Development of osteochondrosis in Lusitano foals: A radiographic study

This study aimed to detect, by radiographic examination, the evolution of osteochondral lesions in the tarsocrural and femoropatellar joints of Lusitano foals. Within 1 month of age, 76.08% of foals had radiographic signs of osteochondrosis, but only 16.20% had lesions at 18 months. The radiographic signs resolved by 5 mo of age in most foals, but some cases that involved either joint, were not resolved until 12 mo of age. It is thought that the “age of no return” is 5 mo for the tarsocrural and 8 mo for the femoropatellar joint but this study demonstrated regression of osteochondral lesions in both joints of Lusitano foals up to 12 months of age.     

Amniotic membrane transplantation for the treatment of feline corneal sequestrum: pilot study

Objectives To describe and evaluate the use of equine amniotic membrane trans‐plantation after lamellar keratectomy for the treatment of corneal sequestrum in cats. Methods Six cats (seven eyes) of various breed and ages with corneal sequestra were treated surgically with lamellar keratectomy and amniotic membrane transplantation. All the sequestra and a small piece of the amniotic membranes used for each surgery were submitted for histopathologic examination. Results Five of the seven eyes showed minimal level of scarring in the cornea and good transparency. No recurrences of the sequestra have been noted during the follow‐up period (3–9 months). One eye had necrosis of the amniotic membrane 2 weeks after the surgery. The sequestrum of this eye showed a high level of bacterial contamination on histopathology. Three months later the same cat developed a descemetocele in the area where the necrotic amniotic membrane was rejected. A second eye developed a perforation under the amniotic membrane two weeks after the surgery. The sequestrum of this eye was deep and without vascularization. Conclusion Amniotic membrane transplantation after lamellar keratectomy was a valid procedure for surgical treatment of corneal sequestrum in cats. The procedure resulted in excellent cosmesis and functional vision in five of seven eyes; although case selection is important, particularly to exclude the very deep and non‐vascularized sequestra.     

Influence of soil type and pH on the colonisation of sugar beet seedlings by antagonistic Pseudomonas and Bacillus strains,and on their control of Pythium damping-off

In five different soils originating from Scotland (Craibstone and Cruden Bay), Germany (Magdeburg and Uelzen) and Greece (Tymbaki), Pseudomonas fluorescens B5 reached higher population sizes (4.7–5.7logCFU/plant) on 12-day-old sugar beet seedlings than Bacillus subtilis MBI 600 (4.1–4.8logCFU/plant). Total population size per plant was not affected by soil type. In all five soils, the antagonists reached highest population densities in the hypocotyl and the upper 2cm root section (P. fluorescensB5: 5.2–6.8log₁₀CFU/g plant fresh weight, Bacillus subtilisMBI 600: 5.2–6.1log₁₀CFU/g plant fresh weight) and declined to 0–3log₁₀CFU below 4cm root depth. Colonisation by P. fluorescens B5 down the root was slightly increased in the soils from Craibstone, Magdeburg, and Uelzen compared to the sandy clay loam from Tymbaki. In lux-marked P. fluorescens B5, population density was positively correlated with light emission in all soils; the light emission indicated physiological activity of the strains. However, P. fluorescens B5 reduced Pythium damping-off (measurement after 14 days plant growth) only in three of the five soils (Craibstone, Cruden Bay and Magdeburg). Co-inoculation of B. subtilis MBI 600 increased downward colonisation of the root by P. fluorescens B5, but not the total population ofP. fluorescens B5 per plant. Bacillus subtilisMBI 600 did not reduce Pythium damping-off in any of the soils nor did it influence the efficiency of co-inoculated P. fluorescens B5; its population consisted mainly of physiologically inactive spores. In Craibstone soil, pH did not affect population density, distribution along the root or biocontrol activity against P. ultimum of P. fluorescens B5 or B. subtilis MBI 600.     

Characterization of Erwinia amylovora Strains from Croatia

Erwinia amylovora is the causative agent of fire blight, a destructive disease of rosaceous plants. The European population can be divided into several subtypes according to differences in restriction fragment length polymorphism of the XbaI genomic DNA digest analysed with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. This technique was also used to determine the genetic relatedness of six Croatian isolates to the E. amylovora types found in the countries surrounding Croatia. The isolates belong to the Pt2 pattern type that is characteristic of the East Mediterranean basin. All tested isolates gave essentially the same total cell protein pattern in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The number of short-sequence DNA repeats in plasmid pEA29 of six isolates was determined by PCR assays and ranged from four to seven. The isolates examined showed high pathogenicity in immature pear fruits. Differences were also revealed in microbiological assays such as amylovoran synthesis, levan formation, siderophore production and colour on coliform medium.     

Photolysis of quinalphos in ethanolic solution

Photolysis of quinalphos, O,O-diethyl O-(quinoxalin-2-yl) phosphorothioate ( I ), in ethanolic solutions yields two products, O,O-diethyl O-(3-ethoxy-quinoxalin-2-yl) phosphorothioate ( II ) and O,O-diethyl O-(3-(1-hydroxyethyl)-quinoxalin-2-yl) phosphorothioate ( III ). Both products derive from the reaction of photo-excited quinalphos molecule with the solvent. The reactions follow first-order kinetics. A mechanism that accounts for the formation of the above mentioned products is proposed.     

