Proportion of circulating chicken heterophils and CXCLi2 expression in response to Salmonella enteritidis are affected by genetic line and immune modulating diet

Genetic line and diet affect chicken heterophil activity and gene expression, and the combination of these factors can enhance disease resistance. This study evaluated the effects of immune modulating diets on heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio and heterophil chemokine expression in distinct genetic lines. Fayoumi and Leghorn chickens were fed a basal diet or immune modulating diets enhanced with β-glucans, ascorbic acid, or corticosterone. H/L ratios and heterophil gene expression in response to in vitro stimulation with Salmonella enteritidis (SE) were evaluated on days 1, 3, 7, and 21 of diet treatment. The stress-mimicking corticosterone diet influenced H/L ratio in the Leghorn line, but not the Fayoumi line, suggesting resistance to stress-induced immunosuppression in the Fayoumi line. Leghorn line H/L ratios were increased on days 1 and 3 of corticosterone diet treatment, but not days 7 or 21. Expression of CXCLi2 by SE stimulated heterophils was higher in the Leghorn line, suggesting that Leghorns rely more heavily on inflammatory response than do Fayoumis. Corticosterone diet was associated with reduced CXCLi2 expression in heterophils from both lines. Dietary β-glucan or ascorbic acid did not affect H/L ratio or CXCLi2 expression, suggesting that benefits of these immunomodulators may not be evident in healthy birds.     

Evaluation of β‐carotene assimilation in leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius)

Although leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) are commonly kept under human care, their vitamin requirements are largely unknown. Many invertebrate preys display a low vitamin A concentration; thus, gut‐loading insects with vitamin A or carotenoids is a common practice. The objective of this prospective experimental study was to investigate whether dietary supplementation with β‐carotene, including prey gut‐loading, leads to sufficient vitamin A hepatic storage and prevents epithelial squamous metaplasia development in leopard geckos. Ten clinically healthy female leopard geckos were randomly divided in two groups with various supplementations: a group receiving vitamin A supplementation and a group receiving β‐carotene. Insects were gut‐loaded continuously with a supplement containing vitamin A or β‐carotene, depending on the group. Oral supplementation with cod liver oil or carrot juice was administered weekly to each lizard from “vitamin A group” and “carotenoid group” respectively. After 10 weeks of supplementation, surgical hepatic biopsies were obtained in three geckos of each group while the two remaining geckos were euthanized to undergo complete necropsy. Hepatic vitamin A concentration was determined for each lizard (n = 10) by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography. Histopathology revealed hepatocellular vacuolization and vitellogenic follicles in five females. Epithelial squamous metaplasia was not observed in any of the geckos. Hepatic vitamin A concentration was significantly higher in the carotenoid‐supplemented group than in the vitamin A‐supplemented group (p = 0.03). Our results suggest that in leopard geckos, dietary supplementation with β‐carotene allows sufficient vitamin A hepatic storage.     

Incubation of ovine scrapie with environmental matrix results in biological and biochemical changes of PrPSc over time

Ovine scrapie can be transmitted via environmental reservoirs. A pool of ovine scrapie isolates were incubated on soil for one day or thirteen months and eluted prion was used to challenge tg338 mice transgenic for ovine PrP. After one-day incubation on soil, two PrP^Sc phenotypes were present: G₃₃₈ or Apl₃₃₈ii. Thirteen months later some divergent PrP^Sc phenotypes were seen: a mixture of Apl₃₃₈ii with either G₃₃₈ or P_338, and a completely novel PrP^Sc deposition, designated Cag₃₃₈. The data show that prolonged ageing of scrapie prions within an environmental matrix may result in changes in the dominant PrP^Sc biological/biochemical properties.     

