In Situ Aquaculture Methods for Dysidea avara (Demospongiae,Porifera) in the Northwestern Mediterranean

Marine sponges produce secondary metabolites that can be used as a natural source for the design of new drugs and cosmetics. There is, however, a supply problem with these natural substances for research and eventual commercialisation of the products. In situ sponge aquaculture is nowadays one of the most reliable methods to supply pharmaceutical companies with sufficient quantities of the target compound. In this study, we focus on the aquaculture of the sponge Dysidea avara (Schmidt, 1862), which produces avarol, a sterol with interesting pharmaceutical attributes. The soft consistency of this species makes the traditional culture method based on holding explants on ropes unsuitable. We have tested alternative culture methods for D. avara and optimized the underwater structures to hold the sponges to be used in aquaculture. Explants of this sponge were mounted on horizontal ropes, inside small cages or glued to substrates. Culture efficiency was evaluated by determination of sponge survival, growth rates, and bioactivity (as an indication of production of the target metabolite). While the cage method was the best method for explant survival, the glue method was the best one for explant growth and the rope method for bioactivity.     

Selective haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) trawling: Avoiding cod (Gadus morhua) bycatch

The critical condition of the North Sea cod stocks has resulted in restrictions on not only cod, but also haddock and other species that are caught together with cod. Thus full exploitation of the haddock stock is unachievable unless cod can be excluded from the haddock catch. We designed a selective trawl based on the behavioral differences between haddock and cod as they enter a trawl, i.e., cod stay close to the seabed whereas haddock rise above it. The trawl's fishing line is raised ～60 cm above the seabed to allow cod to escape beneath the trawl while haddock are retained. To collect the escapees, three sampling bags were attached beneath the raised fishing line. The selective haddock trawl reduced the total catch of cod by 55% during the day and 82% at night, and 99% of the marketable haddock was caught during the day and 89% at night. Cod escape rates were highly length dependent: smaller cod escaped the trawl in greater numbers than did larger individuals. Whiting, saithe, lemon sole, and plaice were included in the analysis.     

External quality assurance system for antibiotic resistance in bacteria of animal origin in Europe (ARBAO-II), 2003

Initiated in 2003 by the European Union, ARBAO-II aims to establish a monitoring of antimicrobial susceptibility among the veterinary laboratories in all European countries based on validated methodologies. This includes an external quality control system for the most important bacterial pathogens. In 2003 two trials were performed. The first on Salmonella and Escherichia coli involved 31 laboratories in 18 countries and the second on Staphylococcus and Streptococcus included 22 laboratories in 15 countries. For the E. coli strains, 92.8% of the results complied with the reference MICs, for Salmonella 93.7%, for Streptococcus 80.4% and for Staphylococcus 93.1%. Most problems were observed when testing florfenicol (79.2% correct), gentamicin (84.2%) and amoxicillin + cl (84.9%) in E. coli; streptomycin in Salmonella (62.5%); gentamicin (56.7%), lincomycin (71.4%), clindamycin (75.4%), TMP + sulfonamides (75.7%) and chloramphenicol (78.5%) in Streptococcus; erythromycin (81.5%) and oxacillin (78.2.5%) in Staphylococcus. A few laboratories caused most deviations. However, there was no correlation between good performance for one bacterial group and good performance for other groups. This study showed that most laboratories are capable of performing correct susceptibility testing for E. coli and Salmonella, even though performance of some laboratories can be improved, and that some problems exist for Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. This clearly shows the need for continuous harmonisation of methodologies within the EU.     

Inguinal-Scrotal Urinary Bladder Hernia in an Intact Male Domestic Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

An 8-year-old intact male dwarf rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was presented with a 2-month history of unilateral scrotal swelling. The external physical examination of the rabbit patient confirmed the severe, unilateral, fluid-filled scrotal distention. Radiographic images of the effected scrotum revealed a soft tissue swelling in the area of the left testicle, and the absence of the urinary bladder in the caudal abdomen. Ultrasonography verified the presence of a fluid-filled mass in the scrotum, enveloping the left testicle. A fine-needle aspiration of the scrotal mass yielded urine, thus a diagnosis of a nonreducible herniation of the urinary bladder into the scrotum was made. An inguinal herniorrhaphy was performed, and the bladder was successfully reduced into the abdominal cavity. A bilateral routine castration and left scrotal ablation were also performed. Two months after surgery no recurrence was noted, and the patient had normal urinary function. Inguino-scrotal bladder herniation is rare in both humans and animals. Male rabbits are predisposed to inguinal and scrotal hernias because their inguinal rings remain open throughout life. Herniation of the urinary bladder should be considered as a differential diagnosis when intact male rabbits are presented with unilateral scrotal swelling.     

