Prediction of first onset of congestive heart failure in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease: The PREDICT cohort study

ObjectiveTo identify risk factors for first-onset congestive heart failure (CHF) in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD).AnimalsEighty-two dogs with and without CHF secondary to DMVD were retrospectively assigned to a derivation cohort. Sixty-five dogs with asymptomatic DMVD were recruited into a prospective validation cohort.MethodsVariables associated with risk of CHF in dogs were identified in a derivation cohort and used to construct a predictive model, which was then prospectively tested through longitudinal examination of a validation cohort.ResultsLogistic regression analysis of the derivation cohort yielded a predictive model that included the left atrial to aortic root dimension ratio (LA:Ao) and plasma concentration of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). When this model was prospectively applied to the validation cohort, it correctly predicted first-onset of CHF in 69.2% of cases. Analysis of the validation cohort revealed that plasma NT-proBNP concentration and indexed left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVIDd:Ao) were independent risk factors for development of first-onset CHF in dogs with DMVD (NT-proBNP ≥1500 pmol/L, odds ratio (OR), 5.76, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.37–24.28, P = 0.017; LVIDd:Ao ≥3, OR, 6.11, 95% CI, 1.09–34.05, P = 0.039).ConclusionsMeasures of left heart size and plasma NT-proBNP concentration independently estimate risk of first-onset of CHF in dogs with DMVD. These parameters can contribute to the management of dogs with DMVD.     

Bromocriptine-induced reduction of body fat in pigs

An experiment was conducted with 36 crossbred finishing pigs (18 male castrates and 18 females) to evaluate the effect of bromocriptine implants on growth, feed intake, feed efficiency, plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) and carcass characteristics. Three levels of bromocriptine (0, 5 and 10 mg/[pig.d]) were administered, via implants at the base of the ear, to six (two replicates of three) male castrates or to six (two replicates of three) intact female pigs (2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments). Average initial weight of pigs at the time of implantation was 89.7 kg, and the implants remained in the pigs for 28 (replicate 1) or 30 (replicate 2) d prior to slaughter. Gain, feed intake and efficiency of feed utilization were not affected (P greater than .10) by bromocriptine. Plasma urea nitrogen was lower in female pigs administered 10 mg bromocriptine; bromocriptine did not affect PUN of male pigs (gender x bromocriptine, P less than .08). Tenth rib fat thickness and average backfat thickness were lower (P less than .06) and percentage of muscling was higher (P less than .06) in pigs implanted with bromocriptine. Female pigs had less 10th rib fat but larger loin eye areas and a greater percentage of muscling than male pigs.     

Beobachtungen über das auftreten der zwiebellaus (Myzus ascalonicus Donc.) an kartoffeln

Zusammenfassung Die St?rke des Auftretens und das Erscheinen verschiedener Stadien der Zwiebellaus (Myzus ascalonicus Donc.) an Kartoffeln wurden mit den entsprechenden für die grüne Pfirsichblattlaus (Myzus persicae Sulzer) ermittelten Befunden verglichen. Es zeigte sich dabei, dass, neben sporadischem Erscheinen der Zwiebellaus in Kartoffelfeldern des Flachlandes im frühen Frühjahr, in H?henlagen über 800 m ü.M. zum Teil Dauerbesiedlung stattfindet. Die virusepidemiologische Bedeutung dieser Befunde wurde kurz diskutiert, wobei besonders in Rechnung zu setzen war, dass die durchschnittliche St?rke des Befalles zur Zeit nur sehr schwach ist. Die Vorteile h?her gelegener Gebiete für die Produktion hochwertigen Kartoffelsaatgutes scheinen durch das vermehrte Auftreten der Zwiebellaus in diesen Lagen nicht ernstlich gef?hrdet zu sein.

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Summary The population ofMyzus ascalonicus Donc. and the occurrence of its different forms on potato crops were compared with the corresponding figures forMyzus persicae Sulzer. The sporadic presence ofMyzus ascalonicus on potato crops in the plains was noted early in spring only, but at altitudes of more that 800 meters colonies were present during the whole growing season. The importance of these observations in relation to virus epidemiology is briefly discussed taking into account that at present the average infestation is only slight. In the higher regions favourable for the production of high quality seed potatoes,Myzus ascalonicus does not at present constitute a danger, although the population is more numerous than in the plains.

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Resume La population deMyzus ascalonicus Donc. et l'apparition de ses différentes formes dans les champs de pommes de terre ont été comparées avec les résultats correspondants deMyzus persicae Sulzer. Au premier printemps, on remarque l'apparition sporadique deMyzus ascalonicus dans les champs de pommes de terre de la plaine, tandis qu'à l'altitude de plus de 800 mètres on trouve des colonisations permanentes. L'importance de ces constatations pour l'épidémiologie à virus est brièvement discutée et il est tenu compte du fait que la moyenne de l'infection actuelle est assez faible. Les avantages des régions élevées pour la production de semenceaux de pommes de terre de qualité ne semblent donc pas sérieusement compromis par l'infection même plus forte duMyzus ascalonicus aussi longtemps que l'attaque générale reste faible.

