Sarcocystis encephalitis in a cockatiel

A sporozoan organism was considered to be the causative agent of central nervous system disease in a cockatiel. The ultrastructural characteristics were typical of the coccidian group Apicomplexa, and the fact that organisms were free within the cytoplasm of infected cells and not within a vacuole, indicated they were Sarcocystis. Light and electron microscopic evaluation of brain tissue demonstrated protozoal organisms associated with areas of necrosis. Differential diagnosis of central nervous system disease in pet birds should include protozoal encephalitis.     

Qualitative risk assessment of routes of transmission of the exotic fish parasite Gyrodactylus salaris between river catchments in England and Wales

Gyrodactylus salaris is a freshwater, monogenean ecto-parasite of Atlantic-salmon. Infection of its natural host, the Baltic strain of Atlantic-salmon, is inapparent. G. salaris also can infect rainbow-trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) permanently, and cause infection of ≤50 days in several other species. It is only on Atlantic stocks of Atlantic-salmon (Salmo salar) that the parasite multiplies unchecked by an immune response, causes death in juveniles and dramatic reductions in wild populations. In Norway, the parasite has been introduced into 45 rivers, resulting in reductions in Atlantic-salmon stocks of up to 98%. It is probably the most-important exotic fish-disease threat to the UK. We used risk analysis to assess the most-important routes of spread for G. salaris between rivers in England and Wales. The movement of live rainbow-trout was identified as the most-important route of transmission; this route is likely to lead rapidly to the wide geographic spread of the parasite. The movement of other species of fish (especially from sites holding rainbow-trout) is also an important risk. Other routes of spread (including mechanical transmission on farm equipment and vehicles, angling equipment, canoes, etc.) might allow limited local spread (mainly to neighbouring rivers).     

Effects of supplemental lactoferrin on serum lactoferrin and IgG concentrations and neutrophil oxidative metabolism in Holstein calves

Lactoferrin (LF) is an iron-binding protein present in both colostrum and secondary granules of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs). We hypothesized that supplemental LF enhances neutrophil function in neonatal calves. Newborn calves were assigned to receive colostrum (C), colostrum + LF (CLF, 1 g/kg), or milk replacer + LF (MRLF, 1 g/kg). Serum (LF and IgG) and whole blood (neutrophil isolation) samples were obtained prior to treatment (day 0) and at 24 hours and 9 days of age. Serum IgG concentrations (mean +/- SD) in C, CLF, and MRLF calves at 24 hours were 1,911 +/- 994 mg/dL, 2,181 +/- 625 mg/dL, and 0 mg/ dL, respectively. Serum LF concentrations in C, CLF, and MRLF calves on day 0 were 324 +/- 334 ng/mL (range 0-863 ng/mL), 135 +/- 158 ng/mL (range 0-429 ng/mL), and 318 +/- 337 ng/mL (range 0-964 ng/mL), respectively. LF concentrations in C, CLF, and MRLF calves at 24 hours were significantly higher (P < .05), at 1,564 +/- 1,114 ng/mL (range 335-3,628 ng/mL, 2,237 +/- 936 ng/mL (range 31-3,287 ng/mL), and 3,189 +/- 926 ng/mL (range 1,736-4,120 ng/mL), respectively. Cytochrome c reduction in opsonized zymosan-treated or phorbol ester-treated cells was not significantly affected by supplemental LF provided at birth. Oral LF is absorbed in calves but does not alter PMN superoxide production and does not alter IgG absorption.     

Biochemical evaluation of mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes in canine skeletal muscle

OBJECTIVE: To perform respiratory chain enzymatic activity assays on canine skeletal muscle biopsy specimens and establish reference range values of skeletal muscle enzyme activities for dogs. SAMPLE POPULATION: Biopsy specimens from the vastus lateralis muscle were obtained from 24 dogs (8 sexually intact males and 14 sexually intact females) ranging from 15 months to 6 years of age. PROCEDURE: Mean values of citrate synthase, cytochrome-c oxidase, succinate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase-cytochrome-c reductase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase, and NADH dehydrogenase-cytochrome-c reductase activities were established by use of 6 standard spectrophotometric assays for respiratory chain enzyme analysis. RESULTS: Compared with published data for skeletal muscle enzyme activities in humans, skeletal muscle enzyme activities in dogs were 2- to 4-fold higher. Additionally, citrate synthase activity, a marker for mitochondrial volume, was positively correlated with age in dogs, suggesting that mitochondrial volume increases with age, although no apparent change in respiratory chain enzymatic activity with an increase in age was found. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Reference range values for skeletal muscle enzyme activities of dogs are needed to accurately interpret results of respiratory chain enzymatic activity assays. During investigation of metabolic myopathies, if skeletal muscle biopsy specimens are evaluated for respiratory chain enzyme kinetics, they should be performed and evaluated in concert with skeletal muscle biopsy specimens from clinically normal animals of the same species.     

