Total IgE and allergen-specific IgE and IgG antibody levels in sera of atopic dermatitis affected and non-affected Labrador- and Golden retrievers

Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is an allergic skin disease associated with IgE and IgG antibodies (Ab) to environmental allergens. The aim of this study was to determine which other factors influence serum Ab levels in CAD-affected and non-affected dogs as this has only been poorly investigated in dogs so far. Total and allergen-specific IgE levels and Dermatophagoides farinae (DF)-specific IgG1 and IgG4 were measured by ELISA in sera of 145 CAD-affected and 271 non-affected Labrador- and Golden retrievers. A multivariable logistic regression analysis including the factors age, breed, gender, castration, clinical CAD status and allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) was performed. Golden retrievers had more frequently total (OR=1.87, 95% CI=1.26-2.87, p<0.01) and specific IgE levels above the threshold value than Labrador retrievers, suggesting that genetic factors influence IgE levels in dogs. Castration was generally associated with low Ab levels (OR=0.43-0.65, p<0.05). Surprisingly, dogs with CAD did not have increased odds for high IgE against any of the allergens tested. ASIT with DF was associated with high DF-specific IgG1 (OR=4.32, 95% CI 1.46-12.8, p<0.01) but was not associated with DF-specific IgG4 or decreased IgE levels. Further studies are needed to understand the role of allergen-specific IgE in CAD and of IgG1 in ASIT.     

Supplementation of selenium,vitamin E,chromium and betaine above recommended levels improves lactating performance of sows over summer

Heat stress (HS) exacerbates the body weight loss of lactating sows and reduces litter weight gain. Selenium (Se), vitamin E (VE), chromium (Cr) and betaine have been shown to ameliorate symptoms of HS, and yeast nucleotides and mannan oligosaccharides have been reported to improve lactational performance and immune response in pigs. Therefore, a combination of these nutrients may improve lactational performance of sows in summer. The effects of two nutritionally enhanced diets on lactational performance of sows in summer were investigated in two experiments. In experiment 1, we compared the effects of a nutritionally fortified diet (0.4 ppm Se, 95 IU/kg VE, 0.4 ppm Cr and 0.2% betaine; named as SVCB diet) with the NRC 2012 standard diet (0.15 ppm Se, 44 IU/kg VE) on lactational performance of sows in summer. Results showed that the SVCB diet reduced body weight loss (P = 0.039) and tended to reduce backfat loss (P = 0.075) of sows without affecting feed intake, while litter weight gain was not influenced. In experiment 2, we further enhanced the nutrients in the SVCB diet (0.8 ppm Se, 1% yeast nucleotides, and 0.1% mannan oligosaccharides; named as SNM diet). Results showed that the SNM diet did not improve feed intake of sows, farrowing performance, or litter weight gain compared with the SVCB diet, but increased body weight loss of the third parity sows (P = 0.037). Overall, a combined supplementation of Se, VE, Cr, and betaine above the NRC recommended levels can reduce mobilisation of body reserve of lactating sows in summer.     

The use of carbohydrate antigen (CA) 15-3 as a tumor marker in detecting breast cancer

This study was carried out to determine the sensitivity and specificity of serum CA 15-3 as a marker in detecting and monitoring treatment in, breast cancer patients. One hundred and ten patients comprising 35 known breast cancer patients, 75 suspected cases and 20 controls entered the study. Blood samples were taken before and after treatment from the 35 known cases as well as the 75 suspected cases from which biopsy specimens were also taken. Serum CA 15-3 was measured by BioCheck CA 15-3 Enzyme Immunoassay. There was a significant difference between the concentration of serum CA 15-3 of the 35 known breast cancer patients before and after treatment (p < 0.05). Out of the 75 suspected cases, 46 had breast cancer and 29 had benign breast disease (histologically proven). There was a strong positive correlation between the level of serum CA 15-3 and the histopathology results of the biopsies (r = 0.518). The mean serum CA 15-3 concentration of the 46 patients (80.6 +/- 70.2 U mL(-1)) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of the 29 patients with benign breast disease (12.0 +/- 9.0). The sensitivity and specificity of the serum CA 15-3 in detecting breast cancer was 76.1 and 100%, respectively at a cut-off of 35 U mL(-1). Serum CA 15-3 was found to have a value in the early detection and monitoring of treatment of breast cancer in Ghana.     

