Comparison of Skin Prick Tests with In Vitro Allergy Tests in the Characterization of Horses with Recurrent Airway Obstruction

We intended to identify relevant immunoallergic factors and to compare skin prick tests (SPTs) and in vitro allergy tests in the characterization of horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), so as to ascertain that SPTs perform better. Forty Lusitano/cross-Lusitano horses (30 RAO cases and 10 healthy control horses)—a very valuable autochthonous breed—were studied. Clinical history, thoracic radiography, respiratory tract endoscopy, and bronchoalveolar lavage were used for diagnosis. Serum samples of all 40 horses and undiluted bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples of 21 RAO horses and 6 control horses were submitted for evaluation by an allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. SPTs were performed on the 40 horses. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated for all diagnostic methods. Agreement between diagnostic methods was assessed by kappa statistic (Κ). Chi-square test with Yates correction showed SPT results from the RAO and control groups to be statistically different (P < .05). SPTs showed higher sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value than both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests. In human medicine, SPTs are considered to be the gold standard of allergy tests. Neither serum IgE nor bronchoalveolar lavage fluid IgE reliably detected allergen hypersensitivity, compared with SPT. SPTs performed significantly better overall than both in vitro tests. Low sensitivity of the in vitro assays indicates the need for continued study to elucidate a more sensitive specific IgE test.     

Food Allergy In Dogs And Cats. A Review and Report of 43 Cases

Abstract— The literature on food allergy in dogs and cats is reviewed and 33 cases in dogs and 10 cases in cats, seen in Aquitaine, France, are described. Clinical aspects, diagnosis and aetiology are emphasised and compared with published data.
Résumé— Cet article fait la synthèse des données bibliographiques concernant l'allergie alimentaire chez le chien et le chat. Puis les auteurs présentent 33 cas de la maladie chez le chien et 10 cas chez le chat, observés en Aquitaine (France). Les aspects cliniques, diagnostiques et étiologiques sont soulignés et comparés aux données de la littérature.
Zusammenfassung— In diesem Artikel wird ein Rückblick über die Futtermittel-allergie bie Hund und Katze in der Literatur gegeben. 33 Fälle dieser Erkrankung bei Hunden und 10 bei Katzen in Aquitanien, Frankreich, werden beschrieben. Klinische Aspekte, Diagnostik und Ätiologie werden herausgestellt und mit den Literaturangaben verglichen.
Resumen  Este artículo presenta una revisión bibliográfica de la alergia alimentaria en el perro y en el gato. A continuación se presentan los datos clinicos de 33 casos de alergia alimentaria en perros y de 10 casos de alergia alimentaria en gatos, diagnosticados en Aquitania, Francia. Se describen los signos clinicos, el diagnóstico y la etiologia y se comparan éstos con los descritos en la bibliografia.     

A Study of the Number and Distribution of Cutaneous Mast Cells in Cats with Disease not Affecting the Skin

Resumen— El propósito de este estudio era investigar el número de mastocitos dérmicos en diferentes partes de la piel de gatos con enfermedad que no afecta a la piel. Se hizo un recuento de el número de mastocitos en 10 partes diferentes de la piel de 12 gatos sin evidencia de enfermedad de la piel. Se fijaron muestras de biopsia de piel en fijador Carnoy y formalina neutral atenuada, y se tiñeron con azul touluidina. Se realizaron recuentos de celulas de 6 campos de alto poder (400), de cada parte. Los recuentos de mastocitos combinados para todos los gatos, todas las partes y ambos fijadores variaban de 0–60 con un promedio de 12.5 por campo de alto poder y eran mas altos en el aspecto caudal del pabellón auricular y en la barbilla. El tipo de fijador usado no pareció influir en el recuento de mastocitos. [Foster, A. P. A study of the number and distribution of cutaneous mast cells in cats with diseases not affecting the skin (Un estudio de el número y distribución de mastocitos cutaneos en gatos con enfermedad que no afecta a la piel).
Abstract— The purpose of this study was to investigate the number of dermal mast cells in different skin sites from cats with disease not affecting the skin. The number of mast cells in the skin of 12 cats without evidence of skin disease was counted from 10 different skin sites. Skin biopsy samples were fixed in Carnoy's fixative and neutral buffered formalin and stained with toluidine blue. Cell counts from 6 high power fields (400) were made for each site. Mast cell counts combined for all cats, all sites and both fixatives ranged from 0 to 60 with a mean of 12.5 per high power field and were highest from the caudal aspect of the pinna and the chin. The type of fixative used did not appear to influence mast cell counts.     

