Portal vein and aortic thromboses in a Siberian husky with ehrlichiosis and hypothyroidism

A six-year-old, neutered male Siberian husky was presented for euthanasia for end-stage liver disease. Examination of the dog raised questions regarding the severity of the condition. It had presented to the referring veterinarian with polyuria, polydipsia and weight loss. Blood tests at that time revealed elevated liver enzymes and hypoalbuminaemia. Cirrhosis was presumptively diagnosed, based on an ultrasound examination, which showed ascites with a normal liver. The dog had a history of hypothyroidism, which was controlled with levothyroxine. Physical examination revealed cachexia. A second abdominal ultrasound examination was performed and revealed portal vein and aortic thromboses. Tick titres showed a positive Ehrlichia canis titre of 1:640. Skin biopsies showed lymphoplasmacytic vasculitis. Doxycycline and aspirin treatment was initiated, and the clinical signs resolved. The authors concluded that the thrombi were primarily caused by chronic ehrlichiosis, based on the clinical findings and the response to treatment.     

Effect of heat pretreatment on the yield and composition of oil extracted from corn fiber.

Previously, hexane extraction of corn fiber was reported to produce a unique and potentially valuable oil that contained high levels of several phytosterols (which have been noted for their cholesterol-lowering properties). Current studies revealed that heat treatment (over the range of 100-175 degrees C) of corn fiber in either a convection oven or a vacuum oven caused only a modest reduction in the levels of the phytosterol components. However, these same heat pretreatments caused a considerable increase (up to 10-fold) in the levels (increasing from 0.34 wt % to a maximum of 3.64 wt % gamma-tocopherol in the oil) and yields (increasing from 5.4 mg of gamma-tocopherol/100 g of corn fiber to a maximum of 52.1 mg of gamma-tocopherol/100 g of corn fiber) of gamma-tocopherol in corn fiber oil. The main differences between the convection oven and vacuum oven pretreatments were associated with the disappearance of free fatty acids and free phytosterols at the higher temperature pretreatments in the vacuum oven, probably due to the lower boiling points of these lipids. Microwave pretreatment was also effective but caused a much smaller increase in the levels of gamma-tocopherol.     

Study of Structure–Activity Relationships of the Marine Alkaloid Fascaplysin and Its Derivatives as Potent Anticancer Agents

Marine alkaloid fascaplysin and its derivatives are known to exhibit promising anticancer properties in vitro and in vivo. However, toxicity of these molecules to non-cancer cells was identified as a main limitation for their clinical use. Here, for the very first time, we synthesized a library of fascaplysin derivatives covering all possible substituent introduction sites, i.e., cycles A, C and E of the 12H-pyrido[1-2-a:3,4-b’]diindole system. Their selectivity towards human prostate cancer versus non-cancer cells, as well as the effects on cellular metabolism, membrane integrity, cell cycle progression, apoptosis induction and their ability to intercalate into DNA were investigated. A pronounced selectivity for cancer cells was observed for the family of di- and trisubstituted halogen derivatives (modification of cycles A and E), while a modification of cycle C resulted in a stronger activity in therapy-resistant PC-3 cells. Among others, 3,10-dibromofascaplysin exhibited the highest selectivity, presumably due to the cytostatic effects executed via the targeting of cellular metabolism. Moreover, an introduction of radical substituents at C-9, C-10 or C-10 plus C-3 resulted in a notable reduction in DNA intercalating activity and improved selectivity. Taken together, our research contributes to understanding the structure–activity relationships of fascaplysin alkaloids and defines further directions of the structural optimization.     

Responses of Fasciola hepatica infected sheep to various infection levels

The response to Fasciola hepatica was studied in sheep infected with 5, 30, 150 metacercariae. The animals were necropsied 12 weeks post-infection (p-i) for counting and measuring flukes. Cellular and humoral responses were detected by peripheral eosinophil count, peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation with excretory-secretory products (FhESP) and ELISA. All sheep were infected at necropsy except one sheep which was infected with 5 metacercariae. Mean parasitic intensities were 40%, 44% and 27% of the infection dose in sheep infected with 5, 30, 150 metacercariae respectively. FhESP-specific lymphocyte responses of the 3 infected groups were significantly enhanced in weeks 3 and 4 p-i (p < 0.05). The kinetics of the specific humoral response were similar for the 3 infected groups but the antibody level was significantly lower in animals infected with 5 metacercariae than in the 2 other infected groups from week 5 p-i to week 12 p-i (p < 0.05). Peripheral eosinophil count was significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) in infected groups. The numbers of peripheral eosinophils were significantly different between the 3 infected groups in week 3, 4 and 6 p-i and were related to infection level. These results confirm that sheep are highly susceptible to F. hepatica infection, even when infection pressure is very low. Peripheral eosinophilia was dependent of the infection level. The immune response was similar in sheep infected with various numbers of flukes.     

