Aortopulmonary fistula in a Warmblood mare associated with an aortic aneurysm and supravalvular aortic stenosis

This case report describes the clinical presentation, the necropsy findings, and genetic results of a 13-year-old Warmblood mare presented with colic and a bilaterally loud, holosystolic murmur. Echocardiographic examination revealed the presence of a thoracic aortic aneurysm, an aortic pseudoaneurysm, a periaortic hematoma (circumferential cuffing by perivascular hemorrhage), and aortopulmonary fistulation. A supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) was visible during echocardiography. Necropsy confirmed that the thoracic aortic aneurysm had ruptured and connected to the pseudoaneurysm, which fistulated into the pulmonary artery. Histologically, the aneurysm wall revealed chronic lesions such as fibrosis, mucin depositions, mineralizations, and elastin fragmentation. The mid abdominal aorta showed lesions suggestive of a systemic elastin arteriopathy. Molecular analysis, however, could not attribute this disease to a variant in the elastin gene, the most common causative gene for SVAS. To the authors' knowledge, this case report describes a case of aortopulmonary fistulation in a Warmblood horse associated with the presence of SVAS and an aortic aneurysm.     

Copper,iron, zinc and tannin concentrations throughout the digestive tract of tropical goats and sheep fed a high-fibre tannin-rich diet

The dry season in tropical regions urges livestock to feed on nutritionally very poor diets. It has not been explored how tropical sheep—assumed grazers—and tropical goats—intermediate browsers—cope with a high-fibre tannin-rich diet. This study was designed to determine the effects of a high-fibre and tannin-rich diet on the flow of important microminerals iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) throughout the digestive tract of tropical sheep and goats. The feeding trial was set up with twelve adult male animals, six sheep with mean body weight (BW) of 30.3 ± 1.6 kg and six goats with mean BW of 26.4 ± 2.2 kg. The feed consisted of 36% leaves of Millettia ferruginea, 61% hay and 3% concentrate and was offered at 3% of BW (all on dry matter (DM) basis). The total faecal collection was carried out for 7 consecutive days. At the end of the experimental period, the animals were slaughtered to collect liver and digesta samples from the gastrointestinal tract. Feed, digesta and faecal samples underwent analysis of Fe, Zn, and Cu and total tannins (TT). Goats had significantly higher reticulum Cu concentrations expressed on DM as compared to sheep. Faecal Cu concentrations were higher for goats compared to sheep. Reticulum and colon digesta Zn levels were higher in goats than sheep. Abomasum and colon Fe levels were higher in sheep than goats when expressed on DM. These results suggest differences in feed intake, micromineral absorption, secretion and excretion between sheep and goats, pointing to a divergent mineral metabolism as an adaptation to the challenge of a dry season diet having very low nutritive value.     

Evaluation of health, nutrition and food security programmes in a complex emergency: the case of Congo as an example of a chronic post-conflict situation

OBJECTIVE: To describe the case of Congo as an example of the assessment and appropriateness of donor operational and sectoral strategies in a complex emergency. DESIGN AND SETTING: The paper reports the findings of an external evaluation of operations financed by the European Commission Humanitarian Office in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). RESULTS: The Congolese health system is suffering from severe deterioration. What is functioning in the public health context is donor-dependent with high costs and limited coverage. Despite a relatively favourable agro-climatic situation, food shortage and famine severely affect the nutritional status of large population groups. In this context, humanitarian programmes have generally improved access to health care and the nutritional status of beneficiaries. The reduction of malnutrition in project areas is often demonstrated even though the context did not permit consolidation of these results. Malnutrition continues to claim a massive cost of lives owing to the effect of widespread food insecurity that follows a circular cause-and-effect pattern of very low food production and extreme poverty. CONCLUSIONS: The current context in DRC does not correspond yet to 'post-crisis': neither at population level with regard to indicators of poverty, malnutrition, disease and death, nor at institutional level, with regard to state support to institutions. In these situations, the international community is often called upon to replace the state as service provider. Integrated humanitarian actions should be the future of relief projects in DRC. Health, nutrition and food security components should be considered a standard public health intervention strategy representing the most sensible approach to address the needs of the affected population.     

Mineral deficiency status of ranging zebu (Bos indicus) cattle around the Gilgel Gibe catchment, Ethiopia

Mineral deficiencies in cattle, widespread in East Africa, impair optimal health and production and consequently place a great burden on the farmers' income. Therefore, detection of shortages and imbalances of specific minerals is essential. Our objective was to evaluate the mineral status of grazing cattle around the Gilgel Gibe catchment in Ethiopia and associated factors. In study I, individual animal plasma and herd faecal Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, S, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu concentrations were determined in adult zebu cattle (Bos indicus; n?=?90) grazing at three altitudes around the catchment, whilst recording body condition score and sex. In study II, liver samples of adult male zebu cattle (n?=?53) were analysed for Cu, Zn, Fe, Se and Mo concentrations and inspected for parasitic infections. Plasma and liver analyses revealed a Cu deficiency problem in the area, since 68 and 47 % of cattle, respectively, were Cu deprived according to diagnostic criteria for Bos taurus cattle. High hepatic Mo concentrations in 17 % of cases might reflect excessive dietary Mo intake. Liver Se and plasma Na concentrations were too low in 92 and 80 % of cattle. Plasma Mn concentrations were largely below the detection limit. Plasma Cu as well as Ca concentrations were lower in the lowest altitude compared to the highest altitude group (P?<?0.05), whereas lean to medium cattle had lower plasma Cu concentrations (P?<?0.05). No differences in hepatic mineral concentrations were detected between cattle with different types of parasitic infection. In conclusion, bovine mineral deficiencies were present in the Gilgel Gibe area and were associated with grazing altitude and body condition score.     

