Diagnosis of Coxiella burnetii-related abortion in Italian domestic ruminants using single-tube nested PCR     

Parisi A  Fraccalvieri R  Cafiero M  Miccolupo A  Padalino I  Montagna C  Capuano F  Sottili R 《Veterinary microbiology》2006,118(1-2):101-106

Coxiella burnetii, an obligate intracellular parasite with a worldwide distribution, is the causative agent of acute and chronic Q fever in humans. Although infection is often unapparent in cattle, sheep and goats, there is increasing evidence that C. burnetii infection in these species is associated with abortion and stillbirth. This paper describes the introduction of a single-tube nested PCR protocol for the diagnosis of C. burnetii-related abortion in domestic ruminants in Italy. A total of 514 aborted foetuses from cattle (n = 138) and sheep and goat (n = 376), collected from 301 farms, were analyzed from January 2001 to March 2005. Ninety-seven of 514 (18.9%) animals tested PCR-positive, with 16/138 (11.6%) cattle and 81/376 (21.5%) sheep and goat. Eleven of 102 (10.8%) farms with reproductive disorders in cattle and 37/199 (18.6%) farms with reproductive disorders in sheep and goats were infected with C. burnetii. A greater incidence was observed in three of the seven investigated provinces (p < 0.01), with rates of infected farms of up to 23.8%. Data showed that almost all the C. burnetii-related abortions were recorded between October and April (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that Q fever in humans is largely underestimated in Italy, probably because its occurrence is obscured by flu-like symptoms in acute forms.  相似文献   

Use of s-100 and chromogranin a antibodies as immunohistochemical markers on detection of malignancy in aortic body tumors in dog     

Aresu L  Tursi M  Iussich S  Guarda F  Valenza F 《The Journal of veterinary medical science / the Japanese Society of Veterinary Science》2006,68(11):1229-1233

To define the characteristics of malignancy we performed routine histology and an immunohistochemical study on seventeen aortic body tumors in dogs. We essayed tumors using a panel of immunohistochemical markers: neuron specific enolase (NSE), chromogranin A (CrA) and S-100. Among 17 cases, the neoplastic cells were positive for NSE (17 cases, 100%), S-100 (9 cases, 53%), and CrA (8 cases, 47%), respectively. The sustentacular cells density and chief cell staining intensity were both inversely related to tumor grade. The most relevant data was consistent with a negative staining of S-100 correlated with absence or decreased number of sustentacular cells in tumors grade III. This report indicates that the immunohistochemical panel has utility for the diagnosis of chemodectoma and the negative staining to CrA and S-100 markers in tumors grade III expresses an indication of malignant behaviour of the tumor.  相似文献   

Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia in a dog     

Novello L  Corletto F 《Veterinary surgery : VS》2006,35(2):191-197

OBJECTIVE: To report use of combined spinal epidural anesthesia for tail resection and surgical exploration of the pelvic canal and the perineal-pararectal area in a dog. ANIMAL: A 4-month-old, 13 kg male Collie dog. METHODS: Under inhalant anesthesia, an epidural catheter was threaded through a Tuohy needle at L5-L6. Then using a Whitacre spinal needle bupivacaine and fentanyl were administered in the subarachnoid space at L6-L7 level. Fifteen minutes later, morphine was administered epidurally. Bupivacaine and morphine were administered epidurally 4 hours after the subarachnoid injection. RESULTS: No cardiorespiratory response to surgical stimulation was observed. Postoperative analgesia was satisfactory, and the catheter was removed 30 hours later. No complications or neurologic sequelae occurred before discharge or were noted 10 days later. CONCLUSION: Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia provided excellent intraoperative anesthesia and perioperative analgesia in a dog undergoing surgery involving the pelvic canal. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia can be performed in dogs, and its use should be considered in major surgeries caudal to the diaphragm, as the epidural catheter allows cranial extension of the block, providing excellent intraoperative anesthesia and perioperative analgesia.  相似文献   

History and Trends of Sediment Contamination by Heavy Metals Within and Close to a Marine Area of National Interest: The Ligurian Sea off Cogoleto-Stoppani (Genoa, Italy)     

Cristian Mugnai  Rosa M. Bertolotto  Federico Gaino  Christian Tiberiade  Luca G. Bellucci  Silvia Giuliani  Stefania Romano  Mauro Frignani  Sonia Albertazzi  Davide Galazzo 《Water, air, and soil pollution》2010,211(1-4):69-77

