Quality documentation challenges for veterinary clinical pathology laboratories

An increasing number of veterinary laboratories worldwide have obtained or are seeking certification based on international standards, such as the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission 17025. Compliance with any certification standard or quality management system requires quality documentation, an activity that may present several unique challenges in the case of veterinary laboratories. Research specifically addressing quality documentation is conspicuously absent in the veterinary literature. This article provides an overview of the quality system documentation needed to comply with a quality management system with an emphasis on preparing written standard operating procedures specific for veterinary laboratories. In addition, the quality documentation challenges that are unique to veterinary clinical pathology laboratories are critically evaluated against the existing quality standards and discussed with respect to possible solutions and/or recommended courses of action. Documentation challenges include the establishment of quality requirements for veterinary tests, the use or modification of human analytic methods for animal samples, the limited availability of quality control materials satisfactory for veterinary clinical pathology laboratories, the limited availability of veterinary proficiency programs, and the complications in establishing species-specific reference intervals.     

A comparison of recovery times and characteristics with sevoflurane and isoflurane anaesthesia in horses undergoing magnetic resonance imaging

Objective To compare recovery times and quality following maintenance of anaesthesia with sevoflurane or isoflurane after a standard intravenous induction technique in horses undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Study design Prospective, randomised, blinded clinical study. Animals One hundred ASA I/II horses undergoing MRI. Materials and methods Pre‐anaesthetic medication with intravenous acepromazine and romifidine was followed by induction of anaesthesia with diazepam and ketamine. The animals were randomised into two groups to receive either sevoflurane or isoflurane in oxygen. Horses were subjectively scored (0–5) for temperament before sedation, for quality of sedation, induction and maintenance and anaesthetic depth on entering the recovery area. Recoveries were videotaped and scored by an observer, unaware of the treatment, using two scoring systems. Times to the first movement, head lift, sternal recumbency and standing were recorded along with the number of attempts to achieve sternal and standing positions. Variables were compared using a Student t‐test or Mann–Whitney U‐test (p < 0.05), while the correlation between subjective recovery score and other relevant variables was tested calculating the Spearman Rank correlation coefficient and linear regression modelling performed when significant. Results Seventy‐seven horses entered the final analysis, 38 received isoflurane and 39 sevoflurane. Body mass, age and duration of anaesthesia were similar for both groups. There were no differences in recovery times, scoring or number of attempts to achieve sternal recumbency and standing between groups. Weak, but significant, correlations were found between the subjective recovery score for the pooled data from both groups and both temperament and time in sternal recumbency. Conclusions No differences in recovery times or quality were detected following isoflurane or sevoflurane anaesthesia after intravenous induction. Clinical relevance Sevoflurane affords no obvious advantage in recovery over isoflurane following a standard intravenous induction technique in horses not undergoing surgery.     

Pharmacokinetics of voriconazole following intravenous and oral administration and body fluid concentrations of voriconazole following repeated oral administration in horses

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pharmacokinetics of voriconazole following IV and PO administration and assess the distribution of voriconazole into body fluids following repeated PO administration in horses. ANIMALS: 6 clinically normal adult horses. PROCEDURES: All horses received voriconazole (10 mg/kg) IV and PO (2-week interval between treatments). Plasma voriconazole concentrations were determined prior to and at intervals following administration. Subsequently, voriconazole was administered PO (3 mg/kg) twice daily for 10 days to all horses; plasma, synovial fluid, CSF, urine, and preocular tear film concentrations of voriconazole were then assessed. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD volume of distribution at steady state was 1,604.9 +/- 406.4 mL/kg. Systemic bioavailability of voriconazole following PO administration was 95 +/- 19%; the highest plasma concentration of 6.1 +/- 1.4 microg/mL was attained at 0.6 to 2.3 hours. Mean peak plasma concentration was 2.57 microg/mL, and mean trough plasma concentration was 1.32 microg/mL. Mean plasma, CSF, synovial fluid, urine, and preocular tear film concentrations of voriconazole after long-term PO administration were 5.163 +/- 1.594 microg/mL, 2.508 +/- 1.616 microg/mL, 3.073 +/- 2.093 microg/mL, 4.422 +/- 0.8095 microg/mL, and 3.376 +/- 1.297 microg/mL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that voriconazole distributed quickly and widely in the body; following a single IV dose, initial plasma concentrations were high with a steady and early decrease in plasma concentration. Absorption of voriconazole after PO administration was excellent, compared with absorption after IV administration. Voriconazole appears to be another option for the treatment of fungal infections in horses.     

