Effects of reconcile (fluoxetine) chewable tablets plus behavior management for canine separation anxiety

Canine separation anxiety is a common behavioral problem presented to veterinarians. Associated behaviors are distressing to both dog and owner, have the potential to disrupt the human-companion animal bond, and may lead to euthanasia. The results of this study demonstrate the clinical efficacy and safety of Reconcile (fluoxetine, 1 to 2 mg/kg/day [0.45 to 0.91 mg/lb/day]), in conjunction with behavior management, for the treatment of canine separation anxiety. The beef flavored chewable formulation was palatable to treated dogs and easy to administer. This study provides to veterinarians and owners valuable information about an effective separation anxiety treatment plan that combines use of Reconcile with behavior modification.     

Dietary zinc concentration and lipopolysaccharide injection affect circulating trace minerals,acute phase protein response,and behavior as evaluated by an ear-tag–based accelerometer in beef steers

To assess plasma trace mineral (TM) concentrations, the acute phase protein response, and behavior in response to a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge, 96 Angus cross steers (average initial body weight [BW]: 285 ± 14.4 kg) were sorted into two groups by BW (heavy and light; n = 48/group), fitted with an ear-tag–based accelerometer (CowManager SensOor; Agis, Harmelen, Netherlands), and stagger started 14 d apart. Consecutive day BW was recorded to start the 24-d trial (days −1 and 0). Dietary treatments began on day 0: common diet with either 30 (Zn30) or 100 (Zn100) mg supplemental Zn/kg DM (ZnSO₄). On day 17, steers received one of the following injection treatments intravenously to complete the 2 × 3 factorial: 1) SALINE (~2–3 mL of physiological saline), 2) LOWLPS: 0.25 µg LPS/kg BW, or 3) HIGHLPS: 0.375 µg LPS/kg BW. Blood, rectal temperature (RT), and BW were recorded on day 16 (−24 h relative to injection), and BW was used to assign injection treatment. Approximately 6, 24 (day 18), and 48 (day 19) h after treatment, BW, RT, and blood were collected, and final BW recorded on day 24. Data were analyzed in Proc Mixed of SAS with fixed effects of diet, injection, diet × injection; for BW, RT, dry matter intake (DMI), plasma TM, and haptoglobin-repeated measures analysis were used to evaluate effects over time. Area under the curve analysis determined by GraphPad Prism was used for analysis of accelerometer data. Body weight was unaffected by diet or injection (P ≥ 0.16), but there was an injection × time effect for DMI and RT (P < 0.05), where DMI decreased in both LPS treatments on day 16, but recovered by day 17, and RT was increased in LPS treatments 6 h post-injection. Steers receiving LPS spent less time highly active and eating than SALINE (P < 0.01). Steers in HIGHLPS spent lesser time ruminating, followed by LOWLPS and then SALINE (P < 0.001). An injection × time effect (P < 0.001) for plasma Zn showed decreased concentrations within 6 h of injection and remained decreased through 24 h before recovering by 48 h. A tendency for a diet × time effect (P = 0.06) on plasma Zn suggests plasma Zn repletion occurred at a greater rate in Zn100 compared to Zn30. These results suggest that increased supplemental Zn may alter the rate of recovery of Zn status from an acute inflammatory event. Additionally, ear-tag–based accelerometers used in this study were effective at detecting sickness behavior in feedlot steers, and rumination may be more sensitive than other variables.     

Potential for monoterpenes to affect ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungal activity in coniferous forests is revealed by novel experimental system

The fungal community in coniferous forest soils plays a pivotal role in ecosystem processes such as decomposition and carbon and nutrient cycling. Both saprotrophic (SP) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi occur throughout the upper soil horizons in coniferous forests and could therefore be exposed to high concentrations of monoterpenes occurring in the needle litter and roots of some tree species. Previous work has noted the differential effects of monoterpenes on the mycelial growth of a range of both SP and ECM fungi when grown in artificial nutrient media. This study used a novel experimental system to assess the effect of environmentally relevant concentrations of monoterpenes on the activity of ECM and SP fungi grown on more natural substrata. Exposure of the ECM fungus Paxillus involutus (Batsch) Fr. to vapours of either α-pinene or β-pinene resulted in a significantly greater proportion of root tips being colonised by the fungus when it was grown with seedlings of Picea abies (L.) Karst. Exposure to monoterpenes resulted in a significant decrease in respiration rate of two species of litter degrading SP fungi, Mycena galopus var. candida J. E. Lange and Collybia butyracea (Bull.) P. Kumm. There was no difference in response between the two SP species, despite the fact that previous tests in liquid nutrient media, with monoterpenes at higher concentrations, indicated that one species was sensitive and one was not. The high volatility and low solubility of monoterpenes in water make them challenging to work with. The experimental system developed here, although still artificial, provides a bridge between pure culture studies in defined media and all the complexities of forest soils in the field, by allowing the exposure of fungi to environmentally relevant monoterpene concentrations in more natural substrata.     

