Comparison of direct fluorescent antibody staining and real-time polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Borrelia burgdorferi in Ixodes scapularis ticks.     

Gwenn Gaumond  Allison Tyropolis  Sarah Grodzicki  Sandra Bushmich 《Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation》2006,18(6):583-586

Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent responsible for causing Lyme disease in humans and animals, is transmitted via the bite of infected Ixodes spp. ticks. Ticks removed from humans and animals are routinely tested by diagnostic laboratories to determine if they are infected with these bacteria. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of 2 commonly used methods, direct fluorescent antibody staining and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), for the detection of B. burgdorferi in Ixodes scapularis ticks. One hundred and twenty-seven adult I. scapularis ticks collected in Connecticut, a Lyme disease endemic area, were tested, and results were compared. Results showed 24.8% ticks tested positive for Borrelia spp. by fluorescent antibody testing and 32.5% ticks were positive for B. burgdorferi by real-time PCR testing. When ticks were grouped into categories by level of engorgement (unengorged, partially engorged, and fully engorged), 95% of unengorged ticks, 90.5% of partially engorged, and 86.8% of engorged ticks tested were in agreement. Ten of the 127 ticks examined were too dehydrated to be tested by the fluorescent antibody technique; half of these tested positive by PCR. Real-time PCR appears to be the better of these 2 methods for the diagnosis of this bacterial infection in I. scapularis ticks.  相似文献   

Suspected cervical spinal cord vascular anomaly in an African warthog (Phacochoerus africanus).     

Douglas P Whiteside  Todd K Shury  Sandra R Black  Stephen Raverty 《Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine》2006,37(3):393-396

Vascular myelopathies of the spinal cord have not been described in Suidae, and are a rare finding in companion animals. An 8.5-yr female African warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) presented with an acute onset of tetraparesis. Based on neurologic findings, a cervical spinal cord lesion between C7-T2 was suspected. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed severe intramedullary hemorrhage with suspected abnormal vessels in the spinal cord at the level of the seventh cervical vertebrae. The acute onset of clinical signs and rapid deterioration of neurological status precluded surgical managements. A vascular anomaly was suspected on gross pathology and histology. Immunohistochemistry identified the lesion as a spontaneous intramedullary hematoma. Spontaneous intramedullary hematomyelia should be considered as a differential for acute onset of paresis in suid species.  相似文献   

Meloxicam and surgical denervation of the coxofemoral joint for the treatment of degenerative osteoarthritis in a Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris).     

Douglas P Whiteside  Audrey M Remedios  Sandra R Black  Susan T Finn-Bodner 《Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine》2006,37(3):416-419

An adult male white Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) with pronounced atrophy of the pelvic musculature was diagnosed with degenerative osteoarthritis of the coxofemoral joints. Initial management with the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam and a semisynthetic sodium pentosan polysulfate resulted in clinical improvement and radiographic stabilization of the arthritic condition over several months. However, because pain was still evident, bilateral denervation of the coxofemoral joints was performed, successfully ameliorating the signs of osteoarthritic pain in the tiger. Meloxicam has shown good clinical efficacy for the treatment of osteoarthritis and other painful conditions in large felids. Coxofemoral joint denervation offers many advantages for the treatment of osteoarthritis in exotic carnivore species, and should be considered a viable treatment modality.  相似文献   

Inhalation anesthetics and the reproductive risk associated with occupational exposure among women working in veterinary anesthesia     

Sandra I Allweiler  Lori R Kogan 《Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia》2013,40(3):285-289

ObjectiveTo investigate reproductive health issues for women working in veterinary anesthesia compared with those working in veterinary critical care. Reproductive health issues were classified as time to conceive, fertility treatment, miscarriage, and children with birth defects.Study designQuestionnaire-based survey.MethodsA survey was designed to assess the reproductive health of female personnel working in veterinary anesthesia. To account for other job related factors that might impact reproductive health (i.e. stress, heavy lifting, long working hours and varying schedules), women working in veterinary critical care were used as a comparison group.ResultsThere were 295 respondents including, (209 faculty and staff working in veterinary anesthesia and 86 in veterinary critical care).There were no statistical differences in length of time to conceive, number of couples receiving fertility treatment, miscarriages, and children with birth defects between the two groups.ConclusionsThis study did not show a statistically significant difference in reproductive risk for women working in veterinary anesthesia when compared to women working in veterinary critical care. Overall the incidence for reproductive health problems is similar to the risk for the general population of females in North America.  相似文献   

Population dynamics of Dasiops inedulis (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) and its biotic and abiotic mortality factors in Colombian sweet passionfruit orchards     