Fungicidal activity of a series of phenyl pyridyl ketoximes and their O-acetyl derivatives

The free oximes and acetyl derivatives of a series of 4-substituted phenyl pyridyl ketones were prepared and tested in vitro and in vivo against fungal plant pathogens of different taxonomic classes. All compounds exhibited an interesting activity against some or all of the test fungi. The best results were given by the acetyl derivatives.     

Volatile Organic Compounds,Indole, and Biogenic Amines Assessment in Two Mediterranean Irciniidae (Porifera,Demospongiae)

Solid phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed for the headspace determination of the volatile organic fraction emitted by two of the most common Mediterranean demosponges, Ircinia variabilis and Sarcotragus spinosulus, and of indole and some biogenic amines released by sponges in an aqueous medium. A total of 50/30 µm divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane and 75 µm carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane fibers were used for the headspace extraction of low molecular weight sulfur compounds from a hermetically sealed vial containing sponge fragments, while the direct immersion determination of indole and biogenic amines was performed. The biogenic amines were extracted after in-solution derivatization with isobutyl chloroformate. All analytical parameters (linearity, limits of detection, and quantification, precision, and recovery) were evaluated for indole and biogenic amines. SPME-GC-MS proved to be a reliable means of highlighting the differences between molecules released by different sponges, principally responsible for their smell. The combined approaches allowed the identification of several volatile compounds in the headspace and other molecules released by the sponges in an aqueous medium, including indole and the BAs cadaverine, histamine, isobutylamine, isopentylamine, propylamine, 2-phenylethylamine, putrescine and tryptamine. The results obtained represent a further contribution to the picture of odoriferous molecules secreted by sponges.     

Responses of Atlantic cod <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gadus morhua</Emphasis> head kidney leukocytes to phytase produced by gastrointestinal-derived bacteria

This study identified phytase-producing bacteria that were previously isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua and determined its effect on head kidney leukocytes. Out of the 216 bacterial strains tested, the two phytase producers were identified as Pseudomonas sp. and Psychrobacter sp. based on their 16S rDNA sequence. Crude phytase from these two bacterial strains was produced employing the shake flask method. Even though the total protein of the crude phytase was not significantly different for the two bacteria, the phytase activity of the crude enzyme produced by Pseudomonas sp. (97.1 ± 16.7 U) was significantly higher than that of the enzyme from Psychrobacter sp. (75.9 ± 2.4 U). When cod head kidney leukocytes were incubated with the crude phytase (50 μg ml⁻¹), it resulted in enhanced cell proliferation, higher myeloperoxidase, and acid phosphatase activities. Extracellular responses—respiratory burst activity and hydrogen peroxide production were not enhanced by the crude enzyme. As a consequence, the growth of two pathogenic bacteria Aeromonas salmonicida and Vibrio anguillarum was not suppressed by the supernatants obtained from head kidney leukocytes incubated with the crude bacterial phytase. Thus, the enzyme from phytase-producing intestinal bacteria of Atlantic cod can stimulate intracellular head kidney leukocyte activities but not the production of extracellular substances that are involved in antibacterial response. These have implications on the potential use of bacterial phytase as feed supplement to boost cellular immune response of the fish and could be employed as a health management strategy in culture systems.     

PML regulates apoptosis at endoplasmic reticulum by modulating calcium release

The promyelocytic leukemia (PML) tumor suppressor is a pleiotropic modulator of apoptosis. However, the molecular basis for such a diverse proapoptotic role is currently unknown. We show that extranuclear Pml was specifically enriched at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and at the mitochondria-associated membranes, signaling domains involved in ER-to-mitochondria calcium ion (Ca(2+)) transport and in induction of apoptosis. We found Pml in complexes of large molecular size with the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP(3)R), protein kinase Akt, and protein phosphatase 2a (PP2a). Pml was essential for Akt- and PP2a-dependent modulation of IP(3)R phosphorylation and in turn for IP(3)R-mediated Ca(2+) release from ER. Our findings provide a mechanistic explanation for the pleiotropic role of Pml in apoptosis and identify a pharmacological target for the modulation of Ca(2+) signals.     

Vertebral polyostotic lymphoma in a young dog.

An unusual clinical presentation of lymphoma with vertebral involvement in a dog is reported. A 20-month-old intact female Golden Retriever presented with progressive paraparesis and anorexia. Complete blood count and serum biochemistry profile demonstrated pancytopenia and hypercalcemia. Ventral fusion of the lumbar vertebrae by new bony tissue deposition was evident on X-ray and CT scan. Fine needle aspiration revealed neoplastic lymphoid cells in lymph nodes and bone marrow. Histologically, vertebral bone and osteophytes, liver, bone marrow, kidney, and lymph nodes were diffusely infiltrated by neoplastic, lymphoid cells, with scant cytoplasm and round hyperchromatic nuclei. Polyostotic and medullary T-cell lymphoma with spondylosis was diagnosed. Lymphoma mainly affecting bone is uncommon in the dog. The present case differs from previously described polyostotic lymphomas in clinical signs of the disease, mainly attributable to spondylarthrosis. In addition, lymphomatous proliferation was associated with osteoproductive lesions of the vertebrae.