Assessing PCV2 antibodies in field pigs vaccinated with different porcine circovirus 2 vaccines using two commercial ELISA systems

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is the primary causative agent for post-weaning, multisystemic, wasting syndrome. Consequently, serologic detection of and vaccination against PCV2 are important for the swine industry. Among several serological tests, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is commonly used to measure anti-PCV2 antibody levels. In the present study, we used two commercial ELISA systems to comparatively evaluate anti-PCV2 antibodies in field pigs treated with three different PCV2 vaccines. Among a total of 517 serum samples, the results of the two ELISAs were fully concordant for 365 positive and 42 negative samples, indicating 78.7% agreement. In addition, the Pearson coefficient (0.636) indicated a moderate correlation between data from the two ELISAs. Results from the farms with pigs vaccinated with the three different PCV2 vaccines demonstrated that most of the vaccinated animals underwent seroconversion. However, the increase and duration of antibody titers varied depending on the vaccine, the presence of maternal antibodies, and the vaccination program. PCV2 serologic status and anti-PCV2 antibody levels of herds from this study could be utilized to determine the best timing for vaccination and assessing vaccination compliance.     

Correlating two-dimensional shear wave elastography of acute pancreatitis with Spec cPL in dogs

BackgroundPancreatitis is a common disease in which 37% of dogs had evidence of acute or chronic pancreatitis at necropsy. Although biopsy is still the gold standard to diagnose acute pancreatitis, clinical data including ultrasonographic findings and measurement of canine serum pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI) are used in routine. However, it may be insufficient in the diagnostic approach to acute pancreatitis.ObjectivesTo evaluate the clinical diagnostic feasibility of two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D SWE) on canine acute pancreatitis for enhanced diagnostic confidence.Methods2D SWE was used to assess pancreatic stiffness and determine the correlation between pancreatic shear wave velocity (SWV) and Spec cPL concentration in 31 dogs with healthy pancreas and 10 dogs with acute pancreatitis.ResultsThe pancreatic SWV was significantly higher in the acute pancreatitis group (2.67 ± 0.20 m/s) than in the healthy pancreas group (2.30 ± 0.26 m/s; p < 0.05). The moderate positive correlation was found between the pancreatic SWV and Spec cPL concentration (95% confidence interval, 0.214–0.693; r = 0.489; p < 0.05).ConclusionsThese results indicated that 2D SWE was feasible for assessing pancreatic stiffness in acute pancreatitis, and that pancreatic SWV using 2D SWE correlated with Spec cPL concentration. SWE could provide a quantitative measure of pancreatic stiffness, which can increase the accuracy of diagnosing acute pancreatitis in dogs. The 2D SWE can be used as a complementary imaging modality for diagnosing acute pancreatitis in dogs.     

Silk fibroin hydrolysate exerts an anti-diabetic effect by increasing pancreatic β cell mass in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice

Components of silk including silk fibroin have long been used as anti-diabetic remedies in oriental medicine. However, detailed mechanisms underlying these anti-diabetic effects remain unclear. In this study, we examined the anti-diabetic activity of silk fibroin hydrolysate (SFH) in C57BL/KsJ-db/db (db/db) mice, a well-known animal model of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. When the db/db mice were administered SFH in drinking water for 6 weeks, hyperglycemia in the animals gradually disappeared and the level of glycosylated hemoglobin decreased, indicating that SFH plays important role in reducing the symptoms of diabetes. In addition, SFH-treated db/db mice exhibited improved glucose tolerance with increased plasma insulin levels. Immunohistochemical and morphological analyses showed that SFH up-regulated insulin production by increasing pancreatic β cell mass in the mice. In summary, our results suggest that SFH exerts anti-diabetic effects by increasing pancreatic β cell mass in a non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus mouse model.     

Safety evaluation of combination toceranib phosphate (Palladia®) and piroxicam in tumour-bearing dogs (excluding mast cell tumours): a phase I dose-finding study

Toceranib phosphate and piroxicam have individually demonstrated antineoplastic activity. Additionally, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory therapy is often warranted in aged cancer-bearing dogs for management of osteoarthritis comorbidity. As concurrent use may be warranted for a given individual and the adverse event (AE) profile for each can be overlapping (gastrointestinal), a phase I trial was performed in tumour-bearing (non-mast cell) dogs to establish the safety of the combination using a standard 3+3 cohort design. Five dose-escalating cohorts, up to and including approved label dosage for toceranib and standard dosage for piroxicam, were completed without observing a frequency of dose-limiting AEs necessitating cohort closure. Therefore, the combination of standard dosages of both drugs (toceranib, 3.25 mg kg(-1), every other day; piroxicam, 0.3 mg kg(-1) daily) is generally safe. Several antitumour responses were observed. As with single-agent toceranib, label-indicated treatment holidays and dose reductions (e.g. 2.5-2.75 mg kg(-1)) may occasionally be required owing to gastrointestinal events.     

