Eradication of over-wintering mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha) in apple buds by nitrogen-containing surfactants

The eradicant activities of 24 nitrogen-containing preparations, comprising primary, secondary or tertiary amines, amine acetates, diamines, amine oxides or quaternary ammonium salts, were assessed in trials with potted dormant apple rootstocks, heavily infected with the powdery mildew fungus Podosphaera leucotricha. The surfactants consisted of mixtures in which C₁₂/C₁₄ or C₁₆/C₁₈ alkyl or alkenyl compounds predominated. Of the amine acetates (at 50g litre^?1), only the formulation containing C₁₂/C₁₄ primary amine acctates was considered worthy of further evaluation. Some amine oxides and quaternary ammonium compounds (at 35 g litre^?1) were good eradicants and were as effective as ‘PP222’ a (nonylphenol-ethoxylate mixture) which was included for comparison. All the compounds showing good activity contained one C₁₂/C₁₄ alkyl group whereas C₁₆/C₁₈ compounds, whether saturated or unsaturated, were relatively inactive. In a field trial, C₁₂/C₁₄ (dimethyl) amine oxide, C₁₂/C₁₄bis (2-hydroxyethyl) amine oxide, and C₁₂/C₁₄ amine acetate (35 g litre^?1) greatly reduced the amount of primary mildew on trees that were previously heavily infected, but there were signs that the fruit yield was reduced.     

Using 3D animations to teach intracellular signal transduction mechanisms: taking the arrows out of cells

Traditional methods of teaching intracellular biological processes and pathways use figures or flowcharts with the names of molecules linked with arrows. Many veterinary students, presented with such material, simply memorize the names or chemical structures of the molecules and are then likely to forget the material once the examination is completed. To address this problem, the authors designed, created, and field-tested new teaching media that incorporate realistic three-dimensional (3D) animations depicting the dynamic changes that occur in intracellular molecules during cellular activation. Testing found that veterinary students taught using traditional teaching media (e.g., lectures, handouts, textbooks) are proficient in memorizing the names and order of intracellular molecules but unable to appreciate the interactions between these elements or their spatial relationships within cells. In contrast, more than 90% of veterinary students taught using 3D animations not only recall the facts about the intracellular elements but also develop accurate mental images of the interactions among these molecules and their spatial relationships. These findings strongly suggest that the comprehension of complex biological processes by veterinary students can be enhanced by the use of dynamic 3D depictions of these processes in the classroom.     

Evaluation of a point-of-care immunodot assay for predicting results of allergen-specific intradermal and immunoglobulin E serological tests

Immunotherapy to prevent recurrence of clinical signs of atopic dermatitis (AD) is based on intradermal or serological tests that assist in identifying allergen-specific immunoglobulin E hypersensitivities. Unfortunately, the results of such tests can be negatively influenced by several factors, which include the age of the patients, the season of testing and the administration of anti-allergic drugs. Screening to predict when these expensive tests will be useful would benefit owners of dogs with AD. The objectives of this study were to determine whether a point-of-care allergen-specific immunodot assay (Allercept E-Screen, Heska Corp., Ft Collins, CO, USA) could predict results of either intradermal or Allercept full panel serological tests in atopic dogs. Thirty dogs living in the south-eastern USA were diagnosed with AD in accordance with current standards. Allergen-specific intradermal, serological and E-Screen tests were performed in all subjects. For flea, house dust mite and pollen allergens altogether, results of the E-Screen assay agreed with those of intradermal and serological tests in 26/30 dogs (87%) and 25/30 dogs (83%), respectively. In this group of dogs, the probabilities of obtaining intradermal or serological tests positive for these allergens were 70 and 67%, respectively. If either skin or serum tests were performed only in dogs with positive E-Screen tests, the probability of obtaining positive results would be increased from 70 to 95% and from 67 to 90%, respectively. In this population of dogs with AD, results of the E-Screen point-of-care immunodot assay was found to often agree with those of allergen-specific intradermal or Allercept tests for selected allergen groups.     

Cerebellar cortical abiotrophy in Wiltshire sheep

AIM: To investigate the nature of a neurological disease in Wiltshire sheep. METHODS: Three affected lambs were examined, humanely killed and necropsied. Selected neurological tissues were examined by light and electron microscopy. RESULTS: Primary neurological lesions were confined to the cerebellum and were characterised by loss of Purkinje cells and the presence of large hypertrophied dendrites of surviving Purkinje cells. These contained stacks of smooth endoplasmic reticulum. There was hyperplasia and cell swelling of Bergmann glia. Mild Wallerian-type degeneration affected white matter in the cerebellum and spinal cord. CONCLUSION: The cerebellar lesions were of a degenerative and reactive rather than hypoplastic nature. These, and the history, suggest a genetic cause with putative inheritance as an autosomal recessive trait. Accordingly, the disorder is described as a cerebellar abiotrophy.     

Oesophageal strictures in cats associated with doxycycline therapy

Four cases of oesophageal stricture subsequent to doxycycline administration are reported. All cases were young to middle age (median age 3 years; range 1-7 years), and either domestic shorthair or domestic longhair breed. In all cases the predominant clinical sign was regurgitation, which developed at variable times after doxycycline administration. In all cases the reason for doxycycline use was treatment or prophylaxis of suspected infections (Mycoplasma haemofelis, Chlamydophila felis or Bordetella bronchiseptica), and the duration of therapy was variable. In one case the stricture was definitively diagnosed at post mortem examination, in the three other cases, definitive diagnosis was by endoscopy. Balloon dilation was successful in the three cases that were treated. This is the largest case series, to date, of oesophageal disease in cats associated with doxycycline administration. Caution should be exercised when administering oral medication to cats, especially doxycycline, and should be accompanied either by a water or food swallow.