Effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on wound healing in corneas of dogs following keratoplasty

The effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on wound healing were evaluated at the graft-cornea transition in dogs following lamellar keratoplasty using tunica vaginalis preserved in 98% glycerin. Twenty-one dogs were subdivided into three groups of seven animals. The first group (W/US) received daily treatment of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (20 mW/cm2) for 15 min for the first 10 days post surgery. The second group (N/US) was submitted to the same procedure but with the ultrasound apparatus turned off. The third group, the control (CO), underwent the surgical procedure only. The animals were clinically evaluated during the initial (1-15 days), intermediate (16-30 days) and late (31-120 days) postoperative period. The corneas were evaluated by light microscopy at 1, 3, 7, 15, 30, 60 and 120 days after surgery. Clinically, there were no differences which would promote an advantage to any of the treatments. Light microscopy, however, revealed more extensive vascularization and more advanced wound healing in the W/US group, as well as a tendency towards early graft incorporation. Based on the present results, low-intensity pulsed ultrasound shows advantages, especially in situations where trophic support is a mandatory condition, facilitating better graft incorporation and rapid recovery of stromal organization.     

Histopathologic patterns of nephropathy in naturally acquired canine visceral leishmaniasis

Although the nephropathy of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is known both in humans and dogs, histopathologic alterations have not been thoroughly studied. We examined renal alterations in 55 dogs with naturally acquired VL compared with five noninfected dogs from an endemic area in northeastern Brazil. Glomerulonephritis was found in 55 dogs, interstitial alterations in 53 dogs, and tubular changes in 43 dogs with VL. The glomerular alterations found were minor glomerular abnormalities (n = 8, 14.5%), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (n = 10, 18.2%), mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (n = 17, 32.7%), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, (n = 18, 30.9%), crescentic glomerulonephritis (n = 1, 1.8%), and chronic glomerulonephritis (n = 1, 1.8%). Morphometric and ultrastructural studies complemented the analysis. The five control animals exhibited no glomerular alterations. The glomerular lesions were related to functional alterations. Considering that the alterations of canine and human nephropathy in VL are very similar, the data obtained in this study constitute an important contribution to the understanding of canine and human VL nephropathy.     

Use of intraluminal nitinol stents in the treatment of tracheal collapse in a dog

Tracheal collapse is a common problem that is typically observed in middle-aged and older small-breed dogs. It is a structural, obstructive airway disease with a dynamic component that can affect the intra- and extrathoracic portions of the trachea and mainstem bronchi. Many methods of treatment have been suggested, including medical management and provision of extraluminal and intraluminal support. All techniques used to treat intrathoracic and mainstem bronchial collapse have been associated with major complications or limitations. This report describes the implantation of intraluminal nitinol stents to successfully treat intrathoracic as well as extrathoracic tracheal collapse in a dog. The stents are composed of material that has characteristics similar to those of the trachea; nitinol stents may provide a method of supporting intrathoracic tracheal and mainstem bronchial collapse in dogs.     

First Portuguese isolate of Neospora caninum from an aborted fetus from a dairy herd with endemic neosporosis

Neospora caninum was isolated from the brain of an aborted 4-month-old fetus from a dairy cow herd with endemic neosporosis in Porto, Portugal. The fetal brain homogenate was inoculated interperitoneally first into outbred Swiss Webster mice given dexamethasone and then the peritoneal exudates from these mice was co-inoculated with mouse sarcoma cells in the peritoneal cavity of mice given dexamethasone. N. caninum tachyzoites were seen in peritoneal exudate of the second passage. Tachyzoites from the peritoneal exudate reacted positively with anti-N. caninum antibodies and not with anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and contained N. caninum specific DNA. This Portuguese isolate of N. caninum has been successfully maintained in cell culture. The dam of the aborted fetus had an antibody titer of 1:10240 in the Neospora agglutination test (NAT). Antibodies to N. caninum were found in 76 of 106 cows from this herd in titers of 1:40 in 31, 1:80 in 22, > or =1:160 or more in 23 in the Neospora agglutination test. This is the first isolation of a viable N. caninum-like parasite from any host in Portugal.     

