A Tremor Syndrome With a Central Axonopathy in Scottish Terriers

A central axonopathy in 2 male and 1 female Scottish Terrier puppies from 3 different but related litters is reported. Clinical signs consisting of severe whole-body tremors and ataxia were first detected at the age of 10 to 12 weeks. They worsened with activity and excitement and diminished during rest or sleep. Two dogs also had paraparesis. In 1 dog the neurological deficits progressed over several months. Neuropathological examination revealed widespread axonal changes, vacuolation, and gliosis in the white matter of the central nervous system.     

Serum Progesterone Concentrations and Blood Neutrophil Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in Cows Following Normal and Abnormal Parturition

Serum progesterone concentrations and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of blood neutrophils were determined in 3 groups of cows (n = 5 each) on days 1 and 2 and then at 3-day intervals up to 32 days post-partum. Group I cows had a normal delivery, Group II cows had dexamethasone-induced parturition and Group III cows were subjected to a caesarian section. All cows in Group III and 2 cows in Group II retained their fetal membranes. Mean serum progesterone concentrations declined the second day after calving (to < 0.67 ng/ml) and remained at low levels (< 0.54 ng/ml) throughout the observation period, except for the values in Group III, which were elevated on day 16 (0.94 ng/ml), declined again on day 26 (0.46 ng/ml) and peaked (1.05 ng/ml) on day 32 portpartum. Significant (P < 0.01) differences were found between serum progesterone concentrations on day 1 and on each of the other sampling days in Groups I and III. Day X parturition group interaction was significant (P < 0.05) for the progesterone concentrations. No significant differences were found between the overall means of ALP activity of blood neutrophils in the 3 parturition groups nor between days of the experiment. No significant correlation was found between serum progesterone concentrations and ALP activity values of blood PMN during the first 32 days post-partum. Inhalt: Serum Progesteron Konzentrat und Aktivität der alkalischen Phosphatase in neutrophilen Blutzellen bei Küken mit normalem und abnormalen Geburtsverlauf Serum-Progesteronkonzentrationen und alkalische Phosphatase- (ALP) Aktivität von neutrophilen Granulozysten, nach der Abkalbung am Tag 1 und 2 und dann im Abstand von 3 Tagen bis zum 32. Tag p.p. bei Kühen untersucht, die in drei Untersuchungsgruppen (n = 5) eingeteilt waren. Gruppe I kalbte normal ab, in Gruppe II wurde die Geburt durch Dexamethason eingeleitet, und Kälber der Gruppe III wurden via Kaiserschnitt gewonnen. Alle Tiere der Gruppe III und 2 Kühe der Gruppe II wiesen Nachgeburtsverhaltungen auf Der mittlere Serum-Progesterongehalt sank am 2. Tag p.p. auf < 0,67 ng/ml ab und blieb auf niederigem Niveau (< 0,54 ng/ml) während der gesamten Untersuchungs-periode. Lediglich in Gruppe III, mit erhöhten Werten (0,94 ng/ml) an Tag 16 p.p., sanken die Werte wieder an Tag 26 p.p. (0,46 ng/ml) und erreichten einen Maximalwert an Tag 32 p.p. mit 1,05 ng/ml. Signifikante (P 0,01) Unterschiede in der Serum-Progesteronkonrentration wurden zwischen Tag 1 p.p. und allen anderen Untersuchungstagen in den Gruppen I und III gefunden. Interaktionen zwischen den Gruppen für Tag X waren signifikant (P 0,05). Keine signifikanten Unterschiede wurden für den Gesamtmittelwert der ALP-Aktivität in den neutrophilen Granulorysten zwischen den Gruppen und im Vergleich der Untersuchungstage gefunden. Es wurden auch keine signifikanten Korrelationen zwischen den Serum-Progesteronkonzentrationen und der ALP-Aktivität der PMN während der ersten 32 Tage p.p. nachgewiesen.     

In vivo kinetic study on uptake and distribution of intramuscular tritium-labeled polysulfated glycosaminoglycan in equine body fluid compartments and articular cartilage in an osteochondrial defect model

The uptake and distribution of intramuscularly (IM) administered tritium-labeled polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (³H-PSGAG) in serum, synovial fluid, and articular cartilage of eight horses was quantitated, and hyaluronic acid (HA) concentration of the middle carpal joint was evaluated in a pharmacokinetic study. A full-thickness articular cartilage defect, created on the distal articular surface of the left radial carpal bone of each horse served as an osteochondral defect model. ³H-PSGAG (500 mg) was injected IM, between 14 and 35 days after creation of the defects. Scintillation analysis of serum and synovial fluid, collected from both middle carpal joints at specific predetermined times up to 96 hours post-injection, revealed mean ³H-PSGAG concentrations peaked at 2 hours post-injection. ³H-PSGAG was detected in cartilage and subchondral bone 96 hours post-injection in samples from all eight horses. There were no statistically significant differences in ³H-PSGAG concentration of synovial fluid or cartilage between cartilage defect and control (right middle carpal) joints.

