Identification and concentration of soy phytoestrogens in commercial dog foods

OBJECTIVE: To identify and determine the concentrations of phytoestrogens in commercial dog foods. SAMPLE POPULATION: 24 commercial dog foods, including 12 moist or dry extruded commercial dog foods that contained soybeans or soybean fractions and 12 foods without any soybean-related ingredients listed on the label. PROCEDURE: Foods were analyzed for phytoestrogen content, including 4 isoflavones (genistein, glycitein, daidzein, and biochanin A), 1 coumestan (coumestrol), and 2 lignans (secoisolariciresinol and matairesinol) by use of acid-methanol hydrolysis and high-pressure liquid chromatography with UV-absorbance detection. Phytoestrogens were identified and quantified by reference to authentic standards. RESULTS: Isoflavones, coumestans, and lignans were undetectable in diets that did not list soybean-related ingredients on the label. Only 1 of the 12 diets that included soybean or soybean fractions had undetectable concentrations of phytoestrogens and that product contained soy fiber. The major phytoestrogens were the isoflavones daidzein (24 to 615 microg/g of dry matter) and genistein (4 to 238 microg/g of dry matter). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Soybean and soybean fractions are commonly used ingredients in commercial dog foods. Dietary intake of phytoestrogens may have both beneficial and deleterious health effects. Our results indicated that certain commercial dog foods contain phytoestrogens in amounts that could have biological effects when ingested long-term.     

Pemphigus foliaceus in 91 dogs

A retrospective study of 91 dogs with pemphigus foliaceus was performed. Clinical signs of the disease included crusts (n=79), pustules (n=36), and alopecia (n=33). Lesions were most common on the trunk (n=53), inner pinnae (n=46), face (n=37), and foot pads (n=32). Cytological evaluation revealed acantholytic keratinocytes in 37 of 48 dogs. Results of combination treatment with prednisolone and azathioprine were comparable to results with prednisolone therapy alone. More than half of the dogs achieved remission with appropriate therapy, and another 25% significantly improved.     

Rupture of the Vinculum in Association with Tendon Injury within the Digital Flexor Tendon Sheath in Two Horses

The following report documents an unusual anatomical finding in two cases of aseptic tenosynovitis of the digital flexor tendon sheath. Disruption of the vinculum attachment between the palmar/plantar border of the superficial digital flexor tendon and the adjacent palmar/plantar annular ligament was identified in combination with other tendon pathology within the digital flexor tendon sheath. This tenoscopic finding has not been described previously in the literature.     

Hemorrhagic and necrotizing hepatitis associated with administration of a modified live canine adenovirus-2 vaccine in a maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)

A 15-yr-old, female, maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) was euthanized after presenting semicomatose with severe, uncontrolled frank hemorrhage from her rectum 6 days following a routine physical examination and vaccination. Histopathology indicated severe hemorrhagic and necrotizing hepatitis with intranuclear basophilic inclusion bodies in the liver that were thought to be consistent with adenoviral infection. Further classification by polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemical staining, virus isolation, and electron microscopy confirmed the etiologic agent to be canine adenovirus-2. A representative sample of the vaccine that had been used was submitted and sequenced along with the virus isolated from the maned wolf. The sequencing of the etiologic agent that had been isolated from the maned wolf was determined to be the same as the strain of virus used in the production of the modified live vaccine that had been administered 6 days prior to death. From this information, the diagnosis of vaccine-induced adenoviral hepatitis was made. This is the first confirmed case of vaccine-induced canine adenoviral hepatitis in a maned wolf.     

From problem to success: feline weight loss programs that work

PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: Obesity is the most common unhealthy nutritional condition that is recognized in cats. Documented associated health risks include diabetes mellitus, lameness, non-allergic skin disease, feline lower urinary tract disease and idiopathic hepatic lipidosis. CLINICAL CHALLENGES: Simply recommending a diet designed for weight loss fails, in most cases, to result in successful weight loss in the obese or overweight cat. A more in-depth approach that centers on communication and commitment, alongside a program of feeding a predetermined amount of a specific diet plus exercise and enrichment of the cat's life, offers a chance for a healthy result. PATIENT GROUP: It has been reported in some developed countries that as much as 40-50% of the feline population may be overweight or obese, with middle-aged cats, male cats, mixed-breed cats and neutered cats being at greatest risk. AUDIENCE: This review of what is currently known about the health risks, predisposing factors and treatment of excessive weight gain in cats is aimed at all veterinary health professionals. EVIDENCE BASE: The information reported in the review is drawn from the current scientific literature as well as from the clinical experience of the authors.     

