Biofilm production by pathogens associated with canine otitis externa,and the antibiofilm activity of ionophores and antimicrobial adjuvants

Otitis externa (OE) is a frequently reported disorder in dogs associated with secondary infections by Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas and yeast pathogens. The presence of biofilms may play an important role in the resistance of otic pathogens to antimicrobial agents. Biofilm production of twenty Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and twenty Pseudomonas aeruginosa canine otic isolates was determined quantitatively using a microtiter plate assay, and each isolate was classified as a strong, moderate, weak or nonbiofilm producer. Minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) of two ionophores (narasin and monensin) and three adjuvants (N‐acetylcysteine (NAC), Tris‐EDTA and disodium EDTA) were investigated spectrophotometrically (OD_570nm) and quantitatively (CFU/ml) against selected Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas biofilm cultures. Concurrently, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of planktonic cultures were assessed. 16/20 of the S. pseudintermedius clinical isolates were weak biofilm producers. 19/20 P. aeruginosa clinical isolates produced biofilms and were distributed almost equally as weak, moderate and strong biofilm producers. While significant antibiofilm activity was observed, no MBEC was achieved with narasin or monensin. The MBEC for NAC ranged from 5,000–10,000 µg/ml and from 20,000–80,000 µg/ml against S. pseudintermedius and P. aeruginosa, respectively. Tris‐EDTA eradicated P. aeruginosa biofilms at concentrations ranging from 6,000/1,900 to 12,000/3,800 µg/ml. The MBEC was up to 16‐fold and eightfold higher than the MIC/MBC of NAC and Tris‐EDTA, respectively. Disodium EDTA reduced biofilm growth of both strains at concentrations of 470 µg/ml and higher. It can be concluded that biofilm production is common in pathogens associated with canine OE. NAC and Tris‐EDTA are effective antibiofilm agents in vitro that could be considered for the treatment of biofilm‐associated OE in dogs.     

The Use of Colonic Irrigation to Control Fecal Incontinence in Dogs With Colostomies

OBJECTIVE: To determine if once-daily colonic irrigation results in fecal continence for a 24-hour period in dogs with colostomies and if colonic volume increased in response to the irrigation. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective controlled experimental study. ANIMALS: Four intact male and one intact female mixed breed dogs. MATERIALS: All dogs received left end-on paralumbar colostomies. Four dogs received once-daily colonic irrigation for 8 weeks, whereas the control dog did not. Daily fecal weights were recorded for the length of the study in all dogs. Barium enema studies and volumetric studies were used to determine colonic volumes. RESULTS: Daily fecal weights were significantly decreased in treatment dogs compared with the control dog. Colonic volume increased in irrigated dogs in response to daily irrigation over the 8 week period of the study. CONCLUSIONS: Colonic irrigation resulted in significantly decreased fecal production over a 24-hour period. Therefore management of dogs with colostomies would be more practical and cost effective. It did not result in complete fecal continence in this study. Further clinical studies are indicated to determine if longer periods of irrigation would result in complete continence.     

Effect of cold-anesthetization rate on blood biochemical parameters and muscle composition during live channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus waterless preservation

Fisheries Science - Cold-anesthetization waterless live fish preservation is considered a promising alternative strategy. This work investigates the effects of temperature chilling rates of 2, 4,...     

血清10型鸭疫里默氏杆菌灭活油乳剂疫苗的研制

鸭疫里默氏杆菌(Riemerella anatipestifer,RA)感染是主要危害2~8周龄雏鸭的高致病性细菌性传染病。为研制血清10型RA灭活油乳剂疫苗,选取10株血清10型RA分离株进行动物体复壮、分离和鉴定后,分别对部分毒株进行了毒力测定和灭活油乳剂疫苗的研制。结果表明,所有试验用分离株对7日龄雏鸭均具有较强的致病力。分离株YXL1和HXb2的半数致死量分别为2.8×108 cfu和82 cfu,不同菌株之间的毒力差异很大。用研制的灭活油乳剂疫苗对雏鸭进行2次免疫后,免疫鸭可获得高水平的特异性抗体,并可抵抗强毒RA的攻击,以HXb2免疫后的攻毒保护性最好。抗体水平检测和攻毒保护试验结果表明,用血清10型RA分离株HXb2制备的油乳剂灭活疫苗具有良好的免疫保护作用。     

Optimization of Stachydrine Hydrochloride in Leonurus Extraction Method by HPLC-ELSD

The study was aimed to extract stachydrine hydrochloride in leonurus by HPLC-ELSD,and establish hydrochloride stachydrine determination methods for providing theoretical basis of leonurus extraction process optimization.The chromatographic conditions:venusil HILIC hydrophilic column;Mobile phase was acetonitrile -0.2% acetic acid solution (volume ratio 80:20);The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min;And the column temperature was 30 ℃;The detector was ELSD and drift tube temperature was 80 ℃ with the atomization chamber temperature 50 ℃ and carrier gas volume flow 1.0000 mL/min.The results showed that there was a good linear relationship when the stachydrine hydrochloride content was 0.49 to 4.91 μg (R²=0.9993);There was the highest rate of active ingredients extraction of when the extraction time was 1 h,material to water ratio was 20:1 and extracted for 2 times.Combined with production practice,the final optimization scheme was that the extraction time was 1.5 h,material to water ratio was 20:1 and extracted for 2 times.In summary,the determination of stachydrine hydrochloride in leonurus should use HPLC-ELSD method which had high specificity,good stability,response and reproducibility and easy to handle.This method could provide the theoretical basis for optimizing the leonurus extraction process.     

