First report of Cryptosporidium deer-like genotype in Kenyan cattle

The objective of the study was to identify Cryptosporidium genotypes from feces collected from urban and peri-urban dairy cattle in Nairobi, Kenya, in order to determine their zoonotic potential. DNA was extracted from 34 samples that were diagnosed positive by the modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique. Two Cryptosporidium isolates examined at the 18S rRNA locus were identified as the deer-like genotype by DNA sequencing. As public health officials are facing the difficult decision whether to allow urban livestock production because of its economic benefits and a livelihood asset to the urban communities, or to ban it for its public health risks, the finding of non-zoonotic genotypes in a smallholder dairy system has significant public health as well as economic implications that merit further investigation.     

Schirmer tear tests and intraocular pressures in conscious and anesthetized koalas (Phascolarctus cinereus)

Objective To estimate mean Schirmer tear test (STT) and intraocular pressure (IOP) values in healthy koalas both conscious and anesthetized. Methods Data were gathered from koalas in Victoria, Australia. Conscious examinations were performed on captive koalas. Free‐ranging (wild) koalas were examined under anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced using alfaxalone, and animals were maintained on oxygen and isoflurane if required. All animals were healthy and had no surface ocular pathology detectable during slit lamp biomicroscopy. STT I tests were performed using commercial STT test strips placed in the lower fornix for 1 min. IOP was measured using an applanation tonometer after topical anesthesia. The higher value of the two eyes for both STT and IOP was analyzed. STT was measured in 53 koalas (34 conscious, 19 anesthetized) and IOP was measured in 43 koalas (30 conscious, 13 anesthetized). A two‐sample t‐test was used to compare means. A P‐value <0.05 was regarded as significant. Mean ± SD is presented. Results The mean higher STT in conscious koalas was 10.3 ± 3.6 mm wetting/min and in anesthetized koalas it decreased to 3.8 ± 4.0 mm wetting/min (P < 0.0001). The mean higher IOP in conscious koalas was 15.3 ± 5.1 mmHg, and in anesthetized koalas it was 13.8 ± 3.4 mmHg (P = 0.32). There was no effect of sex on either STT or IOP. Conclusions The mean and SD of STT and IOP values for koalas both conscious and anesthetized were reported. The mean STT was significantly reduced by alfaxalone anesthesia.     

Elimination of cetirizine following administration of multiple doses to exercised thoroughbred horses

Cetirizine is an antihistamine used in performance horses for the treatment of hypersensitivity reactions and as such a withdrawal time is necessary prior to competition. The objective of the current study was to describe the disposition and elimination of cetirizine following oral administration in order to provide additional serum concentration data upon which appropriate regulatory recommendations can be established. Nine exercised thoroughbred horses were administered 0.4 mg/kg of cetirizine orally BID for a total of five doses. Blood samples were collected immediately prior to drug administration and at various times postadministration. Serum cetirizine concentrations were determined and selected pharmacokinetic parameters determined. The serum elimination half‐life was 5.83 ± 0.841 h. Average serum cetirizine concentrations were still above the LOQ of the assay (0.05 ng/mL) at 48 h (final sample collected) postadministration of the final dose.     

Effect of surgical technique on limb function after surgery for rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine the outcome and effect of surgical technique on limb function after surgery for rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament (RCCL) and injury to the medial meniscus in Labrador Retrievers. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. ANIMALS: 131 Labrador Retrievers with unilateral RCCL and injury to the medial meniscus and 17 clinically normal Labrador Retrievers. PROCEDURE: Affected dogs had partial or complete medial meniscectomy and lateral suture stabilization (LSS), intracapsular stabilization (ICS), or tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). Limb function was measured before surgery and 2 and 6 months after surgery. Treated dogs were evaluated to determine the probability that they could be differentiated from clinically normal dogs and tested to determine the likelihood that they achieved improvement. RESULTS: No difference was found between LSS or TPLO groups, but dogs treated with ICS had significantly lower ground reaction forces at 2 and 6 months. Compared with clinically normal dogs only, 14.9% of LSS-, 15% of ICS-, and 10.9% of TPLO-treated dogs had normal limb function. Improvement was seen in only 15% of dogs treated via ICS, 34% treated via TPLO, and 40% treated via LSS. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Surgical technique can influence limb function after surgery. Labrador Retrievers treated via LSS, ICS, or TPLO for repair for of RCCL and medial meniscal injury managed with partial or complete meniscectomy infrequently achieve normal function. Results of LSS and TPLO are similar and superior to ICS.     

