Tono-Pen XL calibration curves for cats, cows and sheep

The objective of this study was to provide calibration curves for correcting intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements obtained using the Tono-Pen XL tonometer in cats, cows and sheep. Twelve eyes from 9 cats, 13 eyes from 7 cows, 10 eyes from 5 sheep were used. The anterior chamber of the eye was cannulated in vivo, in situ (immediately post mortem) or ex vivo with a fine needle and IOP was varied from 10 to 90 mmHg in steps of 10 mmHg by adjusting the height of a saline reservoir connected to the needle. For each pressure setting, several readings of IOP were made using the tonometer. The relationship between Tono-Pen reading and manometer setting was linear over the full range of measurement. However, the slope of the data regression line deviated significantly from 1 and indicated that the instrument systematically underestimated IOP. For cats the average slope was 0.62 and for cows and sheep it was 0.72 and 0.69, respectively. For the latter animals, the regression line also had a nonzero intercept of approximately 4.5 mmHg. Similar results were obtained from in vivo and ex vivo eyes and with different Tono-Pen XL tonometers. Although developed for use on humans, the Tono-Pen XL can provide reproducible and accurate measurement of IOP in cats, cows and sheep when suitably calibrated by manometry. The calibration curves provided here, and by implication those reported for other animals using this tonometer, differ in slope from those measured with earlier models of the Tono-Pen. The reproducibility of the curves we obtained implies that they can be used to correct IOP readings from the Tono-Pen XL when manometry is not possible.     

Induction of precocious puberty in heifers III: hastened reduction of estradiol negative feedback on secretion of luteinizing hormone

Precocious puberty (<300 d of age) can be induced in beef heifers by early weaning and feeding a high-concentrate diet. The objective of this experiment was to determine whether precocious puberty occurs as a result of a hastened reduction of estradiol negative feedback on secretion of LH. Thirty crossbred Angus and Simmental heifers were weaned at 83 +/- 2 d of age and 114 +/- 3 kg of BW, blocked by BW, and randomly assigned to receive a high-concentrate (60% corn; H) or control (30% corn; C) diet and to receive ovariectomy (OVX), OVX plus an estradiol implant (OVXE), or to remain intact (INT). Residual ovarian tissue after OVX necessitated withdrawal of 6 heifers during the course of the experiment, resulting in the following treatment groups: OVX-C, n = 3; OVX-H, n = 5; OVXE-C, n = 4; OVXE-H, n = 2; INT-C, n = 5; INT-H, n = 5. To determine concentrations of progesterone and estradiol, blood samples were collected weekly beginning at a mean age of 160 d. To characterize LH concentrations, serial blood samples were collected at 12-min intervals for 12 h at mean ages of 119, 149, 188, 217, 246, 281, 323, 365, 407, and 449 d. By a mean age of 202 d, heifers fed the H diet were heavier (P < 0.05) than those fed the C diet. Heifers in the INT-H treatment attained puberty earlier (P < 0.05) than in the INT-C treatment (275 +/- 30 vs. 385 +/- 14 d of age, respectively). Overall mean concentrations of estradiol did not differ between OVXE-H and OVXE-C, between INT-H and INT-C, or between OVXE and INT treatments. The OVX treatments exhibited greater LH pulse frequency than the OVXE and INT treatments by the first serial blood collection (treatment x age, P < 0.05). The frequency of LH pulses was greater (P < 0.05) in the INT-H than the INT-C treatment by a mean age of 246 d and was greater (P < 0.05) in the OVXE-H than the OVXE-C treatment by a mean age of 281 d. In the OVXE-H treatment, LH secretion increased and subsequently "escaped" from estradiol negative feedback (detection of > or = 1 LH pulse/h) earlier (P < 0.05) than in the OVXE-C treatment (307 +/- 30 and 420 +/- 21 d of age, respectively). It is concluded that advancing the reduction of estradiol negative feedback on secretion of LH is the mechanism by which early weaning and feeding a high-concentrate diet results in precocious puberty in heifers.     

Evaluation of IgG subclass responses against Dermatophagoides farinae allergens in healthy and atopic dogs

A semiquantitative chemiluminescent Western blot analysis system was developed and validated to evaluate antigen-specific IgG subclass responses to electrophoretically separated proteins of Dermatophagoides farinae in healthy and atopic dogs. Both groups mounted similar D. farinae-specific IgG1 and IgG4 responses to multiple antigens, but IgG2 and IgG3 responses were difficult to detect. The most commonly recognized bands in both groups were 18 and 98 kDa antigens for IgG1 and 18, 45, 66, 98, 130 and 180 kDa for IgG4. The number of bands recognized per dog did not differ significantly, but significantly more atopic dogs had an IgG1 response to a 180 kDa protein. The overall D. farinae-specific IgG1 and IgG4 responses were slightly higher, but not significantly different, in the healthy group. The results suggest that some antigens produced by D. farinae can induce different subclass responses. However, as most of these responses are seen in both healthy and atopic dogs, they are likely to merely represent recognition of foreign proteins presented to the immune system, rather than involvement in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. The role of the 180 kDa antigen warrants further study.     

