Dual-label time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay for simultaneous quantification of haptoglobin and C-reactive protein in meat juice from pigs

A new method was developed to simultaneously measure 2 acute-phase proteins (APPs) by time-resolved immunofluorometry. The assay, based on double-label quantification of haptoglobin (Hp) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in meat juice samples from pigs, was constructed by use of a combination of europium and samarium chelate lanthanides as labels. Meat juice samples from 154 pigs were used for analytic and clinical validation of the assay through determination of precision, accuracy, limit of detection, and quantification. The analytic performance of the assay was satisfactory, with good intra-assay and interassay precision and accuracy. The levels of Hp and CRP were increased in the meat juice samples of diseased animals compared with healthy ones. According to the results, higher sensitivity could be achieved if the cut-off values of both proteins were taken into account for clinical relevance rather than used individually. Since the dual assay saved both time and sample, it could be used as a rapid and sensitive screening test in porcine production.     

Comparison of Insulin Sensitivity of Horses Adapted to Different Exercise Intensities

Diets high in concentrates and soluble carbohydrates are associated with reduced insulin sensitivity in horses. Exercise training could protect against diet-induced insulin resistance. The objective of this study was to determine the intensity of exercise training required to affect insulin sensitivity in stabled horses fed a diet high in concentrates but moderate in soluble carbohydrates. In all, 31 stabled horses underwent three different exercise regimens: turnout, light exercise, and moderate exercise, while being fed a diet containing 60% concentrate. Blood was sampled monthly and analyzed for insulin. Insulin sensitivity was assessed using basal insulin concentrations and calculated insulin sensitivity (reciprocal of the square root of insulin) and compared across months by analysis of variance with repeated measures. Insulin sensitivity (reciprocal of the square root of insulin) was higher during periods of moderate and light physical activity as compared with turnout. These results indicate that turnout alone may not be adequate to improve insulin sensitivity in horses fed high amounts of concentrate.     

Synergistic effects of Miconazole and Polymyxin B on microbial pathogens

The therapeutic value of antibiotics depends on the susceptibility of the infecting microorganism and the pharmacological profile of the drugs. To assess the value of an antibiotic combination of polymyxin B and miconazole this study examined the in vitro synergistic potential of the two drugs on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and yeast. Antifungal and antibacterial activity was tested by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of broth macrodilution and urea broth microdilution, by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Synergism was calculated using the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICi). With Staphylococcus intermedius as target we found up to an eightfold reduction of the individual MICs when both drugs were combined. However, the FICi was 0.63 suggesting no real interaction between the two drugs. With Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Malassezia pachydermatis as targets the antimicrobial drug combination reduced the MICs of polymyxin B and miconazole from fourfold to hundredfold resulting in FICi between 0.06 and 0.5 which defines a synergistic action. Thus, if polymyxin B and miconazole are combined their effect is greater than the sum of the effects observed with polymyxin B and miconazole independently, revealing bactericidal and fungicidal synergism. Our results indicate a strong therapeutic value for the combination of these antimicrobial agents against Gram-negative bacteria and yeast and a weaker value against Gram positive bacteria for clinical situations where these pathogens are involved.     

CYSTIC ENDOMETRIAL HYPERPLASIA AND BACTERIAL ENDOMETRITIS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INTRAUTERINE FOREIGN BODY IN A GUINEA PIG WITH OVARIAN CYSTIC DISEASE

A 3-year-old, 920 g intact female guinea pig presented with a 4-month history of nonpruritic hair loss on the ventral abdomen. The physical examination revealed flank and ventral abdominal alopecia, mucoid vulvar discharge, and abdominal distension. Bilateral rounded masses just caudal to the kidneys and structures consistent with enlarged uterine horns were detected on abdominal palpation. Abdominal ultrasound revealed bilateral ovarian cysts, thickened uterine horns, and multiple circular hypoechoic and anechoic structures in the uterine wall. The patient underwent ovariohysterectomy. Gross examination of the uterus revealed a piece of hay in the left uterine horn. A final diagnosis was hormonally active ovarian follicular cysts, cystic endometrial hyperplasia, and purulent bacterial endometritis caused by Escherichia coli, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Arthrobacter spp. Cystic endometrial hyperplasia is infrequently reported in guinea pigs, and this report describes an associated bacterial endometritis and uterine foreign body with concurrent ovarian cysts.     

