A proposal of interpretive criteria for cefoperazone applicable to bovine mastitis pathogens

The correct assessment of mastitis pathogens for their susceptibility/resistance to cefoperazone is currently hampered by the lack of harmonized test conditions and interpretive criteria. The aim of this study was to provide a proposal for clinical breakpoints of cefoperazone which are applicable to Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Streptococcus uberis from cases of bovine mastitis and better reflect the situation in the bovine udder than breakpoints adopted from human medicine. For this, pharmacological data and clinical efficacy data of the documents submitted for approval of cefoperazone have been revisited. In addition, 1086 bacterial pathogens of the aforementioned six species/groups collected in Germany and in the USA during recent years were tested in parallel for their cefoperazone MICs and the zone diameters using a 75 μg disk. Subsequently, MICs were plotted against zone diameters. Based on the pharmacological data, the clinical efficacy and the microbiological data, a proposal was made for veterinary-specific breakpoints which classify members of the aforementioned species/groups as (a) susceptible to cefoperazone when their MIC is ≤ 2 μg/ml and their zone diameters are ≥ 27 mm (staphylococci or E. coli) or ≥ 21 mm (streptococci), (b) intermediate when their MIC is 4 μg/ml and their zone diameters are 22-26 mm (staphylococci or E. coli) or 16-20mm (streptococci), and (c) resistant when their MIC is ≥ 8 μg/ml and their zone diameters are ≤ 21 mm (staphylococci or E. coli) or ≤ 15 mm (streptococci).     

Local knowledge helps select species for forest restoration in a tropical dry forest of central Veracruz, Mexico

Species for restoration forestry on degraded lands in the tropics are often restricted to a few well-known exotic timber species. This selection frequently leads to failed projects, as local people expect trees to cover a number of uses, not only timber. We studied local knowledge of the usefulness, scarcity and importance for wildlife of native tree species in central Veracruz, Mexico, a region with mainly secondary vegetation and remnants of tropical dry forest. Data were obtained from several workshops, in depth interviews of 40 key informants, field walks with informants, and botanical collections. Analysis included indices for cultural importance, scarcity and wildlife relevance. We documented 76 species in one or more of the categories, from primary, secondary, agroforestry and riparian habitats. Fabaceae was the most important family. All of the species were useful for humans, mainly for rural construction, food, fence posts and fuel. Two-thirds of the species were considered scarce though they were not necessarily rare??some were highly useful, overexploited species with populations insufficient for demand; this category included five of the ten most important species culturally. Also, two-thirds of the tree taxa were considered important for wildlife, especially species of Moraceae. The study shows that the local population is highly aware of the varying functions of trees in the landscape. However, few of the important species are available from regional nurseries. We propose a number of species for restoration forestry, agroforestry systems and enrichment plantings that would be valued by landowners.     

Humic substances and nature-like technologies

Journal of Soils and Sediments -     

Dual Activity of a Viral Lysozyme with High Efficiency for Growth Inhibition of Erwinia amylovora

ABSTRACT The lysozyme from Erwinia amylovora phage PhiEa1h was investigated for its ability to inhibit growth of bacteria and compared with the lysozyme from Escherichia coli phage T4. The assays to measure lysozyme activity included cell lysis and growth inhibition of bacteria. Bacterial strains with kanamycin resistance were not affected by lysates containing the PhiEa1h-enzyme. The titer of Micrococcus luteus but not of Erwinia amylovora was diminished by cell extracts containing T4 lysozyme. In contrast, PhiEa1h lysozyme preferentially inhibited E. amylovora, exceeding the T4 lysozyme activity at least one million-fold. Spherical cells were formed after application to E. amylovora similar to lyz-gene expression in Escherichia coli. Heating of cell extracts destroyed the murami-dase activity, but retained an antibacterial activity. Other plant-associated bacteria related to Erwinia amylovora also were inhibited for growth when cell extracts with PhiEa1h lysozyme were applied to soak pear slices and potato slices. Ooze formation and soft rot caused by E. amylovora or E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica, respectively, were strongly reduced and the PhiEa1h lysozyme was more efficient compared with extracts containing T4 lysozyme.     

Serum cardiac troponin I and cardiac troponin T concentrations in dogs with gastric dilatation-volvulus

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether serum concentrations of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) are increased in dogs with gastric dilatationvolvulus (GDV) and whether concentrations correlate with severity of ECG abnormalities or outcome. DESIGN: Prospective case series. ANIMALS: 85 dogs with GDV. PROCEDURE: Serum cTnl and cTnT concentrations were measured 12 to 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after surgery. Dogs were grouped on the basis of severity of ECG abnormalities and outcome. RESULTS: cTnl and cTnT were detected in serum from 74 (87%) and 43 (51%) dogs, respectively. Concentrations were significantly different among groups when dogs were grouped on the basis of severity of ECG abnormalities (none or mild vs moderate vs severe). Dogs that died (n = 16) had significantly higher serum cTnI (24.9 ng/ml) and cTnT (0.18 ng/ml) concentrations than did dogs that survived (2.05 and < 0.01 ng/ml, respectively). Myocardial cell injury was confirmed at necropsy in 4 dogs with high serum cardiac troponin concentrations. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicate that concentrations of cTnI and cTnT suggestive of myocardial cell injury can commonly be found in serum from dogs with GDV and that serum cardiac troponin concentrations are associated with severity of ECG abnormalities and outcome.     

