Comb candidiasis affecting roosters in a broiler breeder flock

A cutaneous mycosis caused by Candida albicans that involved the combs and less frequently the wattles, facial skin, ear lobes, and neck of male broiler breeders is described. Roosters were 35 wk old and housed with hens in two conventional broiler breeder houses on a farm in western North Carolina. Morbidity was approximately 10% in one house and less than 2% in the other house. Mortality and flock fertility were not affected. Three birds from the most affected house were examined. All birds had white adherent material on their combs that presented as crusty patches or lighter diffuse areas. Often, lesions were roughly circular or had a defined margin. Small black scabs were present in a few lesions. Similar but less extensive lesions were located on the wattles, facial skin, ear lobes, and rictus. In one bird, lesions extended down the neck, and they were accompanied by hyperemia and feather loss. Hyperkeratosis with little to no inflammation and intralesional fungi occurring as yeast and pseudohyphae were seen microscopically. High numbers of C. albicans were isolated and identified from the lesions.     

C(13)-Norisoprenoid glucoconjugates from lulo (Solanum quitoense L.) leaves

With the aid of multilayer coil countercurrent chromatography, subsequent acetylation, and liquid chromatographic purification of a glycosidic mixture obtained from lulo (Solanum quitoense L.) leaves, three C(13)-norisoprenoid glucoconjugates were isolated in pure form. Their structures were elucidated by NMR, MS, and CD analyses to be the novel (6R,9R)-13-hydroxy-3-oxo-alpha-ionol 9-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4a), the uncommon (3S,5R,8R)-3, 5-dihydroxy-6,7-megastigmadien-9-one 5-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (citroside A) (5a), and the known (6S,9R)-vomifoliol 9-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6a). Enzymatic treatment of compound 5a showed the formation of 3-hydroxy-7,8-didehydro-beta-ionone (7), an important lulo peeling volatile, which in its turn after chemical reduction and heated acid catalyzed rearrangement generates beta-damascenone (9) and 3-hydroxy-beta-damascone (10).     

Effects of tramadol alone,in combination with meloxicam or dipyrone,on postoperative pain and the analgesic requirement in dogs undergoing unilateral mastectomy with or without ovariohysterectomy

ObjectiveTo compare the effects of tramadol alone, or in combination with dipyrone or meloxicam, on postoperative pain and analgesia requirement after unilateral mastectomy with or without ovariohysterectomy in dogs.Study designProspective, randomized, clinical study.AnimalsTwenty seven bitches undergoing unilateral mastectomy with or without ovariohysterectomy.MethodsAnesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with isoflurane and a constant rate infusion of morphine. Before the end of surgery, dogs were randomly assigned to receive intravenous tramadol alone (3 mg kg^?1, group T), combined with dipyrone (30 mg kg^?1, group TD) or meloxicam (0.2 mg kg^?1, group TM). Dogs received additional doses of tramadol (groups T and TM) or tramadol with dipyrone (group TD) at 8 and 16 hours after extubation. Postoperative pain was assessed by a blinded observer before anesthesia (baseline) and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 and 24 hours after extubation using a visual analog scale (VAS) and a modified Glasgow scale. Rescue analgesia (morphine, 0.5 mg kg^?1) was administered if the Glasgow pain score was >3.5.ResultsThere were no significant differences among groups in pain scores evaluated by the VAS or the Glasgow scale. In groups T, TD and TM, pain scores were significantly higher than at baseline for 6, 8 and 2 hours, respectively. Rescue analgesia was administered to 3/9, 2/9 and 1/9 dogs in groups T, TD and TM, respectively (p > 0.05) [Correction added on 15 August 2013, after first online publication: ‘T, TM and TD’ was changed to ‘T, TD and TM’.].Conclusions and clinical relevanceUnder the conditions of this study, tramadol alone or in combination with dypyrone or meloxicam provided effective analgesia for 24 hours in most dogs after unilateral mastectomy with or without ovariohysterectomy. Further evaluation of combination therapies is needed in larger groups of dogs.     

Chromatographic fingerprinting of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lupinus luteus</Emphasis> L. (Leguminosae) main secondary metabolites: a case of domestication affecting crop variability

Secondary metabolites (SMs), such as alkaloids and raffinose oligosaccharides (RFOs), play important roles in plant physiology. Although alkaloid and RFO phenotypic variation has been reported for yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus L.), most evaluations have used a reduced number of accessions; thus, limiting the understanding of accumulation patterns and variation ranges. The main goal of this research was to assess alkaloid and RFO content in a diverse L. luteus sample to understand possible SM accumulation patterns across this legume species. Eighteen yellow lupin accessions were analyzed using high performance thin layer chromatography to provide insights on seed and leaf RFO and alkaloid phenotypic variation. Co-dominant markers (170) were used to examine genetic relationships among L. luteus accessions and possible accumulation patterns across closely related genotypes. Significant differences were observed for seed and leaf RFOs. Total seed RFO accumulation ranged from 79.738 to 131.079 mg g^?1. Raffinose, stachyose, and verbascose were observed in all genotypes’ seeds, but at different RFO concentrations. Raffinose was the only RFO detected in leaves (2.793–0.4224 mg g^?1). Total alkaloid accumulation ranged from 0.22 to 15.12 and 0.00 to 8.007 mg g^?1 for seeds and leaves, respectively. Lupinine, sparteine, and gramine were observed in seeds and leaves, and showed a wide range of variation. Neighbor-Joining (NJ) analysis showed an apparent pattern of seed alkaloid accumulation, most likely due to domestication events. However, high RFO accumulating accessions were scattered across the NJ tree. Alkaloid and RFO significant phenotypic variation will not only help to understand the roles of these SMs in L. luteus, but also to uncover the genetic basis behind their accumulation.     

