The presence of Capnocytophaga canimorsus and Capnocytophaga cynodegmi in companion animals in the Netherlands

The presence of Capnocytophaga canimorsus and Capnocytophaga cynodegmi in companion animals in The Netherlands. This article reports about a research that is done to determine the presence of Capnocytophaga canimorsus and Capnocytophaga cynodegmi in companion animals in the Netherlands using a species specific PCR in combination with classic microbial isolation. Because of the high presence of the bacteria in the mouth of especially cats and dogs (respectively 21 and 19%) and the severe consequences of an infection for humans the risk of an infection with C. canimorsus is high. Therefore owners of cats and dogs should be informed about this risk especially if the owners belong to specific risk groups like elderly people, pregnant women, young children and immune deficient patients.     

Capnocytophaga canimorsus infections: a possibly fatal complication of bite wounds

Practising veterinarians and their assistants run the risk of being bitten by their patients, mostly cats and dogs, and many have experienced that bites and bite-wound infections can have unpleasant consequences. In recent years, more insight has been gained into a 'new' bacterial infection of bite wounds that not only has severe local effects but also potentially fatal systemic consequences. The bacterium involved is Capnocytophaga canimorsus. All bite wounds should be treated adequately, but this is especially so when wounds are infected with C. canimorsus. In this article, dog and cat bites are briefly described and then an overview is given of current knowledge of C. canimorsus and appropriate prophylactic measures.     

Presence of the oral bacterium Capnocytophaga canimorsus in the tooth plaque of canines

Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a potentially pathogenic microorganism when transmitted to humans from the oral cavity of canines. Although there is some knowledge about the frequency of occurrence in canines, it is uncertain whether there is a correlation between its occurrence and lifestyle, health, or breed of dog. Samples of tooth plaque from a total of 131 canines were collected, cultured on selective media, and tested using physiological and molecular analyses to help discern the presence of C. canimorsus. Phylogenetic analyses determined that 49.2% of canines sampled carried a species of Capnocytophaga and 21.7% of the canines sampled in this study carried C. canimorsus. Statistical analyses found that male dogs and those that are neutered and spayed are more likely to host Capnocytophaga species. The data also suggested that breed was a statistically significant predictor of C. canimorsus, with the smaller breeds more likely to carry the potential pathogen. In addition, three "human" species of Capnocytophaga; C. ochracea, C. haemolytica, and one isolate of either C. gingivalis or C. granulosa were cultured from five canines. Sixteen canines sampled carried an unidentified Capnocytophaga species, with the sequences from all isolates forming a well-defined phylogenetic clade with 100% bootstrap support that may well represent a new species of Capnocytophaga.     

The bacteriology and antimicrobial susceptibility of infected and non-infected dog bite wounds: fifty cases

Dog bite wounds are a common reason for dogs requiring veterinary care, but there is surprisingly little data on the bacteriology of bite wounds. A prospective study was performed on dogs with various grades of bite wound to identify the bacteria present in these wounds. Swabs were collected from all wounds for bacterial culture and cytology. All swabs were cultured aerobically and anaerobically and all aerobic cultures were evaluated for antibiotic susceptibility using the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion test. Fifty dogs with 104 bite wounds, inflicted within the previous 72h, were included. The victims were predominately intact male small breed dogs. Of the 104 wounds, 21 were judged by cytology to be infected and 83 non-infected. Infected wounds were significantly more likely to culture positive (p=0.02). Sixteen percent of wounds showed no growth. Sixteen percent grew aerobes, 1% anaerobes and 67% a mixture of aerobes and anaerobes. Pasteurella canis and pyogenic streptococci were common in infected wounds, whereas Bacillus spp., Actinomyces spp. and the oral streptococci were usually found in contaminated wounds. Three anaerobic genera were cultured, namely, Prevotella, Clostridium and Peptostreptococcus. One case represented the first isolation of Capnocytophaga canimorsus in an infected dog bite wound. Although no single antibiotic therapy was considered to be effective against all the bacteria, amoxycillin plus clavulanic acid, 1st and 3rd generation cephalosporins ampicillin or amoxycillin and potentiated sulphonamides gave the best in vitro sensitivity results.     

