Haemonchus contortus (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae) infection in lambs elicits an unequivocal Th2 immune response

Selection of resistant animals and host immunization have been proposed as alternative methods for the control of gastrointestinal nematode parasites. However, a better knowledge of the mechanisms involved in protective immunity against these parasites is required for the development of optimal strategies. In this study, 3 month old INRA 401 lambs (n = 81) were allocated into three groups: uninfected control, challenged either once (primary-infected animals) or twice (previously-infected animals) with 10,000 Haemonchus contortus L3. Uninfected control and challenged animals were sequentially sacrificed at 3, 7, 15 and 28 days post challenge. In both challenged groups, a clear Th2-oriented immune response was observed in the abomasal lymph node and mucosa. IL-4 and IL-13 mRNA over-expression, recruitment of eosinophils, mast cells and globule leukocytes and production of specific systemic IgG and mucosal IgA were observed earlier in previously-infected animals than in primary-infected ones. At 28 days post infection, no differences between intensities of these responses were observed between the challenged groups. Worm establishment rates were similar in previously-infected and primary-infected lambs. However, reductions of worm development, female fecundity and fecal egg output were observed in previously-infected sheep. We conclude that H. contortus infection in young INRA 401 lambs induced an unequivocal Th2 immune response resulting in the regulation of worm egg production without affecting their establishment.     

Effects of must concentration techniques on wine isotopic parameters

Despite the robustness of isotopic methods applied in the field of wine control, isotopic values can be slightly influenced by enological practices. For this reason, must concentration technique effects on wine isotopic parameters were studied. The two studied concentration techniques were reverse osmosis (RO) and high-vacuum evaporation (HVE). Samples (must and extracted water) have been collected in various French vineyards. Musts were microfermented at the laboratory, and isotope parameters were determined on the obtained wine. Deuterium and carbon-13 isotope ratios were studied on distilled ethanol by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), respectively. The oxygen-18 ratio was determined on extracted and wine water using IRMS apparatus. The study showed that the RO technique has a very low effect on isotopic parameters, indicating that this concentration technique does not create any isotopic fractionation, neither at sugar level nor at water level. The effect is notable for must submitted to HVE concentration: water evaporation leads to a modification of the oxygen-18 ratio of the must and, as a consequence, ethanol deuterium concentration is also modified.     

Renal resistive index in 55 dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease

Background

Azotemia occurs frequently in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD). It could indicate changes in renal hemodynamics.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To assess the renal resistive index (RI) in dogs with DMVD, and the statistical link between heart failure class, azotemia, echo‐Doppler parameters, several plasma variables, and RI.

Animals

Fifty‐five dogs with naturally occurring DVMD were used (ISACHC class 1 [n = 28], 2 [n = 19], and 3 [n = 8]).

Methods

Observational, blinded study, performed under standardized conditions. Physical examination, renal ultrasonography, and echo‐Doppler examinations were performed in awake dogs. The RI of the renal, interlobar, and arcuate arteries were measured. Plasma creatinine, urea, and N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide concentrations (NT‐proBNP) were determined. Statistical links between variables and RI were tested by means of a general linear model.

Results

Although the RI of renal and arcuate arteries were unaffected by ISACHC class, the left interlobar RI increased (P < .001) from 0.62 ± 0.05 (mean ± SD) in class 1 to 0.76 ± 0.08 in class 3. It was also higher (P < .001) in azotemic (0.74 ± 0.08) than in non‐azotemic (0.62 ± 0.05) dogs. Similar findings were observed for right interlobar RI. Univariate analysis showed a positive statistical link between NT‐proBNP (P = .002), urea (P < .001), creatinine (P = .002), urea‐to‐creatinine ratio (P < .001), left atrium‐to‐aorta ratio (P < .001), regurgitation fraction (P < .001), systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (P < .001), shortening fraction (P = .035), and RI.

