Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile in diarrheic and healthy dogs

The objectives of this study were to examine the potential roles of Clostridium difficile and enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens in diarrhea in dogs by comparison of isolation, determination of toxin status via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and application of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These techniques were used to evaluate fecal specimens in 132 healthy and diarrheic dogs. These dogs were prospectively evaluated by grouping them into the following 3 categories: hospitalized dogs with diarrhea (n = 32), hospitalized dogs without diarrhea (n = 42), and apparently healthy outpatient dogs without diarrhea (n = 58). All fecal specimens were cultured using selective media for C difficile, Salmonella spp., and Campylobacter spp. and selective media after heat shock for C perfringens. No significant difference was found in the isolation of C perfringens or C difficile among the 3 groups. A significant association was found between the presence of diarrhea and detection of C perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) or toxin A via ELISA for both C perfringens and C difficile, respectively. PCR performed on C difficile isolates for toxin A and toxin B genes revealed no significant differences among the 3 groups, but diarrheic dogs were significantly more likely to be positive for the enterotoxin gene of C perfringens. Based on the results of this study, the use of ELISA for detection of CPE in feces combined with the detection of enterotoxigenic fecal isolates obtained via heat shock provides the strongest evidence for the presence of C perfringens-associated diarrhea.     

Mineral composition of freshly harvested potatoes

Nine Irish potato varieties from five growing locations were assessed for mineral content to determine the contribution of the potato toward meeting the U.S. recommended daily allowances for man. With the exception of calcium, the potato is a significant source of minerals for which U.S. recommended daily allowances have been established (iron, copper, iodine, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc).     

Contribution of Soil Components on the Sorption of Chlorpyrifos

It is generally assumed that the sorption of a nonionic pesticide on soil depends mainly on the content of soil organic matter (SOM); however, there are other factors that can contribute to this process. The possible causes of variation in the carbon-normalized partition coefficient (K _OC) for chlorpyrifos (CPF) for a diverse set of ten soils have been investigated. On the one hand, the analysis of the chemical composition of the SOM was analyzed, and on the other hand, the likely interactions between the organic matter and the mineral phase were assessed. Sorption experiments of CPF were performed on whole soil, on soils treated with 2% hydrofluoric acid (HF), and onto calcined soil at 550 °C. Organic matter chemistry of soil was determined by ¹³C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy; K _OC values were positively correlated with aryl C relative proportion and negatively correlated with alkyl C and O-aryl C proportions and prediction equation of K _OC was found (R ²?=?0.82, p?<?0.001). To evaluate possible organo-mineral interactions, a mathematical model was proposed which calculates the concentration of CPF at equilibrium (C _cal) considering adsorption coefficients for the organic (K _DHF) and inorganic (K _D550 °C) soil constituents, separately. The comparison between C _cal and the equilibrium concentration obtained from experimental data (C _exp) onto whole soil allowed us to confirm that interactions between the OM and clay affect the adsorption of CPF in whole soil. Such findings should be taken into account in the development of predictive models for the evaluation of the fate and transport of this pesticide in soil.     

Plasma concentrations of lidocaine in dogs following lidocaine patch application

Transdermal absorption of lidocaine was determined by measuring plasma lidocaine concentrations following skin application of 5% lidocaine patches. Two lidocaine patches were placed on the ventral abdominal midline of seven dogs for 72 hours. Lidocaine was detectable in plasma 12 hours after patch application, and it reached steady-state concentrations between 24 and 48 hours. Plasma lidocaine levels decreased dramatically at 60 hours post-application. Low plasma lidocaine concentrations remained for 6 hours after patch removal. No clinically significant side effects were noted.     

Isolation of radiolabeled isoflavones from kudzu (Pueraria lobata) root cultures

Isoflavones have potential for preventing and treating several chronic health conditions, such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. In this study, radiolabeled isoflavones were recovered from kudzu (Pueraria lobata) root cultures after incubation with uniformly labeled (14)C-sucrose in the culture medium for 21 days. Approximately 19% of administered label was recovered in the isoflavone-rich dried extracts of kudzu root cultures (90.2 microCi/g or 3.3 MBq/g extract). HPLC-PDA analysis revealed the predominant isoflavones isolated from kudzu root cultures to be puerarin, daidzin, and malonyl-daidzin. The average concentration of the major isoflavone puerarin in kudzu root cultures was 33.6 mg/g extract, with a specific activity of 63.5 microCi/g (2.3 MBq/g). The isolated isoflavones were sufficiently (14)C-labeled to permit utilization for subsequent in vivo metabolic tracking studies.     

