The global impact of scaling up HIV/AIDS prevention programs in low- and middle-income countries

A strong, global commitment to expanded prevention programs targeted at sexual transmission and transmission among injecting drug users, started now, could avert 28 million new HIV infections between 2005 and 2015. This figure is more than half of the new infections that might otherwise occur during that period in 125 low- and middle-income countries. Although preventing these new infections would require investing about U.S.$122 billion over this period, it would reduce future needs for treatment and care. Our analysis suggests that it will cost about U.S.$3900 to prevent each new infection, but that this will produce a savings of U.S.$4700 in forgone treatment and care costs. Thus, greater spending on prevention now would not only prevent more than half the new infections that would occur from 2005 to 2015 but would actually produce a net financial saving as future costs for treatment and care are averted.     

Ocular lesions associated with Trypanosoma evansi in experimentally infected goats

Ocular lesions associated with Trypanosoma spp. infection have been described in man and many animal species. However, loss of vision has not been demonstrated in humans presenting Chagas disease or in animals affected by different trypanosome species. In order to assess the possible ocular disorders caused by Trypanosoma evansi infection, six goats were inoculated with 1 x 10(5) T. evansi and maintained for 12 months and four goats were used as control. The inoculated animals became positive at serological and parasitological tests at 1-month post-inoculation and showed a subclinical course of the disease. Unilateral superficial corneal ulceration and retinochoroiditis were observed in two inoculated animals. Data from ocular neurologic examination and electroretinography showed no significant differences between inoculated and non-inoculated goats. It could be concluded that Trypanosoma evansi can produce ocular lesion but without apparent loss of vision in goats.     

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii antigens reactive with antibodies from serum, amniotic, and allantoic fluids from experimentally infected pregnant ewes

Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoan parasite, is one of the major causes of infectious abortion in sheep. To further understand the pathogenesis of toxoplasmosis, serum, amniotic and allantoic fluids and foetal stomach contents were collected from experimentally infected pregnant ewes to determine pathogen numbers and other markers of infection. Fifteen pregnant ewes (90 days of gestation) were each orally inoculated with 3000 sporulated oocysts of T. gondii. Serum samples were collected weekly following challenge. Amniotic and allantoic fluids and foetal stomach contents were collected at 21, 25, 28, 33 and 35 days post-infection. Characteristic placental lesions were detected in 1 of 4 challenged ewes at day 25, 3 of 4 challenged ewes at day 28 and in all challenged ewes at days 33 and 35 post-infection. T. gondii was detected only sporadically in amniotic and allantoic fluids before 35 days of infection, by real-time PCR, and only in ewes with placental lesions. At 35 days post-infection, high numbers of parasite were detected in both amniotic and allantoic fluids. An increase in the number of fluids from challenged animals with IgM and IgG was detected over time, except for IgG in allantoic fluid, which was detected in all samples from day 21 post-infection. IgG in amniotic and allantoic fluids was shown to be specific for T. gondii, and reacted with antigens with an apparent molecular mass of approximately 22 kDa and 30 kDa. Results suggest a maternal source of immunoglobulin in the allantoic fluid and a foetal source of immunoglobulin in the amniotic fluid early in infection but that both sources may contribute immunoglobulin to both fluids at a later stage.     

The histology of dermal glands of mating Breviceps with comments on their possible functional value in microhylids (Amphibia: Anura)

During mating male and female Breviceps become ‘glued’ together. The distribution of multicellular dermal glands varies between the sexes. The mate has a large number of holocrine glands on the ventrum, while the female has similar glands on the dorsum of the back. II thus appears that both sexes contribute to the ‘glueing’ mechanism. New hypotheses to explain the adhesion between the sexes are proposed, viz., that the shift to terrestrial habils and subterranean laying in Breviceps have secondarily resulted in male si2e diminution. In other microhylids which adhere during aquatic oviposition, yet demonstrate a terrestrial morphology and habits, bouyancy is suggested to be of primary functional value.     