Susceptibility of Pseudomonas pseudomallei isolates of non-human origin to chemotherapeutic agents by the single disc sensitivity method

Single disc sensitivity tests against 42 strains of Pseudomonas pseudomallei isolated from soil, water, sheep, pigs, goats, birds, a horse and a tree kangaroo have shown that a remarkably similar pattern occurs to that obtained in isolates from human cases. Generally, the organisms are sensitive to kanamycin, novobiocin, compound sulphonamides, sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim and tetracycline and resistant to ampicillin, bacitracin, cloxacillin, colistin, erythromycin, gentamycin, nitrofurantoin, penicillin, polymyxin B, streptomycin and vancomycin. Sensitivity to neomycin was variable.     

Predictors of Extreme Negative Feelings Toward Coyote in Newfoundland

Human–coyote interactions have occurred since the arrival of the species to the island of Newfoundland in 1985. A mail survey (N = 786) of Newfoundland residents was conducted in 2008. The survey explored negative feelings toward coyotes. A four stage hierarchical multiple regression model examined how the dependent variable, “feelings,” was influenced by four independent blocks of variables: “existence beliefs,” “impact beliefs,” “fear,” and “experience and demographic characteristics.” Together the predictors explained 50% of the variability, with existence beliefs accounting for most of the variation (ΔR² = . 45), followed by impact beliefs (ΔR² = .024) and fear (ΔR² = .018). The experience-demographic block of variables accounted for minimal influence (ΔR² = .003) and was not statistically significant. The remaining variability might be explained by emotions. When exploring human–wildlife interactions it is important to understand the role of affect in the formation of attitudes as feelings influence the tolerance and ultimately the willingness to coexist with wildlife.     

Changes in testicular size,echotexture, and arterial blood flow associated with the attainment of puberty in Dorper rams raised in a subtropical climate

There is a paucity of information on the relationships of testicular morphology, echotextural attributes, and blood flow dynamics with pubertal development of rams raised in a subtropical climate. Forty‐five Dorper rams (24 rams aged 8–11 months and 21 rams aged 12–24 months) were examined using a portable ultrasound scanner connected to a 7.5‐MHz transducer. Computer‐assisted analyses of testicular ultrasonograms utilized commercially available Image ProPlus^® analytical software. Spectral Doppler scans of testicular arteries were performed immediately after scrotal (B‐mode) ultrasonography to determine peak systolic velocity (PSV), end‐diastolic velocity (EDV), resistive index (RI = [PSV?EDV]/PSV), and pulsatility index (PI = [SPV–EDV]/mean velocity) of the blood vessels. The length of the testes (9.7 ± 0.3 compared with 9.0 ± 0.2 cm) and scrotal circumference (33.3 ± 0.5 compared with 31.8 ± 0.4 cm) were greater (p < 0.05) but testicular depth (4.5 ± 0.1  compared with 4.9 ± 0.08 cm) was less (p < 0.05) in sexually mature compared with peripubertal rams. [Corrections added on 9 Jan 2019 after initial online publication: The testicular size values in the sentence were corrected.] There were no differences (p > 0.05) between the two age groups of Dorper rams in blood flow indices of testicular arteries. Mean numerical pixel values (100.5 ± 4.1 compared with 89.2 ± 4.8) and pixel heterogeneity (25.6 ± 0.6 compared with 23.6 ± 0.5) of testicular parenchyma were greater (p < 0.05) in peripubertal than in postpubertal rams. Semen volume was negatively correlated with PI of testicular arteries (r = ?0.57, p = 0.04). In summary, the attainment of sexual maturity in the rams of the present study was associated with significant changes in testicular length and depth, scrotal circumference, and parenchymal echogenicity/hetrogeneity but not in testicular volume and blood perfusion rates. Testicular artery PI can be used to predict the volume of ejaculate in rams.     

Outcome and failure patterns of localized sinonasal lymphoma in cats treated with first‐line single‐modality radiation therapy: A retrospective study

Failure rate and site are not well defined in localized sinonasal lymphoma in cats treated with radiotherapy. In this study, we describe (a) failure pattern, (b) outcome, (c) influence of previously reported prognostic variables on the outcome in cats with suspected localized sinonasal lymphoma. In this multi‐institutional retrospective study, we included 51 cats treated with single‐modality radiotherapy. Cats were irradiated using 10x4.2Gy (n = 32), 12x3Gy (n = 11) or 5x6Gy (n = 8). Regional lymph nodes were prophylactically irradiated in 24/51 cats (47.1%). Twenty‐five cats (49.0%) developed progressive disease: progression was local (nasal) in five (9.8%), locoregional (nodal) in two (3.9%), local and locoregional in three (5.9%), systemic in nine (17.6%) and both local and systemic in six cats (11.8%). No cat receiving prophylactic nodal irradiation had progression in the locoregional lymph nodes. The median time to progression was 974 days (95%CI: 283;1666), with 58% and 53% of cats free of progression at 1 and 2 years, respectively. Median overall survival was 922 days (95%CI: 66;1779) with 61% and 49% alive at 1 and 2 years, respectively. Half of the cats that died of relapse/progression (13/26) died within 6 months of treatment, suggesting possible shortcomings of staging, rapid dissemination of disease or sequential lymphomagenesis. None of the prognostic factors evaluated were predictive of outcome (prednisolone use, anaemia, nasopharyngeal involvement, modified canine Adams tumour stage, protocol, total dose). Radiotherapy is an effective treatment for localized sinonasal lymphoma with a long time to progression. However, in one‐third of the cats, systemic disease progression occurs soon after radiotherapy.     

