Mannheimia haemolytica serotype 1 and Pasteurella trehalosi serotype 10 culture supernatants contain fibrinogen-binding proteins

Fibrinogen-binding proteins were found in the culture supernatants of Mannheimia haemolytica serotype 1 (ATCC 43270) and Pasteurella trehalosi serotype 10 (ECO-100). Sheep fibrinogen was biotinylated and shown to bind to proteins in the culture supernatants by modified western blot. Fibrinogen-binding proteins in the culture supernatant may be important virulence factors leading to the characteristic fibrinous pneumonia caused by these organisms and may be critical antigenic targets for immune prophylaxis.     

Canine gastric adenocarcinoma and leiomyosarcoma: a retrospective study of 21 cases (1986-1999) and literature review

This retrospective study describes the clinical course, treatment, and outcome of 21 dogs with gastric adenocarcinomas (n=19) and leiomyosarcomas (n=2). Medical records from 1986 to 1999 were reviewed for signalment, weight, diagnosis, tumor location, clinical signs, radiographic imaging procedures, surgical procedures, chemotherapy, duration of follow-up monitoring, outcome, cause of death, metastatic rate, metastatic sites, and method of detection of metastasis. Fourteen of 19 (74%) dogs with gastric adenocarcinomas had metastasis. Metastatic sites included gastric lymph nodes, omentum, liver, duodenum, pancreas, spleen, esophagus, adrenal glands, and lungs. Both cases of a gastric leiomyosarcoma had metastatic disease involving the liver (n=2) and duodenum (n=1). Surgery, consisting of either a Billroth I or a gastrojejunostomy, provided immediate relief of the gastric outflow obstruction and clinical improvement in the early postoperative period. The beneficial effects of chemotherapy alone or adjuvant chemotherapy are still unknown. Recurrence of clinical signs 3 days to 10 months after surgery caused all owners to elect euthanasia. The long-term prognosis for most cases of gastric adenocarcinomas and leiomyosarcomas is poor because of the presence of advanced disease. Surgical resection, however, does alleviate gastric outflow obstruction in the immediate postoperative period.     

A comparison of cereal-aphid migrations over Britain in the summers of 1979 and 1982

The numbers of migrant cereal aphids in the Rothamsted Insect Survey suction-trap samples in the summer of 1982 indicated that M. dirhodum, S. avenae and R. padi were very abundant in eastern Scotland where large populations of these aphids were also observed on spring barley crops. In England, much smaller numbers of these species were recorded in both suction-trap samples and on cereal crops. The size of migrations in eastern Scotland, especially of M. dirhodum, were similar to those observed in East Anglia in 1979. The similarities and differences between the two years are discussed. Both outbreaks occurred during an extended period when the crops were favourable for aphid reproduction because of interactions between weather, differing cropping practices and natural enemies. This study shows that suction-trap samples can be used to improve the prediction and understanding of pest outbreaks even when crop samples are limited or absent.     

Sensitivity to Cladosporium species of the reactions of cultivars of Populus X euramericana to races of Melampsora larici-populina

All five species of Cladosporium tested were found to be antagonistic to the production of uredinia by three races of Melampsora larici-populina on leaf disks cut from four cultivars of Populus × euramericana. The Cladosporium spp. also colonised the uredinia produced on the leaf disks. Of the species employed, C. tenuissimum was the most active antagonist and coloniser of the uredinia. The significant race × Cladosporium spp. interaction in the data analysis indicates a degree of physiological specialisation in the relationship between the races of the rust and species of Cladosporium. The possible epidemiological significance of the results is discussed.     

Renal evaluation in the healthy green iguana (Iguana iguana): assessment of plasma biochemistry, glomerular filtration rate, and endoscopic biopsy.

Plasma biochemistry, iohexol clearance, endoscopic renal evaluation, and biopsy were performed in 23 clinically healthy 2-yr-old green iguanas (Iguana iguana). Mean (+/- SD) values for packed cell volume (30 +/- 3%), total protein (62 +/- 7 g/L, 6.2 +/- 0.7 g/dl), albumin (25 +/- 2 g/L, 2.5 +/- 0.2 g/dl), globulin (37 +/- 6 g/L, 3.7 +/- 0.6 g/ dl), total calcium (3.0 +/- 0.2 mmol/L, 12.0 +/- 0.7 mg/dl), ionized calcium (1.38 +/- 0.1 mmol/L), phosphorus (1.32 +/- 0.28 mmol/L, 4.1 +/- 0.9 mg/dl), uric acid (222 +/- 100 micromol/L, 3.8 +/- 1.7 mg/dl), sodium (148 +/- 3 mmol/L or mEq/ L), and potassium (2.6 +/- 0.4 mmol/L or mEq/L) were considered within normal limits. Values for urea were low (< 1.4 mmol/L, < 4 mg/dl) with 70% of samples below the detectable analyzer range. After the i.v. injection of 75 mg/ kg iohexol into the caudal (ventral coccygeal or tail) vein, serial blood collections were performed over 32 hr. Iohexol assays by high-performance liquid chromatography produced plasma iohexol clearance graphs for each lizard. A three-compartment model was used to fit area under the curve values and to obtain the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) using regression analysis. The mean GFR (SD) was 16.56 +/- 3.90 ml/kg/hr, with a 95% confidence interval of 14.78-18.34 ml/kg/hr. Bilateral endoscopic renal evaluation and biopsy provided tissue samples of excellent diagnostic quality, which correlated with tissue harvested at necropsy and evaluated histologically. None of the 23 animals demonstrated any adverse effects of iohexol clearance or endoscopy. Recommended diagnostics for the evaluation of renal function and disease in the green iguana include plasma biochemical profiles, iohexol clearance, endoscopic examination, and renal biopsy.     