Assessment of the efficacy of commercial porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccines based on measurement of serologic response, frequency of gamma-IFN-producing cells and virological parameters of protection upon challenge

The efficacy of two different types of commercial vaccines against PRRSV (Euro-type) was evaluated based on clinical parameters upon challenge as well as post-challenge virological profiles (viremia and viral load in tissues upon necropsy, measured in both cases by quantitative real time PCR). In an attempt to establish correlates of protective immunity, two commonly proposed parameters predictive of immunity were measured: (1) serologic responses (ELISA and neutralizing antibodies), (2) frequency of gamma interferon-producing cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cell fraction. The vaccines compared consisted of two commercially available products that are regularly marketed in Spain: one modified live virus and one killed vaccine. The efficacy assay was carried out by vaccinating twice 3 weeks apart groups of 5 and-a-half month-old female swine and then challenging them with a European type 1 PRRSV strain (Lelystad). The results obtained indicate that the modified live virus vaccine was the only type of vaccine capable of establishing protective immunity, as measured by viral load in blood and tissues. The killed vaccine, in spite of this product evoking a spontaneous interferon-gamma response and post-challenge titers of virus-neutralizing antibody, evoked no measurable protective immunity. In the case of the modified live vaccine, the protection exhibited did not appear to be based on humoral but rather on cell-mediated immunity.     

Nutrient return via litterfall in two contrasting Pinus sylvestris forests in the Pyrenees under different thinning intensities

Thinning influence on litterfall chemical composition (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) was studied for 30 months in two contrasting Pinus sylvestris L. stands in the western Pyrenees mountain range (Northern Spain): Aspurz (625 m.a.s.l, high productivity, Mediterranean climate) and Garde (1335 m.a.s.l, low productivity, continental climate). Two different thinning intensities were carried out by removing 20% and 30% of pre-thinning basal area. In accordance with site quality differences between sites N, K, Ca and Mg total soil returns via litterfall were significantly higher in Aspurz than in Garde. However, P, K, Ca and Mg concentrations were higher in Garde and N higher in Aspurz. Changes in nutrient concentrations over time varied depending on litterfall fractions, showing a variety of patterns; seasonal (N, P, K) or erratic patterns (Ca, Mg) in Aspurz, and seasonal (N, P), biannual (Ca, Mg) or erratic (K) patterns in Garde. In addition to these patterns, differences in nutrient concentrations between years were found in needle litter in Aspurz but not in Garde. Nitrogen returns to forest floor via litterfall were more constant in Aspurz but followed a pulse dynamics in Garde, with the opposite for P, due to important returns from the miscellaneous fraction in the Mediterranean site. Thinning reduced nutrient returns via litterfall in both sites, but significant differences were found only in summer. These results suggest that Aspurz (Mediterranean stand) is more sensitive in the short-term to human intervention than Garde (continental stand) and therefore site-specific forest management plans should be used within more general region-wide plans in order to ensure sustainability of forests.     

