Analytical, physiologic, and clinical validation of a radioimmunoassay for measurement of procollagen type III amino terminal propeptide in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained from dogs

OBJECTIVE: To validate a radioimmunoassay for measurement of procollagen type III amino terminal propeptide (PIIINP) concentrations in canine serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and investigate the effects of physiologic and pathologic conditions on PIIINP concentrations. SAMPLE POPULATION: Sera from healthy adult (n = 70) and growing dogs (20) and dogs with chronic renal failure (CRF; 10), cardiomyopathy (CMP; 12), or degenerative valve disease (DVD; 26); and sera and BALF from dogs with chronic bronchopneumopathy (CBP; 15) and healthy control dogs (10 growing and 9 adult dogs). PROCEDURE: A radioimmunoassay was validated, and a reference range for serum PIIINP (S-PIIINP) concentration was established. Effects of growth, age, sex, weight, CRF, and heart failure on S-PIIINP concentration were analyzed. In CBP-affected dogs, S-PIIINP and BALF-PIIINP concentrations were evaluated. RESULTS: The radioimmunoassay had good sensitivity, linearity, precision, and reproducibility and reasonable accuracy for measurement of S-PIIINP and BALF-PIIINP concentrations. The S-PIIINP concentration reference range in adult dogs was 8.86 to 11.48 mug/L. Serum PIIINP concentration correlated with weight and age. Growing dogs had significantly higher S-PIIINP concentrations than adults, but concentrations in CRF-, CMP-, DVD-, or CBP-affected dogs were not significantly different from control values. Mean BALF-PIIINP concentration was significantly higher in CBP-affected dogs than in healthy adults. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In dogs, renal or cardiac disease or CBP did not significantly affect S-PIIINP concentration; dogs with CBP had high BALF-PIIINP concentrations. Data suggest that the use of PIIINP as a marker of pathologic fibrosis might be limited in growing dogs.     

Soil carbon pools in Swiss forests show legacy effects from historic forest litter raking

Globally, forest soils contain twice as much carbon as forest vegetation. Consequently, natural and anthropogenic disturbances affecting carbon accumulation in forest soils can alter regional to global carbon balance. In this study, we evaluate the effects of historic litter raking on soil carbon stocks, a former forest use which used to be widespread throughout Europe for centuries. We estimate, for Switzerland, the carbon sink potential in current forest soils due to recovery from past litter raking (‘legacy effect’). The year 1650 was chosen as starting year for litter raking, with three different end years (1875/1925/1960) implemented for this forest use in the biogeochemical model LPJ-GUESS. The model was run for different agricultural and climatic zones separately. Number of cattle, grain production and the area of wet meadow have an impact on the specific demand for forest litter. The demand was consequently calculated based on historical statistical data on these factors. The results show soil carbon pools to be reduced by an average of 17 % after 310 years of litter raking and legacy effects were still visible 130 years after abandonment of this forest use (2 % average reduction). We estimate the remaining carbon sink potential in Swiss forest due to legacy effects from past litter raking to amount to 158,000 tC. Integrating historical data into biogeochemical models provides insight into the relevance of past land-use practices. Our study underlines the importance of considering potentially long-lasting effects of such land use practices for carbon accounting.     

Effect of flash release and pectinolytic enzyme treatments on wine polysaccharide composition

Various treatments, including flash release and addition of pectic enzymes, have been proposed to enhance degradation of grape berry cell walls and extraction of aroma and phenolic compounds into the wines. The effect of flash release and enzyme treatment used separately or in combination on wine polysaccharide composition was studied. The flash release process increased extraction of polysaccharides originating from grape berry cell walls, that is, polysaccharides rich in arabinose and galactose (PRAGs) and type II rhamnogalacturonan (RG-II), thus yielding enriched wines. Increasing the duration of high-temperature exposure before the flash release treatment further increased extraction of polysaccharides. However, the wine obtained by pressing immediately after flash release and fermenting in the liquid phase contained lower amounts of grape polysaccharides, indicating that their extraction required skin maceration. The use of enzymes without or with flash release modified the composition and the structure of pectic polysaccharides. In particular, it induced the loss of PRAG terminal arabinose residues.     

An immunologic investigation of canine eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy

Immunologic variables in dogs with eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy (EBP) have not been extensively evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrations and to perform phenotypic subtyping of lymphocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and peripheral blood (PB) of 12 dogs with EBP at the time of diagnosis (TD) and to compare these data with those obtained in healthy dogs, as well as in EBP dogs after antibiotic therapy (TAB) and during corticosteroid treatment (TM). Matched samples of serum and BALF were used to determine Ig concentrations (IgG, IgM, and IgA) by capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), from which a secretory index (SI) was calculated. Lymphocyte subpopulations were studied in the BALF and PB by flow cytometry. Log values of BALF IgM and IgA were significantly higher (0.64+/-0.05 and 1.06+/-0.13, respectively) in EBP dogs at TD than in controls and then tended to decrease at TM (0.55+/-0.03 and 1.02+/-0.17, respectively). A calculated SI for IgA was not significantly increased. In the BALF of dogs with EBg the CD4: CD8 was significantly (P < .05) higher (22.6+/-30.3) than in controls (3.2+/-1.9), due to significantly higher CD4+ T cells and lower CD8+ T cells. At TM, the BALF T-cell percentages returned to normal (2.4+/-0.6). We propose that the influx of eosinophils into the airway of dogs with EBP is at least in part mediated by cytokines derived from CD4+ T cells. Further studies of canine cytokines and chemokines will help determine whether canine EBP involves type I hypersensitivity mechanisms regulated by Th2 lymphocytes.     

