Phytophthora disease of alder (Alnus glutinosa) in France: investigations between 1995 and 1999

A severe decline of alder associated with an undescribed Phytophthora species was identified for the first time in England in 1993. No generalized decline of alder was reported in France before 1990. The first diebacks and mortalities of common alder were observed at the beginning of the 1990s, but the so‐called alder Phytophthora was not isolated in France until 1996. First, a synthesis about alder declines that were known in France before 1995 is presented. Then, a survey was established in north‐eastern France; 108 sites were visited and the alder Phytophthora was isolated from 57 of them. All the main rivers were found to be affected and damage levels are significant along some of them. The frequency of the alder Phytophthora and other fungi isolated from declining alders is discussed. Finally, information on other alder declines in France is presented region by region, and a map summarizes the known distribution of the disease. The alder Phytophthora is quite common and widespread in France, with western and north‐eastern France being especially affected; however, the number of diseased or dead trees varies greatly from one site to another. All records are from Alnus glutinosa; other Alnus species were seldom seen in the surveys.     

Alpha-chaconine-reduced metastasis involves a PI3K/Akt signaling pathway with downregulation of NF-kappaB in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells

Alpha-chaconine, isolated from Solanum tuberosum Linn., is a naturally occurring steroidal glycoalkaloid in potato sprouts. Some reports demonstrated that alpha-chaconine had various anticarcinogenic properties. The aim of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effect of alpha-chaconine on lung adenocarcinoma cell metastasis in vitro. We chose the highly metastatic A549 cells, which were treated with various concentrations of alpha-chaconine to clarify the potential of inhibiting A549 cells invasion and migration. Data showed that alpha-chaconine inhibited A549 cell invasion/migration according to wound healing assay and Boyden chamber assay. Our results also showed that alpha-chaconine could inhibit phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and Akt, whereas it did not affected phosphorylation of extracellular signal regulating kinase (ERK) and p38. In addition, alpha-chaconine significantly decreased the nuclear level of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) and the binding ability of NF-kappaB. These results suggested that alpha-chaconine inhibited A549 cell metastasis by a reduction of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activities involving suppression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt/NF-kappaB (PI3K/Akt/NF-kappaB) signaling pathway. Inhibiting metastasis by alpha-chaconine might offer a pivotal mechanism for its effective chemotherapeutic action.     

Survey of gastrointestinal parasitic infections in quarantined dogs in Taiwan

Intestinal helminth and protozoan infection in the quarantined dogs in Taiwan were examined using fecal examination between January to December, 2004. Of the 376 dogs imported from 11 countries, 63 (16.8%) were found to be infected with at least one species of intestinal parasite. The parasites detected were oocysts of Isospora canis and eggs of Toxocara canis, Trichuris vulpis and hookworms. Of the 63 infected dogs, 11 were found to have a mixed infection of two different species of parasites. This paper illustrates that parasites are transmitted from one country to another through the transport of animals. Moreover, there is also a possibility of parasitic infection among quarantined dogs as well as the zoonotic potential for quarantine officers during the quarantine period.     

Effects of dietary supplementation of Chinese medicinal herbs on polymorphonuclear neutrophil immune activity and small intestinal morphology in weanling pigs

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary Chinese medicinal herbs (CMH) supplementation composed of Panax ginseng, Dioscoreaceae opposite, Atractylodes macrocephala, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Ziziphus jujube and Platycodon grandiflorum, on the performance, intestinal tract morphology and immune activity in weanling pigs. Two hundred and forty weaned pigs were assigned randomly to four dietary groups including the negative control (basal diet), 0.1% CMH, 0.3% CMH and 0.114% antibiotic (Chlortetracycline calcium Complex, Sulfathiazole and Procaine Penicillin G) supplementation groups for a 28-day feeding trial. Results indicated that both CMH supplementation groups had a better gain and feed/gain than control group (CT) during the first 2 weeks of the experimental period. The 0.3% CMH had a significant decrease in the diarrhoea score in first 10 days of experimental period when compared with other groups. The CMH supplementation groups had a higher villous height, increased lactobacilli counts in digesta of ileum and decreased coliform counts in colon compared with CT. The immune activities of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs), including the respiratory burst and Salmonella-killing ability, were significantly enhanced in CMH supplementation groups at day 7 of experiment period. The CMH and antibiotic supplementations increased the nutrient digestibility such as dietary dry matter, crude protein and gross energy in weanling pigs. In conclusion, the dietary CMH supplementation improved intestinal morphology and immune activities of PMNs, thus giving rise to nutrient digestibility and reduce diarrhoea frequency in weanling pigs.     