Evaluation of the effects of topical tripeptide-copper complex and zinc oxide on open-wound healing in rabbits

In this study the clinical and histopathological effects of topically applied tripeptide-copper complex (TCC) and zinc oxide on open-wound healing in rabbits was evaluated. Eighteen New Zealand rabbits were divided into three groups: TCC, zinc oxide and no treatment. One full thickness wound was created on each side of the dorsal midline in each rabbit. Wound margins were traced on days 0, 7, 14, and 21 and topical TCC and zinc oxide were applied daily for 21 days to each rabbit in the respective treatment groups. The mean unhealed wound area was significantly smaller in the TCC than in the zinc oxide group on day 7, but it was significantly smaller in the TCC group than in to the control group on days 7, 14 and 21. The mean percentage of wound contraction on day 7 was significantly higher in the TCC than in the zinc oxide group; however, it was significantly higher in the TCC group than in the control group on days 7, 14 and 21. Median time for the coverage of the wound bed with granulation tissue was significantly shorter in the TCC group than in the other groups. Filling of the open wound with granulation tissue to skin level was significantly slower in the control group than in the other two groups. Neutrophil counts decreased regardless of the group in parallel with healing, while neovascularization was best observed in the TCC group. The results suggest that TCC is a better choice in the treatment protocols of open wounds in rabbits than zinc oxide.     

A cross‐linked hyaluronan gel accelerates healing of corneal epithelial abrasion and alkali burn injuries in rabbits

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of a chemically modified and cross‐linked derivative of hyaluronan (CMHA‐SX) for treatment of corneal epithelial abrasion and standardized alkali burn injuries. Animals Twelve female New Zealand white rabbits in two groups were used. Procedures Bilateral 6‐mm diameter corneal epithelial abrasions were made in each of six rabbits in one group and 6‐mm standardized alkali burn injuries were made in the second group. A 1% CMHA‐SX formulation was applied topically four times per day in right eye of each rabbit for 1 week, and phosphate buffered saline (PBS) was placed in left (control) eye of each rabbit. The wound size was determined by staining with 1% fluorescein and photographed at the slit lamp with a digital camera at 0, 1, 2, 3 days postoperatively in the first group and 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, 12 days in the second group. Rabbit corneas were collected for histological examination on day 7 in the first group and day 12 in the second group. Results Closure of corneal wound in the abrasion model was complete in the CMHA‐SX treated eye by 48 h. The wound closure rate and thickness of the central corneal epithelium in the CMHA‐SX treated group was greater than in control eyes for both the abrasion and alkali burn injuries. Moreover, the CMHA‐SX treated cornea exhibited better epithelial and stromal organization than the untreated control cornea. Conclusions Chemically modified and cross‐linked derivative of hyaluronan improved corneal wound healing and could be useful for treating noninfectious corneal injuries.     

蚕蛹壳聚糖复合水凝胶的抗菌性能及对创伤的愈合作用

以蚕蛹壳聚糖、蜂蜜和明胶等为基质制备医用复合水凝胶。对以不同配比制备的蚕蛹壳聚糖复合水凝胶、单纯蚕蛹壳聚糖水凝胶、蜂蜜水凝胶的抗菌性能进行比较试验,并以大耳白兔为受试动物,采用切片法检测蚕蛹壳聚糖复合水凝胶对烫伤伤口的愈合作用。结果表明:用质量分数为0.25%的蚕蛹壳聚糖和质量分数为20%的蜂蜜制成的复合水凝胶的杀菌作用明显高于市售烧伤膏和单纯蚕蛹壳聚糖或蜂蜜水凝胶,对金黄色葡萄球菌、大肠杆菌24 h内的抑菌率均达到100%,且持久性好;大耳白兔烫伤伤口经0.25%蚕蛹壳聚糖+20%蜂蜜复合水凝胶处理后12 d可基本愈合,切片观察愈合的伤口表皮无溃疡,局部毛囊增生,且有新生表皮细胞生成。研究结果显示,蚕蛹壳聚糖复合水凝胶具有广谱抗菌性能,可用作创伤敷料。     

Rabbit wound management.

In conclusion, rabbits have a variety of common disease presentations that require wound management. Anatomic and physiologic characteristics should be kept in mind, as they may have influences upon the management of wounds. Many new topical medications and dressings have been designed that are routinely used in mammalian wound management cases and are potentially useful for rabbits. When topical medications are used in rabbits, care must be taken to ensure the medications are not ingested. In addition to topical therapies, surgical options such as flaps and skin grafts have been researched in rabbits. Many of the wound management concepts that are useful for dogs and cats should be considered when addressing rabbit wounds.     