Soil organic matter content and chemical composition under two rotation management systems in a Mediterranean climate

The crop rotation system in organic farming is a determinant factor to accumulate and preserve soil organic matter (SOM), and in depth knowledge on its effects is still lacking. Tillage intensity in particular is crucial to maintain soil aggregates and protect SOM from degradation. The evolution of SOM was tested in two adjacent fields under two different rotation cropping systems (low-intensity tillage and high-intensity tillage), and the effect of a further cultivation of legume in both fields was evaluated using ¹³carbon (C)-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and elemental analysis of samples isolated through combined aggregate size and density fractionation. The two adjacent fields had been managed using the following organic farming methods for 13 seasons since 1998: i) alfalfa-based, with nitrogen (N) enrichment and low-frequency tillage with alfalfa (Medicago sativa) (9 seasons), winter wheat (Triticum durum) (3 seasons), and broad bean (Vicia faba) (1 season) and ii) cereal-based, with N depletion and annual tillage with barley (Hordeum vulgare) (7 seasons), sunflower (Helianthus annuus) (2 seasons), broad bean (Vicia faba) (3 seasons), and bare fallow (1 season). Soil sampling was carried out at the end of the 13-year rotation (T0, November 2011) and after winter wheat and chickpea cultivation in both fields over two subsequent years (T1, July 2013). Bulk organic C was significantly higher in the alfalfa-based system than in the cereal-based system at both T0 and T1, with SOM occluded in soil aggregates and associated with mineral particles. In terms of the macroaggregates heavy fraction at T0, the alfalfa-based field contained twice the organic C of that in the cereal-based field, as well as three times the organic C in the occluded particulate organic matter (POM). The occluded POM (oPOM) had a lower aryl/O-alkyl C ratio in the alfalfa-based system than in the cereal-based system, suggesting that oPOM undergoes a lower degree of decomposition during low-intensity management. The aryl/O-alkyl C ratios of the macro-and microaggregate oPOM decreased from T0 to T1 in the cereal-based system, suggesting increased protection of these fractions by soil aggregates. Thus, including legumes in crop rotation appears to positively affect the accumulation of SOM associated with mineral particles and within soil aggregates.     

Effect of combined application of heat treatments and plastic packaging on keeping quality of ‘Oroblanco’ fruit (Citrus grandis L.×C. paradisi Macf.)

Combinations of various heat treatments with individual fruit sealing, packaging in polyethylene liners or waxing were tested as means to control pathological and physiological spoilage of ‘Oroblanco’ fruit (Citrus grandis L.×C. paradisi Macf.). The following heat treatments were used: curing at 36°C for 72 h, hot water dip at 52°C for 2 min or ‘hot drench brushing’ at 52, 56 or 60°C for 10 s. The standard packinghouse treatment included waxing with addition of thiabendazole (TBZ) and 2,4- isopropyl ester. The fruit was stored for 2 weeks at 1°C (simulated low-temperature quarantine treatment), followed by 12–13 weeks at 11°C (simulated sea transportation to Japan) and 1 additional week at 20°C (simulated retail shelf-life period). The lowest weight loss and the highest firmness were observed with individually sealed fruit. Polyethylene liners were usually more efficient for weight loss control than waxing. However, the liner packaging enhanced the risk of postharvest disease development, if not accompanied by appropriate decay-controlling measures. Applying TBZ, hot water dip or curing controlled the development of postharvest pathogens, especially that of Penicillium molds. In another trial, both hot drench brushing at 56 or 60°C and hot water dip reduced decay incidence. Hot drench brushing at 60°C and hot water dip slowed fruit softening and reduced buttons abscission. In addition, the hot drench brushing at 60°C significantly delayed the loss of ‘Oroblanco’ green rind color, especially at the stylar and stem ends of the fruit. The hot dip at 52°C inhibited yellowing only when combined with individual seal-packaging.