Assessment of a point‐of‐care cardiac troponin I test to differentiate cardiac from noncardiac causes of respiratory distress in dogs

Objectives – To (1) determine a reference interval for cardiac troponin I (cTnI) using a point‐of‐care device in normal dogs and compare the results with those published by the manufacturer and (2) determine if cTnI differs among dogs with cardiogenic and noncardiogenic respiratory distress. Design – Prospective observational study. Setting – Emergency and referral veterinary hospital. Animals – Twenty‐six clinically normal dogs and 67 dogs in respiratory distress. Interventions – All dogs underwent whole blood sampling for cTnI concentrations. Measurements and Results – Normal dogs had a median cTnI concentration of 0.03 ng/mL (range 0–0.11 ng/mL). Thirty‐six dogs were diagnosed with noncardiogenic respiratory distress with a median cTnI concentration of 0.14 ng/mL (range 0.01–4.31 ng/mL). Thirty‐one dogs were diagnosed with cardiogenic respiratory distress with a median cTnI concentration of 1.74 ng/mL (range 0.05–17.1 ng/mL). A significant difference between cTnI concentrations in normal dogs and dogs with noncardiogenic respiratory distress was not detected. Significant differences in cTnI concentrations were found between normals versus cardiogenic and cardiogenic versus noncardiogenic respiratory distress groups. Significant differences in cTnI concentrations were identified in >10 when compared with the <5 and the 5–10 years of age groups. Receiver operating curve analysis identified cTnI concentrations >1.5 ng/mL as the optimal “cut‐off point” having a sensitivity of 78% and specificity of 51.5%. The area under the receiver operating curve was 0.72. Overall test accuracy was 65%. Conclusions – cTnI concentrations were significantly increased in dogs with cardiogenic respiratory distress versus dogs with noncardiogenic respiratory distress and normal dogs. A significant difference between normal dogs and dogs with noncardiogenic causes of respiratory distress was detected. Although highly sensitive when cTnI concentrations exceed 1.5 ng/mL, the test has low specificity. Assessment of cTnI by the methodology used cannot be recommended as the sole diagnostic modality for evaluating the cause of respiratory distress in dogs.     

Mutation of a degS homologue in Enterobacter cloacae decreases colonization and biological control of damping-off on cucumber

We have been using mutagenesis to determine how biocontrol bacteria such as Enterobacter cloacae 501R3 deal with complex nutritional environments found in association with plants. E. cloacae C10, a mutant of 501R3 with a transposon insertion in degS, was diminished in growth on synthetic cucumber root exudate (SRE), colonization of cucumber seed and roots, and control of damping-off of cucumber caused by Pythium ultimum. DegS, a periplasmic serine protease in the closely related bacterium Escherichia coli K12, is required for the RpoE-mediated stress response. C10 containing wild-type degS from 501R3 or from E. coli K12 on pBeloBAC11 was significantly increased in growth on SRE, colonization of cucumber roots, and control of P. ultimum relative to C10 containing pBeloBAC11 alone. C10 and 501R3 were similar in sensitivity to acidic conditions, plant-derived phenolic compounds, oxidative stress caused by hydrogen peroxide, dessication, and high osmoticum; stress conditions potentially associated with plants. This study demonstrates a role for degS in the spermosphere and rhizosphere during colonization and disease control by Enterobacter cloacae. This study implicates, for the first time, the involvement of DegS and, by extension, the RpoE-mediated stress response, in reducing stress on E. cloacae resulting from the complex nutritional environments in the spermosphere and rhizosphere.     

Comparative tolerance of some dicotyledons to pronamide and chlorpropham

In laboratory tests with 115 species of dicotyledons, the concentration of pronamide in water for 50% inhibition of root elongation ranged from 0.03 to >8 parts/million. With certain exceptions, species within a family responded similarly. Polygonaceae and Caryophyllaceae were the most susceptible and Compositae the most tolerant, as they were also to chlorpropham. There was good correspondence between the test results and the relative susceptibility of species to pre-emergence application in the field.     

Examination of bound (non-extractable) residues of MCPA and flamprop in wheat straw

The long term metabolism of [¹⁴C]MCPA and [¹⁴C]flamprop in wheat (Triticum aestivum) straw was found to involve incorporation of radioactivity as residues that were insoluble in acetone+water (1+1 by volume). A chemical and an enzymic solubilisation procedure were critically evaluated in attempts to release these residues for further examination. The chemical procedure resulted in complete solubilisation of all the radioactivity of both compounds in association with more than one cell wall fraction. However, routine quantitative analysis was found to be difficult for some fractions. Furthermore, the extracts did not appear to be suitable for investigation of the nature of the binding with the plant constituents. None of the enzymes employed in the enzymic procedures released significant amounts of the residues insoluble in the aqueous acetone. Despite these problems, the residues of MCPA that were insoluble in aqueous acetone were found to contain both the parent MCPA and its major metabolite 4-chloro-α-hydroxy-o-tolyloxyacetic acid.     

CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE IN A YOUNG PONY

SUMMARY A 19-month-old pony gelding was presented with chronic renal failure, after deteriorating progressively during the preceding 3 months. There was pronounced azotaemia, hyponatraemia and hypochloraemia, but plasma calcium and phosphorus levels were normal. At autopsy both kidneys were small and nodular and were characterised by collapsed segments of cortex and medulla interspersed with areas of pale tissue. The latter showed glomerular immaturity associated with a range of degenerative processes involving the glomeruli and tubules. The condition bore many similarities to that of renal cortical dysplasia in other species.     

Degradation of the herbicide flamprop-methyl in soil

The degradation of the wild oat herbicide flamprop-methyl [methyl DL -N-benzoyl-N-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)alaninate] in four soils has been studied under laboratory conditions using ¹⁴C-1abelled samples. The flamprop-methyl underwent degradation more rapidly than its analogue flamprop-isopropyl. However, similar degradation products were formed, namely the corresponding carboxylic acid and 3-chloro-4-fluoroaniline. The latter compound occurred mainly as ‘bound’ forms although evidence was obtained of limited ring-opening to give [¹⁴C]carbon dioxide. The time for depletion of 50% of the applied herbicide was approximately 1-2 weeks in sandy loam, clay and medium loam soils and 2-3 weeks in a peat soil.     

A comparison of nutrient losses following grassland improvement using two different techniques in an upland area of mid-Wales

Abstract. Water samples from ditches draining small upland areas in mid-Wales were collected before, during and after the improvement of the pasture using two different cultivation techniques. The samples were analysed for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and pH. The greatest release was associated with disc harrowing where nitrogen, in its nitrate form, exceeded European Economic Community maximum recommended concentrations for potable water supply for two weeks. Smaller losses of nitrogen, in the ammonium form, and of ortho-phosphate were observed following a minimum cultivation technique. It is concluded that, on a scale normally associated with upland Britain, pasture improvement is not likely to deteriorate significantly the quality of runoff within water supply catchments. This is confirmed by the results obtained from monitoring streamflow from catchments in which some degree of pasture improvement had been undertaken in the past.