Autochthonous Chagas disease in the southern United States: A case report of suspected residential and military exposures

Chagas disease is a parasitic infection that can result in a progressive dilated cardiomyopathy. Here, we present the epidemiologic details of a suspected locally acquired transmission case originating from the southern United States. This is the first published report of Chagas disease in a young, healthy United States veteran with repeat triatomine exposures in Arizona. Military personnel and Arizona residents should be aware of their Chagas disease transmission risks.     

Equine intravenous glucose tolerance test: glucose and insulin responses of healthy horses fed grain or hay and of horses with pituitary adenoma

Intravenous glucose tolerance testing (0.5 g/kg of body weight) was done on 2 groups of healthy horses maintained with hay (group 1, n = 5) and with hay plus grain supplementation (group 2, n = 5) and on a group of horses with clinically diagnosed pituitary adenoma (group 3, n = 10). Healthy horses showed an immediate increase of plasma glucose concentration after the IV glucose injection, with return of values to base line in 1 hour. Group 3 horses showed resting hyperglycemia and a delayed return of glucose values to base line (3 hours). Group 3 horses showed resting hyperinsulinemia and a feeble (nonsignificant) response to the glycemic stimulus, with gradual decrease of insulin values to base line. In addition to the apparently reduced tissue sensitivity to insulin in group 3 horses, as evidenced by hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and protracted glucose and insulin curves, the initial decrease in the insulin/glucose ratio indicates that there was secretory deficiency in response to acute IV glucose loading.     

Spontaneous listeric encephalitis and neuritis in sheep. Light microscopic studies

Sixteen of 17 sheep with spontaneous listeric encephalitis had neuritis characterized by diffuse and focal intrafascicular and perineural accumulations of lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages and neutrophils in one or more cranial nerves. Nine sheep had extensive trigeminal neuritis which was usually unilateral. Brain lesions were mainly in the stem and were foci of macrophages or neutrophils or both, malacia, neutrophilic neuronophagia, vascular cuffing, and meningitis. Lesions in the brain and trigeminal ganglia were most severe on the same side as the affected trigeminal nerve. Gram-positive bacilli were in proximal parts of cranial nerves in foci of inflammatory cells and occasionally in morphologically intact nerve fibers. Organisms in the brain were in phagocytes in areas of inflammation and in scattered neurons and axons. The results were consistent with centripetal migration of the infectious agent along one or more branches of the trigeminal nerve to the brain and dissemination in the brain stem occurring, at least partly, along fiber tracts. Intraaxonal movement of bacteria probably is a mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of this disease.     

Results of a Preliminary Trial with Sphaerophorus necrophorus Toxoids to Control Liver Abscesses in Feedlot Cattle

A preliminary field experiment was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of alum precipitated toxoids of Sphaerophorus necrophorus prepared from sonicated whole cells and cell fractions to reduce the incidence of bovine abscesses. A total of 108 calves were divided into five groups and treated as follows: I. uninoculated control, II. adjuvant inoculated control, III. 15.5 mg protein of sonicated (fragmented cells) toxoid, IV. 10.5 mg protein of cytoplasmic toxoid. V. 15.5 mg protein of cytoplasmic toxoid. All animals were maintained under similar conditions to those prevailing in feedlots in Alberta. Livers were examined at slaughter. The most promising result was achieved with the injection of 15.5 mg protein of cytoplasmic toxoid. In this treatment group, no scars (healed lesions) were found in the liver and the incidence of liver abscesses was reduced to 10% from the average 35% liver abscesses and scars found in the uninoculated and adjuvant inoculated groups. The toxoid from sonicated whole cells did not reduce liver abscess incidence. These data suggest that the incidence of liver abscesses in cattle fattened in feedlots may be reduced by immunization.     

Transplacental transfer of propofol in pregnant ewes

Propofol is an injectable anaesthetic that is currently used both in veterinary and human medicine for the induction and maintenance of anaesthesia. Although little is known about the pharmacokinetics of propofol in fetuses, it is widely used in obstetric procedures, particularly in caesarean section. This study determines the pharmacokinetics of propofol in pregnant ewes in the last third of pregnancy, and placental transfer and pharmacokinetics in fetuses after the administration of a 6 mg/kg intravenous (i.v.) bolus (phase 1) or a 6 mg/kg i.v. bolus followed by continued infusion of 0.4 mg/kg/min. In ewes, the area under the blood concentration-time curve (AUC) and C(max) (8.6 mgh/mL and 9.5mg/mL, respectively) was higher than those of the fetus (1.6 mgh/mL and 1.19 mg/mL, respectively). The mean half-life was 0.5h in the dam and 1.1h in the fetus.     

