Isolation of Babesia spp. from asymptomatic human beings

Babesiosis is a worldwide tick-borne protozoan disease of a variety of wild and domestic animals. For decades, various babesia strains were considered host-specific. However, babesiosis has been diagnosed as the cause of acute illness in 13 human beings in recent years, three of whom died. Studies of babesiosis in domestic animals indicate that for every clinically demonstrable case, there are hundreds of cases of latent infection. In an effort to determine if human babesia infections might be present in Mexico, we selected as our testing ground an endemic rural area along the Gulf Coast where continuous epizootics of equine, bovine, ovine and canine babesiosis were known to occur. Of the 101 individuals examined serologically by the indirect hemagglutination (IHA) test using Babesia canis as antigen, 38 reacted at titers from 1 : 10 to 1 : 80. Blood from these reactors was injected into splenectomized hamsters. Hamsters inoculated with blood from three of the individuals showed babesia in their peripheral blood. The growth of the organism was established by subpassages into additional hamsters. The persons from whom the organisms were isolated were asymptomatic for babesiosis. None of the 29 individuals residing in Mexico City, which represented the urban population in the survey, reacted in the IHA test. This is the first documented finding of the latent form of human babesiosis.     

A Hierarchical Perspective to Woody Plant Encroachment for Conservation of Prairie-Chickens

Encroachment of Great Plains grasslands by fire-sensitive woody plants is a large-scale, regional process that fragments grassland landscapes. Using prairie grouse (Tympanuchus spp.) of conservation concern, we apply hierarchy theory to demonstrate how regional processes constrain lower-level processes and reduce the success of local management. For example, fire and grazing management may be locally important to conservation, but the application of fire and grazing disturbances rarely cause irreversible fragmentation of grasslands in the Great Plains. These disturbance processes cause short-term alterations in vegetation conditions that can be positive or negative, but from a long-term perspective fire maintains large tracts of continuous rangelands by limiting woody plant encroachment. Conservation efforts for prairie grouse should be focused on landscape processes that contribute to landscape fragmentation, such as increased dominance of trees or conversion to other land uses. In fact, reliance on local management (e.g., maintaining vegetation structure) to alter prairie grouse vital rates is less important to grouse population persistence given contemporary landscape level changes. Changing grass height, litter depth, or increasing the cover of forbs may impact a few remaining prairie-chickens, but it will not create useable space at a scale relevant to the historic conditions that existed before land conversion and fire suppression.     

Molecular characterization of equine rotaviruses circulating in Argentinean foals during a 17-year surveillance period (1992-2008)

P[12]G3 and P[12]G14 equine rotaviruses (ERVs) are epidemiologically important in horses. In Argentina, the prevalent ERV strains have been historically P[12]G3. The aim of this study was the detection and characterization of ERV strains circulating in foals in Argentina during a 17-year study (1992-2008). Additionally, the gene sequences of VP7, VP4 and NSP4 encoding genes of representative Argentinean ERV strains were determined and phylogenetic analyses were performed to elucidate the evolutionary relationships of the ERV strains in Argentina. ERVs were detected in 165 (21%) out of 771 diarrheic stool samples, which corresponded to 45 (39%) of 116 outbreaks from the surveyed thoroughbred horse farms. From the positive cases, 51% (n=23) were G3, 33% (n=15) were G14, 4% (n=2) represented a G3+G14 mixed infection and 11% (n=5) of the cases could not be characterized. G3 ERV was detected during the entire period, while G14 ERV was first detected in 2000 and increased its incidence specially in 2006 and 2007. All the analyzed strains belonged to the VP4 P[12] genotype, except for one G3 case which belonged to the P[3] genotype, constituting the first report of a P[3]G3 ERV strain. Phylogenetic analysis of VP7 protein revealed that the G3 Argentinean ERV strains clustered with ERVs from Ireland, while the G14 Argentinean ERV strains formed a distinct cluster within the G14 genotype. The VP4 of the P[12] ERV strains clustered with P[12] strains from Ireland and France. The NSP4 of the Argentinean ERV strains clustered with the NSP4 genotype E12, along with those of guanaco and bovine strains from Argentina, suggesting the a close evolutionary relationship among these Argentinean strains. The results of this study showed changes in the incidence of G3 and G14 during the studied period. The increase in the frequency of G14 ERV, not included in the vaccine, in the second half of the period, may have implications for vaccine design.     