Determination of donor-type chimerism using a semi-quantitative PCR-based method in a canine model for bone marrow transplantation

Dogs are used in preclinical transplantation models to study methods of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The evaluation of chimerism is of major significance for the investigation of graft-vs.-host (GvH) and host-vs.-graft (HvG) reactions. To detect and quantitate male donor cells after a sex-mismatched (male to female) allogeneic BMT, we established a semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Based on the canine Y-chromosome sex-determining region (Sry) sequence, we designed primer specific for the detection of male DNA and optimised PCR conditions and cycle numbers. Artificial mixtures of male and female leukocytes were used to analyse the sensitivity of the assay. To validate our established method, we determined the percentage of chimerism in three transplanted female dogs. Under optimised conditions, the established PCR assay specifically detected male cells down to 0.01%, which corresponds to 0.1ng of transplanted male DNA. The percentage of chimerism could be quantitated either by agarose gel analysis or Southern blot analysis. Using our assay, we could confirm the percentage of chimerism in blood samples of three transplanted female canines, previously determined by karyotype analysis as 0, 100 and 100%, respectively. The established semi-quantitative PCR assay offers a quick, simple, accurate and sensitive way of evaluating and quantitating the percentage of chimerism in a sex-mismatched canine BMT model.     

THE ROLE OF ULTRASOUND IN THE ASSESSMENT OF LARYNGEAL PARALYSIS IN THE DOG

Forty dogs with clinical signs suggestive of upper respiratory tract disease underwent echolaryngography and laryngoscopy. Laryngoscopy was used as the definitive technique to diagnose laryngeal paralysis. The ultrasound investigation accurately indicated the presence of the paralysis and confirmed the uni- or bilateral nature of the disorder. Findings indicative of laryngeal paralysis included asymmetry or absence of motion of the cuneiform processes (30/30), abnormal arytenoid movement (16/30), paradoxical movement (9/30), caudal displacement of the larynx (2/30) and laryngeal collapse (1/30). Thirty dogs were found to be afflicted with laryngeal paralysis and ten had normal laryngeal motility.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHY OF LARYNGEAL MASSES IN SIX CATS AND ONE DOG

Ultrasonography of laryngeal abnormalities in small animals allows the identification of laryngeal masses because of the resulting distortion of normal structural/anatomical relationships. It also allows fine-needle aspirates to be taken with minimal risk of causing hemorrhage or edema affecting the already narrowed laryngeal lumen. Findings in six cats and one dog with laryngeal abnormalities are described.     

Radiation exposure of the staff during standardised radiography of dogs and cats

The knowledge of the radiation exposure of the staff involved in X-ray examinations is one precondition for an optimisation of radiation protection. Hence the radiation exposure of the staff during X-ray examinations of dogs and cats was investigated in the Clinic for Small Animals. The study includes at least ten measurements for each of thirteen X-ray examinations of a dog and four of a cat. The equivalent doses of eye lens, thyroid, chest, hands, gonads, and lower leg were measured using TLD (LiF:Mg,Cu,P). The maximum values of 44.3 and 48.3 microSv were measured on the eye lens and the thyroid, respectively. The median and mean values of the equivalent doses on the seven measuring positions with the exception of eye lens (6.0 microSv) are lower than 5 microSv per radiograph. More than 95% of the equivalent doses on chest, hands, gonads, and lower leg are smaller than 2 microSv. Particularly eye lenses and thyroid are exposed to measurable doses. Altogether the radiation exposure of the staff is relatively low. Hence a manual fixation of animals is justifiable if the fundamental rules of radiation protection are observed.     

Evaluation of five ELISA test kits for the measurement of antibodies against Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in bovine serum

Five commercially available ELISA tests for the detection of antibodies against Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in bovine serum were evaluated at the individual animal level using sera from 286 paratuberculosis-free and 110 paratuberculosis-infected dairy cattle. Sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of the tests were estimated after determination of the cut-off dtheta by TG-ROC analysis or using the cut-off values recommended by the manufacturers, respectively. When the dtheta cut-off values were applied, the five ELISA tests showed sub-optimal Se and Sp. Adopting the cut-offs recommended by the manufacturers, the Sp of four of the five ELISA increased, two tests reaching Sp > or = 99.0%. Test sensitivity clearly depended on the disease state of the animals examined. Se was significantly higher in clinically diseased than in latently infected dairy cattle. Calculation of the positive and negative predictive values indicated that, depending on the test, a considerable proportion of false positive and false negative results have to be expected. Therefore, the suitability of antibody detection for the diagnosis of paratuberculosis in individual animals is questioned.