Resolution of generalized dermatophytosis without treatment in dogs.

Natural resolution of generalized dermatophytosis reportedly is common in large-animal species. In dogs with generalized dermatophytosis, antifungal treatment usually is prescribed, because the prevalence of natural resolution of dermatophytosis in dogs is not known. Five dogs, 6 to 18 months old, were diagnosed as having generalized dermatophytosis. Each dog was treated with an inert substance given orally with food, once daily. Signs of disease resolved in 3 of the dogs after 4 to 8 weeks of treatment with the inert substance. Two dogs did not improve, so treatment with ketoconazole was initiated. Resolution was achieved in these 2 dogs after 6 weeks of treatment with ketoconazole.     

A novel treatment for dynamic laryngeal collapse associated with poll flexion: the modified checkrein

Reasons for performing the study: Dynamic laryngeal collapse (DLC) associated with poll flexion is a performance limiting dynamic upper airway disorder commonly diagnosed in Coldblooded trotters. An inspiratory obstruction occurs when affected horses are driven with tension on the reins, inducing poll flexion. To date, surgical treatment and conservative management have failed to improve racing performance in affected horses. Objectives: To test the efficacy of an external device, the modified checkrein, in limiting poll flexion, diminishing laryngeal collapse and improving airway mechanics when horses are driven on a treadmill with tension on the reins and test the hypothesis that the modified checkrein will limit poll flexion thereby improving endoscopic appearance of the larynx and reduce airway obstruction in harness racehorses affected with DLC. Methods: Fourteen Norwegian Coldblooded trotter (NCT) racehorses previously diagnosed with DLC associated with poll flexion exercised on a high‐speed treadmill at speeds that resulted in heart rate >200 beats/min. Upper airway videoendoscopy recordings, tracheal pressures and video recordings of the head and neck position were collected while horses exercised with the conventional checkrein on Day 1 and the modified checkrein on Day 2. Results: The modified checkrein successfully limited poll flexion as measured by no change in head position parameters between phases of no rein tension and phases of rein tension. Endoscopic scores were significantly improved (arytenoids cartilage collapse P<0.0001; vocal fold collapse P<0.0001) and tracheal peak inspiratory pressures were significantly less negative (P = 0.0162) when horses were fitted with the modified checkrein compared to the conventional checkrein. Conclusions and potential relevance: The modified checkrein successfully limited poll flexion and also prevented upper airway obstruction in NCT horses affected with DLC associated with poll flexion. The modified checkrein seems promising in offering a method of conservative management in harness racehorses affected with this disorder.     

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous antegrade hydropropulsion to relieve ureteral obstruction in a pet guinea pig (Cavia porcellus)

Severe hydroureter and hydronephrosis secondary to ureteral obstruction by calculus were present in a guinea pig. A palliative ultrasound-guided percutaneous antegrade hydropropulsion was performed under general anesthesia to relieve the ureteral obstruction and the associated clinical signs. We describe the technique and the considerations for its potential application in similar cases.     

Outbreak of cryptosporidiosis among veterinary students

In January 2007, six veterinary students became infected with Cryptosporidium species, and records indicated that another student had been diagnosed in November 2006. It was established that the seven students had worked with cattle from the same farm. Microbiological tests indicated that they were infected with Cryptosporidium parvum. Subtyping by sequence analysis indicated a common source of infection for five of the students, but there was insufficient material to type the other two samples. Investigations indicated that the outbreak was caused by a lapse in hygiene, particularly handwashing, on a farm with enzootic C parvum in calves.     

RFLP mapping of a new cereal cyst nematode resistance locus in barley

Cereal cyst nematode (CCN) ( Heterodera avenae Woll.) is an economically damaging pest of barley in many of the worlds cereal growing areas. The development of CCN-resistant cultivars may be accelerated with the application of molecular markers. Three resistance genes against the pest have been mapped previously to chromosome 2 ( Ha 1, Ha 2 and Ha 3). In this study, a third gene present in the Australian barley variety 'Galleon' derived from the landrace 'CI3576' was located. Segregation analysis of CCN resistance data derived from doubled haploid populations of the cross 'Haruna Nijo'×'Galleon' identified a single major locus controlling CCN resistance in the variety 'Galleon'. This locus mapped to the long arm of chromosome 5H estimated to be 6.2 cM from the known function restriction fragment length polymorphism marker XYL (xylanase). While five genes for CCN resistance, including Ha2, have been mapped to group 2 chromosomes in the Triticeae, no gene other than Ha4 has been identified on group 5 chromosomes.     

Photoemission evidence for a remnant fermi surface and a d-wave-like dispersion in insulating Ca2CuO2Cl2

An angle-resolved photoemission study is reported on Ca2CuO2Cl2, a parent compound of high-Tc superconductors. Analysis of the electron occupation probability, n(k), from the spectra shows a steep drop in spectral intensity across a contour that is close to the Fermi surface predicted by the band calculation. This analysis reveals a Fermi surface remnant, even though Ca2CuO2Cl2 is a Mott insulator. The lowest energy peak exhibits a dispersion with approximately the &cjs3539;coskxa - coskya&cjs3539; form along this remnant Fermi surface. Together with the data from Dy-doped Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+delta, these results suggest that this d-wave-like dispersion of the insulator is the underlying reason for the pseudo gap in the underdoped regime.