Haematological, ocular and skeletal abnormalities in a samoyed family

Haematological, ocular and skeletal abnormalities were documented in a samoyed male and its five offspring. Haematological abnormalities, found in repeated tests in all the dogs, included marked eosinophilia, eosinophilic bands and absence of Barr bodies. Two of the dogs had bilateral buphthalmia, retinal detachments and other ocular abnormalities. Three of the dogs had skeletal abnormalities including chondrodysplasia (dwarfism) and brachygnathia (undershot jaw). A similar combination of inherited skeletal and ocular disorders, without the haematological abnormalities, has been described in samoyeds. Acquired causes for the haematological findings, which are similar to the inherited Pelger-Huët anomaly described in several species, have been eliminated. Eosinophilic bands and scarcity of Barr bodies could be a marker, or a previously unreported manifestation, of an inherited disorder in samoyeds.     

Skeleton of Euplectella sp.: structural hierarchy from the nanoscale to the macroscale

Structural materials in nature exhibit remarkable designs with building blocks, often hierarchically arranged from the nanometer to the macroscopic length scales. We report on the structural properties of biosilica observed in the hexactinellid sponge Euplectella sp. Consolidated, nanometer-scaled silica spheres are arranged in well-defined microscopic concentric rings glued together by organic matrix to form laminated spicules. The assembly of these spicules into bundles, effected by the laminated silica-based cement, results in the formation of a macroscopic cylindrical square-lattice cagelike structure reinforced by diagonal ridges. The ensuing design overcomes the brittleness of its constituent material, glass, and shows outstanding mechanical rigidity and stability. The mechanical benefits of each of seven identified hierarchical levels and their comparison with common mechanical engineering strategies are discussed.     

Emphysematous Cystitis due to Escherichia coli Associated with Prolonged Chemotherapy in a Non‐Diabetic Dog

An 11‐year‐old male Labrador retriever dog with chronic recurrent complicated urinary tract infection due to Escherichia coli and a history of prolonged multi‐drug chemotherapeutic protocol due to lymphoma was diagnosed with emphysematous cystitis. Diagnosis was based on ultrasonographic and radiographic findings. The immunosuppressive effects of the long glucocorticoid treatment were probably the main underlying mechanism involved in the pathogenesis, however, chemotherapy and/or the presence of lymphoma might have also been involved.     

Spirocercosis-associated pyothorax in dogs

The records of five dogs diagnosed with spirocercosis-associated pyothorax were retrospectively reviewed. On admission, the most common clinical findings were weakness, anorexia, depression, dyspnoea and fever. All dogs had typical oesophageal Spirocerca lupi granulomas. Contrast thoracic radiography revealed contrast material leakage from the oesophagus into the pleural cavity in two dogs only. All dogs were medically treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, repeated chest tube drainage and thoracic lavage, and four of the dogs were treated with doramectin. One dog was euthanased due to a concurrent non-related disease at the owners request while the remaining four survived. S. lupi infection should be included in the differential diagnoses of canine pyothorax in endemic areas. Conservative medical management of pyothorax with antihelmintic medication was shown to be effective in the treatment of S. lupi-associated pyothorax.     

Sources of Verticillium dahliae Affecting Lettuce

ABSTRACT Since 1995, lettuce in coastal California, where more than half of the crop in North America is grown, has consistently suffered from severe outbreaks of Verticillium wilt. The disease is confined to this region, although the pathogen (Verticillium dahliae) and the host are present in other crop production regions in California. Migration of the pathogen with infested spinach seed was previously documented, but the geographic sources of the pathogen, as well as the impact of lettuce seed sparsely infested with V. dahliae produced outside coastal California on the pathogen population in coastal California remain unclear. Population analyses of V. dahliae were completed using 16 microsatellite markers on isolates from lettuce plants in coastal California, infested lettuce seed produced in the neighboring Santa Clara Valley of California, and spinach seed produced in four major spinach seed production regions: Chile, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States (Washington State). California produces 80% of spinach in the United States and all seed planted with the majority infested by V. dahliae comes from the above four sources. Three globally distributed genetic populations were identified, indicating sustained migration among these distinct geographic regions with multiple spinach crops produced each year and repeated every year in coastal California. The population structure of V. dahliae from coastal California lettuce plants was heavily influenced by migration from spinach seed imported from Denmark and Washington. Conversely, the sparsely infested lettuce seed had limited or no contribution to the Verticillium wilt epidemic in coastal California. The global trade in plant and seed material is likely contributing to sustained shifts in the population structure of V. dahliae, affecting the equilibrium of native populations, and likely affecting disease epidemiology.     

