Detection of an epidermoid cyst in the foot of a horse by use of magnetic resonance imaging

CASE DESCRIPTION-A 4-year-old Quarter Horse stallion was evaluated because of a 10-month history of moderate (grade 3/5) left forelimb lameness (detectable during trotting over a smooth, hard surface). CLINICAL FINDINGS-No abnormalities were detected in either forelimb via palpation or application of hoof testers; however, lameness was eliminated after administration of a palmar digital nerve block in the left forelimb. Whereas radiography and ultrasonography did not identify any left forelimb foot abnormalities, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed a circumscribed soft tissue mass in the distal aspect of the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) dorsal to the lateral aspect of the deep digital flexor tendon. Subsequently, the left forelimb DFTS was injected with local anesthetic, which resulted in 90% improvement of the horse's lameness. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME-The distal aspect of the left forelimb DFTS was evaluated tenoscopically. The mass was removed under tenoscopic guidance, after which the distal digital annular ligament was transected. The horse received phenylbutazone orally for 10 days, and the left forelimb DFTS was injected with hyaluronic acid and methylprednisolone acetate 7 days after the surgery. Following a rehabilitation program, the horse was returned to full training at 6 months after surgery and competed successfully during a 2-year follow-up period. CLINICAL RELEVANCE-Use of MR imaging should be considered in all lame horses for which a definitive diagnosis cannot be made via radiography, ultrasonography, or other imaging techniques, especially when the lameness has been localized to a specific anatomic region by use of diagnostic anesthesia.     

Exploring overlooked components of remote South-east Pacific oceanic islands: Larval and macrobenthic assemblages in reef habitats with distinct underwater soundscapes

1. Identifying the diverse assemblage of species inhabiting rocky and coral reef habitats in isolated oceanic environments, and the important sound cues emitted from the reef, are crucial components to understand how species locate suitable habitats for the completion of their life-cycle and, thus, the functioning of these vulnerable ecosystems.
2. Recent field information suggests that the majority of reef biodiversity comprises small cryptic invertebrates; however, knowledge on these small components is extremely scarce.
3. The present study used light attraction methods to explore the diversity of larval, post-larval and macrobenthic cryptic fauna, and hydrophones to characterize the natural soundscape of rocky and coral reef habitats at the Robinson Crusoe island (Juan Fernandez Archipelago; 33°38′S, 78°50′W), and Rapa Nui (Easter Island; 27°7′S, 109°21′W), respectively.
4. Pelagic collections found important site-specific patterns and identified two main species assemblages: early-life stages (e.g. eggs, larval and juvenile stages of crustaceans, molluscs, and fishes) and emerging macrobenthos (e.g. demersal zooplankton such as peracarid crustaceans, ostracods, copepods, and polychaetes), with the latter contributing between 73 and 98% to the total catches.
5. The soundscape records showed marked differences among sites and seasons at Robinson Crusoe island, with variable differences found between day and night. However, at Rapa Nui, there were no differences between sites, but the ambient sound was higher at night possibly due to higher snapping shrimp activity.
6. This information highlights the importance of considering small-scale (site-to-site) patterns when evaluating overlooked components of diversity (i.e. biological or acoustic) in oceanic habitats, and provides the basis for understanding the importance of natural noise in the settlement of most reef-associated species, crucial features for the conservation of these remote and vulnerable ecosystems.

     

Rhodococcus equi foal pneumonia: Update on epidemiology,immunity, treatment and prevention

Pneumonia in foals caused by the bacterium Rhodococcus equi has a worldwide distribution and is a common cause of disease and death for foals. The purpose of this narrative review was to summarise recent developments pertaining to the epidemiology, immune responses, treatment, and prevention of rhodococcal pneumonia of foals. Screening tests have been used to implement earlier detection and treatment of foals with presumed subclinical R. equi pneumonia to reduce mortality and severity of disease. Unfortunately, this practice has been linked to the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant R. equi in North America. Correlates of protective immunity for R. equi infections of foals remain elusive, but recent evidence indicates that innate immune responses are important both for mediating killing and orchestrating adaptive immune responses. A macrolide antimicrobial in combination with rifampin remains the recommended treatment for foals with R. equi pneumonia. Great need exists to identify which antimicrobial combination is most effective for treating foals with R. equi pneumonia and to limit emergence of antimicrobial-resistant strains. In the absence of an effective vaccine against R. equi, passive immunisation remains the only commercially available method for effectively reducing the incidence of R. equi pneumonia. Because passive immunisation is expensive, labour-intensive and carries risks for foals, great need exists to develop alternative approaches for passive and active immunisation.     

