Use of low carbohydrate, high protein diets in cats with diabetes mellitus

The goal of this randomized, double‐blind study was to compare the effects of feeding a low carbohydrate, high protein diet versus a maintenance diet in a group of cats with diabetes mellitus treated with insulin glargine twice daily. All cats with naturally occurring diabetes mellitus not currently treated with insulin glargine or diabetogenic drugs or being fed a low carbohydrate, high protein diet were eligible for inclusion. Baseline testing included a physical examination, complete blood count, serum biochemistry profile, urinalysis and urine culture, serum thyroxine concentration, and serum fructosamine concentration. All cats were treated with insulin glargine (starting dose of 0.25 U/kg) twice daily. Insulin was adjusted as needed for glucose regulation. Cats were randomized to receive either a low carbohydrate, high protein diet or a feline maintenance diet. Re‐evaluations were performed on all cats at weeks 1, 2, 4, 6 and 10, and included an assessment of clinical signs, physical examination, 12‐h blood glucose curve, and serum fructosamine concentrations. Changes in continuous variables over the course of the study were analyzed using analysis of variance with repeated measures. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Ten cats have completed the study. There were no significant differences between diet groups at baseline for age, gender, weight, body condition score, serum glucose or fructosamine concentrations. Although there was not a significant difference over time in clinical signs, insulin doses, or peak or nadir glucose concentrations between diet groups, diet did have a significant effect on serum fructosamine concentrations (p = 0.01). Six of the 10 cats that have completed the study achieved complete remission by the end of the study period, with no statistical difference between diets. The study's results indicate that diet can have significant effects on glucose regulation in cats receiving insulin glargine for treatment of feline diabetes mellitus.     

Isolation of new pregnancy-associated glycoproteins from water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) placenta by Vicia villosa affinity chromatography

The present study describes the isolation and characterization of new pregnancy-associated glycoprotein molecules (PAG) from midpregnancy and late-pregnancy placentas in the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). After extraction, the homogenates are subjected to acid and ammonium sulfate precipitations followed by DEAE chromatography. Subsequently, the water buffalo PAG (wbPAG) from these solutions are enriched by Vicia villosa agarose (VVA) affinity chromatography. As determined by western blotting with anti-PAG sera, the apparent molecular masses of the immunoreactive bands from the VVA peaks range from 59.5 to 75.8 kDa and from 57.8 to 73.3 kDa in the midpregnancy and late-pregnancy placentas, respectively. Amino-terminal microsequencing of the immunoreactive proteins has allowed the identification of three distinct wbPAG sequences, which have been deposited in the SwissProt database: RGSXLTIHPLRNIRDFFYVG (acc. no. P85048), RGSXLTILPLRNIID (acc. no. P85049), and RGSXLTHLPLRNI (acc. no. P85050). Their comparison to previously identified proteins has shown that two of them are new because they have not been described before. Our results confirm the suitability of VVA chromatography for the enrichment of the multiple PAG molecules expressed in buffalo placenta.     

Effects of cereals and/or protein supplement extrusion on diet utilisation and performance of intensively reared cattle

The effect of extruding the cereal and/or the protein supplement of a compound feed on its nutritive value and on the performance of intensively reared male calves was studied. The compound feed was formulated with 0.65 of a cereal blend (60:40 maize:barley), 0.25 of a protein blend (1/3:1/3:1/3 raw soybeans:peas:lupins), and 0.08 of urea to contain 0.17 of crude protein. It was tested without extruding (NE) and with the cereal blend (CE), the protein blend (PE) or both (CPE) extruded. Another non-extruded compound feed with mainly soybean meal as the protein supplement (NE-SBM) also was studied. The five experimental compound feeds together with barley straw were offered ad libitum to 50 male Friesian calves (112 kg initial live weight) for 13 weeks, recording individual feed intake and live weight gain. Crude protein (CP) solubility and in vitro and in situ CP degradation of experimental compounds, and in vitro gas production kinetics, in vivo digestibility and urinary allantoin excretion of diets were determined. Cereal extrusion promoted a greater gas production at all incubation times (p < 0.001), associated to the increase in starch gelatinisation. PE and NE-SBM compounds showed lower in vitro (p < 0.01) and in situ (p < 0.001) CP degradability than the other feeds. Ingredient extrusion did not affect apparent DM, OM and CP digestibilities, but diet CPE showed a lower NDF digestibility (p < 0.05) than the others (0.293 vs. 0.420, 0.387, 0.390 and 0.407 with CPE vs. NE, CE, PE and NE-SBM, respectively). The apparent EE digestibility increased (p = 0.053) with the inclusion of extruded ingredients, (0.799, 0.749 and 0.794 vs. 0.719 and 0.702 with CE, PE and CPE vs. NE and NE-SBM, respectively). Daily allantoin excretion was lower (p < 0.01) in calves receiving the CPE diet than in those receiving the NE, PE and NE-SBM diets. Treatments did not affect the average daily gains (1.61 ± 0.022 kg d^− 1), however calves on the CPE diet showed a lower (p < 0.01) concentrate and total conversion ratios than those fed NE, PE and NE-SBM (2.60 vs. 2.79, 2.85 and 2.98 kg concentrate DM kg^− 1 daily gain and 2.93 vs. 3.09, 3.13 and 3.26 kg total DM kg^− 1 daily gain, respectively). The CE diet resulted in numerically higher (p > 0.05) concentrate and total DM conversion ratios (2.72 and 3.02) than CPE and lower (p < 0.05) than NE-SBM. Improvement in feed conversion ratio after extrusion would be related to a better starch utilisation and not to changes in microbial or dietary protein flow to the duodenum, although a better utilisation of fat energy cannot be disregarded.     

