Prevalence and Heritability of Symptomatic Syringomyelia in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Long‐term Outcome in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Littermates

Background

Syringomyelia (SM) is common in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKCS). Dogs with syringes express clinical signs or might be clinically silent.

Objectives

To investigate the prevalence and heritability of symptomatic SM, the association between clinical signs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, and long‐term outcome.

Animals

All CKCS registered in the Danish Kennel Club in 2001 (n = 240).

Methods

A cross‐sectional questionnaire‐based prevalence study validated by telephone interviews and clinically investigated clinical signs of SM. Dogs were 6 years at the time of investigation. A prospective observational litter study including clinical investigations, MRI and 5‐year follow‐up of symptomatic and asymptomatic siblings. Heritability was estimated based on the scale of liability in the study population and litter cohort.

Results

The cross‐sectional study estimated a prevalence of symptomatic SM at 15.4% in the population. Thirteen symptomatic and 9 asymptomatic siblings participated in the litter study. Spinal cord syringes were confirmed in 21 of 22 littermates (95%). Syrinx diameter and mean syrinx : spinal cord ratio were significantly correlated with clinical signs (P < .01). Estimated heritability of symptomatic SM was 0.81. Symptomatic SM motivated euthanasia in 20%. Dogs with syringes, which expressed no clinical signs at the age of 6, remained asymptomatic in 14/15 cases (93%).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

The prevalence of symptomatic SM is high and genetics have a high impact on clinical disease expression. Further investigations of factors influencing the outbreak threshold of clinical signs of SM are desirable.     

Leptospiral lipopolysaccharide stimulates the expression of toll‐like receptor 2 and cytokines in pig fibroblasts

Pigs throughout the world are afflicted with leptospirosis, causing serious economic losses and potential hazards to human health. Although it has been known that leptospiral lipopolysaccharide (L‐LPS) is involved in an immunological reaction between an antigen and a host cell, little is known about how the immune system of pigs can respond to L‐LPS. Here, we stimulated pig fibroblasts by L‐LPS and then quantitatively measured gene and protein expression levels of two toll‐like receptors (TLRs), TLR2 and TLR4, by real‐time PCR and Western blotting. As a result, expression of TLR2 was found to be significantly up‐regulated within 24 h after L‐LPS stimulation whereas induction of TLR4 expression was relatively weak. We also revealed that of myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88), interleukin 6 (IL‐6) and IL‐8 gene expressions were markedly up‐regulated by L‐LPS stimulation. These results may suggest that the pig cell can activate TLR2 rather than TLR4 by L‐LPS stimulation, thereby inducing expression of cytokines.     

Relationship of Body Size to Metabolic Markers and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Cats

Background

Cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are larger and have higher insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) concentrations than cats without HCM.

Hypothesis/Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess echocardiographic findings in a colony of adult cats to determine the relationship between early growth and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).

Animals

Twenty‐eight neutered adult cats (20 males, 8 females) from a colony ≥3 years of age for which growth curves were available.

Methods

Case–control study. Physical examination and echocardiography were performed, and body weight, body condition score (BCS), and head length and width were measured. Circulating glucose, insulin, N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP), and IGF‐1 concentrations were measured and growth data were collected. Stepwise multivariate analyses were performed.

Results

Mean age was 5.2 ± 1.1 years. Current BCSs ranged from 4 to 9 (median, 6) and mean body weight was 4.88 ± 1.29 kg. Variation in body weight was apparent by 6 (mean = 3.26 ± 0.80 kg) and 12 months of age (mean = 4.02 ± 1.02 kg). Cardiac abnormalities included a cardiac murmur (n = 7; 24%), gallop (n = 3; 10%), and arrhythmia (n = 1; 4%). Fourteen of 28 cats (50%) had echocardiographic evidence of LVH. Head width (P = .017), body weight (P < .001), NT‐proBNP (P = .023), and IGF‐1 (P = .013–.022) were significantly associated with selected measures of LVH.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Potential associations between body size, IGF‐1, LVH, and HCM warrant future prospective studies.     

Low‐Field MRI and Multislice CT for the Detection of Cerebellar (Foramen Magnum) Herniation in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

Background

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) have a high prevalence of Chiari‐like malformation (CM). Herniation of the cerebellum into the foramen magnum is a key diagnostic feature for CM. Midsagittal MR images are the preferred technique for visualizing cerebellar herniation (CH).

