Suspected fatal venous air embolism during anaesthesia in a Pomeranian dog with pulmonary calcification

CASE HISTORY: Death occurred in a 1.25 kg, 9-month-old female Pomeranian dog undergoing anaesthesia for surgical repair of partially healed fractures of the radius and ulna.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: Following sedation, anaesthesia was induced using thiopentone and maintained with halothane in oxygen. An acute decrease in the dog's end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO₂) measurements was noted approximately 50 min after induction, immediately following delivery of a 5-ml bolus of lactated Ringer's solution (LRS) administered to flush a small (0.06 ml) volume of fentanyl via a pre-placed intravenous (I/V) catheter. Venous air embolism (VAE) was suspected and the dog died despite interventive therapy. On post-mortem examination, several air bubbles were noted when the right ventricle was opened under water. Histologically, the kidneys appeared abnormal with immature glomeruli, and the lungs appeared diffusely mineralised. The origin of the air was probably small bubbles and microbubbles that may have been present in the extension set and 20 ml syringe used for the administration of fentanyl and I/V fluids to the dog.

DIAGNOSIS: Renal dysplasia and diffuse pulmonary calcification, with VAE as the probable cause of death.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In this case of VAE-associated anaesthetic death, it is further speculated that underlying pulmonary disease, in the form of pulmonary calcification, may have contributed to an increased sensitivity to the adverse effects of VAE.     

Immunization with outer membrane proteins of Pasteurella multocida (6:B) provides protection in mice

The immunoprotective efficacy of Pasteurella multocida (6:B) outer membrane proteins (OMPs) was examined in the mouse model. Bacterial OMPs were extracted using sarkosyl method and analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. Prototype vaccines were prepared using OMPs with adjuvants including dioleoyl phosphatidyl choline-based liposome and Montanide ISA206 water-in oil-in water emulsion. Antibody response to the vaccine was monitored using indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The results of the study showed that immunized mice had high titre with both the formulations. The vaccinated mice were able to survive a live virulent bacterial challenge. Based on the findings of the study it can be inferred that OMPs are important determinants of immunoprotection hence can serve as vaccine candidates against haemorrhagic septicaemia.     

Synseed conception for short-term storage,germplasm exchange and potentialities of regeneration genetically stable plantlets of desert date tree (Balanites aegyptiaca Del.)

Synthetic seed has become a proficient tool that facilitates conservation as well as mass propagation of elite plant species by encapsulating somatic embryo or meristem tissue. Inclusion of meristematic tissues instead of somatic embryos hastens widespread utilization of this technology in recent years. Synseeds offer short term conservation of germplasms, provide readily available tissue source for easy mass propagation where each synseeds can virtually act as zygotic seeds giving rise to plantlets. This is the first report on synseed production following the confirmation of the genetic homogeneity in regenerated plantlets of Balanites aegyptiaca Del. (L.) using ISSR marker system. In this study, nodal segments, excised from in vitro proliferated shoot cultures developed from mother plant, were encapsulated in calcium alginate beads and the finest gel complexation was achieved using 3 % sodium alginate and 100 mM CaCl₂·2H₂O. Maximum percent response (80 %) for conversion of encapsulated nodal segments into plantlets was obtained on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 12.5 μM benzyladenine and 1.0 μM α-naphthalene acetic acid. Encapsulated nodal segments could be stored at low temperature (4 °C) up to 4 weeks with a survival frequency of 82 %. The regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS medium augmented with 1.0 μM indole-3-butyric acid. Well-developed plantlets regenerated from encapsulated nodal segments were acclimatized successfully with 90 % survival frequency. Fingerprinting profiles of the regenerated plantlets derived from synseeds and the donor plant were generated using a total of 20 ISSR primers, of which 14 primers produced distinct, reproducible amplified products. A total of 158 scorable bands were obtained from the complete amalgamation of primers and plantlets and 98.7 % bands were monomorphic across the plantlets which indicate that this micropropagated line derived from synseed is genetically stable and demonstrates the reliability of our protocol for short term conservation, germplasm exchange and distribution of identical plants.     

Gastric dilatation-volvulus in dogs

Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) is a disease in which there is gross distension of the stomach with fluid or gas and gastric malpositioning. It causes pathology of multiple organ systems and is rapidly fatal. It is common in large- and giant-breed dogs. The disease appears to have a familial predisposition. Thoracic depth/width ratio also appears to predispose dogs to GDV. Implicated dietary factors include dietary particle size, frequency of feeding, speed of eating, aerophagia and an elevated feed bowl. A fearful temperament and stressful events may also predispose dogs to GDV. Abdominal distension, non-productive retching, restlessness, signs of shock, tachypnoea and dyspnoea are possible clinical signs. Initial treatment includes treatment of shock and gastric decompression. Surgical treatment should be performed promptly. There are no studies comparing the use of different anaesthetic agents in the anaesthetic management of GDV. Pre-medication with an opioid/benzodiazepine combination has been recommended. Induction agents that cause minimal cardiovascular changes such as opioids, neuroactive steroidal agents and etomidate are recommended. Anaesthesia should be maintained with an inhalational agent. Surgical therapy involves decompression, correction of gastric malpositioning, debridement of necrotic tissue, and gastropexy. Options for gastropexy include incisional, tube, circumcostal, belt-loop, incorporating, and laparoscopic gastropexy. Expected mortality with surgical therapy is 15–24%. Prognostic factors include mental status on presentation, presence of gastric necrosis, presence of cardiac arrhythmia and plasma lactate levels. Prophylactic gastropexy should be considered in dogs identified as being at high risk.     

