Genetic variation in blue whales in the eastern pacific: implication for taxonomy and use of common wintering grounds.

Many aspects of blue whale biology are poorly understood. Some of the gaps in our knowledge, such as those regarding their basic taxonomy and seasonal movements, directly affect our ability to monitor and manage blue whale populations. As a step towards filling in some of these gaps, microsatellite and mtDNA sequence analyses were conducted on blue whale samples from the Southern Hemisphere, the eastern tropical Pacific (ETP) and the northeast Pacific. The results indicate that the ETP is differentially used by blue whales from the northern and southern eastern Pacific, with the former showing stronger affinity to the region off Central America known as the Costa Rican Dome, and the latter favouring the waters of Peru and Ecuador. Although the pattern of genetic variation throughout the Southern Hemisphere is compatible with the recently proposed subspecies status of Chilean blue whales, some discrepancies remain between catch lengths and lengths from aerial photography, and not all blue whales in Chilean waters can be assumed to be of this type. Also, the range of the proposed Chilean subspecies, which extends to the Galapagos region of the ETP, at least seasonally, perhaps should include the Costa Rican Dome and the eastern North Pacific as well.

Blue whale population structure along the eastern South Pacific Ocean: evidence of more than one population.

Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) were among the most intensively exploited species of whales in the world. As a consequence of this intense exploitation, blue whale sightings off the coast of Chile were uncommon by the end of the 20th century. In 2004, a feeding and nursing ground was reported in southern Chile (SCh). With the aim to investigate the genetic identity and relationship of these Chilean blue whales to those in other Southern Hemisphere areas, 60 biopsy samples were collected from blue whales in SCh between 2003 and 2009. These samples were genotyped at seven microsatellite loci and the mitochondrial control region was sequenced, allowing us to identify 52 individuals. To investigate the genetic identity of this suspected remnant population, we compared these 52 individuals to blue whales from Antarctica (ANT, n = 96), Northern Chile (NCh, n = 19) and the eastern tropical Pacific (ETP, n = 31). No significant differentiation in haplotype frequencies (mtDNA) or among genotypes (nDNA) was found between SCh, NCh and ETP, while significant differences were found between those three areas and Antarctica for both the mitochondrial and microsatellite analyses. Our results suggest at least two breeding population units or subspecies exist, which is also supported by other lines of evidence such as morphometrics and acoustics. The lack of differences detected between SCh/NCh/ETP areas supports the hypothesis that eastern South Pacific blue whales are using the ETP area as a possible breeding area. Considering the small population sizes previously reported for the SCh area, additional conservation measures and monitoring of this population should be developed and prioritized.

Espinha bífida aberta em bovino: primeiro relato no estado de Minas Gerais / Open spina bifida in calf: first report in Minas Gerais state, Brazil

Relatou-se um caso de espinha bífida aberta em uma bezerra de seis dias de idade que apresentava decúbito lateral permanente, pescoço em posição de opistótono, membros torácicos estendidos, impotência funcional dos membros pélvicos e fístulação na região lombar. Todos os achados clínicos, radiográficos e necroscópicos, descritos neste trabalho, são compatíveis com um quadro de espinha bífida aberta, sendo este o primeiro relato no estado de Minas Gerais.

A case of open spina bifida is reported in a six day old calf which presented permanent lateral decubitus, opisthotonus neck position, stretched forelimbs, non-functional impairment of the hindlimbs and fistula in the lumbar region. All clinical, radiographic and necropsy finds described in this work are consistent with an open spina bifida case. This is the first case report in Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

Espinha bífida aberta em bovino: primeiro relato no estado de Minas Gerais / Open spina bifida in calf: first report in Minas Gerais state, Brazil

Relatou-se um caso de espinha bífida aberta em uma bezerra de seis dias de idade que apresentava decúbito lateral permanente, pescoço em posição de opistótono, membros torácicos estendidos, impotência funcional dos membros pélvicos e fístulação na região lombar. Todos os achados clínicos, radiográficos e necroscópicos, descritos neste trabalho, são compatíveis com um quadro de espinha bífida aberta, sendo este o primeiro relato no estado de Minas Gerais.(AU)

A case of open spina bifida is reported in a six day old calf which presented permanent lateral decubitus, opisthotonus neck position, stretched forelimbs, non-functional impairment of the hindlimbs and fistula in the lumbar region. All clinical, radiographic and necropsy finds described in this work are consistent with an open spina bifida case. This is the first case report in Minas Gerais State, Brazil.(AU)

Polidactilismo unilateral incomum em equino: relato de caso / Unusual unilateral polydactylism in a horse: a case report

A polidactilia é um defeito genético caracterizado pela duplicação parcial ou completa de um dígito. Estudos em humanos, bovinos, cães e gatos indicam que um gene autossômico dominante de penetração incompleta é o responsável por essa alteração. A polidactilia é rara em equinos e, nessa espécie, sua causa ainda não foi esclarecida. Entretanto, quando ocorre, está relacionada à má formação congênita da falange. Este trabalho descreve, por meio da observação de exames físico, radiográfico e ultrassonográfico, a ocorrência de polidactilia unilateral, com características incomuns, em um equino de nove anos de idade. O animal, com um histórico de claudicação intensa, apresentava, desde o nascimento, divisão completa do dígito do membro torácico direito, com simetria entre as duas porções distais. Ao exame radiográfico, identificou-se a presença de dois dígitos separados e de dimensões semelhantes, sendo esta uma manifestação incomum de polidactilia na espécie equina.