Effects of Growth Hormone on In Situ Culture of Bovine Preantral Follicles are Dose Dependent

The objective of this study was to evaluate different concentrations of growth hormone (GH) on the development of bovine preantral follicles cultured included in the ovarian tissue (in situ) on the rates of morphologically normal, viable, primordial and developing follicles, as well as the oocyte and follicle diameter and ultrastructural analysis. Ovarian fragments collected from cows with no cross‐breeds defined were cultured in situ for 1 and 7 days in minimal essential medium (α‐MEM+) supplemented with different concentrations of recombinant human GH (0, 10, 25, 50 ng/ml). The ovarian fragments non‐cultured (control) and cultured were processed for classic histology, mechanical isolation and electron transmission microscopy (MET). The parameters underwent anova (Tukey′s and Dunnett′s tests) and chi‐square test (χ²). After 7 days of culture, the treatment with 50 ng/ml GH showed no differences with fresh control (p > 0.05) and had greater effectiveness than in the 0, 10 and 25 ng/ml GH concentrations of the morphologically normal follicles. Regarding the primordial follicles, a reduction was observed in the 50 ng/ml GH concentration concomitant with the significant increase in developing follicles, differing from both the fresh control and the other GH concentrations tested. In addition, 50 ng/ml GH showed a larger follicle and oocyte diameter when compared to the other treatments cultured. Similar structures were ultrastructurally observed in the control group, 50 ng/ml GH. Follicles cultured in 10 ng/ml GH showed nuclear invagination, vacuoles and lesioned basal membrane. Hence, it is concluded that 50 ng/ml GH is the most effective concentration for the development of preantral follicles cultured in situ.     

A phalangeal fusion defect and osteochondrosis dissecans with subluxation of the distal interphalangeal joints in a foal

A fusion defect of the proximal and middle phalanges of both hindlimbs, osteochondrosis dissecans of the distal interphalangeal joints of the forelimbs, and subluxation of all 4 distal interphalangeal joints occurred in a Standardbred filly. Lameness was the first abnormality noted and was observed at one week of age in the left forelimb and progressed until all 4 limbs were affected by 5 weeks of age. On radiographs of both forelimbs, the distal interphalangeal joints were subluxated with irregularity and lucency of subchondral bone. On radiographs of the distal hindlimbs, there was a subluxation of both distal interphalangeal joints and loss of the proximal interphalangeal joint spaces with fusion of the proximal and middle phalanges. The foal was euthanised. On necropsy, there were focal areas of erosion of articular cartilage in the distal interphalangeal joint of both forelimbs. The proximal and middle phalanges of both hindlimbs were fused. Histopathological examination of the distal interphalangeal joint of the right foreleg showed loss of articular cartilage and degenerative changes in the exposed subchondral bone.     

Use of a modified open patch-graft technique and valvulectomy for correction of severe pulmonic stenosis in dogs: eight consecutive cases

SUMMARY A modified open patch-graft technique was used to correct congenital pulmonic stenosis in 8 dogs. Pulmonary valve dysplasia was moderate to severe in all cases, based upon clinical and echocardiographic criteria, and 3 dogs were in right-sided congestive heart failure at the time of surgery. Seven of the 8 dogs survived the surgery. One surviving dog displayed cerebral cortical dysfunction, the remaining 6 had no detectable neurological sequelae. Right ventricular failure was alleviated in all 7 surviving dogs, but right ventricular dilatation persisted post-operatively. Pulmonary valvulectomy and open patch-grafting provides an effective means of alleviating signs of congestive heart failure caused by pulmonary valve dysplasia, even In the presence of severe infundibular hypertrophy and dynamic outflow obstruction.     

Detection of bovine respiratory syncytial virus using a heterologous antigen-capture enzyme immunoassay

Based on the marked antigenic similarities that exist between antigens of the human and bovine strains of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) designed to detect human RSV was used to detect bovine RSV. The commercial test kit (RSV EIA) consists of a solid phase (beads) coated with a capture antiserum prepared against the Long strain of human RSV. The RSV EIA test was compared with the method of inoculation of cell cultures and fluorescent antibody (FA) staining of lung tissue for the detection of bovine RSV. Using a cell culture-propagated stock of strain 375 of bovine RSV, the threshold of sensitivity of the EIA test for the cattle strain of RSV was determined to be less than or equal to 10(2.3) CCID50/ml. In addition, RSV EIA detected the bovine RSV in nasal samples obtained from 3 experimentally inoculated cattle. The RSV EIA exhibited a sensitivity of greater than or equal to 80% during the period that shedding of infectious virus took place. All of the bovine RSV FA-positive lung samples (n = 37) were positive by the RSV EIA. Twenty-six of the remaining 214 bovine RSV FA-negative lung samples were positive by the RSV EIA. The RSV EIA was also used to test 137 nasal swabs obtained from cases of bovine respiratory disease. Of these, 38 tested positive by RSV EIA. All samples that tested positive by EIA were confirmed by blocking assays using hyperimmune serum anti-bovine RSV and a pool of monoclonal antibodies specific for that virus.