Proteinuria in dogs and cats

Proteinuria is defined as the presence of protein in the urine. Normally, circulating serum proteins are blocked by the glomerulus due to size and/or charge. Any small proteins that pass through a healthy glomerulus are reabsorbed by the renal tubules or broken down by renal tubular epithelial cells. Persistent proteinuria, in the absence of lower urinary tract disease or reproductive tract disease, is usually an indication of renal damage or dysfunction. Less commonly persistent proteinuria can be caused by increased circulating levels of low molecular weight proteins. This article reviews mechanisms of proteinuria in dogs and cats and discusses the importance of screening for and ultimately treating proteinuria.     

Left ventricular myxosarcoma in a dog

An entire male Neopolitan mastiff, aged two years and eight months, presented with a history of chronic diarrhoea and weight loss. The diarrhoea had been present for approximately 12 months and had progressively worsened, with weight loss developing over an eight-week period prior to presentation. No primary gastrointestinal or metabolic cause for the diarrhoea could be identified. Echocardiography revealed a large, multilocular, cyst-like structure within the pericardium compressing the heart and displacing it to the right. The mass was surgically excised from the left ventricular myocardium. Histopathological examination showed it to be a low-grade malignant myxosarcoma. The dog made a full recovery and was still clinically normal nine months postoperatively, with no evidence of tumour recurrence or metastases. However, 11 months postsurgery, the clinical signs of diarrhoea and weight loss returned. Tumour recurrence with local metastasis was diagnosed and the dog was euthanased 358 days after the original surgery.     

Correlation between blood and milk serum leptin in goats and growth of their offspring

Boer and Boer crossbred meat-type does were used in two experiments to determine whether goat milk serum contains leptin and to investigate possible correlations of milk and serum leptin in does and subsequent growth of their offspring. Blood and milk samples were collected within 2 h of kidding (d 0) from 20 (Exp. 1; spring) or 22 does (Exp. 2; the following fall). Blood milk samples were then collected again on d 0.5, 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, and 56 (Exp. 1) or d 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, and 21 (Exp. 2). Body weights of kids were recorded on d 0, and BW of kids and does were recorded weekly beginning on d 7 (kids) or 21 (does), with BCS also recorded for does beginning on d 28 for Exp. 1 and on d 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, and 21 for Exp. 2. Leptin was detected in colostral milk and was influenced by days postpartum, decreasing (P < 0.001) over time with an average of 4.4 +/- 0.3 ng/mL (Exp. 1) and 18.1 +/- 1.0 ng/mL (Exp. 2) on d 0 compared with 1.0 +/- 0.3 ng/mL on d 56 (Exp. 1) and 2.9 +/- 0.2 ng/mL on d 21 (Exp. 2). Day postpartum and milk serum leptin were negatively correlated (P < 0.001) for Exp. 1 (r = -0.27) and Exp. 2 (r = -0.46). For Exp. 1 only, blood serum leptin tended (P = 0.09) to be influenced by day, with a weak positive correlation (r = 0.15; P < 0.02). Weak positive correlations (P < 0.01) were found between blood serum leptin and doe BCS (r = 0.42 in Exp. 1, and r = 0.13 in Exp. 2) and doe BW (r = 0.44 in Exp. 1, and r = 0.26 in Exp. 2), with the absence of a stronger relationship likely due in part to the short time period measured and the lack of significant changes in BCS and BW during that time. In conclusion, leptin was present in milk and blood serum of does, and blood serum leptin was weakly correlated with doe BW and BCS, but it was not related to kid BW. Therefore, further studies are needed to clarify the relationships involving milk and serum leptin in goats.     

Brucella-induced abortions and infection in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

Two bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) aborted fetuses that died as a result of Brucella infection. Brucella placentitis occurred in both cases. Infected placenta and vaginal/uterine fluids may transmit Brucella species to other cetaceans. In a third case, an identical organism was cultured from lung necropsy tissue of an adult female T. truncatus. Microbiology, specific polymerase chain reaction, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis results supported the designation of an additional genomic group(s), Brucella delphini, for isolates adapted to T. truncatus. Current serologic diagnostic tests reliable for known Brucella species are unreliable in detecting dolphin brucellosis. Our findings, together with previous reports, suggest that dolphin brucellosis is a naturally occurring disease that can adversely impact reproduction in cetaceans. The zoonotic significance of cetacean brucellosis is unknown, although the disease has not been reported in people who have frequent contact with dolphins. Further studies on the zoonotic aspects, distribution, prevalence, virulence, and impact of this disease in cetaceans and other marine mammal species are needed.     

