Hemorrhagic diathesis and bone marrow aplasia secondary to lomustine overdose in a dog

A 9‐year‐old mixed breed 13 kg spayed female dog was presented for evaluation of two masses in the right abdominal mammary gland region. Surgery was conducted to excise the masses. A grade I complex mammary gland carcinoma and high grade (grade III) mast cell tumor with an inguinal lymph node metastasis were diagnosed. Forty‐seven days after the surgical procedure, the mast cell tumor relapsed, and neoadjuvant treatment with lomustine (81 mg/m²) was prescribed. Thirteen days from initiation of lomustine therapy, the dog was re‐presented to the hospital with bloody diarrhea, hematemesis, epistaxis, an elevated rectal temperature, depression, severe dehydration, and marked dyspnea. The CBC showed severe thrombocytopenia and leukopenia. According to the owner, lomustine (45mg per os [PO]) was mistakenly administered daily for 10 consecutive days (total dose, 810 mg/m²). The dog died and a necropsy was performed. The main gross lesions consisted of severe multifocal hemorrhages in multiple organs, especially in the digestive system. Histopathologic evaluation revealed disseminated hemorrhages, as well as marked bone marrow aplasia. This report describes the clinical, hematologic, gross, and histologic findings in a fatal case of lomustine overdose in a dog.     

Reproductive seasonality in Saanen goats kept under tropical conditions

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study aimed to verify the reproductive seasonality in Saanen goats from distinct parity orders (nulliparous, primiparous, and pluriparous) throughout an...     

Gross and histologic evidence of sharp and blunt trauma in North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) killed by vessels.

Vessel-whale collision events represented the ultimate cause of death for 21 (52.5%) of the 40 North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) necropsied between 1970 and December 2006. Injuries seen in vessel-struck whales fall into two distinct categories: 1) sharp trauma, often resulting from contact with the propeller, and 2) blunt trauma, presumably resulting from contact with a vessel's hull. This study analyzes four trauma cases that resulted from vessel-whale collisions, which together provide a framework for a more critical understanding of lethal blunt and sharp trauma resulting from vessel collisions with right whales. In case no. 1, contact with a propeller resulted in three deep lacerations. The animal survived acute trauma only to succumb nearly 14 years later when the lesions reopened and became infected. In case no. 2, anecdotal reports linked the laceration of large arteries of the peduncle and histologic evidence of perimortem trauma at a bone fracture site to vessel-whale collision trauma. Case no. 3 had a laceration of the oral rete and a fracture of the rostrum. Both of the areas displayed histologic evidence of perimortem blunt trauma. Finally, in case no. 4, an antemortem mandibular fracture, two additional skull fractures, and widespread hemorrhage were consistent with severe blunt trauma. Evidence from each case, including the timing of trauma relative to the time of death and identifying characteristics of both trauma types, are presented. Before this study, no detailed comparative analysis of trauma pathology that resulted from lethal interactions between vessels and right whales had been conducted. This study demonstrates the importance of detailed gross and histologic examination in determining the significance and timing of traumatic events. This work represents a new paradigm for the differential diagnosis of lethal sharp and blunt trauma in right whales hit by ships and will enhance the present understanding of the impact of anthropogenic mortality on this critically endangered species.     

Antifeedant activity of vicolides from Pentanema indicum

Vicolides A–D (0.2–2000 ppm) from Pentanema indicum showed antifeedant activity against Euproctes fraterna and Pericallia ricini V stage larvae.     

Voracious invader or benign feline? A review of the environmental biology of European catfish Silurus glanis in its native and introduced ranges*