Toll-like receptor triggering of a vitamin D-mediated human antimicrobial response

In innate immune responses, activation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) triggers direct antimicrobial activity against intracellular bacteria, which in murine, but not human, monocytes and macrophages is mediated principally by nitric oxide. We report here that TLR activation of human macrophages up-regulated expression of the vitamin D receptor and the vitamin D-1-hydroxylase genes, leading to induction of the antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin and killing of intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We also observed that sera from African-American individuals, known to have increased susceptibility to tuberculosis, had low 25-hydroxyvitamin D and were inefficient in supporting cathelicidin messenger RNA induction. These data support a link between TLRs and vitamin D-mediated innate immunity and suggest that differences in ability of human populations to produce vitamin D may contribute to susceptibility to microbial infection.     

Experimental comparison of aerial larvicides and habitat modification for controlling disease-carrying Aedes vigilax mosquitoes

BACKGROUND: Microbial and insect‐growth‐regulator larvicides dominate current vector control programmes because they reduce larval abundance and are relatively environmentally benign. However, their short persistence makes them expensive, and environmental manipulation of larval habitat might be an alternative control measure. Aedes vigilax is a major vector species in northern Australia. A field experiment was implemented in Darwin, Australia, to test the hypotheses that (1) aerial microbial larvicide application effectively decreases Ae. vigilax larval presence, and therefore adult emergence, and (2) environmental manipulation is an effective alternative control measure. Generalised linear and mixed‐effects modelling and information‐theoretic comparisons were used to test these hypotheses. RESULTS: It is shown that the current aerial larvicide application campaign is effective at suppressing the emergence of Ae. vigilax, whereas vegetation removal is not as effective in this context. In addition, the results indicate that current larval sampling procedures are inadequate for quantifying larval abundance or adult emergence. CONCLUSIONS: This field‐based comparison has shown that the existing larviciding campaign is more effective than a simple environmental management strategy for mosquito control. It has also identified an important knowledge gap in the use of larval sampling to evaluate the effectiveness of vector control strategies. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Aerosol delivery of trail pheromone disrupts the foraging of the red imported fire ant,Solenopsis invicta

BACKGROUND: The fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, is one of the most aggressive and invasive species in the world. The trail pheromone Z,E‐α‐farnesene (91% purity) was prepared, and disruption of worker trail orientation was tested using an ethanol‐based aerosol formulation presenting a single puff of this compound by airbrush and compressed air. Trail‐following behaviour was recorded by overhead webcam and ants digitised before and after presentation of the aerosol treatment at four rates (1.6, 16, 160 and 1600 ng cm^?2). RESULTS: Ants preferred 110 ng cm^?1 over 11, 1.1 and 0.11 ng cm^?1 for trail following. Within seconds of presentation of 1600 ng cm^?2, the highest dose tested, trail disruption was observed. Disruption was evident as reduced arrival success and reduction in the trail integrity statistic (r²), as well as increased deviation from the trail (deg). The distribution of walking track angles was also flattened. CONCLUSIONS: The feasibility of using aerosol for delivery of trail pheromone was demonstrated, but the need for high purity combined with the difficulty of commercial supply makes this technique impractical. However, the commercial production of Z,E‐α‐farnesene of high purity by industrial biotechnology or from (E)‐nerolidol may be possible in future, which would facilitate further development of trail pheromone disruption of S. invicta. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Underplanting to sustain future stocking of oak (Quercus) in temperate deciduous forests

New Forests - Oaks (Quercus spp.) are one of the most important tree taxa in the northern hemisphere. Although they are dominant in mixed species forests and widely distributed, there are frequent...     

Disseminated mite infection with ocular involvement in a juvenile bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

A bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was found unable to fly and was admitted to The Raptor Center (TRC). Major clinical signs were thin body condition and a cardiac arrhythmia. Ten days after admission to TRC, ophthalmic examination revealed multiple, distinct serpiginous lesions of chorioretinal atrophy in the ocular fundus of the right eye (OD). The bird was euthanized because of clinical deterioration and poor prognosis. Mites of an undetermined species were found histologically in the retina, episcleral tissues, lungs, and liver at the postmortem examination. Disseminated mite infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of serpiginous chorioretinal lesions in bald eagles (H. leucocephalus).