Stratum corneum removal facilitates experimental sensitization to mite allergens in atopic dogs

In humans with atopic dermatitis and in mouse models of IgE-mediated allergic diseases, evidence is mounting that the stratum corneum (SC) provides an important barrier against environmental allergens. At this time, it is not known whether the SC has a similar role in dogs, especially in those with atopic dermatitis. The objectives of this pilot study were to determine whether SC removal led to earlier and stronger sensitization of atopic dogs to Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) house dust mites. Five Maltese-beagle atopic (MBA) dogs were sensitized epicutaneously after the SC was removed with ten tape strips (TS group), while sensitization was done without tape strips in five other MBA dogs (nontape stripping; NTS group). During this 16 week study, sensitization was assessed with allergen-specific IgE serology, intradermal testing with Df allergens and determination of stimulation indices of blood mononuclear cells cultured with Df and stained for CD4 and the activation markers CD25 or CD30. Compared with dogs from the NTS group, those of the TS group exhibited earlier rises in Df-specific IgE serum levels, usually had higher allergen-specific IgE titres, showed higher intradermal test reactivity and had earlier increases and higher percentages of CD25- or CD30-positive activated allergen-specific peripheral CD4-positive T lymphocytes. These observations implicate a role of the SC as a barrier limiting sensitization to exogenous allergens in this experimental atopic dog model.     

Development and validation of a soil-based geographic information system model of habitat of Fossaria bulimoides, a snail intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica

Soil maps were investigated for their potential to indicate the spatial distribution of habitat of the amphibious snail, Fossaria bulimoides, the intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica in Louisiana. On a 760 ha farm adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico, most snail habitats clustered along interfaces of cheniers (relict beaches with sandy soils) with marsh (heavy, gleyed clays). A few small foci occurred on the cheniers above interfaces. Virtually no habitats occupied marsh away from these interfaces, on this or several other farms previously examined. Habitat and soil map overlays were analyzed in a raster-based geographic information system (GIS) with a 10 m pixel size; a model of habitat was generated as bands 50–90 m wide at chenier-marsh interfaces. The model was extrapolated to a 29 000 ha study area and tested on 12 additional farms not adjacent to the Gulf. On these farms, snail surveys were carried out as transects on three strata: waveface (WF, former beachfront) and backslope (BS) chenier-marsh interfaces, and chenier. The perimeters of all habitats encountered were outlined. The interface of marsh with chenier backslopes occupied 5.25% of the area of the farms, but held 21.69% of snail habitat area. Additionally, chenier soils of the Hackberry-Mermentau complex (HM) occupied 12.32% of farm area, but held 61.39% of habitat. Habitat area was related by regression analysis to the proportion of farm consisting of HM soils (r² = 0.41, P < 0.05).     

Protection of cattle against heartwater in Botswana: comparative efficacy of different methods against natural and blood-derived challenges

Five groups of Tswana-cross castrated male cattle between 20 and 30 months of age (a total of 158 animals) were transported from a ranch in a heartwater-free area of south Botswana to a feedlot near Gaborone in the east of Botswana where heartwater is endemic. On arrival, one group was vaccinated intravenously with the Onderstepoort sheep blood heartwater vaccine, one group was vaccinated intravenously with the new Onderstepoort tick-derived heartwater vaccine and a third group was vaccinated subcutaneously with this tick-derived vaccine. Vaccine reactions were blocked with long acting oxytetracycline on the first day of fever. A fourth group had a series of injections of long acting oxytetracycline on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 after arrival, and a fifth served as untreated controls. The animals remained at the feedlot for 65 days during which time they faced a low level of challenge by Amblyomma hebraeum ticks. None contracted heartwater and so they were then challenged, together with a further group of control cattle, with a dose of the sheep blood vaccine. Some animals in all groups had severe heartwater reactions and died despite therapy, but 76.7 per cent, 64.5 per cent and 74.3 per cent of the cattle in the blood vaccine, intravenous tick vaccine and long acting oxytetracycline groups respectively were resistant to challenge, compared with 48.3 per cent of the subcutaneous tick vaccine group and 36.4 per cent of the controls. It was concluded that intravenous vaccination of susceptible adult cattle with either the blood or the tick-derived vaccine needs careful monitoring in the month after vaccination and does not necessarily result in immune animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Liquid chromatography analysis of erythromycin A in salmon tissue by electrochemical detection with confirmation by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

A rapid and sensitive method is described for the quantitation of erythromycin A (EA) in edible salmon tissue by liquid chromatography (LC) analysis using either electrochemical detection (ED) or electrospray ionization mass spectrometric (ESI/MS) detection. The salmon tissue is extracted with 10 mM ammonium formate. The extract is then purified by solid phase extraction using a hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced (HLB) polymeric-based C18 packing, followed by partitioning of EA into methylene chloride at alkaline pH, evaporation, and final dilution. The mean recoveries of EA at 50, 100, 200, and 400 ppb levels in fortified salmon tissue were 63.8 +/- 6.0 and 75.5 +/- 5.4% by LC-ED and LC-ESI/MS, respectively. There was no evidence of formation of the anhydro-EA (m/z 716) decomposition product of EA (m/z 734) that was reported to occur by other published methods.     

Raman spectroscopic evidence for two conformations of uncomplexed valinomycin in the solid state

Raman spectroscopy is applied for the first time to elucidate the different conformations of the carrier transport molecule, valinomycin. Splitting of the ester and amide carbonyl stretch vibrations is observed in the Raman spectrum of crystals of valinomycin grown from both n-octane and acetone. These observations support the contention that some ester carbonyl groups are intramolecularly hydrogen bonded. The Raman spectrum of valinomycin grown from o-dichlorobenzene does not display this feature.