Prostatic Perfusion in the Dog Using Contrast-Enhanced Doppler Ultrasound

Ultrasonography has become the imaging modality of choice for evaluation of the prostate gland in the dog. Unfortunately, despite providing excellent images, it may be difficult to differentiate the common canine prostatic diseases with ultrasound because many have a similar ultrasonographic appearance. Real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound was used to monitor and characterise the normal perfusion pattern and perfusion dynamics of the canine prostate gland when using a micro bubble contrast agent. In all contrast studies, the prostatic artery, entered the prostate gland on the dorso-lateral surface then tunnelled into the prostatic capsule and branched into many small parenchymal arteries which were directed medially towards the urethra to supply the body of the prostate gland. The flow of the contrast medium into the prostatic parenchyma was visible after 15 s. During the wash-in phase, there was an homogenous enhancement of the prostatic parenchyma. During the wash-out phase, an homogenous decrease of the echogenicity was visible in all cases.     

Feline leukaemia. ABCD guidelines on prevention and management

OverviewFeline leukaemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus that may induce depression of the immune system, anaemia and/or lymphoma. Over the past 25 years, the prevalence of FeLV infection has decreased considerably, thanks both to reliable tests for the identification of viraemic carriers and to effective vaccines.InfectionTransmission between cats occurs mainly through friendly contacts, but also through biting. In large groups of non-vaccinated cats, around 30–40% will develop persistent viraemia, 30–40% show transient viraemia and 20–30% seroconvert. Young kittens are especially susceptible to FeLV infection.Disease signsThe most common signs of persistent FeLV viraemia are immune suppression, anaemia and lymphoma. Less common signs are immune-mediated disease, chronic enteritis, reproductive disorders and peripheral neuropathies. Most persistently viraemic cats die within 2–3 years.DiagnosisIn low-prevalence areas there may be a risk of false-positive results; a doubtful positive test result in a healthy cat should therefore be confirmed, preferably by PCR for provirus. Asymptomatic FeLV-positive cats should be retested.Disease managementSupportive therapy and good nursing care are required. Secondary infections should be treated promptly. Cats infected with FeLV should remain indoors. Vaccination against common pathogens should be maintained. Inactivated vaccines are recommended. The virus does not survive for long outside the host.Vaccination recommendationsAll cats with an uncertain FeLV status should be tested prior to vaccination. All healthy cats at potential risk of exposure should be vaccinated against FeLV. Kittens should be vaccinated at 8–9 weeks of age, with a second vaccination at 12 weeks, followed by a booster 1 year later. The ABCD suggests that, in cats older than 3–4 years of age, a booster every 2–3 years suffices, in view of the significantly lower susceptibility of older cats.     

Feline rabies. ABCD guidelines on prevention and management

OverviewRabies virus belongs to the genus Lyssavirus, together with European bat lyssaviruses 1 and 2. In clinical practice, rabies virus is easily inactivated by detergent-based disinfectants.InfectionRabid animals are the only source of infection. Virus is shed in the saliva some days before the onset of clinical signs and transmitted through a bite or a scratch to the skin or mucous membranes. The average incubation period in cats is 2 months, but may vary from 2 weeks to several months, or even years.Disease signsAny unexplained aggressive behaviour or sudden behavioural change in cats must be considered suspicious. Two disease manifestations have been identified in cats: the furious and the dumb form. Death occurs after a clinical course of 1–10 days.DiagnosisA definitive rabies diagnosis is obtained by post-mortem laboratory investigation. However, serological tests are used for post-vaccinal control, especially in the context of international movements.Disease managementPost-exposure vaccination of cats depends on the national public health regulations, and is forbidden in many countries.Vaccination recommendationsA single rabies vaccination induces a long-lasting immunity. Kittens should be vaccinated at 12–16 weeks of age to avoid interference from maternally derived antibodies and revaccinated 1 year later. Although some vaccines protect against virulent rabies virus challenge for 3 years or more, national or local legislation may call for annual boosters.     

Flow cytometric patterns in blood from dogs with non-neoplastic and neoplastic hematologic diseases using double labeling for CD18 and CD45

BACKGROUND: In dogs, flow cytometry is used in the phenotyping of immunologic cells and in the diagnosis of hemic neoplasia. However, the paucity of specific antibodies for myeloid cells and B lymphocytes and of labeled antibodies for multicolor techniques limits the ability to detect all leukocyte subpopulations. This is especially true for neoplastic and precursor cells. CD18 and CD45 are expressed on all leukocytes and are involved in cell activation, and together could be useful in helping determine cell lineage. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to double label canine blood for CD18 and CD45 and to use the differential expression of antigens to identify leukocyte populations in dogs with non-neoplastic and neoplastic hematologic diseases. METHODS: A template was developed using blood samples from 10 clinically healthy dogs and a back-gating technique. Differential leukocyte counts obtained with the template were compared with those obtained by manual and automated methods on blood samples from 17 additional healthy dogs. Blood samples obtained from 9 dogs with non-neoplastic (reactive) hematologic diseases and 27 dogs with hemic neoplasia were double stained for CD18 and CD45 using mouse anticanine CD18 monoclonal antibody (mAb) plus phycoerythrin-conjugated rat anticanine CD45 mAb and fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated rabbit antimouse IgG. Hemic neoplasms were diagnosed by cell morphology, and immunophenotypic and cytochemical markers. RESULTS: With the double label, neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, and T- and B-lymphocytes were identified. In reactive disorders, a population of activated neutrophils with high CD45 and CD18 expression was detected. In hemic neoplasia, cell lineage was easily determined, even in acute leukemia. CONCLUSIONS: Double labeling for CD18/CD45 may be useful as a screening method to evaluate hematologic diseases and help determine cell lineage, and to aid in the selection of a panel of antibodies that would be useful for further analysis.     

