Hemoperitoneum caused by the rupture of a granulosa cell tumor in a Holstein heifer

A case of a hemoperitoneum caused by the rupture of a granulosa cell tumor in a 9-month-old Holstein heifer is reported. Management of hemorrhagic shock in cattle is discussed.     

Untersuchungen zur Europäischen Steinobstvergilbung (ESFY) in Deutschland

From 2003 to 2007 surveys have been conducted in different stone fruit growing regions in southwest Germany to detect European stone fruit yellows (ESFY) disease in Germany. Samplings have been done regularly in selected reference orchards in the regions Neuwieder Becken, Rheinhessen, Vorderpfalz and Südpfalz in summer on trees showing ESFY typical symptoms as well as on branches of trees with unspecific symptoms. All samples have been analysed by PCR for infection with Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum. The phytoplasma could be detected in all investigated regions on the cultivated Prunus species P. armeniaca, P. persica and P. domestica. No infection was found in wild Prunus species. The main spread of the disease appeared on apricot while peach and European plum were less affected. A good correlation between symptoms and molecular detection of the pathogen could be shown for the typical symptoms in summer and winter for apricot as well as for peach. During regular psyllid captures in the reference orchards the population dynamics of Cacopsylla pruni could be described in southwest Germany for several years. By PCR-testing all collected insects individually a yearly natural infection rate of about 1–2% of all individuals of C. pruni could be calculated.     

Successful treatment of severe salt intoxication in a dog

Objective: To report successful treatment of severe salt intoxication and hypernatremia in a dog. Case summary: A 5‐year‐old intact female Doberman Pinscher was admitted to the intensive care unit with a history of seizures and coma. The owner had administered approximately 100 g of cooking salt to induce vomiting following ingestion of a nontoxic dose (10 g) of chocolate. Upon admission, the dog was comatose with intermittent seizures and vomiting. Diagnostic tests confirmed salt intoxication (Na: 200 mEq/L, Cl: 180 mEq/L) and metabolic acidosis (pH: 7.18; pCO₂: 39 mmHg; HCO₃: 14.3 mmol/L). Immediate treatment included intravenous fluid therapy, an anticonvulsant, antiemetic, diuretic, low molecular weight heparin, and supplemental oxygen. A fluid therapy protocol was initiated to decrease serum sodium concentration by approximately 2 mEq/L/hr. After 24 hours of intensive care, the patient regained consciousness and volume and acid‐base abnormalities improved. The patient developed a variety of abnormal clinical signs as a result of the severe hypernatremia. After 5 days of treatment, the serum sodium concentration returned to the established reference range. The patient recovered completely in 10 days. New information provided: Severe hypernatremia due to salt ingestion is a rare condition in dogs. All dogs in previous case reports of salt intoxication have died. This case report is the first to report survival of a dog with severe salt intoxication.     

Expressed sequence tags from the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea

A large set of genes was identified in the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea by using an expressed sequence tag approach. The fungus was grown in axenic culture and a cDNA library was produced. From this library, 6559 ESTs were obtained. The combined sequences represent 3026 unisequences that corresponds to approximately one-quarter of the estimated total number of genes in B. cinerea. Approximately 18% of the ESTs showed significant similarities with genes coding for proteins with known functions,~56% were similar to genes coding for proteins with unknown functions and ~26% were orphans. A substantial B. cinerea gene inventory including putative virulence factors was therefore obtained and is now available at the Génoplante-Info Database interface (http://urgi.infobiogen.fr///Projects/GPiDB/Interface/).     

Hypotonic water as adjuvant therapy for incompletely resected canine mast cell tumors: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Objective— To evaluate efficacy of hypotonic water as adjuvant therapy after marginal resection of canine mast cell tumors (MCT).
Study Design— Double-blinded, placebo-controlled, prospective, randomized study.
Animals— Dogs (n=30) with spontaneous, cutaneous, solitary MCT.
Methods— The wound bed of MCT, resected with margins <0.5 cm, was injected with either hypotonic or isotonic water according to a standardized protocol. Follow-up was obtained by clinical examination at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months and annual telephone contact with the owner.
Results— Eighteen dogs were treated with isotonic lactated Ringer's solution and 12 dogs with hypotonic distilled water. All MCT were stage 0 tumors and most grade II. Six tumors (4 isotonic, 2 hypotonic) recurred locally, 3 of these dogs died from disease-related reasons within 4 months. The surviving 3 dogs were alive with a median survival time (ST) of 1092 days. The calculated 2-year recurrence-free rate was 92.7%; the 2-year disease-free rate 79.1%; and the 2-year survival rate 89.5%. No significant differences in local recurrence and ST were observed between treatment groups. Histologic grading was the only significant prognosticator for ST and recurrence-free periods.
Conclusion— No significant differences in local recurrence and ST were observed between adjunctive hypotonic water and placebo treatment after marginal resection of solitary MCT.
Clinical Relevance— Hypotonic water does not decrease the rate of local recurrence in dogs with solitary MCT after marginal surgical excision.     

