A C. elegans CLIC-like protein required for intracellular tube formation and maintenance

The Caenorhabditis elegans excretory canal is composed of a single elongated and branched cell that is tunneled by an inner lumen of apical character. Loss of the exc-4 gene causes a cystic enlargement of this intracellular tube. exc-4 encodes a member of the chloride intracellular channel (CLIC) family of proteins. EXC-4 protein localizes to various tubular membranes in distinct cell types, including the lumenal membrane of the excretory tubes. A conserved 55-amino acid domain enables EXC-4 translocation from the cytosol to the lumenal membrane. The tubular architecture of this membrane requires EXC-4 for both its formation and maintenance.     

A SN2 reaction that avoids its deep potential energy minimum

Chemical dynamics trajectory simulations were used to study the atomic-level mechanisms of the OH- + CH3F --> CH3OH + F- SN2 nucleophilic substitution reaction. The reaction dynamics, from the [OH...CH3...F]- central barrier to the reaction products, are simulated by ab initio direct dynamics. The reaction's potential energy surface has a deep minimum in the product exit channel arising from the CH3OH...F- hydrogen-bonded complex. Statistical theories of unimolecular reaction rates assume that the reactive system becomes trapped in this minimum and forms an intermediate, with random redistribution of its vibrational energy, but the majority of the trajectories (90%) avoided this potential energy minimum and instead dissociated directly to products. This finding is discussed in terms of intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) and the relation between IVR and molecular structure. The finding of this study may be applicable to other reactive systems where there is a hierarchy of time scales for intramolecular motions and thus inefficient IVR.     

ADAMTS17 mutation associated with primary lens luxation is widespread among breeds

Primary lens luxation (PLL) is a well-recognized, painful and potentially blinding inherited ocular condition in dogs. We screened PLL-affected dogs of 30 different breeds, to identify those which carried a previously described c.1473+1 G>A mutation in ADAMTS17 that is associated with PLL in Miniature Bull terriers, Lancashire Heelers, and Jack Russell terriers. This ADAMTS17 mutation was identified in PLL-affected dogs from 14 additional breeds. PLL-affected dogs from some breeds (most notably the Shar pei and the Brittany spaniel) did not carry the G1473+1A ADAMTS17 mutation, indicating they must suffer from a genetically distinct form of the condition. We also estimated the frequency of this ADAMTS17 mutation in some of the breeds. Our findings indicate the mutation segregates in a large number of different breeds of dog, many of which are terriers or breeds with terrier co-ancestry, but some of which have more diverse origins. Our results also indicate that the mutation is present at high frequency within most of the breeds in which it segregates. In the miniature bull terrier breed estimates of mutation frequency ranged from 0.27 to 0.39, corresponding to 7.3-15.2% PLL-affected dogs in this breed. We also identified an increased risk of PLL associated with heterozygosity at ADAMTS17, suggesting that carriers carry a low risk of developing PLL.     

DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND IMAGING OF SOFT TISSUES IN THE BOVINE DISTAL LIMB

In this study sonographic images of healthy flexor tendons, digital flexor tendon sheaths, metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints, and proximal and distal interphalangeal joints of the bovine limb were made. Then, synovial cavities in cadavers were filled with the necessary amount of fluid to make the lumina visible sonographically. After injecting 30–40 ml of saline solution into the digital flexor tendon sheath and into the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints, or 8 ml in the proximal interphalangeal joint and 10 ml in the distal interphalangeal joint, the pouches of these synovial cavities were clearly demarcated. Afterwards, the sonographic image of synovial cavities distended by various inflammatory content were described. When the sonographic findings were compared to the findings in clinical patients, centesis and intraoperative procedures, there appeared to be a relationship as to the extent and location of the disorders as well as to the nature of the synovial effusion. Finally, we identified which planes on diseased bovine distal limbs were appropriate for obtaining optimal sonographic images.     

Thoracic high resolution CT using the modified VetMousetrap™ device is a feasible method for diagnosing canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in awake West Highland White Terriers

Canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, progressive interstitial lung disease particularly prevalent in West Highland White Terriers. In the present prospective pilot study, we evaluated the feasibility of modified VetMousetrap? device in high resolution CT to detect idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in West Highland White Terriers. Twelve awake West Highland White Terriers with canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and 24 clinically healthy West Highland White Terriers were scanned using a helical dual slice scanner utilizing VetMousetrap? device without or with minimal chemical restraint with butorphanol. Three evaluators blindly assessed the images for image quality and the presence of canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis related imaging findings such as ground glass opacity and reticular opacities. Additionally, the attenuation of the lung was quantified with ImageJ software using histogram analysis of density over the lung fields. Computed tomography was successfully completed and motion artifact ranked in statistical analysis barely noticeable to mild in all dogs. The agreement between imaging findings and clinical status was very good with overall κ value 0.91 and percentage of agreement of 94%. There was also very good intraobserver (κ_range = 0.79‐0.91) and interobserver agreement (κ = 0.94). Moderate to severe ground glass opacity was present in all affected dogs. In the ImageJ analysis, a significant difference in lung attenuation between the study groups was observed. We conclude that modified VetMousetrap? device is applicable in diagnosing canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in awake West Highland White Terriers avoiding anesthetic risk in these often severely hypoxic patients.     

