Phenotypic characterisation of the cellular immune infiltrate in placentas of cattle following experimental inoculation with Neospora caninum in late gestation

Despite Neospora caninum being a major cause of bovine abortion worldwide, its pathogenesis is not completely understood. Neospora infection stimulates host cell-mediated immune responses, which may be responsible for the placental damage leading to abortion. The aim of the current study was to characterize the placental immune response following an experimental inoculation of pregnant cattle with N. caninum tachyzoites at day 210 of gestation. Cows were culled at 14, 28, 42 and 56 days post inoculation (dpi). Placentomes were examined by immunohistochemistry using antibodies against macrophages, T-cell subsets (CD4, CD8 and γδ), NK cells and B cells. Macrophages were detected mainly at 14 days post inoculation. Inflammation was generally mild and mainly characterized by CD3⁺, CD4⁺ and γδ T-cells; whereas CD8⁺ and NK cells were less numerous. The immune cell repertoire observed in this study was similar to those seen in pregnant cattle challenged with N. caninum at early gestation. However, cellular infiltrates were less severe than those seen during first trimester Neospora infections. This may explain the milder clinical outcome observed when animals are infected late in gestation.     

Asset mapping and Whanau action research: ‘New’ subjects negotiating the politics of knowledge in Te Rarawa

Te Runanga o Te Rarawa is the tribal council representing the interests of the marae (tribal commons) and hapu (a subtribal kin group) that make up the iwi (a Maori tribe) of Te Rarawa in the far north of Aotearoa/New Zealand. In April 2005, officials approached us to help them secure a valuable funding stream tagged to marshalling resources for material development in the area. They sought curriculum vitae and assistance in reframing the funding specifications. Intrigued, armed with a conceptual toolkit drawn from Gibson‐Graham's ideas of post‐development and asset‐based community mapping, and confident that we could add value, we agreed to help. This paper examines the complex politics of our involvement and our changing positioning as researcher subjects. We argue that negotiating a politics of knowledge for projects of this nature requires engagement in complex representational politics of place and divisive identity politics that rage around it. There are no easy protocols for outside researchers, but with appropriate humility and sensitivity to these politics, we can rely on, and should stand up for, the value of our work, which lies in commitments to excellence in scholarship. We cannot and should not seek to control these politics, which will chew us up and spit us out – humanely and with good grace or otherwise. However, good academic work will recognise and adapt to them. In our particular case, we argue that our work had significant value; and in this paper, we trace the production of this value.     

Changes in the contents of oleoresin and pungent bioactive principles of Jamaican ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe.) during maturation

Changes in the yields of the oleoresin and content of pungent bioactive principles: [6], [8], [10] gingerols and [6] shogaol of Jamaican ginger ( Zingiber officinale) were investigated during different stages of maturity (7-9 months). Ethanolic oleoresin extracts were prepared (95%, w/w) by cold maceration of dried ginger powder, and their percentage yields were calculated (w/w). The pungent bioactive principles in the ginger oleoresin were extracted with methanol and quantitatively analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Ginger harvested at 8 months from Bourbon, Portland had the highest oleoresin yield (8.46 +/- 0.46%). [6] Gingerol was found to be the most abundant pungent bioactive principle in all the oleoresin samples investigated, with the 9 months sample from Bourbon, Portland containing the highest level (28.94 +/- 0.39%). The content of [6] gingerols was also found to be consistently high (7-9 months) in oleoresin samples from Johnson Mountain, St. Thomas (15.12 +/- 0.39 to 16.02 +/- 0.95%). The results suggest that Bourbon in Portland may be the most ideal location for cultivating ginger for high yields and quality, however, Johnson Mountain in St. Thomas could prove to be the least restrictive location, allowing for harvesting of good quality material throughout the maturity period (7-9 months).     

