Neuronal vacuolation in raccoons from Oregon.

During a 2-year period (1995-1997), vacuoles were detected in neurons of 21/50 (42% prevalence) raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Oregon. Age or sex predisposition was not apparent. Twenty of these raccoons were from within a radius of 40 km of Corvallis in western Oregon. Microscopically, the vacuoles were variable in size, were in the perikarya, and were consistently present in pontine nuclei. Brain tissues were negative for rabies virus antigen by fluorescent antibody test and for the protease-resistant protein prion by immunohistochemistry. Electron microscopic examination of the brain stem of selected animals revealed accumulation of electron-dense material within neuronal perikarya. Light and electron microscopic examination indicated that the accumulated intracellular material had a high lipid content. These lesions suggest a form of neuronal storage condition. Further research is required to identify the composition of the intracellular lipid material, to elucidate the mechanism of neuronal vacuolation in raccoons, and to understand the basis for the apparent geographic restriction of this lesion.     

Reference hematologic and plasma chemistry values of brown tree snakes (Boiga irregularis).

Reference hematologic and plasma chemistry values were determined from 103 blood samples collected from 53 clinically healthy brown tree snakes (Boiga irregularis). Female snakes had significantly higher mean plasma values for total solids, total protein, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), uric acid, and blood monocyte percentage than did males, whereas males had significantly higher mean plasma fibrinogen values. The variances for hematocrit, monocyte percentage, azurophil percentage, plasma total solids, plasma total protein, albumin, Ca, and P also differed significantly between sexes. The higher mean values and greater variances for plasma total protein, plasma total solids, Ca, and P in the female snakes were probably associated with yolk synthesis and accumulation.     

Gastric hemorrhage in dogs given high doses of methylprednisolone sodium succinate.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether healthy dogs given high doses of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) develop gastrointestinal tract ulcers and hemorrhage. ANIMALS: 19 healthy male hound-type dogs. PROCEDURE: Dogs were assigned randomly to intravenously receive high doses of MPSS (30 mg/kg of body weight, initially, then 15 mg/kg 2 and 6 hours later, and, subsequently, every 6 hours for a total of 48 hours; n = 10) or an equal volume of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (9). Gastroduodenoscopy was performed before and after treatment. Endoscopic evidence of gross hemorrhage in the cardia, fundus, antrum, and duodenum of each dog was graded from none (0) to severe (3), and a total stomach score was calculated as the sum of the regional gastric scores. Number of ulcers were recorded. The pH of gastric fluid and evidence of occult gastric and fecal blood were measured. Food retention was recorded. RESULTS: Gastric hemorrhage was evident in all dogs after MPSS administration and was severe in 9 of 10 dogs but not visible in any dog after saline treatment. Occult gastric blood was detected more commonly (9/10 vs 2/9), median gastric acidity was greater (pH 1 vs pH 3), and food was retained more commonly (7/10 vs 1/9) in the stomach of MPSS-treated dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: High doses of MPSS cause gastric hemorrhage in dogs. All dogs treated with high doses of MPSS should be treated with mucosal protectants or antacids to prevent gastric hemorrhage.     

Dissolved and colloidal phosphorus fluxes in forest ecosystems—an almost blind spot in ecosystem research

Understanding and quantification of phosphorus (P) fluxes are key requirements for predictions of future forest ecosystems changes as well as for transferring lessons learned from natural ecosystems to croplands and plantations. This review summarizes and evaluates the recent knowledge on mechanisms, magnitude, and relevance by which dissolved and colloidal inorganic and organic P forms can be translocated within or exported from forest ecosystems. Attention is paid to hydrological pathways of P losses at the soil profile and landscape scales, and the subsequent influence of P on aquatic ecosystems. New (unpublished) data from the German Priority Program 1685 “Ecosystem Nutrition: Forest Strategies for limited Phosphorus Resources” were added to provide up‐to‐date flux‐based information. Nitrogen (N) additions increase the release of water‐transportable P forms. Most P found in percolates and pore waters belongs to the so‐called dissolved organic P (DOP) fractions, rich in orthophosphate‐monoesters and also containing some orthophosphate‐diesters. Total solution P concentrations range from ca. 1 to 400 µg P L^?1, with large variations among forest stands. Recent sophisticated analyses revealed that large portions of the DOP in forest stream water can comprise natural nanoparticles and fine colloids which under extreme conditions may account for 40–100% of the P losses. Their translocation within preferential flow passes may be rapid, mediated by storm events. The potential total P loss through leaching into subsoils and with streams was found to be less than 50 mg P m^?2 a^?1, suggesting effects on ecosystems at centennial to millennium scale. All current data are based on selected snapshots only. Quantitative measurements of P fluxes in temperate forest systems are nearly absent in the literature, probably due to main research focus on the C and N cycles. Therefore, we lack complete ecosystem‐based assessments of dissolved and colloidal P fluxes within and from temperate forest systems.     