Genetic parameters for semen production traits in Swiss dairy bulls

Variance components (VC) were estimated for the semen production trait ejaculate volume, sperm concentration and sperm motility in the Swiss cattle breeds Brown Swiss (BS), Original Braunvieh (OB), Holstein (HO), Red‐Factor‐Carrier (RF), Red Holstein (RH), Swiss Fleckvieh (SF) and Simmental (SI). For this purpose, semen production traits from 2,617 bulls with 124,492 records were used. The data were collected in the years 2000–2012. The model for genetic parameter estimation across all breeds included the fixed effects age of bull at collection, year of collection, month of collection, number of collection per bull and day, interval between consecutive collections, semen collector, bull breed as well as a random additive genetic component and a permanent environmental effect. The same model without a fixed breed effect was used to estimate VC and repeatabilities separately for each of the breeds BS, HO, RH, SF and SI. Estimated heritabilities across all breeds were 0.42, 0.25 and 0.09 for ejaculate volume, sperm concentration and sperm motility, respectively. Different heritabilities were estimated for ejaculate volume (0.42; 0.45; 0.49; 0.40; 0.10), sperm concentration (0.34; 0.30; 0.20; 0.07; 0.23) and number of semen portions (0.18; 0.30; 0.04; 0.14; 0.04) in BS, HO, RH, SF and SI breed, respectively. The phenotypic and genetic correlations across all breeds between ejaculate volume and sperm concentration were negative (?0.28; ?0.56). The other correlations across all breeds were positive. The phenotypic and genetic correlations were 0.01 and 0.19 between sperm motility and ejaculate volume, respectively. Between sperm motility and sperm concentration, the phenotypic and genetic correlations were 0.20 and 0.36, respectively. The results are consistent with other analyses and show that genetic improvement through selection is possible in bull semen production traits.     

A histological evaluation of pansteatitis-affected Mozambique tilapia,Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters 1852), from different geographical locations in South Africa

Pansteatitis is the leading cause for the decline in Nile crocodile populations and the sporadic mortality of fish in the Olifants River System, South Africa. To determine the prevalence of this disease in lentic systems, Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, were collected from Lake Loskop, Lake Flag Boshielo, Phalaborwa Barrage and Lake Luphephe-Nwanedi. The former three impoundments are located within the main stem of the Olifants River, while the latter, which is geographically isolated and situated in the Limpopo River System, served as a reference site. Mesenteric adipose, liver, serosa of the swim bladder, gill and the skeletal muscle of fish sampled were examined for gross and microscopic evidence of pansteatitis. Microscopically observed changes were used to statistically compare pansteatitis prevalence between samples and sites. Based on histopathological evaluation, the adipose tissue in the liver, swim bladder serosa and coelom from severely debilitated individuals showed the most significant pathological changes. Lesions indicative of steatitis were observed in fish collected from Lake Loskop (75%), Lake Flag Boshielo (22%) and Lake Luphephe-Nwanedi (15%). Further investigation is warranted to understand the pervasiveness and mechanisms driving pathological changes of pansteatitis at Lake Flag Boshielo, Phalaborwa Barrage and Lake Luphephe-Nwanedi.     

A Reliable Method for Testing the Sensitivity of Botryotinia fuckeliana to Anilinopyrimidines In Vitro

Cyprodinil is a representative of the new class of broad-spectrum anilinopyrimidine fungicides. The effect of cyprodinil on mycelial growth of Botryotinia fuckeliana on solid agar medium depends on the composition of the medium and on the age of the mycelium to be used for the bioassay. An in-vitro method was developed to study the sensitivity distribution to cyprodinil in two wild-type populations of B. fuckeliana from fruits of strawberry with grey mould. To validate the applicability of the method, sensitivities to cyprodinil, mepanipyrim and pyrimethanil were monitored in populations of B. fuckeliana from grapes with grey mould from different vineyards, including one trial vineyard where reduced performance of cyprodinil had been encountered. The monitoring procedure was based on the inhibition of the mycelial growth on a synthetic medium containing L -asparagine (asp-agar) amended with the active ingredients. The mycelium was grown on asp-agar discs, starting from a spore suspension, for 17 h prior to the beginning of the test. This procedure proved to be efficient. The two wild-type populations from different sampling sites showed similar distributions of the sensitivity to cyprodinil. Some isolates from the trial site with reduced performance of anilinopyrimidines showed reduced sensitivities to cyprodinil, mepanipyrim and pyrimethanil, demonstrating cross-resistance between these anilinopyrimidines.