Activated platelet-derived growth factor β receptor and Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in natural bovine urinary bladder carcinomas

Bovine papillomavirus types 1 or 2 (BPV-1/2) are involved in the aetiopathogenesis of bovine urinary bladder cancer. BPV-1/2 E5 activates the platelet-derived growth factor β receptor (PDGFβR). The aim of this study was to analyse the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in relation to activation of PDGFβR in natural bovine urinary bladder carcinomas. Co-immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis demonstrated that recruitment of growth factor receptor bound protein 2 (GRB-2) and Sos-1 to the activated PDGFβR was increased in carcinomas compared to normal tissues. Higher grade bovine urinary bladder carcinomas were associated with activation of Ras, but not with activation of downstream mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Mek 1/2) or extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk 1/2).     

Open-label trial of a multi-strain synbiotic in cats with chronic diarrhea

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that in cats with chronic diarrhea the daily administration of a proprietary synbiotic (Proviable-DC) would result in an improvement in stool character, as assessed by the owner. Adult cats with chronic diarrhea were recruited for the study and screened for systemic diseases. Fecal flotation, wet mount, immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for Giardia and Cryptosporidium species, and Tritrichomonas species polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) were used to screen for intestinal parasitism. The synbiotic was administered for 21 days; otherwise, no changes were made to ongoing treatment(s) or diet. The severity of the diarrhea was assessed using a standardized fecal scoring system and the owner's subjective perception before, and after, supplementation. The mean fecal score for the 53 cats completing the study decreased from 6.0 to 4.4, representing a significantly (P <0.001) firmer stool character. Seventy-two percent of owners perceived an improvement in their cat's diarrhea following a 21-day course of synbiotic supplementation.     

Evaluation of the risk of transmission of Trichinella in pork production systems in Argentina

Recently, there has been interest in programs that certify pork production practices that minimize the risk of exposure of pigs to Trichinella spiralis. Certification might be useful for reducing the risk of human trichinellosis from pork in Argentina, but more information is needed on pig production practices and sources of Trichinella infection in Argentinian pigs. In this study, 21 pig farms were assessed for Trichinella infection including some farms using total and partial confinement management, and others with pigs raised exclusively outdoors. A total of 3224 muscle samples were collected from pigs raised on these farms and tested to determine the presence of T. spiralis larvae by artificial digestion. Serum samples from the same 3224 pigs were tested for antibodies to T. spiralis by ELISA. For each farm, a questionnaire was completed summarizing information about management factors and this information was used to assess risk factors for exposure of T. spiralis. Based on the results, pigs raised outdoors were more likely to be infected than pigs raised in total or partial confinement (p ≤ 0.05). Pigs fed waste products containing meat were 12.5 times more likely to be infected than pigs not fed waste containing meat (p < 0.01). The role played by rats in transmission of Trichinella is unclear; however, on farms with evidence of wild animals and access of pigs to wildlife carcasses, the prevalence of Trichinella infection was significantly higher. All pigs raised under good hygienic and sanitary conditions were negative for Trichinella infection by both artificial digestion and ELISA.     

How Do Horses Appraise Humans' Actions? A Brief Note over a Practical Way to Assess Stimulus Perception

Heart rate (HR) is considered to be an effective tool for assessing animals' emotional response to a stimulus. We investigated changes in HR during a series of handling procedures (grooming test) in horses that had different experiences of human interaction. We used four groups of horses: grazing horses (group A), school horses (group B), six ponies, traditionally trained (group C), and six ponies, trained with modulated stimulus intensity (group D). An HR monitor was applied to each horse. The operator began the grooming test, standardized at the following points: (1) trainer's entry into the enclosure/paddock, (2) halter fastened, (3) start of grooming, (4) end of grooming, (5) saddling, and (6) inserting the bit. Group A repeated the grooming test twice: group A1 with a known operator and group A2 with an unknown operator. The data were compared by using analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests. The results showed a significant increase in HR (P ≤ .05) at point 2 compared with baseline in all groups except group D. Other significant differences were found at all points between groups A1 and A2, groups A2 and B, groups A1 and C, groups B and C, and at points 5 and 6 between groups A2 and C, as well as between groups C and D. Even when a scientific assessment of the increase in the HR is of primary importance, the use of this physiologic parameter may be helpful in assessing the horse's perceptions of stimuli presented by people during handling. Our results show that it is not the action “per se” that is important, but the manner in which horses perceive and appraise such actions in relation to the environment and their subject's experiences.     

