Clinical approach to prostatic diseases in the dog

In small animal practice, prostatic diseases are increasingly encountered. All dogs may experience prostatic disease, but particular care should be addressed to breeding dogs, in which prostatic affection may lead to decrease in semen quality and fertility. The most common prostatic disease is the benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) followed by prostatitis, prostatic neoplasia and prostate squamous metaplasia. These diseases do not have pathognomonic symptoms, therefore, making a correct diagnosis may not be easy. An accurate clinical examination and a correct diagnostic protocol are essential in order to begin the most appropriate treatment, and also to do a good prophylaxis where it is possible. BPH therapy is usually recommended when mild‐severe signs are present or if symptoms disturb the patient. New therapeutic approaches, both medical and surgical, allow to maintain fertility in most animals with prostatic disorders. Prostate cancer is relatively infrequent. Elective therapy is the surgical one, but it is considered palliative and can result in important post‐operative complications. The aim of this paper is to lay down the most appropriate diagnostic process describing the aetiologies of prostatic disease, their symptoms, the right investigative tools and therapy.     

Glutathione S-transferases of italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum): activity toward some chemicals, safener modulation and persistence of atrazine and fluorodifen in the shoots

Many varieties of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) show resistance to herbicides; while this ability was frequently attributed to alterations in the target sites of the herbicide's action of the plant or to an efficient oxidative metabolism, little attention has been paid to glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), which are a family of detoxifying enzymes involved in the inactivation of many toxic compounds. To investigate the role of GSTs, seedlings of Italian ryegrass were treated with four herbicides (atrazine, fenoxaprop-ethyl, fluorodifen, metolachlor) and a safener (fenchlorazol-ethyl). All the treatments were well tolerated by the plant, with very low decreases in terms of fresh weight and length of shoots. Regarding GST activity, the chemicals generally determined significant increases in the above enzyme activity toward the model-substrate CDNB. Therefore, the herbicides most GST inducing and the safener were tested themselves as enzyme substrates: constitutive GST activities toward atrazine, fluorodifen and fenchlorazol-ethyl were found, and, in addition, these activities were significantly induced by the safener. Following these results, a HPLC procedure was standardized in order to investigate the persistence of atrazine and fluorodifen in the seedlings of Italian ryegrass and the effect on this of the safener. It was found that the residual amounts of the two herbicides in the shoots were significantly reduced following the safener treatments.     

Improved fumigation process for stored foodstuffs by using phosphine in sealed chambers

In this paper we present an innovative device designed and constructed to improve the fumigation process for stored foodstuffs with the use of phosphine gas in sealed chambers. The device allowed a considerable reduction in phosphine production time (from about 5 to 7 days for traditional systems to 2 days for the equipment considered), maintaining the system below the inflammability threshold, and at the same time achieving the total exhaustion of aluminum (or magnesium) phosphide so as to avoid toxic residues at the end of the process. With the standard device currently available on the market, after the normal 5-7 day fumigating period, the powder residue contains as much as 1-2% (w/w) of phosphide. Thus the residues, according to current legislation, have to be considered toxic and harmful. To overcome this disadvantage, appropriate modifications were made to the cylindrical tray used for the fumigation process: a nebulizer was installed, which has the function of increasing the moisture of the air spreading around the phosphide pellets and allowing a more rapid reaction with phosphide. Moreover, the cylindrical tray was also heated by means of an electrical resistance, and temperature was checked by a thermostat, so as to always obtain the same efficiency, independently of outside temperature, for both hot and cold periods, since reaction speed depends on the system temperature considered. In addition, a control device for air saturation allows condensation processes to be avoided. Using the modified cylindrical tray we performed tests to determine the best values of humidity and temperature for the process concerned, avoiding phosphine concentrations that might result in a fire hazard, and the remixing of phosphide pellets inside the cylindrical tray. Our experimental data allowed us to obtain a mathematical model used to gain an insight into the process in question.     

Modeling delivery performance in pressurized irrigation systems from simulated peak-demand flow configurations

A methodology to assess performance of pressurized irrigation distribution networks is presented, which is based on generation of flow configurations from simulated delivery scenarios, and on subsequent analysis of network operation and delivery achievements. The rationale of the methodology entails simulating the peak-demand flow configurations in the pipe network through a deterministic–stochastic combined agro-hydrological model, and forecasting the delivery performance by means of a hydraulic simulation model and of some specific performance indicators. The agro-hydrological model generates disaggregated information on soil water deficits for all the cropped fields downstream from the delivery hydrants, and forecasts the demand flow hydrographs and irrigation deliveries for the entire service area during peak-demand periods. The simulated-demand flow configurations are then passed on to the hydraulic simulation model, which evaluates the hydraulic performance achievable by the pipe network. The performance analysis is then refined using additional indicators specifically adapted to pressurized irrigation networks. The proposed methodology was applied to a large-scale pressurized irrigation system of southern Italy that is in need of modernization. Results proved the usefulness of the combined use of simulation tools as components of an analytical framework to address modernization and re-engineering of existing irrigation delivery networks, on the basis of targeted delivery performance.     

