Cytologic and immunohistochemical characterization of a lung carcinoid in a dog

An 11-year-old neutered male Yorkshire Terrier was presented to the Haemaru Referral Animal Hospital with a history of unresponsive tracheal collapse and an incidental finding of a lung nodule in the left caudal lung lobe on radiography. Thorough physical examination and imaging studies revealed no other masses. Cytologic examination of C-arm mobile fluoroscopy-guided fine-needle aspirates revealed numerous free nuclei and a low number of small round cells with moderate to abundant pale basophilic cytoplasm. Some cells contained indistinct basophilic granules in their cytoplasm, and extracellular pink material was noted. A caudal lung lobectomy was performed, and histologic evaluation of the mass revealed round to polygonal cells with abundant eosinophilic granular cytoplasm and round nuclei with mild anisokaryosis and 0-3 mitotic figures per high-power field. Cells were arranged in packets separated by fine fibrovascular stroma, suggestive of a pulmonary neuroendocrine neoplasm, specifically a carcinoma/carcinoid. The cells were immunoreactive for chromogranin A and neuron-specific enolase, and negative for cytokeratin, synaptophysin, calcitonin, thyroglobulin, parathyroid hormone, CD79a, light lambda, and vimentin. With these findings the tumor was diagnosed as a primary lung carcinoid. Eleven months after resection, there was no evidence of tumor regrowth or metastasis. The absence of necrosis, few mitotic figures, minimal pleomorphism, and benign behavior of this tumor resembled those of a typical carcinoid in humans.     

Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation with Ologen® Collagen Matrix for the surgical treatment of feline glaucoma

An Ahmed valve implantation with an Ologen^® Collagen Matrix (Ologen^® CM, Aeon Astron, Leiden, the Netherlands) was performed for the treatment of uncontrolled glaucoma in a cat. This cat was a 5‐year‐old castrated Russian Blue male with a 12‐week history of conjunctival hyperemia and mydriasis of the left eye. During the ophthalmic examination, the intraocular pressure (IOP) oculus sinister (OS) was 52 mmHg, and a narrow iridocorneal angle (ICA) was detected by gonioscopy. Medical treatment with Cosopt^® (2% dorzolamide and 0.5% timolol) failed to decrease the IOP. The left eye still had vision, and an Ahmed valve implantation was performed. During the gonioimplantation, Ologen^® CM was used to inhibit scar formation around the valve. Following the operation, the IOP was stable at an approximate average of 15 mmHg during the 7‐month follow‐up period, and vision in the left eye was retained without medication. An adequate subconjunctival filtering bleb was formed after 140 days. This is the first case report in which an Ahmed valve gonioimplant with an Ologen^® CM has been used for the surgical treatment of glaucoma in a cat.     

Selection and characterization of broad‐spectrum antibacterial substance‐producing Lactobacillus curvatus PA40 as a potential probiotic for feed additives

Lactic acid bacteria were screened for potential probiotics for use as feed additives. We obtained 3,000 isolates from feces of: cattle, dogs, goats, and infants; milk; yogurt; cheese; fermented sausages; Kimchi; and Cheonggukjang and tested their antibacterial activity toward indicator pathogens, including Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Salmonella enterica Enteritidis. We further tested their tolerance to artificial gastric juice (1% [w/v] pepsin, pH 2.5) and bile acid (0.1% [w/v] oxgall, pH 6.8). Six isolates exhibited strong antibacterial activity against indicator pathogens. The PA40 isolate from Kimchi exhibited marked resistance to artificial gastric juice and bile acid. The antibacterial substances produced by PA40 were stable to heat, pH, and enzymes. Strain PA40 was identified as a Lactobacillus curvatus strain using chemical tests and 16S rDNA sequencing and produced 248.4 mmol/L lactic acid after 48 hr of fermentative growth. The L. curvatus PA40 strain was also highly tolerant of the artificial gastrointestinal model system. Our results indicate that L. curvatus PA40 could be used as a potential probiotic feed additive.     

