Clinical resolution of Brucella canis-induced ocular inflammation in a dog

A 2-year-old spayed female mixed-breed dog was referred with an 8-month history of recurrent bilateral anterior uveitis and hyphema secondary to infection with Brucella canis. Treatment with doxycycline PO and atropine and prednisone acetate topically prior to referral had failed to resolve the ocular inflammation. Successful control of ocular inflammation was achieved after initiation of treatment with gentamicin SC and ciprofloxacin and doxycycline PO. The finite indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) titer was reduced by half, and results of an agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test became negative after rifampin was added to the treatment protocol. Treatment with gentamicin was eventually discontinued because of evidence of renal toxicosis and cutaneous reactions to repeated injections. Thirty-five months after initial examination of the dog, results of the AGID test were still negative, the finite IFA titer was stable, and ocular inflammation had resolved, suggesting that the ocular infection may have been eliminated. To our knowledge, this represents the first report of the successful treatment of ocular inflammation caused by B canis infection in a dog.     

Antimicrobial resistance of commensal Escherichia coli from dairy cattle associated with recent multi-resistant salmonellosis outbreaks

The use of antimicrobial drugs in livestock is suspected to contribute to bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AR) development. Dairy farms experiencing recent outbreaks of salmonellosis involving multi-resistant (MR) Salmonella strains were compared to control farms with respect to AR among bovine commensal E. coli isolates. For most antimicrobials tested, the percentage of AR E. coli isolated from salmonellosis-affected farms was significantly higher than that from control farms. Calf E. coli from both case and control farms had greater levels of AR than cow isolates. Commensal E. coli isolates from case farms and calves tended to more frequently be MR. These data are consistent with the existence of higher antimicrobial selection pressure on farms with recent salmonellosis outbreaks, however, the directionality of the relationship remains to be elucidated. An improved understanding of the epidemiology of AR bacteria in livestock production, both at the herd and molecular level, is essential to mitigate risk to public health and food safety.     

Risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection among laboratory workers

In a prospective cohort study of 265 laboratory and affiliated workers, one individual with no recognized risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection was HIV-1 seropositive at the time of entry into the study. Molecular analyses of two HIV-1 isolates derived in two independent laboratories from a blood sample from this worker showed that the isolates were indistinguishable from a genotypic form of HIV-1 present in the H9/HTLV-IIIB cell line. Exposure to this strain of virus most probably occurred during work with concentrated virus or culture fluids from virus-producing cell lines under standard Biosafety Level 3 containment. Although no specific incident leading to this infection has been identified, undetected skin contact with virus culture supernatant might have occurred. This worker was the only one found to be positive among the subgroup of 99 workers who shared a work environment involving exposure to concentrated virus. The incidence rate of 0.48 per 100 person-years exposure indicates that prolonged laboratory exposure to concentrated virus is associated with some risk of HIV-1 infection, which is comparable to the risk for health care workers experiencing a needle stick exposure. While none of the ten workers with parenteral exposure to HIV-1 in this cohort became infected, a worker in another laboratory did seroconvert following an injury with a potentially contaminated needle. Strict Biosafety Level 3 containment and practices should be followed when working with concentrated HIV-1 preparations, and further refinement of the procedures may be necessary.     

Breaking the ice: the introduction of biofouling organisms to Antarctica on vessel hulls

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Delineating foraging grounds of a loggerhead turtle population through satellite tracking of juveniles

1. Tracking of juvenile sea turtles is a research priority to inform the protection of relevant habitats and ensure sustainable rates of recruitment into adult populations. Based on satellite tracking, mixed stock analysis, and mark–recapture studies, Drini Bay in the South Adriatic Sea, Central Mediterranean, has been confirmed as an important foraging site used by loggerhead turtles from all major rookeries in the Mediterranean subpopulation.
2. Three juvenile loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) from Drini Bay were tracked for 763, 364, and 211 days respectively. All turtles exhibited different movement patterns.
3. The two smaller turtles ranged widely beyond the bay. One of these (69.5 cm curved‐carapace length; CCL) used the coldest region of the Mediterranean during the first winter of tracking where mean weekly temperatures dipped below 12°C but moved southwards to warmer waters during the second winter. In comparison, the other (66 cm CCL) individual moved south to winter in warmer waters from the outset. Both individuals returned to Drini Bay during summer, demonstrating fidelity to the study site. The third turtle, which was larger (76 cm CCL), remained in Drini Bay for the duration of tracking. These results support the findings of other mark–recapture studies at Drini Bay, which have suggested that the foraging site is being used in a transient way by immature turtles.
4. All three turtles preferentially used the shallow waters (<30 m) in the south of Drini Bay. The study demonstrates a high degree of overlap between the habitat use of the three tracked turtles and that of adult turtles tracked from nesting sites, and although based on a small sample size, contributes to a growing knowledge base regarding the wider habitat use of the Mediterranean loggerhead population.

