Theonellamides J and K and 5-cis-Apoa-theopalauamide,Bicyclic Glycopeptides of the Red Sea Sponge Theonella swinhoei

Theonella swinhoei is a fairly common inhabitant of reefs throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Metabolomic analyses of samples of T. swinhoei collected in different depths in the Gulf of Aqaba revealed two chemotypes differing in the profiles of the theonellamides they produce, some of which seem to be unknown. Driven by this finding, we examined a sample of T. swinhoei collected more than 40 years ago in the southern part of the Gulf of Aqaba. Large-scale extract of this sample yielded four theonellamides, the known theopalauamide (4), as the major component, and three new metabolites, theonellamide J (1), 5-cis-Apoa-theopalauamide (2), and theonellamide K (3), as the minor components. The planar structure of these complex cyclic glycopeptides was elucidated by combination of 1D and 2D NMR techniques and HRESIMS. The absolute configuration of the amino acids was established by Marfey’s and advanced Marfey’s methods, and the absolute configuration of its galactose unit using “Tanaka’s method” for monosaccharides. The biological activity of the pure compounds was tested for antibacterial activity and for cytotoxicity to HTC-116 cell line. The compounds presented significant cytotoxicity against the HTC-116 cell line, illuminating the importance of the Apoa subunit for the activity.     

Sudden death of a bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) possibly caused by Newcastle disease virus

An adult female bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) in the Tel Aviv University Research Zoo was found dead without previous clinical signs. The predominant pathologic changes were considerable bloody content in the intestines and enlargement of the liver, which had a rubbery consistency with color changes. Microscopic lesions consisted of multifocal histiocytic infiltration in the liver. Newcastle disease virus (NDV) was isolated from a cloacal swab and from the lungs and liver. Intracerebral pathogenicity index of the virus, as estimated in 1-day-old chicks, was repeated three times and had an average value of 1.68, indicating a velogenic strain. Numerous Clostridium septicum bacteria were found on the intestinal surface, but bioassays in which they were orally administered into chickens and mice revealed that, even though they were heavily multiplied in the intestines, they were nonpathogenic. It seems that NDV, documented for the first time in a bearded vulture in Israel, was the likely cause of sudden death.     

Sleeping respiratory rates in apparently healthy adult dogs

Respiratory rate monitoring of cardiac patients is recommended by many cardiologists. However, little objective data exist about respiratory rates in apparently healthy dogs when collected in the home environment. We measured sleeping respiratory rates (SRR) in apparently healthy dogs and compared sleeping and resting respiratory rates (RRR) with a cross-sectional prospective study. Participants collected 12-14 one-minute SRR over a period ranging from 1 week to 2 months on 114 privately owned adult dogs. Selected participants simultaneously collected RRR. Mean within-dog average SRR (SRR(mean)) was 13breaths per minute (breaths/min). No dog had SRR(mean) >23 breaths/min; three dogs had instantaneous SRR measurements >30 breaths/min. Dogs had higher RRR(mean) (19 breaths/min) than SRR(mean) (15 breaths/min) (P<0.05). Canine SRR(mean) was unaffected by age, bodyweight or geographic location. Data acquisition was considered relatively simple by most participants. This study shows that apparently healthy adult dogs generally have SRR(mean) <30 breaths/min and rarely exceed this rate at any time.     

Cardiac arrhythmias and serum cardiac troponins in Vipera palaestinae envenomation in dogs

BACKGROUND: Vipera palaestinae is responsible for most poisonous envenomations in people and animals in Israel. Cardiac arrhythmias were reported in a retrospective study of V. palaestinae envenomations in dogs. HYPOTHESIS: Cardiac arrhythmias in V. palaestinae-envenomed dogs are associated with myocardial injury reflected by increased serum concentrations of cardiac troponins (cTns). ANIMALS: Forty-eight client-owned dogs envenomed by V. palaestinae. METHODS: Blood sampling (serum biochemistry and cTns, CBC, and coagulation tests) and electrocardiography were performed periodically up to 72 hours postenvenomation. Cardiac rhythm strips were assessed blindly for the presence and type of arrhythmias. RESULTS: Serum cTn-T and cTn-I concentrations were increased in 25% (n = 12) and 65% (n = 31) of the dogs at least once during hospitalization, respectively. Arrhythmias were identified in 29% (n = 14) of the dogs. Dogs with increased cTn-T had a significantly higher occurrence of arrhythmias (58 versus 19%), and higher resting heart rate upon admission and within the following 24 hours. Dogs with increased serum cTn-T concentrations were hospitalized for a significantly (P= .001) longer period compared to those with normal serum cTn-T concentrations. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Dogs envenomed by V. palaestinae appear to sustain some degree of myocardial injury, as reflected by increased serum cTn concentrations and by the occurrence of arrhythmias. The latter should alert clinicians to a potentially ongoing cardiac injury. An increase in cTn-T may be of clinical relevance and indicate a cardiac injury in V. palaestinae envenomations in dogs.     

