Massive infection of Cystidicoloides ephemeridarum in brown trout Salmo trutta with skeletal deformities.

We investigated the cause of skeletal deformities found in brown trout from the Aspromonte mountain area in Reggio Calabria, Italy. Toxicological, histopathological and parasitological analyses were carried out on 14 fish with evident macro-morphological alterations from 2 different locations in the same river, and 4 control fish without morphological alterations from a different river (far from the first river but still within the area under study). Histopathological and radiological observations confirmed severe skeletal deformities in the specimens investigated. Parasitological examinations highlighted the presence of the nematode Cystidicoloides ephemeridarum, found only within the gastrointestinal tract of specimens showing deformities. Moreover, a direct correlation between parasite number and fish size was found. Given the low heavy metal levels and the presence of a massive parasitosis in teleosts showing deformities, we postulate a correlation between skeletal deformities and nematode infestation: the parasites caused a serious vitamin and mineral deficiency in the fish, which led to a dysplastic vertebral column. The low calcium levels found in malformed specimens compared with negative controls effectively confirm this hypothesis.

Using ForeStereo and LIDAR data to assess fire and canopy structure-related risks in relict Abies pinsapo Boiss. forests.

In this study we combine information from aerial LIDAR and hemispherical images taken in the field with ForeStereo-a forest inventory device-to assess the vulnerability and to design conservation strategies for endangered Mediterranean fir forests based on the mapping of fire risk and canopy structure spatial variability. We focused on the largest continuous remnant population of the endangered tree species Abies pinsapo Boiss. spanning 252 ha in Sierra de las Nieves National Park (South Andalusia, Spain). We established 49 sampling plots over the study area. Stand structure variables were derived from ForeStereo device, a proximal sensing technology for tree diameter, height and crown dimensions and stand crown cover and basal area retrieval from stereoscopic hemispherical images photogrammetry. With this information, we developed regression models with airborne LIDAR data (spatial resolution of 0.5 points∙m-2). Thereafter, six fuel models were fitted to the plots according to the UCO40 classification criteria, and then the entire area was classified using the Nearest Neighbor algorithm on Sentinel imagery (overall accuracy of 0.56 and a KIA-Kappa Coefficient of 0.46). FlamMap software was used for fire simulation scenarios based on fuel models, stand structure, and terrain data. Besides the fire simulation, we analyzed canopy structure to assess the status and vulnerability of this fir population. The assessment shows a secondary growth forest that has an increasing presence of fuel models with the potential for high fire spread rate fire and burn probability. Our methodological approach has the potential to be integrated as a support tool for the adaptive management and conservation of A. pinsapo across its whole distribution area (<4,000 ha), as well as for other endangered circum-Mediterranean fir forests, as A. numidica de Lannoy and A. pinsapo marocana Trab. in North Africa.

Postoperative pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in horses after surgery for colic syndrome.

NSAIDs are often used in horses with colic syndrome during the postoperative period, due to their ability to contrast endotoxemia and to promote an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. As the pharmacokinetics of a drug are often modified in unhealthy animals compared to healthy subjects, the aim of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile of meloxicam after i.v. administration in horses undergoing laparotomy for colic syndrome. Eight horses received 0.6 mg/kg of meloxicam i.v. towards the end of surgery. Blood samples were taken at scheduled time points during the following 24 hr. The serum concentration of the drug was determined by HPLC. Terminal half-life (6.88 ± 2.96 hr), volume of distribution at steady-state (186.53 ± 61.20 ml/Kg) and clearance (27.91 ± 5.72 ml kg-1  hr-1 ) were similar to those reported in literature for healthy horses. This result suggests that no adjustment of the approved dose should be necessary when meloxicam is used to treat horses in the immediate postoperative period after surgery for colic syndrome.

North Atlantic Oscillation drives the annual occurrence of an isolated, peripheral population of the brown seaweed Fucus guiryi in the Western Mediterranean Sea.