Sequential disruption of ALV host receptor genes reveals no sharing of receptors between ALV subgroups A,B, and J

Background: Previously, we showed that targeted disruption of viral receptor genes in avian leukosis virus(ALV)subgroups using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9(Cas9))-based genome editing confers resistance to ALV subgroups B and J. Here, we used the same strategy to target the receptor expressed by ALV subgroup A(TVA) and generate chicken cells resistant to infection by this virus.Results: CRISPR/Cas9-based disruption of exon 2 within the tva gene of DF-1 fibroblasts conferred resistance to infection by ALV subgroup A regardless of whether frameshift mutations were introduced during editing. Conversely,overexpression of the wild-type TVA receptor(wtTVA) by tva-modified DF-1 clones restored susceptibility to ALV subgroup A. The results confirm that exon 2, which contains the low-density lipoprotein receptor class A domain of TVA, is critical for virus entry. Furthermore, we sequentially modified DF-1 cells by editing the tva, tvb, and Na~+/H~+ exchange 1(chNHE1) genes, which are the specific receptors for ALV subgroups A, B, and J, respectively.Conclusions: Simultaneous editing of multiple receptors to block infection by different subgroups of ALV confirmed that ALV subgroups A, B, and J do not share host receptors. This strategy could be used to generate cells resistant to multiple viral pathogens that use distinct receptors for cell entry.     

Oligosaccharide Content and Composition of Legumes and Their Reduction by Soaking,Cooking, Ultrasound,and High Hydrostatic Pressure

Oligosaccharides, including raffinose, stachyose, ciceritol, and verbascose, are commonly found in legumes and often result in flatulence in humans. Effects of soaking, soaking with ultrasound (47 MHz), soaking with high hydrostatic pressure (HHP, 621 MPa), and subsequent cooking on the oligosaccharide content of lentils, chickpeas, peas, and soybeans were investigated. Legumes were soaked for 3 or 12 hr in water, soaked for 1.5 or 3 hr with ultrasound, or soaked for 0.5 or 1 hr with HHP. Oligosaccharides of lentils and chickpeas were mainly composed of raffinose, ciceritol, and stachyose, while those of peas and soybeans were raffinose and stachyose. Verbascose was the minor oligosaccharide in lentils and peas and was absent in chickpeas and soybeans. Ciceritol was not detected in peas and soybeans. Total oligosaccharide content of raw legumes ranged from 70.7 mg/g in yellow peas to 144.9 mg/g in chickpeas. Soaking was effective for the reduction of oligosaccharides in the tested legumes. Compared with soaking for 3 hr, soaking legumes with ultrasound for 3 hr in all tested legumes or soaking legumes with HHP for 1 hr, with exception of soybeans, appeared to be more effective for the reduction of oligosaccharides. The effect of cooking on the reduction of oligosaccharide content of presoaked legumes was evident in lentils, while oligosaccharide content of chickpeas, peas, and soybeans was either unchanged or even increased by cooking after presoaking, with or without ultrasound, probably due to the leaching of other soluble components and the release of bound oligosaccharides during cooking. During soaking or cooking of legumes, raffinose leached out faster than other oligosaccharides.     

Estimation of flood risk index considering the regional flood characteristics: a case of South Korea

Global warming is increasing the variability of climate change and intensifying hydrologic cycle components including precipitation, infiltration, evapotranspiration, and runoff. These changes increase the chance of more severe and frequent natural conditions, and limit ecosystem function and human activities. Adaptation to climate change requires assessment of the potential disaster risk. The objectives of this study were to estimate the flood risk index (FRI) considering regional flood characteristics at the national level and to prioritize the factors affecting flood risk through principal component analysis. FRI was estimated based on the Delphi survey results from 50 water resources experts in South Korea. The potential risk analysis was conducted for 229 local governments in South Korea. The results showed that natural and social factors were more influential flood risk factors to South Korea than administrative and economic and facility factors. Specifically, natural, social, administrative and economic, and facility factors were, respectively, highest at Jindo-Gun in Jennam-Do, Gumi-Si in Kyongsanbuk-Do, Dong-Gu in Incheon-Si, and Suwon-Si, Kyonggi-Do. Overall, the highest FRI is shown in Anyang-Si, Kyongggi-Do. The spatial distribution of the FRI was high in the southeastern coastal region and basins of the two biggest rivers in South Korea, and normalized flood frequency followed spatial patterns similar to FRIs. This study provided information on the relative flood risk index among administrative units for investment prioritization in flood risk management. In this regard, the suggested FRI is expected to significantly contribute to methodical and economic improvements in budget allocations for flood risk management.     

Optimization of immune strategy for a construct of Salmonella-delivered ApxIA,ApxIIA, ApxIIIA and OmpA antigens of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae for prevention of porcine pleuropneumonia using a murine model

In this study, the Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae antigens ApxIA, ApxIIA, ApxIIIA and OmpA were expressed in an attenuated strain of Salmonella (?lon?cpxR?asd) for prevention of porcine pleuropneumonia. In order to evaluate the immunization strategy of the construct, a total 60 BALB/c mice were equally divided into four groups (n?=?15). Group A mice were intranasally immunized only at 6-weeks-of-age, while group B mice were intransally primed and boosted at 6- and 9-weeks-of-age, respectively, and group C mice were intransally primed at 6-weeks-of-age and subsequently boosted twice at 9- and 12-weeks-of-age. Group D mice were used as a control, which were inoculated with sterile PBS. Groups A, B, and C showed significantly higher serum IgG and fecal IgA immune responses than those of the control group. After virulent challenge with a wild type A. pleuropneumoniae, the immunized groups A, B and C showed 33.3 %, 13.3 % and 26.7 % mortality as the control group showed 60 % mortality. These results showed that the protection against porcine pleuropneumonia using the construct can be optimized by a double intranasal vaccination.     