Cutaneous Mycobacterium avium Infection in a Cat

Abstract— A 6-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat with a paranasal cutaneous mass caused by Mycobacterium avium is reported. Recurrence after cryosurgery and nonresponsiveness to dapsone necessitated surgical removal. The cat remained clinically normal for 14 months when the occurrence of multiple facial nodules with acid-fast bacilli present caused the owner to elect euthanasia. Résumé— Le cas d'une chatte européenne castrée de six ans présentant une masse périnasale due àMycobacterium avium est rapporté. La rechute après cryochirurgie et l'absence de réponse à la dapsone a nécessité une ablation chirurgicale. Le chat est resté apparemment sain 14 mois après l'opération, jusqu'à l'appartion de nodules multiples sur la face avec des baciles acid-alcolorésistants. L'animal a été euthanasié. Zusammenfassung— Beschrieben wird eine kurzhaarige Hauskatze, sechs Jahre alt, weiblich, kastriert, mit einer paranasalen kutanen Zubildung, die durch Mycobacterium avium verursacht wurde. Eine Wiederauftreten nach Kryochirurgie und ein Nichtansprechen auf Dapson zwang zu einer chirurgischen Entfernung. Die Katze blieb 14 Monate lang klinisch gesund bis das Auftreten von multiplen fazialen Knoten mit histologisch nachweisbaren säurefesten Bazillen dazu führte, daß der Besitzer sich für die Euthanasié des Tieres entschied. Resumen En este artículo se estudia una gata castrada de seis años de raza moméstica de pelo corto, con una masa cutánea paranasal causada por el Mycobacterium avium. La masa fue removida quirürgicamente después del tratamiento con dapsone y la aplicación de criocirugía con la consiguiente reaparición de la misma. Por un periodo de 14 meses la gata permaneció clínicamente normal, pero después el animal desarrolló nódulos faciales multiples con la aparición de bacilos que podian ser teñidos con tinturas ácidas, ante lo cual el dueño decidió terminar con la vida del animal.     

A Comparison of Multiple Allergen Simultaneous Tests Using Allergen-Specific IgE Concentration and Intradermal Skin Tests in Atopic Horses With Pollen Allergy

Intradermal tests (IDTs) and measurement of specific immunoglobulin E class (sIgE) levels in sera are the most common and reliable methods used in allergological clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to explore the sensitization of pollen allergy in atopic horses with pollinosis and to assess the diagnostic value of the multiple allergen simultaneous tests (MASTs) compared with that of the IDT. Twenty-one Malopolski horses with typical skin hypersensitivity symptoms during pollen seasons were enrolled. Intradermal tests were performed, and allergen-specific IgE concentrations in sera were measured using a monoclonal anti-IgE antibody to pollens of grass, weeds, trees, and cultivated plants. The highest sensitization rate was for Secale cereale (IDT, 76%; MAST, 66.7%), grass (IDT, 71%; MAST, 57%), and Brassica napus (IDT, 52.4%; MAST, 57%). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) showed that Betula spp., Alnus spp., and Corylus spp. had the highest AUC at 0.854, followed by Secale cereale (AUC = 0.796), Plantago lanceolata (AUC = 0.726), Brassica napus (AUC = 0.704), and a grass allergen mixture (AUC = 0.695). The mean AUC for all allergens was 0.712 (0.604–0.867). The overall sensitivity of the sIgE plant horse panel was 78% (range, 68%–90%), the specificity was 86.3% (range, 64%–100%), and the accuracy was 79% (range, 64%–87%). Statistical kappa (κ) agreement between the MAST and IDT was reached for tree (κ = 0.767), rye (κ = 0.687), colza (κ = 0.671), and grass (κ = 0.664) pollen. The MAST showed a favorable agreement with the IDT and can be used for the detection of sIgE in atopic horses with pollinosis.     