Polydactyly is a genetic disorder characterized by partial or complete duplication of a digit. Studies in humans, cattle, dogs and cats indicate that an autosomal dominant gene of incomplete penetrance is responsible for this change. Polydactyly is rare in horses and its cause remains unclear. However, when it occurs it is related to congenital malformation of the phalanx. This paper describes, through the observation of physical, radiographic and ultrasound finds, the occurrence of unilateral polydactyly, with unusual features in a nine year old horse. Since birth, the animal, which had a history of severe lameness, had complete division of the digit of the right forelimb, with symmetry between the two distal portions. The radiographic examination identified the presence of two separated digits with similar size, which is an unusual manifestation of polydactyly in the equine species.

Polidactilismo unilateral incomum em equino: relato de caso / Unusual unilateral polydactylism in a horse: a case report

A polidactilia é um defeito genético caracterizado pela duplicação parcial ou completa de um dígito. Estudos em humanos, bovinos, cães e gatos indicam que um gene autossômico dominante de penetração incompleta é o responsável por essa alteração. A polidactilia é rara em equinos e, nessa espécie, sua causa ainda não foi esclarecida. Entretanto, quando ocorre, está relacionada à má formação congênita da falange. Este trabalho descreve, por meio da observação de exames físico, radiográfico e ultrassonográfico, a ocorrência de polidactilia unilateral, com características incomuns, em um equino de nove anos de idade. O animal, com um histórico de claudicação intensa, apresentava, desde o nascimento, divisão completa do dígito do membro torácico direito, com simetria entre as duas porções distais. Ao exame radiográfico, identificou-se a presença de dois dígitos separados e de dimensões semelhantes, sendo esta uma manifestação incomum de polidactilia na espécie equina.(AU)

Polydactyly is a genetic disorder characterized by partial or complete duplication of a digit. Studies in humans, cattle, dogs and cats indicate that an autosomal dominant gene of incomplete penetrance is responsible for this change. Polydactyly is rare in horses and its cause remains unclear. However, when it occurs it is related to congenital malformation of the phalanx. This paper describes, through the observation of physical, radiographic and ultrasound finds, the occurrence of unilateral polydactyly, with unusual features in a nine year old horse. Since birth, the animal, which had a history of severe lameness, had complete division of the digit of the right forelimb, with symmetry between the two distal portions. The radiographic examination identified the presence of two separated digits with similar size, which is an unusual manifestation of polydactyly in the equine species.(AU)

Clinical evaluation of the Gen-Probe Amplified Direct Test for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex organisms in cerebrospinal fluid.

Eighty-four cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from different children who presented with signs and symptoms of meningitis were evaluated for the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex organisms by the Gen-Probe Amplified Mycobacterium tuberculosis Direct Test (MTD; Gen-Probe, San Diego, Calif.). All CSF samples had negative acid-fast smears by the Ziehl-Neelsen staining method. M. tuberculosis was recovered from five samples. M. tuberculosis did not grow from 19 additional samples, but the samples were from patients who fulfilled specific clinical and laboratory criteria for probable tuberculous meningitis (TBM). The remaining samples (n = 60) were from patients with other infections or noninfectious causes of meningitis. The results of the MTD were interpreted as positive or negative on the basis of recommended cutoff values for respiratory specimens. These results were interpreted as true or false positives or true or false negatives on the basis of the results of M. tuberculosis culture or whether the patient fulfilled criteria for probable TBM. The Gen-Probe MTD was 33% sensitive and 100% specific for detecting M. tuberculosis complex organisms in these 84 CSF samples. If the cutoff values for positive results were decreased for the MTD (> or = 11,000 versus > or = 30,000 relative light units), the sensitivity increased to 83% and the specificity remained 100%. These results for the MTD are encouraging considering that TBM is a highly fatal disease and difficult to diagnose by conventional laboratory techniques.

Effect of high-affinity anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide antibodies induced by immunization on the rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF; N = 26) and with no prior history of infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa were immunized with an octavalent O-polysaccharide-toxin A conjugate vaccine. During the next 4 years, 16 patients (61.5%) remained free of infection and 10 (38.5%) became infected. Total serum antilipopolysaccharide (LPS) antibody levels induced by immunization were comparable in infected and noninfected patients. In contrast, 12 of 16 noninfected versus 3 of 10 infected patients (p = 0.024) mounted and maintained a high-affinity anti-LPS antibody response. When compared retrospectively with the rate in a group of age- and gender-matched, nonimmunized, noncolonized patients with CF, the rate at which P. aeruginosa infections were acquired was significantly lower (p < or = 0.02) among all immunized versus nonimmunized patients during the first 2 years of observation. Subsequently, only those immunized patients who maintained a high-affinity anti-LPS antibody response had a significant reduction (p < or = 0.014) in the rate of infection during years 3 and 4. Smooth, typeable strains of P. aeruginosa predominated among immunized patients; rough, nontypeable strains were most frequently isolated from nonimmunized patients. Mucoid variants were isolated from one immunized patient versus six nonimmunized patients. These results indicate that the induction of a high-affinity P. aeruginosa anti-LPS antibody response can influence the rate of infection in patients with CF.

Leiomyosarcoma of the rectum.

Leiomyosarcoma of the rectum is a rare entity. Approximately 150 cases have been described in the literature. Differentiation from its benign counterpart, leiomyoma, and other connective-tissue tumors is often difficult, but it is important because each tumor has an entirely different prognosis. The case of a patient in whom an 11 x 5.5 cm leiomyosarcoma of the rectum was surgically excised by abdominoperineal resection is presented. Literature review shows disagreement over the therapeutic approach, most likely due to the lack of a large series of patients with this disease. At present, a selective treatment approach appears to be the most advocated. Lesions less than 2.5 cm in size and limited to the bowel wall can still be treated by wide local excision. More radical surgical resection is indicated for larger tumors and those extending outside the bowel wall.