Canine Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Canine idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a disease in which antibodies bound to the surface of platelets mediate premature platelet destruction by macrophages. ITP in dogs and chronic ITP in humans are analogous diseases. This article draws on information from the literature on ITP in dogs and in humans, and reviews the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of ITP in dogs. J Vet Intern Med 1996;207–218. Copyright © 1996 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine .     

Detecting Migrants in Populations of Rhizoctonia solani Anastomosis Group 3 from Potato in North Carolina Using Multilocus Genotype Probabilities

ABSTRACT The relative contribution of migration of Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis group 3 (AG-3) on infested potato seed tubers originating from production areas in Canada, Maine, and Wisconsin (source population) to the genetic diversity and structure of populations of R. solani AG-3 in North Carolina (NC) soil (recipient population) was examined. The frequency of alleles detected by multilocus polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms, heterozygosity at individual loci, and gametic phase disequilibrium between all pairs of loci were determined for subpopulations of R. solani AG-3 from eight sources of potato seed tubers and from five soils in NC. Analysis of molecular variation revealed little variation between seed source and NC recipient soil populations or between subpopulations within each region. Analysis of population data with a Bayesian-based statistical method previously developed for detecting migration in human populations suggested that six multilocus genotypes from the NC soil population had a statistically significant probability of being migrants from the northern source population. The one-way (unidirectional) migration of genotypes of R. solani AG-3 into NC on infested potato seed tubers from Canada, Maine, and Wisconsin provides a plausible explanation for the lack of genetic subdivision (differentiation) between populations of the pathogen in NC soils or between the northern source and the NC recipient soil populations.     

Forced unfolding of proteins within cells

To identify cytoskeletal proteins that change conformation or assembly within stressed cells, in situ labeling of sterically shielded cysteines with fluorophores was analyzed by fluorescence imaging, quantitative mass spectrometry, and sequential two-dye labeling. Within red blood cells, shotgun labeling showed that shielded cysteines in the two isoforms of the cytoskeletal protein spectrin were increasingly labeled as a function of shear stress and time, indicative of forced unfolding of specific domains. Within mesenchymal stem cells-as a prototypical adherent cell-nonmuscle myosin IIA and vimentin are just two of the cytoskeletal proteins identified that show differential labeling in tensed versus drug-relaxed cells. Cysteine labeling of proteins within live cells can thus be used to fluorescently map out sites of molecular-scale deformation, and the results also suggest means to colocalize signaling events such as phosphorylation with forced unfolding.     

不同维生素预混料对科宝肉鸡生长性能、胫骨质量和抗氧化能力的影响

试验研究3种维生素预混料(处理1、2、3)对科宝肉鸡生长性能、胫骨质量及抗氧化能力的影响。1 200只科宝肉鸡随机分为3个处理,每个处理10个重复,每个重复40只鸡,试验期42 d。结果表明:与处理1相比,处理3和2可显著提高肉鸡21 d体重,显著降低1～21 d饲料增重比;处理3还显著提高肉鸡1～21 d体增重、采食量和21 d胫骨灰分和磷比例及42 d胫骨灰分、钙比例(P<0.05);与处理2相比,处理3显著提高肉鸡42 d胫骨磷比例(P<0.05)。与处理2和1相比,处理3显著提高肉鸡21 d血清总超氧化物歧化酶(T-SOD)活力(P<0.05)。结果表明,根据科宝肉鸡的生长性能、胫骨质量和机体抗氧化能力,适宜维生素预混料为处理3。     

Review of surrogacy program for endangered victorian brush-tailed rock wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) with special reference to animal husbandry and veterinary considerations.