Intermediate syndrome of chlorpyriphos toxicity (Polaris) in a caracal (Caracal caracal)

A 5-yr-old spayed female caracal (Caracal caracal) was presented with complaints of acute onset of mental dullness, ataxia, and ventroflexion of 24-hr duration. The animal's garden territory was sprayed a day earlier with an organophosphate (OP) insecticide (chlorpyriphos-methyl). The caracal was treated for OP toxicosis and mildly improved. It was discharged a day later at the owner's request, although clinical signs did not resolve. During the following week, the caracal was confined to prevent further toxin exposure but did not improve and was presented 8 days later with similar clinical signs. Serum butyril-cholinesterase activity was markedly low. The relatively long interval from OP exposure, along with the duration of clinical signs, suggested an intermediate syndrome of OP toxicity. The caracal was treated symptomatically and progressively improved. It was discharged after 8 days of hospitalization and made full recovery 30 days later. This is the first report of OP toxicity in a caracal, suspected to progress to an intermediate syndrome of OP poisoning.     

Spirocerca lupi in dogs: prophylactic effect of doramectin

Spirocerca lupi is primarily a parasite of dogs, which typically causes oesophageal nodules, aortic aneurysms, and spondylitis. This study investigated the efficacy of doramectin as a prophylactic agent for canine spirocercosis. Five beagle dogs were injected subcutaneously with doramectin (400 μg/kg on 3 occasions 30 days apart q30d), while 5 other beagle dogs served as untreated controls. All dogs were inoculated with 40 infectious S. lupi larvae (L₃) one month after the last doramectin treatment. All control dogs and 4/5 treated dogs became infected. Two control dogs died of ruptured aortic aneurysms, while no deaths occurred in treated dogs. Oesophageal nodules appeared 40–103 day later in treated as compared to control dogs, and eggs appeared in the faeces 49–106 day later in treated as compared to control dogs. The mean faecal egg count on day 223 in the treatment group was reduced by 99.77%. All control dogs had thoracic radiographic changes during the study, while only 2/5 study dogs showed radiographic changes. This study shows that although doramectin did not entirely prevent canine spirocercosis it reduced the clinical signs associated with infection and delayed and reduced egg output.     

Emphysematous cystitis due to Escherichia coli associated with prolonged chemotherapy in a non-diabetic dog

An 11-year-old male Labrador retriever dog with chronic recurrent complicated urinary tract infection due to Escherichia coli and a history of prolonged multi-drug chemotherapeutic protocol due to lymphoma was diagnosed with emphysematous cystitis. Diagnosis was based on ultrasonographic and radiographic findings. The immunosuppressive effects of the long glucocorticoid treatment were probably the main underlying mechanism involved in the pathogenesis, however, chemotherapy and/or the presence of lymphoma might have also been involved.     

Development of hypertrophic osteodystrophy and antibody response in a litter of vaccinated Weimaraner puppies

Two different vaccination protocols were compared with regard to the development of hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD) (also termed metaphyseal osteopathy) and effectiveness of immunisation in a litter of 10 Weimaraner puppies. Five puppies (group 1) were vaccinated with a modified live canine parvovirus vaccine (CPV) and then two weeks later with a trivalent vaccine containing modified live canine distemper virus and adenovirus type 2 combined with a Leptospira bacterin (DHL). The CPV and DHL vaccine protocols were administered a further two times, at two-week intervals. Group 2 was vaccinated with three consecutive multivalent vaccines containing modified live canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus, parainfluenza and adenovirus type 2 combined with a Leptospira bacterin, at four-week intervals. All puppies were first vaccinated at the age of eight weeks. Three dogs in group 1 developed HOD, while all five dogs in group 2 developed HOD during the study period. Dogs in group 2 had more episodes of HOD than those in group 1. Dogs in group 1 developed higher antibody titres to canine distemper virus and parvovirus compared with those in group 2. Only two out of the 10 dogs developed protective antibody titres to parvovirus. The results of this study suggest that the two different vaccination protocols affected the pattern of appearance of HOD and immunisation in this litter of Weimaraner puppies. The results obtained and the previously reported data suggest that a larger controlled study is needed to further elucidate the effect of different vaccination protocols on HOD and immunisation in Weimaraner puppies.     

The effect of short-duration, high-intensity electromagnetic pulses on fresh ulnar fractures in rats

Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) have been found to be beneficial to a wide variety of biological phenomena. In particular, PEMFs have been shown to be useful in the promotion of healing of ununited fractures. Conflicting information exists regarding the benefit of using PEMFs to accelerate the healing of fresh fractures. This paper reports on the evaluation of the effect of a new PEMF generator (PAP IMI) on the healing of fresh ulnar fractures in rats. This device is unique by virtue of the extremely high power output of each of the pulses it generates. Ulnar fractures were created in rats by using a bone cutter, thus producing a 2-3 mm bone defect. Rats were then randomly divided into treatment and control groups. The treatment group underwent periodic treatments with the PAP IMI, and the control group received no treatment. Radiographs of rats from both groups were taken at 1-week intervals. Histological evaluation was performed at the end of the study. Radiographic and histopathological evaluations were scored, and scores were used to assess both rate and quality of healing. The radiographic results demonstrated gradual bridging callus formation in both control and treatment groups, however, the healing process was faster in rats that were not treated by PEMF. Histological evaluation demonstrated that the fibrous content of the callus in rats belonging to the treatment group was significantly higher than that in rats belonging to the control group. The results of this study do not support the claim that PEMF generated by the PAP-IMI stimulate osteogenesis and bone healing after the creation of fresh ulnar fractures in rats.