The canopy-forming, intertidal brown (Phaeophyceae) seaweed Fucus guiryi is distributed along the cold-temperate and warm-temperate coasts of Europe and North Africa. Curiously, an isolated population develops at Punta Calaburras (Alboran Sea, Western Mediterranean) but thalli are not present in midsummer every year, unlike the closest (ca. 80 km), perennial populations at the Strait of Gibraltar. The persistence of the alga at Punta Calaburras could be due to the growth of resilient, microscopic stages as well as the arrival of few-celled stages originating from neighbouring localities, and transported by the permanent Atlantic Jet flowing from the Atlantic Ocean into the Mediterranean. A twenty-six year time series (from 1990 to 2015) of midsummer occurrence of F. guiryi thalli at Punta Calaburras has been analysed by correlating with oceanographic (sea surface temperature, an estimator of the Atlantic Jet power) and climatic factors (air temperature, rainfall, and North Atlantic Oscillation -NAO-, and Arctic Oscillation -AO- indexes). The midsummer occurrence of thalli clustered from 1990-1994 and 1999-2004, with sporadic occurrences in 2006 and 2011. Binary logistic regression showed that the occurrence of thalli at Punta Calaburras in midsummer is favoured under positive NAO index from April to June. It has been hypothesized that isolated population of F. guiryi should show greater stress than their congeners of permanent populations, and to this end, two approaches were used to evaluate stress: one based on the integrated response during ontogeny (developmental instability, based on measurements of the fractal branching pattern of algal thalli) and another based on the photosynthetic response. Although significant differences were detected in photosynthetic quantum yield and water loss under emersion conditions, with thalli from Punta Calaburras being more affected by emersion than those from Tarifa, the developmental instability showed that the population from Tarifa suffers higher stress during ontogeny than that from Punta Calaburras. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the teleconnection between atmospheric oscillations and survival and proliferation of marine macroalgae.

Plasma profile of cimicoxib in sheep after oral administration at two different rates.

Sheep are often subjected to painful procedures and thus they need to be treated with analgesics. Nevertheless, knowledges about pharmacokinetic features of these drugs in this species are poor. The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma behaviour of cimicoxib in sheep after a single oral administration at two different dose rates (4 and 6 mg/kg). Maximum plasma concentrations of cimicoxib were equal to 273.78 (median value; range 189.00-567.32) and 565.01 (range 308.27-822.59) ng/mL after treatment with 4 and 6 mg/kg, respectively. The time of maximum concentration (Tmax) was achieved between 4 and 10 hours following treatment at the lower dose, and between 6 and 10 hours after the administration of the higher dose, with one sheep achieving the concentration peak at 0.75 hours. The slow absorption and the great individual variability in plasma concentration, probably due to ruminal effects, suggest that cimicoxib is not suitable for oral treatment in sheep.

Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of a new formulation of omeprazole in the horse.

A new formulation of omeprazole in gastro-resistant granules was tested with regard to its pharmacokinetics and tolerability. Twenty-four horses were randomly divided into three groups (8 horses/group) and treated, according a parallel study design, as follows: Group A untreated (control group), Group B received 4 mg/kg of omeprazole, and Group C received 12 mg/kg of omeprazole, both of which were treated orally once a day for 90 days. Blood samples, taken from Group B subjects during the 1st and the 29th day of treatment at pre-established time points, were used to determine the concentration-time curves of omeprazole. The treatments were found to be safe and well tolerated by the horses. The serum hematological and biochemical values were within reference ranges for the entire observational time. No accumulation of the drug was found after 29 days of treatment. Lower Cmax and AUCs were obtained at the 29th day of treatment.

Pharmacokinetic profiles of meloxicam in turtles (Trachemys scripta scripta) after single oral, intracoelomic and intramuscular administrations.

