Canine circovirus and Canine adenovirus type 1 and 2 in dogs with parvoviral enteritis.

Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) is one of the most relevant pathogens associated with enteritis in dogs and is frequently reported in association with the detection of other pathogens in faeces. In this study the concomitant presence of Canine circovirus (CanineCV) and Canine adenovirus (CAdV) DNA in faecal or intestine samples of 95 dogs with parvovirus enteritis sampled in Italy (1995-2017) was investigated and the viruses identified were genetically characterised. Potential correlations with the antigenic variant of CPV-2 and with signalment data and outcome were evaluated. Twenty-eight of 95 (29.5%) CPV-2 infected dogs tested positive to other viruses: 7/28 were also positive to CanineCV, 1/28 to CAdV-1, 18/28 to CAdV-2, 1/28 to CanineCV and CAdV-2, and 1/28 to CAdV-1 and CAdV-2. The frequency of CAdV DNA detection and coinfections was significantly higher in purebred dogs compared to mixed breed ones (P = 0.002 and 0.009, respectively). The presence of coinfection was not associated with any other relevant data available, including CPV-2 variant and final outcome. The detection of CanineCV in a dog sampled in 2009 allowed to backdating its circulation in dogs. The eight CanineCV completely sequenced were phylogenetically related to the CanineCV identified in dogs, wolves and a badger from Europe, USA, Argentina and China. Nine CAdV were partially sequenced and phylogenetic analysis showed a separate branch for the oldest CAdV-2 identified (1995). From the results obtained in this study population, CanineCV and CAdV coinfections in dogs with parvoviral enteritis did not result in more severe disease.

Parental behavior and anxiety in isogenic and outbred mice given access to two types of nesting materials

The objective was to investigate if providing two types of nesting materials could modulate parental behavior and anxiety in laboratory mice. For that, 54 full-sib BALB/cJ and 50 randomly mated Swiss Webster mouse pairs were employed in a completely randomized designwith a 2×2 factorial arrangement (two genetic groups and with/ without access to nesting materials). Eight pieces of disposable polypropylene caps/ hairnets and 3g of cotton were provided as nesting materials to half the cages from each genetic group. Maternal and paternal behaviors were recorded on the third reproductive cycle, twice a week, for three weeks, using scan sampling. The behaviors were recorded every 10s for a period of 10min (totaling 60 records) each day. Dams (N=40) were tested in the elevated plus maze (EPM) on the fifth reproductive cycle, 7–10 days postpartum. Their 21-days-old weanlings (N=208) were tested in the same apparatus. Total number of closed arm entries was used as measurement of motor activity, the percentage of time spent on open arms as measurement of anxiety and head dipping time as measurement of exploratory behavior. The provision of nesting materials increased the frequency of dams licking pups (1.72±0.20 vs. 1.10±0.21, P=0.0342) and of sires resting in contact with pups (25.0±1.5 vs. 18.9±1.5, P=0.0050), while simultaneously decreased the frequency of sires in non-contact rest with pups (6.4±1.1 vs. 10.8±1.2, P=0.0074). Swiss Webster dams were recorded nursing their pups in the arched-back posture more frequently than BALB/cJ dams (9.63±0.89 vs. 7.13±0.86, P=0.0187) and Swiss Webster sires showed a higher frequency of nest building than BALB/cJ sires (0.80±0.16 vs. 0.31±0.15, P=0.0281). Motor activity was higher (8.00±0.43 vs. 2.83±0.41, P<0.0001) and anxiety was lower (3.2±28.4 vs. 2.4±3.1%, P<0.0001) in Swiss Webster than in BALB/cJ dams. Anxiety (26.6±3.2 vs. 37.9±3.5%, P=0.0168) was also lower in Swiss Webster than in BALB/cJ weanlings. The availability of nesting materials increased the time dams spent in head dipping (10.9±2.0 vs. 4.6±1.9, P=0.0087), but weanling behaviors in the EPM were unaffected. Slight differences in parental behavior and contrasting patterns of anxiety and motor activity were found between genetic groups. The provision of nesting materials promoted an intensification of favorable parent-offspring interactions and enhanced exploratory behavior of dams.

