A novel extracellular peroxidase and nucleases from a milky sap of Chelidonium majus

Using affinity chromatography, SDS-PAGE, peroxidase activity assay and mass spectrometry data, a new extracellular peroxidase (CMP) from Chelidonium majus milky sap was isolated and characterized. The protein has a molecular weight of about 40 kDa and belongs to secretory class III plant peroxidases. The peroxidase activity is also accompanied by DN-ase activities. A novel CMP combined with other proteins is probably involved in development and differentiation of the plant and defence against different pathogens. It suggests that the biological activity of C. majus whole plants and extracts may depend not only on its alkaloidal content but also on the presence of biologically active proteins.     

Penetrating keratoscleroplasty and bimodal grafting for treatment of limbal melanocytoma in a dog

A 6-year-old, male neutered, German Shepherd dog presented for evaluation of a dark limbal mass OS. Based on the signalment and clinical findings, a presumptive diagnosis of limbal melanocytoma was made. Additionally, OU demonstrated corneal changes consistent with chronic superficial keratitis. Full thickness en bloc resection of the limbal mass was followed with reconstruction and grafting using both frozen cornea and bulbar conjunctiva. Nitrous oxide cryotherapy was utilized as an adjunctive modality for residual neoplastic cell destruction. Histopathologic evaluation confirmed the presumptive diagnosis. At 18 months postoperatively, there was no evidence of recurrence of the limbal melanocytoma. The dog was treated long-term with both topical steroid and tacrolimus 0.03% for control of the chronic superficial keratitis.     

Persistent haematuria and proteinuria due to glomerular disease in related Abyssinian cats

Eight cases of glomerular disease in young, related Abyssinian cats are described. Haematuria was the most consistent feature. Six cats developed the nephrotic syndrome. The short-term prognosis was good for cats with haematuria and fair for cats with the nephrotic syndrome as oedema resolved in three of the six cats. Light microscopic examination of renal biopsies from three cats was considered normal or revealed only mild abnormalities. In the three cases subjected to necropsy, histological abnormalities included mild mesangial hypercellularity and adhesions between the glomerular tuft and Bowman's capsule consistent with a focal proliferative glomerulopathy. Further investigation into this glomerulopathy will require ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies to characterise the glomerular abnormality and genetic analyses to investigate its potential to be an inherited disease. Glomerular disease, potentially a familial one, should be considered in the investigation of persistent haematuria or proteinuria in Abyssinian and related cats.     

Combined treatment with oestradiol benzoate,d‐cloprostenol and oxytocin permits cervical dilation and nonsurgical embryo recovery in ewes

This study examined the feasibility of transcervical embryo recovery after the hormonal treatment to induce cervical dilation, following the 7‐day oestrous synchronization protocol in multiparous Santa Inês ewes. A total of 23 cyclic ewes received two doses of 37.5 μg of d‐cloprostenol by latero‐vulvar route 7 days apart. After the second injection of d‐cloprostenol, the ewes were checked for oestrus (every 12 hr) and then mated by fertile rams throughout the oestrous period. All ewes received 37.5 μg of d‐cloprostenol (latero‐vulvar) and 1 mg of oestradiol benzoate by either intramuscular (EBim group; n = 12) or intravaginal (EBivg group; n = 11) route 16 hr before embryo flushing. Twenty minutes before the flushing, 50 IU of oxytocin were administered intravenously. The oestrous response (i.e., the percentage of ewes that showed signs of oestrous behaviour after the second d‐cloprostenol injection) was 91.3% (21/23). The proportion of successfully penetrated ewes (81.8% compared with 80.0%), the mean duration of embryo flushing (24.7 ± 2.0 min compared 26.2 ± 1.9 min), the flushing fluid recovery rate (94.8 ± 1.3% compared with 91.0 ± 2.9%) and the average number of structures recovered per ewe (0.5 ± 0.4 compared with 0.8 ± 0.4) did not vary (p > 0.05) between the EBim and EBivg groups. Viable embryos were recovered from 41.2% (7/17) of successfully penetrated ewes. It can be concluded that nonsurgical (i.e., transcervical) embryo collection can be performed in oestrous‐synchronized Santa Inês ewes pretreated with d‐cloprostenol, oxytocin and oestradiol benzoate, with the latter hormone administered by either the intramuscular or intravaginal route.     

Cervical transposition test using Hegar dilator at oestrus as a tool to select ewes for transcervical embryo collection

This study evaluated the cervical transposition method as a tool to select ewes for embryo collection by transcervical route. Adult Santa Inês ewes (n = 50) received Day 0 protocol for superovulation treatments. The cervix transposition test was performed both at oestrus and at the embryo collection time. The latter was preceded by hormonal cervical dilation. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were 85.7%, 66.6%, 85.7%, 66.6% and 80.0%, respectively. The kappa index yielded a moderate score (κ = 0.52). In conclusion, the high sensitivity and accuracy indicate that the cervical transposition test is a screening option to select ewes for embryo collection by transcervical route.     

Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in veterinarians in Finland: Older age,living in the countryside,tasting beef during cooking and not doing small animal practice associated with seropositivity

Practising veterinary medicine has an inherent risk of exposure to zoonotic agents, including the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. We screened sera of veterinarians authorized to work in Finland for the presence of specific immunoglobulin G antibodies against T. gondii with an enzyme‐linked fluorescent assay, and evaluated potential risk factors for T. gondii seropositivity from extensive questionnaire data with almost 1,300 quantitative variables. We used a causal diagram approach to address the complexity of the life cycle of the parasite and its numerous possible transmission routes, and built a multivariable binomial logistic regression model to identify risk factors that are particularly relevant for veterinarians. The samples and questionnaire data were collected in 2009. Altogether, 294 veterinarians, almost 15% of the Finnish veterinary profession, were included in the study. The median age was 39 years, and the majority, 86%, were women. Altogether, 43 (14.6%; 95% confidence interval: 10.9–19.0) of the 294 veterinarians tested seropositive for T. gondii. According to the final model, veterinarians who were at least 40 years old had 2.4 times higher odds to be seropositive than younger veterinarians; veterinarians who lived in the countryside had 4.0 times higher odds to be seropositive than veterinarians who lived in towns; female veterinarians who tasted beef during cooking had 2.6 times higher odds to be seropositive than male veterinarians who did not taste beef during cooking; and veterinarians who did not do small animal practice had 2.3 times higher odds to be seropositive than those who did. The results illustrate the numerous transmission routes of T. gondii.