Morphophysiology of forage peanut submitted to different intensities of defoliation on grazing with sheep

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The aim was to monitor the growth, the dry mass accumulation curve, and the structural photosynthetic components of forage peanut pasture, in different...     

Fucoidan Structure and Its Impact on Glucose Metabolism: Implications for Diabetes and Cancer Therapy

Fucoidans are complex polysaccharides derived from brown seaweeds which consist of considerable proportions of L-fucose and other monosaccharides, and sulphated ester residues. The search for novel and natural bioproduct drugs (due to toxicity issues associated with chemotherapeutics) has led to the extensive study of fucoidan due to reports of it having several bioactive characteristics. Among other fucoidan bioactivities, antidiabetic and anticancer properties have received the most research attention in the past decade. However, the elucidation of the fucoidan structure and its biological activity is still vague. In addition, research has suggested that there is a link between diabetes and cancer; however, limited data exist where dual chemotherapeutic efforts are elucidated. This review provides an overview of glucose metabolism, which is the central process involved in the progression of both diseases. We also highlight potential therapeutic targets and show the relevance of fucoidan and its derivatives as a candidate for both cancer and diabetes therapy.     

Arsenic and chromium resistance mechanisms in the Micrococcus luteus group

High arsenic (As) and chromium (Cr) concentrations are currently receiving attention because of their negative effects on the environment and human health. Microorganisms inhabiting contaminated environments have developed resistance mechanisms against the toxicity of these pollutants. Indeed, members of the bacterial genus Micrococcus have been isolated from different toxic metal-contaminated environments; however, knowledge concerning its resistance mechanisms to As and Cr toxicity remains lim...     

Molecular characterisation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rice stripe necrosis virus</Emphasis> as a new species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Benyvirus</Emphasis>

The complete nucleotide sequences of RNAs 1 and 2 of Rice stripe necrosis virus (RSNV) were determined and compared to the corresponding genomes of all sequenced, rod-shaped plant viruses. The genome organisation of RSNV RNA1 and RNA2 is nearly identical to that of Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) and Beet soil-borne mosaic virus (BSBMV), definitive species of the genus Benyvirus. As demonstrated for BNYVV and BSBMV, the RNA1 of RSNV also encodes a single ORF with putative replicase-associated motifs, which distinguishes benyviruses from all other viruses possessing rod-shaped particles. As described for BNYVV, RNSV RNA-2 also contains six ORFs: the capsid protein gene, the read-through protein gene, a triple gene block gene that codes for three different proteins, and a 17 kDa cysteine-rich protein. RNAs 3 and 4 (or 5 in the case of BNYVV), identified in natural infections of BNYVV and BSBMV, were not detected in any of the 44 RSNV cDNA clones obtained in this investigation. Nevertheless, phylogenetic and amino comparative acid sequence analyses demonstrated that RSNV is more closely related to BNYVV and BSBMV than to any other rod-shaped plant virus characterised to date.     

Residues of diflubenzuron on horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) leaves and their efficacy against the horse chestnut leafminer, Cameraria ohridella

Residues of the insect growth regulator diflubenzuron were quantified on horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) leaves treated with a diflubenzuron 480 g litre^?1 SC, Dimilin. To analyse the samples, an analytical procedure was developed involving a simple extraction step followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography on an octadecyl‐modified silica column with methanol + 0.01 M ammonium acetate mobile phase. The results showed diflubenzuron to be highly stable on horse chestnut leaves; more than 4 months (127 days) after application, 38% (on average) of the insecticide still remained on/in the leaves. The data confirmed biological observations showing diflubenzuron's long‐term efficacy against the horse chestnut leafminer, Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimi?, which is the most important pest of the horse chestnut in Europe. The hypothesis of possible penetration of diflubenzuron into the leaf mass is explored and discussed. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery for the treatment of canine dioctophymosis

This paper reports on two cases of laparoscopic nephrotomy employed in the treatment of canine dioctophymosis, which is considered a unusual procedure and a new treatment proposal heretofore not performed in veterinary medicine. Two patients were treated, one with a history of hematuria and the other with incidental finding of the parasite in the abdominal cavity during elective ovariohysterectomy. Both dogs were subjected to abdominal ultrasound, which produced images indicating the presence of the parasite in the right side kidney, but with partial parenchymal preservation. The patients were therefore subjected to laparoscopic nephrotomy. The surgical procedure was effective in treating dioctophymosis and enabled minimum tissue invasion during surgery, in addition to preservation of the kidney.     

