Bovine Neonatal Pancytopenia is a heritable trait of the dam rather than the calf and correlates with the magnitude of vaccine induced maternal alloantibodies not the MHC haplotype

Bovine Neonatal Pancytopenia (BNP), a bleeding syndrome of neonatal calves, is caused by alloantibodies absorbed from the colostrum of particular cows. A commercial BVD vaccine is the likely source of alloantigens eliciting BNP associated alloantibodies. We hypothesized that the rare occurrence of BNP in calves born to vaccinated dams could be associated with genetic differences within dams and calves. We found that the development of BNP within calves was a heritable trait for dams, not for calves and had a high heritability of 19%. To elucidate which genes play a role in the development of BNP we sequenced candidate genes and characterized BNP alloantibodies. Alloantigens present in the vaccine have to be presented to the dam’s immune system via MHC class II, however sequencing of DRB3 showed no differences in MHC class II haplotype between BNP and non-BNP dams. MHC class I, a highly polymorphic alloantigen, is an important target of BNP alloantibodies. Using a novel sequence based MHC class I typing method, we found no association of BNP with MHC class I haplotype distribution in dams or calves. Alloantibodies were detected in both vaccinated BNP and non-BNP dams and we found no differences in alloantibody characteristics between these groups, but alloantibody levels were significantly higher in BNP dams. We concluded that the development of BNP in calves is a heritable trait of the dam rather than the calf and genetic differences between BNP and non-BNP dams are likely due to genes controlling the quantitative alloantibody response following vaccination.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13567-014-0129-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Evaluation of a commercial staphylococcal bacterin for management of idiopathic recurrent superficial pyoderma in dogs

Twenty-one dogs with idiopathic superficial recurrent pyoderma were entered into a double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of a commercial staphylococcal bacterin. The study spanned an 18-week period. All dogs were administered sodium oxacillin orally for the initial 6 weeks of the study. Dogs were given the bacterin or placebo SC, twice weekly at 3- or 4-day intervals, beginning at week 0 and continuing for 18 weeks. Dogs given antibiotics plus the bacterin (n = 13) had a significantly (P less than 0.05) better treatment response than those given antibiotic plus placebo.     

Evidence for Widespread 26Al in the Solar Nebula and Constraints for Nebula Time Scales

A search was made for 26Mg (26Mg*) from the decay of 26Al (half-life = 0.73 million years) in Al-rich objects from unequilibrated ordinary chondrites. Two Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) and two Al-rich chondrules (not CAIs) were found that contained 26Al when they formed. Internal isochrons for the CAIs yielded an initial 26Al/27Al ratio [(26Al/27Al)0] of 5 x 10(-5), indistinguishable from most CAIs in carbonaceous chondrites. This result shows that CAIs with this level of 26Al are present throughout the classes of chondrites and strengthens the notion that 26Al was widespread in the early solar system. The two Al-rich chondrules have lower 26Mg*, corresponding to a (26Al/27Al)0 ratio of approximately 9 x 10(-6). Five other Al-rich chondrules contain no resolvable 26Mg*. If chondrules and CAIs formed from an isotopically homogeneous reservoir, then the chondrules with 26Al must have formed or been last altered approximately2 million years after CAIs formed; the 26Mg*-free chondrules formed >1 to 3 million years later still. Because 26Mg*-containing and 26Mg*-free chondrules are both found in Chainpur, which was not heated to more than approximately400°C, it follows that parent body metamorphism cannot explain the absence of 26Mg* in some of these chondrules. Rather, its absence indicates that the lifetime of the solar nebula over which CAIs and chondrules formed extended over approximately5 million years.     

The ACVD task force on canine atopic dermatitis (XXI): antihistamine pharmacotherapy.

