Primary orthostatic tremor in Great Danes

Two Great Danes were presented for an investigation of 6-month histories of incessant tremor of all 4 limbs and trunk occurring only when the dogs were standing at rest. Dog 1 was a 2-year-old intact female harlequin Great Dane living in the UK, and dog 2 was a 2-year-old castrated male fawn Great Dane living in the United States. The owners described both dogs as having constant quivering of the limbs while standing, suggestive of an involuntary dance, since the age of 18 months. The intensity of the tremors was reported in both dogs to have steadily increased since onset. In dog 1, tremors were noticed to be more pronounced in the fore limbs when she was eating and more pronounced in the hind limbs when she was trying to sit. The owner of dog 1 also reported that the dog could no longer assume a position of recumbency without manual assistance because of the severity of the tremors. Intermittently, tremors were reported to involve the facial musculature of dog 2. Vaccinations were current, and the owners of both dogs did not report any previous medical history, exposure to natural or manufactured toxins, or concurrent treatment. No familial relationship was identified between these 2 dogs.     

Dispersion and migration of fine particles in two palygorskite‐containing soils of the Jordan Valley

Migration of different mineral particles within columns of soil‐sand mixtures containing 10 or 20 mass % of soil was investigated by establishing differences in the mineral suite between the ”︁bulk clay” and the ”︁mobile fine material” fractions. The ”︁bulk clay” fractions of all soils contained smectite, palygorskite, kaolinite, quartz, feldspar, and calcite. The soils were saturated with sodium by leaching with NaCl solution, and then leached with distilled water. Clay dispersion and particle migration occurred in the columns. Values of SAR (sodium adsorption ratio) of the effluent decreased with time due to carbonate dissolution. At a certain SAR value, the clays apparently formed aggregates, and as a consequence particle migration stopped in the column. In addition to clay‐sized particles (< 2 μm), very‐fine‐silt‐sized particles (2— 5 μm) were able to migrate in the soil‐sand mixtures, too, and to some extent fine‐silt‐sized particles (5—10 μm) as well. Average size of mobile particles decreases with increase of soil content in the soil‐sand mixtures. The mineralogical composition of the ”︁mobile fine material” changed during the experiment. At the beginning of the experiment, the ”︁mobile fine material” was enriched in the non‐phyllosilicates (especially in calcite, and in some cases in quartz, feldspar and dolomite) and contained low concentrations of phyllosilicates (smectite, palygorskite and kaolinite). At the end of the experiment, the proportion of non‐phyllosilicates decreased, and as a consequence, the proportion of phyllosilicates increased. Among the non‐phyllosilicates, calcite was the most mobile mineral. Among the phyllosilicates, palygorskite was preferentially mobilized in topsoil horizons. In subsoil horizons, on the other hand, kaolinite was preferentially mobilized. This difference was explained by the different nature of carbonates in the topsoil and subsoil horizons. Palygorskite is preferentially occluded within the soil carbonates of lacustrine origin over smectite and kaolinite. These carbonates are present mainly in the subsoil horizons. As a consequence, the presence of these carbonates in the subsoil horizons decreases the migration of mainly palygorskite.     

Measurement of vitamin A,vitamin E,selenium, and L-lactate in dogs with and without osteoarthritis secondary to ruptured cranial cruciate ligament

This study compared vitamin A, vitamin E, selenium (Se), and L-lactate in blood and synovial fluid in 2 groups of 6 dogs; a control group (without OA) and an osteoarthritic group with spontaneous cranial cruciate ligament rupture and OA. Concentrations of vitamin E were significantly higher in serum than in synovial fluid in both OA (P = 0.006) and control (P = 0.0008) groups. Vitamin E concentration in synovial fluid was significantly higher in the OA group than in the control group (P = 0.009). Concentrations of Se were significantly higher in serum than in synovial fluid in both OA (P = 0.003) and control (P = 0.0006) groups. There were no significant differences in levels of Se, vitamin A, and L-lactate between the 2 groups. This is the first study to show an increased concentration of vitamin E in the synovial fluid of dogs with OA compared with dogs that did not have OA.     

A packed-bed filtration system for collection of Myxobolus cerebralis triactinomyxons

Information on the distribution and abundance of Myxobolus cerebralis triactinomyxons in natural systems is limited because direct and accurate sampling methods for this life stage have not been developed. Existing methods are based on indirect measures of triactinomyxon densities and are therefore confounded. Direct estimation of triactinomyxon concentrations would more exactly pinpoint the ambient infection risk to wild fish and allow evaluation of management strategies designed to mitigate the effects of the disease. We developed a mobile packed-bed filtration system that quickly, accurately, and precisely collects, concentrates, and quantifies triactinomyxons. The system includes pumping, prefiltration, two rounds of packed-bed filtration, and centrifugation. Laboratory tests of the completed system using known quantities of triactinomyxons resulted in a mean recovery rate of 91% with a minimum detectable concentration of triactinomyxons of 0.04/L. We subsequently field-tested the system at a site known to be positive for the parasite and recovered triactinomyxons at densities of 0.7-1.4/L. The packed-bed filtration system has the potential to quickly determine the temporal and spatial variation in infection risk and to test the efficacy of various management strategies.     

Endotoxin activity in whole blood measured by neutrophil chemiluminescence is applicable to canine whole blood

The dog is widely used as a translational experimental model studying the host response and new treatments for human endotoxemia. The present study evaluated the applicability of a novel patient-near neutrophil chemiluminescence assay for the measurement of endotoxin activity in human blood when applied to canine blood samples. The assay was observed to be analytically sensitive and specific to endotoxin when tested in vitro, spiked with purified Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide and live E. coli. The diagnostic sensitivity was sustained during Gram-positive contamination. Finally, it also demonstrated diagnostic potential when able to discriminate dogs with spontaneously occurring endotoxemia from both healthy dogs and diseased dogs without endotoxemia. The rapid patient-near assessment of endotoxin activity in canine blood should facilitate future studies on endotoxemia in both spontaneous disease and in experimental settings.