Determination of cardiac output in neonatal foals by ultrasound velocity dilution and its comparison to the lithium dilution method

Objective – To compare cardiac output (CO) measured by use of lithium dilution (LiDCO) and ultrasound velocity dilution (UDCO) in conditions of high, intermediate, and low CO in anesthetized foals.
Design – Original prospective study.
Setting – University teaching hospital.
Animals – Six foals 1–3 days of age (38–45 kg).
Interventions – Neonatal foals were anesthetized and instrumented to measure direct blood pressure, heart rate, arterial blood gases, and CO. The CO was measured by use of LiDCO and UDCO techniques. Measurements were obtained from each foal at baseline and during low, intermediate, and high CO states. Measurements were converted to cardiac index (cardiac index=CO/body weight) values for statistical analysis. Agreement between the 2 methods was determined using Bland and Altman analysis and concordance correlation coefficients.
Measurements and Main Results – LiDCO determinations of CO ranged between 4.0 and 14.0 L/min resulting in cardiac index ranging between 75.5 and 310 mL/kg/min. There was no significant effect of blood pressure variation on bias or relative bias ( P =0.62 and 0.93, respectively). The mean bias and relative bias of UDCO (±SD) compared with LiDCO were −20.1±39.2 mL/kg/min and −7.7±23.4%, respectively. Concordance correlation coefficient between LiDCO and UDCO was 0.833.
Conclusions – When compared with LiDCO, the UDCO technique has acceptable clinical utility for measuring CO in healthy anesthetized newborn foals.     

Intracardiac foreign body in a dog

A dog that was referred to the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center was discovered to have a bamboo skewer within the right atrium and right ventricle, traversing the tricuspid valve. The skewer was ingested approximately four months prior to referral and was partially removed via gastrotomy. The presenting complaint at the time of referral included coagulopathy, anemia and leukocytosis. A linear, hyperechoic structure was identified in the right heart during an echocardiogram. The foreign body was suspected to be a portion of the skewer that the patient had previously ingested. Cardiopulmonary bypass was performed and the foreign body was removed successfully. Complications following surgery included the development of tricuspid valve and ventricular wall thrombi, atrial flutter and amiodarone toxicity. Many indications have been described in the veterinary literature for cardiopulmonary bypass. However, to the best of the authors' knowledge, successful removal of an intracardiac foreign body with cardiopulmonary bypass has not been reported in a veterinary patient. This represents a new indication for cardiopulmonary bypass in veterinary medicine.     

Effects of clarified neem oil on growth and aflatoxin B1 formation in submerged and plate cultures of aflatoxigenicAspergillus spp.

An increase of 11–31% of dry mycelial mass was observed along with a slight decrease (5–10%) in aflatoxin Bi production in 5-day-old aflatoxigenicAspergillus spp. submerged cultures containing either 0.5 ml or 1.0 ml clarified neem oil (CNO) in 0.1 % Triton solution. Fungal growth and aflatoxin B₁ production were also determined in potato-dextrose-agar petri plate cultures inoculated with aflatoxigenicAspergillus spp. containing an atmosphere of volatiles emitted from 0.25 ml, 0.5 ml, and 1.0 ml CNO added to the plates. After 5 days’ incubation, fungal radial growth was reduced by 7–29% and aflatoxin B₁ production by 0–67%. GC/MS analysis of the head space volatiles of the CNO indicated that the reduction of fungal growth and aflatoxin B₁ was probably due to low molecular weight hydrocarbons, aldehydes, alcohols, and sulfur compounds emitted at 30°C in the dry culture. These results suggest that volatiles emitted from CNO at 30° C in plate cultures were more fungistatic and consequently inhibited aflatoxin production more than neem oil added in liquid cultures.     

Monte Carlo simulation of animal-product violations incurred by air passengers at an international airport in Taiwan

Our aim was to evaluate the inspection of arriving passengers for the illegal transport of animal products through the international airport into Taiwan. Passenger-violation data were retrieved from the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) in Taiwan. Monte Carlo simulations with 5000 iterations were applied to estimate the predicted violation numbers considering factors such as passenger's nationality/ethnicity, sex, and monthly statistics of violations. The results showed that Chinese-related passengers and passengers from South East Asian countries have a relatively higher potential risk for incurring violations during the period from Christmas to Chinese Lunar New Year. Most monthly estimated violation risks are significantly higher than observed violation risks in 2001 and 2002, except April, July, and August. Due to the low sensitivity of the current detection system (reflected by the higher estimated violation risks and a two-fold detection increase after the implementation of an inspection service using detector dogs), we recommend additional preventive measures be taken.     

Molecular characterization and pathogenicity of Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis isolated from cultured tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) in Taiwan

Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis is a causative agent of systemic granulomatous disease in tilapia. The present study was designed to understand the genetic and phenotypic diversities among Taiwanese Fno isolates obtained from tilapia (n = 17) and green Texas cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) (n = 1). The enzymatic profiles of the isolates were studied using the API ZYM system. Phylogenetic tree analysis of the 16S rRNA and housekeeping gene and pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were carried out to determine the genotypic characters of all isolates. The phylogenetic tree showed similarity of 99%–100% nucleotide sequences of 16S rRNA and housekeeping genes compared to the Fno references genes from GenBank database. Comparatively, the results revealed an identical profile of enzymatic and PFGE pattern which was distincted from that of F. philomiragia. To understand the pathogenicity, the isolates were intraperitoneal injected to tilapia the gross lesions were observed concomitant with natural outbreak. Median lethal dose upon Nile tilapia and red tilapia were 9.06 × 10³ CFU/fish and 2.08 × 10² CFU/fish, respectively. Thus, our data provide understanding the epidemiology of Taiwanese Fno isolates, and help in development of future control and prevention.