Hormonal response to dobutamine cardiac stress testing in a conscious canine model of early left ventricular dysfunction induced by chronic rate overload

The aims of this study were to investigate (1) hormonal activation before and during dobutamine cardiac stress testing (DST) in a canine model of early left ventricular dysfunction (ELVD) induced by rapid right ventricular pacing (RRVP) and (2) the relationship between this hormonal profile and carnitine concentrations.Before the pacing period, the 6 dogs were assigned to 2 groups according their baseline total plasma carnitine concentration. A DST was performed on each dog before activation of the pacemaker and every 3 to 4 days during development of 3 progressive stages of ELVD (stages 1, 2 and 3). Plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), angiotensin II (ANG II) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels were measured at the start and at the end of each DST. Effects of ELVD, DST and plasma carnitine concentration on these measurements were tested.The RRVP induced a significant increase of ANF and ANG II and a non significant trend toward increase of ET-1 in all dogs.Before the pacing period, ANF remained constant during the DST in dogs with normal total plasma carnitine concentration, while it significantly decreased in dogs with low total plasma carnitine concentration. Dobutamine stress testing induced a significant decrease in ANF in all dogs in ELVD. Dobutamine infusion induced a significant increase in ANG II in all dogs before as well as during the pacing period while ET-1 was unchanged.These results suggest that investigation of the hormonal profile before and after a dobutamine challenge might provide important diagnostic information in dogs with asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic cardiac dysfunction of different origins.     

Molecular detection of betanodavirus in wild marine fish populations in Korea.

Viral nervous necrosis (VNN) is a worldwide disease affecting several species of cultured marine fish. In Korea, VNN has been identified in several species of cultured marine fish. In this study, the authors present data of the amplified nested polymerase chain reaction product (420 bp) of 21 nodavirus strains from different species of apparently healthy wild marine fish on the southern coast of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on the partial nucleotide sequence (177 bases) of the RNA2 coat protein gene of 21 strains was highly homologous (93-100%) and closely related to that of the known betanodavirus, redspotted grouper nervous necrosis virus. These results indicate that betanodaviruses occur in large populations of wild marine fish in the southern part of the Korean peninsula, suggesting the importance of these subclinically infected fish as an inoculum source of betanodavirus that is horizontally transmitted to susceptible cultured fish species.     

Serum haptoglobin concentration and liver enzyme activity as indicators of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and survival of sick calves

BackgroundIncreased concentration of haptoglobin (Hp) in serum is associated with survival of critically ill humans and horses. High serum activity of liver‐derived enzyme is associated with sepsis in children and foals.Hypothesis/ObjectivesInvestigate whether admission serum Hp and glutamic dehydrogenase (GLDH) are associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and survival of sick calves.AnimalsOne hundred two calves.MethodsRetrospective cross‐sectional study. Electronic medical records from all calves <30 days of age admitted to a teaching hospital for 8 years were reviewed. The signalment, clinicopathological findings, the presence of SIRS, final diagnosis, hospitalization time and outcome were recorded. A Cox proportional hazard ratio (HzR) were calculated to assess the association between clinicopathological variables and survival to discharge.ResultsSerum Hp concentrations were similar between SIRS (0.29 g/L; range, 0.05‐3.6) and non‐SIRS calves (0.22 g/L; range, 0‐4.2; P = .62). GLDH activity was similar between SIRS (12 U/L; range, 1‐1025) and non‐SIRS calves (9 U/L; range, 2‐137; P = .2). Absent suckle reflex (HzR: 6.44, 95% CI: 1.44‐28.86), heart rate (HR) < 100 beats per minute (bpm; HzR: 12.2; 95% CI: 2.54‐58.62), HR > 140 bpm (HzR: 3.59, 95% CI: 1.05‐12.33), neutrophil count <1.7 × 10⁹/L (HzR: 7.36; 95% CI: 2.03‐26.66) and increased gamma‐glutamyl transferase activity (every 50‐unit, HzR: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.03‐1.21) were predictive of nonsurvival.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe use of Hp and GLDH for prediction of survival in sick calves cannot be recommended at this time.     

Incidence and genetic diversity of Peach latent mosaic viroid and Hop stunt viroid in stone fruits in Serbia

Tissue-imprint hybridization (TIH) assay was validated for large-scale detection of Peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd) and Hop stunt viroid (HSVd). All 72 collected leaves (100%) from 2 PLMVd- and 2 HSVd-infected trees were positive in TIH, regardless of the geographic orientation of the scaffold, level of the canopy and position of the leaf in the shoot. In a large-scale survey in Serbia, we tested by TIH 871 trees of stone fruits, representing 602 cultivars from fruit collections in Belgrade, Čačak and Novi Sad. PLMVd was detected in 185 (50%) peach trees or 95 (54%) cultivars and HSVd in 2 apricot trees and cultivars (2%). The occurrence of HSVd is a new report for Serbia. No viroid infection was found in European plums, sweet cherries, sour cherries and wild Prunus spp. PLMVd-infected peach cultivars originated from the world’s main breeding centres of this crop. Western European and Asian cultivars were the most infected (58%) followed by those originating from North America (50%). Nine PLMVd and two HSVd isolates were sequenced and analyzed. All showed PMLVd sequences clustered together in the previously reported phylogenetic group III. Both HSVd isolates were found to be derived from recombinant events, but that of the cv. Saturn represented a putative new phylogenetic group of HSVd.     

The effects of induced parturition in dairy cows on the incidence of mortality in calves from commercial herds in south-western Victoria

SUMMARY The effects of induced parturition on calf mortality rates were studied in 24 winter-calving, pasture-fed, dairy herds in south-western Victoria. Parturition was induced when most cows were between 27 and 35 weeks of pregnancy. Control groups were selected from cows in the same herds in which calving was not induced. The incidence of mortality within 7 days of birth was much higher among calves from cows in induced groups relative to those in control groups (estimated median herd mortality incidence 72% and 7%, respectively). The incidence of calf mortality was high among groups induced at all stages of pregnancy that were investigated. However, differences in calf mortality incidence, relative to controls, were increased among groups induced at earlier stages of pregnancy.     

Diagnosis and management of an atypical case of canine hydrocephalus, using computed tomography, ventriculoperitoneal shunting, and nuclear scintigraphy

Hydrocephalus was diagnosed in a 4-month-old Staffordshire Terrier with gastrointestinal and neurologic signs and cervical pain, using computed tomography. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was used to manage the hydrocephalus. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt patency was assessed, using nuclear scintigraphy. Because of expense and potential shunt complications, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt might not always be practical; however, this mode of diagnosis and management was successful.     

Repeated sequence RSα is diagnostic for Bradyhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium elkanii

The genome of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and B. elkanii contains multiple copies of the repeated DNA sequence RSα. A collection of 18 B. japonicum, 4 B. elkanii and 72 other bacterial strains was screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a pair of primers specific for RSα. Only strains of B. japonicum and B. elkanii gave the predicted amplification product. Restriction analysis of PCR products obtained from different strains of B. japonicum showed that the RSα sequence was generally conserved. The usefulness of RSα as a specific probe for Bradyrhizobium strains capable of nodulating soybean was also demonstrated. Received: 11 May 1995