Influence of temperature on the embryonic and post-embryonic development of Scaphoideus titanus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), vector of grapevine Flavescence dorée

The embryonic and post-embryonic development of Scaphoideus titanus, the main vector of grapevine Flavescence dorée, was studied under laboratory conditions, at constant temperatures (T = 15, 18, 20, 22, 24, 27, and 29?°C). The data obtained were fitted to the equation of Brière, and the model was validated against independent field data. The minimum cardinal temperature for eggs ranged from 18 to 20?°C, the duration of egg hatching was minimum at T = 24?°C, egg hatchability was optimum at 22?°C, and very few eggs hatched at T ≥ 27?°C. The duration of post-embryonic development clearly shortened as the temperature increased, both overall and within the same life stage, almost half-reducing itself from 18 to 29?°C. Within the same temperature tested, the early instars took less time to moult compared to the late ones. The data obtained provided a significant fit with the equation of Brière. Validation was satisfactory, particularly concerning third instar nymphs and adults, which are the key life instars for targeting integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. The model proposed could be used to predict the development of S. titanus in north-western Italy for IPM purposes.     

Plant Growth and Sugars Content of Agave americana L. Cultivated with Vermicompost and Rock Phosphate and Inoculated with Penicillium sp. and Glomus fasciculatum

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of vermicompost, rock phosphate, Glomus fasciculatum (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi), and Penicillium sp. (phosphate solubilizing fungi) on growth; mycorrhization percent; fructan, sucrose, glucose, and fructose contents in leaves and stem of Agave americana L. Experiments were done according to an orthogonal experimental design L₈ with four variables at two levels: vermicompost (0 or 10 g per plant), rock phosphate (0 or 1 g per plant), G. fasciculatum (0 or 1 × 10⁶ spores per plant), and Penicillium sp. (0 or 1 × 10⁹ spores per plant). Vermicompost affected stem dry weight; the fructan, glucose, and fructose in stem; and mycorrhization percent in roots. Rock phosphate and Penicillium sp. increased the mycorrhization percent. Co-inoculation of Penicillium sp. and G. fasciculatum increased A. americana plant growth. The results obtained suggested a synergistic interaction between the arbuscular mycorrhizic fungi and the phosphate solubilizing fungi.     

Effects of taurine supplementation in live feeds on larval rearing performance of California yellowtail Seriola lalandi and white seabass Atractoscion nobilis

The larval rearing performance of California yellowtail (Seriola lalandi) and white seabass (Atractoscion nobilis) was compared between larvae fed taurine‐supplemented rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) and Artemia (Artemia franciscana) and control groups fed live feeds with no taurine enhancement. Results from the S. lalandi trial demonstrated that when fed taurine‐supplemented rotifers, survival was significantly higher than the control group (20.1% vs. 9.1%, P < 0.01) as was notochord length (5.43 mm vs. 5.13 mm, P < 0.005). No larval performance differences were detected between experimental and control treatments of A. nobilis. Biochemical analyses demonstrated that taurine concentrations were significantly elevated in both S. lalandi (23.7 vs. 2.7 mg g^?1, P < 0.001) and A. nobilis (33.0 vs. 21.0 mg g^?1, P < 0.005) when live feeds were supplemented with taurine. Results suggest that taurine is a limiting nutrient in the larviculture of S. lalandi but may not be for A. nobilis.     

Marine Demospongiae: A Challenging Treasure of Bioactive Compounds

In the last decades, it has been demonstrated that marine organisms are a substantial source of bioactive compounds with possible biotechnological applications. Marine sponges, in particular those belonging to the class of Demospongiae, have been considered among the most interesting invertebrates for their biotechnological potential. In this review, particular attention is devoted to natural compounds/extracts isolated from Demospongiae and their associated microorganisms with important biological activities for pharmacological applications such as antiviral, anticancer, antifouling, antimicrobial, antiplasmodial, antifungal and antioxidant. The data here presented show that this class of sponges is an exciting source of compounds, which are worth developing into new drugs, such as avarol, a hydroquinone isolated from the marine sponge Disidea avara, which is used as an antitumor, antimicrobial and antiviral drug.