Vincristine overdose in a cat: clinical management, use of calcium folinate, and pathological lesions

A 6-year-old female neutered Burmese cat received a 10 times overdose (5mg/m(2)) of vincristine, administered in error. Supportive therapy, including administration of calcium folinate, was instigated within 8h. Despite treatment, the patient exhibited deterioration in renal and respiratory function and died 72 h after overdose. Necropsy was performed within 24h of death. Gross examination revealed pulmonary oedema and a pale brown liver with a prominent lobular pattern. Histological examination revealed marked apoptosis and necrosis of the bone marrow myeloid series, and mild to moderate apoptosis and necrosis of the erythroid and megakaryocyte series. Multifocal necrosis of the renal tubules, hepatocytes, and small intestinal crypt epithelium was also observed. Use of calcium folinate as a rescue therapy following vincristine overdose in humans has been previously documented. If treatment is to be successful in cases of vincristine overdose in cats, then a more complete understanding of the pathogenesis of vincristine toxicity in companion animal species is required.     

Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings in 92 cats with clinical signs of spinal cord disease

Medical records of 92 cats presented with clinical signs of spinal cord disease, which had undergone magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were reviewed. The cats were grouped into seven categories based upon the diagnosis suggested by results of MRI, cerebrospinal fluid analysis and other diagnostic procedures: neoplastic (n=25), inflammatory or infectious (n=13), traumatic (n=8), vascular (n=6), degenerative (n=5), anomalous (n=3) and those with an unremarkable MRI (n=32). There were two independent predictors of abnormal MRI findings: severity of clinical signs and presence of spinal pain. Abnormal MRI findings and speed of onset of disease were significantly associated with survival. For the 32 cats with unremarkable MRI findings, only nine died due to spinal disease and, therefore, the median survival time (MST) was not reached (lower 95% confidence interval (CI)=970 days). For the 60 cats with abnormal MRI findings, 37 died due to their disease and the MST was 138 days (95% CI: 7-807).     

Effect of curing at different temperatures on biochemical composition of onion (Allium cepa L.) skin from three freshly cured and cold stored UK-grown onion cultivars

Onions are cured in order to form a complete, dry, outer skin which reduces water loss and suppresses incidence of disease, and can promote a darker skin finish. Currently in the UK, standard curing practises for onions involves heating at 28 °C for six weeks (65–75% RH), however, reducing curing temperatures may help to reduce energy usage. There is little empirical data on the effects of curing temperature on flavonol concentration in the skin of brown onions and on flavonol and anthocyanin concentration in the skin of red onions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to elucidate the compounds responsible for the change in onion skin colour when cured at different temperatures.Brown cvs. Sherpa and Wellington, and red onions cv. Red Baron, were cured at 20, 24 or 28 °C for six weeks. Replicated skin samples were analysed immediately after curing and after seven months cold storage at 1 ± 0.5 °C. Measurement of objective colour showed that skin of cvs. Sherpa and Wellington was darker and had a lower hue angle (H°) immediately after being cured at 28 °C compared to 20 °C. In contrast, skin of cv. Red Baron had a higher H° but no change in lightness (L*) when cured at 28 °C compared to 20 °C. Fructose, sucrose and glucose concentrations were analysed as they are thought to play a role in regulating the synthesis of flavonols and anthocyanins, both coloured compounds found in onion skin; however no significant correlations were found between colour data and sugar concentrations. Flavonols were measured in the skin of all cvs. and anthocyanins in the skin of cv. Red Baron. Quercetin glucoside and anthocyanin concentrations in the skin of onions cv. Red Baron immediately after curing were higher in those cured at 20 °C. Total flavonols and total anthocyanins were negatively correlated with H° in the skin of onions cv. Red Baron, but there was no similar correlation between total flavonols and H° for onion cvs. Sherpa and Wellington. This suggests that anthocyanins and flavonols may play a major role in varying skin colour of red onions cv. Red Baron cured at different temperatures; however, the difference between curing temperatures may not have been sufficient to represent a correlation between darkening of cvs. Sherpa and Wellington and flavonol concentration. Further investigation is therefore required to fully elucidate the compounds responsible for colour changes observed in brown onions.     

Evaluation of corn plant as potential banker plant for supporting predatory gall midge, Feltiella acarisuga (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) against Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) in greenhouse vegetable production

The twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), is one of the most important and highly polyphagous pests of vegetables and other crops worldwide. Experiments were conducted in the laboratory and greenhouse to evaluate corn (Zea mays L.) as a banker plant for the predatory gall midge, Feltiella acarisuga (Vallot) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) to potentially control T. urticae. Choice and no-choice experiments were carried out to determine the host plant preference of an alternative prey, Oligonychus pratensis (Banks)(Acari: Tetranychidae) to corn and green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Results showed that O. pratensis adults strongly preferred corn as a host plant and posed no risk to green bean. F. acarisuga was found to fly at least 7.0 m to search for new preys on green bean plants, and over 176 F. acarisuga larvae per leaf were recorded at 14 d after dispersal. F. acarisuga proved to be an excellent predator of both T. urticae and O. pratensis. The predation by F. acarisuga to T. urticae and O. pratensis ranged from 43.7 to 67.9% and 59.2 to 90.3%, respectively, under laboratory conditions. In a non-cage study, 81.2% of T. urticae population was suppressed by F. acarisuga in reference to the control (cage treatment). The results showed that this banker plant system has potential for controlling T. urticae in greenhouse vegetable production.     

