Implications of presumptive fatal Rocky Mountain spotted fever in two dogs and their owner

A dog was examined because of petechiation, an inability to stand, pale mucous membranes, a possible seizure, and thrombocytopenia. Tick-borne illness was suspected, but despite treatment, the dog died. Eight days later, a second dog owned by the same individual also died. The dog was not examined by a veterinarian, but Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) was suspected on the basis of clinical signs. Two weeks after the second dog died, the owner was examined because of severe headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, lethargy, and a fine rash on the body, face, and trunk. Despite intensive treatment for possible RMSF, the owner died. Although results of an assay for antibodies to Rickettsia rickettsii were negative, results of polymerase chain reaction assays of liver, spleen, and kidney samples collected at autopsy were positive for spotted fever group Rickettsia spp. These cases illustrate how dogs may serve as sentinels for RMSF in humans and point out the need for better communication between physicians and veterinarians when cases of potentially zoonotic diseases are seen.     

RETROSPECTIVE COMPARISON OF THREE‐DIMENSIONAL CONFORMAL RADIATION THERAPY VS. PREDNISOLONE ALONE IN 30 CASES OF CANINE INFRATENTORIAL BRAIN TUMORS

Infratentorial tumors are relatively infrequent in dogs and a lack of data makes it difficult to offer prognostic information. Untreated, dogs with these neoplasms have shorter survival times than those with supratentorial tumors. The role of radiation therapy (RT) in the management of infratentorial tumors is poorly defined and tumoral/peritumoral swelling in this site is a potential cause of serious acute side effects. The aim of this retrospective, cohort study was to describe cases of infratentorial tumors treated with fractionated three‐dimensional conformal RT (3D CRT) and glucocorticoids (GC), and compare outcomes and survival with dogs affected by tumors in the same location that received GC alone. Thirty patients with a MRI diagnosis of infratentorial tumors were recruited (15 received RT and GC and 15 GC alone). None had mentation changes at presentation. For both groups, MRI and medical records were reviewed; and factors associated with survival were evaluated with Kaplan–Meier product limit survival and Cox regression analysis. Overall median survival time (MST) was 294 days (95% CI 42–545). The MST in the RT group was 756 days (95% CI 209–1302) vs. 89 days (95% CI 34.7–143.3 days) for those dogs treated palliatively with GC alone. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.001). No other factors (including neurological signs, MRI features, tumor volume and total RT dose) were statistically associated with survival in the RT group. This study suggests that 3D CRT offers a survival advantage for dogs with infratentorial tumors compared to GC alone, and significant complications are uncommon.     

Production of ex vivo lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 is suppressed by trans-resveratrol in a concentration-dependent manner

Trans-resveratrol is a biologically active compound present in certain foods that has anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. These beneficial effects are derived from both the immune system and cytokines. The purpose of this study was to determine the immunomodulatory effect of trans-resveratrol on the ex vivo production of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines stimulated by lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Trans-resveratrol (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 microM) was added to blood samples from male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 6) along with 100 U of LPS (Escherichia coli serotype, 055B5). The samples were then incubated for 4 h at 37 degrees C and centrifuged. Finally, concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), and IL-6 in the plasma were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The production of inflammatory (TNF-alpha and IL-1beta) and anti-inflammatory (IL-6) cytokines was suppressed by trans-resveratrol in a concentration-dependent manner. These results support the hypothesis that the immunomodulatory effect of trans-resveratrol plays an important role in disease conditions that involve an overproduction of inflammatory cytokines.     

Canine schistosomiasis in Kansas: five cases (2000-2009)

This is a retrospective case series consisting of five dogs diagnosed with schistosomiasis. The purpose of this article is to report the presence of naturally occurring canine schistosomiasis in Kansas and to provide clinical details regarding schistosomiasis. Medical records of dogs diagnosed with schistosomiasis from 2000 to 2009 were reviewed, and information extracted included signalment, history, clinical signs, diagnostic test results, treatment, and outcome. Affected dogs were primarily medium to large breed and young to middle aged. All dogs were considered outdoor dogs, with three having known access to surface water. Common clinical signs included gastrointestinal disease and signs associated with hypercalcemia. Fecal flotation was negative in all dogs in contrast to fecal saline sedimentation and fecal polymerase chain reaction, which were both positive in all dogs in which it was performed. All dogs treated specifically for schistosomiasis fully recovered. This article describes the first reported cases of canine schistosomiasis in the Midwest and the first reported case of intestinal intussusception secondary to schistosomiasis. Recognizing that canine schistosomiasis is present in Kansas and possibly other Midwestern states should prompt veterinarians to perform appropriate diagnostic investigation in suspect animals as the diagnosis is straight forward and relatively inexpensive.     

