Intraosseous gentamicin perfusion of the distal metacarpus in standing horses

OBJECTIVE: To report tissue gentamicin concentrations after intraosseous (IO) perfusion in standing horses. STUDY DESIGN: In vivo study. ANIMALS OR SAMPLE POPULATION: Twelve horses. METHODS: Sedated horses had a cannulated cortical bone screw inserted into the dorsolateral aspect of the treated metacarpus and a tourniquet applied proximally. Gentamicin (2.2 mg/kg) diluted in sterile saline solution (0.1 mL/kg) was infused through the screw. Two horses were euthanatized at each time interval: 0, 2, 6, 12, 24, and 36 hours. Synovial fluid and bone samples were collected distal to the screw from both forelimbs. Gentamicin concentrations were measured using fluorescence polarization immunoassay. RESULTS: The highest synovial fluid gentamicin concentrations were 385+/-273 microg/mL (mean+/-SD) in the metacarpophalangeal joint, 225+/-205 microg/mL in the proximal interphalangeal joint, 215+/-205 microg/mL in the distal interphalangeal joint, 382+/-195 microg/mL in the digital flexor tendon sheath, and 206+/-161 microg/mL in the navicular bursa. The highest bone concentrations of gentamicin were 55+/-30 microg/g in the distal metacarpus, 34+/-27 microg/g in the proximal, 16+/-15 microg/g in the middle, and 16+/-2.2 microg/g in the distal phalanges, and 27+/-17 microg/g in the proximal and 24+/-11 microg/g in the distal sesamoid bones. CONCLUSION: Standing IO perfusion of gentamicin resulted in local antibiotic concentrations in the synovial structures and bones of the distal aspect of the limb that exceed the reported minimum inhibitory concentration of pathogens commonly implicated in equine orthopedic infections. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Standing IO perfusion of gentamicin in the distal aspect of the limb should be considered for treatment of orthopedic infections of this region in horses.     

The biological effects of five feline IFN-alpha subtypes

IFN-alpha has been shown to induce both antiviral and antiproliferative activities in animals. This report describes the biological activity of five recently identified feline IFN-alpha subtypes expressed in the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line (rfeIFN-alpha1[CHO], rfeIFN-alpha2[CHO], rfeIFN-alpha3[CHO], rfeIFN-alpha5[CHO] and rfeIFN-alpha6[CHO]) and the feIFN-alpha6 subtype expressed in and purified from Pichia pastoris (rfeIFN-alpha6[P. pastoris]). The rfeIFN-alpha[CHO] subtypes were tested for antiviral activity against either Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) or feline calicivirus (FCV) infected feline embryonic fibroblast cell line (AH927) or Crandell feline kidney cell line (CRFK). Antiviral activity was induced against both VSV and FCV infected AH927 cells and VSV infected CRFK cells by all five of the rfeIFN-alpha[CHO] subtypes and rfeIFN-alpha6[P. pastoris]. In addition, the IFN-alpha inducible Mx gene (associated with antiviral activity) was upregulated in vivo 24 h following treatment with rfeIFN-alpha6[P. pastoris], compared to baseline levels seen prior to treatment. All of the rfeIFN-alpha[CHO] subtypes and rfeIFN-alpha6[P. pastoris] exhibited antiproliferative activity in the FeT-J cell line (an IL-2 independent feline T-cell line). Both necrosis and apoptosis were observed in rfeIFN-alpha6[P. pastoris]-treated FeT-J cells. The rfeIFN-alpha3[CHO] subtype consistently exhibited lower antiviral and antiproliferative activity compared to that observed with the other four rfeIFN-alpha[CHO] subtypes. In summary, this paper demonstrates that five previously described feIFN-alpha subtypes induce both antiviral and antiproliferative activities in vitro and are capable of upregulating the feMx gene in vivo.     