A preliminary study on the effects of a transgenic corn event on the non-target pest Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)

The inclusion of the cry gene in corn may produce direct effects on non-target pests. Our research was focused on the relationship between Bt corn germplasm, expressing the cry1F protein to control the fall armyworm [Spodoptera frugiperda (Noctuidae)], and a non-target pest, the corn leafhopper [Dalbulus maidis (Cicadellidae)]. The aim of this contribution was to elucidate if Bt corn plants have influence on the oviposition preference of the leafhopper and to evaluate the effect of the transgenic plant on the hatching rate of egg. Female corn leafhoppers were released in cages each containing two potted plants in the V2 stage: a Bt germplasm and the corresponding isogenic hybrid. Laid eggs were counted and the number of hatched nymphs recorded. D. maidis females oviposited and laid more eggs in Bt plants. The egg hatching rate was negatively affected by the Bt germplasm. In addition, a field study was conducted in order to determine the abundance of D. maidis adults in Bt corn and the corresponding non-Bt isoline. Two corn plots sown with the same germplasms as used in the laboratory bioassays were sampled weekly. In the field, the population of the corn leafhopper was higher in the Bt corn plot than in the non-Bt isoline. Possible hypotheses for the differences in abundance of the vector in the field are: a) that pleiotropic effects of Bt corn could attract adults; b) the existence of a possible direct competition between the corn leafhopper and the target pest in order to utilize the whorls of corn plants as refuge and feeding sites, so the high populations of the vector could be due to the large supply of healthy whorls in the transgenic plot; and/or c) a differential attack of natural enemies occurring in non-Bt plots.     

Phosphorus fractions in Andisol and Ultisol inoculated with Bacillus thuringiensis and phosphorus uptake by wheat

Abstract

Only a small portion of soil phosphorus (P) is available to plants on a short-term basis, and therefore, P taken up by crops in one growing season is small compared to total P (Pt) content of the soil. A group of soil microorganisms capable of transforming insoluble P into soluble and plant accessible forms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in soil P-pools and P uptake by wheat crops as influenced by inoculation with Bacillus thuringiensis in two soils (Andisol and Ultisol), the experiment was conducted in pots under greenhouse conditions using a completely randomized design. Wheat plants were inoculated and re-inoculated at 20 and 46?days after sowing, respectively, with B. thuringiensis; and, plant sampling were performed after 46, 66 and 87 and soil at 87?days based on the Zadoks growth scale, and the soil was submitted by Hedley’s P fractions. The inoculation with B. thuringiensis affected significantly some P organic P (P_o) and inorganic P (P_i) fractions in both soils (Andisol and Ultisol), improved P uptake by wheat crop in (Ultisol) and decreased significantly in (Andisol). The positive effect was more consistent in Ultisol than in Andisol, this strain can be solubilized P fraction extracted with conc. HCl-P_o and HCl 1?mol.     

Response of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Germplasm to Water Stress Under In Vitro Conditions

Chile is center of origin and diversity of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Potato yield is affected under water stress conditions, so development of varieties with better tolerance to this stress is desirable. In this study we determined the differential response of INIA-Chile potato germplasm to water stress under in vitro assays with polyethylene glycol. One-hundred-and-fourty-nine genotypes were evaluated. Polyethylene glycol 4.8 % w/v was able to distinguish genotype response by considering the morphological variables (plantlet height, leaf and root number) and fresh and dry weight. Through multivariate statistical analysis, and in comparison with their respective controls without treatment, genotypes were clustered with high (74 – 79 %), intermediate (29 – 94 %), low (29 – 57 %), and very low (4– 28 %) water stress tolerance. The high-tolerance-response cluster was mainly made up of Chilean potato landraces. These results highlight the importance of this germplasm in food security, which could be directly cultivated and/or be used as progenitors to produce new varieties with increased tolerance to water-deficit stress.     

From whaling to whale watching: Identifying fin whale critical foraging habitats off the Chilean coast

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Antifungal properties of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) alkali treated saponins against Botrytis cinerea

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) is a Latin American food staple readily available in large quantities in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. The outer husk of the grain is removed prior to consumption to reduce its bitter taste. At present, quinoa husks are considered as a by-product with no commercial value, despite its high content of triterpenoid saponins (20–30%). Due to this, the present work was undertaken to test if quinoa saponins have antifungal properties against Botrytis cinerea and if this activity is enhanced after alkaline treatment, since recent reports indicate that alkaline treatment of quinoa saponins increase their biological activity. Six products were tested against B. cinerea: (1) non-purified quinoa extract, (2) purified quinoa extract, (3) alkali treated non-purified quinoa extract, (4) alkali treated purified quinoa extract, (5) non-purified quinoa extract treated with alkali but without thermal incubation and (6) purified quinoa extract treated with alkali but without thermal incubation.

Untreated quinoa extracts showed minimum activity against mycelial growth of B. cinerea. Also, no effects were observed against conidial germination, even at 7 mg saponins/ml. However, when the saponin extracts were treated with alkali, mycelial growth and conidial germination were significantly inhibited. At doses of 5 mg saponins/ml, 100% of conidial germination inhibition was observed, even after 96 h of incubation. Fungal membrane integrity experiments based on the uptake of the fluorogenic dye SYTOX green showed that alkali treated saponins generate membrane disruption, while non-treated saponins had no effects.

The higher antifungal activity of alkaline treated saponins is probably due to the formation of more hydrophobic saponin derivatives that may have a higher affinity with the sterols present in cell membranes.