Inherited retinal dysplasia and persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous in Miniature Schnauzer dogs

The objectives of this study were to define the clinical syndrome of retinal dysplasia and persistent primary vitreous in Miniature Schnauzer dogs and determine the etiology. We examined 106 Miniature Schnauzers using a biomicroscope and indirect ophthalmoscope. The anterior and posterior segments of affected dogs were photographed. Four enucleated eyes were examined using routine light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. A pedigree was constructed and related dogs were test-bred to define the mode of inheritance of this syndrome. Congenital retinal dysplasia was confirmed in 24 of 106 related Miniature Schnauzer dogs. Physical and postmortem examinations revealed that congenital abnormalities were limited to the eyes. Biomicroscopic, indirect ophthalmoscopic, and neuro-ophthalmic examinations confirmed that some of these dogs were blind secondary to bilateral retinal dysplasia and detachment (nonattachment) (n = 13), and the remainder had generalized retinal dysplasia (n = 11). Fifteen of these dogs were also diagnosed with unilateral (n = 9) or bilateral (n = 6) persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous. Nutritional, infectious, or toxic etiologies were not evident on physical, postmortem, light microscopic, or transmitting and scanning electron microscopic examination of four affected Miniature Schnauzers. We examined the pedigree and determined that an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance was most likely. Three test-bred litters including those from affected parents, carrier and affected parents, and carrier parents confirmed this mode of inheritance. This study confirms that retinal dysplasia and persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous is a congenital abnormality that is inherited as an autosomal recessive condition in Miniature Schnauzers.     

The future of canine glaucoma therapy

Canine glaucoma is a group of disorders that are generally associated with increased intraocular pressure (IOP) resulting in a characteristic optic neuropathy. Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss in dogs and may be either primary or secondary. Despite the growing spectrum of medical and surgical therapies, there is no cure, and many affected dogs go blind. Often eyes are enucleated because of painfully high, uncontrollable IOP. While progressive vision loss due to primary glaucoma is considered preventable in some humans, this is mostly not true for dogs. There is an urgent need for more effective, affordable treatment options. Because newly developed glaucoma medications are emerging at a very slow rate and may not be effective in dogs, work toward improving surgical options may be the most rewarding approach in the near term. This Viewpoint Article summarizes the discussions and recommended research strategies of both a Think Tank and a Consortium focused on the development of more effective therapies for canine glaucoma; both were organized and funded by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists Vision for Animals Foundation (ACVO‐VAF). The recommendations consist of (a) better understanding of disease mechanisms, (b) early glaucoma diagnosis and disease staging, (c) optimization of IOP‐lowering medical treatment, (d) new surgical therapies to control IOP, and (e) novel treatment strategies, such as gene and stem cell therapies, neuroprotection, and neuroregeneration. In order to address these needs, increases in research funding specifically focused on canine glaucoma are necessary.     

The formation of chondrules: petrologic tests of the shock wave model

Chondrules are millimeter-sized rounded igneous rocks within chondritic meteorites. Their textures and fractionated mineral chemistries suggest that they formed by repeated, localized, brief (minutes to hours) melting of cold aggregates of mineral dust in the protoplanetary nebula. Astrophysical models of chondrule formation have been unable to explain the petrologically diverse nature of chondrites. However, a nebular shock wave model for chondrule formation agrees with many of the observed petrologic and geochemical properties of chondrules and shows how particles within the nebula are sorted by size and how rims around chondrules are formed. It also explains the volatile-rich nature of chondrule rims and the chondrite matrix.     

AMP-deaminase from goldfish white muscle: regulatory properties and redistribution under exposure to high environmental oxygen level

AMP-deaminase was partially purified from white skeletal muscle of goldfish, Carassius auratus. The enzyme was highly stable, showing virtually no change in activity at 1 month following the purification process when stored in 1 M KCl at 2–4°C. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was 130–150 U/mg protein, with a pH optimum of about pH 6.5. AMP-aminohydrolase (AMPD) showed non-Michaelis–Menten kinetics, with a S_0.5 (half saturation by the substrate) for AMP of 0.73 ± 0.03 mM, a Hill coefficient of 2.01 ± 0.26, and a V _max (maximum velocity) of 176 ± 46 U/mg protein. Both sodium and potassium ions activated goldfish AMPD at low concentrations, with maximal activation at about 80 mM of each chloride salt, whereas higher concentrations became inhibitory. Magnesium and calcium ions also inhibited goldfish muscle AMPD, as did phosphate and fluoride; at a concentration of 8 mM, each anion reduced activity by about 66%. ADP and ATP were strong activators and both demonstrated concentration-dependent activation, with maximal effects at 0.5–1.5 mM. Fish exposure to a high concentration of oxygen (18–20 mg/l against 5–6 mg/l in the control) and recovery to the initial level induced a redistribution of AMPD between free and bound forms in goldfish white muscle and brain in a tissue-dependent manner. A spatial–temporal redistribution may be among the mechanisms regulating enzyme operation in vivo. Possible regulatory mechanisms of AMP-deaminase function in fish muscle are discussed.     

