Two cases of disseminated toxoplasmosis

Two cases of disseminated fatal toxoplasmosis of a pet mouse and a red panda are described. The pet mouse had a private owner; the red panda lived in a zoological garden in Saxony. At necropsy, both animals suffered from a systemic toxoplasmosis. A severe necrotizing hepatitis was the main histological feature in both animals. Parasitic cysts could be abundantly found in the liver, moderately in the brain and in a low number in other organs. With the PAS-reaction, cysts showed a weak staining in the mouse and a strong staining in the red panda. Diagnosis was confirmed by PCR and immunohistochemistry.     

林周河谷高寒草甸和灌丛草场可饲用天然牧草时空变化特征

为研究西藏"一江两河"流域高山草甸和灌丛草场的时空变化特征,在牧草发青季(2017年7月份)、丰草季(2017年9月份)和枯草季(2018年3月份),对不同海拔梯度林周河谷南山阴坡和北山阳坡草地进行调查分析。结果表明:(1)林周河谷南山阴坡低海拔处以白草为优势种,海拔升高100 m左右时出现灌丛植被类型;山坡中段为草甸草场,主要以高山嵩草和苔草为主。总盖度最高月份为7—9月,随海拔升高,盖度相应增加,不同季节同一海拔高度总盖度间均差异不显著(P>0.05),而不同海拔高度、同一季节中总盖度差异极显著(P<0.01)。(2)季节显著影响牧草含水率(P<0.01),可饲用牧草含水率7—9月份最高,10月份后随牧草枯萎而下降,进入冬季降至0%;同一季节不同海拔梯度中,低海拔和中段海拔可饲用牧草中含水率较高。(3)不同季节可饲用牧草的产草量间差异极显著(P<0.01),单位面积总可饲用牧草产草量10月末最高,夏秋季最低;随海拔高度升高,可饲用牧草的产草量显著增高(P<0.05)。(4)经三维响应曲线拟合,总盖度y、海拔梯度x_1、月份x_2之间的关系为:y=a_1+a_2×x_2~2+a_3×x_1+a_4×x_2(a_1,a_2,a_3,a_4分别为-657.137 4、-0.882 8、0.167 1、12.507 0);含水率y、海拔梯度x1、月份x2的关系为:y=a_1+a_2×x_2~2+a_3×x_1+a_4×x_2(a_1,a_2,a_3,a_4分别为-146.147 1、-3.883 9、-0.010 0、62.100 6);产草量y、海拔梯度x1、月份x2的关系为:y=a_1+a_2×x_2~2+a_3×x_1+a_4×x_2(a_1,a_2,a_3,a_4分别为-131.065 5、2.977 2、0.069 0、-36.511 1)。结论:通过研究,建立了林周河谷南山阴坡主要高山草甸放牧草场的总盖度、含水率与产草量的立体时空变化特征;北山阳坡主要为高山灌丛,非天然放牧场所,作为饲用牧场,研究意义不大。     

Methods for Permanent Conservation of Biological Objects and Anatomic Preparations in Synthetic Resins

The first method is applied when adding corrosive preparations to epoxid resin. The corrosive preparation is soaked in a mixture of epoxid resin and hardener in a ratio, experimentally determined. The induration proceed at room temperature for 12 h. The second method has two options and is applied for the conservation of biological objects and anatomical preparations in polymethylmethacrilate by a successive immersing of the object in a system of dehydrating mixtures: 50%, 70%, 90% and 96% water solution of methanol and ethanol and in a mixture of acetone and ethanol (1:1) and in acetone or in methylenechloride. The object, thus prepared, is impregnated in vacuum with forpolymer of methylmethacrylate, benzoil peroxide and stearine acid or in a composition containing: methylmethacrylate, benzoilperoxide, dibutilphtalat and tertiary aromatic amin, in optimum correlations of the components, experimentally determined. The induration proceed by heating in a water bath (37 + 3°C) for 3 h and at 30°C temperature in the course of 6-8 h in the first option or at room temperature for about 3 days in the second option. The advantages of the proposed methods are: the use of cheap and available materials for the production of a simplified technological scheme of strongly transparent packages, preserved over a long period; preserving the sizes, the form and natural colour of the objects and preparations as well as a possibility for selective tinting of the separate tissues and systems in the preserved biological objects and anatomical preparations; a possibility for stereomicroscopic observation of the objects and preparations preserved.     

