Cellulase Supplementation Does Not Improve the Digestibility of a High-Forage Diet in Horses

Six mature Arabian geldings were used in a two-period crossover study to investigate the effects of cellulase supplementation on fiber digestion. Horses were randomly assigned to either a control (CO; n = 3) or a cellulase (CE; n = 3) treatment for the first period and then treatments were switched for period 2. Each period consisted of a 10-day diet adaptation followed by a 3-day total fecal collection. The enzyme mixture contained 40,000 cellulase units/g and was fed at a rate of 3 g/day split evenly between two feedings. During the diet adaptation period, horses had ad libitum access to timothy hay and were also fed 165 g whole oats as a carrier for the supplement. When eating the CO treatment, horses consumed 16% more hay than when on the CE treatment (P = .004). Fecal output also tended to be greater when horses consumed the CO treatment as compared with CE treatment (P = .07). No differences were found between treatments for fecal percent dry matter (DM%), fecal neutral detergent fiber (NDF), fecal acid detergent fiber (ADF), fecal nitrogen (N), or fecal gross energy (GE). There was a trend for horses consuming the CO treatment to digest more NDF than when consuming the CE treatment (34.6% ± 1.5 vs 31% ± 1.5; P = .07). Horses also digested a greater %ADF, %N, and Mcal of energy when consuming the CO treatment than when consuming the CE treatment (P < .05). Cellulase addition to a hay-based horse diet decreased digestion of fiber components.     

Amanita muscaria toxicosis in two dogs

Objective: To report the manifestations, history, and pathophysiologic basis of disease in 2 dogs with Amanita muscaria toxicosis. Case summaries: Two dogs were evaluated for an acute onset of gastroenteritis and seizures. A. muscaria toxicosis was suspected in each dog after confirmation of environmental exposure and visualization of ingested mushrooms in vomitus. The diagnosis was confirmed following identification of toxic Amanita metabolites in the urine and serum of each dog. Administration of supportive and symptomatic therapies resulted in the complete recovery of each animal. Unique information provided: Ingestion of the mushroom, A. muscaria, by dogs can result in acute gastrointestinal distress that precedes a potentially life‐threatening central neurologic syndrome characterized by seizures, tremors, and somnolence. Central nervous system dysfunction results primarily from the actions of ibotenic acid and its decarboxylation product, muscimol, which are analogues of the neurotransmitters glutamate and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), respectively. Identification of these toxins in the urine and serum of affected dogs using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) provides a definitive diagnosis.     

Comparison of High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Immunoassay Methods for Measurement of Cyclosporine A Blood Concentrations After Feline Kidney Transplantation

Objective —To compare two methods of whole blood cyclosporine A (CsA) measurement in cats.
Study Design —Whole blood samples were analyzed for CsA concentrations with use of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and monoclonal immunoassay methods.
Animals —Blood (n = 36 samples) was obtained from six cats after renal transplantation.
Methods —Results were compared by linear regression analysis using both pooled and individual patient data. Eight samples were off-scale on the immunoassay and were excluded.
Results —There was significant correlation between CsA measured using HPLC and immunoassay methods ( P < .001; r = .942; r²= .887). However, individuals varied nonrandomly from the mean pooled patient data. Correlation between the assay methods was higher for individual patients using data only from that specific individual (mean r value = .976; r²= .955). Clinical utility of the immunoassay (ie, results would prompt an appropriate CsA dosage adjustment) was good when based on individually derived conversion factors (27 of 28 [96.5%] of decision events).
Conclusion—HPLC is superior for measurement of blood CsA concentrations in cats after kidney transplantation. However, an immunoassay may provide reliable information for CsA management if a comparative database (HPLC v immunoassay) has been previously determined in a specific patient.
Clinical Relevance —Locally available monitoring of CsA by immunoassay in cats may provide significant advantages when shipping of blood samples to distant locations is required to obtain analysis by HPLC. These advantages may include cost and timeliness of results in circumstances where daily blood CsA concentrations may be desired, such as when managing an acute rejection reaction.     

