Review of surrogacy program for endangered victorian brush-tailed rock wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) with special reference to animal husbandry and veterinary considerations.

A surrogacy program to increase the reproductive rate of the critically endangered Victorian brush-tailed rock wallaby (Petrogale penicillata), initially developed in semicaptive conditions, was established in close captivity at Adelaide Zoological Gardens in 1998. Pouch young were removed from their mothers on days 8-20 or 40-45 after parturition and placed onto the teat of a tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) or yellow-footed rock wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus xanthopus) surrogate mother. During the early years of the program, mortality of brush-tail pouch young was high (12/16, 75%), both before transfer while still on their mother (5/16) and after transfer to a surrogate mother (7/11). Changing pouch young transfer methodology and improving the health status of the surrogate animals during the later years of the program significantly reduced the mortality of brush-tail pouch young (8/29). Under the new methodology, no mortality of brush-tail pouch young was observed between birth and the time of transfer, (0/29), and after transfer, pouch young mortality rate was eight of 29 (28%). Factors implicated in the improved success of the program included 1) the early transfer (between days 8 and 20) of brush-tail pouch young from mother to surrogate mother, 2) review of the veterinary history and health of the animals selected to act as surrogate mothers, and 3) increased access to grazing pasture for foster mothers. The reproductive rate of the brush-tail females in the later years of the breeding program was sixfold above natural birthing rates. These and other factors important in establishing a breeding program of this nature are discussed.     

Neurotoxicity in calves induced by the plant, Nierembergia hippomanica Miers var. violacea Millán in South Africa

The plant Nierembergia hippomanica var. violacea has been incriminated in field outbreaks of neurotoxicity in calves in the Free State Province. Hepatotoxicity and electrocardiogram (ECG) deviations were induced in a sheep dosed with 5 g/kg dried plant material on four consecutive days. A calf dosed with 2.5 g/kg dried plant material, on two consecutive days, did not show overt clinical changes. Voluntary ingestion of approximately 30 g/kg fresh flowering plants by a second calf resulted in nervous signs characterized by chewing motions, protrusion of the tongue, dysphagia, hypermetria, ataxia, paresis and lateral recumbency. Salivation, dehydration and cardiac irregularities completed the clinical picture. Clinical chemistry changes revealed muscle damage and increased serum urea and creatinine concentrations indicative of kidney involvement. This is the first confirmed outbreak of Nierembergia hippomanica var. violacea intoxication of stock in South Africa.     

Effect of infection by bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in vitro on interleukin-1 activity of bovine monocytes

The effect of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection in vitro on the interleukin-1 (IL-1) activity of bovine monocytes was studied. Supernatants from BVDV-infected monocytes suppressed IL-1-stimulated proliferation of mouse thymocytes and masked lipopolysaccharide-stimulated IL-1 activity of bovine monocytes in the mouse comitogen thymocyte assay. Suppression of mouse thymocyte proliferation was restored by the addition of IL-1. IL-1 inhibitory activity was induced both by the prototype variants BVDV/NADL cytopathic and BVDV/NY-1 noncytopathic and by BVDV variants isolated from persistently infected cattle. Suppressed IL-1 activity was also found in supernatants from monocytes from persistently infected cattle following infection with BVDV in vitro. No differences in levels of IL-1 mRNA synthesis were detected between BVDV-infected and uninfected monocytes by RNA-cDNA hybridization. These results suggest that infection of bovine monocytes with BVDV results in the production and/or activation of a soluble inhibitor of IL-1 activity.     

Evaluation of various compounds to inhibit activity of matrix metalloproteinases in the tear film of horses with ulcerative keratitis

OBJECTIVE: To examine in vitro effects of various antiproteolytic compounds on activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 in the tear film of horses with active corneal ulcers. SAMPLE POPULATION: Samples of tear film obtained from the eyes of 34 horses with active ulcerative keratitis. PROCEDURE: Horses were sedated, and tear samples were collected from the lower fornix of 34 ulcerated eyes by use of capillary tubes. The protease inhibitors 0.2% EDTA, 0.1% doxycycline, 10% N-acetylcysteine (NAC), 0.1% solution of a modified dipeptide that contains hydroxamic acid (ie, ilomostat), 0.1% alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (PI), 0.5% alpha1-PI, and 100% fresh equine serum (ES) were used to treat pooled samples. Amount of latent and active MMP-2 and -9 was measured by optical density scanning of gelatin zymograms of treated and untreated tear samples. RESULTS: Pooled tear samples obtained from ulcerated eyes contained the latent and active forms of MMP-2 and -9. Compared with MMP activity in untreated samples, total MMP activity (sum of all bands detected) observed on the gelatin zymogram gels was reduced by 99.4% by EDTA, 96.3% by doxycycline, 98.8% by NAC, 98.9% by ilomostat, 52.4% by 0.1% alpha1-PI, 93.6% by 0.5% alpha1-PI, and 90.0% by ES. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: We documented that EDTA, doxycycline, NAC, ilomostat, alpha1PI, and ES inhibited MMP activity in vitro. Because these compounds use different mechanisms to inhibit various families of proteases in the tear film of horses, a combination of these protease inhibitors may be beneficial for treatment of corneal ulcers in horses.     