Dendritic cell stimulation by mycobacterial Hsp70 is mediated through CCR5

An effective host immune response to mycobacterial infection must control pathogen dissemination without inducing immunopathology. Constitutive overexpression of mycobacterial heat shock protein (myHsp70) is associated with impaired bacterial persistence, but the immune-mediated mechanisms are unknown. We found that myHsp70, in addition to enhancing antigen delivery to human dendritic cells, signaled through the CCR5 chemokine receptor, promoting dendritic cell aggregation, immune synapse formation between dendritic cells and T cells, and the generation of effector immune responses. Thus, CCR5 acts as a pattern-recognition receptor for myHsp70, which may have implications for both the pathophysiology of tuberculosis and the use of myHsps in tumor-directed immunotherapy.     

Feline histoplasmosis: a retrospective study of 22 cases (1986-2009)

Twenty-two cases of feline histoplasmosis seen at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital between 1986 and 2009 were reviewed. The median age of affected cats was 9 yr (mean, 8.8 yr). Female domestic shorthairs were more commonly affected. The clinical presentation of most cases was nonspecific. The most common presenting complaints included weakness, lymphadenopathy, weight loss, and anorexia. Less frequent clinical signs included vomiting, diarrhea, blindness, and lameness. Less than half of the cats had clinical evidence of pulmonary disease on admission. Anemia and hypoalbuminemia were common laboratory abnormalities. An interstitial pattern was the most common radiographic pattern observed with pulmonary disease. Diagnosis was based on identification of the organism on cytology or histopathology. Fifteen of the 22 cats were treated, and itraconazole was the most common antifungal agent prescribed. Median duration of the antifungal treatment was 5 mo for cats that survived to discharge. Overall survival at time of discharge for cats in this study was 55%.     

Canine bronchomalacia: a clinicopathological study of 18 cases diagnosed by endoscopy

Canine bronchomalacia (BM) is characterized by weakness leading to collapse of the bronchial wall. A prospective study of 18 affected dogs (age range: 1-15 years) was undertaken to characterize the clinicopathological and histological features of BM. Poodles and Yorkshire terriers were commonly affected. Half of the dogs were overweight or obese. The clinical presentation was a mild, wheezing, chronic cough and pulmonary crackles were heard in 28% of the dogs. Compatible radiographic changes were present in 61% of the dogs. Using bronchoscopy, both lungs were affected in half of the animals, whereas in the others the disease appeared to affect predominantly the left lung. Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and biopsies of bronchial mucosa revealed pure or mixed neutrophilic inflammation. Underlying infectious bronchitis was considered possible in 56% of the dogs. It was concluded that canine BM may present as an isolated clinical entity associated with infection and/or inflammation.     

Effect of sodium chloride on gluten network formation,dough microstructure and rheology in relation to breadmaking

Sodium chloride (NaCl) is an essential ingredient to control the functional properties of wheat dough and bread quality. This study investigated the effect of NaCl at 0, 1 and 2%, (w/w, flour base) on the gluten network formation during dough development, the dough rheology, and the baking characteristics of two commercial flours containing different levels of protein (9.0 and 13.5%) and with different glutenin-to-gliadin ratios. Examination of the dough structure by confocal microscopy at different stages of mixing show that the gluten network formation was delayed and the formation of elongated fibril protein structure at the end of dough development when NaCl was used. The fibril structure of protein influenced the dough strength, as determined by strain hardening coefficient and hardening index obtained from the large deformation extension measurements. NaCl had a greater effect on enhancing the strength of dough prepared from the low protein flour compared to those from the high protein flour. The effect of NaCl on loaf volume and crumb structure of bread followed a similar trend. These results indicate that the effect of NaCl on dough strength and bread quality may be partially compensated by choosing flour with an appropriate amount and quality of gluten protein.     

Basal cell carcinoma in a dog with chronic solar dermatitis

A seven‐year‐old, entire male, American Staffordshire bull terrier was diagnosed with chronic solar dermatitis and basal cell carcinoma, based on physical examination, cutaneous cytology and histopathology. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the tumour cells did not express p53. To the authors’ knowledge this is the first reported case of canine basal cell carcinoma developing as a complication of chronic solar dermatitis.     

Cloprostenol as an aid in dairy herd management: 1. Mating management

An AB programme restricted to 14 days through the use of mated, 135 were treated after selection on pre-mating oestrus dates or rectal examination. Treatment was administered on the 6th day of mating. Untreated cows were inseminated, on detection of oestrus, throughout the 14 days. Nine of 135 treated cows were inseminated within 48 hours, 50 at 72 hours only, 75 at both 72 and 96 hours and one at 96 hours after treatment. All cows in season were inseminated, irrespective of recent insemination. Prolonged and split heats, and short cycles (less than 14 days), occurred in treated and untreated cows.

AB conceptions confirmed in those cows retained in the herd were 623% of untreated cows (66.9% of those which were inseminated) and 69.1% of treated.

The conceptions achieved in this abbreviated AB programme are equal to those normally achieved after 7 weeks of AB. Mating management is discussed; the release of labour from AB involvement 4 weeks earlier than usual is a major advantage of this technique.