Prevalence and concentration of Verotoxigenic Escherichia coli O157:H7 in adult sheep at slaughter from Italy

A 1-year study on the animal-level prevalence and concentration of Escherichia coli O157 in adult sheep at slaughter was performed, to collect qualitative and quantitative information on the diffusion of the pathogen in adult sheep from Italy. A total 533 samples were collected, with a similar distribution in the four seasons. For prevalence estimates, a simple random sampling technique was used. An immuno-magnetic separation technique was used for sample screening, with enumeration of the pathogen in positive samples, along with molecular and serological identification of isolates. An overall prevalence of 7.1% (38/ 533, 95% CI 4.9-9.3%) was observed for fully virulent E. coli O157. A wide interval of VTEC O157 per gram was observed (< 100 to 6 x 10(5) CFU g(-1)), with 28.9% (11/38) of positive samples > or = 1 x 10(3) CFU g(-1), set as the threshold for those animals defined 'active shedders' for the purpose of the study. Eight per cent (3/38) of animals shed > 1 x 10(4) g(-1) VTEC O157, which represents > 96% of the total VTEC O157 bacteria cultured from all animals tested. The prevalence estimate of active shedders was therefore 2.1% (95% CI 0.9-3.3%). Most (34/38, 89.5%) of the positive animals were found in summer (July-September). Prevalence and concentrations of virulent VTEC O157 obtained in this study contribute to the demonstration that adult sheep represent a relevant source of environmental contamination from virulent VTEC O157, as well as a source of VTEC O157 contamination for food of ovine origin (meat and dairy products), especially during warm months.     

Trace Elements in Soils of Urban Areas

Urban soils are an essential element of the city environment. However, studies on urban soils are scattered in terms of geographical distribution, sampling pattern, analytical dataset, etc. One of the major issues arising from the studies on this ecosystem is the diffusion of its contamination. In cities, in fact, the proximity to humans may cause a serious danger for citizens. In the present study, results from the literature about trace elements in urban soils are presented to compare methodologies and results and to offer a basis for the harmonization of investigation approaches and establishment of remediation thresholds. A total of 153 studies on the urban ecosystem published in the last 10 years were collected and data on trace elements in soils of 94 world cities were compared and discussed. Data highlights the discrepancies among different studies (sampling strategies, analytical procedures) and the extreme variability of urban soils. Most cities are contaminated by one or more trace elements, revealing the environmental relevance of the urban soil system. While Pb is still one of the major concerns in many locations, new contaminants are on the rise and would deserve more attention from the researchers. While in fact some contaminants are almost ubiquitous in world cities and could be used as tracers for urban contamination, some traffic-related elements such as platinum, rhodium, and palladium, whose reactivity and toxicity is still unknown, are becoming of concern. Collation of literature data highlights the need for the harmonization of sampling, analytical, and rendering procedures for regulatory purposes and provides a useful dataset for environmental scientists dealing with the urban ecosystem and for city planners. A sampling design adapted to local urban patterns, a prescribed sampling depth, and a minimum set of elements that deserve to be measured could be the core of a common methodology.     

Soil degradation by land use change in an agropastoral area in Sardinia (Italy)

In recent decades the clearing of Mediterranean maquis along with the creation of new pastures has been a major factor of land degradation in Sardinia (Italy). This was due to an inadequate implementation of agricultural policies. Consequently, tillage and water erosion intensified over a wide area. The present work assesses the impacts of land use change on soil properties in a representative area of central-eastern Sardinia. Paired forest and pasture sampling sites were selected in relation to present land use, land suitability, and land use history. Different soil properties were considered: physical (sand, silt, clay, soil thickness, bulk density, and penetration resistance), chemical (pH, OC, N, C/N, Ca, Mg, Na, K, CEC, and BS), biological (BQI), and micromorphological (microporosity and microstructure). The comparison of forest and pasture soils showed a significant soil loss (in terms of soil thickness, −22%), and a clear decrease in organic carbon storage (−64% on average). An increase in bulk density (+ 44%) and a change in microporosity and its vertical distribution were also observed, respectively by field measurements and micromorphological quantification on digital images.     

Urine excretion of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in occupational exposure

The pharmacokinetics of pentachlorophenol (PCP) excretion in urine was examined in four workers exposed to the biocide in the tannery and wood industries. PCP concentration in urine was significantly higher in morning samples than in afternoon or evening samples. This excretion pattern was observed during an exposure of several shifts and following a four-week holiday period. The estimated half-life for PCP urine excretion was 10 days. Biological monitoring of occupational exposure to PCP should be carried out by measuring the concentration of the compound in urine collected in the morning or before the workshift.     

Experimental infection of calves with a gI, gE, US9 negative bovine herpesvirus type 5

In this work, a role for the genes encoding glycoproteins I (gI) and E (gE) and the US9 protein of bovine herpesvirus type 5 (BHV-5) in neuropathogenicity and reactivation of latent infections was examined. Calves infected intranasally with a gI/gE/US9 deleted recombinant shed up to 10(2.85) TCID50/ml infectious virus in nasal secretions. Calves infected with the wild type BHV-5 parental virus shed up to 10(5) TCID50/ml virus. No signs of disease were observed in calves infected with the recombinant virus, whereas those infected with wild type virus displayed respiratory and neurological signs. The recombinant was only able to reach the basal portions of the central nervous system. In contrast, wild type virus was found widespread within the brain. Reactivation with dexamethasone 60 days post-infection resulted in reactivation of wild type virus, whereas the recombinant virus could not be reactivated. These studies demonstrate that genes gI, gE and US9 of BHV-5 are important for its neuropathogenicity and its ability to reactive from latency.