Objective

To investigate whether CT can be used to diagnose CH.

Animals

Fifteen client‐owned CKCS dogs referred for investigation of the brain and cranial cervical spine on MRI and CT.

Methods

Two reviewers retrospectively analyzed midsagittal T1WSE and T2WSE MR images and midsagittal pre‐ and postcontrast 2D multiplanar reformatted CT images from each dog for the presence of CH. And, if present, the length (mm, CHL) of the herniation was measured. The results were analyzed statistically.

Results

There was no significant difference between the different observers and techniques for the detection of CH and measurement of CHL. Overall, the CHL was longer on the CT images.

Conclusion and Clinical Importance

Both techniques are useful for detecting CH and measuring CHL. Because CHL does not have a known direct impact on the clinical presentation of CM, CT can be used as a diagnostic tool in a routine clinical practice for CM in CKCS when MRI is not available. We emphasize that MRI is the standard screening technique in CKCS for breeding purposes to detect the presence of CM and SM and, at the current time, CT cannot replace MRI.     

患颤抖病中华绒螯蟹体内类立克次体侵染的光镜和电镜观察

对江苏和安徽地区患颤抖病的中华绒螯蟹（Eriocheir sinensis)各器官和组织进行光镜和电镜观察。结果表明，类立克次体（Richettsia-like Organisms,RLOs)广泛寄生于病蟹各器官和组织中。它们特异性地寄生于病蟹各器官的肌肉和结缔组织以及血细胞中，血淋巴中的小颗粒细胞是类立克次体的主要繁殖场所和传播载体。类立克次体对病蟹机体的结缔组织的广泛侵入，以及对胸神经节及神经与肌肉的接头-运动终板的侵染正是颤抖病症状（不食、肌无力、肢体阵发性颤抖）的病理结构基础。本研究旨在探讨RLOs与中华绒螯蟹颤抖病的关系，从而为建立有效的防治措施奠定理论基础。     

Review papers

The occurrence of keratoconjunctivitis infectiosa ovis (KIO) in the Netherlands was reported by Holland et al. in 1969 for the first time. At present the disease is well known in the Netherlands. Nevertheless there are still questions about the causative agent and the most effective and easiest therapy.

Most authors suppose that the disease is caused by Colesiota conjunctivae, although others mention infections by other chlamydia, Mycoplasma conjunctivae, Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, Acholeplasma oculi and a wide variety of bacteria.

The diagnosis can be made on the basis of the symtoms and the detection of the agent in Conjunctival scrapings. The bacilliform bodies can be found in conjunctival smears in the cytoplasm (Giemsa, Stamp).

Many therapies are used topically, parenterally or orally. Locally used eye‐ointments must be effective against Colesiota; antimicrobial drugs administered by injection must be effective against the latter and also provide a sufficient cell tissue penetration with excretion into the lacrimal fluid. Injections have proved to be easier to administer, especially in serious outbreaks, but such outbreaks are exceptional (18). Some therapies have been evaluated in small scale experiments (28) as well as in field trials (17).     

Influences of incorporating detoxified Jatropha curcas kernel meal in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) diet on the expression of growth hormone‐ and insulin‐like growth factor‐1‐encoding genes

Jatropha curcas is a drought‐resistant shrub or small tree widespread all over the tropics and subtropics. The use of J. curcas (L) kernel meal in fish feed is limited owing to the presence of toxic and antinutritional constituents. In this study, it was detoxified using heat treatment and organic solvent extraction method. The detoxification process was carried out for 60 min to obtain the detoxified meal. Cyprinus carpio L. fingerlings (n = 180; avg. wt. 3.2 ± 0.07 g) were randomly distributed in five treatment groups with four replicates and fed isonitrogenous diets (crude protein 38%) for 8 weeks. The inclusion levels of the detoxified Jatropha kernel meal (DJKM) and soybean meal (SBM) were as follows: control diet was prepared with fish meal (FM) and wheat meal, without any DJKM and SBM; diets S₅₀ and J₅₀: 50% of FM protein replaced by SBM and DJKM respectively; diets S₇₅ and J₇₅: 75% of FM protein replaced by SBM and DJKM respectively. Highest body mass gain and insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) gene expression in brain, liver and muscle were observed for the control group, which were statistically similar to those for J₅₀ group and significantly (p < 0.05) higher than for all other groups, whereas growth hormone gene expression in brain, liver and muscle exhibited opposite trend. Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 concentration in plasma did not differ significantly among the five groups. Conclusively, growth performance was in parallel with IGF‐1 gene expression and exhibited negative trend with GH gene expression.     

