Effect of transportation on lower respiratory tract contamination and peripheral blood neutrophil function

Objective To evaluate the effect of transportation on lower respiratory tract contamination and peripheral blood neutrophil function in horses and to compare results from transported horses with those obtained in earlier experiments from horses confined with heads elevated. Design A prospective study. Procedure Six horses were transported by road for 12 h. Clinical and haematological examination, transtracheal aspiration and cell function studies were conducted before and after transportation. Results obtained after transportation were compared to pre-transportation values. Results After transportation, peripheral blood leucocyte and neutrophil numbers were increased and rectal temperatures were elevated. Transtracheal aspirates showed an accumulation of purulent respiratory tract secretions with increased numbers of bacteria, particularly β-haemolytic Streptococcus spp and members of the Pasteurellaceae family. Three horses also had increased numbers of bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family relative to corresponding samples from earlier studies. Phagocytosis by peripheral blood neutrophils was significantly reduced, while the oxidative burst activity of peripheral blood leucocytes was either unchanged or enhanced. Clinical Implications Bacterial contamination of the lower respiratory tract occurs as a routine consequence of transportation of horses and is likely to be an important determinant in the development of transport-associated respiratory disease. Inflammatory airway secretions and increased numbers of bacteria were rapidly cleared, without clinical evidence of significant pulmonary disease and without additional treatment, in normal horses that were allowed to lower their heads after transportation. Peripheral blood neutrophilia and a reduction in neutrophil phagocytic function were evident for at least 36 h after transportation, suggesting that horses may require a number of days to recover from the stress of transportation. As the potential role of bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family in the development of transport-associated respiratory disease has not been elucidated, horses which develop clinical disease following transportation should undergo thorough bacteriological investigation to ensure appropriate treatment.     

Globoid cell leucodystrophy in two dogs

Two cases of globoid cell leucodystrophy are described in Cairn Terrier puppies; they are the first to be reported in the United Kingdom. Both developed progressive abnormalities of locomotion of the hind limbs. Gross lesions were not found but there was histological evidence of myelin loss accompanied by the accumulation of many large cells with a slightly foamy PAS-positive, non-metachromatic cytoplasm and which often had several nuclei. A diagnosis of globoid cell leucodystrophy was made. The literature on globoid cell leucodystrophy is briefly reviewed and attention is drawn to the fact that the majority of the cases reported in dogs have been in Cairn Terriers. Résumé. On décrit deux cas de leucodistrophie des cellules globoïdes rencontrés chez des choits de race Cairn Terrier; il s'agit des premiers cas signalés au Royaume-Uni. Des anomalies progressives de locomotion des membres postérieurs sont apparues dans l'un et l'autre cas. On n'a pas découvert de lésions importantes, mais à l'étude histolgique il s'est manifesté des pertes de myéline, accompagnées d'une accumulation de nombreuses grandes cellules d'un PAS positif légèrement écumeux, d'un cytoplasme non-métacromatique et qui souvent avaient plusieurs noyaux. Un diagnostic de la leucodistrophie des cellules globoïdes a été prononcé. On passe brièvement en revue publications traitant de la leucodistrophie des cellules globoïdes et on fait remarquer que la majorité des chiens atteints de cette affection étaient de race Cairn Terrier. Zusammenfassung. Zwei Fälle von Globoidzellen-Leukodystrophie bei jungen Cairn-Terriern werden beschrieben; es sind die ersten in Grossbritannien, von denen berichtet wird. Bei beiden Tieren wurden progressive lokomotorische Anomalien der Hinterbeine festgestellt. Makroskopische Läsionen wurden nicht gefunden, aber es gab hktologische Hinweise auf Myelinverlust, begleitet von der Ansammlung vieler grosser Zellen mit einem leicht schaumigen, PAS-positiven, nicht-metachromatischen Cytlopasma, das oft mehrere Zellkerne enthielt. Es ergab sich die Diagnose der Globoidzellen-Leukodystrophie. Die Literatur über GloboidzellenLeukodystrophie wird kurz betrachtet, und die Aufmerksamkeit wird auf die Tatsache gelenkt, dass die Mehrzahl der erwähnten Fälle Cairn-Terriers betraf.     

Differential expression of ISG 15 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of nulliparous and multiparous pregnant versus non‐pregnant Bos indicus cattle

Embryonic mortality is found to be the main source of reproductive wastage in domestic ruminants. Many genes are involved in the growth and development of the embryo, and the interferon‐stimulated gene 15 (ISG 15) is one of the major gene stimulated by interferon tau, the maternal recognition of pregnancy signal in ruminants. In this study, both genomic and cDNA sequences of ISG 15 from Bos indicus (Deoni breed) were amplified and characterized. The genomic sequence of Deoni ISG 15 exhibited 99% identity with Bos taurus and 97% identity with that of Bos mutus and Bubalus bubalis. Moreover qRT‐PCR analysis revealed constitutive expression of the ISG 15 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of Deoni heifers and multiparous cows during early pregnancy. Fourteen Deoni heifers and fifteen multiparous Deoni cows were synchronized for timed AI by CIDR‐Ovsynch protocol, and six animals were kept as cyclic control in each group. Blood samples were collected on days 7, 14, 16, 18, 21, 30 and 45 from the day of AI. Pregnancy was confirmed by plasma progesterone level through ELISA. A significantly higher expression of ISG 15 mRNA was found on day 16 (p < .05) and day 18 (p < .05) of pregnancy in nulliparous heifers. Although in multiparous Deoni cows ISG 15 expression was greater in pregnant cows, difference was statistically non‐significant. The result of this study indicates that ISG 15 gene expression is upregulated during 16–18 days of pregnancy and could be used as an early pregnancy marker in dairy cows especially in heifers.     

Reduction of Cr(VI) by soil humic acids

The rate of hexavalent chromium reduction by a soil humic acid (SHA) was investigated in aqueous solutions where concentrations of Cr(VI), H⁺, and SHA were independently varied. Rate experiments were done with a large excess of SHA over Cr(VI). Rates of reduction depend strongly on [H⁺], increasing with decreasing pH. Typical Cr(VI)-SHA reactions display a nonlinear reduction of Cr(VI) with time that cannot be modelled with simple first- or second-order rate equations. An empirical rate equation is developed for Cr(VI)-soil humic acid reactions over a range of experimental conditions. The model is in part based on a reactive continuum concept developed for soil fulvic acids. The rate equation describing Cr(VI) reduction by SHA is: R= -(k₀+k[H⁺]^1/2)[HCrO₄^?]^1/2X_e^?1, where k₀ is (8·3 ± 1·2) × 10^?12, s^?1k is (2·04 ± 0·05) × 10^?9 l^1/2 mol^?1/2 s^?1, and X_e is the equivalent fraction of SHA oxidized. The rate equation adequately models Cr(VI) reduction in an experiment with [Cr(VI)]₀ four times greater than the maximum concentration used in its derivation. Cr(VI) reduction at pH 3 by two other SHAs can also be modelled using the rate equation. The difference between the rate coefficients for the humic acid and the fulvic acid from the same soil was greater than the difference in the rate coefficients for humic acids from different soils.