Myopathy with central cores in a foal

Central core disease is a nonprogressive or slowly progressive congenital myopathy with a variable degree of hypotonia and axial and proximal muscle weakness that is histologically characterized by areas devoid of oxidative enzyme activity, resulting from an absence or low numbers of mitochondria in these regions (central core). A 10-month-old, male, pony foal was examined because of stiff gait, marked contractures of the distal portion of the limbs, flexion deformities of the hooves, and moderate hypotonia that had been present from birth. The foal had increased creatine kinase (282 U/liter; reference interval 10-135 U/liter), lactate dehydrogenase (1,188 U/liter; reference interval 150-450 U/liter), and aspartate transaminase (377 U/liter; reference interval <290 U/liter) activities, suggesting muscle disease. Muscle biopsy was performed. In cytochrome oxidase-, succinate dehydrogenase-, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide tetrazolium reductase-reacted sections, the dominant morphologic feature was the absence of oxidative enzyme activity in the cores. By use of immunohistochemical technique with a monoclonal antibody against desmin, the cores were clearly delineated and a desmin network was present within the cores. Ultrastructurally, the core areas were characterized by preserved sarcomeres with irregular Z-lines, with some streaming or zigzag appearance and abnormal sarcoplasmic reticulum profiles and T-tubules. Lack of mitochrondria within central cores was observed. Diagnosis of myopathy with central cores was made.     

Flavonoid-induced autophagy in hormone sensitive breast cancer cells

The activity of 8-prenylapigenin (8-PA) and its 3'-methoxylated analogue isocannflavin B (IsoB) was investigated in estrogen-dependent T47-D and estrogen-independent MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines. 8-PA showed a biphasic effect on T47-D cell proliferation, while no significant effect was observed on MDA-MB-231 cells. Conversely, IsoB exhibited only an inhibitory effect on T47-D cell proliferation, accompanied by the appearance of an intense intracytoplasmic vacuolization of autophagic origin. Moreover, biochemical analysis showed that IsoB reduced Akt phosphorylation and p21^Cip1 expression in T47-D cells. These data show that the prenylflavone moiety is a versatile platform for the induction and modulation of bioactivity.     

Multi-electrode 3D resistivity imaging of alfalfa root zone

Information on the amount and spatial distribution of plant roots is increasingly needed for understanding and managing crop behaviour. Soil electrical resistivity (ρ) tomography has been proposed as a non-destructive method for root biomass quantification and mapping in trees but evidence is needed on the applicability of the technique at low root density and in herbaceous plants.We produced high-resolution 3D DC soil resistivity tomograms in containers with bare soil (B), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) (A1) on a silt loam soil, and alfalfa on a loam (A2). Root biomass (RMD), root length density (RLD), soil electrical conductivity (EC) and water content (θ) were measured destructively.The pattern of soil resistivity matched the spatial distribution of θ in bare soil and of RMD in rooted soil. Univariate linear relations were found between ρ and θ in bare soil and between ρ, RLD and RMD in rooted soil. Across all data RMD and soil texture (P < 0.01) explained a high proportion of variability in soil resistivity.This allows to conclude that soil resistivity is quantitatively related to root biomass in herbaceous plants even at low root density (biomass < 0.001 Mg m⁻³), providing a basis for the development of resistivity-founded methods for the non-destructive spatial detection of root mass in situ, but the response in ρ is of the same order of magnitude as the effects of grain size and water content. Therefore in field studies reciprocal masking of low-density roots and other soil features is possible, and the effect of variation in other soil properties should be explicitly addressed.     

Efficacy of Vaccination Against Streptococcus iniae During Artificial Spawning of the Red-Tail Black Shark (Epalzeorhynchos bicolor,fam. Cyprinidae)

Artificial spawning may precipitate high mortalities of red-tail black shark (Epalzeorhynchos bicolor) broodstock from Streptococcus iniae infection. Two vaccine formulations (aluminum or oil adjuvant) were evaluated for effectiveness. Fish (mean weight 21.2 ± 5.7 g) were harvested, acclimatized, and vaccinated by intracoelomic injection. After 21 days, fish were moved to a biosecure laboratory and, one day later, simultaneously spawned and challenged by bath or by intracoelomic injection with S. iniae. Both formulations increased relative% survival (RPS) in unspawned (RPS [formulation]: 80 [aluminum]; 54 [oil]) and spawned fish (87–95 [aluminum]; 73–75 [oil]), suggesting that vaccination increases survival of red-tail black shark broodstock after spawning.     

Annual survival probabilities of juvenile loggerhead sea turtles indicate high anthropogenic impact on Mediterranean populations

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