Pressure Inactivation of Enteric Viruses in a Seafood Salad-Like Product

High pressure processing (HPP) is a nonthermal processing technology that can inactivate foodborne viruses. This study assessed the protective effects of food components on virus inactivation by HPP in a seafood salad model. Virus-inoculated seafood samples (cod, shrimp, tuna, and clams) with or without mayonnaise were pressure-treated at 5°C. The seafood salad provided a protective effect on HPP inactivation compared to cell culture medium. Inactivation in seafood salad varied greatly due to the complex nature of the food matrix. When seafood salad ingredients were isolated, mayonnaise alone had a 2.0-log₁₀ PFU/g protective effect for all viruses, unlike albumin, which did not affect virus inactivation, providing some insight into the roles individual ingredients may play on HPP inactivation of viruses in foods.     

Reinvestigation of the effect of heat pretreatment of corn fiber and corn germ on the levels of extractable tocopherols and tocotrienols

We previously reported that heat pretreatment of corn fiber (150 degrees C, 1 h) caused a tenfold increase in the levels of extractable gamma-tocopherol. The current study was a reinvestigation of the previous effect, using improved methods (HPLC with fluorescence detection, diode-array UV detection, and mass spectrometry) for tocol analysis. Heat pretreatment did not cause an increase in the levels of any of the tocopherols or tocotrienols in corn fiber oil, but lowered the levels of three of the tocols and had no effect on the levels of the other two tocols. Heat pretreatment of corn germ had a similar effect. UV and mass spectra indicated that the peak that we had identified as gamma-tocopherol in our previous report was probably a mixture of oxidation products of triacylglycerols. Thus, heat treatment of corn germ or other corn-oil containing fractions at high temperatures leads to decreases in gamma-tocopherol, gamma-tocotrienol, and delta-tocotrienol and to the production of triacylglycerol oxidation products.     

Immunisation against ovine caseous lymphadenitis: efficacy of monocomponent Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis toxoid vaccine and combined clostridial-corynebacterial vaccines

Sheep were immunised with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis toxoid formulated as a monocomponent vaccine with aluminium adjuvant or in combination with 5 clostridial antigens, and also in the combined form with sodium selenate. Immunised and control sheep were experimentally infected 16 days after vaccination and slaughtered and inspected after a further 3 months to determine their resistance to infection. All 3 vaccines afforded an equal and high level of protection; 91% of vaccinated sheep exhibiting no lesions of caseous lymphadenitis compared with 51.5% affected sheep in the control group. Average lesion counts were 1.2 per affected vaccinated sheep and 4.5 per affected control sheep. Antitoxin responses to the clostridial toxoids incorporated in the combined vaccines were not affected by inclusion of the C pseudotuberculosis toxoid or the sodium selenate.     

Immunisation against ovine caseous lymphadenitis: comparison of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis vaccines with and without bacterial cells

Sheep were immunised with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis vaccines prepared from cell-free toxoid or from toxoid with formalin-killed cells of C pseudotuberculosis added. Resistance of sheep to infection was tested 6 months after immunisation by inoculation with caseous lymphadenitis pus. The outcome was assessed 3 months later by slaughter and inspection of the sheep for lesions of caseous lymphadenitis. immunised sheep were adequately protected against infection as shown by a significant reduction in the number of sheep exhibiting lesions compared with control sheep, and by fewer abscesses in affected vaccinated sheep than in affected control sheep. The protective potency of the vaccines was not improved by the inclusion of cells of C pseudotuberculosis.     

Behavioral interactions between black mudfish (Neochanna diversus Stokell, 1949: Galaxiidae) and mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis Baird & Girard, 1854)a

The behavior of black mudfish (Neochanna diversus Stokell, 1949: Galaxiidae) and mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis Baird & Girard, 1854: Poeciliidae) was investigated in laboratory tanks. Black mudfish are indigenous to northern New Zealand, and mosquitofish are introduced; both species are sympatric in wetlands in the Waikato region. By comparing position, feeding rates and aggressive behavior of both species, we found that black mudfish were increasingly able to compete with mosquitofish as they grew from fry to adults. Mosquitofish were more aggressive towards mudfish fry and juveniles than were these two life stages towards mosquitofish, but adult mudfish were aggressive towards mosquitofish. Both small (18–24 mm total length (TL)) and large mosquitofish (25–36 mm TL) showed high aggression towards mudfish fry (13–18 mm TL), and fry were eaten by large mosquitofish. However, 3 interspecific differences appear to allow coexistence of these two species. Firstly, mudfish reproduce in winter, whereas mosquitofish reproduce in summer, resulting in mudfish fry being present when mosquitofish are at their lowest abundance. Secondly, mudfish can survive in seasonally dry habitats by aestivation, while mosquitofish cannot. Thirdly, adult black mudfish are nocturnal, whereas mosquitofish are primarily diurnal.     

Dolphin pox: a skin disease of cetaceans.

Poxvirus has been identified morphologically from skin lesions in captive and free-ranging bottlenosed dolphins, Tursiops truncatus and a stranded Atlantic white-sided dolphin, Lagenorhynchus acutus. The lesions, commonly referred to as ring or pinhole lesions, appear as solitary or coalesced circular grey blemishes. Advanced ring lesions may take the form of black punctiform stippled patterns known as "tattoo". Histologically, the stratum externum is thickened, and there is ballooning degeneration and eosinophilic intractyoplasmic inclusions in the stratum intermedium. These includions contain virus particles which exhibit typical poxvirus morphology. Stress, environmental conditions and general health appear to play a major role in the clinical manifestation of dolphin pox.     

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Dogs with Neurologic Impairment Due to Acute Thoracic and Lumbar Intervertebral Disk Herniation

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a correlate to physical examination in various myelopathies and a predictor of functional outcome.
Objectives: To describe associations among MRI features, neurological dysfunction before MRI, and functional outcome in dogs with disk herniation.
Animals: One hundred and fifty-nine dogs with acute thoracolumbar disk herniation.
Methods: Retrospective case series. Signalment, initial neurological function as assessed by a modified Frankel score (MFS), and ambulatory outcome at hospital discharge and >3 months (long-term) follow-up were recorded from medical records and telephone interview of owners. Associations were estimated between these parameters and MRI signal and morphometric data.
Results: Dogs with intramedullary T2W hyperintensity had more severe pre-MRI MFS (median 2, range 0–4) and lower ambulatory proportion at long-term follow-up (0.76) than those dogs lacking hyperintensity (median MFS 3, range 0–5; ambulatory proportion, 0.93) ( P =.001 and .013, respectively). Each unit of T2W length ratio was associated with a 1.9 times lower odds of long-term ambulation when adjusted for pre-MRI MFS (95% confidence interval 1.0–3.52, P =.05). Dogs with a compressive length ratio >1.31 (which was the median ratio within this population) had more severe pre-MRI MFS (median 3, range 0–5) compared with those with ratios ≤1.31 (median MFS 3, range 0–4; P =.006).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: MRI features were associated with initial injury severity in dogs with thoracolumbar disk herniation. Based on results of this study, the T2W length ratio and presence of T2W intramedullary hyperintensity appear to be predictive of long-term ambulatory status.