Diet modulates proteinuria in heterozygous female dogs with X-linked hereditary nephropathy

Young adult heterozygous (carrier) female dogs with X-linked hereditary nephropathy (XLHN) have glomerular proteinuria but are otherwise healthy. Because data regarding dietary influences on the magnitude of proteinuria in dogs with spontaneous glomerular disease are not available, 12 such dogs were studied in a double crossover experiment intended to determine effects of altering dietary protein intake for up to 6 weeks. Dogs were blocked by urine protein : creatinine ratio (UPC) and randomly assigned to receive 2 diets: high protein (34.6% dry matter [DM], HP) or low protein (14.1% DM, LP) fed in HP-LP-HP or LP-HP-LP sequence. Food intake was measured daily, body weight (BW) was measured twice weekly, and UPC, plasma creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, phosphorus, albumin, and protein concentrations were measured at 2-week intervals. Nutrient digestibility was measured during the third treatment period. Diet had a significant effect (P < .0001) on all measured variables except plasma phosphorus (P > .5), but unintended differences in digestibility of protein and energy (P < or = .01) prevented assignment of the diet effect exclusively to protein. Proteinuria was greater (UPC 4.7 +/- 2.2 versus 1.8 +/- 1.1, P < .0001) when the HP diet was fed, but the LP diet did not maintain starting BW or plasma albumin concentration within the normal reference range. Diet greatly affects the magnitude of proteinuria in XLHN carrier females. Dietary protein restriction can reduce proteinuria in dogs with glomerular disease, but BW and blood protein concentrations may not be maintained if the restriction is too severe.     

Constraints using the liquid fraction from roadside grass as a bio-based fertilizer

Background

Roadside grass cuttings are currently considered a waste product due to their association with road sweepings as contaminated waste, therefore, their potential as a biofertilizer is understudied.

Aim

This study aimed to determine whether grass liquid fraction (GLF) collected from a roadside verge in Maldegem, Belgium, and pressed using a screw press was suitable as a biofertilizer.

Methods

The characterization of the heavy metal content of the GLF was conducted using an ICP-OES. From May to September 2019, a pot experiment was set up using a randomized block design to compare tomato plant growth, yield, and nutrition for GLF-treated plants to two commercial fertilizers and tap water as a control.

Results

The heavy metal content of the GLF was below the maximum permissible concentrations (MPCs) for organic fertilizers as set out by the European Comission fertilizer regulation 1069/2009 and 1107/2009 (European Comission, 2019). However, despite having a fairly well-balanced nutrient content (0.1% N, 0.04% P₂O₅, and 0.2% K₂O), GLF had a negative effect on the growth, root weight, and yield of the tomato plants, killing six out of ten plants. GLF also promoted mold growth in the soil of some plants. Since the GLF was uncontaminated, heavy metal toxicity did not cause the negative effect.

Conclusions

Previous research showed that liquid fractions from some plants negatively affect the growth of others due to allelopathic chemicals; this, together with the stimulation of fungal growth, could have caused the negative effects observed. Future experiments will investigate the herbicidal property of GLF and possible treatments to potentially recover the nutrients contained within the GLF for application as a biofertilizer.     

Vascular ultrasonographic findings in canine patients with clinically diagnosed phlebitis