Immunological Reactivity to Intradermal Dermatophyte Antigens in Cats with Dermatophytosis

Abstract— To study the immune response of cats to dermatophyte infection, ten healthy cats and five cats previously infected with Microsporum canis were injected intradermally with dermatophyte glycoprotein extracts. Injection sites were observed for immediate and delayed reactions and biopsied at 24 and 48 hours after injection. All five previously-infected cats but only two of 10 control cats had immediate positive reactions to M. canis antigen. Four out of five previously-infected cats and one of 10 control cats also had reactions to Trichophyton rubrum antigen, suggesting antigenic crossreactivity between these fungal species. At 24 h after injection, four out of five previously-infected cats had delayed reactions to M. canis antigen at the injection sites; equivalent sites in all control animals were negative. The histological appearance of the delayed reactions was a superficial perivascular dermatitis, with lymphohistiocytic cells, eosinophils, mast cells, and neutrophils. This pattern is consistent with a delayed-type hypersensitivity response to fungal antigens. Special stains revealed no evidence of cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity in these reactions. Our data suggest that naturally-occurring feline dermatophytosis is accompanied by development of both humoral and cellular immune responses to the organism. Intradermal skin testing with dermatophyte antigens is a useful tool for investigating the immune response of cats to dermatophytosis. Résumé— Afin d'étudier la réponse immunitaire des chats à une infection par des dermatophytes, des intradermoréactions à l'aide d'extraits glycoprotéiques de dermatophytes ont été pratiquées sur 10 chats sains et 5 chats antérieurement infectés par Microsporum canis. Les sites d'injection ont cté observés pour lés réactions immédiates et retardées et biopsiés à 24 et 48 heures. Les 5 chats antéricurement infectés et seulement 2 des chtas témoins ont présenté des réactions immédiates à l'extrait antigénique de Microsporum canis, 4 des 5 chats antérieurement infectés et 1 des 10 chats témoins ont aussi présenté des réactions àTríchophyton rubrum, suggérant l'existence de réactions croisées entre ces deux espèces de dermatophytes. 24 heures après l'injection, 4 des 5 chats antérieurement infectés ont présenté des réactions retardées àMicrosporum canis au point d'injection. Ces mêmes tests étaient négatifs chez les animaux témoins. L'aspect histologique des réactions retardées etait celui d'une dermite périvasculaire superficielle à celles lymphohistiocylaires, éosinophiles, neutrophiles, et mastocytes. Cet aspect est compatibles avec une réaction d'hypersensibilité retardée aux antigènes fongiques. Des colorations spécifiques n'ont pas permis de mettre en évidence une hypersensibilité cutanée à basophiles dans ces réactions. Ces résultats suggèrent que l'infection naturelle par des dermatophytes chez le chat entraine le développement d'une réaction immunitaire humorale et cellulaire spécifique de ces organismes. Les intradermoréactions à l'aide d'extraits antigéniques de dermatophytes sont un bon moyen d'exploraton de la réponse immunitaire des chats lors de dermatophytle. Zausammenfassung— Um die Immunantwort von Katzen auf die Infektion mit Dermatophyten zu untersuchen, wurden bei zehn gesunden Katzen und fünf Tieren mit vorausgegangener Microsporum canis-Infektion Extrakte von Dermatophyten-Glykoprotein intradermal injiziert. Die Injektionsstellen wurden auf Sofortund Spätreaktionen kontrolliert sowie 24 und 48 Stunden nach der Injektion biopsiert. Alle fünf Katzen mit vorausgegangener Infektion, aber nur zwei der 10 Kontrolltiere zeigten eine positive Sofortreaktion auf M. canis-Antigen. Vier der fünf früher infizierten Katzen und eine der 10 Kontrollkatzen zeigten gleichzeitig Reaktionen auf Tríchophyton rumbrum-Anúgen. Dies legt den Verdacht nahe, daß zwischen diesen Pilzspezies Kreuzreaktionen auf Antigene auftreten. 24 Stunden nach der Injektion zeigten vier der fünf früher infizierten Katzen Spätreaktionen auf M. canis-Antigen an den Injektionsstellen. Entsprechende Hautstellen waren bei alien Kontrolltieren negativ. Das histologische Bild der Spätreaktionen bestand in einer oberflächlichen, perivaskulären Dermatitis mit lymphohistiozytären Zellen, eosinophilen Granulozyten, Mastzellen und neutrophilen Granulozyten. Diese Muster stimmt mit einer Hypersensibilitätsreaktion vom Spättyp auf Pilzantigene überein. Spezialfärbungen erbrachten keinen Hinweis auf eine Hypersensibilität der kutanen basophilen Granulozyten bei diesen Reaktionen. Unsere Befunde deuten en, daß natürlich auftretende Dermatomykosen bei Katzen von der Entwicklung sowohl humoraler als auch zellulärer Immunantworten auf diese Organismen begleitet werden. Intradermale Hauttests mit Dermatophytenantigenen sind ein nützliches Verfahren um die Immunantwort von Katzen auf Dermatomykosen zu untersuchen. Resumen Para estudiar la respuesta inmune de los gatos hacia la infección por dermatofítos, diez gatos sanos y cinco gatos previamente infectados con Microsporum canis fueron inyectados intradérmicamente con extractos de glicoproteina de dermatofito. En los lugares de inyección se observaron las reacciones inmediatas y posteriores y se, realizaron biopsias a los 24 y 48 horas después de la inyección. Tuvieron reacciones positivas inmediatas hacia el antígeno M. canis los cinco gatos prevaimente infectados y uno de los diez “gatos control”. Cuatro de los gatos previamente infectados y uno de los diez “gatos control” tambien reaccionaron ante el antígeno Tríchophyton rubrum, sugeriendo reactividad cruzada, antigénica entre estas especies fúngicas. A los 24 horas después de la inyección, cuatro des los cinco gatos previamente infectados presentaron reacciones posteriores hacia el antígeno M. canis en los lugares de la inyección; los lugares equivalentes en todos los animales control fueron negativos. La aparición histológica de las reacciones posteriores consistía en una dermatitis perivascular superficial, con celulas linfohistiocíticas, eosinofilos, mastocitos y neutrofilos. Este patrón es consistente con una hipersensibilidad de dipo retrasado en respuesta a antígenos fúngicos. Manchas especiales revelaron la no evidencia de hipersensibilidad de basófilos cutaneous en estas reacciones. Nuestros datos sugieron que la dermatofitosis felina producida de forma natural va acompañada del desarrollo de respuestas inmunes humorales y celulares hacía el organismo. La prueba intradérmica con antígenos dermatofítos es útil para investigar la respuestra inmunológica de los gatos hacia dermatofitosis.     

