Novel methods of immunogenic antigen selection for serological diagnosis of Parelaphostrongylus tenuis infection.

This paper outlines methods used to identify novel antigens for use in the development of serological assays. Specifically, we applied these methods to a neurogenic parasitic nematode of cervids called Parelaphostrongylus tenuis. This parasite is of particular concern in both wild and domestic ungulates as it causes significant neurological signs and definitive diagnosis is only possible post-mortem, necessitating the development of serologic assays for antemortem diagnosis. Proteins extracted from P. tenuis organisms were affinity isolated using antibodies enriched from seropositive moose (Alces alces). The proteins were analyzed using mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography to obtain amino acid sequences that were then cross-referenced to open reading frames predicted from an assembled transcriptome. An antigen of interest was assessed for immunogenic epitopes and subsequently synthesized into 10-mer synthetic overlapping peptides representing these regions. These synthetic peptides were then assessed for reactivity against positive and negative moose sera and demonstrated potential use as a serological assay in diagnostic laboratories. Known negative moose sera revealed significantly lower optical density when compared to the positive samples (p < 0.05). This method serves as a pipeline for the construction of diagnostic assays of pathogens in both human and veterinary medicine.

Comparison of an Antioxidant Source and Antioxidant Plus BCAA on Athletic Performance and Post Exercise Recovery of Horses.

Antioxidant supplementation decreases postexercise oxidative stress but could also decrease muscle protein synthesis. This study compared the effects of three diets: low antioxidant (control, CON), high antioxidant (AO), and branched-chain amino acid high antioxidant (BCAO) supplementation on postexercise protein synthesis and oxidative stress. We hypothesized that supplementing antioxidants with branched-chain amino acids(BCAA) would reduce oxidative stress without hindering muscle protein synthesis. Eighteen mixed-breed polo horses (11 mares and 7 geldings, with age range between 5 and 18 years, were on CON diet for 30 days (from day -45 until day 0) and then were assigned to one of the treatments after the first lactate threshold test (day 0, LT). LT were also conducted on days 15 and 30 of supplemenation. Oxidative stress was assessed by measuring blood glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde concentrations before 2 and 4 hours after each LT. Muscle biopsies were taken before and 4 hours after each LT and analyzed for gene expression of protein synthesis by RTqPCR. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and compared by least-square means. A reduction in oxidative stress occurred over time (P < .05), from day 0 to day 30. An up-regulation in the abundance of muscle protein mRNA transcripts was found for CD36, CPT1, PDK4, MYF5, and MYOG (P < .05) after all lactate threshold tests, without a treatment effect. A treatment-by-exercise effect was observed for MYOD1 (P = .0041). Transcript abundance was upregulated in AO samples post exercise compared to other treatments. MYF6 exhibited a time-by-treatment effect (P = .045), where abundance increased more in AO samples from day 0 to day 15 and 30 compared to other treatments. Transcript abundance for metabolic and myogenic genes was upregulated in post exercise muscle samples with no advantage from supplementation of antioxidants with branched-chain amino acids compared to antioxidants alone.

Control of Salmonella Dublin in a bovine dairy herd.

Salmonella enterica serovar Dublin (S. Dublin) was diagnosed in a dairy herd after signs of acute gastroenteritis and sepsis. Two hundred eighty-three Holstein cattle were sampled resulting in 700 observations, and serology for S. Dublin was performed. Holstein cattle sampled were divided by origin and arrival date to determine on-farm exposure. Prevalence estimates were calculated and compared with control measures implemented on the dairy during the outbreak. One group of cows, presumed to be the original carrier animals, had the highest overall seroprevalence (76.5%). Seroprevalence decreased throughout the study, coinciding with testing and management changes. This report documents biosecurity measures that identified S. Dublin after the purchase of subclinical carrier cattle and the steps taken to successfully control herd transmission.

Changes in the volume, power and nutritional quality of foods marketed to children on television in Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the self-regulatory Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative pre- and post-implementation in terms of volume of marketing, marketing techniques, and nutritional quality of foods marketed to children on television. METHODS: Data for 11 food categories for May 2006 and 2011 were purchased from Nielsen Media Research for two children's specialty channels in Toronto. A content analysis of food advertisements examining the volume and marketing techniques was undertaken. Nutritional information on each advertisement was collected and comparisons were made between 2006 and 2011. RESULTS: The volume of ads aired by Canadian Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CAI) companies on children's specialty channels decreased by 24% between 2006 and 2011; however, children and teens were targeted significantly more, and spokes-characters and licensed characters were used more frequently in 2011 compared to 2006. The overall nutritional quality of CAI advertisements remains unchanged between 2006 and 2011. CONCLUSION: There are clear weaknesses in the self-regulatory system in Canada. Food advertising needs to be regulated to protect the health of Canadian children.