Molecular cloning, in vitro expression and bioactivity of rabbit transforming growth factor-beta receptor type II (rTGF-βRII)

Transforming growth factor-beta receptor II (TGF-βRII) is an attractive target for anti-scarring therapy in wound healing because it attenuates excessive TGF-β which has pleiotropic effects on the immune system. In the present study, the cDNA of rabbit TGF-βRII (rTGF-βRII) was amplified from rabbit peripheral blood by RT-PCR. The open reading frame of rTGF-βRII encodes a protein consisting of 567 amino acids, which contains a predicted transmembrane domain and a Serine/Threonine protein kinase domain similar to other identified mammalian TGF-βRIIs. The amino acid sequences of the biologically active, soluble rTGF-βRII and mouse, rat, human and chicken counterparts are 81%, 81%, 89% and 61%, respectively, identical. Recombinant soluble rTGF-βRII (rsTGF-βRII) fused with His tag was efficiently expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) expression host strain. This fusion protein's molecular weight of ～ 19 kDa was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. In vitro, purified rsTGF-βRII was able to inhibit the proliferation of keloid rabbit fibroblasts and decrease the level of collagen. These findings indicate that rTGF-βRII plays an important role in inhibiting the proliferation of keloid rabbit fibroblasts and provides the basis for investigations on the role of TGF-βRII in this important domestic species.     

猪胆囊壁组织用于兔体内组织修复和粘贴止血的实验观察

以猪胆囊壁组织作为生物膜,用ZT胶粘合的方法,修补兔食管壁人造缺损创10例,对兔肝、脾人工致伤断面进行粘贴止血15个样本。结果,前者成功7例,食管壁缺损创得到修复,愈合良好,且无食管狭窄现象;后者15个样本的止血效果都很确实,并对创面起到了保护作用,有利于创面的愈合。     

Treating wounds in small animals with maggot debridement therapy: a survey of practitioners

Many small animals succumb to complications of serious wounds. Sometimes infection and sepsis overwhelm the animal; sometimes the costs of intensive care overwhelm the owner. Maggot therapy, a method of wound debridement using live fly larvae, could provide effective, simple, low cost wound care. All eight US veterinarians who had been provided with medicinal maggots were surveyed to determine if this treatment was being used for small animals, and for what indications. At least two dogs, four cats and one rabbit were treated with maggot therapy between 1997 and 2003. The most common indications for using maggot therapy were to effect debridement and control infection, especially if the wound failed to respond to conventional medical and/or surgical therapy. Practitioners reported the treatments as safe and often beneficial. Amputation and euthanasia may have been avoided. It is concluded that maggot therapy may have utility for small animals, and should be evaluated further.     

3个品种兔微卫星标记的遗传多样性研究

为分析福建黄兔、新西兰兔、日本大耳白兔群体内的遗传变异情况和群体间的遗传相关性,本试验选取3个品种兔各25只,分别耳静脉采血并采用试剂盒抽提全血基因组,运用15个微卫星标记,结合荧光PCR技术和毛细管电泳方法获得目的片段,通过计算等位基因数、有效等位基因数、杂合度、多态信息含量和遗传距离,分析3个品种兔的遗传多样性。结果显示,3个品种兔在15个座位共检测到110个等位基因,平均等位基因数为7.3个,其中福建黄兔、新西兰兔和日本大耳白兔分别检测到95、95和88个等位基因,且分别在11、12和11个微卫星座位表现为高度多态,表明3个品种兔在筛选的15个微卫星座位均呈现较丰富的遗传多态信息。Hardy-Weinberg遗传平衡检验结果表明,福建黄兔、新西兰兔和日本大耳白兔分别有8、8和6个座位处于Hardy-Weinberg不平衡状态。Nei氏遗传距离分析显示,福建黄兔与新西兰兔、福建黄兔与日本大耳白兔、新西兰兔与日本大耳白兔的Nei氏遗传距离分别为0.1761、0.2347和0.0432。遗传距离越小时,相似度越高,亲缘关系越近,因此,新西兰兔与日本大耳白兔间的亲缘关系最近,福建黄兔与日本大耳白兔间的亲缘关系最远。     

