Evaluation of clinical characteristics, diagnostic test results, and outcome in horses with internal infection caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis: 30 cases (1995-2003)

OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical signs, results of diagnostic testing, and outcome in horses with internal Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 30 horses. PROCEDURE: Information pertaining to clinical data, results of diagnostic tests, and costs of hospitalization and treatment was extracted from medical records of affected horses. RESULTS: Internal C. pseudotuberculosis infection was diagnosed on the basis of clinical signs, diagnostic imaging, and clinicopathologic data, including results of serologic tests and bacterial culture. The most common clinical signs were concurrent external abscesses, anorexia, fever, lethargy, weight loss, and signs of respiratory tract disease or abdominal pain. Clinicopathologic abnormalities included a geometric mean reciprocal serum synergistic hemolysin inhibition titer > or = 512, leukocytosis with neutrophilia, hyperglobulinemia, hyperfibrinogenemia, and anemia. Specific organ involvement was diagnosed in 27 of 30 horses. Affected organs included the liver (18 horses), lungs (12), kidneys (7), and spleen (3); multiple organs were affected in 10 horses. Treatment with antimicrobials for a median of 36 days (range, 7 to 97 days) was usually successful, yielding an overall survival rate of 71%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Early diagnosis and long-term antimicrobial treatment were important for a successful outcome in horses with internal C. pseudotuberculosis infection. Ultrasonographic imaging was an important technique for identifying specific organs affected, aiding in obtaining samples for a definitive diagnosis, and monitoring response to treatment. Pregnant mares with internal infections are at risk for fetal loss. Preexisting chronic organ disease may be associated with a poor prognosis.     

Activity of Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae) and ricinine against the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and the symbiotic fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus

The focus of this study was the identification of compounds from plant extracts for use in crop protection. This paper reports on the toxic activity of fractions of leaf extracts of Ricinus communis L (Euphorbiaceae) and isolated active compounds in the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel and its symbiotic fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus (Singer) M?ller. The main compounds responsible for activity against the fungus and ant in leaf extracts of R communis were found to be fatty acids for the former and ricinine for the ants.     

Comparative studies of mitogen- and antigen-induced lymphocyte proliferation in four captive rhinoceros species.

Cellular immune function in four rhinoceros species was evaluated by way of in vitro lymphocyte proliferation responses to mitogenic and antigenic stimuli to establish normative data on white blood cell activity for each species and to identify species-specific differences that might help explain the predisposition of black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis) to disease. A cross section of the U.S. rhinoceros population encompassing all four captive species was sampled, including the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) (n = 3); Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) (n = 4); African black rhinoceros (n = 16); and African white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) (n = 10). Of the four species evaluated, African black rhinoceroses exhibited the weakest (P < 0.05) lymphocyte proliferative responses to the mitogens: pokeweed (0.1 microg/ml), phytohemagglutinin (0.3 microg/ml), and concanavalin A (5.0 microg/ml). Total cell density at the end of culture was only 70% of that achieved with lymphocytes isolated from African white rhinoceroses, Indian rhinoceroses, and Sumatran rhinoceroses. However, lymphocyte response to bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide was similar (P > 0.05) across species. Antigenic stimulation produced much weaker responses than mitogenic stimulation. No differences (P > 0.05) were observed among rhinoceros species in response to 1 and 10 microg/ml of Leptospira icterohemorrhagiae or Leptospira gryppotyphosa. Lymphocytes from African white rhinoceroses proliferated weakly in the presence of Aspergillus fumigatus filtrate, whereas lymphocytes from the southern black rhinoceros subspecies appeared slightly suppressed in the presence of increasing doses (0.1, 1, and 10 microg/ml) of Aspergillus filtrate. This comparative data set characterizing lymphocyte proliferation in the rhinoceros reveals several differences in immune cell responses among rhinoceros species and provides some evidence that lymphocytes of captive African black rhinoceroses are less vigorous than those of the other rhinoceros species.     

Excess iodide and the accumulation of 125i by the thyroid,plasma and developing oocytes of the Japanese quail 1

1. Developing oocytes of the Japanese quail accumulated 0.lb44 μg of each 1 μg of 125I‐labelled iodide after intra‐muscular injection of doses up to 500 μg iodide as Nal but only 0.lb007 μg after injection of more than this: the abrupt change in the rate of accumulation was attributed to saturation of the iodide transport mechanism.

2. The proportion of available iodide transferred into the oocytes appeared to be more dependent on the amount of iodide injected and the total weight of growing oocytes than on a requirement for either a store of iodide for the embryo or an iodide excretory pathway for the hen.

3. The thyroid was about four times more active in accumulating iodide than the oocyte.

4. The percentage of iodide accumulated by the plasma was the same at all dose rates.     

Earthquake impacts on a protected pinniped in New Zealand

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Evaluation of bexagliflozin in cats with poorly regulated diabetes mellitus

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of bexagliflozin on glycemic control in poorly regulated diabetic cats and to evaluate for adverse events associated with this medication.Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are a newer class of drugs used in the management of humans with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the orally administered drug, bexagliflozin in a group of poorly regulated diabetic cats over a 4-week study period. Five client-owned cats with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus receiving insulin therapy were enrolled. Bexagliflozin was administered once daily. Serum fructosamine, serum biochemistry profile, and 10-hour blood glucose curves were assessed at baseline (Day 0), Day 14, and Day 28. All cats had a significant reduction in insulin dose requirement (P = 0.015) and insulin was discontinued in 2 cats. There was a significant decrease in blood glucose concentration obtained from blood glucose concentration curves during the study period (P = 0.022). Serum fructosamine decreased in 4 of the 5 cats with a median decrease of 152 μmol/L (range: 103 to 241 μmol/L), which was not statistically significant (P = 0.117). No cats had any documented episodes of hypoglycemia. Adverse effects were mild. The addition of bexagliflozin significantly improved diabetic management in this group of cats.     

Efficacy of a mycotoxin binder against dietary fumonisin, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone in rats

It was hypothesized that a mycotoxin binder, Grainsure E, would inhibit adverse effects of a mixture of fumonisin B1, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone in rats. For 14 and 28 days, 8-10 Sprague-Dawley rats were fed control diet, Grainsure E (0.5%), toxins (7 μg fumonisin B1/g, 8 μg of deoxynivalenol/g and 0.2 μg of zearalenone/g), toxins (12 μg of fumonisin B1/g, 9 μg of deoxynivalenol/g, and 0.2 μg of zearalenone/g + Grainsure E), or pair-fed to control for food intake of toxin-fed rats. After 28 days, decreased body weight gain was prevented by Grainsure E in toxin-fed female rats, indicating partial protection against deoxynivalenol and fumonisin B1. Two effects of fumonisin B1 were partly prevented by Grainsure E in toxin-fed rats, increased plasma alanine transaminase (ALT) and urinary sphinganine/sphingosine, but sphinganine/sphingosine increase was not prevented in females at the latter time point. Grainsure E prevented some effects of fumonisin B1 and deoxynivalenol in rats.