Meloxicam is an anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug used to treat many pathological conditions in turtles. With the aim to fill the lack of data about its pharmacokinetic in this species, eighteen turtles (Trachemys scripta scripta) were divided in three groups and treated with a single dose of meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg) by intramuscular, intracoelomic and oral route, respectively. At scheduled time points, blood samples were collected and meloxicam concentrations were determined by HPLC. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated from the obtained concentration-time curves. After intramuscular treatment, a plasma peak of meloxicam equal to 1590.03 ± 1845.32 ng/mL (mean ± SD) and a Tmax of 1.17 ± 0.45 h were reached, indicating a quick absorption of the drug. The intracoelomic administration brought to the largest AUC (12621.04 ± 6203.79 h*ng/mL) and to a Cmax and a Tmax equal to 1154.52 ± 662.78 ng/mL and 2.82 ± 1.39 h, respectively. Following oral treatment, the plasma concentrations of meloxicam were very low indicating a scarce absorption. Further studies are warranted to determine the effective plasma concentration of meloxicam in turtles and, consequently, the dosage regimen.

Intra-articular administration of lidocaine plus adrenaline in dogs: Pharmacokinetic profile and evaluation of toxicity in vivo and in vitro.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of intra-articular (IA) lidocaine plus adrenaline for improving peri-operative analgesia in anaesthetized dogs undergoing arthroscopy of the elbow. A solution of lidocaine (L) 1.98% plus adrenaline 1:100.000 was administered via the IA route and its safety evaluated in terms of cardio-, neuro-, and chondro-toxicity. No bradycardia or hypotension was recorded from induction to the last observational time point. Signs of toxicity of the nervous system could have been masked by the general anaesthesia but lidocaine concentrations detected in the blood were lower than those thought to be capable of producing toxicity. The assessment of in vitro chondrotoxicity showed a dose- and time-dependent effect of lidocaine on the viability of articular cells. Adrenaline appeared to reduce the chondrotoxicity of 1% lidocaine, following an exposure of up to 30 min.

Pharmacokinetics and antinociceptive effects of tramadol and its metabolite O-desmethyltramadol following intravenous administration in sheep.

Although sheep are widely used as an experimental model for various surgical procedures there is a paucity of data on the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of analgesic drugs in this species. The aims of this study were to investigate the pharmacokinetics of intravenously (IV) administered tramadol and its active metabolite O-desmethyltramadol (M1) and to assess the mechanical antinociceptive effects in sheep. In a prospective, randomized, blinded study, six healthy adult sheep were given 4 and 6 mg/kg tramadol and saline IV in a cross-over design with a 2-week wash-out period. At predetermined time points blood samples were collected and physiological parameters and mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) values were recorded. The analytical determination of tramadol and M1 was performed using high performance liquid chromatography. Pharmacokinetic parameters fitted a two- and a non-compartmental model for tramadol and M1, respectively. Normally distributed data were analysed by a repeated mixed linear model. Plasma concentration vs. time profiles of tramadol and M1 were similar after the two doses. Tramadol and M1 plasma levels decreased rapidly in the systemic circulation, with both undetectable after 6 h following drug administration. Physiological parameters did not differ between groups; MNT values were not statistically significant between groups at any time point. It was concluded that although tramadol and M1 concentrations in plasma were above the human minimum analgesic concentration after both treatments, no mechanical antinociceptive effects of tramadol were reported. Further studies are warranted to assess the analgesic efficacy of tramadol in sheep.

Evaluation of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of cimicoxib in fasted and fed horses.