The peri-parturient rise in sheep. Faecal worm egg counts in normal and late lambing ewes

The trichostrongylid and strongylid egg output in a group of ewes lambing in March, the middle of the usual lambing time in the Netherlands, was compared with counts in groups of older ewes and yearling ewes lambing in May-June and with counts in a group of barren ewes. The groups lambing in March showed only a rise related to parturition date as normally seen in the Netherlands. A few of the late lambing ewes showed a slight rise in spring, but all of them showed a peri-parturient rise related to parturition date. In the late lambing ewes and in the barren ewes egg counts due to reinfection were seen in summer. It is concluded that under the present circumstances a true spring rise, the calendar phenomenon, occurs very irregularly, while a peri-parturient rise related to the parturition date is a common phenomenon. The occurence of high egg counts in summer, excluding consideration on the barren ewes, in the late lambing ewes only, suggests that changing the traditional husbandry system may influence the epidemiological pattern of the trichostrongylid infections.     

Disposition of mirosamicin in honeybee hives

Disposition of mirosamicin, a macrolide antibiotic, to honeybee adults, larvae, honey and royal jelly in the beehive after in-feed administration to adult bees was studied. Treatment was initiated at the end of July when the availability of natural pollen and nectar was poor. The drug was mixed with pollen-substitute paste and administered to honeybee colonies continuously for a week at a dossage of 200 mg/hive/week. High distributions in adult bees, jelly, larvae and a relatively low distribution in honey, of mirosamicin were observed. One day dosing of microsamin in sucrose syrup, a nectar substitute, resulted in a very high and long lasting residue in honey. Both royal and worker jelly, secreted from the jelly glands of adult bees, are acidic, so that a high distribution of a basic drug, such as mirosamicin, in jelly can be expected. This mechanism was considered to be responsible for a high concentration of mirosamicin in honeybee larvae, the host of Paenibacillus-larvae infection (American foulbrood), as primary larval food is jelly.     

Veterinary medical education and a changing culture

Veterinary medical education is undergoing rapid change in terms of pedagogy, the demographics of the student body, and, in turn, the membership of the profession. Central to the value of the traditional curriculum and the total student experience is the small-group environment, both in client service and in clinical rounds. It is one of the few Socratic learning experiences in higher education today. Similarly, experience in private practice is of inestimable value in terms of developing people skills and a lasting sense of service and accountabilty. In a generation, the student body has transformed from vanishingly small numbers of women to a predominance of female students. However, the profession still is very white, in a world becoming more and more diverse. With a predominantly white faculty and student body today, this circumstance shows little promise of rapid enough change to maintain relevance to a workforce that, a generation from now, likely will be dominated numerically by people of color. The incorporation of various world views and the impact of stereotyping on performance are central to issues of success and failure of minorities and, in somewhat different ways, women in the veterinary medical profession. These issues must become better understood and addressed. And to accomplish this, and to address a host of other culturally important issues, a greater diversity of world views must be engaged in the work and planning of veterinary medical education and the profession at large. Addressing these issues in an environment in which the values of faculty and administrators are intensely focused on the science of veterinary medicine, and in which the participants hold dear a system that places value only on teaching, research, and clinical service, is a formidable undertaking and will require substantial reconsideration of faculty role and reward systems.     

Mammary invasive micropapillary carcinoma in a male cat: Immunohistochemical description and clinical follow-up

We describe the case of a 14-year-old Domestic Short Hair male cat that presented with a single mammary tumour one centimetre in diameter, classified as invasive micropapillary carcinoma. Histology and immunohistochemistry revealed a high mitotic index, a KI-67 index of 10%, a lack of reactivity to myoepithelial markers, and a dense infiltration with T and B lymphocytes at the periphery of the tumour. Micrometastases were detected in the regional lymph node at the time of surgery. Overall survival time was 10 months with a disease-free interval of 7.5 months. Distant metastases in the sublumbar lymph nodes confirmed the aggressiveness of this tumour, which has recently been subtyped in female cats. This is the first case reported in male cats with a complete follow-up, highlighting the importance of prompt and aggressive treatment in the presence of mammary tumours in male cats.     

The tongue of Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius): LM,SEM and confocal laser study

The leopard gecko is a crepuscular and insectivorous reptile. The role of the tongue in this reptile is fundamental for the prey capture and ingestion and is not related with eyes cleaning as usual in other geckos. The elongated tongue can be divided into a foretongue with a slightly bifurcated apex and a hindtongue. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that several different papillae are present on the dorsal surface, foliate and dome-shaped in the foretongue, becoming thicker and stouter with reduced interpapillary spaces in the lateral parts. The hindtongue is characterised by wide foliate papillae with indented margins and deep fissures of the mucosa. Light microscopy showed the presence of a stratified slightly keratinized squamous epithelium in the apex of the foretongue, a stratified non-keratinized squamous epithelium in the fore and in the hindtongue. In the foretongue, numerous muciparous caliciform cells were observed. Moreover, the presence of taste buds on the tongue ventral surface was demonstrated for the first time in this species and the confocal laser study revealed a strong immunoreactivity for the S-100 protein in the sensory cells. Therefore, the results obtained could give a contribution to the knowledge of the tongue anatomy and are a basis for eventual further studies regarding the feeding habits in a reptile become a popular pet.     

