Small intestinal strangulation caused by a mesodiverticular band and diverticulum on the mesenteric border of the small intestine in a horse

A 4-year-old Quarter horse stallion was presented for acute abdominal pain. Exploratory celiotomy revealed a mesenteric diverticulum of the jejunum and mesodiverticular band that were associated with small intestinal strangulation. Resection and anastomosis were performed. A second celiotomy was performed due to adhesions. The horse recovered completely and returned to training.     

Soil organic C variability and microbial functions in a Mediterranean agro-forest ecosystem

Five soils characterised by different agro-forest managements, typical of Mediterranean environment and with increasing human impact were chosen in Sardinia (Italy): two vineyards with different management systems, a rotation hay crop-pasture and a forest (Quercus suber L.). The study aimed to investigate the relationships between C storage and microbial functionality in soil under different managements. Pools of total organic C and microbial biomass C were determined, as well as the loss of organic C due to microbial respiration (basal and cumulative) and several microbial indices (metabolic, mineralization, and microbial quotient) as indicators of the microbial efficiency in the use of energy and the degree of substrate limitation for soil microbes. Enzymes were chosen on their relevance in the C (β-cellobiohydrolase, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, β-glucosidase, α-glucosidase), N (leucine aminopeptidase), S (arylsulphatase) and P (acid phosphatase) cycling and were used as indicators of functional diversity in soil. Organic C pools and enzyme activities on average increased noticeably in soils with a lower human impact showing the highest values in forest and the lowest in the vineyards, following the trend of organic matter availability. The trend in functional diversity reflected the increase of microbial pool and organic C availability: the vineyards showed a lower Shannon’s diversity index, whilst pasture and forest sites reached the maximum levels of functional diversity. These soils showed an increase of microbial efficiency in the use of available resources and the decrease of substrate limitation for soil microbes.     

Speciation of heavy metals in garden soils: evidences from selective and sequential chemical leaching

Purpose  

Gardening (especially food growing) in urban areas is becoming popular, but urban soils are often very contaminated for historical reasons. There is lack of sufficient information as to the bioavailability of soil heavy metals to plants and human in urban environments. This study examines the relative leachability of Cr, Ni, As, Cd, Zn, and Pb for soils with varying characteristics. The speciation and mobility of these metals can be qualitatively inferred from the leaching experiments. The goal is to use the data to shed some light on their bioavailability to plant and human, as well as the basis for soil remediation.     

Interlaboratory evaluation of a real-time multiplex polymerase chain reaction method for identification of salmon and trout species in commercial products

This interlaboratory study evaluated a real-time multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for identification of salmon and trout species in a range of commercial products in North America. Eighty salmon and trout products were tested with this method by three independent laboratories. Samples were collected in the United States and Canada, and only the collecting institution was aware of the species declaration. Following analysis with real-time PCR, all three laboratories were able to identify species in 79 of the 80 products, with 100% agreement on species assignment. A low level of fraud was detected, with only four products (5%) found to be substituted or mixtures of two species. The results for two of the fraudulent products were confirmed with alternate methods, but the other two products were heavily processed and could not be verified with methods other than real-time PCR. Overall, the results of this study show the usefulness and versatility of this real-time PCR method for the identification of commercial salmon and trout species.     

Pharmacokinetics,tissue residues,and ex vivo pharmacodynamics of tylosin against Mycoplasma anatis in ducks

The pharmacokinetics of tylosin were investigated in 3 groups of ducks (n = 6). They received a single dose of tylosin (50 mg/kg) by intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and oral administrations, respectively. Plasma samples were collected at various time points to 24 hr post-administration to evaluate tylosin concentration over time. Additionally, tylosin residues in tissues and its withdrawal time were assessed using 30 ducks which received tylosin orally (50 mg/kg) once daily for 5 consecutive days. After IV administration, the volume of distribution, elimination half-life, area under the plasma concentration–time curve, and the total body clearance were 7.07 ± 1.98 L/kg, 2.04 hr, 19.47 µg hr/ml, and 2.82 L hr⁻¹ kg⁻¹, respectively. After IM and oral administrations, the maximum plasma concentrations were 3.70 and 2.75 µg/ml achieved at 1 and 2 hr, and the bioavailability was 93.95% and 75.77%, respectively. The calculated withdrawal periods of tylosin were 13, 8, and 5 days for kidney, liver, and muscle, respectively. For the pharmacodynamic profile, the minimum inhibitory concentration for tylosin against M. anatis strain 1,340 was 1 µg/ml. The calculated optimal oral dose of tylosin against M. anatis in ducks based on the ex vivo pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling was 61 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹.     

Large granular lymphocytosis in a cynomolgus macaque (Macaca fascicularis) with a subclinical Trypanosoma cruzi infection

A 5.25-year-old cynomolgus macaque (Macaca fascicularis) was found to have a marked leukocytosis due to a lymphocytosis on routine quarantine laboratory data prior to inclusion in a preclinical research study. The majority of lymphocytes were characterized as intermediate to large with round to convoluted nuclei, coarse to clumped chromatin, rare prominent nucleoli, and moderate amounts of lightly basophilic cytoplasm that frequently contained small magenta granules and/or clear vacuoles. The animal had tested negative for several viruses and other etiologic agents found in nonhuman primates 1 week prior to shipment to the research facility. However, further evaluation of the blood smear revealed rare hemoflagellates, and later testing using real-time PCR and ELISA was confirmatory for Trypanosoma cruzi (T cruzi). Trypanosoma cruzi is a zoonotic pathogen responsible for Chagas disease in people and can have negative consequences on study results when positive animals are inadvertently used for preclinical research. This case report describes a marked large granular lymphocytosis in an otherwise healthy macaque as the only indication of infection with T cruzi in an animal believed to be negative for the infection. Additionally, it highlights the diagnostic limitations of screening tests to rule out diseases in animals intended to be used in preclinical studies.