Parental behavior and anxiety in isogenic and outbred mice given access to two types of nesting materials

The objective was to investigate if providing two types of nesting materials could modulate parental behavior and anxiety in laboratory mice. For that, 54 full-sib BALB/cJ and 50 randomly mated Swiss Webster mouse pairs were employed in a completely randomized designwith a 2×2 factorial arrangement (two genetic groups and with/ without access to nesting materials). Eight pieces of disposable polypropylene caps/ hairnets and 3g of cotton were provided as nesting materials to half the cages from each genetic group. Maternal and paternal behaviors were recorded on the third reproductive cycle, twice a week, for three weeks, using scan sampling. The behaviors were recorded every 10s for a period of 10min (totaling 60 records) each day. Dams (N=40) were tested in the elevated plus maze (EPM) on the fifth reproductive cycle, 7–10 days postpartum. Their 21-days-old weanlings (N=208) were tested in the same apparatus. Total number of closed arm entries was used as measurement of motor activity, the percentage of time spent on open arms as measurement of anxiety and head dipping time as measurement of exploratory behavior. The provision of nesting materials increased the frequency of dams licking pups (1.72±0.20 vs. 1.10±0.21, P=0.0342) and of sires resting in contact with pups (25.0±1.5 vs. 18.9±1.5, P=0.0050), while simultaneously decreased the frequency of sires in non-contact rest with pups (6.4±1.1 vs. 10.8±1.2, P=0.0074). Swiss Webster dams were recorded nursing their pups in the arched-back posture more frequently than BALB/cJ dams (9.63±0.89 vs. 7.13±0.86, P=0.0187) and Swiss Webster sires showed a higher frequency of nest building than BALB/cJ sires (0.80±0.16 vs. 0.31±0.15, P=0.0281). Motor activity was higher (8.00±0.43 vs. 2.83±0.41, P<0.0001) and anxiety was lower (3.2±28.4 vs. 2.4±3.1%, P<0.0001) in Swiss Webster than in BALB/cJ dams. Anxiety (26.6±3.2 vs. 37.9±3.5%, P=0.0168) was also lower in Swiss Webster than in BALB/cJ weanlings. The availability of nesting materials increased the time dams spent in head dipping (10.9±2.0 vs. 4.6±1.9, P=0.0087), but weanling behaviors in the EPM were unaffected. Slight differences in parental behavior and contrasting patterns of anxiety and motor activity were found between genetic groups. The provision of nesting materials promoted an intensification of favorable parent-offspring interactions and enhanced exploratory behavior of dams.

Changes in renal gene expression associated with induced ochratoxicosis in chickens: activation and deactivation of transcripts after varying durations of exposure.

Exposure to ochratoxin A (OTA) can lead to changes in global gene expression. This study investigated the individual expression of genes turned on and off in renal cells of chicks after different durations of exposure to dietary OTA. One hundred and eighty day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments (3 levels of OTA: 0, 1 and 2 mg OTA/kg diet and 3 time periods: 7, 14 and 21 d). Birds were allocated to 36 pens (4 replicate pens of 5 birds each per treatment). For RNA-Sequencing analysis (RNA-Seq), kidney samples were collected weekly from 3 controls and 3 chicks fed 1 mg OTA/kg. Birds fed 2 mg OTA/kg diet were not chosen for analysis because their reduced feed intake could affect gene expression. The libraries were constructed by Illumina's TruSeq RNA protocol. NextGENe software was used for alignment and transcript quantification. Reads per kilobase of target per million tiled reads (RPKM) were used in the Binary test analysis (P < 0.05). The highest RPKM values were used as criterion for the selection of the genes described. A total of 27,638,976 50-bp RNA-Seq reads were produced over the 3 time periods. Transcripts (40,782) were assembled de novo and annotated by homology to either G. gallus or H. sapiens. The genes activated at 7 d were IL9 and TULP1, at 14 d was GHSR and at 21 d were GRK6 and GAPDH. Unlike all other genes, LOC396365 was activated during all time periods. In contrast, the genes deactivated at 7 d were SPAG4 and LOC100857131, at 14 d were LOC771469, NKX2-1, NKX2-8, FOXO1, MyHC and CLDN18 and at 21 d was XPC. The B-G gene was turned off at 7 and 21 d. All of these genes were involved in kidney toxicity. Therefore, the turning on and off responses of these genes may contribute to carcinogenic and tumorigenic effects of OTA in birds.