Peripheral vein phlebitis (inflammation) is a relatively frequent complication in dogs, however, published information on the ultrasonographic characteristics is currently lacking. This prospective, observational study describes the ultrasound (US) characteristics of normal canine cephalic veins, and veins with clinical phlebitis. Correlations among US findings and between US findings versus time that the intravenous catheter was in place were investigated. Safety of the US procedure was evaluated. Fifty patients were prospectively recruited for the study and 18 met the final inclusion criteria. Each patient underwent daily US examinations and was assessed for multiple criteria (vascular wall appearance, compressibility, spontaneity of flow, color fill, and presence/absence of filling defects, flow contour, direction, non‐pulsatility). Characteristics of normal canine cephalic veins were as follows: smooth and thin wall, complete compressibility, no flow disturbances, no filling defects, smooth flow contours, and unidirectional, non‐pulsatile flow with no turbulence. Characteristics of cephalic veins with clinical phlebitis were as follows: wall thickening (83%), decreased compressibility (55%), filling defects consistent with intraluminal thrombus (55%), vessel wall hyperechogenicity (44%), and abnormal color Doppler flow (39%). Significant correlations were found between Doppler filling defects and compressibility, Doppler filling defects and presumed thrombosis, and compressibility and presumed thrombosis (P = .001, P = .001, P = .000, respectively). No correlation was found between the US findings and time the intravenous catheter was in place. Findings indicated that duplex and compressibility US are feasible and safe methods for characterizing and monitoring cephalic veins in dogs with clinical phlebitis.     

Dog-associated risk factors for human plague

Plague is a rare but often fatal zoonosis endemic to the western United States. Previous studies have identified contact with pets as a potential risk factor for infection. We conducted a matched case-control study to better define the risks associated with pets at both the household and individual levels. Using a written questionnaire, we surveyed nine surviving plague patients, 12 household members of these patients, and 30 age- and neighbourhood-matched controls about household and individual exposures. Overall, 79% of households had at least one dog, 59% had at least one cat and 33% used flea control, with no significant differences between case and control households. Four (44%) case households reported having a sick dog versus no (0%) control households [matched odds ratio, (mOR) 18.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.3-infinity], and four (44%) patients reported sleeping in the same bed with a pet dog versus three (10%) controls (mOR 5.7, 95% CI 1.0-31.6). Within case households with multiple members, two (40%) of five patients slept with their dogs versus none (0%) of 12 healthy family members (P=0.13). The exposures to cats were not significant. Sleeping in the same bed as a pet dog remained significantly associated with infection in a multivariate logistic regression model (P=0.046). Our findings suggest that dogs may facilitate the transfer of fleas into the home and that activities with close extended contacts with dogs may increase the risk of plague infection.     

Enhancing capacity for freshwater conservation at the genetic level: a demonstration using three stream macroinvertebrates

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Longitudinal variations in exposed riverine sediments: a context for the ecology of the Fiume Tagliamento,Italy

1. A key component of physical habitat along braided river systems is the exposed riverine sediment within the active zone. The relatively unmanaged, gravel‐bed Fiume Tagliamento, Italy, provides the focus for exploring two ecologically important properties of exposed riverine sediments: their within‐patch and between‐patch variability in calibre. 2. To characterize between‐patch variation in exposed riverine sediments, replicate (within‐patch) samples were obtained from three geomorphologically distinct locations along 130 km of the river: bar heads along the margin of the low‐flow channel, the heads of major bars across the exposed surface of the active zone, and floodplain surfaces. A photographic technique enabled rapid and consistent field sampling of the coarse sediments at bar heads along the low‐flow channel margin and on major bars across the dry bed. 3. A downstream decrease in particle size and an increase in within‐patch heterogeneity in sediment size were observed within bar head sediments along the margin of the low‐flow channel. Comparisons between major bar and low‐flow channel samples revealed greatest within‐patch variability in individual sediment size indices (D₅₀, A‐ and B‐axes of the larger particles) at headwater sites, greatest between‐patch variability in the three measured indices in the central reaches, and lowest between‐patch variability at downstream sites. However, there was a distinct increase in the overall heterogeneity in particle size, which was sustained across all patches, in a downstream direction. 4. There was a clear downstream decrease in the size of floodplain sediments in the headwaters, but thereafter there was no distinct downstream trend in any of the calculated particle size indices. 5. The geomorphological controls on the observed patterns and the potential ecological significance of the patterns, particularly for plant establishment, are discussed in relation to the relative relief of the active zone, and the highly variable hydrological and climatic regime along the river. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.