Vaginal Neurofibroma in a Hysterectomized Poodle Dog

A 15‐year‐old, spayed, female poodle dog was presented for evaluation of a mass of tissue prolapsed from the vulva. The dog had been hysterectomized when it was 5 years old. A vaginal mass had been removed approximately 10 months before presentation. Haematological and serum biochemistry analyses demonstrated mild leucocytosis and glycaemia. A vaginal smear was predominantly made up of parabasal cells and intermediate cells with no neoplastic cells. Thoracal and abdominal radiographic findings were unremarkable. The ovaries could not be identified using abdominal ultrasonography. A midline exploratory laparotomy identified both ovaries that were surgically excised. The vaginal mass was also removed following an episiotomy procedure. Histopathological examination of the mass demonstrated that it was a neurofibroma. Both ovaries had cystic changes. Four months after the surgery, the owner reported that the dog was clinically normal. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported case of a vaginal neurofibroma after an incomplete ovariohysterectomy in the dog.     

Cyanobacteria mediated plant growth promotion and bioprotection against Fusarium wilt in tomato

Cyanobacteria - phytopathogenic fungi - tomato plant interactions were evaluated for developing suitable biological options for combating biotic stress (Fusarium wilt) and enhancing plant vigour. Preliminary evaluation was undertaken on the fungicidal and hydrolytic enzyme activity of the cyanobacterial strains (Anabaena variabilis RPAN59, A. laxa RPAN8) under optimized environmental/nutritional conditions, followed by amendment in compost-vermiculite. Such formulations were tested against Fusarium wilt challenged tomato plants, and the Anabaena spp. (RPAN59/8) amended composts significantly reduced mortality in fungi challenged treatments, besides fungal load in soil. Cyanobacteria amended composts also led to an enhancement in soil organic C, nitrogen fixation, besides significant improvement in growth, yield, fruit quality parameters, N, P and Zn content. The tripartite interactions also enhanced the activity of defence and pathogenesis related enzymes in tomato plants. A positive correlation (r?=?0.729 to 0.828) between P content and pathogenesis/defense enzyme activity revealed their role in enhancing the resistance of the plant through improved nutrient uptake. Light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed cyanobacterial colonization, which positively correlated with reduced fungal populations. The reduced disease severity coupled with improved plant growth/ yields, elicited by cyanobacterial treatments, illustrated the utility of such novel formulations in integrated pest and nutrient management strategies for Fusarium wilt challenged tomato crop.     

Typical and atypical manifestations of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in dogs

Eighteen clinically ill dogs, naturally infected with Anaplasma phagocytophilum, were examined at a veterinary practice in Baxter, Minnesota. A clinical examination, complete blood cell count, enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for A phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Ehrlichia canis antibodies and Dirofilaria immitis antigen, and a polymerase chain reaction test for A phagocytophilum DNA were obtained for all dogs. Physical examination findings included fever, arthropathy, lymphadenopathy, epistaxis, acute gastritis, cervical hyperpathia, and central nervous system dysfunction. Complete blood cell count abnormalities included thrombocytopenia, morulae in neutrophils, anemia, leukopenia, eosinopenia, lymphopenia, and monocytosis. Seroreactivity to A phagocytophilum was found in 61%, B burgdorferi antibodies in 17%, and D immitis antigen in 5% of the dogs. Fever, arthropathy, neurologic dysfunction, and epistaxis are clinical syndromes that can be associated with A phagocytophilum infection. Treatment with doxycycline resulted in rapid resolution of clinical signs in all dogs.     

Validation of a Leishmania infantum ELISA rapid test for serological diagnosis of Leishmania chagasi in dogs

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is caused by Leishmania donovani complex parasites including L. donovani, Leishmania infantum and Leishmania chagasi. As some studies suggest that L. chagasi and L. infantum may be very similar or even the same species, the aim of the present study was to evaluate a commercial rapid ELISA test, originally designed for L. infantum, in the diagnosis of CVL in dogs naturally infected by L. chagasi. A total of 400 serum canine samples, including 283 positive dogs for CVL from an endemic area, 86 clinically healthy dogs from a non-endemic area and 31 dogs seropositive for confounding infectious agents (Trypanosoma cruzi, Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, Babesia canis and Ehrlichia canis) were used for test validation. An overall sensitivity of 94.7% (95% CI=91.41-97.01%) and specificity of 90.6% (95% CI=83.80-95.21%) was found, with a high degree of agreement (k=0.8445) to the indirect ELISA. When confounding infectious diseases were excluded, specificity increased to 100% (95% CI=95.8-100%), with a higher degree of agreement (k=0.8928). In conclusion, the commercial kit designed for L. infantum was a highly sensitive and specific device for detection of L. chagasi infection in dogs, which indicates high immunoreactivity similarities between L. infantum and L. chagasi.     

