Blood-to-saliva glucose time lag in sedated healthy dogs

The management of diabetes mellitus mandates measurement of blood glucose. Saliva offers an alternative to blood sampling, but measurement of the salivary glucose concentration is difficult, and the blood-to-saliva glucose time lag is uncertain. We aimed to determine the serum–saliva glucose time lag in the saliva of healthy dogs. The combined duct of the mandibular and sublingual salivary glands of 6 dogs was cannulated to collect saliva and prevent glucose degradation by oral bacteria. Following a 0.25 g/kg IV bolus of dextrose, paired serum–saliva samples were collected at baseline and in twelve 5-min blocks over 60 min. Serum and salivary glucose levels were analyzed with a linear mixed model for repeated measures with a compound symmetry error structure. Mean (±SD) saliva production was 10.3 ± 2.9 µL/kg/min, and the area under the curve (AUC_glucose)_saliva/serum ratio was 0.006, which highlights the magnitude of the large difference in glucose concentration between the 2 compartments. The serum–saliva glucose time lag was 30–40 min.     

Gill amoebae from freshwater rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): In vitro evaluation of antiparasitic compounds against Vannella sp.

Gill parasitic infections challenge farming of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum) in freshwater facilities. Apart from flagellates (Ichthyobodo, (Pinto) and ciliates (Ichthyophthirius (Fouquet), Ambiphrya (Raabe), Apiosoma (Blanchard), Trichodinella (Sramek-Husek) and Trichodina (Ehrenberg)), we have shown that amoebae are prevalent in Danish trout farms. Gills were isolated from farmed rainbow trout in six fish farms (conventional and organic earth pond and recirculated systems) and placed on non-nutrient agar (NNA) moistened with modified Neff's amoeba saline (AS) (15°C). Gill amoebae from all examined fish colonized the agar and were identified based on morphological criteria showing species within the genera Trinema (Dujardin) (family Trinematidae), Vannella (Bovee) (family Vannellidae). In addition, hartmannellid amoebae were recorded. We established a monoculture of Vannella sp., confirmed the genus identity by PCR and sequencing and performed an in vitro determination of antiparasitic effects (dose–response studies) of various compounds including sodium chloride (NaCl), hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, formalin, aqueous garlic and oregano extracts and a Pseudomonas H6 surfactant. All amoebae were killed in concentrations of 16.90 mg/ml (garlic), 17.90 mg/ml (oregano), NaCl (7.5 mg/ml), hydrogen peroxide (100 µg/ml), peracetic acid (0.03 µg/ml), formaldehyde (25 µg/ml) and the Pseudomonas H6 surfactant (250 µg/ml).     

Serum and urine concentrations of trypsinogen-activation peptide as markers for acute pancreatitis in cats

The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical utility of the serum concentration of feline trypsin-like immunoreactivity (fTLI), the plasma and urine concentrations of trypsinogen-activation peptide (TAP), and the ratio of the urine TAP and creatinine concentrations (TAP:Cr) in the diagnosis of feline acute pancreatitis. We used 13 healthy cats and 10 cats with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. The mean serum fTLI and plasma TAP concentrations were significantly higher in the cats with acute pancreatitis than in the healthy cats (P < 0.05); the mean urine TAP concentrations and the median urine TAP:Cr ratios were not significantly different. Among the cats examined in this study, there was no benefit of plasma TAP over serum fTLI in the evaluation of suspected acute pancreatitis.     

Diagnosis of Amanita toxicosis in a dog with acute hepatic necrosis.

Poisoning with amanitin-containing hepatotoxic mushrooms demands extensive efforts from clinicians, toxicologists, and pathologists. Presumptive diagnoses are established by positive identification of the suspect mushroom along with the occurrence of consistent clinical signs. If the animal dies, hepatic lesions may suggest exposure to amanitin-containing mushrooms; however, lesions are nonspecific. A 15-week-old female Dachshund was presented to the referring veterinarian for acute onset of lethargy that quickly progressed to sternal recumbency. Despite supportive care, the dog remained lethargic and died approximately 12 hours after initial presentation. A pale tan liver was noted at necropsy. Microscopically, the liver showed panlobular coagulative necrosis of hepatocytes. A presumptive diagnosis of amanitin poisoning was based on suspect history of exposure to mushrooms, clinical signs, and pathologic findings. Exposure to amanitin was confirmed through detection of alpha-amanitin in the liver by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The objective of this case report is to illustrate the essential components to a successful diagnostic work-up of a suspect case of hepatotoxic mushroom poisoning. Although hepatotoxic mushroom poisoning has been documented in dogs before, confirmatory techniques for biologic specimens have not been used previously in diagnostic investigations.     