Characterization of langerhans cells in epidermal sheets along the body of Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)

Armadillos are apparently important reservoirs of Mycobacterium leprae and an animal model for human leprosy, whose immune system has been poorly studied. We aimed at characterizing the armadillo's langerhans cells (LC) using epidermal sheets instead of tissue sections, since the latter restrict analysis only to cut-traversed cells. Epidermal sheets by providing an en face view, are particularly convenient to evaluate dendritic morphology (cells are complete), spatial distribution (regular vs. clustered), and frequency (cell number/tissue area). Lack of anti-armadillo antibodies was overcome using LC-restricted ATPase staining, allowing assessment of cell frequency, cell size, and dendrites extension. Average LC frequency in four animals was 528 LC/mm(2), showing a rather uniform non-clustered distribution, which increased towards the animal's head, while cell size increased towards the tail; without overt differences between sexes. The screening of antibodies to human DC (MHC-II, CD 1a, langerin, CD86) in armadillo epidermal sheets, revealed positive cells with prominent dendritic morphology only with MHC-II and CD86. This allowed us to test DC mobilization from epidermis into dermis under topical oxazolone stimulation, a finding that was corroborated using whole skin conventional sections. We hope that the characterization of armadillo's LC will incite studies of leprosy and immunity in this animal model.     

Identification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ditylenchus</Emphasis> species associated with Fabaceae seeds based on a specific polymerase chain reaction of ribosomal DNA-ITS regions

A technique based on the use of specific primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed for the identification of the stem and bulb nematode belonging to the Ditylenchus dipsaci species complex. The internal transcribed spacer region ITS1 and ITS2, the gene 5.8 S and part of genes 18 S and 26 S of twenty populations of the D. dipsaci species complex belonging to both D. dipsaci sensu stricto and Ditylenchus sp. B (corresponding to populations of giant individuals associated to Vicia faba) and three congeneric species were amplified with two universal ribosomal primers. PCR-amplified DNA samples were digested with five restriction enzymes in order to reveal some polymorphism allowing the identification of D. dipsaci populations associated with Fabaceae seeds. The polymorphism among species was confirmed by the sequencing of the PCR products. A primer (DdpS2) was designed in a region conserved in all populations of both D. dipsaci sensu stricto and D. sp. B studied in the present work. The other Anguinidae species (except a few species from Central Asia associated to Astereaceae and D. sp. G associated to Plantago maritima) differ in two to four nucleotides at the 3′ extremity of this region. This sequence portion coincides with a TspEI restriction site. In combination with a primer located in the ribosomal region, this first primer is a good candidate for identification by PCR of populations of the D. dipsaci species complex found in Fabaceae seeds. A second primer (DdpS1) was designed in a similar way and was specific to D. dipsaci sensu stricto. The utility of these two sets of primers is discussed against the background of quarantine regulation.     

Le basiliquage des bourgeons foliaires et floraux de quelques Labiées par Eriophyes Thomasi Nalepa et Eriophyes menthae Molliard

Sans résumé     

Prognostic significance of weight changes during treatment of feline lymphoma

The study purpose was to determine the prognostic significance of weight changes during feline lymphoma treatment. A secondary purpose was to compare weight changes according to baseline body weight, cell type and location. Records of 209 cats treated for lymphoma with chemotherapy from 1995 to 2007 were evaluated. Signalment, cell type, lymphoma location, baseline body weight, weight during treatment, and outcome information were collected. Lymphoma specific survival (LSS) was compared according to baseline weight and weight changes during treatment. Weight change over time was compared according to cell type (small versus large), location (gastrointestinal versus non-gastrointestinal) and baseline weight. Cats with large cell lymphoma that lost ≥ 5% body weight at 1 month had significantly shorter LSS than those that gained or had stable weight (P = 0.004). Percentage weight change over time differed significantly according to baseline weight group. These findings demonstrate the prognostic importance of weight loss in feline large cell lymphoma.