Typical and atypical manifestations of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in dogs

Eighteen clinically ill dogs, naturally infected with Anaplasma phagocytophilum, were examined at a veterinary practice in Baxter, Minnesota. A clinical examination, complete blood cell count, enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for A phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Ehrlichia canis antibodies and Dirofilaria immitis antigen, and a polymerase chain reaction test for A phagocytophilum DNA were obtained for all dogs. Physical examination findings included fever, arthropathy, lymphadenopathy, epistaxis, acute gastritis, cervical hyperpathia, and central nervous system dysfunction. Complete blood cell count abnormalities included thrombocytopenia, morulae in neutrophils, anemia, leukopenia, eosinopenia, lymphopenia, and monocytosis. Seroreactivity to A phagocytophilum was found in 61%, B burgdorferi antibodies in 17%, and D immitis antigen in 5% of the dogs. Fever, arthropathy, neurologic dysfunction, and epistaxis are clinical syndromes that can be associated with A phagocytophilum infection. Treatment with doxycycline resulted in rapid resolution of clinical signs in all dogs.     

DIFFERENTIAL TRANSLOCATION OF 59IRON IN IRON SUFFICIENT AND DEFICIENT SORGHUM PLANTS

Radioactively labeled iron (⁵⁹Fe) was used to study differential uptake in sorghum plants in the recovery stage of chlorosis. Radio-labeled ⁵⁹Fe was supplied through root feeding in nutrient solution experiment (48 hrs, pH 6.2) to non-chlorotic and chlorotic plants. Chlorotic plants were further treated with foliar spray [ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄), FeSO₄ + thiourea (TU), FeSO₄ + citric acid (CA), FeSO₄ + thioglycollic acid (TGA)] to study the uptake of radio-labeled ⁵⁹Fe through root feeding during recovery process of chlorosis. Under iron deficiency, the differential uptake of ⁵⁹Fe was markedly increased in leaves and stem of chlorotic control (-Fe) sorghum plants as compared to non-chlorotic control (+Fe) and foliar sprayed (FeSO₄, FeSO₄ + TU, FeSO₄ + CA, and FeSO₄ + TGA) plants. The lowest uptake of ⁵⁹Fe was observed in younger leaves (24.33 nmol, g^?1 fresh weight h^?1) and stem (1.98 nmol, g^?1 fresh weight h^?1) of non-chlorotic control followed by foliar sprayed plants in comparison to chlorotic control, respectively. Similarly less ⁵⁹Fe uptake was observed in the older leaves of FeSO₄ + CA sprayed (21.70 nmol, g^?1 fresh weight h^?1) plants in comparison to chlorotic control (35.60 nmol, g^?1 fresh weight h^?1). The highest differential ⁵⁹Fe uptake through nutrient medium was in the roots of plants, which were foliar sprayed with FeSO₄ along with TU. The role of iron alone and along with citric acid and thiol compounds is discussed in recovery of chlorosis.     

Effect of high-pressure treatment on rheological,thermal and structural changes in Basmati rice flour slurry

Rheological, thermal and structural changes in high pressure (HP) treated Basmati rice flour dispersions were studied as function of pressure level (350–650 MPa), slurry concentration (with 1:5, 1:3 and 1:2 flour-to-water ratios) and holding time (7.5–15 min). Rice flour dispersions exhibited a gradual liquid–solid gel transformation as they gelatinized and/or denatured and behaved as viscoelastic fluid following HP treatment. Mechanical strength (G′) of pressurized gel increased with applied pressure and rice concentration. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) thermograms of rice slurry measured after pressure treatment indicated a reduction in peak enthalpy in proportion with the extent of gelatinization and/or denaturation of starch and proteins. Pressure-treated rice samples had a progressively lower gelatinization temperature. A 15 min pressure treatment at 550 MPa was found sufficient to complete gelatinization of protein free isolated rice starch while the slurry required 650 MPa. The presence of proteins might have been responsible for the slower starch gelatinization in the rice slurry during pressure treatment. The sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy results indicated some minor changes in protein subunits and secondary structure of rice protein. This study has provided complementary information on pressure-induced changes in physical (thermal stability, overall structure) and molecular level (secondary structure) of rice protein.     