Studies on some biochemical characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus of buffalo mammary origin

A total of 49 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus of buffalo mammary origin were studied for biochemical characteristics. Coagulase production, clumping factor, haemolytic activity, pigment production and fermentation of maltose and mannitol were employed to differentiate S. aureus from S. hyicus and S. intermedius. Out of 49 isolates, 97.95, 93.87, 93.87, 89.79, 95.91, 100.0, 95.91, 59.18, 100.0, 100.0, 100.0, 89.79, 91.83 and 100.0% isolates were positive for coagulase production, protein-A production, haemolysin production, thermostable nuclease production, deoxyribonuclease production, tellurite reduction, nitrate reduction, lipase production, phosphatase production, mannitol fermentation, glucose fermentation, M.R. test, V.P. test and pigment production respectively. The only isolate from which coagulase production could not be detected, however, showed haemolytic activity, protein-A productivity, pigmentation and mannitol fermentation. One of the protein-A negative isolate was coagulase positive and showed mennitol fermentation, pigmentation and haemolytic activity. The study revealed that the biochemical characteristics of S. aureus of buffalo mammary origin did not differ from those of cattle origin. Coagulase, haemolysin, thermostable nuclease, deoxyribonuclease, phosphatase, lipase, tellurite and nitrate reduction closely related with protein-A. The presence of protein-A seems to be as reliable an indicator for S. aureus of buffalo origin as is coagulase production.     

Consistent Variation Across Soil Types in Salinity Resistance of a Diverse Range of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Genotypes

Chickpea is considered sensitive to salinity, but the salinity resistance of chickpea germplasm has rarely been explored. This study aimed to (i) determine whether there is consistent genetic variation for salinity resistance in the chickpea minicore and reference collections; (ii) determine whether the range of salinity resistance is similar across two of the key soil types on which chickpea is grown; (iii) assess the strength of the relationship between the yield under saline conditions and that under non‐saline conditions; and (iv) test whether salinity resistance is related to differences in seed set under saline conditions across soils and seasons. The seed yield of 265 chickpea genotypes in 2005–2006 and 294 cultivated genotypes of the reference set in 2007–2008 were measured. This included 211 accessions of the minicore collection of chickpea germplasm from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). The experiments were conducted in a partly controlled environment using a Vertisol soil in 2005–2006 and an Alfisol soil in 2007–2008, with or without 80 mm sodium chloride (NaCl) added prior to planting. In a separate experiment in 2006–2007, 108 genotypes (common across 2005–2006 and 2007–2008 evaluations) were grown under saline (80 mm NaCl) and non‐saline conditions in a Vertisol and an Alfisol soil. In 2005–2006 in the Vertisol and 2007–2008 in the Alfisol, salinity delayed flowering and maturity, and reduced both shoot biomass and seed yield at maturity. There was a large variation in seed yield among the genotypes in the saline pots, and a small genotype by environment interaction for grain yield in both soil types. The non‐saline control yields explained only 12–15 % of the variation of the saline yields indicating that evaluation for salinity resistance needs to be conducted under saline conditions. The reduction in yield in the saline soil compared with the non‐saline soil was more severe in the Alfisol than in the Vertisol, but rank order was similar in both soil types with a few exceptions. Yield reductions due to salinity were closely associated with fewer pods and seeds per pot (61–91 %) and to lesser extent from less plant biomass (12–27 %), but not seed size. Groups of consistently salinity resistant genotypes and the ones specifically resistant in Vertisols were identified for use as donor sources for crossing with existing chickpea cultivars.     

Mapping QTL for resistance to botrytis grey mould in chickpea

Botrytis grey mould (BGM) caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex. Fr. is the second most important foliar disease of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) after ascochyta blight. An intraspecific linkage map of chickpea consisting of 144 markers assigned on 11 linkage groups was constructed from recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of a cross that involved a moderately resistant kabuli cultivar ICCV 2 and a highly susceptible desi cultivar JG 62. The length of the map obtained was 442.8 cM with an average interval length of 3.3 cM. Three quantitative trait loci (QTL) which together accounted for 43.6% of the variation for BGM resistance were identified and mapped on two linkage groups. QTL1 explained about 12.8% of the phenotypic variation for BGM resistance and was mapped on LG 6A. It was found tightly linked to markers SA14 and TS71rts36r at a LOD score of 3.7. QTL2 and QTL3 accounted for 9.5 and 48% of the phenotypic variation for BGM resistance, respectively, and were mapped on LG 3. QTL 2 was identified at LOD 2.7 and flanked by markers TA25 and TA144, positioned at 1 cM away from marker TA25. QTL3 was a strong QTL detected at LOD 17.7 and was flanked by TA159 at 12 cM distance on one side and TA118 at 4 cM distance on the other side. This is the first report on mapping of QTL for BGM resistance in chickpea. After proper validation, these QTL will be useful in marker-assisted pyramiding of BGM resistance in chickpea.