Acupuncture Diagnosis in Equine Stifle Disease

The stifle is a large and complex joint in quadrupeds, including horses, making the diagnosis of stifle diseases a challenge for the clinician. The detection of “stifle syndrome” during acupuncture examination of the equine stifle may be useful for diagnosis of stifle diseases in horses. The aim of the present study was to describe stifle syndrome diagnosis in horses. From 2001 through 2012, 810 athletic horses involved in different disciplines were examined using the technique of acupuncture diagnosis. Stifle syndrome was suspected when the following points were reactive: the sacral point suggestive of stifle disease located at the sacral origin of the biceps femoris muscle, bladder (BL)-20, BL-21, and stomach (ST)-30, together with the three local points in the muscle groove of the posterolateral aspect of the thigh. The diagnostic protocol included radiography and/or ultrasonography in certain cases. The horses were evaluated because of reduced athletic performance, routine or prepurchase examination, hind limb lameness, refusal to jump, inappetence, upward fixation of the patella, thoracolumbar spine or sacroiliac pain, suspensory lesion, and front hoof problems, and 86 (9.4%) were diagnosed with stifle syndrome. The sacral acupuncture point suggestive of stifle syndrome correlated with BL-21, local stifle points, gall bladder (GB)-27, spleen-13, BL-23, BL-52, BL-26, and/or GB-25, ST-30, BL-54 (P < .0001), and BL-20 (P = .003). Twenty-two (25.6%) of the 86 horses with stifle syndrome underwent ultrasonography and/or radiography, and lesions were detected in 21. In conclusion, acupuncture for diagnosis of stifle disease may be considered a diagnostic method to be included in routine clinical examination of horses, and its reproducibility shall be investigated in further studies.     

Effects of pneumoperitoneum and of an alveolar recruitment maneuver followed by positive end-expiratory pressure on cardiopulmonary function in sheep anesthetized with isoflurane–fentanyl

Objective

To investigate the effects of pneumoperitoneum alone or combined with an alveolar recruitment maneuver (ARM) followed by positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on cardiopulmonary function in sheep.

Participation of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) in the epidemiology of canine visceral leishmaniasis

The vectorial competence of the tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus is discussed in relation to the epidemiology of canine visceral leishmaniasis, taking into account its strict association with dogs and the low indices of natural infection presented by its known vector, the phlebotomine sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis. In order to evaluate natural infection by Leishmania chagasi and the infectivity of these parasites in the tick, 39 specimens (6 females, 11 males and 22 nymphs) of R. sanguineus were removed from 21 dogs showing diverse symptoms of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL). Six ticks (15.4%) gave positive results for the genus Leishmania using the PCR technique. To determine the infectivity of the parasites, 36 hamsters were inoculated orally and peritoneally with macerates of ticks removed from nine dogs symptomatic for visceral leishmaniasis. After 6 months the hamsters were sacrificed and necropsied. Serum was removed for IFAT, as well as spleen and liver fragments to make imprint smears and for PCR. Eight (88.9%) of these dogs presented ticks that were infective for 14 hamsters (41.2%), 12 (85.7%) of them infected peritoneally and two (14.3%) orally. PCR revealed 27 smears (40.9%) to be positive, 20 (62.5%) of them infected peritoneally and seven (20.6%) orally. IFAT showed 14 positive animals (41.2%). Based on these findings, we suggest that the vectorial capacity of R. sanguineus for L. chagasi should be evaluated further, opening new perspectives in the epidemiology of ZVL.     

Effect of stocking rate and supplementation on performance of dairy cows grazing native grassland in small-scale systems in the highlands of central Mexico

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The use and management of native grassland for dairy production during the rainy season was studied on two small-scale dairy farms in the highlands of...     

Seasonal and dietary effects on Vitamin D deficiencies detected in wild boar from mid‐western Spain

Vitamin D (VitD) is involved in important mammalian physiological mechanisms, such as Ca–P metabolism, bone development and immunological response. VitD deficiencies are frequently detected in domestic animals and related to various health problems (e.g., rickets, bone deformation). However, knowledge about the status of VitD in wildlife species, such as the wild boar, is scarce. The aims of this work were to explore VitD status in wild boar populations from mid‐western Spain and to elucidate the influence of daylight exposure and food supplementation in levels of VitD. Serum concentration of VitD (measured as 25‐hydroxivitaminD) was assessed in 276 wild boar from 27 game estates located in mid‐western Spain using a commercial ELISA kit. In 19 out of 27 estates, the staff supplied a specific VitD‐enriched food (2,000 UI/Kg) ad libitum throughout the year, while in the remaining estates (8), no food was supplied. Blood samples were extracted from hunted animals (198) between October and February of hunting seasons 2016/2017 and 2017/2018, and from live wild boar (78) that were captured, sampled and released (March–September of 2017). The percentage of animals with VitD deficiency (<20 ng/ml), VitD insufficiency (20–30 ng/ml) and VitD sufficiency (>30 ng/ml) was estimated, and the relationship of these levels to factors like sex, age and season was assessed using chi‐square tests. Furthermore, associations between daylight exposure and supplemental food with VitD levels were explored using linear models. Of the studied wild boar population, 82.2% showed a VitD deficiency or insufficiency. VitD deficiencies were more frequent in animals sampled in winter and spring. Furthermore, levels of VitD positively correlated with daylight exposure and supplemental food intake. Ad libitum supplementation with VitD‐enriched food was insufficient to prevent VitD deficiencies in wild boar from November to April, probably because food consumption is lower during this period.     