A spruce defensin showing strong antifungal activity and increased transcript accumulation after wounding and jasmonate treatments

In this work, a cDNA encoding a defensin from Picea glauca, named PgD1, was isolated. The corresponding PgD1 cDNA encodes a putative protein of 83 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 8.9 kDa. The mature protein of 50 amino acids is characterized by the presence of specific highly conserved residues common to all plant defensins. PgD1 is developmentally expressed during seed germination and is also up-regulated by wounding and by jasmonic acid treatment, suggesting a role in both the constitutive and induced defense mechanisms. The recombinant protein was found to cause extensive growth inhibition of three fungal pathogens (Cylindrocladium floridanum, Fusarium oxysporum and Nectria galligena) at 2.5 μM.     

Interlaboratory testing of porcine sera for antibodies to porcine circovirus type 2.

A panel of 20 porcine sera was distributed to 5 laboratories across Europe and Canada. Each center was requested to test the sera for the presence of porcine circovirus type 2 antibodies using the routine assays, indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and indirect immunoperoxidase monolayer assay (IPMA), and to determine the titer of each serum. Results from all centers were then compiled and correlated. They demonstrate a wide variation in the titers obtained between laboratories. These differences were dependent on the assay used and the choice of fixative. In general, IPMA gave higher titers than did IFA, and paraformaldehyde gave higher titers than did acetone or ethyl alcohol. This report highlights the need for standardized procedures and biologicals for this virus.     

Determination of gastrointestinal passage rate using three different markers in laying hens

The titanium dioxide (TiO₂) marker technique is currently widely practiced as a method to evaluate gastrointestinal (GI) passage rate in poultry. However, this method requires sacrificing the animal to obtain digesta samples, is labour‐intensive and eliminates the possibility of follow‐up studies with the same individual. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the radiographic methods barium‐impregnated polyethylene spheres (BIPS) and barium sulphate (BaSO₄) suspension are in agreement with the TiO₂ technique and can be used as an alternative method for GI passage rate determination in laying hens. Whole‐body radiographs were taken at different time points. Hens of group 3 (n = 55) were orally inoculated with 5 g of feed mixed with 0.15 g TiO₂, 5 hens per time point sacrificed, and whole gastrointestinal organs (crop, proventriculus, gizzard, small intestine and large intestine) were collected and analysed for TiO₂ content. The average marker passage rate of hens administered BaSO₄ was significantly faster than those administered BIPS (gizzard: 15.2 hr vs. 43.2 hr; small intestine: 15.2 hr vs. 38.4 hr, respectively). A greater percentage of BIPS remained in the crop at 0, 0.5, 2, 3 and 8 hr post‐inoculation (p.i.) and in the gizzard at 2, 24, 36 and 48 hr p.i. (all p < 0.05) compared to TiO₂. In conclusion, the evaluation of the GI transit time is feasible using BIPS, TiO₂ and BaSO₄. The evaluation of the GI transit time using BIPS and BaSO₄ needs further investigation.     

The fatty acid binding protein 6 gene (Fabp6) is expressed in murine granulosa cells and is involved in ovulatory response to superstimulation

The fatty acid binding protein 6 (Fabp6) is commonly regarded as a bile acid binding protein found in the distal portion of the small intestine and has been shown to be important in maintaining bile acid homeostasis. Previous studies have also reported the presence of Fabp6 in human, rat and fish ovaries, but the significance of Fabp6 in this organ is largely unknown. Therefore, we surveyed murine ovaries for Fabp6 gene expression and evaluated its role in ovarian function using mice with whole body Fabp6 deficiency. Here we show that the Fabp6 gene is expressed in granulosa and luteal cells of the mouse ovary. Treatment with gonadotropins stimulated Fabp6 gene expression in large antral follicles. The ovulation rate in response to superovulatory treatment in Fabp6-deficient mice was markedly decreased compared to wildtype (C57BL/6) mice. The results of this study suggest that expression of Fabp6 gene in granulosa cells serves an important and previously unrecognized function in fertility.     

Isolation and Synthesis of Laxaphycin B-Type Peptides: A Case Study and Clues to Their Biosynthesis

The laxaphyci’s B family constitutes a group of five related cyclic lipopeptides isolated from diverse cyanobacteria from all around the world. This group shares a typical structure of 12 amino acids from the l and d series, some of them hydroxylated at the beta position, and all containing a rare beta-amino decanoic acid. Nevertheless, they can be differentiated due to slight variations in the composition of their amino acids, but the configuration of their alpha carbon remains conserved. Here, we provide the synthesis and characterization of new laxaphycin B-type peptides. In doing so we discuss how the synthesis of laxaphycin B and analogues was developed. We also isolate minor acyclic laxaphycins B, which are considered clues to their biosynthesis.