A surrogacy program to increase the reproductive rate of the critically endangered Victorian brush-tailed rock wallaby (Petrogale penicillata), initially developed in semicaptive conditions, was established in close captivity at Adelaide Zoological Gardens in 1998. Pouch young were removed from their mothers on days 8-20 or 40-45 after parturition and placed onto the teat of a tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) or yellow-footed rock wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus xanthopus) surrogate mother. During the early years of the program, mortality of brush-tail pouch young was high (12/16, 75%), both before transfer while still on their mother (5/16) and after transfer to a surrogate mother (7/11). Changing pouch young transfer methodology and improving the health status of the surrogate animals during the later years of the program significantly reduced the mortality of brush-tail pouch young (8/29). Under the new methodology, no mortality of brush-tail pouch young was observed between birth and the time of transfer, (0/29), and after transfer, pouch young mortality rate was eight of 29 (28%). Factors implicated in the improved success of the program included 1) the early transfer (between days 8 and 20) of brush-tail pouch young from mother to surrogate mother, 2) review of the veterinary history and health of the animals selected to act as surrogate mothers, and 3) increased access to grazing pasture for foster mothers. The reproductive rate of the brush-tail females in the later years of the breeding program was sixfold above natural birthing rates. These and other factors important in establishing a breeding program of this nature are discussed.     

Effect of common aquaculture chemicals against Edwardsiella ictaluri and E. tarda

Edwardsiellosis is an important bacterial infection of freshwater and marine fishes. Edwardsiella ictaluri causes enteric septicemia of catfish, and E. tarda causes emphysematous putrefactive disease of catfish and fish gangrene in various species; these diseases have considerable economic effects on the aquaculture industry. In addition, E. tarda is an important zoonotic pathogen. Thus, the reduction or elimination of these pathogens from an aquarium or aquaculture facility is imperative. This study examined a variety of commercially available chemicals for their ability to reduce or eliminate E. ictaluri and E. tarda from the aquatic environment. The various concentrations of chemicals were tested in vitro in microcentrifuge tubes with a known concentration of bacteria at room temperature. In this study, ethyl alcohol (30, 50, or 70%), benzyl-4-chlorophenol/phenylphenol (1%), sodium hypochlorite (50, 100, 200, or 50,000 mg/L), n-alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (1:256), povidone iodine (50 or 100 mg/L), glutaraldehyde (2%), and potassium peroxymonosulfate/sodium chloride (1%) were effective disinfectants, as each reduced or eliminated the number of detectable organisms within 1 min of contact time. However, neither Chloramine-T (15 mg/L) nor formalin (250 mg/L) substantially reduced bacterial counts even after 60 min of contact time.     

Use of a semitendinosus myocutaneous flap for soft-tissue reconstruction of a grade IIIB open tibial fracture in a dog

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical use of a semitendinosus myocutaneous flap for soft-tissue reconstruction of a grade IIIB open tibial fracture. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. ANIMALS: A 5-year-old castrated male Labrador retriever with a grade IIIB open tibial fracture. METHODS: A myocutaneous flap was created by elevating the origin of the semitendinosus muscle and the associated overlying skin. The flap was rotated distally based on the distal vascular pedicle into a soft-tissue defect overlying the central and distal third of the tibia. RESULTS: The flap allowed one-stage reconstruction of a severe soft-tissue defect overlying denuded bone in a grade IIIB open tibial fracture. The muscular portion of the flap survived; however, there was necrosis of 3 cm of skin extending distally beyond the muscular portion of the flap. CONCLUSION: Distal rotation of the semitendinosus muscle and overlying skin can be used in the treatment of severe soft-tissue defects of the canine crus. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Complex soft-tissue injuries to the canine crus can be treated with a myocutaneous flap as a reasonable alternative to other reconstructive techniques.     

Tuberculosis and brucellosis prevalence survey on dairy cattle in Mbarara milk basin (Uganda)

We determined the prevalence of tuberculosis and brucellosis reactors in the dairy herds in the Mbarara district of Uganda in 2002. This is one of the most important dairy-production areas of the country and includes both pastoral and agro-pastoral zones. A total of 340 (of 11,995) randomly selected herds were tested for tuberculosis, using the intradermal tuberculosis-skin test and 315 (of 10,562) herds tested for brucellosis using the serum Rose Bengal test.