Efficient atmospheric cleansing of oxidized organic trace gases by vegetation

The biosphere is the major source and sink of nonmethane volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere. Gas-phase chemical reactions initiate the removal of these compounds from the atmosphere, which ultimately proceeds via deposition at the surface or direct oxidation to carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide. We performed ecosystem-scale flux measurements that show that the removal of oxygenated VOC via dry deposition is substantially larger than is currently assumed for deciduous ecosystems. Laboratory experiments indicate efficient enzymatic conversion and potential up-regulation of various stress-related genes, leading to enhanced uptake rates as a response to ozone and methyl vinyl ketone exposure or mechanical wounding. A revised scheme for the uptake of oxygenated VOCs, incorporated into a global chemistry-transport model, predicts appreciable regional changes in annual dry deposition fluxes.     

Good animal welfare makes economic sense: potential of pig abattoir meat inspection as a welfare surveillance tool

ABSTRACT: During abattoir meat inspection pig carcasses are partially or fully condemned upon detection of disease that poses a risk to public health or welfare conditions that cause animal suffering e.g. fractures. This incurs direct financial losses to producers and processors. Other health and welfare-related conditions may not result in condemnation but can necessitate 'trimming' of the carcass e.g. bruising, and result in financial losses to the processor. Since animal health is a component of animal welfare these represent a clear link between suboptimal pig welfare and financial losses to the pig industry.Meat inspection data can be used to inform herd health programmes, thereby reducing the risk of injury and disease and improving production efficiency. Furthermore, meat inspection has the potential to contribute to surveillance of animal welfare. Such data could contribute to reduced losses to producers and processors through lower rates of carcass condemnations, trimming and downgrading in conjunction with higher pig welfare standards on farm. Currently meat inspection data are under-utilised in the EU, even as a means of informing herd health programmes. This includes the island of Ireland but particularly the Republic.This review describes the current situation with regard to meat inspection regulation, method, data capture and utilisation across the EU, with special reference to the island of Ireland. It also describes the financial losses arising from poor animal welfare (and health) on farms. This review seeks to contribute to efforts to evaluate the role of meat inspection as a surveillance tool for animal welfare on-farm, using pigs as a case example.     

Environmental controls over isoprene emission in deciduous oak canopies

In summer 1992, isoprene emission was measured on intact leaves and branches of Quercus alba (L.) at two heights in a forest canopy. Isoprene emission capacity (measured at 30 degrees C and a photosynthetic photon flux density of 1000 micro mol m(-2) s(-1)) was significantly higher in sun leaves than in shade leaves when expressed on a leaf area basis (51 versus 31 nmol m(-2) s(-1); P < 0.01). Because leaf mass per unit area (LMA, g m(-2)) was higher in sun leaves than in shade leaves, emissions of sun and shade leaves expressed on a dry mass basis did not differ significantly (99 versus 89 micro g C g(DW) (-1) h(-1); P = 0.05). Similar measurements in 1995 were consistent with the 1992 data, but data from leaves in more shaded locations demonstrated that isoprene emission capacity decreased with decreasing growth irradiance, irrespective of units of expression. Isoprene emission capacity in leaves of Q. coccinea Muenchh. and Q. velutina Lam. also declined steeply with canopy depth. Emission capacity, on a dry mass basis, showed no obvious pattern with canopy position in Q. prinus L. There was no difference in the temperature response of sun versus shade leaves of Q. alba, but shade leaves exhibited a greater quantum efficiency and saturated at lower irradiance than sun leaves. Rates of isoprene emission measured on branches of Q. alba were approximately 60% of those measured on individual leaves, as a result of self-shading within branch enclosures. It is recommended that within-canopy variation in isoprene emission capacity be incorporated into regional emission models.