Lifetime reproductive efficiency of BALB/c mouse pairs after an environmental modification at 3 mating ages.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an environment change and the age at which mating pairs were formed on the lifetime reproductive performance of BALB/c mice. We assigned 60 monogamous pairs to a randomized design in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement (with or without an environmental modification and with 3 mating ages: 28, 45, or 60 d). Autoclaved cardboard tubes (length, 10 cm; diameter, 4 cm) were used as the environmental modification. Data were collected from a total of 456 litters over a period of 10 mo. The mice tore the cardboard tube and used its parts both as shelters and as nesting material. The presence of a cardboard tube decreased the preweaning litter mortality rate in the first 6 reproductive cycles. Mating at 28 or 45 d of age also decreased the preweaning mortality rate in the first 6 reproductive cycles, compared with monogamous pairs formed at 60 d of age. Treatments did not affect age at first parturition, number of litters, time between litters, or litter size and weight at birth and weaning. In addition to contributing to animal wellbeing, providing a cardboard tube improved productivity by decreasing the preweaning mortality rate. BALB/c siblings should be paired for mating when no older than 28 d, to reduce preweaning mortality of the offspring.

Association of IGF1 and KDM5A polymorphisms with performance, fatness and carcass traits in chickens.

Two functional and positional candidate genes were selected in a region of chicken chromosome 1 (GGA1), based on their biological roles, and also where several quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been mapped and associated with performance, fatness and carcass traits in chickens. The insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) gene has been associated with several physiological functions related to growth. The lysine (K)-specific demethylase 5A (KDM5A) gene participates in the epigenetic regulation of genes involved with the cell cycle. Our objective was to find associations of selected single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes with performance, fatness and carcass traits in 165 F(2) chickens from a resource population. In the IGF1 gene, 17 SNPs were detected, and in the KDM5A gene, nine SNPs were detected. IGF1 SNP c.47673G > A was associated with body weight and haematocrit percentage, and also with feed intake and percentages of abdominal fat and gizzard genotype × sex interactions. KDM5A SNP c.34208C > T genotype × sex interaction affected body weight, feed intake, percentages of abdominal fat (p = 0.0001), carcass, gizzard and haematocrit. A strong association of the diplotype × sex interaction (p < 0.0001) with abdominal fat was observed, and also associations with body weight, feed intake, percentages of carcass, drums and thighs, gizzard and haematocrit. Our findings suggest that the KDM5A gene might play an important role in the abdominal fat deposition in chickens. The IGF1 and KDM5A genes are strong candidates to explain the QTL mapped in this region of GGA1.

Práticas das enfermeiras e políticas de saúde pública em Campinas, Säo Paulo, Brasil / Nursing practice and public health policy in Campinas, Säo Paulo, Brazil

Desde a década de 70 o sistema de saúde vem se transformando com a redemocratizaçäo do Estado Brasileiro. O SUS representou um importante passo para o fortalecimento dos sistemas de administraçäo locais e regionais. Tal situaçäo tem contribuído para o aumento do controle local e para as mudanças no processo de trabalho. Considera essas mudanças no sistema local de saúde em Campinas, Säo Paulo, e analisa, quantitativa e qualitativamente, as práticas de 233 enfermeiras da rede municipal em relaçäo às políticas de saúde locais. Cerca de 58 por cento trabalham em serviços locais e 42 por cento em serviços especializados, em níveis distritais e central de administraçäo. Os serviços de enfermagem organizam-se em seis áreas principais: administraçäo, coordenaçäo de recursos humanos, educaçäo de pessoal, informática, administraçäo em saúde e vigilância em saúde. A intervençäo das enfermeiras tem se dirigido às diversas áreas, mas continua centrada nas consultas médicas, com pequena ênfase em atividades coletivas e de promoçäo à saúde. Conclui-se que novas práticas de promoçäo à saúde coletiva precisam ser fomentadas de acordo com os objetivos de desenvolvimento da saúde em âmbito local.

Studies on time-kill kinetics of different classes of antibiotics against veterinary pathogenic bacteria including Pasteurella, Actinobacillus and Escherichia coli.