Variability of resistance in goats infected with Haemonchus contortus in Brazil

The variability between and within breeds with respect to nematode egg counts (EPG), packed cell volume (PCV) and hemoglobin (Hb) was studied in 36 yearling female goats of the Caninde (15), Bhuj (6) and Anglo-Nubian (15) breeds, exposed to Haemonchus contortus. Nematode-free goats were turned to a contaminated paddock in late February. From then on, fecal egg per gram counts (EPG), packed cell volume (PCV) and hemoglobin (Hb) were determined at 2-week intervals up to Week 18. The EPG, transformed as [log(EPG + 75)], varied (P < 0.01) between goats within breeds and between weeks of exposure, but not between goat breeds (P > 0.05). PCV and Hb were affected by goat breeds (P < 0.05), by goats within breeds (P < 0.01) and by weeks of exposure (P < 0.01). Anglo-Nubians had higher (P < 0.01) PCV and Hb than Caninde; Bhuj had intermediate values. There were two EPG rises; one between Weeks 6 and 10 and the other between Weeks 14 and 16. The within breed variability was marked during the EPG rise on Week 6, when individual egg counts ranged from 130 to 2500. The EPG rises coincided with drops in Hb. PCV presented a similar trend, though not as marked. Haemonchus was responsible for more than 95% of nematode eggs counted. Considering the goat as experimental unit, the correlation coefficients (r) were: -0.45, P = 0.0064, between log(EPG + 75) and PCV; and -0.53, P = 0.0009, between log(EPG + 75) and Hb. The negative correlation between egg counts and blood values suggested breed differences in PCV and Hb were related to resistance to H. contortus infection and/or to its effects.     

芝麻菜品种对尖镰孢菌枯萎病的抗性评价

尖镰孢菌枯萎病是意大利西北部芝麻菜栽培品种(Eruca vesicaria)和野生品种(Diplotaxis spp．)上的重要病害之一,常引起严重的损失。为评价芝麻菜品种对尖镰孢菌枯萎病的抗性,2004年6～11月,选用了44个栽培及野生品种资源在玻璃温室进行抗性试验,使用浓度为1×10~6cfu/ mL的孢子悬浮液蘸根法人工接种30天苗龄的芝麻菜幼苗,以分离自芝麻菜两个不同野生品种的菌株Fus．Ruc．9A/02和Fus．Ruc．13/03,以及分离自栽培和野生品种的32个菌株混合(MIX),分别作为抗病试验接种体,每次接种试验设A、B、C三个重复。整个试验重复进行2次。调查病害引起的死苗率(%)和病情指数(DI),作为评价芝麻菜品种抗性差异的两项指标。研究结果显示,这两项指标间的相关性极显著(P＜0．01),即表明可采用其中一项指标评价芝麻菜品种对尖镰孢菌枯萎病的抗性。供试的44个栽培及野生芝麻菜品种中,多数品种抗尖镰孢茵茵株Fus．Ruc．13/ 03,而对菌株Fus．Ruc．9A/02及菌株混合MIX表现为易感性,而且这些易感品种在菌株Fus．Ruc．9A/02及菌株混合MIX两试验中的抗性表现较为一致,Fus．Ruc．9A/02和MIX的毒性也更强于Fus．Ruc．13/03菌株。芝麻菜品种12/03和品种20/03高抗菌株混合MIX,品种6/03和品种7/04高抗菌株Fus．Ruc．9A/02,而品种9/02、2/03、5/03、6/03、7/03、9/03、11/03、12/03、20/03、21/03、24/03、3/04、6/04、7/04和11/04高抗菌株Fus．Ruc．13/03。     

Pimarane diterpene from Viguiera arenaria (Asteraceae) inhibit rat carotid contraction

ent-Pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-oic acid (PA) isolated from Viguiera arenaria (Asteraceae; Heliantheae) inhibited rat carotid rings contraction induced by phenylephrine (10(-8) mol/l) or potassium chloride (45 mmol/l) at concentration ranging from 5 to 20 microg/ml. This inhibitory effect was not reversible after the removal of this compound from the medium bath.     

Inhibitory action of kaurenoic acid from Viguiera robusta (Asteraceae) on phenylephrine-induced rat carotid contraction

ent-kaurenoic acid (KA) isolated from Viguiera robusta was tested for activity on vascular smooth muscle contactility. Cumulative concentration-response curves were obtained for a stepwise increase (10(-10)-10(-05) mol/l) in the concentration of phenylephrine (Phe), a selective alpha(1)-adrenergic agonist. The effects in the presence of KA (0.2, 2.0 and 20.0 microg/ml), and 90 min after the removal of KA from the medium bath were compared to controls. At 20.0 microg/ml, KA inhibited the in vitro contractility of rat carotid artery elicited by Phe, but had no effect at lower concentrations (0.2 and 2.0 microg/ml). The effect elicited by KA was reversible after 90 minutes.