Multiple striate keratotomy: a treatment for corneal erosions caused by epithelial basement membrane disease

Objective To study the efficacy of multiple striate keratotomy for the treatment of persistent corneal erosions suspected to be caused by primary corneal epithelial basement membrane disease.
Design A retrospective study.
Animals 16 dogs, three cats and one Australian dingo.
Procedure A technique called multiple striate keratotomy was used to treat twenty animals suffering from persistent corneal erosions.
Results All persistent corneal erosions healed with only one treatment. Most cases healed within 2 weeks. One case developed a second erosion in the same eye but in a different position to the original erosion.
Conclusions Multiple striate keratotomy is a safe, effective and well tolerated technique for the treatment of persistent corneal erosions thought to be caused by corneal epithelial basement membrane disease.     

Simulation study of the competitive ability of erect, semi-erect and prostrate cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) genotypes

Ecophysiological simulation models provide a quantitative method to predict the effects of management practices, plant characteristics and environmental factors on crop and weed growth and competition. The INTERCOM interplant competition model was parameterised, calibrated by monoculture data for three cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) genotypes that differed in growth habit, common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and common purslane (Portulaca oleracea), and used to simulate competition of cowpea cover crops with sunflower or purslane. The simulation results were compared with observations from field competition experiments in 2003 and 2004. INTERCOM more accurately simulated actual field data for the competition of cowpea genotypes and sunflower than companion field experiments for the competition of cowpea and purslane. The validated simulation model of cowpea and sunflower at two densities was used to study the effects of cowpea growth habit on final biomass production of cowpea and sunflower. The model suggested that erect growth habit was more competitive than semi‐erect and prostrate growth habit, when cowpea genotypes were grown with sunflower. Cowpea leaf area distribution was important to higher cowpea biomass production, while cowpea height growth was important to reduce sunflower biomass. Our simulation approach is suggested as a method for crop breeders to gauge the likely success of selection for competitive crops before undertaking expensive long‐term breeding experiments.     

螺旋槽干气密封端面气膜温度场的数值分析

为了解因黏性剪切和压缩膨胀等因素导致干气密封气体流经密封端面时的温度变化,以空气润滑螺旋槽干气密封为研究对象,利用CFD软件的三维数值模拟功能,分别研究了膜厚t、转速n和密封气体压力po对稳态运行时端面气膜温度分布的影响.结果表明:气膜温度沿径向和周向均发生变化,螺旋槽内靠近外径处的气体温度较低.随着膜厚t的增大,气膜的高温区由台区逐渐转移到密封坝区.膜厚t越大,端面气膜的平均温度越低.转速n对于气膜温度的影响明显,随着转速n增大,气膜温度迅速上升.而随着密封气体压力po的增大,泄漏量St逐渐增大,通过泄漏气体带走的热量相应增大,气膜温度相应降低.     

评估调质时间和温度对猪颗粒饲料淀粉糊化度和维生素沉积的影响

本论文研究了饲料加工的两个关键参数(调质温度和时间)对育肥猪颗粒饲料淀粉糊化度和维生素沉积的影响。日粮配方为含30%干酒糟及其可溶物的玉米-豆粕型基础日粮。整个试验中配方保持不变。本试验采用2×3双因子设计,调质温度分别为77℃和88℃,调质时间分别15秒、30秒和60秒。此外,本试验还设置一个对照组,对照组饲料不采用调质制粒工艺,而是采用粉料饲喂。因此,本试验共有7个处理组。采集调质后制粒前(热干粉)、制粒后冷却前(热制粒)、以及制粒冷却后(冷制粒)的样品,并分析这三种样品的总淀粉率、淀粉糊化     

Chlamydia psittaci: a suspected cause of reproductive loss in three Victorian horses

Chlamydia psittaci was detected by PCR in the lung and equine foetal membranes of two aborted equine foetuses and one weak foal from two different studs in Victoria, Australia. The abortions occurred in September 2019 in two mares sharing a paddock northeast of Melbourne. The weak foal was born in October 2019 in a similar geographical region and died soon after birth despite receiving veterinary care. The detection of C. psittaci DNA in the lung and equine foetal membranes of the aborted or weak foals and the absence of any other factors that are commonly associated with abortion or neonatal death suggest that this pathogen may be the cause of the reproductive loss. The detection of C. psittaci in these cases is consistent with the recent detection of C. psittaci in association with equine abortion in New South Wales. These cases in Victoria show that C. psittaci, and the zoonotic risk it poses, should be considered in association with equine reproductive loss in other areas of Australia.