Multicentric t-cell lymphoma in a dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius).

A 7-yr-old female dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) was evaluated for inappetence, weight loss, polyuria, and polydipsia. The animal did not respond to antibiotic and supportive therapy, became recumbent, and died. Gross examination revealed nodules in the liver, mesenteric and perirenal lymph nodes, and both kidneys, with segmental thickening of the small intestine. Histopathologic examination revealed multifocal lymphoma with moderate mitotic activity. Immunohistochemical staining of neoplastic cells was uniformly CD3-positive, indicating a T-cell lymphoma.     

Impact of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection on serologic surveillance for Johne's disease in goats.

False-positive results on serologic assays for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) are believed to occur due to cross-reacting antibody produced by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (C. pstb) infection in goats. This issue of compromised specificity was evaluated by testing 771 adult goats from 10 Midwestern goat herds in 2004. Assays for MAP infection included radiometric fecal culture and 2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs); ELISA-positive samples were tested by agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID). A synergistic hemolysin inhibition assay (SHI) was used to detect C. pstb antibody. Four infection status categories were evaluated. Category 1 goats (free of both MAP and C. pstb infection) tested negative on all MAP fecal cultures and SHI tests. Five of 181 goats were positive in both ELISAs, and 2 more were positive in ELISA-1 only. For Category 2 (MAP infected; no C. pstb infection), all animals were SHI negative. Six goats were fecal culture positive and strongly positive in both ELISAs; 2 more goats were positive only in ELISA-1. For Category 3 (C. pstb infected or vaccinated; no history of MAP infection), all fecal cultures were negative and 91% were SHI test-positive. In this population, only 2 goats were positive in both MAP ELISAs, while 84 additional goats were test-positive only on ELISA-1. In the absence of C. pstb infection, both ELISAs performed comparably, but when C. pstb infection was present the performance of ELISA-1 was significantly perturbed. Use of the ELISA-2 for goats is an effective and efficient method for Johne's disease surveillance in any goat herd.     

Cytologic diagnosis of generalized cutaneous sporotrichosis in a hunting hound

A 1-year-old male Foxhound/Walker Hound mix was presented to the small animal internal medicine service at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine with a 6-week history of progressive, multifocal, ulcerative and draining, well-circumscribed lesions in a generalized distribution. Prior to referral, a presumptive diagnosis was made of sterile pyogranulomatous disease; immunosuppressive therapy was instituted but resulted in clinical deterioration. At presentation, the dog had marked neutropenia (1100 neutrophils/microL), and a mild toxic left shift (400 bands/microL). Cytologic findings in the exudates from a draining skin lesion included high numbers of markedly degenerate neutrophils (about 95% of nucleated cells) as well as low numbers of macrophages, small mature lymphocytes, and eosinophils. Low numbers of intracellular (within neutrophils and macrophages) and extracellular, pleomorphic, cigar-to-ovoid shaped organisms ( approximately 3x9 microm) consistent with Sporothrix were observed. Histopathologic examination of a skin biopsy showed marked, chronic, active, ulcerative, pyogranulomatous dermatitis and panniculitis, with intralesional yeast consistent with Sporothrix sp. The etiologic agent was confirmed as Sporothrix schenckii by macerated tissue fungal culture. The patient was treated with itraconazole, enrofloxacin, and clindamycin, with clinical resolution occurring over a 3-month period. This case is a rare example of the cytologic diagnosis of Sporothrix schenckii in a canine patient. Diagnosis of canine sporotrichosis is often challenging and usually requires tissue culture, as infected dogs typically harbor very few organisms. The patient's prior immunosuppressive therapy likely contributed to higher numbers of organisms in exudates from the cutaneous lesions, facilitating cytologic diagnosis.     

The roles of salt (sodium nitrate) and fog in weathering: a laboratory simulation of conditions in the northern Atacama Desert, Chile

A laboratory experiment was used as a model to investigate interactions within a hyper-arid and hyper-saline weathering environment based on conditions observed in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile. The experimental design produced a matrix of 18 different weathering environments with six levels of salt (sodium nitrate) availability and three levels of fog precipitation. The experiment took place over an 11-week period. Over this time, 10 weekly fog applications modified the experimental conditions. From a theoretical perspective, the weekly fog applications generate an open rather than a closed system, which may be more representative of conditions in the field. The breakdown of the chalk blocks used was assessed in two ways. Firstly, qualitative observations were made at weekly intervals of the nature of morphological changes. Secondly, at the end of the experiment, breakdown was assessed by counting the number of discrete pieces greater than 1 g liberated by each block. The electrical conductivity at the base of each block was also measured. Collectively, the results indicate that fog appears to control the rate of breakdown and that salt availability controls the timing of the response. The style of breakdown was similar irrespective of the fog and salt levels. The morphological observations show the results of a sequence of events, with the blocks evolving as the experiment progresses; as such, they provide an experimental example of the role of inheritance in weathering processes.