     

Failure mode and bending moment of canine pancarpal arthrodesis constructs stabilized with two different implant systems

Objective— To compare failure mode and bending moment of a canine pancarpal arthrodesis construct using either a 2.7 mm/3.5 mm hybrid dynamic compression plate (HDCP) or a 3.5 mm dynamic compression plate (DCP).
Study Design— Paired in vitro biomechanical testing of canine pancarpal arthrodesis constructs stabilized with either a 2.7/3.5 HDCP or 3.5 DCP.
Sample Population— Paired cadaveric canine antebrachii (n=5).
Methods— Pancarpal arthrodesis constructs were loaded to failure (point of maximum load) in 4-point bending using a materials-testing machine. Using this point of failure, bending moments were calculated from system variables for each construct and the 2 plating systems compared using a paired t-test. To examine the relationship between metacarpal diameter and screw diameter failure loads, linear regression was used and Pearson' correlation coefficient was calculated. Significance was set at P <.05.
Results— HDCP failed at higher loads than DCP for 9 of 10 constructs. The absolute difference in failure rates between the 2 plates was 0.552±0.182 N m, P =.0144 (95% confidence interval: −0.58 to 1.68). This is an 8.1% mean difference in bending strength. There was a significant linear correlation r=0.74 ( P -slope=.014) and 0.8 ( P -slope=.006) between metacarpal diameter and failure loads for the HDCP and 3.5 DCP, respectively.
Conclusion— There was a small but significant difference between bending moment at failure between 2.7/3.5 HDCP and 3.5 DCP constructs; however, the difference may not be clinically evident in all patients.
Clinical Relevance— The 2.7/3.5 HDCP has physical and mechanical properties making it a more desirable plate for pancarpal arthrodesis.     

Development of a novel diagnostic test for detection of bovine viral diarrhea persistently infected animals using hair

The purpose of this study was to determine whether manually plucked hairs might serve as an alternative sample for a quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) testing. Twenty three, 1~3 week old, non-bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) vaccinated calves, found to be positive for BVDV by immunohistochemical staining, were selected and hairs were manually plucked from the ear. qRT-PCR was performed on samples consisting of more than 30 hairs (30~100) and whole blood. All 23 animals were positive for the virus by qRT-PCR performed on the whole blood and when samples of more than 30 hairs were assayed. Additionally, qRT-PCR was performed on groups of 10 and 20 hairs harvested from 7 out of 23 immunohistochemical staining-positive calves. When groups of 20 and 10 hairs were tested, 6 and 4 animals, respectively, were positive for the virus.     

A longitudinal study of Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) prevalence in three Australian diary herds

Over a 12 month period, 588 cattle faecal samples and 147 farm environmental samples from three dairy farms in southeast Queensland were examined for the presence of Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC). Samples were screened for Shiga toxin gene (stx) using PCR. Samples positive for stx were filtered onto hydrophobic grid membrane filters and STEC identified and isolated using colony hybridisation with a stx-specific DNA probe. Serotyping was performed to identify serogroups commonly associated with human infection or enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli were isolated from 16.7% of cattle faecal samples and 4.1% of environmental samples. Of cattle STEC isolates, 10.2% serotyped as E. coli O26:H11 and 11.2% serotyped as E. coli O157:H7, and the E. coli O26:H11 and E. coli O157:H7 prevalences in the cattle samples were 1.7 and 1.9%, respectively. Prevalences for STEC and EHEC in dairy cattle faeces were similar to those derived in surveys within the northern and southern hemispheres. Calves at weaning were identified as the cattle group most likely to be shedding STEC, E. coli O26 or E. coli O157. In concurrence with previous studies, it appears that cattle, and in particular 1-14-week-old weanling calves, are the primary reservoir for STEC and EHEC on the dairy farm.     

Comparison of two radiographic techniques for evaluation of hip joint laxity in 10 breeds of dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate hip joint laxity in 10 breeds of dogs via 2 radiographic techniques. ANIMALS: 500 clinically normal dogs. DESIGN: Prospective study. PROCEDURE: Radiographs obtained via routine hip joint evaluations performed in sedated dogs of 10 popular breeds were randomly selected from a database. Measurements of distraction index (DI) and hip-extended index (HEI) on 1 hip joint radiograph randomly chosen from each dog were made. RESULTS: Mean age of dogs was 20.7 months. Mean HEI was 0.17 (range, 0.0 to 0.72) and mean DI was 0.44 (range, 0.07 to 0.96). Borzois had uniformly tight hip joints as judged by use of both methods and were considered the gold standard by which hip joint laxity was judged (all Borzois had DI < or = 0.32). Overall, DI was significantly greater than HEI. Within each breed, mean DI was always greater than mean HEI. Significant differences were detected among breeds for HEI; however, compared with DI, the magnitude of differences among breeds was less. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Distraction radiography detected the greatest range and magnitude of passive hip laxity in the 10 breeds of dogs. The difference in values between breeds known to have high prevalence of canine hip dysplasia and those in Borzois was greater for DI than for HEI. Breeds must be evaluated individually because of inherent differences in hip joint laxity.     

Use of the caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte as an early marker for future development of osteoarthritis associated with hip dysplasia in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between the caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte (CCO) and osteoarthritis associated with hip dysplasia in dogs. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study. ANIMALS: 48 Labrador Retrievers from 7 litters. PROCEDURE: In each of 24 sex- and size-matched pairs fed the same diet, a restricted-fed dog was fed 25% less than a control dog for life. The dogs' hips were evaluated in the standard ventrodorsal hip-extended radiographic projection at 16, 30, and 52 weeks of age and then yearly for life. Histologic examination of hip joint tissues was performed on 45 dogs. RESULTS: Median age at death was 11.2 years. Adjusting for feeding group, dogs with a CCO were 3.7 times as likely to develop radiographic signs of osteoarthritis than those without a CCO. Stratified by diet, 100% of the control dogs with a CCO developed radiographic signs of osteoarthritis and 55% of restricted-fed dogs with a CCO developed radiographic signs of osteoarthritis. The CCO was the first radiographic change seen in 22 of 29 (76%) dogs with osteoarthritis. Overall, 35 of 37 (95%) dogs with a CCO had histopathologic lesions of osteoarthritis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicate a relationship between a CCO on the femoral neck and subsequent development of radiographic signs of osteoarthritis in Labrador Retrievers evaluated over their life span. A CCO is an important early radiographic indication of osteoarthritis associated with canine hip dysplasia.