Magnetic resonance imaging appearance of the brain and cervical spinal cord in an edema disease affected pig

A 7‐week‐old male pig was presented with signs of a central nervous system disorder. An MRI of the head and cervical spine was performed immediately after euthanasia. The MRI revealed multifocal bilaterally symmetric T2‐weighted hyperintense lesions in the brain and spinal cord, likely due to a toxic metabolic process. Histopathological examination supported the MRI findings and confirmed the diagnosis of edema disease due to Shiga‐like toxin produced by Escherichia coli. This is the first case published of the MRI findings in an edema disease affected pig.     

Acute phase proteins and biomarkers of oxidative status in feline spontaneous malignant mammary tumours

Acute phase proteins (APP) and biomarkers of oxidative status change in human and canine mammary tumours, however, they have not been studied in feline mammary tumours. The aims of this study were to investigate the APP and antioxidant responses in feline malignant mammary tumours, to evaluate their relation with tumour features, and to assess their prognostic value. Serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), albumin, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), insulin‐like growth factor1 (IGF1), paraoxonase1 (PON1), total serum thiols (Thiol), glutathione peroxidase (GPox) and total antioxidant capacity determined by different assays, including trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assessed by two different methodologies (TEAC1/2), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), were determined in serum of 50 queens with spontaneous mammary carcinomas and of 12 healthy female cats. At diagnosis, diseased queens presented significantly higher SAA and Hp, and lower albumin, BChE, GPox, TEAC1, TEAC2 and CUPRAC than controls. Different tumour features influenced concentrations of APP and antioxidants. Increases in serum Hp, and decreases in albumin, Thiol and FRAP were significantly associated with neoplastic vascular emboli, metastasis in regional lymph nodes and/or in distant organs. Distant metastasis development during the course of the disease was associated with increases in SAA and TEAC1. At diagnosis, decreased albumin was associated with a longer survival, and BChE <1.15 μmoL/mL.minute was associated with a shorter survival time on multivariate analysis. Feline malignant mammary tumours are associated with an APP response and oxidative stress, and different tumour features influence the inflammatory response and the oxidative damage. Furthermore, some of these analytes proved to have prognostic value.     

Ultrasonographic appearance of the craniocervical junction in normal brachycephalic dogs and dogs with caudal occipital (Chiari-like) malformation

Ultrasonographic evaluation of the spine, especially of the spinal cord, has been rarely reported in dogs. The atlanto-occipital junction provides a small acoustic window through which examination of the craniocervical transition can be performed. Normal sonographic findings of this region in 10 normal brachycephalic dogs are presented and compared with sonographic findings from 25 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with the caudal occipital malformation syndrome. Sonographic findings were compared with magnetic resonance imaging findings to determine the extent of cerebellar herniation and syringohydromyelia. Cerebellar displacement into the foramen magnum was clearly identified sonographically; however, syringohydromyelia was not discernable due to bone overlay.     

Effect of genistein on IGF‐1 and IGFBP‐1 in young and aged female rat ovary

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of genistein (GEN) on expression of insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) and insulin‐like growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP‐1) in young and aged rat ovary. Forty young female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats (200 ± 20 g) and forty aged female SD rats (490 ± 20 g) were selected and according to weight, they were divided into the following five groups with eight animals in each: negative control group (NC), low‐dose group (L), middle‐dose group (M), high‐dose group (H) and positive control group (PC). GEN group received GEN of 15, 30, 60 mg/kg respectively. It lasted 30 days. Concentrations of serum hormones, IGF‐1 and IGFBP‐1 were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Gene and protein expressions of IGF‐1 and IGFBP‐1 were determined by real‐time PCR and Western blot respectively. Compared with NC, GEN significantly increased oestradiol‐17β(E₂) level in aged rat, reduced luteinizing hormone (LH) level in young and aged rat. Serum levels of IGFBP‐1 in young rats were significantly higher in GEN groups (p < 0.05). mRNA and protein expression levels of IGF‐1 and IGFBP‐1 were positively correlated with GEN dose. GEN could significantly reduce the ratio of IGF‐1/IGFBP‐1 of aged rats. Multivariate Cox regression analysis result showed IGF‐1 and IGFBP‐1 levels significantly correlated with GEN dose. We speculate that there is an association between the addition of GEN and expression of IGF‐1 and IGFBP‐1, and the relationship between them is different in young and aged rat.     

