Trypanosoma evansi infection in buffaloes in north-east Thailand. I. Field investigations

Clinical, parasitological and serological findings of Trypanosoma evansi infections in buffaloes (Bubalis bubalis) from north-eastern Thailand are reported. The overall infection rate was found to be around 20% with a distinct peak of acute infections during the rainy season. The disease is aggravated by normally well tolerated concomitant infections such as liver fluke infestations and by other stress factors.     

Pemphigus foliaceus of the footpads in three dogs

Severe hyperkeratinization and villous hypertrophy of the footpads were seen in 3 middle-aged dogs. Peeling, fissuring, swelling, and ulcerations were noted on the margins of severely affected pads. Pain was evident in palpation and ambulation. Lesions were compatible with the traditional diagnosis of "hard pad disease". Histopathologic findings were diagnostic for canine pemphigus foliaceus in all 3 dogs, and direct immunofluorescence in an intercellular pattern was seen in both dogs that were tested. All 3 dogs responded to immunosuppressive dosages of corticosteroids.     

Reaction cements as materials for the sustained release of trace elements into the digestive tract of cattle and sheep. II. Release of cobalt and selenium

Acid-base reaction cements, containing salts of copper, cobalt and selenium, were placed in the reticulum of sheep and cattle, and the rate of release of cobalt and selenium from them was measured. The rate of release of cobalt decreased with time but was sufficient to provide adequate supplementation for at least 6 months. After an initial rate of release of 4 mg Se/day for 1-2 weeks, the mean subsequent rate of release of selenium over a period of 4 months was 0.1 mg Se/day (identical to 5 micrograms Se/day/cm2 surface area). Field trials in lambs and growing steers showed that the cement increased the selenium concentration of their blood throughout a summer grazing period.     

Infectious dermatitis in a ball python (Python regius) colony.

Seven wild-caught ball pythons (Python regius), including six gravid females and one male, were obtained from Africa and were housed in a government animal facility in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Upon arrival, the snakes were found to be infested with ticks (Aponomma latus), which were manually removed. Four weeks following arrival, vesicular skin lesions began to appear on the snakes. Despite treatment of all affected female snakes with amikacin (5 mg/kg i.m., every 3 days) and cefotaxime (25 mg/kg i.m., every 3 days), the condition progressed and five of the female snakes died 7 wk after arrival. The remaining male and one female improved after an increase in environmental temperature, with ecdysis followed by healing. Physiologic stress, ectoparasites, and shipping may have predisposed the snakes to sepsis.     

Consequences for diversity when prioritizing animals for conservation with pedigree or genomic information

Up to now, prioritization of animals for conservation has been mainly based on pedigree information; however, genomic information may improve prioritization. In this study, we used two Holstein populations to investigate the consequences for genetic diversity when animals are prioritized with optimal contributions based on pedigree or genomic data and whether consequences are different at the chromosomal level. Selection with genomic kinships resulted in a higher conserved diversity, but differences were small. Largest differences were found when few animals were prioritized and when pedigree errors were present. We found more differences at the chromosomal level, where selection based on genomic kinships resulted in a higher conserved diversity for most chromosomes, but for some chromosomes, pedigree-based selection resulted in a higher conserved diversity. To optimize conservation strategies, genomic information can help to improve the selection of animals for conservation in those situations where pedigree information is unreliable or absent or when we want to conserve diversity at specific genome regions.     

Modulation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity through sequential posttranslational modifications of p22 phagocytic oxidase during capacitation and acrosome reaction in goat spermatozoa

Superoxide anion radical, produced in low quantities, plays a positive role in sperm function. Spermatozoa produce superoxide anion radical during posttesticular development, which shows an abrupt increase during capacitation. The NAD phosphate oxidase (NOX) family members NOX2 and NOX5 are the 2 enzymes implicated in superoxide production in spermatozoa. We examined the organization of NOX2 in goat spermatozoa during epididymal maturation, capacitation, and acrosome reaction. Spermatozoa from testis, caput epididymidis, corpus epididymidis, and cauda epididymidis possessed components of the phagocytic oxidase (PHOX; i.e., gp91phox, p22phox, p67phox, p47phox, p40phox), and ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1/2 (Rac1/2) on spermatozoa, and their concentrations did not show significant alterations during epididymal maturation. During capacitation in vitro, p22phox underwent Thr-phosphorylation, which resulted in a mobility shift of the corresponding band toward greater molecular mass. The Rac1/2 also showed a mobility shift from 32 to 23 kDa during capacitation. During progesterone-induced acrosome reaction, the spermatozoa experienced a total loss of p22phox and p47phox. The p47phox, but not p22phox, was detected in the exocytic vesicles of the acrosome. The Thr-phosphorylated form of p22phox was ubiquitinated and degraded through proteasome-mediated pathways in goat sperm cell lysates. Thus, Thr phosphorylation of p22phox acts as a regulatory switch in goat spermatozoa that transiently activates the NOX2 system during capacitation and subsequently directs it for degradation through the ubiiquitin-proteasomal pathway during progesterone-induced acrosome reaction.