Conclusion and Clinical Importance

In dogs with DMVD, interlobar RI increases with heart failure severity and azotemia but a cause and effect relationship remains to be established.     

Progressive myelopathy due to a spontaneous intramedullary hematoma in a dog: pre- and postoperative clinical and magnetic resonance imaging follow-up

A 4-year-old, male Jack Russell terrier was presented for a 6-month history of progressive right hemiparesis with episodic cervical hyperesthesia. The neurological examination showed a right-sided, upper motoneuron syndrome and partial Horner's syndrome. Two magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations were performed 3 months apart and revealed a persistent cervical intramedullary hematoma. A dorsal myelotomy was performed. A subacute hematoma was confirmed histologically without underlying lesions. Eighteen months later, the dog's clinical signs were minimal. Two MRI examinations were performed 2 weeks and 5 months after surgery and revealed regressing signal abnormalities at the surgical site, consistent with a surgical scar.     

Noninvasive assessment of systolic left ventricular torsion by 2-dimensional speckle tracking imaging in the awake dog: repeatability, reproducibility, and comparison with tissue Doppler imaging variables

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular (LV) torsional deformation plays an important role in myocardial function. However, it has never been assessed in the awake dog, because magnetic resonance imaging and sonomicrometry have been the only methods available so far. HYPOTHESIS: Two dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), a new ultrasound imaging technique, provides a repeatable and reproducible noninvasive assessment of systolic LV wringing motion in the awake dog. ANIMALS: Six healthy dogs were used to determine the repeatability and reproducibility of STE variables (study 1). These variables also were prospectively assessed in a population of 35 healthy dogs (study 2). METHODS: Peak LV basal and apical systolic rotations were measured by STE from right parasternal short-axis views using automatic frame-to-frame tracking of gray-scale speckle patterns. Systolic LV torsion (LVtor, degrees ) was defined as apical rotation relative to the base. RESULTS: All within-day and between-day coefficients of variation were <20% (6.8-18.0%). Amplitude of apical systolic rotation was significantly higher (P < .001) than the basal value (5.4 +/- 3.2 degrees and -3.1 +/- 1.3 degrees , respectively). Global LVtor was significantly correlated with systolic longitudinal LV myocardial velocity gradient assessed by tissue Doppler (P < .05), but not with either systolic radial LV myocardial velocity gradient or the ratio of early mitral inflow velocity to early mitral annular velocity (Em/Ea). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Speckle tracking echocardiography is a repeatable and reproducible method for assessing systolic LV torsional deformation. The combination of these new STE indices with tissue Doppler variables could provide a new approach for quantifying canine LV systolic function.     

Multi-element analysis of South African wines by ICP-MS and their classification according to geographical origin

Wines from three important wine-producing regions, Stellenbosch, Robertson, and Swartland, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, were analyzed by ICP-MS and the elemental composition used in multivariate statistical analysis to classify the wines according to geographical origin. The method is based on the assumption that the provenance soil is an important contributor to the trace element composition of a wine. A total of 40 elements were determined in 40 wines. Of these, 20 elements: Li, B, Mg, Al, Si, Cl, Sc, Mn, Ni, Ga, Se, Rb, Sr, Nb, Cs, Ba, La, W, Tl, and U showed differences in their means across the three areas. In a stepwise discriminant analysis procedure, functions based on linear combinations of the log-transformed element concentrations of Al, Mn, Rb, Ba, W, and Tl were generated to correctly classify wines from each region. In an alternative approach, a pairwise discriminant analysis procedure, not previously used in wine provenance studies, was tested. In this procedure, the classification was done in three steps, with each step classifying a wine as coming from a certain region or not. The combination of elements characterizing wines from a particular region was different in each region. The discriminant functions were based on the following elements: Al, Mn, Rb, Ba, and W for Stellenbosch; Se, Rb, Cs, and Tl for Robertson; and Al, Mn, Rb, Sr, Ba, and Tl for Swartland. After this procedure, the classification of the wines into one of the groups was 100% successful.