Azotemia and mortality among Babesia microti-like infected dogs

Babesia microti-like piroplasms are a recently recognized cause of illness in dogs in northwest Spain. Our objective was to describe the clinical characteristics and investigate the risk factors for azotemia and death among 58 B microti-like infected dogs. Twenty-one of the 58 (36%) dogs were azotemic at the time that the infection was diagnosed. The case fatality rate during the following week was 22%. Dogs with azotemia at the time of diagnosis were 10 times (95% CI, 3.26-28.8) more likely to die during the following week. Azotemia was the main cause of death for B microti-like infected dogs (attributable fraction = 90%). Severe anemia was present in 45 of the 58 (78%) dogs. Azotemic dogs also presented with hyperphosphatemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypercholesterolemia, proteinuria, and high urine protein: creatinine ratios, suggesting a glomerular component to the disease. Age was the only factor significantly associated with the risk of azotemia (P = .042): on average, a 4-year age increase doubled the risk of an infected dog being azotemic. The only factor significantly associated with mortality was azotemia (P = .001). We concluded that B microti-like infection is associated with a high risk of azotemia and mortality.     

A preliminary trial of the sedation induced by intranasal administration of midazolam alone or in combination with dexmedetomidine and reversal by atipamezole for a short‐term immobilization in pigeons

ObjectiveTo assess the sedative and immobilization effect of intranasal administration (INS) of midazolam (MID) without or with INS dexmedetomidine (DXM), and some physiological changes induced by the drugs. The ability of INS atipamezole to reverse the DXM component was also assessed.Study designProspective ‘blinded’ experimental study.AnimalsIn total, 15 pigeons.MethodsPigeons were sedated by INS MID alone at a dose of 5 mg kg⁻¹ (group MID, n = 6) or in combination with INS DXM at a dose 80 μg kg⁻¹ (group MID-DXM, n = 6). Measurements were made of heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (f_R) and cloacal temperature (CT). The degree of sedation was assessed at 15 minutes prior to, immediately after, and at intervals until 100 minutes after drug administrations. Following MID-DXM, INS atipamezole (250 μg kg⁻¹) was administered and the same indices measured 5 and 10 minutes later.ResultsMID had no effect on HR and f_R, and although CT decreased, it remained within physiological range. MID-DXM caused significant falls in HR, f_R and CT that persisted until the end of sedation. Atipamezole antagonized sedation and cardiorespiratory side effects of MID-DXM within 10 minutes of application. In addition, for MID compared to MID-DXM, the lowest sedation scores [10 (7–14) and 10.5 (5–14) versus 2 (1–4) and 2 (1–5)] were achieved in the 10th and 20th minute versus the 20th and 30th minute of the sedation, respectively.Conclusions and clinical relevanceMID alone, given INS had minimal side effects on vital functions but caused inadequate immobilization of pigeons for restraint in dorsal recumbency. MID-DXM caused an effective degree of immobilization from 20 to 30 minutes after administration, at which time birds tolerated postural changes without resistance. Atipamezole antagonized both side effects and sedation, but complete recovery had not occurred within 10 minutes after its application.     

Effects of seedbed properties on crop emergence: 3. Effects of firming of seedbeds with various sowing depths and water contents

Abstract

Extensive experiments were carried out in shallow plastic boxes placed directly on the ground in the field to study the effects of seedbed properties on the emergence of various crops in a cool temperate climate. In a group of experiments with barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), we studied the effects on crop emergence of firming (slight compaction) of the seedbed, simulating the recompacting effects of rolling after sowing or press wheels on the seed coulters. Most of the experiments were carried out without irrigation after sowing. The firming usually had a slightly positive effect on emergence when the water content in the surface layer at sowing was below the wilting point. When the water content in the surface layer was higher, firming often reduced emergence drastically, particularly with deep sowing and in coarse-textured soils. The main reason for negative effects was harmful hardening of the surface layer when the more firm seedbed gradually dried out. When irrigation kept the seedbed continuously moist, the negative effect of firming was almost eliminated. Very high initial water content in the basal layer tended to delay surface layer drying and hardening, and to reduce the negative effect of firming. Firming only slightly influenced the evaporative water losses from the soil. In contrast to the results presented here, previous field trials with cereals have usually resulted in more positive effects of rolling after sowing. This indicates that other effects than firming, such as modification of sowing depth and reshaping of the soil surface, are other important effects of rolling.     