Due to its remarkable sediment pollution caused by past industrial activities, the Mediterranean coastal area facing the town of Cogoleto (near Genoa) has been declared of “national interest”. Seven sediment cores were analysed to provide information on history and trend of heavy metal inputs, with a particular focus on Cr. Grain-size compositions and ²¹⁰Pb chronologies account for a strong influence of terrigenous inputs near the coast and the mouth of the Lerone Creek (draining the industrial settlement), with sand contents and accumulation rates varying from 40.3% and 0.7 cm year^?1 near shore to 2.5% and 0.1 cm year^?1 offshore. Heavy metal concentrations are high, notably Cr and Ni, and to a lesser extent, Ag, Hg, Pb, Cu and Zn. Cr, that shows past values up to 3,642 µg g^?1, presents only minor recent decreases. In the area, it has both natural and anthropogenic sources and their relative contributions were distinguished on the basis of Cr/Ni ratios. These are 1–1.5 in soils and rocks of the Lerone Creek catchment area but reach very high values (up to 10) in marine sediments due to the anthropogenic contribution. The anthropogenic influence is higher near the creek mouth, gradually decreases offshore and is negligible at the most distal site (ca. 2.9 km from the coast).  相似文献   

The Frankincense tree (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Boswellia sacra</Emphasis>, Burseraceae) from Oman: ITS and ISSR analyses of genetic diversity and implications for conservation     

Andrea Coppi  Lorenzo Cecchi  Federico Selvi  Mauro Raffaelli 《Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution》2010,57(7):1041-1052

DNA sequences from the ITS region of the nuclear genome and Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat markers (ISSR) were used to estimate genetic diversity among and within populations of the Frankincense tree Boswellia sacra from Dhofar, Oman. This is a culturally and ecologically relevant species that is showing symptoms of decline due to anthropic factors and, possibly, global warming. ITS sequences were 511 bp long and showed low (6.4%) variation among geographically different populations. The four selected ISSR primers yielded 93 reproducible bands, of which 91 (97.9%) were polymorphic in the 97 individual profiles obtained. Total genetic diversity (H _T) and average heterozygosity within populations (H _S) resulted fairly low (0.22 and 0.136, respectively). The accession from Wadi Dowkah, an UNESCO world heritage site, showed the lowest level of genetic diversity (H _E = 0.107), while the eastern populations from the Hasik area harboured a slightly greater amount of variation. Analysis of Molecular Variance showed that differentiation among populations was relatively high (38.1%), possibly due to the reduced gene flow between the largely isolated stands of Boswellia (N _m = 0.39). Genetic distances and AMOVA suggested a clear differentiation between the eastern and western coastal populations, while those from the internal area did not form a consistent group. For conservation, the eastern sites should be given priority as core populations harbouring significant amounts of allelic diversity. Reasons for reinforcing the more depauperated stands, such as Wadi Dowkah, with local plant material only or, alternatively, with the introduction of germplasm from genetically distinct stands are discussed.  相似文献   

Molecular basis of the interaction between proteins of plant origin and proanthocyanidins in a model wine system     

Granato TM  Piano F  Nasi A  Ferranti P  Iametti S  Bonomi F 《Journal of agricultural and food chemistry》2010,58(22):11969-11976

Plant proteins are being used as a replacement for animal proteins in wine fining. The surface hydrophobicity of plant proteins in four commercial preparations differing for their origin and processing was assessed by using a fluorescent hydrophobic probe in wine-like media. Displacement of the probe by addition of wine phenolics was measured as a way to compare and predict to some extent the efficiency of these proteins in wine fining. It was found that the binding of polyphenols was much more specific than that of the hydrophobic probe. Further analysis of the polyphenol pattern in protein-treated wine-like solutions pointed out two relevant facts: (1) proteins may interfere with the chemistry of the interactions between polyphenols and other wine components; (2) individual protein preparation having different surface hydrophobicities also have different specificities in binding different polymeric forms of the polyphenols and in their substitution products. These findings are related to the possible carry-over of transition metals and may be worth exploring for custom tailoring the fining process. Whether the practical application of the latter finding will call for production and/or screening of plant-derived proteins with features appropriate to this task remains to be investigated. However, the approaches presented in this study may be used for large-scale screening of protein suitability for fining application under laboratory conditions, providing guidelines for their use in actual winemaking applications.  相似文献   