Oral vaccination of chickens with the V4 strain of Newcastle disease virus. Cooked and raw white rice as a vehicle

Summary Uncooked white rice and cooked white rice were tested as vehicles for the V4 strain of oral Newcastle disease vaccine. The results of feeding experiments were evaluated by the measurement of haemagglutination inhibition antibodies against Newcastle disease virus. Little of the virus applied to uncooked white rice could be recovered, even immediately after mixing, whereas when the virus was applied to cooked white rice most of it could be recovered. In 4 separate experiments, chickens failed to respond serologically to vaccine supplied on uncooked white rice. In all of 4 experiments with cooked white rice, there were serological responses in vaccinated chickens, from 45% to 100% of the chickens developing titres sufficiently high to indicate protection against challenge with virulent virus. Development of haemagglutination inhibition antibodies in some control chickens indicated the ability of the vaccine virus for lateral spread or persistence in the environment.

---

Vacunacion Oral De Pollos Con La Cepa V4 Del Virus De La Enfermedad De Newcastle Utilizando Como Vehiculo Arroz Blanco Cocinado Y No Cocinado

Resumen Se utilizo arroz blanco sin cocinar y cocinado como vehículo para la vacuna oral con la cepa V4 de la enfermedad de Newcastle. Los resultados de los experimentos fueron evaluados mediante la determinación de los anticuerpos de inhibición-hemaglutinación contra el virus de la enfermedad de Newcastle. Poca cantidad del virus de la enfermedad de Newcastle pudo recuperarse en el arroz crudo, incluso inmediatamente despues de revolverlo, mientras que la mayoría del virus pudo recuperarse del arroz cocinado. En 4 experimentos separados, los pollos no respondieron serológicamente a la vacuna aplicada en arroz blanco crudo. En los 4 experimentos con arroz cocinado, se detectaron respuestas serológicas en los pollos vacunados; 45% a 100% de los pollos desarrollaron títulos suficientes como para resistir la descarga de virus virulento. El desarrollo de anticuerpos de inhibición-hemaglutinación en algunos de los pollos controles indicó la capacidad del virus vacunal para dispersarse lateralmente y persistir en el ambiente.

---

Vaccination Par Voie Orale De Poulets Avec La Souche V4 Du Virus De La Maladie De Newcastle Avec Comme Support Du Riz Blanc Cuit Et Du Riz Blanc Cru

Résumé Du riz blanc crû et du riz blanc cuit ont été testés en tant que supports de la souche de virus V4 du vaccin contre la maladie de Newcastle. Les résultats de ces expériences d'alimentation ont été évalués par la mesure des anticorps d'inhibition de l'hémagglutination du virus de la maladie de Newcastle.Seule une petite quantité du virus mélangé dans le riz blanc crû a pu être récupérée même immédiatement après le mélange. Par contre la majeur partie du virus a pu être récupérée lorsqu'il s'agissait du riz blanc cuit.Dans 4 expériences séparées, ils n'y avait pas de réponses sérologiques chez les poulets recevant du vaccin ajouté au riz blanc crû. Dans toutes les 4 expériences avec du riz blanc cuit, les réponses sérologiques ont été positives chez les poulets vaccines, 45p. 100 à 100p. 100 des poulets développant des titres suffisamment élevés pour démontrer une protection contre l'épreuve avec du virus virulent. Le développement des anticorps d'inhibition de l'hémagglutination chez quelques poulets témoins a montré la capacité de diffusion latérale ou la persistance dans l'environnement du virus.

     

IOHEXOL AND IOPAMIDOL MYELOGRAPHY IN THE DOG: A CLINICAL TRIAL COMPARING ADVERSE EFFECTS AND MYELOGRAPHIC QUALITY

In a blind clinical trial, adverse effects after iohexol and iopamidol myelography were evaluated in 151 dogs. Eighty-one dogs were given iohexol (240 mgI/ml) and 70 dogs were given iopamidol (200 mgI/ml) by pre-determined assignment. Each dog was evaluated postmyelographically for seizures, hyperthermia, prolonged recovery from anesthesia and intensification of pre-existing neural signs. Myelographic quality was evaluated with a subjective scoring method. In comparing iohexol and iopamidol groups, there was not a statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse effects or in myelographic quality. Iopamidol and iohexol appeared to be equally efficacious for routine canine myelography.     

Skin and coat traits in sheep in Brazil and their relation with heat tolerance

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare physical parameters in groups of sheep with different phenotypic characteristics in the Centre-west region of Brazil. Five groups of sheep, with nine animals per group, were selected, three groups of Santa Inês animals with different coat colours (white, brown and black), one group with crossbred animals (Santa Inês × Bergamasca) and one group with animals of the Bergamasca breed. The following traits were evaluated: coat thickness, number and length of hair, pigmentation level in the coat and the skin as well as the percentage area of sweats glands in the skin tissue, carried out by histological analysis. The number of hairs and the area of sweats glands were not significantly different between the evaluated groups. The Bergamasca breed showed low pigmentation of the skin and long hairs. The levels of pigmentation of the hair and of the skin were highly correlated. Between the Santa Inês groups, the group with white hair showed the better parameters for heat adaptation, while the brown hair group showed the lower heat adaptation when compared with another hair breed groups.