Pharmacokinetics and relative bioavailability of tiamulin in broiler chicken as influenced by different routes of administration

The bioavailability and pharmacokinetic disposition of tiamulin in broiler chicken were investigated after administration through the crop, drinking water, and feed at 40 mg/kg body weight. Residues of tiamulin in tissues of broiler chicken were also assessed. Plasma and tissue concentrations of tiamulin were analyzed by reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Plasma concentration–time data were described by the non‐compartmental model for all three routes, and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in pharmacokinetic parameters and mean plasma concentrations of tiamulin between three routes tested (crop, water, and feed), indicating equal efficacy. Tiamulin residues in edible tissues (muscles, skin, and fat) were lower than the advocated maximum residue limit (MRL of 0.1 µg/g and that of liver was 1 µg/g) on the 3rd day. No traces were found on the 5th day after drug administration. This indicated that the withdrawal period (less than 5 days) is very short, which makes it safer. This study shows that tiamulin can be used with equal efficacy through all routes of administration in broiler chicken (crop, water, and feed).     

Effect of high-pressure processing on activity and structure of alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase in buffer and milk

Changes in the activity and structure of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and L-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were investigated after high pressure processing (HPP). HPP treatments (206-620 MPa for 6 and 12 min) were applied to ALP and LDH prepared in buffer, fat-free milk, and 2% fat milk. Enzyme activities were measured using enzymatic assays, and changes in structure were investigated using far-ultraviolet circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and dynamic light scattetering (DLS). Kinetic data indicated that the activity of ALP was not affected after 6 min of pressure treatments (206-620 MPa), regardless of the medium in which the enzyme was prepared. Increasing the processing time to 12 min did significantly reduce the activity of ALP at 620 MPa (P < 0.001). However, even the lowest HPP treatment of 206 MPa induced a reduction in LDH activity, and the course of reduction increased with HPP treatment until complete inactivation at 482, 515, and 620 MPa. CD data demonstrated a partial change in the secondary structure of ALP at 620 MPa, whereas the structure of LDH showed gradual denaturation after exposure at 206 MPa for 6 min, leading to a random coil structure at both 515 and 620 MPa. DLS results indicated aggregation of ALP only at HPP treatment of 206 MPa and not above and enzyme precipitation as well as aggregation at 345, 415, 482, and 515 MPa. The loss of LDH activity with increasing pressure and time treatment was due to the combined effects of denaturation and aggregation.     

Characterization of the in vitro responses of equine cecal longitudinal smooth muscle to endothelin-1

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the in vitro response of equine cecal longitudinal smooth muscle (CLSM) to endothelin (ET)-1 and assess the role of ETA and ETB receptors in those ET-1-induced responses. ANIMALS: 36 horses without gastrointestinal tract disease. PROCEDURE: To determine cumulative concentration-response relationships, CLSM strips were suspended in tissue baths containing graded concentrations of ET-1 (10(-9) to 10(-6)M) with or without BQ-123 (ETA receptor antagonist); with or without IRL-1038 (ETB receptor antagonist); or with both antagonists at concentrations of 10(-9), 10(-7), and 10(-5)M. To determine the percentage change in baseline tension of CLSM, the areas under the curve during the 3-minute periods before and after addition of each dose were compared. Also, the effects of ET-1 and a combination of selective ETA and ETB receptor antagonists on electrically evoked contractions were studied. RESULTS: ET-1 caused sustained increases in CLSM tension in a concentration-dependent manner. Contractile responses to ET-1 were not significantly inhibited by either BQ-123 or IRL-1038 alone at any concentration; however, responses were significantly inhibited by exposure to the antagonists together at a concentration of 10(-5)M. Electrical field stimulation did not change the spontaneous contractile activity of CLSM and did not significantly alter the tissue response to ET-1, BQ-123, or IRL-1038. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that ET-1 has a contractile effect on equine CLSM that is mediated via ETA and ETB receptors. In vitro spontaneous contractions of equine CLSM apparently originate in the smooth muscle and not the enteric nervous system.     

Adaptive changes in the patterns of carbohydrate metabolites in blood,liver, muscle and heart tissues of Sarotherodon mossambicus (Peters) exposed to the carbamate fungicide ziram

Adaptive changes in the levels of carbohydrate metabolites, glucose, glycogen and lactic acid, were studied in a freshwater edible fish, Sarotherodon mossambicus exposed to a carbamate fungicide, ziram. Based on the results obtained, it was concluded that the fish showed (i) adaptive utilization of stored glycogen, particularly in liver tissue; (ii) adaptive accumulation of glycogen in muscle and heart tissues, probably by glyconeogenesis and (iii) adaptive mechanism of operation of ‘diving syndrome’, to meet the stress of the pollutant under sub-lethal exposure. © 1998 SCI.