AIMS: To determine the pharmacokinetics of cimicoxib and to assess the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) after a 5 mg/kg, single oral administration in horses that were fasted or fed. METHODS: The study was conducted using an open, single dose (5 mg/kg), two treatment (fasted and fed), two-period, crossover design with a 2-week interval between dosages. Six healthy mares received 5 mg/kg of cimicoxib via nasogastric tube after fasting for 12 hours, or 2 hours after feeding. After administration, blood samples were collected for up to 24 hours and plasma used for pharmacokinetic analysis. Additional serum and plasma samples were used to measure concentrations of thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), to assess COX-1 and -2 inhibition, respectively. RESULTS: Following cimicoxib administration, the mean maximum plasma concentration was 0.16 (SD 0.01) µg/mL and 0.14 (SD 0.03) µg/mL in fasted and fed groups, respectively. The mean time taken to reach maximum plasma concentration was longer in the fed group (5.91 (SD 3.23) hours) compared with the fasted group (3.25 (SD 1.17) hours), but this difference was not significant (p=0.12). The mean maximal inhibition of TXB2 was 62.4 (SD 13.8)% and 54.6 (SD 15.4)%, and of PGE2 was 72.1 (SD 43.3)% and 68.5 (SD 24.4)%, in fasted and fed horses, respectively. CONCLUSION: In the present study, although the COX-2 selective action of cimicoxib was not apparent, a relatively low concentration of cimicoxib resulted in both COX-1 and -2 inhibition in horses. Further investigations are required to establish an optimal dosage regimen and safety profile before clinical trials are initiated.

Intra-articular administration of lidocaine in anaesthetized dogs: pharmacokinetic profile and safety on cardiovascular and nervous systems.

The intra-articular administration of lidocaine is a frequent practice in human orthopaedic surgical procedures, but an eventual absorption of the drug into the bloodstream can lead to toxicity, mainly concerning the central nervous system and the cardiovascular systems. The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic profile and the safety, in terms of cardiovascular and CNS toxicity, of lidocaine after intra-articular administration to anesthetized dogs undergoing arthroscopy. Lidocaine 2% was administered to eight dogs before surgery in differing amounts, depending on the volume of the joints involved, and blood samples were taken at predetermined time points. The maximum serum concentration of lidocaine ranged from 0.50 to 3.01 µg/mL (mean ± SD: 2.18 ± 0.91 µg/mL), and the time to reach it was 28.75 ± 15.74 min. No signs of cardiac toxicity were detected during the entire procedure, and possible signs of CNS toxicity were masked by the anaesthesia. However, concentrations reported in literature as responsible for neurotoxicity in dog were achieved in three of eight investigated subjects. Pending further studies, veterinarians should consider the possibility of side effects occurring following the intra-articular administration of local anaesthetics.

A pharmacokinetic/clinical approach to postulate a local action of intra-articular xylazine administration in the horse: a preliminary study.

The study aims to evaluate whether the analgesic effect of intra-articular (IA) route of xylazine administered to horses following arthroscopic surgery is due to a local or a systemic action. Two connected studies were performed. In the first, 1 mg/kg b.w. of xylazine was injected IA, and blood samples were taken to assess drug systemic absorption. In addition, systemic effects of the drug (sedation, ataxia or reduction of respiratory and cardiac rate) were registered. Control horses injected with saline IA were included in the study to exclude the influence of anaesthesia in the occurrence of these manifestations. In the second study, 1 mg/kg b.w. of xylazine was administered intravenously (i.v.) in healthy horses. Blood samples were collected to determine the concentrations of xylazine, and the same signs of systemic effects of the drug were recorded. By correlating these parameters, a systemic 'no effect' concentration was defined. Pharmacokinetic data after IA administration resulted in some xylazine absorption (bioavailability equal to 58.12%) with values above the systemic 'no effect' concentration. The occurrence of some signs related to systemic effects in horses receiving IA xylazine was significant compared with horses receiving saline. In conclusion, a systemic action of the drug after IA administration cannot be excluded.

Naproxen in the horse: pharmacokinetics and side effects in the elderly.

It is well-known that old animals show physiologic and/or pathologic variation that could modify the pharmacokinetics of drugs and the related pharmacodynamic response. In order to define the most appropriate therapeutic protocol in old horses, pharmacokinetic profile and safety of naproxen were investigated in horses aged over 18 years after oral administration for 5 days at the dose of 10 mg/kg b.w./day. After the first administration, the maximum concentration (Cmax 44.21 ± 9.21 µg/mL) was reached at 2.5 ± 0.58 h post-treatment, the harmonic mean terminal half-life was 6.96 ± 1.73 h, AUC0-24h was 459.71 ± 69.95 h µg/mL, MRT was 7.44 ± 0.74 h and protein binding was 98.47 ± 2.72%. No drug accumulation occurred with repeated administrations. No clinical and laboratory changes were detected after administration of naproxen. Gastric endoscopies performed after the treatment did not show pathological changes of the gastric mucosa.