Multicentric Squamous Cell Carcinomas In Situ Resembling Bowen's Disease in Five Cats

Abstract— Multiple squamous cell carcinomas in situ were diagnosed in five aged cats. Despite clinical courses ranging from 18 to 30 months, there was no clinical or histologic evidence of breachment of the basement membrane. The condition closely resembles Bowen's disease in humans.
Résumé— Des épithéliomas spinocellulaires multiples in situ ont été diagnostiqués chez 5 chats. Maigré une anclenneté clinique de 18 à 30 mois, il n'y avait pas de signes cliniques ou histologiques d'atteinte de la membrane basale. Cette affection resemble á la maladie de Bowen chez l'homme.
Zusammenfassung— Bei fünf alten Katzen wurden multiple plattenepithelkarzinome in situ diagnostiziert. Trotz der klinischen Krankheitverläufe von 18 bis 30 Monaten konnte weder klinisch noch histologisch ein Durchbrechen der Basalmembran nachgewiesen werden. Dieses Bild ähnelt sehr dem Bowens Krankheit des Menschen.
Resumen  En cinco gatos se diagnosticaron carcinomas multiples de células escamosas in situ. A pesar del curso clínico de 18–30 meses no se observó evidencia clinica, o histológica de infiltración a traves de la membrana basal. La condición es muy semejante a la enfermedad de Bowen en medicina humana.     

Evaluation of a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of allergen-specific IgE antibodies in dogs

Twenty-eight atopic dogs, 22 pruritic, non-atopic dogs and 10 healthy dogs were ELISA tested. For calculations of diagnostic specificity and sensitivity, positive ELISA test results in non-atopic dogs were considered false positive results. The absence of any positive results in the atopic dogs was considered false negative results. The atopic dogs were tested both with ELISA and an intradermal test, utilising allergen extracts from the same manufacturer, to determine the frequency of positive allergen reactions in the ELISA test compared with the intradermal test. The Prausnitz-Küstner test was performed to evaluate the significance of a positive ELISA test result. Based on cross-tabulations with clinically defined atopic dermatitis, the ELISA test showed a sensitivity of 53.6% and a specificity of 84.4%. The correlation between the ELISA and the intradermal test was poor. Positive Prausnitz-Küstner tests were not obtained using sera from dogs that were intradermal test negative for the tested allergens, even though sera had high levels of IgE as measured by the ELISA. These findings question the significance of a positive ELISA test result and indicate that the test is not measuring functional allergen-specific IgE.     