A popular species for food and sport, the European catfish (Silurus glanis) is well‐studied in its native range, but little studied in its introduced range. Silurus glanis is the largest‐bodied freshwater fish of Europe and is historically known to take a wide range of food items including human remains. As a result of its piscivorous diet, S. glanis is assumed to be an invasive fish species presenting a risk to native species and ecosystems. To assess the potential risks of S. glanis introductions, published and ‘grey’ literature on the species’ environmental biology (but not aquaculture) was extensively reviewed. Silurus glanis appears well adapted to, and sufficiently robust for, translocation and introduction outside its native range. A nest‐guarding species, S. glanis is long‐lived, rather sedentary and produces relatively fewer eggs per body mass than many fish species. It appears to establish relatively easily, although more so in warmer (i.e. Mediterranean) than in northern countries (e.g. Belgium, UK). Telemetry data suggest that dispersal is linked to flooding/spates and human translation of the species. Potential impacts in its introduced European range include disease transmission, hybridization (in Greece with native endemic Aristotle’s catfish [Silurus aristotelis]), predation on native species and possibly the modification of food web structure in some regions. However, S. glanis has also been reported (France, Spain, Turkmenistan) to prey intensively on other non‐native species and in its native Germany to be a poor biomanipulation tool for top‐down predation of zooplanktivorous fishes. As such, S. glanis is unlikely to exert trophic pressure on native fishes except in circumstances where other human impacts are already in force. In summary, virtually all aspects of the environmental biology of introduced S. glanis require further study to determine the potential risks of its introduction to novel environments.     

Effects of biofloc technology on reproduction and ovarian recrudescence in Nile tilapia

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the reproductive cycle, morphological changes of ovary and mobilization of energy reserves in Nile tilapia reared with biofloc technology (BFT). In general, the growth and reproductive performance were highly similar between BFT and Control system (clear water). Difference between the systems was found in the hepatosomatic index (using mixed‐effects models), which suggested that BFT can alter the energy mobilization in the post‐spawning period. The absolute and relative fecundity, fertilization rate, number of larvae produced per female, gonadosomatic index, proportion of oogenesis cells, number of post‐ovulatory and atretic follicles were similar between the two systems. We also did not detect a reduction in the reproductive cycle length in Nile tilapia reared in BFT. Because there was no evidence of the negative effects of BFT on Nile tilapia reproduction, we concluded that BFT might be used for breeder stocking of this species.     

Characterization of the anthracnose resistance gene present in Ouro Negro (Honduras 35) common bean cultivar

Ouro Negro (Honduras 35) is a highly productive Mesoamerican black seeded bean cultivar that possesses a major dominant gene conferring resistance to anthracnose (causal organism Colletotrichum lindemuthianum). In this work the anthracnose resistance gene present in Ouro Negro was characterized by studying allelic relationships to the following previously characterized anthracnose resistance genes (cultivars): Co-1 (MDRK), Co-1 ² (Kaboon), Co-1 ³ (Perry Marrow), Co-2 (Cornell 49-242), Co-3 (Mexico 222), Co-4 (TO), Co-4 ² (SEL 1308), Co-5 (SEL1360), Co-6 (AB 136), and the resistance genes present in PI 207262 and Widusa. In addition, we determined the resistance spectrum of Ouro Negro in relation to 19 pathotypes of C. lindemuthianum. The allelism tests confirmed that the dominant anthracnose resistance gene present in Ouro Negro is positioned at a locus distinct from those with which it was compared. We propose that this new gene be named Co-10. The inoculation of Ouro Negro with the 19 pathotypes of C. lindemuthianum demonstrated that Co-10 confers resistance to pathotypes 23, 64, 67, 73, 81, 83, 87, 89, 95, 102, 117, 119, 343, 453, 1033, 1545 and 1600. The identification of Co-10 is an important contribution to bean breeding programs that are in constant need of new sources of resistance to anthracnose. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor chimeras of rat α7 and Drosophila SAD reveal species-specific agonist binding regions

Species-specific agonist binding regions of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) were examined. Imidacloprid and physostigmine (Phy) selectively activated insect nAChR composed of Drosophila second alpha-like subunit (SAD) and chick β2, in contrast to rat α7 nAChR. The Phy-activated currents were α-bungarotoxin (α-BGT) sensitive, suggesting activation at the agonist binding loop C. Several SAD-α7 chimeras were constructed, by switching agonist binding regions, and expressed in oocytes. Though none of the chimeras was activated by a range of nicotinic agonists, [¹²⁵I]α-BGT binding revealed homomeric assembly of all chimeric cDNAs. Phy differentially displaced [¹²⁵I]α-BGT from the nAChR chimeras, suggesting that the β subunit is not involved in Phy binding, and that Phy targets the insect agonist binding loop C.