Dynamics of Moraxella bovis infection and humoral immune response to bovine herpes virus type 1 during a natural outbreak of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis in beef calves

Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) is an acute disease caused by Moraxella bovis (Mb). Several factors may predispose animals to an IBK outbreak; one commonly observed is infection with bovine herpes virus type 1 (BHV-1). The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamics of BHV-1 virus infection and its relation with clinical cases of IBK in weaned calves from a beef herd with a high prevalence of lesions caused by Mb. Sampling was carried out in six stages and included conjunctival swabs for isolating Mb as well as blood samples for identifying antibodies specific for BHV-1. A score for IBK lesions after observing each eye was determined. The findings of this study showed a high prevalence of BHV-1 virus infection (100% of animals were infected at the end of the trial); 67% of animals were culture-positive for Mb, but low rates of clinical IBK (19% of calves affected) were detected at the end of the trial. These results suggest that infection with BHV-1 did not predispose these animals to IBK, and that Mb infection produced clinical and subclinical disease in the absence of BHV-1 co-infection.     

Relating nematode community structure to different kikuyu-ryegrass pasture establishment methods

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Nematodes play an important role in agricultural soil in terms of their pest status and their contribution to soil quality, where they may serve as a...     

Does serum anti‐Müllerian hormone levels always discriminate presence of the ovaries in adult bitches? Comparison of two ELISA kits

Anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) is produced in the ovary, and thus, it is an excellent marker of follicle pool in females. Current interest is the clinical use of this parameter as a biomarker to assess presence or absence of an intact ovary and to diagnose ovarian remnant syndrome (ORS) following incomplete ovariohysterectomy (OHE) in bitches. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum AMH concentrations in bitches (n = 34) before and after OHE using two different commercial ELISA kits, one of which is based on detecting human AMH and the other is based on detecting human AMH and the other specified for canine AMH. Furthermore, serum AMH levels were also measured in six ORS cases to compare the diagnostic utility of the two different ELISA kits. Serum AMH concentrations measured using the human and canine kit prior to and after OHE were 0.32 ± 0.24, 0.006 ± 0.22 ng/ml (p < .001) and 12.08 ± 22.81, 9.55 ± 15.42 ng/ml (p = .868), respectively. Thus, the canine‐based kit was not able to reveal the significant drop in serum AMH levels. In conclusion, the human‐based ELISA kits successfully detected the drop in serum AMH concentrations. Reliable results can only be achieved from well‐designed ELISA kits, and AMH levels might be a useful diagnostic tool for the evaluation of presence or absence of ovaries as well as for the detection of ORS cases in bitches.     

A Study on Thought of Tea of Hanjae Yi-mok＇s Da-bu

The Da-bu of Hanjae Lee mok （1471-1498） is known as an original masterpiece,which is predominantly documented in Korean tea books.He had always spared no effort to put Confucianists＇ theories and thoughts into practice during his 28-year career.Da-bu tea magnificently reflected his concepts of Confucianism in conjunction with tea-drinking activities.The main contents of Da-bu have included written authors,tea species and production,landscape of tea cultivation,tea plants and leaves,ways of tea-drinking and three-grade tea,tea song of seven cups,5 merits and 6 moralities of tea,benefits of tea-drinking,tea comprehension,etc.According to the views of contents,tea of Hanjae Leemok is the only partner with which we can share life and it can also be beneficial to healthy diets.Not only does it have become part of our daily life,but also be a medicine for our physical and mental disease.He composed the tea song of seven cups,which sufficiently expressed a real practice of the pursued ideal state of Confucianism and Taoism.He also promoted a drinking tea for health enrichment of Confucianists.According to the analytical results of Da-bu,Hanjae＇s tea has recognizably become the personally real practice of Confucianism and state.He had reached the enlightenment for the state of birth and death.After consuming tea,his body and mind immediately changed to the state of joys and wonderland,and also he illustrated that this feeling is not a one-off state,it always comes out whenever drinking.Therefore,based on Hanjae Lee mok,tea drinking is not only the regiment for healthy benefits,but also it is a training method,＂ Dado in My Heart＂,for individuals to train their mind,body,and morality.