Similar pattern of iNOS expression, NO production and cytokine response in genetic and vaccination-acquired resistance to Marek's disease

NO is produced by macrophages through activation of the inducible enzyme NOS and its production is triggered as an antiviral and antitumoral immune mechanism. Replication of Marek's disease herpes virus (MDV) is inhibited by NO in vitro. MDV induces T-lymphomas in the chicken and a genetic resistance to tumor development has been linked to the B21 major histocompatibility complex. During the first initial week of viral replication after inoculation of the highly virulent RB-1B MDV strain, histocompatible B21/B21 chickens developed strong iNOS expression and NO production capacity in the spleen, in parallel with strong systemic NO production in the serum. Comparable NO response was not seen with the vaccinal strain HVT. In contrast, reduction in spleen macrophage number and delay in iNOS gene expression was observed in genetically susceptible B13/B13 chickens after MDV infection, in addition to suppression of IFN-gamma-inducible NO production. However, vaccination with HVT 3 days before RB-1B inoculation restored strong iNOS gene expression in the spleen 1 week later and inducible NO production 3 weeks later. Following the pattern of iNOS gene expression, early strong expression of cytokines with powerful iNOS-inducing activity such as IFN-gamma and CC chemokines from the MIP family (MIP-1beta, K203) was observed in genetic resistance and resistance acquired after vaccination with HVT. In conclusion, resistance to MDV appeared preferentially linked in both types of resistance to the early establishment of cytokine induction characteristic of a Th1 immune response, thus favoring the development of an early and strong NO response.     

Effects of ozone and ultraviolet radiation treatments on the infectivity of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts

Clinical toxoplasmosis in humans has been epidemiologically linked to the consumption of drinking water contaminated by Toxoplasma gondii oocysts. We evaluated killing of T. gondii oocysts after ultraviolet (UV) or ozone treatments by bioassay in mice and/or cell culture. A 4-log inactivation of the oocyst/sporozoite infectivity was obtained for UV fluences >20 mJ cm(-2). In contrast, oocysts were not inactivated by ozone with an exposure (Ct) up to 9.4 mg min l (-1) in water at 20 degrees C. In conclusion, UV treatment can be an effective disinfection method to inactivate T. gondii oocysts in drinking water, but ozone did not show promise in this research.     

Quality of different in-clinic test systems for feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukaemia virus infection

Many new diagnostic in-house tests for identification of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) infection have been licensed for use in veterinary practice, and the question of the relative merits of these kits has prompted comparative studies. This study was designed to define the strengths and weaknesses of seven FIV and eight FeLV tests that are commercially available. In this study, 536 serum samples from randomly selected cats were tested. Those samples reacting FIV-positive in at least one of the tests were confirmed by Western blot, and those reacting FeLV-positive were confirmed by virus isolation. In addition, a random selection of samples testing negative in all test systems was re-tested by Western blot (100 samples) and by virus isolation (81 samples). Specificity, sensitivity, positive and negative predictive values of each test and the quality of the results were compared.     

Using a retrospective dynamic competition index to reconstruct forest succession

Understanding forest dynamics and stand structures is crucial for predicting forest succession. However, many forests have been altered due to century-long land-use practices, which complicates the reconstruction of past and current successional trajectories. For a better understanding of successional processes, we suggest studying the intra- and interspecific competition among single trees across time. We introduce a tree-ring based competition index to reconstruct the competitive dynamics of individual trees over time. This new retrospective dynamic competition index combines a temporal and a spatial component by calculating the yearly ratio between the basal area increments (bai) of the neighbouring trees and the subject tree. The new index is applied to mixed Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and pubescent oak (Quercus pubescens Willd.) stands in the inner-Alpine dry-valley Valais, for which a change in species composition is hypothesised. The aim is to analyse current stand structures in terms of recent changes in the competitive interactions at the single tree level and to relate these competitive dynamics to land-use change and increasing drought due to climate change. On five plots, the positions of 456 trees were recorded and increment cores were taken to derive bai data. The individual dynamic competition index curves were aggregated in clusters, which define typical patterns of competitive dynamics in both tree species. A large percentage of the trees (87% in oak, 70% in pine) were clustered into a group of trees with constant competition at a relatively low level. However, a smaller group of pines (20%) had recently faced increasing competition. In addition, stand structure analyses indicated a change towards a higher proportion of oak. This change in the competitive ability between oak and pine was found to be related to drought, in that oak had a competitive advantage in dry years. Furthermore, the high proportion of dead branches in pines with decreasing competitive abilities indicated increasing competition for light as a consequence of natural development towards a later successional stage that favours the more shade-tolerant oak. The new retrospective dynamic competition index proved to be promising in studying forest succession. The tree-ring based method allows us to identify changes in the competitive ability of single trees with a high temporal resolution and without repeated assessments.     

Essential oil production increases value of Psiadia altissima fallows in Madagascar’s eastern forests

Fallow with Psiadia altissima is one of the most common post-‘slash and burn’ vegetation successions described in the evergreen forests of eastern Madagascar. Some fallows consist of almost pure stands of this species, of which the leaves produce an essential oil offering international commercial interest. The present research aims to evaluate the production potential of essential oil derived from different fallows rich in P. altissima. The study has revealed that fallows aged 4 and 6 years since the last crop abandonment produce the most essential oil (around 20 l ha⁻¹), but relative to fallow duration, the youngest fallows (1- or 2-year-old) are the most productive, respectively producing 12 and 6 l ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Additionally, the trees from the youngest fallows have a substantial capacity for regeneration from coppice shoots, on condition that the cut is performed well above the root collar. Although farmers earn five times less from harvesting leaves than from cultivating rice from tavy, the possibility is there for them to complement their income and diversify their production. The overall results show that sustainable exploitation of fallows of P. altissima is a conceivable option. However, this can only be achieved through an integrated approach that takes into account the environmental and social constraints associated with the development of this new activity.