Pharmacokinetics and residue depletion of erythromycin in gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata L. after oral administration.

Erythromycin (ERY) is an antibiotic effective against Streptococcus iniae, a microorganism responsible for significant losses in aquaculture. No data are available on the pharmacokinetics and residue depletion of ERY in sea bream. The aim of this study was thus to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of ERY in this species after a single oral administration at 75 mg kg(-1) b.w. and to assess its residue depletion from tissues after prolonged treatment for 10 days. ERY was rapidly absorbed in sea bream (Cmax  = 10.04 µg g(-1) and Tmax =1 h), with a half-life of 9.35 h and an AUC0-24 of 56.81 (h µg mL(-1) ). The data obtained and the evaluation of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters allowed us to hypothesize that dosage used in this study should be effective against S. iniae. A rapid reduction in erythromycin concentrations was observed in tissues, with the drug being detectable only during the first day post-treatment. In Europe, the use of ERY in aquaculture is allowed by off-label prescription with a withdrawal time of 500 °C day(-1) . The absence of ERY residues in tissues already at 24 h post-treatment suggests that ERY in sea bream should not pose human food safety issues.

Taxonomic and Functional Structure of Phytophagous Insect Communities Associated with Grain Amaranth.

Amaranthus are worldwide attacked mainly by leaf chewers and sucker insects. Stem borers and leaf miners follow in importance, while minor herbivores are leaf rollers, folders, and rasping-sucking insects. The herbivorous community observed on Amaranthus spp. in Argentina was consistent with the information reported worldwide both in guild composition and order proportion. Amaranth plants had a higher number of phytophagous species in their native rather than in its introduced range. Occurrence of insect guilds differed in space and time. The highest density of leaf chewers was observed shortly after the emergence of plants, while higher density of borer and sucker insects coincided with reproductive stages of the crop. The sucking guild was observed mainly at panicles, while the insects within the leaf chewer group were registered in both leaves (92.6%, n = 746 adults) and inflorescences (7.4%). The borer guild was also recorded in stems and inflorescences; however, the density of larvae in stems was about four times as high as the density observed in panicles (n = 137 larvae).

Pharmacokinetics and residue depletion of erythromycin in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum).

Erythromycin (ERY) is a drug active against Gram-positive bacteria such as Lactococcus garvieae, a pathogen responsible for an important disease that may cause a substantial decrease in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) production, the species of fish most commonly produced in Italy. In the literature, studies on the kinetics behaviour of ERY in fish are limited. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of ERY in rainbow trout after a single oral treatment with 75 mg kg⁻¹ body weight (b.w.) of ERY and the residue depletion after multiple oral administration of 75 mg kg⁻¹ b.w. day⁻¹ of ERY for 10 days. Blood concentrations of ERY increased up to 20.24 ± 13.32 µg mL⁻¹ at 6 h, then decreased to 5.97 ± 3.89 µg mL⁻¹ at 24 h. The time during which the antibiotic remains in the bloodstream at concentrations exceeding the MIC (T > MIC) and the area under the serum concentration-time curve (AUC)/MIC are both pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) predictors of ERY efficacy, and the data obtained allowed us to hypothesize that a dosage of 75 mg kg⁻¹ b.w. day⁻¹ of ERY could treat the lactococcosis in trout. Regarding the study of ERY depletion, rapid elimination was observed in tissue (muscle plus adherent skin); in fact the concentrations were below the limit of quantification in all samples (except two) by day 10 post-treatment. ERY is not licensed in Europe for use in aquaculture, and its use is possible only by off-label prescription with a precautionary withdrawal time of 500 degree-days, as established by Directive 2004/28/EC. From the data obtained in this study, a withdrawal time of 8.90 days was calculated, corresponding, in our experimental conditions, to 117.5 degree-days, a value significantly lower than that established by the European directive.

