A case of interstitial pneumonia associated with Pneumocystis carinii in a foal

Subacute interstitial pneumonia with diffuse alveolar damage, marked macrophage infiltration, and intracellular Pneumocystis carinii cysts is described in a 3-month-old Swiss warmblood foal. Clinically, the disease was characterized by sudden onset of respiratory distress with fatal outcome. Based on serum immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgA, and IgM values, no humoral immunosuppression was detected. Spleen, thymus, and bronchial lymph nodes did not reveal lymphoid depletion, as assessed by immunohistochemical staining of CD-3-positive cells. Immunopathogenesis of pulmonary infections with intracellular agents in foals is discussed.     

Inherited alopecia X in Pomeranians

Four male Pomeranians that showed alopecia with an age of onset between five months and eight years were investigated.The aim of the investigation was to clarify whether the affected dogs had alopecia X and whether their symptoms might be due to a hereditary defect.The four affected dogs showed hairless patches at the root of the tail, at the back, at the limbs from the thigh to the tarsus and at the abdomen. Within the hairless patches some islets with sparse hair were present. In hairless patches the skin was dark pigmented. Besides the alopecia and hyperpigmentation no other symptoms were found according to anamnestic and clinical examination. History, clinical examinations, laboratory diagnostics, and histopathology of skin biopsies allowed the diagnosis of alopecia X in three affected male dogs.The last one of the affected dogs additionally had slightly reduced thyroid hormone levels. Based on identical symptoms and the close relatedness of all four animals, it was assumed that the fourth affected dog also had alopecia X.The available data possibly indicate a monogenic autosomal dominant inheritance, however a recessive inheritance can not be excluded at this time.     

A canine linkage map: 39 linkage groups

A low resolution canine marker map is an important tool in the further advancements in genetic analysis of dog breeds and the control and reduction of the frequency of inherited diseases. This study presents a genetic linkage analysis with 39 linkage groups using 222 polymorphic canine markers based on typing in the International DogMap reference families, consisting of 129 Beagle and German Shepherd dogs. Of these 39 linkage groups, 14 have been assigned to canine chromosomes by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH). These results are a further refinement on the first linkage groups from the International DogMap collaboration and represent a continuing collaboration.     

Effects of Intrauterine Devices in Mares: A Histomorphological and Immunohistochemical Evaluation of the Endometrium

Oestrous suppression by intrauterine devices (IUDs) is caused by prolongation of luteal function, but the biological mechanism is unknown. The aim of the study was to investigate mechanisms which could explain the action of IUDs. Thirty mares were age‐matched and either inseminated (AI, n = 15) or fitted with an IUD (IUD, n = 15) and subsequently divided into four groups: AI‐P, pregnant (n = 8); AI‐N, non‐pregnant (n = 7); IUD‐P, prolonged luteal phase (n = 7); and IUD‐N, normal luteal phase (n = 8). The median ages were 5.5 and 7 years in AI‐P and IUD‐P groups and 14 and 11 years in AI‐N and IUD‐N groups, respectively. On Day 15 after ovulation, an endometrial biopsy was obtained to study histomorphological and immunohistochemical expression patterns of uterine proteins (uteroferrin, UF; uterocalin, UC; uteroglobin, UG), oestrogen and progesterone receptors (ER, PR), proliferation marker Ki‐67 and content of inflammatory cells. Expression of UF was higher in IUD mares; the difference between pregnant and IUD‐P mares was significant. Mares exhibiting a prolonged luteal phase (AI‐P, IUD‐P) showed only mild angiosclerosis and lower expression of both ER and PR than mares with a normal luteal phase (AI‐N, IUD‐N). No significant differences were detected in the numbers of inflammatory cells, with the exception of macrophages, which were more numerous in AI‐P than AI‐N mares. Although inflammatory cells were not detected in IUD mares, increased UF levels may indicate chronic inflammation. Young age and normality of the endometrial blood vessels may improve the efficacy of IUDs.     

