Breast meat traits of Muscovy ducks fed on a microalga (Crypthecodinium cohnii) meal supplemented diet

1. A trial was conducted in order to increase the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content in the meat of Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata domestica L.) fed on a diet supplemented with the microalga Crypthecodinium cohnii. 2. Two diets were provided to 48 male and 48 female ducks, belonging to an Italian rural strain during the last 3 weeks of life: a maize-soybean based diet as the control diet and the same diet supplemented with 5 g/kg microalga meal. 3. Dietary treatment did not induce differences in growth performances and slaughter traits. Similarly, chemical composition, colour, pH, oxidative stability and sensory characteristics of breast muscle were not influenced by the diet. 4. A significant increase of DHA content in breast meat of ducks fed on the Crypthecodinium cohnii enriched diet was observed.     

Breed associations for canine exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of breed associations is valuable to clinicians and researchers investigating diseases with a genetic basis. HYPOTHESIS: Among symptomatic dogs tested for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) by canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity (cTLI) assay, EPI is common in certain breeds and rare in others. Some breeds may be overrepresented or underrepresented in the population of dogs with EPI. Pathogenesis of EPI may be different among breeds. ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs with clinical signs, tested for EPI by radioimmunoassay of serum cTLI, were used. METHODS: In this retrospective study, results of 13,069 cTLI assays were reviewed. RESULTS: An association with EPI was found in Chows, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS), Rough-Coated Collies (RCC), and German Shepherd Dogs (GSD) (all P < .001). Chows (median, 16 months) were younger at diagnosis than CKCS (median, 72 months, P < .001), but not significantly different from GSD (median, 36 months, P = .10) or RCC (median, 36 months, P = .16). GSD (P < .001) and RCC (P = .015) were younger at diagnosis than CKCS. Boxers (P < .001), Golden Retrievers (P < .001), Labrador Retrievers (P < .001), Rottweilers (P = .022), and Weimaraners (P = .002) were underrepresented in the population with EPI. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: An association with EPI in Chows has not previously been reported. In breeds with early-onset EPI, immune-mediated mechanisms are possible or the disease may be congenital. When EPI manifests later, as in CKCS, pathogenesis is likely different (eg, secondary to chronic pancreatitis). Underrepresentation of certain breeds among dogs with EPI has not previously been recognized and may imply the existence of breed-specific mechanisms that protect pancreatic tissue from injury.     

The transmission of geminiviruses by Bemisia tabaci

The cosmopolitan whitefly species, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and Trialeurodes taporariorum (Westwood) have always been regarded as pests to a large range of worldwide crops. Both species are capable of transmitting plant viruses, with T. vaporariorum being the vector of only a few ‘clostero’-like viruses and B. tabaci the vector of viruses in several groups. The largest group of viruses transmitted by B. tabaci are the geminiviruses and B. tabaci is known to transmit around 60 members. Until recently, B. tabaci had been associated with only a limited range of host plants within any one region, although its total potential host range was large. Virus transmission was confined within the plant host range of each regional population of B. tabaci. The emergence of the polyphagous ‘B’ biotype of B. tabaci with its increased host range of more than 600 plant species, has resulted in geminiviruses infecting previously unaffected crops. As the ‘B’ biotype spreads further into Europe, European field and glasshouse crops have been shown to be susceptible to whitefly-transmitted viruses already endemic to other parts of the world. More than 20 colonies of B. tabaci, including both ‘B’ and non-‘B’ biotypes from disparate global locations have been compared for their ability to transmit more than 20 geminiviruses. All but two highly host-specific colonies were capable of transmitting most geminiviruses tested. However, some viruses were transmitted more efficiently than others. The virus coat protein or capsid is essential for vector recognition and transmission. By comparing transmissible viruses at the molecular level to viruses that are no longer whitefly-transmissible, the active epitope on the virus coat protein could be identified for designing future virus control strategies.     

Biological characteristics of maize dwarf mosaic potyvirus from Spain

Two isolates of maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV-Sp and MDMV-Spl) obtained from maize in the northeast of Spain were studied. Both isolates induced similar reactions on 6 sorghum cultivars, johnsongrass and oat (cv. Clintland), with the exception of MDMV-Sp which produced a different reaction on one sorghum cultivar. Thirty-three grass species were tested as possible hosts (16 previously untested) and 18 were found to be susceptible. Among those, eight were previously unidentified hosts for MDMV:Aegilops ovata, A. ventricosa, Avena barbata, Bromus alopecurus, B. diandrus, B. fasciculatus, Echinaria capitata andLolium rigidum. Both isolates were transmitted from maize to maize nonpersistently byRhopalosiphum maidis, R. padi, Schizaphis graminum andSitobium avenae. The virus was not seed-transmitted in Mo17 and B73 maize inbred lines. Pinwheels, scrolls and short curved laminated aggregates were observed in the cytoplasm of maize cells infected by MDMV-Sp or MDMV-Sp1. In addition, laminated aggregates were observed in cells infected by MDMV-Sp1.     

Effects of growth factors (EGF,PDGF-BB and TGF-beta 1) on cultured equine epithelial cells and keratocytes: implications for wound healing

Objective The physiologic mechanisms involving growth factors, including PDGF‐BB, EGF, and TGF‐β1, as potent mediators of fibroblasts and epithelial cells in corneal wound healing remain unknown. The goal of this study was to determine culture methods for equine epithelial cells and keratocytes and to investigate how exogenous growth factors influence proliferation of both cell types. Procedures Cell cultures were established from healthy corneas harvested from horses immediately following euthanasia and maintained using standard tissue culture protocols. To determine the effects of PDGF‐BB, EGF, TGF‐β1, keratocytes (1 × 10⁵/well) and epithelial cells (2 × 10⁵/well) were each cultured in 12 well plates and exposed separately to the growth factors. The cells were exposed to concentrations of EGF between 0 and 50 ng/mL; PDGF‐BB between 0 and 75 ng/mL; and TGF‐β1 between 0 and 10 ng/mL. Cell proliferation was measured using ³H‐thymidine assay and differences in growth determined using anova and Tukey's HSD test (P < 0.05). Results Epithelial cell and keratocyte cultures were successfully established. EGF maximally stimulated keratocyte and epithelial cells at 25 ng/mL and 5 ng/mL, respectively. PDGF‐BB maximally stimulated keratocytes and epithelial cells at 50 ng/mL and 5 ng/mL, respectively. TGF‐β1 inhibited keratocytes at 5 ng/mL and 10 ng/mL, and epithelial cells at 1 ng/mL and 2 ng/mL. Conclusions Methods were established to maintain epithelial cells and keratocytes in vitro. PDGF‐BB and EGF stimulate, while TGF‐β1 inhibits the proliferation of epithelial cells and keratocytes. These growth factors may play a role in maintenance and repair of the equine cornea.     

Evaluation of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from feline vaccine site-associated sarcomas for feline foamy virus DNA

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a group of vaccine site-associated sarcomas (VSS) for the presence of feline foamy virus (FeFV) DNA, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. SAMPLE POPULATION: 50 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks from VSS of cats. PROCEDURE: DNA was extracted from FFPE sections of each tumor, and regions of the gag and pol genes of FeFV were amplified by use of PCR methods, using 1 primer set for each region. Sensitivity of the method was compared between fresh and FFPE cells, using mouse kidney tissue that was injected with FeFV-infected cultured cells and using agarose-cell pellets. Results-Feline foamy virus DNA was not detected in VSS tissues. Sensitivity of the method was 10 times greater in fresh versus FFPE mouse tissues. Sensitivity of the method in fresh FeFV-infected cultured cells versus FFPE agarose-cell pellets was equal when fixation was 24 or 48 hours and 10 times greater when fixation was 72 hours or 1 week. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A PCR-based method can be successfully applied to FFPE tissues for FeFV DNA detection. Results suggest there is no direct FeFV involvement in the pathogenesis of VSS in cats.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOOT IN HORSES WITH PALMAR FOOT PAIN AND CONTROL HORSES

Palmar foot pain is a common cause of lameness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has the potential to detect damage in all tissues of the equine foot, but an understanding of the differences in magnetic resonance (MR) images between feet from horses with and without palmar foot pain is required. This study aimed to describe MR findings in feet from horses with no history of foot-related lameness, and to compare these with MR findings in horses with lameness improved by palmar digital local analgesia. Thirty-four limbs from horses euthanized with a clinical diagnosis of navicular syndrome (ameness >2 months duration, positive response to palmar digital nerve blocks and absence of other forelimb problems) (Group L), and 25 feet from age-matched horses with no history of foot pain (Group N) were examined. For each anatomic structure, MR signal intensity and homogeneity, size, definition of margins, and relationships with other structures were described. Alterations in MR signal intensity and homogeneity were graded as mild, moderate, or severe and compared between Groups L and N. Results revealed that there were significant differences in MR images between Groups N and L. Multiple moderate-severe MR signal changes were present in 91% of limbs from Group L and moderate (none were graded severe) in 27% of limbs from Group N. In most Group L limbs, more than three structures and frequently six to eight structures were abnormal. Concomitant abnormalities involved most frequently the deep digital flexor tendon, distal sesamoidean impar ligament, navicular bone, collateral sesamoidean ligament, and navicular bursa (with significant associations in severity grade between these structures), sometimes with involvement of the distal interphalangeal joint and/or its collateral ligaments. It was concluded that findings on MR images were different between horses with and without foot pain, and that pain localized to the foot was associated with MR changes in a variety of structures, indicating that damage to several structures may occur concurrently and that MR imaging was useful for evaluation of foot pain.     

Protocol: a highly sensitive RT-PCR method for detection and quantification of microRNAs

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs with a critical role in development and environmental responses. Efficient and reliable detection of miRNAs is an essential step towards understanding their roles in specific cells and tissues. However, gel-based assays currently used to detect miRNAs are very limited in terms of throughput, sensitivity and specificity. Here we provide protocols for detection and quantification of miRNAs by RT-PCR. We describe an end-point and real-time looped RT-PCR procedure and demonstrate detection of miRNAs from as little as 20 pg of plant tissue total RNA and from total RNA isolated from as little as 0.1 μl of phloem sap. In addition, we have developed an alternative real-time PCR assay that can further improve specificity when detecting low abundant miRNAs. Using this assay, we have demonstrated that miRNAs are differentially expressed in the phloem sap and the surrounding vascular tissue. This method enables fast, sensitive and specific miRNA expression profiling and is suitable for facilitation of high-throughput detection and quantification of miRNA expression.     

Transient diabetes mellitus in a domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A 3.5-year-old spayed female ferret, fed a diet high in refined sugar, was referred for lethargy, polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia. Diabetic ketoacidosis was diagnosed. Treatment included insulin therapy and a low carbohydrate diet. Diabetes mellitus resolved 54 d later, and insulin therapy was discontinued. There has been no recurrence of the diabetes mellitus.