Improved sero-monitoring assay for classical swine fever (CSF) using the recombinant E2 protein of a recent Korean isolate

Classical swine fever (CSF) is a highly contagious disease of pigs that causes fever, diarrhea and paralysis, often resulting in death. E2 is the major structural protein of the CSF virus (CSFV) and mediates the entrance of the virus, subsequently inducing a neutralizing immune response. In this study, the E2 gene of a recent Korean isolate of CSF, SW03, was cloned and the DNA sequence was compared to other strains via phylogenetic analysis. With the purified E2 protein, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the serodiagnosis of CSFV infection. The sensitivity and specificity of the E2-ELISA were 96.1% and 94.8%, respectively. A total of 17 out of 485 field-collected pig sera tested demonstrated conflicting results between two ELISA methods, a commercial kit and the E2-ELISA. Of these sera, 60% were determined to be CSFV positive by a virus neutralization test (VNT), suggesting involvement of different immune responses in the cases of CSFV infection. As the E2-ELISA was developed using a recent Korean isolate, SW03, this assay is capable of rapidly identifying newly emerging CSFV strains.     

Development of rapid flow-through-based dot-immunoassay for serodiagnosis of leptospirosis in dogs

An IgG-ELISA used recombinant antigen and a rapid flow-through enzyme immunoassay were developed for rapid screening of leptospiral antibodies in dogs using recombinant LipL41, which is one of the conserved outer membrane proteins in pathogenic leptospires as the coating antigen. Results from this study were compared with the standard microscopic agglutination test and found that the sensitivity and specificity of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were 75.46% and 93.29% and whereas that of flow-through-based dot-immunobinding assay were 87.73% and 89.63%, respectively. Relative merits of these tests were also assessed. The flow-through-based dot-immunobinding assay was thus proved to be a valid screening test for canine leptospirosis.     

Serological survey for antibodies to Encephalitozoon cuniculi and Toxoplasma gondii in pet rabbits in eastern coastal areas of China

Encephalitozoon cuniculi (E. cuniculi) is a microsporidian parasite commonly detected in rabbits and can infect humans and cause encephalitozoonosis. And Toxoplasma gondii is a prevalent parasite distributed worldwide and can infect almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans. The aim of the current study was to investigate the seroprevalence of E. cuniculi and Toxoplasma gondii, and risk factors of infection in pet rabbits reared in eastern coastal areas of China (Tianjin, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai and Fujian). Total 222 blood samples of pet rabbits were collected from local veterinary hospitals. The seropositivity rates of E. cuniculi were 16.22% (36/222) according to an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Female pet rabbits was significantly higher than that in males (P=0.002), Zhejiang were markedly higher than those in Jiangsu and Shanghai (P=0.017, P=0.022), and cross-breed rabbits were dramatically higher than those in Chinchilla, New Zealand white, Rex (P=0.02, P=0.006, P=0.008). The seroprevalence of T. gondii was 13.06% (29/222) by the method of ELISA. The seroprevalence in Zhejiang was significantly higher than that in Shanghai (P=0.017). No difference in seroprevalence was detected with respect to the gender, age, species, health status, or season. These findings show that E. cuniculi and T. gondii are present and spread in pet rabbits. Therefore, pet rabbits should be considered as an important reservoir of encephalitozoonosis for humans and maybe important implication for public health in eastern coastal areas of China.     