The herd prevalence for tuberculosis reactors was 74.1% (95% confidence intervals 69, 78), the individual-animal prevalence was of 6.0% (5.6, 6.5) and within-herd range was 1–50% (up to 100% if suspicious reactors were included).

The herd prevalence for brucellosis was 55.6% (50, 61.2) individual-animal prevalence 15.8% (14.8, 16.7) and within-herd range 1–90%.

The reactor prevalence increased with the age of the animals for both tuberculosis and brucellosis.

Tuberculosis reactor prevalences were higher in animals from the agro-pastoral zone. However, the individual-animal and herd prevalences of brucellosis seroprevalences were higher in the pastoral zone.     

Factors associated with failure in breeding soundness examination of Western USA rams

Breeding-soundness examination (BSE) and eradication of Brucella ovis infection in rams are critical components of flock-health programs. The aims of this retrospective, cross-sectional study were to describe the results of BSE in a large sample of rams in the Western USA and to determine the association between BSE outcome and the semen collection method (penis manually extended vs. retained in the preputial cavity), ram body-condition score (BCS), the presence of ulcerative posthitis, and the size of the flock of origin. We evaluated the first BSE in a given year for rams from Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah, USA, from 2000 through 2007. Breeding-soundness examination consisted of physical examination, scrotal circumference and BCS measurement, semen collection by electroejaculation, and microscopic examination of semen motility, morphology, and leukocyte concentration. We assigned a reason for failure to each failed BSE and used multivariable logistic and Poisson regressions to measure associations between ram and flock variables and the risk or reason for failure on BSE. A non-random, owner-selected subset of rams was tested for antibodies to B. ovis by serum indirect ELISA (iELISA). The Rogan-Gladen corrected B. ovis seroprevalence was measured. Of the 14,667 BSEs performed on 11,804 rams, 29.0% were classified as "failed;" the most common reason for failure was substandard semen parameters (43.8%). Breeding-soundness examinations were more likely to have been categorized as failure for inflammatory causes when performed on rams from medium-sized flocks (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.1, 2.3) and large flocks (OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.0, 1.9) (P=0.02), suggesting that larger flocks are at higher risk of contagious diseases. The adjusted seroprevalence of B. ovis antibodies among tested rams in this study was 10.0%. Of 233 rams seropositive to B. ovis, 125 (53.6%) were subclinical, a finding that supports the importance of this test in ram BSE. We found that emaciation in rams was associated with an increased risk of BSE failure from substandard semen parameters (P<0.001), but ulcerative posthitis and the semen collection method were not (P=0.09 and 0.34, respectively). However, collection of semen with the penis retained in the preputial cavity resulted in greater odds of leukospermia relative to semen collection with the penis extended (OR 4.1; 95% CI 2.9, 5.9; P<0.001), presumably from contamination of the semen sample with preputial leukocytes. For ram BSE, therefore, semen collection with the penis manually extended from the sheath is recommended to limit leukocyte contamination of the sample.     

A simple in vitro test tube method for estimating the bioavailability of phosphorus in feed ingredients for swine

A simplified in vitro test tube (TT) method was developed to estimate the percentage of available P in feed ingredients for swine. The entire digestion procedure with the TT method consists of three consecutive enzymatic digestions carried out in a 50-mL conical test tube: (1) Pre-digestion with endo-xylanase and beta-glucanase for 1 h, (2) peptic digestion for 2 h, and (3) pancreatic digestion for 2 or 4 h. The TT method is simpler and much easier to perform compared to the dialysis tubing (DT) method, because dialysis tubing is not used. Reducing sample size from 1.0 to 0.25 g for the TT method improved results. In conclusion, the accuracy and validity of the TT method is equal to that of our more complicated DT method (r = 0.97, P < 0.001), designed to mimic the digestive system of swine, for estimating the availability of P in plant-origin feed ingredients.