Routes of transmission and consequences of small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) infection and eradication schemes

Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV = maedi-visna in sheep and caprine arthritis encephalitis in goats) are distributed throughout most countries of the world, particularly Europe. Laboratories from 16 European countries established collaborations within the framework of a COST (CO-operation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research) action sponsored by the European Union in order to (i) better organize their research programmes on SRLVs and (ii) to coordinate efforts to combat these two diseases. After five years, a consensus conference--the first one in the veterinary medicine field--concluded the work of this network of laboratories by reviewing the present position and discussing three important questions in the field of SRLVs: routes of transmission, consequences of infection and potential role of eradication programmes at either a European or local level, according to the situation in each country or region. This paper brings together existing information regarding these questions and identifies areas for future research.     

Seroprevalence of Bartonella infection in American free-ranging and captive pumas (Felis concolor) and bobcats (Lynx rufus)

Bartonella henselae is the main agent of cat scratch disease in humans and domestic cats are the main reservoir of this bacterium. We conducted a serosurvey to investigate the role of American wild felids as a potential reservoir of Bartonella species. A total of 479 samples (439 serum samples and 40 Nobuto strips) collected between 1984 and 1999 from pumas (Felis concolor) and 91 samples (58 serum samples and 33 Nobuto strips) collected from bobcats (Lynx rufus) in North America, Central America and South America were screened for B. henselae antibodies. The overall prevalence of B. henselae antibodies was respectively 19.4% in pumas and 23.1% in bobcats, with regional variations. In the USA, pumas from the southwestern states were more likely to be seropositive for B. henselae (prevalence ratio (PR) = 2.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.55, 5.11) than pumas from the Northwest and Mountain states. Similarly, adults were more likely to be B. henselae seropositive than juveniles and kittens (PR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.07, 2.93). Adult pumas were more likely to have higher B. henselae antibody titers than juveniles and kittens (p = 0.026). B. henselae antibody prevalence was 22.4% (19/85) in bobcats from the USA and 33.3% (2/6) in the Mexican bobcats. In the USA, antibody prevalence varied depending on the geographical origin of the bobcats. In California, the highest prevalence was in bobcats from the coastal range (37.5%). These results suggest a potential role of wild felids in the epidemiological cycle of Bartonella henselae or closely related Bartonella species.     

Tilmicosin-induced bovine neutrophil apoptosis is cell-specific and downregulates spontaneous LTB4 synthesis without increasing Fas expression

The pathology of bacterial pneumonia, such as seen in the bovine lung infected with Mannheimia haemolytica, is due to pathogen virulence factors and to inflammation initiated by the host. Tilmicosin is a macrolide effective in treating bacterial pneumonia and recent findings suggest that this antibiotic may provide anti-inflammatory benefits by inducing polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocyte (PMN) apoptosis. Using an in vitro bovine system, we examined the cell-specificity of tilmicosin, characterized the changes in spontaneous leukotriene B4 (LTB4) synthesis by PMN exposed to the macrolide, and assessed its effects on PMN Fas expression. Previous findings demonstrated that tilmicosin is able to induce PMN apoptosis. These results were confirmed in this study by the Annexin-V staining of externalized phosphatidylserine and the analysis with flow cytometry. The cell-specificity of tilmicosin was assessed by quantification of apoptosis in bovine PMN, mononuclear leukocytes, monocyte-derived macrophages, endothelial cells, epithelial cells, and fibroblasts cultured with the macrolide. The effect of tilmicosin on spontaneous LTB4 production by PMN was evaluated via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Finally, the mechanisms of tilmicosin-induced PMN apoptosis were examined by assessing the effects of tilmicosin on surface Fas expression on PMN. Tilmicosin-induced apoptosis was found to be at least partially cell-specific, as PMN were the only cell type tested to die via apoptosis in response to incubation with tilmicosin. PMN incubated with tilmicosin under conditions that induce apoptosis spontaneously produced less LTB4, but did not exhibit altered Fas expression. In conclusion, tilmicosin-induced apoptosis is specific to PMN, inhibits spontaneous LTB4 production, and occurs through a pathway independent of Fas upregulation.     