Landscape characteristics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizophora mangle</Emphasis> forests and propagule deposition in coastal environments of Florida (USA)

Field dispersal studies are seldom conducted at regional scales even though reliable information on mid-range dispersal distance is essential for models of colonization. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential distance of dispersal of Rhizophora mangle propagules by comparing deposition density with landscape characteristics of mangrove forests. Propagule density was estimated at various distances to mangrove sources (R. mangle) on beaches in southwestern Florida in both high-and low-energy environments, either facing open gulf waters vs. sheltered, respectively. Remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems were used to identify source forests and to determine their landscape characteristics (forest size and distance to deposition area) for the regression analyses. Our results indicated that increasing density of propagules stranded on beaches was related negatively to the distance of the deposition sites from the nearest stands of R. mangle and that deposition was greatly diminished 2 km or more from the source. Measures of fragmentation such as the area of the R. mangle forests were related to propagule deposition but only in low-energy environments. Our results suggest that geographic models involving the colonization of coastal mangrove systems should include dispersal dynamics at mid-range scales, i.e., for our purposes here, beyond the local scale of the forest and up to 5 km distant. Studies of mangrove propagule deposition at various spatial scales are key to understanding regeneration limitations in natural gaps and restoration areas. Therefore, our study of mid-range propagule dispersal has broad application to plant ecology, restoration, and modeling.     

Cryptosporidiosis – an occupational risk and a disregarded disease in Estonia

Background

Cases of cryptosporidiosis have not been officially reported in Estonia after the year 2000, and the disease appears to be either under-diagnosed or under-reported.

Findings

Based on a human case of cryptosporidiosis contracted during faecal sampling in dairy farms, cattle considered to be sources of infection were analysed for Cryptosporidium spp. by a modified Ziehl Neelsen technique and molecular typing. C. parvum subtype IIaA16G1R1 was detected from the human case and from calves from one of nine farms enrolled in the study providing strong circumstantial evidence of zoonotic transmission from calves to humans.

Conclusion

Cryptosporidiosis presents an occupational risk to people with cattle contact, and may also be a risk to the human population in general. Thus increased public and medical awareness is warranted.     

Parasite population dynamics in pigs infected with Trichuris suis and Oesophagostomum dentatum

The aim of the present study was to investigate the population dynamics and potential interactions between Trichuris suis and Oesophagostomum dentatum in experimentally co-infected pigs, by quantification of parasite parameters such as egg excretion, worm recovery and worm location. Forty-eight helminth naïve pigs were allocated into four groups. Group O was inoculated with 20 O. dentatum L₃/kg/day and Group T with 10 T. suis eggs/kg/day. Group OT was inoculated with both 20 O. dentatum L₃/kg/day and 10 T. suis eggs/kg/day, while Group C was kept as an uninfected control group. All inoculations were trickle infections administered twice weekly and were continued until slaughter. Faecal samples were collected from the rectum of all pigs at day 0, and twice weekly from 2 to 9 weeks post first infection (wpi). Six pigs from each group were necropsied 5 wpi and the remaining 6 pigs from each group were necropsied 10 wpi. The faecal egg counts (FEC) and total worm burdens of O. dentatum were dramatically influenced by the presence of T. suis, with significantly lower mean FECs and worm burdens at 5 and 10 wpi compared to single infected pigs. Furthermore, in the presence of T. suis we found that O. dentatum was located more posteriorly in the gut. The changes in the Trichuris population were less prominent, but faecal egg counts, worm counts 5 wpi (57% recovered vs. 39%) and the proportion of infected animals at 10 wpi were higher in Group OT compared to Group T. The location of T. suis was unaffected by the presence of O. dentatum. These results indicate an antagonistic interaction between T. suis and O. dentatum which is dominated by T. suis.     

NGOs Enhance State Wildlife Agencies’ Capacity to Meet Public Trust Doctrine Obligations

State wildlife agencies (SWAs) manage natural resources for the benefit of the common good. However, effective management in today’s complex world requires institutional capacity that can address specific challenges. Nongovernmental organizations can enhance SWAs’ ability to manage wildlife as a public resource for which competing demands exist. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) led a participatory process to identify a suite of landscape species representative of habitats and human-caused threats in the Adirondack Park of northern New York. This effort benefitted the management of resources under the public trust doctrine. WCS brought additional capacity, specifically personnel, resources, programming, and credibility with partners, to conservation initiatives focused on boreal birds, moose, and black bears over a 15-year period in the Adirondack Park, NY. This investment resulted in several long-term projects that enhanced the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s ability to provide improved management and multiple benefits from these resources to the public.