Lamellar keratoplasty with a graft of lyophilized acellular porcine corneal stroma in the rabbit

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of lamellar keratoplasty in the rabbit using a graft of lyophilized acellular porcine corneal stroma (APCS). Animal studied Twelve adult 2–2.5 kg Zealand white rabbits were studied. Procedure The cell components of the porcine cornea were removed by the means of enzymatic digestion, freezing, and thawing and then APCS was lyophilized. The 6.5 mm diameter APCS was implanted on a 6.0‐mm diameter keratectomy wound each of 12 rabbits. The postoperative clinical and histological evaluations were performed in the early, intermediate, and late periods. Results All corneal wounds healed. Ten of the 12 grafts of APCS were integrated completely with the receptive cornea except two grafts scraped partially off by the eyelid. The blepharospasm, ocular discharge, and edema of the cornea were marked 1 week after transplantation. New vessels invaded the graft after week 2 and regressed after week 8. The cornea became transparent gradually. The histological evaluation showed that the epithelium on the graft stratified normally post surgery. The keratocytes of the recipient grew into the graft and were proliferative at week 4. The inflammatory cells and new vessels were observed before week 8. The fibrosis in the graft was revealed at week 4 and lessened at week 8. The histological structure of the cornea after surgery was similar to the normal cornea at week 32. Conclusions APCS can recover the integrity of the rabbit's cornea and become transparent in vivo. APCS is an effective graft for lamellar keratoplasty in the rabbit.     

Comparison of a new laser beam wound camera and a digital photoplanimetry-based method for wound measurement in horses

The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy, precision, inter- and intra-operator reliability of a new laser beam (LB) wound camera and a digital photoplanimetry-based (DPB) method for measuring the dimensions of equine wounds. Forty-one wounds were created on equine cadavers. The area, circumference, maximum depth and volume of each wound were measured four times with both techniques by two operators. A silicone cast was made of each wound and served as the reference standard to measure the wound dimensions.The DPB method had a higher accuracy and precision in determining the wound volume compared with the LB camera, which had a higher accuracy in determining the wound area and maximum depth and better precision in determining the area and circumference. The LB camera also had a significantly higher overall inter-operator reliability for measuring the wound area, circumference and volume. In contrast, the DPB method had poor intra-operator reliability for the wound circumference. The LB camera was more user-friendly than the DPB method.The LB wound camera is recommended as the better objective method to assess the dimensions of wounds in horses, despite its poorer performance for the measurement of wound volume. However, if the wound measurements are performed by one operator on cadavers or animals under general anaesthesia, the DPB method is a less expensive and valid alternative.     

5个家兔群体白细胞介素10基因外显子的遗传多样性分析

本研究旨在分析家兔IL-10基因外显子的多态性,以期为进一步研究家兔IL-10与疾病抗性的相关性提供理论依据。根据GenBank上收录的IL-10基因序列设计5对特异性引物,采用PCR-SSCP方法对海狸色獭兔、白色獭兔、皖系长毛兔、闽西南黑兔、九疑山兔这5个家兔群体IL-10基因的5个外显子序列进行多态性分析。结果表明:在IL-10基因外显子3上检测到4种等位基因,10种基因型,存在3个SNPs位点;在外显子4上检测到2种等位基因,3种基因型,存在1个SNP位点。而外显子1、2、5对于实验群体未发现有遗传多态性。在外显子3中,D等位基因只在闽西南黑兔和九疑山兔中检测到,除海狸色獭兔和闽西南黑兔外其余群体均处于哈代-温伯格平衡,各群体不同基因型分布存在极显著差异(P<0.01)。在外显子4中,A1B1基因型在獭兔群体中没有检测到;除海狸色獭兔外其余各群体均处于哈代-温伯格平衡,海狸色獭兔跟白兔獭兔不同基因型分布差异不显著(P>0.05),而其余群体彼此不同基因型分布存在显著性差异(P<0.05或P<0.01)。结果提示:5个家兔群体在IL-10基因外显子3和4中存在遗传多态性,不同家兔群体在遗传基础上存在着一定的差异。     