Diego A. Carrero  Daniel Melo  Sandra Uribe  Kris A. G. Wyckhuys 《Journal of pest science》2013,86(3):437-447

Throughout South America, the lonchaeid flies Dasiops spp. are important herbivores of passionfruit crops. However, little is known on the biology and ecology of these insects, resulting in inadequate pest management schemes. In this study, we describe Dasiops inedulis population dynamics in Colombian sweet passionfruit (SP; Passiflora ligularis Juss.) and elucidate biotic mortality factors at different fly developmental stages. From August 2009 to July 2010, D. inedulis and Dasiops spp. abundance was assessed through monthly McPhail bait trapping and collection of SP flower buds, flowers, and immature fruits. Mortality levels of D. inedulis were determined for early instar larvae by ovary dissection and for late-instar larvae or pupae by prey removal trials. Maximum infestation reached 80 % in fruits and flower buds, and bud infestation correlated with precipitation during the previous month. Two days after oviposition, 8.2 ± 2.3 (mean ± SD) Dasiops sp. eggs were found in SP ovaries and 4.4 ± 1.2 late-instar larvae were recovered from immature fruits at day 14. Upon larval drop on the orchard soil, 74.8 % larvae burrowed within the soil within 9 min, while 12.5 % larvae were attacked by ants. In-field mortality of young pupae amounted to 75.3 ± 7.0 %, with vertebrate predators likely causing 12.1 ± 6.0 % mortality. Late-instar larvae and pupae appear highly vulnerable to natural enemy action, with the ground-foraging predator community mainly composed of ants (80.37 %) and ground beetles (9.17 %). Our findings should help develop integrated pest management (IPM) tactics for SP crops.  相似文献   

Consequences of specialized breeding in the Swedish Warmblood horse population     

Sandra Bonow  Susanne Eriksson  Emma Thorén Hellsten  Åsa Gelinder Viklund 《Zeitschrift für Tierzüchtung und Züchtungsbiologie》2023,140(1):79-91

In many European warmblood studbooks, clear specialization toward either jumping or dressage horses is evident. The Swedish Warmblood (SWB) is also undergoing such specialization, creating a possible need for separate breeding programs and a discipline-specific Young Horse Test (YHT). This study investigated how far specialization of the SWB breed has proceeded and the potential consequences. Individuals in a population of 122,054 SWB horses born between 1980 and 2020 were categorized according to pedigree as jumping (J), dressage (D), allround (AR), or thoroughbred (Th). Data on 8,713 J horses and 6,477 D horses assessed for eight traits in YHT 1999–2020 were used to estimate genetic parameters within and between J and D horses and between different periods. Future scenarios in which young horses are assessed for either jumping or dressage traits at YHT were also analyzed. More than 80% of horses born in 1980–1985 were found to be AR horses, while 92% of horses born in 2016–2020 belonged to a specialized category. The average relationship within J or D category was found to increase during the past decade, whereas the relationship between these categories decreased. Heritability estimates for gait traits were 0.42–0.56 for D horses and 0.25–0.38 for J horses. For jumping traits, heritability estimates were 0.17–0.26 for J horses and 0.10–0.18 for D horses. Genetic correlations between corresponding traits assessed in J and D horses were within the range 0.48–0.81, with a tendency to be lower in the late study period. In the future scenarios, heritability and genetic variance both decreased for traits that were not assessed in all horses, indicating that estimation of breeding value and genetic progress for these traits could be affected by a specialized YHT. However, ranking of sires based on estimated breeding values (EBVs) and accuracy of EBVs was only slightly altered for discipline-specific traits. With continued specialization in SWB, specialization of the YHT should thus be considered.  相似文献   

Plasma big endothelin-1, atrial natriuretic peptide, aldosterone, and norepinephrine concentrations in normal Doberman Pinschers and Doberman Pinschers with dilated cardiomyopathy     

O'Sullivan ML  O'Grady MR  Minors SL 《Journal of veterinary internal medicine / American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine》2007,21(1):92-99