Tono-Pen XL calibration curves for cats, cows and sheep

The objective of this study was to provide calibration curves for correcting intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements obtained using the Tono-Pen XL tonometer in cats, cows and sheep. Twelve eyes from 9 cats, 13 eyes from 7 cows, 10 eyes from 5 sheep were used. The anterior chamber of the eye was cannulated in vivo, in situ (immediately post mortem) or ex vivo with a fine needle and IOP was varied from 10 to 90 mmHg in steps of 10 mmHg by adjusting the height of a saline reservoir connected to the needle. For each pressure setting, several readings of IOP were made using the tonometer. The relationship between Tono-Pen reading and manometer setting was linear over the full range of measurement. However, the slope of the data regression line deviated significantly from 1 and indicated that the instrument systematically underestimated IOP. For cats the average slope was 0.62 and for cows and sheep it was 0.72 and 0.69, respectively. For the latter animals, the regression line also had a nonzero intercept of approximately 4.5 mmHg. Similar results were obtained from in vivo and ex vivo eyes and with different Tono-Pen XL tonometers. Although developed for use on humans, the Tono-Pen XL can provide reproducible and accurate measurement of IOP in cats, cows and sheep when suitably calibrated by manometry. The calibration curves provided here, and by implication those reported for other animals using this tonometer, differ in slope from those measured with earlier models of the Tono-Pen. The reproducibility of the curves we obtained implies that they can be used to correct IOP readings from the Tono-Pen XL when manometry is not possible.     

Evaluation of the efficacy of a commercial diet in the dissolution of feline struvite bladder uroliths

Clinical signs of struvite urolithiasis resolved in an average of 19 days in cats fed either a canned or dry urine-acidifying, magnesium-restricted diet, and stones completely dissolved in 31 of 39 cats in an average of 30 days. Stones were surgically removed from five cats, and analysis revealed that these stones were not composed of struvite. The results of this study strongly suggest that the diet will dissolve naturally occurring feline struvite bladder uroliths.     

Influence of ethylene action, storage atmosphere, and storage duration on diphenylamine and diphenylamine derivative content of Granny Smith apple peel

The application of diphenylamine (DPA) to prevent the apple peel disorder superficial scald can result in accumulation of a number of DPA derivatives resulting from C-nitration, C-hydroxylation, O-methylation, and N-nitrosation during fruit storage. As the presence of these compounds may be indicative of metabolic processes leading to superficial scald development, the contents of DPA and DPA derivatives were determined in fruits treated at harvest with DPA or DPA plus the ethylene action inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), which also prevents scald development. Influences of fruit maturity, storage environment, storage duration, and a 14 day poststorage ripening period on accumulation of DPA metabolites were also assessed. Poststorage ripening, 1-MCP treatment, and controlled atmosphere storage had varied effects on DPA derivative contents suggesting that reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, such as *OH, *NO, and *NO2, or enzyme-catalyzed reactions may be present during certain ripening and senescence-related physiological processes. Definitive correlations between superficial scald incidence and contents of specific derivatives were not observed.     

Host species barriers to influenza virus infections

Most emerging infectious diseases in humans originate from animal reservoirs; to contain and eradicate these diseases we need to understand how and why some pathogens become capable of crossing host species barriers. Influenza virus illustrates the interaction of factors that limit the transmission and subsequent establishment of an infection in a novel host species. Influenza species barriers can be categorized into virus-host interactions occurring within individuals and host-host interactions, either within or between species, that affect transmission between individuals. Viral evolution can help surmount species barriers, principally by affecting virus-host interactions; however, evolving the capability for sustained transmission in a new host species represents a major adaptive challenge because the number of mutations required is often large.     

Global mineralogical and aqueous mars history derived from OMEGA/Mars Express data

Global mineralogical mapping of Mars by the Observatoire pour la Mineralogie, l'Eau, les Glaces et l'Activité (OMEGA) instrument on the European Space Agency's Mars Express spacecraft provides new information on Mars' geological and climatic history. Phyllosilicates formed by aqueous alteration very early in the planet's history (the "phyllocian" era) are found in the oldest terrains; sulfates were formed in a second era (the "theiikian" era) in an acidic environment. Beginning about 3.5 billion years ago, the last era (the "siderikian") is dominated by the formation of anhydrous ferric oxides in a slow superficial weathering, without liquid water playing a major role across the planet.