Large strongyles. Recent advances

This review cites recent advances in the knowledge pertaining to infections of large strongyles in equids. Emphasis is placed on Strongylus vulgaris and attention is focused on pathogenesis of clinical manifestations of infections and treatment and control, including chemotherapy of migrating larvae and drug resistance.     

Oligonucleotide fingerprint analysis of the genomes of two variants of bluetongue virus serotype 2 isolated in the U.S.A.

The genome segments of two electrophoretically distinct variants of bluetongue virus (BTV) Serotype 2 (Ona A and Ona B) from the U.S.A. were analyzed by double-dimension gel electrophoresis of RNase T1 produced oligonucleotides. Segments 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 were examined individually after separation by SDS-PAGE; and Segments 2 and 3, and 8 and 9, which were difficult to resolve, were fingerprinted as pairs. The Ona A and Ona B strains appeared to be closely related since corresponding segments were comparable, sharing 53–89% of the large oligonucleotides counted. Since the strains with the Ona A electropherotype preceded Ona B infection in Florida, U.S.A. and since Ona A was indistinguishable from the early African isolate of Serotype 2, Ona B was thought to be a variant of an Ona A strain. These data tend to support the hypothesis that Ona B could have evolved from Ona A as the result of point mutations or genetic drift.     

Using an independent quality control software program, EZ Runs, to monitor quality control procedures for a bench-top coagulation analyzer

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive quality control (QC) procedures are necessary to ensure accurate analytic method performance. Highly automated systems typically have inherent QC programs that facilitate performance and maintenance of QC procedures; however, for bench-top analyzers that lack internal systems, independent QC programs must be used. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the adaptability of an independent QC program, EZ Runs (Westgard QC Inc, Madison, WI, USA), to the maintenance of QC procedures for a mechanical, bench-top coagulation unit and to compare the results with our current, manual, QC method in a qualitative way. METHODS: A QC application file for activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) performed on a STart4 (Diagnostica Stago, Parsippany, NJ) was created in EZ Runs. Results were recorded and interpreted using this software package as well as the current, manual, QC method. RESULTS: EZ Runs was adaptable to QC monitoring for the bench-top analyzer, and the program permitted identification of both random and systematic errors not detected by the manual QC system. CONCLUSIONS: EZ Runs improved the performance and maintenance of QC procedures for this bench-top coagulation analyzer. The results indicated the need to improve staff training in assay performance and QC interpretation. In addition, use of the software program indicated that a multirule QC design was needed to monitor assay performance.     

Transmission of Phytophthora ramorum in Mixed-Evergreen Forest in California

ABSTRACT During 2001 to 2003, the transmission biology of Phytophthora ramorum, the causal agent of sudden oak death, was studied in mixedevergreen forest, a common forest type in northern, coastal California. Investigation of the sources of spore production focused on coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) and bay laurel (Umbellularia californica), dominant hosts that comprised 39.7 and 46.2% of the individuals at the study site, respectively. All tests for inoculum production from the surface of infected coast live oak bark or exudates from cankers were negative. In contrast, sporangia and chlamydospores were produced on the surface of infected bay laurel leaves. Mean number of zoospores produced from infected bay laurel leaves under natural field conditions during rainstorms was 1,173.0 +/- SE 301.48, and ranged as high as 5,200 spores/leaf. P. ramorum was recovered from rainwater, soil, litter, and streamwater during the mid- to late rainy season in all 3 years of the study. P. ramorum was not recovered from sporadic summer rains or soil and litter during the hot, dry summer months. Concentrations of inoculum in rainwater varied significantly from year to year and increased as the rainy season progressed for the two complete seasons that were studied. Potential dispersal distances were investigated for rainwater, soil, and streamwater. In rainwater, inoculum moved 5 and 10 m from the inoculum source. For soil, transmission of inoculum was demonstrated from infested soil to bay laurel green leaf litter, and from bay laurel green leaf litter to aerial leaves of bay laurel seedlings. One-third to one-half of the hikers tested at the study site during the rainy season also were carrying infested soil on their shoes. In streamwater, P. ramorum was recovered from an unforested site in pasture 1 km downstream of forest with inoculum sources. In total, these studies provide details on the production and spread of P. ramorum inoculum in mixed-evergreen forest to aid forecasting and managing disease transmission of this environmentally destructive pathogen.     

Sensitivities of three county health department surveillance systems for child-related dog bites: 261 cases (2000)

OBJECTIVES: To determine incidence of child-related dog bites and sensitivities of 3 county health department dog-bite surveillance systems. DESIGN: Retrospective study. STUDY POPULATION: Child-related dog-bite data obtained from surveillance systems of 3 counties in Georgia in the year 2000. PROCEDURE: To characterize the sensitivity of health department dog-bite surveillance systems, 9 other potential sources of dog-bite records that matched records by victim name, age, gender, and incident date were evaluated. The number of reported bites and the most productive sources for identifying additional cases were determined. The Chandra Sekar-Deming capture-recapture method was used to estimate the number of unreported bites, and estimates of dog-bite incidence rates were made. RESULTS: 40, 36, and 185 dog bites were reported in the 3 counties, respectively. Capture-recapture calculations estimated an additional 9, 5, and 128 dog bites in these counties, respectively. Local health departments recorded 45.5% to 82.5% of dog bites. Local hospital emergency departments, police departments, and a rabies-testing laboratory received additional reports. Among these data sources, local hospital emergency department records were the best source for identifying additional cases. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Dog bites are a preventable cause of childhood injuries, and surveillance is a critical tool for tracking childhood dog bites in the community. Counties should use combined data from local health departments, local hospital emergency departments, and police departments to implement or revise dog-bite prevention programs.     

Evaluation of an actinomycin-D-containing combination chemotherapy protocol with extended maintenance therapy for canine lymphoma

In this retrospective study, a 6-drug (prednisone, L-asparaginase, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and actinomycin-D) chemotherapy protocol with extended maintenance for the treatment of lymphoma was evaluated for efficacy and toxicity in 39 dogs. The complete remission rate was 97%, with a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 331 d. The median overall survival (OS) was 461 d. Of the variables evaluated for prognostic significance, only immunophenotype and sex were found to be prognostic. Dogs with T-cell lymphoma had shorter PFS and OS than dogs with B-cell lymphoma. Castrated male dogs had a shorter PFS and OS than spayed female dogs. Although the majority of dogs experienced one or more episodes of chemotherapy associated toxicity, the majority of these episodes were mild and self-limiting. The results of this study warrant further investigation into the value of extended maintenance therapy and inclusion of actinomycin-D in combination chemotherapy protocols for canine lymphoma.     

The impact of boreal forest fire on climate warming

We report measurements and analysis of a boreal forest fire, integrating the effects of greenhouse gases, aerosols, black carbon deposition on snow and sea ice, and postfire changes in surface albedo. The net effect of all agents was to increase radiative forcing during the first year (34 +/- 31 Watts per square meter of burned area), but to decrease radiative forcing when averaged over an 80-year fire cycle (-2.3 +/- 2.2 Watts per square meter) because multidecadal increases in surface albedo had a larger impact than fire-emitted greenhouse gases. This result implies that future increases in boreal fire may not accelerate climate warming.