Canine and human factors related to dog bite injuries

OBJECTIVE: To identify physical traits of biting dogs and characteristics of injured persons and dog owners associated with bite situations for use in public health prevention activities. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. STUDY POPULATION: Licensed dog and dog bite report data from June 30, 2002, to July 1, 2003, that were obtained from Animal Control Services of Multnomah County, Oregon. PROCEDURES: To determine the canine and human factors associated with dog bite injuries, the number of bites, dog and injured person characteristics, and the overall canine population were evaluated. Dog owner characteristics at the block group level were defined by use of geographic information system software through 2000 census information based on place of residence. RESULTS: During the study period, 636 dog bites were reported to Animal Control Services, and 47,526 dogs were licensed in Multnomah County. Risk factors associated with biting dogs included breed (terrier, working, herding, and nonsporting breeds), being a sexually intact male, and purebred status. Male children aged 5 to 9 years had the highest rate of injury (178 bites/100,000 children). Biting dogs were more likely than nonbiting dogs to live in neighborhoods where the residents' median incomes were less than the county median income value ($41,278). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Dog bites continue to be a source of preventable injury. Prevention programs should target owners of sexually intact male and purebred dogs and owners who live in lower income neighborhoods.     

The effect of high pre‐slaughter environmental temperature on meat quality traits of Italian autochthonous pig Suino Nero Lucano

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of high pre‐slaughter environmental temperature on meat (Longissimus lumborum muscle) quality traits of Italian autochthonous pigs Suino Nero Lucano (SNL). High pre‐slaughter environmental temperature influenced the meat quality of autochthonous pigs. In particular, the meat from SNL pigs exposed to heat stress (H) showed significantly lower pH values at 24 and 48 hr post mortem, haem iron content and redness (a*) value, and a significantly higher shear force, drip loss and lightness (L*) values, compared to meat from SNL pigs reared under comfortable environmental temperature (C). Moreover, H meat showed a significant reduction of vitamin A, vitamin E, creatine and carnosine content, compared to C meat. Despite this, no pale‐soft‐exudative pork was found in our study, and no significant difference was detected between two studied groups for intramuscular fat and protein content of meat. In addition, despite the meat from SNL pigs exposed to heat stress has suffered a qualitative decrease, it showed a good endogenous antioxidants content.     

Keratitis due to microfilariae in dogs: a newly recognized disease

Parasitic agents have been associated with keratitis, but a diagnosis of parasitic keratitis has not been commonly made in domestic animals. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical and histopathological findings in seven dogs with chronic keratitis caused by microfilariae diagnosed in Brazil. All dogs presented with superficial corneal opacities of varying degrees affecting the perilimbal and central regions of the cornea, with other opaque areas appearing as crystalline deposits and corneal vascularization. The lesions were bilateral and were associated with mild‐to‐moderate conjunctival hyperemia. There was no history of blepharospasm or pruritus, and no subjects presented with epithelial erosions. Corneal biopsy revealed free microfilariae in the corneal stroma, with varying degrees of inflammation and collagen fiber destruction. The microfilariae were also found in skin lesions by skin snip technique. No adult worms were found in these dogs, and no dogs were on heartworm preventative before diagnosis. Monthly doses of oral ivermectin improved ocular and dermal lesions. One dog showed complete remission with the treatment. The species of the microfilariae was not identified.     

Sedative effects of intramuscular alfaxalone in pet guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and side effects of alfaxalone administered intramuscularly (IM) as a sedative agent in guinea pigs undergoing survey radiographs.

Supplementation with exogenous coenzyme Q10 to media for in vitro maturation and embryo culture fails to promote the developmental competence of porcine embryos

The coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a potent antioxidant with critical protection role against cell oxidative stress, caused by the mitochondrial dysfunction. This study evaluated the effects of CoQ10 supplementation to in vitro maturation (IVM) or embryo culture media on the maturation, fertilization and subsequent embryonic development of pig oocytes and embryos. Maturation (Experiment 1) or embryo culture (Experiment 2) media were supplemented with 0 (control), 10, 25, 50 and 100 μM CoQ10. The addition of 10–50 μM CoQ10 to the IVM medium did not affect the percentage of MII oocytes nor the fertilization or the parameters of subsequent embryonic development. Exogenous CoQ10 in the culture medium neither did affect the development to the 2–4‐cell stage nor rates of blastocyst formation. Moreover, the highest concentration of CoQ10 (100 μM) in the maturation medium negatively affected blastocyst rates. In conclusion, exogenous CoQ10 supplementation of maturation or embryo culture media failed to improve the outcomes of our in vitro embryo production system and its use as an exogenous antioxidant should not be encouraged.     