Analysis of Alkylresorcinols in Wheat Germ Oil and Barley Germ Oil via HPLC and Fluorescence Detection: Cochromatography with Tocols

Alkylresorcinols are long‐chain phenolic compounds that have been reported to be localized in the outer layers of the kernels of wheat, rye, barley, and other grains. A sensitive HPLC method with fluorescence detection was recently reported for the quantitative analysis of alkylresorcinols in cereal grains and products. Using this new HPLC method we report for the first time that wheat germ oil contains moderate levels of alkylresorcinols, approximately 800–1,500 µg per gram of oil. We also found that commercial wheat germ oil and some experimental samples of wheat germ oil and barley germ oil also contained three unknown peaks. Upon further evaluation of these peaks it was found that the peaks appeared to be tocopherols (one peak of α‐tocopherol, one peak of δ‐tocopherol, and a peak with the combination of β‐ and γ‐tocopherol), even though the excitation and emission wavelengths for alkylresorcinols (excitation 274 nm and emission 300 nm) are different than those for tocols (excitation 294 nm and emission 326 nm). We also found that with this HPLC system one alkylresorcinol, AR17, had the same retention time (7.6 min) as δ‐tocotrienol and that another alkylresorcinol, AR19, had the same retention time (10.8 min) as α‐tocotrienol.     

Isolation and characterization of Babesia pecorum sp. nov. from farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus)

The diversity of Babesia species infecting cervids in parts of central and southern Spain was analyzed by collecting blood from farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus). Babesia sp. was isolated in vitro from two red deer herds in Cádiz and Ciudad Real. The number of Babesia sp. carriers differed between the two herds: 36/77 in Cádiz and 1/35 in Ciudad Real. Hyalomma lusitanicum was the most prevalent tick species identified on the Cádiz farm vegetation and on sampled animals, and is therefore a candidate vector. The molecular characteristics of 21 isolates were determined by complete (8 isolates) or partial (13 isolates) 18S rRNA gene sequencing. The sequences were highly similar (over 99.4% identity) and 6 sequence types were identified at the level of one herd only, demonstrating a rather high genetic diversity. They formed a monophyletic clade, and members of the three main sequence types shared a similar morphology and the same erythrocyte susceptibility pattern. This clade also included Babesia sp. Xinjiang isolated from sheep in China and Babesia sp. identified in giraffe in South Africa, with identities higher than 98.3% and statistically relevant phylogenetic support. None of the biological properties analyzed for both Babesia from red deer and Babesia sp. Xinjiang allowed their differentiation (ability to develop in vitro in erythrocytes from cattle and sheep, as well as in erythrocytes from different cervids, unsuccessful infection of calves). We propose the Babesia isolated from red deer as a new species named B. pecorum. Whether Babesia sp. Xinjiang and the Babesia characterized in South Africa belong to the same species is debated.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13567-014-0078-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Discovery of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria in corals

Colonies of the Caribbean coral Montastraea cavernosa exhibit a solar-stimulated orange-red fluorescence that is spectrally similar to a variety of fluorescent proteins expressed by corals. The source of this fluorescence is phycoerythrin in unicellular, nonheterocystis, symbiotic cyanobacteria within the host cells of the coral. The cyanobacteria coexist with the symbiotic dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae) of the coral and express the nitrogen-fixing enzyme nitrogenase. The presence of this prokaryotic symbiont in a nitrogen-limited zooxanthellate coral suggests that nitrogen fixation may be an important source of this limiting element for the symbiotic association.     

Introduction and present status of exotic carp in Africa

This paper presents a review of all introductions of various carp species: Common carp, Cyprinus carpio (L.), but also major Chinese and Indian carp into Africa. The historical background of the present situation of carp culture is provided for 16 African countries. This contribution shows that, despite important efforts at aquaculture and fisheries development, carp production remains at a very low level except in Egypt. Various consequences of carp introductions are also discussed.     

Post-fire analysis of pre-fire mapping of fire-risk: A recent case study from Mt. Carmel (Israel)

The recent devastating wildfire on Mt. Carmel provided a unique opportunity to evaluate a fire-risk map constructed for the region, published two years ago in this journal. This largest forest fire in the history of Israel, occurred during December 2010, covering 2180 ha, burning more than half-million trees and causing the loss of life of 45 people.A study of fire risk in this area was conducted between 2007 and 2009 utilizing a combination of Monte Carlo simulation of spatial spread of fire ignition with fire behavior model (FARSITE). The fire risk map produced in 2009 is assessed here with reference to the area burnt during December 2010. The results showed that most of burnt areas corresponded to high risk levels in the risk map. According to a null model, the five lower risk levels taken together would have corresponded to 50% of the burnt area, while in fact they were presented in only 5.6% of the area. In contrast, the three highest risk levels, for which the null model expectation would be a representation of 30%, were represented in 87% of the area. Comparing the fire risk map against the map of the real recent fire provided support to the general approach, and strengthened the confidence of our fire risk model.