Environmental flow releases trigger spawning of a threatened fish: Research insights and publication enhance management,credibility and relationships

1. Publication is an important stage in the research process, but determining the impact of published research on environmental outcomes is a complex challenge that is seldom undertaken. In 2016, a published study used acoustic telemetry techniques and drift sampling to demonstrate that environmental flow releases triggered downstream spawning migrations by a threatened fish species, the Australian grayling (Prototroctes maraena). The study provided support for the use of these types of releases to mitigate some of the effects of river regulation on fishes.
2. The impacts of this research and its publication in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems were thoroughly reviewed to identify benefits to water managers, researchers, institutes, and the wider community.
3. Five areas in which this research, and its publication, had a recognizable impact are enhanced confidence for water managers in undertaking actions; greater acceptance in the wider community of environmental flow releases; enhanced relationships among water managers; the credibility arising from the work being published in a peer‐reviewed journal; and setting a foundation for further evidence‐based management.

     

Hematologic changes after total body irradiation and autologous transplantation of hematopoietic peripheral blood progenitor cells in dogs with lymphoma

Dogs with and without lymphoma have undergone hematopoietic cell transplantation in a research setting for decades. North Carolina State University is currently treating dogs with B- and T-cell lymphoma in a clinical setting with autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell transplants, using peripheral blood CD34+ progenitor cells harvested using an apheresis machine. Complete blood counts were performed daily for 15 to 19 days posttransplantation to monitor peripheral blood cell nadirs and subsequent CD34+ cell engraftment. This study documents the hematologic toxicities of total body irradiation in 10 dogs and the subsequent recovery of the affected cell lines after peripheral blood progenitor cell transplant, indicating successful CD34+ engraftment. All peripheral blood cell lines, excluding red blood cells, experienced grade 4 toxicities. All dogs had ≥ 500 neutrophils/μl by day 12, while thrombocytopenia persisted for many weeks. All dogs were clinically normal at discharge.     

The development and integrity of equine pre‐antral follicles cultured in vitro with follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) supplementation

This study investigated the effects of different concentrations of FSH (10, 50, 100 and 200 ng/ml) in supplemented MEM+ on the development of equine pre‐antral follicles that were cultured in vitro for 2 or 6 days. The ovaries (n = 5) from mares in seasonal anoestrus were collected from a local abattoir. Ten ovarian tissue fragments of approximately 3 × 3 × 1 mm were obtained from each animal. The fragments were cultured in situ for 2 days (D2) or 6 days (D6) in MEM+ or MEM+ supplemented with FSH at four different concentrations, establishing the following 11 groups: control (D0); MEM + (D2); MEM + (D6); MEM + 10 ng/ml of FSH (D2); MEM + 10 ng/ml of FSH (D6); MEM + 50 ng/ml of FSH (D2); MEM + 50 ng/ml of FSH (D6); MEM + 100 ng/ml of FSH (D2); MEM + 100 ng/ml of FSH (D6); MEM + 200 ng/ml of FSH (D2); and MEM + 200 ng/ml of FSH (D6). Follicles were observed in only 9.65% (388 of 4,018) of the histological sections. Of the 861 follicles evaluated, 488 were in the primordial stage, and 373 were in various developmental stages; 59.7% were morphologically normal. Regarding the integrity of the pre‐antral follicles, the groups with 100 ng/ml FSH of 2‐days culture as well as 50, 100 and 200 ng/ml FSH of 6‐days culture provided the best results. In conclusion, the in vitro culture of abattoir‐derived equine ovarian fragments presented better morphological integrity when supplemented with FSH for 6 days, in comparison with the MEM culture group. However, no clear effects were observed with FSH regarding the promotion of activation from a primordial to a developing follicle.     

Multifunctional benefits of sainfoin mixtures: Effects of partner species,sowing density and cutting regime

Grass–legume mixtures have proven successful at improving the sustainability of grasslands. Their ability to suppress unsown species is particularly important for sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia), a forage crop with valuable bioactive compounds, yet low competitiveness. In this 3‐year study, the suitability of six partner species cultivated in mixtures with sainfoin at different annual numbers of cuts and partner sowing densities were evaluated. Mixture yields outperformed average monoculture yields by 31%, reduced the ratio of unsown species by 65% and increased the symbiotic N₂ fixation up to 158 kg ha^?1. A key finding of the study was the highly differential patterns of development of the partner grass species over the 3 years. These patterns of development had a large effect on the persistency of the proportion of sainfoin in the mixtures, which varied in the third year between 17% (when grown with Dactylis glomerata) and 38% (with Lolium perenne). These findings contribute to the further development of sustainable grass–legume systems, as evidence for the successful cultivation of sainfoin as an alternative legume species can help diversification, and knowledge of mixture development supports more persistent legume proportions.