Antimicrobial resistance of commensal Escherichia coli from dairy cattle associated with recent multi-resistant salmonellosis outbreaks

The use of antimicrobial drugs in livestock is suspected to contribute to bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AR) development. Dairy farms experiencing recent outbreaks of salmonellosis involving multi-resistant (MR) Salmonella strains were compared to control farms with respect to AR among bovine commensal E. coli isolates. For most antimicrobials tested, the percentage of AR E. coli isolated from salmonellosis-affected farms was significantly higher than that from control farms. Calf E. coli from both case and control farms had greater levels of AR than cow isolates. Commensal E. coli isolates from case farms and calves tended to more frequently be MR. These data are consistent with the existence of higher antimicrobial selection pressure on farms with recent salmonellosis outbreaks, however, the directionality of the relationship remains to be elucidated. An improved understanding of the epidemiology of AR bacteria in livestock production, both at the herd and molecular level, is essential to mitigate risk to public health and food safety.     

Production of a bovine IL-12p40 probe and application using in situ hybridization on ruminant fixed tissues

Pro-inflammatory cytokines (particularly IL-12) are important for initiating protective T helper 1 (Th1)-type immune responses and hence vital for combating intracellular infections and tumours. In situ hybridization (ISH) provides a powerful diagnostic tool allowing the identification and localization of cells producing these mediators in fixed tissues. The objective of this work was to produce a bovine IL-12p40 probe that allows detection of IL-12p40 mRNA in fixed tissues from different ruminant species. The RNA probe sequence is 447 bp in length and from a region with high cross-species-sequence homology (>97.3% homology) to the ovine, cervine, caprine and bubaline IL-12p40 genes. ISH was carried out on paraformaldehyde fixed tissues collected from cattle, sheep and goats. The probe was efficient in identifying IL-12p40 expressing cells in fixed tissues from all these species. In conclusion, the IL-12p40 probe was efficient in identifying and localizing cells that express IL-12p40, and provides a good immuno-diagnostic technique to characterize immune responses in fixed tissues.     

Behaviour of early-weaned calves in indoor individual cubicles and group pens

Extract

Units have been designed to house calves for veal production, but only recently has a large intensive unit been designed to rear surplus dairy-bred calves for beef production in New Zealand. This was built by the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company, Edgecumbe, early in 1973 and consisted of two types of housing: a fully enclosed and insulated calf house with 500 individual cubicles in which to rear the animals till weaning at 5 weeks of age, and a “loafing barn” with slatted walls and sawdust floor to house calves for a further 5 weeks before sale as beef weaners.     

Effect of forest fragmentation on fruit and seed predation of the tropical dry forest tree Ceiba aesculifolia

Forests fragmentation reduces the density of natural plant populations forming patches of the remaining individuals. One of the biotic interactions that can be affected by forest fragmentation and is poorly studied is seed predation. We determined the effects of forest fragmentation on seed and fruit predation in Ceiba aesculifolia by comparing trees in continuous forest with trees in fragmented forest. We compared the following variables: (a) frequency of fruit predation by Collie’s squirrel (Sciurus colliaei) in each habitat; (b) frequency of the cotton-staining bug seed predator (Dysdercus, Orden Hemiptera) in each habitat; (c) the effect of seed predation on germination frequency and time; and (d) the effect of different life stages of Dysdercus on seed viability. In continuous habitat, 100% of the trees presented fruits with squirrel predation while only 34% of trees in fragmented habitats presented fruit predation. In continuous forest 27% of the trees contained fruits with the seed predator Dysdercus, while only 2% of the trees in fragmented forest presented Dysdercus. The initial weight of damaged seeds was greater than seeds that were not damaged indicating that seed predators select heavier seeds to feed upon. Frequency of seed germination was affected by different life stages; pre-adults decreased germination significantly more than nymphs and adults. Seed predation significantly increased the time it took for germination to occur. Our study shows that forest fragmentation significantly affects predation patterns of squirrels and cotton-staining bugs. Reduction of natural seed predators in forest fragments may have long-term consequences on forest structure and diversity.