An initial survey of the cattle grub Dermatobia hominis (L. Jr.) in Nicaragua

After the civil war and the Hurricane-Mitch disaster, cattlemen in Nicaragua were forced to transport their cattle from lowland areas to higher, dryer areas of the country. These areas are natural ecological niches for the cattle grub Dermatobia hominis (L. Jr.) (Diptera: Cuterebridae). To determine the importance of this infestation, the Agricultural and Livestock-Forestry Ministry selected a central area of Nicaragua to run a pioneer survey program to acquire information about hosts involved, number of cases, treatments applied and general knowledge of 42 farmers about the life cycle of the parasite. The subjects were either farm owners or farm managers. Ninety-five percentage of the farms indicated cases of D. hominis infestation in their animals, with cattle being the most affected host (100% of the affected farms). There was poor understanding of the D. hominis life cycle, vectors and control methods. A misuse of insecticides for the treatment of larval infestation by D. hominis was indicated.     

Disseminated mycoses in a dog by Paecilomyces sp

We describe a case of canine mycoses initially diagnosed by clinical signs and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay anti-fungal test, and later confirmed by the isolation of Paecilomyces sp. during the post-mortem examination. The fungus was isolated from lesions in the kidneys, mitral valve, abdominal aorta and vertebral discs. In this kind of process, it is important to identify the responsible agent early in order to make a study of anti-fungal susceptibility and establish effective treatment.     

Inhibition of histamine release from dispersed canine skin mast cells by cyclosporin A, rolipram and salbutamol, but not by dexamethasone or sodium cromoglycate

Despite the important role that canine skin mast cells play in IgE-mediated allergic inflammation, clinically useful compounds for modulating mediator release from these cells or for suppressing cell response are lacking in the dog. The ability of five compounds to inhibit histamine release induced by non immunological (calcium ionophore A23187 and substance P) and IgE-dependent (concanavalin A) stimuli were compared. Sodium cromoglycate, a mast cell stabilizer, and dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid, failed to inhibit histamine release from isolated skin mast cells following any kind of stimulation. Salbutamol, a β-adrenergic agonist, exhibited inhibitory activity (46.0%) only after concanavalin A activation. In contrast, rolipram, a selective phosphodiesterase IV inhibitor and cyclosporin A, an immunosuppressor, showed potent anti allergic actions, inhibiting both IgE-dependent and -independent stimuli. Rolipram inhibited 42.8%, 44.7% and 19.2% of the mediator release induced by ionophore A23187, substance P and concanavalin A, respectively. Similarly cyclosporin A induced 85.9%, 14.9% and 67.3% inhibition after ionophore A23187, substance P and concanavalin A stimulation, respectively. These results suggest that rolipram and cyclosporin A merit to be clinically tested as agents for the treatment of chronic allergic diseases in the dog.     

Landscape labelling: A concept for next-generation payment for ecosystem service schemes

Current payment for environmental service (PES) schemes face challenges in the form of evaluation of opportunity costs and ecosystem service delivery, high transaction costs, and difficulties in ensuring conditionality. Even when these conditions are met, PES may be undermined by a lack of inclusivity, leading to societal conflicts over land use. We propose a new PES-type approach that we call Landscape Labelling that seeks to overcome these problems by combining PES and product certification principles applied at a landscape scale with local benefits realized at the community level.     

Movement patterns of armado, Pterodoras granulosus, in the Paraná River Basin

Abstract –  We studied the migratory behaviour of armado, Pterodoras granulosus , in the Paraná River Basin of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, during 1997–2005. This species invaded the Upper Paraná River after upstream dispersal was facilitated when Itaipu Reservoir inundated a natural barrier. Fish were tagged ( N  = 8051) in the mainstems of the Yacyreta and Itaipu reservoirs, bays of major tributaries, the Paraná River floodplain above Itaipu Reservoir, and below dams. In all, 420 fish were recaptured of which 61% moved away from the release area. Fish moved a maximum of 215 km (mean 42), and at a maximum rate of 9.4 km·day⁻¹ (mean 0.6). Of the 256 armados that moved away from the release site, 145 moved upstream towards unimpounded stretches of the Paraná River and 111 moved downstream into the reservoir and bays of its tributaries (maximum 150 km). Based on the observed migratory movements, we suspect that most of the reproductive output originates in tributaries to the reservoirs. The ability of this species to expand its range presents a conundrum by pitting fishery management interests against conservation needs. Maintenance of the important armado fisheries depends on the ability of the species to migrate freely to use spawning and nursery areas in reservoir tributaries and floodplains. However, its ability to migrate long distances can allow this non-native species the opportunity to invade most of the Upper Paraná River.