Association of red‐mark syndrome with a Rickettsia‐like organism and its connection with strawberry disease in the USA

Red‐mark syndrome (RMS), a disease seen mostly in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, is of unknown aetiology. The research presented here indicates the presence of an intracellular bacterium in RMS‐affected fish. A positive reaction was observed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) with skin lesions, liver, kidney and spleen of affected fish sampled from several locations within the United Kingdom using two different polyclonal antisera raised against Piscirickettsia salmonis. The same reaction was also seen with a number of different anti‐P. salmonis monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). A disease with similar clinical signs to RMS, referred to as strawberry disease (SD), has been reported in the USA. A Rickettsia‐like organism (RLO) has recently been associated with SD based on analysis of 16S rDNA sequences. Using the same panel of anti‐P. salmonis antibodies used to screen the RMS samples, similar staining was obtained in tissue of SD‐affected fish by IHC. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using RLO‐specific primers was also performed on RMS‐affected fish from the United Kingdom, and the samples were positive for the RLO 16S rRNA sequence. These findings suggest that the same aetiological agent may be responsible for RMS in the United Kingdom and SD in the USA.     

In vivo growth and genomic characterization of rickettsia‐like organisms isolated from farmed Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in New Zealand

A rickettsia‐like organism, designated NZ‐RLO2, was isolated from Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) farmed in the South Island, New Zealand. In vivo growth showed NZ‐RLO2 was able to grow in CHSE‐214, EPC, BHK‐21, C6/36 and Sf21 cell lines, while Piscirickettsia salmonis LF‐89^T grew in all but BHK‐21 and Sf21. NZ‐RLO2 grew optimally in EPC at 15°C, CHSE‐214 and EPC at 18°C. The growth of LF‐89 ^T was optimal at 15°C, 18°C and 22°C in CHSE‐24, but appeared less efficient in EPC cells at all temperatures. Pan‐genome comparison of predicted proteomes shows that available Chilean strains of P. salmonis grouped into two clusters (p‐value = 94%). NZ‐RLO2 was genetically different from previously described NZ‐RLO1, and both strains grouped separately from the Chilean strains in one of the two clusters (p‐value = 88%), but were closely related to each other. TaqMan and Sybr Green real‐time PCR targeting RNA polymerase (rpoB) and DNA primase (dnaG), respectively, were developed to detect NZ‐RLO2. This study indicates that the New Zealand strains showed a closer genetic relationship to one of the Chilean P. salmonis clusters; however, more Piscirickettsia genomes from wider geographical regions and diverse hosts are needed to better understand the classification within this genus.     

Replacement of de‐oiled rice bran by soaked and fermented sweet potato leaf meal: Effect on growth performance,body composition and expression of insulin‐like growth factor 1 in Labeo rohita (Hamilton), fingerlings

A 60‐day feeding trial was conducted to determine the growth performance and expression of insulin‐like growth factor 1 gene (IGF‐I gene) in Labeo rohita fingerlings fed with either raw, soaked or fermented sweet potato leaf meal (SPLM) by completely replacing de‐oiled rice bran (DORB), following a completely randomized design. Seven isonitrogenous (30%) and isocaloric (1.8 MJ/100 g) diets were prepared by replacing DORB with 50% and 100% raw, soaked and fermented sweet potato leaf meal, maintaining DORB‐containing diets as a control. Weight gain %, SGR (specific growth rate) and PER (protein efficiency ratio) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher when 100% DORB was replaced by fermented SPLM in comparison to other treatment groups. The fermented and soaked SPLM‐fed groups had registered with lower FCR value. The expression of growth regulating gene IGF‐I mRNA and RNA/DNA ratio was found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05) in soaked and fermented SPLM‐fed groups. In this study, the body protein and lipid composition did not vary significantly (p > 0.05). Hence, the study concludes that the fermented sweet potato leaf meal using Chaetomium globosum can replace 100% DORB in the diet of Labeo rohita without any detrimental effect on growth performance.