Evaluation of the effects of topical tripeptide-copper complex and zinc oxide on open-wound healing in rabbits

In this study the clinical and histopathological effects of topically applied tripeptide-copper complex (TCC) and zinc oxide on open-wound healing in rabbits was evaluated. Eighteen New Zealand rabbits were divided into three groups: TCC, zinc oxide and no treatment. One full thickness wound was created on each side of the dorsal midline in each rabbit. Wound margins were traced on days 0, 7, 14, and 21 and topical TCC and zinc oxide were applied daily for 21 days to each rabbit in the respective treatment groups. The mean unhealed wound area was significantly smaller in the TCC than in the zinc oxide group on day 7, but it was significantly smaller in the TCC group than in to the control group on days 7, 14 and 21. The mean percentage of wound contraction on day 7 was significantly higher in the TCC than in the zinc oxide group; however, it was significantly higher in the TCC group than in the control group on days 7, 14 and 21. Median time for the coverage of the wound bed with granulation tissue was significantly shorter in the TCC group than in the other groups. Filling of the open wound with granulation tissue to skin level was significantly slower in the control group than in the other two groups. Neutrophil counts decreased regardless of the group in parallel with healing, while neovascularization was best observed in the TCC group. The results suggest that TCC is a better choice in the treatment protocols of open wounds in rabbits than zinc oxide.     

A reliable gender diagnostic PCR assay for jojoba (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Simmondsia chinensis</Emphasis> (Link) Schneider)

Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis (Link) Schneider) is an obligate cross-pollinated shrub native to the Sonora desert. The most valuable product of the jojoba seeds is the liquid wax or jojoba oil which is marketed extensively in the cosmetic industry. Differing from the most of the cultivated crop species, jojoba has slow-growing habit, difficulties in the determination of sex at the early seedling stages, a male-biased ratio and low seed yield. In jojoba, the development of molecular strategies for the identification of sexes at early stages has been a priority in plantations and breeding programs. Two previous studies reported two candidate male-specific jojoba DNA markers. However, present study indicated that these markers were not useful in jojoba sex identification. A reliable gender diagnostic marker for jojoba is, therefore, needed. In the present study a novel jojoba male-specific touch-down polymerase chain reaction based DNA marker (JMS900) was reported using a total of 120 individual jojoba plants bulked into 16 samples. This sex specific DNA marker may have considerable theoretical and practical applications in the establishment of jojoba plantation and breeding studies.     

Clinical,virological, imaging and pathological findings in a SARS CoV-2 antibody positive cat

This paper reports a presumptive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in a cat. A cat with respiratory disease living with three individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 showed bilateral ground-glass opacities in the lung on X-ray and computed tomography. The clinical swabs were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, but the serum was positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Interstitial pneumonia and prominent type 2 pneumocyte hyperplasia were noted on histopathology. Respiratory tissues were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA or antigen, but the cat was positive for feline parvovirus DNA. In conclusion, the respiratory disease and associated pathology in this cat could have been due to exposure to SARS-CoV-2.