Correlation of cell-mediated immunity against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus with protection against reproductive failure in sows during outbreaks of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome in commercial herds     

Lowe JE  Husmann R  Firkins LD  Zuckermann FA  Goldberg TL 《Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association》2005,226(10):1707-1711

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether cell-mediated immunity against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus is correlated with protection against reproductive failure in sows during clinical outbreaks of PRRS in commercial herds. DESIGN: Outbreak investigation in 4 swine breeding herds. ANIMALS: 97 sows. PROCEDURES: On each farm, blood samples were collected from sows with clinical signs (abortion or increased fetal death; case sows) and from clinically normal sows (control sows). The intensity of the cell-mediated immune (CMI) response was determined by use of an interferon-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay. Multiple logistic regression analyses and t tests were used to compare ELISPOT assay values between case and control sows. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate associations between cell-mediated immunity and the magnitude of clinical signs. RESULTS: In 2 farms, case sows had lower ELISPOT assay values than control sows. A negative association between the intensity of the CMI response and the number of pigs born dead per litter was detected on 1 farm. In 1 farm, no association was detected between the intensity of the CMI response and protection against reproductive failure. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Evidence that a strong CMI response was correlated with protection against clinical PRRS was detected in 3 of 4 farms. However, farms and sows within farms varied considerably in their immune responsiveness and in the degree to which they were protected clinically. Increasing cell-mediated immunity within infected herds has the potential to decrease clinical reproductive disease, but only if the sources of intra- and interfarm variation in the intensity of cell-mediated immunity to PRRS virus can be identified.  相似文献   

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate from green tea negatively affects swine granulosa cell function   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

Basini G  Bianco F  Grasselli F 《Domestic animal endocrinology》2005,28(3):243-256

The use of herbs as additives in livestock nutrition as an alternative to antibiotics is becoming a new goal in animal production. It is known that green tea exerts antimicrobial activity owing to specific flavonoid compounds named catechins, primarily represented by epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Remarkably, despite many potential benefits of green tea and EGCG consumption, it is also important to get an insight on the possible reproductive-related consequences of feeding supplementation. To this purpose, granulosa cells were harvested from follicles > 5mm and treated with 5 and 50 microg/ml of EGCG in order to evaluate the effects on the main parameters of granulosa cell function: steroidogenesis, by measuring progesterone and estradiol-17beta production, and proliferation, one of the major feature of ovarian follicular growth. Moreover, as the genesis of new vessels has been demonstrated to be fundamental for follicle development, we evaluated the effect of EGCG on the production of the main angiogenetic factor, VEGF, by swine granulosa cells. Finally, since reactive oxygen species (ROS) might be involved in the control of female reproductive activity, we studied the effect of EGCG on superoxide anion (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production by swine granulosa cells and on the activity of the scavenging enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD). EGCG significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited proliferation, steroidogenesis, VEGF and O2- production by swine granulosa cells; on the contrary, H2O2 levels and SOD activity were stimulated (p < 0.05) by the catechin. Therefore, since our data demonstrate that EGCG has a negative effect on reproductive performances in swine, feeding supplementation should be carefully considered.  相似文献   

Listing of inherited disorders in animals (LIDA): an online relational database, using non-technical descriptions written by veterinary students     

McGreevy PD  Costa F  Della Torre P  Thomson PC  Nicholas FW 《Journal of veterinary medical education》2005,32(4):551-554

This online database uses a search facility that allows users to select from the 180 recognized dog breeds in Australia and find out which ones are prone to the more than 500 inherited disorders on record. It was developed in consultation with a number of supporting organizations, including the local breeders' governing body and animal-welfare groups, as well as owners. It is hoped that, although primarily for veterinary education, the Web site will increase awareness among breeders and may encourage them to adopt breeding programs that decrease the occurrence of the most prevalent disorders.  相似文献   

Thiamine deficiency in a dog: clinical, clinicopathologic, and magnetic resonance imaging findings     

Garosi LS  Dennis R  Platt SR  Corletto F  de Lahunta A  Jakobs C 《Journal of veterinary internal medicine / American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine》2003,17(5):719-723

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