Susceptibility of various ceil culture systems to pseudorabies virus

A comparative study was carried out to determine the susceptibility of five different cell lines to pseudorabies virus (PRV), a herpes virus of pigs. The cell systems tested were swine testicle (ST), mink lung (ML), equine dermal (ED), porcine kidney (PK₁₅), and bovine turbinate (BT) cells. Virus titers obtained were 10^4.88, 10^4.38, 10^3.75, 10^2.63, and 10^0.25 for ML, ST, PK₁₅, BT and ED cells, respectively indicating that ML, ST, and PK₁₅ are optimal cell lines for the growth of PRV whereas BT and ED are not very sensitive.     

USE OF 123IODINE METAIODOBENZYLGUANIDINE SCINTIGRAPHY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF A PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA IN A DOG

A 13-year-old neutered female Yorkshire terrier presented with a history of progressive episodic weakness and disorientation of 4 months duration. Physical and neurologic examinations were normal at presentation. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a mass involving the right adrenal gland. Standard planar scintigraphy was performed at 4, 18, and 24 hours after intravenous injection 185 MBq (5mCi) of ¹²³I-labeled metaiodobenzylguanidine (¹²³I-MIBG). An area of focal intense uptake was identified in the area of the right adrenal gland. A pheochromocytoma was confirmed histologically after surgical excision.     

Modelling interactions amongst people and forest resources at the landscape scale

FLORES, the Forest Land Oriented Resource Envisioning System, is a framework to facilitate quantitative modelling of ecological, economic and social issues at the landscape scale. This issue ofSmall-scale Forest Economics, Management and Policy describes the evolution of FLORES from a concept to a series of models calibrated for diverse locations, and documents the lessons learned. The idea to construct and use landscape-scale models of the forest frontier, based on simulating household decisions and land use at a spatial scale close to the field level, arose from a desire to add rigour to land-use policy research at CIFOR, the Center for International Forestry Research (Vanclay 1995). This simulation modelling approach to addressing interdisciplinary issues, where people are strongly interacting with forest resources, became known as FLORES, the Forest Land Oriented Resource Envisioning System (Vanclay 1998). Muetzelfeldtet al. (1998) constructed a simple prototype of a FLORES model to illustrate the concept and demonstrate the ability of a system-dynamics modelling environment to animate such a model (Muetzelfeldt and Taylor 1997, 2001, Muetzelfeldt and Massheder 2003). In 1999, FLORES became a reality, when 50 scientists from diverse disciplines met in Bukittinggi, Indonesia to construct the first FLORES model styled on this prototype (CIFOR 1999, Vanclayet al. 2003). The research reported in this special issue was made possible by generous financial support from the Department for International Development (UK), the European Community, the Asian Development Bank (under RETA 5812) and the Center for International Forestry Research. The views expressed herein are those of the authors alone. We would like to thank the following people who have assisted in the production of this special issue by acting as anonymous referees for these and other papers: Andy Warner, Brendan Moran, Bruno Verbist, Chris Dake, Chris Legg, Doug Sheil, Euan Mason, Francois Bousquet, Frank Vanclay, Geoff Slaughter, James Gambiza, John Herbohn, John Poulsen, Jungho Suh, Mike Spilsbury, Paul Phillips, Paul van Gardingen, Phil Norman, Philip Nyhus, Roger Wheate, Ross Sigley, Steve Harrison and Tom Evans. Thanks also to the editorial staff, especially Steve Harrison, John Herbohn and Jungho Suh, for making this special issue possible.     

Tree diameter, height and stocking in even-aged forests

? Empirical observations suggest that in pure even-aged forests, the mean diameter of forest trees (D, diameter at breast height, 1.3 m above ground) tends to remain a constant proportion of stand height (H, average height of the largest trees in a stand) divided by the logarithm of stand density (N, number of trees per hectare): D = β(H ? 1.3)/ ln(N).

? Thinning causes a relatively small and temporary change in the slope β, the magnitude and duration of which depends on the nature of the thinning.

? This relationship may provide a robust predictor of growth in situations where scarce data and resources preclude more sophisticated modelling approaches.