Associations between salivary bacteria and reported sugar intake and their relationship with body mass index in women and their adolescent children

OBJECTIVE: To study associations between reported sugar intake and salivary bacteria (mutans streptococci, MS and lactobacilli, LB), and sugar intake in relation to body mass index (BMI), in women and adolescents. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. Habitual dietary intake was reported in a questionnaire and whole saliva samples were collected and cultivated. SETTING: Stockholm, Sweden. SUBJECTS: Four hundred and fourteen mothers and their 16-year-old children (57% girls). RESULTS: Reported total sugar intake was significantly associated with LB in mothers (P = 0.001), but not in daughters and sons (P = 0.03 for mother-son interaction). When excluding lactose, the associations with LB and MS were significant in daughters (P = 0.032 and 0.005, respectively). High BMI and sugar intake from milk were independently associated with MS counts in mothers in a multiple regression model (R2 = 0.053). In daughters, sugar from beverages, candies/chocolates and fruits were all independently associated with MS counts (R2 = 0.074), whereas in sons, only mothers' MS counts were associated (R2 = 0.084). High BMI, low intake from cooked meals and high intake of candies/chocolates were all independently associated with LB in mothers (R2 = 0.076), while, except for candies/chocolates in daughters, no significant associations were found in children. BMI was significantly associated with bacteria counts in both mothers and children, whereas reported sugar intake was not. CONCLUSION: The associations between reported sugar intake and bacteria were generally weak. In mothers and daughters, some significant associations were found, but not in sons. Bacteria counts, but not reported sugar intake, were positively associated with BMI.     

Study of haemostatic disorders in experimentally induced leishmaniasis in Beagle dogs

Haemostatic alterations in dogs experimentally infected with Leishmania infantumwere studied before and after therapy with meglumine antimonate. Haemostatic function tests including platelet count, collagen-induced platelet aggregation, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, plasma fibrinogen determination, and serum fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products concentration were performed. In the course of infection and before treatment, moderate thrombocytopenia (P<0·00001) decreased collagen induced platelet aggregation (P=0·0003), prolonged thrombin time (P=0·0117) and increased fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products were observed. Statistically significant differences of plasma fibrinogen concentration, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time were not encountered. Haemostatic parameters returned to normal values after therapy. The results indicate that Leishmania infection may impair haemostasis suggesting induction of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and that treating dogs in an early stage of infection may potentially avoid the possibility of developing an uncompensated DIC.     

Characterization of a carlavirus from dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