Contraceptive effect and potential side-effects of deslorelin acetate implants in rats (Rattus norvegicus): Preliminary observations

During the last ten years, numerous species have been treated with deslorelin implants to induce contraception. The aims of the study were 1) to assess contraceptive efficacy of 4.7 mg subcutaneous deslorelin implants in rats, 2) to determine the latency of contraceptive effect, and 3) to determine potential side effects. Three experimental females were implanted and their estrous cycle was studied by vaginal smear. Two weeks after implantation, a male whose fertility was previously assessed with a control female, was introduced into their cage. No female conceived during the 4 mo following implantation. Additionally, 38 pet rats were recruited from clients in practice to test for potential side effects, including 6 males and 32 females with a mean age of 14 mo. Local reaction and transient weight gain during the first 2 wk, as well as behavioral changes were recorded. According to this pilot study, deslorelin implant could be used as a contraceptive method in female rats. The latency period is about 2 wk. Nevertheless, it might be possible to refine the treatment further using hormonal measurements. The duration of contraceptive effect is to be determined in an upcoming study.     

Successful management of severe hypoventilation and hypercapnia in an alpaca (Vicugna pacos) with short‐term mechanical ventilation

Objective – To describe the successful management of an alpaca with severe hypoventilation and hypercapnia, suspected to be secondary to an anesthesia‐related event. Case Summary – A 3‐year‐old, female alpaca underwent a routine eye enucleation under general anesthesia after traumatic globe perforation. Severe hypoventilation and associated hypercapnia developed postoperatively resulting in a severe primary respiratory acidosis. The awake alpaca was supported with positive‐pressure ventilation for approximately 20 hours before successful weaning. Recovery to hospital discharge occurred over the subsequent 5 days with the alpaca regaining apparently normal respiratory function. New or Unique Information Provided – To the knowledge of the authors, this is the first report describing positive‐pressure ventilation of an alpaca in the veterinary literature. In this case of severe hypoventilation, ventilatory support was essential to the positive outcome. As South American camelids continue to increase in popularity there may be an increased demand for high‐quality and sophisticated veterinary care for these animals. Mechanical ventilation can be used to help restore and maintain normal PO₂, PCO₂, and respiratory acid‐base status in alpacas with ventilatory dysfunction.     

Clinical presentation and management of suspected ribavirin toxicosis in a dog

A 5-month-old pit bull terrier was presented for evaluation of progressive lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and anorexia 45 hours after ingestion of 625 mg/kg body weight (BW) (9000 mg) of the antiviral medication, ribavirin. Abnormalities that were detected included dehydration, tachycardia, elevated liver enzymes, and prolonged prothrombin time. The dog was discharged after 5 days of aggressive supportive care consisting of intravenous fluids, antiemetics, gastroprotectants, hepatoprotectants, dextrose supplementation, and vitamin B/K1 supplementation.     

Comparing the intra-annual wood formation of three European species (Fagus sylvatica, Quercus petraea and Pinus sylvestris) as related to leaf phenology and non-structural carbohydrate dynamics

Monitoring cambial phenology and intra-annual growth dynamics is a useful approach for characterizing the tree growth response to climate change. However, there have been few reports concerning intra-annual wood formation in lowland temperate forests with high time resolution, especially for the comparison between deciduous and coniferous species. The main objective of this study was to determine how the timing, duration and rate of radial growth change between species as related to leaf phenology and the dynamics of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) under the same climatic conditions. We studied two deciduous species, Fagus sylvatica L. and Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl., and an evergreen conifer, Pinus sylvestris L. During the 2009 growing season, we weekly monitored (i) the stem radial increment using dendrometers, (ii) the xylem growth using microcoring and (iii) the leaf phenology from direct observations of the tree crowns. The NSC content was also measured in the eight last rings of the stem cores in April, June and August 2009. The leaf phenology, NSC storage and intra-annual growth were clearly different between species, highlighting their contrasting carbon allocation. Beech growth began just after budburst, with a maximal growth rate when the leaves were mature and variations in the NSC content were low. Thus, beech radial growth seemed highly dependent on leaf photosynthesis. For oak, earlywood quickly developed before budburst, which probably led to the starch decrease quantified in the stem from April to June. For pine, growth began before the needles unfolding and the lack of NSC decrease during the growing season suggested that the substrates for radial growth were new assimilates of the needles from the previous year. Only for oak, the pattern determined from the intra-annual growth measured using microcoring differed from the pattern determined from dendrometer data. For all species, the ring width was significantly influenced by growth duration and not by growth rate, which differs from previous studies. The observed between-species difference at the intra-annual scale is key information for anticipating suitability of future species in temperate forests.