COMPARISON BETWEEN THE SCINTIGRAPHIC UPTAKE AND PLASMA CLEARANCE OF 99mTc-DIETHYLENETRIAMINEPENTACETIC ACID (DTPA) FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE IN DOGS

The scintigraphically measured percentage dose uptake of ^99mTc-DTPA by the kidneys and the plasma clearance of ^99mTc-DTPA have been reported to correlate well with inulin clearance. These two parameters were evaluated in seven dogs with known or suspected naturally occurring renal disease and compared to simultaneously measured renal inulin clearance. Correlation between inulin clearance and the ^99mTc-DTPA plasma clearance was better ( p =.0016) than the correlation between the percentage DTPA uptake by the kidney. It was concluded that measurement of ^99mTc-DTPA plasma clearance is a more accurate method to estimate global glomerular filtration rate (GFR) than the percentage kidney uptake.     

Worldwide status of burbot and conservation measures

Although burbot ( Lota lota Gadidae) are widespread and abundant throughout much of their natural range, there are many populations that have been extirpated, endangered or are in serious decline. Due in part to the species' lack of popularity as a game and commercial fish, few regions consider burbot in management plans. We review the worldwide population status of burbot and synthesize reasons why some burbot populations are endangered or declining, some burbot populations have recovered and some burbot populations do not recover despite management measures. Burbot have been extirpated in much of Western Europe and the United Kingdom and are threatened or endangered in much of North America and Eurasia. Pollution and habitat change, particularly the effects of dams, appear to be the main causes for declines in riverine burbot populations. Pollution and the adverse effects of invasive species appear to be the main reasons for declines in lacustrine populations. Warmer water temperatures, due either to discharge from dams or climate change, have been noted in declining burbot populations at the southern extent of their range. Currently, fishing pressure does not appear to be limiting burbot populations world-wide. We suggest mitigation measures for burbot population recovery, particularly those impacted by dams and invasive species.     

Localization of Oestrogen Receptors in the Epididymis During Sexual Maturation of the Domestic Cat

Oestrogens are involved in regulation of spermatogenesis and sperm maturation and are essential for male fertility. To study the role of oestrogens on epididymal function in the domestic cat, we analyzed the localization patterns of oestrogen receptors (ERs) within the epididymis of juvenile, pubertal and adults using immunohistochemistry. Cat epididymal tissues obtained during routine castrations were fixed in chilled Bouin's solution and processed for immunohistochemistry with ER-specific antibodies. For a certain receptor type, ER localization was influenced by donor age. In the juvenile epididymis, ERα was localized in the nuclei of epithelial cells of efferent ducts and undifferentiated epithelium of the ductus epididymis. During puberty, ERα localization in the undifferentiated epithelium of the epididymis shifted from the nuclei to the cytoplasm and plasma membrane. Oestrogen receptor-α level was highest in the pubertal and adult epididymis, especially within the cytoplasm and in plasma membranes of caput epithelial cells. This finding was suggestive of a role in fluid reabsorption within the efferent ducts and the epididymis. In corpus and cauda regions, ERα was less abundant, suggesting a minor role for oestrogens in sperm storage areas. Interestingly, localization of ERβ was neither influenced by age nor location within the epididymis and was ubiquitous throughout. Results demonstrate that oestrogen actions within the epididymis may be predominantly mediated through ERα during sexual maturation in the domestic cat.     

Massive horizontal gene transfer in bdelloid rotifers

Horizontal gene transfer in metazoans has been documented in only a few species and is usually associated with endosymbiosis or parasitism. By contrast, in bdelloid rotifers we found many genes that appear to have originated in bacteria, fungi, and plants, concentrated in telomeric regions along with diverse mobile genetic elements. Bdelloid proximal gene-rich regions, however, appeared to lack foreign genes, thereby resembling those of model metazoan organisms. Some of the foreign genes were defective, whereas others were intact and transcribed; some of the latter contained functional spliceosomal introns. One such gene, apparently of bacterial origin, was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and yielded an active enzyme. The capture and functional assimilation of exogenous genes may represent an important force in bdelloid evolution.