BACKGROUND: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) results in progressive myocardial and circulatory dysfunction causing activation of a number of neurohormonal systems, including the endothelin (ET) system, which is only beginning to be described in clinical veterinary medicine. Measurement of these circulating neurohormones possesses potential utility in the diagnosis, staging, and assessment of prognosis in cardiac disease. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that plasma big ET-1, norepinephrine (NE), aldosterone, and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentrations in normal Dobermans would differ from those in Dobermans with DCM, and that concentrations of these hormones would be associated with time to congestive heart failure (CHF) or death. ANIMALS: Thirty client-owned Dobermans (10 each of normal, occult DCM, and overt DCM) were included in the study. METHODS: Dogs underwent an echocardiogram, ECG, and blood sample collection. Neurohormones were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography (NE) or commercial assays. RESULTS: Dogs with occult DCM had significantly higher ANP concentrations compared with normal dogs (least squares means [95% confidence interval, CI]: occult female 53.7 pg/mL [40.2-71.7] versus normal female 31.6 pg/mL [24.8-40.3], P = .026; occult male 86.1 pg/mL [64.7-115] versus normal male 12.1 pg/mL [5.1-28.7], P = .011). Dogs with overt DCM had significantly higher concentrations of all neurohormones compared with the normal group. Furthermore, increasing big ET-1 (risk ratio [RR] 2.7, CI 1.3-8.6, P = .01) and NE concentrations (RR 3.9, CI 1.1-18.1, P = .03) over 1 month were associated with a shorter survival time. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: High ANP concentrations can identify dogs with advanced occult DCM. Increasing big ET-1 or NE concentrations over time can be useful predictors of poor prognosis.  相似文献   

Assessment of diastolic function by Doppler echocardiography in normal Doberman Pinschers and Doberman Pinschers with dilated cardiomyopathy     

O'Sullivan ML  O'Grady MR  Minors SL 《Journal of veterinary internal medicine / American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine》2007,21(1):81-91

BACKGROUND: Assessment of diastolic function in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) has the potential to add valuable information regarding hemodynamics, disease severity, and prognosis. The purpose of this study was to determine transmitral flow (TMF), isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), pulmonary venous flow (PVF), flow propagation velocity (Vp), and mitral annular velocities by tissue Doppler in Doberman Pinschers with and without DCM. HYPOTHESIS: It was anticipated that normal and DCM Dobermans would differ with respect to these parameters, and that associations with time to congestive heart failure (CHF) or death would be found. ANIMALS: Thirty client-owned Doberman Pinschers (10 each of normal, occult DCM, and overt DCM) were studied. METHODS: Each dog underwent echocardiography with or without thoracic radiography (to confirm CHF) for classification as normal or DCM-affected, followed by collection of echocardiographic diastolic parameters. RESULTS: The group with occult DCM exhibited features of pseudonormal TMF, reduced systolic to diastolic PVF ratio, and reduced Vp. Shorter early TMF deceleration time (DTE) was associated with shorter time to CHF or sudden death. The group with overt DCM exhibited restrictive TMF, blunted systolic PVF, and reduced early and late diastolic mitral annular velocities. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Doberman Pinschers showed evidence of moderate and severe diastolic dysfunction in occult and overt DCM, respectively. Short DTE may be a useful predictor of onset of CHF or sudden death.  相似文献   

Nachernte-Behandlung von Äpfeln mit Calciumchlorid     

Werner Dierend  Sandra Rieken 《Erwerbs-Obstbau》2007,49(2):51-56

From 2003 to 2006 the efficacy of post-harvest dips in calcium chloride solution was investigated for apples. Aim of these investigations was to find out the influence of different factors on the Ca-uptake of apples after harvest. The Ca-uptake of the fruit was influenced by following factors:

• the calcium chloride concentration of the dip solution,
• the duration of the dip,
• the duration of fruits' wetting,
• the apple cultivar,
• the addition of a wetting agent and
• the maturity of the fruit.

To get an appreciable Ca-uptake, the addition of a wetting agent is necessary. For a dip time of two minutes calcium chloride concentrations of 7 or 7.5% are needed. Apparently injuries of the apple skin don't appear. An elongation of the dip time or the duration of wetting increased the Ca-uptake. Cultivar and maturity of the fruit affect the Ca-uptake. The increase of the Ca-content can proved only close to the apple skin (skin to 2?cm depth).  相似文献   

Saving St. James: A case study of farmwomen entrepreneurs     

Sandra Sattler Weber 《Agriculture and Human Values》2007,24(4):425-434

An ethnographic case study of five rural farmwomen in Cedar County, Nebraska, was conducted to contribute to the understudied area of rural entrepreneurship and women entrepreneurs. This naturalistic inquiry into the lived experiences of five women provides an exceptional view of the founding of a new microenterprise, the St. James Marketplace, a farmer-to-customer market in an agricultural setting. The study considered factors identified from previous research on entrepreneurship in both urban and rural settings. It connected the formation of this microenterprise to the history, culture, values, and economic situation that motivated the founders’ entrepreneurial behavior. A social embeddedness perspective was employed in the analysis. Negative forces from the macroenvironment, such as the closing of the local church parish and declining economic conditions for farming, influenced the creation of the venture. However, the most important motivation was to sustain community. This study satisfies a need for in-depth inquiry into rural entrepreneurship, rural communities, and rural farmwomen entrepreneurs.

Sandra Sattler WeberEmail:

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