Gingival overgrowth in a dog that received long-term cyclosporine for immune-mediated hemolytic anemia

Gingival mass lesions developed when cyclosporine was administered for 600 days to a female, 7-year-old, longhaired dachshund diagnosed with intractable immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA). Histopathology indicated hyperplastic suppurative gingivitis. As the anemia improved, the dosage of cyclosporine A (CsA) was markedly decreased, and the mass lesions decreased in size and disappeared, thus suggesting that the mass lesions were an adverse reaction to CsA.     

Agent-based modeling of complex social–ecological feedback loops to assess multi-dimensional trade-offs in dryland ecosystem services

Context

Recent conceptual developments in ecosystem services research have revealed the need to elucidate the complex and unintended relationships between humans and the environment if we are to better understand and manage ecosystem services in practice.

Objectives

This study aimed to develop a model that spatially represents a complex human–environment (H–E) system consisting of heterogeneous social–ecological components and feedback mechanisms at multiple scales, in order to assess multi-dimensional (spatial, temporal, and social) trade-offs in ecosystem services.

Methods

We constructed an agent-based model and empirically calibrated it for a semi-arid region in Northeast China, and examined ecosystem service trade-offs derived from the Sloping Land Conversion Program (SLCP), which is based on payment for ecosystem services. This paper describes our model, named Inner Mongolia Land Use Dynamic Simulator (IM-LUDAS), using the overview, design concepts, and details + decision (ODD + D) protocol and demonstrates the capabilities of IM-LUDAS through simulations.

Results

IM-LUDAS represented typical characteristics of complex H–E systems, such as secondary and cross-scale feedback loops, time lags, and threshold change, revealing the following results: tree plantations expanded by the SLCP facilitated vegetation and soil restoration and household change toward off-farm livelihoods, as expected by the government; conversely, the program caused further land degradation outside the implementation plots; moreover, the livelihood changes were not large enough to compensate for income deterioration by policy-induced reduction in cropland.

Conclusions

IM-LUDAS proved itself to be an advanced empirical model that can recreate essential features of complex H–E systems and assess multi-dimensional trade-offs in ecosystem services.

     

In vitro assessment of the antiparasitic effect of caprylic acid against several fish parasites

The antiparasitic effect of caprylic acid against several fish parasites, i.e., the ciliate Cryptocaryon irritans (theronts), monogenean Benedenia seriolae (oncomiracidia and adults), copepod Pseudocaligus fugu (copepodids and adults) and myxosporean Kudoa shiomitsui (spores), was examined by in vitro trials.

Caprylic acid at a concentration of 1 mM had a parasiticidal effect against C. irritans theronts, B. seriolae oncomiracidia and K. shiomitsui spores and a contractile effect against B. seriolae adults, but had no clear effect against P. fugu copepodids and adults. These results suggest that caprylic acid may have an antiparasitic effect against various fish parasites, including parasites classified as monogenea, ciliates and myxosporea.     

Comparative assessment of Th1 and Th2 cytokines of swamp type buffalo and other bubaline breeds by molecular cloning, sequencing and phylogenetics

Comparative assessment of Th1 and Th2 cytokines of three bubaline breeds namely swamp buffalo, its crossbreed with riverine buffalo (CB), and the improved breed of Bulgarian Murrah buffalo (BMB), was done by molecular cloning, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The Th1 cytokines analyzed included IL-2, IL-12p35, IL-12p40, and IFN-gamma while Th2 cytokines included IL-4 and IL-10. Both groups showed strict conservation in the putative secondary structures and amino acid residues within the tribe Bovini, which indicated functional cross-reactivity. Nucleotide sequence homology ranged from 98.6 to 100.0% and was lowest for IL-12p35. With regard to amino acid sequence, the lowest homology was observed in IL-4 with 97.8%. This substitution was mainly due to differences in mRNA splicing. The phylogenetic relationship of the buffalo breeds was analyzed and showed them as a cluster comprised mainly of species belonging to the order Artiodactyla, including cattle and pigs. A deeper knowledge of these cytokine structures will favor understanding of water buffalo immunology and how much it differs from its closest subspecies and other animals.     

Meteorological factors affecting seroconversion of Akabane disease in sentinel calves in the subtropical Okinawa Islands of Japan

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Akabane virus, the pathogen-causing Akabane disease, is an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) transmitted by the Culicoides biting midge. A nationwide...     

Suppression of transcription activity of the MEQ protein of oncogenic Marek's disease virus serotype 1 (MDV1) by L-MEQ of non-oncogenic MDV1

Meq is one of the candidate oncogenes in the MDV1 genome. We previously reported a difference in the meq open reading frame (ORF) between oncogenic and non-oncogenic MDV1: L-meq, in which a 180-bp sequence is inserted into the meq ORF, is detected in non-oncogenic MDV1. To study the functions of a gene product of L-meq (L-MEQ), transactivation by L-MEQ was analyzed by dual luciferase assay using a reporter gene under the control of long (-1--873 bp) and short (-1 - -355 bp) meq promoter (LMP and SMP, respectively). LMP showed higher promoter function than SMP. L-MEQ transactivated the expression of the reporter gene, but less than MEQ did. In the presence of SMP or the cytomegalovirus immediate-early promoter, the same or slightly higher transactivation was observed in cells cotransfected with both meq and L-meq than cells transfected only with meq. However, in the presence of LMP, lower transactivation was observed in cells cotransfected with both meq and L-meq than cells transfected only with meq, suggesting that L-MEQ can be a transrepressor. Replication of a vvMDV1 was enhanced in the cells with meq. Interestingly, however, replication of vvMDV1 was suppressed in the cells with L-meq or with both L-meq and meq, compared to untransfected cells. Thus, L-MEQ could suppress replication of vvMDV1 displaying the meq gene in coinfected cells.     

Prevalence and source of trypanosome infections in field-captured vector flies (Glossina pallidipes) in southeastern Zambia

The prevalence of trypanosome infections in tsetse flies, Glossina pallidipes, collected from Chiawa and Chakwenga in Zambia with endemic trypanosomosis was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Out of the 550 G. pallidipes, 58 (10.5%) flies were found to harbor trypanosome DNA. Infection rates of tsetse with Trypanosoma vivax universal, Trypanosoma congolense savannah, T. congolense forest and T. congolense kilifi were 4.2% (23/550), 4.7% (26/550), 1.1% (6/550) and 1.6% (9/550), respectively. To determine the mammalian hosts of T. congolense and T. vivax infections from the tsetse flies, mammalian mitochondrion DNA of blood meal in these flies were analyzed by PCR and subsequent gene sequence analysis of the amplicons. Sequence analysis showed the presence of cytochrome b gene (cyt b) of 7 different mammalian species such as human, elephant, buffalo, goat, warthog, greater kudu and cattle. Goats which were main livestock in these areas were further examined to know the extent of its contribution in spreading the infection. We examined the prevalence of trypanosome infections in the domestic goat population in 6 settlements in Chiawa alone. Of the 86 goats sampled, 4 (4.6%), 5 (5.8%), 4 (4.6%) and 4 (4.6%) were positive for T. vivax universal, T. congolense savannah, forest and kilifi, respectively. These findings showed that the host-source of trypanosome infections in vector fly give a vital information about spread of infection. The result of this study will certainly contribute in elucidating more the epidemiology of trypanosomosis.