High-grade canine T-cell lymphoma/leukemia with plasmacytoid morphology: a clinical pathological study of nine cases.

The aim of this study is to determine the clinical, morphological, and immunophenotypical presentation of 9 cases of a particular type of canine T-cell lymphoma/leukemia. The morphological presentation was a diffuse infiltration of small, medium-sized, or large blast cells with eccentric nuclei, hyperbasophilic cytoplasm, and a juxtanuclear, pale cytoplasmic area, giving a plasmacytoid appearance and suggesting a B-cell morphology. Surprisingly, all 9 cases were of T-cell phenotype (CD3+). Among the 7 immunophenotyped cases, 4 were CD4-/CD8+, 2 CD8+/CD4+, and 1 CD4+/CD8-. The median Ki-67 index was 65.7%, which placed this lymphoma in the high-grade group. This type of lymphoma/leukemia was found in dogs between 1 and 11 years of age, with a median age of 5.8. The male-female ratio was 0.8 for a reference population of 1.04. The most significant clinical findings were lymphadenopathy either generalized or localized in all cases, a mediastinal mass in 4 cases, bone marrow involvement in 7 cases, hypercalcemia in 4 cases, along with an aggressive clinical course and a poor response to chemotherapy in all cases, with a median disease-free survival time of 3 months.     

SIDE LOBES AND GRATING LOBES ARTIFACTS IN ULTRASOUND IMAGING

Side lobes and grating lobes are both unwanted parts of the ultrasound beam emitted off axis that produce image artifacts due to error in positioning the returning echo. The purpose of this study was to reproduce artifacts associated with side lobes and grating lobes in vitro using different transducer types and recognize these artifacts in vivo. A phantom, composed of a water bath, a metallic wire, and a wooden tongue depressor, was imaged using a linear array, a curved linear array, a vector array, and a sector mechanical transducer. When imaging the metallic wire in a transverse plane, an echogenic artifact was constantly seen on each side of the wire, with a shape and intensity variable with the transducer type. The artifact was curvilinear and concave (linear and curved linear arrays), or curvilinear and convex (vector array and the mechanical transducer). When the tongue depressor was imaged in a longitudinal plane, the artifact was a straight line (linear array), a curved convex line(curved array), a series of convex curvilinear echo (vector array) or a small convex curvilinear echo (mechanical transducer). In vivo situations similar to the phantom experiment were investigated using clinical patients. Artifacts produced in vitro were recognized in vivo when a highly reflective object (urinary bladder wall) was imaged adjacent to an anechoic region (urine). These artifacts corresponded to the principle of secondary ultrasound lobes, and were therefore interpreted as such.     

Tagging and elimination of plasmids in Salmonella of avian origin

This study compared the effectiveness of a number of procedures designed to label and eliminate plasmids that may play a role in virulence in Salmonella. Twenty strains of Salmonella of 9 serovars were subjected to 3 methods for labelling plasmids with transposons. Strains containing labelled and unlabelled plasmids were exposed to physical and chemical curing agents. Plasmids in 9 of 20 strains of Salmonella were tagged by conjugation with a donor Escherichia coli containing a temperature-sensitive RP4 plasmid that carried the Tn1 transposon. Plasmids in 2 of 5 strains of Salmonella were labelled by conjugation with a donor E. coli that contained a F' tslac::Tn5 plasmid. Transduction of Salmonella with a P22 bacteriophage that carried a temperature-sensitive Tn10 transposon resulted in chromosomal insertion of Tn10 in 2 of 10 strains. Use of chemical curing agents resulted in curing of plasmids in only 6 of 17 strains. Two strains were cured by ethidium bromide, two by a combination of ethidium bromide and novobiocin, two by a combination of imipramine and methylene blue, and none by acridine orange, novobiocin, sodium dodecyl sulfate or rifampicin. In contrast, plasmids in 14 of 17 Salmonella strains were eliminated by incubation at 45.5 degrees C.     

