Detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in goat kid faeces: comparison of a latex agglutination test with three other conventional techniques

Detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts from goat kid faeces: comparison of a latex agglutination test with three other conventional techniques. A quantitative latex agglutination test (QLAT) with monoclonal antibodies for the detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in faeces was compared with 3 other conventional techniques: Heine staining on faecal smears (HS) giving semi-quantitative results (scores from 1 to 5), sucrose flotation on diluted faeces (SF) with results expressed in oocysts/g of faeces (opg), direct ELISA (DE) giving qualitative results. Goat kid unconcentrated faecal samples (234) from 8 farms were processed according to the 4 techniques. Data were analyzed with Win Episcope 1.0 and Testview 1.1 softwares. The oocyst outputs ranged from 100 000 (detection limit for SF) to 200 millions opg (mean: 15.2 millions opg). A very good agreement was recorded between QLAT and HS, SF, DE: Kappa values ranged between 0.82 and 0.90. When considering the samples exhibiting oocysts (or not) as positive (or negative) using both HS and SF (n = 219), the sensitivity and specificity of QLAT were respectively 95.1 and 96.0%. The lack of sensitivity was observed in faeces harboring a few oocysts (< or = 200 000 opg, scores < or = 2) whereas the lack of specificity was only observed in 3 samples originating from the same farm. A significant correlation was calculated between the percentage of agglutination in QLAT and the number of oocysts in SF or scores in HS (Spearman correlation ranging from 0.45 to 0.48, p < 0.001). QLAT is a rapid, simple and reliable tool for routine detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in faeces.     

Heparinised blood ionised calcium concentrations in horses with colic or diarrhoea compared to normal subjects

Our objectives were to 1) establish ionised calcium (ICa), C-terminal PTH and biologically active PTH (intact molecule) concentrations in blood from normal horses, 2) examine the stability of ionised calcium and acid-base values in stored equine heparinised blood and serum and 3) check the applicability of the formulas based on these parameters in certain disease states. Mean +/- s.d. % ionised calcium in heparinised blood of normal Warmbloods was 51 +/- 2.7 (n = 20) of total calcium, range 1.45-1.75 mmol/l (n = 15) at Michigan State University and 1.43-1.69 mmol/l (n = 20) at Utrecht University. Mean +/- s.d. EDTA plasma concentration for intact +/PTH in normal horses measured 0.6 +/- 0.3 pmol/l (n = 11). Both mean serum and the heparinised blood ionised calcium concentrations changed (not significantly) after 102 h storage at room temperature. Six cycles of freezing and thawing did not affect serum ionised calcium concentration significantly. Ionised calcium concentration and pH in heparinised blood of 20 normal Warmbloods were used to calculate the regression equation for the prediction of the adjusted ionised calcium concentration to a pH of 7.4. The linear regression equation found was: adjusted plasma ICa at pH 7.4 mmol/l = -6.4570 + 0.8739 x (measured pH) + 0.9944 x (measured ICa mmol/l). By means of this formula, mean adjusted ionised calcium concentration in heparinised blood calculated was 100% of the actual value given by the analyser in the normal horses. When using this formula in horses with colic or diarrhoea, mean adjusted ionised calcium concentration was underestimated by 0.2 and 0.3%, respectively. Furthermore, to adjust the measured ionised calcium concentration in heparinised blood to a pH of 7.4 in healthy as well as in 2 groups of diseased horses 2 formulas with a good prediction are now available.     

Definition of the flight period of Lasioderma serricorne (F.) in stored tobacco

A 4-year (1996–99) survey of the biology of L. serricorne (F) (Coleoptera, Anobiidae) on stored tobacco has taken place in Thessaloniki, northern Greece. For the trapping of the adults, pheromone ('New Serrico' and 'Black Stripe Moth') as well as electric (black light) traps were used. The first generation adults emerging from larvae hibernating inside the tobacco bales appeared flying on the 17/5, 16/5, 28/4, and 30/4 of the years 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999, respectively. In parallel observations, adults inside the bales were found on the 14/5, 12/5, 23/4, and 26/4 of the above-mentioned years, respectively. Termination of flights, in all the years concerned, took place during October or November, while the last flights of November were recorded in temperatures of about 13°C.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dittrichia viscosa</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rubus ulmifolius</Emphasis> as reservoirs of aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) and the role of certain Coccinellid species

