Toxoplasmosis in captive Bennett's wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) in Argentina

Wallabies and other Australian marsupials are among the most susceptible species to Toxoplasma gondii. Fatal generalized toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in two captive 3 year-old female Bennett's wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) from Argentina (w 1 and w 2) with a history of sudden death. Both animals had internal joeys which died 2 days after their mothers. Serologically, both females and one adult male without clinical signs from the same enclosure (w 3) had antibody titers for T. gondii>or=800 by the modified agglutination test (MAT); another adult male (w 4) was negative (MAT titer<25). Microscopically, tachyzoites were observed associated to non-suppurative meningoencephalitis, hepatitis, myositis, myocarditis and severe enteritis in hematoxylin and eosin stained sections from both w 1 and w 2. Immunohistochemically, parasites in heart, brain and liver sections of both female wallabies reacted with T. gondii antiserum. T. gondii was isolated from brain tissues of w 1 and w 2 by bioassay in mice and by culture in bovine monocytes and both isolates were cryopreserved. Genomic DNA was isolated from tachyzoites grown in cultures derived from both animals. The primer pair B22/B23 specific for T. gondii produced 115bp amplicons on poliacrylamide electrophoretic gels. Stray cats were suspected as the possible source of infection. Not all infected macropods were ill, showing that the infection may be asymptomatic and is not always fatal. A vertical infection could not be proved in the joey from w 2. As far as we know, this is the first confirmed report of toxoplasmosis in Bennet's wallabies in Argentina.     

Conidial density of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Monilinia</Emphasis> spp. on peach fruit surfaces in relation to the incidences of latent infections and brown rot

To evaluate the effect of conidial density of Monilinia spp. on the fruit surface on the incidence of latent infection and brown rot in peaches, eleven field surveys were performed in commercial orchards located in Cataluña, Spain over four growing seasons from 2002 to 2005, and nine surveys were conducted to determine the sources of overwintered Monilinia spp. inoculum. There was a significant positive relationship (r?=?0.69) between the numbers of conidia of Monilinia spp. on the fruit surface and the incidence of latent infections, but not with brown rot at harvest. Although mummified fruit, twigs and pits have been identified as being able to carry the pathogen from year to year in peaches grown in Spanish orchards, no relationships between any of these sources and the numbers of conidia on the fruit surface, or incidence of latent infection or brown rot were found. The effect of temperature (T), solar radiation (SR), rainfall (R) and wind speed (WS) on the area under the number of conidia of Monilinia spp. curve (AUncC) on peach surfaces was analysed. Regression analysis revealed that T, SR, R, and WS could account for 99% of the total variation in the area of the AUncC on peach surfaces. Thus, in order to reduce the incidence of latent infection and brown rot it is essential not only to remove the sources of primary inoculum but also to reduce the number of Monilinia spp. conidia on the fruit surface. Furthermore, the sources of airborne conidia of Monilinia spp. should be taken into consideration in disease management programmes in Spain.     

Computed tomography is a feasible method for quantifying bone density in Macaca mulatta

Osteopathologies are a result of advanced age and decreased bone density and represent a global health problem. It is therefore important to generate models for longitudinal studies of the pathophysiology in order to improve early diagnosis and develop preventive therapies. For this kind of research, the use of computed tomography (CT) to evaluate bone health offers advantages over other techniques since it provides more complete information. The aim of this prospective, pilot study was to obtain measurements of the left femur from a population in captivity of 32 rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) in order to standardize the model for future research. Healthy subjects from 5 to 28 years old were chosen. Three groups with different ages were formed as follows: (1) 5–9 years, (2) 10–19 years, and (3) 20–28 years. Semi‐automatic segmentation by threshold defined the regions of interest, which were subdivided in the range of 300–700 Hounsfield units (HU) for trabecular bone and >700 HU for cortical bone. Then, the proportional ratios of the volumes of trabecular bone and cortical bone were obtained. Significant differences (analysis of variance test) in the averages of Hounsfield units, cortical, and trabecular bone proportions from each age group proved that a decrease in bone density begins at approximately 20 years of age. The values presented here, as well as the method to obtain them from CT scans, can be used as a baseline in a primate model for long‐term research in bone pathology diagnosis and treatment.     