Effect of organic amendments on the retention and mobility of imazaquin in soils

The influence of two organic amendments consisting of an urban waste compost (SUW) and a commercial amendment from olive mill wastes (OW) was assessed on the sorption properties and leaching of the ionizable herbicide imazaquin on four soils with different physicochemical characteristics. A loamy sand soil (CR), a loam soil (P44), a silt loam soil (AL), and a clay soil (TM), with low-medium organic matter contents, were chosen. Sorption-desorption experiments were performed on the original soils and on a mixture of these soils with the organic amendments at a rate of 6.25% (w/w). These mixtures were used just after preparation and after aging for 3 months. Imazaquin adsorption was higher on AL soil because of its high content of amorphous iron oxides, whereas it was related to the soils' organic matter (OM) contents on TM and CR soils and to acid pH on P44 soil. Addition of exogenous OM to soils caused a decrease in the adsorption of the herbicide with the only exception of CR soil, due to blocking of adsorptive surfaces and/or equilibrium pH rise. The extent of this decrease was dependent only on the nature of the added amendment on AL soil. The adsorbed amounts of imazaquin on aged organic fertilized soils were usually fairly close to that on original soils. Results of soil column experiments indicate that addition of exogenous organic matter cannot be considered as a regular practice for retarded movement of imazaquin.     

CD46 in meningococcal disease

The human-specific bacterial pathogen Neisseria meningitidis is a major cause of sepsis and/or meningitis. The pili of N. meningitidis interact with CD46, a human cell-surface protein involved in regulation of complement activation. Transgenic mice expressing human CD46 were susceptible to meningococcal disease, because bacteria crossed the blood-brain barrier in these mice. Development of disease was more efficient with piliated bacteria after intranasal, but not intraperitoneal, challenge of CD46 transgenic mice, suggesting that human CD46 facilitates pilus-dependent interactions at the epithelial mucosa. Hence, the human CD46 transgenic mice model is a potentially useful tool for studying pathogenesis and for vaccine development against meningococcal disease.     

Solid-phase extraction of pesticides from surface water using discs,bulk sorbents and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE)

Extraction of pesticides from river water samples using the classical liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) approach is a labour-intensive procedure that requires relatively large volumes of solvent. With the solid-phase extraction (SPE) technique using membranes, the volumes of solvent are reduced. However, it is necessary to pre-filter and often also to acidify the river water to pH < 2 to prevent plugging of the capillary pores. This low pH may decompose some pesticides and therefore a fast and inexpensive technique with bulk sorbent and without prefiltration and acidification was developed. To reduce the solvent volumes further, extractions of discs and bulk sorbent were performed with supercritical fluids (SF). Seven pesticides with different polarities were studied. Mean recoveries from the bulk sorbent and the discs were of the same order (61%). However, recoveries from the latter improved to 82% with SFE of the discs, providing results comparable to LLE (94%) recovery.     

Characterization of triadimefon sorption in soils using supercritical fluid (SFE) and accelerated solvent (ASE) extraction techniques

Sorption–desorption of the fungicide triadimefon in field‐moist silt loam and sandy loam soils were determined using low‐density supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). The selectivity of SFE enables extraction of triadimefon from the soil water phase only, thus allowing calculation of sorption coefficients (K_d) at field‐moist or unsaturated conditions. Triadimefon sorption was influenced by factors such as soil moisture content and temperature; sorption increased with increased moisture content up to saturation, and decreased with increased temperature. For instance, K_d values for triadimefon on the silt loam and the sandy loam soils at 40 °C and 10% water content were 1.9 and 2.5 ml g⁻¹, respectively, and at 18% water content, 3.3 and 6.4 ml g⁻¹, respectively. Isosteric heats of sorption (ΔH_i) were −42 and −7 kJ mol⁻¹ for the silt loam and sandy loam soils, respectively. Sorption–desorption was also determined using an automated accelerated solvent extraction system (ASE), in which triadimefon was extracted from silt loam soil by 0.01 M CaCl₂. Using the ASE system, which is basically a fast alternative to the batch equilibration system, gave a similar ΔH_i value (−29 kJ mol⁻¹) for the silt loam soil (K_f = 27 µg^{1 − 1/n} ml^1/n g⁻¹). In order to predict transport of pesticides through the soil profile more accurately on the basis of these data, information is needed on sorption as a function of soil water content. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry