Leishmaniasis in Canis familiaris – a Report About Microvascular and Cellular Architecture of the Infected Spleen

Leishmaniases are a globally widespread group of parasitic diseases from the group of anthropozoonoses. They are caused by an intracellular protozoan parasite that causes a wide spectrum of diseases in humans and dogs worldwide. In fact, the dog is considered one of the most important reservoir. The spleen is one of the several haematopoietic and immunocompetent organs involved. As this organ is a blood filter, the authors looked for the expression of this infection over the microvascular environment and modifications of the spleen cell population related to immunological responses to this parasitic condition.
Tools:  Scanning electronic microscopy over intact tissue and corrosion casts, transmission electronic microscopy, histology and immunohistochemistry (MAC 387 and CD3).
Results:  Our results show three important modifications concerning the microvascular architecture of the spleen when compared to the normal pattern. A striking scarcity of the sinusoidal system sheath that surrounds the central arteries of the white pulp, a huge development of pulp venules and veins, differentiation of typical features of high endothelial venular cells.
Remarks:  According to our results it seems that independent of the virulence of the parasite involved and the kind of immunity prevalent in a particular host, the spleen develops blood dynamic conditions that allows a sluggish blood flow so that cells involved in immunological processes can proliferate and differentiate and it also contributes to the trapping of lymphocytes to the area through the differentiation of typical characteristics of HEV endothelial cells.     

Perineal Nets of Proteoglycans and Glycoproteins in Albino Rat Hippocampus

Perineuronal nets (PNs) of condensed extracellular matrix (ECM) have been shown to characterize the microenvironment of individual neurons and the chemoarchitecture of some brain regions. In the present study, PNs in the hippocampus were visualized with a cationic iron colloid method for sulphated proteoglycan content and a plant lectin from Vicia villosa agglutinin (VVA) for N-acetylgalactosamine containing glycoconjugates. The ECM molecules were organized in reticular coats (PNs) around non-pyramidal cells in the Ammons horn (Corneu Ammons, CA) and subicular region, in addition to pyramidal neurons located in CA2 and CA3 regions. CA2 stratum pyramidale exhibited the most intense staining of its PNs and a diffuse intervening neutrophil labelling, while CA3 region showed a graded fashion of staining intensity. The subiculum displayed intensely stained perineuronal coats. Notably, the hippocampal perineuronal nets revealed overlapped staining characteristics with both staining methods. However, cell coats of the subicular neurons showed various degrees of labelling characteristics with both markers. It is suggested that the PNs in the hippocampus are correlated with the fast spiking inhibitory GABAergic neurons and their target pyramidal cells, and this is important to keep the excitatory elements under control and therefore control the information processes within the hippocampus.     

CONTRAST-ENHANCED ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN NORMAL CANINE LIVER. EVALUATION OF IMAGING AND SAFETY PARAMETERS

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, a new imaging modality in veterinary medicine, can provide data on tissue perfusion. The objective of this study was to use the ultrasonographic contrast agent SonoVue to evaluate various transit time indices in the normal canine liver, to examine the effect of anesthesia on these parameters, and to evaluate the safety of this agent in dogs. The liver of 11 healthy dogs was studied by ultrasound during an intravenous bolus injection of SonoVue. Each dog underwent the examination twice, first with and later without the use of anesthesia. A time-intensity curve was generated from a selected region of interest within the liver from each scanning session. Ratios derived from peak enhancement, time to peak enhancement, up-slope and full-width half-maximum (FWHM) of the curve were calculated from the time-intensity curves, and are reported. There were no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) in peak enhancement, up-slope and FWHM between dogs that were anesthetized and dogs that were not. Time to peak enhancement, however, was significantly shorter when the dogs were anesthetized than when they were nonanesthetized (P < 0.05). There were no biologically significant changes in clinical laboratory findings. This study indicates that contrast-enhanced ultrasound using SonoVue gives reproducible liver perfusion data, and appears to be a safe and well-tolerated agent for use in dogs. When considering normal values, the use of anesthetic drugs has to be considered.     

Ten things I wish I'd learned at university.

To many veterinarians, it may seem that university did not equip or prepare them adequately to deal with exotic animals. In fact, the opposite is true--graduate veterinarians have been trained as problem-solvers and doers. By applying the knowledge and skills learned at University, most veterinarians are more than capable of providing quality medical services to exotic pet owners. Veterinarians wishing to take this further need to accept that they have some learning to do and experience to gain. Those with a true love and affinity for exotic animals will be able to develop their skills and achieve proficiency and competency in one of the most exciting and fast-growing fields of veterinary medicine today.     