Analgesic and motor-blocking action of epidurally administered levobupivacaine or bupivacaine in the conscious dog

Objective  To compare the analgesic and motor-blocking effects of epidurally administered levobupivacaine and bupivacaine in the conscious dog.
Study design  Prospective, randomized, cross-over study.
Animals  Six adult female Beagle dogs.
Methods  Each animal received three doses of levobupivacaine or bupivacaine (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mg kg⁻¹; concentrations 0.25%, 0.50%, and 0.75%, respectively) in a total volume of 0.2 mL kg⁻¹ by means of a chronically implanted epidural catheter. Onset, duration (through pinch response in the sacral, lumbar and toe areas) and degree of analgesia and motor-blocking status was determined with a scoring system and at regular intervals over 8.5 hours before (baseline) and after drug administration.
Results  Epidurally administered levobupivacaine and bupivacaine had a similar dose-dependent analgesic action with no significant differences in onset (range: 5–8 minutes), duration (bupivacaine: 42 ± 28, 135 ± 68 and 265 ± 68 minutes, and levobupivacaine: 28 ± 33, 79 ± 55 and 292 ± 133 minutes; 0.25%, 0.50%, and 0.75%, respectively) or maximum degree of analgesia. However, levobupivacaine tended to produce a shorter duration of motor block than bupivacaine and the difference in the motor to nociceptive blockade times was significant at the highest dose.
Conclusion  Epidural levobupivacaine produced an analgesic action similar to that of bupivacaine.
Clinical relevance  Epidural levobupivacaine is suitable for clinical use in dogs, mostly at the highest dose if a high degree of analgesia is required.     

An Ibero-American inter-laboratory trial to evaluate serological tests for the detection of anti-<Emphasis Type="Italic">Neospora caninum</Emphasis> antibodies in cattle

We carried out an inter-laboratory trial to compare the serological tests commonly used for the detection of specific Neospora caninum antibodies in cattle in Ibero-American countries. A total of eight laboratories participated from the following countries: Argentina (n = 4), Brazil (n = 1), Peru (n = 1), Mexico (n = 1), and Spain (n = 1). A blind panel of well-characterized cattle sera (n = 143) and sera representative of the target population (n = 351) was tested by seven in-house indirect fluorescent antibody tests (IFATs 1–7) and three enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs 1–3; two in-house and one commercial). Diagnostic performance of the serological tests was calculated and compared according to the following criteria: (1) the “Pre-test information,” which uses previous epidemiological and serological data; (2) the “Majority of tests,” which classifies a serum as positive or negative according to the results obtained by most tests evaluated. Unexpectedly, six tests showed either sensitivity (Se) or specificity (Sp) values lower than 90%. In contrast, the best tests in terms of Se, Sp, and area under the ROC curve (AUC) values were IFAT 1 and optimized ELISA 1 and ELISA 2. We evaluated a high number of IFATs, which are the most widely used tests in Ibero-America. The significant discordances observed among the tests regardless of the criteria employed hinder control programs and urge the use of a common test or with similar performances to either the optimized IFAT 1 and ELISAs 1 and 2.     

Comparison of the postoperative analgesic effects of cimicoxib,buprenorphine and their combination in healthy dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy

Objective

To determine the noninferior postoperative analgesic efficacy of cimicoxib compared to buprenorphine following elective ovariohysterectomy in healthy bitches.

Analysis of pig trading networks and practices in Uganda

Tropical Animal Health and Production - East Africa is undergoing rapid expansion of pig rearing, driven by increasing pork consumption. Introduction and expansion of pig production systems in this...     

Assessing the role of Natura 2000 at maintaining dynamic landscapes in Europe over the last two decades: implications for conservation

Context

The Natura 2000 aims to promote the persistence of biodiversity and traditional uses. European landscapes have, however, undergone large transformations in the past decades, mainly associated with the abandonment of less productive lands concentration of intensive agriculture. These changes could pose management challenges and new opportunities to the achievement of the network´s goals.

Objective

Evaluate changes in land cover within Natura 2000 in the last two decades.

Methods

We use different Corine Land Cover datasets to construct transition matrices of land uses for measuring changes for each Natura 2000 site. We also explore the role of different drivers in observed changes and assess the impacts of these changes in the structure of landscape.

Results

Landscape has been highly dynamic within Natura 2000 in the last two decades with more than 20% undergoing land cover changes. The most systematic transitions involved both, succession processes towards naturalisation in older and more abrupt protected areas (PAs) and anthropization in less steep and more recently designated PAs. Changes across land cover categories had also significant effects on the landscape configuration towards a higher homogenisation.

Conclusions

Two different strategies would be needed to enhance the role of Natura 2000, (i) tighter control to ensure anthropization, mainly intensive agriculture, does not compromise conservation goals within PAs and (ii) tackle more effectively the ecological and socio-economic effects of abandonment in less productive areas to halt loss of key habitats. On the other hand, changes in composition and structure of landscape open new conservation opportunities derived from enhanced connectivity.