Expression of 14-3-3 σ protein in normal and neoplastic canine mammary gland

14-3-3 σ protein is a negative cell cycle regulator, with both reduced and elevated levels associated with cancer in humans. This study assessed the expression of this protein in canine mammary tissues using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. 14-3-3 σ was detected in 97% of the mammary tissue samples examined and was found in both myoepithelial (MECs) and epithelial (ECs) cells. Expression levels were elevated and reduced in neoplastic ECs and MECs, respectively (P < 0.001). Intense expression of 14-3-3 σ was detected in neoplastic ECs infiltrating blood vessels and lymph nodes and suggests a possible role for this protein in the malignant transformation of mammary neoplasms. Moreover, double immunostaining for 14-3-3 σ and the MEC – specific marker p63, confirmed that 14-3-3 σ is a highly sensitive marker of MECs since all p63 – positive cells were also positive for 14-3-3 σ. However, this protein is not exclusive to MECs as ECs also labelled positively.     

Effect of Breeding Activity on the Microflora of the External Genitalia and in the Semen of Stallions,and the Relationship Between Micro‐organisms on the Skin and on the External Genitalia

A possible role of breeding activities in the composition of the microbial population in stallions' external genitalia (EG) and the relationship between micro‐organisms colonizing the skin of the abdomen and the ones colonizing the EG have not been studied. In experiment 1, EG microbiological samples were collected from 41 stallions used for both natural cover and semen collection (BST) and from 18 non‐breeding stallions (NBST). A higher (p < 0.05) frequency of isolation of potentially pathogenic species was found for BST. Age did not influence number of micro‐organism species isolated both in BST and NBST. In experiment 2, the microbial content of the EG and semen was compared in 23 BST. Most micro‐organisms isolated from the EG were present in semen, albeit with a numerically lower prevalence. In 7 stallions, six microbial species isolated from semen were absent from the EG cultures, suggesting contamination by the operator. In experiment 3, a numerically higher number of micro‐organism species was isolated from the EG of 31 stallions, than from their skin of the ventral abdomen in contact with the penis or from the skin of the thorax. With the sole exception of Escherichia coli, potentially pathogenic bacteria were only isolated from the EG but not from the skin. Results suggest that breeding activity increased the number of species colonizing the EG; most species isolated from the EG were also found in semen even if with a lower frequency, and additional semen contamination seemed to occur during its manipulation. Many micro‐organism species of the skin were also isolated from the penis, but independently of being or not in contact with the penis, skin did not seem to provide an adequate environment for the growth of potentially pathogenic bacteria that were isolated from EG, with the sole exception for E. coli.     

Herbage intake of dairy cows in mixed sequential grazing with breeding ewes as followers

This study aimed to evaluate the hypothesis that mixed sequential grazing of dairy cows and breeding ewes is beneficial. During the seasons of spring–summer 2013 and autumn–winter 2013–2014, 12 (spring–summer) and 16 (autumn–winter) Holstein Friesian cows and 24 gestating (spring–summer) and lactating (autumn–winter) Pelibuey ewes grazed on six (spring–summer) and nine (autumn–winter) paddocks of alfalfa and orchard grass mixed pastures. The treatments “single species cow grazing” (CowG) and “mixed sequential grazing with ewes as followers of cows” (MixG) were evaluated, under a completely randomized design with two replicates per paddock. Herbage mass on offer (HO) and residual herbage mass (RH) were estimated by cutting samples. The estimate of herbage intake (HI) of cows was based on the use of internal and external markers; the apparent HI of ewes was calculated as the difference between HO (RH of cows) and RH. Even though HO was higher in CowG, the HI of cows was higher in MixG during spring–summer and similar in both treatments during autumn–winter, implying that in MixG the effects on the cows HI of higher alfalfa proportion and herbage accumulation rate evolving from lower residual herbage mass in the previous cycle counteracted that of a higher HO in CowG. The HI of ewes was sufficient to enable satisfactory performance as breeding ewes. Thus, the benefits of mixed sequential grazing arose from higher herbage accumulation, positive changes in botanical composition, and the achievement of sheep production without negative effects on the herbage intake of cows.     

Laboratory characterization of firebrands involved in spot fires

• Introduction  

Wildfires are considered the most important disturbance in the Mediterranean Basin, and some are propagated over long distances due to lift-off and ignition of firebrands.     

Mitochondrial damage as an early event of monensin-induced cell injury in cultured fibroblasts L929

The present study was designed to identify, submicroscopically, the primary organelle or target structure for monensin in cultured murine fibroblasts L929. In addition, the effect of the drug on cell size and surface membranes of the cells were analysed; cellular proliferation, collagen secretion, and necrosis and apoptosis were re-evaluated. At the lowest concentration of monensin the foremost ultrastructural alteration occurred in the mitochondria, characterized by increased matrix density with disorganized and less distinct crystae. Incubation with monensin at higher concentrations resulted in severe mitochondrial damage and marked dilatation of the Golgi apparatus and rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae. Fibroblasts exposed to higher concentrations of monensin were enlarged with decreased number of filopodia and hollows in the surface membrane. Moreover, monensin inhibited the cell proliferation, increased immunohistochemical positiveness for collagen type I in a dose-dependent manner, and, at high concentrations, caused cell necrosis whereas apoptosis was not induced. Taken together, these results show that monensin induces early mitochondrial damage, possibly causing an energy deficit that led to inhibition of fibroblasts proliferation and accumulation of collagen causing dilatation of Golgi apparatus and rough endoplasmic reticulum. Moreover, the mitochondrial damage would also explain the monensin-induced necrosis.