Brainstem Auditory-Evoked Potential Assessment of Congenital Deafness in Dalmatians: Associations With Phenotypic Markers

To screen for congenital deafness, brainstem auditory-evoked potential (BAEP) testing was performed on 1031 Dalmatians from three geographically separated areas. Phenotypic marker assessment was done to determine markers possibly associated with deafness. Markers included sex, hair coat color, pigmentation of different areas of skin (eye rims, nose, and ears), presence of a patch, spot size and marking (density of spotting), sire and dam BAEP status, and presence of iris and retinal tapetal pigmentation. Combined data from all test sites showed 8.1% bilateral deafness (N = 83 dogs) and 21.6% unilateral deafness (N = 223), or an overall 29.7% incidence of hearing disorders. Significant (P less than 0.05) associations with deafness for the data from all test sites combined were seen for patch, sire and dam BAEP, iris pigment, and retinal pigment. However, results differed for several of the significant phenotypic markers when analyses were done on the data from the individual test sites; changes from significant to not significant were found. This suggested the existence of multiple populations of deafness patterns, and reinforced the precautionary conclusion that associations of phenotypic markers with deafness are not necessarily functionally significant.     

Plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, insulin-like growth factor-1, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus concentrations in pregnant beef cows and calves from a herd with a known history of congenital joint laxity and dwarfism.

An investigation was undertaken to ascertain the possibility of a relationship between calcium, inorganic phosphorus, magnesium, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D], and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations in blood plasma and occurrence of congenital joint laxity and dwarfism (CJLD) in young cattle. Pregnant cows were fed hay (30 cows) or grass silage (122 cows) during winter months (October 15 to calving in March). Blood samples were taken from cows on seven occasions during the experiment and 48 hours after calving, and from calves at birth, and at seven, 14 and 56 days old. Five per cent of calves born (six of 122) to cows fed grass silage and none born to cows fed hay were affected by CJLD. The diet and health status of calves were not significantly (P greater than 0.05) associated with the plasma concentration of 1,25(OH)2D. The plasma calcium concentration declined with age of the calves (P less than 0.05) but was not affected by the occurrence of CJLD. Plasma phosphorus and magnesium concentrations in calves born to cows fed silage were higher (P less than 0.05) than in those born to cows fed hay. At birth and seven days old, plasma phosphorus concentrations were higher (P less than 0.05) in CJLD-affected calves than in healthy calves but the plasma concentration of IGF-1 was not different (P greater than 0.05). It was concluded that the high plasma phosphorus concentrations in CJLD-affected calves and their dams could be related to the aetiology of the CJLD condition in calves.     

Effects of faunation and type of dietary protein on gastric solubility and liver content of copper in sheep

Three experiments were conducted to determine the influence of the presence of protozoa on copper (Cu) metabolism in sheep fed corn silage or corn silage supplemented with casein, fish meal or soybean meal. For each diet, eight rams were kept fauna-free; eight additional rams were faunated and housed separately from them. The faunated rams in all treatments grew faster and consumed more feed and, consequently, more Cu. However, they had a lower (P less than .01) ruminal Cu solubility and accumulated less Cu in their livers than the fauna-free rams when fed corn silage alone or in combination with soybean meal (insoluble, ruminally degraded protein). Such effects were not significant when corn silage was supplemented with fish meal (protein resistant to ruminal degradation). The presence of ciliate protozoa in the rumen had no effect on the accumulation of Cu in the liver of sheep fed corn silage supplemented with casein (soluble, ruminally degraded protein) and produced conflicting results on ruminal Cu solubility. Hence, the effect of protozoa on Cu metabolism is indirect and depends on the type of protein present in the diet.     

Ganglioneuroblastoma in a cat: a rare neoplasm treated with electrochemotherapy

An 8-year-old male castrated cat was referred for sudden onset of lameness. Physical examination revealed a 1x2x1cm mass originating from a footpad of the right hind leg. A diagnosis of ganglioneuroblastoma was suggested by the tumour appearance following histopathological staining with haematoxylin and eosin and haematoxylin/van Gieson. Immunohistochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), vimentin, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), neurofilament and S100 further confirmed the diagnosis. The staging process did not indicate metastatic spread. The cat was treated with three sessions of electrochemotherapy (ECT) 1 week apart, following local injection of bleomycin. The tumour had completely regressed within 1 week of the third ECT application and remained in remission for 402 days at which time a small recurrence was noted. The animal was given a further session of ECT using intra-lesional cisplatin and again went into remission. It remained tumour free at 450 days. Electrochemotherapy is considered a safe and effective treatment for localised neoplasms of cats and dogs and warrants further investigation.