A carlavirus was isolated from leaves of a dandelion plant raised in the experimental garden of the Hugo de Vries Laboratory in Amsterdam. The virus was readily sap-transmissible and infected 24 out of the 52 plant species and cultivars tested, with visible symptoms in 18 of them.Myzus persicae andCuscuta subinclusa (dodder) did not transmit the virus. In addition the virus was not seed-transmitted in dandelion. Dilution end-point was 10^–5, thermal inactivation occurred at between 80–85°C and longevity in vitro was approximately 24h. The virus had a sedimentation coefficient of 136 S. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the coat protein gave two bands, consisting of proteins with molecular masses ranging from 37 000 to 34 300 Da (band I) and from 34 000 to 32 800 Da (band II). The molecular mass of the RNA was 2.84 x 10⁶ Da. The average buoyant density of the virus was 1.306 gcm^–3 and the average A₂₆₀/A₂₈₀ ratio 1.16. The virus particles had a normal length of 668 nm. with the light microscope, large mainly vacuolate inclusions were observed in the epidermal cells of infectedNicotiana cleavelandii leaves. In ultra-thin sections of systemically infected leaves ofN. clevelandii, bundles of aggregated virus particles were detected, whereas in infected dandelion leaves there were fewer aggregates and more scattered virus particles. There was a close serological relationship to dandelion latent virus, chrysanthemum virus B and potato virus S and a more distant one to carnation latent virus, elderberry carlavirus,Helenium virus S and potato virus M. The occurrence of the virus was found to be restricted to dandelion plants in the experimental garden in Amsterdam. On the basis of large differences in host range, symptomatology and lack of transmission byM. persicae it was decided that the virus could not be considered a strain of either dandelion latent virus, chrysanthemum virus B or potato virus S. We therefore propose that it be called dandelion carlavirus.Samenvatting Een carlavirus werd geïsoleerd uit een paardebloemplant, die opgekweekt was in de proeftuin van het Hugo de Vries-Laboratorium in Amsterdam. Het virus kon gemakkelijk met sap worden overgebracht en was in staat 24 van de 52 getoetste plantesoorten en-cultivars te infecteren, waarbij op 18 van deze symptomen zichtbaar werden.Myzus persicae en warkruid (Cuscuta subinclusa) konden het virus niet overbrengen. Evenmin kon het virus met zaad van geïnfecteerde planten van paardebloem overgaan. De verdunningsgrens was 10^–5, de inactiveringstemperatuur 80–80°C en de houdbaarheid in vitro ongeveer 24 uur. Het virus had een sedimentatiecoëfficiënt van 136 S. Polyacrylamide-gelelektroforese van het manteleiwit resulteerde in twee banden, bestaande uit eiwitten met molecuulmassa's die varieerden van 37000 tot 34 3000 Da (band I) en van 34 000 tot 32 800 Da (band II). De molecuulmassa van het RNA was 2,84×10⁶Da. De gemiddelde zweefdichtheid van het virus bedroeg 1,306g cm^–3 en de gemiddelde A₂₆₀/A₂₈₀ verhouding was 1,16. Het virus had een normale lengte van 668 nm. In de epidermiscellen van geïnfecteerde bladeren vanNicotiana clevelandii werden met de lichtmicroscoop insluitsels met draderige en vacuoleachtige structuren waargenomen. In ultradunne coupes van systemisch geïnfecteerde bladeren vanN. clevelandii waren bundels geaggregeerde virusdeeltjes zichtbaar. In geïnfecteerde bladeren van paardebloem werden daarentegen meer verspreid voorkomende virusdeeltjes gevonden en minder aggregaten. Het virus vertoonde een sterke serologische verwantschap met het dandelion latent virus, chrysantevirus B en aardappelvirus S; er was een geringe verwantschap met het latente anjervirus, het carlavirus van vlier, Helenium virus S en het aardappelvirus M. Het vóórkomen van het virus bleek beperkt te zijn tot paardebloemen in de proeftuin in Amsterdam. Gezien de grote verschillen in waardplantenreeks, symptomatologie en overdracht metM. persicae hebben we gemeend, dat het virus niet slechts als een stam kon worden beschouwd van hetzij het dandelion latent virus, hetzij het chrysantevirus B en het aardappelvirus S. We stellen voor de naam carlavirus van paardebloem aan dit virus te geven.     

Evaluation of Doppler ultrasonography for the measurement of blood flow in young loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta)

The aim of this study was to identify ultrasound accessible blood vessels in the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) and describe their Doppler waveform patterns, peak systolic velocity, mean velocity, systolic/diastolic ratio as well as pulsatility and resistive indices. B-mode, colour and pulsed-wave Doppler examinations were performed on 10 turtles. Flow measurements were recorded for the left and right aorta, epigastric and internal iliac arteries, and right hepatic vein. Additionally, the large blood vessels of three dead turtles were injected with latex and dissected for anatomical support. A parabolic flow velocity profile was observed in all arteries. The waveforms of the right and left aortic arteries showed an unusual pattern when compared with mammals. The hepatic vein flow velocity waveform of the loggerhead sea turtle was found to be similar to that in the dog, although the flow velocity in the C-wave was higher than that in the A-wave. The low resistance flow pattern observed suggests that the loggerhead sea turtle's organs require a continuous blood supply.     

Responses of five small mammal species to micro-scale variations in vegetation structure in secondary Atlantic Forest remnants,Brazil

Background  

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is highly endangered and only about 7% of the original forest remains, most of which consists of fragments of secondary forest. Small mammals in the Atlantic Forest have differential responses to this process of fragmentation and conversion of forest into anthropogenic habitats, and have varying abilities to occupy the surrounding altered habitats. We investigated the influence of vegetation structure on the micro-scale distribution of five small mammal species in six secondary forest remnants in a landscape of fragmented Atlantic Forest. We tested whether the occurrence of small mammal species is influenced by vegetation structure, aiming to ascertain whether species with different degrees of vulnerability to forest fragmentation (not vulnerable: A. montensis, O. nigripes and G. microtarsus; vulnerable: M. incanus and D. sublineatus; classification of vulnerability was based on the results of previous studies) are associated with distinct vegetation characteristics.