Clinical Leptospira interrogans serogroup Australis serovar lora infection in a stud farm in the Netherlands

Summary

A Leptospira interrogans serogroup australis serovar lora infection in a stud farm is reported. During three successive years (1984–1986) clinical leptospirosis with a severe often rapid, fatal course was seen in 12 foals.

Clinical examination revealed severe respiratory distress, depression and pyrexia. Other symptoms were diarrhea (2), jaundice (1), and an unsteady gait (1). Morphological characteristics of the disease were massive pulmonary haemorrhage and haemorrhagicthrombotic or extracapillary glomerulonephritis with tubulonephrosis and interstitial oedema. In most foals high or increasing MAT titres to serovar bratislava were found; from one foal Leptospira interrogans serovar lora was isolated.

Serological examination of all 56 mares at the farm (August 1986) revealed antibodies to serovar bratislava in 64 per cent of the animals. These findings support the idea that Leptospira interrogans serovar bratislava and closely related strains (in this study serovar lora) may be adapted to and maintained by the horse population.     

Autologous point‐of‐care cellular therapies variably induce equine mesenchymal stem cell migration,proliferation and cytokine expression

Reasons for performing study: Autologous cellular therapy products including adipose‐derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF), bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNs), cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMNs) and platelet rich plasma are options for treatment of acute orthopaedic lesions while mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are culture expanded. These products may contribute to healing by secreting matrix proteins or growth factors, but they may also act on endogenous MSCs to facilitate healing. Objectives: To determine the effects of cell therapy products on MSCs function in vitro. The hypothesis was that cell therapy products promote MSCs functions including proliferation, migration and mediator release. Methods: Fat, bone marrow (BM), cord blood and platelets were obtained from 6 Quarter Horses. The BM‐MSCs and their autologous cell therapy products were co‐incubated in transwells. Mesenchymal stem cells proliferation, migration, gene expression and cytokine concentrations were determined. Results: All cell therapy products increased MSCs proliferation, but SVF induced significantly more proliferation than any other product. Also SVF elicited more MSCs chemotaxis and, along with BMMNs, significantly more MSCs chemoinvasion. Cord blood mononuclear cells stimulated MSCs to produce high concentrations of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1), and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂). Stromal vascular fraction and platelet lysate did not stimulate MSCs but SVF and platelet lysate themselves contained high concentrations of PGE₂ and IL‐6 (SVF) and TGF‐β1 (platelet lysate). Conclusions: Autologous cell products variably stimulate MSCs functions with 2 primary patterns apparent. Products either contained preformed mediators that may have intrinsic healing function, or products stimulated MSCs to secrete mediators. Potential relevance: The specific clinical indications for these products may differ to include administration as a sole treatment modality prior to MSCs injection for intrinsic cell and cytokine activity (i.e. SVF) or administration concurrently with MSCs to activate MSCs for treatment of chronic lesions (i.e. CBMNs).     

Surgical Correction of Uterine Torsion and Mare–Foal Survival in Advance Pregnant Equine Patients

This article describes the surgical management of uterine torsion by midline celiotomy and cesarean section on 12 mares presented with signs of colic to a teaching veterinary hospital. The mares were either in full term of gestation (n = 7) or in advanced stage of pregnancy (n = 5). Six mares were in first parity. Uterine torsion was diagnosed by per rectal and per vaginal examinations. For surgical intervention, mares were anesthetized using a combination of xylazine (1.1 mg/kg) and ketamine (2.2 mg/kg), intravenously. After intubation, the animals were maintained on halothane (n = 4) or isoflurane (n = 8) inhalation anesthesia. Midline celiotomy was performed, and foals were delivered by cesarean section. In 11 mares, before closing the abdominal wound, the uterus was detorted manually and confirmed for its normal position. Both anesthetic protocols using halothane and isoflurane were found satisfactory for surgical correction of uterine torsion. After long-term follow-up, the study reported 75.0% (9/12) survival rate for mares. One mare was euthanized because of devitalized, necrosed, and adhered uterus to the abdominal wall. Of the nine surviving mares, seven were successfully bred. Three foals were born alive, and only one could survive on long-term basis. Of the nine dead foals, two had umbilical cord torsion.     

Presumptive Nocardia spp. infection in a dog treated with cyclosporin and ketoconazole

Abstract

CASE HISTORY: A dog that had received 8 months of cyclosporin and ketoconazole therapy for treatment of atopic dermatitis subsequently developed severe neurological disease, that failed to respond to treatment with trimethoprim-sulphadiazine and clindamycin.

HISTOPATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: Histopathological examination of the pulmonary parenchyma and spinal cord revealed loose aggregates of Gram-positive, partially acid-fast, fine, beaded, filamentous bacteria, most consistent with Nocardia spp.

DIAGNOSIS: A presumptive diagnosis was made of disseminated nocardiosis of the spinal cord and lungs.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Nocardia spp. is an opportunistic actinomycete that may cause disseminated disease, particularly in immunocompromised animals. Cyclosporin is used in veterinary medicine to control immune-mediated and allergic disorders, with few reported adverse side effects. This case gives further evidence that involvement of the spinal cord in nocardiosis of the central nervous system (CNS) carries a poor prognosis, and opportunistic infection by Nocardia spp. may be a potential complication of immunosuppressive cyclosporin therapy in the dog.     