     

Feline cytauxzoonosis: a case report and literature review

A 5.5-year-old Siamese presented for evaluation of a three-day history of anorexia and lethargy. Upon physical examination, the cat was depressed, dehydrated, pyrexic, had injected conjunctiva and sclera, pale mucous membranes, and a grade II/VI systolic heart murmur. Thoracic radiographs revealed moderate to severe, diffuse, bronchointerstitial pulmonary changes with enlarged and tortuous pulmonary vessels. With continued hospitalization, the cat became dyspneic and died. The postmortem cytopathological examination of the liver, spleen, and lung impressions revealed reticuloendothelial cell infection with Cytauxzoon felis.     

The susceptibility of herbal willow to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melampsora</Emphasis> rust and herbivores

Eight Dark-leaved willow (Salix myrsinifolia) clones and two naturally hybridised clones (S. myrsinifolia × S. phylicifolia), that are considered to be suitable for herbal production, were cultivated for 2 years in Luikonlahti and Punkaharju. Both experimental sites are located in eastern Finland and the distance between the sites is 140 km. Different cultivation methods were used, including combinations of soil tillage, plastic mulch and fertilisation, with the aim of comparing the growth and susceptibility of plants to pathogens and willow-eating herbivores amongst the clones cultivated by different methods. In both study years 2001 and 2002, Melampsora rust-infected willows occurred in Luikonlahti and in Punkaharju. The extent of rust severity varied greatly between the years and experimental areas and amongst the clones. In 2002, fertilisation increased rust severity in Luikonlahti, but the effect was the converse in Punkaharju. Mulch effect on rust severity was clone-dependent. Vole feeding was observed in 56% of the plants in Luikonlahti during the winter 2001–2002 and the frequency of damaged plants was nearly twice as much amongst the willows grown in unmulched soil as those with plastic mulch. Cultivation method had no effect on feeding by leaf beetles or the abundance of aphids. Of the cultivation methods tested here, plastic mulch seems to have the most important influence on willow cultivation, particularly by improving willow growth and also by decreasing winter-feeding by voles.     

Granulomatous and eosinophilic rhinitis in a cow caused by Pseudallescheria boydii species complex (Anamorph Scedosporium apiospermum)

A 2-year-old Hereford cow was presented to the teaching hospital for increased respiratory noise and bilateral bloody nasal discharge. A nodular rhinitis was detected clinically, and the nasal biopsy revealed a granulomatous and eosinophilic rhinitis with intralesional fungi. The cow was euthanized due to financial constraints. Grossly multifocal-to-coalescing, raised, ulcerated firm nodules were present in both nares. Histologically, the lamina propria was expanded by intense infiltrates of eosinophils, epithelioid macrophages, multinucleate giant cells, lymphocytes, and plasma cells. Associated with the inflammatory cells were variably sized, septate hyphae, 5-8 microm in diameter, admixed with numerous, terminal conidia, 6-30 microm in diameter, with a discrete outer wall identified by culture as Pseudallescheria boydii species complex (anamorph Scedosporium apiospermum). The infection was localized to the nasal cavity with no gross or microscopic evidence of a systemic dissemination.     

The Endo-α(1,3)-Fucoidanase Mef2 Releases Uniquely Branched Oligosaccharides from Saccharina latissima Fucoidans

Fucoidans are complex bioactive sulfated fucosyl-polysaccharides primarily found in brown macroalgae. Endo-fucoidanases catalyze the specific hydrolysis of α-L-fucosyl linkages in fucoidans and can be utilized to tailor-make fucoidan oligosaccharides and elucidate new structural details of fucoidans. In this study, an endo-α(1,3)-fucoidanase encoding gene, Mef2, from the marine bacterium Muricauda eckloniae, was cloned, and the Mef2 protein was functionally characterized. Based on the primary sequence, Mef2 was suggested to belong to the glycosyl hydrolase family 107 (GH107) in the Carbohydrate Active enZyme database (CAZy). The Mef2 fucoidanase showed maximal activity at pH 8 and 35 °C, although it could tolerate temperatures up to 50 °C. Ca²⁺ was shown to increase the melting temperature from 38 to 44 °C and was furthermore required for optimal activity of Mef2. The substrate specificity of Mef2 was investigated, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to determine the enzymatic activity (Units per μM enzyme: U_f/μM) of Mef2 on two structurally different fucoidans, showing an activity of 1.2 × 10⁻³ U_f/μM and 3.6 × 10⁻³ U_f/μM on fucoidans from Fucus evanescens and Saccharina latissima, respectively. Interestingly, Mef2 was identified as the first described fucoidanase active on fucoidans from S. latissima. The fucoidan oligosaccharides released by Mef2 consisted of a backbone of α(1,3)-linked fucosyl residues with unique and novel α(1,4)-linked fucosyl branches, not previously identified in fucoidans from S. latissima.