Potential role of hares in the spread of liver fluke in the Netherlands

Hares (Lepus europeanus) sharing pasture with cattle from six locations in the Netherlands were examined for the presence of liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) and shown to have prevalences of infection ranging from 0 to 41%. The mitochondrial haplotypes of liver flukes present in the hare populations were determined and compared with those found in cattle from a farm where triclabendazole resistance has been reported. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the flukes present in the hares belonged to the same clades as those present in the cattle. A consideration of the life cycle of the liver fluke and the seasonal breeding pattern and ecology of hares supports the suggestion that hares may act as a refugia for liver fluke and as a vector for the spread of drug-resistant genotypes.     

Analysis of the effect of the bovine adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter G2 single nucleotide polymorphism Y581S on transcellular transport of veterinary drugs using new cell culture models

In commercial dairy production, the risk of drug residues and environmental pollutants in milk from ruminants has become an outstanding problem. One of the main determinants of active drug secretion into milk is the ATP-binding cassette transporter G2/breast cancer resistance protein (ABCG2/BCRP). It is located in several organs associated with drug absorption, metabolism, and excretion, and its expression is highly induced during lactation in the mammary gland of ruminants, mice, and humans. As a consequence, potential contamination of milk could expose suckling infants to xenotoxins. In cows, a SNP for this protein affecting quality and quantity of milk production has been described previously (Y581S). In this study, our main purpose was to determine whether this polymorphism has an effect on transcellular transport of veterinary drugs because this could alter substrate pharmacokinetics and milk residues. We stably expressed the wild-type bovine ABCG2 and the Y581S variant in Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells (MDCKII) and MEF3.8 cell lines generating cell models in which the functionality of the bovine transporter could be addressed. Functional studies confirmed the greater functional activity in mitoxantrone accumulation assays for the Y581S variant with a greater relative V(MAX) value (P = 0.040) and showed for the first time that the Y581S variant presents greater transcellular transport of the model ABCG2 substrate nitrofurantoin (P = 0.024) and of 3 veterinary antibiotics, the fluoroquinolone agents enrofloxacin (P = 0.035), danofloxacin (P = 0.001), and difloxacin (P = 0.008), identified as new substrates of the bovine ABCG2. In addition, the inhibitory effect of the macrocyclic lactone ivermectin on the activity of wild-type bovine ABCG2 and the Y581S variant was also confirmed, showing a greater inhibitory potency on the wild-type protein at all the concentrations tested (5 μM, P = 0.017; 10 μM, P = 0.001; 25 μM, P = 0.008; and 50 μM, P = 0.003). Differential transport activity depending on the genotype together with the differential inhibition pattern might have clinical consequences, including changes in substrate pharmacokinetics (and subsequently pharmacodynamics) and more specifically, changes in secretion of ABCG2 substrates into milk, potentially implying important consequences to veterinary therapeutics.     

Histopathologic changes of the ear in canine models of mucopolysaccharidosis types I and VII

Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) types I and VII are inborn errors of metabolism caused by mutation of enzymes involved in glycosaminoglycan catabolism, which leads to intralysosomal accumulation of glycosaminoglycans. In children, severe forms of MPS I and VII are characterized by somatic and neurologic manifestations, including a poorly understood hearing loss. The purpose of this study is to describe the age-related histopathologic changes of the ear in spontaneous canine models of MPS I and VII. Pathologic changes in the ear were assessed in MPS I and VII dogs ranging from 1.6 to 9.3 months of age. Paraffin-embedded sections of the whole ear and Epon-embedded semithin sections of the cochlea were examined. The following lesions were blindly scored in the middle and inner ear: inflammation, cells vacuolization, thickening of osseous and membranous structures, perivascular vacuolated macrophages infiltration, and bone resorption. All dogs had lysosomal storage within cells of tympanic membrane, ossicles, tympanic bone and mucosa, cochlear bone, spiral ligament, limbus, and stria vascularis. The MPS I dogs mainly had progressive cochlear lesions. The MPS VII dogs had severe and early middle ear lesions, including chronic otitis media and bone resorption. The MPS I dog only partially recapitulates the pathology seen in humans; specifically, the dog model lacks inflammatory middle ear disease. In contrast, the MPS VII dog has severe inflammatory middle ear disease similar to that reported in the human. In conclusion, the canine MPS VII model appears to be a good model to study MPS VII-related deafness.     

Copper toxicosis in cattle fed chicken litter

Cattle from 2 herds developed copper toxicosis after the ingestion of chicken litter. The affected animals were adult Holstein cows and crossbred steers that ate 9 to 16 kg of litter/day. These cattle developed a sudden onset of weakness, depression, anorexia, icteric mucous membranes, and dark reddish brown urine. Liver copper concentrations in 2 cattle (1 from each herd) were 436 and 730 ppm. Results of copper analyses of chicken litter ranged from 620 to 920 ppm. Sodium molybdate and sodium thiosulfate were added to the ration of the dairy herd. Two cows with clinical signs of copper toxicosis recovered after being given additional sodium molybdate and thiosulfate supplements, orally.     

Use of ev loci as a measure of inbreeding in domestic fowls

1. The endogenous avian leukosis virus (ev) loci present in 9 lines of domestic fowls have been partially characterised and the average heterozygosity of the loci in each line calculated. 2. Using these data an estimate of the coefficient of inbreeding of the lines was derived; this estimate of the extent of inbreeding is compared with the mating history of the lines. 3. This method provides the first means of directly assessing the degree of inbreeding of fowl lines: assumptions implicit in the method are discussed.     

Use of phenytoin to treat digitalis-induced cardiac arrhythmias in a miniature Shetland pony

Two miniature Shetland ponies showing clinical signs of Digitalis purpurea (foxglove) poisoning were examined. One animal died shortly afterwards, but the second was treated successfully with the anti-arrhythmic agent, phenytoin, and was discharged after 16 days.