Isolation and identification of Salmonella spp. from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and badgers (Meles meles) in northern Italy

Background

Salmonella spp. have been isolated from a wide range of wild animals. Opportunistic wild carnivores such as red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and badgers (Meles meles) may act as environmental indicators or as potential sources of salmonellosis in humans. The present study characterizes Salmonella spp. isolated from the intestinal contents of hunted or dead red foxes (n = 509) and badgers (n = 17) in northern Italy.

Findings

Thirty-one strains of Salmonella belonging to 3 Salmonella enterica subspecies were isolated. Fourteen different serovars of S. enterica subsp. enterica were identified, among which were serovars often associated with human illness.

Conclusions

Wild opportunistic predators can influence the probability of infection of both domestic animals and humans through active shedding of the pathogen to the environment. The epidemiological role of wild carnivores in the spread of salmonellosis needs to be further studied.     

The use of AFLP markers for cultivar identification in apricot

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) molecular markers were employed for the fingerprinting of 118 accessions of apricot, including cultivated varieties and related apricot species. Five primer combinations were tested and 165 polymorphic bands produced which could uniquely differentiate all accessions under investigation. Primer combinations were rated according to the multiplex ratio, the polymorphic index content and the discrimination power parameters and superior combinations were identified. AFLP markers were used in cluster analysis carried out with the UPGMA and the neighbour‐joining methods and parsimony analysis. Four groups of similar accessions were identified: (i) those from the Mediterranean basin, (ii) from China, (iii) from continental Europe and (iv) mixed Europe‐North America accessions. In the principal component analysis the first three components accounted for 17% of the total variability existing among accessions. Because the most important regions where apricot is cultivated in the world were represented in the analysis, with a large number of varieties, it was possible to discuss the data in the light of current phylogenetic hypotheses on the origin and evolution of the species.     

Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of Spray Flow and Evaporation in Sprinkler Irrigation

This paper shows the main results,reached during the last three years ofresearch by this group, on sprinklerirrigation modeling and experimenting. Amathematical method based on the SecondPrinciple of Dynamics proves to fully matchthe results obtained by more complicatedmodels from other authors, but still needsfurther verification to determine aerialwater droplet evaporation, even if this nowhelps to confirm the relevance of airfriction in the process. The experimentalactivity performed also shows its use inhelping towards a fuller understanding ofwater waste in sprinkler irrigationpractice.     

Carbon paste biosensor based on crude soybean seed hull extracts for phenol detection

In this study, a novel biosensor based on enzyme extracts from soybean seed hulls has been prepared, which demonstrated promising results in the detection of hydrogen peroxide and phenol. The biosensor preparation is straightforward and inexpensive, and the response time is 50 s. The optimum conditions of pH and temperature are a pH of 7.4 and a temperature of 20 degrees C. Contrary to expectations, the biosensor showed narrow pH and temperature optimums. The effects of enzyme loading and type of mediator were also investigated. The biosensor showed a linear response up to 500 microM phenol.     

Conserving the terecay (Podocnemis unifilis, Testudines: Pelomedusidae) through a community-based sustainable harvest of its eggs

The exploitation of South American river turtles as a food source has long been considered the main factor contributing to the decline of populations. Along a stretch of the Aguarico River (Ecuador), we investigated the spatial and temporal distribution of terecay (Podocnemis unifilis) nests, factors affecting nest outcome, and the effect of offering a reward for each hatchling captured on the pattern of egg consumption by the local human community. Flooding influence on egg mortality appears to be particularly important in this Amazonian region, destroying 63.1% of all nests. This amount of nests resulted more than sufficient to satisfy the local community’s consumption needs (28.2%). The proposed reward for each hatchling ensured the voluntary participation of the Cofan people in the terecay conservation project, leading to: (i) nests being harvested only from sites where there were likely no hatching possibilities, (ii) efficient management and protection of nesting beaches with abolition of poaching of nests and adult females, and (iii) transplantation of nests from sites that would be flooded (and whose yield exceeds human consumption). Therefore, we argue that in this area of Aguarico River there are both biologically and socially favourable conditions for the establishment of a sustainable harvest of terecay eggs. Possible factors determining high nest mortality due to flooding in this area, as well as opportunities to make the project evolve toward economic self-sustainability, will also be discussed.