Immune-mediated erythroid and megakaryocytic aplasia in a cat

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 6-month-old domestic shorthair cat was evaluated because of acute lethargy. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Severe nonregenerative anemia and thrombocytopenia were identified. Cytologic examination of a bone marrow aspirate revealed selective erythroid and mega-karyocytic aplasia and a high number of apparently normal small lymphocytes. Infectious agents implicated in feline hematologic disorders were excluded on the basis of serologic tests or PCR amplification, including FeLV, Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Mycoplasma haemofelis, Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum, and Candidatus Myco-plasma turicensis. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: A 10-day course of prednisolone administration did not improve the hematologic disorder. Administration of human polyclonal immunoglobulins preceded increased reticulocyte count by 3 days. A second bone marrow examination confirmed restoration of erythroblasts and megakaryocytes. After 1 relapse, the disease was successfully controlled with prednisolone for > 3 years. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Immune-mediated bone marrow aplasia is rare in cats and usually affects only erythrocyte progenitors. Concomitant involvement of erythroid and megakaryocytic cell lines can be successfully treated via immunosuppressive therapy. Human immunoglobulins seem to be well tolerated in cats; however, proof of a beneficial effect requires further study.     

Remediation of a grey forest soil contaminated with heavy metals by means of leaching at acidic pH

Purpose

The purpose was to study the heavy-metal leaching from topsoil when acidolysis or combination of acidolysis/complexolysis was applied as an approach for in situ soil remediation. The question was how the acidolysis of ferric iron hydroxides from topsoil would effect on the heavy-metal leaching when soil pH was lowered with sulfuric acid in or without the presence of cut straw into the soil.

Materials and methods

Four zero-suction lysimeters were used in this study. The heavy-metal acidolysis was studied by the soil irrigation with diluted solutions of sulfuric acid or its in situ generation as a result of the bacterial oxidation of S° by Acidithiobacilus thiooxidans.The sulfur requirement was calculated having in mind the higher amount of acid soluble iron in the topsoil due to its contamination by AMD. The combination of acidolysis/complexolysis was studied by cut straw addition to S° at ratio 1:1 and 3:1, respectively. Regular sampling and analyses of the pregnant soil solutions was applied. The pollutant content, their distribution among the geochemical fractions, and the content of amorphous ferric iron hydroxides were determined before and after soil bioremediation.

Results and discussion

The reducible mobile fraction was the main fraction in which almost 50 % of each heavy metal was entrapped as a result of the soil pollution by AMD. The combination of acidolysis/complexolysis, realized by elemental sulfur and cut straw addition to horizon A of the AMD-affected soil at ratio of 1:1, allowed the concentration of lead, uranium, and arsenic after 9 months of remediation to be decreased near the relevant maximum admissible concentration (MAC), as their content in the exchangeable and specific adsorbed mobile fraction were drastically reduced. It determined the lower bioavailability of the pollutants at the end of the leaching stage.

Conclusions

A mixture of elemental sulfur and cut straw at a ratio of 1:1 was an efficient method for in situ bioremediation of AMD-affected soil. The heavy-metal leaching from easily leachable fractions was a result of the joint action of acidolysis/complexolysis, and as a result, the contaminant content in horizon A was significantly reduced.

     

Identification of aminoethylcysteine ketimine decarboxylated dimer, a natural antioxidant, in dietary vegetables

Aminoethylcysteine ketimine decarboxylated dimer (simply named dimer) is a natural sulfur-containing tricyclic compound detected, until now, in human urine, bovine cerebellum, and human plasma. Recently, the antioxidant properties of this compound have been demonstrated. In this investigation, the presence of aminoethylcysteine ketimine decarboxylated dimer was identified in garlic, spinach, tomato, asparagus, aubergine, onion, pepper, and courgette. Identification of this compound in dietary vegetables was performed using gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results from GC analysis range in the order of 10(-4) micromol of dimer/g for all the tested vegetables. These results and the lack of a demonstrated biosynthetic pathway in humans might account for a dietary supply of this molecule.     

Absorption of copper by Iris pseudacorus

Iris pseudacorous has been shown to possess a high affinity for absorption of heavy metals. Tests with Cu²⁺ solutions indicate that a higher amount of adsorbed metal is found in the roots than in the rhizome or leaves. High concentrations of sodium chloride as well as surfactants (both anionic and non ionic) have little affect on metal absorption. Sequestering agents prevent absorption, while weak ligands partially hinder.     