Mycobacterium microti infection in the cat: a case report, literature review and recent clinical experience

OVERVIEW: Mycobacterium microti infection is infrequently described in cats in the veterinary literature. It can be one of a large number of possible differential diagnoses in a feline patient with dermal nodules and non-healing draining ulcers, and can occasionally spread to involve the lungs and/or other areas of the body. CASE SUMMARY: This report describes the clinical signs, eventual diagnosis and variable response to treatment in a cat in Switzerland with recurrent cutaneous M microti infection. Only after several diagnostic and therapeutic attempts, over more than 2 years, was the species of Mycobacterium finally identified and targeted therapy given. PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: For any cat in which there is even a low suspicion of mycobacterial infection, the authors recommend that an aggressive diagnostic approach is taken. Tissue specimens should be collected and frozen early on, and, as soon as acid-fast bacilli are detected, samples should be sent to a mycobacterial reference laboratory for definitive identification. LITERATURE REVIEW: A review of the literature relating to the aetiopathogenesis, diagnosis and management of M microti infection in cats and dogs is included. This is supplemented with clinical and therapeutic experience gained from this case and other, unpublished cases managed over the past 15 years by one of the authors (DGM).     

Immunoglobulin E-bearing cells and mast cells in skin biopsies of horses with urticaria

The pathogenesis of equine urticaria is not well understood. In man, urticaria has been associated with immunological and nonimmunological mechanisms leading to the release of various mediators by mast cells. Skin biopsies of 32 horses with a history of urticaria were stained with toluidine blue, a double-labelling method for chymase and tryptase, and immunohistochemistry for immunoglobulin (Ig)E. These horses were compared with horses with pemphigus foliaceus, insect bite hypersensitivity and control horses with healthy skin. Neither formalin fixation time nor biopsy site influenced the staining methods. No chymase-positive cells were found. In all groups of horses, cells staining with toluidine blue and for tryptase and IgE were found in the epidermis and hair follicle papilla and significantly more positively staining cells were observed in the subepidermal dermis compared with the deep dermis. Horses with urticaria had significantly more IgE-bearing cells in the subepidermal dermis than control horses. However, horses with urticaria had significantly fewer toluidine-blue-stained mast cells in both subepidermal and deep dermis compared with the insect bite hypersensitivity and pemphigus foliaceus groups. This study suggests that IgE-mediated reactions play a role in the pathogenesis of urticaria.     

Identification of mycobacterial infections in wild boars in Northern Sardinia, Italy

During a six-month period a region of Northern Sardinia was monitored to check the presence of mycobacterial infections in wild boars. Forty-eight serum and 229 biopsy samples were collected from different animals and examined by both traditional diagnostic techniques (culture, bacterioscopic and molecular tests) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The latter was used to determine the antibody response against both methylated and nonmethylated Heparin-Binding Haemagglutinin (HBHA) protein. Nine mycobacterial strains were isolated: three M. avium ssp. paratuberculosis (Map), three M. avium, one M. interjectum and two M. scrofulaceum strains. By PCR, only one animal was positive for M. bovis, whereas 10 animals were positive for Map. Out of the 48 sera tested, 19 showed a good humoral response to methylated HBHA and 17 to nonmethylated HBHA. Our data provide new information on the prevalence of mycobacterial infection among wild boars in Northern Sardinia and suggest that a more effective program should be developed to monitor mycobacterial infections in the wild animal population.