Malignant adrenal neuroblastoma in a young dog

A 1.5-year-old dog was evaluated for abnormal mentation, collapse, and weight loss. Radiographs and ultrasonographs revealed soft tissue masses in the mid abdomen. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirates provided a diagnosis of malignant epithelial or round cell neoplasia. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings on the tumors were consistent with a primitive neuroblastoma.     

Peritoneal fluid values and collection technique in young,normal calves

Peritoneal fluid from 10 healthy young male Holstein calves was analyzed three times (2 to 3 days, 12 to 15 days and 27 to 30 days) during the first month of life. A new technique for collection of peritoneal fluid from calves positioned in left lateral recumbency was developed. The technique was found to be reliable and without noticeable complications. Mean peritoneal fluid nucleated cell counts, red blood cell counts, and absolute counts for mononuclear cells, lymphocytes and eosinophils did not change significantly (P 相似文献   

Adaptation of IFN-gamma ELISA and ELISPOT tests for feline tuberculosis

There are currently no reliable immunodiagnostic tests for feline tuberculosis. Infection of domestic cats in the UK is thought to occur via their contact with the relevant reservoir of infection, e.g. cattle and badgers for Mycobacterium bovis, and rodents for M. microti. In the African National Parks, where M. bovis infection of Bovidae is an increasing problem, transmission to big cats is occurring via their ingestion of infected carcasses. We have adapted feline ELISA and ELISPOT assays to potentially provide the first cell-based diagnostic test for the detection of tuberculosis in cats. We tested peripheral blood mononuclear cell antigen-specific IFN-gamma responses of 18 cats suspected of mycobacterial infection for which biopsy material was co-submitted to the Veterinary Laboratories Agency for mycobacterial culture and identification. Seventeen cats were tested by ELISA while seven cats were tested by ELISPOT (six cats were tested by both ELISA and ELISPOT). Six healthy control cats provided baseline data for these tests. Responses to bovine and avian tuberculins (PPDB and PPDA) and a protein cocktail of ESAT6 and CFP10 were measured, together with positive mitogen (PMA and calcium ionophore) and negative (medium) controls. Overall, both ELISPOT and ELISA tests were found to be suitable for generating rapid results (2 and 4 days, respectively), which provided good predictive information for M. bovis and M. microti infections, but were unable to reliably discern M. avium infection.     

Effects of structural and functional habitat gaps on breeding woodland birds: working harder for less

The effects of habitat gaps on breeding success and parental daily energy expenditure (DEE) were investigated in great tits (Parus major) and blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) in urban parkland (Cardiff, UK) compared with birds in deciduous woodland (eastern England, UK). Tree canopy height, the percentage of gap in the canopy and the percentage of oak (in the wood only) within a 30 m radius of nest boxes were obtained from airborne remote-sensed data. Breeding success was monitored and parental DEE (great tits: both habitats; blue tits: park only) was measured using doubly labelled water in birds feeding young. In the park, mean (±SD) tree height (7.5 ± 4.7 m) was less than in the wood (10.6 ± 4.5 m), but the incidence of gaps (32.7 ± 22.6%) was greater (9.2 ± 14.7%). Great tits and blue tits both reared fewer young in the park and chick body mass was also reduced in park-reared great tits. Park great tits had a higher DEE (86.3 ± 12.3 kJ day⁻¹) than those in the wood (78.0 ± 11.7 kJ day⁻¹) and, because of smaller brood sizes, worked about 64% harder for each chick reared. Tits in the park with more than about 35% gap around their boxes had higher DEEs than the average for the habitat. In the wood, great tits with less oak around their boxes worked harder than average. Thus structural gaps, and functional gaps generated by variation in the quality of foraging habitat, increased the costs of rearing young. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Investigation of a community cluster of cutaneous Mycobacterium marinum infection,an emerging zoonotic pathogen in aquaculture industry,Haliburton, Kawartha,Pine Ridge District Health Unit,Ontario, Canada,July–August 2015

In July 2015, a cluster of five suspect cases of clinically diagnosed Mycobacterium marinum (M. marinum) skin infections were reported to the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPRDHU), Ontario, Canada, with two additional cases subsequently identified through case finding. All seven cases presented with cutaneous lesions located on the finger, hand and/or elbow regions typical of M. marinum infection. Specimens were collected by skin biopsy for two of the seven cases; both cases tested positive for M. marinum by molecular detection (hsp65 gene amplification and sequencing), and one was confirmed positive for M. marinum by culture. All seven cases reported handling raw shrimp from an aquaculture facility in the Health Unit's jurisdiction. M. marinum is not a reportable disease in Ontario, and there are no known previous reports of a cluster of M. marinum reported in Ontario, Canada. A cluster investigation working group was struck that included representation from various agencies including Public Health Ontario (PHO), Public Health Ontario Laboratories (PHOL), Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and the two health units involved in case investigations. Several public health and aquaculture farming recommendations were made to mitigate further risks associated with handling of raw shrimp from the facility. Several challenges were faced during the investigation process. The paper discusses these challenges and public health recommendations made in order to mitigate occupational and public health risks related to the hazard identified.     

Male fertility and 2n pollen production in haploid-wild species hybrids

Hybrids (2n = 2x = 24) from crosses between Group Tuberosum haploids (2n = 2x = 24) and 24-chromosome, wild species must be fertile and produce 2n gametes if they are to be used in breeding schemes involving sexual polyploidization. Male fertility of the 2x hybrids depends primarily on the species parent. Hybrids involvingS. berthaultii, S. chacoense, S. kurtzianum, S. spegazzinii, andS. tarijense as parents are male fertile. The haploid parents are male sterile, so the species not only contribute genetic diversity and desirable traits, but also genes necessary for male fertility.S. infundibuliforme, S. raphanifolium, andS. sanctae-rosae parents produced male sterile hybrid progeny, while use ofS. boliviense, S. bukasovii, S. canasense, S. microdontum, andS. sparsipilum results in families containing both fertile and sterile plants. Sterility may be due to interactions between Tuberosum cytoplasm and dominant nuclear genes from the species. Genetic male sterility and environmental conditions may also be responsible for low pollen stainability in some hybrids. Many fertile, 2x hybrids produce 2n pollen. Selection for 2n pollen in the species is fast and efficient, but meiotic analysis is required in male sterile haploids. Fortunately, selection in the species parent alone results in a large number of 2n pollen-producing hybrids. These 2x hybrids have been used to generate tetraploids via 4x × 2x crosses.     

Natural Spawning of Captive Bigeye Scad Selar crumenophthalmus in Hawaii

Abstract.— Juvenile bigeye scad Selar crumenophthalmus were caught from the wild by hook and line and reared over 3 yr to establish a spawning broodstock of this species. The size at first maturity for captive males and females was 19-cm and 25-cm fork length (FL). Natural spawning of captive individuals occurred during the first year in captivity. The broodstock were observed to spawn repeatedly throughout their second and third years in culture. This species is a multiple spawner producing approximately 96 × 10³ to 121 × 10³ eggs/spawning group, 5 to 10 times per year. Stocking densities of 1–8 individuals/m³ were found to be suitable for natural spawning to occur. Collectively, the results indicate that this species exhibits notable potential for artificial propagation.