Israel’s breeding avifauna: A century of dramatic change

During the course of the 20th century many changes took place in the area encompassing Israel and the Palestinian Authority (hereafter Israel; ca. 28,000 km²): the human population grew from ca. 650,000 inhabitants during 1900–1903 (Rupin, 1920) to ca. 10 million in 2008, i.e. a 16-fold increase. This population increase was accompanied by an increase in land use for human needs – agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, construction of buildings and roads, etc., and a dramatic rise in the standard of living.Here we compare the status (distribution and abundance) of the 227 bird species that are breeding or have bred in Israel from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day. For each species we documented the environmental factors presumed to have affected it, and examined the effects of taxonomic order, body mass, diet, world and local distribution and nest location on the status of the avifauna. We found that 73.6% of the bird species breeding in Israel had undergone a change in their status during the studied period. While several of the examined factors were significantly related to the observed changes, some of them were also interrelated to some degree, making it difficult to single out the factor responsible for a particular change. The main reasons for the changes were nonetheless assessed as habitat change, introduction of invasive species and poisoning. Habitat change had many forms, most of which are related to agriculture, including irrigation, aquaculture and construction of water reservoirs; but also included afforestation, preservation of the natural forest, urbanization, gardening and the introduction of exotic plants. Habitat change was responsible for a population decline in 64 species and population increase in 62 species. Thirteen species, mostly Falconiformes, were impacted by poisoning. Sixteen invasive species, all of tropical origin, were introduced, of which seven were Psittaciformes. Although changes occurred throughout the country, the birds inhabiting the Mediterranean region were more affected than those inhabiting the desert region, reflecting the denser human population in the former region.     

Ventricular rate control using a novel vagus nerve stimulating system in a dog with chronic atrial fibrillation

A 4-year-old, intact male Dogue de Bordeaux dog with congenital valvular pulmonic stenosis, tricuspid valve dysplasia, and chronic atrial fibrillation underwent ultrasound-guided balloon valvuloplasty in addition to pharmacological treatment. Owner compliance to prescribed pharmacotherapy proved very poor, and concerns developed regarding the ability to successfully control heart rate and symptoms using drug therapy alone. These concerns were addressed by the implantation of a novel vagal stimulation system that was programmed to prevent a ventricular rate of >145 bpm. Consequently, post-operative ventricular response rate decreased from up to 250 to 140 bpm. Successful ventricular rate control was maintained for 291 days post-operatively, following which euthanasia was elected by the owner due to persistent right-sided congestive heart failure. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of successful continuous rate control using a vagal stimulating system in a closed-chest, client-owned dog with chronic atrial fibrillation secondary to spontaneously occurring organic heart disease.     

Circulation of bovine ephemeral fever in the Middle East--strong evidence for transmission by winds and animal transport

Bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) is an economically important arbovirus of cattle. The main routes of its transmission between countries and continents are not completely elucidated. This study aimed to explore BEFV transmission in the Middle-East. A phylogenetic analysis was performed on the gene encoding the G protein of BEFV isolates from Israel from 2000 and 2008 with isolates from Turkey (2008), Egypt (2005), Australia (1968-1998) and East Asia (1966-2004). Calf sera collected during the years 2006-2007 were tested by serum neutralization in order to explore for recent exposure to BEFV before 2008. These were followed by a meteorological analysis, aimed to reveal movement of air parcels into Israel in the two weeks preceding the first case of BEF in Israel in 2008. The 2008 Israeli and Turkish isolates showed 99% identity and formed a new cluster with the 2000 Israeli isolate. The serological survey showed no new exposure to BEFV during 2006 and 2007. These results coincided with the meteorological analysis, which revealed that air parcels originating in Southern Turkey had reached the location of outbreak onset in Israel nine days before the discovery of the index case. The Egyptian isolate clustered phylogenetically with the Taiwanese isolates, coinciding with data on importation of cattle from China to the Middle East in the year preceding the isolation of the Egyptian isolates. These results suggest that both winds and animal transport may have an important role in trans-boundary transmission of BEFV.     

Electrocardiographic assessment of antianxiety medication in dogs and correlation with serum drug concentration

OBJECTIVES: To determine effects of tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) on the ECG of dogs treated for behavioral conditions and to examine correlations between ECG findings and serum concentrations of these medications. DESIGN: Repeated-measures study. ANIMALS: 39 client-owned dogs with behavioral problems. PROCEDURE: Two groups of dogs with behavioral problems were evaluated. In group 1 (n = 20), ECG tracings were recorded before starting treatment with TCA and again after treatment for > or = 1 month. Dogs in group 2 were already on long-term maintenance amounts of antianxiety medication when ECG tracings were recorded and serum concentrations of medications were obtained. RESULTS: Significant differences were not detected for dogs in group 1 between ECG values measured before and after TCA administration. The ECG values for dogs in group 2 did not differ significantly from the mean of group-1 dogs before receiving medication or from the reference range used at our facility. Duration of the P wave had a significant positive correlation with serum concentrations of clomipramine but significant negative correlation with serum concentrations of amitriptyline. The QT interval corrected for heart rate had a significant negative correlation with serum concentrations of amitriptyline. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Amitriptyline and clomipramine administered at standard dosages apparently do not cause ECG abnormalities in healthy dogs with behavioral problems. These medications should be used cautiously in dogs with conduction abnormalities, and clinicians should periodically monitor ECG and use good clinical judgment to weigh risks and benefits of medications for the safety of each dog.