Mycobacterium microti infection in the cat: a case report, literature review and recent clinical experience

OVERVIEW: Mycobacterium microti infection is infrequently described in cats in the veterinary literature. It can be one of a large number of possible differential diagnoses in a feline patient with dermal nodules and non-healing draining ulcers, and can occasionally spread to involve the lungs and/or other areas of the body. CASE SUMMARY: This report describes the clinical signs, eventual diagnosis and variable response to treatment in a cat in Switzerland with recurrent cutaneous M microti infection. Only after several diagnostic and therapeutic attempts, over more than 2 years, was the species of Mycobacterium finally identified and targeted therapy given. PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: For any cat in which there is even a low suspicion of mycobacterial infection, the authors recommend that an aggressive diagnostic approach is taken. Tissue specimens should be collected and frozen early on, and, as soon as acid-fast bacilli are detected, samples should be sent to a mycobacterial reference laboratory for definitive identification. LITERATURE REVIEW: A review of the literature relating to the aetiopathogenesis, diagnosis and management of M microti infection in cats and dogs is included. This is supplemented with clinical and therapeutic experience gained from this case and other, unpublished cases managed over the past 15 years by one of the authors (DGM).     

PM—Power and Machinery: Modelling the Performance of Air-assisted Spraying on Artichoke

Conventional treatments on horticultural crops present a great lack of efficiency in applications and difficult penetration into dense crops. Horticultural sprayers should be able to undertake applications in a wide range of conditions, depending on the kind of crop, the pest and its location.The aim of this work is to analyse the efficiency of an air-assisted sprayer on artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.), a horticultural crop whose density makes penetration of the plant canopy difficult. Tests of an oriented jet, air-assisted sprayer for vegetables, with flexible ducts that lead the air towards the crop, have been performed in the field, using different positions of air outlets, types of nozzle and volume rates. Droplet population and coverage at different parts of the plant have been measured by means of image analysis. Generalized linear models have been used to model the sprayer performances.Fan nozzles showed the best response to air assistance, achieving the highest deposits, especially in lowest leaves and on the undersides.The flexibility of air ducts allows the outlets to be adjusted as required and a variable number of them to be employed on every row, with a resulting variation in the airflow. Better coverage and uniformity were achieved by directing three outlets per row.Any decrease in deposits due to volume reduction was not proportional to the decrease in the applied volume and can be compensated with an adjustment of chemical doses.     

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coffee brew using solid-phase extraction

The presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in coffee has been reported and is suspected to be due to the degradation of coffee compounds during the roasting step. Due to the high toxicity of these compounds, among which benzo[a]pyrene is known to be the most carcinogenic, their presence in the coffee, especially the coffee brew that is directly ingested by the consumer, is of prime importance. However, due to the low solubility of these compounds, their concentrations are expected to be rather low. As a consequence, reliable and sensitive analytical methods are required. The aim of this study was to develop a reliable and fast analytical procedure to determine these organic micropollutants in coffee brew samples. PAHs were retained on a 0.5 g polystyrene-divinylbenzene cartridge before being eluted by a mixture of methanol/tetrahydrofuran (10:90 v/v), concentrated, and directly analyzed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a fluorescence detector. Application to the determination of PAHs in several coffee brew samples is also given, with mean estimated concentrations in the range of 0-100 ng L(-1) for suspected benzo[b]fluoranthene and benzo[a]pyrene, whereas no fluoranthene could be detected. Tentative identification was made on the basis of UV spectra. However, identification of the suspected traces of PAHs could not be achieved due to matrix effects, so that the presence of coeluting compounds may not be excluded.     

Factors affecting red-winged blackbird response to methiocarb,an avian repellent

Two physiological responses (heart rate and respiration rate) and a behavioral response (keypecking rate) were measured to determine whether or not bait from and/or gastrointestinal content would influence the efficacy of an avian repellent on red-winged blackbirds. Methiocarb was administered under four conditions (i.e., cracked corn or pellet baits and food deprivation or nondeprivation). Results show that both physiological and behavioral responses to methiocarb are much more pronounced when it is administered in pellet form to food-deprived birds. These findings help explain some inconsistencies in results of field evaluations of methiocarb and illustrate the significance of formulation and the timing of treatment application as important factors in development of bird damage control agents and techniques.     

The effect of colostral immunity on the active formation of antibodies in pigs after the administration of inactivated vaccine against Aujeszky's disease

In a large herd of pigs where a trial was performed to cure the animals from Aujeszky's disease (AD) by applying to all animals an inactivated vaccine, a post-vaccination antibody response was studied in piglets coming from the sows that were vaccinated several times. When the piglets were vaccinated at the age of eight weeks (the average virus-neutralizing titer (VNT) of colostral antibodies was 1:11.4) and revaccinated at the age of 11 weeks, 73% of the forty-five animals (examined at the age of 17 weeks) did not have any virus-neutralizing (VN) antibodies in the blood serum. After the third vaccination dose (at the age of 17 weeks), 11% of piglets did not have any VN antibodies if they were examined at the age of 22 weeks (the average antibody VNT was 1:15.3). Applying the ELISA procedure, the antibodies were demonstrated in the sera of all piglets after three vaccination doses. Shifting the time intervals of vaccination (at the age of 8, 13 and 19 weeks), the VN antibodies were found out after three vaccination doses in the sera of all piglets examined at the age of 23 weeks (the average VNT was 1:56.4). After three vaccination doses at the age of 12, 17 and 23 weeks, the VN antibodies were also demonstrated in all piglets at the age of 27 weeks (the average VNT was 1:208).     