Immunologic study and optimization of Salmonella delivery strains expressing adhesin and toxin antigens for protection against progressive atrophic rhinitis in a murine model

Mice were intranasally inoculated at various times to optimize the vaccination strategy with a new live candidate vaccine expressing the antigens CP39, FimA, PtfA, and ToxA of Pasteurella multocida and F1P2 of Bordetella bronchiseptica in an attenuated live Salmonella system to protect against progressive atrophic rhinitis (PAR). Sixty BALB/c mice were divided equally into 4 groups. The group A mice were vaccinated only at 12 wk of age, the group B mice received a primary vaccination at 9 wk of age and a booster at 12 wk of age, the group C mice received a primary vaccination at 6 wk of age and boosters at 9 and 12 wk of age, and the group D mice were inoculated intranasally with sterile phosphate-buffered saline as a control. The humoral and mucosal immune responses of groups A, B, and C increased significantly compared with those of the control group. Expression of the cytokines interleukin-4 and interferon-γ in splenocytes also increased significantly. In addition, the group B mice exhibited significantly fewer gross lesions in lung tissue compared with the other vaccinated groups after challenge with a virulent P. multocida strain. These results indicate that a strategy of double intranasal vaccination can optimize protection against PAR.     

Characteristics of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from chicken meat and hospitalized dogs in Korea and their epidemiological relatedness

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most important pathogens in human and veterinary hospitals. The isolation of MRSA from animals and foodstuffs has been reported with an increased incidence. However, methicillin (oxacillin) is not used in animal husbandry or in animal hospitals in Korea. In this study, three pre-MRSA and one silent mecA-carrying methicillin susceptible S. aureus (smMSSA) were isolated from retail chicken meat, and three MRSA were isolated from hospitalized dogs in Korea. The three pre-MRSA isolates were determined to have a staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) type III, and the smMSSA isolate was not classified. The animal hospital isolates were found to contain SCCmec type II. Seven and 15 S. aureus isolated from hospitalized humans and bovine milk, respectively, were also examined in this study in order to determine the epidemiological origins of MRSA. Multilocus sequencing typing (MLST) revealed that the chicken meat and bovine milk isolates were closely related to the animal hospital isolates. The SCCmec characteristics and MLST analyses indicated the possibility of the human to animal transmission of MRSA. These results highlight the importance of identifying MRSA carriers as well as intercepting MRSA transmission because MRSA is becoming increasingly widespread without any plausible relationship with the use of methicillin (oxacillin).     

Comparison of orbital prosthesis motility following enucleation or evisceration with sclerotomy with or without a motility coupling post in dogs

Objective  To evaluate motility of silicone orbital implants and corneoscleral prostheses, with and without use of a motility coupling post (MCP) in dogs.
Animals studied  Eighteen mixed-breed dogs.
Procedures  The motility of an orbital silicone implant and corneoscleral prosthesis after enucleation ( n  = 6), evisceration ( n  = 6), or use of a MCP with evisceration ( n  = 6) in dogs were compared. One eye from each dog had surgery whereas the opposite eye was used as a control. Clinical evaluations were performed three times a week. Histopathology of the orbital tissues was performed 8 and 12 weeks after surgery.
Results  Implant motility in dogs with evisceration (vertical movement [VM] 8.04 ± 2.13; horizontal movement [HM] 11 ± 3.05) and evisceration with MCP (VM 9.61 ± 1.59); HM was significantly greater than the enucleation group (VM 0.51 ± 0.5; HM 1.22 ± 0.68) ( P <  0.01). Prosthetic motility in dogs with evisceration with MCP was significantly greater than in dogs with evisceration; dogs with evisceration had significantly greater motility than dogs with enucleation ( P <  0.01). No postoperative complications were observed in any of the groups. No significant abnormalities were noted on histopathology.
Conclusions  MCP placement in silicone orbital implants significantly enhanced the prosthetic motility in dogs. This study supports the use of MCP in silicone orbital implants to enhance corneoscleral prosthesis motility and cosmetics in dogs.