Antihistamines frequently are recommended by veterinary dermatologists for symptomatic treatment of pruritus associated with canine atopic dermatitis (AD), perhaps because of their moderate success in some human patients with AD. A critical review of the literature describing antihistamine use in canine AD reveals that the majority of published, peer-reviewed studies are open, uncontrolled or partially-controlled trials. Such studies vary widely in reported efficacy, from perhaps 0 to 75% of patients, even using the same drug. The few blinded placebo-controlled trials available have failed to confirm efficacy of these drugs to relieve the pruritus of canine AD. Some studies indicate that synergistic effects could occur with concurrent use of essential fatty acid supplements. Consequently, at the time of this writing, there is insufficient evidence to conclude for or against the efficacy of antihistamines for treatment of canine AD. Additional blinded, randomized and controlled trials with larger numbers of patients are necessary to establish which of the antihistamine drugs currently available, if any, are truly efficacious for canine AD. Nevertheless, present clinician consensus suggests that several different antihistamine drugs should be evaluated in sequence, for 7-14 days each, in canine patients with AD.     

Malocclusions in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Malocclusions are a misalignment or incorrect positioning of the teeth when the upper and lower jaws close. These are poorly described in the koala and can result in irregular mastication which can have lifelong effects on body condition and oral health. A total of 370 koalas from two populations in Queensland (295) and one in South Australia (75) were examined for malocclusions. The prevalence of malocclusions in South Australian free‐ranging koalas, captive Queensland koalas and Queensland free‐ranging koalas was 39% (44), 30% (29) and 22% (29) respectively. Four types of malocclusion were identified based on severity of misalignment of the incisor/canine region, types 1, 2, 3 and 4. Maxillary overbite measurements of the molariform teeth were determined and these anisognathic values were then used to describe malocclusions within familial relationships in captive colonies. Captive koalas with a malocclusion had narrower mandibular width that ranged between 0.5 and 1% less than the normal measurements. The specific malocclusions reported in this study affected individuals by leading to tooth rotation, mobility and erosion with inefficient mastication of food and vegetation compaction. These changes increased the oral cavity pathology, by placing animals at risk of periodontal disease. There was evidence of familial links to malocclusion types in captive animals. Therefore captive breeding recommendations should consider known koala malocclusion traits to minimise their effect on future generations.     

The impact of uptake, translocation and metabolism on the differential selectivity between blackgrass and wheat for the herbicide pyroxsulam

BACKGROUND: Wheat shows selectivity to pyroxsulam, a new broad‐spectrum herbicide with high activity on blackgrass. Studies were performed to establish whether uptake, translocation or metabolism were responsible for the differential activity in wheat compared with blackgrass. In addition, the effect of the safener cloquintocet‐mexyl on metabolism was evaluated in wheat and blackgrass shoots. RESULTS: Root uptake of pyroxsulam in blackgrass was significantly higher than in wheat, suggesting a possible activity enhancement in blackgrass owing to root uptake. Translocation to foliage from root uptake as well as translocation out of treated foliage following foliar applications was low in wheat compared with blackgrass, likely owing to the rapid metabolism of pyroxsulam in wheat. Wheat metabolized pyroxsulam significantly faster than blackgrass to the less active O‐dealkylation product. Wheat shoots metabolized pyroxsulam faster when the safener cloquintocet‐mexyl was present, but cloquintocet‐mexyl did not increase the rate of metabolism in blackgrass. CONCLUSIONS: The selectivity of pyroxsulam to wheat relative to blackgrass was connected primarily with differences in the rate of metabolism and generation of an inactive metabolite. Metabolism in wheat restricted subsequent movement of radioactivity out of the treated leaf. The rapid metabolism in wheat was increased by the addition of cloquintocet‐mexyl. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Strategies for management of recurrent pyoderma in dogs

Staphylococcal skin infection (pyoderma) is a common clinical problem in dogs. The infection can be either superficial or deep. Most cases of staphylococcal pyoderma occur secondary to a definable underlying cause. Treatment consists of finding the underlying cause and correcting it, if possible, and treating the pyoderma with antibiotics. Antibacterial shampoos may be used as adjunct treatment, but corticosteroid drugs should not be used. When canine pyoderma recurs in the absence of an identifiable underlying cause, several treatment strategies can be effective in eliminating recurrence or limiting its severity. Frequent antibacterial shampoos are an easy and sometimes effective method. Immunomodulatory drugs are variably effective. Some commercially available bacterins are clearly helpful in treating recurrent pyoderma. As a last resort, the clinician may opt to keep the patient on long-term antibiotic therapy. Such therapy may promote development and dissemination of resistant strains of Staphylococcus and should be used only if absolutely necessary.