Evaluation of a Commercial Canned Lamb and Rice Diet for the Management of Cutaneous Adverse Reactions to Food in Cats

Abstract— A commercial canned lamb and rice diet was fed to 17 cats with clinical signs of generalized pruritus, facial pruritus, miliary dermatitis, eosinophilic plaque or self-inflicted hair loss. These cats were intradermal skin test, dermatophyte culture and skin scraping negative prior to initiating dietary management. Response to dietary management could not be assessed in three of the 17 cats with clinical disease, because they did not consume the diet for 60 days. Improvement was noted in 79% (11/14) of those cats which completed the study by consuming the diet for 60 days. Four asymptomatic cats with previously diagnosed adverse food reactions were also studied by changing from a previously successful feline adult maintenance diet to the commercial lamb and rice diet. All four cats remained free of clinical signs after 60 days on the diet. Palatability as assessed by the cat owners was good to excellent in approximately half the cats. Résumé— Une prépration commerciale en conserve à based d'agneau et de riz a été donnée à 17 chats qui présentaient un prurit généralisé, un prurit facial, une dermatite miliaire, de plaques éosinophiliques on une alopécle extensive. Ces chats présentaient des tests cutanés, des recherches de dermatophytes et des racalges cutanés négatifs avant le début du régime. La réponse n'a pas pu être étudiée chez 3 des 17 chats, parce qu'ils n'ont pas mangé cet aliment pendant les 60 jours de l'essai. Une amlioration a été notée dans 79% des cas (11/14) des chats ayant consommé l'aliment pendant jours. Quatre chats asymptomatiques pour lesquels un diagnostic d'intolérance alimentaire avait été fait auparavant ont aussi étéétudies en remplaçant l'aliment d'entretien par cet aliment en bolte à base d'agneau et de riz. Ces quatre chats sont restés asymptomatiques après 60 jours de ce régime. La palatabilité, appréciée par les propriétiares, était bonne pour approximativement la moitié des chats. Zusammenfassung— 17 Katzen mit klinischen Anzeichen von generalisiertem Juckreiz, fazialem Juckreiz, miliarer Dermatitis, eosinophilem Plaque oder selbst-induziertem Haarverlust wurden mit einer kommerziellen Lamm-und-Reis-Dosennahrung gefüttert. Vor Beginn der diätetischen Behandlung waren bei diesen Katzen intradermale Hauttests, Pilzkulturen und Hautgeschabsel negativ ausgefallen. Bei drei der 17 Katzen mit klinischen Erscheinungen konnte keine Reaktion auf die diätetische Therapie festgestellt werden, da die Diät nicht 60 Tage lang aufgenommen wurde. Bei den Katzen, die die Studie vollständig durchliefen und 60 Tage lang die Diät aufnahmen, wurde bei 79% (11/14) eine Besserung festgestellt. Vier symptomlose Katzen, bei denen zuvor allergische Reaktionen auf Nahrungsmittel diagnostiziert worden waren, wurden ebenfalls untersucht, indem man von dem vorherigen, erfolgreichen Erhaltungsfutter für erwachsene Katzen auf die kommerzielle Lamm-und-Reis-Diät wechselte. Alle vier Katzen blieben auch nach 60 Tagen Diät frei von klinischen Erscheinungen. Bei etwa der hälfte der Katzën beurteilten die Katzenbesitzer die Palatabilität als gut bis hervorragend. Resumen Diecisiete gatos que presentaban un cuadro clínico de prurito facial o generalizado, dermatitis miliar, placa eosinofilica o pérdida de pelo auto-inflingida, se alimentaron a base de una dieta comercial enlatada de cordereo y arroz. Previamente estos animales se examinaron con tests intradérmicos de alergia, cultivos fúngicos y raspados cutáneos, con resultados negativos. En tres de los casos que presentaban cuadro clínico no se pudo observar la respuesta a la terapia debido a que la dieta no se consumió por un periodo de sesenta días. Sin embargo, se observó una mejoria en 79%, (11/14), de aquéllos gatos que completaron la prueba dietética por un periodo de 60 días. Cuatro casos asintomáticos con previa historia clínica de reacciones adversas a los alimentos tambien fueron estudiados pro medio del cambio de una dieta de manutención de adulto a otra comercial basada en cordero y arroz. Todos los componentes de este grupo premanecieron sin cuadro clínico despues de los 60 días. La palatabilidad evaluada por los dueños fue excelente o satisfactoria en aproximadamente la mitad de los casos.     