The effect of topical tripeptide-copper complex on healing of ischemic open wounds

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of topical glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine tripeptide-copper complex (TCC; Iamin 2% Gel; Procyte Corporation, Redmond, WA) on healing in ischemic open wounds. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. METHODS: Rats were divided into 3 groups: topical TCC, topical TCC vehicle (hydroxypropyl-methylcellulose), and no treatment (control). Six-mm-diameter, full-thickness wounds were created within an ischemic bipedicle skin flap on the dorsum of each rat. Each day, for 13 days, wound margins were traced, and the TCC and TCC vehicle groups were treated topically. Tracings were scanned, and wound perimeter and area were calculated. On days 6, 10, and 13, selected wounds were biopsied and analyzed for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 2 and 9. RESULTS: A significant decrease in wound area was seen in the TCC group, but not the vehicle group, when compared with the control group on days 3 to 5, 6 to 9, and 11 to 13 and when TCC was compared with TCC vehicle on days 3 and 9. On day 13, initial wound area had decreased by 64.5% in the TCC group, 45.6% in the vehicle group, and 28.2% in the control group. On days 6, 10, and 13, TCC-treated wounds contained significantly lower concentrations of TNF-alpha and MMP-2 and MMP-9 than control wounds. CONCLUSION: Topical TCC resulted in accelerated wound healing in ischemic open wounds. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Topical TCC is an effective stimulant of healing of ischemic open wounds in rats and may have an application for the treatment of chronic wounds in other species. Clinical evaluation of topical TCC is warranted.     

Modulation of postendocytic sorting of G protein-coupled receptors

Recycling of the mu opioid receptor to the plasma membrane after endocytosis promotes rapid resensitization of signal transduction, whereas targeting of the delta opioid receptor (DOR) to lysosomes causes proteolytic down-regulation. We identified a protein that binds preferentially to the cytoplasmic tail of the DOR as a candidate heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein (G protein)-coupled receptor-associated sorting protein (GASP). Disruption of the DOR-GASP interaction through receptor mutation or overexpression of a dominant negative fragment of GASP inhibited receptor trafficking to lysosomes and promoted recycling. The GASP family of proteins may modulate lysosomal sorting and functional down-regulation of a variety of G protein-coupled receptors.     

Biotechnische Regulierung der Kohlmottenschildlaus in Kohlgem��se �C Sachstand und Perspektiven

The cabbage whitefly,Aleyrodes proletella, has developed to a key pest in brassica vegetable crops throughout Germany. In a 3-year project we investigated a biotechnical approach employing netting (0.8?×?0.8 mm meshsize) in combination with the native parasitoidEncarsia tricolor in an inoculative-inundative approach in organic Brussels sprouts under field conditions. In small scale plot experiments continuous netting from transplanting in May till October alone reduced whitefly larval densities by 77 % at peak infestation in all years. Remaining whitefly infestation under net was associated with the necessity of temporary net removal for the purpose of mechanical weeding, which caused primary whitefly infestation. Release of mass rearedE. tricolour under net at the first signs of larval infestation significantly increasedA. proletella-parasitation and reduced infestation compared to netted controls without release. Furthermore, at highest dosage in 2009,E. tricolor had a significant enhancing effect on raw yield and the quality level of marketable yield. Additional on-farm experiments without netting in 2008 and 2009 confirmed the control potential ofE. tricolor. Although the most important project mile stones have been achieved, namely (a)E. tricolour-establishment under net and in the open field, (b) enhanced parasitation corresponding with pest density decline and (c) a positive impact on yield and quality parameters, further research will be necessary. The focus should be on the initial infestation period, optimizing the timing, frequency and required dosage.