Assessment of plasma anti-elastin antibodies for use as a diagnostic aid for chronic progressive lymphoedema in Belgian Draught Horses

Diagnosis of chronic progressive lymphoedema (CPL) in draught horses, including the Belgian Draught Horse, is mainly based on clinical evaluation of typical lower limb lesions. A deficient perilymphatic elastic support, caused by a pathological elastin degradation in skin and subcutis, has been suggested as a contributing factor for CPL. Elastin degradation products induce the generation of anti-elastin Ab (AEAb), detectable in horse serum by ELISA. For a clinically healthy group of draught horses, a significantly lower average AEAb-level than 3 clinically affected groups (mild, moderate and severe symptoms) was demonstrated previously. To improve CPL-diagnosis, we evaluated the AEAb-ELISA as an in vitro diagnostic aid in individual horses. Test reproducibility was assessed, performing assays independently in 2 laboratories on a total of 345 horses. Possible factors associated with AEAb-levels (age, gender, pregnancy, test lab and date of blood collection) were analyzed using a mixed statistical model. Results were reproducible in both laboratories. AEAb-levels in moderately and severely affected horses were significantly higher than in healthy horses. Nevertheless, this was only demonstrated in barren mares, and, there was a very large overlap between the clinical groups. Consequently, even when a high AEAb cut-off was handled to obtain a reasonable specificity of 90%, a very low sensitivity (21%) of AEAb for CPL-diagnosis was obtained. Results on the present sample demonstrate that the described ELISA procedure is of no use as a diagnostic test for CPL in individual horses.     

Bovine somatotropin and lactation: from basic science to commercial application.

Bovine somatotropin (bST) results in increased milk yield and an unprecedented improvement in efficiency. Beginning in the 1930s to present day, investigations have examined animal-related factors such as nutrition, bioenergetics, metabolism, health and well being and consumer-related factors such as milk quality, manufacturing characteristics, and product safety. Overall, bST is a homeorhetic control involved in orchestrating many physiological processes. Direct effects involve adaptations in many tissues and the metabolism of all nutrient classes--carbohydrates, lipids, protein, and minerals. Mechanisms include alterations in key enzymes, intracellular signal transduction systems, and tissue response to homeostatic signals. Indirect effects involve the mammary gland and are thought to be mediated by the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system. Specific changes include increased cellular rates of milk synthesis and enhanced maintenance of secretory cells. Indirect effects are modulated by environment and management factors, especially nutritional status. This modulation is a central component in allowing ST to play a key role in regulating nutrient utilization across a range of physiological situations. U.S. commercial use began in 1994, and adoption has been extensive. From a consumer perspective, bST was unique, and special interest groups loudly predicted dire consequences. However, introduction of bST had no impact on milk consumption, and milk labeled as recombinant bST-free occupies a minor niche market. From a producer perspective, commercial use verified scientific studies and enhanced net farm income. Overall, ST is a key homeorhetic control regulating nutrient partitioning, and the ST/IGF system plays a key role in animal performance and well being across a range of physiological situations.     

Epidermal growth factor receptor as a therapeutic target in veterinary oncology

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a tyrosine kinase receptor that stimulates cell proliferation and survival and becomes dysregulated in a range of solid tumours in man. It is recognized as a key oncogenic driver and has become a favoured therapeutic target and a prognostic and predictive marker of cancer in man. In animals, EGFR dysregulation is emerging as a potential factor in the development of a number of naturally occurring tumours including mammary, lung, glial and epithelial cancers. Comparative analyses suggest that these diseases share many features with equivalent diseases in man and EGFR may have value as a prognostic or a biological marker of animal disease. There is still little direct evidence that EGFR is a critical oncogenic driver in naturally occurring animal disease and there are no veterinary trials of EGFR-targeted therapy. These will be critical steps in establishing a role for EGFR in veterinary oncology.     

Isolation of Arcanobacterium hippocoleae from a case of placentitis and stillbirth in a mare

Based on the scarcity of reports in veterinary medicine literature, it appears that Arcanobacterium spp. are rarely isolated from horses. Recently, a single isolate from vaginal discharge in a mare was characterized as a new species, Arcanobacterium hippocoleae. The present report describes a case of necrosuppurative placentitis and stillbirth in an American Quarterhorse mare. Numerous colonies of irregular, Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria were observed by histological examination within fibrin lattice associated with placental lesions. Arcanobacterium hippocoleae was isolated in large numbers from the placenta, lung, and stomach contents. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of placentitis associated with Arcanobacterium spp. in a horse and the third reported isolation of A. hippocoleae from a horse.     

