Viability and nematophagous activity of the freeze-dried fungus Arthrobotrys robusta against Ancylostoma spp. infective larvae in dogs

Viability and in vitro and in vivo activities of freeze-dried conidia of the predatory fungus Arthrobotrys robusta (I-31) were evaluated against infective larvae (L(3)) of Ancylostoma spp. in dogs. A. robusta conidia were lyophilized and stored at 4°C for a month. Freeze-dried conidia were diluted to 1×10(3)conidia/ml and tested in vivo. The treated group consisted of a solution containing conidia (1ml) and 1000 Ancylostoma spp. (L(3)) placed on Petri dishes plated with 2% water-agar (2% WA), at 25°C, in the dark for 10 days. The control group consisted of 1000 Ancylostoma spp. L(3), plated on 2% WA. After 10 days, Ancylostoma spp. L(3) from both the treated and the control groups were recovered and counted. The in vivo test was performed on two dogs by administering a single oral dose of freeze-dried conidia (1.5×10(5)) in aqueous solution to one animal and only water to the other. Fecal samples were collected at 12, 24 and 48h after the treatments, plated 2% WA plates and incubated at 25°C for 15 days. A thousand Ancylostoma spp. L(3) larvae were spread on these plates. At day 15, infective L(3) recovered from the treated and control groups were counted. In the in vitro test, A. robusta was able to survive the freeze-drying process, grow in the plates, form traps and capture Ancylostoma spp. L(3). There was a 75.38% decrease in the number of infective larvae recovered from the treated group. The in vivo test showed that freeze-dried A. robusta conidia survived the passage through the gastrointestinal tract of the treated dog, was able to grow in the plates and capture Ancylostoma spp. L(3), reducing the number of recovered L(3) (p<0.01). Freeze-drying can be an alternative method for conservation of conidia of nematophagous fungi.     

Bovine herpesvirus 4 immediate early 2 (Rta) gene is an essential gene and is duplicated in bovine herpesvirus 4 isolate U

The ORF50/Rta gene has been shown to be an essential gene for many gammaherpesviruses. Although the BoHV-4 ORF50/Rta homolog, immediate early gene 2 (IE2), has been shown to activate several BoHV-4 early and late promoters in cotransfection assays, there is no direct proof of its indispensability for progression of the virus to the lytic replication cycle in the context of the viral genome. In the present communication, replication defective BoHV-4-V.test IE2 mutants were efficiently rescued, with respect to production of infectious virus and DNA replication, upon the expression of BoHV-4 ORF50/Rta in trans. Surprisingly, in the course of our studies, we discovered that the IE2 gene is duplicated in the genome of BoHV-4-U.     

Symptomatic Capillaria plica infection in a young European cat

An 8-month-old owned European cat showing abdominal pain, fever, distended painful bladder and urinary blockage was presented. Intravenous fluids were immediately administered and, after sedation, a urinary catheter was applied. Blood and urine analysis revealed cystitis and a moderate-to-severe degree of renal failure. About 20 thread-like nematodes, identified as Capillaria plica larvae and fragments of adult stages, were found in the urine sediment. After treatment with an oral formulation of fenbendazole at 25 mg/kg q 12 h for 10 days, urinary signs and bladder worms disappeared. Cases of Capillaria species bladder worms in cats are rarely reported and most infected cats show no clinical signs, presumably because of a low parasite burden. In the present study, feline capillariosis was associated to urethral obstruction, severe difficulties in urination, cystitis and renal failures.     

Platelet thromboxane synthetase inhibitors with low doses of aspirin: possible resolution of the "aspirin dilemma"

Selective pharmacological inhibition of thromboxane A2 synthesis did not prevent arachidonate-induced aggregation of human platelets in vitro. Prevention was instead achieved by a combination of thromboxane A2 inhibitors with low concentrations of aspirin. The latter partially reduced the proaggregatory cyclooxygenase products that accumulated when thromboxane A2 synthesis was blocked. The aspirin concentrations did not affect per se either platelet aggregation or prostacyclin synthesis in cultured human endothelial cells. The combination of thromboxane synthetase inhibitors with low doses of aspirin may offer greater antithrombotic potential than either drug alone.     

Continuous infusion of propofol in dogs premedicated with methotrimeprazine

Objective To evaluate the cardiopulmonary and clinical effects of three different infusion rates of propofol in dogs premedicated with methotrimeprazine. Study design Randomized experimental trial. Animals Ten healthy adult mixed‐breed male and female dogs, weighing from 14 to 20 kg. Methods Dogs were premedicated with methotrimeprazine [1 mg kg^?1 intravenously (IV)] followed by induction of anesthesia with 4.5 mg kg^?1 of propofol IV and maintenance with propofol for 60 minutes as follows: T1, 0.2 mg kg^?1 minute^?1; T2, 0.3 mg kg^?1minute^?1; and T3, 0.4 mg kg^?1minute^?1. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), end‐tidal CO₂ (P_ETCO₂), arterial hemoglobin O₂ saturation, arterial blood gases, and pedal and cutaneous reflexes were measured before and 5, 10, 20, 30, 45 and 60 minutes after the beginning of the propofol infusion. Statistical analysis was performed using an anova . Results Heart rate increased during anesthesia in all cases and arterial blood pressure decreased only in dogs in the T3 category. Respiratory depression was proportional to the infusion rate of propofol. Muscle relaxation was satisfactory, but analgesia was inadequate in the three treatments. Conclusions The infusion of 0.2–0.4 mg kg^?1 minute^?1 of propofol produced a dose‐dependent respiratory depression. The presence of a pedal withdrawal reflex and marked cardiovascular responses to this noxious stimulus suggests that anesthesia may not be of sufficient depth for surgery to be carried out. Clinical relevance Although several studies have been performed using propofol in animals, few studies have investigated the cardiopulmonary and analgesic effects with different doses. The determination of an adequate propofol infusion rate is necessary for the routine use of this intravenous anesthetic for the maintenance of anesthesia during major surgical procedures in dogs.     

