NADPH-dependent microsomal mixed-function oxidases. The glutathione S-transferases are the major route of metabolism for EPN and appear to be the principal mechanism conferring resistance. EPN was metabolized by the microsomal fraction via oxidative desulfuration to the oxygen analog, EPNO, and by oxidative dearylation to p-nitrophenol. EPNO was metabolized by the same system to p-nitrophenol and desethyl EPNO as well as to an unknown metabolite. The soluble fraction metabolized EPN to p-nitrophenol, S-(p-nitrophenyl)glutathione, O-ethyl phenylphosphonothioic acid, and S-(O-ethyl phenylphosphonothionyl)glutathione. The identification of the latter conjugate demonstrates a new type of metabolite of organophosphorus compounds. EPNO was metabolized by the soluble fraction to p-nitrophenol and S-(p-nitrophenyl)glutathione.     

Cestodes of ruminants in Afghanistan.

Five cestode species parasitizing ruminants were found for the first time in Afghanistan: Moniezia benedeni, M. expansa, Avitellina centripunctata, Stilesia globipunctata, and Thysaniezia giardi.     

Host status effect of cowpea and sunflower on the populations ofMeloidogyne javanica andRotylenchulus reniformis

A highly susceptible cowpea,Vigna sinensis cv. Baladi plants were tested as trap plants for eitherMeloidogyne javanica orRotylenchulus reniformis under greenhouse conditions. The plants were gathered by cutting them above the surface of the soil or by uprooting them, 1/2, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 days after nematode inoculation. Both of the mentioned nematodes began to mature and lay eggs after the 12th day from their inoculation. Hence, it is advised to pull up cowpea plants from 3–12 days after nematode inoculation. After planting sunflower,Helianthus annus cv. Miak replacing cowpea, the nematode populations were higher, in most cases, on sunflower plants replacing cutting cowpea than those on sunflower replacing uprooted cowpea. The highest percentages of nematode reduction were 98.55 and 99.57 forM. javanica and 95.09 and 92.90% forR. reniformis on sunflower plants replacing cutting and uprooted cowpea plants after 12 days from nematode inoculation, respectively.M. javanica andR. reniformis decreased the length and weight of sunflower plants as affected by planting time and method of cowpea harvest. This method of nematode control is cheaper, easy and pollution free.     

Treatment of canine haemangiosarcoma with suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, a histone deacetylase inhibitor

A case report is presented by describing the treatment of a 12‐year‐old dog – diagnosed with haemangiosarcoma (HSA) – with suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. The drug was administered orally, on a daily basis, approximately 2 weeks post‐splenectomy at a dose of 3 mg kg^?1. HSA is a lethal malignancy of the endothelium, which is usually disseminated by the time it is diagnosed. Median survival time, usually, is no longer than 80 days. Following treatment with SAHA, no sign of malignant growth could be discerned by means of diagnostic abdominal ultrasound, chest X‐ray or with the help of clinical symptoms, over a period of >1000 days. The precise mechanism by which HDAC inhibitors exert their anti‐cancer effects is uncertain, but evidence suggests that exposure to SAHA generates hyperacetylated chromosomal histones, which, in turn, facilitates the expression of tumour suppressor genes turned off by epigenetic mechanisms during neoplastic transformation of the endothelium.     

Predicting percentage of intramuscular fat using two types of real-time ultrasound equipment