Low-Molecular-Weight Fucoidan Induces Endothelial Cell Migration via the PI3K/AKT Pathway and Modulates the Transcription of Genes Involved in Angiogenesis

Low-molecular-weight fucoidan (LMWF) is a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from brown seaweed that presents antithrombotic and pro-angiogenic properties. However, its mechanism of action is not well-characterized. Here, we studied the effects of LMWF on cell signaling and whole genome expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and endothelial colony forming cells. We observed that LMWF and vascular endothelial growth factor had synergistic effects on cell signaling, and more interestingly that LMWF by itself, in the absence of other growth factors, was able to trigger the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway, which plays a crucial role in angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. We also observed that the effects of LMWF on cell migration were PI3K/AKT-dependent and that LMWF modulated the expression of genes involved at different levels of the neovessel formation process, such as cell migration and cytoskeleton organization, cell mobilization and homing. This provides a better understanding of LMWF’s mechanism of action and confirms that it could be an interesting therapeutic approach for vascular repair.     

Report on the 43rd Annual Meeting of the DPG-Working Group Nematology

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection -     

Surgical management of a canine intracranial abscess due to a bite wound

Objective – To describe the successful surgical management of a brain abscess in a dog secondary to bite wound. Case Summary – A 10‐year‐old neutered female Welsh Corgi/Chihuahua, weighing 5.3 kg, was presented for evaluation of seizures, ataxia, and falling to the left 8 days after a presumptive fight with another dog. On examination at presentation, the dog was alert, responsive, and ambulatory with tetra‐ataxia, falling to the left, left‐sided postural deficits, and absent left menace response. Within 24 hours, the dog progressed to nonambulatory tetraparesis with minimal motor, absent postural reactions of all limbs, left nasal hypalgesia, reduced gag reflex, and depressed mentation. Computed tomographic images of the brain were suggestive of a bite wound fracture of the right parietal bone with secondary meningoencephalitis, right parietal lobe abscessation, and white matter edema adjacent to the bone fracture. A modified right rostrotentorial craniectomy was performed, the abscess was identified, contents of the abscess were removed, and the surgical site was flushed extensively before closing. Corynebacterium spp. was cultured from within the abscess. Within hours of surgery, the dog was quiet but alert, responsive, and sitting up in her cage. In addition to surgical intervention, intensive care, broad‐spectrum IV antimicrobials, and supportive therapy led to significant neurologic improvement with only occasional seizures and mild postural reaction deficits of the left hindlimb remaining. New or Unique Information Provided – Abscess formation within the CNS is uncommon in dogs and cats and is associated with a high mortality rate. In veterinary medicine the management of brain abscesses is controversial with limited information available regarding treatment. This is the first case report that demonstrates surgical intervention in combination with antimicrobial therapy can be used successfully in the treatment of a canine brain abscess.     

Hemolytic activity of Trichomonas gallinae isolates does not correspond with clinical virulence

The hemolytic activity of 22 Trichomonas gallinae isolates was investigated using an 18 h erythrocyte hemolysis assay which has been shown to correlate with the clinical virulence of T. vaginalis. Absorbance of the assay supernatants was measured at 540 nm and expressed as percentage of complete hemolysis. Mean hemolytic activity of the T. gallinae isolates ranged from 3.5% to 53.4% and did not correspond with clinical virulence. The results of this investigation suggest hemolytic activity is not a useful in vitro virulence assay for T. gallinae.