Use of monoclonal antibodies in blocking ELISA detection of transmissible gastroenteritis virus in faeces of piglets

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to the transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) nucleoprotein (N) and membrane protein (M) were prepared and used for the comparative assessment of three blocking ELISA variants to detect TGEV. The competitive blocking ELISA format showed the highest sensitivity, allowing detection of 10(3) TCID50 TGEV/ml in culture medium. Ninety-nine porcine field faecal samples obtained from 37 herds affected with diarrhoea were examined, and various TGEV levels were found in nine samples from six herds. However, only in three samples were significant TGEV concentrations demonstrated. The relationship between incidence of TGEV gastroenteritis and the spread of porcine respiratory coronavirus infection in pig farms is discussed.     

Molecular characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pythium</Emphasis> group F isolates by ribosomal-and intermicrosatellite-DNA regions analysis

Pythium group F is a ubiquitous, though minor, pathogen in several soilless and soil cultures; investigations were carried out to analyze different regions of the DNA and better understand the nature of this group. Fourty-two isolates were obtained from a variety of plants (cucumber, lettuce, tomato) grown in soil or soilless cultures collected in various countries (Canada, Denmark, France, Norway, Sweden and United Kingdom). All Pythium group F isolates displayed amplified ITS1-5,8S-ITS2 ribosomal DNA region (rDNA) of similar length, whereas polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) revealed that, among the seven enzymes used, polymorphism was only identified with Hin6I. After cloning of ITS1-5,8S-ITS2 rDNA region from Pythium group F isolates that displayed restriction polymorphism patterns with Hin6I, comparisons of sequence and restriction mapping data showed a slight variation consisting in a single base change. Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR)-PCR method was also used to obtain data related to the entire genome and not only to a single DNA region. It identified repeated motifs in the genome of Pythium group F isolates. Two primers (CAC)₅ and (CCA)₅ detected polymorphism, and isolates were classified among 11 molecular clusters. The genetic diversity of this group was not correlated with the geographical locations or the host plants from which the isolates originated. Polymorphism of Pythium group F isolates pointed out by ISSR is discussed     

Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in plasma and urine of horses

OBJECTIVE: To determine pharmacokinetic parameters for meloxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, in horses. ANIMALS: 8 healthy horses. PROCEDURE: In the first phase of the study, horses were administered meloxicam once in accordance with a 2 x 2 crossover design (IV or PO drug administration; horses fed or not fed). The second phase used a multiple-dose regimen (daily oral administration of meloxicam for 14 days), with meloxicam administered at the recommended dosage (0.6 mg/kg). Plasma and urine concentrations of meloxicam were measured by use of validated methods with a limit of quantification of 10 ng/mL for plasma and 20 ng/mL for urine. RESULTS: Plasma clearance was low (mean +/- SD; 34 +/- 0.5 mL/kg/h), steady-state volume of distribution was limited (0.12 +/- 0.018 L/kg), and terminal half-life was 8.54 +/- 3.02 hours. After oral administration, bioavailability was nearly total regardless of feeding status (98 +/- 12% in fed horses and 85 +/- 19% in nonfed horses). During once-daily administration for 14 days, we did not detect drug accumulation in the plasma. Meloxicam was eliminated via the urine with a urine-to-plasma concentration that ranged from 13 to 18. Concentrations were detected for a relatively short period (3 days) after administration of the final daily dose. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results of this study support once-daily administration of meloxicam regardless of the feeding status of a horse and suggest a period of at least 3 days before urine concentrations of meloxicam reach concentrations that could be used in drug control programs.     

Epidemiological, clinical, echo-doppler characteristics of mitral valve endocardiosis in Cavalier King Charles in France: a retrospective study of 451 cases (1995 to 2003)

A study performed on 451 Cavalier King Charles showed that 40.6% of dogs had a left apical systolic heart murmur, whose prevalence increased with age (> 11-year-old, 100%), but was not different between males and females. Mitral valve endocardiosis represented 93.3% of the ultrasonographic abnormalities.     

Minimally invasive patent ductus arteriosus occlusion in 5 dogs

OBJECTIVE: To report a technique for minimally invasive occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and outcome in 5 dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical cases. Animals: Five, 4-6-month-old, dogs with PDA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Titanium ligating clips were used for PDA closure in all dogs. Three dogs had video-enhanced mini-thoracotomy PDA occlusion. Two other dogs had thoracoscopic PDA occlusion using a custom-designed thoracoscopy clip applicator. RESULTS: Thoracoscopic PDA occlusion was successful in both dogs in which it was attempted. Complete PDA closure was achieved in 4 dogs. Three months after surgery, the largest dog had residual ductal flow that hemodynamically was insignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Although technically demanding, minimally invasive PDA occlusion is a safe and reliable technique in dogs. Preoperative measurement of the diameter of the PDA is crucial to determine if complete closure with metal clips can be achieved. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Minimally invasive PDA occlusion should be considered as an alternative to occlusion via conventional thoracotomy.