HA assay of synovial fluid revealed concentrations significantly increased at 24, 48, and 96 hours post-injection in both joints. The concentration nearly doubled 48 hours post-injection. However, no statistically significant differences were found between synovial concentrations of HA in cartilage defect and control joints.

³H-PSGAG administered IM to horses, was distributed in the blood, synovial fluid, and articular cartilage. HA concentrations in synovial fluid increased after IM administration of polysulfated glycosaminoglycan.     

Presettlement and modern disturbance regimes in coast redwood forests: Implications for the conservation of old-growth stands

Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), a western North American conifer of ancient lineage, has a paradoxical combination of late-successional characteristics and strong adaptations to disturbance. Despite its shade tolerance and heavy dominance of the canopy on many sites, redwood saplings are uncommon in upland old-growth stands. Information needed to ensure the conservation of old-growth redwood forests has been limited. In this review paper, we integrate evidence on redwood biology with data on the historic and modern disturbance regimes to help clarify the degree to which key attributes of redwood forests may have been dependent upon periodic disturbance. Available evidence suggests that episodes of fire, flooding, and slope failure prior to European settlement were frequent but predominantly of low to moderate severity and extent, resulting in broadly uneven-aged forests. The majority of fires prior to European settlement were apparently of human origin. Frequency and severity of the major disturbance agents have been radically changed in modern times. Fires have been largely excluded, and flooding has been altered in ways that have often been detrimental to old-growth redwoods on alluvial terraces. However, because of the apparent anthropogenic origin of most presettlement fires, the long-term evolutionary role of fire for coast redwood is ecologically ambiguous. With fire exclusion, redwood possibly could be displaced to some extent on upland sites by increasing abundance of fire-sensitive competitors. Alternatively, redwood may be able to maintain dominance by vegetative sprouting and new seedling establishment on root-wad mounds, fallen logs, and on soil exposed by slope failure. Future research priorities are suggested that will help resolve some of the current ambiguities.     

Effects of suspended solids in the survival and haematological parameters of pacu juveniles (Piaractus mesopotamicus) in a biofloc technology culture system

This study determined the effects of total suspended solids (TSS) on pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) culture in a biofloc technology (BFT) system by performing two experiments. Experiment 1 evaluated the LC50-96 h of pacu at seven TSS levels (0, 1500, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000 and 7000 mg L^?1). Experiment 2 evaluated haematological variables (glucose, pH, haematocrit, haemoglobin, erythrocytes and haematimetric indices) in juveniles exposed to five different sublethal TSS concentrations (0, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 mg L^?1) for 5 days. Treatments below 5000 mg L^?1 did not cause mortality, and the LC50-96 h of TSS was estimated at 5477 mg L^?1. The TSS concentrations that caused mortality in pacu juveniles were extremely high and rarely maintained in culture systems. Exposure to high TSS concentrations (mainly 750 and 1000 mg L^?1) increased blood glucose, pH, heamatocrit, erythrocytes, haemoglobin values and haematimetric indices on the first day. On the fifth day, most of the evaluated parameters stabilized at different TSS concentrations. In conclusion, pacu exposed to high TSS concentrations for short periods may undergo physiological changes, and TSS concentrations below 250 mg L^?1 are recommended for its culture in a BFT system.     

Replication and transmission of porcine circovirus type 2 in mice

Little information is known about infection, replication and transmission of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) in species other than swine. Two sets of animal experiments were carried out to investigate the susceptibility of mice to PCV2 and to study their possible role in maintaining and transmitting the virus. In the first experiment 14 mice were inoculated with PCV2 by the intraperitoneal route with 5 x 10(2) TCID50 of the PCV2-ROM strain (Cadar et al., 2007). In a second experiment 24 mice were divided into two groups (A and B); mice in Group A (n = 18) were inoculated orally with 1 x 10(5) TCID50 PCV2-ROM and mice in Group B (n = 6) were left uninoculated until day 12 post inoculation (p.i.), when they were mixed with Group A. The animals were sacrificed at intervals for postmortem investigation and virus genome detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR results indicated that PCV2 could replicate in mice infected intraperitoneally or by the oral route, and that the virus can be transmitted directly from mouse to mouse.     

ADNEXAL CYSTADENOMA IN A BEARDED DRAGON (POGONA VITTICEPS)

An adult female bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) presented to the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital for an area of swelling affecting the left eye of approximately 3 years’ duration. Upon examination, the left eye could not be evaluated due to an extensive periorbital mass effect. Hematologic and advanced diagnostic testing were recommended, but due to financial concerns the owner declined. Ultimately, the patient was humanely euthanized and was submitted for necropsy. The mass was diagnosed via histopathology as a cystadenoma of the eyelid. Phthisis bulbi of the left eye with granulomatous inflammation was also observed.