In the present study, 500 steers were used to develop models for predicting the percentage of intramuscular fat (PIMF) in live beef cattle. Before slaughter, steers were scanned across the 11th and 13th ribs using Aloka 500V (AL-500) and Classic Scanner 200 (CS-200) machines. Four to five images were collected per individual steer using each machine. After slaughter, a cross-sectional slice of the longissimus muscle from the 12th rib facing was used for chemical extraction to determine actual carcass percentage of intramuscular fat (CPIMF). Texture analysis software was used by two interpreters to select a region for determination of image parameters, which included Fourier, gradient, histogram, and co-occurrence parameters. Four prediction models were developed separately for each of AL-500 and CS-200 based on images captured by the respective machines. These included models developed without transformation of CPIMF (Model I), models based on logarithmic transformation of CPIMF (Model II), ridge regression procedure (Model III), and principal component regression procedure (Model IV). Model R2 and root mean square error of AL-500 Models I, II, III, and IV were 0.72, 0.84%; 0.72, 0.85%; 0.69, 0.91%; and 0.71, 0.86%; respectively. The corresponding R2 and root mean square error values of CS-200 Models I, II, III, and IV were 0.68, 0.87%; 0.70, 0.85%; 0.64, 0.94%; and 0.65, 0.91%; respectively. Initially, AL-500 and CS-200 prediction models were validated separately on an independent data set from 71 feedlot steers. The overall mean bias, standard error of prediction, and rank correlation coefficient across the four AL-500 models were 0.42%, 0.84%, and 0.88, respectively. For the four CS-200 models, the corresponding overall mean values were 0.67%, 0.81%, and 0.91, respectively. In a second validation test, only Model II of AL-500 and CS-200 was evaluated separately based on data from 24 feedlot steers. The overall mean bias, absolute difference, and standard error of prediction of AL-500 Model II were 0.71, 0.92, and 0.98%. For CS-200 Model II, the corresponding values were 0.59, 0.97, and 1.03%. Both AL-500 and CS-200 equipment can be used to accurately predict PIMF in live cattle. Further improvement in the accuracy of prediction equations could be achieved through increasing the development data set and the variation in PIMF of cattle used.     

蛋雏鸡传染性喉气管炎的诊治

鸡传染性喉气管炎(ILT)是由鸡传染性喉气管炎病毒引起的以剧烈咳嗽、气喘、高度呼吸困难和气管内有血样渗出物等为特征的一种急性呼吸道传染病.育成蛋鸡感染该病多有报道,而蛋雏鸡感染发病比较少见.本文以一起48日龄海兰褐蛋雏鸡传染性喉气管炎病例为题材,从发病情况、临床症状、病理剖检变化、诊断、防治等几个方面对该病做了详尽阐述.     

猪败血性链球菌与附红细胞体混合感染病例

猪败血性链球菌病是猪链球菌感染引起的一种急性败血性传染病,猪附红细胞体病是由猪附红细胞体寄生于猪红细胞而引起的一种散在的热性、溶血性传染病.本文以某猪场这2种病混合感染病例为题材,从发病基本情况、临床症状、剖检变化、实验室检验、防治措施等6个方面对该混合感染病例做了详尽的阐述.     

Application of touchdown enzyme time release (TETR)-PCR for diagnosis of Chlamydophila abortus infection

Chlamydophila abortus-DNA was detected using a touchdown enzyme time-release (TETR)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay as an improved test for sensitive and rapid diagnosis of abortion in small ruminants. Two hundred and fifty two placentae, liver or spleen tissue samples from aborting ewes and goats or aborted lambs and kids in which C. abortus infection was suspected were examined by TETR-PCR and the results were compared with cell culture. Sixty-five tissue samples were found to be TETR-PCR positive while only 56 samples were cell culture-positive. After resolution of discrepant samples with a confirmatory nested PCR assay, TETR-PCR had a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 99.5% while culture had a sensitivity of 84.8% and a specificity of 100%. The analytical sensitivity of the TETR-PCR assay was determined with DNA extracted from 4-fold serial dilution of C. abortus B577 culture and found to be 0.25 inclusion-forming unit per PCR. No reduction in the analytical sensitivity was noted when the assay was tested with mouse liver samples spiked with 4-fold serial dilution of C. abortus B577 culture. No target product was amplified when DNA from Chlamydophila pecorum was tested. TETR-PCR used in this study is a practical, rapid, sensitive and specific assay that could be used for the detection of C. abortus in infected tissue samples. We recommend the use of this assay as a supplemental diagnostic tool for detection of C. abortus in infected tissue samples.