Cytomorphologic differentiation of benign and malignant mammary tumors in fine needle aspirate specimens from irradiated female Sprague-Dawley rats.

BACKGROUND: Fine needle aspiration (FNA) offers a rapid and minimally invasive means to distinguish malignant from benign neoplasms. However, few studies have been published regarding the cytopathology of mammary tumors in rats despite widespread use of the rat model for breast cancer formation and inhibition. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of FNA cytology and to develop distinguishing cytologic criteria for the diagnosis of radiation-induced benign and malignant mammary tumors in rats. METHODS: In a study of radiation-induced mammary carcinogenesis, 100 Sprague-Dawley rats with cutaneous masses were randomly chosen for FNA. The aspirates were smeared, fixed, and stained with a modified Papanicolaou procedure for diagnostic evaluation. Cytologic and histologic diagnoses (benign vs malignant) were compared, and diagnostic accuracy was calculated using the histologic diagnosis as the criterion standard. FNA smears were scored semiquantitatively on a scale of 1-4 for cellularity, atypia, nuclear size, chromatin pattern, nuclear membrane thickness, nucleoli, and mitoses. The background was evaluated for necrosis, hemorrhage, inflammation, and mucosecretory material. Cytomorphologic features were compared statistically between benign and malignant tumors, based on the histologic diagnosis. RESULTS: The sensitivity of FNA was 92.3% and specificity was 89.4% for the detection of malignancy. However, 14% of specimens, all fibroadenomas by histology, had insufficient cells for cytologic evaluation, for an overall accuracy rate of 78.0%. Malignant tumors had significantly higher scores for all cytomorphologic features, and were significantly more likely to contain cell clusters and necrotic debris. CONCLUSIONS: FNA is an accurate method for differentiating benign and malignant rat mammary tumors.     

Comparative analysis of in vitro proliferative,migratory and pro-angiogenic potentials of bovine fetal mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow and adipose tissue

Veterinary Research Communications - Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are found in virtually all tissues, where they self-renew and differentiate into multiple cell types. Cumulative data indicate...     

The detection of subclinical mastitis in the bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) by somatic cell count and California mastitis test

Milk samples (n=160) from 7 clinically healthy bactrian camels were cultured to detect subclinical udder infection. The samples were assessed by the Californian mastitis test (CMT) and somatic cell count (SCC). Bacteria were recovered from 36 (22.5%) of the milk samples. Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) were the main organisms found.Infected quarters had significantly higher mean values for the SCC (p<0.01) and CMT (p<0.001) than non-infected quarters. All 7 camels were infected with CNS but only 4 with S. aureus. CMT values for S. aureus-infected camels were significantly higher than for those only infected with CNS. The values for SCC and CMT were significantly influenced by the stage of lactation (p<0.05). No significant difference was found from the effect of the quarters. Both SCC and CMT were of value in predicting the infection status of the udder.Abbreviations CMT California mastitis test - SCC somatic cell count - CNS coagulase-negative staphylococci     

Changes in taurine levels in response to repeated administration of the β2-agonist salbutamol in lambs

Repeated oral administration of salbutamol to lambs for 28 days was found to decrease levels of taurine significantly in the serum and heart, and the mean excretion of taurine into urine was significantly less than in controls. Serum urea, low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein were also significantly reduced. Consistent with these changes, fat content in muscle was reduced, whereas protein content was not significantly changed. Body weight was not significantly changed by salbutamol treatment but heart and kidney weights (relative to body weight) were significantly increased. Salbutamol excretion in urine was relatively constant and residues were detected in certain organs and tissues, notably liver, bile and kidney. Changes in urinary and serum taurine level may reflect subtle changes in protein metabolism not detectable as changes in body weight or gross protein content.     

Infection of turkeys with Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale and Mycoplasma synoviae

Within 1 mo, two separate outbreaks of respiratory disease occurred in two flocks on the multiage market turkey farm in Slovenia. More severe dinical signs and higher mortality were observed in male birds. Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) was isolated in pure culture from tracheas of the affected birds in both outbreaks. Commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test showed the presence of antibodies to ORT in sera of birds from both clinically affected flocks and also in two flocks of younger birds without clinical sings. Immunoblotting with ORT culture isolated during the outbreak as an antigen confirmed the presence of antibodies to ORT in sera of turkeys of all four flocks examined. In addition, three different serologic assays also detected antibodies to Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) in three out of four flocks. The concomitant infection with MS did not show an obvious effect on mortality rates nor on the antibody response against ORT. Younger birds appeared to be less susceptible to ORT pathogenicity because in those flocks the infection was subclinical.     

Antibody response to toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 of Staphylococcus aureus in dairy cows

Antibody response to toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) of Staphylococcus aureus in dairy cows was examined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum antibody to TSST-1 was not detected in 39 (76.5%) of 51 calves, which were 1-6 months of age. In contrast, TSST-1 antibody was demonstrated in 1728 (72.6%) of 2380 lactating cows housed on 36 dairy farms. The ELISA values of antibody ranged from 0.2 to 3.0 OD and presented a distribution with the peak at 1.6 OD. The mean ELISA value differed between farms, and it increased slightly along with parturient history. Somatic cell counts of milk from 174 lactating cows was compared with TSST-1 antibody and tst1,000,000 cells per ml. The mean ELISA values in milk were lower than those of sera, but they rose as somatic cells increased. The tst gene of S. aureus detected in 76.0-86.2% of the milk samples containing somatic cells > 500,000 cells per ml, a level which indicates mastitis. The data suggests that many lactating cows may be infected by TSST-1- producing S. aureus.