Management of canine atopic dermatitis using the plant extract PYM00217: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study

This study evaluated PYM00217, a proprietary blend of plant extracts, in the management of canine atopic dermatitis (AD). One hundred and twenty dogs were diagnosed with perennial AD on the basis of history, clinical signs, a positive test for perennial allergens and elimination of other dermatoses. Exclusion criteria included antimicrobials within 7 days, antihistamines within 14 days, oral/topical glucocorticoids or ciclosporin within 28 days, and parenteral glucocorticoids, essential fatty acids or immunotherapy within 56 days. Flea control, shampoos and ear cleaners were permitted. Dogs with a minimum canine atopic dermatitis extent and severity index (CADESI) of 25 were randomly allocated to receive PYM00217 (100, 200 or 400 mg kg-1 day-1) or placebo for 12 weeks. The mean reductions in CADESI (intention-to-treat population) were 3.9% (placebo; n=29), 4.4% (100 mg kg-1 day-1; n=30), 23.4% (200 mg kg-1 day-1; n=29) and 8.5% (400 mg kg-1 day-1; n=29). The reduction in the 200 mg kg-1 day-1 group was significant (P<0.01). For dogs with a baseline CADESI>or=50, the mean changes were +10.6% (placebo; n=12), +0.6% (100 mg kg-1 day-1; n=14), -29.3% (200 mg kg-1 day-1; n=14) and -3.4% (400 mg kg-1 day-1; n=15). The 200 mg kg-1 day-1 dose was significantly more effective than placebo (P=0.038). No serious adverse effects were reported. Minor adverse effects seen in 10% (placebo and 100 mg kg-1 day-1), 24% (200 mg kg-1 day-1) and 42% (400 mg kg-1 day-1) of cases were mainly minor gastrointestinal disorders and only five cases required cessation of dosing. Two dogs (one in each of the 100 mg kg-1 day-1 and 200 mg kg-1 day-1 groups) refused to eat the medicated food. In conclusion, PYM00217 at 200 mg kg-1 appears to be an effective, palatable and well-tolerated treatment for canine AD.     

Identification and Cloning of Resistance Gene Analogues (RGAs) Encoding NBS-LRR Proteins from Gossypium arboreum L.

Plants have developed a complicated defense mechanism during evolution to resist the harmful pathogens they encountered.The mechanism involves the interaction of the plant resistance (R) gene product with the component from the pathogen.This interaction further activates the signal transdue tion pathway,thus leading to defense responses.These defense responses include a hypersensitive response that results in localized cell death,and other general responses such as strengthening of the cell wall,formation of phytoalexins,etc.     

Nutritional evaluation of an improved soybean meal as a fishmeal replacer in the diet of Pacific white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

A 12‐week growth trial was conducted to assess an improved soybean meal (ISBM) in the diet of Pacific white shrimp (PWS). Four isonitrogenous and isolipidic experimental diets were formulated: the control diet (ISBM‐0) contained 30% fishmeal (FM) and three test diets (ISBM‐33, ISBM‐66 and ISBM‐100) were formulated by gradually replacing FM on an isonitrogenous basis. Groups of PWS (3.2 g mean initial weight) were fed their respective experimental diets three times per day. Production performance of PWS was unaffected by diet, except the final weight of shrimp‐fed ISBM‐66 diet was significantly lower than those fed ISBM‐0. Whole‐body moisture was significantly higher and protein was significantly lower in PWS‐fed ISBM‐100 versus shrimp‐fed ISBM‐0. PWS‐fed ISBM‐66 had significantly higher oleic acid than shrimp‐fed ISBM‐0 and linolenic acid versus shrimp‐fed ISBM‐0 and ISBM‐100. The lowest linoleic acid and n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids levels were found in shrimp‐fed ISBM‐100. Based on second‐degree polynomial regression analysis of final weight and weight gain, the estimated optimum levels of ISBM to replace FM in PWS diets are 89.13% and 95.56% respectively. Overall, results indicate alternative, sustainable, plant‐based protein sources such as ISBM may potentially replace FM in PWS diets.     

Effect of land-use on small mammal abundance and diversity in a forest–farmland mosaic landscape in south-eastern Norway

During the last century the boreal forests of south-eastern Norway have been converted into patchworks of agricultural areas, clear-cuts and even-aged conifer monocultures. Even though Scandinavian forest ecosystems are strongly influenced by small mammals’ dynamics, the effects of anthropogenic changes on these communities are still debated. We conducted an extensive capture–mark–recapture study to examine the relative abundance and distribution of 11 species of small mammals during the reproductive season with respect to all available landscape-scale habitat types and fine-scale vegetation characteristics.     

Effects of transportation timing on osmoregulation and survival in yearling hatchery Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

Seasonal timing of transportation and acclimation of juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) between hatcheries may affect osmoregulation and survival. We investigated the duration of time fish need to acclimate to hatchery conditions prior to being presented with a saltwater challenge. We monitored acute survival and osmoregulatory ability following a 24-h saltwater challenge of fish previously transported to a hatchery at various times throughout the year compared to fish reared at that hatchery. Fish that underwent a saltwater challenge 3 weeks after transport had significantly reduced osmoregulatory performance and increased mortality compared to fish allowed an acclimation period of 2 months.     

Distribution and dynamics of the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris L.) in a landscape with fragmented habitat

In a four year study data on the presence of red squirrel were collected in an agricultural landscape by counting dreys in 49 woods ranging from 0.5 to 14 ha, and differing in quality of habitat and isolation.Logit regression analysis showed that the area per woodlot covered with conifers is a good predictor of squirrel presence for each year and during the whole period, but the significance of the regression decreases with time. During the study the number of woods occupied by red squirrel increased, and smaller woods and those without conifers also became inhabited. This trend is in accordance with the positive effect of time in regression analyses on the presence of the species and on the colonization of woods, and it suggests an increase of squirrel numbers in the area. Addition of several isolation variables in the regression analyses showed significant effects in different years, and the effect of isolation was independent of time. In the first two years the area of habitat around a woodlot, the distance to the nearest woodlot larger than 30 ha, and the density of possible movement corridors have significant effects on the presence of red squirrel.In the last two years, with presumably a high number of squirrels, the (short) distance to the nearest woodlot and also the area of habitat around woods have significant effects. It is concluded that the spatial dynamics of the population can be understood as the outcome of individual spatial behaviour, rather than as the result of metapopulation processes.     

Multiple genetic typing of Salmonella Enteritidis phage-types 4, 6, 7, 8 and 13a isolates from animals and humans in the UK

Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis is a common cause of salmonellosis in people in the UK. This study aimed to assess the degree of genetic diversity among animal and human isolates from UK, Wales and northern Ireland. A total of 250 isolates from humans (n=59) and animals or their environment (n=191), belonging to the most common phage-types, were fingerprinted by a combination of PFGE, PS ribotyping and plasmid profiling. The different techniques identified different degrees of polymorphism (PS ribotyping (52 types)>PFGE (22 types)>plasmid profiling (17 types)). A prevalent genomic clone, as well as a variety of less frequent clones are present for each of the phage-types. In most cases, the prevalent clones appeared within isolates from several animal species and from several geographical locations. The percentage of sporadic clones found in animal and human populations were very similar. There was not clear evidence of a higher degree of diversity for human or animal isolates. Some clones were found to be present in both human and animal.