The role of the self-sown shrubsDittrichia viscosa (L.) W. Greuter andRubus ulmifolius Schott as reservoirs of aphid parasitoids was investigated. In the field studies conducted,D. viscosa grew adjacent to crops of durum wheat and barley andR. ulmifolius grew adjacent to cotton. The relative abundance of the parasitoids of(a) Capitophorus inulae (Passerini) onD. viscosa, (b) Rhopalosiphum padi (Linnaeus) on durum wheat and barley,(c) Aphis ruborum (Börner) onR. ulmifolius, and(d) Aphis gossypii Glover on cotton in various parts of Greece, was assessed during the years 1996–2000. In 2000, the fluctuation of parasitization of the above four aphid species was recorded and the action of the aphidophagous predators of the family Coccinellidae was studied. It was observed thatAphidius matricariae Haliday predominated onC. inulae andR. padi in all sampling cases. In contrast,Lysiphlebus fabarum (Marshall) was the dominant species parasitizingA. ruborum onR. ulmifolius andA. gossypii on cotton in Thessaly (central Greece) and Macedonia (northern Greece), whereasLysiphlebus confusus Tremblay et Eady andBinodoxys acalephae (Marshall) were the dominant parasitoid species in Thrace (northern Greece).Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus was the most abundant coccinellid species on durum wheat, whereasAdonia variegata (Goeze) predominated on cotton. However, coccinellid individuals were scarce on bothD. viscosa andR. ulmifolius. The present study indicated that these two shrubs can be regarded as useful reservoirs of aphid parasitoids.     

Serologic and genetic characterization of North American H3N2 swine influenza A viruses

The H3N2 subtype of influenza A viruses isolated from pigs in the United States and Canada has shown both genetic and antigenic diversity. The objective of this study was to determine the serologic and genetic characteristics of contemporary strains of these viruses. Genetic analysis of 18 reference strains and 8 selected strains demonstrated differences in 1% to 9% of the nucleotides of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene. Phylogenetic analysis of the HA gene revealed 3 genetic clusters, as well as divergence of cluster III viruses from a cluster III prototype virus (A/Swine/Illinois/21587/99). By means of 1-way cross-hemagglutination inhibition with antiserum against 5 field isolates and 3 vaccine viruses, most of 97 isolates tested could be placed in 1 of 3 serogroups. The several isolates that did not react with any antiserum were in genetic cluster III, which suggests that continuous antigenic drift in cluster III may have resulted in virus variants. The efficacy of commercial vaccines against these virus variants should be evaluated with vaccination and challenge studies.     

Pseudomonas syringae pv. aesculi associated with horse chestnut bleeding canker in Germany

Bacteria were isolated from necrotic lesions on a horse chestnut tree (Aesculus hippocastanum) with bleeding canker in Hamburg, Germany. Sequencing of the rDNA-ITS region revealed great similarity to pathovars of Pseudomonas syringae. Pseudomonas syringae pv. aesculi was identified by sequence homology of the gyrase B gene. This is the first report of P. syringae pv. aesculi in Germany. Phytophthora was not detected.     

Surgical Treatment of Male Dogs With Urinary Incontinence Due to Urethral Sphincter Mechanism Incompetence

A modified technique for fixation of the deferent ducts to the abdominal wall as a therapy for urinary incontinence caused by urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (USMI) in male dogs is described, and the results in seven dogs are reported. The goal of this treatment was to achieve an effect similar to colposuspension in female dogs with USMI. An increase in urethral length of an average of 28 mm was obtained (range, 5 to 50 mm, measured radiographically). Preoperatively, the neck of the bladder was located intrapelvically in five of seven dogs. Postoperatively, the neck of the bladder was located intra-abdominally, near the caudo-ventral abdominal wall, in all dogs. After a follow-up period of 12 to 49 months, the response to surgery, based on lack of or decrease of incontinence, was excellent in three dogs, good in another three, and poor in one dog.     

Die Kapillarisierung des M. pectoralis der Pute (Meleagris galloopavo) vom Schlupf bis zum 280. Lebenstag

The capillarization of the M. pectoralis was examined in the turkey as it changed with age. Examined was the density of the muscles fibers (per mm2), the density of the capillaries (per mm2) and the quotient muscle fibers/capillaries. In accordance with the sequence of the original data four functions of organismic growth (slightly altered) were utilized for the approximation of the data for descending amounts: Pütter/Bertalanffy (1920, 1934); Richards (1959); Janoschek enlarged after Sager (1980) and Richards enlarged after Sager (1980). The approximations were made via nonlinear regressions, whereby the sum of the error amounts and the sums of the error squares served as criteria of quality. The results including the deduced initial and end amounts are combined in tables which also contain the parameter of the way the computations were conducted.     

Mild to moderate overweight in dogs: is there an impact on routine hematological and biochemical profiles,echocardiographic parameters and cardiac autonomic modulation?

Veterinary Research Communications - Obesity is considered the most common nutritional disease of dogs. Even though overt obesity is more likely to impair health, even moderately overweight dogs...