Evaluation of von Willebrand Factor During Pregnancy,Lactation and Oestrous Cycle in Bitches Affected and Unaffected by von Willebrand Disease

Plasmatic concentrations of von Willebrand Factor (vWF) increase during pregnancy in humans and dogs; however the mechanism of such increase is still not well defined. The aims of this study were: (i) to evaluate changes in vWF concentration during pregnancy and during the subsequent oestrous cycle in bitches affected and unaffected by von Willebrand Disease (vWD); (ii) to correlate the vWF levels and cortisol levels in both groups. Seven vWD affected (GI) and nine unaffected (GII) bitches were used. The animals were assessed during pregnancy, parturition, lactation and non‐gestational oestrous cycle in 11 moments (Pregnancy 1, Pregnancy 2, Parturition, Lactation 1, Lactation 2, Lactation 3, Anestrus, Proestrus, Oestrus, Diestrus 1, and Diestrus 2). The following tests were performed; measurement of von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag), albumin and cortisol. In both groups, vWF concentration remained stable during the non‐gestational oestrous cycle, but increased during pregnancy, with the highest value observed at parturition. Increases of 70% and 124% in vWF were seen in GI and GII, respectively, compared to anestrus. No correlation was found between vWF and cortisol. Values of vWF:Ag changed during pregnancy, with a peak at parturition, both in vWD affected and unaffected animals. Values of vWF were not altered in the different phases of the oestrous cycle following pregnancy in both groups. Evaluation of vWF during pregnancy can cause false negative results for vWD, but assessment can be performed at any point in the oestrous cycle of non‐pregnant bitches.     

Pharmacokinetics after administration of an injectable experimental long-acting parenteral formulation of doxycycline hyclate in goats

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pharmacokinetics after SC administration of an experimental, long-acting parenteral formulation of doxycycline hyclate in a poloxamer-based matrix and after IV and IM administration of an aqueous formulation of doxycycline hyclate in goats. ANIMALS: 30 clinically normal adult goats. PROCEDURES: Goats were allocated to 3 groups (10 goats/group). One group of goats received doxycycline hyclate (10 mg/kg) IM, a second group received the same dosage of doxycycline hyclate IV, and the third group received the long-acting parenteral formulation of doxycycline hyclate SC. Serum concentrations of doxycycline were determined before and at various intervals after administration. RESULTS: The long-acting parenteral formulation of doxycycline hyclate had the greatest bioavailability (545%); mean +/- SD maximum serum concentration was 2.4 +/- 0.95 microg/mL, peak time to maximum concentration was 19.23 +/- 2.03 hours, and elimination half-life was 40.92 +/- 4.25 hours. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that the long-acting parenteral formulation of doxycycline hyclate distributed quickly and widely throughout the body after a single dose administered SC, and there was a prolonged half-life. Bioavailability of the longacting parenteral formulation of doxycycline hyclate after SC administration was excellent, compared with bioavailability after IV and IM administration of an aqueous formulation of doxycycline hyclate. Although no local tissue irritation and adverse effects were detected, clinical assessment of drug-residues and toxicologic evaluations are warranted before this long-acting parenteral formulation of doxycycline hyclate can be considered for use in goats with bacterial infections.     

Genetic and phenotypic aspects of early reproductive performance in Raeini Cashmere goats

This study used pedigree information and data collected from 1979 to 2012 at the Raeini Cashmere goat breeding station, located in Baft City in Kerman Province in southeastern Iran. Genetic and phenotypic parameters for early reproductive traits of breeding does, including total numbers of kids born at first kidding (LSB1), total numbers of kids weaned at first kidding (LSW1), total birth weight of all kids born at first kidding (LWB1), total weaning weight of all kids weaned at first kidding (LWW1), and age at first kidding (AFK), were estimated using a Bayesian approach via Gibbs sampling. Posterior means for heritability estimates of LSB1, LSW1, LWB1, LWW1, and AFK were statistically significant, with values of 0.12, 0.23, 0.17, 0.15, and 0.46, respectively. Low-to-moderate additive genetic variation was present for the studied reproductive traits. Estimated genetic correlations among LSB1, LSW1, LWB1, and LWW1 were statistically significant and ranged from 0.12 between LWB1 and LWW1 to 0.72 between LSB1 and LSW1. Corresponding phenotypic correlation estimates were also statistically significant and ranged from 0.04 between LWB1 and LWW1 to 0.55 between LSB1 and LSW1. Posterior means of genetic and phenotypic correlations between AFK and other studied traits were statistically significant only for LSB1 and LWB1. For LSB1, LSW1, LWB1, and LWW1, we conclude that genetic and phenotypic improvement in any of these traits in Raeini Cashmere does would favorably influence all of the other traits. However, does that first kidded at younger ages have smaller litters at birth and lower litter birth weights at their first parity.