A systematic analysis of the bacteriostatic/bactericidal effect of several antibiotics used in veterinary medicine was carried out by time-kill kinetic analysis using P. haemolytica, P. multocida, A. pleuropneumoniae, and E. coli. The antibiotics tested were enrofloxacin, danofloxacin, erythromycin, tilmicosin, penicillin G, ceftiofur and tetracycline. Unexpectedly, the antibiotics well characterized as bacteriostatic agents against human pathogens such as tetracycline and macrolides, showed bactericidal activity against P. haemolytica and A. pleuropneumoniae. In contrast, tetracycline and erythromycin were bacteriostatic and tilmicosin was bactericidal against P. multocida. In addition, P. multocida was killed by fluoroquinolones at a slower rate than the other bacteria. Spectrum analysis revealed that ceftiofur and tilmicosin were good substrates of the universal efflux pump, AcrA/B, but penicillin and tetracycline were not. The fluoroquinolones were modest substrates for AcrA/B.

In vitro microbiological characterization of novel cyclic homopentapeptides, CP-101,680 and CP-163,234, for animal health use.

Two cyclic homopentapeptides, CP-101,680 and CP-163,234 [6a-(3',4'-dichlorophenylamino) analogs of viomycin and capreomycin, respectively], were identified as novel antibacterial agents for the treatment of animal disease, especially for livestock respiratory disease. The in vitro microbiological characterization of both CP-101,680 and CP-163,234 was carried out using their parent compounds, viomycin and capreomycin, as controls. This characterization included antibacterial spectrum, influence of media, inoculum size, pH, EDTA, polymixin B nonapeptide (PMBN), serum, cell-free protein synthesis inhibition, and time-kill kinetics. Our results indicated that the capreomycin analog, CP-163,234, showed slightly improved in vitro potency over the viomycin analog, CP-101,680. Both analogs showed very potent cell-free protein synthesis inhibition activity and were bactericidal against Pasteurella haemolytica, P. multocida and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae at the level of 4 times and 8 times MICs. CP-163,234 was bactericidal at the level of 4x and 8x MIC against E. coli, but re-growth was observed after 24 hours incubation at both concentrations of CP-101,680.

Structure-activity relationships of hygromycin A and its analogs: protein synthesis inhibition activity in a cell free system.

Several analogs of hygromycin A were tested in an Escherichia coli cell free protein synthesis inhibition assay and in a Serpulina hyodysenteriae whole cell assay. The aminocyclitol moiety is essential for antibacterial activity in both cell free and whole cell assays. However a 4'-O-allyl ether of hygromycin A aglycone showed an equivalent MIC to hygromycin A, while having a less potent IC50 in the cell free assay. Hence 6-deoxy-5-keto-D-arabino-hexofuranose can be replaced by a hydrophobic allyl group and still retain antibacterial activity. However, this replacement reduces the intrinsic protein synthesis inhibition activity. The loss of intrinsic activity with replacement by the allyl group may be compensated for by better transport into the bacterial cell. In addition to the SAR analysis, we demonstrated that the ineffectiveness of hygromycin A against Gram-negative enteric bacteria such as Escherichia coli is mainly due to the efflux mechanism (Acr A/B pump) existing widely among the enteric bacteria rather than the impermeable barrier of the outer membrane.

Sensitization of bacteria to danofloxacin by temperate prophages.

Danofloxacin (CP-76,136) is in a class of agents that inhibit DNA gyrase and trigger induction of the SOS response and temperate bacteriophages. Killing studies against the bovine pathogen Pasteurella haemolytica demonstrated that danofloxacin exhibits particularly rapid killing kinetics. Here, lysogenic Escherichia coli bearing lambda is found to be more sensitive to danofloxacin than nonlysogenic E. coli. Danofloxacin exposure also induced a prophage in P. haemolytica. The potency of danofloxacin against lysogens in likely enhanced by this prophage induction.

Patterns of blood donations among individuals at risk for AIDS, 1984.

Of 978 respondents to an anonymous questionnaire targeted to reach homosexuals in Boston during October 1984, 88 (9 per cent) reported recent blood donation. When compared to non-recent donors, high-risk respondents who were recent blood donors were younger, less open about their sexual preference, and more likely to obtain their information about AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) from television and newspapers. These results suggest that particular subgroups of the population at risk for AIDS would benefit from expanded educational programs.