Pansteatitis (Steatitis, "Yellow Fat Disease") in the Cat: A Review Article and Report of Four Spontaneous Cases

Abstract— Pansteatitis was recognized in four cats fed a diet based mainly on oily fish. Except for fever, these cats had all the other typical findings of the disease, namely hyperesthesia, painful, nodular-to-irregular subcutaneous masses, neutrophilic leukocytosis, firm and discolored subcutaneous fat, and lobular and septal pyogranulomatous panniculitis with necrosis, mineralization, and ceroid pigment deposition. Three of the cats responded well to treatment and became clinically normal after 1 month, the fourth was lost to follow-up. Résumé— Une panstéatite a été reconnue chez 4 chats alimentés pricipalement avec du poisson gras. Exception falte de la fièvre, ces chats présentéalent les signes caractériqtiques de cette affection: hyperesthé-sie, douleur, masses sour-cutanées nodulaires á irrégullères, tissue adipeux sous-cutané dur et décoloré et pannicullte pyogranulomateuse septale avec nécrose, minéralisation et dépot de pigment céroïde. Trois des chats ont bien répondu au traitement et sont redevenus cliniquement normauz en un mois. Le quatrième n'a pas pu être suivi. Zusammenfassung— Bei 4 Katzen, die mit einer Diät ernährt wurden, die hauptsächlich aus fettreichem Fisch bestand, wurde eine Pansteatitis festgestellt. Mit Ausnahme von Fieber zeigten diese Katzen all die anderen typischen Symptome diesser Krankheit, nämlich Hypersästhesie, Schmerz, noduläre bis unregelmäßig geformte subkutane Gebilde, Leukozytose mit Neutrophilie, verhärtetes und farblich verändertes subkutanes Fett, lobuläre und septale pyogranulomatöse Pannikulitis mit Nekrose, Mineralisation und Einlagerung von zeroidem Pigment. Drei der Katzen sprachen gut auf die Therapie an und wurden nach einem Monat klinisch gesund. Bei der 4. Katze war der Krankheitsverlauf nicht weiter verfolgbar. Resumen En 4 gatos alimentados en una dieta basada fundamentalmente en pescado azul, se diagnosticó pansteataitis. Excepto por la aparición de la fiebre, éstos gatos presentaron los hallazgos clínicos típicos de la enfermedad, hiperestesia, dolor, nódulos o masas irregulares en el tejido subcutáneo, leucocitosis neutrofilica, grasa subcutánea descolorida y de consistencia firme, y paniculitis piogranulomatosa de tipo septal y lobular con la presencia de necrosis, mineralización y pigmento de deposición ceroide. Tres de los gatos respondieron favorablemente al tratamiento y llegaron a ser completamente normales despues de un mes, en el cuarto no se pudo hacer un seguimiento clinico.     

酶联免疫检测试剂盒应用于牛奶中四环素残留的测定

为了加强牛奶中四环素残留量的监控，以四环素-卵清白蛋白为包被抗原，四环素-牛血清白蛋白免疫的产生的抗血清为抗体，辣根过氧化物酶-羊抗兔IgG为酶标记物，研制了四环素快速酶联免疫分析试剂盒，在3．9-2000ng/mL四环素标准浓度范围内，呈线性相关，相关系数为0．9882，批内误差小于批间误差，但其变异系数均在10％以下。与土霉素、金霉素的交叉反应分别为24.31％、6．22％。该试剂盒具有快速、灵敏、准确的特点，适用于牛奶中四环素残留量的快速筛选测定。     

In Vivo and In Vitro Evidence of the Involvement of CXCL1, a Keratinocyte-Derived Chemokine, in Equine Laminitis

Background: C-X-C motif ligand 1 (CXCL1) is an important chemokine of epithelial origin in rodents and humans.
Objectives: To assess in vivo and in vitro the regulation of CXCL1 in equine laminitis.
Animals: Twenty adult horses.
Methods: Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to assess expression of CXCL1 in samples of laminae, liver, skin, and lung from the black walnut extract (BWE) model of laminitis, and in cultured equine epithelial cells (EpCs). Tissue was obtained from control animals (CON, n = 5), and at 1.5 hours (early time point [ETP] group, n = 5), at the onset of leukopenia (developmental time point [DTP] group, n = 5), and at the onset of lameness (LAM group, n = 5) after BWE administration. EpCs were exposed to Toll-like/Nod receptor ligands, oxidative stress agents, and reduced atmospheric oxygen (3%). In situ PCR was used to localize the laminar cell types undergoing CXCL1 mRNA expression.
Results: Increases in laminar CXCL1 mRNA concentrations occurred in the ETP (163-fold [ P = .0001]) and DTP groups (21-fold [ P = .005]). Smaller increases in CXCL1 expression occurred in other tissues and organs. In cultured EpCs, increases ( P < .05) in CXCL1 mRNA concentration occurred after exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS [28-fold]), xanthine/xanthine oxidase (3.5-fold), and H₂O₂ (2-fold). Hypoxia enhanced the LPS-induced increase in CXCL1 mRNA ( P = .007). CXCL1 gene expression was localized to laminar EpCs, endothelial cells, and emigrating leukocytes.
Conclusion and Clinical Importance: These findings indicate that CXCL1 plays an early and possibly initiating role in neutrophil accumulation in the BWE laminitis model, and that laminar keratinocytes are an important source of this chemokine. New therapies using chemokine receptor antagonists may be indicated.     