农田残膜压缩成型的参数优化

针对机械回收后农田残膜集条(堆)质地松散、储运本成本高,为残膜二次回收利用带来巨大困难的问题,采用多因素正交试验方法,以残膜成型块松弛比和比能耗为试验指标,压缩力、保压时间、含土率和含水率为影响因子,对影响残膜压缩成型各因素及其影响规律进行研究,建立并分析了各影响因素与残膜成型块松弛比和比能耗的回归模型。试验结果表明:影响残膜成型块松弛比的主次参数依次为:压缩力含土率保压时间含水率;影响残膜压缩过程比能耗的主次参数依次为:压缩力保压时间,含土率和含水率对残膜压缩比能耗影响不显著。残膜压缩成型作业最优参数取值为:压缩力13.3 MPa、保压时间25 s、含土率53.9%、含水率16.7%,可得到残膜成型块松弛比为1.321,比能耗为26.92 J/g。研究结果可对后续农田残膜压包成型机具的设计及作业参数优化提供理论依据。     

Comparison of birth weight and umbilical and placental characteristics of cloned and artificial insemination-derived piglets

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)-derived piglets have significantly higher stillbirth rate and postnatal mortality rate than artificial insemination (AI)-generated piglets. The question whether the low survival rate of SCNT piglets was related to birth weight, umbilical cord or placenta development was investigated. In this study, stillbirth rate, neonatal death rate, birth weight, umbilical cord status, placental parameters and placental gene expression patterns were compared between SCNT and AI piglets. Results showed that mortality rates at birth and during the neonatal stage of SCNT piglets were significantly higher than those of AI piglets. The incidence of abnormal umbilical cord in SCNT and SCNT-liveborn (SCNT-LB) piglets was significantly higher than in AI and AI-liveborn (AI-LB) piglets. Birth weight, placental weight, placental surface area and placental efficiency in SCNT and SCNT-LB piglets were significantly lower than those of AI and AI-LB piglets. Placental expression profiles of imprinting, angiopoiesis and nutrient transport-related genes were defective in SCNT-LB piglets compared with those in AI-LB piglets. Thus, the low survival rate of SCNT piglets may be associated with abnormal umbilical cord and placenta development. These characteristics may have resulted from aberrant expression of angiogenesis, nutrient transport, and imprinting-related genes in the placentas.     

基于督脉理论辨治脊髓疾病——中医脑病理论与临床实证研究（八）

脊髓充贯椎骨管腔、传导脑髓神机、调控躯体神机、脊髓濡养全身躯体及脏腑、脑脊液循环代谢自有常度。督脉循行脊髓,反映脊髓的大部分功能,督脉为通真之路,脊髓为脏真聚所。例举颈脊髓外伤后遗症神经源性膀胱并神经源性直肠、T₁₂-L₁水平椎管内多发性肿瘤术后、脊髓空洞症3个医案,阐释了脊髓病变以脏腑经络病变为基础,具有易虚损、易痹阻、易共病的病机特征。脊髓疾病属于督脉病变的一部分,治疗上以恢复督脉阴阳水火升降之通道为原则,要同时兼顾督脉病和髓病的用药特点。治督脉应与相关经脉同治,形神同治;虚者治肾命为主,实者通经络为要,治神者参考脑病;治髓虚实主于肝胆,尚用风药。脊髓疾病用药不拘定法,必须辨病辨证,分别轻重缓急处理。     

利用缸压表对汽缸密封性进行检测与分析

汽缸密封性的好坏关系到汽车的使用性能是否能够得到有效的发挥,对汽车动力性、燃油经济性、环保性能都会产生较大的影响。通过对汽缸压缩压力的检测与分析,判断发动机汽缸的密封状态,确定故障部位并采取手段进行修复,使发动机保持良好的工作状态。     

Morphological Characteristics of the Placenta and Umbilical Cord of Arabian Mares Foaling in the United Arab Emirates

A total of 127 normal placentas from Arabian mares resident in the United Arab Emirates were examined. The mean linear dimensions of the placenta were, on average, 84% of those previously recorded for the placentas of the Thoroughbred. Significant differences in the size of the allantochorion between primigravid and multiparous mares were seen only in the linear dimensions of the body portion. The pregnant horn was more commonly on the right than left side of the uterus (P = .01; 74/127; 58%). Cord attachment was primarily at the base of the two placental horns (112/127; 88%), with the remainder showing anomalies from this position. The mean (±SEM) total length of the umbilical cords was 62.2 ± 1.2 cm, being composed of the allantoic portion (29.7 ± 0.9 cm) and amniotic portion (32.5 ± 0.6 cm), which averaged 53 ± 0.01% of the total length. The amniotic portion was usually, but not always, longer than the allantoic portion (79/127; 62%). Longer cords were associated with a greater proportion of allantoic length. An enlarged yolk sac remnant (YSR) was present in 16/127 (13%) placentas. Cords with YSRs displayed a significantly longer allantoic portion than those without (P = .02). The total cord length was not correlated with the weight or area of the allantochorion or amnion, any linear measurement of the allantochorion, gestation length, the month of foaling, parity of the dam, or birthweight or sex of the foal. The purpose for which the mare was bred (i.e., racing or showing) influenced the cord length, those of show mares being significantly longer.