Tibial hemimelia, meningocele, and abdominal hernia in Shorthorn cattle

Six genetically related Shorthorn calves were affected with the tibial hemimelia syndrome. The lesions included bilaterally malformed or absent tibia and abdominal hernia in all animals, a long shaggy haircoat, retained testicles in males, and meningocele in three animals. The malformations were similar to those described previously in Galloway calves. Pedigree analysis demonstrated a mechanism by which a recessive allele in a homozygous state could be responsible for the disorder. The condition in these calves was considered the result of a recurrence of a genetic mutation affecting a putative hemimelia locus.     

黄土高原沟壑区苜蓿地土壤碳、氮、磷组分的变化

对黄土高原沟壑区不同种植年限苜蓿(Medicago sativa)地土壤碳、氮、磷组分的分析结果表明:连续种植5年,土壤碳、氮各组分含量最低,而年限延长含量则有所提高;15年生苜蓿生长已进入衰退期,各组分含量远低于土壤肥力得到一定程度恢复的23年生苜蓿地.P与C、N组分的变化不同,Ca₂-P和Fe-P含量随年限延长逐渐降低,到23年时又有升高趋势,而Ca₈-P、Al-P、O-P变化趋势则与之相反,5年生苜蓿地以中活性有机磷为主,10年、15年、23年生苜蓿土壤有机磷组分的变化表现为:中稳性有机磷(MROP)>中活性有机磷(MLOP)>高稳性有机磷(HROP)>活性有机磷(LOP).     

Influence of the transport on the outcome of the bacteriological analysis of dog urine comparison of three transport tubes.

A sterile plastic tube, a boric acid-glycerol-sodium formate tube and a dip-slide tube were compared for transport of dog urine for bacteriological examination under practice conditions, at ambient temperature. In a first part, 50 dog urine samples were cultured on agar plates and on a dip-slide kit within 2 h after collection and after storage at 20 degrees C in a sterile tube and in a boric acid tube for 24 h and 48 h. Culture of the samples stored in the boric acid tube and culture on the dip-slide yielded results which correlated very well with those of the culture of fresh urine. However, culture of the samples stored in the sterile tube yielded up to 65% false positive results. In a second part, a comparison was drawn with culture results of 100 dog urine specimens collected by different practitioners and simultaneously mailed to our laboratory in a sterile tube, in a boric acid tube and in a dip-slide kit. Samples sent in the boric acid and in the dip-slide tube showed comparable culture results. Culture of the samples sent in the plastic tube yielded 53% false positive results in comparison with those of the samples preserved in boric acid.     

Case control study to identify risk factors for simple colonic obstruction and distension colic in horses

A case control study was performed to identify risk factors for colic caused by simple colonic obstruction and distension (SCOD) in the horse. Case horses were recruited from 2 veterinary school clinics. Control horses were population based and matched by time of year. A number of risk factors were considered in the following areas: general carer and premises information; exercise information; husbandry information (housing- and pasture-related); feeding information; breeding information; behavioural information; travel information; preventive medicine information and previous medical information. All variables with a P value of <0.2 in the univariable analysis were considered for possible inclusion in a multivariable model. A final model, produced by a forward stepwise method, identified crib-biting or windsucking, an increasing number of hours spent in a stable, a recent change in a regular exercise programme, the absence of administration of an ivermectin or moxidectin anthelmintic in the previous 12 months and a history of travel in the previous 24 h as associated with a significantly increased risk of SCOD. An alternative final model, produced by a backwards elimination method, identified the same variables as the forward model with, in addition, a history of residing on the current establishment for less than 6 months, a history of a previous colic episode and the fewer times per year the teeth were checked/treated as associated with a significantly increased risk of SCOD. Three of the risk factors in this model were associated with a large increase in risk: stabling for 24 h/day, crib-biting/windsucking and travel in the previous 24 h.     

亚热带中山人工草地鸭茅种群及其分蘖丛数量性状的相关分析

根据单位面积和独立分蘖丛的调查与测定,分析了亚热带中山人工草地鸭茅种群及其分蘖丛的数量特征。结果表明,在开花至乳熟期,种子田鸭茅种群的分蘖丛密度已经超过了环境容纳量,但分蘖密度尚未达到环境容纳量。引种栽培试验地的鸭茅种群丛蘖数、丛生殖蘖数、丛营养蘖数与丛径之间,及其生产量与丛径和丛蘖数之间均呈极显著正相关。随着丛蘖数的增加,死亡蘖数呈Logistic曲线增长,死亡率呈直线增长。抽穗率随着丛径和丛蘖数的增加均呈直线下降。