Cardiopulmonary changes induced during one-lung ventilation in anesthetized dogs with a closed thoracic cavity

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of one-lung ventilation (OLV) on oxygen delivery (DO2) in anesthetized dogs with a closed thoracic cavity. ANIMALS: 7 clinically normal adult Walker Hound dogs. PROCEDURE: Dogs were anesthetized. Catheters were inserted in a dorsal pedal artery and the pulmonary artery. Dogs were positioned in right lateral recumbency. Data were collected at baseline (Paco2 of 35 to 45 mm Hg), during two-lung ventilation, and 15 minutes after creating OLV. Hemodynamic and respiratory variables were analyzed and calculations performed to obtain DO2, and values were compared among the various time points by use of an ANOVA for repeated measures. RESULTS: OLV induced a significant augmentation of shunt fraction that resulted in a significant reduction in Pao2, arterial oxygen saturation, and arterial oxygen content. Cardiac index was not significantly changed. The net result was that DO2 was not significantly affected by OLV. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Use of OLV in healthy dogs does not induce significant changes in DO2, which is the ultimate variable to use when evaluating tissue oxygenation. One-lung ventilation can be initiated safely in dogs before entering the thoracic cavity during surgery. Additional studies are necessary to evaluate OLV in clinically affected patients and variations in age, body position, and type of anesthetic protocol.     

STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL CHANGES RELEVANT TO MAXILLARY ARTERIAL FLOW OBSERVED DURING COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND NONSELECTIVE DIGITAL SUBTRACTION ANGIOGRAPHY IN CATS WITH THE MOUTH CLOSED AND OPENED

Some cats develop blindness during procedures with mouth gags, which possibly relates to maxillary arterial occlusion by opening the mouth. Our first aim was to use computed tomography (CT) to describe how vascular compression is possible based on morphologic differences between mouth positions. Our second aim was to use nonselective digital subtraction angiography to assess whether opening the mouth induces collateral circulation. Six healthy cats were examined. During CT, the maxillary artery coursed between the angular process of the mandible and the rostrolateral wall of the tympanic bulla. The median distance between these structures was shorter when the mouth was opened (left, 4.3 mm; right, 3.6 mm) vs. closed (left, 6.9 mm; right, 7.1 mm). Additionally, the distance was shorter on the side ipsilateral to the gag (P = 0.03). During nonselective angiography, with the mouth closed, there was strong sequential opacification of the external carotid arteries, maxillary arteries, maxillary retia mirabilia, cerebral arterial circle, and basilar artery. Additionally, there was uniform opacification of the cerebrum and cerebellum. With the mouth opened, opacification of the maxillary arteries (rostral to the angular processes) was reduced in all cats, the cerebral arterial circle and basilar artery had simultaneous opacification in four of six (67%) cats, and the cerebrum had reduced opacification compared to the cerebellum in four of six (67%). In conclusion, the maxillary arteries are situated such that they can be compressed when opening the mouth. Opening the mouth did not consistently induce collateral circulation sufficient to produce comparable cerebral opacification as when the mouth was closed.     

Isolation of an adenovirus and an adeno-associated virus from goat kids with enteritis.

A dairy goat operation in Minnesota experienced a sudden, markedly increased mortality among its neonatal goats. Approximately 60 of 130 kids (46%) died. The animals had diarrhea and dyspnea of 1-2 days duration before death. Necropsy of 4 goat kids revealed marked, acute, catarrhal enteritis and fibrinous pleuropneumonia. Mannheimia haemolytica was isolated from the lungs. Basophilic inclusion bodies filling the entire nucleus were present in enterocytes of the ileum of 3 goats. Adenoviral particles were detected in the feces by electron microscopy and adenovirus was subsequently isolated from the intestinal content together with a parvo-like virus (dependovirus). Morphology, physicochemical characteristics, and neutralization tests indicated that the adenovirus resembled ovine adenovirus-2 (OAdV-2). However, the PstI restriction endonuclease pattern produced by the goat adenovirus was distinct from that of OAdV-2. This is the first report of enteritis in goats with an adenovirus antigenically related to OAdV-2 and with a parvo-like dependovirus.     

Sensory quality of French fries prepared from BelRus and Russet Burbank potatoes

Frozen par-fries were processed in January, February, and March using BelRus and Russet Burbank potatoes which were obtained from the same source and held under the same storage conditions. At each processing date, total solids of the raw tissue were determined and the par-fries were analyzed for fat content. Samples were finish-fried and presented to panels for evaluation of sensory qualities. The color, flavor, and textural properties of frozen French fries prepared from BelRus potatoes, which were considerably higher in total solids content and absorbed less vegetable oil, were significantly preferred by sensory panels to French fries processed from Russet Burbank potatoes.