A NOVEL,REMOVABLE, CERROBEND,BEAM‐BLOCKING DEVICE FOR RADIATION THERAPY OF THE CANINE HEAD AND NECK: PILOT STUDY

Radiation therapy of the head and neck can result in mucositis and other acute affects in the oral cavity. This prospective pilot study evaluated a novel, intraoral, beam‐blocking device for use during imaging and therapeutic procedures. The beam‐blocking device was made from a metal alloy inserted into a coated frozen dessert mold (Popsicle® Mold, Cost Plus World Market, Oakland, CA). The device was designed so that it could be inserted into an outer shell, which in turn allowed it to be placed or removed depending on the need due to beam configuration. A Farmer type ionization chamber and virtual water phantom were used to assess effects of field size on transmission. Six large breed cadaver dogs, donated by the owner after death, were recruited for the study. Delivered dose at the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the device, with and without the alloy block in place, were measured using radiochromic film. It was determined that transmission was field size dependent with larger field sizes leading to decreased attenuation of the beam, likely secondary to scatter. The mean and median transmission on the ventral surface without the beam‐blocking device was 0.94 [range 0.94–0.96]. The mean and median transmission with the beam‐blocking device was 0.52 [range 0.50–0.57]. The mean and median increase in dose due to backscatter on the dorsal surface of the beam‐blocking device was 0.04 [range 0.02–0.04]. Findings indicated that this novel device can help attenuate radiation dose ventral to the block in dogs, with minimal backscatter.     

Efficacy of vaporised ethyl formate/carbon dioxide formulation against stored‐grain insects: effect of fumigant concentration,exposure time and two grain temperatures

BACKGROUND: The ethyl formate/carbon dioxide (CO₂) formulation Vapormate? is a rapid‐acting fumigant being developed for the control of stored‐grain insects. The effects have been investigated of concentration, exposure times of 1, 3, 24 and 72 h and two grain temperatures, 15 and 25 °C, on its efficacy against mixed‐stage cultures of Sitophilus oryzae (L.) Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and strongly phosphine‐resistant Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) strain QRD569. RESULTS: High mortalities (≥92%) of mixed‐stage cultures of all three species were obtained when grain was fumigated with the formulation (193 g m^?3 ethyl formate) for 1 h. Complete control of R. dominica QRD569 and T. castaneum was achieved with 63 and 76 g m^?3 ethyl formate respectively, with exposure for 24 h, whereas mean mortality of S. oryzae was 86% under the same conditions. Mortalities of S. oryzae juvenile stages were significantly lower than adults under the conditions tested, which was due to pronounced tolerance of mid‐stage pupae to the fumigant. Reducing grain temperature from 25 to 15 °C had no effect on insect mortality. CONCLUSION: Ethyl formate/CO₂ formulation is highly effective against stored‐grain insects over a range of concentrations and exposure times. Efficacious fumigations were conducted in as little as 1 h, and a strongly phosphine‐resistant R. dominica strain was readily controlled with the fumigant. Copyright © 2009 CSIRO, Australia. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd     

Postharvest application of ethylene and 1-methylcyclopropene either before or after curing affects onion (Allium cepa L.) bulb quality during long term cold storage

The storability of onion bulbs is dependent on the incidence and rate of sprout growth. Exogenous ethylene applied continuously has been demonstrated to act as a sprout suppressant in onion. However, the ethylene binding inhibitor, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), can also suppress sprouting in onion. Given this seemingly contradictory result, the precise role that ethylene plays during onion storage and the effect of curing on its efficacy is not understood.‘Sherpa’ and ‘Wellington’ onion bulbs were treated before or after curing (28 °C for 6 weeks) with a single dose of 10 μL L⁻¹ ethylene or 1 μL L⁻¹ 1-MCP for 24 h at 20 °C, or no treatment (control). Replicated out-turns were sampled during 38 weeks storage at 0–1 °C. Sprout growth (31 weeks after harvest) was reduced in ‘Sherpa’ treated before curing with ethylene or before or after curing with 1-MCP. However, sprout growth of ‘Wellington’ was not affected by any treatment. Following treatment, the cured, thick-skinned ‘Wellington’ released a lower concentration of treatment gas compared with the newly harvested, thin-skinned ‘Sherpa’. Onion bulb respiration rate increased immediately after being treated with ethylene but to a lesser extent or not at all when treated with 1-MCP. Fructose concentrations of onions treated with ethylene or 1-MCP before curing were not significantly different, however, after curing concentrations were about 2-fold higher compared with the control. Mean glucose and sucrose concentrations for both cultivars were higher immediately after being treated before curing with ethylene or 1-MCP than control bulbs. It appears that inhibition of sprout growth can be achieved using just a short 24 h treatment with ethylene or 1-MCP. However, skin thickness or permeability, which is dependent on cultivar and curing, may affect ethylene or 1-MCP influx and therefore efficacy of sprout suppressant action.