一种新型伤口处理剂对仔猪去势伤口处理的效果实证

在猪场中,正确的伤口处理对于伤口的恢复具有重要的意义。为了研究新型伤口处理剂对仔猪去势伤口的效果,特选取5～7日龄533头公仔猪,分为两组。试验组利用常规碘酊消毒去势后喷洒新型伤口处理剂,对照组则按常规操作单纯碘酊消毒。而后分别记录每天伤口恢复情况以及去势后15 d内表现关节肿的去势公仔猪比例。结果表明:新型伤口处理剂可以减少伤口出血,促进去势伤口的愈合,减少细菌通过伤口感染猪只的几率。     

成都市兔肉市场调查报告

通过对成都市五城区的43家超市、21家农贸市场、16家餐饮店进行兔肉市场调查,以摸清成都市兔肉及其相关产品的种类、价格、市场铺货率等情况。结果表明:成都市兔肉销量大,兔肉产品种类丰富,市场铺货率高。总结出成都市兔肉消费量大的原因。本文还对兔肉市场提出了一些建议,从而为进一步推动本地兔肉市场的发展以及外地兔肉消费市场的开发提供一定参考。     

家兔群体遗传变异的微卫星标记

选用欧洲野生穴兔的5个微卫星座位,分析了5个品种(系)家兔群体的遗传变异.结果表明:Vc-Ⅱ系獭兔的群体内平均多态信息含量和平均杂合度均最大,分别为0.552 6和0.620 2;新西兰兔群体内平均多态信息含量和平均杂合度都最小,分别为0.451 5和0.526 1,说明在5个品种(系)家兔中,新西兰兔群体内变异较小,相对较纯;Vc-Ⅱ系獭兔群体内变异较大,纯度相对较小.但总的来看,5个品种(系)家兔的平均多态信息含量和平均杂合度相差都不大,说明Vc獭兔在遗传性能上已接近其他优良品种兔.聚类结果表明:Vc-Ⅰ系獭兔与Vc-Ⅱ系獭兔亲缘关系最近,与日本大耳兔、青紫蓝兔亲缘关系较近,与新西兰兔亲缘关系最远,这与Vc獭兔育种事实相符.在Sat4和Sat8座位分别检测出了一条Vc獭兔所特有的条带,从而为进一步研究Vc獭兔的遗传特性打下良好的基础.     

Influence of wound shape on wound contraction in horses.

Three sets of paired circular and square full-thickness skin wounds were made on the dorsum of the metacarpus (n = 48) of 8 horses. Each wound was 6.25 cm2 in area. The wounds were treated topically with an ointment, nonadherent dressing, and bandaged with a snug elastic wrap. Wounds were photographed every other day until healing was complete. Wound areas were measured and exponential and linear wound healing models were applied to the wound healing data generated. Wound healing variables measured for each wound were: number of days to healing, maximal size attained, rate of wound contraction (calculated by use of first-order and linear models), final wound size, and percentage of wound that healed by contraction. The exponential model fit the data significantly better than the linear model. The maximal size attained by circular wounds was significantly smaller than the maximal size attained by square wounds. Wound shape did not influence the rate of wound healing. On the basis of our findings, conversion of circular defects to square defects would not speed wound healing.     

Effects of a proprietary topical medication on wound healing and collagen deposition in horses

Full-thickness skin wounds were created on the dorsum of both metacarpi in 8 horses. Three topical treatment regimens were studied. All wounds were bandaged with a nonadherent dressing, which was held in place with a snug elastic wrap. Group-A wounds were treated with a proprietary topical wound medication that consisted of a spray and an ointment. Group-B wounds were treated with the same regimen, except the putative active ingredients in the ointment were omitted. Group-C wounds were treated with a dry nonadherent bandage only. Wound dressings were changed every day and the limbs were photographed every other day until the wounds were healed. Specimens of normal skin and biopsy specimens of healed wounds were examined histologically and were assayed for hydroxyproline content. Wound healing measurements quantitated for each wound were number of days to healing, maximal wound size attained, day wound contraction commenced, day epithelium first noticed, rate of wound contraction, final wound size, and fraction of the wound that healed by contraction. The cosmetic appearance of the healed wounds was also graded. Significant differences were not noticed in hydroxyproline content, histologic appearance, or any of the wound healing measurements between treatment groups. The cosmetic appearance of healed group-A and -B wounds was significantly better than the appearance of group-C wounds. The topical treatment regimens studied neither enhanced nor inhibited wound healing in this study.