Characterization of Italian chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) germplasm by multidisciplinary approach

Characterization of 15 chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) accessions (6 cultivars, 3 selected lines and 6 landraces) was performed using morphological, agronomic, and technological traits, together with biochemical (seed storage proteins) and molecular markers. Field trials, performed in two different geographical areas of Southern Italy, one in a plain area near Tyrrhenian sea and one in an hilly internal area, revealed a high influence of field location on yield. A wide variation was also registered for technological traits and molecular markers. Microsatellite (SSR) markers grouped chickpea accessions in different clusters, providing useful information on genetic variation and relationships among them, with polymorphic fragments useful to discriminate among all accessions. On the contrary, seed storage protein pattern showed scarce variation resulting very similar among all the accessions considered.     

Production of a high percentage of male offspring in growth-enhanced transgenic tilapia using Oreochromis aureus ZZ selected pseudofemales

Gene transfer has offered a new tool for the development of improved fish strains for aquaculture. Monosex fish populations could minimize the impact of genetically modified organisms in the environment. In Oreochromis aureus, the use of pseudofemale spawners (sex-reversed male with a female phenotype) is an alternative technique for producing genetically male tilapia offspring. O. aureus fry were treated with 17β-estradiol at 100 mg/kg of food for 45 days. We obtained 77.1% females and 45.9% in the control group. Females randomly taken from the treated group were crossed with normal males. Fry from pseudofemales producing more than 90% male progenies were submitted to 17 β-estradiol treatment to obtain F₂ pseudofemales. The results of the sex-reversal were low and variable ranging between 66.0 and 84.3% females. F₂ pseudofemales were crossed with transgenic males from the F70 line (O. aureus × O. urolepis hornorum) and non-transgenic (O. aureus) males. The sex ratio of progeny of F₂ pseudofemale deviated significantly (P < 0.01) in favor of males in the crosses with transgenic (90.2%) and non-transgenic (89.3%) males compared to the results observed with normal females (51.0 and 52.3%, respectively). The mean fry production with pseudofemales (per m²/day) was similar to the normal females in the crosses with transgenic and non-transgenic males. To our knowledge this is the first report on the production of a near monosex population in genetically modified fish.     

First feeding of common carp larvae on diets with high levels of protein hydrolysates

A 21 day feeding trial was carried out at 24 °C aiming to evaluate the effect of diets containing high levels of protein hydrolysates on growth, survival and body composition of common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., larvae since first feeding. Eight semipurified diets based on a fish protein hydrolysate (CPSP) with or without additional nitrogen sources, such as casein, casein hydrolysates or other hydrolysates from several origins, were tested, using a diet based on yeast as a reference. High survival rates of larvae were observed at the end of the trial for all experimental diets, ranging from 97% for the yeast diet to 71% when CPSP was used as the only nitrogen source. In terms of growth, the best results were achieved with the CPSP-casein diet (1:1) and the yeast-based diet (17.5 mm total length / 82.8 mg wet weight and 16.3 mm total length / 55.4 mg wet weight, respectively). Growth of larvae fed on diets with protein hydrolysates as the only nitrogen source was considerably lower than that of larvae fed a mixture of intact protein and protein hydrolysates.     

Electrocardiographic evaluation of the degree of sedation and the isolated use of methadone in healthy dogs

ObjectiveThe present study aimed to investigate the influence of methadone on cardiorespiratory parameters, electrocardiogram and clinical sedation in dogs. Further possible side effects are reported.Study designProspective experimental cross-over study.DogsEight, 1–4-year-old, various breeds of dogs of both genders weighing 9–36 kg.MethodsEach dog was treated three times: methadone 0.3 mg kg^?1 (M0.3), 0.5 mg kg^?1 (M0.5) and 1.0 mg kg^?1 (M1.0) intramuscularly. Respiratory rate, heart rate and arterial blood pressure were recorded as well as electrocardiographic evaluation of lead II. Clinical sedation in each treatment received a score (0–3) after drug administration and at 30 minute intervals until scores and measurements returned to baseline values.ResultsA significant decrease in heart rate was seen with each dose of methadone and bradycardia (HR<60 bpm) was noted in a few dogs at each dose. A clinically significant arrhythmia occurred in one dog at 1 mg kg^?1 that required reversal with butorphanol. There was no significant difference in SAP, MAP and DAP between treatments. Some side effects such as salivation, defecation, vocalization and panting, after administration of methadone were observed. There were no differences in mean values of heart rate, P-wave and QRS complex duration and QT interval between treatments.Conclusion and clinical relevanceMethadone administration was associated with panting and a decrease in heart rate at all doses tested in this study. The cardiac rhythm should be monitored carefully in dogs when methadone is administered on its own, especially at higher doses.