Molecular prevalence and characterization of Hepatozoon ursi infection in Indian sloth bears (Melursus ursinus)

Hepatozoon species are parasites that infect a wide variety of domestic and wild animals. The objective of the study was to detect the occurrence of Hepatozoon ursi in Indian sloth bears and to characterize the parasite based on phylogenetic analysis of the partial 18S rRNA gene sequence. Hepatozoon infection could be detected in 38 (70%) out of fifty-four blood samples of Indian sloth bears (captive and wild), suggestive of high prevalence of Hepatozoon infection in Indian sloth bears. Sequencing of partial 18S rRNA gene of the positive samples and BLAST analysis indicated that the nearest phylogenetic neighbour was H. ursi with which they exhibited 99-100% similarity. Additionally, Hepatozoon sp. isolated from wild sloth bears of India were identical to those in captive sloth bears and phylogenetically related to H. ursi reported from Japanese black bears from Japan. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the molecular characterization of H. ursi infection in Indian sloth bears.     

Efficacy of turmeric on blood sugar and polyol pathway in diabetic albino rats

In the traditional system ofmedicine, Ayurveda, several spices and herbsare thought to possess medicinal properties. Amongthe spices, turmeric rhizomes (Curcumalonga. Linn.) are used as flavoring and coloringagents in the Indian diet everyday. In this research,we studied the effect of turmeric and itsactive principle, curcumin, on diabetes mellitus in arat model. Alloxan was used to induce diabetes.Administration of turmeric or curcumin to diabeticrats reduced the blood sugar, Hb and glycosylatedhemoglobin levels significantly. Turmeric andcurcumin supplementation also reduced the oxidativestress encountered by the diabetic rats. This wasdemonstrated by the lower levels of TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances), which mayhave been due to the decreased influx of glucose intothe polyol pathway leading to an increased NADPH/NADPratio and elevated activity of the potent antioxdiantenzyme GPx. Moreover, the activity of SDH (soorbitol dehydrogenase), whichcatalyzes the conversion of sorbitol to fructose, waslowered significantly on treatment with turmeric orcurcumin. These results also appeared to reveal thatcurcumin was more effective in attenuating diabetesmellitus related changes than turmeric.     

Antiradical properties of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) flour extracts

Epidemiological studies support the belief that whole grains are protective against several chronic diseases. The health benefits of whole grains are attributed in part to their unique phytochemical composition. Major phytochemicals in grains include various classes of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and coumarin derivatives, etc. Phenolic compounds present in grains possess antioxidant properties that are associated with the health benefits of grains and grain products. Sorghum is one of the main staple cereal grains in hot dry tropics and ranks fifth among cereal crops in the world. Although sorghum is rich in phenolics and tannins which are proven anticancer and cardioprotective constituents, human consumption of sorghum is limited. To our knowledge, there is limited literature on the profile of antioxidant phytochemicals in the local white variety of sorghum. Hence, the objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidant property of white sorghum flour extracts in vitro and also to identify the fractions responsible for the antioxidant activity. In the present study, we analyzed the antioxidative properties of various extracts (water, 60% methanol, 60% ethanol, and 60% t-butanol) of white sorghum flour employing the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) model system. Phenolics, antiradical and antioxidant activities were also examined in chromatographic sub-fractions of the soxhlet methanolic extract. Our results indicated that the various extracts exhibited significant antioxidant activity that did not correlate with the phenolic content. Further, two sub-fractions eluted with methanol and acetone/methanol were found to possess strong antioxidant activity in two assay systems. Our results suggest that a diet rich in sorghum may be useful in combating diseases in which free radical production plays a key role.     

Disease and pest resistance in grains of sorghum and millets

In this review available information on the mechanisms of resistance to insect pests and fungal pathogens in sorghum and millets is discussed. The primary source of resistance lies in the chemical and physical make up of the grain. Phenolic compounds such as ferulic acid and tannins present in some sorghums are potent inhibitors of pests and pathogens. Grain hardness is a major deterrent to infection and infestation in low tannin grains. The prolamins, the grain storage proteins of sorghum, are organized into protein bodies and provide a physical and a nutritional barrier since they are resistant to digestion by insect and fungal proteases. A plethora of proteins that belong to the ‘pathogenesis related protein’ group are distributed in various parts of the grain. Some of them are located in protein bodies. Notwithstanding, sorghum is still susceptible to insect pests and fungal pathogens. An understanding of the natural mechanisms of resistance in the grain is paramount for the development of durable resistance against pests and pathogens. The pyramiding of resistance genes and the development of transgenic lines based on this understanding are two sources of hope for the future protection of sorghum and millets.