Standing in the canine precision medicine knowledge gap: Improving annotation of canine cancer genomic biomarkers through systematic comparative analysis of human cancer mutations in COSMIC

The accrual of cancer mutation data and related functional and clinical associations have revolutionised human oncology, enabling the advancement of precision medicine and biomarker-guided clinical management. The catalogue of cancer mutations is also growing in canine cancers. However, without direct high-powered functional data in dogs, it remains challenging to interpret and utilise them in research and clinical settings. It is well-recognised that canine and human cancers share genetic, molecular and phenotypic similarities. Therefore, leveraging the massive wealth of human mutation data may help advance canine oncology. Here, we present a structured analysis of sequence conservation and conversion of human mutations to the canine genome through a ‘caninisation’ process. We applied this analysis to COSMIC, the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer, the most prominent human cancer mutation database. For the project's initial phase, we focused on the subset of the COSMIC data corresponding to Cancer Gene Census (CGC) genes. A total of 670 canine orthologs were found for 721 CGC genes. In these genes, 365 K unique mutations across 160 tumour types were converted successfully to canine coordinates. We identified shared putative cancer-driving mutations, including pathogenic and hotspot mutations and mutations bearing similar biomarker associations with diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic utility. Thus, this structured caninisation of human cancer mutations facilitates the interpretation and annotation of canine mutations and helps bridge the knowledge gap to enable canine precision medicine.     

Galanin-immunoreactive cells and their relation to calcitonin gene-related peptide-, substance P- and somatostatin-immunoreactive cells in rat lumbar dorsal root ganglia

We report upon the distribution of galanin-immunoreactive (GAL-IR) cells in the lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of the rat, and upon the distribution of GAL-IR cells, which also contain calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-, substance P (SP)- and somatostatin (SOM)-immunoreactivity. Neuropeptide-immunoreactive lumbar DRG cells were 55.8% for CGRP, 12.7% for SP, and 6.5% for GAL in lumbar DRG cells. There was no significant difference between the right and left DRGs (L1-L6) for any neuropeptide-immunoreactive cell (P < 0.01). In terms of size distribution, CGRP-immunoreactive cells were identified below 1500 microm2, and SP-, and GAL-IR cells below 600 microm2. Neuropeptide immunoreactive cells showed various immunoreactivities in the cytoplasm according to each neuropeptide. CGRP and SP immunoreactive cells were colocalized with GAL immunoreactive cells in the serial sections about 83.3 and 60% respectively, but SOM colocalizing with GAL-IR cells were not in evidence. The current results confirm and extend previous results, and show that neuropeptides can coexist in single sensory neurones of the rat DRG. In addition, our results demonstrate that the normal distribution of some neurotransmitters modulating sensory action in Wistar Kyoto rat, make this model more prone to develop neuropathic pain than Sprague-Dawley rat.     

Morphological characteristics of C1 and C2 adrenergic neurone groups in marmoset monkey brainstem by using antibody against phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase

This work describes a mapping study of phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT) immunoreactive neurones and fibres in the medulla oblongata of the marmoset monkey, Callithrix jacchus. Two groups of PNMT-immunoreactive neurones were found in the marmoset monkey medulla oblongata: a ventrolateral (C1 group) and a dorsomedial PNMT-immunoreactive cells group (C2 group). The PNMT-immunoreactive cells in the ventrolateral group C1 were found to be located around the lateral reticular nucleus. The PNMT-immunoreactive somata within the ventrolateral medulla are round to oval, and mostly multipolar with branched processes. In the dorsomedial group C2, PNMT-immunoreactive cell bodies appeared near the obex. The majority of the dorsomedial PNMT-immunoreactive neurones were observed in the nucleus tractus solitarius; although some were present in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. The PNMT-immunoreactive somata in the dorsomedial medulla were small and round or ovoid. These results provide information upon the adrenergic system in the medulla oblongata of a species that presents a useful model of a small primate brain, the marmoset monkey.     

Characterization of organic matter in topsoils under rain forest and pasture in the eastern Brazilian Amazon basin

 In topsoils under forest and 7-, 12- and 17-year-old pastures, organic matter was characterized by analysing C and N distribution in particle-size fractions, the C decomposition rates of soil and particle-size fractions and by employing density-fractionation of macro-organic matter (>150 μm). The C and N associated with clay fractions increased with increasing age of pasture. The weight (%) of macro-organic matter and its heavy fractions (>1.37 g cm^–3) also increased with increasing age of pasture. However, in a long-term incubation (100 days), these changes seemed to involve an increase in the C decomposition rate in the topsoil of the oldest pasture. Using the C decomposition rates of particle-size fractions, it appeared that silt and clay contributed differently to C decomposition in the whole soil. C associated with silt contributed to the C decomposition rate during the first 40 days of incubation, while C associated with clay contributed to C decomposition in the long-term incubation (after 40 days), especially when the clay fraction appeared to reach saturation point with respect to its ability to bind organic compounds and thus protect the soil from C loss. Received: 13 March 1998     

Interception of mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) at import during phytosanitary inspections in South Korea from 1996 to 2018

A total of 48 species of mealybugs from 47 different countries were intercepted by plant health inspectors in consignments of plants and plant products at ports of entry in South Korea from 1996 to 2018. A list of all the species identified, along with a dichotomous taxonomic key to the 48 intercepted species of mealybugs, is provided to help in the detection and identification of species of this important group of plant pests.