Evaluation of plasma carboxy-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen concentration in horses

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a human assay for quantification of carboxy-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I), assess the influence of age on plasma CTX-I concentration, investigate the relationship between plasma CTX-I and serum osteocalcin concentrations, and determine whether concentrations of plasma CTX-I or serum osteocalcin fluctuate in circadian manner in horses. HORSES: 75 clinically normal horses. PROCEDURE: Cross-reactivity between equine serum CTX-I and CTX-I antibodies in an automated electrochemiluminescent sandwich antibody assay (ECLIA) was evaluated via a specificity test (ie, dilution test) and recovery calculation. Serum osteocalcin concentration was measured with an equine-specific osteocalcin radioimmunoassay. To analyze diurnal variations in plasma CTX-I and serum osteocalcin concentrations, blood samples were obtained hourly during a 24-hour period. RESULTS: Results of the dilution test indicated good correlation (r > 0.99) between expected serum CTX-I concentrations and measured serum CTX-I concentrations. The calculated CTX-I recovery was 97.6% to 109.9%. Plasma CTX-I and serum osteocalcin concentrations were correlated. Plasma CTX-I concentration was inversely correlated with age of the horse. No significant circadian variations in plasma CTX-I and serum osteocalcin concentrations were detected. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that the fully automated CTX-I ECLIA can be used for evaluation of plasma and serum samples from horses and may be a useful tool to monitor bone metabolism changes. Horses in this study did not have notable diurnal fluctuations in serum osteocalcin and plasma CTX-I concentrations.     

Odontogenic parakeratinized cyst resulting in exophthalmos and palatine,maxillary, and zygomatic bone erosion in a dog

A novel case of a canine odontogenic parakeratinized cyst (COPC) that resulted in exophthalmos and palatine, maxillary, and zygomatic bone erosion in a 5‐year‐old Chihuahua dog is reported. Final diagnosis was aided by cross‐sectional imaging (magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography) and confirmed with histologic examination of the cyst wall.     

水牛活体采卵及体外受精研究

应用B型超声波采卵法进行水牛活体采卵,42头3～17岁良种水牛间隔3 d采卵1次,连续采卵2～3次,共进行96次,穿刺卵泡762个,回收卵母细胞513枚,其中可用卵母细胞305枚,回收率67.3%,可用卵占回收卵总数59.5%,平均每头次获卵母细胞5.34±4.25枚,其中可用卵母细胞3.18±2.89枚.采集的可用卵母细胞以MC和SOF 2种系统培养,受精分裂率和囊胚率分别为45.2%、30.6%和70.8%、18.8%.用8枚胚胎移植受体母牛8头,妊娠2头,产下了世界第1例由沼泽型水牛孕育生产的河流型水牛.     

Cutaneous fungal granuloma in a horse

This case report describes a 4-year-old-horse with two cutaneous masses on the right crest of the neck. Biopsy revealed chronic nodular pyogranulomatous dermatitis and panniculitis. Giemsa and periodic acid-Schiff stains showed focal spherical, yeast-like organisms. A diagnosis of cutaneous fungal granuloma was made. The size of the masses decreased after oral treatment with fluconazole for 10 days combined with potassium iodide for 30 days, and the remaining masses were excised by laser. Lesions did not recur at the site. Fungal granuloma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in horses with cutaneous or subcutaneous nodules. A definitive diagnosis can only be achieved by histopathological examination or by culture of the affected tissue.     

Use of biochemical markers of bone metabolism in veterinary medicine

Effective, non-invasive bone assessment methods for screening, diagnosis and follow-up of the skeleton are more and more requested in veterinary medicine. In contrast to clinical parameters, invasive methods and imaging techniques, indices of bone turnover is a tool for bone metabolism evaluation of the whole skeleton. Biochemical bone markers therefore provide a more real-time assessment of the bone status with simple blood- or urine-analysis. This article surveys currently available biochemical marker of bone metabolism used in veterinary medicine. Additionally, information is provided about physiological and pathological, as well as therapeutic variations of biochemical bone marker concentrations in various species.     

Enhanced mycotoxin production of a lipase-deficient <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium graminearum</Emphasis> mutant correlates to toxin-related gene expression

Fusarium graminearum causes important diseases of small-grain cereals and maize and produces several mycotoxins. Among them, deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) can accumulate in feedstuffs and foods to health-threatening levels. Although DON is important for fungal virulence in wheat, disease severity in the field does not correlate with mycotoxin concentrations. We compared gene expression and mycotoxin production of lipase-deficient mutants (Δfgl1), strongly reduced in virulence, and the respective wild-type isolate. Δfgl1 mutants exhibited up-regulated DON production during wheat head infection. On isolated wheat kernels, DON was only produced in low quantities, but higher in wild-type than in Δfgl1 mutants. In contrast, neither wild-type nor Δfgl1 mutants produced ZEA during wheat head infection. However, ZEA was clearly detectable on wheat kernels. Here, Δfgl1 mutants revealed a dramatically enhanced ZEA production. We could correlate the altered amounts of DON and ZEA directly with the expression of the toxin-related genes Tri5 for DON and PKS4 and PKS13 for ZEA. Based on Tri5 expression and the infection pattern of the wild-type and Δfgl1 mutants, we suggest that the transition zone of rachilla and rachis is important in the induction of DON synthesis. Gene expression studies indicate an involvement of the lipase FGL1 in regulation of 8 PKS genes and ZEA production.     

Deposit of zinc and manganese in an aqueous environment mediated by microbial mats

Microbial mats have been developed to sequester heavy metals from contaminated water. Mixed populations of photosynthetic and heterotrophic bacteria, dominated by Scillatoria spp., were developed for metal tolerance and integrated into a durable, self-sustaining community of microbes stimulated by and attached to ensiled grass. The mat was immobilized on glass wool and layered in flow-through baffled tanks. After allowing 8 weeks for the maturation of the mat, mixed solutions of Zn and Mn (15–16 mg L^?1) were passed through a three-tank experimental series. Effluent from each tank was first sampled and then applied to the next tank. This procedure was repeated in triplicate and with six applications of new metal solution per three-tank series. By the third tank, the target metal concentration <1 mg L^?1 was always achieved. Mean percentages of the initial influent concentration removed by tanks 1, 2 and 3, respectively, were 72, 93 and 98 for Zn and 78, 97 and 99 for Mn. Mean metal concentrations in the effluents (average of 6 applications) were, for tank 1: Zn (mg L^?1) 5.0, Mn (mg L^?1) 4.2; for tank 2: Zn 1.6, Mn 0.75; for tank 3: Zn 0.53, Mn 0.19. Mean effluent concentrations from each of the three sequential treatments (average of 6 applications per tank) were for Zn (mg L^?1) 5.0, 1.6 and 0.53; for Mn (mg L^?1) were 4.2, 0.75 and 0.19. Thus target concentrations were reached in experimental tank 2 for Mn and tank 3 for Zn. Metal removal in the control tank series, containing glass wool only, was 37% for Zn and 5% for Mn (average of 6 applications). Oxygen and redox potential analyses of the mat/glass wool matrix revealed a heterogenous structure of anoxic and oxic zones. Zeta potential analysis of the mat samples identified a mat surface charge ranging from ?12.3 to ?69.2 mV. Various metal removal mechanisms possibly involved with metal sequestering include surface binding to the mat or to mat exudates trapped within the glass wool, precipitation of the metals with anions present in the oxic/anoxic zones, mat mediation of the water conditions in favor of metal-oxide precipitation and active transport of the metals into the cell.