Development and evaluation of an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of antibodies against Campylobacter fetus in cattle

Campylobacteriosis is a zoonosis that occurs worldwide. Infection with Campylobacter fetus (C. fetus) causes infertility and abortion in sheep and cattle. The current study focuses on the SapA gene of C. fetus that encodes surface array proteins and plays an important role in the virulence of C. fetus. The SapA-N (1398 bp) and SapA-C (1422 bp) fragments were amplified from the C. fetusSapA gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the corresponding recombinant proteins rSapA-N and rSapA-C were expressed in Escherichia. coli BL21 cells. Results of Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed that the immunological activity of rSapA-N was higher than that of rSapA-C (P < 0.05). Therefore, rSapA-N was selected to establish an indirect ELISA for detecting antibodies against C. fetus. The diagnostic criteria were as follows: S/P ? 0.45: positive; S/P < 0.4: negative; 0.45 > S/P ? 0.4: suspected. The specificity and sensitivity of our method were 94.3% and 88.6%, respectively. Moreover, no cross-reactions were observed between rSapA-N and serum samples that were positive for other bovine bacterial pathogens diseases such as Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis. One hundred and two serum samples from cows that had experienced abortion were tested. Four and 2 C. fetus-positive serum samples were found among the 70 bovine brucellosis-positive samples and the 32 infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR)-positive samples, respectively. The findings suggest that the rSapA-N-based ELISA method has immense potential in future applications.     

ELISA快速检验饲料和家畜尿液中的“瘦肉精”

酶联免疫吸附实验（enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA）,是目前检测家畜饲料、产品以及组织、尿液中瘦肉精的最常用、最快速的方法。本文针对此方法和其它检测方法做了详细的比较,提出了酶联免疫吸附方法点板操作时的注意事项,并总结了在检测样品过程中注意的要点和经验。     

山豆根多糖对猪圆环病毒2型感染小鼠体内外炎性因子分泌水平的影响

旨在探究山豆根多糖对猪圆环病毒2型（porcine circovirus 2,PCV2）感染小鼠体内外炎性因子分泌水平的影响。通过PCV2感染小鼠脾淋巴细胞建立体外炎症模型,用不同浓度（100、200、400 μg/mL）的山豆根多糖作用细胞,采用ELISA法测定细胞分泌IL-1β、IL-8、MCP-1水平和细胞内COX-1活性;利用PCV2体内感染昆明种小鼠建立氧化胁迫模型后,腹腔注射低、中、高浓度[100、200、400 mg/（kg·BW）]的山豆根多糖,应用ELISA法测定小鼠脾脏、肺脏组织和血清中炎性因子IL-1β、IL-8、MCP-1分泌水平和COX-1活性。结果显示,与PCV2感染模型细胞相比,经不同浓度山豆根多糖处理的小鼠脾淋巴细胞中炎性因子IL-1β、IL-8、MCP-1水平和细胞内COX-1活性均不同程度降低,其中,400 μg/mL的山豆根多糖作用最佳（P<0.01）;利用不同浓度的山豆根多糖腹腔注射PCV2感染小鼠后,均能抑制PCV2感染小鼠的脾脏、肺脏组织和血清中炎性因子IL-1β、IL-8、MCP-1分泌水平和COX-1的活性,其中,高浓度[400 mg/（kg·BW）]的山豆根多糖作用最佳（P<0.01）。综上提示,山豆根多糖能够抑制PCV2感染小鼠炎性因子分泌,从而发挥抗炎作用。