Florfenicol depletion in edible tissue of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), and sea bream, Sparus aurata L.

An increase in fish production has consequently brought an increase in infectious diseases in fish farms. The use of chemotherapic drugs is the most effective instrument against common bacterial agents. The number of registered drugs for use in aquaculture is limited and often veterinary practitioners resort to the off-label use of chemotherapic agents authorized for different food-producing animal species. Florfenicol is well known for its outstanding effect against various pathogenic bacteria affecting fish, and therefore, it may be a useful drug for off-label use in aquaculture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the depletion of florfenicol and its major metabolite, florfenicol amine, from the edible tissue of two fish species, rainbow trout and sea bream, following treatment with medicated feed at a dosage of 10 mg kg(-1) of bw day(-1) , for 10 consecutive days. At prefixed time points after the end of administration (0.25, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days after treatment), edible tissues (muscle plus adherent skin) from 15 individuals in each group were collected and analysed by HPLC, to determine concentration of the drug in the tissue. On the basis of the obtained concentrations, withdrawal times of florfenicol in the two species were calculated. The results indicate that a drug withdrawal time of 500 °C-day, as established by Directive 2004/28/EC, for off-label drug use is more than satisfactory to guarantee the healthiness of fish products against the risk of drug residues.

Determination of trace elements in goat and ovine milk from Calabria (Italy) by ICP-AES.

There are many sources of contamination to which milk could be exposed: grazing animals can ingest contaminants present in nature, such as lead in soil, or that have been deposited on grass, resulting from industrial emissions. Another possible route of contamination is represented by feed for animals, which may contain heavy and essential metals. The potential of high-resolution inductively coupled plasma spectrometry was evaluated to quantify reliably various toxic and essential elements (Fe, Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Se, Cd) in 47 samples of goat and ovine milk from various farms in Calabria (southern Italy). The results showed that concentrations of cadmium were below the limit of detection. Lead levels were below the maximum limits as set by the EC in almost all samples tested. The highest values were those of Zn followed by Fe, Cu and Se.

Características de neonatos macrosomicos y de sus madres, del hospital herminda martin de chillan / Characteristics of mothers and their macrosomic newborns of herminda martin hospital of chillan

Newborn macrosomy is a condition appearing with increasing frequency reaching 9,46 percent in Chile in 2003. This alteration increases maternal and fetal morbi-mortality. The purpose of this study was to recognize the characteristics of mothers and their macrosomic newborns at birth in a Hospital of Chillán. A descriptive study of 302 macrosomic newborns and their mothers was done. The data was obtained from the Perinatal Information System and maternal clinical files. These newborns were mainly males, length and head circumference large for gestational age, normal ponderal index, and did not present any pathology. The mothers were mainly characterized as being between 18 to 35 years of age, without pathologies but presenting malnutrition for excess before and at the term of pregnancy, and a weight increase during pregnancy higher than recommended. It is suggested that the nutritional situation of the women be optimized in Chile before and during pregnancy.

La macrosomía neonatal es una condición cuya frecuencia ha ido en aumento, llegando en Chile a un 9,46 por ciento el año 2 003, esta alteración aumenta la morbimortalidad materno- fetal. El propósito de este estudio fue conocer las características de los neonatos macrosómicos y de sus madres, atendidos en el Hospital Herminda Martín de Chillán. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo a 302 neonatos macrosómicos y sus madres. Los datos se obtuvieron del Sistema Informático Perinatal y de las historias clínicas maternas. Los neonatos se caracterizaron principalmente por tener género masculino, talla y perímetro cefálico grande para la edad gestacional, índice ponderal normal y no presentar patología. Las madres se caracterizaron principalmente por tener entre 18 y 35 años, no tener patologías, presentar malnutrición por exceso previo y al finalizar el embarazo y aumentar de peso más de lo recomendado. Se sugiere optimizar el estado nutricional previo y durante al embarazo de las madres.