Can distal border fragments of the navicular bone be a primary cause of lameness?

A horse with unilateral forelimb lameness and pain localised to the palmar aspect of the foot was evaluated using radiography and low field magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. A distal border fragment of the navicular bone, an osseous cyst‐like lesion (OCLL) in the distal third of the navicular bone and focal distal sesamoidean impar desmitis were identified as the most likely causes of pain and lameness. No other lesions likely to contribute to pain and lameness were identified on MR images or gross post mortem examination. The OCLL was characterised histologically by enlarged bone lacunae containing proliferative fibrovascular tissue. Focal lesions of the distal aspect of the navicular bone are rarely found in isolation but can be causes of pain and lameness in horses.     

葡萄类钙调磷酸酶B亚基互作蛋白激酶VvCIPK10的特性与表达

【目的】在葡萄中克隆丝苏氨酸蛋白激酶Vv CIPK10,分析其激酶特性和在逆境胁迫下的表达模式,为进一步研究该基因参与逆境胁迫的分子功能,探讨葡萄抗逆分子机制提供理论依据。【方法】利用电子克隆技术获得Vv CIPK10序列,设计特异引物进行RT-PCR反应,对克隆到的序列进行开放阅读框和保守结构域分析;构建原核表达载体,转化表达菌株后用IPTG进行诱导表达,收集菌体后裂解细胞,制备蛋白上样液,SDS-PAGE电泳对表达产物进行分析,同时对融合蛋白进行可溶性分析;IPTG大量诱导表达融合蛋白,收集菌体后进行超声破碎细胞,用麦芽糖结合蛋白纯化柱纯化MBP-Vv CIPK10融合蛋白,SDS-PAGE电泳进行分析;纯化后的融合蛋白与体外自磷酸化缓冲液进行自磷酸化反应,反应后SDS-PAGE电泳,压磷屏检测体外自磷酸化反应;构建重组瞬时表达载体p BI221-GFP/Vv CIPK10;分离拟南芥原生质体,通过PEG介导的瞬时转化方法将重组表达载体p BI221-GFP/Vv CIPK10转化至原生质体;通过基因枪介导的转化方法将重组表达载体p BI221-GFP/Vv CIPK10转化至洋葱表皮细胞,培养16 h后用激光共聚焦显微镜进行荧光信号检测;选择生长相对一致且健壮的葡萄植株,于干旱、低温和盐胁迫处理后不同时间取样,同时在田间取葡萄不同组织样品,实时荧光定量PCR检测Vv CIPK10在葡萄不同组织中的表达以及在不同逆境胁迫下的表达模式。【结果】PCR克隆获得葡萄Vv CIPK10全长为1 357 bp,5′端非编码区为30 bp,3′端非编码区为156 bp,开放阅读框为1 171 bp,编码436个氨基酸,理论等电点为8.59,分子量为48.7 k Da。保守结构域预测分析显示该蛋白5′端具有一个激酶结构域,3′末端具有一个PPI结构域和一个NAF结构域。BLSATP分析表明葡萄Vv CIPK10与桃树CIPK(XP_007205151)一致性最高(74%)。重组表达载体p MAL-C5X/Vv CIPK10在大肠杆菌中经诱导表达获得与理论分子量(43 k Da+48.7 k Da)相一致的融合蛋白。MBP-Vv CIPK10融合蛋白经柱纯化后获得单一的蛋白条带,Vv CIPK10的自磷酸化活性依赖于Mn~(2+),不依赖于Mg~(2+)和Ca~(2+),EDTA可以抑制Vv CIPK10的自磷酸化活性。亚细胞定位结果显示,Vv CIPK10定位在细胞核、细胞膜和细胞质。Vv CIPK10在葡萄各个组织中均有表达,主要在葡萄根和叶片中大量表达,葡萄茎、花序、果实和卷须中的表达量较低。在干旱、低温和盐胁迫处理后,Vv CIPK10呈现受诱导表达模式。Vv CIPK10的表达在低温胁迫后6 h达到峰值,干旱和盐胁迫后2 h即达到峰值。【结论】葡萄Vv CIPK10能够响应干旱、低温和盐胁迫,推测Vv CIPK10在葡萄抗非生物逆境胁迫中具有重要作用。