Effect of a low-density polyethylene film containing butylated hydroxytoluene on lipid oxidation and protein quality of Sierra fish (Scomberomorus sierra) muscle during frozen storage

Fresh sierra fish (Scomberomorus sierra) fillets were packed in low-density polyethylene films with butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT-LDPE) added. Fillets packed in LDPE with no BHT were used as controls (LDPE). The packed fillets were stored at -25 degrees C for 120 days in which the film released 66.5% of the antioxidant. The influence of the antioxidant on lipid and protein quality, lipid oxidation, muscle structure changes, and shear-force resistance was recorded. As compared to LDPE films, fillets packed in BHT-LDPE films showed lower lipid oxidation, thiobarbituric acid values (4.20 +/- 0.52 vs 11.95 +/- 1.06 mg malonaldehyde/kg), peroxide values (7.20 +/- 1.38 vs 15.15 +/- 1.48 meq/kg), and free fatty acids (7.98 +/- 0.43 vs 11.83 +/- 1.26% of oleic acid). Fillets packed in BHT-LDPE films showed less tissue damage and lost less firmness than fillets packed in LDPE. A significant relationship between lipid oxidation and texture was detected (R2 adjusted, 0.70-0.73). BHT-LDPE films may be used not only to prevent lipid oxidation but also to minimize protein damage to prolong the shelf life of sierra fish.     

Reproductive Performance of Gilts with Similar Age but with Different Growth Rate at the Onset of Puberty Stimulation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproductive performance of gilts that had a similar age but different weights at the onset of puberty stimulation by boar exposure at 144 days. Gilts were divided into two groups according to their lifetime growth rate from birth to approximately 144 days of age. Mean growth rates at this moment were 577 and 724 g/day for group 1 (G1; n = 58) and group 2 (G2; n = 58), respectively. After selection, gilts were weighed at approximately 155, 165 and 175 days of age, on the insemination day and at slaughter. Gilts were inseminated, on average, at 193 days of age and were slaughtered 32 days after insemination, when the number of corpora lutea and embryos were recorded. Higher growth rate gilts (G2) reached puberty earlier (155.3 vs 164.1 days; p < 0.01). More gilts of G2 group attained puberty by 190 days of age (p = 0.004) than G1 gilts (95%; 55/58 vs 76%; 44/58). The anoestrous rate, until 60 days after the onset of boar exposure was higher (p < 0.01) in G1 (19.0%; 11/58) than in G2 (3.4%; 2/58) group. However, there were no differences in the pregnancy rate (90.7 vs 94.5), ovulation rate (15.9 vs 16.5), total embryos (12.9 vs 11.7), viable embryos (12.0 vs 11.1) and embryo survival (73.7% vs 68.5%), between G1 gilts and G2 gilts, respectively (p > 0.05). High growth rate gilts attain puberty earlier and have a lower anoestrous rate than low growth rate gilts.     

Current perspectives on the diagnosis and epidemiology of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infection

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is the principal aetiological agent of enzootic pneumonia (EP), a chronic respiratory disease that affects mainly finishing pigs. Although major efforts to control M. hyopneumoniae infection and its detrimental effects have been made, significant economic losses in pig production worldwide due to EP continue. M. hyopneumoniae is typically introduced into pig herds by the purchase of subclinically infected animals or, less frequently, through airborne transmission over short distances. Once in the herd, M. hyopneumoniae may be transmitted by direct contact from infected sows to their offspring or between pen mates.The ‘gold standard’ technique used to diagnose M. hyopneumoniae infection, bacteriological culture, is laborious and is seldom used routinely. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction detection methods, in addition to post-mortem inspection in the form of abattoir surveillance or field necropsy, are the techniques most frequently used to investigate the potential involvement of M. hyopneumoniae in porcine respiratory disease. Such techniques have been used to monitor the incidence of M. hyopneumoniae infection in herds both clinically and subclinically affected by EP, in vaccinated and non-vaccinated herds and under different production and management conditions. Differences in the clinical course of EP at farm level and in the efficacy of M. hyopneumoniae vaccination suggest that the transmission and virulence characteristics of different field isolates of M. hyopneumoniae may vary. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge of the epidemiology of M. hyopneumoniae infection including its transmission, infection and seroconversion dynamics and also compares the various epidemiological tools used to monitor EP.