Hormonal and Metabolic Profiles of High-yielding Dairy Cows Prior to Ovarian Cyst formation or First Ovulation Post Partum

The present study aimed to investigate the pathogenesis of cystic ovarian disease (COD) in high-yielding dairy cows postpartum (pp). Hormonal and metabolic profiles during the first 3 weeks pp as well as during the final week prior to ovulation/cyst formation, were compared between dairy cows that developed either an ovulatory follicle (OV) or a cyst (CYST) < day 60 pp. Thirty-four lactations of 28 high-yielding (9500 kg/305 days) Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were studied. Ovaries of cows were scanned twice a week from day 10 pp on, until ovulation/cyst formation. Milk yield data, body condition scores and blood samples, for determination of oestradiol-17beta, insulin, beta-OH-butyrate and non-esterified fatty acids, were collected simultaneously. Milk samples for progesterone analysis were collected daily. Four lactations were excluded from further analysis because of irregular pp ovarian cyclicity, excluding COD. Eight lactations (26.7%) developed a cyst, while 22 lactations ovulated < days 60 pp. Ovulation and cyst formation occurred at similar times pp. Metabolic and hormonal profiles did not differ between CYST and OV lactations during the first 3 weeks pp. In the final week prior to cyst formation/ovulation, insulin concentrations were lower in CYST than in OV lactations while no differences were observed for any of the other parameters tested. In two lactations, cyst formation was preceded by suprabasal progesterone and increased oestradiol-17beta concentrations. These results suggest that cyst formation in high-yielding dairy cows pp is associated with lower insulin levels but not with other distinct hormonal and metabolic alterations. However from this study, we cannot exclude the involvement of subtle hormonal and metabolic changes in the pathogenesis of ovarian cysts. Suprabasal progesterone, and altered oestradiol-17beta concentrations, seem to play a minor role in cyst formation.     

Corneal endothelium of the Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) by scanning electron microscopy.

The corneal endothelium is essential for the maintenance of the corneal transparency. The aim of this study was to examine the morphology of the endothelial surface and perform morphometric analysis of the normal corneal endothelial cells of the Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) using scanning electron microscopy. The present work demonstrates that the corneal endothelium of the Magellanic penguin is similar to those described in other vertebrates.     

Cutting weeds with a CO2 laser

Stems of Chenopodium album . and Sinapis arvensis . and leaves of Lolium perenne . were cut with a CO₂ laser or with a pair of scissors. Treatments were carried out on greenhouse-grown pot plants at three different growth stages and at two heights. Plant dry matter was measured 2 to 5 weeks after treatment. The relationship between dry weight and laser energy was analysed using a non-linear dose–response regression model. The regression parameters differed significantly between the weed species. At all growth stages and heights S. arvensis was more difficult to cut with a CO₂ laser than C. album . When stems were cut below the meristems, 0.9 and 2.3 J mm⁻¹ of CO₂ laser energy dose was sufficient to reduce by 90% the biomass of C. album and S. arvensis respectively. Regrowth appeared when dicotyledonous plant stems were cut above meristems, indicating that it is important to cut close to the soil surface to obtain a significant effect. When cutting L. perenne plants with 2-true leaves at a height of 2 cm from the soil surface with a laser, the biomass decreased significantly compared with plants cut by scissors, indicating a delay in regrowth. This delay was not observed for the dicotyledonous plants nor for the other growth stages of L. perenne .     

Metabolism, uptake and translocation of 14C-paraquat in resistant and susceptible biotypes of Crassocephalum crepidioides (Benth.) S. Moore

The metabolism, uptake and translocation of paraquat in resistant (R) and susceptible (S) biotypes of Crassocephalum crepidioides (Benth.) S. Moore (redflower ragleaf) at the 10-leaf stage was investigated. A study on the properties of leaf surface was carried out to examine the relationship between leaf surface characters and paraquat absorption. The extractable paraquat was not metabolized by the leaf tissue of either the resistant or susceptible biotypes. Differential metabolism, therefore, does not appear to play a role in the mechanism of resistance. Both biotypes did not show any significant difference in the amount of cuticle and trichome densities. Furthermore, both biotypes are identical in the structure of stomata, trichomes and epicuticular wax. The results of the leaf surface studies are in agreement with the findings of the uptake study. Both biotypes demonstrated no significant difference in absorption between the resistant and susceptible biotypes. However, 10% of the absorbed ¹⁴C-paraquat into the S biotype was translocated basipetally, but not in the R biotype. The results of this study suggest that in C. crepidioides , differential translocation may contribute to the mechanism of resistance at the 10-leaf stage.     

Ribosomal DNA Sequence Comparisons of Colletotrichum Graminicola from Turfgrasses and other Hosts

The 5.8S ribosomal gene and the flanking internal transcribed spacers (ITS) 1 and 2 from Colletotrichum graminicola isolates causing anthracnose disease of Agrostis palustris and Poa species were sequenced. Although bootstrap support was not high, two major groups were observed with both UPGMA and parsimony algorithms, one containing isolates from A. palustris and another with isolates from Poa spp. The ITS sequences were also compared with those of isolates of C. graminicola and C. sublineolum from Sorghum spp., Zea mays and Rottboellia cochinchinesis as well as other Colletotrichum species. Except for one isolate from P. annua in Texas, the ITS1 and ITS2 sequences of turfgrass isolates always grouped separately from C. graminicola or C. sublineolum from non-turfgrass hosts with high bootstrap support. ITS sequences of the turfgrass isolates were more similar to those of other species of Colletotrichum, such as C. coccodes and C. dematium, than they were to C. graminicola isolates from other hosts. Turfgrass isolates have ITS sequences which are not identical to those of isolates from Zea mays and Sorghum species demonstrating diversity among fungi conventionally classified as C. graminicola.