Sustainable Rangeland Management in Southwest Iran: Understanding Changes in Experts’ Attitudes Toward Livelihood Alternatives

The importance of knowledge sharing, as an integral part of decision making, has been highly acknowledged by many authors. However, the process in which knowledge sharing should be conducted has remained a debatable issue. In this study, changes in experts’ attitudes, as a result of the knowledge-sharing process, in the context of rangeland management were assessed. We demonstrated a three-step knowledge-sharing process while recognizing collaborative knowledge sharing systems, which involves knowledge-sharing tools including face-to-face and virtual approaches. The process was applied to explore experts’ attitudes regarding livelihood alternatives in the Bazoft region of southwestern Iran. Sixty experts were selected from three groups categorized as key local stakeholders, practitioners, and scientists. First, the experts were independently given the task of ranking livelihood alternatives. Next, for a better understanding of alternatives and enhancing their view, additional knowledge and information were provided. Thereafter, their attitudes in the final step were assessed. According to the findings, change in the experts’ attitudes could take place, which eventually resulted in the prioritization of livelihood alternatives to approach sustainable rangeland management (SRM). The synergy of experts’ knowledge, which can be realized through a collaborative knowledge sharing process, can be further pursued by devising a workable policy framework to approach SRM.     

CpG-Induced Stimulation of Cytokine Expression by Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Foals and Their Dams

A relative immunodeficiency of young foals is considered to account for the increased susceptibility of foals to infectious diseases, including pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi. In this report, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy foals at 14 and 56 days of age, or from their dams, were incubated with three stimulatory and one nonstimulatory (control) synthetic cytosine-phosphate-guanosine oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODNs), and mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL) -6, IL-8, IL12-p35, and IL-12p40 were determined. Results indicated that synthetic CpG-ODNs can induce strong, rapid cytokine responses in healthy foals and adult horses. B-class CpG-ODNs 2135 and 2142 induced greater messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-12p40 than the C-class CpG-ODN 2395 in foal PBMCs. In foals, B-class CpG-ODNs induced IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-12P40 mRNA expression that was similar to or higher in magnitude than that observed in adult horses. These observations indicate that CpG-ODNs might be useful as immunomodulators or as potential adjuvants for vaccines to aid in preventing R. equi pneumonia and other bacterial diseases of foals.     

Modeling within field variation of the compaction layer in a paddy rice field using a proximal soil sensing system

A key characteristic of flooded paddy fields is the plough pan. This is a sub‐soil layer of greater compaction and bulk density, which restricts water losses through percolation. However, the thickness of this compacted layer can be inconsistent, with consequences such as variable percolation and leaching losses of nutrients, which therefore requires precision management of soil water. Our objective was to evaluate a methodology to model the thickness of the compacted soil layer using a non‐invasive electromagnetic induction sensor (EM38‐MK2). A 2.7 ha alluvial non‐saline paddy rice field was measured with a proximal soil sensing system using the EM38‐MK2 and the apparent electrical conductivity (EC_a) of the wet paddy soil was recorded at a high‐resolution (1.0 × 0.5 m). Soil bulk density (n = 10) was measured using undisturbed soil cores, which covered locations with large and small EC_a values. At the same locations (within 1 m²) the depth of the different soil layers was determined by penetrometer. Then a fitting procedure was used to model the EC_a – depth response functions of the EM38‐MK2, which involved solving a system of non‐linear equations and a R² value of 0.89 was found. These predictions were evaluated using independent observations (n = 18) where a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.87 with an RMSEE value of 0.03 m was found. The EC_a measurements allowed the detail estimation of the compacted layer thickness. The link between water percolation losses and thickness of the compacted layer was confirmed by independent observations with an inverse relationship having a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.89. This rapid, non‐invasive and cost‐effective technique offers new opportunities to measure differences in the thickness of compacted layers in water‐saturated soils. This has potential for site‐specific soil management in paddy rice fields.     

Granulomatous meningoencephalitis associated with Sporobolomyces roseus in a dog

A German Shepherd Dog was evaluated for clinical signs of multifocal, progressive brain disease. Despite supportive care, the dog died shortly after hospital admission. Granulomatous meningoencephalitis with intralesional fungal hyphae was diagnosed postmortem. The fungus was identified as Sporobolomyces roseus by polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of the ITS2 region.