Effect of Salinity on Growth and Survival in Juvenile Opossum Pipefish,Microphis brachyurus,in Culture Conditions

Natural populations of the opossum pipefish, Microphis brachyurus, are affected in Mexico by anthropogenic alteration of their habitat and unregulated fishing as this species is traded as an aquarium fish without formal records as occurs with other syngnathids around the world. M. brachyurus is an estuarine fish adapted to salinity fluctuations. The aim of this study was to examine the effect on growth, condition, and survival of juvenile pipefish cultured for 4 wk at salinities of 0, 8, and 16 g/L. Pipefish were fed enriched Artemia nauplii maintaining a ration rate of 14% body weight per day (dry weight Artemia: wet weight fish). Pipefish cultured at 16 g/L showed lower survival (40%) than those at 0 and 8 g/L (100 and 96%, respectively), while juveniles cultured in 8 and 16 g/L were heavier (0.393 and 0.388 g, respectively), longer (9.9 cm), and grew faster (1.4) than those in 0 g/L (0.294 g, 9.1 cm, and 0.44, respectively). This study is the first to report that a salinity of 16 g/L compromises M. brachyurus culture potential and a salinity of 0 g/L caused poor growth while the optimal salinity for the species appears to be around 8 g/L.     

Natural Diffusers for the Treatment of Residual Water in an Aerobic System

The adsorption capacity of vermiculite, a natural clay, for removing dibenzothiphene (DBTP) from water solutions was investigated. DBTP is an organic compound with sulfur, commonly found in fossil fuels and coal. This compound can also be found in the environment due accidental spills of oil and derivatives. Due to its structure and physical–chemical properties it is considered a persistent compound. Vermiculite (VT) was used as an adsorbent in its natural form, impregnated with copper ions (Cu-VT), and hydrophobically modified (HDTMA-VT) by replacement sodium cations by hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium ion. The results showed that DBTP was adsorbed in considerable amounts by HDTMA-VT; however, the Cu-VT adsorbed DBTP in some proportions of HDTMA-VT. Because of the presence of sulfur atoms in the structure of the molecule, π complexation can be observed. The adsorption isotherms were treated by the Freundlich equation. The values of K _f are similar to Cu-VT and HDTMA-VT, showing that the adsorption may be either through hydrophobic interactions or interactions through the formation of π complex. Meanwhile, the results with the VT (natural form) showed a much smaller value of K _f. It is believed, compared with the literature, and because of the chemical composition of the vermiculite, that the adsorption mechanism is also conducted by π complexation, considering the absence of organic carbon content.     

Preliminary analysis of toxicity of benzoxazinones and their metabolites for folsomia Candida

The overall objective of this study was to explore the toxicity of benzoxazinone allelochemicals and their metabolites to Folsomia candida (Collembola: Isotomidae) (Willem, 1902). Experimental tests showed transformation products to have more pronounced toxicity than parent compounds. The underlying relationship between the chemical structure and toxicity was then studied using three-dimensional QSAR approaches, and results highlighted the role of the steric contribution.     

Fatty acid, triacylglycerol, and phytosterol composition in six Tunisian olive varieties

The physicochemical and stability properties as well as the fatty acid, triacylglycerol, sterol, and triterpenic dialcohol compositions of Tunisian olive oil varieties were analyzed. On the basis of our results, we classified all of the monovarietal oils into the extra virgin category. Oleic and linoleic acids were the most useful fatty acids to discriminate three cultivars, Neb Jmel, Chétoui, and Ain Jarboua, from the others. Of the six monovarietal virgin olive oils analyzed, the main triacylglycerols were OOO, POO, PLO plus SLL, and OLO, which was expected given the high oleic acid and low linoleic and linolenic acids content observed in total fatty acids. In total, these accounted for more than 80% of the total HPLC chromatogram peak area. The main sterols found were beta-sitosterol, Delta5-avenasterol, and campesterol. The statistical analysis showed significant differences between oil samples, and the obtained results showed a great variability in the oil composition between cultivars, which is influenced exclusively by genetic factors.